Prince his Son should be fit to Travel he would send him to the Court of Berlix to tarry there for some considerable Time No sooner had their High and Mightinesses the States General of the United Provinces received advice that this solemn Embassy was on their way towards their Frontiers but they sent some Deputies who were to receive their Excellencies in the name of the States General upon the Frontiers and orders were given not only to defray them at the Charge of the State but to welcome them with considerable Presents and by the discharge of the great Cannon of all the great Towns through which they passed their High and Mightinesses being willing upon so extaordinary an Occasion to eternalize the Memory of the Honour they were going to receive by so solemn an Embassy the most glorious that ever was seen in respect of Personal Apppearance of so great a Monarch with whom they were Engaged in a most strict Tye of Friendship and Commerce After they had travelled some Leagues in the Territories of the United Provinces his Czarish Majesty left the Embassy that he might with the more speed reach the City of Amsteldam and that by travelling thus in Disguise he might with the more freedom and unperceived take a view of every thing he thought worth his Curiosity Accordingly he came to Amsteldam accompanied only by two or three Gentlemen so disguised as not to be known by any body where he lodged at a Common-Inn for one night only The next day he went to Sordam a large Town on the opposite side of the River of Amsteldam and about two Leagues distant this place being most famous for the great number of Ship-Wrights and others who are there employed continually in building of Ships His Majesty immediately after his arrival there took up with a private lodgings at a Burgher's House which lay much out of the way his aim being to keep himself from being discovered as much as Possible could be His Chief and first empolyment in this place was to inform himself in person from the Work-mens own Mouths and to be an Eye-witness in what manner they built their Ships He bought a small Yacht of about twenty five or thirty Foot long which he took a particular Pleasure to steer himself and to Sail in the Company only of those three Gentlemen that attended him up and down the River of Amsteldam called the Tey where his greatest delight was to make his own Observations and to feed his eyes with that most beautiful Prospect of that vast number of Ships which not unlike a Forrest lie close together in the Road of that City But it was not many days before he was robbed of the Satisfaction of passing away his time thus undiscovered For a certain Lock-Smith who had lived a few years before in the City of Muscow happening to take particular Notice of him one day as he passed by knew him first and having told some of his Comrades the inhabitant flock'd in such Numbers about him when he appear'd abroad that being tired with the Crowd he resolved to leave Sordam sooner than he intended at first This News being come to Ears of the Merchants of Amsteldam Trading to Muscovy some of whom had the Honour to know His Majesty they immediately went in a Body to pay him all imaginable Respest and to pray him to honour them with his Presence in the City of Amsteldam where he arrived from Sordam some days before the Ambassadours who had received Orders to tarry for some time there before they went to the Hague in order to be Admitted to the publick Audience of Their High and Mightinesses In the mean while the Magistrates of Amsteldam took effectual Care to provide every thing for the Magnificent Reception of the said Embassy great store of Cannon being planted upon the Bastions facing the River Amstell which way the Ambassadours were to come All the young Men of the City mounted on Horseback with very splendid Equipages and those of the best Rank and Quality went to meet him in their Coaches The Magistrates deputed some of their Members to Compliment Their Excellencies at their Landing which was about a quarter of a League without the City whither they were conducted in the Yatchs of the State and received with a Discharge of all the Cannon round the Ramparts The three Ambassadours wire conducted by the Deputies into the Coach of one of the Chief Magistrates of the City the Deputies took their Places in the second and the rest of the Coaches were taken up by the Gentlemen of the Embassy among whom as it was reported was His Czarish Majesty But first of all rid the beforementioned Gentlemen on Horseback who leading the Van were followed by the Trumpets of the State and these by some Tartars Armed with Bows and some Muscovites on Horseback After these marched on foot twenty Pages belonging to Their Excellencies the Ambassadours very richly Clad their Coats being of Scarlet Cloth covered all over with very rich Gold and Silver Galloons These went immediately before the Coach wherein sat the three Ambassadours Guarded on each side by twelve Tall and lusty Fellows Cloath'd in a Slavonian Dress carrying each a Silver Ax in their hands and Cimmetars with Silver Hilts on their Sides They had red Cloaks over their Cassacques trimm'd on both sides with large Silver Buttons and large Plated Loops all which together made a very Glorious and Magnificent Show These Coaches were followed by a great many Footmen likewise clad in red Scarlet Cloath trimmed with Silver Galloons His Excellency the General Le Fort appeared that day in an Europian Habit and the other two Ambassadours in a Muscovite Dress but their Apparel was extreamly Rich. Thus they passed in very good order through the Chiefest Streets of Amsteldam to the Lodgings prepared for them where stood a Company of City Trained-bands in Arms to render their Reception the more Magnificent All the Streets through which they passed were crowded with an infinite number of People who were flock'd to the City to be Spectators of the most solemn Entrance that had been seen there for many years before and for several days after their Excellencies were treated with all the magnificence imaginable at the Charge of the City of Amsteldam all which though it amounted to a considerable Summ nevertheless the Magistrates being willing upon this Occasion to give the most ample Demonstrations that possible could be of their Esteem and Respect for His Czarish Majesty's person caused a great Fire-Work to be prepared representing a Triumphal-Arch in Honour of his Majesty It was erected upon the River Amstel which had communicated its Name to the Famous City of Amsteldam in a place where it might be seen at a great distance being of great height and having four Fronts alike to the four principal Corners of the World the whole Fabrick being of the Corinthian Order adorned with the Arms of His Czarish Majesty with Tritons Vessels
to Engage in so Extraordinary an Undertaking it being agreed on all hands that as his Design was to build the Frame of the present Russian Monarchy upon a much more solid Foundation than it was in former times so he judged nothing could more conduce to obtain this Great End than if he should take this Opportunity of being inform'd in Person concerning these Maxims which have rendred some of the European States so flourishing in our Age For whereas the Russian Monarchs used to make the Ignorance of their Subjects the Main Foundation-stone of their Authority so it is obvious to every unbyassed Person that his present Majesty looks upon the Improvements of all Arts and Sciences and the Establishment of a regular Discipline as the Main Pillars of the Greatness of this Monarchy It was in the Prosecution of this Grand Design he appear'd though Incognito in England and Holland and after having satisfy'd himself in those Matters which were the Chief Subject of his Curiosity he resolved to visit likewise the Imperial Court of Vienna where he arrived with the Muscovite Embassy towards the latter end of June last past He had scarce been a few days in this City when he received Letters from Asoph That part of that Garrison to the Number of betwixt seven and eight Thousand Men having receiv'd Intelligence That the Tartars had put a great Number of their best Horses in the circumjacent Pastures under the Guard of three thousand Men were marched out against them had defeated the Guard and brought near thirty thousand Horses into Asoph These Letters were in a few olays after follow'd by an Express from Muscovy with an Account That the Remainders of the antient Muscovite Guards whom they call Strelitzes had Mutiny'd under Pretence of Want of Pay and that being join'd by some others were marched towards Muscow the Capital City of the whole Empire with an Intention to Surprize and Ransack the Place The Strelitzes who formerly might be compared to the Janisaries of the Turks had given such frequent proofs of their Barbarity and Cruelty against the Inhabitants of this City upon such like Occasions that many of them being terrified by so unexpected a Revolt in the Czar's Absence left their Habitations and a general Consternation had seised the whole Empire as dreading the Effects of the Fury of these Insolent Soldiers The Princes Loff Kerilvitz Nariskin Procorofskoi and Boris Alexiovitz Gallizin who had the Supream Administration of the Government during the Czar's Absence were not wanting in their Duty to encourage the Inhabitants both by Words and their own Example and that nothing might be wanting on their side to reduce this rebellious Crew to their Duty sent some of the Nobility back'd by a good number of Troops to endeavour to appease their Fury but they were so far from hearkning to the Propositions offered them by the Deputies of the Governours that they fired at them and forced them to retire to the City Thus all fair means proving ineffectual General Gourdon was sent out with a good Body of faithful Troops Commanded for the most part by foreign Officers who meeting with the Rebels as they were advanced within four Leagues of Muscow Attack'd and totally Routed them killing many of them upon the Spot and carry the rest Prisoners to the City where many of them receiv'd afterwards the due Reward of their Treachery The Czar being over-joyed at the Success of his Arms against these Mutineers resolved not only to stay for some time at this Court but also to continue his Journey from hence to Vienice before his Return into Muscovy I have hinted to you before the Chief Motive which induced His Czarish Majesty to undertake so long and dangerous a Journey but besides this there may be alledged another having a peculiar Respect to the Imperial Courts For the Muscovites having by the Conquest of Asoph opened themselves a Gate into the Palus Meotis and consequently into the Black-Sea had all the Reason in the World to promise themselves the entire Conquest of the Crim-Tartary and the Tartarian Peninsula it self if the War should be carried on but for two years longer by the Confederates against the Infidels there being nothing but the Cities of Precop Crim and Caffa places of no great Strength which could make any considerable Resistance and prevent them from making themselves Masters of all the Coast from Asoph to the mouth of the River Borysthenes where they had already got firm footing by the Conquest of the Fortress of Kasikermeen in the Year 1695 and the Submission of many of the Cossacks upon the Frontiers to the Czar's Obedience His Czarish Majesty who from the beginning of his War with the Turks had had no less in view than the reducing of these Places and making himself Master of the Black-Sea had before his departure out of Muscovy made all the necessary Preparations for the promoting of so Great a Design He had not only strengthned the City of Asoph by some new Fortifications and erected a strong Fortress at some small distance from thence but had caused a new Port to be made for the Conveniency of his Navy This Great Prince who perfectly understands the advantageous Situations of his Dominions for Commerce one of the Main Pillars of the Prosperity of the Commonwealth has ever since his Accession to the Throne left no stone unturn'd to improve it to the utmost Advantage It is to the Muscovites Europe stands indebted for the Discovery of the Way by Land into China and by the frequent Embassy sent by the present Czar into that Country the Way through the Great-Tartary is as well or better known to the Russians than some Provinces of their own Empire Several goodly Cities and Villages have been built for the Conveniency of the Muscovite Carevans And a vast Tract of Ground has been incorporated with the Russian Empire It is incredible of what Consequences the China Trade by Land is to the Muscovites who by the Help of their Sleds drawn by Renes in the Winter-time perform this great Journey with much Expedition Many of the Vagabond Tartars incited by the Industry of the Muscovite Merchants trading in these parts have quitted their Solitudes and have settled themselves in Siberia and some other Provinces of Muscovy which were scarce inhabited within these hundred years The Communication betwixt Muscovy and some part of the Indies as well as the Persian Empire by help of the Caspian Sea as it is obvious to every body that will but cast an Eye upon the Maps so it is no less advantageous to the Russians than the China Trade The Banajans the most Trading People of all the Indies have a very considerable Settlement in the City of Astracan the Boundary of Europe and Asia on that side from whence they furnish Mascovy with all the most precious Things the Indies afford and by the continual passage of Merchants and others trading from the City of Muscow to Astracan and
applied themselves to the Sea it is no great wonder if they have not neglected the Passage by Water into China by the Way of the Rivers Oby Genessai and Yamour and in lieu thereof have left nothing unattempted to open their Passage thither by Land 'T is true the Heaps of Ice which for the greatest part of the Year are to be met with at the Entrance of the River Oby the many Water-falls of the River Genessai and the Bulrushes which choak almost up the mouth of the River Yamour are Obstacles which though they might have been surmounted by industrious and expert Seamen yet were so terrifying to the Muscovites as to bereave them of all hopes of Success And to confess the Truth considering the Method used by the Russian Merchants and Caravans and the good Order taken for their convenient Passge through these Parts the same contribute not a little towards mitigating both the Trouble and Charge of so long a Journey They set forward most commonly from the City of Muscow in February when the Snow being well beaten they travel in nineteen or twenty days as far as Tobolskoy the Capital City of Siberia eight hundred English Miles distant from the City of Muscow If it happens to thaw about that time which is very seldom they take the conveniency of the Rivers on this and the other side of the River Oby by which means they cross the Country till they come to the Ostiakoi the first of the Eastern-Tartars Subject to the Czar of Muscovy But if the Frost continue they go on by Land the same way where they change their Horses for Renes or Rain-deers which carry them with incredible swiftness over the Snow and Ice to the City of Genessai built by the Muscovites upon the River of the fame Name for the conveniency of their Merchants traveling in those Parts Here it is they take Vessels which carry them upon the Rivers Tongusi and Augara against the Stream to the Lake of Baikala From this Lake they either take Shipping upon the River Schelinga as far as to a City of the same Name owing likewise its foundation to the Muscovites or else proceed in their Way by Land immediately after they have cross'd the beforementioned Lake through the Country of the Mongul Tartars who readily furnish them with Mules and Dromedaries to the Confines of China But for the better understanding of this Famous Passage by Land I will conclude this Letter with giving you the best Account I could get of several of the Muscovites here of the Road lately taken by several Embassy's sent into China They go from Muscow to the Famous Convent of Troitza about sixty English Miles from thence to the City of Peresla as many Miles from Troitza From Peresla they go to the City of Rostof sixty Miles from the last and so to the City of Jeresla near a hundred and twenty Miles distant from thence From Jeresla they go to the Great City of Wologda which lies one hundred and eighty Miles from the last From this place they continue their Journey to the small City of Tottma upon the River Wergno Suchuno and so to Vstiuga a considerable Place upon the River Suchana from thence to a small City call'd Lolowitzgotz upon the River Wietzegda which oxonerates it self in the. River Dwina About fifty Miles from thence they pass through a great Forrest above seven hundred Miles long after which they come to Kaigorod a City upon the Famous River Kama From Kaigorod they proceed to Solokamskoy a City upon the River Vsolsko which thereabouts discharges it self in the River Kama Thus they continue their Journey for one hundred and twenty Miles without any considerable River till they come to the River Lusowa where they take Shipping for stzogorod a goodly City near three hundred and fifty Miles distant from1 Solokamskoy From thence they go forward to Jat a Town upon the River Ajat and so by Romoshora upon the River Resh to Newagorod upon the River Newa the first Town of Siberia From hence they pass through a fertile and well Peopled Country to the Town of Zudna situate upon the River Nietza to the Towns of Niginiskoy Irbitskoy Kirginskoy Subrorawa and Jalaw the last of which lies upon the River Tura where the River Newa discharges it self into the same They continue their Journey from hence to the Town of Krasna to the City of Tumeen and so to the Town of Makoma upon the River Pishina where it discharges it self into the River Tura from thence to the Town of Siltska at the confluence of the two Rivers Tura and Tobol the last being on the right which brings them to the City of Tobolskoy the Capital of Siberia situate upon the confluence of the two Rivers Jotish and Tobol the last of which has given her its name From Tobolskoy they continue their Journey through the Towns of Demian and Samurskoyam and about two Miles beyond the last they meet with a Branch of the Famous River Oby which brings them to the City of Surguto and afterwards to the City of Narim situate upon the Banks of the River Oby Here they quit this River and proceed to the River Kett which brings them to the Town of Kettsway From hence they go to Makafskoy and after they have travelled for two days and nights through a great Forrest they come to the City of Jeneskay upon the River Jeneskay which is both very Navigable and its Banks inhabited by the Ostiaki After they have continued their Journey for some time upon this River they leave it to the Right and take their way towards the River Tungunsi whereabouts are the Habitations of the Tungeses which they leave again to the Right and proceed in their Journey to the City of Ilimskoy situate on the River Ilim the Country thereabouts being pretty well inhabited After they have travelled three days and nights through a Forrest they come to the River Augara which brings them to the City of Irkuskoy situate upon the River About thirty Miles from hence is the Lake of Baikala where the River Augara has its first rise being the utmost Boundary of Siberia From hence they continue their Journey through the Towns of Kabaria Belsko-Saimcko and Ostrog-Vdinskoy in the Province of Dauria inhabited by Tartars to the City of Jerawena situate upon a Lake of the same name After they have pass'd this Lake they are forced to travel through a great Desart which is watered however by the River Vda and at last come to the Lake called Schacks-Oser about two Miles over then they come to the Village of Plothus about a Mile from whence the Rivers Sueta and Onna fall into the River Ingeda which from thence forward is called Schilka and being augmented by the two Rivers Nertza and Arguna produces that Famous River the Yamour From hence they go to the City of Nertzinskoy upon the River Nertza being the last Fortress upon these Frontiers belonging to the Muscovites Then they travel for near three weeks thro' Desarts Forrests and Boggy-grounds till they come to Arguna a small City upon a River of the same name and the last Place under the Muscovite Jurisdiction in the Province of Dauria Here they meet in their way with the Rivers Derby Gann Kailar and Saduma all which discharge themselves into the Arguna till they come to the Source of the River Jal where they meet with he first Out-gards of the Chineses being a very fertile and well peopled Country inhabited by the Targutshini who are Pagans Subject to China Through these they pass to a Village called Suttigarski and from thence to the City of Naun three Miles distant from the former From hence they proceed in their Journey for several days through another Desart destitute of any Springs or other Water till they come to the River Casumur which discharges it self in the River Naun They pass afterwards by the Ruines of a great many Cities and at three days Journey from the Famous Chinese Wall through a Road cut out of the Rocks which brings them to the City of Karakaton After they have pass'd the Chinese Wall the first Place they meet with is the City of Galgan not above a Mile within the Wall from thence they go to Xantuming Xunguxu Xangote and Tunxo to Peking the Residence of the Emperours of China ` Being sensible that I have sufficiently tired your Patience I will add no more but in expectation of your next rest Sir Vienna Feb. 24. 1699. Yours c
an opportunity to act against the Ottomans in conjunction with the beforementioned Christian Princes he chose rather to abato something of his Pretensions to procure a lasting Peace betwixt him and the Chineses He had also all the Reason imaginable to promise himself a happy issue of this War on his side the Turks being at that time by their ill Success and the many Battels they had in Hungary reduced to so low a condition that they were not in a capacity to make any considerable resistance and he look'd upon the Conquest of Asoph as a thing of so much consequence to the Muscovite Empire that it ought to be attempted at any rate especially since the Fortifications of that place were in so different a Condition as to give him no small hopes of succeeding in this Enterprize Besides this the Czar was induced by another motive which as it was nearer home so he look'd upon it as the most pressing in relation to his own Person He had as yet in fresh memory the rebellious inclinations of his Guards he Strelitzes and did not question but that by this War he should find means to rid himself of them or at least to repress their Insolence by augmenting the number of foreign Officers well qualified and exercised in the Military Art whose Fortunes depending absolutely on him he might intirely be assured of their Service and Fidelity Accordingly it was resolved to make considerable new Levies to be commanded by foreign Officers whose number was augmented to eight thousand and the Troops under their Command being in some time after brought by their care under a very regular Discpline in the year 1695. The City of Asoph and Kasikermeen were both besieged the same time to render the relief of Asoph the more difficult to the Enemy this being the place Chiefly aimed at by the Muscovites Our Geographers do most commonly fix the scituation of Asoph to the North of the River Tanais on the side of the Crim Tartary whereas its true scituation is to the South on the side of Circassia upon a rising ground very near the Palus Moetis Neither is this City built upon an Island as it is represented in some Maps neither are any other Islands to be seen thereabouts either near the mouth of the River or in the Palus Moetis it self as it is likewise expressed in these Maps unless it be one very small Isle which lies at the very mouth of the River Tanais now a-days called the Don towards the North-west very near the Coastt About two Leagues above this Fortress the River Tanais emits a branch which runs towards the North in the form of a Semy-circle before it enters the Palus Moetis but it is both very narrow and shallow A good way beyond this a little above the Town issues forth another Branch which ruuning likewise to the North in the form approaching to a Semy-circle divides it self into five other Branches just before it disembogues into the Sea But this Branch is also of a very slender depth and the Ground thereabouts through which those several Channels pass very low and Marshy so that at high Water when the Wind blows strong from the South which drives the Waters from the black Sea upon that Coast all the Country hereabouts lies under Water You will I suppose be not a little surprised when I tell you that the Muscovites in their Maps put Asoph under the 47th degree of Northern Latitude and so do likewise the Turks whereas in our Map we find it under the 51 degree or thereabouts But what deserves our particular observation is That our Maps agree exactly with theirs in the scituation of that part of the Country where the Tanais or Don approaches nearest to the River Wolga which both they and we put under the 49th Degree I can only thus much assure you that the Muscovites who are generally taken for very ignorant and unpolish'd have composed the most exactest Maps of their own Country in the World I having seen some of them my self and that they exclaim against ours as very imperfect in this point The City of Asoph was formerly no more than a small Place fortified only with one single Wall after a very irregular manner its Form approaching to a Hexagon two of its opposite sides lying near parallel with the River surrounded with many Towers after the ancient Fashion About the middle of that side which is opposite to the West there was a very large Tower of a considerable heighth round at the bottom running up like a Pyramid but flat on the top within the body of the Place there was another Retrenchment which supplied the place of a Cittadel and was provided always with a good Garrison The Turks afterwards surrounded the whole with new Fortifications of Earth compos'd of our large and high Bastions but not very regular yet is the Ditch both very broad and deep Two of these Bastions towards the South-East Side lie pretty close to one another for the better defence of the place in respect of the nearness of several Hills which else would command the Town The third Bastion to the South-West is at a great distance from the other two and the fourth Bastion towards the West is yet further distant from the third The Courtin betwixt thest two last Bastions has in the midst an Obtuse Angle the like has also the Courtin towards the East which runs down to the River and on the River side it is very well provided with strong Pallisadoes Besides this they had built a little above the Place two strong Towers of brick-work and of a quadrangular figure one on each side of the River provided with good store of Cannon by which means and a very strong Chain they prevented the Donaick Cosacks from passing that way to the black Sea who formerly used to take the advantage of the darkness of the Night when they went a Pyrating upon the Turks This was the condition of Asoph when the Muscovites first laid siege to it in the Year 1695. It may well seem strange that the Turks should either so little understand the advantage of the Scituation of this Important Place or else be so negligent in providing for its Security as not to take away all Hopes from the Muscovites of succeeding in this Enterprise In my Opinion it was not only their highest Interest to have secured a Place of so much Consequence against any Attempt of this nature by rendring it Impregnable but also to have as much as possibly they could extend their Conquests on that side by making themselves Masters of the Country betwixt the Rivers Don and Wolga which thereabouts approach within seven Leagues distance to one another Besides which there are two other Rivers betwixt the Don and the Wolga one of which coming from the North East is pretty large and discharges it self into the River Don. The other much lesser coming from the South West disembogues into the Wolga These
two Rivers carry their Currents within one League and an half distance These two Rivers are invisible in our Maps in lieu of which they have obtruded upon us a suppositious River called Camus which is not to be found thereabouts The Ground betwixt these two Rivers is very convenient for Building of Forts and Fortifications there being but a few small Rocks which may be made passable and convenient enough for such an Undertaking The Turks shewed themselves but indifferent Politicians and who had but a slender insight in matters of this nature when they let slip so favourable an Opportunity of extending their Conquests on that side during the Intestine Troubles which harrassed and almost destroyed the Mustovite Empire in our Age at the same time that the Ottomans were in a most flourishing Condition If they at that time had joined these two Rivers by a Canal and strengthened the same with some Forts or if they had built but one considerable Fortress upon the River Wolga the whole Kingdom of Astracan must of necessity have fall'n into their Hands by which means it would have been no difficult task for them to render themselves Masters of the Caspian Lake or Sea which is the Inlett into the Heart of Persia and at no great distance from the Indies Subject to the Great Mogul and for the rest it is surrounded by a great number of Petty Tartarian Princes who might either have been easily Conquered or at least brought over to their Party to make them instrumental in the Conquest of Asia What would in such a Case have become of the Muscovites who would have been continually allarm'd and harrassed on all sides by an infinite number of Tartars by those of the Crimea of Circassa Bulgaria by the Calmuck and Mogul Tartars who like a Torrent would have over-run this vast Empire and would have rendred the Conquest of all the Circumjacent Countries as cheap and easie to the Turks as these Vagabonds formerly did when they took up Arms under those Renown'd Heroes Ginghis Khan and Tamur Lenek These are two things which prevented the Turks from making use of that critical Juncture to their Advantage The first was that they look'd upon the Muscovites as too inconsiderable to stand ever in Competition with them seeing they had not Courage enough to accept of the Fortress of Asoph from the Cossacks who had taken it by Surprise The second was That the were not so fully satisfied of the Consequence and use of a good Naval Strength by which means they might most conveniently have enlarged their Dominions on that side and carried the terror of their Arms not only along the Wolga but also by the way of the Caspian Sea into the very heart of Asia Bat to return to the Siege of Asoph The Turks had provided the City of Asoph with great Stores of Ammunition and Provision and all other things necessary for a long and vigorous Defence the Garrison consisting of ten Thousand chosen Turks and Tartars notwithstanding which the present Czar Peter Atexiovitz resolved to besiege it in Person His Army consisted of one Hundred Thousand Foot and twenty Thousand Horse all chosen Troops arid among them the whole Body of his Guards or Strelitzes commanded under the Czar by a great many good and Experienced Generals Whilst they were busy in persecting the Lines of Circnmvallation and Contravallation and carrying on the Trenchcs the Czar ordered a smal1 Fort of four Bastions to be made at some distance above the two abovementioned brick Towers on the South side of the River upon a piece of Ground that lies betwixt and is encompassed by two small branches which spring out of that River and re-unite themselves about half ways distance betwixt these Towers and the City All the Communication being cut oft betwixt the Place and the Towers by these two branches it was hot long before the Muscovites made themselves Masters of them and it being judged most expedient to Fortifie that on the South side of the River it was immediately put in Execution accordingly by surrounding it with three good Bastions and an Angle on each of the Courtins on the River side The Fort was called Calansa In the mean while the Trenches were carried on with the utmost Expedition and Vigour especially on the South East side of the Place where the Muscovites being advanced to the top of the Hills which in some measure command the Town they Fired most furiously out of their Cannon and threw a prodigious number of Bombs into the Place by which means they hop'd soon to terrifie the Garrison to come to a Capitulation but those within consisting of old and well Disciplin'd Troops who were not to be vanquish'd at a distance the Trenches were carried on to the body of the Place but not without great Slaughter on the Muscovite side the Enemies by their frequent and vigorous Sallies disputing every Inch of Ground with the utmost bravery The Muscovites were likewise couragiously repulsed in several Attacks before they could lodge themselves upon one of the bastions where the Garrison like desperate Men fell upon them with such an incredible Fury that the Russians after a most obstinate Defence were forced to quit it at last with the loss of a great number of their Men especially of the Strelitzes who as they were most exposed so they bore most commonly the greatest Share in the loss the Czar making use of this Opportunity both to try their Valour and rid his Hands of them in a handsome way though at the same time it must be confess'd to his Immortal Glory that he was not sparing of his own Person but exposed himself to the Enemies Fire as well in the several Attacks that were made as upon other occasions having had several Persons slain by his side in the Sallies made by the Besieged The invincible Resolution of the Garrison thus protracting the Siege beyond all Expectation the Muscovites began to be in want both of Ammunition and Provisions which together with the approaching cold and wet Season obliged them to change the Siege into a Blockade But the Disgrace received before Asoph was in some measure recompensed by the Conquest of Kasiker meen a Tartarian City Scituated on the South side of the River Boristhenes about two Leagues distance from the Black-Sea It is encompassed by four strong brick Forts of a quadrangular Figure and an equal bigness adjoining to one another Three of them lye upon a strait Line but the Fourth makes up a right Angle with the Second The first of these Quadrangular Forts lies upon the very Bank of the River Borishenes being Flancked with several good Towers as well as the two others which are upon the same Line But the fourth exceeds the three others in Strength being on one side provided instead of Towers with two large and high Bastions surrounded with a good Ditch Just opposite to the place you see a small Island in the River Boristhenes resembling in
form a Neats Tongue called in their Language Towan Upon this Island the Tartars had erected two Forts of four Bastions each which on the upper end of the Island was called Momberethkermenn as the other on the lower part was named Muftritkermeen on the opposite side of the River belonging to the Crim Tartars there was also another Fort in all respects like to the other two just over against Mombarethkermeen upon the Bank of the before mentioned River Boristhenes The Army of his Czarish Majesty was chiefly compos'd of Cossacks inhabiting those parts and who some years before had submitted to the Czar's Obedience To facilitate the Siege of Kasikermeen it was resolv'd to Attack first the said Forts which being done accordingly they were soon taken by the brave Cossacks who immediately after laid Siege to the Place itself The train Attack was carried on against the Fort with the two bastions the Ground thereabouts being most proper for the carrying on of the Trenches which were advanc'd with so much Expedition that in a short time they carried in by Assault The Enemies however got time to retreat into the other Forts where having beat a Parley it was agreed that they should March out of the Place with their Arms and Baggage c. The Muscovite Army on that side was commanded by the General Czeremetoff who having contrary to the Capitulation connived at some disorders committed by the Cossacks against the Garrison his Czarish Majesty was so much dissatisfied at it that he shewed his Resentment in very hard Terms to the General He who did not expect such a Reprimand desired thereupon leave from the Czar to lay down his Commission which being readily granted him likewise beyond his expectation he afterwards repented atleisure The better to divert himself in this Melancholly Disposition he resolved to Travel in Forreign Countries and you are not ignorant how he visited most of the Courts of Italy and had the Curiosity to go to the Isle of Maltha where as well as in all other Places thro which he Travelled he was receiv'd with all imaginable Respect due to his Birth and Merits The succeeding Winter was chiefly taken up with vast Preparations for the next ensuing Campaign which being to be opened with the Siege of Asoph great stores of Ammunition Bombs and Provisions were got in readiness for that Enterprise to prevent the Turks from sending any Relief by Sea many Gallies and Brigantines were order'd to be built near the City of Muscow but especilly at Veranowitz a City Scituate on the River Don about a Hundred Leagues distant from the Capital City But what is most remarkable is that the Czar Peter having a particular curiosity to be present at the building of some of the biggest Gallies he caused them to be set upon the Stock in the River Ocea at some small distance from the City of Muscow they being from thence to be Transported to Veranowitz by Land were so artificially contrived that they might be taken to pieces without much trouble and so be joined together again at Veranomitz To be short by the great Vigilancy of his Czarish Majesty all things were got in such forwardness that there was nothing wanting to put the projected Design in Execution 'T is to be observ'd that the City of Asoph had been kept block'd up during the whole Winter and that the Muscovites having maintain'd their Post all this while upon the abovementioned Hills which overlook the Place they had been so Industrious in guarding all the Avenues that the Besieged had not receiv'd the least Supply of Men or Provisions To cut off all further hopes of Succours it was resolved to open the Campaign very early in the Spring for which purpose all the Troops design'd for this Expedition were order'd to March to their Rendezvous and from thence strait to the Siege of Asoph which was begun by throwing a most prodigious quantity of Bombs into the place with such extraordinary Success that the whole Body of the city was reduced to Ashes and Rubbish and the old Fortifications to one large Stone heap so that there was scarce a place left for the Garrison to shelter themselves against the fury of the Enemies Cannon and Bombs all being destroyed even to the deepest Vaults and Caves Besides which the Number of the besieged was reduced to less than two thousand Men capable of bearing of Arms both by the furious Attacks made upon the place in the last years Siege and the continual firing from the Muscovites Great Artillery and throwing in of Bombs in this not withstanding which they were deaf to any proposals of a surrender living in hopes of the promised Succours At last it appeared to their great Joy and Satisfaction consisting of twelve Gallies a great number of Saiques laden with Provisions and Ammunition and a good number of fresh Troops besides fifty thousand Ducats to be distributed among those brave Fellows that had so Valiantly defended their Post His Czarish Majesty having before-hand received Intelligence of the approach of this Succours had caused seven of his largest Gallies of a hundred foot length each besides several lesser and a great number of Brigantines to pass that small branch of the Don which issues forth a little above the Town As the Water is very shallow in this Channel so it was not without a great deal of difficulty that the largest Gallies could be brought along that way and would in all likelihood have scarce succeeded if the Czar by his Presence and Encouragement had not animated the Workmen to surpass all Difficulties which at last they did to the no small Astonishment of the besieged This Obstacle being happily surrnounted his Czarish Majesty judged it of very great consequence for his purpose to plant good Store of Cannon upon the little Island we have mentioned before because the Shoar being very low the Cannon-ball would strike even with the surface of the Water besides that the greatest part of the Isle being covered with Wood did prevent the Enemy from discovering the Design The same favourable disposition of this Island furnished the Muscovites with an Opportunity of putting some of their lightest Gallies and Brigantines for a Reserve behind the Isle unperceiv'd by the Enemy whom they intended thus to attack both in Front and Flank as they passed by that way which succeeded according to Expectation For all these Precautions having been taken before the Enemies Fleet came in sight some of the biggest Muscovite Gallies with many Brigantines were sent out to meet them making a Show as if they intended to Engage the Turkish Fleet but no sooner were they come within Cannon Shot of one another but the Muscovites feigning to dread the Ottomaa Fleet superior in Number to them made a running Fight making the best of their way towards the Shoar and posted themselves below the Island The Turks perceiving the Enemy to fly before them and not in the least forewarn'd of the red that laid
behind the Island thought themselves by the small number of the Muscovite Gallies that appear'd in sight assur'd of the Victory Flush'd with these hopes they made all the Sail they could to fall in among the Muscovites but no sooner were they come within reach of the Cannon from the Isle but they receiv'd such a warm Salute from thence that they saw their Gallies torn to pieces on all sides by the Enemies Cannon in an insant with a great Slaughter of many of their Men. Bur this was only the fore-runner of what was to ensue For his Czarish Majesty who had a watchful eye on all sides and who was sometimes upon the Isle sometimes on board the Fleet of Reserve that lay behind having soon observed the Consternation the Turks were put in by this unexpected Salute and willing to improve their Confusion to his Advantage got on board in Person one of the lightest Gallies Man'd only with forty Men giving the Signal for the rest to follow him with all the Oars they could Thus the Enemy found themselves surrounded on all sides by the Muscovites who attack'd them with great bravery the Czar himself boarding the Turkish Admiral and being successfully seconded by the rest the Victory was almost as soon completed as begun the Turks being routed so entirely that not one Gally escaped but what was either sunk or taken and it must be confess'd That the Czar shew'd so much Conduct during the whole Action that no more could have been expected from the Prudence and Valour of the greatest Captain of our time So compleat a Victory soon decided the Destiny of Asoph for the Garrison who had been Spectators of their Loss being now bereav'd of all Hopes of Succours demanded a capitulation In confederation very honourable of their bravery they had Conditions granted them it being comprehended in one of the Articles that before their marching put of the Place they should surrender to the Muscovites a certain Officer who had desearted his Czarish Majesty's Service and discovercd what he knew concerning his Designs to the Enemy The Czar to recompence the Sea-Officers and others on board his Fleet for their last Service and to give them some marks of his Liberality ordered the Fifty Thousand Ducats taken oil board the Turkish Admiral to be distributed among them Asoph was no sooner surrendred but the Czar made it appear to all the World that he was sufficiently sensible of what Consequence the Conquest of this Place was to his Affairs For the first thing he did was to give his Orders for the restoring the Fortifications and bringing them with all possible Speed to a state of Defence and not content with this he caused the Ancient Walls within the Fortifications for the most part rain'd by the Bombs to be entirely rased and in lieu thereof the Foundation was laid of a new City td extend to the Fortifications made of Earth Those were likewise considerably augmented by the Addition of two new Bastions in the same places where we mentioned before the two obtuse Angles to have been All the ancient Bastions were enlarged and made regular according to our modern Rules of Fortification each of them being strengthened by a Half-Moon The Ditch was defended by a good Counterscarp with a cover'd way from whence was carried a Line up to the top of the Hill which overlooks the Town where a goodly Fore was erected or the Defence of the Line and to keep a Communication with the Place All these Precautions though very considerable in themselves yet were thought insufficient in respect of the Accomplishment of his Czarish Majesty's Design who was resolv'd to render Asoph impregnable as being the main Frontier place on that side of the Empire Pursuant to this Design the Foundation was laid of a new Fortress just opposite to Asop in the marshy Grounds which was to have a Communication with that City by a bridge of thirty Arches to be built over the Marshes This Design of which I have seen the Model was soon put in Execution the City which was to be put in the Center of the place being called St. Peter The whole Body of the Fortifications consisted of six Bastions the two first facing the River side with a Half-Moon betwixt them The other two Bastions lying on each side are at a small distance from the others but the two opposite to the North lye at a much greater distance defended by three Half-Moons The whole is surrounded with a double Ditch and a cover'd way The Ground upon winch this Fortress was built is raised to that heighth as to command Asoph and when the Wind blows from the South the Marshes round about the Fortress are all under Water so that there is but one way to approach it to wit by the Bridge These Fortifications would have been more than sufficient if His Majesty had had no other design than to defend his Frontiers to bridle the trim Tartars and to keep the neighbouruing Cosacks inhabiting the Country near the Don in awe but this Monarch had matters of greater Consequnce in view which he knew would in a little time redound to the great benefit of the Empire His design was to make use of this place to serve for the conveniency of carrying down the River the Commodities of the product of Muscovy into the Palus Maeotis and to transport them by the way of Caffa and Constantinople into Italy He wisely foresaw that by this means he might introduce and settle Navigation in his Dominions to the great encrease of the Wealth of his Subjects who thereby would be used to the Sea so that in time they might render themselves redoubtable to their Enemies But to bring this great and noble Design to Perfection it was absolutely necessary to put the Muscovite Fleet into such a Condition as to be able to coop with the Turks in the Black Sea and to render themselves so formidable that the Enemies might be obliged at the next Peace to allow them a free Commerce and the Liberty of their Ports upon those Coasts and of Constantinople it self By the restoring and strengthning the Fortifications of Asoph and laying the Foundation of the new Fortress of St. Peter the present Czar had in view three great Points each of which as it tended to the great benefit of the Empire so it was sufficient to Eternalize his Memory The first was the making of a convenient and safe Harbour capable to contain a great Fleet. The second the joining of the two Rivers the Wolga and Don by a Canal fit to carry Ships of a great bulk And Lastly the building and equipping of fourscore Men of War as well Frigats as Gallies with a hundred and fifty Brigantines to make Head against the Turks where-ever they should attempt to dispute with him the free Commerce at Sea It was found quite impracticable to render Asoph a good Port for tho' the River Don is the most proper in the World for Shipping
other places upon the Wolga the Country betwixt the Ocea and Wolga is better stor'd with Villages and Inhabitants than many of the most Fertile Provinces of Europe The Czar Peter Alexiovitz was as well before as in his late Journey sufficiently convinced that all these Advantages were but imperfect in respect of what might be hoped for if by opening his way into the Black Sea he could settle a Communication with Italy and some other provinces of Europe by which means the Riches of China of the Indies and Persia might be conveyed this way to the no small Benefit of the Muscovites The Conquest of Asoph had opened him the way to attain this end without any great difficulty considering the present declining State of the Ottoman Empire and the flourishing Condition of Muscovy if he could prevail with his Imperial Majesty to continue the War a few years longer against the Infidels It is agreed on all sides That his Imperial Majesty shew'd as much inclination towards continuing the War with the Turks than the Czar himself and would have been as forward as any of the Confederates to second the laudable Zeal of His Czarish Majesty if the present conjuncture had not obliged him to prefer the Interest of his Country before his Inclinations at a time when the Infidels made such considerable Offers to the Confederates for the obtaining a Truce or Peace For besides that by the Animosities Reigning in Poland that King was not in a Condition to give any considerable diversion to the Turks the Subjects of the Hereditary Counries of his Imperial Majesty being exhausted by the heavy Taxes requisite for the carrying on so chargeable a War stood in absolute need of some Respite to take breath and the tottering State of the King of Spain's health was a sufficient warning to the Imperial Court to be upon their Guard against France where vast Preparations were made to back their claim to that Crown by Force These were the true reasons that induced his Imperial Majesty to consent some Months after to a Truce of 25 years with the Ottoman Port wherein the Czar of Muscovy included but chose to accept of the same only for two years for certain Reasons of 〈…〉 I shall have occasion to mention to you anon On the 29th day of June his Czarish Majesty had a private Audience from the Emperour and desiring to be Incognito he was conducted by a pair of Back-stairs to the Emperour's Antichamber where he was received by his Imperial Majesty in Person at the door no body was admitted to be present at this Audience besides the Count Wallenstein Lord High Chamberlain and the Count of Dieterichstein Master of the Horse to the Emperour the Czar was accompanied up Stairs only by the General Le Fort his first Ambassadour who supplied the place of an Interpreter betwixt these two Illustrious Personages at this Interview After the first Complements were pass'd the Emperour put on his Hat but finding that the Czar remain'd uncovered he also took off his Hat again and remained thus till the Interview which lasted about half an Hour was pass'd Some-days after the Czar took an exact View of the Imperial Armory Library and other Rarities belonging to the Imperial Pallace and the Emperour being sensible of the Czar's Inclinations towards the Mathematicks sent him a Present of the choicest Mathematical Instruments that could be found He likewise invited the Czar to a very splendid Entertainment which began with a most Admirable Consort of Musick and after a Magnificent Collation ended with a certain kind of Masquerade call'd in Germany a Wirthshaft frequently to be seen in the Courts of the German Princes where the Master of the Feast always represents the Person of a Host no body but persons of the first Rank of both Sexes being admitted to this Diversion In this each Masker was clad after the Fashion of some different Nation with a Lady in an Habit answerable to the same Nation so that the most remarkable Nations of the World being represented by this illustrious Company adorn'd with the Richest Stuffs and a prodigious quantity of precious Stones it afforded a most unusual but at the same time most Magnificent and agreeable Spectacle to the Czar To be short this Court to shew their utmost Respect to so Extraordinary a Guest strove to out-vye all the rest which His Majesty had visited before There was nothing but Jollity and Feasting to be seen during his Stay at Vienna and among others the Count of Starenbergh General of the Emperour's Armies signaliz'd himself on this Occasion having invited the Czar and his Ambassadours with all the Persons of Quality of both Sexes then at Vienna to a most splendid Feast The Czar in his Turn took the opportunity of St. Peter's Day to Entertain the Principal Lords and Ladies of the Court at the Pallace of Guntersdorff where the Muscovite Ambassadours were lodg'd the Emperour solemniz'd the same by an Artificial Fire-Work and a fine Consort of Musick Towards the latter end of July the Muscovite Ambassadours had their publick Audience of His Imperial Majesty which was very splendid especially in respect of the rich Presents design'd for the Emperour which consisted in the most precious Ermines and Sables and Cloths of Gold and Silver born by fifty Persons Clad all in black Velvet They were receiv'd at their Entrance into the outward Court by the Guards in Arms and after being admitted to the Audience of the Emperour with the usual Ceremonies were most splendidly Treated at Court and reconducted to their own Pallace It was but a few days after when the Czar having taken a Resolution to go to Venice in order as it was supposed to concert Matters with that Republick how best to annoy the Turks at Sea he sent some of his Train and Equippage before The Venetians were no sooner inform'd of His Majesty's Resolution but they appointed four Procurators of St. Mark to receive and attend him They ordered the necessary Carriages to the Frontiers and the Pallace of Toscari in the Arsenal was to be fitted up for his Receiption But when every body expected to hear of the Czar's Departure for Venice great was their Surprize when they understood that he had taken his Leave on a sudden of the Emperour and was return'd with only thirty of his most Trusty Servants among whom were General Le Fort and Feder Alexiovitz Gallowin his two Ambassadours by the Way of Polond into Muscovy leaving Procofet Bog danovitz Wolnitzin his third Ambassadour at Vienna as his Plenipotentiary to manage his Interest at the approaching Treaty betwixt the Confederates and Turks You may easily suppose that the whole Court was not a little amazed at this unexpected Change of the Czar's former Resolution every one judging of the Matter according to his Opinion but the Generality attributing it to some great Commotion in Muscovy the Truth of which was not confirm'd to us till some time after I told you before that