pursuant to which Resolution the Place surrendred it self upon very honourable Terms which were however but very ill observed by Zuski who contrary to his Oath caused several of the Chief Officers of the Garrison to be hang'd and the Brave Polutnich and the Cunning Schacopski to be cast into a loathsome Prison where they both vvere miserably Famish'd to death The Cosacks that had hitherto stood firm to the Interest of Demetrius having had no Intelligence of his Approach consequently looking upon his Cause as desperate embraced the Party of Zuski who being overjoyed at the Conquest of Thula and the Accession of so considerable a Force ordered his Army in Conjunction with these Cosacks to form the Siege of Caluga the strongest Place as yet in the Possession of the Demetrians The Army was scarce sat down before the Place when a Rumour being spread among the Cosacks that Demetrius at the Head of an Army was arrived at Staradub they began to mutiny first and having drawn some of the Muscovites into their Party the whole Army upon the News spread industriously by the Cosacks that Demetrius was advancing to fight them was possessed with so panick a Fear that without the least Order Zuski's Army dispersed they at Midnight left their Tents Cannon and Baggage every one making the best of his Way to the City of Musco where they brought the first News to Zuski of their imaginary Defeat and the Flight of his Army without being pursued by any body The Cosacks and their Party being thus left absolute Masters of the whole Camp at the first Break of Day did not fail to give notice of what had happened to the Inhabitants of Caluga and that Demetrius was arrived at Staradub but these looking upon it as a Stratagem and a Contrivance of the Cosacks to catch them in a Trap at first answered them with Fire and Ball till upon their reiterated Assurances that the Muscovites were fled and their offering Hostages as Pledges of what they had related to them to be Truth they sent out some of the Officers of the Garrison into the Camp who at their Return having confirm'd what they had been assur'd of before by the Cosacks they soon open'd their Gates and having shar'd the Booty found in the Camp with them they entred triumphantly into the City After they had bestow'd a few days in rejoicing and refreshing themselves the Cosacks with part of the Garrisonâ— to the Number of Ten thousand marched from thence to the Camp of Demetrius near Staradub where having rejoiced him with the unexpected News of the Relief of Caluga they were received with great Demonstrations of his Royal Favour and vast Promises of ample Rewards after his Recovery of the Throne Thus whilst Zuski was repenting himself of his fatal Error of having receiv'd into his Army so considerable a Number of his Enemies Troops Demetrius encreased in Strength every day The Reputation of what had happen'd before Caluga and his being join'd by the Cosacks made such lively Impressions upon the Minds of the Muscovites that many of them were â—or siding with the most fortunate and the Poles and Lithuanians bordering upon Muscovy being enticed by the Hopes of Reward and Booty flock'd in great Numbers to his Camp so that seeing himself in a Capacity to encounter his Enemies he march'd in quest of them and having found Misinowski the Muscovian General advantageously posted at a strong Pass he nevertheless attack'd him so furiously that he entirely routed them The Zuskians routed killing near Ten thousand upon the Spot besides a great number of Prisoners among whom was their General Matthew Misinowski himself This Victory gained such a Reputation to Demetrius that the whole Province of Severia with some other adjacent Places readily submitted to his Obedience acknowledging him for their true and undoubted Sovereign and promising to furnish his Army with all manner of Necessaries But the Poles being more especially encourag'd by this Success to pursue their Revenge to the Destruction of Zuski sent considerable Supplies to back the Pretensions of Demetrius Duke Roman Rosinski sent a good Body of chosen Horse under the Command of his Friend Walareski Adam Wisnowiski Charlinski Mielski and several other Lords of the first Quality in Poland soon after joined him with such Troops as they had raised in their respective Countries besides that a new Body of 8000 Cosacks upon the first News of his Victory had declared for him and taken service among his Troops Not long after Duke Rosinski being also arrived in the Camp was by the Consent of the Polish Lords and other Principal Officers declared General of the whole Army Basili-Zuski had in the mean while applied all his Care in getting ready his Recruits and making new Levies throughout the whole Empire with an Intention to bring so formidable an Army into the Field as to be able to stop the further Progress of his Enemy For this end having formed an Army of above a Hundred and fifty thousand Men and declared his Brother Demetrius Zuski General he ordered him to march directly towards the Poles and fight them wherever he met them Pursuant to these Orders the Zuskian Army march'd towards the City of Bolchow where having fix'd their Tents within sight of the Enemy some Days were spent in Skirmishes whilst the Generals of both Parties watch'd their Opportunity of Deciding their Quarrel by a Battel to the best Advantage It was not long before they found it being equally eager of Engaging For as I said before scarce had they lain thus encamp'd a few days but they saw the Zuskians early in the Morning drawing out to put themselves in Battle Array having detach'd a Body of their best Horse to possess themselves of some advantageous Posts near to the Demetrian Camp which these have soon been advertised of by their Parties that were abroad to observe the Motion of the Enemy they with all speed sent also a Body of their best Horse to engage the Muscovites and to maintain those advanced Posts till they could be sustained by some of their Infantry The Polish Horse engaged the Muscovites with so much Bravery that after an Engagement of an Hour they forced them to quit those Posts whilst the whole Army was putting in Order of Battle having taken the Advantage of the same Ground which the Muscovites intended to have made use of against them The Muscovites being bassled in their first Enterprize however did not lose Courage as trusting to their Number and Demetrius Zuski their General at the Head of them left nothing unattempted which might encourage his Soldiers to fight bravely against the sworn Enemies of their Country He told them That a great part of the Demetrian Army was composed out of Vagabonds and Rebels whom they had seen fly before them so often of late and who now puffed up with their late Success near Caluga more to be attributed to their Treachery and a Luckâ—y Chance than their
to moulder away to nothing by the intestine Dissensions of their Generals and the carelesness of their Martial Discipline but more especially by the mismanagement of Sigismund King of Poland who by the unseasonable Distractions occasioned by his recalling the Poles out of the Demetrian Camp was the chief Instrument of the Deliverance of the Muscovites to his great Detriment for the Enemy who before was scarce able to maintain himself within the Walls of Musco being now freed from that Thorn that stuck so deep in his Flesh soon gathered new Strength for that the King who might if he had given due Encouragement to have Demetrius prosecuted the War at the Expence and Danger of others or at least have shared both with them by his obstinate Perseverance in the Siege of Smolensko drew the whole Burthen of the War upon his own Shoulders and thus robb'd himself of the Glory and Advantage of making himself the Arbitrator betwixt both the contending Parties This memorable Siege was rais'd in the beginning of March in the Year 1610. The Citizens of Musco seeing themselves thus deliver'd from their troublesome Neighbours began now to assume new Courage and Vigour and having driven the Poles out of Peresla and Alexandria most of the Provinces which were revolted to Demetrius now again declared for Zuski offering considerable Supplies and promising their utmost Assistance in chasing the Poles out of Muscovy Zuski having conceived new Hopes of Sâ—ccess from the Zeal of his Subjects march'd to the Riâ—er Wolga where he recover'd all the Places as yet in the Possession of the Demetrians and forced Sapiha who as we mention'd before remain'd stedfast in the Interest of Demetrius to raise the Siege of the strong Convent of Troitza Rosinski after his Separation from Sapiha and the rest of the Demetrian Forces had possess'd himself of Volock and the strong Convent of Ossipow both which he had provided with a good Garrison having sent the rest of his Troops under the Command of Zlarowski to the King of Poland before Smolensko He himself was by reason of an Indisposition occasioned by a hurt he received before Musco detained at Volock His Distemper increasing every day by reason of the Distraction of his Mind created by his late ill Successes he was at last overcome more by the Violence of his Grief than of his Malady which deprived him of his Life in a strange Country Rosinski dyes at that very time when the Zuskians were approaching the Place in order to besiege it Volviowitz the Zuskian General having soon received Intelligence of the Death of Rosinski hastned his March and having immediately caused the Town to be attacked with Vigour the Garrison all in a Distraction by the Death of their General surrender'd it in a few Days without making any considerable Resistance From thence he turn'd his Arms to Ossipoâ— which he also took but not without great Difficulty and the Loss of a great many of his Men. For this Place being garrison'd by a thousand French and Germans they beat off the Muscovites in several bloody Assaults and obliged them to turn the Siege into a Blockade which having reduced the Garrison to the last Extremity for want of all manner of Necessaries they took a Resolution rather to force their way with their Swords in their Hands thro' the Enemies than tamely to surrender upon dishonourable Conditions They chose Midnight as the fittest time for the Exploit when having refreshed themselves with what Provisions there was left and having taken their farewel of one another by Embraces and drinking each a Cup of Aqua vitae they made a Sally out of the Gate which leads to Smolensko and like Men resolved to die attacked the Muscovites in their Posts with an unparallel'd Bravery of whom a great many were kill'd before they could be relieved by fresh Troops when their Number increasing continually they kill'd most of the Garrison but not without great Slaughter on their side two hundred only escaping to King Sigismund's Camp And the rest sold their lives so dearly that some thousands of the Muscovites were slain upon the Place In the mean while the King of Poland had made several fruitless Attacks upon the City of Smolensko the Garrison of which Place defended it self with a most gallant Resolution The Attempt which was made at the Gate of S. Michael by one Nowodorski a Polander and Captain of the King's Guards deserves among the rest a particular Remembrance here For he having fastned a Petard to the abovementioned Gate laid open a Passage into the Town and with a few young Polish Noblemen entred the City with their Scymetars drawn cutting down all before them There is no question but that if they had been vigorously seconded by the rest the Place must have infallibly fallen into the Hands of King Sigismund But most of them not daring to follow he and his small Company were over-powered by the great Number of the Muscovites who flock'd to the Defence of the Gate yet they made good their Retreat with the Loss of two only of their Companions leaving behind them most evident Proofs of their Valour among the Muscovites They being now forewarn'd took care to block up their Gates with Earth and making deep Trenches before them to prevent their being surprized upon the same Account for the future Zuski being flush'd with the variety of these Successes and having got together an Army of above fifty thousand Men all chosen Troops a great many of them being Germans Swedes and French was resolved to push on his Fortune and if possible to clear Muscovy both of its foreign and domestick Enemies If he had bent his whole Force against Demetrius who at thatâ—time lay with the Remnants of his Army near Caluga there is no question but that he might have destroyed him and his Party past all Recovery but despising his small Number he committed the Care of them to his Tartarian Troops whilst he with the main Army march'd to the Relief of Smolensko King Sigismund having received timely Intelligence of their Design was not unprepared for their Reception and having sent Stanislaus Zolkievitski with ten thousand Men to take Possession of some advantageous Posts near Clusin he resolved there to expect the Enemy Not many days were past before the Muscovites were advanced within sight of the Poles when pursuant to a Resolution taken in a Council of War the whole Army was drawn out in order of Battle to attack in their Advantage The left Wing of the Zuskian Army was composed of Muscovites the Right of Swedes French and a good Number of Tartarian Horse the main Body consisting most of Germans and some other mercenary Soldiers The Poles were much inferiour in Number to the Muscovites but trusting upon their Courage and the Advantage of the Ground they received the Enemy with great Bravery who confiding in their Number attack'd them with incredible Fury The Fight was very bloody and remained doubtful for some
one another when a Body of five thousand Muscovites which were posted in the Front of the left Wing of the Demetrian Army instead of attacking the Enemy ran over to them all in a Body which having put Polutnich and the whole Army into a great Consternation it was thought most advisable to avoid fighting and to retreat to Thula Zuski falling in their Rear cut off a considerable number of them closely pursuing the rest to the Walls of the City which was immediately after surrounded by the whole Army and attacked with all the Fury imaginable The besieged having in their Retreat been forced to leave behind them all their Artillery and Ammunition were very ill provided with such Things as were necessary to sustain a Siege nevertheless trusting in their Courage they defended themselves so valiantly that the Muscovites seeing themselves repulsed with great Slaughter in several Attacks were obliged to enclose the City by making strong Line of Circumvallation round about it in hopes to reduce it by Famine which succeeded according to their Expectation For those within by their sudden Retreat haveing had neither Time or Opportunity to put Provisions in the City were in a little time reduced to the greatest Extremity for want of them Schacopski in the mean while was not a little amaz'd that he received not the least News out of Poland whither he had dispatch'd his Messengers to advertise them of the danger they were in and the Inhabitants of Thula who saw themselves reduced to that Extremity as to be forced to feed upon Cats Dogs Horses and such like Things without hopes of Relief began to be mutinous and to accuse both Schacopski and Polutnich of having betrayed them by their fictitious Insinuations as if their Great Duke Demetrius were alive in Poland which if he had been he would not have fail'd to give them his Assistance in this Extremity Schacopski put the best Countenance he could upon the Matter telling them that they could not expect him to come in Person unless back'd with a Force suitable to the Strength of his Enemies and that if they would but have Patience he did not question but in a few days to hear of his approach in order to come to their Relief Polutnich assur'd them upon his Honour that he himself had seen and spoke with a certain Person of about thirty Years of Age who was in Poland acknowledg'd to be the true Demetrius and from whose Hands he had received his Commission that they should not rely upon his Word alone but that he would advise them to send a trusty Messenger of their own one whom they knew to have seen the Prince Demetrius before into Poland to represent to him the true State of their Affairs and to solicite prompt Succors that at his Return he would be ready to join with them in any thing they should think most advisable for their common Safety The Citizens of Thula having given their Consent to this Proposal and dispatch'd a certain Messenger who by favour of the Night and the Carelesness of the Besiegers got safely thro' their Camp without being discovered they gave fresh Assurance of their Stedfastness to Polutnich till the return of this Emissary Schacopski in the mean while was not a little surprised that he could not hear the least Tidings out of Poland but the true Cause was that the Gentleman whom the Poles had engag'd to personate the true Demetrius haveing understood in what ill a posture his Affairs were in Muscovy after the two last Defeats began to retract his Promise of making himself an Instrument to satisfie the Revenge of the Poles upon the Muscovites and setting before his Eyes the fatal End of the late Demetrius Quia me vestigia terrent after he was in Possession of the Empire he look'd upon the Muscovian Throne like the Fox upon the Lion's Den and therefore wisely resolved rather to enjoy himself upon his plentiful Estate in Poland than to expose himself to danger for the imaginary Lustre of a Crown But the Poles being fully resolved not to acquit Zuski thus of the Barbarities committed against their Countrymen Another Demetrius set up by the Poles were not long before they found out another to supply his Place Muscovy so fertile of Impostors soon furnishing them with One whom they look'd upon as a fit Tool to promote their obstinate Revenge against Zuski this was one Ivan or John a Native of Pocala a City of Russia where he had been a School-Master for some time and being grown weary of his Employment took hold of this Opportunity to meliorate his Condition and if possible to change his School Scepter for that of the Muscovian Empire The first who publickly espoused his Interest was one Micharetski a Man of very eminent Quality in Poland who having gathered a considerable Body of Troops they marched at the Head of them to Puttiwoll where having been received with the greatest demonstrations of Joy and Respect due to their Sovereign they directed their March to the City of Staradub where being reinforced by some Muscovites that upon the Rumor spread abroad of the arrival of their Prince Demetrius flock'd in to them from all Parts it was resolved to march with all possible speed to the Relief of Thula The second counterfeit Demetrius Whilst they were concerting Measures to put their intended Design in execution the Messenger from the Citizens of Thula who for fear of being intercepted by the Enemies Parties that were abroad in great Numbers had been obliged to travel a great way about before he arrived at Staradub was introduced into the presence of this new modell'd Demetrius who tho' having some resemblance to the other Demetrius yet was so far different from him whom this Messenger had seen frequently before that he was not a little startled at the sight of it being scarce able to deliver his Message without confusion Demetrius by the dissatisfaction he observed in his Countenance so on guessing at the true Cause of it judged it not advisable to send back his Resolution of marching to the Relief of the Town by this Messenger who he fear'd might by this Discovery raise a great Prejudice in the Place against his Person and Interest wherefore having ordered him to be secur'd under a good Guard upon some Pretence or other he resolved to detain him till he in Person could march to raise the Siege of the Place This precaution Thula surrendred to Zuski tho' in it self founded upon very weighty Reasons yet proved the occasion of the loss of Thula For both the Garrison and Inhabitants of that City not receiving the least Intelligence concerning their Messenger whom they had dispatch'd into Poland they concluded that he must have fallen into the Hands of the Enemies and being reduc'd to the utmost Extreamity for want of Provisions it was resolved with Joint-consent rather to accept of the advantageous Conditions offer'd to them by Zuski than to perish by Famine
into the frighted Citiâ—â—ns it was resolved with what Forces they could assemble in haste to post themselves in a very advantageous Place on the borders of the Province of Severia thereby to cut off all Communication betwixt the Poles and the Southern Provinces of Muscovy bordering on Lithuania from whence they must be supplied with Men and all other Necessaries for the carrying on of the War The Poles were not a little staâ—tled at this vigorous Refolution of the Muscovites whom they believed to have been lost past all recovery but having no other way left them to secure their Retreat and to keep open the communication with their own Country than their Swords they resolved to make an Amends for their ill Conduct by their Bravery Having therefore drawn back their Army from the more Northern Parts to the South side of the City of Musco they march'd to the Frontiers of Severia where having with a most gallant Resolution either to vanquish or to die The Muscovites defeated attack'd those Forces in their advantageous Post they put them to the rout and thus having opened their Passage they pitch'd their Tents near the City of Tusin betwixt the two Rivers Tusin and Moska which in a manner surrounded and secur'd their Camp Being now become more and more sensible of their Error Musco block'd up by Demetrius in having neglected to make themselves Masters before of so advantageous a Post which in all likelihood would have prov'd fatal to that City during the first Consternation they by frequent Excursions endeavoured to repair their first Fault by which they so enclosed the Citizens within their Walls that scarce a Man durst appear at any distance from the Town The Inhabitants seeing themselves thus reduced to great Scarcity as being very near quite shut up by the frequent Excursions of the Poles and seeing themselves in no Capacity at present to drive them from their advantageous Post it was resolved to try whether by certain Proposals of Peace they might not disunite the Poles in the Camp of Demetrius They had ever since the last Massacre of the Poles detained the Polish Ambassadors and the Weywodâ— of Sendomiria with his Daughter the Great Dutchess Marina Prisoners and as they did not question that they were very desirous of their Liberty so they believ'd they might make use of them as fit Instruments to encompass their Design It was not the Reconciliation with the Poles they aim'd at but knowing the Nature of the Poles to be unstable they hoped by this Artifice to 〈◊〉 time at least till the arrival of those Supplieâ— which were raising for their Relief in the Northern Provinces by Knez Basili Masalski a near Kâ—â—man to the Great Duke Basili Zuski To obtain this end a Treaty of Peace was proposed to the Polish Ambassadors and the Wey wode of Sendomiria and that in the mean while to remove all Obstacles a Cessation of Arms should be agrreed on for a certain Time The Wey wode of Sendomiria being very willing to lay hold of this Opportunity to free himself from his Captivity sent one of his best Friends into the Camp of Demetrius to make these Proposals and in case of Refusal to endeavour to perswade the Poles to separate themselves from Demetrius and to cease from committing any Hostilities which in all likelihood might prove an obstacâ—e to the Conclusion of the Peace and consequently to his Liberty But the Poles in the Demetrian Camp not measuring their Interest by that of the Weywode but by the Success of Demetrius from whence they hoped to reap the fruits of their past Labours were so 〈◊〉 from hearkning to these Propositions that they would not as much as enter upon the least Coâ—merce of a Treaty unless it were granted as a Preliminary Article That Demetrius should be immediately restored to the Throne and the Vsurper Zuski to be delivered up into their hands The Muscovites finding themselves disappointed in their Expectation had no other Means left to secure themselves but to repel Force with Force For which end having dispatch'd frequent Messengers to Basili Masalski whom we mention'd before to hasten to their Relief he pursuant to the reiterated Orders from Court march'd with his Army which consisted of near fourscore thousand Men towards the City of Musco where having entrenched himself upon the Banks of the River Chodiunka about a League from the City he hop'd to meet with a favourable Opportunity to dislodge the Demetrians or at least to annoy them and hinder their frequent Excursions But Roâ—inski who was not insensible of the Inconveniencies which must needs be occasion'd by the nearness of so great an Army to his Camp resolved to beat up their Quarters with the first Opportunity For which purpose he drew his Army out of the Lines unperceiv'd of the Enemy by favour of the Night The Zuâ—kiâ—n Army roâ—ted and having approach'd the Enemies Camp over-secure in their Number and nearness to the City attack'd them in their Entrenchments with such Fury that in a few hours they kill'd near Twenty thousand upon the Place the rest escaping to the City leaving among the Prisoners their General in the Hands of the Enemy The Poles who had purchased so signal a Victory with the loss of very few of their Men had almost dearly paid for it at last For having dispersed themselves all over the Fields without the least Order or any Guard to secure them and being thus engaged in the Pillage of the dead Bodies and the Enemies Camp the Muscovites at break of day having been advertised of the Disorder they were in â—â—lly'd their scattered Troops Kally again and being reinforced with fresh Supplies out of the City return'd to the Charges and renewing the Combat fell every where upon the victorious Poles before they had time to put themselves in a Posture of receiving the Enemy so that there was nothing but Disorder Confusion and Slaughter to be seen all over the Field and the Muscovites were upon the point of snatching the Victory out of the Hands of their Conquerours who began to prepare to save themselves by Flight had it not been for their Generals who coming in timely with a small Body of Horse to their Assistance both by their Words and Example encouraged them either to vanquish or to die They appear'd in every place where they found their Presence most necessary to animate the Soldiers opprest by the Number of their Enemies they told them that being surrounded on all sides they must put all their Hopes of Relief on the Points of their Swords they represented to them how ignominious it would be to be routed by those they had so lately vanquish'd and to suffer themselves to be robb'd of the Fruits of their Victory so that partly out of Shame partly out of Despair they first began to make good their Ground and then being animated with Revenge they fell with such fury upon the Muscovites The Zuskians
Town that way But the Besiegers advanced but slowly in their Works for want of Foot for tho' the King had lateâ—y received a reinforcement of five thousand Cosacks yet there being not above ten thousand Foot in his whole Army which according to the Custom of the Polanders was chiefly composed of Horse these bearing no proportion to so numerous a Garrison they were continually harrassed by the frequent Sallies of the Besieged who often drove them from their Trenches before they could be seconded by their Horse Their approaches being thus carried on not without great difficulty a considerable time was spent before they could possess themselves of some advantageous Posts near the Walls of the City which being very convenient for the Besiegers to fetch in their Supplies of fresh Water put them to some Distress that way yet not so but that they had sufficient Opportunity to furnish themselves with it in the night-time without being perceived by the Enemy by reason of the nearness of the River Thus the Siege continued with abundance of Toil but small Success the King who now began to be sensible of his Error being resolved upon a Punctilio of Honour not to leave the Place till it were reduced cost it what it would so that many of the Poles but especially of the Cosacks paid with their Lives for their King's Obstinacy who might have been employed with much more Probability of Success against the City of Musco For whilst the King was thus wasting his Forces before Smolensko the Zuskians having received Advice of the approach of the Swedish Troops sent to their Assistance began to concert measures how to remove at a further distance the Demetrian Forces that had lain so long at their Doors They were not ignorant of the Inconveniencies which the Poles labour'd under in the Demetrian Camp They had sufficient Intelligence of their Divisions and Animosities in their Councils occasioned by the Multitude of their Chief Commanders who being sway'd more by their particular Interest and Ambition than the Good of the common Cause lost many times an Opportunity of annoying the Enemy This Instability in their Councils caused much Carelesness in the whole Conduct of their Affairs which frequently turn'd to their great Disadvantage as it happned in May in the same Year when a sharp Engagement hapning betwixt the Inhabitants of the City of Musco and the Demetrians these had at first the better of them but making a disorderly Retreat without the least necessity and falling to plunder the Dead gave the Enemy opportunity to Rally and being reinforced with fresh Troops out of the City they so furiously charged the Poles that they entirely â—outed them most of their Foot being either kill'd or taken Prisoners The Disgrace they received not long after at T were must chiefly be ascribed to their divided Counsels For the Poles having got Intelligence that the Swedish Auxiliaries were marching towards Musco sent Zlarowski with three thousand â—orse to observe their Motion and to annoy them if possible in their March Zlarowski having had the good Fortune to surprize one of their Regiments which was advanced at some distance before the rest he cut them all to pieces This so alarm'd the Muscovites who had put all the Hopes of their Saâ—ety in these Auxiliary Troops that they march'd out with their whole Strength and join'd them near the City of T were The Poles having got Notice of their March sent also a considerable Reinforcement to Zlarowski who meeting them some few Miles beyond T were Engagement betwixt the Poles and Muscovites near T were a fierce Engagement ensued both Parties disputing the Victory with great Obstinacy The Polish Horse attack'd the two Wings of the Enemies with an irresistible Courage and the Russians fighting for the last Stake behaved themselves like Men resolv'd either to overcome or die notwithstanding which they were forced to give Ground both Wings being after a bloody and obstinate Fight routed by the Poles who killed 8000 among whom were 1000 German Horse upon the Spot But the Foot stood all this while unmovable and had several times made Zlarowski who commanded the main Body of the Polish Army give Ground and tho' now left by their Horse had possest themselves of an advantageous Post where they could not be attack'd without great Disadvantage The Polish Horse being extreamly tired by the Fatigues of the Day and the whole Army much inferiour in Number to that of the Enemy it was not thought advisable to pursue them but on the contrary all the ablest and most experienced Officers were of Opinion to rest contented with what Advantage they had gotten and to withdraw to some more advantageous Post But Zlarowski emuloâ—s of the Honour the rest had goten would by no means consent to their Advice and being resolved to try his Fortune whether he could in some Measure recover the Disgrace he had received in that day's Action would not stir from his Post tho' expos'd to the Enemies Cannon So that the rest seeing him resolute and obstinate against their Counsels they quartered themselves in some of the adjacent Villages The Enemy having by some Deserters got notice what Effects their divided Counsels had produced soon rally'd their Horse and having rejoined their Foot by break of Day fell with such Fury upon the Poles that seeing themseves thus surprized and in no Capacity to second one another they fought their Way thro' the Enemy the Foot retiring to T were the Horse making the best of their Way to their Camp near Musco with the loss of a great many of their Companions and all their Artillery and Baggage The Muscovites flush'd with this happy Success march'd directly to T were where they stormed the Castle at three several times with more Courage than Conduct for the Polish Foot which got before them within the Place repulsed them every time with great Slaughter so that despairing of carrying the Place by reason of its numerous Garrison they raised the Siege and directed their march towards the River Wolga At some Miles distance from Kolasinum Aâ—â—ther Engagementâ— near Kolasinum they were encounter'd by a great Body of the Demetrian Horse who falling in their Rear brought the whole Arrier-guard in Confusion till seconded by some fresh Regiments they forced the Poles to retire Besides this the Licentiousness of their Discipline in the Demetrian Camp had occasioned several Seditions for want of Pay so that Demetrius to satisfie their Demands was forced to lay such heavy Taxations upon the Provinces which had submitted to his Obedience that at last becoming intolerable most of the great Cities revolted and the Country refused to pay any further Contributions looking upon them as the Fuel that nourished the Flame which had almost consumed them In some Places they grew so outrageous as to seize imprison and kill the Tax-gatherers Demetrius therefore to maintain his Authority and to protect his Officers being obliged to send strong Parties into
another It is for this reason they are obliged to March with great Caution through Desarts and unknown Roads and for fear of being discovered Encamp in the very midst of the Winter without Fire Being come near the Place where they intend to make an Irruption their Generals detatch a third Part of the whole Army which being again divided into several Bodies they make their Excursions at ten or twenty Miles distanceâ— on both sides of the Army which in the mean while is kept ready in a Posture to fight the Enemy wherever there may be occasion The first Detatchment being return'd fâ—om Pillaging the second is sent out and at their return the third Part till every one has had his Share in Ravaging round about the Camp as far as they thought it convenient for the space of five or six days then they retire as fast as they can marching sometimes 60 or 80 Miles in 24 Hours till they come to the Great Plains where thinking themselves secure by reason of the Advantage they have in the vast number of their Horses they tarry there for some time as well to recover themselves from the Fatigue they have undergone in the Expedition as to share the Booty and Prisoners they have taken They sometimes make also an Irruption in the Summer-time which is commonly put in Execution by the Tartars of Budziack who seldom go into the Campaign with above ten or twelve Thousand Men at a time The Tartarian Armies are divided into very strong Regiments or Troops Their manner of Fighting consisting of two three and sometimes four Thousand Men they seldom Engage with their Enemies except they know themselves much Superior in Number but when they cannot avoid fighting they divide themselves into a great many Bodies and so make a running Fight our Forces which are obliged to keep their Rank and Order not knowing which of them to Attack first or with the most Advantage Whilst they are Retiring they shoot their Arrows backwards as thick as Hail which they do with the greatest Dexterity imaginable being the best Horse-Men in the World and Riding very short with their Knees bent like the Poles Arabians Turks and Africans they at full Speed raise themselves upon their Stirrops and with their Arrows gall their Enemies Horse and return as frequently to Charge those that pursue them as they find opportunity to do it This is however to be understood when they out number their Enemies for else if they happen to be surprised they run away full Speed and trust to the Heels of their Horses But this is very rarely done they always keeping strong Out-Guards at some distance from their Camp either near a River or on some Eminency from whence they at a great distance descry the approach of the Enemy being as quick-sighted as any People in the World and so give the Alarum to the rest The Prisoners they take in these Expeditions they sell to the Merchants which come from Constantinople and other Places belonging to the Turks in the Levant to Caffa or else they keep them for their own Use either to Cultivate the Ground or to look after their Cattle where they must be contented with the same Food their Masters have which is commonly Horses Flesh half raw which they eat lying upon the Ground after a very beastly manner But this as well as most of the rest we have related concerning the Manner of these Tartars 〈…〉 is to be understood from such among them as live in the Great Plains and these indeed are the greatest part a sort of a Vagabond Life but for such as inhabit within the Isthmus of the Taurica Chersonesus and have settled Habitations in Cities and Villages are much more civilised making not only use of Tables and Seats spread with Carpets and other sorts of Furniture brought thither by the Armenians and other Merchants of the Levant but also their Dyet comes much nearer to that of other Europaeans making use of Bread Mutton Fowl Hydromel and Aqua Vitae in their Houses and have their Mosques like the Turks They are all bare-wall'd within without any Painted or Graven Image for they ridicule the Russians telling them That when their Saints are grown old and Worm eaten they throw them into some River or another from whence says they we perhaps take him up and broil a piece of Horseflesh upon it A fine God indeed that is not able to resist those that are going to destroy it But the Floor of these Mosques are spread with Carpets no body being allow'd to come in with his Shooes on The Day dedicated for their Religious Service is the Friday perhaps because they will not have any thing common with the Christians or Jews when at Sun-rising they are called together not by the Ringing of Bells but by the Priest who being seated in a certain Place made for that purpose on the top of the Mosque with a laudable Voice exhorts them to repair thither Being met he takes the Alcoran written in Arabick Letters in his Hand and reads the Chapter which treats concerning the Manner how to worship God after which they sing certain Songs in the praise of Mahomet and so depart to their respective Homes They do not burn but bury their Dead unless it be after a Defeat when they rather chuse to burn them than let them fall into the hands of the Christians and for the rest believe the Transmigration of Souls We having frequently mentioned the Cosacks in the Description of several of the Muscovian Provinces The Cosacks we will conclude this Chapter with a short Account of their Origin and what else may be found remarkable among a barbarous multitude of People Those that have described the Cosacks as a particular Nation have been grossly mistaken in their Opinion For before the Time of Sigismund the I. they were no more than Volunteers or Freebuteers composed out of a wild and barbarous Rabble most of them Boors that had left their Habitations in the Neighbouring Provinces of the Polish Russia Wolinia and Podolia and had settled themselves in some Islands of the River Boristhenes beneath Kiovia where they lived upon Robbing and Plunder They were called Cosacks from their Agility the Word Cosa intimating as much in the Polish Language which chiefly consisted in passing betwixt the innumerable small Islands situate at the mouth of the River Boristhenes They used to commit their Piracies for the most part upon the Black-Sea and are since that time not only become formidable to the Turkish Gallies but also to Natolia it self where they did not only plunder Trebisond and Sinope but even the Suburbs of Constantinople and brought back their Prisoners and Booty safe to their Habitatations in the Isles of the Boristhenes Their Custom is to Cruise during the Summer in the Black-Sea but as soon as the Winter approaches these Freebuteers return to the Boristhenes where dispersing themselves every one to his respective Home they
it self with an extraordinary Bravery Demetrius whilst these wasted themselves in the Siege of this Place had full Leisure given him to rally his scattered Troops at Ribscum and there to expect the Return of the Waywode and Wisnowiski who were gone to their respective Countries to raise fresh Supplies for this Service Being at last made sensible of their Mistake they resolved to send part of their Army to attack him under â—â—scum before he could be reinforced with such Auxiliaries as he expected to join his Forces and to leave the rest to carry on the Siege of Krom Pursuant to this Resolution they sent Fifty thousand of their best Men to attack Demetrius who with about six or seven Thousand most Horse the Remnants of his Army had strongly intrenched himself under Ribscum Having got timely Notice of the Approach of the Enemy he detached a Thousand of his best Horse to approach their Camp and to get what Intelligence they could concerning the Posture of the Enemy but these having sent out a more numerous Body of Horse to engage the Demetrians The Army of Bâ—ris routed there ensued a fierce Combat both Parties being reinforced with fresh Supplies from their Camps But the Polish Horse behaved themselves so gallantly that after two Hours Engagement they totally routed the Muscovites and closely pursuing them with a great slaughter to their Camp where their Foot were just drawing up in order of Battle to sustain their Horse these pressed all in Confusion with such Violence upon their own Infantry that they soon broke their Ranks and brought the whole Army into such a Disorder that Demetrius who by this time was advanc'd with the Remainder of his Army soon put them to the rout and forced them to leave their Camp and Artillery as a Reward of his Victory The Fame of so signal a Defeat having been soon spread all over the neighbouring Provinces all the great Cities thereabouts declared for the Conquerour the whole Province of Severia one of the largest in all Muscovy followed the Example of the rest and furnished his victorious Army with all Necessaries which by this sudden Change of Fortune grew every day more numerous those who hitherto out of Fear had been backward in declaâ—ing themselves now striving to out-do one another in giving the most evident Demonstrations of their Zeal for the Interest of the Victorius Demetrius Boris on the other Hand tho' not a little startled at so sudden an Accident yet did not lose Courage but having rally'd his scatter'd Troops and ordered new Levies to be made he sent his Spies and Emissaries into the Camp of Demetrius to try whether by the hopes of Pardon and great Rewards they could bring over the Revolted Russians to their Allegiance to him and especially to entice the Cosacks from Demetrius to his Party or whether by some means or other they could not dispatch and send him to the other World But some of these Emissaries being discovered and put to the Torture made an Ingenuous Confession of the Truth and were without any further Punishment sent back to Boris with this Errand that it was little becoming his present high Station to make use of Poyson and Daggers against his Enemy and that he did not question but that before long he should be ready to call him to a severe Account for this as well as his other treacherous Devises But that if he would give him real Demonstrations of his sincere Repentance by surrendring the Crown to him whose unquestionable Right it was he would grant him and all his Adherents a general Amnesty for all past Crimes and Misdemeanours But Boris having rejected these Offers with Scorn and yet seeing his Adversary encrease in Strength every day he resolved to try the utmost and whether by one dextrous Blow he could not overthrow him and his Designs He was not ignorant that the main strength of his Army consisted in the Auxiliaries and Supplies he from time to time received out of Poland and that if he could by any means deprive him of his foreign Aids the rest would soon disperse or at least easily be reduced to obedience He wisely considered that if a considerable Diversion could be procured to the Poles at home they would be obliged to recall their Subjects out of the Service of Demetrius who deprived of their Assistance like a Body of its best Nourishment would soon be reduced to a languishing Condition But the circumstances of his Affairs being such as not to permit him to attempt alone this intended Diversion a Treaty was set on foot with the Swedish and Danish Ambassadours then residing in the City of Musco to Embroil Sigismund King of Poland at his own doors by the assistance of these two Crowns But whilst they were busied in concerting measures to put this in Execution and Boris apply'd his whole Care in resettling his Affairs he was on a sudden seiz'd with a most violent Choâ—ck which immediately after being followed by a great quantity of Blood which issued out of his Mouth Ears and Nostrâ—â—s he died in an Instant some say for Grief some of an Appoplexy others of Poyson by the Contrivances of Demetrius However it was he expir'd on the 13th of April in the Year 1605 in the Seventh Year of his Reign He shew'd so much Mildness and Moderation during the Time of his Government that he might well be placed among the best of Princes if he had not opened his way to the Throne of Muscovy by the Murder of his lawful and natural Prince The sudden Death of Boris Goudenou The sudden Death of Boris Goudenoâ—â— hapning at so critical a Juncture when all his Friends had conceived great hopes of his intended Diversion against the Poles put them under a great Consternation and the greatest part of the Nobility and Army looking upon this unexpected Change as ominous to his Family shew'd a great Inclination in Favour of Demetrius whose Power began now to appear more formidable to them than before But the Populacy who had as yet fresh in remembrance the Benefits received from Boris Goudenou especially during the great Famine in the Years 1601 1602 and 1603 declared for Fedor his Son and having forced the Boyars and Chief Officers of the Army to do the same he was placed in the Throne and his Mother constituted Regent during his Minority Fedor or Theodore His Son Fedor succeeds him being thus mounted on the Throne under the Tuition of his Mother apply'd all his Care to stop the Progress of Demetrius and having received Intelligence that he intended suddenly to march to the Relief of Krom which was still besieg'd by the Muscovites he declared Bosman who had so valiantly defended Novogorod in his Father's Time General over his Army which afterwards proved fatal to the whole Borisian Family For Hodwen a near Kinsman of Boris Goudenoâ— and General of his Forces during his Reign haveing got timely notice of the Resolutions taken at Court
in favour of Bosman by the powerful Influence he had over the principal Officers of the Army soon prevail'd with them to refuse to submit to the Command of Bosman as a Soldier of fortune which Affront he dissembled for a while till he met with a favourable Opportunity to revenge it upon the whole Family of the Great Duke as we shall see anon In the mean while Demetrius had commanded the greatest Part of his Army under the Conduct of Zaporius to advance towards Krom and endeavour its Relief who haveing accordingly directed his March to the Muscovian Camp he received Intelligence by the means of Bosman of the Posture of the Enemy and that he intended to come over to his Party as soon as a favourable Opportunity should present Zaporius being resolved to improve so advantageous an Offer was impatient to come to Blows with the Muscovites but these being both superior in Number and strongly Entrench'd and consequently not to be attack'd without exposing the whole Army he drew them out of their advantageous Entrenchments by the following Stratagem He contrived a Letter directed to the Governour and Chief Officers of the Garrison of Krom wherein after having highly extolled their Valour and Zeal and made them ample Promises of Rewards he told them that he was advanced with a considerable Force near the Enemies Camp to annoy them and to intercept their Foragers till the arrival of Prince Demetrius himself who was on his March at the Head of the Cosacks and other Auxiliaries lately arrived from Poland to oblige the Muscovites to raise the Siege This Letter being given to one who undertook to carry it into the Place he was directed thus to the City by the secret Orders of Zaporius that he must of necessity fall into the Hands of the Enemiâ—s advanced Guards which having suceeded accordingly the poor Fellow was carried before the Muscovite General where haveing been examined he was forced to produce the Letter which as he believ'd was to have been carried into the City Hodwen the General of the Muscovite Army having perused the Letter and over-joy'd at the Discovery of the approach of Demetrius call'd immediately a Council of War wherein it having been judged most convenient to attack the Enemy before they could be join'd by Demetrius it was resolved to leave only a small Body to keep the Avenues leading to the Town and with the rest to give Battle to Zaporius He soon perceiving by the Countenance of the Enemy that his Design had thus far succeeded according to his wish drew out his Forces in Battle-Array but being much inferior in number and fearing not without Reason lest Bosman with his Party might be discouraged by the inequality of their Number he resolved to back his Letter with a second Stratagem He placed all the Servants Suâ—lers and other useless Persons belonging to the Baggage at some distance behind the Army with whom having join'd some Soldiers enough to make up a Front he order'd them after they had seen him Engag'd for some time to advance in good Order with their Colours flying Drums beating and Trumpets sounding Thus having prepared every thing according to his intended Purpose he marched directly towards the Muscovites whom he attack'd with the utmost Vigour but these being without intermission re-inforced by fresh Troops gave so much work to the Poles that the Fight was very obstinate and bloody and the latter would have been in no small danger of losing the Day had not Bosman who Commanded the Body of Reserve in the Muscovian Army as soon as he saw the Polish Mock Army advance in the greatest heat of the Battle with some of his Party gone over to Zaporius and declared for Prince Demetrius crying out aloud to the Muscovites that they should cease to fight against their Natural Prince Bosman being the Darling of the common Soldiers his Words and Example had such a powerful Influence over them that like one Man they cry'd The Muscovites revolt they would live and die with him The Nobility and Chief Officers of the Army finding themselves deserted by the Soldiers resolved immediately to send their Deputies to Demetrius who at that time resided at Puttiwoll to acknowledge their Fault in having so long stood out against their Prince to implore his Pardon for what was past and to give him all the imaginable Assurances of their Fidelity for the future Demetrius transported with Joy at so welcome a piece of News lost no time but having immediately put himself at the Head of such Troops as he had with him at Puttiwoll march'd directly first to Krom where he caused Hodwen the Muscovian General to be clapt in Irons and from thence to Avol where the revolted Army lay Encamped Being arrived there and having received fresh Demonstrations of their entire Submission to his Commands he offer'd his Thanks to the Chief Men but especially to Bosman and his Friends and by his Caresses so gain'd upon the Affections of the common Soldiers that they all with one Voice desired him to Lead them against the Son of the Usurper of his Crown Being thus become absolutely Master of the Field and the Army and believing that now he had but one step left to ascend the Throne to wit to make himself Master of the City of Musco the Capital of the whole Empire he ordered every thing to be got ready for the March Whilst he was thus advancing by slow Marches towards Musco he sent his Letters to the Magistrates of that City wherein he told them he was near at hand with a most Potent Army ready to attack them at his first Command but that taking commiseration of their Condition he exhorted them to make choice of the fruits of Peace before the inevitable Calamities of War That if they preferred the last before the first they must be answerable for all the Miseries which are the necessary Consequences of an intestine War but as he was persuaded they would consult their own Safety he advised them to root out the whole Progeny of that accursed Traytor Boris Goudenou who had murder'd his Brother the late Great Duke Fedor and would have acted the same Tragedy with himself if it had not been prevented by the Vigilancy and Care of his Royal Mother and lastly not to delay any longer to shew their Readiness in Asserting the undoubted Right of their Natural Prince This Letter having been read in the Presence of the People and the Messenger of Demetrius in the Market-place they began to assemble in great Numbers and after a short Consultation what Measures were best to be taken they sent some among them to the Palace of Knez Basilizuski who having peremptorily demanded of him to declare before them whether this were the true Demetrius Youngest Son of Czar John Basilovits that lay now encamped near their City Zuski positively asserted that he was and that he had been saved from the Assassins sent by Boris Goudenou for his Destruction by
occasion should require Being thus prepar'd they pitch'd upon the sixteenth of May which being a Day appointed for an Extraordinary Feast in the Castle was consequently spent in all sorts of Jollities and Divertisments the Guards being even dismissed upon this extraordinary Occasion from their Duty So that every thing conspiring to facilitate the Design of the Conspirators it was resolved among them that at the closing of the Feast when the whole Court should be buried in strong Liquor and Sleep should be the beginning of the Tragedy they intended to act the next Morning The very same Night there happned a certain Accident which had been likely to have once more spoil'd their whole Design For a certain young Fellow who was privy to the Conspiracy drinking with some of the Guards and being elevated by the Force of the strong Liquor had unwarily let fall some Words in his Discourse concerning this intended Conspiracy whereupon being seized and brought before Demetrius he order'd him immediately to be put to the Rack to extort from him the whole truth of the Design But some of the Muscovian Lords who were concern'd in the Plot and in the most imminent Danger that could be of being discovered told the Grand Duke that it was easily to be seen that the young Fellow's Brains were intoxicated by the Strength of the Aqua vitae and that therefore it would be a Madness to make the least Reflection upon what he said while he was drunk Demetrius hurried on by his malignant Fate to his approaching Destiny being also hot-headed with the great quantity of Wine he had drank that Day followed the deceitful Advice of his mortal Enemies and dismiss'd the young Fellow for time with an Intention to have him further examined the next day without taking the least Precaution against the Attempts of his Enemies But the Conspirators had no sooner received Intelligence of what had passed in the Castle and how narrowly they had escaped being discovered immediately prepared themselves to execute their Design without any further Delay For this purpose they had before Break of Day possess'd themselves of the most considerable Parts and Avenues of the City Insurrection against Demetrius which done they caused the great Bell the common Signal of Alarms to be â—oll'd and most horrible Out-cries to be made in the Market-place and adjacent Streets that the Poles who were lately come along with the Grand Dutchess were in Arms with an Intention to Massacre all the Inhabitants of the City The Citizens being soon 〈◊〉 waked by those dreadful Apprehensions with the Assistance of the Conspirators who had dispeâ—ed themselves into those parts of the Town where the Poles were lodged fell instantly upon the Poleâ— in their Quarters who being all drunk and asleep in their Beds they kill'd most of them before they could be sensible of their Danger The Beginning of their projected Design having thus succeeded according to Wish Knez Basili-Zuski at the Head of this Party and a vast number of People having by the Massacre of the Poles secured themselves against all Opposition marched directly with their Scymeters in their Hands towards the Castle where they found every thing in a profound Silence and Security every Soul there being overwhelmed with Sleep Weariness and strong Liquor to that Degree that the Conspirators were advanced to the Gates of the Royal Palace before they took the Alarm within Demetrius being one of the first that awaken'd by the Noise and Out-cries of those that were Massacring all they met within the Castle got to one of the Windows and having soon understood the true Meaning of this Tumult he call'd to Bosman and some other Gentlemen of his Bed-Chamber that were near at hand who haviâ—â— taken what Weapons they could meet with on a sudden endeavoured to stop the Fury of those who press'd forward to enter the Great Duke's Apartment Demetrius himself appearing among them arm'd with a Halbard wherewith he dispatched some of the most forward of the Conspirators but some of them being provided with Pistols and Muskets they discharged so furiously upon the Great Duke and his Company that most of them being slain among whom was Bosman who was stabb'd with a Dagger Demetrius was forced to retire and being pursued from Chamber to Chamber at last threw himself out of the Window down into one of the Courts from whence tho' sorely bruised he at last got into the Fortress of the Castle guarded by Muscovites The Conspirators being enraged at their having miss'd their Prey fell a ransacking the Great Dukes Apartment and forcing their Way with their Scymeters thro' the Bodies of a few Attendants that were left entred the Grand Duke's Bed-Chamber whither all the Polish Ladies of Quality were retired and at the Approach of the Muscovites appeared half dead and immovable like Statues for fear not being able to utter one Word unless it were a certain ancient Lady who somewhat more confident than the rest by reason of her great Age answered the Muscovian Lords that were enquiring where the Great Dutchess was That at the beginning of the Tumult she had found means to get away as she believed to her Father's Palace Having search'd all over the Room and not being able to find her they were resolved to try whether they could put Life into the Ladies and restore to them that Natural Motion they had lost by this sudden Consternation and so to work they went every one catching hold of her he liked best and thus having satisfied their brutish Lust they were going to leave the Room in further Pursuit after Demetrius It is to be observed that among all the Ladies that were there but two escaped their Violences the first was the Lady Palatine of Lamoc we mentiond before secured more by her Wrinkles and Grey Hair than out of any Respect to her Person and another Lady that sate very sick in a large Elbow-Chair One of the Muscovian Lords as they were Just going out hapning to cast his Eyes that way observed some Motion behind that Chair and being curious to know the Meaning of it advanced that Way where having pulled up the Hangings he discovered the poor affrighted Marina who as she was of an extraordinary Presence of Mind look'd upon them with so Majestick an Air that they all withdrew without offering any further Violence By this time the Conspirators being advertised that Demetrius had saved himself among the Muscovites that guarded the Fortress of the Castle they march'd thither and attack'd the Fort with the utmost Fury but these within being encouraged by the Presence of Demetrius who notwithstanding the Violent Bruises occasioned by his leaping out of the Widow fought in this Extremity like a Lion with a Resolution rather to die with his Scymeter in his Hand than to be exposed to the Scorn of his Enemies they were repulsed with great Slaughter but their Strength increasing with their Number they renew'd the Assault several times but were as
bravery had once more the Impudence to look them in the Face hurried on by their ill Destiny to receive the Reward of their Treacheries from their Hands That the rest were Poles the Hereditary Enemies of their Country and Religion unto whom must be ascribed all the Evils and Mischiefs which had befaln their Empire for these several Years last past That this insolent Nation not being contented to have once before involved their Country in Blood and Confusion by setting up an Impostor instead of the true Demetrius slain at Ugletz were now upon the point of Imposing upon them a Second in order to dispose of the Throne of Muscovy at their Pleasure to enslave their Country and to root out the true ancient Greek Religion He represented to them how inglorious nay ignominious it would be to the whole Russian Nation who had extended their Conquests over most of the neighbouring Countries to receive Laws from the Poles who had conspired their Ruin and Destruction That therefore they being to expect nothing but Misery from their mortal Enemies they must look for their Deliverance in their own Courage with a Resolution not to out-live that Day which if lost would put an End to all the Glory purchased by their Ancestors to their own Felicity and that of all their Posterity Rosinski on the other hand the Demetrian General was not wanting to enflame the Courage of his Soldiers by representing to them That the Muscovites which they saw before them were the Remnants of those whom they had so often beaten with a much less number witness their late Engagement with Misinowski whom to their eternal Glory they had droven from his advantageous Post notwithstanding the inequality of their number That therefore they should not be startled at their Enemies who tho much more numerous were for the most part an undisciplin'd Rabble terrible only in outward Appearance the rest who so lately had experience of their invincible Courage scarce daring to look their Conquerours in the face He desired them to remember the Slaughter of that Countrymen in cold Blood against all the Laws of Hospitality by that very same Rabble whom they were now going to Engage that their Blood crying for Vengeance they had now the fairest Opportunity in the World to take the most ample Satisfaction from those barbarous Wretches and to punish them for their Cruelties He concluded That they ought to consider that the Conquest of whole Muscovy depended upon the points of their Swords and that one day's labour would put them into Possession of a vast Empire and all the Riches and Treasure of their Enemies be the Reward of the Victory Rosinski finding a great eagerness in his Soldiers to Engage led them on straight to the Enemy whom they attack'd with an unparallell'd Bravery and forced them several times to shrink before the daring Poles but being continually reâ—â—forced with fresh Supplies they maintain'd theâ— Ground in spite of the Bravery of the Demetrians so that the Success of the Battle remain'd doubtful for a great part of the Day But it is to be observed that the Cosacks in the same manner as Zaporius did some years before when he fought Hodwen the Borisian General had placed all their Boys and other Attendants belonging to the Baggage with some Soldiers enough to make up a Front at some distance behind the Line of Battle these upon a Signal agreed betwixt them advanc'd during the heat of the Battle with their Colours flying Drums beating and Trumpets sounding which the Muscovites who were already scarce able to sustain the Fury of the Poles having perceived and believing it to be a Body of Reserve coming to attack them afresh they began to give Ground which the Polish Horse being sensible of they renew'd the Charge with so much Bravery that in less than an Hours time they forced the Muscovian Cavalry to quit the Field in great disorderâ— Zuski's Army entirely routed The Infantry being thus exposed both in Front and Flank were soon put to an entire Rout with a great Slaughter being bereav'd of their Horse to cover their Retreat so that out of this vast Army there were not five hundred left that quitted the Field in a Body except five thousand who saved themselves in the City of Belchow but were in a few days after forced to surrender at discretion to Demetrius who falling into the same Error as Zuski did before with the Cosacks took them into Pay and received the same Reward from their hands as we shall see anon Demetrius being by so signal a Victory become Master of the Field and the whole Camp Cannon and Baggage of the Enemy what wonder if all the adjacent Places followed the Fortune of the Conquerour unto whom they opened their Gates without the least Opposition unless it were Moâ—â—â—sko and two or three more who had Courage enough to make some shew of Resistance but at the approach of the Victorious Army surrendred also at Discretion Having thus opened his way to the Capital City of Musco he directed his March thither not questioning but that the Terror of his last Victory would have so strong an influence over the disheartned Citizens as to make them open their Gates at his first arrival before the City It is nâ— difficult thing to imagine that the Loss of so vast an Army on which seem'd to depend the Fate of the whole Empire must needs put that City upon the approach of the Conquerour into such a Consternation as is not easie to be express'd But besides the presence of their Great Duke Basili Zuski who in this extremity of his Affairs was not wanting by all means possible to inspire Courage into his dejected Subjects there were two thingâ— which contributed not a little to the Resolution ofâ— the Citizens to adhere to Zuski to the last Extremity The first was That Demetrius in lieu of Marching directly to the City of Musco trifled aâ— way his Time in the more Northern Provinceâ— where the Poles rambling up and down the Country were often intercepted by the Muscovites who in the mean while had leisure given them to recover themselves out of their first Fright and to take such measures as were most suitable to the present Condition of their Affairs The second was the Perfidiousness of these five thousand Musâ—â—vites who after their Surrender at Bolchow hadâ— taken Service under Demetrius and now having watch'd their Opportunity left him again and went over to Zuski unto whom they gave an Account of the whole Condition of the Army assuring him that the Poles were not near so formidable nor numerous as represented to them by Fame and that it would be no difficult matter foâ— the City to defend it self against them till beâ—â—â— reinforced with fresh Supplies out of the more 〈◊〉 mote Provinces of the Kingdom they might meet with a more favourable Opportunity to remove them from their Walls This relation and the delays of Demetrius haveing put new Courage
the same Novodorski whom we mentioned before to have so bravely attacked the Gate of S. Michael had not come to their Assistance For he having whilst they were engaged upon the Walls found means to apply a Petard at a certain small Gate on the side of the Boristhenes he open'd a sufficient Passage for him and the King's Guards which were under his Command In the Head of whom he being seconded by the Marshal of Lithuania Dorostanski with some Volunteers assaulted and entred the Place and having slain a few who opposed their Entrance they marched without any further Opposition directly to the Market-place where having fix'd their Banners they soon made themselves Masters of the whole City For the Garrison who were engaged with those upon the Walls seeing the Enemy in the Heart of their City and infâ—tuated with Fear occasioned by the Suddenness of the Adventure threw down their Arms quitted their Stations and left a free Passage for the Besiegers to enter in on all sides upon them Smolensko â—aken by Storm In a Moment there was nothing but Horrour and Confusion to be seen throughout the City For the Poles enraged at the long Resistance of the Besieged put all they met to the Sword Men Women and Children without distinction of Age or Sex so that the Streets were every where fill'd with Blood and Slaughter A great Number of the Citizens run with their Wives and Children who made most horrible outcries to the great Church where being assaulted by the Poles they defended themselves valiantly for some time but being at last overcome they set fire to some Barrels of Powder that had been laid up there and thus blew themselves with such of the Poles as were entred into the Air chusing rather to perish by this furious Element than the Hands of their bloody and merciless Enemies Sehin the Weywode or Governour was retired with about twenty of the principal Officers into a little Tower upon the Wall where being surrounded and attacked on all sides by the Poles they defended themselves like Lyons declaring that they would not surrender unless to one of the General Officers of the Army The Governour had used some of the Polish Prisoners very cruelly so that dreading the Vengeance of the Poles if he should fall into their Hands he was resolved rather to die than surrender to their Mercy It happned very luckily that Potocki a General Officer among the Poles advanced near that Way who having enquired into the Cause of this Resistance made by a few Men Word was brought him that it was the Governoâ—â— of the Place who refused to surrender 〈◊〉 to one of the principal Officers upon which he came to the Place where Sehin with his Comrades yielded themselves immediately Prisoners of War Thus was this great City after having endured a Siege of near two Years taken in a few Hours in June in the Year 1611. The Honour of which ought chiefly to be ascribed to the Bravery and Conduct of Bartholomew Novodorski Knight of Maltha and Captain of the King's Guards who by his timely opening a Passage with his Petard was the main Instrument of the Gaining of the Place without which that Attempt of Sealing the Walls would in all likelihood have prov'd unsuccessful or at least would not have been effected without the Slaughter of a great many of the Besiegers whereas it was now purchased with the Loss of a few among the Poles The Place being thus secured strict Orders were sent throughout all the Quarters of the City to give Quarter and that the King had given the Pillage of the City to the Soldiers as the Reward of their past Fatigues and Dangers But the Soldiers especially the Germans and Poles not agreeing about the distribution of it were upon the point of coming to Blows when the King ordered all the Booty to be brought into one place in order to make an equal Dividend among them But whilst they were busie in executing the King's Command a Fire hapning by what Accident is unknown consuming in a little time all the vast Wealth of that rich City and burnt a great part of it Notwithstanding a Siege sustained of near two Years there was found in the Magazines Provisions and Ammunition for three Years longer so that if they could have had fresh Supplies of Men the Place might have been defended much longer the Garrison and Inhabitants which at the beginning of the Siege consisted of near fourscore thousand Men able to bear Arms being reduced to eight or nine thousand who nevertheless might probably have made good the Place against the assailants upon the Wall if they had not been more conquered by their own Fears occasioned by the sudden Entrance of Novodorski than by the Power of their Enemies The Muscovites being under a great Consternation after the taking of Smolensko who expecting no less than to see the whole Polish Army in a little time at the Gates of the City of Musco redoubled their Fury attacking the Polish Garrison in the Castle with their utmost Vigour but these being encouraged by the Success of their King disputed every Inch of Ground with the Enemy who notwithstanding their vast Number were not able to drive them from that Post by which they kept a Communication with the Country Sigismund on the other Hand was advised by his most able Counsellours not to lose the Fruits of his Victory but to improve it to the utmost by carrying the Terrour of his victorious Arms to the Gates of the Capital City where having a considerable Party even among the Russians themselves the Reputation of his late Success could not fail to produce strange Effects among the Muscovites to his Advantage That if he would but march to the Relief of his Subjects who there disputed his Interest with all the Bravery imaginable it was very pâ—obable he might keep in Possession of that great City which if once in his Power the rest of the Pâ—ovinces of that Empire would be soon compelled to receive his Dictates especially if they saw Vladislaus their Great Duke appear in Muscovy But King Sigismund as if overswayed by some secret Fatality was so far from hearkning to their Counsels founded upon most solid Reasons of State that he took quite contrary Measures and in lieu of pâ—osecuting his Victory resolved to turn his Back to his new Acquisitions and to exchange the fair Hopes of Gaining a vast Empiâ—e with the vain Acclamations of his People in Poland and the empty Noise of Triumph which â—â—st him no less than the Loss of the Mâ—scâ—â—iâ—n Câ—â—â—n as â—is ill Conduct had lost him some Years before his Hereditary Kingdom of Sweden Having therefore feasted the whole Army for three days to make in some measure an Atâ—onement for the Loss of their Booty and left a Body of Tâ—oops under the Command of Charles Chodkievitski for the Guard of Smolensko he himself returned into Poland to receive the Flatteries of his Subjects At the
Peril Being all terrified with the imminent Danger of their approaching Ruin and Destruction they unanimously resolved to anticipate their Fate and return it upon their Enemies for which Reason having communicated their Design to the Soldiers they ran all to their Arms faâ—â—ing upon the Muscovites next to their Quarters Lepanowitz surpriz'd at the Suddenness of the Matter and being not in the least forewarned of the Trap laid against his Life hastned thither with a few of his Friends to appease the Tumult by his Authority or else to give the necessary Orders for stopping tho Violences of the Cosacks who no sooner saw him appear but looking upon him as the chief Author of their imaginary Massacre and being under-hand edged on to his Destruction by certain Emissaries sent among them for that purpose by the Polish General they soon overpowered and slew him upon the place By this time the rest of the Muscovian Generals having got what Forces they could together marched at the Head of them to the Quarters of the Cosacks who were also on their side preparing for a resolute Defence and if all Means fail'd to open their Passage to the Castle in order to join with the Poles so that the projected Design of Gaziowski was upon the very point of having had its desired Effect if Trubecowitz who upon the News of the Fall of Lepanowitz was declared General over the Muscovites seeing them so resolute in their Defence had not desired a Parly with some of their principal Officers which having been granted and he being informed of the false Apprehensions of their imminent Danger which had occasioned this Mutiny gave them such convincing Demonstrations of the Falsity of their imaginary Peril and the most sincere Assurances of his Protection and Acknowledgment of their Services that the Tumult was appealed without any further Bloodshed Neither was it long before the Artifices of Gaziowski were discovered and quite eluded by the Care of the new Muscovite General who having caused some of the Polish Emissaries who were sent into the Camp to debauch the Cosacks to be seized and tortured they confessed the whole Matter and were put to death with the most exquisite Torments in View of their Countrymen within the Castle to deterr them fâ—om the attempting any thing like it for the Future There having by this means an entire Reconciliation and good Correspondence been re-establâ—shed betwixt the Muscovites and Gosacks they with their joint Forces vigorously pâ—osecuted the Siege and pressed so hard upon the Poles on all sides that they drove them out of all their Out-works and at last possess'd themselves also of those Fortifications which they had on the other side of the River Mâ—sca for the maintaining a Communication and Correspondency with the Countâ—y whereby being put out of all Hopes of Relief and of receiving the Necessary Supplies of Provisions â—â—ey were reduced to great Wants Having been forced to endure great Hardships for want of all manner of Necessaries for the Space of several Weeks and every thing seeming to tend to a general Insurrection among the Polish Soldiers they were on the fifteenth day of August unexpectedly delivered by a lucky Accident or rather a Miracle It is to be observed that the Poles before they were so closely pent up by the Muscovites aâ—d when they were as yet Maâ—ters of the Pass opposite to the Mid-City on the other side of the River Mosca had sent several strong Parties abroad partly the better to husband that small Store of Provisions which were remaining in the Castle partly to get what Booty they could in the Country to supply their Waâ—ts within Being especially reduced to great Straights for want of Forage they had sent all their Boys and Serâ—â—nts out a foraging which the Muscovites having got notice of they took this Opportunity to attack in the mean while this Post with the utmost Vigour which after a brave Resistance they made themselves Masters of and having caused a Line to be made with the necessary Redoubts on all the Avenues guarded by a considerable Body of their best Troops they thought to have now cut off all Hopes of Relief or receiving Supplies from the Besieged as in effect they had if their own Fears had not once more opened that Passage to the Enemy For scarce were these Lines perfected when the several Parties sent abroad by the Poles which all together amounted to some Thousands being at a certain place according to Agreement joined in one Body and met by the Forageâ—s who were marching to the City of Musco in order to their return into the Castle but approaching the River Mosca found all the Avenues leading to it secured by the Enemy's Lines They were at first at a stand not knowing what to resolve upon in this present Exigency of their Affairs most of the Soldiers that were among them tired before with the Fatigues and Hardships they had endured being for retiring and shifting for themselves But the Boys and other Servants that had been foraging declaring thâ—t they would not abandon â—heir Masters without attempting their Relief the rest being at last overcome with Shame resolved also to open their Passage with their Swords and force their Way into the Castle Pursuant to this Resolution they put their little Army in Battle-Array and extending their Front where they had placed all the Soldiers as much as possibly they could they advanced with Colours flying Drums beating and Trumpets sounding in good Order towards the Enemy's Lines Scarce were they come within sight of the Muscovites but these imagining no less than that the whole Polish Army was advancing to the Relief of their Countrymen and being seiz'd by a Panick Fear without any further delay quitted their Lines and retired on the other side of the River Mosca leaving a free Passage to the Poles who entred Cataygorod or the Mid-City which comprehends the Castle within its Walls without the least Opposition where they were received with all the Demonstraâ—ions of Joy and Praises due to their Courage Gaziowski the Polish Geneâ—al having out of what had hapned and the Confusion he observed among the Muscovites in the City soon guess'd at the true Reason of their sudden Retreat and willing to improve so favourable an Opportunity caused a strong Sally to be made upon the Muscovites who being scared with the. Apprehensions of the Approach of the whole Force of Poland durst not look the Enemy in the Face so that the Poles recovered in a few Hours from the Muscovites what had cost them many Months before they could gain it and during this Consternation it would have been no difficult Matter to have chased them quite out of the City if he that commanâ—â—d the Sally would have pushed on his Advantage with the same Vigour to the last as he did in the Beginning But this Commander being at Variance with Gaziowski the Polish General but intimate Friend of Chodkienitski Lieutenant-General of the Lithâ—â—nian Army
Lawful Sovereign he craved his Aid for the Recovery of his Throne King Charles shewed sufficient Inclination to hearken to his Propositions but considering with himself how it could be possible that the same Demetrius after having been slain three several times should appear again and ask his Assistance unless he were immortal he dispatched the Ambassador of this New Demetrius with this Answer That he would send an Ambassador of his own to Ivanogorod in order to settle every thing relating to the proposed Alliance with him in Person King Charles had at that time in his Coâ—â—t a certain Gentleman whose Name was Petrejus who had formerly seen the first Demetrius both in Poland and in the City of Musco Knowing him to be a Person of undoubted Integrity and being resolved not to be imposed upon by the cunning Muscovite he sent him as his Ambassador to this Demetrius then resident at Ivanogorod with Orders if he found him to be the same Person that was acknowledged and crowned as the true Demetrius in the City of Musco to conclude an Alliance with him and to promise him all possible Assistance for the Recovery of his Crown and the reducing his Subjects to their due Obedience Petreius being arrived at Ivanogorod demanded according to his Instructions immediately Audience from the supposed Great Duke which he could not obtain at that time by reason of a Pretended Indisposition of this new modell'd Emperour of Russia who having got Notice that Petreius had personally known the first Demetrius did not judge it advisable to admit him into his Presence Petreius having again demanded Audience was answered That the Great Duke's Indisposition would not give him leave to receive him in Person according to his Quality but that if he would be pleased to treat with his Council in the mean while concerning such Matters as were within the Compass of his Instructions he did not question but that in a few Days he might be so far re-establish'd in his Health as to ratifie the Treaty in Person and to shew him all the Honours due to his Character Petreius who began to mistrust the Matter answered That the King of Sweden his Master being desirous to enter into a strict Alliance with his Czarish Majesty had given him some particular Instructions which he was commanded to communicate to no body but to him in Person And having made reiterated Instances for his Admittance into the Great Duke's Presence which was as often denied him under some pretence or other he had all the Reason to gather from thence and some other Observations he made that this Denial proceeded from the Conscience of his own Guilt and that all his Pretences were fictitious Wherefore having once more demanded Audience which was again denied â—he declared That since it was his Misfortune to come at a time when it was not consistent with his Czarish Majesty's Health to be admitted in his Presence and that being limited as to the time of his Return and not permitted to disclose his Master's Secrets to any of his Ministers he was obliged to return into Sweden But that if the Great Duke would send once more his Ambassadors to the King his Master he did not question but that Matters might be adjusted betwixt them to their mutual Satisfaction Thus Petreius cunningly dissembling his real Thoughts conceâ—ning â—hese frequent Delays and Denials put upon him by the Russians left Ivanogorod and at his Return gave King Charles a full Account of the Success of his Negotiation The new modell'd Demetrius finding himself thus disappointed in his Hopes of the Swedish Aids yet did not lose Courage but having by this time brought over a considâ—rable Body of the Cosacks to his Party resolved to appear now in the Field at the Head of his Army directing his March to the City of Plesko situate upon a Lake of the same Name and one of the most considerable in those Parts The Muscovites who look'd at first upon this Imposture as so gross and so ill contrived as scarce worth their taking Notice of when they saw several Places of Note thereabouts to take the Bait and the Impostor ready to take the Field with a considerable Number of Troops thought it now high time to run to the quenching of the Fire before the Flame should spread it self over the neighbouring Provinces Having receiv'd Intelligence that the Impostor was marching towards Plesko they ordered their Army to march also to the Relief of that Place which being by the Counterfeit Demetrius summoned to a Surrender was just upon the point of complying with his Demands when the Muscovite Army advancing he took the Alarm and finding himself not in a Capacity to fight an Army much superiour to him both in Number and Goodness of the Soldiers he resolved upon a hasty Retreat which was done with so much Precipitation Is routed that he was forced to leave all his Cannon and Baggage behind him which fell into the Hands of the Enemies who also pursued and dispersed his Troops himself scarce escaping to Ivanogorod The Muscovites believing there was nothing more to be done for them in those Parts marched back with their Army to the Capital City but it was not long after they had withdrawn themselves out of the Neighbourhood of Plesko Is invited to Plesko when the Inhabitants of that City sent their Deputies to Ivanogorod offering themselves and their Town to the Service and Protection of this Impostor He who but a few days before had looked upon his Affairs as desperate and past redress being over-joyed at so unexpected a Success re-assumed new Courage and being resolved to improve so favourable an Opportunity to his Advantage went immediately with what Troops he had left after his late Retreat to Plesko where he was received with all the Demonstrations of Joy and Honour due to their Lawful Sovereign If he had been as careful to maintain the good Opinion of the Citizens of Plesko as he had been vigilant in procuring it the Accession of so considerable a Place might have proved of great Consequence to his Affairs but instead of improving it to his Advantage he gave himself over to all manner of Debauchery and Licentiousness and his Officers following the Footsteps of their Leader committed all manner of Insolencies upon the People by debauching and violating their Wives and Daughters so that at last the Citizens of Plesko being convinced of their Mistake and not any longer able to endure their Villanies took a Resoluâ—ion to rid their Hands of these new Guests For which purpose being met at a certain Day appointed for that purpose early in the Morning well armed they attacked and beat his Guards and forced him to fly the City The Cosacks seeing him thus forsaken by the Muscovites resolved not to stay long behind but to leave him with the first Opportunity But some of the Officers considering with themselves that if they could seize upon his Person they might by so acceptable
could in any wise contribute to overcome his Obstinacy and induce him to an ingenuous Confession one John Plessou who had been his intimate Friend and with whom he had left his Son before he retired into Poland with several others of his Fellow-Officers at the Tavern-Office were brought before him who each in their turn endeavouring to convince him of his Error and representing to him the Danger wherein he put his Soul in the Condition he was in exhorting him to pull off the Mask which he had made use of for some Years past to cheat the World and to create new Disturbances and infinite Miseries to his Native Country That the whole Mistery of his Impostures being revealed to the World by so many undeniable Witnesses there present he should not rely any longer upon these vain Elusions but consult the eternal Welfare of his Soul and not draw any further the weight of God's Vengeance upon himself He seemed to be moved at their Discourse but continued so obstinate in his former Resolution that he would not speak one Word afterwards The next day he was again put to the Torture which he endured with the same Resolution not vouchsafing to speak one Word Being searched and found circumcised he was immediately carried to the Great Market-place before the Castle where Sentence was pronounced against him and put in Execution First they cut off with an Ax his Right Arm below the Elbow Is execuâ—ed then his left Leg below the Knee next the Left Arm and Right Leg in the same manner all which he endured with an unparalell'd Constancy and without as much as a Groan Last of all the Head being severed from his Body and the Members being set upon Stakes in the Market-place and the Trunck left upon the Ground the last was in the Night devoured by the Dogs and the next morning the Executioner's Servants dragg'd the Members to the place where all the City-Dirt is thrown It is to be observed that some time before a Polish Ambassador was arrived in the City of Muscoâ— And the Muscovites who still bore a Grudge to the Poles on the Account of the Miseries they had endured in their last Civil Dissentions occasioned by the Contrivances of the several Impostors encouraged by the Poles had so well timed it as to give Audience to the Ambassador the same day that Timoska was put to death and to lead him in State through the Market-place just at the very Hour of his Execution where under some pretence or other contrived for that purpose they make a Halt that he might be an Eye-Witness and be able to give an Account in Poland of the tragical Exit of that Imposter whom they had looked upon there as Son to the Great Duke Basili Zuski Kostkaâ— the Servant of Timoska whom we mentioned before to have been carried loaden with Irons out of Sweden into Muscovy having made an ingenuous Confession of the whole Matter was pardoned as to his Life and his Punishment changed into that of losing three Fingers of his Right Hand But the Religion of the Muscovites obliging them to make the Sign of the Cross with their Right Hand thâ—s Punishment was again by the Intercession of the Patriarch moderated so that the same was executed upon his Left Hand after which he was banished into Siberia We said before that the Great Duke Michael Fâ—derovits died in the Year 1645. The next day being the 13th of July the Knez and Boyars theâ— present Alex is Michaâ—lovits crowned resolved unanimously to hasten the Coronation of Alexis Michaelovits his Son who was then not full sixteen Years of Age He was born in the Year 1630 on the 17th of March and had been by his Father committed to the Carâ— of Knez Boris Ivanovâ—s Morosou a Person of very high Extraction and extraordinary Ability It is beyond our Scope to relate here the Rise of the Family of the Romanow's from whence the Family of the present Czar derives its Origin one of the most Antient in Muscovy who first assumed the Name of Czar from whence descended Basil the Father of that Famous Tyrant John Basilovits who reduced most of the neighbouring Princes under the Obedience of the Russian Empire But the Muscovites relate a Story of the Father of this Boris Ivancvits Morosou which may not be beyond our purpose to be inserted here It seems he was a Favorite of the Tyrant John Basilovits and being a Widower presumed so much upon his Interest with the Great Duke that he begged a certain handsom Lady which had been the Tyrant's Mistress for a Wife The Great Duke granted his Request without the least Difficulty but whether it was that he repented himself of what was done or meerly to gratifie his cruel Temper he having got notice that the said Morosou and his new married Lady were at their amorous Sports one Afternoon in a withdrawing Room behind the Bath-stove he got secretly two wild Bears conveyed into the Room who immediately fell upon them and devoured them both This Morosou left two Sons Boris and Câ—leab who being very young were educated by the said Tyrant the eldest of which having improved the Advantages of his high Birth and Education above the ordinary Degree during the intestine Commotions in the Russian Empire was as I said before constituted by Czar Michael Federovits Governour over his Son Alexis Michaelovits whom he used frequently to charge to follow his Advice in all Affairs of Moment Knez Boris Ivanovits Morosou fearing that his Enemies might take Advantage of the Princes tender Years had the Coronation Ceremony performed a few days after his Father's Death who was according to the Russian Fashion deposited in the Church of S. Michael wherein are the Sepulchers of the Great Dukes the next Night after his Decease which was not performed with all the usual Pomp they wanting time to send for all those who are obliged to be present at this Solemnity After the Coronation was over Morosou changed the Quality of Governour into that of Protector exercising during the Princes Minority the same Power in the disposing of his Affairs as he had done over his Person during his Father's Life Knowing the young Great Duke to entertain 〈◊〉 most profound Reverence for the Dutchess Dowager his Mother he bestowed great Employments upon all her Kindred whom he preferred to the best Governments in the Empire but at 〈◊〉 stance from Court as made them incapable of opposing his Interest The same Method he made use of in regard of the Antient Nobility and such as had had the chief Administration of Affairs in the late Great Duke s Reign whom he sent away from the Princes Peâ—sâ—â— to far distant Countries â— Thus he did with the 〈◊〉 Rippine and Corakin the first of whom he constituted Governour of Nisi Novogorod the last of Caâ—an Having thus removed from the Princes Person all such as he thought might any way oppose his Greatness and filled all Places of Profit
therefore without the least Opposition taken up their several Posts assigned them for their Guards the Great Duke laid hold of this Opportunity to endeavour the Appeasing of the Tumult by the Authority of Knez Nikita Ivanovits Romanow whom he knew to be much respected by the People He appear'd before them with Cap in Hand and told them in the Name of the Great Duke his Master that he hoped they would be satisfied with the Promise and Assurance given by his Czarish Majesty's own Mouth that he himself would take Cognisance of the Matter and remedy the Grievances of which they complained That his Majesty had sent him on purpose to give them fresh Assurances that he was not unmindful of his Word but would give them all the Satisfaction in this Point they could reasonably desire and to advise them to break up the Assembly and for every one to repair to his own Home that he might the better perform what he had promised them the day before This Message being received with the joyful Acclamations of the People sufficiently testifying their Approbation answer was made that they had no reason to be dissatisfied with the Great Duke but with those who made use of his Name and Authority to execute their execrable Villanies upon the People And that therefore they could not rest satisfied nor would they stir from the Place till Boris Ivanovits Morosou Leponti Stephanovits Plessou and Peter Tichtonovits Trochanistou were delivered up to them that they might revenge upon their Heads all those Mischiefs they had done the Kingdom Romanow shewed them his Acknowledgment for the favourable Audience they had afforded him telling them that he would immediately go and acquaint the Great Duke with the Zeal and Affection they had expressed for his Person and that he did not question but that the Great Duke would grant their Request and order the Execution of those three Lords who had drawn upon themselves the Hatred of his good Subjects by their Mismanagement but that he was ready to swear to them by the Cross that Morosou and Trochanistou had made their Escape at the first beginning of the Tumult and for the third he dares engage his Word he should be brought to Execution immediately Romanow being returned to the Great Duke it was after a short Debate resolved to sacrifice Plessou and Trochanistou to the Fury of the People who with a great deal of Impatience waited at the Castle Gatefor the Great Duke's Answer but to endeavour by all means possible the Preservation of Morosou but that to appease the Rage of the People Word should be sent them immediately that Plessou was coming out forthwith to be sacrificed and that the other two should receive the same Punishment so soon as they were found which was done accordingly and the People being desired to send for the Executioner to do his Office they had him ready at Hand with all his Servants attending at the Castle Gate whence in less than a quarter of an Hours time they saw him leading the miserable Plessou into the Market-place before the Castle Plessou massacred in order to cut off his Head But the People were so exasperated against him that they fell upon him immediately with Cudgels so outrageously that they dispatched him in a Moment His Body was dragged by the Feet thro' the Streets accompanied with Millions of Curses of the Populace till at last a Monk who had a particular Spleen against the deceased cut off his Head and carried it away in Triumph The Execution of Plessou and the reiterated Promises of the Great Duke that the rest when found should come to the same end begot some calm in the Peoples Minds who had sent their Messengers upon all the Roads leading to the City in search after Morosou and Trochanistou the first finding his Escape almost impossible by reason of the Peoples searching so closely after him had found means to lay concealed at a particular Friend's House Trochanistou Exâ—cuted at a little distance from the City from whence he returned by secret ways the next night into the Castle But Trochanistou had not the same good Fortune to escape the Hands of his Enemies but being overtaken upon the Road by some of the Great Duke's Messengers who for fear of being thought to have consented to his Escape had been forced to employ all his Care in finding him out he was brought the next day being the 8th of July to the same place where he used to sit as Judge over the Cannoniers Armourers and others belonging to the Great Duke's Arsenal where by order from the Great Duke he had his Head cut off By this time the People being informed how Morosou had been seen in the Country and ignorant of his return into the Castle they seem'd to be satisfied with the Execution of Trochanistou for this time forbearing to press any further upon the Great Duke to give them what was not in his power to do so that towards Noon they began to disperse and prepare to go to their respective Homes The same afternoon several Houses whether by accident or by the malice of the Rabble A Conflâ—ration in Houses who had not quite cleared the streets and committed great Insolences is uncertain were set on fire which made such a Havock in a few hours that it consumed the whole Quarter of Czargorod or City Royal reducing to Ashes all the Houses within the compass of the White Wall which surrounds that Quarter down to the River Neglina Towards Night it got over that River into the Great Duke's Taverns into his Store-Houses for Strong Waters and other Provisions where it consumed above sixty thousand Flitches of Bacon and an incredible quantity of Aqua-Vitae which being the most proper Fuel in the World to nourish the Flame it grew so violent that the Castle was in most imminent danger to have been reduced to Ashes by this raging Element no body endeavouring to stop its fury because those who had the Charge of quenching the Fire being got Drunk and inebriated with the Exhalations of the Strong Waters were incapable of performing that Service many of them lying in the streets choak'd with the Smoak and Vapours which so terified the Muscovites that none among them durst approach the Flames About Mid-night some Foreigners looking with no small astonishment on the Fire which just then had seised upon one of the Store-Houses where were kept a great quantity of Bacon for the Great Duke's Provision they perceived at some distance a Monk with a Sack upon his back coming towards them as if he carried a very great Burthen and coming near to them they asked him what made him thus blow and be all in a sweat He to told them that he had made all the haste he could to come to quench the Flames ' that if they would but lend him a helping Hand to throw the Body which he shew'd them of the cursed Plessou into the Fire they should soon
destruction there will be some that will take surer measures than I have done He was going on in his discourse if he had not been dragged away immediately to Prison where after having been put to the Rack he was executed privately for fear of incensing the people This Outrage was soon after followed by another less dangerous in its Contrivance but sufficiently convincing to GalliZin of the Sentiments the people had of his Ministry He was then just upon his departure for the Army which he was to Command as General against the Crim Tartars when one night a covered Coffin was found at his Pallace Gate with a Note in it containing these Words GalliZin Vnless the Campaign which thou art now going to open prove more successful than the former we are resolved to make sure work with thee The worst of all was that these menaces proved true in the Event for after his return from the Army he was so closely press'd upon by the rest of the Boyars that not being able to justifie himself against the manifold miscarriages laid to his charge he was dismissed from all his Imployments at Court GalliZin banished his Estate Confiscated and he banished into Siberia where he was forced to lead a miserable or rather shameful life Much about the same time Prince Archilla King of Iveria and Mengrelia who had for some Years last past lived with his Princess in the Court of the two Czars was preparing for his return into his Kingdoms This Prince being originally a Georgian by Birth had been prevailed upon to embrace Mahometism for the peaceable enjoyment of the two Kingdoms of Iveria and Mengrelia which border upon Persia The Chan of Persia Prince Archilla who 's Vassal he was and to purchase whose favour he had changed his Religion was very favorable to him at first and tho' he not long after return'd to the Christian Religion which he profess'd before did not use him with the same severity as he did the rest of the Petty Princes that were his Vassals But this seeming kindness of his proceeded as it appear'd afterwards not so much from any inclinations he had for his person as the Beauty of his Princess For having received great recommendations of the excellency of her Person as he was insatiable in his Lust to Women so tho' he never had seen her he was resolved to purchase the enjoyment of so much Beauty at any rate so that he made this unfortunate Prince sufficiently sensible that he had no longer any regard for his person being now become no less troublesome to him than he had appear'd kind before His first endeavours were carried on by fair means by vast promises and hopes of great Rewards but these proving insufficient to obtain his desire he proceeded from mildness to Threats but finding these also not to have the desired effect he had recourse to open Violence ordering his forces to advance into the Territories of Archilla to seize him and his Princess and carry them prisoners to his Court. Archilla dreading the indignation of the Chan who 's Forces he was not strong enough to oppose was obliged to seek for safety in his flight and retired with the Princess to the utmost confines of this Kingdom of Iveria which being the most distant from Persia border upon the Turkish Territories on that side towards the Black Sea in hopes to shelter themselves there against the forces of their enemies But the Chan of Persia resolved not to quit his pretension at that rate found means to engage the Turkish Grand Seignior in his Quarrel who having sent some forces to seize the Prince they surprised and carried him to a Castle under the jurisdiction of the Turks on the borders of Iveria where he was detained Prisoner till further orders They had shewn so much favour to the Princess whom they were unwilling to use with violence that they had not detained her person But she being exasperated to the highest degree by the outrages committed upon her husband retired secretly into Iveria where without any further delay having assembled some Gentlemen the bravest and most trusty among her Subjects she like another Amazon marched at the head of them to the Relief of her husband The Garrison had got some intelligence of her approach some hours before her arrival near the place wherefore having prepared themselves for a resolute defence the Iverians met with a stout resistance But being encouraged by the presence and example of their Princess who was resolved either to deliver her Husband or to fall in the attempt they at last forced the Castle where their Prince was kept Prisoner in spite of all the resistance the Soldiers could make carried him off and set him at Liberty So soon as they had time to reflect upon their present condition they were sufficiently sensible that an act so extraordinary and so bold must needs draw upon them the indignation of both these Great Princes their Neighbours and that consequently they could not tarry long with safety in their Kingdoms encompassed as it was on all sides by their enemies Therefore they were forced to abandon their Subjects to the mercy of these two Potent Neighbours and with some of their most trusty friends to seek for shelter in Muscovy They were received with all the demonstrations of friendship by the two Czars Prince Archilla arrives in Muscovy who assign'd them a Palace in the City of Musco and during the space of three Years allowed them a Pension suitable to their Quality till their Subjects having composed matters with the Grand Seignior and become weary of the Persian yoak sollicited their return into the Kingdoms of Iveria and Mangrelia promising to Sacrifice all what was dear to them for their Interest against the Persians their common enemies The same Year the Youngest of the two Czars The present Czar marries the same who lately honoured this Kingdom with his presence married the Daughter of an Officer of the Army He was then but Eighteen Years of Age and a few days after the marriage was published by the sound of the great Bell in Musco perhaps the finest in the World he was seized with the falling Sickness Those who did not know this distemper to be Hereditary to his Family but were sufficiently acâ—uainted with those frequent misfortunes that happen in Muscovy to persons of a high Rank at the time of their marriages occasioned by the Envy of the contending Rivals of the Female Sex looked upon it as an effect of the Jealousie of such families as being by this marriage excluded from the hopes of that Alliance they had aspired to had let their vengeance fall upon their young Prince But this accident not being attended with any further ill Consequences these Rumors were soon dispersed and the rejoycings continued to the Great Satisfaction of the Muscovites who had placed the chief hopes of their future prosperity in the Activity and Courage of a Prince who soon
Chinese Wall As the accession of these forreign Nations has been of great advantage to the encrease of Trade and the Wealth of the Russian Empire so it has contributed not a little to the peopling of the Country which by reason of their intestine Commotions in our age and frequent Inroads made by the Crim Tartars was laid in a great many parts in a manner desolate This is most conspicuous in the fertile Plains on both sides of the River Steca down to the Wolga almost as far as Cesau which not many Years ago were in a manner dispeopled but now are stock'd with an infinite number of Towns and Villages and the City of Musco it self hath in a few Years so well recovered its pass'd disasters that it is incomparable more Beautiful than ever it was before and is reckoned to contain at present no less than betwixt Six and Seven Hundred Thousand Inhabitants of several Nations As the prodigious encrease of the Capital City must chiefly be attributed to the great concoâ—â—â—â— of the various Trading Nations we have mentionen so the peopling of the Country is to be ascribed to the prudence of the Czar Alexis Michaelouits the present Czar's Father who finding his Territories exhausted of men in his War with the Poles carried away a number of Captives out of â—â—â—â—thuania and the other Polish Provinces bordering on Muscovy as were sufficient to plant several Colonies all along the Rivers Gecca and Wolga who having been encouraged by several priviledges granted to them have repeopled that Country in such manner as it appears at present But Strength of the Muscovites in respect of their Neighbours since we have sufficiently spoke concerning the Strength of the Muscovites by the encrease 〈◊〉 their Wealth and Trade we must also before 〈◊〉 conclude say something of their present Condition in reference to their Neighbours The Persians Poles Swedes the Crim Tartars and Turks As to what relates to the Muscovites in respect of the Persians The Persians there is no great probability that these two Neighbours should have any occasion to try their mutual strength since they are so separated from one another by the Caspian Sea the Dagesthan and Carcassian Tartars and the vast desarts betwixt these and Astrachan and that the common benefit they receive by their Trade in the Caspian Sea engages them equally to keep a good understanding betwixt them especially since upon occasion they may be very serviceable to one another against the Turks The Tartars bordering the North East upon Siberia The Tartars and some other Provinces under the Czar of Muscovy's jurisdiction tho' they formerly especially the Calmuc Tartars used to be verry troublesome to some of the Tartarian Provinces depending upon the Russian Empire nevertheless since the Muscovites have guarded the Frontiers on that side with good Fortifications and Garrisons and have made these Vagabonds sensible of the advantage of their Fire Arms they are not so forward in maâ—ing their irruptions Their only way they make 〈◊〉 of now is to appear sometimes in great Numbers on the Frontiers and to send their Deputies into Muscovy by which means they get considerable Presents from the Czar who thinks it more Prudence to purchase the Friendship of a Vagabond â—â—ople who have nothing to loose than to put himself to the expence of sending an Army against 〈…〉 lieu of which they assist the Czar in his Wars with a considerable Number of Horse and are very serviceable to the Muscovite in furthering their Passage and Traffick into China But the Turks and Crim Tartars The Turks and Crim Tartars used to be the most Mischievous Neighbours to Muscovy T is true the Turks do not immediately border upon Muscovy 〈◊〉 the Country Inhabited by the Budziack and 〈◊〉 Tartars who tho' at a great distance to the South from the City of Musco as they are the Grand Seigniors Vassals so he makes use of them like his hunting Dogs to overcome the Southern part of Muscovy to the very Gates of its Capital City Czar Michael Frederovits endeavoured to prevent their Incursions by causing the Woods to be cut down in some places and by reason of a Line strengthened with a Moat of about Five Hundred Miles in Length but they did not rest till they had pull'd down the first and fill'd up the last and by their frequent Incursions had almost rendred that part of Muscovy quite desolate For which reason the Muscovites were always obliged to keep a considerable Body of Horse on the Frontiers and sometimes to give them a diversion by the help of the Donepsian Cosacks and the Nogajan Tartars But the case is much alter'd as to this particular of late Years For since the Muscovites by vertue of a Peace concluded with the Poles at Oliva are become Masters of Kiovia this serves them in a great measure at once to Bridle the insolency of these Robbers and for a Bulwark against the Turks â—â—pecially if they prevent the last from getting first footing in Vkraina But the taking of Asoph 〈◊〉 the further progress of the present Czar 〈◊〉 the Crim Tartars gives a fair prospect to the Muscovites not only of securing themselves for the â—â—ture against their attempts but also of reducâ—â—â— them under their obedience and by taking the 〈◊〉 of Precop to enter the limits of their Empire 〈◊〉 the Borders of the Black Sea The Poles are certainly the most redoubtable â—nemies the Muscovites have The Poles their Scituation 〈◊〉 such as to encourage them to Act against the Muscovites when ever they meet with a favourable opportunity Of which they have given Sufficieâ—â— Proofs during their intestine Commotions 〈…〉 when they were just upon the point of having made it a Province of the Crown of 〈◊〉 if by their own divisions they had not given 〈◊〉 Muscovites leisure to recover themselves But 〈◊〉 they seem to have sufficiently secured their â—â—â—â—tiers against the Insult of the Poles by then 〈◊〉 Masters of Surleasko Severia and Kiâ—â—iâ— and 〈◊〉 the Poles are reckoned much the better Soldâ—â—â—â— the Field by reason of their great number of 〈◊〉 yet the accession of the Zaparogian Cosacks 〈◊〉 a little Strengthned the Muscovian Forces and 〈◊〉 in some measure be look'd as a sufficient Ballance to the Advantage of the Polish Horse 〈◊〉 since the Muscovites now are capable to outâ—â— the Poles if not in goodness at least in the number oâ— their Horse The Muscovites had formerly great Contests 〈◊〉 the Swedes The Swedes about Livonia which occasion'd several Bloody Wars but since the causes of these differences are removed by the Peace of Oliva when the first resign'd all their pretensions to this Country the Muscovites need not fear any thing from that Side where it Border'd on Sweden since more Conquests in far distant Country would prove more hurtful than profitable to Sweden And the Muscovites have no great encouragement to Atâ—â—ck the Swedes on that Side where they have for 〈◊〉 most part succeeded so ill in their Attempts â—â—sides that it is to be feared that if the Poles â—â—ho's interest it is not to let Livonia fall into â—â—eirs hands should joyn with the Swedes against 〈◊〉 they would put them very hard to it and 〈◊〉 the Muscovite Army's appear now very numeâ—â—us in the Field yet would they scarce be able â—â—â—graple with two such Potent Enemies who 's 〈◊〉 by the Conjunction and Advantage of the 〈◊〉 Horse with the well Dissiplin'd Infantry of 〈◊〉 Swedes would perhaps prove invincible to them 〈◊〉 But to come to a Conclusion Whether we conâ—â—der the vast extent fertility and variety of proâ—â—cts of the Russian Empire whether its strength 〈◊〉 regard of its vast Revenues its Advantageous â—â—â—tuation in respect of of its Neighbours being â—â—â—ounded on the North and East with a vast Sea 〈◊〉 a great Wilderness or in regard of its great â—â—mber of Forces it is able to maintain or 〈◊〉 in respect of the vast encrease of its Trafick 〈◊〉 Persian Indian Chinese Trade especially if â—proved by the Advantages his present Czarish â—â—jesty has had over the Crim Tartars it will sufficiently appear out of what has been said in this 〈◊〉 that as the Present Flourishing Condition 〈◊〉 the Russian Empire renders it one of the most â—â—â—siderable in Europe so were it not that the 〈◊〉 of their Government seems to be a â—onstant check to their growing greatness in reference to their Traffick it is more than probable 〈◊〉 under the Auspicious Reign of so hopeful a 〈◊〉 as now Sway 's the Sceptre it might conâ—â—â— for the Superiority with the Greatest and â—owerful Kingdoms of the Universe FINIS Books Printed for Abel Roper at the Black Boy in Fleet-street THE History of Poland in several Letters to Persons of Quality Giving an Account of the Ancient and Present State of that Kingdom Historical Geographical Physical Political and Ecclesiastical viz. It s Origine and Extent With a Description of its Towns and Provinces the succession and remarkable Actions of all its Kings and of the Great Dukes of Lithuania The Election Power and Coronation of the King The Senate or House of Lords The Diet and Form of Government The priviledges of the Gentry their Religion Learning Language Customs Habits Manners Riches Trade and Military Affairs together with the state of Physick and Natural Knowledge as also an Account of the Teutonick Order of the Duke of Courland c. By B. Connor Fellow of the Royal Society Published by the Care and Asistance of Mr. Savage The 2d Edition with an Addition of Remarks on Marriage by Mr. Brown of the Marriage-Ceremonies or the Ceremonies used in Marriages in all parts of the World By Seignior Gaya Translated from the Italian Printed for A. Roper and A. Boswel The Grounds and Foundation of Natural Religion discovered in the Principal Branches of it in opposition to the prevailing Notions of the Modern Scepticks and Latitudinarians with an Introduction concerning the necessity of revealed Religion By Tho. Becconsal B. D. of Brasenose College in Oxford
them to swear true Allegiance to Demâ—trius with a solemn Promise not to lay down 〈◊〉 Arms till they had been reveng'd of that bloody Usurper Basili-Zuski and restored Demetrius to the Throne of Muscovy It is easie to be imagined that the new Emperour was not a little Alarm'd at so unexpected and unwelcome a piece of News Zuski routed by the â—â—â—trians but believing it most for his purpose to quench the Fire in the Ashes before it should break out into a Flame he marched with what Troops he could get together in haste towards the Enemy But these being in the mean while reinforced by a considerable Body under the Command of a certain Muscovian Lord whose name was Isthoma they Charged Zuski who was at the Head of his Troops with so much Fury that they put him entirely to the rout and remaining thus Masters of the Field pursued him so closely that with much ado he escaped to the City of Musco where he was block'd up by the Enemy who fortified their Camp within a Mile of the City The Poles in the mean while had not been idle but having received Intelligence that a considerable Party in Muscovy had declared for Demetrius they were over-joy'd to have found so â—avourable an Opportunity to revenge upon the Muscovites the Deâ—th of their Countrymen Massacred in their Quarters against the Laws of Nations for which purpose they maintain'd a Correspondency with Schacopski whom they inform'd that they had found out a certain Gentleman in Poland not unlike in his Person to Demetrius who intended to appear at the Head of a considerable Army in Muscovy In the mean while they had got together a Body of twelve thousand Cosacks under the Command of one John Polutnich who being sent by this new Demetrius to reinforce the Army that lay Encamped near the Gates of the City of Musco was by his special Commission constituted General over all his Forces This Polutnich was a Muscovite by Birth and now a Soldier of Fortune he had been bred among the Tartars and serv'd his Apprenticeship in Arms among the Cosacks where he had made himself famous for his extraordinary Atchievments till at last he was taken by the Turks and made a Gally Slave but by good Fortune rescued by the Venetians from thence he took his way through Poland where having met with this new Demetrius he obtained of him the Command over his whole Army Polutnich therefore having pursuant to his Commission join'd the Forces before Musco shew'd his Orders to Isthoma who was forced to obey but being extreamly disgusted at the Affront put upon him to see himself thus neglected and another to reap the fruits of his Victory he with ten thousand Men whom he had debauch'd before and brought over to his Party went over to Zuski who receiv'd him no less than his Tutelar Angel to whom he was indebted for his present Deliverance especially when he assured both him and the People that there was no such Man as Demetrius at Puttiwoll and that the whole was only a Contrivance of Schacopski who by these Intrigues intended to make himself the more Considerable The whole City being not a little over-joy'd at these comfortable Tydings the People as well as the Nobility sent their Deputies into the Camp to Polutnich The first desired that they might be admitted into the Presence of Demetrius their Prince and that they were ready to prostrate themselves at his Feet and to beg pardon for their past Offences Those of the Nobility represented to the General how miserably he was imposed upon by the Artifices of Schacopski that the true Demetrius whose Interest he had espoused was in the presence of a great many Thousands slain in the City of Musco and therefore whoever since had assumed his Name and counterfeited his Person must needs be an Impostor from whom he could expect neither Honour nor Profit That therefore he would be much better advised to leave his Party and to spare the Effusion of Christian Blood by acknowledging Zuski for the lawful Sovereign of Muscovy who would not fail to heap upon him such Honours and Dignities as should be suitable to his Merits Polutnich answer'd like a Man of Honour that he was sorry to understand that they took him to be like Isthoma a Traytor both to his Master and Country That they did him wrong in entertaining so mean an Opinion of him That tho' he was a Soldier of Fortune he would never give Demetrius the least Occasion of repenting himself of the Trust he had put in him That the Prince was certainly in Poland where he had seen and spoke with him and had from his own hands received this Commission of being General of this Army That if they were so nearly touch'd as they pretended in their Consciences with the Effusion of Humane Blood the best way to prevent it would be to return to their true Allegiance and pay to their lawful Prince due Obedience and as a Pledge of their future Fidelity and of their remorse for what was past to deliver up into his Hands the Usurper of his Crown That this was the only means left them to prevent these Evils which they dreaded and by which they might hope to deserve their Pardon and to secure themselves their Wives and Children and the whole City from destruction The Inhabitants of Musco being in no wise satisfied with Polutnich's Answer which served them for a Confirmation of what they had received from Isthoma before to wit That there was no such Man as Demetrius either in the Camp or any where else and encourag'd by the late Defection of Isthoma they resolved unanimously to stand by Zuski and not to hearken to any further Impositions but to treat Polutnich as an Enemy of their Country Pursuant to this Resolution most of the young Men inhabiting the City of Musco were put in Arms and being join'd with such regulated Troops as were brought over by Isthoma they made a furious sally with a hundred and twenty thousand Men and attacking the Demetrian General on all sides in his Entrenchments forced him to retreat to Catuga Zuski after a few days spent in modelling his Army march'd thither in Person and closely besieg'd Schacopski who so bravely defended himself against the Muscovites that he forced them to abandon the Enterprize and march back to Musco with the loss of some Thousands of their best Men. Some time was bestow'd in raising the necessary Recruits so that Polutnich in the mean while having recovered Breath saw himself once more in a Condition to appear with a considerable Body in the Field which having afresh Alarm'd the Great Duke he marched once more against them with a very formidable Army The Demetrians tho' much inferior in Number being as forward as they to come to Blows both Armies were drawn up in order of Battle in a great Plain not many Miles from the City of Thula and were just upon the point of Engaging
Part of the day for tho' the Poles soon routed the Left Wing commanded by the Brother of Zuski yet the Swedes and the Tartars in the Right fought it out very gallantly and the Germans in the main Body being plac'd upon a Ground full of Shrubs and other Rubbage where the Polish Horse could not advance without great Difficulty repulsed them several times with great Slaughter till at last the Right Wing of the Muscovite Army being brought first into Confusion and afterwards totally routed the German Foot seeing themselves deprived of the Assistance of their Horse Zuski routed and on all sides surrounded by the Poles gave the Signal for Parley which being readily granted by King Sigismund and the Hostages interchanged it was agreed that such as should be willing to enter into Pay in the Polish Army should be entertained by the King according to their respective Stations the rest to remain Prisoners of War Scarce had the Treaty been signed and was just upon the Point of being executed when De la Garde who commanded the Swedish Auxiliaries in Hopes that the German Foot had maintained their Ground having rallied the Wings that were broken before returned to the place of Battle but being informed of what had pass'd he intreated the Germans to return in Conjunction with the Horse to the Charge But these were deaf to all his Admonitions and Perswasions declaring that they would not be guilty of the Breach of the Treaty so lately made with the Poles who thereupon afresh attack'd the Muscovite Horse entirely routed them a second time and after a Pursuit of some Hours made themselves Masters of their Camp Artillery and Baggage Most of the German Foot having taken Service under King Sigismund The Zuskians routed a second time he to terrifie the Garrison of Smolensko ordered a most solemn Triumph to be made in the Camp where a great Number of Captives Colours and other Warlike Ensigns of his late obtained Victory were exposed to the View of the Muscovites within the City unto whom having at the same time caused to represent the irrecoverable Loss of Zuski and his Party after so signal an overthrow he assured them that if they did not make use of this last Offer the King intended to make them of deserving his Mercy they must infallibly expect to be involved in his Ruin Most of the Inhabitants shewed a great Inclination to a surrender upon such honourable terms as were offered by King Sigismund But Sehin their Weywode being a Man of an undaunted Courage would not hearken to any Propositions tho' never so advantageous and having represented to them that their Condition was such as to be able to stop the Carreer of the Victorious Poles and to their eternal Glory to deserve the Honour of having upheld the declining Fate of their Country against its mortal Enemies they unanimously resolved to defend themselves to the last Extremity In the mean time the Muscovites began to feel the direful Effects of the loss of this Battle For Sapiha now the Demetrian General had routed the Muscovian Tartars near Twitza and cut to pieces another considerable Body of their Troops at Borowsko King Sigismund having got notice that Volviowitz the Zuskian General was after the last Defeat retir'd with a Body of ten thousand Men under Czarow sent thither part of his Army the very sight of which so terrified the Muscovites that without striking one Blow they surrendred to the Conquerour's discretion the Demetrian Army began to approach a second time their Capital City and the Poles had detatch'd a considerable Body from the Siege of Smolensko whom they expected to see every day at their Gates The worst of all was that in the last Battle they had lost the Flower of their Army and most of their Foreign Auxiliaries in whom they most confided the Germans having taken Service among the Poles so that having not the least prospect of repairing their ruined Troops nor any other Means left to defend themselves against the Power of two Armies that were on their march to besiege them more closly than ever they were at the greatest Plunge how to extricate themselves out of these impending Miseries After various Debates among the Nobles who most took to Heart the present miserable State of their Country they had recourse to the same States Policy which had prov'd successful to their Affairs before to wit to try whether by raising new Divisions among the Poles and Demetrians they might not find once more an Opportunity to save themselves from this imminent Danger which if not soon prevented threatned their infallible Destruction To encompass this Design it was proposed to seize upon the Great Duke Basili Zuski and to give it out that they were resolved to put Vladislaus the Son of Sigismund King of Poland upon the Throne of Muscovy that thereby they should infallibly ruin the Interest of Demetrius and consequently rid themselves of a vile Impostor whose very Name was become odious to them and at the same time restore immediately Peace to their harrassed Country It was represented that tho' they ought to look upon the Poles as their most dreadful and mortal Enemies that nevertheless their only Business being now to get time and to breath a little the Poles inveigled by their fair Promises would soon become secure and furnish them with an opportunity either quite to elude the Election of Vladislaus or if that was not thought advisable they might find sufficient Means at one time or other to rid their hands of him under pretence of his Childhood which if well tim'd they might make use of so favourable a Juncture to endeavour to return their Government into its antient Channel from whence it had been diverted by the Artifices of their Enemies and had been the occasion of all the Miseries they had endured of late This Design laid upon deep Reasons of State succeeded at last according to their Expectation by the mismanagement of the Poles who were by the good Conduct of the Muscovites not long after obliged to leave that Empire and restore to it that Repose which with vast Expences and the effusion of a great deal of Blood they had robb'd it of for near twenty years before The Muscovian Boyars and Nobles having thus concerted measures among themselves according to which the Ruin of Zuski was resolved on as the only means to encompass the intended Deliverance of their native Country it was by their Instigation whisper'd about among the Populace how that Basili Zuski the present Great Duke ought to be considered as the Chief Author of all their Misfortunes who by his Sorceries and Tyranny had drawn down upon the People of Muscovy the vengeance of God Almighty and that by his Miscarriages they were again plung'd into these Miseries wherewith they saw themselves environed past all Redemption unless they took new measures for their common Safety Zuski had since his accession to the Crown rendered his Government