Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1863. Excerpt: ... A Brief History of Mofcovia, and os other less known Countries lying Eastward of Rujfta as far as Cathay. Gather''d from the Writings of several Eye-witnesses. The Preface. He study of Geography is both profitable and delightful; but the Writers therof, though som of them exact enough insetting down Longitudes and Latitudes, yet in those other relations of Manners, Religion, Government, and such like, accounted Geographical, have for the most part miss''d thir proportions. Som too brief and deficient satisfy not; others too voluminous and impertinent cloy and weary out the Reader, while they tell long Stories of absurd Superstitions, Ceremonies, quaint Habits, and other petty Circumstances little to the purpose. Wherby that which is useful, and only worth observation, in such a wood of words, is either overslipt, or soon forgotten ; which perhaps brought into the mind of some men more learned and judicious, who had not the leisure or purpose to write an entire Geography, yet at least to assay somthing in the description of one or two Countries, which might be as a Pattern or Example to render others more cautious herafter, who intended the whole work. And this perhaps induc''d Paulus Jovius to describe only Mosscovy and Britain. Some such thoughts, many years since, led me at a vacant time to attempt the like argument, and I began with Mosscovy, as being the most northern Region of Europe reputed civil; and the more northern parts therof, first discovered by English Voyages. Wherin I saw I had by much the advantage of yovius. What was scatter''d in many Volumes, and observ''d at several times by Eye-witnesses, with no cursory pains I laid together, to save the Reader a far longer travail of wandring through so many desert Authors ; who yet with some delight drew me after them, from the e...