Archangel, City

1698. The antient and present state of Muscovy by Jodocus Crull.

The City of Archangel, or St. Michael Archan••• an Archbishop's Seat, and now the Capital of 〈◊〉 Province, is situated at the Mouth of the River Duina on the left side as you enter it from the White Sea, where it makes the Island of Podesemski. 〈◊〉none of the largest, but withal so populous, that no other place in whole Muscovy is comparable to it, by reason of the great concourse of Merchants which flock thither from the circum•acent Provinces, to truck their Commodities, which consist in Corn, Caviarr, Furrs, Hemp, Russia Leather and Wax, against Cloth, Velvets, Damask, Spices, Tin, Lead, Wine, and Strong-Waters, imported by the English, Dutch, and Hamburghers; so, that sometimes 300 or 400 Ships are to be seen of several Nations in the Port of Archangel, the Customs of which are said to amount Yearly to near 200000 l. Sterling. It is above Sevenscore Years ago since the English began to remove their Trade from Narva to this place. For, King Edward VI. having set out a Fleet for the establishing a Trade in some unknown Country, they having followed the Northern Passage, were at last brought into the Port of Archangel; John Basilovitz, the then Grand Czar of Muscovy, being very desirous to draw the English Traffick thither, •o encourage their Undertaking, granted them a Priviledge of Commerce without any Custom or Impost; so, that in the Year 1555. the English settled a Company there, under the Direction of one Mr. Killingworth, and the Muscovy Trade has been ever since continued from that place, to the great Advantage of the English Nation; tho' at the same time, it cannot be denied, but that, since the Year 1591. when the Town became a Mart, the Dutch and Hamburghers have interfered with the English in their Commerce. It has a considerable Castle, which was built in the Year 1506. and the Town being for the most part reduced to Ashes in the Year 1663. is since that time restored to a more flourishing condition than before. In the Gulph which the Sea makes near the Mouth of the before-mentioned River Dwina, there are three small Islands, called Soloska, Anger, and Colova; the first whereof was heretofore Famous for the Sepulchre of a Muscovian Saint, whose Body was about Fifty Years ago translated from thence to the City of Musco. Besides this and the before-mentioned City of Dwina, St. Nicholas, Lapas, and Korela, are the most worth taking notice of in this Country.