Page:Notes upon Russia (volume 2, 1851).djvu/234

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OF THE NORTHEAST FROSTY SEA


Beares lyue without meate .xl. dayes.

The sleape of Beares.

dayes immoueable, as wryteth Aristotle. They lyue without meat .xl. dayes, and for that tyme susteyne them selues only by lyckyng and suckyng theyr ryght foote. At the length chaunsing to finde meate, they fyll them selues so full, that they remedy that surfeyte by vomyte, which they prouoke by eating of Antes. Theyr byrth is oppressed with so heauy a sleepe for the space of .xiiii. dayes, that it cannot be raysed eyther with prickyng or woundes, and in the meane tyme growe exceedyng fatte. After fourtiene dayes they wake from sleepe, and begyn to lycke and sucke the soles of theyr fore feete, and lyue thereby for a space: Nor yet is it appa- rent that they lyue by any other meate, vntyll the spring tyme of the yeere. At whiche tyme begynnyng to runne abrode, they feede of the tender buddes and young sprygges or braunches of trees, and other hearbes correspondent to theyr lyppes.

The religion of the Moscouites.

The Scythians subiect to the Duke of Moscouia.

Before fiue hundred yeeres, the Moscouites honoured the Goddes of the Gentyles: And they fyrst receyued the Chris- tian fayth when the Byshoppes of Grecia began to discent from the church of the Latines: and therefore receyued the rites of the Greekes. They minister the sacrament with fer- mented breade vnder both kyndes: And thynke that the soules of dead men are not helped with the suffragies of priestes, nor yet by the deuotion of theyr friendes or kyns- folke: Also that the place of Purgatorie is a fable. In the tymes of diuine seruice, the hystorie of the myracles of Christ, and the Epistles of sainct Paule are rehearsed out of the Pulpitte. Beyond Moscouia, are many people which they call Scythians, and are partely subiecte to the Prince of Moscouia. These are they which Duke Juan subdued, as are the people of Perm, Baskird, Cezriremissa, Jubra, Corela, and Permska. These people were Idolatours before the Duke compelled them to baptisme, & appointed a byshop ouer them named Steuen, whom the Barbarians, after the departure of the Duke, flayed alyue, and slue. But the

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