Took up the Crown of fair and puissant France Now falling to him by Inheritance I write the just words of my Authors Text Puts this in year five hundred seventy sixt AFter the Recess of this last nam'd Prince The Poles next Diet were not of one sense One Party nam'd for KING Stephen Bathor The Transylvanian prince as many more The Austrian Arch-Duke Maximilian Which 'twixt those Princes open War began But Stephens Valour with the Victory Obtain'd the Crown who Issueless did dye In year of Christ five hundred eighty sixt Then Sigismund the third succeeded next Son to the King of Sweden named Ihon Being chose to fit on Polands mighty Throne Soon after which the Father Ihon deceast Did Sigismund with 's Native Crown invest This Sigismund now King of Pole and Swed Had by his Mother secretly been bred In Popish Tenents And all this was done Without least Inkling of his Father Ihon As Zealous Protestant as any one On whose Election unto Polands Crown He Protestant suspect'd not Popish known And Romes Religion still obtaining there To satisfy the Poles he did declare That he for ever would maintain and own The Roman Catholick Religion This made the wary Swedes still Lutheran Desire conditions that he should maintain Their Protestant Religion as 't then was And let no Popish Innovations pass But some few Churches by his sufferance Or sloath not known some Places of Defence Had Popish Priests and Catholick Commanders Which made those stiff and jealous Swedenlanders Suspect this Sigismund of Male-intent And then Revolt at last with joynt consent Charles third son of Gustave Errickson His Uncl's lift up to the Swedish Throne HEnce came those Strifes and Fends and Wars amain 'Twixt Polands Kingdom and the Crown of Sweden For Sigismund did prosecute his Claim And Charles maintaind's Election by the same Which Strise 'twixt Vncle and Nephew did not dy But did descend to both's Posterity Just in the year six hundred thirty two Dy'd sigismund succeded Ladislow His eldest son who dy'd in fourty eight Whose brother Cazimir had next that Right By Choise who after twenty years of Reign The Polish Crown did willingly resign Michael Coribut Wiesnowitski Came next and now this glorious SOBIETSKI Who for his Countreys Honour Safety Crown Hath done yet doth such deeds of loud Renown Made them so great and glorious in each thing As mov'd each Polish heart to choise him King REader I hope thou 'l pardon this Deduction Plain as it is was meant for thy Instruction And understanding things express'd of Course Which needs we must recount in this Discourse Nor can't be needless you should also hear That KINGS of POLAND still Elective are Marvel with me how comes't their Sov'raign pow'r So much restrain'd should yet so long endure Or how Poles Princes straight bound up with Fetters Their Royal Hands so Chain'd with Words and Letters Should sway a Scepter or a Sword should shake To Rule or ' Fend their People while one Sneak Or Waspish Fellow in their Parliament Tho the least Nuntio shall dissassent In any point of greatest Importance Be it the Kingdoms Ruine or Defence The KING himself and the whole Polish Diet Must leav 't undone and sculk away in quiet Some Authors talk but whether lye or troth I shall not say that Polands Kings take Oath Not only to Govern conform to the Laws And Constitutions Statutes Customs Cause O' th' Kingdom to maintain the sev'ral Rights And Priviledge of all their Orders right And not to mince the Kingdoms Revenue But that there 's yet in th' Oath a Clause more blew In case the King should rule in otherwise Absolving People from Obedience Tyes I shall not here my doubts again renew Tho unto me this seems more strange than true That Fundamental Law of Germany Call'd Aurea Bulla can 't compared be VVith this for not to name the many things VVherein the Emp'rors case is wide of Kings In Pole th' Electors ev'ry one by one Are sev'ral pieces of a State that 's one All private men Subjects at most at best But in the Empire this may well be prest Where each Elector's Prince of Sov'raign State And cannot yoak his Pow'r at other rate It s then a Fancy or is't be ought true It s but of yesterday and late and new For in th'authentick form of the old Oath Of Polish KINGS which Orichovius hath There is not the least mention made of this HOw e're it be without Oath true it is That by their ancient Constitutions known Their KING can nothing great perform alone Without consent of th' whole Estates in one In making War or in contracting Peace Levying of Taxes or in Crown-Lands Lease Nor any important affair of State But by the joynt advice of full Senat. Yet as the stern stout Poles Nobility Have such strong Holds of Soveraignity So they assume and still pretend each one At least presume or formerly have done Unto themselves a more transcendent Pow'r Then they 'd allow to King or Emperour In all their Seigniories as accords They do behave themselves like abs'lute Lords This Kingdoms Palatinats thirty four Or Governments each of whom all is o're His own Castellans which of Cities are Captains or Governors in Peace and War Of whom in Poland if we 've counted even There are in all much about eighty seven Of Grand Ecclesiasticks they have two Archbishops GNESNA and of Le'pold too Of old a third at RIGA also had Until that City sell unto the Swed This Gnesna is prime Senator of State Who when the KING shall die without debate He hath the chief mannage of great Affairs During the Interreign tho 't were for Years And Issues Warrants for the States to come To the Election of a new Prince whom When Chose the Oath administers to him And sets upon his Head Poles Diadem All their most important Affairs are done Determin'd and advis'd resolved on In Diets or in Parliaments alone Which Parliaments or Diets thus are held Being summon'd by the King and thus they 'r call'd To Prelats Palatines the KING doth send By 's Chanc'lor Letters of Instruction pen'd Which mentions all his Majesty thinks sitting To be propos'd then ' points their time of Meeting Which Letters had each Senator alone Considers the Design they drive upon The Consequences Qualities and Natures Of those Affairs propos'd in the KINGS Letters The very same and of that full extent The KING' 's to offer to 's next PARLIAMENT Concerning all each Free-man of his Vote Hath a full Liberty o's yea or not Just as he pleaseth or he is in Mood For privat Interest or publick good Beside all these the KING doth Letters send Into each Pa'atinate to be kend When the Nobility are all to meet That ev'ry Province then may have its Leet And Representatives they may be chose Who here are always called LAND-NUNTIOS For which effect Convention's held in all And ev'ry County which they LANDT-JAG call
Apartment as last-Honour done him Soon afâ—er which the States in gratitude His Honourable Maintenance conclude Whereof the States of Poland and of Life land gave this full Assurance o' t for Life ' WE th' Ecclesiastick States and Civil ' Inhabitants of Poland and of Lifl ' and met in Council hereby Certify ' All the whole World and our Posterity ' That by all means could be imagined ' We have besought and much endeavoured ' For to perswade IHON CASIMIR our KING ' During his Lifetime to protract his Reign ' And not Relinquish this our Polish Crown ' Whereto himself and his of great Renown ' 's long been our mighty Kings call'd by Election ' But seeing no Inducements could perswade ' His Majesty to alter's purpose made ' And that h' hath freely rend'red to our Hand ' Poles Kingdom and great Dutchby of Lif-land ' Together with their whole Dependencies ' Crown Revenues and Royal Dignities ' The Royal Pow'r Prerogative and Name ' All which or He or Polish Kings could claim ' And we not knowing how to Lett or Stint ' Herein his Majesties most strong Intent ' His Majesty desiring we provide ' Convenient maintenance for his Life-tide ' Which Tho a Point wherein we want th' Advice ' Of our whole Brethren in their Assemblies ' Yet notwithstanding out of our Affection ' To 's Majesty before the next Election ' We have consented and do all agree ' That he have Thousands hundred and fiftie ' Liv'res of yearly Pension whereof ' One hundred thousand to be payed off ' This Kingdom and the fifty thousand more ' For to be charg'd on the great Dutchys score ' Forth of the Revenues of the Kings Table ' These Sums at next Election fix'd and stable ' And then and there these Sums fore-mentioned ' Be in their minute payments specifi'd ' And that the Lords of Treasure of both Nation ' Shall from the day o's Majesties Resignation ' Make an Allowance of the Pension said ' Without the said specification had ' And this we promise having notifi'd ' In our Provincials to gett Ratifi'd ' And make provision to secure this Thing ' By an Agreement with next following King ' Further Agreeing this Allowance from ' Dutchy of Lifland and the same Kingdom ' Shall during's Majesties whole Life Remain 'To be advanced wholly fully plain ' Freely entire without Abatements Fees ' Or whatsomever else Gratuities Chap. IV. Of the Election of Prince Michael Koribut Wicksnowiski to the Crown of Poland and the Eminent Services of General SOBIETZKI during his Reign KING CASIMIR having as hath been said The Government of Pole abandoned On sixteenth of September sixty eight Gnesna's Archbishop by his Office Right Apply'd himself during the Interreign To rule that State which now did want a KING And for a new Election did think sitting Against next May to call the General Meeting To hold at Warsaw whil'st Poles Candidate Each busy'd much to make his Party patt As namely the great Duke of Musco's Son Who had been bred in Poland and was one Who spoke that Language well as prompt as fast ay As any Noblest Polzki or Piasti One whose behalf the Duke his Father made These Offers which the others Pow'r outbad That he should Change his Greek-Religion And take the Romanist Communion In 's favours to Renounce all Muscovie All Places tane from Pole restor'd should be And that four Millions free-gift this year He should advance for payment of th' Arrear O' th' Polish Army Further promise made Poland ' gainst all its Enemies to Aid With Ready Force of Fourty thousand men And enter in perpetual League with them The next was Newburgs Duke To Duke Bavar A Brother whom the Emperor did favor The third Pretender was the Prince of Lorrain The fourth Duke D' Enguien Prince of Condees son Which last Gnesna and Gen'ral SOBIETZKAY Were thought to favour more then all the Restay THen as if many CAESARS for the Nonce Had enter'd Rome Triumphant all at once That She the Worlds proud Mistris might display Her dazling Grandeurs at one Sight one Day Ev'n so Poles Grandees Princes Palatine Each striving other to out-strip out-shine In Mays beginning of the sixty nine In greatest Pomp and Splendor did Resort To Warsaw Poles chief Mistris Seat of Court In order to th' proaching Election As Pole had meant to have it said and shown The least of all her Princes worth a Crown UPon the first of May Duke Radzevil Great Litwanias General of the Field Did make his Entry with a stately Train Which in the following order marcht amain Five Companies of Heyduques first came on Consisting of an hundred in each one With flying Ensigns beating Drums each Fellow Clad in a large Blew Vest was lin'd with Yellow Next a Foot-Company of sixtie men Clad so like Janizars that none could ken Their Yellow from the hue of Musslmen Next of Dragoons two Troops whose Backs did grace Their fine blew-Coats o're-laid with Silver-lace Then came a Troop of Gallant German Horse In richest Trappings neighing in their force As many Hussars after them comes next These at some distance followed by sixt y Gentlemen of primest Quality In Cloaths so rich that richer they defy And as their Horses scorn'd that Ground they trod Their Hands grasp't Launces of the Turkish mod Then came of Litwanias Field himsel The General Duke Michael Radzevel Follow'd by greatest Lords and primest Gentrie Above two hundred of the Litwan Countrie All these equip'd in splendidest Array In richest Harness their proud Horses bray ' Mongst whom were divers of the Princes high Of the most ancient Nobility As Prince Slav'slans Lubomiriski The Lord Potoski These were followed At some good distance their Attendants made A huge vast Number of brave Gentlemen In Richest Liv'ries all their Servants then After whom marched of Tartarian Horse Two Troops whose each did count a hundreds force Then of Dragoons five Troops march'd on apace Clad in Blew Coats adorn'd with Silver Lace Of all which Train like first the last appear A Companie of Heyduques brings the Rear THis Entrie tho the most Magnificent Those of the two Lords Pazzi far out-went In Afternoon of this same very day The one Grand Chanc'lour t'other as they say Great General of Litwania Who enter'd Warsaw in most Royal wise Whose Numbers had Duke Radzevils told thrice ANd now more splendid farr then both the same The Waywod of Cracovia also came Attended with a yet more numerous Train Which like some Armies made five thousand men ANd yet the more Illustrious third of May Eclips'd those Glories of its first seen day When Gen'ral SOBIETZKIS numerous Train In goodliest Order covered all the Plain All Polands Princes Waywoods and each Peer Did him the honour long ere he came neer To meet him sev'ral Miles from Warsaws Gate Who as he Rode he seem'd to Sit in State And as he Sate his Posture seem'd to say He should ere long great Polands Scepter
fell in Piles fled in Throngs from the Lightning of his Brandish'd Sword and the Thunder of his Guns and Artillery The whole Ottoman Force Greatness trembling at his very Name being confounded and cast into the Convulsion Fitts shrunk into the cold Cramps of Terrour and Amazement at the Storm and Tempest of so Irresistible and Prodigious a Valour I consess I had never attempted this great Subject if I had not had then a yet far more great and glorious and nearer one in my Eye and that is the Memoires of the present Imperial MAJESTY of GREAT-BRITAIN I have therefore made this light Essay upon the youngest to prepare my self for the just and due Praises of the eldest the greatest of KINGS and to tone up this poor Pen into a Trumpet whose shriller Eccho may be heard at once at Land and Sea which can never be Theatres of that dimension as to suffice to determine the vast indefinite space of his boundless Glory BRITAIN being for the Great JAMES in all mens Opinion a lesser Spott then Macedon was for ALEXANDER It is both the Interest the Safety the Happiness and the great Honour and I hope the Joy of the whole Subjects of his Dominions that they serve the Wisest the Valiantest the most Just and Generous most Noble and Glorious PRINCE in the World And it s the great Encouragment of all good Subjects in this his most Antient Kingdom that your Grace is now here His MAJESTY's High COMMISSIONER for this present PARLIAMENT your being sprung from the great Antient and Illustrious DOWGLAS a NAME and FAMILY which in Camp or Court in the Trophees and Prowesses of Valour and Loyalty may justly vie Titles with any other excepting KINGS in the Vniverse as well as your GRACES own Signal Proofs of a Zealous Service to your Royal Master and a just Regard to the greatest Good and Honour of this KINGDOM fills all Expectations with so bigg a Confidence of the Welfare and Happiness both of CHURCH and STATE as in all Beliefs is past Doubt That these Thoughts and Wishes of all Honest and Loyal Hearts and your GRACES pious and noble Endeavours that way may be thus Answered is the Humble and Hearty Prayer of Your GRACES Least Lowest and Unworthiest Servant ALEX. TYLER A LETTER To the Right HONOURABLE JAMES EARL OF PERTH LORD DRUMMOND and STOBHALL c. LORD High CHANCELOR OF SCOTLAND My LORD WHile your admirable Progress in all the Parts of Universal Learning beside all the other great Excellencies and rare Qualifications whereof you are the happy Possessor neer almost to the Adoration of all that know you Attracts all Eyes to Behold and Gaze all Hearts to Love and Admire and all Pens like the Needle to the North to point to your Lordship as they had been magnetically touch'd caught or ho kt in with the beautiful Charms of those brave radiant Virtues which at once Endears and Astonishes Mankind And while all those vast Cataracts of Knowledge large Channels deep Rivers and fluent Streams of others run into that Sea of Wisdom and Worth that they may be absorpt in those its sweet Waters It were unnatural if my little half dry purling Brook should not endeavour to Glide on to the same Oâ—ean These are My Lord not to speak of your Honours some of the Signalizing Marks whereby you make so distinguishing a Figure in the World But your Lordship being so true and zealous a Son of the CHURCH is the Seal of all and makes the whole Clergy of BRITAIN your hearty Well-wishers and Admirers And if the least and unworthyest of all these may be named amongst the rest So is Your LORDSHIPS Humble and Entirely Devouted Servant ALEX. TYLER TO THE READER WHen the Prodigious Valour and matchless Conduct of the most August Heroick and Mighty KING of Poland had at once Astonish'd Rejoyc'd and oblig'd the whole Christian World in that so opportune a Relief of Besieged Vienna Altho I had then seen no more but a Landskip of the City and the Encampment of the Turks in an expanded Sheet Printed at Cullen and Re-printed at London in 1683. Yet the desires of a very Noble Lord whose undeserved favours to my self beside Assistances in Works of this Nature which make all such import Commands unto me together with my own Native Inclinations not to be altogether wanting in those just Returns of Praise and Wonder which all Christians if not all Mankind ow so vast a Merit prevail'd so far with me as to write but what was never meant for publick view while alone about some dozen Stanza's to that purpose Which tho inconsiderable and little as it was bearing the name of the Siege and Battle of Vienna with another no less short then it entituled the Tempest meant only for the Remembrance of those with my self who had all of us together at that time run the same Hazard most unexpectedly and beside my knowledge slipt into the Press whence issuing with mo Errata then Lines as is commonly incident to surreptitious Emissions I thereupon resolved whensoever I should obtain a more full Account of the Life and Actions of this Invincible PRINCE to pay His MAJESTY in mo Lines some small part of those vast Acknowledgments wherein the whole Christian World stands so deeply indebted to his Glory And having been still Restless in the Inquest tho in vain ever since until at last some seven Weeks hence I mean before my having first Writ those ensuing Sheets by the Intervention of some Persons of Honour I had it under the name of SCANDERBEG Redivivus done by H.G. an Englishman as I suppose whose Historical Account in Prose this Song such as it is hath exactly followed to which are annexed the forenamed small Poems without any other alteration save the Estates of the Printer amended I can assure my Reader aforehand there is nothing in all this Piece to recommend it but the Excellency of a Noble and Mighty Subject coarsely enough manag'd and a great many harsh Names scarcely Versify'd And it may be not a few Tri-crambiat Rowling Lines for expressing the Emphasis of a Conceit not as yet much used The Truth is the Picture of this great PRINCE in its own Native Lineaments is so Radiant so Dazling a Beauty that its Lustre needs more Shadow then Enlight'ning And methinks its genuine Charms and spakling Graces would have been either more hid or marr'd by any at least the best of mine Artificial Colourishing And therefore the so Loud so Amazing Veriâ—ies of the plain but just Narration hath all along eased because it so vastly surmounted my low Fancy Nevertheless thou hast it if thou please as well at least as I ever have yet had it if thou canst not have Liking of nor at will be Reconcil'd with it I 'm somewhat Indifferent for it will Court thee but just as much as thou dist it And is it cannot procure a Celtation of Arms at least let it plead a fair Quarter
design'd With winged speed to give those mighty parts Nature gave him improv'n with Thought and Arts To 's Kings and Countreys Service posteth home Where when arriv'd as soon imploy'd as come At Court and Camp by then KING CASIMIR Who did his Wit and Valour so admire That for 's great Specimens of Sword and Gown He made him first Grand Master of the Crown And next Grand Gen'ral of the force of Pole And then Grand-master of the Kings Houshold And to sum up his Honours in a Line Of ancient Cracow made great PALATINE GReat was the worth of this great Subjects Spirit As great his Princes Knowledge of his merit Which on the sev'ral turns of great affairs And Traverses of Providence appears Clear in the sequel of th' ensuing Story No Honour 's great like SOBIETZKIS Glory Yet for our Readers better apprehension Of these Preferments which wee 'l needs oft mention And other Passages which needs we must Oft name to make this Story clear and just It s fit he should succinctly hear the whole Past Government and History of Pole Where let him not expect our numbers Terse In Things and Names will scarcely fold to Verse And in all such here in the general Take naked Truth for fancy wit and all Chap. II. The Kingdom of POLAND Described with its Laws and Customs with a brief Deduction of the State thereof for some hundreds of years past POLAND is said from Pole to take its Name Or Poln which in Sclaves Tongue is just the same And in that Di'lect which those Countreys grace Doth signifie a Plain or Field for Chase Because this Kingdom is a vast Campaign Compos'd of level Woods for Hunting Plain But Polish Orichovius denys This Derivation and doth thus advise That first Polachia this Land was Term'd From Lachus their first King or Leader arm'd Both may be true because both may agree Natives and Readers take your Choice for me WHich e're of either of these two be true This mighty Kingdom in the bulk it s now Having great Litwan's Dukedom now annex't And other Provinces may number next The largest Kingdoms Europe's Continent Contains for breadth and length of that extent From fourty eight to fifty sev'nth degree Of Latitude It s Longitude count we From thirty eight to sixty and perchance A greater Continent by far then France Muscovie and the petty Tartars east The Baltick Sea and Germany the west Do bound it but the great Carpathian Mountains And Ister Europes greatest Child of Fountains Divide it on the South from Hungary From Transilvania and Moldavie Upon the North Livonia of Sweden And some good part of Muscovie again Poland is blessed with a fruitful Soil And purest Air breath'd from the Woods recoil Furs Honey Wax Buff-hides and other Skins Huge Masts for Ships Timber and other things For Building Flax Pot-ashes and all Grain In great abundance yeelds which drives great gain To Dantzick Gentry with Nobility Are here Magnifick bold and brave and free And most Tenacious of their Liberty But all the Peasants and the common Rout Are as meer slaves as they were bought throughout Their Lives are valu'd as we prize a Neat The Tennent kill'd his Lord receives the Rate No Inquest's for the Blood this being pay 't ANd not with standing that the Reformation Beam'd here its Light first from the German Nation Yet Ignorance and want of publick Care For Lopping of wild Tenents here not rare Extravagant Opinions did promote Mong Citizens and mongst the Rabble Rout Socinus 'bove them all did here take foot The Catechism of Cracow proveth this Their other Books being deriv'd from this But that which here 's establish'd by the Laws Is the great daring Roman-Cath'lick-Cause Their Language is Sclavonian Dialect Tho most of them do also Latin speak This only Kingdom 's elective alone Of all that are this Day in Europe known Under which Term we mean not to include The Empire which can ne're be understood A Monarchy but rath'r a Septarch-head And tho the Danish Crown Elective were For many ages till the sixtieth year Of this same age when Denmarks King thought fit To cause that Kingdoms Senat alter it His Majesty Hereditar Writes ay Himself of Denmark as of Norway IT is the common undisputed Thought That the first people that to Poland sought Were Huns and Slavons Orichovius sayes Who came from Macedon and thereaways Their vulgar Language which they daily speak Retaining yet some Relish of the Greek And that from thence they having driv'n the Swevi And other People and Goths a mighty Covey Possest that huge vast Tract of champaign Land Ev'n to the Elb from River vistul's Strand When Lechus or else Lachus at the last Became their Chief and as their Leader past About our LORDS three hundred fiftieth year Commenc'd the Monarchy of Poland here From whom fourteen are reck'ned to Micislas First Christian Duke match'd Daughter of BOLESLAS Duke of Bohem the sev'nt day he was Wife't Of March in year nine hundred sixty fift Upon which Match Micislas Christian made His Son Boleslas for Successor had In year of Grace nine hundred ninety nine The sixteent Duke which came of Lachus Line Who while the Emp'rour OTHO of that name The Third to visit Tomb of Albort came Whom barb'rous hands of Prussia had slain Was creat KING by the Emp'rour amain To whom another Micislas succeed Father of Cazimir the first we Read The second Boleslas succeed him Sirnam'd the cruel like a Devils Limb He murther'd Stanzlaw Bishop of Cracow For punishment Whereof Pole losed now Its title of a Kingdom being sway'd By sev'ral Princes Regents for long Tide Till under Primislaus it again The former Kingdoms Title did Regain Which was if Poles chranology belive't In year of God two hundred ninety fift Next Primislaus the third Ladislas Who after four years past expelled was And Vinceslaus chosen in his stead Ladislas five years re-established To whom succeeded Casimir the Great Of whom brave things their Histories relate Th' Hungarian Monarch LEWIS next chosen KING Two Daughters left after his Death and Reign The younger whereof being declared Queen Married Jagellon great Duke Litwin Who tho a Pagan Prince before had been On this his Match Baptiz'd turn'd Christian King And was accepted by the Polish State On this condition that his Dutchy great He should to Polands Kingdom ev'r annex This was in year three hundred eighty six At 's Christ'ning took the name of Ladislas Two of which name his next Successors was Then Cazimir the fourth then Ihon Albert Next Alexander he dead in his part Came Sigismunds the first and second too Which last left Crown and Life without Issue In year of Grace five hundred seventy two The Polanders chose Henry Duke Anjow The second son of Henry King of France Who after two years Reign did home advance His Brother Charles the ninth then Childless dead This quit his Crown Elective and in'ts stead
Six Weeks before the Session of the Diet Here one Commission'd from the KING stands by it Who in each LANDT-JAG publickly declares All less and more the KINGS propos'd Affairs To be debated in next Parliament Which having thought upon with full intent They choice their Members with Instructions clad All which exactly must be followed In ref'rence to the Kings propos'd Desires And freedom to propound what e're their Countries good requires THis distinct Body of LAND-NUNTIOS Altho the Senat 's greater men then those Tho lesser these then those in Dignity Yet equal to them in Autority Is Ballance to the Senat to controul Those Grandees if the KING should them cajole With Words or Promises or Bounteous Deeds To break their Arms or bow their Hearts or Heads Or with Corrupting Gold to blind their Eyes And jeopard all their Countries Liberties Wherefore they always pick out for that Trust Persons sufficient sober wise and just Of all which Qualities they have much need For in the Diet if on any head There happen but one single Dissentor Whither't be Nuntio or Senator Stiffly persisting his alone Protest On that Point makes that nothing can concluded by the rest Who tho they all should vote it o're and or'e't Ones Nic-poz-waliam carrys all afore't Wherefore all their Determinations made In Vote unanimous or as they ha 't Nemine Reclamante't may be said Besides these Palatinats spoke of now The Cities DANTZICK VILNA and CRACOW Each have the Priv'ledge of their Deputy Who have their Seats mongst the Nobility But common Matters are dispatcht and sped By Judges in each Province stablished And Burgraves of each Town and City where The meanest Peasant if he lists may hear And know all done for no Impediment 's made there where all sorts may themselves present From Salt-Pits Copper-Mines and those of Lead And silver the KINGS Revenues are had The KING all Prelats and all Dignities All Officers of War and of Justise Of the Exchequer and of Policy Doth nominat anew when these do or transgress or dy The highest Honours in Poles Kingdom known Are the Grands Marshal Genral of the Crown Grands Master of Kings Houshold Chancellor These doth the KING dispose and sev'ral more A LETTER TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE The EARL of STRATHMORE and KINGHORN Vice-Count LYON Lord GLAMES c. One of the Lords of His Imperial MAJESTIES most Honourable Privy COUNCIL and EXCHEQUER Vpon his Lordships having been the Occasion of the Authors first Writing and then Supplying the Materials unto the little small Canto of the SIEGE of VIENNA which was also the Occasion of these MEMOIRES of the KING of Poland and his Lordships Encouragement of the Author to proceed when he had the first view of some of the ensaing Sheets then Imperfect MY LORD KINNETTLS where I have now lived these Fifteen Years past being in your Lordships Vicinage and in view of the Smoak of the Chimneys of your Antient and Magnifick House of GLAMES having beside the many other Favours unworthily enough cast away on me obliged my not being unfrequently with your Lordship and your Noble Family there when I was ofterr honoured to be bid see your Lordship at your other lesser but pleasanter House of CASILE-LYON some Ten Miles distant thence I confess I was herein wanting to my Day and my Self that I had not seen your Lordship there before the beginning of October 1683 when all the Earth rung the Praise of the Victorious KING of Pole I remember that after a very orderly Supper for further Entertainmet of your Lordships Guests then and there we had a very fine and harmonious Consort of Vocal Musick and of the great variety of melodious Airs that of ARMIDA being frequently called for and still applauded by your Lordship and all the Hearers your Lordship wisht that the Relies of Besieged VIENNA might be composed to that Tone how soon soever it s more exact Relation came to this KINGDOM Which upon that same condition I then underlook And accordingly in less then a Month the reasrer at my next having the honour to see your Lordship at GLAMES I was presented with a Description of the Encampment of the Turks and Relief of VIENNA done at COLEN and Reprinted at LONDON in the year 1683 all in one great Sheet And being so put to it especially to a Person of so much Honour and Ingenuity to make good a Promise which at that time I remembere'd much better then the forenamed Air. To perform what I had said I sent your Lordship timely next Morrow the said Description done in such bad Verse as may be expected from a Man thar because he thinks none of his best Compasures worth the favour of anothers first sight so he but seldom vouchsafes himself the trouble nor them the regard of a second Thought being almost sick and weary of them ere ever they are well or ill done out This little song emituled the Siege and Battle of VIENNA with some other Scriblings of mine in several Copies especially the Tempest having fall'n into the Hands of some others of my Friends and by frequent Tramsmissions at last stolen into the Press whence they skip't so uggly with Errata that returning again to my view tho a good time before as far out of my Thought as they had been removed from my Custody I was thereupon induced to resolve upon an entire Account of that Great and Heroick MONAROH his LIFE in a larger and longer Paem how soon I could come by any perfect Notice thereof I need not tell your Loraship who it was that procured me the first sight of the Memoris of H.G. My Acknowledgements in that being indebted primarly to your SELF and the much Accomplished MASTER of KINAIRD Your Noble eldest Son my Lord GLAMES who may well Ornament a great Family peradventure a Country some short time thereaster enquiring for the view of another Piece supposed to have been once in my Custady That I might stave off his Importunity I was enforced to shew him and both your Lordship saw them first of all others six or seven Sheets of the yet imperfect Memoirs of the KING of Pole The undeserved Approhation which your Lordships then and others afterwards have been pleased to vouchsafe them have encouraged them to look out abroad into the World in such plain Garb as they are being destitute for most part of these loud and light flourishes which are seen and expected in Poesie Lest the Selidity and Imporiance of so great so true a History should have dwindled into the Phantastick Scenes and Appearances of Romance And now My Lord when these and other your accustomed Kindnesses to me and the usage of the World in such cases require I should expatiat in your down-right how much deserved soever Commendation to your face Tho the Antiquity of your Noble Family the Honours Offices and Publick Trusts of severals of your brave Ancestry as well as those in your own person those HERO's
that have both Imbellish't and fully Answer'd the generous Name of LYON those excellent Qualifications I know you to possess having my self seen and read several excellent Pieces tho Modesty will not allow your Lordship their Owning and these on different Subjects all of your own Composure Your excellent Contrivances in Architecture in Gard'ning Planting Houshold-furniture nay hewing out Goodly Rooms out of Walls of a Rockie Firmness and Massiness The great 0rder in all these things and the Decorum both without and within your Houses of your Table in your Service and every where Your Lordship has all these and which is more then all this at once the Best of Noble Ladies and the Hopefullest and most promising Posterity of both Sexes to make you Happy and Wisdome and Virtue enough to make you Good All these do so praise themselves that I cannot praise you for them But I very freely will do so in allowing your Lordship the Justice of that Testimony that I think you Fear GOD Honour the King and Love the Church and area Friend of Good Men and much more then he ever deserved kind and favourable unto Your LORDSHIPS Most humble and obliged Servant ALEX. TYLER Chap. III. The Marriage of SOBIETSIKI and his advancement to the Charges of Grand-Marshal and General of the Crown wherein occasionally is given an account of the Reign of King Casimir and the manner of his resigning the Crown Just like young Lion newly suckt warm Gore Doth Room and Range and for more Prey doth roar Bristles his shaggy Mane his horrid Eyes Sparkling fresh Beams of Courage which defyes All other Beasts to look him in the Face He frisks his Scepter-tail and with a Grace Moves through wild Woods with pride sets down his Pan's Those Swords which to his Vnderlings give Laws And while he Stops and stamps and stares around Espyes a Lioness some little slound Of distance from him by her Shape and Gate He knows her And his former Rage forget He Courts and Wooes this lovely Female Mate Ev'n so great SOBIETZKI who began His earliest Youth to Arms ere he was Man Rustling in bristled Fields Fights Battles Wars Wounds Dangers Deaths which hearts of Cowards scarrs Bellona's dearest Darling was this greatest Son of Mars Yet tho his Eyes all Fire his Eyes all Rayes Of Gen'rous Courage which all Turks affrayes His March all Terror and his Name all Fame His Fight all Death his Sword all Wounds and Flame His Shock all Light'ning and his Rour all Thunder And least things he hath done be all great Wonder Tho all his Hands were Arms his Breast all steel It lodg'd a Heart which Capids Charms must feel And there was reason why it should be said That SOBIETSKI did not live a Maid Fate did foresee hee 'd been mistaken than For some great Mighty Angel not a Man And lest some Criticks in Chronologie Should backward forward with a busie eye Review the Periods of Destiny Turning each Page each Leaf of its great Book From the last Casar to the first that took Th' Assyrdan Empire and mongst all those Names That vex'd the World to reap their hoarser Fames Scarce base enough for his high raisd loud sound Then some inspired Prophet forward bound Should pore and plodd and having read still on All names of Importance until the Doom Should ' mongst all that excell'd or shall excell See Love and Arms in all their Hearts to dwell Then looking back to his great Period Should take him for some Heav'n-born Armed GOD For 's Virtues Valors higher pitch than humane foot yet trod ANd searing after-times Idolatry Should raise this Polar Star 'bove Starry Sky Beyond the Blessed Mother Maid next Holy Trinity Fate gave consent thus far to ' bate his Glory That Love and Arms should interweave his Story And that the VVorld miâ—â—t know this Heros mind Transcends all Hero's in Degree not Kind Those Nobler Passions in his Soul still rests Valour Amour Inmates to Gen'rous Brests Beside all these Nature did supplicat And thus petitioned the Pow'rs of Fate That seeing Poles great SUN should ne're Ecclipse While men have Eyes Ears Hands Pens Tongues Mouths But Sett 't were Blasphemy to say should Dy Lips Lest Heav'n should dark in that Obscurity And since stern Fate had doom'd him but 's one day That it 's great Light leave some Illustrious Ray. This was decreed Nor was 't our Hero's least Part of his Prowess that he made Conquest Of that so rich so fair so high a JEMM As the brave Heart of MADAM ARQUIEM For Beauty Bounty Birth VVealth highest sort Great Ornament of all the Polish Court His goodly Personsge and graceful Meen And sparkling Variues making these to shine Ten thousahd loving Beams and Rays and Charms Transfix'd her Heart shot from this SUN of ARMS But being Polands QUEEN'S chief Made of Honor Her Majesty had highest thought and care and eye upon HER And in the absence of great SOBIETZKI Propos'd HER for a Match to Prince ZOMOTSKI One of the greatest Palatines of Pole The LADY yet all young sweet bashful whole Blushing to own her former Preingagement Tho unto SOBIESK had Marriage meant So that while her first Lover was far thence Her QUEEN prevail'd to match her to that PRINCE BUt He not living long at liberty To choise her first and best choise SOBIETZKI Brought him a Beauty more advanc'd and blown A Dowry vast beside what was her own Provision Heav'n this Blessed Couple gave Fine hopeful Children 'bove the rest the brave PRINCE ALEXANDER he of whom anon Wee 'll have occasion to make mention He having signaliz'd himself for worth And told the World he means to follow forth The gallant foot-steps of his Fathers Glory And prove's apparent Heir in Wars loud Story THe twenty fourth of August sixty five KING CAS'MIR did to SOBIETZKI give The Office of Grand Gen'ral of the Crown In the exiled Lubomirskis Room Discharg'd because of his Rebellion In heading those that were Confederats known A wretched party which did much annoy The Poles and near that Kingdom did destroy Of which Rebellions progress and foundation It s fit we here should give some brief Narration IN th' AEras fourty eight of this same Section Was CASMIRS to Polands Crowns Election Who by his HOLINESS great Dispensation Marry'd a Lady of the fine French Nation But Widow of his Brother Ladislaus And 's Predecessor who for Frances Cause And Interest was enterprizing ever Still meddling with the State did much endeavour A French Successor slily to promote Which amongst other Causes yet is thought Much of this Kingdoms sorrows to have wrought And yet its first Calamities arose From an Invasion made by forraign Foes Charles Gustavus Warlike KING of Sweden About the fifth year after five times ten And in the sev'nth of CASIMIRS own Reign As much excited by their Feuds old sting of Polands KINGS pretentions to his Crown As by a martial temper of his own By Ragietzki's motion
spurred on This Ragietzki Poles Vice-Chancellour Had match'd a Lady of all beauties Flower Whom CASIMIR did Court for his Amour Which Ragietzki smelling at the last Convey'd away his fairest Wife in haste Dreading the KINGS Assaults might storm'd the Fort T' a Mannor House and far from Courts resort The KING incensed to be thus depriv'd Of her fair Sight by which his pleasure liv'd Under Pretence of Services in short His Office ow'd commands him back to Court. Of Cabaling accused after soon Against the State with En'mys of the Crown And notwithstanding stiffest opposition Made by th' ARCH-BISHOP GNESNA in 's tuition Condemn'd to forefault both his Goods and Place Exiled from his KINGS and Countries face Whereat the Kinred of this Nobteman Aloud to murmure presently began And thousand others did not stick to say That this Procedure was the readiest way To violate the Honour Dignity And Priv'ledge of the whole Nobility All quite undone in this abused man From which day forward most of them were draw'n To dis-affect the KING Whilst not in vain Griev'd Ragietzki shelter seeks in Sweden Where he at length spreads out his Grievance Cause Unto its valiant KING Charles Gustaus Who listens to it with attentive ear Then which he could no sweeter Musick hear Then Weaknesses of Pole discovered And Discontents amongst its Grandees spred This Exile all that Wit and Vengeance bears Recounts then speaks the rest in Sighs and Tears JUst like late blust'ring Gale on Sea or Plain Puff'd near a alm but with new Drifts of Rain Far more incens'd it rustleth yet the more With Gusts and Blasts more vi'lent then before Grows Storm then Tempest which aloud doth roar Straight fills the Sea with Waves Deaths Drownings Wracks Tall Trees stocks up and strongest Castles shakes It mingleth Heav'n with Earth and Night with Day And what stands loose or light or weak it cleanly sweeps away So Ragietskis plaintful Moans Tales Tears Such strong Impressions on the Swedes soul bears That notwithstanding a depending Peace 'Twixt Swed and Polish Crowns whose signed Leace Had long t' expire with dreadful Armies came Charles ent'ring Poland like some Hurrican He forc'd his Passage and with small ado Seizes their chiefest Cities old Cracow And Warsaw own'd by most and best o' th' whole Great Palatines and chiefest Lords of Pole And like some Whirlwind whisking all around Licking the very Dust from of the Ground Ne're stinted till he 'd over-run the whole Towns Cities Castles Provinces of Pole EV'n as that man whose House is all on Flames Half sindg'd scapes forth from Fury of its Gleams Being driv'n on with Fire Sparks Smoak and Wind Ne're turns his face for fear nor looks behind Till got without its reach he calmly spys That Smoak which did menace his Breath those Sparks which dar'd his Eyes Sees Throngs and Crouds who made as if they meant To quench the fierce devouring Element But more attentive knows those Enemies First laid the Train feeding the Flame when 't dies And all his Neighbours busy'd with the toil For one poor drop of Water brought rav'ning ten loads of spoil Till having recollect'd his Sp'rits and Friends To quench the Fires fierce Rage and quell those Fiends The rav'nous Harpys beats and routs and then home empty sends THe bold KING CASIMIR was forc'd to flie To the utmost Borders of the Vkranie Just so pursu'd with Vengeance Sword and Fire His Friends forsake him and his Guards retire Being deserted left almost alone Ev'n when his routed Hopes were almost gone And all that knew him knew him for undone All the strong Holds and Cities in his Land Came by prevailing Force to Charles his Hand Only the City Dantzick still held out Persisting Loyal for its King most stout Which Gustave seeing he could not come by By Gold nor open Force nor Jeopardy Despairing therefore e're to conquer it His Souldiers bloody Cruelties commit And barb'rous Spoils and horrid Villanys Which made the Poles repent with wat'ry eyes Such unadvised rashness all bemoan That for a Foraign Master quits their own Astonish'd at the Swedish Tyranny So soon commenc'd in 'ts early Infancy What Havock Massacre what day of Doom Might Poles expect from Charles in CAS'MIRS Room On t' other hand Dantzicks brave constancy Doth shame them to their wonted loyalty These forc'd the Poles Gustavus to forsake Who to their Duty and their KING come back THey seek him in his utmost Frontiers fled Promising if his MAJESTY'l make Head Against his own and now their Enemy They 'l expiat their late Disloyalty Renew'd with Oaths by all that Honour bounds To Seal their Faith in Swedish blood and wounds LIke one new fred from Prison loos'd from Rack Pardon'd for Life or rescu'd from a Wrack Ev'n so KING CASIMIR rejoyc'd to see Himself once more in some Capacitie To Dispute's Crown and Kingdom with that hand Had nearby left him scarce one Pole of Land And lest their forwardness for fight should yield Or faint Amidst their eagerness takes field Where in a trice old Fortune turns her face And Poles stern Valour puts the Sweds to chase Worsted and Routed quite in many a Battle They flee and die like droves of Sheep or Cattle And as one Mischief falls upon another Like Waves succeeding Waves so ills together Befall the Great the Small the Prince the Begger Whil'st Sweds are routed Poles have sackt their Leaguer Just at that very time the Dane Invades Gustavus Kingdom routs and kills his Sweds So he that but just now for Conquest 's come Must quit's new Victories and hasten home Has much ado to hold maintain his own While gaping to have grasp'd his Neighbours Crown ANd as a Leech new suck't a teeming fill of Blood falls off but doth more grossly spill That swelling draught which leisurly before It sipp't and drunk most quickly Spues that Gore So CHARLES his Conquests great and sudden fast More so his losses Nothing vi'lent lasts And Casimir no sooner vanquished The Swed when quickly re-established In 's own Dominions to chastize the CZAR who 'd giv'n the Swed his Aid in this late War His valiant Poles march on successfully With Fire and Sword harrassing Muscovie Where 's Mighty Victories soon turn'd the Chess Oblig'd the Muscovites to sue for Peace WArs Tempest overblown succeeds calm Peace Which did renew both Courts and Countreys face Yet like one from a Fever newly fred Fond of Recov'ry and too grossly fed To please wild Appetite as 't often haps The Patient 's threatned with a worse Relapse Ev'n so King CASIMIR these grand Affairs Having Compos'd so well next bends his Cares To please a fondness in his French-born-Queen Both He and She having yet Childless been And like to be so still did move the State A Successor in 's life to nominate The Queen most eagerly strove to advance Because born there the Interest of France Sparing no Cost not Care to have this done In favours of the only living Son O' th
Coss acks SOBIETZKI's Treaty did run thus 1. THat all the Rebels fighting in late War done Living or Dead should have a. gen'ral Pardon 2. That from the KING of Poland and none other Cossacks protection seek And as their Brother Each Pole amongst them 's own Estate enjoy Quiet as theirs mongst Poles none should annoy 3. Zaporaniski's Army straight may sen'd Their Deputs which on Polands States may tend No Forces from his Majesty be sent T' their Towns or Cities but in Fields or Tent. 4. Bialacieurkis Governor 's commanded Not to disturb the Cossacks now disbanded IT 's true and none dare offer to deny That the Grand Marischal SOBIETSKY Had done ere now such store of mighty Deeds As any Pen e're wrote or Story reads Rend'ring him worthy in the strictest Rigour ' Mongst greatest Hero's the most glorious Figure Yet this so eminent as it alone Might have entitled him unto that Crown Which now with so much glory is his own For in this Juncture of the Poles Affairs Pond'ring his Conduct Foresight Prudent Cares Whereby he did prevent divert and crush These pressing ills and dangers and made hush With glorious Trophees advantagious Treaty The stern stout cossacks and fierce Tartars petty Conserving still the Honour of the Crown And Kingdoms Peace restoring whole and sound Nothing could been more pait deserv'd more prase Nor wreath triumphant Head with greener Bayes But yet the wise foreseeing GENERAL Knowing the Tartars in the General Of Carthaginian Faith slaves to their Swords And Interests but Masters of their words Had some no doubt whose fingers itch'd among 'em For Spoil and Booty chiefly when they throng home To mark their Motions and resist their force Himself doth head some gallant Troops of Horse And ere they lest the bounds of ground that 's Polish O'retook them near the Town call'd Jarnipolis When finding of them there a strong Detachment Begun to plunder all they could to catch meant Rambling abroad to Riffle Spoil and Pillage Heuses and Mannors near the former Village WHen dreadful sudden like a Whirl-wind Or GODS first wrath on Angels newly sinn'd Or like host running Mettals newly molt Or like a falling Cloud or Thunder-bolt So SOBIETZKI falls on plundring Tartars Hewing by Heaps those Rissling Rogues but Quarters Driving of those that sled the nimblest Fellows Up to their fray'd main Body or the Gallows MEan while the Polish Kingdoms general Diet On Februar twenty fourth to Cracow hyed Where the grand bus'ness of SUCCESSION Was sole Debate in States first session WHo published their thoughts to this purport ' That all those Diffrences which vext the Court ' Those Troubles which of late did Poland shake ' Were only for soon meant Elections sake ' Sprung from no other Cause but an Endeavour ' Of some would have Elections Rights to waver ' In nominating during's Life and Reign 'A Successor to CASIMIR our KING ' For which Abuses quick mature prevention ' By these may all the World know our Intention ' In this great Point In case of Interreign ' Should's Majesty who long long live our KING ' Depart the World we all have Covenanted ' And joyntly greed that nothing shall be wanted ' In any Point Order or Right or Custom 'A Successsor with all those Rites t' Invest him ' Us'd in Elections Like as wee 'l Resume ' Of Sigismund the third the old Diplome ' Declaring that in no wise wee 'l allow ' Any Election such as was meant now ' Nor future whil'st his Majestie 's on life ' Declaring ev'ry Person Man or Wise ' That dares oppose this present Declaration ' The Enemies of Polands State and Nation ' And further it s declared by the States ' If Ministers of Forraign Potentates ' Shall seek their Interests thus to advance ' By such perverse Elections to enhance ' That notwithstanding of all Nations Laws ' We do declare that then we shall have cause 'To treat them as our Countreys common Foes ' And when so e're our King his life shall close ' We shall according to that Obligation ' We owe our selves the State the Crown the Nation ' Immediatly upon the news first inkling ' Proceed forthwith to choise another KING ' Without expecting universal Diet. ' Further declaring who so e're unquiet ' Pragmatick Man shall seek to force the Crown ' As Poles chief enemy wee 'l tread him down ANd thus that Party which design'd Succession Was hush'd by this Preceeding Declaration And there was cause its thoughts be laid aside When in this Nick its sole Engine the Queen of Poland dyd WHich with the daily Cares and Discontent Of that ill regulated Government And the perpetual Jarrs and Warrs and Broils Court and State Factions Tossings and Turmoils Which CASIMIR so oft had felt and found Induced him for to resign the Crown That far from Noise and Cares and Griefs and Strife He might solace himself with privat life To which end at next meeting of the State Presents this Paper of the following date 'T was by his Chanc'lor writ given in and done In year of sixty eight the twelfth of June ' MY Lords you know that it hath long time been ' During the life of his late Royal Queen ' And Consort of most glorious Memory ' But more since Death of her late Majesty ' His Majesties intenton to resign ' This Kingdoms Government But for to bring ' His resolution into due effect ' His Majesty did wait and still expect ' The favour of a fit and due occasion ' Enforced by the late Confederation ' Those Wars and Battles which here and abroad ' Had with the Muscovite and warlike Swede ' As well as those Commotions at home ' Pursu'd by many tho stirr'd up by some ' All which deferr'd his fixed Resolution ' Until this time to have its Execution ' Forasmuch as it was too much his fears ' That during such dissorders of Affairs ' The Common-wealth might been endangered ' If then an Interregnum had been made ' But now since by the goodness of great GOD ' Peace dwells at home and Truce is fix'd abroad ' With Muscovite his Majesty intends ' With all convenient speed his Reign to end 'To which intention sev'ral things dispos'd ' His Majesty a Body indispos'd ' Dissabling him ought longer to support 'A Kingdoms burthen and a Courts Resort ' His Conscience also craving some Retreat ' ' Twixt's lifes last end and toytsome cares of State ' But above all regarding publick peace ' Which he prays still may Polands Kingdom grace ' As well's to break the Malice of those men ' Misrepresenting still what he doth mean ' Vexing the Commonwealth with Fears and Factions ' And Jealousies of forcible Elections ' He can't but by his own most free dimissing ' Give them this certain mark of Royal Blessing ' By leaving the Republick to rejoyce ' In its full exercise of freest choice ' For all which Reasons strong his Majestys ' Fix'd Purpose is settled
heard things which you would not and whatis ' to follow is known to GOD alone ' WE alwayes wrote both to your King and you what hath now come to pass which you might have prevented by sending Ambassadors to his Imperial Majesty with Royal Presents as is usual and Promise of Tribute who thereby might have appeased the burning Wrath of our great Lord and obtained better Conditions from you Nay had you ever since for the Gate of Mercy of our Emperour is open to all sent Ambassadors to offer a Tribute it was to be hoped they might have obtained the good-will of our Lord and he permitted them to renew the Ancient Friendship If therefore after all you have any care for the quiet and good Estate of your Armies Kingdom and Subjects do what you intend very suddenly without any delay and the sooner you do it the more advantagious it will be for you That you have desired the most glorious Cham of Tartary to be Mediator at this Treaty you do well for he hath offer'd his friendly Perswasions on your Behalf Peace be ' to those that believe the Commandments of GOD. BY this time Winter with his Hoary Face And cold sharp Breath was hast'ning on a-pace Which doth not suit the warm venereous Turk And alwayes stints in Field his further work When the bravevaliant Gen'ral SOBIETSKAY Who still out-does what biggest Hopes expects ay At this time unawares had fall'n upon Without's foresight or expectation A dreadful Body twenty thousand strong Of Tartars serving Turks for Right or Wrong 'T was at a place known by the name of Try Where all their Host he routed totally Streams of Tartarian Blood did soak this Field Where ten times thousands of their Breaths did yield Their Ghosts to Fate And from those bloody Knaves Rescu'd as many of poor Christian Slaves After which soon within few days thereafter Defeats as many more with hugest Slaughter Whereby the Countrey near to Desolation He fred from Rapines further Devastation And in that Nick or Juncture of Affairs He wanteth Reason Sense and Eyes and Ears Who will not readily own and confess 't This the most Advantagious and Best Service which could be done to Polands Crown Which all that Kingdome to this day will own THe KING his ARRIER BAN had Summoned That is a General Convention had Of all his Princes and Nobility Throughout all Pole and the great Litwanie All to appear in Feir of Weir and Arms When Poland Kingdom takes most dreadful ' Larms As near Samosch he did encamped ly He did request his whole Nobility To take into their grave Consideration Those called Mal-contents within the Nation Whereof Arcb-Bishop Gnesna was call'd one As likewise was the General of the Crown And many others which were ordered As soon as could be to be summoned To make Appearance Oath and Obligation And enter straight in this Confederation Which Oath aforesaid their and then fram'd was Upon their having tane the same to pass An Act of general oblivton But if Recusant durst be any one Refusing to appear and enter Oath They were to be by King and Nobles both Declared Traitors and their Office Trust Disposed of to others held more Just And all their Moveables Lands whole Estate Unto the Publick Treasury Escheat This Oath which would have cost Poles Crowns and Swords Had it tane place run in these following words The FORM of the OATH of the CONFEDERATION I' Of my own free-will none forcing me Swear by the Holy and bliss't Trinity That for the Honour of great GOD Almighty And for the Welfare and the Dignity Of our Elected Crowned KING and Lord And this Republicks Safety and Accord Its Priviledges and Immunities Its Franchises and freest Liberties Against all whatsoever its Haters Foes My Life and Fortunes frankly I 'le expose And that I 'le ne're forsake nor yet depart From this Confederation but take Part With this our Countrie till the same be sped And from all Dangers Civil Forraign fred But will do all as far as I am able To make this Treaty yet more firm and stable Ay while we have obtain'd the foresaid ends And when I know that any man intends To Counteract this joynt Confederation And Brotherly Agreement of the Nation I 'le stand engaged to Reveal the same Without regard to Friendship or to Fame And shall account and prosecute that He As open Traitor publick Enemie To be corrupted I have tane no Money Nor shall hereafter on that head take any ' I shall not hold the least Intelligence Nor act one any whatsoe're pretence To prejudice my Countrie or my KING But truelie and sencerely in each thing Shall still observe this firm Confederation In Vnitie without least Reservation Or any Hopes to be dispens'd from this So help me GOD and bring me to his Bliss THings running thus at such a high flow'n Tide The Mal-contents thought fitt to step aside Retiring to Meaco in the Prusse While Primat Gnesna did not care a Rush Keeping still at Livitz his Residence Nothing concern'd with all this vehemence Of the Nobilitie who off'red had A Thousand Ducats for his sev'red Head To any man should bring it to the Leaguer And in a madder Bravery swear and swagger They will depose th' Arch-Bishop and degrade him But this the Popes own Nuncio there forbad 'em Such violation of the Libertie Of Holy-Church for those the Laytie Thus to proceed ' gainst any one said Mass Without Leave ask't and giv'n by 's HOLINESS Mean-while Commissioners from KING to th' port clap't up a Peace of following Purport The FORM of the DISHONORABLE PEACE suddenly patcht up betwixt MICHAEL KORIBUT WIESNOWITZKI and the GRAND SEIGNIOR in the follwing ARTICLES most disadvantagious to the Interest and unmortby the Name of the Valiant POLANDERS 1. FIrst That the People called Lipcee Tartars Which formerly had dwelt in Polish Quarters And who have since forsaken their Resort Having obtain'd Protection from the Port Yet so as having left their Wives and Yong And all their Moveables not worth this Song Shall have free leave to come return and fetch Away this Baggage And that such as itch To stay in Poland shall have Liberty Without Disturbance or to Stay or Hy. 2. That Polands KING shall by 's Ambassador Send twice ten thousand and two thousand more Of Ducats to the Port and yearly pay This Sum on Saint Demetrius's Day Which Day falls on the fifteenth of November On this Condition that the Turks remember To ' fend the Subjects of the Polish Crown From Turks and Tartars fierce Incursion And other People subject to the Port In case the Poles shall by their mad Resort At any time be dammaged then for 't The King of Pole thereafter may demand Redress and Satisfaction from the Grand Seignior this Tribute may forbear to pay Until Amends be made one or another way 3. Podólia shall as in old time before Be Subject to the Port And on that Score If any
rais'd Bishop Cujavie WHen the GRAND SEIGNIOR heard understood These glorious Changes made for Polands good And knowing of their Warlike Preparation Doth thus menace that brave undaunted Nation In following Letter by a Chiaux sped But not dilivered till Poles KING was dead And for my part shall n'ere in Rithme be either seen or read The GRAND SEIGNIORS LETTER to MICHAEL KING of POLAND THou the chief Prince of the Christian People Administrator of the Nazaren Kingdom of Poland ' KING Michael our Friend May your Administration have an happy issue By these Letters we give you to understand that Achmet Bassa our Grand Vizier is the chief Administrator of our Dominions the Dignity and Authority of whose Ministry let GOD increase We have not long since understood that you refuse to pay our most Serene Majesty the Tribute stipulated by the late Treatie between us and you And to remove the Garrisons out of your places on the Frontiers wherefore it appears clearer then the Light that you have broke the Peace that was concluded with me And is it thus lawful for you in so short a time to violate the Peace The Governours and Souldiers of our Frontier-places have not done your Subjects any Dammage nor given you any cause of offence wherefore then have you broke the Peace and why have you provoked me the Monarch of the World to anger What do your Souldiers think to delude us Send us quickly the Tribute and the Gifts which by vertue of the Treatie tho by you violated and the promise of your Envoy ought to have been payed upon the day of St. Demetrius last past Send them quickly if you will that the ancient Treaties between us be Preserved and Re-established Send the Gifts Restore the Castles Repair the Dammages and do it sufficiently unless you desire to be by my Arms compelled to it If you omitt it by the Help of GOD I will with Innumerable Armies infest and destroy thy Poland Be therefore ready for War and send back my Messengers quickly that ' I may know thy Mind BUt all these proud Menaces were in vain While SOBIETZKI had advanc'd amain Unto the Banks of the great River Neister's And by Commanded Party tall like Switzers Under Crown Standard Bearers valiant Conduct Who after strong Resists did soon Command took The strong Town with its Castle Miedzibos 'T was storm'd tane plunder'd sacked by these High Boys Taking beside this many other place ' Mongst which was that Strong Hold Jaslowiec Great Shoals of Captives driving back in Throng Who told that Hussain Bassa lay along On t' other side the Neister being then A Bodie much 'bout fourty thousand men Waiting great Reinforcements to come up To him from out of Asia whereupon General SOBIETZKI did intend With greatest Haste to pass the River and To fight them turning down their Turbant Copes Before Arrival of their fresher Troops ACcordingly His Army once past o're Himself Advances all the Host before Towards the Turks whom he doth soon espy Trench'd under Cochmi's Walls Commodiously And which might bred great Mars himself much Cumber Vastly exceeding all his Poles in Number November ninth six hundred seventy three Came up the valiant Polish Cavalry And never stop't their March still Brisk and Eager Till within Gannon Shot of Turkish Lea'gre When the Grand General in Person Hies Within short Musquet Shot of the Enemies That he might best observe where their strength lyes Whence when Return'd he presently did call A Warlike Council where 't is Resolv'd by all That seeing scarce Provisions Poles now Pinches 'T were best Attacque the Turks within their Trenches Towards the Ev'ning all his Infantry Came up and with them the Artillery Whilst sev'ral little Skirmishes did pass ' Twixt's formost Troops and the Enemies nearest was NExt Morning of the tenth as we have said His Excellence drew up Rang'd and Array'd The Army in Battalio display'd And having placed his Artillery So as 't might most annoy the Enemy And serve them quickest with Hott Iron anon Shot from dread Mouths of Fifty Piece of Cannon In goodliest Order all advanced on Towards their Camp with Resolution Where when come pretty near The Hospodars A People Born to deal in Arms and Warrs In Provinces Wallach and Moldavie Belonging unto Poland formerly Immediatly Revolted from the Turks Leaving the Treaches soon comes o're the Works Five thousand of them to the Polish side And presently all things were briskly ply'd For the Attacque which in five sev'ral places And Posts was to be made in equal Spaces Crown-Watch-Master did next the Neister bide The Rivers Brink hard by Czeczora's side Next him the valiant Gen'ral SOBIETZKI And then Lievtenant-Gen'ral Wisnowitzki Assisted by the Waywood of Kiovie The other two by Troops of Litwanie THus Marshal'd they the Enemy surround But th' Army Rang'd into this Posture 's found To take much Time That Night the Turks who were Not wanting in Defence nor VVatch nor Care Their utmost Trenches yet remaining whole They seem'd t' have some advantage of the Pole Crown-Watch-Master this night had in his Post A Brave Commander Col'nel Danemark lost Captain Jarozki also was cut off With many Souldiers of the common Raff Nor were the Turks with lesser Slaughters beat The En'my's Lost being ev'ry way as great All the whole Night the Polish Troops in Arms Stood Ready within Musquet Shott and Harms O' th' Enemies Retrenchment timely next Morrow November ' lev'nth to bid them all Good morrow The General adventured once more On Foot their Posture better to disco're And tho most of his Officers disswade Him from such Hazards he continued In 's most impregnable firm Resolution To fall upon them with quick Execution Ord'ring his Cannon all at once to Play Most furiously by the first Break of Day Upon the Enemy And ev'ry where Having giv'n Orders sit and necessar Did thus encourage all the Souldiery With full Assurances of Victory ' FEllows in Arms dear Pariners of this Warr ' The Lawfullest cause needfullest by farr ' That ever Polands Kingdom did Commence ' Or any other Christian King or Prince ' Against this wretched Infidel For these ' Have some for Trade some Captives to Release ' Some to Prevent some to Repair their Harms ' Of this dire Tyrant havetane up just Arms. ' Some for to Lessen his enlarge their own ' More Vast already then 's Dominion ' Some to Amaze the World with their loud Story ' Have Fought for Prowess Triumphs Trophees Glory ' Time was when Pole fought for no more but these ' But some new Accidents have wheel'd the Chase ' We fight for Liberty against these Knaves ' That Poles be not their Tributary Slaves ' And what 's more worthy to be thought upon 'Our Infinitely dear Religion ' IF Poles lost Honour danger'd Liberty ' Religion Conscience Stern Necessity ' All now at Stake can move true Polish Hearts 'To stirr their Hands to Act Warrs Valiant Parts ' As needs they must
in each your Eyes I spy ' The Beams of Courage bodding Victory ' Let 's on till we our late vow'd Tribute pay ' You know it 's near to St. Demetrius Day ' And with our Scimitars and Shables crooked ' Let 's shave a Turbant for each promis'd Ducat THis said He Marched up without least stand On Foot with 's naked Shable in his Hand At Head of all the Armies foremost Troop Till to the Turks Retrenchments they came up Then mounteth Horse back the like being done By all the greatest Officers anon THe first Discharge was of the Cavalry Who in one Hours fourth part or much thereby Had put the Enemy to utmost Pinches And will they nill they Mast'red all their Trenches With hideous Slaughter of the Enemy Whereon the Foremost of the Infantry Who should have Back't the Horse in Pressing on Thinking the Battel been already won Did fall a Plund'ring which the Turkish Horse Espying Rally'd with most dreadful Force And with great Execution fell upon them Had in few Minuts more beat and undone them Had not the valiant Hussars come in time Succour's most seasonable in Hazards Prime To their Rescue made th' Enemy in a trice In much confus'd Disorder to give place So that Hussain Bassa who Commanded The Turkish Army could no longer stand it Was needs enforc'd to Wheel turn give his Back From st ern Impressions of their vi'lent Shock Began with many thousands to Retreat Towards Czraozo in a Body great WHich Bleski's Waywood and the Sieur Rionwski Observing through the Clouds of Dust Smoak Dusky Did just as Hunts-men 'twixt the Deer and Park Soon Intercept his Passage forc'd him Back Into the Battle where a Party Brisk ay Led by Victorious Gen'ral SOBIETSKI Receiv'd them with a Hot tho Hearty Welcome Who lookt methinks like Souls from Death to Hell come But the stout Gen'rals Troops far short in Number Had much to do Shock's at Rebound's like Thunder THe Turks like their Condition all fought then Like Dev'ls in Arms or damn'd or desp'rat men For tho the General performed Wonders By his own Hand and Steel the great Turks undocrs Where e're he Struck or Press'd or Charg'd amain ' Mongst thickest Troops of Turks he made a Lane And with their strewed Turbants pav'd the Plain Tho's brave Example valiant Words stout Crys Heard by his followers Ears seen by their Eyes Might have lent Cowards bravest Resolution Yet things had like to fall'n in much Confusion Had not those happiest Hussars once more come And Charg'd Hussain Bassa roundly home ANd now the Battle seem'd to ev'ry man As Fresh as fierce as when it first began Nor could the most attentive busie eye Discern to whose side lean'd the Victory So Bravely all behav'd on either hands Where Blood gush'd Out in Streams and run in Strands Till after long sore bloodie Dispute had And many thousand Bodies Corpses made The Crescent now in Wane first felt the loss And left the Field and Triumph to the Cross THe Turks had long-time sternly stood the preass Till main Force made them bow then run the chace Leaving full many thousands on the place Of their Companions slaughtered and dead So that the Field was more then covered With Plumps and Piles of breathless Bodies and Of all that fled most drown'd in Niesters Strand So that of all their fourty thousand men Scarce did five thousand scap'd alive remain ANd as while during all sharp fightings heat Few do ask quarter as few quarter get Their Prisoners in number were not great ' Mongst the Turks dead were found upon the plain Two great Commanders Heybegh Solyman Both Bassas but their General Hussain Had the misluck to make 's escape unseen And save his Life by flight to Camien NOr had the Poles this glorious Victorie So cheap but sev'ral Grandees there did die As Gen'ral Quartermaster the Lord Rzeozki Crown Hunter and the Lord Rozmiarowski Captain of Hussar's and the Lord Wolbramski And many other Officers were slain Whose names our Authors List doth not contain Besides those wounded Thus this Fight being done The General gave his Souldiers leave anon Especially to those in fight most eager For to Ransack their Foes forsaken Leaguer Where the most valiant busie nimble and Wilty Had always to his Share the largest Booty And to compleat this Victorie next morn They took the Castle of Cothim in by Storm THe joyful News of this grand Victorie All chiefly owing Gen'ral SOBIETZKI His gallant Conduct and his Courage high Found Poland at this time in gen'ral mourning Its Fates 'twixt Frowns and Smiles to t 's good happ turning FOr that same Eve gave Pole this Victorie Remov'd their KING Michael who did die After some Weeks Indisposition As it would seem of some Consumption At Lemburgh whence his Corps remov'd to Warsaw Where when embalm'd according unto Poles Law It was to stay unburi'd till once done Of a new KING the next Election Chap. V. General SOBIETZKI Elected KING His MAJESTIES sudden Conquest of the Ukrain in 1674. with 4000 men be ROVTS 60000 TARTARS near Leopold August 75 and in November following with 15000 CHASES before them 100000 of the ENEMY c. THese diff'rent Tidings which both joy'd and griev'd All Pole at once at once at Pole arriv'd Where like an Ebbing with a flowing Tide high Or like two Contrar Winds which makes the Eddy Ev'n so these turn'd their Hearts and Heads near Giddy With Mirth and Sorrow struggling in their Souls So trembling of their Spheres doth move the Poles Where shall those Passions find sufficient Vents While overwhelm'd with two Astonishments Their KING new dead in 's strength and flow'r of Age Leaving the Kingdom in a sad engage Of dreadful Warr abroad what 's worse at home Embroil'd in Factions and what e're should come To clashing Interests of bold Pretenders the Crown All which sad thoughts fresh griefs engenders ON t' other Hand late glorious Victory Just in the nick Rejoyc'd their Memory With its good O men and made all confess They hop't kind HEAV'N would grant its POLES success And that the Divine favour had design'd Unto this grieved Kingdom to be kind And not to leav 't to enemies desolation Since newly grac'd with signal Preservation ANd more besides this freedom from their fears This prosp'rous Battle brought to their Affairs Hali Bassa who with a num'rous Host The Hussain Bassa meant t' have Reinforc'd Upon the News of this so grand Defeat Did to the River Danow soon Retreat The Terror 't struck in Hearts of Enemy The Courage 't gave the Polish Souldiery Its Influence one Revolted Provinces And wav'ring Friends Repute 'mong forraign Princes All vastly did Augment its high Import For States and Kingdoms to speak sure and short As well as Merchands ow much to Report Often subsisting more by Reputation Then their Intrinsick Strengths proper Foundation WHereof an Instance great this same doth show For shortly after Turks had got this Blow The Envoy from the
serve Occasions after the next Spring AT which time Tidings came unto the KING That Turks in dread of any more Pursuit Had marched ev'ry Day and ev'ry Night And had again Repassed the Danow And that the Tartars hurled Homewards too Taking the nearest Cutt of shortest Road Onwards the Way leads by Bialogrod THus being fred of Swarms of Turks and Tartars The KING put 's Army to their Winter Quarters Where when his MAJESTY had caus'd them come Resolv'd to settle his Affairs at Home So as he might early next Spring take Field Accordingly November twelfth he held To Zulkiew three Leagues of from Leopold Where as most welcome to his Royal QUEEN And the yonng Princes their dear Children So no less almost was the Joy of all The People crouding to behold and sal ute meet shout praise extol and bid welcome Their common FATHER and DELIVERER Home GREAT ANGEL GUARDIAN of all CHRIST'NDOM A LETTER To the Right HONOURABLE Sir GEORGE DRUMMOND OF MILN-NAB LORD PROVOST OF EDINBURGH My LORD HAving as an ESSAY of what I can and peradventure may hereafter say both better and more of the Greatest and most Antient MONARCH in the whole World the present KING of BRITAIN and that I might if possible by these excite an Emu'ation of the united Force and Brav'ry of all Christian KINGS and PRINCES against the proud and insatiable Cruelty of that Infidel Enemy of CHRIST'NDOM the TURK attempted in Verse such as they are the MEMOIRES of that Heroick PRINCE the present KING of Poland I cannot but think the pains I have already been and the whole Charge I am even now at the better bestowed when it shall be presented to a Person of your Lordships Character here and great Interest and Acquaintance in the whole Polish Dominions You are so known to the whole Frame and Methods of the Government the Succession of the Dukes and KINGS the History and Scene of the various Changes of Fortunes of that brave Magnanimous People the Topography of the Places of that vast Country the Situations of Leopol Cochmi and Caminiec c. and many other the Triumphant Theatres of his brave prowesses whose Names will be still consign'd to the Immortal Glories and Victories of JOHN the Third I know your Lordship has seen his two immediat Predecessors CASIMIR and MICHAEL and knew not only himself before but after his being Crown General as well as that you have seen and known his Illustrious PARENTS with those Waywoods Palatines Castellans and other great and valiant Personages who have accompanied and born some share in his happy and holy Victories and by your intimat Correspondence with so many Persons of great Interest and Fidelity in these Parts have had the best and truest Accounts of those signal and amazing Services done the whole Christian World by the Great SOBIETZKI Seeing your Lordship in all these Capacities may be the fittest Judge in this place of the World to condemn or correct the Lapses or Mistakes by Missinformations or Distance of Place or where my Author has not swerv'd the best Witness to avouch the Fidelity and Ingenuity of Your LORDSHIPS most humble and much devouted Servant ALEX. TYLER Chap. VI. The KING Crowned OBTAINS another great VICTORY over the TVRKS and TARTARS The ARTICLES of PEACE The Magnificent ENTERTAINMENT of his EXCELLENCY the English AMBASSADOR T' Was now high time all things prepared be For Coronation of his MAJESTY Since by the Constitutions of Poles Land Their ELECT PRINCE somethings may not Command Nor yet perform until once Passed be Their Coronations Solemnitie WHerefore on January the sev'nteenth Was KING MICHAELS Corps convey'd at length From Warsaw in a Chariot drawn by six Horses his Houshold officers marcht next And Multitudes of men of Quality Tending their PRINCES last Solemnity Alongs the Way from Warsaw to Cracow Where both their present Majesties were now Lately Arriv'd and waited on by the Whole Kingdoms Senators Nobility THe Body of KING CASIMIR which had Been sent for out of France was here convey'd To Cracow where on one the self same day Were both KINGS Funerals perform'd they say With all the usual Solemnities And Honors due to ROYAL Memories THis being once dispatch'd and Passed o're Of sev'nty six second of Februar KING SOBIETZKI and his QUEEN were now Crowned within the Castle of Cracow With all the Pomp Magnificence and Shew Which Art can fancy or the Eye can view And the next day his new Crown'd MAJESTY Receiv'd the Hommage o's Nobility His Gentry Senators and of the whole Orders and States of Litwanic and Pole THe French Ambassader did soon present To 's MAJESTY his Masters Complement Which was a solemn Declaration In favours of the QUEEN French born by Nation That 's MAJESTY of FRANCE adopted had The QUEEN of Poland now his Daughter made Declaring further that accordingly She should on all occasions Treated be And look't upon what ever hap might chance Still as a Daughter of the Crown of France HOwe're on eight of March next following Her Majesty had one to Pole more owing When safe delivered of a Princesse young THen did his MAJESTY himself apply The Vacant Trusts and Honours to supply Prince Lubomirski Polish Names sound harsh all Was made of Polands Kingdom the Grand Marshal And Mareschal of Court Lord Sinawski Crown-General Prince Demetrius Wisnowiski By whose Removal one Jablownowski Who was the Prince and Palatine of Russie Vacant the Place Lievtenant General Giv'n to the Last these vacancies the KING thus filled all JVne seventy six did Sultan Nuradin With Chams two Sons all pass the Neister soon And like those Fishes which do swim in Shoals Around great Whales so these surround the Poles In vastest Bodys sending out strong Bands To Ravage and harrass the Polish Lands And Ibrahim Bassa swarms of Turks doth place At sev'ral Posts about Caminiec MEan while altho good Resolutions were Tane at last Polish Diet to prepare For this Campaign they 'd so neglectful been Of this throwout each sev'ral Palatine The Dicts purposes to execute That both of Men and Money destitute His MAJESTY was still remaining yet In 's old Complained Straits and most unfit To make Resistance yet he ordered Those few Remains of tatter'd Troops he had To March directly to his last years Hold And have their Rendezveuz at Leopold And being Destitute of all else than Means of Supply Convoc's the Arrierban That all might meet for Kingdoms joynt Defence IN August seventy six his Excellence LAURENCE Ambassador from Britains KING Unto his Polish Majesty being Arriv'd at Dantzick And the Polish QUEEN Came also to that City after soon Upon her Road for France to Drink at Wells Of Burbon which as t 's said some Griefs soon heals Of whom their being he had Audience And thereupon the young Princess presents To whom his MASTER of Great-britain was Pray'd to be God father at her Christ'ning Mass With a Rich noble Jewel on the part Of his said MAJESTY and so doth