Beauplan.
The City Kiovia.
KIOW, otherwise call'd Kiovia, was one of the antientest Citys in Europe, as may be seen still by the Remains there of Antiquity : As for instance, the height and breadth of its Ramparts, the depth of its Ditches, the ruins of Churches, the old Tombs of several Kings found within them. Of the Churches only two remain as a Memorial, which are those of S. Sophia and S. Michael; for of all the rest there is nothing left but Ruins, as of that of S. Basil, whose Walls are yet standing five or six foot high, with Greek Inscriptions on them of above 1400 Years, standing upon Alabaster Stones, but now almost worn out with Age. Among the Ruins of those Churches are to be seen the Tombs of several Princes of Russia.
The Churches of S. Sophia and S. Michael have been rebuilt after the antient manner. That of S. Sophia makes a fine Front, and looks graceful on every side, for the Walls are adorn'd with several Histories and Mosaick Figures: Which Work is made of very small Bits of several colours, shining like Glass; and so well put together, that it is hard to discern whether it is Painting or Tapestry: The Arch is made only with earthen Pots fill'd and plaister'd all about. In this Church are the Tombs of several Kings; and the Archimandrita or Chief of all the Monks reside there. S. Michael's Church is call'd the Golden Roof, because it is cover'd with gilt Plates. The Body of S. Barbara is shown there, said to be brought thither during the Wars of Nicomedia.
This antient City is seated on a Plain that is at the top of a Hill, which commands all the Country on the one side, and the Boristhenes on the other, that River running along the foot of the Hill; between which and the Water stands New Kiow, a Town at present but little inhabited, there being not above five or six thousand People in it. It is about four miles in length along the Boristhenes, and 3 miles in breadth from the Boristhenes to the Hill, being inclos'd with a scurvy Ditch 25 foot wide. Its shape is triangular, encompass'ed with a wooden Wall, and Towers of the same material. The Castle stands on the ridg of a Hill commanding the lower Town, but commanded by Old Kiow.
The Roman Catholicks have four Churches in this Town, which are, the Cathedral, that of the Dominicans in the Market-place, the Bernardines urder the Hill, and of late Years the Jesuits, who have taken up their Quarters between tht Bernardins and the River. The Greek Russians may have about ten Churches, which they call Cerkuils; one of which is near the Town-Hall, where is an University or Academy, call'd by them Bracha Cerkuils, and another at the foot of the Castle, call'd S. Nicoly: if I mistake not, the rest are in several Parts of the Town, which I don't particularly remember.
This Town has but three good Streets, all the others being neither strait nor regularly bending, but running in and out like a Labyrinth. It is look'd upon as divided into two Towns, one of which is called the Bishop's Town, where the Cathedral is; the other the Common or Publick, in which the other three Catholick and Greek Churches are. There is a good Trade, considering the Country: The principal Commodities are, Corn, Furs, Wax, Honey, Tallow, Salt, Fish, &c. There belong to it, a Bishop, a Palatin, a Castelane, a Tarosta, and a Grod. And there are four several Jurisdictions, or Courts; that of the Bishop, that of the Palatin or Tarosta, which is the same; the third of the Wouyt, and the last of the Consuls or Sheriffs.
The Houses are built after the manner of Muscovy, all upon a Floor, low enough, and seldom above one story high. They use Candles made of Sticks of Wood, so cheap, that for a Double, which is lessthan
