Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Pages ...
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
COXL’s TRAVELS IN RUSSIA. 655
Mofcow, and other towns ; and fecured the Kremlin of Novogorod with ftrong walls of
brick. Notwithftanding the defpotifm to which the inhabitants were fubje€t, and the
oppreflion which they experienced from Ivan and his fucceffors, yet Novogorod ftill
continued the largeft and moft commercial city in all Ruffia, as will appear from the
defcription of Richard Chanceler, who paffed through it in 1554 in his way to Mofcow.
«* Next unto Mofcow the city of Novogorod is reputed the chiefeft of Ruflia; for
although it be in majeftie inferior to it, yet in greatneffe it goeth beyond it. It is the
chiefeft and greateft marte towne of all Mofcovie ; and albeit the Emperor’s feate is not
there, but at Mofco, yet the commodioufnefle of the river, falling into that gulfe which
is called Sinus Finnicus, whereby it is well frequented by merchants, makes it more
famous than Mofco itfelf *.”
Its population, during this period, was fo great, that in 1508, above fifteen thoufand
perlons died of an epidemical diforder t; more than double the number of the prefent
inhabitants. In its moft flourifhing condition it contained at leaft four hundred thoufand
fouls{. Under the reign of Ivan Vaflilievitch If. the profperity of Novogorod experi-
enced a fatal downfall; that monarch having, in 1570, difcovered a fecret correfpon-
dence between fome of the principal inhabitants and Sigifmond Auguftus King of Po-
land, relative to afurrender of the city into his hands, punifhed them in the moft inhu-
man manner. He repaired in perfon to Novogorod, and appointed a court of inquiry,
juftly denominated the tribunal of blood. Contemporary hiftorians relate that its pro-
ceedings continued during the {pace of five weeks, and that on each day of this fatal
period more than five hundred inhabitants fell victims to the vengeance of incenfed def-
potifm. According to fome authors, twenty-five thoufand, according to others, more
than thirty thoufand perfons perifhed in this dreadful carnage. ‘Thofe writers, who
were the Tzar’s enemies, have probably exaggerated the number of thefe executions;
and it is but juftice to add, that fome circumftances in their relations are unqueftionably
falfe: but though we ought not to give implicit credit to ail the accounts recorded by
his adverfaries; yet, even by the confeflion of his apologifts, there ftill remains fuf.
ficient evidence of his favage ferocity in this barbarous tranfaétion, which equals if not
furpaffes in cruelty, the maflacre at Stockholm under Chriftian II.
This horrid cataftrophe and the fubfequent oppreffions which the town experienced
from that great though fanguinary Prince, impaired its ftrength; and it is defcribed as
a place of defolation by Uhlfield, the Danifh Ambaflador. But although the fplendour
of this once flourifhing town received a confiderable diminution ; yet it was not totally
obicured until the foundation of Peterfburgh, whither Peter the Great transferred all
the commerce of the Baltic, which before centered in Novogorod.
The prefent town is furrounded by a rampart of earth, with a-range of old towers at
regular diftances, forming a circumference of fcarcely a mile and an half; and even
this inconfiderable circle includes much open fpace, and many houfes which are not
inhabited. As Novogorod was built after the manner of the antient towns of this
country, in the Afiatic ftyle, this rampart, like that of the Semlainogorod at Mofcow,
probably enclofed feveral interior circles: without it was a vaft extenfive fuburb, which
reached to the diltance of fix miles, and included all the convents and churches, the
* Hackluyt, vol. i. p. 251. + S.R.G. vol. v. p. 494. :
$ According to Heym, Novogorod in 1783 contained fixty two churches, fix convents, and exclufive of
twelve public buildings, one thoufand five hundred and twelve houfes, of which only thirty-nine were of
brick. The population amounted to three thoufand three hundred and forty-two males, and three thou-
fand feven hundred and eighty four females.
antient
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
