could never learn He enter'd into an Alliance with Jaroâ—â— Duke of Russia Son to Vlodomirus and 〈◊〉 ry'd his Sister Mary afterwards call'd Doâ—â—neva whose Mother was the Princess 〈◊〉 Sister to Basil and Constantine Emperoun Constantinople He conquer'd the Province of Masoâ—â— where now lies Warsaw and defeated â—â— Army of Maslaus then Duke of that Coâ—â—try who retiring among the neighbourâ—â— Barbarians not long after return'd 〈◊〉 greater Force and ravag'd Masovia â—â— along to the Vistula but was soon met 〈◊〉 overthrown a second time by Casimir whâ—â— flying to his Friends as he thought that 〈◊〉 assisted him they took flea'd and fastned 〈◊〉 to an exceeding high Cross saying That was but just that he should be exalted whose Aâ—â— tion was so boundless Afterwards Casimir beiâ—â— mindful of the Benefits he formerly receivâ—â— in the Abby of Cluny sent thither great Prâ—â—sents and Offerings At length this good King having setled hâ—â— Kingdom in its former Tranquillity dy'd and left three Sons Boleslaus Vladislaus and Miâ—â—cistaus and one Daughter Suentochna He was â—â—y'd at Posnan in the Year 1058. BOLESLAUS II. his Son surnam'd the d succeeded him who reign'd 23 Years n the beginning of his Reign he had Wars â—â—h the Hungarians Bohemians Russians and â—â—ssians all caus'd by the protecting of three â—â—les He vigorously maintain'd the Cause Bela Prince of Hungary who was then marâ—â—d to his Aunt and banish'd by King Anâ—â— Whereupon he dethron'd Andrew and â—â—wn'd Bela King of Hungary notwithstandâ—â— the considerable Succours sent to Andrew â—â— of Germany and Bohemia Afterwards reâ—â—ning into Poland he marry'd Viseslava ughter and Heiress of the Duke of Russia by om he had that Dukedom for a Portion Towards the latter end of his Reign he came very dissolute and lewd oppress'd the â—â—ple with extraordinary and insupportable xes took away publickly Gentlemens dies to satisfy his Lust could not endure â—â— that took notice of his Irregularities â—â—ish'd such as complain'd of his Tyrannical â—â—vernment and at length kill'd Stanislaus â—â—zepanovius Bishop of Cracow for refusing â—â— the Sacrament of the Altar the manner which was thus Boleslaus continuing in enormous Crimes and Extravagancies this od Man earnestly entreated him to amend Life but perceiving his Obstinacy one y he refus'd him the Communion Which s Prince being highly offended at watch'd an opportunity to revenge and a little while after as the Bishop was officiating at Mass he gave him such a blow with his Sabre that he made his Brains fly against the Wall and afterwards his Guards entring cut the good Bishop to pieces Hereupon he was soon pursu'd with Vatican Thunder and consequently render'd odious to his Subjects Wherefore fearing some Conspiracy might be rais'd against him he left his Kingdom and retir'd with his Son Miecislaus which he had by his Queen Viseslava to Ladislaus King of Hungary where 't is reported that out of meer Madness he afterwards kill'd himself This Bishop Stanislaus was Canoniz'd by Pope Gregory VII and has all along from thence been receiv'd for the Patron of Poland The Pope also excommunicated the whole Country and Boleslaus his Successors were for a considerable time depriv'd of the Title of Kings Next came ULADISLAUS HERMANNUS Brother to Boleslaus to be elected who being afraid of the Pope or else fearing his Brother's return would only accept of the Title of Prince He recall'd his Nephew Miecislaus who died in six Years after He built many Churches and Monasteries all which he richly endow'd This Prince also brought over the rebellious Pomeranians and Prussians and defeated likewise the Army of Vratislaus Prince of Bohemia whom the Emperor Henry IV. had dignified with the Character of King giving him moreover a Right over Poland tho he had no Title to dispose of it his Predecessor Otho III. when he crown'd Boleslaus I. King of Poland having renounc'd both for himself and his Successors all Claim to that Kingdom Nay I heard the Poles themselves say that this was rather a piece of Civility in Otho than any Obligation upon them their Country having never been conquer'd by any Foreigner not even by the Romans themselves He married Judith Daughter of Vratislaus King of Bohemia by whom he had Boleslaus III. surnam'd Krivoustus or the Wry-mouth'd and afterwards by a Daughter of the Emperor Henry IV. he had three Daughters He died in the fiftieth Year of his Age was buried at Ploscow and succeeded by his Son BOLESLAUS III. surnam'd Krivoustus or the Wry-mouth'd He was the most warlike and successful Prince that Poland ever had and at length subdu'd his Bastard Brother Sbigneius that rebell'd against him whom at last he was forc'd to cause to be murder'd But of all others his Contest with the Emperor Henry V. is most famous which is as follows This Emperor having declar'd War against Colomannus King of Hungary and engag'd the Bohemians on his side Boleslaus join'd Colomannus and to make a strong Diversion enter'd Bohemia and destroy'd the greatest part of that Country whereupon to be reveng'd on Boleslaus the Emperor surpriz'd the Provinces of Silesia and Marchia which were then in the hands of the Poles and had been absolute Master of them had not Boleslaus speedily marched with an Army to oppose him who finding his Enemies much superiour in number at first thought it better to compose the matter amicably and therefore sent an Ambassador to treat of Peace to which the Emperor thinking he had the Advantage would by no means condescend except upon very dishonourable Terms for the Poles And hereupon leading Scarbicus the Ambassador to see his Treasure he told him that that pointing to his Gold would bring the Poles to what Terms he pleas'd at which Scarbicus being highly affronted took off a Gold Ring from his Finger and throwing it into the Treasury said Whatever be your Imperial Majesty's Opinion I do not question but the Polish Iron meaning their Swords will prove as good Metal as the German Gold Which said he immediately took his leave and returning to his Master acquainted him with his Negotiation which the haughty Pole highly resenting resolv'd to hazard a Battel which he did and by the Bravery of his Army obtain'd a signal Victory in the Dogs-field near Breslaw chief City of Silesia whereupon the Emperor immediately struck up a Peace with him gave him his Sister Adleida in Marriage and his Daughter Christina to his young Son Vladislaus This Prince forc'd the Pomeranians to the Christian Faith which they had often rejected before The Poles all this while were in possession of Silesia but afterwards the Kings of Bohemia conquer'd it and therefore it consequently now is under the Emperor It is reported of this Prince that he had fought forty seven Battels with success except one only with the Red Russians which was meerly lost through the Cowardice of a
Parts of the Body desir'd to know what was properly Death The School Divinity maintains that Death was a Separation of the rational Soul from the Body I own'd indeed that in Death the Soul was actually separated from the Body but I could not allow that that Separation was the cause of Death but that the Death of the Body was the Cessation of the Motion of the Heart of the Blood and of the Spirits which Cessation could not proceed from the Separation of the Soul since these don't at all depend upon it as I proved before but it was occasion'd by some Defects in the Organs and Fluids of the Body which losing their due Disposition and their mutual Correspondence with one another all their Actions cease which Cessation is properly called Death so that the Soul finding them incapable of receiving its Influence and of obeying its Commands quits the Body after it is dead by which it appears that the Separation of the Soul is not properly the Cause of Death but that the Death of the Body is the cause of the Separation The King himself illustrated this Opinion with a familiar Example of an Organ and an Organist While the Organs were in their due order and symetry the Organist play'd upon them but when by length of time they were either broke used too much or any other way quite put out of Tune he leaves off playing on them This Discourse my Lord held from three of the Clock till seven and the Divines were extreamly warm in it and some of them had the boldness to tell the King that his Majesty should not suffer such Heretical Opinions as they called them to be introduc'd before such a great Assembly contrary to the receiv'd Doctrine of the Church This Discourse caused a great many other Matters to be talk'd on of which it would be too long to inform your Lordship By this you may plainly see how fond the Divines are of their old Opinions relying upon the Doctrine of Aristotle whom we can't suppose to be so throughly acquainted with the Structure Springs and Motions of the Humane Body nor indeed with all other Natural Causes as the Modern Physicians are yet it is the Policy of the Divines not only in Poland but in Spain Italy and in most other Countries where their Power is very great not to let any Opinions creep in among them that would seem to contradict those of Aristotle for having built their Systems of Divinity upon the Principles of this Pagan Philosopher they are justly afraid that if Experience and Reason should shake the Foundation the Superstructure would fall to the Ground as doubtless it would for the most part This King built several fine Houses both in Russia and other parts of the Kingdom particularly three Miles from Warsaw a neat Country House call'd Villa Nova very richly furnished He has had several Natural Children but took no care of any of them for it is not customary in Poland to have that Consideration for them as there is in other Countries but he left vast Riches to his Lawful Children and made a Motion in the Diet five or six Years before he died to settle the Succession on one of them He told the Assembly of the Disorders that usually happened in Elections after the King's Death that the Turks and the Tartars took then Opportunities to make Inroads into the Country and ravage all before them that the Nobility of the Kingdom were generally divided headed by Factions and biass'd by Self-interest against the publick Good of their Country and that he himself would be glad to prevent all those dangerous Broils before he died out of the Love he bore to his Country and Subjects But the Diet finding that his private Design was to get one of his Sons elected answered That they hoped that his Majesty would live yet a long while that it was necessary to take a long time to consider of a Matter of that great moment which the King seeing it was a civil way of refusing to enter upon that Subject never after intimated any thing to them like it but took all possible care to enrich his Children in case none of them should be elected after his Death It was exactly computed to me that he laid up every Year for above twenty Years 100000 l. Sterl which he left partly in Bankers Hands at Dantzick Hamburgh and Amsterdam and put the rest into the hands of the Jews who are very numerous in that Kingdom to trade with it besides he bought great Territories in the Kingdom tho it is against the Constitution so that his three Sons James Alexander and Constantino if they manage their Affairs right may be worth each above 50000 l. Sterling per Annum for it is the Law in Poland to divide equally the Estate among the Children The Queen was but ten or twelve Years of Age when she together with the present Duke of Gordon's Aunt afterwards married to Count Morstin great Treasurer of Poland came from France into this Kingdom with Ladislaus King of Poland's Queen who made them both her Maids of Honour and took great care of Madamoiselle d' Arquien being very ingenious and beautiful She got her married first to Prince Zamoiski who soon left her a Widow with a Jointure of about 2000 l. a Year she was afterwards married in Casimir's Reign to John Sobieski then Captain of the Guards who was not very willing to marry her until the King promis'd that he would give him considerable Places which he accordingly did by the Instigation of the Queen for he made him Great Marshal and Great General of Poland which gave him Authority and Interest enough to make himself afterwards King and her Queen so that this Marriage was the occasion of his Rise in the World which he was so sensible of that he refus'd to be divorced from her as the Diet would have perswaded him to do after his Election The Queen is now about fifty four Years of Age tho she appears not to be forty she goes in the French Dress as all the Polish Ladies do she speaks almost naturally the Polish Tongue which with lier sweet Temper refin'd Sense and majestick Air gain'd her such Affection with the Poles such Influence over the King and such Interest always in the Diet that she manag'd all with a great deal of Prudence and that to the advantage of her native Country France whose Interest she generally espous'd upon most occasions during the King's Life which was believ'd to be the Cause that he did not carry on the War with vigour these late years against the Turks and Tartars She maintain'd at her Court her Father Cardinal D' Arquien and her Brother Count Maligny who had but a very small Estate of their own She has two Sisters one is the Widow of the late Count Bethune who was Ambassador from France in Poland and afterwards dy'd in his Embassy in
then busied in other Wars answer'd he could spare 'em none but gave 'em leave to have recourse to whose Protection they thought fit Some therefore among them put themselves under Eric King of Sweden but the Arch-bishop of Riga and the Great Master of the Teutonic Order with all the Nobility and Gentry requested the Assistance of Sigismund King of Poland who would by no means grant it them unless they would submit themselves entirely to his Obedience and take Oath of Fidelity accordingly next that they should give up all their Towns and Country and lastly annex Livonia for ever to Poland To these Terms the Livonians were neither ready nor willing to submit however at length they thought it better to condescend to these Proposals than be forc'd to accept of worse from the irresistible Fury of the Muscovites and therefore having maturely deliberated on the matter consented that Gothotred Ketler a Gentleman of Westphalia then Great Master and General of their Army should publickly abdicate his Mastership and give up to Nicholas Radzivil Palatin of Vilna deputed for that purpose by the King the City and Citadel of Riga and declare Livonia from thenceforward subject to Poland which was accordingly done and at the same time by Order of the King his Master Radzivil proclaim'd Gothotred Ketler Duke of Curland and Semigallia which are two Provinces of Livonia and next day by further Orders declar'd him Vice-roy and Governour of Livonia These two Provinces of Curland and Semigallia Ketler's Posterity have enjoy'd ever since by Hereditary Succession but still as Vassals to Poland Upon this Agreement the King declares War immediately against the Muscovites who were then very strong having just before taken from the Tartars the Kingdoms of Astracan and Casan nevertheless he defeated their Army upon the Frontiers of Lithuania and forc'd 'em to retire into their own Country but they soon return'd a second time commanded by their Czar John Basilowits tho with as little success as before This Czar is reported to have been a most cruel Tyrant it having been his chief Diversion to invent new ways of torturing insomuch that 't is said that to boil and roast both his own Subjects and the Prisoners he took was the least Punishments he made 'em suffer It would be both tedious and horrid to hear all the Tortures he us'd towards Men Women and Children He was wont to recompense such as invented new ways of Torture but these his inhuman Cruelties did so exasperate his Subjects that Sigismund found no great difficulty to force him to a Peace After this Sigismund sent a small Army into Valachia to support Bogdan in his Intentions to make himself Prince thereof but the Valachians assisted by the Turks soon oblig'd the Poles to return home In this King's Reign the Lutheran Religion got great ground in Poland the cause of which was a Quarrel upon account of a Whore between the Courtiers and Scholars which induc'd the latter to retire into Germany where they first imbib'd these Principles and which upon their return they not a little propagated in their own Country The first Person of note that embrac'd this Religon was Johannes a Lasco Palatin of Lanschet who in the Year 1540 left his Government and went into Holland and England and at his return converted several to that Perswasion All this while the King gave disturbance to none that abjur'd the Roman Faith but rather favour'd them having heard several of their Preachers in his Court particularly two Johannes Cosminis and Laurencius Prasnitius which occasion'd most of the Bishops to be enclin'd to that Belief Here cannot well be omitted a great Escape King Sigismund had at Koningsberg in Ducal Prussia whither being invited by Albert Marquess of Brandenburg and at his Reception saluted with all the Cannon by negligence of a Gunner a Bullet was left in one of them which when fir'd came so near the King as to dash out one Wisnoviec's Brains who march'd just behind him In Sigismund's time flourish'd the jocular Commonwealth of Babina consisting of several merry Gentlemen of Lublin who met together at a place call'd Babin to exercise their Wits upon all occasions This Meeting to procure the greater respect for their Proceedings they modell'd into the form of the Government of the Kingdom electing a King and Senate together with divers Officers and Magistrates As whenever any among them talk'd out of his Sphere and meddled with matters that did no ways belong to him they created him an Arch-bishop or Palatin such a one as made a great many Blunders and delighted in Contradictions they chose for their Speaker or Chancellor and whoever boasted too inordinately of his Valour they prefer'd to be their General passing immediately a Patent for that purpose and which was to be presented to him with a great deal of Submission by the Bragadochios of a Minor Character but if the Person elect refus'd this Command they persecuted him with hissing and hooting till he had accepted it Thus they created several other Senators of different Qualities whence it followed that in short time they became judicious Censurers wary Talkers modest Observers humble Performers and true Relaters of any Exploit Whenever they admitted any of their Society they first enquir'd into his Abilities and requir'd a Specimen of his Parts and this to determine the better what Office or Employment he was fittest to execute in their Commonwealth they having several others of an inferior Rank besides those we have already mention'd As if any one introduc'd an impertinent Discourse of his Hounds or his Hawks him they immediately made either their Huntsinan or their Faulkoner Likewise if a Man run out too much upon Religion he was constituted their Chaplain and where any dealt too much in Matters of Controversy he was forthwith ordain'd their Inquisitor lastly where a Man was too exuberant in his Discourse about Horses or Houshold Affairs him they either promoted to be their Master of the Horse or their Majordomo By these means in a little time they reform'd most of the Abuses and Indecorums crept into the Government of Poland and prov'd than the force of Satyr is of no less benefit than that of Oratory At length this pleasant Constitution came to the King's Ear who was often delighted with hearing of their Transactions and one day enquiring after their dignified Members he ask'd whether they had any King among them to which the Starosta of Babina who was most celebrated for his pleasant Countenance and jocular Humour reply'd Far be it from us most Serene Monarch that we should make choice of any other King while your Majesty is living Which Answer so extreamly pleas'd Sigismund that he laugh'd heartily and was so far from shewing any signs of Dislike that by several Expressions which dropt from him he occasion'd great Mirth in all the Company Afterwards there arising some grave Disputes in this Society
had elected him with such Universal Affection yet nothing could prevail upon him but he however promis'd that as soon as he had settled his Affairs in France he would return among them and moreover acknowledg'd that he was extreamly oblig'd to the Polish Nation for their Kindness and Good-will towards him Hereupon the Senate afterwards sent two Embassadors into France to intreat him to return which the King had several times a mind to comply with for he lov'd that Nation extreamly well but his French Subjects still prevail'd upon him to change his Mind representing to him the many Dangers he would expose France to by such a Journey Thus the Poles having lost all Hopes of having their King again the Primate Vchanski calls a Diet at Warsaw the 4th of November following to proceed to a new Election where two Princes were principally propos'd which were the Emperour Maximilian and Stephen Batori Prince of Transylvania but they could never unanimously agree which of the two to choose and therefore the Diet was dissolv'd Maximilian's Party sent Embassadors to acquaint him that he was chosen and that they expected he should speedily come and be crown'd while Batori's Faction did the like for him and invited him to come forthwith into Poland Hereupon BATORI made more haste than the Emperour to comply with their Request for he immediately left Transylvania and passing through Valachia and Russia quickly arriv'd at Cracow where on the 18th of April 1577 he was receiv'd and crown'd by Karnkovius Bishop of Vladislaw the Archbishop of Gnesna being for Maximilian who yet afterwards rather than he would undergo a Siege in his Castle of Lowitz quietly submitted to Batori In the mean time the Emperour was more slow resolving to come with an Army to dispute his Right but his Party growing less and less every day at length the Senate sent Embassadors to acquaint him that his Slowness and Indifference had superseded his Right to the Crown it being resolv'd to be given to him that arriv'd first Hereupon the Emperour who was then at the Diet at Ratisbon order'd the Embassadors to be put in Prison and forthwith determin'd to go for Poland himself but was prevented by a dangerous Sickness of which he soon after dy'd Octob. 12. Batori 't is true was chiefly indebted to his Merit for the Crown of Poland yet at the same time the Family of Zborowski was not a little assisting to him occasion'd by his civil Reception of one Samuel of that Family who had been banish'd his Country for striking John Teczynski Castellan of Wounitz in the King's Court. Whereupon Samuel employ'd all his Interest for Batori for at the time of the Election he writ to several of his Relations and Friends to Vote for that Prince but it being the Temper of the Polanders never to think themselves sufficiently recompens'd after they have done a Service Batori tho he sought all he could to oblige that Family yet could not keep them from proving his most inveterate Enemies by reason that he would not submit to govern according to their Humours which not long after cost Samuel his Life by a formal Proceeding in a Court of Justice Batori was first as I find him a private Gentleman in Transylvania but at length by his Merit and Valour came to have great Authority among the People of that Country for he was once sent Embassadour to the Emperour's Court where he manag'd Affairs to the satisfaction and advantage of both Parties so that after Prince John Sigismund Son to the Sister of Sigismund II. of Poland dy'd they elected him Prince of Transylvania After he was crown'd King of Poland by Karnkouski whom he made Archbishop of Gnesna he endeavour'd to appease the Disorders among the great People and to win the Affections of the Male-contents which at last he effected by marrying the Princess Ann Daughter to Sigismund I. and Sister to Sigismund II. by whom he had no Children About this time the Emperour fomented a Sedition among the Inhabitants of Dantzic which induc'd them to refuse to take an Oath of Fidelity to Batori and moreover to raise an Army and stand upon their Defence But the Senate of Poland having declar'd 'em Rebels their Army was soon defeated and Town besieg'd and at last they were oblig'd to comply by Mediation of the Electors of Saxony and Brandenburg and Lantgrave of Hesse The chief Cause of this War was that the Citizens of Dantzic pretended not to be subject to the Republic of Poland but only to the King yet notwithstanding this Treaty they were forc'd to submit themselves to both Hitherto there were no Courts of Judicature in Poland all Differences being decided by the King and Council But the Gentry finding this way of Procedure too tedious to the Nation and too burdensom to the King obtain'd leave of Batori to erect two Courts of Judicature which they commonly call Tribunals one at Petricovia and the other at Lublin where all Civil Causes were to be determin'd absolutely without any Appeal to Court unless upon any Matter relating to the State in which Case the last Decision was to be reserv'd to the King and Diet together This King was more severe in his Punishments than the Polish Laws allow'd yet he molested none on account of Religion always affirming that three Things God had wholly reserv'd to himself which were to make something out of nothing to foretel Things to come and to govern and direct Consciences This Prince like Sigismund I. very much encourag'd speaking Latin in his Dominions being reported to have said often to the Gentlemens Sons Discite Isatinè nam unum ex vobis aliquando faciam Mosci Pan a great Lord. Whereby the Youth being all in Hopes practis'd that Language with great Diligence which very much contributed towards the Encrease of Arts and Sciences in this Kingdom When Sigismund I. sent the Bishop of Varmia his Embassador to Vienna the Emperour was surpriz'd to hear even the Polish Coachmen speak Latin fluently Also after Sigismund the Second's Death when Embassadors were sent to bring Henry of Valois into Poland the French wonder'd that not one of all their Train but spoke this Language with great Address This King in the beginning of his Reign was like to have been over-run by the Muscovites for they had so great Advantages over the Poles that they took several Towns from them in a Dutchies of Severia Smolensko and Lithuania In these Wars the Muscovites were not a little politick for they took occasion to invade the Poles either when they had Wars abroad or Disturbances at home but at last King Batori having appeas'd his own intestine Jars and made Peace with his Neighbours by the concurrence of a general Diet declar'd War against the Muscovites and pour'd in upon 'em with such Vigour and Success that in three Years time he re-took all his own Towns and besides carry'd the
effected many glorious Enterprizes died peaceably leaving three Nephews Borcus Cunossus and Spera all which separately succeeded him in his Dominions Borcus took for his Share part of Samogitia where he built a Castle on the River Juria a Branch of the Niemen and call'd it after his own Name and that of the River whereon it stood Jurburg which continues even at this day Cunossus extending his Dominion a different way built Kunossow another Castle calling it after his own Name and which remains to this day Spera likewise built a Castle near the River Swenta where he began his Reign At length Borcus and Spera dying Cunossus seiz'd on both their Dominions but soon after di'd also and left two Sons Kyernus and Gybutus whereof Kyernus settled in Lithuania and built the Castle Kyernow which he made the Place of his Residence and Gybutus resided in Samogitia which he likewise govern'd Both these Brother 's joining together made huge Devastations in Russia and carried away great Booty but upon their return home found Samogitia serv'd the like Sauce by the Livonians To revenge which they forthwith enter'd Livonia and burnt and plunder'd all that Country wherever they came Kyernus dying was succeeded in Lithuania by his Son Zivibundus and Gybutus in Samogitia by his Son Muntwil which last having reign'd but little dy'd and left his Son Vikint to succeed him in Samogitia but Zivibundus liv'd a great while after and prov'd no small Victor over the Russians and Tartars for being willing to shake off the Russian Yoke he sent his Brother Wikinti Erdzivil to invade that Country who so far succeeded as to take the City and Castle of Novogrodec and to fix the Seat of a Dutchy there And after proceeding further he built the strong Castle of Grodno on the River Niemen Then he descended into Podlachia where he took several Towns and soon reduced all that Province Afterwards he conquer'd Kurdassus Prince of the Tartars at a Town call'd Mozera near the River Okuniowka This Erdzivil after many Heroick Actions and succeeding his Brother Zivibundus di'd and left two Sons Mingailus and Algimuntus and divided his Dominions between them Algimuntus chose for his part Samogitia and Mingailus rul'd over Lithuania and Polocz which last Country he took from the Russians and likewise extended his Dominion over all the Dutchy of Novogrodec This Duke died and left two Sons Skirmunt and Ginvil Skirmunt having perform'd his Father's Obsequies enter'd upon the Government of Lithuania with the Dutchy of Novogrodec And Ginvil by natural Right seiz'd upon Polocz which having govern'd for some time he died and left to his Son Boris who rul'd a great while in Polocz and built a famous Church there with Brick calling it Sancta Sophia He likewise founded several other famous Edisâ—â—ces with the Town and Castle of Borissow upon the River Beresina To him succeeded his Son Basilius Rechwold who liv'd to a great Age and left behind him a Son called Hlebus and a Daughter nam'd Poroskavia Hlebus surviv'd his Father but a little while and Poroskavia wholly devoted her self to the Greek Religion but afterwards went to Rome where she died and was Canonized for a Saint Now to return to the Dukes of Lithuania Skirmunt obtain'd great Conquests over the Tartars and Russians and dying left his Uncle Kukovoitus to succeed him in Lithuania and Samogitia who having govern'd a good while died and left his Dominions to his Son-in-Law Giedrussus who had marri'd his Daughter Poiata This Duke dying left for his Successor his Son Ringolt who having perform'd his Father's Funeral-Rites after the Pagan manner enter'd upon the Government of Lithuania and Samogitia Against this Duke the Russians join'd â—â—y the Tartars march'd with great fury to reduce him to pay Tribute but he timely opposing them with equal Force gave them a signal Overthrow near Mohilna on the River Niemen At length this Ringolt famous likewise for several other Victories died and left his Dominions to his Son Mindog or Mendog in the Year 1240 who had various Conflicts with the Dukes of Smolensko and Volhynia both which at last he totally subdu'd He likewise fought several Battels with Boleslaus the Chast King of Poland and Daniel Emperor of Moscovy in most of which the Christians were worsted with great slaughter He frequently made Incursions into Masovia Dobrina Cujavia c. and return'd with great Booty He also had bloody Wars with the Teutonic Knights of Prussia and Livonia But at length in the Year 1252 being over-perswaded by the then Great Master Henricus de Zalcza he gave up all his Dominions to that Order in acknowledgment of several Honours and Services done him and moreover consented to turn Christian and afterwards sent to Rome to pay his Devoir to that See Whereupon Innocent IV. deputed his Brother Heinderic to consecrate him King But whether it were that Mindog repented the loss of his Dominions or for any other Cause it is certain that he refus'd to receive this Nuncio and the very same Year together with all his Country returned to their former Idolatry Nevertheless the Teutonic Knights suffer'd him to continue King and under him in conjunction with the Lithuanians Samogitians c. invaded Masovia and made great Havock of that Country But afterwards Mendog being unmindful any farther of the Civility of those Knights turn'd his Arms against their Country destroying most of their Cities and returning with great Spoils Next Mendog having gathered together a great Army and being likewise assisted by Swarno Duke of Russia marched against Semovitus Duke of Masovia whom together with his Son Conrade he surpriz'd in his Palace of Jasdow where Swarno struck off Semovitus his Head with his own hand but Conrade was preserv'd by Mendog and afterwards ransom'd by his Countrymen Soon after this the Lithuanians and Russians having made great Devastations in Masovia retir'd with the Spoils and Captives into their several Countries The next Year the same People not being content with their former Irruptions march'd again into Masovia but scarce finding any thing left to prey upon by reason of their last Year's Work they only burnt and plunder'd a House belonging to the Arch-bishop of Gnesna and so return'd home At length Heaven thought fit to favour the Polish Christians by taking away King Mindog who was murder'd by his Nephew Stroinat and his Son-in-Law Dowmant in the Year 1263. Stroinat begun his Reign in the Year 1263 by the murder of his Brother Towcivil Duke of Polocz but not long afterwards Woisalk Son of Mendog tho then a Russian Monk being mindful of his Father's Death depriv'd him also of Life and immediately seiz'd on his Dominions Woisalk took upon him only the Title of Duke and began his Government with frequent Irruptions into Poland Mascovia and Prussia But in the Year
Woievod of Cracovia to whom the King after the Fight sent a Hare-Skin and Spinning-wheel for Recompence Nevertheless this one Defeat stuck so close to him that he soon after died leaving four Sons among whom he divided his Kingdom This King perform'd a great many more memorable Actions which my Lord because they might be too tedious to insert here I have omitted He was of an undaunted Spirit a great despiser of Danger and no less an observer of Truth and Right very liberal and generous upon the smallest Occasions and moreover endued with singular Clemency and Modesty He was further very ambitious of Glory but at the same time no Enemy to Peace tho he is said to have been train'd up to War from his very Cradle To ULADISLAUS surnam'd the Driveler his eldest Son he left the Supreme Power which was confirm'd and he elected in the Year 1140 but reign'd only six Years and to the other three he gave only some separate Provinces which afterwards was the occasion of great Disorders in Poland for the elder Brother Vladislaus pretending to dispossess the other three turn'd his Brother Boleslaus out of the Palatinates of Ploskow and Masovia and his Brother Henry out of the Province of Sendomir who both retir'd to their third Brother that govern'd Posnania Vladislaus had always with him a Nobleman call d Peter Dunin whom taking out one day to hunt they happen'd to be so late abroad that they were oblig'd to lie all Night in a Wood where for Diversion the King began to joke with his Companion after this manner Dunin quoth he I. believe your Wife lies more at ease to Night with the Abbot Scrinnen than we do To which Dunin forgetting himself tartly reply'd And it may be your Majesty's does the same with Dobessus Who it seems was a handsom Fellow about Court that his Queen Christina lov'd This Answer so nettled the King that he afterwards employ'd the same Dobessus to be reveng'd on Dunin which he effected by pulling out his Tongue and Eyes Hereupon the People perceiving how cruelly Vladislaus persecuted his own Brothers and at the same time how ill he treated his Subjects began to be daily more and more disaffected to him whereby his Brothers Party greatly encreasing he was beaten by them as he was going to besiege Posnan Wherefore discovering new Factions hourly appearing against him and fearing some ill Fate from a universal Hatred he timely withdrew into Germany to the Emperor Conrade III. Cousin German to his Queen Christina who several times endeavour'd to restore him but all in vain for his Brother Boleslaus Crispus having got possession of the Crown Vladislaus was forc'd to compound for Silesia only which afterwards fell to the Principality of Bohemia and has ever since been out of the possession of the Poles This Prince lies buried at Attenburg a City of Germany in Alsace Vladislaus with his Son having abdicated the Crown of Poland his second Brother BOLESLAUS CRISPUS or the Frizled was elected in the Year 1146 and reign'd to the Year 1175 yet the Emperor Conrade did what he could to restore Vladislaus To effect which he first sent Embassadors into Poland but to no purpose Then he resolv'd to make War with the Poles but defer'd it till his Expedition against Asia was over to facilitate which he had obtain'd leave to pass through Boleslaus his Dominions to the Euxine Sea But at his return being constantly solicited by Vladislaus and his Queen he march'd with a powerful Army against Poland yet what with Delays Stratagems and Ambuscades he was so fatigu'd by the Poles that he could do nothing till at last he was call'd home to appease some Intestine Broils in his own Dominions which having effected he soon after died His Successor Frederic Barberossa also espous'd Vladislaus his Cause but not being able to do any thing in his Favour by Embassadors he march'd with a numerous Army against the Poles which they likewise harass'd and wearied out till they had oblig'd that Emperor to strike up a Peace with 'em he being in War at the same time against Milan by which it was agreed that Boleslaus should remit Silesia to Vladislaus whose Posterity afterwards divided it into several Dutchies till at last it came to the Empire This great Province my Lord as I observ'd in my Journy through it is one of the most fertile and plentiful Countries in all Germany Boleslaus began another War against the Prussians for refusing to pay him Tribute and forc'd them to this Compliance that they should submit in case he left 'em to their Religion but otherwise they boldly declar'd that they would rather die than become Christians again Whereupon Boleslaus was forc'd to grant them Liberty of Conscience yet they soon revolted and by a Stratagem entirely routed the Polish Army and kill'd his Brother Henry This King died not long after and was buried at Cracow MIECISLAUS surnam'd the Old Brother to Boleslaus succeeded him being elected in the Year 1174 and reign'd only to 1178. He was call'd the Old from his great Sagacity and Prudence in his Youth His Covetousness induc'd him to hoard up great Sums of Money by oppressing the Gentry and People with unreasonable Taxes and selling all Employments tho against the Constitutions of the Kingdom This extreme Avarice brought him to be generally hated by the Clergy Nobility and People whereupon Gedeon Bishop of Cracow endeavour'd several times to encline him to pity his Subjects and despise Money since he had no need of it but he would by no means hearken to his Advice wherefore this Bishop concerted together with the Gentry to dethrone him and remit the Crown to Casimir his Brother who more deserv'd it which they effectually did after some little Bloodshed Here we may observe that Covertousness is the greatest Vice that any Prince can be guilty of especially a King of Poland whose Subjects as your Lordship doubtless has observ'd are generally liberal even to Extravagance At first Casimir refus'd the Crown offer'd him alledging it was his Brother's Right and that such an Alteration might occasion Civil Wars which he by no means had any mind to be the Author of But when they unanimously declar'd they would have no other King and could never more obey Miecislaus CASIMIR II. consenting to accept of the Government was elected in the Year 1178 and reign'd to 1195. He was surnam'd the Just being altogether unlike his Brother as appears by the following Particular Being at play with a Gentleman of his nam'd Conarius whilst he was Prince of Sendomir and having won all his Adversary's Money the Gentleman in a Passion struck him over the Face and fled but next day being brought before him was adjudged by every body to have deserv'd Death for his Insolence Not at all replied the good Prince for being affected with his Loss and not
his Death Suentopelus declared himself Duke of Pomerania and Conrade and call'd into Poland the Knights of the Teutonic Order who were then banisht out of Syria by the Sarazens and settled in Germany to help him against the Prussians who were wont to make frequent Incursions into his Country to whom for Recompence he gave the Territory of Culm and some other small Places on condition they should act vigorously against the Prussians but after they had conquer'd those People they were to resign Culm c. and have the half of their Conquests to themselves These Auxiliary Troops prov'd afterwards very pernicious to Poland having been the Cause of many bloody Wars in that Country This Agreement between the Knights of the Cross as they were likewise call'd and Conrade was approv'd and confirm'd by Pope Gregory IX in the Year 1228. In a short time these Knights effected what they undertook This Lescus lies buried in the Cathedral at Cracow and left behind him a young Son BOLESLAUS V. surnam'd the Chast whose Guardians he order'd to be his Brother Conrade and Henry Duke of Breslaw his Cousin This young Prince notwithstanding the many Intrigues and Cabals Conrade form'd against him who design'd to make himself King was elected in the Year 1228 and reign'd to the Year 1278. He marry'd Cunigunda Daughter to Bela King of Hungary but after they were bedded he had not the courage to consummate the Marriage and therefore by mutual Consent both made a Vow of Chastity 'T was in this Prince's Reign the Tartars made their first Irruptions into Poland whereof there were three at several times In the first they ravag'd all the Country about Lublin and Russia and carry'd away an incredible Number of Prisoners with great Riches In the second they return'd with more fury and not being contented with the Plunder of Poland spread likewise all over Silesia where near Lignitz they entirely defeated the Confederate Army of the Christians wherein Henry Duke of Breslaw Boleslaus Son to the Duke of Moravia Pompo Great Master of the Teutonick Order and several other Persons of Note were kill'd The Number of dead Bodies was so incredible that they fill'd nine great Sacks with the Christians Ears cutting off each Head but one after the same manner as Hanibal at the Battle of Cannae fill'd several Bushels with the Rings cut off from the Fingers of the Roman Knights only that were there kill'd Boleslaus had not the courage to march in Person against the Tartars when they came a second time to invade him but retir'd with his Court into Hungary and thereby left his Subjects to the Mercy of their Enemies Which base Action the Poles being extremely offended at intended to have elected a new King whereupon Boleslaus Son to Henry Duke of Breslaw that was kill'd in the Battle afterwards was nam'd but Conrade vigorously opposing him and pretending to have more Right the Gentry to prevent Civil Wars recall'd their former King Bolestaus from Hungary and in the mean time Conrade dy'd Not long after the Tartars together with the Lithuanians which were hitherto Pagans made Incursions a third time into Poland when they pillag'd the Country up as far as Cracow which City meeting with no body in it to resist'em they both plunder'd and burnt Afterwards they went to Vratislaw which they found ready fir'd to their hands for the Townsmen having had timely notice of the coming of the Barbarians had got all their Treasure together and fled whilst the Souldiers distrusting the Strength of the Place and searing it might become a Prey to the Enemy set fire to it and retir'd into the Castle which having greatly incens'd the Tartars they laid Siege to the Castle with all imaginable Vigour and would soon have taken it had they not been frighted from before it by a Prodigy During this Boleslaus march'd in Person against the Lithuanians whom he overthrew and kill'd their Duke Mindacus The Prussians likewise being yet Pagans sided with the Lithuanians when the Teutonick Order which was then settled in Prussia call'd to their Assistance Ottocarus King of Bohemia who quickly reduc'd the Prussians and the better to keep them in Awe built a Fort call'd Koningsberg or Royal Hill Boleslaus was a pious and good Prince and lies bury'd at Cracow in a Monastery founded by himself He built other Religious Houses and reign'd near 50 Years and having made a Vow of Chastity left no Children Wherefore his Uncle's Son by the Father LESCUS VI. surnam'd the Black succeeded him being elected in the Year 1279 and reign'd only to the Year 1289. In the beginning of his Reign the Russians summon'd by the Lithuanians and Tartars made Incursions into Poland under Command of Leo their Duke but were defeated first by Varsias the King's General and afterwards were beat by the King himself out of a Village where they had entrench'd themselves which from that General 's Name has been since call'd Leopol and is now a sine City Upon this Defeat the Enemy were forc'd to retire with great Loss Not long after they return'd again but more to their prejudice than in the former Irruption for then tho their Army consisted of a Prodigious Number of Men and an innumerable Company of Mastiff Dogs train'd up to War yet were they a second time routed by Lescus insomuch that a certain People call'd Jazyges who then inhabited a part of Lithuania and came only to plunder in Poland were so totally destroy'd that there remains nothing left of 'em except the Name But at Length the Tartars making another Irruption had better success for they not only vanquish'd Lescus but also carry'd away besides Men marry'd Women and Children above twenty thousand Maids into Captivity After this Defeat an Insurrection was rais'd against Lescus by Paul Bishop of Cracow for that under the Reign of Boleslaus the Chast Lescus had kept him about a Month in Prison Hereupon Conrade Duke of Masovia was invited to accept the Crown who coming into Poland for that purpose was met at Sendomir by General Varsias Paul the Bishop and a great Number of the Nobility Upon this Lescus perceiving himself forsaken fled into Hungary to King Vladislaus but the City of Cracow still bearing a respect to him continu'd Loyal and prepar'd to sustain a Siege Whereupon having been summon'd to surrender their Answer was That they could not be treaâ—â—berous to their lawful Soveraign Lescus but would defend his Right to the last drop of their Blood Hereat the Nobles being grievously nettled resolv'd to sit down with their Army before that City but upon their Approaches finding it empty the Inhabitants being retir'd into the Castle they set sire to it thinking by those means to bring the Enemy sooner to a Compliance This done Lescus having obtain'd a considerable Army of King Vladislaus was marching directly towards Cracow to relieve his
War into the very heart of their Country plundering and destroying wherever he came In this Expedition he got from them above twenty great Cities and Provinces such as Polotia Sokola Sussa Krasna Vsviata Sitna Jeseriscia Kossiano Nescerda all the Dutchy of Plotia Lukis Neuela Zavolotia Ostrovia c. All this put the poor Muscovites into such a fright that they immediately dispatch'd an Embassador to the Pope to give him hopes that if he could prevail upon the Poles to withdraw their Army out of their Country and make an honourable Peace with 'em they would all submit to the Roman Church This your Grace may imagine soon put the Holy Father upon a pious Stratagem for he sent his Nuncio Possevinus to assure the Czar that he would employ all his Interest in his behalf Whereupon the Poles having besieg'd Pleskow the strongest Town in Muscovy with ill success and moreover having lost above forty thousand Men during the War at length through the prudent Management of Possevinus they agreed to a Suspension of Arms for ten Years and farther that the King of Poland should restore to Muscovy all the Provinces and Towns he had taken in this War and that on the other side the Czar should give up to the King all Livonia yet the Czar made no Alteration in his Greek Religion as he had made the Pope believe he design'd to do Thus ended the War with Muscovy which was like to have prov'd so fatal to that Country The Tartars durst not make any Incursions into Poland during his Reign and their Cham having sent Embassadors thither to demand the Tribute formerly paid them for Transylvania he dismiss'd their Embassy with a great deal of Indignation declaring he would pay Tribute to no Man The Turk likewise shew'd great Deference for this Prince for he never made any Hostilities in Transylvania while Batori govern'd there but his Nephew being elected Prince of that Country the Port would have augmented their Tribute but Batori espousing his Cause by an Embassy to the Grand Seignior the Port chose rather to be contented with little than to hazard the losing of all by disobliging so powerful a Prince All that huge Tract of Land above three hundred Miles long from East to West and above a hundred broad from South to North was for fifty Years before in possession of the Poles It is call'd by one general Name Vkraina which in the Selavonian Language signifies a Frontier serving for Bounds betwixt them the Turks and Tartars This vast and fertil Country is divided into two great Provinces Volhynia and Podolia Of Volhynia the capital Town is Kiovia built on the Borysthenes which was formerly as they say one of the largest in Europe It antiently belong'd to the Dukes of Russia but now is entirely ruin'd between the Turks and Tartars The capital Town of Podolia is Caminiec a fortify'd City built on a Rock The Inhabitants of Vkraina are commonly call'd Cosacks which in the Sclavonian Language signifies Robbers At first they were Peasants that came from Russia and other neighbouring Countries settling in the Islands of the River Boristhenes and who afterwards spread all over Vkraina and liv'd on Robbery for they us'd to make Inroads into Tartary and Turky plunder Trebisond and Sinope and ravage even up to the Gates of Constantinople They also us'd to pirate on the Black Sea and have been very useful to the Poles when they were engag'd in War against the Infidels I can compare 'em to no People better than to the Miquelets of Spain or Highlanders of Scotland King Stephen to make this People more serviceable to the Crown of Poland put 'em under a good Discipline order'd 'em Officers and a General and moreover gave 'em the Town of Techtimoravia upon the River Boristhenes which they made a Magazine as also the Place of Residence for their Governours to be a Bulwark against the Irruptions of the Tartars who frequently infested them He endow'd 'em likewise with many Privileges for all which they afterwards did him considerable Services It will not here be amiss to give your Grace some farther Account of this People who are often much talk'd of and yet at the same time but very little known Alberto Vimina in his Civil Wars of Poland says it is certain that they have their Name from the Sclavonian Word Coza which signifies a Goat and this either because they were wont to be cloth'd with Garments of Goats Hair or that they liv'd like Goat-herds in Huts or else by reason that they skipt about like Goats and found no Country of too difficult Access for them The Country they first possess'd was not above eighteen Leagues on either side of the Borysthenes not far from the Place where Ovid was sent into Banishment and where they affirm is a Castle still that goes by the Name of Ovidoua where Ovid may be suppos'd to have been buried This Vimina says he does not at all discredit the Country agreeing with a Passage of Ovid in his Elegies writ to Rufinus Non Ager hic Pomum non dulces educat uvas Non salices Ripa robora monte virent Neve fretum laudes terra magis aequora semper Ventorum rabie solibus orba tument And the Fierceness of the People describ'd by Ovid in another place encreases his Opinion Maxima pars hominum nec te pulchorrima curat Roma nec Ausonii Militis Arma timet Notwithstanding all this we must not pretend to derive this Modern People from Antiquity for it is certain they were at first a Body of Vagabonds that fled from Justice into this Country where they liv'd only upon fishing and hunting and at last as now upon Piracy and Robbery The present Extent of their Country is much larger than formerly for now it reaches 100 Leagues in length and above 40 in breadth They report the Grass here generally grows so high that a Man on Horse-back is easily hid under it This Country abounds so with all sorts of Grain that the Inhabitants know not what to do with it their Rivers being shallow and therefore not capable to transport it to other places They have also all sorts of Beasts Fish and Fowl with most other Necessaries except Wine and Salt whereof the first comes from Hungary Transilvania Valachia and Moldavia and the second is fetch'd from the Mines of Poland The Houses of this Country are generally of Wood built in like manner as in Muscovy and Poland and rarely above one Story high The Walls of their Towns are most commonly made of Earth kept up with Stakes and Planks such being most proper to resist the force of Cannon The Inhabitants of Vkraina are for the most part robust and strong generous and great Despisers of Covetousness inconceivable Lovers of Liberty and impatient under the mildest Slavery They are likewise indefatigable bold and brave but withal excessive
Livonia to the King of Sweden Gustavus Adolphus but it was suspected that he intended to betray that King for soon after the said Farenbach was reconcil'd to King Sigismund to whom he restor'd all the Places except Pernau In the Year 1620 the Poles were engag'd in a War against the Turks fomented as was suppos'd by Bethlem Gabor Prince of Transilvania for which the Turks afterwards endeavour'd to banish that Prince for siding with the Poles In the Year following the Turks march'd with their whole Forces against Poland but were met by the Poles near Chocim under the Command of Prince Vladistaus who with an Army of about 65000 Men repuls'd above 392000 Turks commanded by their Emperor Osman in Person The Turks attempted three times to force the Polish Camp but were as often beat back with Loss Nevertheless in the mean time the Poles suffer'd extremely for want of Ammunition and Provisions and besides were mightily weakened by Sickness and a huge Mortality among their Horses Notwithstanding all this at length the Turkish Emperor was forc'd to strike up an honourable Peace with them after having lost about 60000 Men in the several Attacks he made upon their Camp and a greater number in his March back to Constantinople In the mean time Gustavus Adolphus falling into Livonia took the City of Riga without any great Resistance and all the rest of that Country except Dunneburgh was conquer'd likewise by the Swedes in the Year 1625. Afterwards Gustavus enter'd Prussia in the Year 1626 where he took the Cities of Marienburg and Elbing besides some other Places This War was thus carried on without any general Engagement till the Year 1629 when Hans Wrangel the Swedish General defeated the Poles near Gorzno Then the Emperor sent some Forces to the Assistance of the Poles who in a Battle fought near Stuma were very near having made Gustavus Prisoner But however the Polish Affairs after this Battel falling into great Confusion they were forc'd to clap up a Truce till the Year 1634 by the Mediation of Charles the First King of England and of Lewis the Thirteenth of France the Swedes in the mean while being to keep possession of Elbing Mcmel Braunsberg Pillau and what besides they had taken in Livonia After this Sigismund dy'd the last day of April in the Year 1632 being sixty Years old and having reign'd forty four He had all the Qualities that could be requir'd in a great Prince He lov'd Justice and all the World commended his Piety He was always of an even Temper either in good or bad Fortune and the Lustre of the Polish Crown obtain'd when he was but young together with the loss of the Kingdom of Sweden to his Uncle might well have either exalted or debas'd him had he not had a great Soul yet among all these good Qualities he was too much wedded to his Opinion which was the cause of some Misfortunes that happen'd to him Prince Vladislaus was absent when his Father Sigismund fell sick yet he arriv'd at Court just as he was expiring whose Presence so much reviv'd the King as to give him Power to put the Crown of Sweden on his Son's Head tho he was to leave that of Poland to Chance This Election was much more peaceable than his Father Sigismund's in that he had no Competitors to oppose him Some thought Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden had a design upon the Crown and his boundless Ambition join'd with the great Number of his Friends the Lutherans dispersed throughout the whole Kingdom might very well support that Opinion yet the Gentry of Great Poland which were most to be suspected on account of Conformity in Religion with him were the first that strove to exclude him for they declar'd those Enemies to their Country that should in the least dare to propose him Likewise at another Assembly a Palatin offering but to insinuate that it would be proper to choose a Foreign Prince the Gentry were so unanimously offended at him that he was fain to retire betimes to avoid their Fury Also Gustavus Adolphus had then too many Irons in the Fire to draw any more Enemies upon his Back John Casimir Brother to Prince Vladislaus was likewise suspected to have a mind to the Crown and this Conjecture had a more plausible Foundation than the former These two Princes were both Sons to Sigismund III. yet had they not the same Mother That of Casimir did all she could to advance her Son to the Throne At the Diet met at Thorn she endeavour'd to have a Successor elected whilst the King was living whereupon she employ'd a certain Bishop to propose her Son but with which the Diet was so extremely incens'd that they would have immediately tri'd that Prelat for infringing the Publick Liberties had not more weighty Affairs interven'd which caus'd them to lay those Intentions aside During this Prince Casimir did all he could to satisfy the Publick that he had no Design upon the Crown but that all his Aim was to promote the Interest of his elder Brother The Primate John Vezik having notified the Death of the late King conven'd the Diet on the 27 th of June where the Lutherans continued their Cabals and Factions as formerly but did not favour any of Vladislaus his Competitors as before The Diet of Election was fix'd for the 27 th of September in the same Year whither the Gentry all flock'd at the time appointed but that more to ingratiate themselves in their Prince Vladislaus's favour than to sell their Suffrages One thing was propos'd at this Diet which had it been followed might have deliver'd the Kingdom from great Oppressions This was to digest the Laws into a Code and to get the King Elect to confirm it Also to reform the many Abuses crept into the Practice of the Law but this was too vigorously oppos'd by the interessed Party and therefore was fain to be let fall Hereupon the Diet devoted themselves wholly to the Election Prince Casimir first propos'd his BrotherVladislaus which Henry Firley Bishop of Premislia seconded by a Speech to this purpose That tho that Assembly had a Right to elect whom they pleas'd yet they had ever had a particular regard to the Offspring of their Kings that every body there acknowledg'd the Candidate to be of the Blood of Jagello That even the Merit of his Father pleaded for the Interest of the Son That Uladislaus his own Conquests had sufficiently testify'd his Valour and lastly that a favourable Result was to be expected from that Assembly since each knew as much of the Merit of that Prince as he This was courteously answer'd by the Primate after which they proceeded to admit the Ambassadors First Honorius Visconti the Pope's Nuncio had Audience who being plac'd on the left hand of the Primate first desir'd the Assembly to choose a Catholick Prince and then recommended Prince Vladislaus Next the Embassadors of the Emperour
Gules The second Palatinate of the Province of Masovia is that of Ploskow lying towards the East between the Vistula and Prussia It is divided into four Districts viz. The Districts of Ploczkow Zancren Mlava and Stenen In all which are these principal Cities and Towns viz. Ploczkow Bish Cap. Sieprcz Srensko Mlaw and Radzanow The Capital of all which is Ploczkow or Ploczko Metropolis of the Palatinate of that Name which stands on a high Bank of the Weissel or Vistula from whence one may have a very fair Prospect of a pleasant and fruitful Country This City is considerably inrich'd by the Navigableness of its River is very populous and has been long dignified with a Bishop's See Besides the Cathedral there are divers other Churches and Monasteries richly endow'd especially the Abby of Benedictins in the Suburbs where amongst other Relicks the Head of St. Sigismund is kept in Gold which was given by King Sigismund III. Sieprcz a Wooden Town built on a Hill among the Marshes and about five Miles from Ploczkow Srensko a Timber-built Town seated in a Plain with a Castle founded among the Bogs This Place is about ten Miles from Ploczko Mlaw a Town built on the Confines of Prussia and wash'd by the River of its own Name It is also about ten Miles from Ploczkow Radzanow a Timber-built Town on the River Vkra with a Castle founded upon a Rock amongst the Marshes This Town is about eight Miles from Ploczkow The Senators of this Palatinate are The Bishop Palatin and Castellan of Ploskow The Castellans of Sieprcz and Radzanow The Standard or Arms of this Palatinate are an Eagle expans'd Sables with a P on the Breast All in a Field Gules The third Palatinate of the Province of Masovia is that of Dobrina lying towards the West between Cujavia and Prussia It abounds with all sorts of Fruit and Fish and is divided into three Districts viz. The District of Dobrina Ripin and Slonsk In all which are these principal Cities and Towns viz. Dobrina Cap. Ripin Slonsk and Gorzno The Capital City of this Palatinate is Dobrina a Timber-built City seated on a Rock near the River Vistula It had formerly a Castle which was demolish'd by the Teutonick Knights Ripin a Wooden Town built in a Plain on the River Odleck It is about five Miles from Dobrina Slonsk a Town in a Plain situate upon the River Vistula and about two Miles from Dobrina Gorzno or Gurzno a Wood-built Town tolerably well defended by Nature and Art It is about six Polish Miles from Dobrina This Palatinate was formerly the cause of frequent Wars between the Poles Teutonick Knights and Prussians The Senators of this Palatinate are The Castellans of Dobrina Ripin and Slonsk The Arms and Standard of this Palatinate are a Man's Head proper doubly crown'd Or and Argent All in a Field Gules The Sixth PROVINCE of this Kingdom is Samogitia having in it no Palatinate tho many Capitanies of which the chief Starosta is he of the Province who has a Place in the Senate tho no other of the same Dignity have the like throughout the whole Kingdom except he be otherwise qualified This Province is indifferently large and fruitful tho it be very much over-run with Woods To the North it is bounded by Curland and the Baltic Sea On the West it has Ducal Prussia and the Baltic and towards the South and East it borders on Lithuania It has several Cities as well belonging to the King as the Gentry which for the most part are all built with Wood. This Province takes its Name from its Situation which is low and marshy the word Samogitz in the Language of this Country denoting as much It abounds with Lakes and inaccessible Mountains yet affords great quantities of Honey purer than that either of Lithuania or Livonia and breeds Horses which are very much admir'd for their Swiftness The ordinary People here live in Cottages for the most part seated near Lakes or Rivers and cover'd either with Thatch or Boards They plough the Ground not with Iron but Wood tho the Soil be most commonly fat and stiff which Custom they are addicted to even to Superstition for when a certain Starosta of that Country thought to introduce Iron Plowshares among them and the Season not happening to prove as kind as usual they attributed all the cause to this change of Instrument whereupon they were permitted to return to their old way for fear of an Insurrection Their Horses are generally so small that one would wonder how they could undergo the Fatigue they put 'em to Most of the Inhabitants of this Country differ little in Manners Habit or Language from the Lithuanians yet some of them still retain several Idolatrous Worships especially in the Deserts where they pay Devotion to a four-footed Serpent under the Name of Givosit and you 'll hardly find a Family in these Parts without one of these Houshold Gods Nay even at this day in many Villages both of Prussia and Lithuania the poor Peasants altho they profess Christianity yet keep Adders in their Houses to which they pay a more than ordinary Veneration imagining that some great Mischief would befal them if these Idols should come to any harm To be more particular with this Country your Lordship may understand that their Houses except only those of the Gentry are built low and long-ways with an Hearth in the middle and but one Room which serves not only for themselves but their Cattel The better sort drink out of Horn Cups and eat out of Wooden Platters The Honey here is extraordinary having but little Wax and some of it is perfectly white with which the Woods are every where almost lin'd The manner of the Pagan Sacrifices and Feasts in Samogitia kept at this day about the end of October is as follows First the Place of meeting being assign'd the Men with their Wives Children and Servants punctually appear thereat when spreading a Cloth upon the Straw several Loaves are set in due order and between each Loaf a large Pot of Beer then Beasts of divers kinds both Male and Female are brought in and sacrific'd after the antient Custom thus First the Augur or Priest after having mumbled over some few words strikes 'em with a Wand he holds in his hand on the Back Belly c. when all that are present likewise follow his Example crying out O Zimiennick for so they call their God these Offerings we make to thee for protecting us so mercifully hitherto and we most humbly implore thee to have the like Compassion on us for the future as to preserve us from Fire Sword Pestilence and our Enemies Which said they immediately fall to but first cut off a bit from every Plate and throw 'em about the Room crying O Zimiennick graciously partake of our Sacrifices and favour thy Adorers After
1290 46 XXXIII Henry I. 1290 6 1296 48 XXXIV Premislus 1296 7 Mon. 1296 ib. XXXV Vladislaus Locticus 1296 4 1300 49 XXXVI Winceslaus K. of Bomia 1300 5 1305 ib. XXXVII Locticus restor'd 1305 28 1333 50 XXXVIII Casimir III. the Great 1333 37 1370 54 XXXIX Lewis K. of Hungary 1370 12 1382 56 XL. Queen Hedwigis 1382 4 1386 58 XLI Jagello or Vladislaus V. 1386 49 1435 59 XLII Vladislaus VI. 1435 21 1446 60 XLIII Casimir IV. 1446 43 1493 63 XLIV John Albert 1493 8 1501 66 XLV Alexander 1501 6 1507 67 XLVI Sigismund I. 1507 41 1548 69 XLVII Sigismund II. 1548 26 1574 75 XLVIII Henry of Valois 1574 5 Mon. 1577 85 XLIX Stephen Batori 1577 10 1587 88 L. Sigismund III. 1587 45 1632 106 LI. Vladislaus VII 1632 16 1648 121 LII John Casimir 1648 22 1670 124 LIII Michael Wiesnowiski 1670 4 1674 145 LIV. John Sobieski 1674 23 1697 163 LV. Frederic Augustus now reigning 1697 5 Mon. 207 FINIS Partis Prima A Compendious Plan OF THE Body of Physick A Letter from a Gentleman in Cambridg to Dr. Connor concerning the Method he us'd in his Physical and Anatomical Lectures and in explaining the Materia Medica at Oxford in the Year 1695. SIR WE have here some Account of the accurate Course of the Chymical and Anatomical Lectures which you perform'd last Spring at Oxford and of your new method of explaining the Virtues of Medicines there with the Approbation and Improvement of all that had the Happiness to assist at them I have spoke with some curious Genntlemen that some Years ago saw your Dissections at Paris with the like good Success And I doubt not but your Skill and Insight in all the Parts of Physick is considerably augmented since by your Travels into Italy Germany Poland and the Low Countries having had thereby the Opportunity of conversing with Malpighi Bellini Redi and the most celebrated Physicians of those Places I have also with a great deal of Pleasure perused your ingenious Dissertationes Medico-Physicae or Latin Treatises lately printed at Oxford concerning malignant Damps pestilential Steams infectious Air and Subterraneous Poisons with certain other stupendous and rare Phaenomena From all this I conclude that you not only understand Chymistry Anatomy and the Materia Medica very well your self but that also you are capable to lead others into the Knowledg of them by a most easy and compendious Method in which Opinion I am confirmed by my Correspondent in Oxford Many besides my self in this University do earnestly wish that your other Occupations would permit you to pass some Months here with us as indeed we expected you should when you left Oxford last Summer But since it so falls out that your Practice keeps you at London we intreat the Favour of you to let us understand whether we may obtain a Scheme of your Method in those Physical Exercises or whether at London you can spare any time to such as are desirous to wait upon you to this purpose Sir by so doing you are like to oblige several but more particularly Cambridg Octob. 15. 1695. Your most humble and obedient Servant C. P. Dr. Connor's Answer containing a Plan of his Corpus Rationale Medicum or of his new and compendious Method Chymical and Anatomical for understanding the Oeconomia Animalis the nature of Diseases and the Materia Medica SIR WHatever you are pleased to say in Commendation of me or my Book I must wholly attribute to your Civility and will return no other Compliment to you for it but that I shall endeavour to deserve your good Opinion I am extreamly oblig'd to your Correspondent in Oxon for the advantagious Character he gives of me and I assure you that I have not met with better Discipline nor with Persons more universally learned in any University of Europe As for the Method or Scheme I observed at Oxford to lead the Proficients in Physick and other ingenious Gentlemen there into the Knowledg of the Fabrick natural Functions and Distempers of the Human Body as likewise into the Knowledg of the Materia Medica to cure the same Diseases it is as follows I consider'd Man in the first place as a Being compounded of Spirit and Matter But seeing it is only the last of these Parts wherein our Faculty is concern'd I took a stricter veiw of the Human Body and find the Structure of it like that of most other Animals But to have any accurate Knowledg of Man we must not only have a distinct Account of his constituent Parts but likewise of all the external Bodies which any way affect him or contribute to his Preservation Since therefore he cannot live without Earth to tread upon Air to breath Animals and Vegitables to feed upon Sun and Stars to afford him Warmth and Light c. we must by consequence examine the System and Elements of the World and particularly as they concur to the Preservation or Destruction of Man We must be very well acquainted with the nature of the three mixt Bodies of our Globe viz. Animals Vegetables and Minerals before we can give any tolerable Account of the Generation Nourishment Health Diseases or Death of Man before we can discover the admirable Fabrick and Contexture the Mechanick and Hydraulical Actions Chymical Preparations the various Operations of Medicines and an infinite number of other surprizing Phoenomena in the Human Body The best Method therefore I presume is to proceed Analytically from the previous Examination of all the known Parts of the great World to particular Enquiries into the Microcosm Now the first step to this Method is a good Insight by Chymical Experiments into the Nature more especially the Figuration and Qualities of the Principles of mixt Bodies and chiefly of the Blood For the want of such a Discovery which is not impossible has hitherto been a great Obstruction to the Improvement of Natural Philosophy and the Practice of Physick It is plain to me that a Man void of all Prejudice and who considers that all the Operations of Bodies are perform'd by natural Causes without Miracles may be easily convinc'd that the Causes of Diseases and the true use of Applications to cure them can be render'd very intelligible so that vulgar Axiom That there 's no certainty in Physick will be found most erroneous I don 't Sir pretend to have discover'd this just Method which I hold necessary to lead us into the abstruse Secrets of Nature but I would fain hope that the following Scheme which is that I observ'd at Oxford may approach it in some degree which Method tho it may be call'd altogether new may perhaps be a just Model for others to imitate hereafter in the true Theory and Practice of Physick which rightly consider'd are one and the same thing A NEW PLAN OF AN Animal Oeconomy Demonstrated at Oxford in the Spring Anno 1695 at London the Winter following and at Cambridg in the Year 1696. 1. OF the Elements