Mariners fished, and tooke good store of diuers sorts. [Sidenote: The abbey
of S. Nicholas of 20 monks.] At S. Nicholas we landed the 23 of Iuly, where
there standeth an abbey of Monks (to the number of twentie) built all of
wood: the apparell of the Monks is superstitious, in blacke hoods, as ours
haue bene. Their Church is faire, but full of painted images, tapers, and
candles. Their owne houses are low, and small roomes. They lie apart, they
eat together, and are much giuen to drunkennesse, vnlearned, write they
can, preach they doe neuer, ceremonious in their Church, and long in their
prayers.

At my first arriuall I was presented from their Prior with two great rie
loaues, fish both salt and fresh of diuers sorts, both sea fish and fresh
water, one sheepe aliue, blacke, with a white face, to be the more
gratefull vnto me, and so with many solemne words inuiting me to see their
house, they tooke their leaue.

[Sidenote: The English house at S. Nicholas.] Towne or habitation at S.
Nicholas there is none more then about foure houses neere the abbey, and
another built by the English Company for their owne vse.

This part of the countrey is most part wood, sauing here and there pasture
and arable ground, many riuers and diuers Islands vnhabited, as the most
part of the countrey is, for the coldnesse in Winter.

S. Nicholas standeth Northeast: the eleuation of the pole 64 degrees.
[Sidenote: The riuer of Dwina.] The riuer that runneth there into the sea
is called Dwina, very large, but shallow. This riuer taketh his beginning
about 700 miles within the countrey, and vpon the riuer standeth Colmogro,
and many prety villages, well situated for pasture, arable land, wood, and
water. The riuer pleasant betweene hie hils of either side inwardly.