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
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
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
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
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
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
this general Consternation would divert the Peoples Thoughts from enquiring into the true Circumstances of this Murther And to remove as far as possibly could be from himself all Suspicion of having had the least hand in so barbarous a Murder he declared that he would revenge the Death of the Prince Demetrius upon the Inhabitants of Vgletz For no sooner was the first Consternation occasioned by the Fire in that City a little over but a Rumor being spread that the Prince had been Murder'd the Inhabitants forced their Way into the Castle and transported with a furious Zeal of revenging his Death slew all his Servants without any distinction This which in all probability seem'd to clear them from the Stain of the Fact was by the Contrivance of Boris interpreted to their Destruction alledging that they having slain all those from whom any Inquisition might have been made concerning this Assassination it would but be a sufficient Argument of their Guilt and that the Murder being to be laid at their door they must be proceeded against like Criminals In effect a great many of the Citizens of Vgletz were banish'd some were tortur'd hang'd and drown'd And not contented thus after he had caused the whole Court to go into Mourning and recommended the Care of the Funebrial Pomp to Knez Basili-zuski he commanded the Castle of Vgletz to be raz'd and levelled with the Ground Having thus signaliz'd his pretended Passion for Demetrius 〈…〉 his next Care was to remove the only remaining Obstacle to his Greatness to wit the Grand-Czar Fedor whose End was hastned with Poyson after he had reign'd twelve Years The Great Duke being sensible of his approaching Death did bequeâ—th the Administration of the Government to his Lady Irene Sister to Boris to be assâ—sted by the Counsel of the Patriarch in Matters of Moment The Widow 〈…〉 after his Death ascended the Throne without any Reluctancy but after she had for some time labour'd under the weight of so vast an Empire whether she was grown weary of the Burthen or that she thought it more convenient to entail the Crown upon her Family by transserring it to her Brother she declared her self uncapable of undergoing it any longer and acquitting her self of so great a Charge and that she preferring the Contents of a private Life before the Toils of a Crown was ready to resign all her Authority into the Hands of the Nobility which she did accordingly in the Year 1597. Boris Goudenou who was sufficiently acquainted with the mutinous Temper of the Muscovites when freed from that Servile Yoak which otherwise keeps them under Subjection and that most among the Nobles being raised by and dependent from his Favour would not dare to lay hold of the Government was resolved to improve the general Consternation and Confusion of the People to his Advantage being sensible that the Nobles would be emulous who should most shew his Zeal in placing him upon the Throne Finding therefore the Nobility ready to make their Addresses to him he cunningly caused a Rumor to be spread abroad by his Emissaries that being tir'd with the Toils of his Charge of Lord High Steward of Muscovy he was resolved to quit it by retiring into a Monastery to end the remainder of his Days in quiet The People being thus more and more transported with the Apprehensions of their Ruin when they perceived that among all the Nobility there was not one who durst as much as to undertake the Management of the Government they join'd with the Nobility and the Clergy whose chief Interest consisted in maintaining the Publick Peace were of opinion that all the States of the Empire ought to make their humble Submissions to Boris to try whether by their joint Importunities he might perhaps be prevail'd upon to take upon him the Burthen of the Empire The Nuns quitted their Cloisters and the Women ran with their Children in their Arms to back the Estates of the Empire and to offer their most humble Prayers to Boris like to the tutelar Saint of Muscovy so that being at last overcome by their Prayers and Lamentations he yielded to the absolute Necessity of his Country and after he had spoken much in praise of a retir'd Life he protested to them That it was not to the Honour and Greatness of his House Bori Goudenou accepts of the Crown of Muscovy but meerly to their Importunities and the Love of his Country that he was going to sacrifice all the Satisfaction he found in a retir'd Life and that the only motive which made him offer Violence to his own Inclinations was that he could not see any longer so glorious an Empire exposed to the imminent Danger of approaching Ruin But knowing himself too weak for so great a Burthen he hoped that they would not deny to Aid him with their Counsels when Occasion should require and that relying upon their Honour and Judgment he would chearfully receive the Trust which he would be ready to Maintain and Defend to the last Drop of his Blood assuring them that if he could not equal his Predecessors in Greatness and Glorious Actions abroad he would endeavour to exceed them in Temperance and the Mildness of his Government It must be confess'd that Boris did shew no less Conduct and Wisdom in preserving the Crown than he had used dexterity in acquiring it For he entirely engag'd the Army to his Service by great Rewards he continued the Nobility in their former Dignities and heap'd upon them new Favours and Preferments The common People he ty'd to his Interest by easing them of their Taxes and the Mildness of his Government and having thus secur'd the Affections of his Subjects at home he was no less careful of Establishing a good Intelligence abroad with the Neighbouring Princes for which purposes new Treaties were set on foot and concluded betwixt him and the Poles Swedes and other Nations bordering upon Muscovy Thus the whole Interest of his Government seem'd in all human Appearance to be built upon so solid a Foundation that no power upon Earth was like to overturn it as being founded upon the general Affections of the People at home under the Management of a Prince who for his Wisdom Experience and Courage was look'd upon abroad as one of the most promising Princes that ever ascended the Throne of this vast Empire But mark the sudden Change of all humane Affairs how subject to continual Vicissitudes What perhaps the most powerful Foreign Enemy durst scarce have attempted at that Juncture of Time was effected by a poor inconsiderable Monk who by his Devices put the whole Russian Empire into such a Confusion that in spite of all the Precautions of Boris he broke all his Measures and brought the Empire of Muscovy to the very brink of Ruin and Destruction The first counterfeit Demeâ—rius Whilst the Old Monk was thus preparing the Minds of the Muscovites and especially of the Cosacks Grisko Otropeja who in the mean while
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
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
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
not advisable to be the first Aggressor he dissembled his Notice and contented himself with fortifying the two Quarters of the City called Catangorod or the Mid-City and Czargorod or the City-Royal which being surrounded with good Stone-Walls and containing the Castle with the Royal Palace all the Magazines and great Houses of the Nobility and Merchants he proposed to himself as a safe Retreat upon all Occasions The Polish General Gaziouski had scarce finished his Works before the Russians finding by the Precautions used by the Poles that their Design had taken vent resolved to put it in Execution trusting more in their Number than their Conduct and having on the third day after Palm-Sunday drawn together an incredible Number of People by the Ringing of the Bells they attack'd the Poles with a Fury past all Belief as Men resolv'd either to accomplish their Design or to die in the Attempt The Poles The Poles attacked in the City of Musco on the other Hand being surrounded and attack'd on all sides animated by Despair and having the Advantage of a well regulated Discipline against a confused Multitude repulsed their Enemies with great Vigour who tho most obstinate and furious in their reiterated Assaults were nevertheless at last forced to give way to the Bravery of the Poles who made them retreat with the Loss of near Ten thousand Men on their side No sooner had the Poles removed them from their Works but they sallied out with some thousand Men and having prosecuted their Victoâ—y and slain a great Number of them at a great distance from their Quarters they see all the circumjacent Parts of the City on fire which destroyed not only a prodigious Number of Houses but also of Women Children and other helpless Persons The next day the Polish General having received Intelligence that most of the Inhabitants of Musco were retired to the Suburbs called Strelitza Slavoda which lies South of Cataygorod or the Mid-City on the opposite Shore of the River Moska where they were disputing the Passage to Strusius who with a good Body was come from Malsaisko upon the first News of the Tumult to the Relief of his Countrymen he made a strong Sally and having caused the said Suburbs to be set on fire in several parts The City of Musco burnt by the Poles he burnt it quite to the Ground thereby facilitating the Passage of the Poles who came to his Assistance and securing to himself a free Communication which stood him in great stead afterwards upon several Occasions It is computed that a Hundred and twenty Thousand Houses were laid in Ashes by that raging Element and that by the Fire and Sword there fell near Two hundred Thousand of the Inhabitants of all Sorts besides an incredible Quantity of Stores and Merchandices The Remainders of the Inhabitants seeing their City thus laid in Ashes and themselves sufficiently tamed by the Sword implored the Mercy of the conquering Poles rejecting as it is usual in such Cases the Fault upon a few of their Ringleaders who had paid for it with their Lives The Poles knowing themselves not in a Capacity to do any further Mischief and being glad to have reduced them to ask Quarter granted it without Difficulty But as it was owing to the utmost necessity of their Affairs so this Truce so earnestly sued for by the Musâ—ovites lasted not long For the Inhabitants of Musco having invited Lepanovits Prosowecki Zarucki and the rest of the Leaders of the Army we mentioned before to come to their Assistance they advanced with a Hundred thousand Men towards the City upon whose Approach having joined with their Forces they forced the Poles into their Works where they were so closely besieg'd that they had but one Passage left open for their Communication with the Country which was that part on the other side of the River Moska where not long before had stood the Suburbs called Strelitza Slavoda and which they kept open a long time for the Conveniency of their Provisions and other Supplies and made frequent Sallies with great Success on their side till at last by the ill Conduct of King Sigismund they were forced to abandon that Post and soon after the whole City to the irreparable detriment of the said King For whilst the brave Poles were hardly pressed upon by their Enemies he lay immovable at the Siege of Smolensko where his Affairs began to look with a very ill Face For the Soldiers tired with the long Continuance of the Siege grew very uneasie for want of Pay and their Clamours were now risen to that height that the King began to dread every day a Mutiny having not wherewithal to satisfie their just Demands nor any other Means now left to raise Money unless by calling together a Dyet which at last was resolved on and a Convention of the Estates appointed against the September next following This Remedy tho' somewhat slow to satisfie the greedy Appetite of the Soldiers yet were they in Hopes oâ— a happy Success of that Assembly thereby appeased for that time The King in the mean time considering with himself that the Measures he had taken in Muscovy contrary to the Advice of the Senate and his Council having proved abortive would not be very agreeable to the Convention he resolved to make another Attempt for the Gaining of Smolensko not questioning but that if he could appear at the next Dyet as a Conquerour it would in a great measure take off the Blemish of his former Conduct in the Muscovian War A general Assault being therefore resolved on to be made on the 13th day of June the Soldiers encouraged by the Hopes of the Booty of so vast and rich a City shewed a great Eagerness to attack the Place The Assault was made on the East side by the Palatine of Braclow and on the West where then was the King's Quarters Smolensko stormed by General Wyer who commanded the Germans The Soldiers had found means before break of day to raise Ladders in several places upon the Walls unperceived by the Enemy so that at the Signal given the Germans first mounted and got up to the Top of the Walls as did also not long after the Poles under the Command of the Palatine without much Opposition from the Enemy who being thus attack'd upon a sudden when they least expected it those Forces that were left for the Guard of the Walls were not sufficient to stop the furious Assault of the Poles But the Descent from the Wall into the City being very steep and the whole Garrison having by this time taken the Alarm came flocking in great Numbers to the defence of their Walls the Combat grew very hot the Poles pushing forward with great Bravery to maintain the Advantage they had got and the Garrison armed with Despair fighting like Men either resolved to vanquish or die so that the Dispute remained very doubtful and perhaps would have ended to the Disadvantage of the Poles if
who was design'd for the Relief of the Castle of Musco he was afraid that if he should prosecute the Victory to the utmost he should rob his Friend to whom he was obliged for his Advancement of the Honour of having delivered the City of Musco into the Hands of King Sigismund so that being contented with having enlarged the Polish Quarters and chased the Muscovites out of their Posts he returned without pursuiâ—â— the Enemy having let slip a fair Opportunity of securing this Imperial City and consequently the whole Empire for King Sigismund both which were not long afâ—er lost by the King 's ill Conduct and the Jealousies which reigned among his Generals as we shall have Occasion to relate anon For tho' the Poles flush'd with this Success reassumed new Courage for a little time yet finding the Enemy after his first Consternation was over to attack them afresh with more Vigour than ever and by degrees to drive them out of their most advanced Posts and that they had but little Hopes of any solid Supply out of Poland which might be sufficient to divert the whole Force of Muscovy they in a mutinous Manner demanded their Pay declaring that they would no longer expose themselves to such Hazards without the least â—opes of Relief or Reward Gaziowski endeavouring by all means possible to appease the Tumult which was fomented by the Divisions among the Chief Officers it was agreed that Letters should be once more dispatched into Poland by a trusty Messenger after whose Return they should be at Liberty â—o dispose of themselves as they found it most convenient to the present Circumstances of their Affairs Accordingly a Letter was sent to King Sigismund written in the Name of the Polish Garrison of the Castle of Musco wherein having represented to the King how faithfully they had served him in their Station how they had held out for a considerable time against the whole Force of Muscovy struggled with Famine and all other Inconveniencies which must be the necessary Consequences of so long a Siege they found themselves and their Services neglected by not receiving any Supplies of Men or Money that their Condition was such as not to be able to defend themselves much longer against so numerous an Army if not powerfully assisted by the King That therefore they were obliged to consult their own Safety and to declare that if by the sixth of January next ensuing their Prince Vladislaus were not sent to their Assistance with a considerable Body of Troops and all other things requisite to enable him to maintain his just Claim by Virtue of the last Election to the Muscovian Crown they were unanimously resolv'd to quit the Castle to march back into Poland and to require their Arrears King Sigismund being not a little startled at the peremptory Demands of the Soldiery in Musco was uncertain what Measures to take to maintain his Interest in the Russian Empire but remaining stedfast in his Resolution not to send his Son Vladislaus he order'd Charles Chodkievitski Lieutenant-General of the Lithuanian Army to march with some Thousands of his best Troops towards the City of Musco and to maintain the Castle against the Muscovites till he having settled his Affâ—â—â—s at Home should be at leisure to march the next Spring to their Assistance with a Royal Army Potocki Palatine of Braclovia was at that time Commander in Chief over those Forces that were left for the Guard of â—he Province and City of Smolensko who had signaliz'd himself upon several Occasions at the Siege of that Place and being an intimate Friend of Gaziowski the Polish General within the Castle of Musco look'd with a very ill Eye upon this Advancement of Chodkievitski which he thought to have been due to himself or at least to his Friend Gaziowski and therefore resolved to thwart all his Designs For which purpose it was insinuated into the Chief Officers That Chodkievitski was sent with an Army out of Poland to prosecute the Muscovian War and to take Possession of the Imperial City to the gaining of which he had contributed little or nothing to defraud them of the Honour and Rewards of their past Labours The common Souldiers being also terrified with his Severity in Martial Discipline by the Artifices of Potocki's Emissaries were prepossess'd with such an Aversion against his Person that at his Arrival they refused to obey his Commands neither â—ould they be prevailed upon to make any more Sallies which the Muscovites improving to their Advantage straightned them more and more without any considerable Opposition The time was thus trifled away in Contests within the Castle till the sixth of January the Day prefix'd for the Departure of the Garrison in their Letter to King Sigismund if Prince Vladislaus did not come to their Relief when they unanimously declar'd That they would march directly into Poland to get Satisfaction for their Arrears Chodkievitski with all the Head Officers of his Party did omit nothing which they believ'd might keep them in Obedience they endeavâ—ured by Entreaties Promises and Threats to induce them to alter or at least to deferr their Resolution but in vain For having chosen one Joseph Cieclinski their General they march'd to the Number of betwixt seven and eight thousand Men most Horse out of the Castle and having opened their Passage with their Swords thorow their Enemies directed their March to the Lesser Poland where having distributed their Troops into several Palatinates they made Leopolis their Head Quarters and seiz'd not only upon the King 's Domains but also upon the Ecclesiastical Revenues for the Satisfaction of their Arrears There was however a Body of four thousand Men to wit that commanded by Sapiha left for the Guard of the Castle of Musco who were at last prevail'd upon to stay for some time longer by the pâ—ospect of great Advantages having all the Crown-Jewels of Muscovy consisting of two Crowns of Gold beset with Gems two Sceptres with Diamonds two Ducal Bonnets the Golden Apple and other precious Stones of great Value put into their Hands as a Pledge for their Pay Potocki having thus far succeeded in his Design and finding things reduc'd to Extremity by his Contrivances he thought it now fit time to step in for the Preseâ—vation of the Place for which purpose he sent a considerable Force from Smolensko under the Command of Konickpotski a Creature of his own and not long after his near Kinsman Nicholas Strusius with part of the Garrison of Smolensko to the Assistance of those within the Castle of Musco They entred without the least Opposition thro' that Pass which the Poles had as yet maintain'd on the other side of the River Mosca and those within being reinforc'd and encourag'd by so considerable a Number of fâ—esh Tâ—oops might without all 〈◊〉 not only have maintain'd but also have enlarg'd their Quarters if the Jealousie and Envy that reign'd among the Officers had not rendred all the Designs of Chodkicvitski fruitless
so that notwithstanding the considerable Accession of these Troops the Muscovites found Means â—o pen them up closer every day and at last to cut of their Communication with the Country by perfecting their Lines on the other side of the River Mâ—sca The Sapihan Horse consisting of four thousand Men seeing themselves in danger of being enclosed without any Hopes of Relief and unwilling to lose the Treasure they had got so lately in their possession declared unanimously that they were resolved not to endure any longer the Dangers and Fatigues of a close Siege without the least Prospect of Success on their side and that they would follow the Example of â—he rest who were some months before marched into Poland Accordingly having chosen one John Zalinski their Commander in Chief they march'd out with all the Crown-Jewels in their Possession and having with great Bravery foâ—ced the Enemy's Lines march'd directly into Lithuania setting up their Head Quarters at Bresla and treading the Footsteps of their Brethren in the Lesser Poland took up their Quarters in the neighbouring Palatinates where they liv'd at discretion upon the King 's Domains and the Ecclesiastical Revenues till their Arrears were paid King Sigismund was by this time become sensible of his fatal Error in not sending his Son Vladislaus into Muscovy especially when the Polish Nobility exasperated by the Insolencies of the confederate Forces in the Lesser Poland and Lithuania began to break out into open Complaints charging the King with the Causes of all these Disordeâ—s which might have been prevented if he had not preferr'd the Insinuations of his flattering Courtiers before the wholesom Advice of his Senate and his most experienced Officers To repaâ—r therefore if possible his former Miâ—â—ake he resolved to bring Vladislaus thither in Person at the â—â—ad of a good Army and having assembled what Forces he had in Readiness march'd directly to Vilna the Capital City of Lithuania Siâ—â—â—mund mâ—rches to the Relief of Musco expecting to be join'd there by the Confederate Forces by reason of their great Zeal for the Interest of their Prince Vladislaus But these having once tasted the Sweets of their pâ—entiful Quarters and having yet in fresh Remembrance their late Fatigues sustain'd in the Castle of Musco were not for changing their present plentiful Condition for the Toâ—â— and Chances of War so that when the King oâ—der'd them to prepare for the March they unanimously declar'd that they would not stir unless they receiv'd full Satisfaction for their Arrears The King tho' disappointed in the Assistance of those Troops in which he confided most having receiv'd a Reinforcement of two thousand German Foot directed his March towards Smolensko where by the Accession of those Forces that Quarter'd thereabouts he hop'd to be in a Condition to attempt the Relief of his Subjects within the Castle of the City of Musco But the same Evil Genius which had alienated the Confederate Forces from his Service did follow him to Smolensko For the Horse in those Parts after the Example of their Brethren in Lithuania and Poland declar'd that they would not stir out of their Quarters till their Arrears were paid them King Sigismund wanting Money to satisfie their Demands and Strength to reduce them to Obedience was fain to have Recourse to Entreaties and Promises not only of their Arrears but also of vast Rewards but these verbal Temptations not making the least Impression upon the Souldiers the King declar'd that if they all refus'd to follow him he would in Person at the Head of his Guards only march to the Relief of his Subjects in Muscovy Some of the Horse overcome with Shame and the Perswasions of their Officers who upbraided them with Cowardice and want of Loyalty being at last prevail'd upon not to leave the King at this critical Juncture Sigismund resolv'd to prosecute his March to Viasna mid-way betwixt Smolensko and the City of Musco I had almost forgot to have mention'd here an Accident that hapned to the King at the time of his marching out of one of the Gates of Smolensko which is call'd the Kings Gate the same was interpreted as an inauspicious Omen to Sigismund For it hapned that just at the same Instant as he was to go thro' the abovemention'd Gate the Portcullice fell down and stopp'd his Passage so that he was forced to â—urn back and take another Way to Viasna where he halted expecting to be join'd by some other Forces that were quarter'd in the neighbouring Provinces Whilst the King who was always dilatory in his Affairs was advancing with slow Marches towards the City of Musco the Russians had pressed on the Siege of the Castle with more Vigour than before and having perfected their Lines on all sides and fortified them with Redoubts at convenient distances and reduc'd the Poles within to great Straights who for want of a sufficient Number of Foot were no longer able to maintain their Works much lest to hinder the Appâ—oaches of the Enemy However they supplied the Defect of their Foot by the Service of their Horse who during the whole Summer notwithstanding all the Passages were fortified and guarded by the Muscovites at several times broke thro' their Lines and brought in Provisions for the Garrison But these Supplies being brought in so small Quantities as not to bear any proportion with the Necessities of the Soldiers who were at last reduced to extream Want Chodkievitski resolv'd to make his last Effort and to try whether he could not by the same Way of the River which he had made use of before bring in a Supply of five hundred Waggons laden with all manner of Provisions into the Castle For which purpose having order'd a Sally to be made with the greatest part of the Horse and all the Foot within the Castle they by break of day forced the Guards of the Muscovites on the other side of the River Mosca to facilitate the Passage of their Convoy which they met at some diâ—tance from the Town But they advancing very â—lowly by reason of the great Number of Waggons the Muscoviteâ— had sufficient Leisure given them to draw the greatest part of their Forces out on that side so that at their Return they were warmly received by the whole Power of the Muscovites who knowing the Fate of the Siege to depend from the Success of this days Action fought with great Obstinancy The Polish Horse induced by the same Motives fought like Men resolved to conquer or to dy and notwithstanding the great Inequality of their Number had brought the Muscovian Horse into Confusion and would in all likelihood have carried the Day if they had been duly seconded by their Foot commanded by Strusius But he being a near Kinsman and Creature of Potocki Poles beaten by the Muscovites who as we mentioned before look'd with an ill Eye upon the Advancement of Chodkievitski under pretence of guarding the Convoy of Provisions advanced so slowly to the Rescue of the Horse
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
first his Arms and Legs and afterwards his Head cut off in the Presence of an infinite Number of People who flocked thither to be Spectators of the tragical Exit of him whom not many Month before they had looked upon as their most dreadful Enemy About the same time Maria the Empress Regent departed this Life and Czar Alexis Michaelovits was married soon after to another young Lady the Niece of Oatomon Sergoivits who having by this near Alliance with the Emperor obtained the whole Ministry of the Government acquired himself with great Applause and to the General Satisfaction of the People in this eminent Station till the year 1675. When Czar Alexis Miâ—haelovits died Czar Alexis Michaelovits dies to the great Regret of his Subjects who by Reason of his great Clemency singular Devotion and incomparable Conduct during the last Years of his Reign lamented his Loss by all the Expressions of Grief due to the Memory of so great a Prince He left behind him by the first Adventure two Sons and a Daughter to wit Fedor John or Ivan and Sophia by the second one Son called Peter the same who now sways the Scepter of the Miscovian Empire He was succeeded by Fedor Alexiovits his Eldest Son being not quite Seventeen years of Age and of a very Sickly Constitut on who â—eigned seven Years under the Protectorate of Sophia his Sister till the year 1682 Fedor Alexâ—ovits dies when by his Death the Muscovite Empire was divided into two potent Factions which might have proved of very dangerous Consequence if the extraordinary Conduct of his present Czarish Majesty had not in a great Measure diverted the fatal Blow which seemed to threaten its Ruin CHAP. V. Containing an historical Account of the most remarkable Transactions from the Begiâ—ning of the Reign of the present Czar Peter till this time with some political Reflections on the present State of Muscovy in Relation to its Traffick and Strength in reference to its Neighbours AFTER the Death of Fedor Alexiovits John the second Son of Alexis Michaelovits being by Reason of his natural Infirmities incapable of undertaking the Administration of the Government was soon prevailed upon to resign all his Claim to the Russian Crown Two Factions after his Death to his younger Brother Peter who tho' very young being looked upon by most of the Boyars as the only Person who gave them all the imaginable Hopes of his future Ability to supply the Place of his Father Alexis Michaelovits Czar Peter crowned was crowned Czar of Muscovy instead of the deceased Fedor his Brother But the Princess Sophia seeing her self thus excluded from the Management of the Government of which she had enjoyed the full Advantage during the Minority of her Brother Fedor she with Knez Gailizin and some others of her Creatures took a Resolution not to part with so fine a Morsel at so easie a Rate but to endeavour by putting John in the Throne to maintain their own Greatness in Opposition to the New Czar Peter Alexiovits It is to be observed that the deceased Empress Maria Mother to John who had by his own Consent debarred himself from the Royal Dignity was infinitely beloved by the Common People by reason of her extraordinary Modesty Charity and other most eminent Vertues The Princess being not ignorant of this Advantage on her side sent abroad her Emissaries who insinuated into the People the Injustice done to John the eldest surviving Son of the Empress Maria the Darling of the People by an adverse Party who contrary to the antient established Custom of Muscovy had excluded that Prince from his Right in favour of his younger Brother These cunning Informations had such powerful Influence over the Common people but especially over the Guards that constantly attend the Czarâ—s Person that one Morning being headed by some of the Princesses Creatures they rose in open Rebellion declaring they would not lay down their Arms till they saw John the Elder Brother of Peter placed on the Muscovian Throne The Boyars in the Interest of the present Czar Peter Insâ—rrection iâ— the City of Mâ—sâ—o endeavouring by their Perswasions to appease the Mutiny did feel the dreadful Effects of their Fury for some had their Palaces ransack'd and pull'd down to the ground others were cut to pleces immediately others thrown out of the Windows so that nothing less than a total Destruction seem'd to threaten the City of Musco unless prevented by some Expedient which might stay the Fury of the enraged Populace For which reason the Heads of both Factions who by this time began equally to dread the Insolency of the Rabble after various Debates came to this following Resolution That to ballance the Interest of both contending Parties Czar Peter should be confirmed in the Throne of Muscovy but that his elder Brother John should be his Associate both in the Royal Dignity and Administration of the Government The Princess Sophia having thus once more by the powerful Influence she had over the weakness of her Brother John and by reason of the tender Age of the present Czar Peter che being not above twelve years of Age when he was Crown'd Czar of Muscovy got the Reins of the Government into her own hands managed all Matters under the Conduct of the Premier Minister Knez Gallizin her Creature with a great deal of dexterity for some time till at last by the removal of this her faithful Councellor being deprived of his Assistance and the Death of her own Brother Czar John who died about four years ago without Issue she was totally excluded from the further Management of publick Affairs and thrust into a Monastery where she is detained to this day The present Czar Peter was born on the 29th of May in the Year 1670 by a second Adventure and after the Death of Czar Fedor his eldest Brother Crown'd Czar of Muscovy when he was not full twelve Years of Age. After the removal of Knez Gallizin from the Ministry A Conspiracy against the present Czar and the death of his Brother the whole Administration of the Government being devolved to him he managed it with so much Conduct and Success as has rendred his Actions famous throughout all Europe which those of the contrary Faction looking upon with an envious Eye a Design was laid some few years ago against his Life which in all likelihood would have proved fatal to this great Prince if by the Imprudence of him who was to have been the Chief Actor in this Tragedy the whole Design had not been discovered before the Conspirators could meet with an opportunity to put it in execution This was a German by Birth whose name was Sickler who having a considerable Command in the Czar's Army and being extreamly beloved by him had a free Access to his Person This Man being inticed by the hopes of extraordinary Rewards even of the Crown of Muscovy undertook to dispatch the Czar the first favourable
to be observed that by the seasonable Discovery of the last Conspiracy by the thrusting the Princess Sophia into a Monastery and the removal of the Knez Gallizin from the Ministry into Siberia the Faction that hitherto opposed his Interest has been sufficiently discouraged from making further Attempts against a Prince who by his singular Clemency and the great Success of his Arms against the Tartars is now become the Darling of the common People Besides which he took all the Precaution imaginable before his Departure to disappoint the Designs of his Enemies if perhaps in his Absence they should have a mind to try their Fortune For which Reason he not only committed the whole Management of the Government to such as he knew absolutely devoted to his Interest but also sent a great Number of Persons of the first Quality the Sons of the most Antient Nobilty to travel into far distant Countries to instruct themselves in the Mathematicks the Art of Navigation and other useful Sciences for a certain Term of Years where they might both improve their own Knowledge to the Advantage of their Native Country and at the same time serve him as Pledges of their Parents Fidelity during his Stay in foreign Countries The Motive which could induce so great a Prince to leave for some time his Native Country cannot be attributed to any other Cause than his most ardent Desire of improving his own Knowledge and of his Subjects quite contrary to what has been practised by his Predecessors who looked upon the Ignorance of their Subjects as the main Foundation-Stone of their Absolute Power from whence the most clear-sighted promise themselves great Advantages after his Return into Muscovy Thus much is unquestionable that his Desire of improving himself in the Art of Navigation and all Sea-Affairs is such as to surpass the industry of most private Men who apply themselves to it out of a bare Prospect of Lucre. I have heard it related by very credible Persons that he would not only go frequently to Sordam a large Village on the opposite Shore of the City of Amsterdam on the same River most inhabited by Shipwrights employed there in the building of Ships in Disguise on purpose to instruct himself in every thing belonging to that Trade But he used often to go disguised in a Sea-man's Habit into the Yard of the East-India House where he would be employed in fetching and carrying such Materials as are requisite for the building of Ships which he would see put in their proper Places and oftentimes would employ himself in working in concert with the Shipwrights It is by this incredible Desire of accomplishing himself in this as well as all other useful Arts and Sciences that he has so improved his Judgment as to be able to examine and inform himself concerning all Matters relating to Military Affairs whether by Sea or Land both which he endeavours to improve far beyond whatever was attempted by any of his Predecessors which is sufficiently apparent by the intended communication betwixt the two Rivers Wolga and Tanais and the discovery of Nova Zembla not to be an Island as it has ben hitherto believed and the Mare Glaciale of the Frozen Sea to be nothing else but a Sinus or Bay which was performed by His Czarish Majesty's express Orders within these few Years And as the prosperous success of his Arms against the Crim-Tartars seems to be a convincing instance that his generous endeavours have not proved fruitless so the design of extending his Conquest to the Black Sea gives the Muscovites all the hopes imaginable of seeeing their Empire in a few Years a more flourishing condition than ever it has been in under the Reigns of their former Monarchs of which the great Atchievements of this brave Prince which are the Subject of the following relations seems to be the happy presages But before we go any further it will not be beyond our purpose to insert here the true character of Knâ—z GalliZin together with two remarkable Accidents which seem'd to be the forerunners of his ensuing downfal which caused no small change in the Affairs of the Muscovite Government Knez GalliZin descended from the Race of the Jagellons Character of Knez GalliZin was at that time one of the most considerable Princes of the Muscovian Empire whether in regard of his illustrious Extraction or the high Station he was settled in of being Chief Minister of State by the favours of the eldest Czar John and his Sister Sophia who 's Creature he was He was undoubtedly one of the best Head pieces in the Kingdom and the most Knowing and most Accomplish'd of all the Muscovian Boyars always addicted to the French Interest and such an admirer of the present French King Lewis XIV that he caused his Son to wear his Picture constantly upon his Breast It was chiefly owing to his advice and dexterity that the Princess Sophia had seized upon the Administration of the Government during the Minority of the two Czars her Brothers in which she continued for several Years by the extraordinary Conduct of this her faithful Minister till the Boyars and Chief of the Nobility who were altogether in the Interest of the Youngest Czar Peter the present Emperour being resolved not to suffer themselves any longer to be Imposed upon by this Favourite found means to remove him from his Ministry of which the two following relations appeared to be the Fatal Presages The first was undertaken by a private person who having watched his opportunity one morning as GalliZin was going in his Sledge to the Czar's Palace threw himself upon him and seized him by the Beard to stab him But whilst he was drawing his dagger which according to the Muscovian fashion stuck in his Girdle the Princes Servants running up to the Sledge had the good fortune to stop his hand just as he was about sticking the Dagger in their Master's Heart The Assassin was so far from being dejected that on the contrary his rage seemed to be encreased which sufficinetly appeared by his furious looks and his utmost tho' vain efforts of putting his design in Execution But finding himself overpowered and all his endeavours in vain he spoke to GallaZin with unparrallell'd resolution in the following manner Infamous Tyrant It is not the fear of death but the regret I feel of being disappointed in my design that you see me thus changed in my Countenance But know that tho' I have been so unfortunate as to fail in this attempt to deliver my Native Country from the most horrid Monster that ever was bred upon the face of the Earth tho' this hand has been unsuccessful in making thee a Sacrifice to the just resentments of thy fellow Subjects Know I say that this feat is reserved for some happier hand than mine and that among three hundred Citizens who out of pity to the people that daily groan under the burthen of thy most intolerable oppressions have conspired thy final
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