to be in English Hands ibid. * Whence had its Name 114 * U. Vilna Bishop of His Diocess 43. Vilna Castellan of Preferr'd wherefore 55. Varmia Bishop of His Jurisdiction and See 44. Votes Intended Limitation like to produce a bad Effect 104. Who have them in Election of a King 144. Volunteers What in Poland 17 * Examples ib. c. * Selected out of the Gentry 18 * Universities Two in Poland and Lithuania 75 * Chief Studies there ibid. * Have no solid Learning 78 * W. Women Polish Their former and late Fashions 197. Very modest 200. Exception 201. Their Liberty restrain'd ibid. War Two Qualities necessary there 26 * Z. Zuppars What 80. Vide Mines FINIS From the Year 550 to the Year 1698. Former Power of the Kings of Poland A. D. 1574. Advantage thereby Why European Princes Court the Polish Gentry Nobilities Resolves thereupon Abridge the Antient Power of their Princes And Constitute a Republic Division of the People of Poland The Diet. It s Power Motives for a mixt Government A Motive II. Motive III. Motive Advantage of a mixt Government Division of the Republic Kings present Power and Prerogatives His Happiness Unhappiness A great Inconvenience to the State Instances of Poles Affections to their Kings Modern Kings Power Abroad and at Home The great Respect paid him His Titles and other Prerogatives His Pension Houshold-Officers and Guards Queen Consorts Court how maintain'd Kings Patrimonial Estate and Perquisites Late King 's great Riches The Crown Revenues Queens Revenues The King's Power limited in several respects Nobility only capable of Preferment Other Limitations of the Kings Power Inconveniences thereby Why he is paid so great Respect Cities present their Keys upon his Approach Why he can raise no Forces without Consent of the Diet. His Legitimate Issue greatly Respected His Illegitimate as much slighted Means to continue the Crown in one Family Why the K. of Poland can't imitate him of Denmark Not Unhappy because he cannot secure the Succession to his Family Crown and Court Officers Gentlemen Pensioners Horse-Guards Court Officers in Lithuania And in several Provinces Chief Officers of Queen's Court. Principal Officers of Primate's Court. What peculiar to him The Senate and its Office Senators by whom made and their Oath Four to attend the King and wherefore Senators not suffer'd to travel * Vide Sueton. Cap. 42. in vita Jul. Caesar Tacit lib 12. Annal. cap. 23. This Title not bestow'd by its self Senator's Office Extreamly prize their Dignities Their Division and Subdivision Diocesses of Poland Peculiar Jurisdictions of the two Archbishops Ecclesiastical Senator his Power and State His Power as Inter. Rex Why entrusted so much His See Two other Bishops in Leopol Those of the Greek Perswasion Their Tenets Ceremonies and Ornoments His Bishoprick and Power His Residence and Precedence His See Precedence and Authority Several Places of Residence His Diocess His Diocess His Jurisdiction and See His Jurisdiction and See His Diocess Here is a Greek Bishop Likewise Bishop of Curland yet has no See His Precedence and See His See translated and wherefore Honorary A Greek Bishop formerly Primate of Moscovy Honorary Honorary Each Bishop has a Kind of little Court Their Precedence in the Diet and large Revenues Religion in Poland and Lithuania Conversion and several Perswasions of the Poles Socinians expell'd 1658. 1673. Lutherans and Calvinists and other Religions in Poland The Roman Catholick prevails and always prefer'd Privileges of Regular Clergy Their dissolute Lives Fasts how observ'd in Poland Manners of the Secular Clergy The Poles Behaviour at Church Their Churches Division and Subdivision of Lay Senators Palatins c. with their Precedence 1. Lay-Senator Preferr'd and wherefore 1130. * Duglossus lib. 4. Annal. Polon p. 369. Preferr'd for what Reasons †Lib. 2 Cap. 3. p. 504. Preferr'd and why Wherefore preferr'd and how chosen Honorary Palatinate Why he has the Title of the Province Honorary Palatinate Honorary Palatinate Formerly Seat of Teutonic Knights Honorary Palatinate Greatest Part Honorary Honorary Palatinate Duty and Office of Palatins * Hartknoch lib. 2. cap. 3. p. 506. c. Vice Palatins and how qualify'd Duty of Castellans Their Division Qualifications Office and Titles Greater Castellans and their Precedence Lay-Senator Honorary Honorary Honorary Honorary Lesser Castellans No enjoying Plurality of Offices Castellans how call'd in Polish The ten Crown-Officers Those of the Kingdom precede Lay-Senator His Office Power and Authority Duty and Privilege His Perquisites Deputy and who officiates in Cases of Absence Qualifications of these of the Kingdom * Lib. 2. Cap. 3. p. 528. Both have Seals and equal Authority Their Office and Power Succeed each other How ought to be Qualified Their Office and Authority A remarkable Breach of Trust Contend for Precedence but refus'd it Extra-Senatorial Officers Great Generals Have equal Authority Their Power and Duty King's Interest to head his Army Present great Generals Dignity successive Lieutenant-Generals and their Office Chief Commander of the Guards Other great Officers in the Army Camp-Notaries Captain of Guards against Incursions Great Secretaries and their Authority Referendaries and their Office Cup-Bearers Carvers Sword-Bearers Court-Treasurers and their Office Treasurer of Prussia Associates to Judges Chief Notaries Registers inChancery Escheator Commissioners of Custom House Governours of Mines Governours of the Mint Court-Officers Civil Officers of Districts Vice-Chamberlain and his Office Chamberlains Judge and Assistant Prothonotary Head Collector Other Officers and why so call'd Military Officers of Districts Starostas with Jurisdiction Vice-Starostas c. Jurisdiction of Starostas Starostas without Jurisdiction Burgraves and their Office Revenue of Starostaships Zuppars what What the Diet is By whom call'd and where and how often meet Manner of calling it and Proceedings thereupon Where the little Diets meet I. In Great Poland * Vide Herburt Voce Comitia p. 92. and in Edit Polon p. 257. Podlachia and Masovia II. In Little-Poland III. In Lithuania IV. In Prussia V. In Russia VI. In Volhynia VII In Samogitia Qualifications for and Manner of voting in little Diets Who and how many chosen Deputies With their Instructions Proceedings in little Diets * Hartknoch lib. 2. cap. 6. p. 682. c. Deputies how chosen †Hartknoch lib. 2. Cap. 6. p. 689. Cannot be Senators Their Salaries When first sent Vide Constitut An. 1581. p. 375. Their general Meetings Diet divides into three Nations Speaker how chosen and Heats thereupon How occasion'd Next Proceeding Further Proceedings Reflection of Hauteville Speakers Request for the Deputies His Authority Proceedings in the lower House Conference s with the Upper and Nuncios Power Confirm'd and encourag'd Their Privilege * Constitut An. 1649. Committees How long sit Upper House how employ'd Manner of breaking up Session in the lower Two Houses join'd Speakers Power devolves to great Marshal Where the King suspends his Opinion What requir'd to establish a Law Where it cannot be printed Session of the Diet limited Wherefore Affairs treated of in the Grand
of the Cosacks and the last Troubles in Bohemia To these also may be added the Revolutions of our own Nation in the Time of Charles I. when the Fury of the People extended their Rage even to the dipping their Hands in this Prince's Blood Politicians do generally own that the People are a wild Beast which ought rather to be led than left at Liberty and by consequence have pronounced it most Perilous to acquiesce under their Subjection An Anarchy would undoubtedly do more harm in a day than a Tyrant could in all his Reign If he Punishes 't is with some pretence of Justice when nothing can abate the Peoples Rage but an utter Extinction of whatever is placed over their Heâ—ds A mixt Government therefore made out of all these Three is that which has proved most Agreeable to the Polish Nation being a just Medium between the dangerous Extremities of an Absolute Monarchy and those of Aristocracy and Democracy It is this the Poles have pitch'd upon as most proper to preserve the public Liberty and to perpetuate the Happiness of their State being it seems perswaded that a Body Politic resembles a Humane in this that as the one borrows all its Vigour and Health from a Just Temperament of the different Humours that compose it so the other depends absolutely on that of the Three before-mention'd Forms of Government And moreover as the former subsists by the mutual Opposition of contrary Qualities so the King Senate and Gentry of Poland having in some measure different Interests and Inclinations are not only hinder'd from deviating into vicious Extremities but also through a Noble Emulation are excited to labour carefully for the Good of the Public The Republic is divided into Two States the Kingdom of Poland and the Great Dutchy of Lithuania yet both which are but as one Body having the same King the same Parliament the same Laws the same Privileges the same Religion and as the natural result of all these the same Interest These Two States are so very well United that a King cannot be Elected a Law made nor any State-Business done without the mutual Consent of both But My Lord as the King is the Prime and Chief Member of this Republic I will give Your GRACE an Account of his present Power and Prerogatives The Poles are too proud a Nation to agree with those Politicians that measure the Grandeur of a Prince and Happiness of a State by the Despotic Power of him that Governs it and therefore those pernicious Maxims of Tyrants Si Lubet Licet Oderint dum Metuant and the like would be but ill receiv'd among a People that have all along secured their Liberties by their Prudence and Valour This Vassalage would suit well enough with the Slaves of Asia and Africk or with the Moscovites and Turks who all suffer themselves to be govern'd like Beasts and led by the Nose according to the different Caprice or Pleasure of their Prince As for the Kings of Poland they may rest in security in the Bosom of their Country even amidst the Noise of Arms either without or within their Dominions since they have always their Subjects to crowd about them for their Guards thro' indispensable Inclinations For what contributes chiefly to the Happiness of these Princes is the Loyal Observance and voluntary Obedience paid them even by those that are at Liberty to do the contrary I have often heard Monsieur de Polignac the French Ambassador say at Warsaw That he thought a King of Poland more Happy in his Person and Condition than a King of France Nevertheless this Authority of the King of Poland is so alloy'd by the Laws of the Land that it does not exact more Veneration from the Nobles or Gentry than they think he deserves For tho' their Behaviour be generally extraordinary Observant yet do they tacitly seem to call in question the Power they have limited and often refuse that Duty which they have deem'd him worthy of by his Election The Polish Nobility make no Difference between their King 's Right and those of the Senate and Deputies affirming That since these three Members compose but one Body they ought equally to share in the same Benefits and Injuries and consequently ought all either to Reward the one or Revenge the other The small Authority therefore of their Kings and the Impossibility of their Acting by themselves has at all times exposed Poland to the Insults of their Neighbours and the Rage of their own People as may be seen in the Civil Wars of the Cosacks and the Treachery and Sedition of the Confederates which could never have arriv'd at so great height if the King had had but sufficient Power to have suppress'd them Also the Great Marshal of the Crown Lubomirski would never have had the Boldness to have oppos'd King Casimir's Designs openly and to have form'd so many Factions against the Court had he not had some Assurances of remaining Unpunish'd This makes the King of Poland to be stiled a King of Kings and Lord of Lords since he has no better than Companions and Equals for his Subjects We have divers Instances of the Poles love for their Kings and particularly by their once enforcing the Right of Sigismund III. to the Kingdom of Sweden in an obstinate War which they began several times as likewise in supporting afterwards the Pretences of Vladislaus VII to Moscovy To omit divers others of a more ancient Date This Respect of their obliges them frequently to come and spend their Estates at Court thinking to augment their Princes Grandeur by their Prodigality and Magnificence This appears by the mistake made by Gregory King of Bohemia at the Interview between him and Casimir the Great at Glogan which Place the former had demanded to bound the Limits of Silesia when he saluted a Private Gentleman splendidly Cloath'd for the King of Poland The Custom and Inclination of the Poles runs so strong towards Honouring their Prince that all they have or are able to do even to the Destruction of their Lives and Fortunes they are willing to lavish in his Service without expecting any greater Recompence than the Glory of Waiting on His Majesty's Person Insomuch that a King of Poland who is Couragious and Prudent Just and Sober Liberal and Religious one that observes the Laws and Constitutions of his Kingdom and in a word who has no other Interest but the Common Good and Safety of his Subjects is as much Respected and Honour'd and as faithfully Obey'd both in time of Peace and War nay as formidable to all his Enemies as most Princes in Europe As to what relates to War no Monarch has greater Advantages than himself for he is neither at the trouble of raising Forces nor Expence in Maintaining them his Business being only to convene the Diet and they do all these things to his Hand After War is once declar'd he can continue the
of the great Dutchy's Army and receives no manner of Orders from the Crown-General except where both are jointly engag'd in a Battle These great Generals in the King's Absence have the greatest Power in the Kingdom for they have then a supreme Command in the Army They give Battle and besiege Towns without the King's Participation and settle Winter-Quarters where and upon what Lands they think fit This Power of theirs is so extraordinary considerable that a great General is formidable to all the Nobility Their Duty is to keep good Order and Discipline in the Army to punish mutinous and seditious Officers and Soldiers to settle the Prizes of all Commodities and Provisions brought into the Camp to give Command or necessary Orders for a Charge or Retreat and in fine to do any thing that his Majesty could were he present It is therefore the Interest of a King of Poland always to head his Army himself to have his Sons with him in the Field and to give them Opportunity to gain Reputation and Credit by their Valour and Conduct for the more the King encreases his own Fame or that of his Sons the more he diminishes the Credit and Power of his Generals who are the only Persons in the Kingdom that are most to be fear'd and who have the greatest Power and Influence over the Gentry in the Election of a King The present great General of Poland is the Count Jablonowski of the French Faction and of Lithuania Prince Sapieha suppos'd to be of the Austrian Faction When the Office of great General is vacant the little or Lieutenant-General has a Right to succeed him The two Lieutenant-Generals of Poland and Lithuania are to preside in all Court-Marshals and to take care that Guard be strictly kept throughout the Camp Also they are to observe that all Spies and Scouts be sent out as often as Occasion requires and lastly to see that foreign Soldiers be duly paid The Business of the chief Commander of the King's Guards in the Camp is to command solely those Soldiers who are assign'd to guard his Majesty's Person in the Camp but upon the Kings Departure this Officer's Power ceases There are several other Officers of Note in the Army the most considerable of which are the great Ensign or Standard-Bearer the great Master of the Artillery the Camp Notaries and Commander of the Guards against Incursions of which two last I shall only speak here Camp-Notaries are Pay-Masters General for the Army both of the Kingdom and great Dutchy The chief Commander of the Guards against the Incursions of the Tartars c. This Officer is posted on the Confines of the Kingdom towards Crim-Tartary c. and is to give Notice of all the Motions of the Enemy For the civil State-Officers there are the two great Secretaries of the Kingdom and Dutchy They have a Power to enter into the Privy-Council and to take Cognizance of what the Chancellors and Vice Chancellors do They must both be Ecclesiasticks and their Office is a great Step to the Chancellor's Dignity They have the keeping of the King's Signet and are qualify'd for the highest Episcopal Honours and have Precedence before most Officers of the Court or Kingdom The Masters of Requests or Referendaries of the Kingdom and the great Dutchy Their Business is to receive Petitions made to the King and to give his Majesty's Answer They have a Place in any of the King's Courts of Justice These are in all four one Ecclesiastical and one Civil for the Kingdom and the like for the great Dutchy Two Cup-Bearers for each Nation for the same Two Carvers and Two Sword-Bearers The Treasurers of the Court in the Kingdom and the great Dutchy These supply either the Absence or Vacancy of the Office of the great Treasurers The Treasurer of Prussia whose Business is to take all Accounts of the Collectors of Revenue in that Province and to transmit them to the great Treasurers Associates to Judges which are generally such as reside in the King's Court viz. the Masters of Requests Vice-Chancellors c. Two chief Notaries of the Courts of Justice for civil Causes either of the Kingdom or the great Dutchy Two Registers in the Chancery of both Nations An Officer that looks after the Escheats call'd by us Escheator He can either sue for or seize any such Lands or Goods as fall to the Crown The Commissioners of the Custom-Houses who give in their Accounts as often as the great Treasurers require them The Governours of the Silver Lead and Salt Mines They exercise Jurisdiction over the Workmen there but must nevertheless admit of Appeals to Court The Governours or Wardens of the Mint which are for the most part the Treasurers of the Kingdom Their Business is to take care that the Mony there coin'd be of Weight and Value The chief Officers of the King's Court are treated of before in the Letter to his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury The Officers of Districts may be divided into two Sorts Civil and Military The civil are The Vice-Chamberlain whose Office is to decide all Differences within his District about the Bounds of Land c. to which he is sworn He has several Deputies under him call'd Chamberlains whom he chooses out of the Gentry of his Jurisdiction and to whom he gives an Oath to be true and faithful in the Execution of their Office It is at his Pleasure to displace these as often as he thinks fit The Judge who together with his Assistant determines all civil Causes and Controversies The Prothonotary who in those Courts has likewise a Power of giving his Opinion The head Collector of the publick Revenue who is accountable above The other Officers are less considerable being Sewers Carvers Cup-Bearers Sword-Bearers c. The Reason of there being such Officers in every Palatinate is because formerly each Province of Poland was a Sovereignty and had its peculiar Princes who had all their Court-Officers But now tho these Offices remain yet it is only with Honorary Titles and some few Privileges the chiefest of which are that when the King comes into their Palatinate his Court-Officers must leave to them the Honour of serving him at Table bearing the Sword before him c. The Military Officers of a District are Starostas with and without Jurisdiction Starostas with Jurisdiction are Governours of Castles and Royal Cities who sit and hear private Causes of small Moment once a Fortnight and those of greater concern every six Weeks if nothing intervene to prevent them These have Vice Starostas Judges Clerks and Servants in the Nature of Sheriffs Officers to enforce Justice in Cases of Resistance The Jurisdiction of these Starostas extends not only over the Commonalty but likewise over the Gentry They have also a Care of the
which is the Reason that he is often brib'd either by the King Foreign Princes or some great Men of the Kingdom On the Day prefix'd for the Meeting of the Diet the King with all the Senators and Nuncios goes to hear a Sermon which being ended he retires into the Senate where he is severally saluted by the Members thereof And the Nuncios retiring likewise into their House call'd by the Poles Izba Poselska confer together about electing a Speaker during which the last Speaker or Marshal officiates till a new one be chosen and then is oblig'd to resign his Staff to the Marshal elect who is to take an Oath to be true and faithful before he enters upon his Office When the Marshal or Speaker is elected he with all the Deputies of the Province goes to kiss the King's Hand in the Diet-Chamber where his Majesty sits on a Throne erected for that Purpose Then the Chancellor in the King's Name proposes all the Points to be debated in the Diet and desires the Senators and Nobility to take them into Consideration whereupon the King immediately leaves them lest his Presence might be an Awe upon them and then the Senators retiring into their Room by themselves and the Nuncios into theirs by them call'd Izba Poselska they forthwith set about deliberating on the Articles propos'd Here SIR I may remark a pleasant Reflection of Hauteville in his Account of Poland where he says That the Poles employ more Time in drinking and feasting than in debating Matters of State for that they never think on that Work till they begin to want Money to buy Hungarian Wine After the Chancellor has thus propos'd to the Diet in the King's Name all the Articles they are to go upon the Marshal of the Nuncios likwise on the Part of the Deputies presents to the King what they desire of his Majesty which is 1. To make void all Intrenchments either upon the State or the People And 2. To bestow all vacant Offices upon Persons of Worth and Merit This Marshal of the Deputies has a great Authority over them in the Diet for he it is that commands Silence among 'em and who transmits all their Requests to the King or Senate and seeing that by his Power he can either animate or moderate them it is not to be wonder'd at if he be a Person of no ordinary Esteem and that the Court always endeavours by various Favours to secure him for their Friend The Manner of Proceedings in the Nuncios House is much the same as in the Little Diets No body offers his Opinion there till having first ask'd Leave of the Marshal who alone introduces all Messengers from the King Senators Army or Foreign Princes and answers them all in the Name of the House If any Disserences arise among the Nuncios or other Tumults are rais'd by the Spectators he causes Silence immediately by striking his Staff against the Ground The two Orders being thus separated there are nevertheless frequent Intercourses between them as are between our two most Honourable Houses The Nuncios have a Power of impeaching all Magistrates and Officers for Male Administration and to put the King in mind as often as they think fit of his Coronation-Oath Moreover the Nuncios Power and Authority appears the greater in that no Constitution or Law is of any Validity or Force that was not first begun in their House Nay their Marshal is to be the first Starter of all Laws and when concluded upon it is his Office only to read them before the Senate For this Reason in the Year 1668. the Marshal protested against a certain Law because it was first concerted in the Senate But what is more to be admir'd than all this is that the Dissent of one single Nuncio is sufficient to annul the whole Proceedings and to occasion the Diet to be dissolv'd To confirm this Authority and for the futher Security of the Nuncios Sigismund I. in the Year 1510. ordain'd that it should be High Treason to Injure any Member of the Diet tho he afterwards in the Year 1539. restrain'd this Law to the Royal Person but which notwithstanding John Casimir in some measure renew'd in the Year 1649. If one of these Nuncios commits any Crime he is to be try'd only by his Fellow-Members This Privilege of the Nuncios begins a Month before and lasts as long after the Diet. Upon some Occasions the Marshal assigns Committees of these Nuncios who are to transact a-part such Matters as are intrusted to them The Nuncios remain in their House till the fifth Day before the Conclusion of the Diet when they are all to go to the Senate Et sic Comitia ad Patres transferre dicuntur But if within the Time assign'd by the Laws they find they are not able to finish their Business they humbly petition the King that the Diet may be prorogu'd Whilst the Nuncios are thus providing for the publick Good in their House the King and Senate do not pass their Time idly in theirs for after the Chancellor has given the Charge to the lower House and they are retir'd he together with the Senators tries criminal Causes for a whole Week which being ended there are several other Matters assign'd for certain Days until the lower House bring up Bills to be debated Near the Conclusion of the Diet and before the Senators and Nuncios are join'd the Marshal of the lower House in a set Speech gives Thanks to the Deputies for the Honour and Favour they have conferr'd upon him and is answer'd by one of the Nuncios in the Name of the rest who returns him their Acknowledgments for his faithful Execution of his Office When the Nuncios are come to the upper House their Marshal or Speaker sits on a Form below the Senator Marshals and the rest of the Deputies stand behind the other Senators who are seated all in their Order Being thus join'd they proceed to confirm create or abrogate Laws No body speaks here without having first obtain'd leave of the great Marshal In this Meeting the Nuncio-Marshal's Power is at an End his Office being then officiated by the great Marshal either of Poland or Lithuania or in their Absence by some other of the Senator Officers The great Marshal has Authority not only to check a Nuncio but also a Senator in speaking if he exceeds his Bounds He also in case of great Disorders imposes Silence by striking his Staff on the Ground In Cases of Controversy the King always suspends his Opinion till the Differences are reconcil'd This the Kings Henry and Stephen promis'd faithfully to observe as may appear by the Book of their Laws Page 254. To establish a Law or Constitution in the Diet the Deputies must first propose it by their Marshal and then the King and Senate are to approve of it but however before it
Credit and Authority nevertheless is so great that he can dispose the Affairs in the Diet as he pleases especially where they tend to the publick Good of the Kingdom for very few if any at all will venture to protest against any Proceedings there that are for the Interest of the Nation unless they be supported by a good Party of Senators and Deputies and this because it is not only infamous and scandalous to his Person but also prejudicial to his Posterity that breaks up a Diet as also not a little dangerous to his Life to irritate and disobey so powerful a Body for they are commonly very liberal in their Passion of bestowing several Slashes of a Scymitar on any ill-natur'd corrupted Member that opposes the Interest of his Country tho' in Reality he has the Law on his Side It is certain therefore that where any Person withstands the rest in the Diet it is either because the King has not sufficiently employ'd his Authority to pacifie him or Policy to win him with a small Present or else by reason that he does not care they should agree or lastly because there is a considerable Party of Senators and Deputies that support or rather employ him to protest against an Act that they do not think for their Interest to let pass It is a common Practice where any of the Members of the Senate have any particular Advantage by opposing the Diets Proceedings not to expose themselves either to the Hatred or Anger of that numerous Body but rather to sacrifice some private Deputy to their Fury who for a small Summ of Money will come into the Diet and declare in plain Terms without any manner of Reason that it is not his Pleasure that such a Matter then in Agitation should pass Whereupon he immediately withdraws if he can into the Country for Security But generally these Oppositions are never practis'd where the publick Interest of the Nation is concern'd as appears in the raising the last Siege of Vienna by the Turks where the Poles finding that the Loss of that City would turn be very much to their Prejudice march'd directly under their then reigning King John III. to the Relief of it which they soon effected to their immortal Honour and Glory 'T is true that it is not an easie Matter to bring the Poles into the Field but when once they are got together into a considerable Body their Courage and undaunted Resolutions render them invincible Secondly The Order of their Government and their Courage and Resolution does not so much contribute towards their Preservation as the Envy and Jealousies of their Neighbours among themselves for when the late King of Sueden and Elector of Brandenbourg made War with Poland the Tartars came to assist the Poles and at the same Time the King of Denmark made a considerable Diversion in Suedeland When the Tartars likewise declare War against Poland most commonly either the Emperour or Moscovite come to its Relief or else make great Diversions on their Sides for as it is the Interest of the Princes their Neighbours not to let them grow to that exorbitant Power which they had formerly so it is not at all for their Benefit to let them perish for whoever could be able to conquer Poland and unite it to his own Dominions would quickly be too powerful for all the rest Thirdly The Poles besides this can the easier conserve their Dominions by reason that they have no strong Forts or Castles to shelter their Enemies where they happen to make any Progress in their Country yet I verily believe that an Army of fifty Thousand well-disciplin'd Men would at present conquer the whole Kingdom of Poland tho' at the same Time I am of Opinion that an Hundred Thousand could not be able to keep it Carolus Custavus King of Sueden with about Forty Thousand Men entirely subdu'd Poland in less than two Years Time yet when he began to encroach too much upon their Constitutions and Liberties the Polish Gentry join'd unanimously together and soon drove the Suedes out of the Kingdom The Tartars in numerous Bodies make frequent Incursions into this open Country but still as soon as they have loaded themselves with their Booty they make all possible Haste away The Loss of Caminiec makes the Poles admire at their own Policy in having no strong Towns for they say had not that been so well fortify'd it had not serv'd for Shelter to a strong Garrison of Turks and Tartars at their Doors Insomuch that it may be observ'd that Forts and Castles which we count our greatest Security would inevitably be the Ruine of the Poles they being not skill'd in besieging Towns and moreover having no good Artillery Ingeniers Ammunition or other Necessaries since they never were nor ever will be able to retake Caminiec tho it is a Place of no extraordinary Strength and for my Part I verily believe that if it should be surrender'd to them they would quickly rase and demolish it SIR Having thus far treated only of the Diet or Parliament of Poland I will now proceed to present you with a cursory Account of its other Assemblies and Courts of Justice and therefore must acquaint you that besides the Grand Diet and Senate the Clergy there have both a general Convocation and two Provincial Synods but which are wholly regulated and aw'd by the Pontifical Chair I may take notice that the Archbishop of Leopol tho he can call and hold his Synod a-part yet is he altogether subject in Spirituals to the Archbishop of Gnesna or Primate of Poland The general Convocation is for the most part conven'd every third Year at Petricovia Lanschet or Lowitz whereof the minor Clergy as in England are admitted by their Deputies or Representatives As for Cours of Justice the Poles have one that is wholly peculiar to the Interregnum which they call the Kaptur This is twofold either general which sits during the Interregnum to prevent Disorders and which has Power over Life and Death Or particular in the several Palatinates of the Kingdom The Judges of the former are chosen out of the Prime Nobility and those of the latter out of the Nobility in general of every Palatinate at the several particular Conventions and in the Beginning of every Interregnum All these Courts cease three Weeks before the Assembly for Election meets and after the Election they sit again to the very Day of the Coronation The other Courts of Justice in Poland are either Ecclesiastical Civil or Military The Ecclesiastical as in other Nations are altogether in the hands of the Bishops who have Each their Chancellor Register c. from whom Appeals may be made to the Archbishops and even from the Archbishop of Leopol to him of Gnesna who is the Popes Legat Born and Primate and Metropolitan of all Poland Nevertheless from him Appeals lye to the See of Rome These Judge according to the Canons and Customs of
to the People Next Day the King goes on Horse-back richly attir'd and in great Pomp to the Town-House some of the Senators carrying the Regalia before him The Order of March is the Bishops behind and the Lay Senators before and then the other Officers Nuncios c. before them While he is in Procession the Great Treasurer of the Kingdom scatters among the People a great Number both of Gold and Silver Medals more from the Castle to the Town-House Here he is habited a-new with his Royal Robes and seated in a splendid Throne erected on purpose when the Senate sitting in an inferiour Degree on each Hand of him the Magistrates of the City come to pay him their Homage and to assure him of their Fidelity and Loyalty presenting him again with the Keys of every of their Gates gilded and laid in a Silver Plate Which done the Chancellor assures them of the King's Favour and then reads aloud the Oath of Fealty to them which they then take on their Knees holding up their Hands all the while Having thus sworn the Magistrates Present him with a Purse of Gold and then receive their Keys back After which the King having deliver'd the Scepter and Globe to some of the Senators standing about him he receives a naked Sword from the Great Sword-bearer which rising up and flourishing over his Head towards the four Quarters of the World he sits down again and by a light Stroke of the Blade on the Shoulders of some of the Burghers creates them Knights This done the Great Treasurer in the King 's Return back to the Castle scatters some more Medals among the People whilst the Canons proclaim their Joy and if it be Night as generally it is by that Time all these Ceremonies are over the Fireworks are lighted and various Proofs of Satisfaction are every where both to be seen and heard The King being thus establish'd in the Throne the Diet of the Coronation sits where first the Primate lays down his Authority of Inter-Rex and then every individual Member of the Senate and Diet takes an Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy to the King after which his Majesty is invested with the Plenary Regal Authority he gives new Seals to the Chancellors and the Marshals bear their Staffs erected before him then he issues out his Royal Proclamation commanding all Magistrates and all other Officers of the Kingdom Great Dutchy and annex'd Provinces to cause his Coronation and Confirmation of the Peoples Liberties and Privileges to be proclaim'd on the first publick Days in every City and Town and afterwards to be registred in their Journals Also by the same Proclamation he gives Liberty to all the Courts of Justice to proceed after their usual Manner and then confirms aâ— the Acts and Constitutions which have pass'd in the Diet during the Inter-regnum As to what relates to a Queen of Poland's Coronation we must first observe that she cannot be Crown'd unless she be a Roman Catholick an Instance whereof we may see in Helena Wife to King Alexander who being of the Greek Perswasion and not caring to reform was not Crown'd Also we may read in History that Queens have either been Crown'd with their Husbands or without with their Husbands when they were either marry'd to them before or at the Time of their Coronation and without when they were marry'd afterwards with Consent of the Diet for it has always been thought so very necessary to have their Consent that it is inserted among the Articles of the Pacta Conventa Likewise the King cannot be Divorc'd from his Queen without the Approbation of the Diet Neither can he crown her if she be marry'd to him after his Coronation without their Consent but if she were marry'd before he may The Place of the Queen's Coronation is generally Cracow altho there have been some Examples to the contrary for Vladislaus VII caus'd his Queen Cecilia Renata to be Crown'd at Warsaw and King Michael his Queen Eleonora in the same City but however this last was with Leave of the Diet tho' at the same time they forbad it to go for a Precedent for the future What has been said about a Queen 's not being to be crown'd if a Dowager surviv'd is not so as may appear by several Examples As for the Manner of a Queen's Coronation alone it must be with the King's Consent he must request it of the Republick he must be present at the Ceremony he must lead his Queen into the Church and he must present her to the Archbishop or other Bishop who is to Crown her Anoint her with consecrated Oyl and to put a Scepter into her Right Hand and Globe into her Left The King likewise is to carry his Queen to the Town-house but she is to receive no Homage there Having thus My Lord amass'd the several Particulars intended for Your Lordships Perusal I have nothing left to do but humbly to acknowledge my Presumption and to have Recourse to your Candour and Goodness for Pardon and Protection I am My LORD Your Lordship 's most humble and most devoted Servant J. S. LETTER V. To the most Honourable JOHN Lord Marquess of Normanby Of the Power of the Gentry and Slavery of the Commonalty in Poland with an Account of the Customs and Manners of the People of that Kingdom as likewise of some peculiarly relating to particular Countries My LORD TO approach so great a Person as your Lordship on so trifling an Account as the Subject of this Letter I was conscious to my self was no way suitable On one Hand your known Abilities might reasonably deter my Presumption and on the other your elate Quality check my Ambition Yet considering at the same time that sometimes the greatest Genius's and Persons have stoop'd to be entertain'd with the Follies and Transactions of the Crowd I hop'd among the rest I might not offend if I address'd this Letter to you and the rather because it was first design'd for the Entertainment of your Lordships Leisure Hours My LORD The Third Order of the Republick of Poland is that of the Nobility out of which all the Senators and all other Officers as well Civil as Military are taken for no Body else that is not a Polish Gentleman tho' he be never so Noble in his own Country can be capable of any Preferment here unless it be some inconsiderable Posts in the Army the highest whereof is a Colonel or at most a Major-General which is much the same with a Brigadeer in our Army So that there is little or no Encouragement for Persons of foreign Countries of what Merit or Degree soever to go to serve this Republick which proves no small Inconvenience and Prejudice to their State As for the Citizens and Peasants they are excluded from all Preferments and can have no Possessions unless they be a few Houses in a City or a small Piece of Land about a League off in the
Zytomierz afterwards at Woldzimiers in Volhynia In the Province of Volhynia In the Town of Vinnicza afterwards at Woldzimierz In the Dutchy of Samogitia In the Town of Rosienia All Sorts of Gentlemen both rich and poor providing they have but three Acres of Land in their Possession which must be worth at least eight Crowns Sterling a Year have a Right to come to these little Diets where they all have equal Authority and Votes but however no body under a Polish Gentleman has a Suffrage there One of these Gentry once hinder'd a Person from being chosen Chairman of a little Diet till the Candidate had given him a Pair of Polish Boots for he was before almost bare-footed after which he consented and came in and approv'd of the Election All the Decisions here as in the great Diet did not formerly go by Plurality of Voices but by unanimous Consent which frequently bred abundance of Disorder and oftentimes the Diets broke up without having concluded any thing and that by reason of the Contests and Obstinacy of some private Members who had the Power to oppose all the rest and who most commonly were bribed by one Side or other At these little Diets the poorer Sort of Gentry always side with their Seigneur and ever approve of what he says without knowing sometimes what the Matter in Hand is An Example whereof Dr. Connor says happen'd in his Time at one of these Assemblies in the Province of Masovia where some Affairs of the Province being in Debate and one of the Gentry declaring against them his Party or Mob not knowing what the Business was cry'd like Mad-men that such an Affair should not pass whereupon a witty Fellow observing their senseless Rage started up and cry'd Brethren you are Fools to oppose this Affair for the Question is only to abate the Price of Wheat and Aquavitae whereat they immediately consented to and approv'd of the Matter propos'd and cry'd that their Seigneur was a Rogue that had betray'd them and moreover threatned him with their Sabres Notwithstanding every little Gentleman can vote for whom he pleases yet the Election always falls upon some rich Nobleman who can treat high and make a Figure suitable to this honourable Charge Most commonly they choose two or three Deputies for every Palatinate one of which is always an understanding Man and the rest are young Noblemen chosen only for Honours sake or that they may be train'd up betimes in the Service of their Country When the Deputies are chosen they receive full Instructions from the Gentry of their Province of what they are to consent or dissent to in the general Diet and when once they are intrusted with these Instructions they dare not for their Lives transgress them so that if but one Deputy has Orders contrary to the rest it lies in his single Power to break all their Measures In these little Diets their first Care is to choose a Marshal or Chair-man whose Office is much the same with the Marshal or Speaker of the general Diet. This Chair-man in Lithuania when once chosen continues the same for Life This Officer being elected they next proceed to the receiving of the King's Nuncio which is done by the chief Deputy and by him plac'd at the upper End of the Table This Person proposes in the King's Name what they are to debate upon having first satisfy'd them of his Commission But here it must be observ'd that to some of these Conventions the King transmits his Instructions by a Starosta The Nuncio's or Deputies are now elected by Plurality of Voices to avoid Confusion and Disorder The Number of all these Nuncios amounts commonly to 174. besides those of Prussia which are uncertain and which in the Year 1685. were 70. of themselves These Deputies cannot be chosen Senators and are for the most part elected out of the common Magistrates excepting the Judges of the high Tribunals Assessors Collectors of the Revenue c. It is to be observ'd that these Deputies have certain Salaries assign'd 'em by the Constitutions in the Year 1540. These Nuncios were first sent to the Diet under the Reign of Casimir III. who having had thirteen Years War with the Knights of the Teutonic Order and being at a Loss to pay his Army orders the Provinces to send Deputies to lay Impositions which they being Representatives of their Country might be the easier comply'd with These Deputies have continu'd ever since Besides the Convention at the little Diets the Senators and Deputies when elected have general Meetings before they come to the grand Diet at these several Places For Great Poland at Kolo in Kalisch To which belong the Palatinates of Posnania Kalisch Siradia Lanschet Bresty Inowlocz Ploczkow Dobrina Rava With the Territory of Vielunia For Lesser Poland at Corzin in Sendomir To which belong the Palatinates of Cracovia Sendomir Russia Podolia Belsko and Lublin By the Constitution in the Year 1613. For Prussia at Graudents or Marienbourg To which belongs all Royal Russia or the Palatinates of Culm Marienbourg Pomerania as also the Bishoprick of Varmia For the Great Dutchy of Lithuania at Slonim in Novogrodec To which belong the Palatinates of Vilna Troki Briescia Novogrodec Minski Polocz Witebsko Mscislaw Zlucz Braclaw By the Constitution in the Year 1631. The other Palatinates which are not mention'd in this Division have all general Meetings tho' I do not find where When all the Deputies of the Provinces are assembled at the Place appointed for the grand Diet they divide themselves into three Nations viz. Into the Deputies of High and Low Lithuania Poland and Out of these three they next proceed to choose their Marshal or Speaker The first time they choose him out of the Deputies of High Poland the second out of the Deputies of Low Poland and at the third Diet out of the Deputies of Lithuania Oftentimes they spend several Days in bloody Contests before they can agree about an Election Nay it happens sometimes that they never agree at all as in the Diet conven'd in the Year 1695. when all the Senators and Deputies which had made great Preparations to appear in their Grandeur whereof some came above three hundred Miles were forc'd to return home again without effecting any thing for want of agreeing about a Marshal He that designs to get to be elected Marshal must treat the Gentry all the while otherwise he would have no Vote for him and commonly they prolong the Election that they may live the longer at the Candidates Charges The Reason of this great stickling is because the Dignity of this Marshal is not only very honourable but also exceeding beneficial which occasions several Noblemen among the Deputies to raise Cabals and Intrigues to secure it for themselves He has likewise great Authority and can by his eloquent and subtle Speeches turn Affairs on what Side he pleases