Miâ—ceslaus I. 24. His Christian Wife ib. His Wars 25. II. His Wars 26. Character and Death 27. III. When Elected and how long Reign'd 36. Whence surnam'd the Old ibid. Is Dethron'd 37. Endeavours to get restor'd 38. Is restor'd 40. Dethron'd again ibid. Reinthron'd 41. His Death ibid. Michael Wiesnowiski Refuses the Crown 144. Accepts it ibid. Proclaim'd Crown'd and how long Reign'd 145. His Marriage ibid. His Death 149. Leaves no Issue ibid. Buried 171. Marienburg City built 51. It s Description 262. Maximilian the Emperor King Elect Acquainted that he was chosen 87. Prevented invading Poland by Death 88. Maximilian of Austria Routed by the Polish General 109. Beaten again and made Prisoner 110. Offer'd Liberty on honourable terms 111. Dissents ib. Consents ib. Mines 245. Of Cracaw 246. Description of them ib. c. Manna Particular sort and eaten for Sauce 248. Michalevia Territory It s Description 262. Marienburg Pal. It s chief Cities and Towns 262. Their several Descriptions ib. c. Masovia Province Its Bounds 283. Inhabitants 284. Division into Palatinates ib. Their several Arms 288. 289. 290. Masovia Pal. Division into Districts 284. Chief Cities and Towns 285. Their Descriptions ib. c. Mindog Duke of Lithuania Acknowledg'd King 308. Murther'd 309. Mscislaw Pal. Description 333 Division into Districts ib. c. Chief Cities and Towns 334. Descriptions ib. c. Its Arms 335. Mscislaw City It s Description 334. Minski Pal. Division into Districts 337. Chief Cities and Towns ib. Descriptions ib. c. Its Arms 338. Minski City It s description 337. N. Number of Polish Princes 9. Of Towns and Villages in Poland 217 c. Novogrodec Pal. Division into Districts 332. Chief Cities and Towns ib. Their descriptions ib. c. Its Arms 333. Novogrodec City It s description 332. O. Oliva Treaty there 133. P. Poland Its Origin 3. Whence so call'd 5. What by the Inhabitants ib. By whom Founded ib. Its Policy 7. Made a Figure in the IXth Century 20. It s Antient Extent 213. Encrease by Conquests ib. By Policy 214. Present Extent 225. Its Bounds and Soil 216. Its Products 217. Cilmate 218. Rivers ib. Their several Courses ib. c. Its Lakes 220. Poles when first Christians 24. March to recover Podolia 148. Conquer but fail in their design ib. c. Popiel I. 16. His Vices and Death ib. II. ib. Judgment upon him 17. Piastus 21. Cause of his Election ib. His Vertues and Death 22. How long his Family Reign'd ib. Gives the Name of Piasto 23. Patron of Poland 30. Premislus when Crown'd 48. Murther'd ib. Prophecy Comical 108. Posts when first setled in Poland 123. Peace concluded with the Turks 173. How long lasted ib. Prince James his Character 188. Intended Marriage disappointed ib. Marry'd to another 189. Weak and Sickly ib. Officiates as Embassador 192. Resigns his Interests to the Elector of Saxony 206. Princess John III's Daughter Her Character 190. Her Marriage ib. Portion 191. Ceremony of her Marriage ib. Equipage for her Journy to Brussels 193. Reception at Berlin 195. Is met by the Elector 196. Proceeds on her Journey 197. Arrival at Brussels 198. Physicians A Consultation of them 199. Posnan City It s Description 221. Posnania Palatinate Its Arms 226. Prussia Province Its Bounds 257. Products ib. Rivers 258. Lakes ib. Division 259. Officers that belong to the Great Council ib. Its Arms 265. Prussia Royal Division into Palatinates 259. Prussia Dueal It s Chief Cities and Towns 264. Pomerania Pal. 260. Premislaw City It s Description 269. Podolia Pal Wherefore famous 274. Division into Districts ib. Chief Cities and Towns ib. Their several Descriptions 175 c. Plosko Pal. Division into Districts 288. Chief Cities and Towns ib. Their Descriptions ib. c. Plosko City It s Description 288. Podlachia Province Its Bounds 296. Division into Districts ib. Chief Cities and Towns 〈◊〉 Their Descriptions 297 c. Arms of the Proâ—ovince 298. Pinsko City It s Description 331. Polocz Pal. Division into Districts 338. Chief Cities and Towns ib. Descriptions ib. c. Its Arms 339. Polocz City It s Description 338. Q. Queen-Dowager's Zeal 156. King Michael Assign'd a Jointure 166. Queen's John III's first Coming into Poland 186. Her first Marriage ib. Age and Qualifications ib. c. Her Address in disposing of Employments 187. R. Rochester Lord His Embassy into Poland 172. Had Audience of the Queen at Dantzick ib. Made a Present to the Princess ib. Receiv'd by the King in his Camp 173. Had Publick Audience at Zolkiew ib. Manner thereof ib. His Return home ib. Respect Little paid to the King's Children 189. Rava Pal. Division into Districts 230. Its Cities and Towns ib. c. Rava City It s Description 230 c. Russia Province Division and Description 266. Division into Palatinates ib. Arms 276 280 281 283. Russia Pal. Division into Districts 267. Their several Arms 269 271. Chief Cities and Towns ib. Rosienia Capital of Samogitia It s Description 293. Religion Antient and Present of Lithuania 339 c. S Stratagem Succeeds 14. Defeated 15. Sigismund I. When Elected and how long Reign'd 69. Defeats a Conspiracy and Army ib. Other Wars ib. c. His Marriage 70. War with the Teutonic Order ib. Grants Liberty of Conscience to Dantzickers ib. War with Knights ended by Mediation 71. Forces other Invaders to retire ib. His Death and Age 72. His Character Marriages and Issue ib. II. Surnam'd Augustus When Crown'd and how long Reign'd 75. His Marriage displeases the Diet 76. Unites Livonia to Poland 77. His Wars with the Moscovites ib. Forces the Czar to a Peace 78. Sends an Army to support Bogdan in Valachia ib. Oblig'd to return home ib. Rather favour'd than disturb'd the Lutherans 79. Hears several of their Preachers ib. Enclines most Bishops to that Perswasion ib. A great Escape he had ib. His Death and Issue ib. Stephen Batori King Receiv'd and Crown'd 88. Primate submits ib. Who greatly Assisting to him in his Election ib. His Rise 89. His Marriage ib. More severe in Punishments than Laws allow'd 90. Encourag'd Speaking Latin 91. A Wonder to the French ib. His Wars ib. Is refus'd to name a Successor 100. His Character ib. His Death and Epitaph ib. c. Sigismund de Vasa King Ambassadors sent to acquaint him 107. Is Crown'd in Poland 109. His Marriage 111. Crown'd King of Sweden 112. Depos'd there ib. Cause of his War with the Moscovites 113. His War with the Turks 115. Invasion by Gustavus Adolthus 116. Sigismund's Death ib. His Character ib. Speech of the Bishop of Premislaw 119. Another Appeases Heats 143. Another by the Palatin of Russia 160. Byasses Poland and part of Lithuania 161. Senators of Great Poland 225 227 229 232 233 236. Of Lesser Poland 248 254 256. Of Prussia 265. Of Russia 274 276 277 280 281 283. Of Masovia 287 289 290. Of Samogitia 294. Of Volhynia 296. Of Podlachia 298. Of Lithuania-Proper 328 330 331. Of Lithuanic-Russia 333 335 336 338 339.
Then they proceed to institute the Court call'd Kaptur treated of before This Diet consists of the Archbishop of Gnesna who represents the King's Person and the other Senators together with the Deputies of the Provinces In Case there is no Archbishop of Gnesna when the King dies the Office of Inter-Rex comes to the Bishop of Cujavia and next to the Bishop of Posnan and so to the rest of the Bishops of Lower Poland which in this Respect is preferr'd to the Higher tho' in nothing else Yet however they may grant away their Power as they did in the Inter-Regnum before the Election of the late King when the Bishop of Cracow officiated during the whole Interregnum by a common Consent of those Bishops Some of the Senators and Deputies are dispatch'd to the Generals of the Army to remain with them and to be assisting to them with their Counsel in the Affairs of the War Some Senators and Deputies likewise are appointed to inspect the Crown-Treasure deposited in the Castle of Cracow and to take an Inventory thereof which they are afterwards to report to the Diet. This Treasure is commonly committed to the Custody of eight Senators who are the Castellan of Cracow the Palatins of Cracovia Posnania Vilna Sendomir Kalisch and Troki together with the Treasurer of the Kingdom each having his particular Seal and Key and therefore none to act without the unanimous Consent of all Also Commissioners are sent to inform themselves of the King's Crown-Revenue which they are likewise to make their Report of during this Session and till a new King be proclaim'd the Republick claims the Title of Most Serene from all Sovereign Princes and Crown'd Heads altho' Hautaville says he has observ'd that the King of France writing to this Diet of Election has not faluted them with that Title but only express'd himself in these Terms To our dearest and well beloved Friends and Allies the States of the Kingdom of Poland and Great Dutchy of Lithuania Whilst this Diet sits which by the Laws is not to be above a Fortnight without Prorogation and from the Time of the Circular Letters to the Conclusion of the Diet of Election all Courts of Justice cease except only that of the Marshal's which continues as before and a Court establish'd to prevent Disorders in the Diet. As for all private Affairs and Suits of Law they are delay'd till after the new King's Coronation The Proceedings in this Diet are much of the same Nature with those in other Diets Most Crown'd Heads and other Christian Princes send Ambassadours to this Election and more especially the Emperour and King of France The Pope also always sends his Nuncio to take care that the Election should fall upon a profess'd Catholick and one that is in the Interest of the See of Rome The Emperour and French King always raise great Factions to promote their several Interests Before any Ambassadours arrive they are to send Notice of their coming to the Archbishop of Gnesna who is to appoint them Lodgings at a Distance from the City and to assign them a Polish Gentleman whose Business is rather to observe their Conduct and to acquaint the Diet therewith than to do them either any Service or Honour But however these Rules are but seldom observ'd for Princes Ambassadours now generally live publickly at Warsaw A Gentleman 't is true is still appointed to be always with them whose chiefest Business is to prevent their corrupting any with Money but this Precaution is notwithstanding now become useless since Avarice bears so great a Sway in Poland that even the Fidelity which a Polish Gentleman ows his Country cannot withstand the Charms of a Thousand Crowns Embassadors are not only receiv'd from Foreign Princes and their Masters Letters publickly read but also Polish Ministers are sent at this Time from the Republick to all Neighbouring States to answer their Embassies and to request their Amity Here it may be observ'd that all Embassadours or Envoys who have had Audience of Leave before the late King's Death are desir'd to depart within eight Days Embassadors from foreign Courts must take especial Care to secure the Diet in general since the bare disobliging of one particular Member may render them for ever incapable of bringing their Designs about as it hapned in the Election of Michael Wiesnowiski where the true Reason of the Duke of Newburg's being excluded was the Quarrel with the Chancellor Patz Nevertheless it must be acknowledg'd that that Election was tumultuary the Nobility had not their free Votes and that they were in a manner hurried away by the Violence of the Multitude which was so great that Prasmowski then Primate was forc'd to proclaim him tho' he knew that the Republick at that Juncture had need of both a rich and valiant King neither of which that Prince could in the least pretend to be He was no sooner proclaim'd but the Chancellor began to insinuate that he ow'd his Crown to him nor was it a difficult Task for him to impose on a Prince who was easily govern'd and who had always shewn more good Nature than Judgment After the Diet of Convocation ended the Nuncios and Deputies retire to their several Countries where they acquaint the Gentry being a second Time assembled in their Little Diets of the Proceedings in this general Convocation and particularly of the Day assign'd for the Election Whereupon the Gentry immediately begin to consult about what is proper to be propos'd in the Diet of Election and they proceed to choose new Deputies In Prussia the Bishop of Varmia being sole Lord Lieutenant summons all these little Diets by his Mandates The general Diet for the Election of a King was formerly held at Petricovia but since the joining of the Kingdom with the Great Dutchy is always held in an open Field half a League from Warsaw and near the Village of Vola and is not to continue by the Laws above six Weeks The Crown-Treasurer at the Charges of the Republick builds there a large Booth or Hall with Boards not unlike Booths in our Bartholomew Fair The Name the Poles give to this Place is Szopa signifying a cover'd Room against the Injuries of Weather It has but three Doors to go in at and they fortifie it round with a broad and deep Ditch When this Place is thus finish'd by the Care of the aforesaid Officer and the Day fix'd for the Diets convening is arriv'd the Senators and Nobility go in great Order to St. John's Church at Warsaw where they pray God to assist them in the Election of a King who may have all the Qualities necessary to defend the Church and protect the Republick Then they go to wait on the Queen Dowager to condole the Death of the deceas'd King her Husband the Primate speaking for the Senate and the last Nuncio-Marshal for the Deputies who are then answer'd in the Queen's
Frederic Augustus the Present King of POLAND The History of POLAND IN Several LETTERS to Persons of Quality Giving an Account of the Present State of that Kingdom VIZ. Historical Political Physical and Ecclesiastical The Form of Government The King's Power Court and Revenues The Senate Senators and other Officers The Religion Diet and little Diets with other Assemblies and Courts of Justice The Inter-regnum Election and Coronation of a King and Queen with all the Ceremonies The present Condition of the Gentry and Commonalty as likewise The Genius Characters Languages Customs Manners Military Affairs Trade and Riches of the Poles Together with an Account of the City of Dantzic The Origin Progress and Present State of the Teutonic Order and the Successions of all its Great Masters Likewise The Present State of Learning Natural Knowledge Practice of Physick and Diseales in Poland And lastly A Succinct Description of the Dutchy of Curland and the Livonian Order with a Series of the several Dukes and Provincial Masters To this is also added A Table for each Volume And a Sculpture of the Diet in Session With some Memoirs from Baron Blomberg VOL. II. By BERNARD CONNOR M. D. Fellow of the Royal Society and Member of the College of Physicians who in his Travels in that Country Collected these Memoirs from the best Authors and his own Observations Compos'd and Publish'd by â—ir SAVAGE LONDON Printed for Daâ— Brown without Templ-Bar ' and A. Roper and T. Leigh both in Il et-street 1698. D R. CONNOR ' S PREFACE IN my PREFACE to the First Volume of this Historical Relation of POLAND I have mention'd my Incapacity for Matters of this Nature both because I was only Twelve Months in that Kingdom and because I have no Talent or Genius for History I thought Writing it by way of LETTERS in Imitation of some of our Neighbours would be more easie to my self and more acceptable to the Publick I am proud to have this happy Occasion of giving the Honourable Persons I write to so publick a Testimony of my Respects I am sorry in the same time I cannot have Leisure to honour my self in writing to the Noble Persons mention'd in the Second Volume as I have had in the First I follow a Profession so remote from HISTORY particularly a Polish one that it neither allows me Time nor leaves me any Inclination to attend any other Business I hope notwithstanding the Persons I promis'd to write to will be pleas'd to excuse me for not being able to keep my Word to them as I flatter'd my self I could since the ingenious Gentleman I desir'd to undertake this Work will give them the same Satisfaction he having already assisted me in my First Volume and having had all my Memoirs for this Second THE Antient and Present STATE OF POLAND PART II. The Present State LETTER I. To His Grace THOMAS Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Of the Form of the Government in Poland and of the King's Power Court and Revenues My LORD THAT high Station wherewith the King has Recompenc'd Your Merits and the great Trust His Majesty has reposed in Your GRACE during his Absence shews his Confidence in Your Ability as well to Govern the State as the Church Since therefore being lately Invested with a share of the Regal Authority you had occasion to know more intimately Our King's Power and Prerogatives I thought my self oblig'd to give Your GRACE an Account of those of the King of Poland to the end that comparing both together you might more sensibly perceive the Excellency of our Own Constitution which makes the Greatness of the King inseparable from the Interest of the People For when the Executive Power is as vigilant to see our Laws obey'd as the Legislative has been provident in making them England can justly boast of a much greater Happiness than either Poland or any other Kingdom of Europe Having My LORD not been a full Twelve Month at the late King of Poland's Court I cannot pretend to be throughly acquainted with that Kingdom yet I find that like most other Countries it has undergone several Changes in its Constitution since the middle of the VIth Century at which time it began to be a distinct Nation during the Reigns of the two great Houses of Piastus and Jagello Ever since the time of Lechus its Founder the Kings thereof have been Elected to the Crown after an Hereditary manner tho' not by an Hereditary Title They have really been Absolute and their Will went for a Law for then they made Peace and War when they pleas'd Levied as many Troops as they thought fit Punish'd or Pardon'd at Pleasure and Rewarded where they saw Convenient And all the Administration either of Public or Private Affairs was so wholly lodg'd in the King's Hands that I have heard the Poles themselves say That Sigismund II. the last King of the Jagellonic Family was to the full as Absolute as either the King of France or Denmark is now Whilst the Kings of Poland thus maintained a Supream Power over their Subjects they exceedingly enlarged their Dominions were both fear'd Abroad and belov'd at Home Commanded Potent and Numerous Armies into the Field Executed most Enterprizes speedily and were almost always sure of Success and this because they did not then as now depend upon the lingering Determination and tedious Conclusions of a Turbulent Diet. But the Family of Jagello being once Extinct by the Death of Sigismund II. who had resign'd his Kingdom to the Senate and Polish Gentry and given them full Power and Authority to dispose thereof as they thought fit the Crown of Poland was anew declared Elective to the end that all the Princes of Christendom who had due Merits and Qualifications might have a Right to Aspire thereunto This gave occasion to most of the Princes of Europe ever since to Court the Polish Nobility after their King's Death And that either to get the succeeding Election determined in their own Favour or else to have some of their Friends Advanced to that great Dignity but this most commonly rather with regard to their own private Interests than out of any Respect to the Person they desired to Promote as the Houses of Austria and Bourbon have always practis'd The Gentry of Poland therefore observing that several Princes at a time always Aspir'd to their Crown and considering that not one of them had more Right than the rest as likewise that it lay altogether in their Power to choose whom they pleased resolved Unanimously to Elect none but such as should Condescend nay Swear to observe the Terms and Conditions they proposed Hereby the Poles by degrees have clip'd and limited the Antient Power of their Kings and have reduc'd them to the Bounds we now find them to have that is barely to a third Part of the Grand Diet For the Poles knew very well that no Prince would be so Imprudent as to scruple Submitting to
any Conditions to become Master of so considerable a Kingdom to which he had no Right either by Birth or other Claim and more especially since these Conditions are neither Rigorous nor Dishonourable but such as are decently consistent with the Regal Character he is to be Invested with Thus the Polish Gentry of a kind of Monarchical Government have in time made a perfect Republic consisting of three Orders The King Senate and Gentry which they call the Nobility Here My Lord I must take notice to Your GRACE that the Polish Nation is divided into two sorts of People the Gentry or Freeborn Subjects who are hardly a Tenth Part of the Kingdom and the Vassals who are no better than Slaves to the Gentry for they have no Benefit of the Laws can Buy no Estates nor Enjoy any Property no more than our Negroes in the West-Indies can and this because some Ages since the Common People Revolting against their Lords and having driven them out of the Nation the Gentry came with a Foreign Power and reduced them to a greater Subjection than before in which they have been kept ever since So that the Government of Poland at present comprehends only the King and Gentry By a Gentleman or Nobleman of Poland is understood a Person who either himself or his Family has a Possession in Land For they never Intermarry with the Common People All the Gentry from the King's Sons to those that are but only Masters of an Acre of Land are equally Noble both by their Birth and the Constitution of the Kingdom for no Body is Born either a Palatine Senator or Lord but those Titles are always annexed to certain Employments which the King only gives to Persons advanced in Age and recommended by their Merits The Diet of Poland in some respects resembles our Parliament being made up of two Houses the House of Senators answerable to our House of Lords and the House of Nuncio's not unlike our House of Commons The Senators are the Bishops Palatines Castellans and the Ten Great Officers of the Crown in all about 142. In the Upper-House the Senators sit not by any Writ of Summons or Letters Patents as in England but only by Virtue of the Great Preferments in the King's Gift which they Enjoy for Life So that the King wholly Constitutes the Upper House but the Lower are the Representatives of the Gentry Elected by them alone in their respective Provinces without the Concurrence of the Common People who have no Priviledge to Vote in their Election Insomuch that at least Nine Parts in Ten of the People of Poland are excluded from having any Share in the Government The Grand Diet of Poland is nothing else but the King Senators and Deputies assembled together in any Part of the Kingdom that his Majesty Commands Without this great Assembly of the States the King can neither Make nor Repeal Laws Declare War nor Conclude a Peace make no Alliance with any Foreign Princes raise neither Troops nor Taxes Coin no Money and in a word can Determine no Matter of State of any Importance without the Universal Consent and Concurrence of this Parliament which they term the Free States of Poland Several powerful Motives have enclin'd the Poles to Establish this kind of mixt Government which they take to be a just Temperament of whatever is to be found most Excellent in the several Monarchies Aristocracies and Democracies that have been in the World The most considerable of which Motives as I have met with them in their Histories or learn'd them from the most knowing among their Natives are as follows First They think by this Judicious Choice of a Government to preserve their Kingdom from those Disorders which most commonly attend Absolute Monarchies Agreeing herein with that Prince of Philosophers Aristotle who though he preferr'd this kind of Government to all Others yet was he nevertheless obliged to own that when ever it degenerated it was the most pernicious of all Thus the Poles have temper'd the Exorbitant Power of their Kings with the mixture of two other Governments whereby they thought to secure their Liberty a Thing always most Dear to them from the Arbitrary Will of a Prince who by Imagining himself above the Laws might Fancy whatever his Passions prompted him to allowable and his truest Interest to be the Entire Subjection of his People The miserable Examples of their Neighbours the Turks and Moscovites have sufficiently convinced them of this Truth wherefore the Polish Nation thought it but convenient to limit the excessive Power of their Kings and confine them to Rule with more Moderation and Justice Secondly The Poles have observ'd as well from their own Government as from that of their Neighbours that no small disadvantage has flow'd from an Aristocracy They could not be perswaded but that the Authority of one Person was infinitely more easie to be Tolerated than that of many for that either the Ambition or Jealousy of such would often disturb the Repose and Tranquility of the Public Poland also began to Reflect upon its former Miseries under its Woievods when it was deplorably rent and torn by the Factions among those Palatines Insomuch that even while it became a Conqueror from without it was vanquish'd within and that by its own Force This gave the Poles no small dislike to an Aristocracy which they have resolved never more to admit among them The Third Reason of State which has obliged the Poles to reject a Democracy is that they look upon that sort of Government to be the most dangerous of all being the easiest enflam'd and the greatest Enemy to true Nobility Its first Maxim is To procure a Vniversal Levelling or making all alike whereby under the Notion of a common Liberty they weaken and enervate those great Genius's which were design'd to Govern and Protect them How then could it be expected that the Descendents of those mighty Warriers who Founded the Polish Nation and have so long maintain'd the Honour of it by their Valour should submit to have their Blood debased by mixing it with the Ignoble Vulgar The Tyranny of Laws which the Nobles are subjected to in an Absolute Common-wealth would be too rude a Check to this Ambition which the Poles have always had to Command over their Vassals and therefore they have always entertain'd a secret Odium for those Grecian Republics that Banish'd their greatest Statesmen meerly because they would not have them gain too fast upon the Affections of the People If any should perhaps doubt of the pernicious Consequences of a popular Government where Reason does not so much reign as an Unruly violence of a People who know no other Laws than those of their Passions let them cast their Eyes on the Heats of the Roman Empire who were often ready to Overturn the State had not the Senate speedily applied a prudent Remedy But there are other Examples more Modern as the Revolt
the Clergy first by obliging the Bishops because they bear great Sway in the Diet and next the Priests and Fryars they having no less Influence and Authority over the People But however Presents are not to be made them in gross but by little and little lest they fly off when they expect no farther Recompence for the Poles generally think themselves oblig'd to serve you not for what they have already receiv'd but because they are still in Hopes of receiving more They are all likewise apt to neglect your Interest and will sometimes take Money from another Prince or his Embassador to vote against you The late King is accus'd of taking Money of the Emperor the Duke of Lorrain and of the Duke of Newbourg to employ it in their several Interests in the Election but however he did more wisely to make use of it himself to get to be elected in which we find he had good Success After the Embassadors have thus had Audience and that all other Matters are settled in the Republick they proceed to the Election of a King but first they implore the Assistance of the Holy Ghost by singing the Veni Creator Then they proceed to give their Votes and communicate them to each other when if they are unanimous for one Candidate the Archbishop of Gnesna or Bishop that presides in his Place demands thrice if the Grievances and Exorbitancies are redress'd which being answer'd in the Affirmative he immediately proclaims the King Elect which is likewise done at the same Time by the Marshals of the Crown and the Great Dutchy and then they all joyn in the singing of Te Deum Here it may not be amiss to give your Lordship farther Particulars of the manner of Election which is this Assoon as the Anthem is ended the Senators and Deputies remove from their Places and divide themselves into their several Palatinates making so many peculiar Rota's the Archbishop of Gnesna only still keeping his Seat The Orders being thus divided the first Senator of every Palatinate numbers their Votes which afterwards are transmitted into a Roll and delivered under their several Hands to the Nuncio-Marshal All these Suffrages are then reckon'd together by the Senate in the Szopa where if there be a Majority for any one Candidate they labour what they can partly by Perswasion and partly by Promises to bring the Electors to be unanimous for till then no King can be lawfully Proclaim'd yet when there is a Division in the Diet as most commonly it happens the strongest Party still carries it as it appear'd in Stephen Batori's Cafe and that of Sigismund III. which last coming soonest into Poland was Crown'd King at Cracow notwithstanding that Maximilian was proclaim'd at Warsaw by Cardinal Radzvil It may be observ'd that the House of Austria has been put by the Crown of Poland no less than thrice First in the Person of Ernest by the Election of Henry of Valois and Secondly and Thirdly by the Exclusion of this Maximilian And this because the Poles have a Maxim never to Elect any Powerful Neighbouring Prince for fear of being subdu'd and brought under an Arbitrary Power The Day after the Election all the Senators and Deputies meet either in the Rota Equestris or the Castle of Warsaw and draw up the Decree of Election subscribing it with their several Hands which is immediately afterwards sent to the Press to be Printed To the Election of a King of Poland not only all the Gentry of the Kingdom and Great Dutchy but likewise a great Number of Strangers from all adjacent Countries come yet notwithstanding that People come from all Parts of Poland the Senators and Deputies only have a lawful Vote in the Election Nevertheless the other Gentry Interest themselves either in favouring the Senators or the Factions of the Deputies and sometimes fall out among themselves about it so that it is the absolute Interest of the Candidate to treat and present not only the individual Members of the Diet but also these Nobles altho they have no actual Voices in the Election for their great Number can easily favour and carry on a Faction by threatning the Senators and Deputies in Case they do not elect such a Prince as they propose This was confirm'd in the Election of Michael Wiesnowiski where none of the Electors thought of choosing a Piasto and much less such a weak poor unexperienc'd Prince as this Duke was yet the turbulent Mob of Polish Gentry soon forc'd them to elect and proclaim him King notwithstanding this being no free Election they never paid him any great Deference but undervalu'd and were so displeas'd with him that some say after four Years Reign he was poison'd by the Contrivance of the Great Men. Thus it is palpably more safe and creditable for a Candidate to purchase himself a strong Party in the Diet and to support and back them by procuring the Affection and good Will of the rest of the Gentry than to rely barely on the inconstant and tumultuous Suffrage of a senseless turbulent Mob as the late King sufficiently experienc'd before his Election There are several Conditions requir'd in a Candidate that aspires to the Crown of Poland which are now past as Constitutions of the Kingdom for he must not be a Native which Hartknoch says he may and which he proves by a great many Persons nor marry'd nor present at the Election but must be rich and no absolute or neighbouring Prince And as for his Religion he must either actually be or promise to become a Roman Catholick before he can be crown'd All this after the Death of King Michael the late Elector of Brandenburg and Duke Ernest of Brunswick promis'd being not willing it seems to lose a Crown for an exteriour Show of a Piece of Religious Ceremony The Gentry of Poland think themselves so great and so equal in Respect to each other that they do not willingly consent to elect a Piasto or Native to a Crown which their Birth gave them a parallel Right to They besides think it a great Advantage to their Nation to choose a forreign and rich Prince that they may make more Alliances abroad and oblige such Kings to bring all their Effects with them to enrich the Kingdom They are for an unmarry'd Prince that they may have the Opportunity of matching him and so to strengthen their Alliances that Way They care not to elect a neighbouring Prince for fear he should become absolute by his adjoyning Force But however these like their other Constitutions have not been always observ'd for the only Maxim they have hitherto kept inviolable is not to elect any Prince but a Roman Catholick for the late King was both a Piasto and marry'd before he was elected 'T is true they would have had his Queen divorc'd from him that they might have marry'd him to King Michael's Queen Dowager Eleonora at present Dutchess Dowager of Lorrain but the Affection
have one very great Grievance which is that they are oblig'd to serve in the Pospolite Ruszanie or General Muster of the Militia at their own Charges How the Polish Gentry came by all these Privileges it may not be here improper to enquire since it is certain that formerly they were not much better than Slaves For to pass by many other Examples Cromerus says they were once oblig'd to keep the King's Dogs The first Glimpse of their Liberty may reasonably be ascrib'd to the Privileges granted the Clergy by Boleslaus the Chast but afterwards when Poland began to be harrass'd by Civil Wars the Gentry obtain'd many larger Privileges from their Kings and which they have since always taken Care to get augmented at every new Election All the Gentry of Poland are equal by Birth notwithstanding some of the meaner Sort send their Children to serve the Great Men as other Servants and this principally to learn Breeding and to be kept in Awe yet may that very same Servant have as good a Vote in the Diet as his Master They neither value nor care for Titles of Honour for they think the greatest they can have is to be a Noble Pole or Gentleman of Poland Neither the King nor Republick gives any Title of Prince Duke Marquess Count Vicount Baron or Knight to any of the free-born of the Nation thinking I suppose that none can be any ways rais'd above another by a bare exteriour Denomination which argues more the Favour of the Prince than Merit of the Person preferr'd but rather by their Services in the Offices and Employments which they enjoy There are no Princes of the Kingdom but those which are of the Royal Family for altho some of the Poles have been made Princes of the Empire by the Emperour as Prince Lubomirski c. Yet it gives them no Precedence in Poland but rather renders them odious and despis'd by the rest of the Gentry who cannot endure that any should pretend to any Superiority among them especially by a Title which is not annex'd to some Employment in the Nation King Sigismund III. thought of establishing an Order of Knighthood of the Immaculate Conception in Poland and had effectually created several Knights thereof allowing them certain Privileges and a Superiority above others but these were so despis'd and undervalu'd by the rest of the Gentry that scarce any one afterwards car'd for that up-start Honour whereupon that Order soon dwindled into nothing The Poles have a Proverb to prove their Equality which is That they are measur'd like a Bushel of Corn that is whenever any one pretends to rise but a Grain above the Level he is immediately struck off and ridicul'd There are some Gentlemen in Poland that have had Dutchies time out of mind annex'd to their Estates as Duke Radzivil in Lithuania c. But there are no Dutchies or Counties created by the King Tho the Poles in their own Country have no Honorary Titles above a Gentleman yet several have been known to have usurp'd them when they have travell'd into France Italy and Germany for they there frequently assume those of Counts to themselves in like manner as the Germans in foreign Countries do those of Barons for nothing is more common than Monsieur le Conte Malakowski Il Signior Conde Potoski Mynheer Graff Jablonowski c. And this they do to be the more easily admitted into Company especially in Germany where 't is scarce thought that any body can be a Gentleman under a Baron and consequently not fit for Conversation Dr. Connor likewise says he has known some of our English Gentry in these Countries that have not scrupul'd to call themselves Lords to procure them the greater Respect since they saw that the Title of Gentleman alone was not regarded there The Gentry of Poland make and defend their own Laws and Liberties elect their King with all manner of Freedom give him the Crown and Scepter appoint Ministers to counsel and instruct him and their Number far exceeding that of the Senate they easily keep the King and Senators in their Duty and threaten both very often especially in the Diet where each Member has a Liberty to speak what he thinks and to think what he pleases 'T is they that despute the Nuncios out of themselves for every Province to meet and sit in the General Diet with full Instructions and absolute Power not to consent to any Proceedings which should in the least entrench on their Privileges or if such Deputies should happen to be brib'd to act contrary to their Instructions then have the Gentry of the Province whence they were sent a free Authority to punish them for so doing Not only these excessive Privileges make the Polish Gentry Powerful and Great but likewise the vast Territories which a great Number of them enjoy with a Despotick Power over their Subjects for some possess Five some Ten some Fifteen some Twenty nay some Thirty Leagues of Land out right whereon they have always their several Pod-Starostas or Gentlemen-Stewards residing who are to take Account of their Revenues to sell some things and to send the rest to their Masters Houses to defray the Exigencies of the Family Some also are Hereditary Sovereigns of Cities which the King has nothing to do with and one of the Princes Lubomirski possesses above Four Thousand Cities Towns and Villages Moreover some can raise an Army of Five Six Eight and Ten Thousand Men and maintain them at their own Charges when they have done Dr. Connor says Prince Lubomirski had actually Seven Thousand Horse Foot and Dragoons in Pay when he was in Poland All the Gentry of Note live most splendidly They have all their Horse and Foot Guards which keep Centry Night and Day at the Gates of their Houses they call them Courts and in their Anti-Chambers These Guards go before and after their Masters Coaches in the Streets But above all these Noblemen make an extraordinary Figure at the General Diets where some have Three Hundred some Five and some a Thousand Guards always attending them Nay Hauteville says that formerly some Great Persons have been known to come to the Diet with above Ten Thousand Men. They esteem themselves not only equal but also above the Princes of Germany especially such among them as are Senators 'T is certain they want nothing to be as so many Sovereign Princes except the Liberty of coining Money which the Republick has reserv'd wholly to it self The Doctor says he has no where seen Subjects live with such excessive Grandeur and Splendour for these Great Men when they go to Dinner or Supper have always their Trumpets sounding and a great Number of Gentry to wait on them at Table some whereof carve some give to drink others reach Plates and all serve with extraordinary Respect and Submission for tho all the Gentry in Poland are equal and have all their free Votes in the Diet yet
the Little and Poorer Sort think it no Disgrace to serve them that can maintain them 'T is true the Gentleman they serve is commonly very civil to them for the eldest of them generally eats with him at Table with his Cap off and every one of them has a Peasant-Boy to wait on him which the Master maintains yet if any one of these Gentlemen-Servants neglects his Duty his Master punishes him severely tho' he has no Power to take away his Life because he is a Gentleman but he may get him whipt naked with a certain Formality which I have mention'd before It may not be here amiss to observe to your Lordship some few Maxims whereby the Republick of Poland might always subsist and the Gentry retain their ancient Privileges First By reducing all the Gentry of the Kingdom to an equal Authority in the Election of a King and other publick Deliberations by which the King or Senate would be depriv'd of a Power of raising any considerable Factions and the Grandees be discourag'd from affecting and hunting after Foreign Titles which commonly ensnare them to the Prejudice of their Country Secondly By keeping up the free Choice of their Nuncios which would disable the Court and Senate from getting their Creatures elected to the utter abrogating of the Privileges of the Gentry wherein the Poles now follows the prudent Example of the Roman Common-wealth Thirdly By preserving the Custom of the Gentries appearing in great Numbers at the Diet which animates both the Senate and Deputies in the Prosecution of Affairs for the Good of the Kingdom and deters them from being biass'd by any sinister Means Fourthly By obliging both Senators and Deputies to give an Account of their Proceedings which must needs encline them to act with a great deal of Precaution Fifthly By prohibiting the Army to come near the great Assembly of the States for Rome never enjoy'd so great Happiness as when the Gown had Preference of the Sword Sixthly To maintain the Law of Equality in Matters of Descent whereby the Gentry would be kept at an even Lay and hinder'd from disturbing the Government by too great a Power Seventhly Never to prefer any Native to the Crown because of the great Disorders it might in all Likelyhood occasion Eighthly To maintaim the Authority of their Democracy establish'd for so many Ages by the Prudence of their Ancestors and all along continu'd with no small Hazards and Trouble And Ninthly Never to permit any Foreign Princes to intermeddle with their Affairs There is no Country where Embassadors are oblig'd to make so great a Figure as in Poland especially if they have any Interest of the Prince their Master to maintain or carry on in the Diet or among the Gentry for the Great Men there generally despise all such as either do not or cannot make the same Figure with themselves which is so excessive that an Embassador must have three remarkable Qualities to keep up with it For first he must have a great Train of Coaches and Servants proportionable next keep a plentiful and open House continually to Treat and Fuddle the Gentry and where he must be very humble and familiar with them they being generally very civil and easie in their Conversation And lastly which is the surest way to gain their Affection and Suffrages he must give 'em ever now and then a little Money and he still promising them more for Reasons I have mention'd before When the Great Men of Poland have any Suit at Law or other Difference to be determin'd the Justice of the Kingdom is commonly too weak for them for tho' the Diet or other Tribunals had decided the Matter in Favour of one of the two Parties yet the Execution of their Judgment must be left to the Power of the strongest Sword for these Grandees generally think it beneath them to submit to the Sentence of a Company of Judges without a Field-Battle Sometimes they will raise five or six Thousand of a Side plunder and burn one anothers Towns and Cities and besiege each others Castles and Forts and after a great deal of Blood-shed Fatigue and Expence the unjuster Cause shall commonly get the upper Hand Dr. Connor says When he was in Poland there was a Quarrel between Duke Raazivil and Prince Sapieha about whether of the two should be Guardian to the young Princess of Newbourg Neece to the present Empress for her Mother was Dutchess Radzivil of Lithuania and Heiress of the greatest Estate in the Kingdom Both Parties had their Troops in the Field and had some Skirmishes but it was thought that Prince Sapieha being Great General of the Forces of Lithuania would get the better tho' it seems Duke Radzivil as being her Mother's Relation had more Right to the Guardianship of her All this while the King never concern'd himself in the Quarrel nor declar'd for either Party As to Matters of Descent The Father's Estate is always equally divided among his Children in like manner as in Italy Germany and most Foreign Countries but when the Father is dead the Mother can enjoy all his Estate for Life and it is absolutely in her Breast to allot every one of the Children their Quota or to keep all the Estate to her own Use during her Life Some Mothers Marry after the Husbands Deaths and so spend their first Childrens Fortunes with their second Husbands This makes the Children more than ordinary obedient to their Mothers especially during their Widdowhood Altho Estates in Poland are equally divided among the Children which one would think should absolutely weaken or ruin their Families yet do they generally find Means to support and keep them up for most commonly some of the Brothers turn Monks and so get to be made Abbots or Bishops whose Revenues are here sufficient to enrich any Family and the rest look after State-Employments which are likewise considerable Some of the Daughters also many times become Nuns so that being in the Church Service they are oblig'd to live in Celibacy and consequently leaving no Heirs all their Goods or Estates fall to their Marry'd Brothers or Sisters or to their Children In this Country the Daughters always walk before their Mothers as in Italy and the unmarry'd Sisters before the marry'd I cannot but admire at the honest and good Temper of the Polish Gentry for tho' their Liberty is extraordinary tho' they have Power of Life and Death over their Subjects tho' they are in a manner above their own Laws and tho' Justice is administer'd in Poland more slightly than in any other Country yet Dr. Connor says that all the while that he was in that Kingdom he neither saw nor heard of any Murther or Slaughter or of any Barbarity or Cruelty committed by the Gentry on their Subjects nor what is a greater Wonder of any High-way Robbers but always observ'd the Poles in general to be good humour'd harmless and generous When it is certain had
General of the Clergy How often and where Conven'd 115. Minor Clergy admitted by Deputies ib. Courts of Justice The Kaptur what and its Power 115. Ecclesiastical 116. Of Nunciature ib. High Tribunals ib. c. Senate and Green-Cloth 117. Exchequer-Courts ib. Of Land-Judicature with its Judges 118. Of the Vice-Chamberlains ib. Gentry's Criminal Courts 119. Commonalty-Courts in Cities ib. In Villages 120. Where Courts of Justice cease 129. Exception ib. Relating to Courts of Justice in Lithuania 224 Former Judges there 225. Candidate for Election What Qualifications requir'd in him 140 c. Ceremony Of the King's Swearing to the Pacta Conventa 149 c. Of his Entring Cracow 154. The Interrment of a deceased King 155. Obsequies and Procession 154. Procession at the Coronation 156. Ceremony thereat ib. Farther Particulars ib. c. Coronation-Oath 157. Words at Kissing the Book 159. Unction c. ib. c. How pronounc'd King 161. Feasts thereupon ibid. Ceremony of Creation of Teutonic Knights 71. * Coronation King appoints the Day 153. Place fix'd ib. Exceptions ib. By whom perform'd 155. Manner of Crowning 160. Enthroning ibid. Curland Bishop of Vide Samogitia Bishop of Curland Dutchy Its Bounds and Extent 99 * Soil and former State ib. c. * When wholly conquer'd 100 * Converted by degrees ib. * Its Dukes 105 c. * Duke Vassal to Poland 115 * His Privilege and Power 116 * Revenue and Court ibid. * Chief Officers ibid. * Condition of Gentry ib. 117 * Geographical Description 118 * Government 121 * Degrees of Demanding Justice 122 * Ecclesiastical Courts 123 * City-Courts ibid. * Ministerial Officers ibid. * Trade of Curland ibid. * Corn in great Request ibid. * When Curland is to revert to Poland ibid. * D. Diet Grand of Poland How resembles the English Parliament 5. What it is 6 83. It s Power ib. By whom call'd and where and how often meets ib. Manner of calling it and proceedings thereupon 84. Divides into three Nations 91. Proceedings at the opening 95. After the choice of a Speaker ib. Proceedings in the Lower House 96. Conferences between the two Houses 95. Upper House how employ'd 96. Committees ib. Manner of breaking up Session in the lower House ib. Both Houses joined ib. Diets Session limited and wherefore 98 c. Matters generally treated of 99. Great concourse there 101. Provisions not scarce ib. Dangerous to be out a Nights 102. Visits unacceptable ib. Order of Session in the Diet ibid. c. Causes of disunion here 105. By whom somented ib. Great freedom of Speech 108. Policy of concluding matters by an unanimous consent 110. Diet of Convocation How summon'd 126. Proceeding in little Diets ib. First proceedings in this Diet 128. Diet of Election Where held c. 131 c. First proceedings there 133. Exorbitancies examin'd 135. Diet proceeds to Election 137 c. Farther particulars thereof 138 c. Great concourse there and Policy to byass them 139 c. Rules observ'd in Elections 141. Poland why preserv'd Elective 142 c. Diets Little Where meet 84. Qualifications for and Manner of Voting there 89. Proceedings 90. Deputies Representatives of the Gentry Elected only by the Gentry 6. Assume great Liberty in the Diet 34 c. Who and how many chosen with their Instructions 90. How chosen 91. Their Number ib. Cannot be Senators ib. Their Salaries ib. When first sent ib. Their Power 95. Confirm'd and encourag'd ib. Their Privileges 95 c. How long sit 96. Have great Guards at the Diet 102. Awe the King and Senate 104. Their Business after Diet of Convocation 131. Dantzic Privileges 23 * Where situate by whom built and whence so call'd 42 * How distant from other Places ib. c. * Division and Strength 43 * One of the Hanse-Towns ib. * Parishes Buildings Streets and Gardens 44 * Inhabitants their Number and Religion ib. * Churches and Town-House ib. * Magazines College Exchange c. 45. * Jurisdiction and Government ib. * Senators and their Division ib. * Scabins Syndic and Burgrave 46 * Centum-viri and their Power ib. c. * City's Power and Privileges 48 * Force by Land and Sea 49 * How often Taken and Regain'd 50 * Admitted to Vote in Election of Polish Kings 51 * Dutchies What in Poland 174. Descents Nature of them in Poland 180. Children support their Families however 181. Divines Polish How far their Learning extends 78. * Their Divinity 79. * E. Escheator His Power 77. Embassadors Sent to the Diet of Election 129. Notifie their Arrival and how are receiv'd ib. c. 135 c. Others sent from the Republick 130. Caution to Foreign Ministers ib. c. What requisite in Foreign Ministers 136. What Foreign Embassadors are oblig'd to 179. Election Decree of Presented the King 150. Exercises What practis'd in Poland 202. Edibles What Sorts us'd among the Poles 209. Odd Dainties 210. Pottage and Sauces 215. Crachat what and how made 216. Edibles among the Rusticks of Lithuania 227. Meat and Drink of the Peasants in Prussia 235. F. Fasts in Poland How observ'd 51. Poles retain a rigid Custom and wherefore 52. Factions Foreign What promotes them 106. Fashions Present in Poland 196. What Furrs us'd ib. Some follow the French Mode 197. Women's former and late Fashions ib. c. Families Polish What 202. Fowl Sorts in Poland 211 c. Fish What Kinds the Poles have 212. Feasts Customs thereat 216. Banquetting-Halls ib. c. Particulars of Servants there 217. Feasts made by Turns 218. Foot Polish What and how employ'd 13 * Hir'd and their Condition ib. c. * Why so much us'd and Arms and Liveries 14 * Hungarians when first hir'd 16 * Force Polish Causes that weaken it 18 c. * Other Inconveniencies that suppress it 21 c. * Means to avoid these but over-rul'd 24 * G. Gentry Polish Courted by European Princes 3. Resolves thereupon 4. Equally Noble 5. Seldom intermarry with Commonalty ibid. Only capable of Preferment 20 167. Have not equal Claim to every Preferment ib. c. How kept in Dependance on the King 22. What proves Equality among them 103. No Disgrace to be chastis'd 123. Their Power and Privileges 168. Cannot be Apprehended till Convicted 168 c. Exception 169. Cannot be Executed without the King's Consent 170. Need not Quarter Soldiers ib. c. Other Privileges 171. Need not pay Taxes till oblig'd by Diet ib. Have Pre-emption 172. Have one Grievance ib. How came by their Privileges 172. Value no Honour and why 173. Despise Title of Prince ib. Assume Titles when they travel 174. Further Power 175. What makes them so great ib. c. Their Excessive Grandeur and Magnificence 176. Gentry and Citizens in Lithuania 225. Gentry how far oblig'd to March 15 * Gentlemen Polish Who 5. Gentlemen-Pensioners 29. A Gentleman how made 188. Government Mixt Establish'd in Poland by what Motives 6 c. Unhappy State of Polish Government 109. A Wonder how it can subsist 110.
His Power and State 38. Power as Inter-Rex 39. Why he is intrusted so much 40. His See ibid. Who officiates where no Inter-Rex 127. Inter-Rex resigns 162. Physicians Polish Their Abilities 81 * Not allow'd to study till qualify'd ib. * Palatins What 35. Their Number and Precedence from 55 to 59. Duty and Office 59. Palatins Vice How they must be qualified 59 c. Posnan Bishop of Extent of his Diocess 43 c. Plosko Bishop of His Jurisdiction and See 44. Premislaw Bishop of 44. Premislaw City A Greek-Bishop here 44. Here first Maintain'd that Priests might marry ib. c. High Podolia Palatinate of Honorary 57. Protho-Notary of a District 78. Projects in the Diet easily annull'd 107. Punishments in Poland Various and how differ 122. Manner of Chastising Servants ib. c. Pacta-Conventa Articles of Election 144. When taken by Ambassadors 145. By whom drawn and how administer'd 146. The Form ib. Occasional Articles 149. The Oath taken by the King 150. Peasants Polish Their Condition 5 184. Wherefore enslav'd 5. Incapable of Preferment except a few 167. How first enslav'd 182. Live satisfy'd notwithstanding 183. Enrich their Lords 184. How fix'd in a Farm 185. Their Service annex'd thereto ibid. Meet to Reap their Lords Corn 186. Their Customs at Bed and Board 186. Children how taught to go 187. Habits of both Men and Women ibid. Peasants Condition in Lithuania 226. Work on Sundays ibid. c. Pay rigid Duties 227. Their Habits and Carriages 228. Description of the last by a Poet ib. Character of these Rusticks 230. Potables Sorts us'd in Poland 212. Beer of what Quality 213. Mead and Wine ib. What Strong-Waters 214 Brimmers much practis'd 219. Sturdy Drinkers rewarded 231. Drink among the Rusticks of Prussia 235. Prussia Peculiar Customs there Vide Customs Pospolite What 2 * Who oblig'd to serve in the Horse ib. * Who in the Foot 3 * Penalty for Default ib. * Who excus'd ib. * Number great formerly and now 5 * Manner of Raising and Mustering them 6 * Meet at General-Rendezvouz 8 * Pay of Soldiers From what it arises and how is rais'd 26 c. * Provisions and Ammunitions What in the Army 27 * Q. Queen Consort Her Court how maintain'd 16. Artifice 17. Revenues 18. To what Amount ibid. Her Court-Officers 30. Where Crowned and where not 163 c. Place of her Coronation 164. What requir'd to confirm it ib. Cause of J. Casimir's Queen 's Death 207. Queen Dowager Revenue Conditional 18. Excludes Queen Consort while she enjoys it ib. Quartarians What and whence so call'd 17 * R. Republick of Poland Wherefore instituted 4. It s Division 10. Means to support it for ever 177. Revenues Crown What 17. Russian Bishops Why can't Marry 40 c. Their Tenets Ceremonies and Ornaments 41. Religion in Poland and Lithuania Conversion and Persuasions 47. Former Religions ibid c. Roman-Catholick how long continu'd 50. Zeal and Bigotry ib. None but Roman-Catholicks admitted of Senate c. except in Prussia ib. Bishops preside wherefore 51. Other Clergy preferr'd ib. Four Roman Catholick Churches in Dantzic 47 * Religions in Curland 126 * Russia Palatin of Why has the Title of the Province 57. Referendaries Masters of Requests Their Office Power and Qualifications 77. Registers in Chancery 77. Reflection of Hauteville 95 c. Rokosz What and its Proceedings 21 * Example ibid. * Rarities and Observables in Poland Of Wood and Earth 82 * Strange Waters and their Effects 83 * Monstrous Fish 84 * Fowls of odd Qualities ibid. c. * Beasts of strange Kinds 85 * Rarities communicated 86 * Closet of Rarities 87 * Rose Disease What and its Cure 96 * Riga Bishop and Archbishop thereof 100 * S. Senators Polish Who and their Number 5. Sit by what Authority 5 c. By whom made and their Oath 34. To what further bound 35. Not suffer'd to travel ibid. Title annex'd to Dignities ibid. Their Office 36. Who immediately becomes so ibid. Despise other Honours ibid. Their Division and Sub-division ibid. Senate Polish What and its Office 34. Samogitia Dutchy Wherein differs from Lithuania 231. Proof of great Age here 232. Inhabitants more robust ibid. Samogitia Bishop of Likewise Bishop of Curland 45. Has no See ibid. Samogitia Starosta of Why preferr'd and how chosen 56. Smolensko Bishop of Formerly subject to Lithuania and now Honorary 46. Smolensko Palatin of Honorary 57. Socinians When and how often expell'd 48. Steward Great Vide Marshal Great Secretaries Great Their Qualifications and Authority 76 c. Starosta's With Jurisdiction 79. Without 80. Vice-Starosta's 79. Jurisdiction of Starosta's ib. Power and Office 119. Starostaships Revenue from what arises 80. Have been sometimes mortgag'd ibid. Speaker of the Diet How chosen and Heats thereupon 94. Must treat the Gentry ibid. Reason of stickling in his Election ibid. Last Speaker officiates till a new one be chosen 95. Speaker-Elect goes to kiss the King's Hand ibid. His Request for the Deputies 96. His Authority ibid. His Power devolves to Great-Marshal 97. Synods Provincial Aw'd by the Pope 15. That of Leopol subject to the Archbishop of Gnesna ib. Successor Election of a Interest of Foreign Princes to oppose it 151 c. Reasons for and against it 152 c. State Four Things requir'd to defend it 19 c. * Salt Farther Particulars thereof 39 * T. Titles Polish Annex'd to Employments 5. Tartars in Lithuania Their Number and Religion 49. How long continu'd there ib. Upon what Conditions ibid. Troki Castellan of Wherefore preferr'd 56. Treasurers Great Their Office and Authority 72. Remarkable Breach of Trust in one of them 73. Treasurer of Prussia His Office 77. Travelling Customs in Travelling 219. Travellers oblig'd to carry Provisions c. 221. Travelling cheap in other respects ibid. c. Manner of Travelling 222. Incommodities in Travel how remedy'd ibid. c. Disturb'd a Winter-Nights by Boors 223. Danger of losing Noses ib. c. Trade Poles not much inclin'd thereto 35 * Commodities Exported and Imported 35 c. * Particulars of Trade 39 * No Fulling nor Paper-Mills ibid. * Concerning Leather and Fish 40 * Honey and its Produce ibid. c. * Former Trade of Prussia 41 * Teutonic Order Its Origin 53 * Who built their Hospital at Jerusalem 54 * Order confirm'd and by what Title ibid. * Their Removal into Germany and Prussia ibid. c. * Forsake Prussia and wherefore 55 * Their Statutes Habit Number and Manners ibid. c. * Are much favour'd by several Princes 56 * Lives of their Great Masters from 56 to 71 * It s Present State 72 * Tobago Island Discover'd by the Duke of Curland 106 * Is depriv'd of it ibid * Proposes to recover it 107 * A Grant from King Charles the Second 108 * French beg the Island 112. * A Second Letter from King Charles ibid. * Intercepted ibid. * Duke sends Governors 113 * Makes a Contract ib. * Description of the Island ibid. * Necessary
to be in English Hands ibid. * Whence had its Name 114 * U. Vilna Bishop of His Diocess 43. Vilna Castellan of Preferr'd wherefore 55. Varmia Bishop of His Jurisdiction and See 44. Votes Intended Limitation like to produce a bad Effect 104. Who have them in Election of a King 144. Volunteers What in Poland 17 * Examples ib. c. * Selected out of the Gentry 18 * Universities Two in Poland and Lithuania 75 * Chief Studies there ibid. * Have no solid Learning 78 * W. Women Polish Their former and late Fashions 197. Very modest 200. Exception 201. Their Liberty restrain'd ibid. War Two Qualities necessary there 26 * Z. Zuppars What 80. Vide Mines FINIS From the Year 550 to the Year 1698. Former Power of the Kings of Poland A. D. 1574. Advantage thereby Why European Princes Court the Polish Gentry Nobilities Resolves thereupon Abridge the Antient Power of their Princes And Constitute a Republic Division of the People of Poland The Diet. It s Power Motives for a mixt Government A Motive II. Motive III. Motive Advantage of a mixt Government Division of the Republic Kings present Power and Prerogatives His Happiness Unhappiness A great Inconvenience to the State Instances of Poles Affections to their Kings Modern Kings Power Abroad and at Home The great Respect paid him His Titles and other Prerogatives His Pension Houshold-Officers and Guards Queen Consorts Court how maintain'd Kings Patrimonial Estate and Perquisites Late King 's great Riches The Crown Revenues Queens Revenues The King's Power limited in several respects Nobility only capable of Preferment Other Limitations of the Kings Power Inconveniences thereby Why he is paid so great Respect Cities present their Keys upon his Approach Why he can raise no Forces without Consent of the Diet. His Legitimate Issue greatly Respected His Illegitimate as much slighted Means to continue the Crown in one Family Why the K. of Poland can't imitate him of Denmark Not Unhappy because he cannot secure the Succession to his Family Crown and Court Officers Gentlemen Pensioners Horse-Guards Court Officers in Lithuania And in several Provinces Chief Officers of Queen's Court. Principal Officers of Primate's Court. What peculiar to him The Senate and its Office Senators by whom made and their Oath Four to attend the King and wherefore Senators not suffer'd to travel * Vide Sueton. Cap. 42. in vita Jul. Caesar Tacit lib 12. Annal. cap. 23. This Title not bestow'd by its self Senator's Office Extreamly prize their Dignities Their Division and Subdivision Diocesses of Poland Peculiar Jurisdictions of the two Archbishops Ecclesiastical Senator his Power and State His Power as Inter. Rex Why entrusted so much His See Two other Bishops in Leopol Those of the Greek Perswasion Their Tenets Ceremonies and Ornoments His Bishoprick and Power His Residence and Precedence His See Precedence and Authority Several Places of Residence His Diocess His Diocess His Jurisdiction and See His Jurisdiction and See His Diocess Here is a Greek Bishop Likewise Bishop of Curland yet has no See His Precedence and See His See translated and wherefore Honorary A Greek Bishop formerly Primate of Moscovy Honorary Honorary Each Bishop has a Kind of little Court Their Precedence in the Diet and large Revenues Religion in Poland and Lithuania Conversion and several Perswasions of the Poles Socinians expell'd 1658. 1673. Lutherans and Calvinists and other Religions in Poland The Roman Catholick prevails and always prefer'd Privileges of Regular Clergy Their dissolute Lives Fasts how observ'd in Poland Manners of the Secular Clergy The Poles Behaviour at Church Their Churches Division and Subdivision of Lay Senators Palatins c. with their Precedence 1. Lay-Senator Preferr'd and wherefore 1130. * Duglossus lib. 4. Annal. Polon p. 369. Preferr'd for what Reasons †Lib. 2 Cap. 3. p. 504. Preferr'd and why Wherefore preferr'd and how chosen Honorary Palatinate Why he has the Title of the Province Honorary Palatinate Honorary Palatinate Formerly Seat of Teutonic Knights Honorary Palatinate Greatest Part Honorary Honorary Palatinate Duty and Office of Palatins * Hartknoch lib. 2. cap. 3. p. 506. c. Vice Palatins and how qualify'd Duty of Castellans Their Division Qualifications Office and Titles Greater Castellans and their Precedence Lay-Senator Honorary Honorary Honorary Honorary Lesser Castellans No enjoying Plurality of Offices Castellans how call'd in Polish The ten Crown-Officers Those of the Kingdom precede Lay-Senator His Office Power and Authority Duty and Privilege His Perquisites Deputy and who officiates in Cases of Absence Qualifications of these of the Kingdom * Lib. 2. Cap. 3. p. 528. Both have Seals and equal Authority Their Office and Power Succeed each other How ought to be Qualified Their Office and Authority A remarkable Breach of Trust Contend for Precedence but refus'd it Extra-Senatorial Officers Great Generals Have equal Authority Their Power and Duty King's Interest to head his Army Present great Generals Dignity successive Lieutenant-Generals and their Office Chief Commander of the Guards Other great Officers in the Army Camp-Notaries Captain of Guards against Incursions Great Secretaries and their Authority Referendaries and their Office Cup-Bearers Carvers Sword-Bearers Court-Treasurers and their Office Treasurer of Prussia Associates to Judges Chief Notaries Registers inChancery Escheator Commissioners of Custom House Governours of Mines Governours of the Mint Court-Officers Civil Officers of Districts Vice-Chamberlain and his Office Chamberlains Judge and Assistant Prothonotary Head Collector Other Officers and why so call'd Military Officers of Districts Starostas with Jurisdiction Vice-Starostas c. Jurisdiction of Starostas Starostas without Jurisdiction Burgraves and their Office Revenue of Starostaships Zuppars what What the Diet is By whom call'd and where and how often meet Manner of calling it and Proceedings thereupon Where the little Diets meet I. In Great Poland * Vide Herburt Voce Comitia p. 92. and in Edit Polon p. 257. Podlachia and Masovia II. In Little-Poland III. In Lithuania IV. In Prussia V. In Russia VI. In Volhynia VII In Samogitia Qualifications for and Manner of voting in little Diets Who and how many chosen Deputies With their Instructions Proceedings in little Diets * Hartknoch lib. 2. cap. 6. p. 682. c. Deputies how chosen †Hartknoch lib. 2. Cap. 6. p. 689. Cannot be Senators Their Salaries When first sent Vide Constitut An. 1581. p. 375. Their general Meetings Diet divides into three Nations Speaker how chosen and Heats thereupon How occasion'd Next Proceeding Further Proceedings Reflection of Hauteville Speakers Request for the Deputies His Authority Proceedings in the lower House Conference s with the Upper and Nuncios Power Confirm'd and encourag'd Their Privilege * Constitut An. 1649. Committees How long sit Upper House how employ'd Manner of breaking up Session in the lower Two Houses join'd Speakers Power devolves to great Marshal Where the King suspends his Opinion What requir'd to establish a Law Where it cannot be printed Session of the Diet limited Wherefore Affairs treated of in the Grand
Diet Who not to be present at Tryals for Treason Naturalization and Manner of making Noble in Poland Restrain'd in some Respects notwith standing Great Concourse at the Diet. Provisions indifferent Planty notwithstanding Dangerous to walk a Nights Visits at this Time unacceptable Great Guards of some Gentry Order of Session in the Diet. Members wear no distinguishing Habits * Hartnoch lib. 2. cap. 3. p. 512. What proves Equality among Polish Gentry Intended Limitation of Votes like to produce a bad Effect Deputies awe the King and Senate Causes of Disunion in the Diet. Fomented by the Empire and France What promotes foreign Factions Members not to give Reason for Dissent to any Bill Easie Matter to annul the Projects of the Diet. Great Freedom of Speech there Unhappy State of the Polish Government Policy of concluding Matters by unanimous Consent Wonderful how the Polish Government can subsist Must always flourish for several Reasons I. Reason II. Reason III. Reason Assemblys of the Convocation and Synods in Poland The Kaptur Court Ecclesiastical Courts and their Jurisdiction Court of Nunciature Gentry's Civil Courts High Tribunals The Senate and Green-Cloth Exchequer Courts Gentry-Courts not free from Appeal Of Land-Judicature with its Judges Vice-Chamberlains Court Commissioners to take Appeals Gentries Criminal Courts Starostas Power and Office Courts of Commonalty in Cities In Villages Officers and Magistrates of Plebeian Courts 〈◊〉 Profits Military Jurisdiction Origin Progress and present State of Laws Punishments in Poland Manner of chastising Servants No Disgrace to the Genty to be thus beat Crown vacant has many ways Diet summon'd Proceedings in little Diets before Grand Session Who officiates where no Interregnum * Lib. 2. cap. 1. p. 275. First Proceedings * Hartnoch lib. 2. cap. 1. p. 291. †Ibid. lib. cap. eodem p. 306. Courts of Justice cease except two Foreign Ministers on this Occasion Notifie their Arrival and how receiv'd Embassadors from the Republick Caution to foreign Ministers Deputies Business after this Diet Diet of Election * Hartknoch lib. 2. cap. 1. p. 295. †Ibid. lib. 2. cap. 1. p. eadem First Proceedings therein * Piasecius ad An. 1632. p. 530. Exorbitancies examin'd and Embassadors receiv'd Manner of Receiving them What requisite in forreign Ministers Diet proceeds to Election Further Particulars thereof Great Concours at the Election and Policy to byass them Qualifications requir'd in a Candidate * Lib. 2. Cap. 1. p. 309. to 312. †Ibid. p. 431. Rules observ'd by the Poles in Elections Why preserve their Kingdom elective Who have Votes and who not The Pacta Conventa When taken by Embassadors By whom drawn and after what manner Administred The Form and several Articles An Article Violated Occasional Articles Ceremony of the Kings swearing The Oath Presented with the Decree of Election Concerning the Election of a Successor Interest of foreign Princes to oppose it Reasons for and against such an Election The King has no Regal Authority till Crown'd * Hartknoch lib. 2. cap. 1. p. 331. Appoints the Day of Coronation †Neugebaver Hist Polon lib. 3. p. 185. Manner of his entring Cracow with other Ceremonies Obsequies of Deceas'd King and order of Procession * Piasetius in Chron. Anno 1632. p. 525. †Hart knoch lib. 2. cap. 1. p. 336. Ceremonies at the Interment Day of Corenation and by whom perform'd * Herbert Tit. Cardinalatus p. 63. †Heidenstein lib. 2. Rerum Polon p. 95. Procession in order to Coronation Ceremony at the Coronation Further Particulars of the Ceremony of Coronation King exhorted and sworn His Coronation Oath Words at kissing the Book Unction with other Ceremonys Manner of Crowning him Is Enthron'd And prenounc'd King Feasts thereupon Procession to receive Homage and Citizens Knighted Inter-Rex resigns and King Proclaim'd Queens where Crown'd and where not Place of their Coronation And what requir'd to confirm it Gentry only capable of Preferment Commonalty Incapable except some few Gentrys Power and Privileges Cannot be Apprehended till convicted Exception Cannot be Executed without the Kings Consent Need not Quarter Soldiers Other Privileges of the Gentry Need not pay Taxes unless oblig'd by the Diet. Privilege of Preemption Have one Grievance notwithstanding How they came by these Privileges All equal and consesequently value no Honour Title of Prince despis'd An Order Instituted but undervalu'd What Dutchies in Poland Polish Gentry assume Titles when they Travel Farther Power of Polish Gentry What makes them so Great Their Excessive Grandeur and Magnificence Means to support for ever the Polish Republic What foreign Embassadors are oblig'd to Law Differences decided by the Sword An Example Nature of Descents in Poland Children however support their Families Good Temper of the Poles and its Effect How Occasion'd Polish Peasants how first Enslav'd Live satisfy'd notwithstanding Their present Condition Enrich their Lords How establish'd in a Farm Their Service annex'd thereto Meet to reap their Lords Corn. Their Manners at Bed and Board Children how taught to go Habits of both the Men and Women Nobility how acquir'd in Poland Creation of a Gentleman A third way of becoming Noble Three ways of forfeiting it In what Case restor'd Chracter of the Poles Their Complexion Constitution c. Manners of the Polish Men. Their further Character Education and Learning To what generaly apply themselves Worst part of their Character Genius how enclin'd Enur'd to Hardship Greedy of Money Manner of Lending and Borowing Love to make a Figure Their present Fashions What Furrs us'd Rusticks Habit in Lithuania A few follow the French Mode The Womens former and late Fashions Poles great Extravagance Description of their Houses Furniture No Gardens nor Orchards Private and publick Baths with their Effects Poles great admirers of Shows Their Atendants Women very Modest Exception Women's Liberty restrain'd Indifferences in the Polish Temper What Exercises Practis'd Polish Families and Names formerly and now Marriages and their duration Court-Marriages Customs thereat Presents made the Bride Espousals and Ceremonies Who not Married without Dispensation Burials and order of Procession Other Proceedings Particulars relating to the King and Queens Enterment Cause of J. Casimir's Queens Death Manner of Mourning in Poland Edibles among the Poles Way of Hunting wild Oxen. Odd Dainties Manner of taking Bears Other sorts of Fowl What Fish they have Way of ordering Cabbage Their Potables Beer of what Quality Sorts of Mead. And of Wine What strong Waters Customs in Eating and Drinking Potage and Sauces Poles eat little Bread Crachat how made Customs at Feasts Banquetting Hall Particulars of Servants Manners at Table Poles way of taking Tobacco Feasts made by turns Brimmers much practis'd Customs in Traveling Description of Inns. Have few Conveniencies Travellers oblig'd to carry Provisions c. Travelling cheap in other respects Poles manner of Travelling Incommodities in Travel how remedy'd Disturb'd a Winter Nights by Boors Danger of losing Noses Manners of peculiar Countries Concerning Lithuania What relates to Courts of Justice there Former Judges Of
the Gentry and Citizens Rusticks and their Condition Work on Sundays Pay rigid Duties c. Their Edibles and Custom at grinding Corn. Their Habits Carriages and how made Houses Employments within and without Doors Why little Horses here Qualifications for Marriage Character of these Rusticks Samogitia differs from Lithuania Sturdy Drinkers rewarded Proof of great Age. People more robust here Manners in Husbandry Strange way of Pruning Trees Peculiar manner of Sowing Ways of ordering Corn. Peculiar Customs in Prusia Habitations and Furniture Meat and Drink The Pospolite or Polish Militia Who obliged to serve in the Horse Who in the Foot and Penalty for neglect in both Who are excused from serving The great numbers of the Pospolife formerly and now The manner of their being Raised and Mustered Things required in vain of the Polish Cavalry Meet at the General Rendezvous A Division of the Army and first of the Horse Heavy Armed Light Horse A Division of the Foot A further account of the Cosacks Proceedings in their Counsells of War Way of fortifying their Camps and Boats Their Power What the Polish Foot are and how employed Hired Foot and their Condition Why so much used and their Arms and Liveries Gentry how far obliged to March with other particulars Hungarian Foot when first hired Auxiliaries what Example Quartarians what and whence so called Volunteers what in Poland Examples Selected out of the Gentry Causes that weaken the Polish Force Four things required to defend a State Manner of paying the Army The Rokosz and its manner of proceeding Example Other inconveniencies which suppress the Pole's Power Means propos'd to avoid these Inconveniences but ever-ruâ—'d â—reat Force of Cavalry notwithstanding with Examples Two Qualities necessary in War Soldiers Pay from what it arises and how raised Provisions and Ammunition what Gun-Founders Foreign For Fortifications Pretended Advantages thereby Generals their Power and Duration Lieutenant Generals their Power Other Generals Officers Other Officers of the Army Some few particulars of the Poles Jus Belli Poles not much enclined to Trade and why Commidities Exported and Imported But little Money and why Coin most current in Poland Contributes to Poverty Other Coins Poles not very rich and why Particulars of Trade Concerning Salt No Fulling or Paper-Mills Concerning Leather and Fish Manner of Fishing Honey and its Produce Former Trade of Prussia â—antzic here Siâ—ate By whom built and whence so called How distant from other places It s Division and Strength One of the Hanse Towns Parishes Buildings Streets and Gardens Inhabitants their Number and Religion Churches Town-House Three Magazines A College Exchange c. Jurisdiction and Government Senators and their Division The Twelve Scabins and Syndic Burgrave to represent the King Centumviri their Power Manner of Electing and Ordaining Priests Four Roman Catholick Churches King's Power and Revenues here City-Power and Privileges Force by Land and Sea First Coin in Prussia Present Coin in Dantzic How often taken and regain'd Admitted to Vote in Election of Polish Kings Origin of Teutonic Order Who built their Hospital of Jerusalem Their Order confirm'd and by what Title Another Hospital with their removal into Germany and Prussia Marienburg built For sake Prussia and wherefore Their Statutes Habit Number and Manners Are much favour'd by several Princes Great Masters in Prussia I Great Master 1190. II Great Master 1200. III Great Master 1206. IV Great Master 1210. V Great Master 1240. VI Great Master 1252. VII Great Master 1263. VIII Great Master 1275. IX Great Master 1283. X Great Master 1290. XI Great Master 1297. XII Great Master 1307. XIII Great Master 1309. XIV Great Master 1322. XV Great Master 1325. XVI Great Master 1329. XVII Great Master 1339. XVIII Great Master 1342. XIX Great Master 1348. XX Great Master 1379. XXI Great Master 1388. XXII Great Master 1394. XXIII Great Master 1404. XXIV Great Master 1406. XXV Great Master 1414. XXVI Great Master 1323. XXVII Great Master 1432. XXVIII Great Master 1450. XXIX Great Master 1467. XXX Great Master 1468. XXXI Great Master 1480. XXXII Great Master 1489. XXXIII Great Master 1498. XXXIV Great Master 1512. Dantzic B sieg'd by Albert. Siege rais'd by the Poles Albert submits to Sigismund Great Masters in Germany XXXV Great Master 1531. XXXVI Great Master 1543. XXXVII Great Master 1566. XXXVIII Great Master 1572. XXXIX Great Master 1587. XL Great Master 1619. XLI Great Master 1624. XLII Great Master 1627. XLIII Great Master 1644. XLIV Great Master 1664. A Prince of Neubourg Elected of the Order Ceremony of Creation Elected likewise Coadjutor Present State of Teutonic Order in Germany Two Universities Chief Study there Learning formerly Oriental Languages dis-regarded Present Languages in Poland Polish hard to Pronounce Reasons why the Poles affect Latin Have no solid Learning How far that of Divines extends Their Divinity Lawyers their number and study Who seldom go to Law A suppos'd Judgment on a Lawyer Physicians and their Abilities Not allowed to study till qualified Discourges Learning Natural Observables and Rarities Of Wood and Earth Strange Waters and their Effects Monstrous Fish Fowls of odd Qualities Beasts of strange kinds Rarities communicated to Dr. Connor Argentum Fulminans made by chance Other Experiments Dr. Bernitz's Chsâ—t of Rarities Manner of making Glass Odd Method of Curing Wounds Practise of Physick What Medicines us'd Diseases what Venereal how Cur'd by a Quack Surprizing particulars Diseases peculiar to the Poles and first the Plica It s Description Unaccountableness Symptoms Neither Bleeds nor is painful Said to be Contagious and Hereditary Common to Men and Beasts Superstition concerning it and other cases Where most common It s Cure by a Jew Causes Asserted but Question'd Another account of the Plica Hairs Canular The Rose and its Cure Present bounds and extent of Curland It s Soil and former State When wholly Conquered Converted to Christianity by degrees I Bishop in Livonia 1180. II Bp ABp of Riga 1194. III ABp of Riga 1194. I Absolute Master of Livonian Order 1205. II Absolute Master 1223. III Master 1238. IV Master 1240. V Master 1248. VI Master 1250. VII Master VIII Master IX Master X Master XI Master XII Master XIII Master XIV Master XV Mast r XVI Master XVII Master XVIII Master XIX Master 1488. III. Absclute Master 1513. IV. Abso-Master V. Absolute Master VI. Absolute Master 1560. Residence of this Order I. Duke of Curland 1561. II. Duke 1587. III. Duke 1602. IV. Duke 1639. Discovers Tobago and enjoys it Is depriv'd of it Proposes means to recover it Agreement between the K. of England and D. of Curland Grant of Trade in Africa Upon what Conditions Grant of the Island Tabago Under what Considerations Duke obliged to Aid the King in War A Letter sent hereupon but with little Effect French beg the Island of their King A second Letter from K. Charles A Letter Intercepted The Duke sends Governours Makes a Contract with a Captain Description of Tobago Why necessary to be English Hands Tobacco whence so call'd Duke James's Marriage and Issue VI Duke His Marriage and Issue 1683. VII Duke 1698. D. of Curland Vassal to Poland His Privilege and Power Revenue and Court Chief Officers Qualifications of Supreme Stagostas Conditions of Gentry Addition concerning Livonian Order Principal Master how and where chosen Marshal of the Order Number of Comendadors Number of Advocates Title Habit and Arms of this Order Geographical Description of Curland Cities and Towns of Goldingen Vinda Residence of Knights Pilten Richest Gentry in Curland Mittaw It s Castle Streets and Houses How distant from other places How often Conquer'd Bauske Religions in Curland Two Roman Catholick Churches Calvinâ—â— Church at Mittaw Government of Curland The Parliament Court of Supreme Councellors Degrees of demanding Justice Ecclesiastical Courts City Courts Ministerial Officers Trade of Curland Corn in great request and wherefore Where Curland is to revers to Poland
oblig'd to have a Calash with two Horses wherein they must carry all their Necessaries and Provisions Their Beds Quilts Bolsters Sheets and the like are generally put into a large Serge Bag which afterward serves them instead of a Seat in the Calash Also they must provide a Case for Bottles of what Drink they please and a Basket with a Lid for their Meat Bread c. They must moreover furnish themselves with every individual thing that they may have occasion for and take care to renew what they have exhausted whenever they have the first Opportunity for there is scarce any thing to be had in these Karczma's but that indifferent Lodging I mention'd Thus your Lordship may perceive that one that travels in Poland must as it were carry his whole House along with him and besides undergo not a few Incommodities to boot However when a Man is thus provided he may travel at a very inconsiderable Expence for Lodging as indeed it ought not costs but very little and there is nothing to pay for any thing else because it can't be got the Reason I suppose being that the Gentry of the Country never offer to pay for what they call for and there is no way to force them to it so that where they ask for any thing the Gospodar always puts them off with a Nie Masz that is I have nothing Yet nevertheless when they have any thing to spare they will freely give Part of it to Strangers tho' generally there being but few Travellers in that Country they provide only for their own Families When Foreigners happen to want for Provisions they usually apply themselves to the Dvour or Lord of the Village who forthwith supplies them gratis Poland being for the most part a Champagne Country a Galash and two Horses will rid a great deal of Ground there in a Day Some of the Poles are so provident as to drive their own Calashes themselves but of these there are but few When they come to the Inn they commonly put their Horses to Grass because the Gospodarz will not be easily induc'd to trust them for Hay There are some likewise that travel on Horseback with a Quilt for their Bed about a Foot and half broad laid under their Saddle They commonly employ the Gospodarz to fetch them in Beer Bread and whatever else they have Occasion for and which Service they must not refuse to do for them at their Peril Travelling is here so easie to the Gentry that it costs them little or nothing A Traveller would do well to take more than ordinary Care in passing over Bridges in this Country because they are generally very bad and seldom repair'd In VVinter there is no travelling without a Case for ones Feet the Air being excessive sharp and keen This Case is generally a furr'd Sack tho' Horsemen content themselves with thick Boots having some Straw in them to keep their Feet warm They also take a good large Sip of Strong VVaters before they mount In passing over the Ice especially when there is Snow upon it one must take care to procure a Sledge to put the Calash or Coach in which is always drawn by Horses In VVinter likewise one shall find it a hard Matter to rest a-nights especially on Holy-days because then all the Peasants of the Village are gather'd together to Carouse and make merry in that Room where you are oblig'd to lodg for want of a Fire elsewhere for at that Time there is no sleeping without Nay as I said before scarce with it tho' a Man be commonly very weary when he comes off a Journey these Drunkards making such a continn'd Din in your Ears with their excessive singing and dancing about the Room I should have observ'd to your Lordship that sometimes in VVinter Travellers Noses are frozen with the extream Cold when they must take immediate Care to apply Snow to them for should they suddenly enter into a warm Room without so doing they might for ought I know endanger losing them Before I conclude this Account of the Customs and Manners of the Poles I might reasonably inform your Lordship of the Manners both ancient and modern of the Lithuanians Samogitians Prussians c. especially where they differ from those of the other Parts of Poland That we are descended from the ancient Romans says Michalon a Lithuanian Author is past Doubt since our Language is almost half Latine and we not long since had the same Customs and Ceremonies as burning the Dead divining by Augurs and such like Superstitions Nay which we still retain continues he in many Parts of this Country especially by worshiping the God Esculapius under the Form of a Serpent This Author reckons up a great many VVords which have the same Signification at present in Lithuania as they had formerly in Rome He thinks likewise the Romans Expedition into this Country was under Julius Caesar and vouches Florus for a Proof He also is of Opinion that the Cause of this Country's being call'd The Great Dutchy proceeds from the great Number of Dukes inhabiting therein As to what relates to the Courts of Justice in Lithuania the tenth Part of the thing adjudg'd in all real Actions goes always to the Judge's Box thence call'd Peressud a close Chest which is immediately to be paid down in Court But in personal Actions he claims half the Damages given to the Plaintiff Murther c. is punish'd by Mulct only in like manner as in Poland If the Murtherer fly 't is usual to preserve the dead Carcass for that he cannot be condemn'd till he has been shewn the Body of the Person he has slain Also a Judge here has all stollen Goods where-ever found These Judges are now appointed to be the same as they are in Poland tho' there were formerly but two in all Lithuania both Palatins and who had no peculiar Place of Residence assign'd so that all that had Business with them were oblig'd to follow them tho' never so far distant but these Palatins had their Deputies who were accustom'd to sit and adjudge Differences at publick Feas 〈…〉 but who nevertheless had always greater Regard to the filling of their Peressud than either to the Justice or Innocence of the Person offended or offending Other Particulars relating to these Matters I have omitted for Brevity's sake altho' for the most part they differ from the Laws of other Countries presuming they might not probably be acceptable to your Lordship and the Publick But I must take notice of the Gentry and Citizens of Lithuania c. and so shall proceed to the Rusticks First then it must be understood that the Lithuanian Gentry were chiefly owing for their Privileges to Jagello King of Poland and to Alexander his Successor in Lithuania both which Princes that they might the better bring the Natives to embrace the Christian Faith bestow'd on their Nobility the same Liberty and Privileges as
the Polish Gentry enjoy'd Russia also and Podolia had the same Privileges granted them at the same time and Prussia likewise had great Immunities added to its ancient Privileges by Castmir IV. whose Assistance it had implor'd against the Teutonic Knights As for the Citizens of Lithuania Samogitia and Russia they are much on the same Foot with the other Parts of Poland only those of Prussia are preferr'd in many Cases as has been obsrev'd before The Country People in Lithuania c. are rather more miserable than in Poland for a Gentleman there attended by a Troop of Servants will commonly go into a Country-Man's House and take all he has from him misusing and beating him shamefully into the Bargain in which or any other Case if the Rustick applies himself to his Lord for redress he must not come empty handed and tho' he does not yet all the Favour he shall obtain will be to have his Case recommended to the Starostas and other Officers where he must fee again so that he is generally unable to go through with the great Charge of getting himself reveng'd Whereas these poor Wretches work but three or four Days in a Week for their Lords in Poland in Lithuania c. they commonly work five or six Mondays only being allow'd to themselves and in case they have Occasion for them that Day then they work on Sundays for themselves for these Boors observe no manner of Holy-Days Yet this Custom is more peculiar to Russia for if one should ask a Slave there Why he works on Sundays he would answer by a Question If he must not eat on Sundays These poor Wretches out of their scanty Gettings generally pay rigid Duties three or four Times a Year to the State besides being oblig'd to satisfie the frequent and arbitrary Impositions of their Lords If a Slave happens to be condemn'd to Death by his Lord for any Crime he must be his own Executioner or will be forc'd to it by Threats of a worse Punishment than hanging The Bread they usually live upon is a coarse black Sort made of Rye sooty Wheat and Barley Ears all ground together Their Meat is both Flesh Fish and Fowl and what Cattle or Poultry they foresee they shall not be able to keep in VVinter they usually kill in Autumn and preserve with Salt They are for the most part good Marks-men and maintain their Families in a great measure that way To grind their Corn they have in every House in the Country four or five Hand-Mills VVhile they are at work they sing continually and often repeat the VVord Melior which in their Language signifies the same as in Latine thereby implying as I suppose that their Condition is still better than a worse They have also a Sort of very long wooden Pipes which when they found they always make the Standers by deaf and usually so grate their Ears that they do not recover their Hearing in a good while The Rusticks of Lithuania Samogitia c. wear generally a coarse ash-colour'd Habit insomuch that scarce one in a Hundred is to be seen otherwise cloath'd For their Legs they have a kind of Bark-Buskins as I have observ'd before These Peasants have a Sort of Chariots or VVaggons all of VVood and very light which they make by raddling or interweaving Boughs with one another They have commonly a Covering of the same Fashion but the VVheels of this Machine are of one flat and entire Piece of VVood turn'd round In a VVord they are not much unlike our Colliers or Lime-burners Carts that may be frequently seen in the Country VVhen any Number of these Chariots are going together they make an intolerable squeaking Noise by reason that their Axel Trees are never greas'd These Sort of Chariots are much in Use also among the Russians as may be learnt from the Poet. Neque linunt Ruteni querulos pinguedine Currus Haud picis Auxilium Stridulus Axis habet Auditur veniens longe crepitare Colassa Sic fragiles Currus Russe vocare soles Num faciunt habiles Vno Vectore Quadrigas Invectas Ruteni quas Equus unus agit Nec facile invenies ferrato haerentia Clavus Plaustra facit ligni cuncta Ministerium Et sine ferri usu pangunt sua plaustra terebris Et lignum ligno consolidare solent The Houses these Peasants inhabit in are built round and thence call'd by them Towers They are narrow and open at Top that the Smoak and Stink might go out and they are generally cover'd with Boards Straw or Bark of Trees Here Men with their Families and Cattle live together by which means it often happens that both are alternatively mischiev'd The Employments these People busie themselves in are various whereof one belonging to the Men in VVinter is to help to stuff Feather beds made of chop'd Feathers and Stalks that grow in the Marshes These Beds must needs make the most drowzy not a little vigilant Part of the VVomens Business within Doors is to weave Coarse Cloath Both their Employments without belongs either to Husbandry or Houswifry as in other Countries The Reason why they have generally little Horses Guagnini thinks is because of the excessive Cold that reigns there yet says he they are not a little strong for one of them carry'd me above a hundred and twenty Polish Miles in four Days Among these People a Maid never marries till she is twenty four or thirty Years of Age when she must also have wrought with her own Hands several Baskets full of Cloaths of different Kinds which at the Time of her Espousals she is to distribute among the Guests that her Husband brings along with him She likewise must have serv'd her Mother in all Domestick Affairs for a certain Time The same Rule holds in Respect of a Son Another Observation may not be omitted that those who are employ'd to make the Match always enquire more strictly into the Manners and Behaviour of the Persons than after the Cattel and Corn that they enjoy The Character of these People is that they are good natur'd honest and exceeding chaste for rarely any Quarrels Robberies Rapes or Incests are to be met with among them The young VVenches are so extreamly reserv'd that they will draw a Knife at a Man that but offers to kiss them And besides their Mothers have a very watchful Eye over them for they make them wear little Bells before and behind to give them Notice where they are and what they are doing The Samogitian Peasants differ but little from the Lithuanian however some Peculiars there are to be observ'd First The Rusticks of Samogitia are not so laborious as those of Lithuania and consequently have not that Plenty of Provisions c. therefore instead of Bread they are accustom'd to eat a Sort of great Turnips as big as ones Head which grow of themselves without sowing Next They have a peculiar way of making