the absolute Power they have over their Subjects Lives and Fortunes they may be parallel'd at least if not preferr'd to the Emperour of the Turks CHAP. II. Of the Southern Muscovy in particular with a Description of its Chief Cities MVscovy as has been mentioned in the foregoing Chapter being commonly divided into four Parts viz. in the two Northern Parts bordering on Sweden and Tartary the Southern Muscovy and the Tartarian Kingdoms under the Obedience of the Russian Empire we will in this Chapter treat of the Southern Muscovy in particular reserving its more Northern Provinces to the following and the Description of the Tartarian Kingdoms of Astrachan Casan Siberia and other Tartarian Countries Muscovy prâ—pâ—â—ly so called to the Fourth and Fifth Chapters The Southern Muscovy comprehends ten Provinces The first is the Province of Muscovy properly so called which has communicated its Name to the whole Empire it is a flat Country beautified with great store of Forests most of them of Firrs and Beech-trees Lakes and Rivers abounding in every thing requisite for the Sustenance of Human Life the Forests abounding with Honey and all sorts of Game as the Plains do with Grass and Corn and the Rivers and Lakes furnish the whole Country with a prodigious quantity of all soâ—ts of Fish except Carps which are not to be found here or if they are in some places they eat harsh and are quite neglected in a Country where they have such store of the best Fish in the World The Capital City of this Province is Musco A Description of the City of Musco the Metropolis of the whole Empire to which it has given its Name as it has derived its own from the River Moska which passes through and divides that part of the City called Strelitza Slaâ—oda from the rest and after having received the two small Rivers of Neglina and Yagusa and joined its Current with the River Occa falls afterwards into the great River Wolga It is situated in a very fair Plain betwixt the three above-mentioned Rivers its Figure is almost Circular containing in its Circumference Fifteen or Sixteen Miles at least tho' by reason of the Conflagrations which frequently happen in this City both its form and extent do not continue many Years in the same condition It lies almost in the Centre of the whole Empire being at an equal distance from the Frontiers which on either side are above 600 Miles It s Elevation is 55 Degrees and 36 Min. Latitude Its Longitude 66 Degrees Before the Crim Tartars in the Year 1571 destroyed it and the Poles burnt it to the Ground all but the Castle in the Year 1611. it was doubtless much bigger than it is now nevertheless there being by computation numbred near â—0000 Houses â—0000 this with the largeness of its Streets and the Intervals betwixt the Houses makes it one of the greatest and most considerable tho' not the most Populous Cities of Europe The City of Musco like most of all the other Towns in Muscovy is built all of Wood except the Palaces of Persons of the first Rank some Churches and Chappels and the Houses of some very Rich Merchants which are of Brick or Stone it being the general Custom throughout all Muscovy to build their â—ouses of Wood made up of Beams and Cross-pieces of Firr laid and joyned one upon another the vacuities being fill'd up with Moss they are covered with Barks of Trees upon which they sometimes lay another covering of Turffs the better to defend themselves against the Injuries of the Winter-Season The Streets of the City of Musco are very spacious and handsom enough in dry Weather but after the least Rain very dirty and would for some time of the Year be rendred quite unpassable were it not for the great quantity of Firr Posts which being laid cross the Streets like a Bridge serve instead of a Pavement The combustible Matter of which their Houses are composed together with the carelessness and disorderly House-keeping of the Muscovites they being much given to Drunkenness makes their Houses very subject to the mischances of Fire In the City of Musco there are certain Intervals left from place to place and the sooner to quench the fury of the Flames the Guards and Watch in the Night-time carry Poll-axes wherewith they instantly break down the next adjoyning Houses to those that are on fire Notwithstanding all these precautions there is seldom a Week without some damage done by Fire which however the Muscovites are the less disturbed at by how much more common it is and may be repaired without any considerable Loss to the Owners their Furniture consisting commonly of a few Benches only which also serve instead of Beds and some Earthen or Wooden Dishes And as for their Houses they are almost as soon repaired as lost there being a certain Market without the white Wall of this City where at a very easie rate Wood being so over-plenty in this Country they buy a House of what bigness they please ready built which in a little time is taken down and transported to the Place where the other House stood before The whole Body of this great City is divided into four distinct Quarters or Circuits Musco divided into four Quarters The first which the Muscovites call Cataygorod or the Mid-City Cataygorod or the Mid-City is situated in the centre of the others being divided from the rest by a Brick Wall called Cresne Stenna or red Stone and surrounded almost by the two Rivers of Mosca and Neglina the first passing by it on the South and joyning with the latter on the North-side behind the Castle The Castle of Musco The Castle of the Grand Dukes called Cremelena by the Russians takes up near one half of it being at least two Miles in circumference and very well fortified with a triple strong Wall very well mounted with Cannon and strengthened by a very good Ditch The Palace it self stands at the further end of the Castle next adjoyning to that of the Patriarch being built of Stone after the Italian manner about Fifty Years ago notwithstanding which the Czars used during the Winter-Season to eat and to sleep in some Apartments made of Wood as being less moist than the others Besides that there are several Boyars who have great Places at Court and live within the Castle in very fair Houses of Stone there are several Convents of Monks and Nuns and near Fifty Churches and Chappels of Stone the chiefest of which are those of St. Mary's St. Nicholas and that of St. Michael Famous for the Tombs of the Great Dukes of Russia Among a great many other Steeples which adorn these Churches and are all covered with Copper â—nd large Crosses gilt on the top of them which â—eing burnished by the heat of the Sun gives them 〈◊〉 Resemblance of Gold at a distance two are most â—articularly worth taking notice of being both in â—he centre of the Castle The first called
Monsters those other Europaeans that have of late years sail'd deeper into the Caspian Sea having neither seen nor heard any thing like it except they would take the Sea-dogs which are in great numbers near the mouth of the Wolga for such prodigious Monsters Errors of Modern Authors concerning the Caspian Sea By the Experience of those also it is sufficiently contradlcted what Petrejus in his History of Muscovy relates with so much confidence that the Water of the Caspian Sea is as black as Ink that it is full of Islands well stock'd with Inhabitants and a great number of Cities and Villages The Water being of the same colour with that of all other Seas and there being not one Island in it that has either City or Village and if the Persians Tartars and Muscovites living thereabouts may be believ'd there is only the Isle of Ensil near Ferebath which having very good Pastures the Neighbouring Inhabitants who keep their Cattle there have a few Huts to defend them against the Injuries of the Weather during the time their Cattle Grases there Of the same stamp is what Contarinus in his Travels and Father Bizarous in his History of Persia relate concerning a certain round Fish without a Head to be found in this Sea of an Ell and a half Diameter of which they say there is drawn a certain Oil which the Persians use in their Lamps and to greese their Camels whereas there are at the foot of the Mountain of Barmach near the City of Baku whole Rivulets of an Oily substance by them call'd Nefte Nefte which furnish them with a sufficient quantity of this Kind for that Use at a much cheaper Rate it being from thence transported into the other Parts of the Kingdom I am apt to believe that they are fallen into this Error by the superficial Description of a certain Fish in the Caspian Sea called Naka The Glutton or Glutton which has some resemblance to that mentioned by them for it has not only a very short Nose but the whole Head is as it was within the Belly and its Tail being round and its length and breadth near the same and sometimes of six or seven Foot it comes pretty near a circular Figure This Fish will fasten it self with the Tail under the Fisher-men's Boats so as to overturn them as will also the white Fish which makes the Fisher-men be very cautious of theâ—â— They catch the first with the Liver of Beef 〈◊〉 Mutton which the Fish much delights in thâ—â— they put as a Bait upon Iron Hooks ty'd to good strong Cords and so draw him to the Shoar But I cannot imagine upon what authority they have founded their Relation when they say that there is 〈◊〉 other Fish in the Caspian Sea it being sufficiently known by Experience that the Caspian Sea is very well Stor'd not only with abundance of Salmons Sturgeons and Herrings but also with several Kinds of Fish as are catch'd in Rivers and kept in Ponds as Barbels Breams and Trouts Before we leave the Caspian Sea it will perhaps not be amiss to take notice of a certain Species of wild Geese or rather Cormorants which are found in great numbers on that Shoar especially towards the mouth of the River Wolga They are like other Geese as to their Colour Legs Neck and Feet but the bulk of their Bodies exceeding the Swans Their Bills are fork'd at the end being a Foot and half long and near two Inches broad the whole Body of some of them being above seven Foot in length from the Head to the Feet But what is most remarkable in them is that under their Bills they have a shrivell'd Skin hanging resembling a Bagg which when dilated contains more or less three Gallons of Liquor this they make use of for a Rescrontory for such Fish they take which they afterwards swallow down at leisure On the same Shoar is also frequently seen that kind of Fowl Onocratalus which Pliny calls Onocratalus their Beaks are long and round but at the extremity flat in the form of a Spoon beaten out When it puts its Beak into the Water it makes a most hideous Noise almost like an Ass whence without doubt it had its Name I had almost forgot to tell you that the Caspian Sea neither Ebbs nor Flows which may serve as additional Argument to maintain our beforementioned Assertion that it has no communication or correspondence with any other Sea CHAP. V. Of the Tartars of Dagesthan and Circassia of Siberia and some other Tartarian Provinces betwixt China and Muscovy THE Tartars of Dagesthan and Circassia inhabit that Country known to the Antients under the name of Albania which reaches all along the Shoar of the Caspian Sea from the end of the Desarts of Astrachan mentioned in the foregoing Chapter to the City of Derbent Circassia on the confines of Persia The Dagesthan Tartars are subject neither to the Persians nor Muscovites the Mountains which they inhabit serving them for a Fence against these two Potent Neighbours But the Circassian Tartars divided from the former by the River Bustro which Ptolomy calls Gerrus bordering upon the Kingdom of Astrachan and being subject to the Jurisdiction of the Grand Czar of Muscovy we will treat of them first taking our course from the great Desarts of Astrachan first to the River Bustro and from thence to the Frontiers of Persia The Country of Circassia is situate all along the coast of the Caspian Sea from the South-West to North-East encompassing it about in form of a Cressent and making a very spacious Bay The Circassians are possess'd of that Part of Albania which hath for its Frontiers on the East and West-side the Caspian Sea and Mount Caucasus and on the South and North the River Bustro and the Desarts of Astrachan Very few Historians whether Antient or Modern have made any mention of them some having assigned their Habitations beyond the Mount Caucasus near the Euxin Sea whereas they are more properly to be called the Caspian Sarmatians Their Capital City is Terki The City of Terki above 300 Miles from Astrachan by Land situate near three Miles from the Shoar of the Caspian Sea upon a small River called Timenski a Branch of the great River Bustro which being formerly called Terck has given the name to this City it is seated in a very spacious Plain very fenny towards the Sea-side under 43 deg 23 min. Elev It is in compass about two Miles well fortified with Ramparts and Bastions of Earth after the modern Way stor'd with Cannon and has always a considerable Garison in it of Muscovites under the Command of a Weywode the Tartarian Prince who resides here having 500 of them allow'd him for his Guard Since the Reduction of those Parts under the obedience of the Czars of Muscovy they have put in all Places of Strength not only their Garisons but also Governours Magistrates and Priests for the exercise of the
Peter Alexiovitz the present Grand Czar of Moscovie Anno aetat 27. THE Antient and Present STATE OF MUSCOVY CONTAINING A Geographical Historical and Political ACCOUNT Of all those NATIONS and TERRITORIES Under the JURISDICTION of the Present CZAR With SCULPTURES and a New MAP By J. C. M. D. Fellow of the Royal Society and a Member of the College of Physicians LONDON LONDON Printed for A. Roper at the Black Boy and A. Bosvile at the Dyal both over against St. Dunstan's Church in Fleet-street MDCXCVIII To my Honoured Friend Sir EDMVND WARCVP Of OXFORDSHIRE K t. I Am fully perswaded there is a certain Sympathy betwixt Travellors As for my part I am very free to make this ingenious Confession that as the first motive of my courting your acquaintance was the extraordinary Character you had acquired â—n your Travels abroad so the History of Italy wherewith you have obliged the World some Years ago did raise in me a â—ertain Ambition of being received among â—he number of your Friends The conâ—ruity there is betwixt all Histories tho' â—f different Nations and far distant Counâ—ries will be I hope a sufficient Plea for â—his Address to you 't is true this Relaâ—â—on will not afford the same variety of â—eautiful Structures Gardens Statues and â—ther Niceties as that of Italy nevertheâ—ess the more remote the Manners Reliâ—ion and Policy of the Muscovitâ—s are from â—ther Nations of Europe the more abstruse â—heir History and surprising in the event â—mong a Nation guided for the most part â—eerly by instinct and consequently hurâ—ed on to one extreme or another the more I say they may deserve our particular observation at this juncture of time But besides this motive peculiar to my self there are also several other Obligations for which by the general acknowledgment oâ— all true English Men your Native Country stands indebted to you and never ought to be Buried in Oblivion The earâ—ly Proofs you gave at your younger Years both of your Capacity and Readiness to serve your Country in the Treaty of the Isle of Wight in the Year 1647. and 1648â— were the fore runners of a long Concatenation of Services you and your Family have since heaped upon the Kingdom of England There are as yet many living Testimonies oâ— your successful endeavours in the Restauration of K. Charles II. of Blessed Memory and as the University of Oxford shew'd their readiness in acknowledging your Services to the Publick by investing you in the Year 1670. with the Dignity of a Doctor of the Civil Laws in honorem Principis Auriaci now our present King so iâ— was questionless both upon the score oâ— your Merits and Ability that by the particular Commands of his then Majestyâ— and Privy Council and the Lords Spiritualâ— and Temporal in Parliament Assembledâ— you were appointed for the searching intoâ— and prosecuting the Discovery of that mosâ— horrid Popish Plot carried on against thâ— Life of K. Charles II. and the Government I will not enlarge my self here upon the singular Benefit the Government received at that time by your Care and Vigilancy to your no small charge and hazard the publick Testimonies and reiterated Recommendations to his then Majesty from the House of Peers are sufficient Evidences of these Eminent Services you did to the Government during the prosecution of that Conspiracy But there is one thing more which in my Opinion ought before all others not to be pass'd by in silence I mean your continuance in Westminster during the greatest Plague England ever felt What could be a more evident proof of your undaunted Courage and entire Devotion to the service of your Native Country than to tarry at a time of so eminent a Danger in the midst of a great many Thousands expiring round about you where in Conjunction with Sir Edmund Bury Godfrey you were appointed by His then Majesty's Commission to take care in Quality of Justices of Peace of the Out-Parishes to the great Satisfaction of the Publick Your two Sons Col. Lenthall Warcup and Capt. Edm. Warcup at the Unfortunate but Glorious Day of Battle at Steenkirke in Flanders in the Year 1693. gave such illustrious Demonstrations of being true Inheritors of your Courage and Love to their Native Country that their fall was generally lamented and their Names have ever since been placed in the most Honourable Remembrances of all those who esteem it a Glory to Sacrifice their Lives for the Defence of their Country Being confined to the compass of a Letter I am forced to deprive my self of the satisfaction of giving the due praises to their Memory but in lieu of them I will offer to theâ—r Names as a perpetual remembrance of their Bravery the following Words of the Honourable Sir James Vernon There was never said he speaking to you of your Sons a Battalion behaved themselves better than that which your Son commanded nor any Officer so universally regretted as he was And I do not doubt but your younger Son would have trod his Brother's Foot-steps had he not soon after met with the same Fate They have given continues he the best Account of the Life they received from you And I who have a more numerous Stock of Sons than yours was know not what better to wish for them than that they may run the same Hazards in the same Cause and may be so loved and so missed Thus recommending my self to the Continuation of your Friendship I rest SIR Your most Faithful and Humble Servant J. CRULL Med. D. THE PREFACE AMongst a great many other Advantages which the English Nation enjoys under the Auspicious Reign of His present Majesty the Influence this Crown has in Foreign Affairs may be look't upon as one of the most considerable whether in respect of the Honour or Benefit which is from thence derived to the Generality of the People of England For whereas our Intestine Broils and the Carelesness of the two preceding Reigns had render'd the Interest of this Island almost as much divided from that of other States of Europe as it is separated from the Neighbouring Countries by the Ocean it must be acknowledged that it is chiefly owing to the incomparable Valour of His present Britannick Majesty that the English have re-gain'd their Ancient Reputation abroad and that in so eminent a Degree that even the most potent Princes in far distant Countries looking upon this Kingdom as one of the most considerable in Europe shew a more than ordinary Deference to His Majesty of Great Britain It is withont Question upon that Score we have seen so lately one of the greatest Princes in the World leave for some Time his own Country and maugre the Tediousness of so great a Journey came to visit this Island As I am well assured that this Journey of His present Czarrish Majesty is without a Parallel in the Russian Empire so it was that which gave the first Opportunity of engaging my Thoughts in the following Treatise I was not insensible there were
generally excessive Cold in the Winter and the Heats in the Summer during the space of two or three Months very intense and violent The Country is generally flat and Sandy full of Trees and Woods so that Muscovy in a manner appears to be one continual Forest irrigated by a great multitude of Lakes and Rivers which renders it incomparably pleasant in the Summer and extreamly commodious for Travelling and Trading in the Winter The Lakes most remarkable for their bigness The most 〈…〉 Muscovy are 1. Ivanosera which is as much as to say John's Lake is situated in the great Forest of Epiphanow in the Province of Resan 500 English Miles long 2. Bieleâ—sera near 50 Miles in compass Ilmin or Ilmen 200 Miles long and as many broad near the City of Novogoâ—od Veliki Towards the West near the Confines of Finland there are two more not far distant from one another and of great extent the first is called Ladoga or Laduga which contains several small Islands and great store of Fish its Compass being near 300 Leagues The second is called Onega near 250 Miles long and 80 broad besides a great many others not to be mentioned in this place there being so prodigious a number of Lakes and Brooks all over Muscovy that scarce four or five Leagues can be travelled there without seeing some of them on all sides It is particularly observable in Muscovy that most of its Rivers even those of the first Rank take their original from Lakes The River Volga it self The Chiefâ—â—◠〈…〉 Muscovy the biggest in Europe if not in the World owes its first off-spring to a Lake call'd Fronow in the Province of Roscovie and derives its name from another Lake at some few Miles distance from the former called Volga through which it passes and after having traversed many Provinces and received a great number of small Rivers it disembogues near Astrachan into the Caspian Sea The next considerable River is the Boristhenes or Niâ—per it takes its source in the same Province of Roscovie where the Volga does and discharges it self into the Euxine Sea The River Oby taking its source from the Lake Catisco traverses the Desarts of Tartary from South to North-west and having served as a boundary betwixt that Country and the Muscovian Territories discharges it self into the Frozen Sea Besides these there are two considerable Rivers of the same name called Duina i. e. Twain or Two the first being the confluence of two Rivers viz. of the Jagel and Sâ—cogna disembogues into the white Sea near the Famous City of Archangel The second Duina owes its name and off-spring to a Lake of the same Name a few Miles distant from the Boristhenes or Niâ—per and falls about four Leagues from Riga in Livonia into the Baltique Not to mention here the Rivers of Mosca and Occa and others of less note wherewith this Country is stock'd which for the most part loose themselves either in the Volga or in the other abovementioned Rivers and will be more particularly taken notice of in their proper places The Territories under the obedience of the Czars of Muscovy Muscovy divided in four Parts are commonly divided into four several Parts The first is the Northern Muscovy bordering on Sweden which contains seven very large Provinces viz. The Muscovite Lapland Dwina Pleskâ—w Kargapol Wologda Novogorod Veliki and Biâ—leja Osera The second Part is the Northern Muscovy bordering on the Tartars divided into sixteen Provinces viz. that of Candora Juhora or Juhorski New-Holland near the Streight of Nassaw or Weigats Petzora Obdora Vstioug Perniski Wiatka Wachines the Principalities of Bielski Smolensko and Severia or Novogorod Seuierski part of the Palatinate of Kiow the Dukedom of Kraina and lastly the Province called Pole Besides which it contains three different Sorts of People called Czeremissi Logovoi Czeremissi Nagorni and the Morduates The third Part is that of the Southern Muscovy comprehending ten very large Provinces viz. that of Muscovy properly so called the Dukedoms of Werotin Rezan Welodi Jaroslow Sasdel Rostow T were and Roscow besides the Province of Nise-Novogorod The fourth and last is the Muscovian Tartary divided into nine Parts viz. into the four Kingdoms of Astrachan Bulgar Casan and Siberia into the four Provinces of Lucomoria Loppia Pegahorda and Javalhahordo the ninth Part containing eight different Sorts of People viz. the Samoyedes Tingoeses Vigulei Scibanski Tustiouski Calami Hugneski and Tartars-Cornubii Formerly the Sovereigns of Russia bore the Title of Great Dukes Titles of the Czars of Muscovy and their Coat of Armes but since they have extended their Conquests among the Neighbouring Tartars the Russians salute their Princes with the Title of Weliki Knez that is Great Lord in imitation of the Turkish Grand Seignior and that of Czar or his Czarish Majesty And tho' the Word Czar in the Russian Language signifies as much as a King the Russians nevertheless having understood that the Chief among the Christian Princes of Europe is stiled by the Name of Kaysar derived from the Name of him who laid the first Foundation of the Roman Monarchy the Great Duke's Interpreters make use of the same Word when they recite their Master's Titles the affinity which is in the sound of the two Words of Caesar and Czar having questionless furnished them with an Opportunity to commit this wilful Mistake in Etymology The Arms which they make use of in their Great Seal ever since the Reign of that Famous Tyrant John Basilovitz are likewise made in imitation of the Roman Emperours viz. A double-headed Spread-Eagle the Wings only somewhat less than the Imperial Eagle having on the Breast in an Escutcheon one on Horseback fighting with a Dragon representing as they say the Archangel St. Michael in the same manner as in these Parts we used to represent St. George Above and betwixt the Eagles-heads are three Crowns viz. that of Muscovy and the two Tartarian Kingdoms of Casan and Astrachan The whole Title of the Muscovian Czars runs thus Great Lord Emperour and Grand Duke Conservator of all the Great and Little and White Russia of Muscovy Kâ—avie Volodimerie Nofgorod Emperour of Casan Emperour of Astrachan Emperour of Siberia Lord of Pscove Great Duke of Lithuania Smolensko Twersco Volinsko Podolsko Vghorsco Permsco Veatsco Bolgarsco c. Lord and Great Duke of Nofgorod in the lower Countries of Chernigo Resansco Polotsco Rostofsco Yerostofsco Beloozarsco Oudorsco Obdorsco Condinsco Wetepsco Mstisclaaco and all the Northern Parts Lord of the Country of Iversco of Cartalinsco and of Gruzinsco and of the Country of Cabardinsco of the Dukes of Cercasco and Igorsco Lord and Monarch of several other Dominions and Provinces East West and North which are his Inheritance from Father to Son Most of these Provinces being of a vast Extent and all of them except very few in the possession of the Czars of Muscovy it is manifest that whether in respect of the vast Extent of their Empire or in regard of
many Obstacles to be surmounted in an Undertaking of this Nature And I was not ignorant that the Want of Learning and the Natural Propensity of the Muscovites in general to Jealousie and Secresie would render it at least very difficult if not quite impractieable to give an exact Account of so vast an Empire composed out of several Nations distinguished in their Languages Religion and Manner of Living These Considerations were so prevailing with me as to check my first Inclinations in hopes that some Body or another would lay hold on so favourable an Opportunity of giving a true Description of a Country which has been but superficially known hitherto in England But perceiving that no Body would venture to engage himself in the Design I took a Resolution to undertake the Task though never so difficult rather than to let slip so seasonable an Opportunity as offered it self by the Arrival of His present Czarrish Majesty in England of giving the Publick the best Account I could of the Russian Empire The Vastness of its Territories a great many whereof are quite unfrequented by Strangers did put me under an absolute Necessity of having Recourse to those of several Nations in Europe that have had the Opportunity of Travelling in Muscovy For as I was fully resolved to insert nothing in this Treatise but what I had received upon the Credlt of those that had been Eye-Witnesses of their own Relations so I was obliged to consult the Travels and most especially the Embassies of the English Germans French Dutch and other Nations into those Parts And for as much as it is obvious that scarce ever any one Foreigner did visit one half of this spacious Empire I was put under an indispensable Necessity of supplying the Defects of one with the Relations of others who had according to their several Occasions taken different Roads in their Travels through Muscovy But here it was I found my self engaged in â—hese Difficulties which were not easie to be surmounted For in comparing the several Relations of different Persons and Nations 〈◊〉 found it a very difficult Task to reconcile in some measure the various Descriptions of Places especially in what relates to their Situations and Distances occasioned doubtless by the most stupid Ignorance and Jealousie of those Muscovites from whom they had received their Intelligence The History of Muscovy it self even that of the last Age is entangled in such Perplexities in point of Chronology that some of the best Historians of our Age whom I will forbear to name have been surprised into some Mistakes of this nature For the rest As the Manners and Customs of the Muscovites as well as their Religion and Policy are very different from most other Nations in Europe and either not at all or at least but superficially known in these Parts so the ensuing Relation may in all probability serve not only to instruct but also to divert the curious Reader I must confess the present Muscovian Empire might well have deserved a Treatise suitable in Bulk to its vast Extent But the Eagerness which most of my Friends shewed in the Publishing of it at this Season obliged me tâ— contract it into as narrow a Compass as the Matter would allow of Which as it haâ— been done with all the Brevity imaginable so I have been very careful in not passing bâ— any thing of Moment which I believed mighâ— be material and tend to the Satisfaction oâ— the Reader It was for this Reason also 〈◊〉 thought it most expedient to divide the whole into two distinct Volumes the first of which contains a Description of those several Nations and vast Territories under the Obedience of the present Grand Czar of Muscovy together with their Laws Customs Manner of Living Religion and Policy With an Account of the Origin of the Russian Empire and its Increase till the Death of that famous Tyrant John Basilovits towards the Latter End of the last Age. But the various and most surprizing Revolutions which after the Death of this Grand Tyrant happen'd in the Muscovian Empire either in Consideration of their various Vicissitudes or the Strangeness of their Events surpassing not only what former Ages have delivered of this kind but hardly to be parallell'd by Posterity I reserved the full and exact Relation of them to the Second Volume with a Continuation of the Muscovite History and the whole State of Affairs from the Year 1613 when the Family of the present Czar first ascended the Throne till the Arrival of His Czarrish Majesty in this Kingdom ERRATA PAge 7. line 24. for 50000. read 60000. p. 29. l. 6. f. great r. some p. 45. l. 20. f. be r. is p. 49. l. 2. f. two r. no. p. 55. l. 15. f. pice r. piece p. 61. l. 13. f. found r. forc'd p. 6â— l. 14. f. having r. being p. 65. l. 13. f. Imposter r. Imposture l. 23. f. Impostor r. Imposture p. 81. l. 19 f. often r. Use of 〈◊〉 p. 83. l. ult f. as r. which p. 92. l. 2. f. before r. but. p. 100. l. 34. f. some other of their Customs r. some of their other Customs p. 101. l. 28. f. Nest r. Stye p. 108. l. ult f. what r. which p. 110. l. 31. f. ox r. or p. 329. l. 36. f. again r. against MOSCOVY or RUSSIA c. AN ACCOUNT OF THE Antient and Present State OF Muscovy CHAP. I. Of the Territories belonging to the Grand Czar of MUSCOVY MVscovy was formerly the Name properly belonging to one Province only of the Russian Empire of which Musco is the Capital City But as it is observable in France that the Province of that Name has communicated its Name and includes all the rest of 〈◊〉 French King's Dominions so Muscovy compreâ—â—â—ds now adays all those vast Provinces under the Grand Czar's Obedience This vast Country a Part of the Antients Sarmatia Europaa was heretofore known by the Name of Roxolania Russia or White Russia from whence the Name of Russians given to the Muscovites has its derivation It is without question the greatest Empire of all Europe its length being near Six Hundred and its breadth above Three Hundred Leagues The extent of the Russian Empire Northward it extends it self to the Frozen Sea beyond the Artique Circle on the East it hath the River Oby on the South the Crim and Precopian Tartars and towards the West it borders upon Poland Livonia and Sweden its whole extent being from the 46 to 66 degrees of Latitude and from the 55 to the 80th degree of Longitude Considering the vast distance of the several Provinces which compose this great Empire it is easie to be imagined that of necessity there must be a great difference as to the length of Days Heat and Cold and no small variety of Seasons Soil and Fruits according to their several Climates of which we shall have occasion to say more hereafter when each of them will be treated of in particular Nevertheless it is
Siberie or Severia a Province different from the Kingdom of Siberia in Tartary is of a very large extent Severia being formerly Govern'd by its own Princes who were nevertheless tributary to the Kings of Poland upon the account of Lithuania of which this Dukedom had a Dependance It is situated betwixt the Province of Smolensko the Precopian Tartary Podolia and Lithuania South-west of Smolensko The Prince of Siberie having revolted from the Crown of Poland under Casimir Son of Jagellon their King put himself under the Protection of the Czars of Muscovy till the Great Duke Basili ejected the Duke of Siberie and united the Province to his Crown The chief City of this Dutchy is called Novogorod Sieberski that is to say The new City of Siberia to distinguish it from two or three others called Novogorod under the Czar's obedience The other Cities of note belonging to this Province are Czerrigou Bransko Starodub and Petivola But now we must turn our Course more North-East Wiatkaâ— where the Province of Wiatka is situated upon the Confines of the Tartars Ceremisses sirnam'd Logovi its Capital City is of the same Name both of them being denominated from the River Wiatka which falls into the River Kama The next Province bordering upon Wiatka towards the Siberian Tartars is Permia being counted one of the greatest of Muscovy It s Capital City is called Permia Veliki situate upon the River Vishora which at about 60 Miles distance from this place The River Kama falls into the River Kama This River has its rise in this Province and about 60 miles beyond Casan falls into the River Volga The Inhabitants of this Province have a Language and Character peculiar to themselves they eat no Bread but feed upon Herbs they pay their yearly Tribute to the Great Duke in Horses and Furs Their next Neighbours to the North-East are the Tartars of Tumen bordering upon Siberia inhabiting the Province of Candora Candora its chief City is Warchaturia situated upon the River Tura besides which it has the City of Tumen near the conflux of the two Rivers Tumen and Tura Further to the North is the Province Petzora Petzora which extends it self towards the North-East all along the Frozen Sea The River of Petzora which has given its name to the Province falls by six several Channels into the Sea near a little City called Pustiziero On both sides of it are the Mountains The Riphean Mountains which the Antients called Ripheans or Hyberboreans and by the Muscovites are called Zimnopojas that is the Girdle of the Earth which afford the best Sables and Hawks in all Muscovy but the cold is so violent and durable in this Province that the Rivers are frozen up above nine Months in the year The Province of Obdorie Obdorie derives its name from the River Oby which having its Source from the Great Lake Cataisko and running from East to North The River Oby falls into the Frozen Sea Both these Provinces border upon the Samojedes of whom we shall have occasion to speak more hereafter Among the Northern parts of Russia Juhora are also reckoned The Province of Juhora famous for nothing but that the Hungarians are said to have their off-spring out of this Country The Province of Wachines Wachines only noted for its two Fortresses called Cameni and Pensolog The Principality of Bielski Bielski derives its name from the Capital City Biela The Dutchy of Kraina has the two Cities Kraina Jalatz and Brasowa The Province of Pole Pole the City of Bretock and Bogenaer Not to mention here the Paâ—atinate of Kiow Kiow which lying upon the Borders of Podolia and Lithuania 〈◊〉 part of it is under the Obedience of the Crown of Poland CHAP. IV. Of the Tartarian Kingdoms of Casan and Astrachan with an Account of the Great River Volga and the Caspian Sea THE Kingdoms of Casar and Astrachan with some other Tartarian Provinces under the Subjection of the Czar of Muscovy The River Volga being situated near the famous River Volga it will not be amiss to join the Description of those Countries with that of the said River There is in the Province of Roshovie of which mention has been made in the 2 Chapter Ten miles from its Capital City bearing the same Name in the Great Forest of Wolkowskiles a Lake called Vronow or Fronowo out of which rises a River that ten Miles from that Place falls into another Lake called Volga which gives it its name it being thence forward called Volga or Wolga It is doubtless the same which Ptolomy calls Rha and the Tartars Edel the greatest River in Europe being from its Source to the Caspian Sea into which it exonerates it self above 2900 Miles long It is to be observed that this River from its Source to the City of Nise Novogorod running for above 400 Miles through the Southern part of Muscovy carries but an indifferent Stream and touches upon few places of note till being encreased by the River Occa near the abovementioned place it is Four thousand five hundred Geometrical feet wide at the meeting of these two Rivers We have in the foregoing Chapter described that City and Basiligorod belonging to the Ceremisses both bordering upon that River and being obliged to give an accoâ—â—â— in this Chapter of the Tartarian Provinces of Casan and Astrachan we will follow the Tract of this great River as far as â—o the Caspian Sea and begin with the Tartarian Kingdom of Casan Forty miles distant from the City of Basiligorod The Kingdom of Casan is the City of Kusmademianski situate at the foot of a Mountain on the right side of the River the whole Country thereabouts being like one continued Forest of Elms of an extraordinary compass Forty miles further down the River and on the same Shoar is the City of Sabakzar the most pleasant for its Situation in those Parts and 25 Miles lower after you have passed two or three small Islands on the left side of the Volga a little City called Kockshage On the same side some Miles lower is the City of Suiatski built on the Aâ—cent of a Hill The Castle and some Churches are of Stone the rest of the Buildings and Fortifications of Wood. It 〈◊〉 20 Miles on this side of the City of Casan the Shoar all along betwixt these two places being covered with chalky and Sandy Mountains The City of Casan is seated in a fruitful Plain The City of Casan in 55 degree 38 min. Elev seven Miles distant from the River Wolga upon the River Casanska which has given the name both to the City and Province It is a very large City but its Houses and Fortifications as most all others in those parts of Wood. But the Castle and its Fortifications which consist in four Bastions and a good many Towers is of Stone the River serving for a Ditch about it The Garrison is composed of Muscovites only
At Forty Miles distance from hence The 〈◊〉 Branch oâ— the Wolga the River Wolga casts out its second Branch on the left side called Achtobenisna Vtsga which afterwards joyns with the Branch called Achtobska which we mentioned before From this Place down on both sides of the River as far as Astrachan there grows a prodigious quantity of Liquorice of a very large size Liquâ—rice its stalks being as thick as a lusty Man's Arm and sometimes above four Foot high the Seeds lying in Cods upon the stalks yet is this inferiour both in bigness and sweetness to that which grows in Asia near the River of Araxes Twenty Miles lower is the City of Szornogar seated on the right side of the River upon a high Shoar near a vast Plain without any Trees or Eminencies its form is four-square fortified with Wooden Towers and Ramparts it serves for a Frontier-Garison against the Tartars and Cosacks About 120 Miles hence is the Mountainâ— oâ— Polowon so called because half way betwixt Zariza before-mentioned and Astrachan Not many Miles lower is a third Branch of the Volga Third and fourth Branch of the Volga called Buchwâ—stova which falls into the two precedents And Twenty Miles from thence the River Wolga makes a fourth Branch on the left side of it called Danitoska Vtsga which does not mingle with any of the other three but disembogues by a particular Channel into the Caspian Sea Near 60 Miles on this side of Astrachan The fifth Branch of the Wolga is the fifth Branch of the Volga called Mituska which at some distance from the main River being again divided into two less Branches the one is united with the Danilofska Vtsga just now mentioned the other after having continued its course for some Miles falls again into the main River Five and twenty Miles on this side of Astrachan is the Isle of Busan The sixth and seventh Branch of the Volga Ten Miles below which is the sixth Branch of the River Wolga called Baltzick as is three Miles lower the seventh called Knilusse which makes the Isle of Dilgoi within which the City of Astrachan is seated And after having encompass'd this Island it falls by several Channels into the Caspian Sea The City of Astrachan is situate upon the utmost Boâ—ders betwixt Europe and Asia The City of Astrachan in this place divided by the River Volga It is seated on the River side in the Isle of Dilgoi made there by the two Branches of the River as has been said before under the Elevation of 26 deg 22 min. It is of a câ—nsiderable bigness and now all inhabited by Muscovites the Inhabitants of the Country being Tartars who are not permitted to live within the compass of the Walls which is 8000 Geometrical Feet about but in the adjacent Suburbs which are fenc'd in only with Pallisadoes The Fortificationâ— are all very high and of Stone which at a distance make a very gallant appearance especially towards the River-side by reason of a great number of Turrets and Steeples of Stone but the Houses within the City being all built of Wood and very low its inside does not appear answerable to the rest There is accounted to be a great Artillery in this place of 500 Brass Cannon and Mortars proportionable The Garrison in time of Peace commonly amounts to 5000 Men under the Command of two Weywodes and other Officers This City being seated upon the Confines of the two most considerable Parts of the World it must needs be a Place of great Commerce it being besides the Muscovites frequented not only by the Neighbouring Tartars but also by the Persians Armenians and Indians the last of which have a particular place assigned them within the City It was taken by Assault in the Year 1554. by the Great Duke John Basilovits who having two Years before conquer'd the Tartars of Casan turn'd his Arms against those of Nagaja then inhabiting this City and the Country round about it Having secured his Conquest over them by taking their Capital City he surrounded it with a strong Wall and the Czar Michael Federovits added to it besides some new Fortifications that part of the City which is called Strâ—litzagorod or the City of Soldiers they having their Quarters assigned them in this part of the City But before we leave this Kingdom it will not be beyond our purpose to give a short Description both of the Country and its Inhabitants It is past all question that the Tartars were unknown to the Antient Geographers The Tarâ—ars of 〈…〉 which were by them comprehended under the general Name of Scythians and Sarmatians tho' it be manifest that the Tartars consist of several Nations distinguish'd in their Names Language and manner of Life Those of Nagaja with the Tartars of Casan before mentioned and some others betwixt the River Wolga and the Don or Tanais are said to have been Indians who having revolted from their 〈◊〉 did about the Year 1212. settle themselves near the Euxine Sea upon the Palus Meotides the Place of Habitation of the Antient Getae from whence they extended their Conquests first to the River Don and from thence at last to the Wolga near which they inhabit to this day Those of Nagaja of whom we are to treat at present are seated betwixt the two Rivers of Wolga and Jaika as far as the Caspian Sea The City of Astrachan is their principal City built as they say by a Tartar King whose Name being Astra-Chan gave it the Name of Astrachan Before this Country was conquered by the Muscovites it was inhabited altogether by Tartars but now the latter are not permitted to abide in the Capital City or to build any new ones nor to fortifie their Towns or Villages with Walls They live for the most part in Huts made of Bull-rushes or Canes Their manner of Living which are commonly round seldom exceeding twelve or thirteen English Yards in compass on the top of which they have holes most like our Chicken-coops serving them instead of Chimneys nevertheless the least of these Huts has a Faulcon or Hawk the Tartars being great Masters in this Sport The Muscovites call these Nagajan Tartars Polutski or Vagabonds as having no fixt Habitation in the Summer when they ramble up and down according as they meet with the best conveniency for their Cattle which beginning to fail in one place their Huts are put into Carts and their Wives Children and Goods upon Camels Horses or Oxen and so removed to another Towards the Winter they begin to reassemble and to live in several Troops near Astrachan where being furnish'd with Arms by the Muscovites which however after the Frosty Season is past they are obliged to redeliver not being otherwise permitted to have any Arms either Defensive or Offensive they stand upon their Mutual Defence against the Malmuck Tartars and those Inhabiting upon the River Jaika They pay no Tribute to the Grand Czar but are obliged to serve him
of the first whose dead Body is carefully concealed is set up in his Room and declared to be the same Dalaè-Lama but only renewed in his Person and this Impostor is the more difficult to be discovered by the common People they being but rarely allow'd to see this High Priest unless it be at a distance when he gives them his Benediction I cannot but take notice here of the Opinion Preste Jean which some that have of late years travell'd into those Parts have conceived of this Dalaè-Lama to wit That he is that same Preste Jean who has made so much noise in the World and has been so variously represented by Historians Thus much is certain that if every thing be duely weighed as it ought to be concerning the Title and other Things which by many Authors are attributed to their Preste Jean the same may in most points be said of this Dalaè-Lama so that I see no reason why we may not with more Justice place him in Asia than these Authors have lookâ—d for him in Abyssina where with all their Endeavours and Shifts they have never been able to find him out hitherto The Portugeses were the first that received and afterwards communicated this erroneous Opinion to the rest of Europe it being certain that the more anâ—ient Authors who have made any mention of this Preste Jean have placed him always in Asia though they have differed both as to his Name and place of Residence And thus far Baltazar Tellez Nicolas Godigno and some others who have been for a considerable time resident in Ethiopia and consequently had the better Opportunity to be inform'd concerning this Matter agree with the Antients that this Preste Jeen is not to be heard of in those Parts The Portugeses were first led into this Error by one Pieter de Coulan who being sent by their King John II. to discover the East-Indies by Land after having traversed a great part of Asia and the Indies could not hear the least Tidings there of this so Famous Preste Jean But in his return homeward coming to Cairo was inform'd that in Ethiopia there was a very Potent Prince who was a declared Protector of the Christians having always a Cross carried before him This Relation agreeing in a great measure with what had been published before concerning Preste Jean was the sooner received as Authentick first in Portugal and afterwards all over Europe The Jesuit â— Kirker has shewn us out of the Latin Chronology of the Kings of Abyssina That there is not the least mention made there of this Preste Jean and if we search narrowly into the Antient Authors that have had occasion to speak 〈◊〉 him we shall find that the greatest part of them have placed him betwixt the Country of the Monguls and China tho' perhaps in several Provinces which difference might perhaps arise from thence that in former Ages this Preste Jean had his several Vicars as the Dalaè-Lama has now which might be taken by some for the Head it self St. Antonius in the third Tome of his History places this Preste Jean in the Greater or Vpper India from whence he says he drove back the Tartars that invaded the Christians in those Parts Those who have assign'd him his Reign in Kitay have questionless comprehended that vast Country situate betwixt the Rivers of Volga and the Oby as far as China under that Name as the Muscovites do to this day especially since Marcus Paulus Venetus who resided several Years with the Great Chan of the Tartars places Preste Jean in the same Kingdom of Tanchut where the Dalaè-Lama has his Residence to this day Both the Antient and Modern Authors have been strangely puzzled in finding out the true Etymology of the Word Preste Jean but in my Opinion that of Scaliger is the most probable who derives it from the Persian Word Prestegiani which signifies as much as Apostolick and might easily by Corruption be transformed into Preste Jean by such of the Europaeans as did not understand its true signification There is but two Objections of any moment to be made against this Assertion The first is that the same Preste Jean who is so much celebrated throughout Europe and his Subjects were Christians whereas the People Inhabiting now adays the Great Tartary are Idolaters The second is that Preste Jean was a Temporal Prince As to the first it is to be observed that tho' at present that vast Country is altogether possess'd by Infidels or Pagans nevertheless it is very probable that in more Antient Times the Christian Religion was introduced into those Parts as well as others and continued there for a considerable time there being certain Remnants of Christianity to be met with to this day among some of its Inhabitants There is a Country in those Parts called by the Moors in derision Kiaferstan that is The Country of the Infidels the Inhabitants of which are called to this day Christians of St. Thomas and tho' no Christians now yet have retain'd Baptism for their Children have painted Crosses in their Churches and bear three Red Crosses made with the Tincture of Sanders-Wood in their Foreheads I think it is almost beyond question that in the thirteenth Age there was a vast number of Christians in Tartary their Emperor Cublai having embraced the Christian Religion and his Brother waged War with great Success against the Caliph of Babylon and other Infidels In the fourteenth Age several of Franciscan Monks who were sent to the Great Chan converted in the Kingdom of Thibet which is next to that of Tanchut a great number of Pagans and it is Remarkable what F. Andrada a Portugese Jesuit relates That in the Year 1624. when he travell'd in those Parts he found among the Inhabitants some corrupted Idea's of Christianity as a certain sort of Confession of that Christian Faith their Ancestors had profess'd in former Ages And I think it no less worth Observation that this Dalaè or High-Priest of the Tartarian bears the Name of Lama which in the Tartarian Language signifies a Cross and that the Tartars of Bogdoi who acknowledge among the rest the Authority of this Dalaè wear always Crosses about them which they call Lama's and keep them with a great deal of Reverence As to the second Objection of this Dalaè not being a Temporal Prince now this may be ascribed to the Wars and Revolutions of a Country inhabited by several distinct Nations so as being first corrupted and at last quite degenerated from their Antient Religion into a Barbarous Idolatry and thereby the whole face of Affairs changed this Successor of Preste Jean from being a Monarch might become the Head of a New Religion or rather Idolatry But Tartars of Mongul it is time after this Digression to proceed in the Description of the Tartarian Provinces between Muscovy and China and among them to the Tartars of Mongul These Tartars inhabit a very large Tract of Ground from the Western sources of the
also it is their Custom at their Wedding Feasts never to eat the Flesh of any Creature that is gelt In their Funeral Rites Their Funâ—rals they observed this Method They dress the Corps of their deceased Friends in their best Cloaths with Shooes and Stockins and having set it up-right in a Chair the next Relations making a Ring about it drink very heartily When the Liquor is out they begin to lament their Deceased Friend Alas say they Why wouldst thou die Didst thou want either Victuals or Drink Why wouldst thou die then Alas Hadst thou not a Handsom Wife Why wouldst thou die then Thus running through every Particular thing possessed by the Deceased in his Life-time they ask in the same manner and conclude Why wouldst thou die They are very careful to furnish them with Needle and Threed when they are laid in their Coffins and with some Bread and a Bottle of Liquor When the Corps is carried out to the Burying-place the Relations on Horseback surround the Hearse or Waggon in which it is plac'd and with their Swords drawn strike in the Air cross-ways crying out aloud Away you Demons to the infernal Places of Darkness At last whilst the Corps is putting into the Ground they throw some Money after it into the Grave The Widdow Mourns for forty Days viz. Mornings and Evenings Sun rising and setting over her Husband 's Grave but the rest of the Relations celebrate the Memory of the Deceased at certain appointed Days to wit on the Third the Sixth the Ninth and Fortieth day when after a certain Form of Prayers which they mutter out before they enter the House they invite the Soul of the Deceased to come and take part with them Whilst they are at Table there is not a Word to be spoken neither do they make use of Knives They are attended by two Women who divide the Victuals among the Guests but also without Knives Each of the Guest throws something of his Victuals as also some of the Liquor under the Table which they believe is the Food of the Soul of the Deceased If any thing happens to fall under the Table it is not to be taken up this being to be left for the Food of such Souls as are destitute of Friends or are otherwise unable to Feast thâ—m after their Death The Feast being over the Priest is the first that rises from the Table and having swept all the Dust out the Doors with a Bâ—oom Retire says he beloved Souls you have been sufficientlâ— fed with Victuals and Drink Retire beloved Soul from this House Then it is that the Guests begin first to Speak and to let the Cup go briskly round the Men drinking to the Women in Remembrance of their dead Friend and the Women answering the Men with the same Freedom till they all begin to be Mellow when they part with Kissing one another all round CHAP. VII Of the Crim and Precopian Tartars and the Cosacks BEtwixt the two Tartarian Kingdoms of Casan and Astrachan Crim Tartars subject to the Grand Czar of Muscovy all along the River Volga up to the Don or Tanais are great Desarts which are not so much Inhabited as frequently visited by the Crim or Precopian Tartars their fixed Habitations being from the mouth of the River Tanais or Don all along the Palus Meotides and so in the Taurica Chersonesus which being divided by a great Forest that part which borders on the Palus Meotides belong to the Precopian Tartars the rest bordering on the Euxin Sea to the Turks It contains about 250 English Miles in length and 150 in breadth less or more in some places but that what is called the Little Tartary on that side comprehending also the Tartars of Budziack which inhabit all along the Palus Meotides or as it is called by them to the Sea of Zabacche up to the River Don or Tanais is much larger in compass bordering on the North upon Muscovy in the East upon the Circassian Tartars North-west upon Podolia and Luthuania and towards the South upon Moldavia and Wallachia These Tartars having been for several Ages last past very Redoubtable both to the Muscovites and Poles who have been often obliged to stop their Fury by Presents not much differing from an Annual Tribute and being at this time vigourously attacked by his present Czarish Majesty who has gained great Advantages over them they may very well deserve a place in this Treatise The Taurica Charsonesus was antiently inhabited by the Tauri Taurica Chersonesus who gave it its Name These were succeeded by the Greeks who planted here their Colonies But about 450 Years ago some Tartarian Hordes inhabiting near the Caspian Sea having by reason of some intestine Wars left their native Country and ravaged part of Asia at last passed the River Volga and from thence to the Tanais or Don and the Palus Meotides where they possessed themselves of the Taurica Chersonesus except some Ports situate on the Exin Sea and especially the City of Caffa which were in the Year 1266 seised by the Genoeses who kept them in their Possession till the Year 1474 when Mahomet II. the Turkish Emperour took them from the Genoeses The Places in the possession of the Turks are Batuclawa formerly a considerable place but now more like a Village than a City it has not above 200 Houses but has a very good Port and the Turks build there abundance of Ships and Gallies The two Castles of Ingermen and Mancus to which were adjoining when in the Hands of the Genoeses two goodly Cities of which scarce any thing remains now but the Ruin The only place of Note belonging to the Turks here is one City of Caffa in former Ages called Theodosia It was whilst the Genoeses were Masters of it one of the chief Trading places in the Levant but the Turks took it from the Genoeses as was mentioned before after a Siege of fourteen Years and as it was believed not without Treachery some of the Genoeses having been corrupted with Money It is since that time as almost all other places that groan under the Turkish Yoak infinitely decayed from its antient Splendor notwithstanding which it contains as yet about 6000 Houses inhabited by Italians the Remnants of the Genoese Families Greeks Armenians Jews Turks and Tartars The Christians being however the most in number having 45 Churches here The Places belonging to the Precopian Tartars as well within the Chersonesus as upon the Palus Meotides are The City of Azoph or Assaw situate at the very Mouth of the River Don or Tanais where it exonerates it self into the Palus Meotides it is a place of considerable Trade inhabited for the most part by Tartars from whom it was about two years ago taken by the Muscovites The City of Crim situate in a Bay made by the Sea of Zabacche or the Palus Meotides it is inhabited for the most part by Tartars It is a strong Walled Town its Houses being built
whole Family upon a very slender Account So much are they accustom'd to Slavery that they scarce look upon it as a Punishment Sometimes the Executioner for a Present will suffer the Debtor to put a small Iron Plate under his Boots The same Rigour is used without any difference to all of what Quality Condition Sex or Age soever A Bojar or Muscovian Lord giving his attendance at Court or at any extraordinary Solemnity Pag. 177 CHAP. X. An account of the Coronation of the Czars of Muscovy their Grandeur Revenue Marriages c. NO sooner is the Czar of Muscovy dead but Messengers are sent every where to summon the Chief Officers of the Court and others who are to be present at the Coronation to repair to the City of Musco where this Solemnity is perfoâ—med with all the Expedition imaginable and sometimes the very next day after the Decease of the Predecessor The Metropolitans Archbishops Knez Boyars and the principal Merchants of the Kingdom being entred the place at the day appointed for the Coronation of the new Czar a Scaffold is erected three Steps high and covered with Persian Tapestry in the great Church within the Castle On this Scaffold are set three very rich Chairs at an equal distance from one another to wit One for the Great Duke another for the Patriarch and the third for the Ducal Cap embroider'd with Pearls and Diamonds with a Tassel on the Crown of it on which hangs a little Crown all over beset with Diamonds of a great Value and the Robe which is made of the richest Brocado lined with Sables The new Czar The Czar's Coronation attended by the Patriarch and Metropolitans being come within the Church the Clergy begin to sing certain Hymns which being done the Patriarch prays to God St. Nicholas and other Saints desiring them to be present at this Great Solemnity The prayer being ended the Chief Minister of State takes the Grand Duke by the Hand and presents him to the Patriarch and says The Knez and Boyars having acknowledged this Prince the lawful Heir to the Crown as being the next of Kin to the late Czar they desire that you may Crown him immediately The Patriarch then leads the Prince upon the Scaffold where being seated in one of the three Chairs he blesses him with a little Cross beset with Diamonds by putting it to his Head and immediately after one of the Metropoâ—â—tans reads the following Prayer O Great Lord our God thou King of kings who by the Prophet Samuel didst once chuse thy faithful Servant David to be King over thy People of Israel hearken to our Prayers which we thy unworthy Servants offer up unto thee at this time Look down from the highest Heaven upon thy faithful Servant here present who through thy Grace thou hast exalted to be King over thy People and thy Son hath redeemed by his Blood Anoint him with the Oil of Chearfulness protect him by thy Power and Crown him with a precious Diadem grant him a long and happy Reign put the Royal Scepter into his Hands that he may sway it upon the Throne of Justice Let all barbarous Languages acknowledge his Power and let both his Heart and Vnderstanding be always directed to thy fear and during the Course of this mortal Life let him never recede from thy Commandments Let Heresie and Schism not come near his Person or Government and may he always maintain and observe what is commanded and ordained by the holy Greek Church Judge thy People in Justice and shew thy Mercy to the Poor that when they leave this Valley of Misery they may be received into eternal Joys The whole Prayer he concludes with these Words For thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost be with us and remain with us The Prayer ended two Metropolitans by order from the Patriarch take the Cap and Robe up which are taken from their Hands by some Boyars who put them upon the Grand Duke whom the Patriarch blesses a second time by touching his Forehead with the Cross of Diamonds and whilst he is saying In the Name of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost and imparting the third Blessing to the Grand Duke the Ducal Cap is by two of the Boyars put upon the Patriarch's Head who causes all the rest of the Prelates there present to approach and give the Benediction to the Great Duke but only with their Hands Then the Great Duke and Patriarch sit down but raise again immediately when the Litany is sung every Verse ending with God have mercy upon us and the new Czar's Name The Litany ended both the Great Duke and Patriarch sit down again when one of the Metropolitans approaching to the Altaâ— sings the following Words O God preserve our Czar and Grand Duke of all the Russes whom God out of his great Mercy hath bestowed upon us God grant him good Health and a long and happy Life All that are present repeat the same Words and the Boyars and Chief Lords approaching to the Great Duke as a sign of their Subjection smite their Foreheads before him and afterwards kiss his Hand This Ceremony being over the Patriarch standing alone before the Great Duke admonishes him in the following Words Since through the singular Providence of God the Estates of the Kingdom as well Ecclesiastical as Temporal have Acknowledged and Crowned You Great Duke over all the Russes and have Entrusted You with a Matter of so great Weight as the Government of so great a Kingdom You ought to employ all Your Thoughts to the Love of God to the Obedience of His Commands to the due Administration of Justice and the Protection of the True Greek Religion Then the Patriarch gives him once more his Bendiction and the whole Assembly goes from thence into the Church of St. Michael the Archangel which is opposite to the former where the Lâ—â—any is Sung over again as before the same is done afterwards in the Church of St. Nicholas where an End is put to the Ceremony and the whole Assembly is most magnificently Entertain'd in the great Hall of the Great Duke's Palace In former times the Chiefest Dignity in the whole Empire Principal Offiâ—ers of the Court. was that of Lord High Steward of Muscovy call'd Sunderstrevoi Coiniske When Zurki was called to the Crown he was in that Office since which time it has been suppressed The next and which is now the first in Dignity is the Duaretskoy or Great Master which is correspondent to our Lord High Steward of the Houshold The next in order is the Orusnitshei or Master of the Horse These three precede all the other Boyars and Lords of the Court. Next to these are the two Secretaries of State the first whereof is the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal or Chancellour the other is the Vice Chancellour After them come the Posticnizei or Lord Chamberlain who makes the Great Duke's
put on a clean Shirt If the Russian Women were as constant Church-Women as our Ladies they would be obliged to build their Porches bigger than the Churches Most of these Festivals are also solemnized among the Muscovites with Processions among which that upon Palm-Sunday representing the Entrance of our Saviour into Jerusalem is performed in the Presence of the Great Duke and the Patriarch himself in the City of Mosco and throughout the whole Kingdom by the Wayvodes and Metropolitans of the Provinces who represent the Great Duke and Patriarch The Great Duke goes from the Castle Processâ—â—on Palm-Sunday with the Patriarch to the Church called Jerusalem without the Castle-Gate in the following Order After a Hundred or more Scavengers have cleared the Way through which the Procession is to pass there first comes a very large Chariot most like a Pageant drawn by six Horses in which is placed a Tree garnished with abundance of Apples Figs and Grapes which are fasten'd to the Branches Round about it are placed four or five Lads with Surplisses singing Hosannah Next to the Chariot come a great many Priests in their Surplisses and Copes some carrying Books and Crosses others Banners and Images upon long Poles some sing others cast Incense among the People After these march the Duke's Factors and Merchants then the Secretaries Knez and Boyares who go immediately before the Great Duke most of them with Palm twigs in their Hands The Grand Duke himself marches on foot richly clad with a Crowned Bonnet upon his Head supported on both sides by two of the principal Bojares or Counsellors of State and leading by the Bridle which is three or four Yards long the Patriarch's Horse This Horse which is covered all over with a White Fine Linnen Cloth is disguised like an Ass with great Artificial Ears upon which the Patriarch rides sideling having upon his Head a round low Crowned Cap with a narrow Brim lined with Eâ—mins and richly beser with Pearls over which appears a kind of a Diadem In his Right Hand he has a Cross of Diamonds wherewith he blesses the People who receive his Benediction with very low Submissions bowing their Heads to the Ground and making the Sign of the Cross He is surrounded by Metropolitans and other Priests whereof some carry Books others Censers As they pass along there are a great Number of Boys placed on both sides of the Way some of which pull off their upper Garments which they scatter along the Way others lay Pieces of Cloth of several Yardâ— long upon the Ground for the Great Duke and 〈◊〉 to pass over 〈…〉 Thus they march to the above mentioned Church where having stay'd above 〈◊〉 an Hour they return in the same Order till they come to a certain Plat-form where the Patriarch after having presented the Czar and some of the Bojares with Palm-twigs takes off the Great Duke's Cap and having laid it upon a Silver Plate he presents his Diamond-Cross to him to kiss This being done with a most profound Reverence by the Czar the Patriarch waves it on high all round about first towards those upon the Plat-form who also receive this Benediction with the utmost Respect and then to all the People who at the same Instant prostrate themselves upon the Ground especially the Czar's Guards that attend there and upon this Occasion appear the most zealous in their Devotion They conclude with some Hymns which having lengthen'd the whole Devotion to an Hour the Procession marches from thence back to the Castle in the same manner as they went first to the Church The Patriarch as an Acknowledgment of the Honour received from His Czarrish Majesty in leading his Horse presents him with a Purse containing to the Value of an Hundred Guineas Eight Days after this Procession is the Feast of Easter Their Easter which the Muscovites celebrate with great Ceremonies and Rejoicings as well in Remembrance of the Resurrection of our Saviour as that it puts an End to their Mortifications which they have endured in their Lent Their Rejoicings continue for 15 Days during which they feast one another with all manner of good Cheer and to make thmselves a full Amends for their Sufferings during the Lent they ply the Drinking-Houses so warmly that they are filled up every where with Persons of all sorts Men and Women Ecclesiasticks and Laicks and the Streets almost not to be passed for the Multitudes of Drunkards at Night They sell for these fifteen Days Eggs ready dâ—ed of all sorts of Colours but especially of a Red or Crimson which they send as Prâ—â—â—nts to one another to some one some two some three And if they meet one another in this 〈◊〉 they salute one another with these Words Christes wos chrest that is Christ is risen Whereto the other having answered Wâ—stin wos Chrest that is He is certainly risen they kiss one another He that salutes first is obliged to present the other with an Egg no body of what Condition Sex or Quality soever daring to refuse either the Kiss or the Egg. The Great Duke himself does not only present Eggs to the principal Counsellors and Lords of his Court but also to his Military Officers residing in the City of Musco who all come to kiss his Hand and His Majesty imparts to them his Royal Benediction They have many such like Processions Procession on the First of October upon several Occasions and the Great Duke goes frequently on Pilgrimage with his whole Court The First of October is among other Days celebrated with a great deal of Ceremony The Great Duke attended by his Bojares and Officers of his Houshold and the Patriarch accompanied by some Metropolitans and a great Number of other Priests with Books and Crosses in their Hands go in Procession to the same Church we have mentioned before called by them that of the Blessed Trinity and by the Germans and most other Strangers Jerusalem But before they come quite to the Church there is a Theatre erected on the Right Hand as you go to it railed in all about before which are planted two great Pieces of Cannon whereof the Bore is near half an Ell Diameter The Grand Duke and Patriarch without admitting any body else being got within the Rails upon the Theatre the Patriarch presents to the Great Duke a certain Image painted upon a piece of Past-board which folds together in the Middle not unlike a Book and is enriched with Silver at the four Corners to which the Czar makes a very low Reverence touching it with his Forehead whilst the Priests without the Rails are muttering over certain Prayers appointed for that Solemnity This done the Patriarch presents to him a Golden Cross beset with Diamonds of about a Foot in length which after the Great Duke has kissed the Patriarch touches his Forehead and Temples with it and so to Church they go where the Service is performed and the Solemnity ended for that Day With no less
by the Tartars carried it by Storm and thereby became Master of the whole Kingdom of Casan About two Years after he marched against the Nagajan Tartars bordering to the South upon those of Casan and having in the Year 1554 on the first day of August taken by Assault Astra Chan the Capital of the Province he also reduced that Kingdom under his Subjection By what accident he got into the Possession of the vast Country of Siberia which has since proved one of the most profitable to the Czars of Muscovy by which they have opened themselves a way into China as has been related before in the Description of that Province In the Year 1558. he turned his victorious Arms again Livonia where having ravaged the Bishoprick of Derpt and Virland he made himself Master of the Cities of Narva and of Toopator-Derpt So that the Livonians not being able alone to resist his Power and being put into Despair by the most horrid Cruelties exercised upon them by the Muscovites and especially against Furstenbergh the Master of their Order they were forced to submit themselves some under the Protection of Sweden the rest under the Crown of Poland In the Year 1570 he sent a very numerous Army under the Command of Maynus Duke of Holstein to besiege the City of Revel in Livonia but the City being assisted by the Swedes under whose Protection they were forced him to raise the Siege And when he attacked it a second time in the Year 1577 he met with no better Success And in the Year 1581 the Swedish General Pontus de la Guarde recovered the City of Narva from the Muscovites He was at first also very successful against the Poles till Stephen Battori Prince of Transylvania and elected King of Poland not only recovered all the Places he had taken from that Crown before but also obliged him to make a Peace in the Year 1582 by virtue of which he relinquished all his Pretensions to that part of Livonia which had put it self under the Protection of the King of Poland In the Year 1571 the Crim-Tartars also made a great Irruption into Muscovy destroying all with Fire and Sword and at last burnt the City of Musco As the first Years of his Reign were attended with Victories abroad so at home he ruled for some time with a great deal of Mildness and by the outward Shew of his Piety made his Subjects conceive all the Hopes that could be of a prosperous Reign For he would go frequently to Church say the Service himself sing and never fail to be present at any Ecclesiastical Ceremonies nay sometimes execute the Functions of Monks and Priests himself Which without Question was it that mis-led Paulus Jovius into that Mistake when he calls him a good and devout Christian For it will sufficiently appear in the Sequel of this History that he abused both God and Men and that his pretended Piety was only intended to gain the Popular Applause which he both effected and stood in need of and to cover his most horrid Designs against such of the Nobility as he was afraid would not submit without Reluctancy to the Yoak he intended to put upon their Necks He began to give the first Proofs of his cruel Disposition in the Year 1560 when having acquired a vast Reputation both at home and abroad by the great Success of his Arms against the Tartars Livonians and Poles he thought this the most convenient Time to put in Execution his Design of making himself the sole and absolute Master of this vast Empire His Grandfather had laid the first Foundation of this Maxim which was followed by his Son Basili the Father of John Basilovitz to wit To suppress the antient Nobility by despoiling them not only of their Castles and Strong Holds but also of their Estates But this Tyrant looking upon these Means as insufficient resolved by putting to death all the Great Men in the Kingdom whom he found in the least contrary to his Design to secure to himself the Arbitrary Disposal of this great Empire He made the first Beginning with one Demetrius Owezinovitz His Cruelties a Man of great Parts among the Russians Being therefore willing to be rid of him he invited him one Evening to Supper with a great deal of seeming Friendship where they drunk very merrily so that Demâ—trius began to be overcome by the Strength of the Liquor which the Tyrant perceiving and believing this to be a fit Opportunity to put his Design in Execution he drank to him a great Bowl-full of Strong Hydromel which he obliged Demetrius to pledge to his the Great Duke's Health but it being impossible for him to drink above half of it the Great Duke angrily told him That since he was so unmannerly as to refuse to drink his Health in his Presence he might get down into his Wine-Cellar where he should drink it at his own Leisure Demetrius being very willing to obey went without Reluctancy down into the Cellar where by the secret Orders of the Tyrant he was suffocated In the same manner he caused to be either secretly slain or suffocated several Persons of Eminent Quality without any Body's daring to enquire into their Death till at last the Patriarch and the other Prelates in Conjunction with some of the boldest among the Nobility having represented to him the Enormities of his Actions he seemed for some small Time to have changed his cruel Sentiments into a more mild Disposition The better to confirm them in this Opinion he got it spread abroad that he intended to abdicate the Empire and to retire into a Monastery And soon after having called together the Nobility he told them That since he had two Sons whom he intented to make his Successors he would recommend them to their Care That he did not question but they would not only pay them due Allegiance but also assist them with their Counsel and good Advice That for his part he intended to build himself a Monastery near the City of Musco where he would be ready at hand to give his Directions in Matters of any Moment Having thus cajoll'd them into a good Opinion he caused a very large Building to be erected surrounded with a strong Wall which he endowed with considerable Revenues for the Maintenance of such as were to abide with him there and to lead as he pretended a Monastick Life but in effect to serve as an Encouragement to such as he intended to employ in the Execution of his cruel Designs For after he had settled himself with his Gang in this Castle he used under pretence of Preferment to send such of his Nobles as he intended to sacrifice to his Ambition into some distant Province or another as Governors whither after some Time he would command some of his Soldiers under such Officers as were before-hand engaged to execute his Orders to the Place where the Fact was to be perpetrated under pretence of changing the Garrison where
till 1697 By R. K. c. The Doctrine of Acids in the Cure of Diseases farther asserted Being an Answer to some Objections raised against it by Dr. F. Guthill of Dorchester in Dorsetshire in which are contained some things relating to the History of Blood as also an Attempt to prove what Life is and that it is principally supported by an Acid and Sulphur To which is added an exact Account of the Case of Edmund-Turner Esq deceased as also the Case of another Gentleman now living exactâ—y parallel to Mr. Turners By Johâ—â— Colebatch a Member of the College of Physicians London The History of Poland in several Letters to Persons of Quality Giving an Account of the Antient 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 The Priviledges of the Gentry their Religion Learning Language Customs Habits Manners Riches Trade and Millitary Affairs together with the state of Physick and Natural Knowledge as also an Account of the Tutonick Order and of the D. of Curland his Family and Territories with Sculptures a new Map after the best Geographers with several Letters relating to Physick By B. Connor Fellow of the Royal Society c. Books Printed for A. Bosvile at the Dial against St. Dunstan's Church in Fleet-street 1697. THe Memoirs of the Count de Rochefoâ—t containing an Account of what past most memorable under the Ministry of Cardinal Richelieu and Cardinal Mazarin with many particular passages of the Reign of Lewis the present French King never before in Print made English from the French the Second Edition Corrected The Christian Belief Wherein is Asserted and Proved That as their is nothing in the Gospel contrary to Reason yet there are some Doctrines in it above Reason and these being necessarily enjoyn'd us to Believe are properly call'd Mysteries in an Answer to a Book intituled Christianity not Mysterious The Second Edition with a Preface and other Additions A Discourse of Conscience Published chiefly for the Benefit of the Unlearned tho' it may also be useful to others Together with Brief Reflections upon that which the Author of Christianity not mysterious saith upon that known Text 1 Tim. 3 16. The Interpretation of Dreams digested into â—ive Books by that Ancient and Excellent Philosopher Artimedorus The Eleventh Edition much corrected by an old Original Copy with the Life of the Author with many more Additions with the Judgment of some of our Modern English Writers concerning the good use to be made of some Dreams and the Table very much amended Vol. II. CHAP. I. Containing a full Relation of the Revolutions in the Muscovian Empire after the Death of that Great Tyrant John Basilovits to wit Vnder the Reigns of Fedor Ivanovits his Son Boris Goudenou his Son Fedor and the Counterfeit Demetrius JOhn Basilovits had by Anastasia his first Lady two Sons John and Fedor or Theodor the first having been slain by his Father 's own Hands as we told before Fedor Ivanovits was after his eldest Brother's Death the next Heir to the Empire and accordingly Crown'd Grand Czar of Muscovy when he was scarce two and twenty years of Age. He was Married some years before his Father's Death to Irene Sister of Boris Goudenou a Lady of a very lofty Temper and Carriage by whom having no Issue he had been several times commanded by his Father to send her into a Monastery according to the Custom of Muscovy but his Affection and Endearments of this Lady being more prevailing with him than his Interest he had by several Delays put off the Execution of it Being now mounted on the Throne and Boris advanced to the Dignity of Lord High-Steward of Muscovy the highest Station next to the Prince in the Empire he knew how to manage the Affection of a Prince who always had preferr'd his private Pleasures and Retirement before Publick Affairs with so much Dexterity that the Princess in a great measure ow'd the continuance of her Greatness to him as he was absolutely beholding to her for his first Advancement Boris Goudenou was a Man naturally qualified for the Management of Affairs of State and in a very few Years had attained to that degree of Perfection in Flattery and Dissimulation that he seem'd to be the Darling both of his Prince and the People both being equally well satisfied in his Conduct Thus by the Advantages of his Quality and Dexterity and the Weakness of the Czar Fedor having got the whole Management of Affairs into his own Hands he began to bend all his Thoughts how to secure the Crown of Muscovy to himself and his Family the better to enable himself to obtain his Ends after he had gain'd the Affection of the common People he resolved to smooth his way to the Throne by the Favour of the Nobility most of whom having a Dependance from him as the only Person through whose hands all Places of Honour Trust or Profit passed were soon brought over by the Hopes and Advantages of Preferments to his Party Having thus laid the Foundation to his projected Greatness the main Obstacle of his growing Ambition was Demetrius the youngest Son of John Basilovits by a second Adventure and Brother to the Czar Fedor Ivanovits who was Educated under his Mothers care in the Castle of Vgletz His Death being therefore resolved on Prince Demetrius â—â—ur â—ered four of the Prince's own Domesticks were by vast Promises engag'd to undertake the Fact The better to cover their Design they set at mid-night the City of Vgletz on Fire in several places and having thus fill'd all with horror and confusion they ran during the general Consternation to the Castle under pretence of saving the Prince and being admitted into his Bed-chamber took their Opportunity while he was looking out of the Window to see the approaching Flame and stabb'd him in several places with poyson'd Daggers and so leaving him wallowing in his own Blood took Post for Mâ—sco flush'd with hopes of ample Rewards for so extraordinary piece of Service But they were grievously mistaken in their Account for Boris Goudenou considering with himself how dangerous they might prove one time or another to his Affairs took a Resolution to take the first Opportunity of ridding himself of these Evidences of his Treachery to effect which he hir'd others who by the Temptations of great Rewards were made the Executioners of those four Murderers of their Prince To prevent the Murmurs of the People who were all startled at the suddenness of so bloody a Tragedy he made use of the same Method he had done at Vgletz For having caused the City of Musco to be set on fire in several Parts he did not question but that
Expedition and the Duke Wisnowiski having also publickly declared for Demetrius a considerable Number of the Polish Nobility on the Frontiers of Muscovy being encouraged by his Example espoused this Interest Being strengthened by these and other Forces which were in several parts of the Kingdom raised for his Service he marched at the Head of them into Muscovy in the heart of the Winter where being joyned by a Body of Cosacks of 10000 Men under their General Corclos who had been engaged with great Promises into his Service Demetrius enters Muscovy by the Artifices of the old Monk it struck such a Terror into the Inhabitants of the neighbouring Provinces that as soon as his Army had passed the Boristhenes at Kiovia they advanced without any Opposition to the very Walls of Eringow which upon the first Summons surrendred to Demetrius The City of Puttiwoll one of the largest and most populous in those Parts followed the Example of Eringow the Garrison which consisted for the most part of Cosacks refused to fight against their Brethren The other Places of less Note trod the Footsteps of the others and put themselves under his Protection so that as he was advancing deeper into the Country his Army was considerably augmented by such as flock'd in to him from all the adjacent Cities of which none attempted to make the least Resistance except the City of Novogorod Sevieâ—â—ki which he besieg'd and attack'd with all the Vigour imaginable The Czar Boris Goudenou in the mean while had not been careless of his Affairs but having ordered considerable Levies to be made before as soon as he received Advice of the most stupendious Progress of Demetrius he published his Declaration wherein he promised Indempnity to all such of his Subjects as would abandon the Party of this Impostour and return to their Duty with most severe Comminations against all such as should persist in their treasonable Designs against their Sovereign in aiding and assisting the pretended Demetrius He sent also a solemn Ambassy to Sigismund then King of Poland who having immediately demanded and obtained Audience made most heavy Complaints That the Truce which was so lately made betwixt the two Crowns for Twenty Years was violated by the Poles who without the least Reason given had invaded the Czar's Territories taken his Towns and ravaged the Country That he hoped the King would take better Measures and not pursue a War that was founded upon nothing but an unjust Pretence but recall his Troops which were at that time employed to maintain the Pretensions of a vile Impostor against one of the most potent Princes in Europe who if provoked would not want means to give himself Satisfaction for the Damages and Affronts received from the Crown of Poland Neither was he sparing in his Promises by which and the great Presents he made to most of the Chief Ministers and other great Men of the Court he hoped to obtain what all his Remonstrances had not been able to effect but in vain for whether it were that they look'd upon Demetrius as the true Heir of the Crown and upon the Affairs of Boris as in a declining Condition or that the Authority of the Pope and Jesuits who had espoused the Interest of the first had made them deaf to all these Applications the Ambassador was sent back with this general Answer That the King and Commonwealth of Poland were not concerned in what was transacted in Muscovy and that if Demetrius who was a Muscovite born had obtained the Assistance of some Polish Volunteers to maintain his Pretensions against the Czar Boris Goudenou this could not be interpreted a Violation of the Truce betwixt the two Crowns which on their side they would observe inviolably Boris having missed his Aim in Poland dispatched a Messenger to the Camp of Demetrius to try once more his Fortune and to endeavour to undeceive the Wayvode of Sendomiria and Wisnowiski concerning the Fallacy put upon them by the Counterfeit Demetrius For this End having found out one of his Uncles in Muscovy whose Name was Smyrna Otropeja and judging not without Reason that if he could be confronted with Grisko Otropeja his Nephew his Confession would be of the greatest Consequence towards the Detecting of this Imposture he sent him along with the Messenger But whether the Wayvode look'd upon that as a Contrivance of Boris Goudenou invented on purpose to blast the Reputation of Demetrius and to ward the Blow which seemed to threaten his Ruin or that he thought himself engaged past retreating the Uncle Smyrna Otropeja was forbid under pain of Death to approach the Camp and the Messenger sent back with Scorn and Indignation Boris Goudenou finding all other Means to fail had Recourse to Arms and ordered his Army which consisted of above a Hundred thousand Men most of them Veteraâ—e Soldiers to march to the Relief of Novogorod Sevierski which defended it self bravely against the Poles under the Conduct of their Governour Bosman Demetrius tho' much inferiour in Number being not much above Twenty thousand but all chosen Men upon the Approach of the Muscovite Army leaving the Siege of Novogorod posted himself as advantageously as he could in sight of the Muscovites to facilitate the Passage of such Officers in the Army of Boris Goudenou as being corrupted before had promised to come over with their Soldiers to his Party But these seeing the great Disproportion there was betwixt the Numbers of these two Armies either quite changed their Resolutions or at least thought it most advisable to delay the Execution of it till a more favourable Juncture Demetrius therefore finding himself in a Post from whence he could not retreat without fighting was forced to put the best Countenance he could upon the Matter and having nothing to trust to but their own Courage the Poles fought so bravely that they not only repulsed the Muscovites who being over confident in their Number attack'd them with more Fury than Skill but also charged them at several times with so much bravery that the Victory remain'd doubtful for several Hours till at last the Muscovites being continually sustained by fresh Troops and the Poles quite tired by the long Fatigues of the Day were forced to give way more to the Number than the Bravery of their Enemies Demetrius routed who at last entirely routed them though not without a great Slaughter on their side killing 9000 of them upon the Spot with the loss of all their Cannon and Baggage If the Muscovites had been as careful in the Pursuit of Demetrius as they were fortunate in obtaining the Victory and had sent their Horse of which they had a considerable number immediately after to disperse such of the Polish Troops as were retreating in several Bodies towards Ribscum they might without question have put an End to the War at this one Stroke or at least have driven him quite out of Muscovy But instead of pursuing their Advantage they besieged Krom which defending
beaten a second time that at last they forced them to retreat and thus in one day gained a double Victory over their Enemies The Reputation of which being improved by Fame not only some of the most remote Provinces of the Muscovian Empire sent their Deputies to make their Submission to Demetrius but he was also daily supplied with fresh Recruits out of Poland besides a Body of 4000 new-rais'd Horse under the Command of Zlarowski and Sapiha The Muscovites on the other Hand having scarce left a sufficient Number out of their vast Armies to defend the City of Musco and seeing Demetriâ—â— encrease in Strength daily were forced to have 〈◊〉 course to new Counsels For which Reason they once more addrest themselves to the Polish Ambassadors and the Weywode of Sendomiria who were as yet in their Custody Unto these they promised Golden Mountains if by their Interest at the Polish Court they could prevail with Sigismund King of Poland to recall his Subjects out of the Service of this Pseudo-Demetrius The Ambassadors and the Weywode gladly accepted their offers but being very desirous of their Liberty told them that they did not question if Matters were truly represented to the King he might in time be induced to draw off his Supplies from Demetrius But that as his Interest at Court was back'd by some of the Chiefest Men of the Kingdom and in great Esteem with the King himself so it was not to be supposed that they should be able to prevail against their Power when absent which perhaps when present they might do without much Difficulty by representing to the Court the true State of the Case and the Imposture of Demetrius They represented to them how advantageous it would be to their Affairs in detecting the whole Intrigue of this supposititious Demetrius if Marina in Person appear'd at Court and by her own Confession confirmed the Death of her Lord which would put the Imposture of this Pretender beyond all question and without doubt contribute more than all other Endeavours towards the recalling of the Poles out of the Service of the Impostor The Muscovites did not very well relish these Propositions being unwilling to part with their Prisoners upon so easie Terms But being at last over-ruled by the Speciousness of their alledged Reasons and much more by the absolute Necessity of their Affairs they were at last forced to comply with the Desires of these Polish Lords unto whom as well as to Marina Marina and her Father set at liberty they granted their Liberty under Condition that they should undertake to oblige the King of Poland to draw back the Army of his Subjects which lay encamped under the Walls of the City of Musco They were not sparing in their Promises so that every thing being agreed on betwixt them they were in a few days after permitted to depart under a Guard of five hundred Horse to defend them against the Parties of Demetrius that were continually abroad in great Numbers This Treaty had not been managed with so much Secrecy but that Demetrius who was not without his Spies within the City had got Scent of it by whose Means also having got Notice of the Day of their Departure and judging not without great Reason how disadvantageous their Presence at the Polish Court might prove to his Affairs and on the other hand considering that nothing could contribute more at this time towards the Strengthening of his Party than if by joining their Interest with his he could bring them over to his Side and engage Marina to own him for her Husband he sent out Zlarowski with fifteen hundred Horse to intercept their Passage Zlarowski having been before hand informed which way they were to pass had not marched above two Hours before he met with them and having ordered five or six hundred of his Horse to face the Muscovites who guarded the Polish Lords he in Person with a few of his Officers were advancing to address themselves to Marina and the Weywode her Father But the Zuskian Horse at the first sight of the Poles whom they saw much stronger than themselves look'd for their Safety in the Swiftness of their Horses making the best of their Way towards Musco and leaving the Poles committed to their Charge at the Disposal of their Country-men Zlarowski making his Addresses to Marina Are intercepted and conducted to Demetrius complemenâ—ed her in the Name of Demetrius telling her that he was sent to invite them to his Camp being ambitious not to let slip so favourable an Opportunity of delivering them out of the Hands of their Enemies Marina and the Weywode were at some uncertainty what to answer 〈◊〉 but seeing themselves in no Capacity of making any Resistance they return'd Zlarowski Thanks for his Care and Vigilancy and with a seeming Gladness went forward to the Polish Camp where they were presented immediately after their Arrival to Demetrius Those of a more refined judgment look'd upon this proceeding of Demetrius as a gross Mistake in Point of Policy to admit Marâ—â—â— and the Polish Lords who were quite unprepared for an Interview of this nature into his Presence For Marina as well as her Father and the Ambassadors being surprised at first sight to see this Demetrius differ very much from the Great Duke slain in the City of Musco betray'd their dissatisfaction sufficiently both in their Countenances and the strangeness of their behaviour towards him which having been observed as well by Demetrius himself as some others that were present at the Interview he thought it most advisable to send them to another Quarter of the Camp with Orders not to take notice that they had been seen by him hoping thus to hush up the former Passage till they could concert new Measures to carry on the Intrigue to their mutual Advantage But an Error of this Nature being not so soon corrected the manner of this interview could not be hid from some of the more quick-sighted and among others had not escaped the particular Observance of Kniasus Masalski a Kinsman both to the routed General of that Name and to Zuski himself who was ever since the last Defeat detain'd a Prisoner in the Camp He having watch'd his opportunity a few days after made his Escape and got into the City where he related to Zuski and the Muscovites the Doubts which had at the first interview with Demetrius appear'd in Marina's Countenance and Carriage all which he represented with so much Dexterity and in terms so lively and natural that the Muscovites being fully perswaded of the Imposture unanimously resolved to adhere to Zuski to the last Extremity and rather to endure any thing than to submit themselves under the Government of an Impostor imposed upon them by the Contrivances of their mortal Enemies the Poles Zuskis seeing the People thus confirm'd in his Inâ—erest by the prejudice they had conceived against the Person of his Rival bethought himself of a certain States-Trick by which he hoped
as it will sufficiently appear out of the Sequel of this History For when the Poles saw the Muscovites reduced to the greatest straights that could be by these intestine Dissensions raised and fomented by their Contrivance they judged now to have met with a favourable Opportunity to make themselves Masters of that vast Empire For which reason the Senate of the Kingdom of Poland represented to their King Sigismund how easie it would be for him at this critical Juncture to gives Laws to both Parties in that divided Empire if he would shew himself at the Head of a considerable Army which was ready at hand in Poland to march upon his first Orders into Russia where they might live upon the Country whereas they must now be maintain'd at the Charge of the Republick Besides the benefit he would reap from this Expedition in giving Laws to the Muscovites and purging the Kingdom of Poland of a great number of Vagabonds and idle Persons the remnants of their late civil Dissensions it would be a glorious Work to revenge the barbarous Murder of so many of his Subjects and the detaining of his Ambassadors The Chief thing objected was that the Truce made some Years ago betwixt both Nations was not expir'd But this Objection was soon answered considering that the Muscovites had been the first who violated it in Massacring the Poles against all Laws of Hospitality and detaining their Ambassadors against the Law of Nations but supposing this to be insufficient the specious Pretence Sigismund might make use of in appearing for Demetrius their lawful Great Duke in Possession of the greatest Part of the Empire against the Usurper of his Crown and Right would take off the Blame of the Violation of the Truce in the eyes of the World King Sigismund being swayed by these important Considerations alledged by his Council at last determined to invade Muscovy with an Army to be commanded by himself In order to this Design every thing being got ready with all possible speed he put himself at the Head of an Aâ—my consisting of thirty-thousand Men and in the Year 1609 King Sigismund 〈◊〉 Muscovy in August passing the River Borysthenes entred the Territories of Muscovy It is without all dispute that if pursuant to the Advice of the Senate and his Council he had marched directly to the City of Musco and in conjunction with the Demetrian Army attack'd that City or at least block'd it up more closely than before the Inhabitants who were already reduced to great Straits for want of all manner of Necessaries would soon have been forced to abandon Zuski and to embrace his Party which done it would have been no difficult Matter to suppress Demetrius by drawing from his side the Cosacks and Poles the main if not the only Strength of his Army by great Rewards and thus either to render himself absolute Master of the whole Empire or at least by coming to a composition with Demetrius to unite all the Muscovian Provinces bordering on Lithuania and Poland with his Crown But instead of following these wholesome Counsels he took quite contrary measures which rendred his whole Design abortive and lost his Son Vladislaus the Crown of Muscovy as he himself by his own mismanagement had lost that of Sweden It had been insinuated to him that if he would march to Smolensko the Capital of the Province of the same name it would be surrendred into his hands at his first appearing before it This City which is seated on the Banks of the Borysthenes and surrounded with a very good Wall of Stone and Brick was in those days much larger than it is now it having been much altered from its former Beauty and Wealth by the various Chances of War and tho' it had no out-works or Ditch yet this Defect was supply'd by a very numerous Garrison consisting of thirty thousand Men besides the Inhabitants whose number amounted to as many if not more that were able to bear Arms The Weywode or Governour of the Place was one Michael Sehin an intimate Friend of Zuski who being sufficiently provided with Ammunition Artillery Provisions and all other Necessaries for a long Siege was resolved to defend it to the last drop of Blood knowing it to be the only place of Importance in the whole Empire which remain'd stedfast in the Interest of Zuski Sigismund being misguided by some of his flattering Courtiers as soon as he had passed the Borysthenes resolved upon an hasty March and being cajol'd into a Belief that he was rather going to receive than force Smolensko leaving all his Cannon behind him marched with all possible speed towards that City He was no sooner come in sight of it but â—he found himself miserably mistaken both in his Intelligence and Purpose the Garrison making a furious Sally upon him and being afterwards summon'd to surrender by Sapiha the Chancellor of Lithuania the Weywodâ— Sehin rejected his Offers with Scorn There were not a few at that time in the Army who advised the King not to hazard his Army in the Siege of a Place which being provided with a numerous Garrison and resolute in its Defence would prove a work of great difficulty to gain but to take hold of this favourable Juncture which invited him to Musco the Capital City of the Empire before they were re-inforced with the Swedish Auxiliaries but the Opinion of the Lithuanian Chancellour and his Friends was most prevailing who remonstrated that a few Months would reduce so great a Multitude however well provided at present to distress when restrain'd from Forageing and bringing in Provisions or at the worst that a vigorous Attack would in a little time bring them to better terms by which the King having secured himself a safe Retreat might with the less danger march to the Capital City of Musco Pursuant to this Resolution the King ordered all the Avenues and Passages leading to the City to be taken up by his Cavalry and afterwards by making a Line of Circumvallation to cut off all Communication betwixt the Garrison and the Country But having not long after received certain Intelligence that the Place being provided with great store of all Necessaries this Attempt would in all likelihood prove abortive they alter'd their Resolution it being judged most advisable to change the Blockado into a formal Siege For which purpose Sigismund besieges Smolensko the King having ordered his Cannon for Battery and other Instruments for a Siege to be carried thither out of Lithuania the City was besieged in due form The King 's attack was carried on on the West-side of the place his quarters extending from the Banks of the River Borysthenes to the South The attack of the Cosacks was on the East-side their Quarters reaching from the South to the same River The Sieur Potocki Palatine of Braclow had his Post assigned him on the North-side on the opposite shoar of the Borysthenes to prevent any Succours from coming to the Relief of the
very obnoxious to the Censures of the Nobles For having mounted the Throne by Blood and fraudulent Means he began to be jealous of his most trusty Friends and to gratifie his Fears exercised his Cruelties upon several Persons of an eminent Rank whom he caused to be put to Death upon no other Pretence than his having secret Intelligence of their Unfaithfulness As his Reign was one continued Series of Troubles so when he was at a Plunge he used to have recourse to Sorcerers and Witchcraft and being infatuated by their Perswasions he committed such Barbarities as are scarce to be named without horror It was upon this account he caused the Wombs of big-bellied Women to be ript open to make use of the immature Fruit to accomplish his Enchantments which he was vainly perswaded would be more efficacious against the Poles than his Sword Some of his Wizzards having foretold him that one whose name was Michael should succeed him in the Throne he caused three of his most faithful Friends and Servants to be made away for no other reason but because they bore that name which for all his barbarous Precautions was verified in the Person of Mich. Federowitz the present Czar's Grandfather There were in the great Church within the Castle amongst other Things of great Value thirteen Statues representing our Saviour and the twelve Apostles all of massie Gold each of them of the bigness of a Man valued at near three hundred thousand Pounds Sterling Zuski being at last reduced to great Straights for want of Money and having in vain try'd all the Skill of his Sorcerers who were not able to supply his present Occasions he had recourse to the twelve Apostles whom he displaced from their Station in the Church and having caused them to be melted down made use of the Metal for the Payment of his Soldiers He had so much Grace as to spare the Statue of our Saviour which the Poles not long after converted to the same use All these Enormities being now by the Nobles who had conspir'd his Ruin improved to his disadvantage the Populace whose Darling he was before prompted more by their Zeal for their golden Statues than the Love and Welfare of their Country Zuski deposed soon shook hands with the Nobility and seeing Demetrius to meditate a second time the Siege of their Capital City they with the same unanimous Consent wherewith they had raised him before to the Throne pull'd him down again and thrust him with his two Brothers into a Cloyster This done they sent their Deputies to Zolkievitzski the Polish General who commanded that Body which was approaching to the City of Musco unto whom they promised to chuse Vladislaus the Prince of Poland for their Great Duke provided he would defend them against Demetrius Zolkievitzki The Poles admitted in to the City of Musco gladly accepting of their Propositions detatch'd immediately a good Body of his best Troops who being readily admitted into the City he followed in few days after with the whole Army pitching his Tents on the East side of the City as Demetrius was encamped on the Western part Some time being spent in Consultations betwixt the Muscovites and Poles the first opened their Gates to the last so that Zolkievitzki marching with his whole Army through the City fix'd his Camp near to that of Demetrius who tho' not a little surprised at this sudden and near approach of the Poles yet was forced to put the best Countenance he could upon the Matter and to smother his present Resentment There being thus a communication and seeming friendly Correspondence maintain'd betwixt both Camps Zulkievitzki found it no very difficult Task to debauch that Body of Polish Horse Commanded by Spiaha which hitherto had remain'd stedfast in the Interest of Demetrius These having received the publick Faith of the Commonwealth of Poland for the Payment of all their Arrears unanimously revolted and declared for King Sigismund Zarucki the General of the Cosacks and Kasinowski Prince of the Tartars that served in the Demetrian Camp both intimate Friends of Demetrius seeing themselves thus deprived of the assistance of the Polish Horse the main strength of their Army and that the City of Musco was defended by a great Body of Poles both within and without its Walls began now to despair of the Fortune of Demetrius and thinking it not advisable to involve themselves in his Ruine they resolved to embrace the Party of the Conquering Pole expecting to reap from the Success of Sigismund the Fruits of their past Labours Whilst these were preparing to wait upon the King before Smolensko Demetrius retreats from before Musco Demetrius forsaken not only by the Poles but also by them he most confided in and seeing himself and his Affairs exposed to Dispair sought once more for Refuge at Calâ—ga which having served him as a Shelter before now received him again with open Arms. The Muscovites being thus freed from Demetrius would fain have recalled their former Promise of Electing Vladislaus their Great Duke alledging that they could not proceed to his Election till he were present in Person to confirm to them by Oath the maintenance of their Religion and Ancient Customs But Zolkievitzki having declared in the Name of King Sigismund that he would not quit the City with his Army till he saw Prince Vladislaus seated upon the Throne and that therefore he exhorted them to fulfil their solemn Promise without any further Tergeversations unless they would expose their Capital City to inevitable Destruction and that he was ready to swear to such Articles in the Great Duke's Name as should be agreed betwixt them they judged it most adviseable not to exasperate the Poles who at present had two potent Armies one in the very Bowels of the City of Musco the other in the Empire before Smolensko These Considerations at last prevailing over the Aversion they had against the Poles and being perswaded that the Childhood of Vladislaus could not but furnish them in a little time with an Opportunity of ridding their Hands of him as they had done of both the Demetrius's they proceeded with all the usual Solemnities to the Election The chief Conditions were That a general Amnesty and Act of Oblivion should be passed and all their Ancient Customs and Privileges confirmed and established That the new Great Duke Vladislaus should with all convenient Speed come in Person into Russia That he should conserve their Religion inviolable and for the better Settlement of the same and the whole Kingdom abjure the Roman Catholick Faith and embrace the Greek Religion Zolkievitzki and some of the great Officers of the Polish Army having confirmed these Articles by Oath in the Name of the new Great Duke he was tho' absent proclaimed with the usual Ceremonies and Fealty sworn to him by all the Boyars Uladislaus proclaimed Great Duke Nobles and Chief Officers there present as Great Duke and Emperour of Russia with great Demonstrations of Joy
next Meeting of the Diet of that Kingdom he was received with all the Pomp and Ceremonies due to a Conquerour The Estates were not sparing in their Addresses and Congratulations many Speeches were made in the Assembly in Praise of the King who had added so great a Province to the Commonwealth made himself Master of the Imperial City of the Muscovian Empire and got their Great Duke Zuski in his Custody Sigismund himself was so intoxicated with these imaginary Honours that he caused Zolkievitzki who first took Possession of the City of Musco to make his solemn Entry in Triumph being attended by a most numerous and magnificent Cavalcade and followed by the Great Duke Basili Zuski Basili Zuski lâ—d in Triumph who with his two Brothers was seated in an open Chariot and thus like Captives led to the Senate-House where being admited Zolkievitzki presented these Captive Princes to the King and Assembly and having in a very lofty Harangue extolled the Fortune of the Commonwealth of Poland in having got these Illustrious Persons into their Possession by whose Misfortune they had opened themselves the Way into the Russian Empire and to the Throne it self by the Election of Prince Vladislans Great Duke of Muscovy He did not want Vanity to compare the Captivity of tâ—ese Princes to the greatest Exploits of the most renowned Heroes of Aâ—tiquity tho' it was sufficiently known that they were fain into his Hands more by the Treachery of the Muscovites than the Bravery of the Poles who whilst they trifâ—ed away their time in Complementing and Flattering thâ—mâ—eâ—ves let slip the best and most favourable Opportunity in the World to make themselves real Masters of that Empire which they had swallowed up in their imaginary Panegyricks Zuski and his two Brothers were by the King's Order sent Prisoners to Goston Castle where they were treated according to their Quality But Basili Zuski did not long survive the Loss of his Empire and Liberty the Weight of his Sorrows having as it is believed deprived him of his Life soon after He was some time after followed by one of his Brothers who also died for Grief They were both privately buried betwixt Warsaw and Thorn where their Ashes â—ested till the End of the War betwixt these two Crowns when they were translated into Muscovy and interred among their Aâ—cestors This Basili Zuski Hâ— dies in Poland Great Duke of Muscovy ended his Life in Captivity in a Foreign Country after a short and troublesome Reign He was a Person of a more than ordinary Capacity and Merit which had raised him to the highest Station in the Empire before he mounted the Throne which as he obtained by Fraud and Blood so he endeavoured to settle it by the same Arts by which he had gained it And knowing the Muscovites to be a People the most unstable in the World and soon hurried from one Extream to another he had at last when he found his Affairs in a declining Condition Recourse to Witchcraft and other violent Means which served him for no other End than to hasten his Ruin and to remove him from the Throne to a Prison where he ended his Days A remarkable Instance of the perpetual Vicissitudes of Human Greatness and the Instability of Popular Favour But it is time to return to the City of Musco and to see what different Effects this Retreat of Sigismund out of Muscovy produced among the Russians and the Polish Garrison The Muscovites being by the Departure of the King delivered from what they dreaded most to wit his Marching to the Relief of the Polish Garrison in Musco re-assumed new Vigour and by their repeated Attacks press'd so hard upon the Poles that they shut them up close within their Fortifications and these seeing themselves thus neglected by their Prince and expos'd to Danger without any prospect of Relief began to contrive Means for their own Safety a great many among them under pretence of want of Pay openly demanding their Dismission Gaziowski their General did endeavour by all means possible to keep them in Obedience flattering them with Hopes of a speedy Relief and perceâ—ving that his Words had not the desired Effect he contriv'd Counterfeit Letters to be brought to him as coming from the King out of Poland fill'd with Promises of a most powerful Relief in a very short time To take away all the Pretence from the Soldiers of demanding their Dismission for want of Pay he caused a Statue of our Saviour's of massie Gold valued at near fifty thousand Pounds which stood with the Twelve Apostles in the Great Church of the Castle the latter being melted down by the Order of Basili Zuski as was mention'd before to be divided among the Soldiery who quickly sacrificed the same Statue to their Avarice which they had adored but a few days before The General having by this and some other Dividends taken out of the Treasury of the Great Dukes of Muscovy which was in his Possession appeased and encouraged his disheartned Soldiers he kept them in continual Exercise by frequent Sallies from whence they seldom return'd without Advantage they were much flush'd with this Success against the Muscovites There was a Magazine of Salt without the Fortifications of the Poles which had been spared by the Flames when the Poles set the City on fire The Besiegers and the Besieged standing equally in need of this Commodity as having no other to supply their present Occasions this gave them constant Employment on both sides This Magazine was at so near a distance from the Poles that it would have been no difficult Matter for them to inclose it within their Lines but their General knowing that their own and the Enemies Wants would engage them in continual Skirmishes did not think convenient to take away this Opportunity of keeping his Men in Action He made it also his Business to sow the Seeds of Discord among the Muscovites and Cosacks that served in the Russian Army from whence he hoped to reap no small Benefit if he could bring over the Cosacks to his Party and at the same time contrive the Destruction of Lepanowitz the Russian General For which purpose he caused several counterfeit Letters to be dispersed in the Provinces written in Lepanowitz's Name wherein he commanded the Muscovites to fall upon the perfidious Cosacks in their Quarters having received certain Intelligence that they intended to side with the Young Demetrius at Caluga The General 's Name of the Dunensian Cosacks that served at that time in the Muscovite Army was Sidorus who formerly had been in the Interest of this Young Demetrius his Father Gaziowski was very careful to cause one of these Letters to fall into his Hands who not in the least suspecting any Fraud in the Matter without any further Consultation communicated it to the other principal Officers of the Cosacks representing to them their common Danger in Terms so lively and natural as sufficiently testified his Apprehension of their imaginary
other publick Buildings This Man being entrusted with a Commission of so large an Extent did abuse his Trust to the great oppression of the People For there was no Extortion so great which he was not ready to undertake He would receive Presents from both Parties and afterwards leave them in the lurch But not content with this his common Practice was to suborn false Witnesses whose employment was to bring in Charges against such of the Citizens of Musco as he knew to be rich enough to redeem themselves out of his Persecutions For whenever they fell into his hands he did not fail by imprisoning and other violent and oppressive Methods to oblige them to purchase their Liberty and his Favour with the ruine of their Fortunes He had a Brother-in-Law whose name was Peter Tichonovits Trochanistou one of those whom in Muscovy they call Ocolnits who are one degree under the Boyars who are chosen out of their Number Him they had made President of the Puskarskoy Pricas and consequently had the oversight over all the Great Duke's Founders Furbishers Cannoneers Armourers Smiths and Carpenters who wrought to the Arsenal These Mechanicks were usually paid once a Month according to the Custom of Mâ—â—covy where Payments are made with greater Exactness than in any other Part of Europe instead of which he used to keep them in Arrears for many Months together and in the mean while to make use of their Money to his own Advantage and when he had thus droven them to extremity to foice them to compound for half or what they could get and to give Acquittance for the whole Sum. Miloslauski and Morosou play'd the same Game in their several Stations not only by selling at an excessive Rate all the Employments in the Kingdom but also by procuring Monopolies which ruined the Trade of the whole Empire Among others they had got a Patent for one of their own Gang prohibiting the further use of the common Ells hitherto used in Muscovy but instead of that to make use of certain Iron ones with the Great Duke's Mark upon them on purpose to oblige the People to buy the latter at the Price of a Crown per Piece whereas they used to buy the others at 8 or 10 d. a Piece whereby a necessity being laid upon the whole Kingdom of having them from the Patentees at their own Price they gathered a vast Sum of Money without giving any Account of it to the Great Duke's Treasury They had also found out another Invention to raise the Price of Salt from twenty to thirty Pence per Measure containing about forty Pound Weight This proved a heavy Burthen to the People and of no Advantage to the Great Duke For the dearness of the Salt had hindred the Sale of it so that â—bundance of Fish being lost for want of Salting the Great Duke's Revenue suffered by it upon a double Account The Inhabitants of Musco had enjoyed the Fruits of a very quiet and mild Government under the Reign of his late Czarish Majesty who being a Prince of incomparable Clemency endeavoured thro' the whole course of his Reign to make the Government easie to his Subjects who had so long groan'd under the Calamities of their civil Diâ—tensions so that finding themselves thus oppressed beyond all measure they could not brook this sudden Change without shewing publickly their Resentments The Muscovites seldom or never make their Cabâ—s over the Bottle they do not look upon strong Liquor to be a suitable Companion for those who intend to treat of States Affairs they make use of their Hydromel and Aqua vitae according to it's primitive and genuine Institution to exhilerate the Mind and drive away Cares As they are the greatest Zealots in the World so they begin commonly their States Reformations a Jove after they have been at Divine Service Here it was the Chief Citizens used to meet and to utter their Complaints against the Oppressions which they groaned under by the Mismanagement of the Ministers of State and resolved at last to Petition the Great Duke for a Redress of their Grievances But the main difficulty was who among them all durst be so venturesome as to deliver the Petitiâ—â— so that no body being willing to undertake that Task a certain day was appointed to give it to the Great Duke himself with joint Consent as he should come out of the Castle to go to his Devotion They were as yet not so bold as to dare to attempt any thing against Morosou by reason of his near Alliance to the Great Dutchess tho' they knew him to be the main Istrument of these Calamities they suffered but their Petition was for the present chiefly levell'd against Lepont Stepanovits Plessou who by his most barbarous Exactions being become insupportable to them they desired that he might be removed from his Office and his Place be supplied by some Person of known Integrity of whom the People might expect more Justice They had watched several Opportunities to deliver it to the Prince himself as he was going to his Devotions or Divertisements but in vain for the Boyars who attended his Person had always took it from them telling them that they would make a Report of it to the Great Duke but this being done according to the Instructions received from Morosou the Petition was not as much as answered much less their Grievances redressed This hapning so often that they found themselves absolutely mistaken in their whole Expectation it was resolved that they should meet together and inspite of all the Opposition from the Boyars make their Complaints to the Great Duke by way of Mouth The sixth of July in the Year 1648 was pitch'd upon as a day fit for the execution of their Design when they knew the Great Duke was to be present at a Procession to be made to a Monastery in the City called Stertenski The People were got early together in the Morning in the great Market-place before the Castle to see him and his Cavalcade pass by as they were wont to do upon such like Occasions But whether it was that they did not think themselves strong enough other that their Leaders were not present they did not make the least Signs of dissatisfaction at his going to the Monastery But at his return they broke through those that attended the Great Duke came up to him stay'd him and taking hold of his Horses Bridle intreated him to take their present Case into his Consideration to hearken to the just Complaints of his Subjects concerning the Injustices and Violences committed by Plessou desiring that a Person of known Integrity might be put in his Place who should better discharge so great a Trust The Great Duke was not a little startled at this unexpected procedure of the populace but dissembling both his Surprize and Resentment he spoke to them with a very chearful Countenance telling them that he was much troubled to understand the Grievances of his good Subjects occasioned by the
therefore without the least Opposition taken up their several Posts assigned them for their Guards the Great Duke laid hold of this Opportunity to endeavour the Appeasing of the Tumult by the Authority of Knez Nikita Ivanovits Romanow whom he knew to be much respected by the People He appear'd before them with Cap in Hand and told them in the Name of the Great Duke his Master that he hoped they would be satisfied with the Promise and Assurance given by his Czarish Majesty's own Mouth that he himself would take Cognisance of the Matter and remedy the Grievances of which they complained That his Majesty had sent him on purpose to give them fresh Assurances that he was not unmindful of his Word but would give them all the Satisfaction in this Point they could reasonably desire and to advise them to break up the Assembly and for every one to repair to his own Home that he might the better perform what he had promised them the day before This Message being received with the joyful Acclamations of the People sufficiently testifying their Approbation answer was made that they had no reason to be dissatisfied with the Great Duke but with those who made use of his Name and Authority to execute their execrable Villanies upon the People And that therefore they could not rest satisfied nor would they stir from the Place till Boris Ivanovits Morosou Leponti Stephanovits Plessou and Peter Tichtonovits Trochanistou were delivered up to them that they might revenge upon their Heads all those Mischiefs they had done the Kingdom Romanow shewed them his Acknowledgment for the favourable Audience they had afforded him telling them that he would immediately go and acquaint the Great Duke with the Zeal and Affection they had expressed for his Person and that he did not question but that the Great Duke would grant their Request and order the Execution of those three Lords who had drawn upon themselves the Hatred of his good Subjects by their Mismanagement but that he was ready to swear to them by the Cross that Morosou and Trochanistou had made their Escape at the first beginning of the Tumult and for the third he dares engage his Word he should be brought to Execution immediately Romanow being returned to the Great Duke it was after a short Debate resolved to sacrifice Plessou and Trochanistou to the Fury of the People who with a great deal of Impatience waited at the Castle Gatefor the Great Duke's Answer but to endeavour by all means possible the Preservation of Morosou but that to appease the Rage of the People Word should be sent them immediately that Plessou was coming out forthwith to be sacrificed and that the other two should receive the same Punishment so soon as they were found which was done accordingly and the People being desired to send for the Executioner to do his Office they had him ready at Hand with all his Servants attending at the Castle Gate whence in less than a quarter of an Hours time they saw him leading the miserable Plessou into the Market-place before the Castle Plessou massacred in order to cut off his Head But the People were so exasperated against him that they fell upon him immediately with Cudgels so outrageously that they dispatched him in a Moment His Body was dragged by the Feet thro' the Streets accompanied with Millions of Curses of the Populace till at last a Monk who had a particular Spleen against the deceased cut off his Head and carried it away in Triumph The Execution of Plessou and the reiterated Promises of the Great Duke that the rest when found should come to the same end begot some calm in the Peoples Minds who had sent their Messengers upon all the Roads leading to the City in search after Morosou and Trochanistou the first finding his Escape almost impossible by reason of the Peoples searching so closely after him had found means to lay concealed at a particular Friend's House Trochanistou Exâ—cuted at a little distance from the City from whence he returned by secret ways the next night into the Castle But Trochanistou had not the same good Fortune to escape the Hands of his Enemies but being overtaken upon the Road by some of the Great Duke's Messengers who for fear of being thought to have consented to his Escape had been forced to employ all his Care in finding him out he was brought the next day being the 8th of July to the same place where he used to sit as Judge over the Cannoniers Armourers and others belonging to the Great Duke's Arsenal where by order from the Great Duke he had his Head cut off By this time the People being informed how Morosou had been seen in the Country and ignorant of his return into the Castle they seem'd to be satisfied with the Execution of Trochanistou for this time forbearing to press any further upon the Great Duke to give them what was not in his power to do so that towards Noon they began to disperse and prepare to go to their respective Homes The same afternoon several Houses whether by accident or by the malice of the Rabble A Conflâ—ration in Houses who had not quite cleared the streets and committed great Insolences is uncertain were set on fire which made such a Havock in a few hours that it consumed the whole Quarter of Czargorod or City Royal reducing to Ashes all the Houses within the compass of the White Wall which surrounds that Quarter down to the River Neglina Towards Night it got over that River into the Great Duke's Taverns into his Store-Houses for Strong Waters and other Provisions where it consumed above sixty thousand Flitches of Bacon and an incredible quantity of Aqua-Vitae which being the most proper Fuel in the World to nourish the Flame it grew so violent that the Castle was in most imminent danger to have been reduced to Ashes by this raging Element no body endeavouring to stop its fury because those who had the Charge of quenching the Fire being got Drunk and inebriated with the Exhalations of the Strong Waters were incapable of performing that Service many of them lying in the streets choak'd with the Smoak and Vapours which so terified the Muscovites that none among them durst approach the Flames About Mid-night some Foreigners looking with no small astonishment on the Fire which just then had seised upon one of the Store-Houses where were kept a great quantity of Bacon for the Great Duke's Provision they perceived at some distance a Monk with a Sack upon his back coming towards them as if he carried a very great Burthen and coming near to them they asked him what made him thus blow and be all in a sweat He to told them that he had made all the haste he could to come to quench the Flames ' that if they would but lend him a helping Hand to throw the Body which he shew'd them of the cursed Plessou into the Fire they should soon
such Success that they found themselves obliged to make use of their heavy Cannon which having made a large Breach in their Works their Hearts and Strength began to fail them Is reduced so that they were forced to surrender at Discretion The Czar being resolved by an exemplary Punishment to deter the rest of his Subjects from committing such Outrages caused the Ring-leaders of this Sedition to be tortured and put to death some at Pleskou some in the adjacent Cities some in their City of Musco and a great many of the Pleskovites were banished into Siberia where these State-Reformators were employed in Sable-Hunting All things being thus quâ—eted by the Vigilancy of the Great Duke he pursued the Execution of the Treaty made with the Crown of Sweden And the Rye in those Northern Parts having been by the Fury of the Populace for the most part either destroyed or consumed so that it was impossible to bring together a sufficient Quantity within the time limited by the Treaty he paid the Swedish Commissioner Money instead of Rye and caused him under a sufficient Guard of Strelits to protect him against the Insolencies of the Rabble to be conducted to the Frontiers of the Kingdom of Sweden These Disorders having been thus appeased by the Prudence of his Czarish Majesty yet caused no small Change in the Government of Muscovy For the Great Duke having been made sensible of the Miscarriages of those who being the Creatures of Morosou and Miloslauski had abused their Authority to the detriment of the People removed them out of all Places of Trust And as to Miloslauski and Morosou tho' by reason of their near Alliance to the Great Duke they retained much Credit at Court and Morosou especially discharg'd his Trust ever after with a great dâ—al of Prudence and Fidelity yet the Czar did distribute his Favours with a more equal Hand among the other Knez and Boyars who had a great share in all publick Affairs and executed their Charges every one according to his Birth and Employment For which Reason he caused Knez Boris Alexandrovits Rappenin and Knez Fedor Simonovits Curakin whom we mentioned before to have been sent by Morosou to the Governments of Nisi-Novogorod and Casan to be called to Court where in Conjunction with Knez Juan Andreovits Galitzin Boris Nikita Ivanovits Romanow the Czar's Great Uncle they were consulted with in all Affairs of Moment and remained in great Authority with this Prince who had always a watchful Eye over his Ministers lest they should under the Cloak of his Authority impose upon his Subjects For which Reason he would frequently in the Night Season go about and Visit his Chancellours and other Judges Desks to see what Decrrees were pass'd and what Petitions were laid by unanswer'd He employed his Spies in every Corner so that there was scarce any Feast great Meeting Burial or Wedding of Note but he knew all what was transacted there He entertained a good Number of Gentlemen of small Fortunes who absolutely depending on his Favour were sent as Spies with the Ambassadors and into the Armies to attend and watch their Motions and to give a true Acount of all their Transactions If he found any of his Officers deficient in their Trust he was sure not to escape Punishment as it happened to Peter Solticove a Muscovian Lord and Governour of Russia minor This Solticove used to keep the Arrears of the Soldiery in his Hands to improve it to his Advantage by Merchandising and otherwise A certain Russian Captain a Native of that Province having been kept without Pay three whole Years and in vain addressed himself to the Governour took the Opportunity of the Czar's going into the Country to take his Pleasure at what time no body is permitted to interrupt his Divertisements and thronging too near the Czar's Coach with a Petition in his Hands he suspecting him to be an Assassin with his Staff which was piked at the End not unlike a Dart intending to make him withdraw at a farther Distance struck the Fellow to the Heart so that he died immediately Those that attended the Czar's Person being surprized at the Accident and judging no otherwise than that he intended to have made an Attempt ogainst the Great Duke's Life rid up to the Coach and searching what Arms he had about him found nothing but a wooden Spoon and the Petition for his Arrears The Czar shewed a great Concern for this Mishap and sending immediately to Solticove the Governour of that Province he checked him severely telling him that he was guity of the Blood of this innocent Person and that he deserved to receive the same Treatment That however he would spare his Life for this time but that he discharged him from his Commission ordering him not to appear for the future at Court and appointing Nashockin then his premier Minister to succeed him in that Office and to search into the past Misdemeanours thereof in order to redress the Grievances of his Subjects For it is to be observ'd that after the Death of Mororosou Ilia Danielovits Miloslauski the Great Duke's Father in Law Nashockin succeeded him in the Place of Chief Minister of State and all his other Employments Miloslauski was a Man of a very strong Body and goodly Aspect bold and of great Judgment rather feared than beloved by the Czar but his Interest was upheld by his Daughter It is related of him that he had so prodigeous a Memory as to have perfectly well known all the the Commission Officers of an Army of a Hundred Thousand Men of which he was Generalissimo where they Quartered and what their Qualifications were He was also Lord High Treasurer of Muscovy and had several other Offices bestowed upon him all which he managed with great dexterity Tho' he was pretty well advanced in Years he was a great Admirer of the fair Sex and for his Satisfaction entertained a good Number of very handsom Polish and Tartarian Female-Slaves His eager pursuit after amorous Pleasures had almost lost him the Czar's Favour as an Apoplexy disabled him at last in Body and Mind so as to know no Body without being told He was succeded in his high Employments by the just now mentioned Nashockin who was also made Chancellor of the Ambassadors Office and Governour of Russia Minor He was a Person of more than ordinary Integrity not to be corrupted by Presents or other Illegal means very sober and indefatigable in Business The first proofs of his great Capacity he gave at the Conclusion of the Peace betwixt the Muscovites and Poles to the no small advantage of the first which was absolutely transacted by his Vigilancy and Conduct as was also the League betwixt the Great Duke and Swedeland It was he that settled the Silk Trade upon a good Foundation through Russia and shew'd them the way how the Indian Trade might be drawn that way He Reform'd and new Modell'd the Russiaâ— Laws all over the Empire so that Suits
destruction there will be some that will take surer measures than I have done He was going on in his discourse if he had not been dragged away immediately to Prison where after having been put to the Rack he was executed privately for fear of incensing the people This Outrage was soon after followed by another less dangerous in its Contrivance but sufficiently convincing to GalliZin of the Sentiments the people had of his Ministry He was then just upon his departure for the Army which he was to Command as General against the Crim Tartars when one night a covered Coffin was found at his Pallace Gate with a Note in it containing these Words GalliZin Vnless the Campaign which thou art now going to open prove more successful than the former we are resolved to make sure work with thee The worst of all was that these menaces proved true in the Event for after his return from the Army he was so closely press'd upon by the rest of the Boyars that not being able to justifie himself against the manifold miscarriages laid to his charge he was dismissed from all his Imployments at Court GalliZin banished his Estate Confiscated and he banished into Siberia where he was forced to lead a miserable or rather shameful life Much about the same time Prince Archilla King of Iveria and Mengrelia who had for some Years last past lived with his Princess in the Court of the two Czars was preparing for his return into his Kingdoms This Prince being originally a Georgian by Birth had been prevailed upon to embrace Mahometism for the peaceable enjoyment of the two Kingdoms of Iveria and Mengrelia which border upon Persia The Chan of Persia Prince Archilla who 's Vassal he was and to purchase whose favour he had changed his Religion was very favorable to him at first and tho' he not long after return'd to the Christian Religion which he profess'd before did not use him with the same severity as he did the rest of the Petty Princes that were his Vassals But this seeming kindness of his proceeded as it appear'd afterwards not so much from any inclinations he had for his person as the Beauty of his Princess For having received great recommendations of the excellency of her Person as he was insatiable in his Lust to Women so tho' he never had seen her he was resolved to purchase the enjoyment of so much Beauty at any rate so that he made this unfortunate Prince sufficiently sensible that he had no longer any regard for his person being now become no less troublesome to him than he had appear'd kind before His first endeavours were carried on by fair means by vast promises and hopes of great Rewards but these proving insufficient to obtain his desire he proceeded from mildness to Threats but finding these also not to have the desired effect he had recourse to open Violence ordering his forces to advance into the Territories of Archilla to seize him and his Princess and carry them prisoners to his Court. Archilla dreading the indignation of the Chan who 's Forces he was not strong enough to oppose was obliged to seek for safety in his flight and retired with the Princess to the utmost confines of this Kingdom of Iveria which being the most distant from Persia border upon the Turkish Territories on that side towards the Black Sea in hopes to shelter themselves there against the forces of their enemies But the Chan of Persia resolved not to quit his pretension at that rate found means to engage the Turkish Grand Seignior in his Quarrel who having sent some forces to seize the Prince they surprised and carried him to a Castle under the jurisdiction of the Turks on the borders of Iveria where he was detained Prisoner till further orders They had shewn so much favour to the Princess whom they were unwilling to use with violence that they had not detained her person But she being exasperated to the highest degree by the outrages committed upon her husband retired secretly into Iveria where without any further delay having assembled some Gentlemen the bravest and most trusty among her Subjects she like another Amazon marched at the head of them to the Relief of her husband The Garrison had got some intelligence of her approach some hours before her arrival near the place wherefore having prepared themselves for a resolute defence the Iverians met with a stout resistance But being encouraged by the presence and example of their Princess who was resolved either to deliver her Husband or to fall in the attempt they at last forced the Castle where their Prince was kept Prisoner in spite of all the resistance the Soldiers could make carried him off and set him at Liberty So soon as they had time to reflect upon their present condition they were sufficiently sensible that an act so extraordinary and so bold must needs draw upon them the indignation of both these Great Princes their Neighbours and that consequently they could not tarry long with safety in their Kingdoms encompassed as it was on all sides by their enemies Therefore they were forced to abandon their Subjects to the mercy of these two Potent Neighbours and with some of their most trusty friends to seek for shelter in Muscovy They were received with all the demonstrations of friendship by the two Czars Prince Archilla arrives in Muscovy who assign'd them a Palace in the City of Musco and during the space of three Years allowed them a Pension suitable to their Quality till their Subjects having composed matters with the Grand Seignior and become weary of the Persian yoak sollicited their return into the Kingdoms of Iveria and Mangrelia promising to Sacrifice all what was dear to them for their Interest against the Persians their common enemies The same Year the Youngest of the two Czars The present Czar marries the same who lately honoured this Kingdom with his presence married the Daughter of an Officer of the Army He was then but Eighteen Years of Age and a few days after the marriage was published by the sound of the great Bell in Musco perhaps the finest in the World he was seized with the falling Sickness Those who did not know this distemper to be Hereditary to his Family but were sufficiently acâ—uainted with those frequent misfortunes that happen in Muscovy to persons of a high Rank at the time of their marriages occasioned by the Envy of the contending Rivals of the Female Sex looked upon it as an effect of the Jealousie of such families as being by this marriage excluded from the hopes of that Alliance they had aspired to had let their vengeance fall upon their young Prince But this accident not being attended with any further ill Consequences these Rumors were soon dispersed and the rejoycings continued to the Great Satisfaction of the Muscovites who had placed the chief hopes of their future prosperity in the Activity and Courage of a Prince who soon
Chinese Wall As the accession of these forreign Nations has been of great advantage to the encrease of Trade and the Wealth of the Russian Empire so it has contributed not a little to the peopling of the Country which by reason of their intestine Commotions in our age and frequent Inroads made by the Crim Tartars was laid in a great many parts in a manner desolate This is most conspicuous in the fertile Plains on both sides of the River Steca down to the Wolga almost as far as Cesau which not many Years ago were in a manner dispeopled but now are stock'd with an infinite number of Towns and Villages and the City of Musco it self hath in a few Years so well recovered its pass'd disasters that it is incomparable more Beautiful than ever it was before and is reckoned to contain at present no less than betwixt Six and Seven Hundred Thousand Inhabitants of several Nations As the prodigious encrease of the Capital City must chiefly be attributed to the great concoâ—â—â—â— of the various Trading Nations we have mentionen so the peopling of the Country is to be ascribed to the prudence of the Czar Alexis Michaelouits the present Czar's Father who finding his Territories exhausted of men in his War with the Poles carried away a number of Captives out of â—â—â—â—thuania and the other Polish Provinces bordering on Muscovy as were sufficient to plant several Colonies all along the Rivers Gecca and Wolga who having been encouraged by several priviledges granted to them have repeopled that Country in such manner as it appears at present But Strength of the Muscovites in respect of their Neighbours since we have sufficiently spoke concerning the Strength of the Muscovites by the encrease 〈◊〉 their Wealth and Trade we must also before 〈◊〉 conclude say something of their present Condition in reference to their Neighbours The Persians Poles Swedes the Crim Tartars and Turks As to what relates to the Muscovites in respect of the Persians The Persians there is no great probability that these two Neighbours should have any occasion to try their mutual strength since they are so separated from one another by the Caspian Sea the Dagesthan and Carcassian Tartars and the vast desarts betwixt these and Astrachan and that the common benefit they receive by their Trade in the Caspian Sea engages them equally to keep a good understanding betwixt them especially since upon occasion they may be very serviceable to one another against the Turks The Tartars bordering the North East upon Siberia The Tartars and some other Provinces under the Czar of Muscovy's jurisdiction tho' they formerly especially the Calmuc Tartars used to be verry troublesome to some of the Tartarian Provinces depending upon the Russian Empire nevertheless since the Muscovites have guarded the Frontiers on that side with good Fortifications and Garrisons and have made these Vagabonds sensible of the advantage of their Fire Arms they are not so forward in maâ—ing their irruptions Their only way they make 〈◊〉 of now is to appear sometimes in great Numbers on the Frontiers and to send their Deputies into Muscovy by which means they get considerable Presents from the Czar who thinks it more Prudence to purchase the Friendship of a Vagabond â—â—ople who have nothing to loose than to put himself to the expence of sending an Army against 〈…〉 lieu of which they assist the Czar in his Wars with a considerable Number of Horse and are very serviceable to the Muscovite in furthering their Passage and Traffick into China But the Turks and Crim Tartars The Turks and Crim Tartars used to be the most Mischievous Neighbours to Muscovy T is true the Turks do not immediately border upon Muscovy 〈◊〉 the Country Inhabited by the Budziack and 〈◊〉 Tartars who tho' at a great distance to the South from the City of Musco as they are the Grand Seigniors Vassals so he makes use of them like his hunting Dogs to overcome the Southern part of Muscovy to the very Gates of its Capital City Czar Michael Frederovits endeavoured to prevent their Incursions by causing the Woods to be cut down in some places and by reason of a Line strengthened with a Moat of about Five Hundred Miles in Length but they did not rest till they had pull'd down the first and fill'd up the last and by their frequent Incursions had almost rendred that part of Muscovy quite desolate For which reason the Muscovites were always obliged to keep a considerable Body of Horse on the Frontiers and sometimes to give them a diversion by the help of the Donepsian Cosacks and the Nogajan Tartars But the case is much alter'd as to this particular of late Years For since the Muscovites by vertue of a Peace concluded with the Poles at Oliva are become Masters of Kiovia this serves them in a great measure at once to Bridle the insolency of these Robbers and for a Bulwark against the Turks â—â—pecially if they prevent the last from getting first footing in Vkraina But the taking of Asoph 〈◊〉 the further progress of the present Czar 〈◊〉 the Crim Tartars gives a fair prospect to the Muscovites not only of securing themselves for the â—â—ture against their attempts but also of reducâ—â—â— them under their obedience and by taking the 〈◊〉 of Precop to enter the limits of their Empire 〈◊〉 the Borders of the Black Sea The Poles are certainly the most redoubtable â—nemies the Muscovites have The Poles their Scituation 〈◊〉 such as to encourage them to Act against the Muscovites when ever they meet with a favourable opportunity Of which they have given Sufficieâ—â— Proofs during their intestine Commotions 〈…〉 when they were just upon the point of having made it a Province of the Crown of 〈◊〉 if by their own divisions they had not given 〈◊〉 Muscovites leisure to recover themselves But 〈◊〉 they seem to have sufficiently secured their â—â—â—â—tiers against the Insult of the Poles by then 〈◊〉 Masters of Surleasko Severia and Kiâ—â—iâ— and 〈◊〉 the Poles are reckoned much the better Soldâ—â—â—â— the Field by reason of their great number of 〈◊〉 yet the accession of the Zaparogian Cosacks 〈◊〉 a little Strengthned the Muscovian Forces and 〈◊〉 in some measure be look'd as a sufficient Ballance to the Advantage of the Polish Horse 〈◊〉 since the Muscovites now are capable to outâ—â— the Poles if not in goodness at least in the number oâ— their Horse The Muscovites had formerly great Contests 〈◊〉 the Swedes The Swedes about Livonia which occasion'd several Bloody Wars but since the causes of these differences are removed by the Peace of Oliva when the first resign'd all their pretensions to this Country the Muscovites need not fear any thing from that Side where it Border'd on Sweden since more Conquests in far distant Country would prove more hurtful than profitable to Sweden And the Muscovites have no great encouragement to Atâ—â—ck the Swedes on that Side where they have for 〈◊〉 most part succeeded so ill in their Attempts â—â—sides that it is to be feared that if the Poles â—â—ho's interest it is not to let Livonia fall into â—â—eirs hands should joyn with the Swedes against 〈◊〉 they would put them very hard to it and 〈◊〉 the Muscovite Army's appear now very numeâ—â—us in the Field yet would they scarce be able â—â—â—graple with two such Potent Enemies who 's 〈◊〉 by the Conjunction and Advantage of the 〈◊〉 Horse with the well Dissiplin'd Infantry of 〈◊〉 Swedes would perhaps prove invincible to them 〈◊〉 But to come to a Conclusion Whether we conâ—â—der the vast extent fertility and variety of proâ—â—cts of the Russian Empire whether its strength 〈◊〉 regard of its vast Revenues its Advantageous â—â—â—tuation in respect of of its Neighbours being â—â—â—ounded on the North and East with a vast Sea 〈◊〉 a great Wilderness or in regard of its great â—â—mber of Forces it is able to maintain or 〈◊〉 in respect of the vast encrease of its Trafick 〈◊〉 Persian Indian Chinese Trade especially if â—proved by the Advantages his present Czarish â—â—jesty has had over the Crim Tartars it will sufficiently appear out of what has been said in this 〈◊〉 that as the Present Flourishing Condition 〈◊〉 the Russian Empire renders it one of the most â—â—â—siderable in Europe so were it not that the 〈◊〉 of their Government seems to be a â—onstant check to their growing greatness in reference to their Traffick it is more than probable 〈◊〉 under the Auspicious Reign of so hopeful a 〈◊〉 as now Sway 's the Sceptre it might conâ—â—â— for the Superiority with the Greatest and â—owerful Kingdoms of the Universe FINIS Books Printed for Abel Roper at the Black Boy in Fleet-street THE History of Poland in several Letters to Persons of Quality Giving an Account of the Ancient and Present State of that Kingdom Historical Geographical Physical Political and Ecclesiastical viz. It s Origine and Extent With a Description of its Towns and Provinces the succession and remarkable Actions of all its Kings and of the Great Dukes of Lithuania The Election Power and Coronation of the King The Senate or House of Lords The Diet and Form of Government The priviledges of the Gentry their Religion Learning Language Customs Habits Manners Riches Trade and Military Affairs together with the state of Physick and Natural Knowledge as also an Account of the Teutonick Order of the Duke of Courland c. By B. Connor Fellow of the Royal Society Published by the Care and Asistance of Mr. Savage The 2d Edition with an Addition of Remarks on Marriage by Mr. Brown of the Marriage-Ceremonies or the Ceremonies used in Marriages in all parts of the World By Seignior Gaya Translated from the Italian Printed for A. Roper and A. Boswel The Grounds and Foundation of Natural Religion discovered in the Principal Branches of it in opposition to the prevailing Notions of the Modern Scepticks and Latitudinarians with an Introduction concerning the necessity of revealed Religion By Tho. Becconsal B. D. of Brasenose College in Oxford