them to flight This Victory being thus luckily obtain'd Gedeminus prosecuted it into the very heart of Prussia where he found nothing able to withstand him except only the two Castles of Ragneta and Cilza but which nevertheless he took in a short time Afterwards having made a miserable havock in that Country as also totally regain'd his Dutchy of Samogitia he return'd peaceably home In the Year 1304 this Great Duke having a Quarrel with some of the Russian Princes made great Preparations against them when marching forthwith into Russia he first met and fought Vlodomirus Duke of Volhynia whom he slew and routed his whole Army Then he bent his force against Leo Duke of Luceoria whom he also vanquish'd and took his chief City Lutzko both which Princes being thus defeated made him absolute Master of all Volhynia Next Spring being tir'd out with Idleness he carry'd his Arms against Stanislaus Duke of Kiovia whom he overthrew together with several Princes his Neighbours that came to assist him With this Victory Gedeminus being not a little encourag'd proceeded and took most of the Cities and Towns of Russia when after having compleated a glorious Conquest he return'd Triumphantly into his own Country Afterwards Gedeminus going to hunt about five Miles beyond the River Wilia occasionally built a Castle there near a Lake and a City naming it Troki whither he then translated his Court from Kicrnow After this in the Year 1305 Gedeminus going a Hunting again towards the East after various Fortune became greatly fatigu'd with that sport Whereupon Night drawing on he was forc'd to take up a Lodging upon a Mountain then call'd Krzyunagora now Turzagoria or Lissa where soon falling asleep he dreamt that he saw and heard roar a huge Iron Wolf which had above a hundred Wolves of the same Mettle in his Belly which roar'd likewise after an amazing manner whereat being extreamly frighted he wak'd and next Morning put this Dream to his Courtiers to expound when every one having deliver'd his Opinion a different way at last a Pagan Priest nam'd Ledzieiko said to have been found in an Eagle's Nest whose Practice was to foretel Futurities expounded it thus The Iron Wolf quoth he denotes a strong City and the other Wolves in his Belly a formidable Multitude of Inhabitants Hereupon he immediately advises Gedeminus to build a fortify'd City and Castle there Whence this Priest came to have the Name of Radzivil that is A Counsellor to build Vilna From this Person 's Family have descended a great many famous Heroes who have all sufficiently distinguish'd themselves both in times of Peace and War Gedeminus being easily mov'd by these Persuasions forthwith erected two Castles near that Place one on a high Hill and the other in a Plain adding moreover a City call'd Vilna from the River Wilia running by it which is now very populous and Capital of that Great Dutchy to which City he not long after transferr'd his Residence from Troki In 1306 the Lithuanians having had Intelligence that the Poles were lull'd in Sloth and Security march'd through Woods and By-roads into Lower Poland where they burnt and plunder'd Kalisch with several other Cities and Towns killing the old People and Children and carrying the others away Captive The same Year Henry de Pleczko a Saxon Great Master of the Teutonic Order in Prussia surpriz'd and took the Castle of Gartin in Samogitia and put all the Lithuanians found therein to the Sword They likewise proceeded in this War by help of the Germans and after having totally destroy'd the District of Karsouin return'd with great Numbers of Spoils and Captives into Prussia In 1307 the Lithuanians made an Irruption into Siradia and Kalisch where doing a great deal of Mischief they suddenly return'd into their own Country In 1308 Olgerdus Son of Gedeminus march'd with a great Army into Prussia where he made havock with Fire and Sword where-ever he came carrying off likewise great Booty These Favours the Lithuanians and Prussians did frequently and alternatively for one another within the space of few years In 1315 the Lithuanians surpriz'd the Territory of Dobrina where they made great Devastations and likewise took the City of that Name and burnt and plunder'd it In 1322 they likewise enter'd Livonia laying all wast for many Miles together In the same Year in Winter-time David Starosta of Gartin not being discourag'd by Cold destroy'd that Country up as far as Raval carrying away great Spoils and many Prisoners Afterwards in the same Winter they took the Castle of Memel and also enter'd Prussia and kill'd the Comendador of Capion in a set Battle David of Gartin likewise invaded Masovia at the same time and entirely ruin'd a great many Towns and Villages In 1323 the Lithuanians came clandestinely upon Dobrina again and did a great deal of Damage there In the following Year the Starosta of Gartin enter'd Masovia again near Ploczko wherein he destroy'd and burnt above one hundred and thirty Villages thirty Towns and carry'd away about four thousand Captives whilst another Army made a Descent upon Livonia and serv'd that Country after the like manner In 1325 Ann Daughter to Gedeminus marry'd Casimir Son to Vladislaus King of Poland by which all that had been formerly taken from the Polanders was restor'd and a Peace concluded between those two Nations Afterwards at the Siege of the Castle of Fribourg belonging to the Teutonic Knights in Samogitia this Great Duke Gedeminus receiv'd a Wound with an Arrow which cost him his Life This Prince had seven Sons Viz. Montividus Narimundus Olgerdus Keijstutus Koriatus Jauunutus and Lubartus with some Daughters one of which was marry'd as before Among these Sons he divided his Dominions while he liv'd giving to Montividus his eldest Kyernow and Slonim with the Territories thereunto belonging To Narimundus his Conquests and other Acquisitions in Russia On Olgerdus he bestow'd Krewo and all from thence to Beresina To Keijstutus he gave Samogitia Troki Witebsko c. To Koriatus the City of Novogrodec with its Territories But on his Beloved Jauunutus he conferr'd the Metropolis of Lithuania Vilna as also Osmian and Braslaw together with the supream Command over all his Brothers Dominions The youngest Son Lubartus had no share with his Brothers because by his Marriage with the Duke of Russia's Daughter in his Father's Life-time he had obtain'd the Succession to that Dutchy Among these Brothers Olgerdus and Keijstutus being most vex'd to see their younger Brother Jauunutus so highly promoted conspir'd together after their Father's Death to drive him out of Vilna for the execution of which they fix'd a certain time but Olgerdus happening then to be absent on some extraordinary Occasion was forc'd to fail of his Appointment Nevertheless Keijstutus firmly adhering to his Vow resolv'd to accomplish the Design alone and consequently marching secretly towards Vilna surpriz'd and took
one Form of Government I need not insist any longer upon the Succession of its Dukes since what past remarkable in their Time is comprehended in the History of the Kings of the Jagellonic Family who reign'd in Poland from Jagello's time to the late King Michael Wiesnowiski therefore I will proceed to enter upon the Geographical Description of this great Dutchy The two Provinces of Lithuania contain these Palatinates Viz. Lithuania Proper contains the Palatinates of Vilna Troki and Briescia or Polesia Lithuanic-Russia contains the Palatinates of Novogrodec Mscislaw Vitebsko or Witebsko Minski and Polocz Lithuanic-Russia is commonly call'd Russia-Alba or White Russia either because its Hills are generally cover'd with Snow and which lasts longer there than in any other Parts of this Country or else by reason that the Animals bred there are generally enclin'd to be white tho in other Countries the same Species be of another Colour Both these Provinces abound with all manner of Necessaries besides several Merchandizes part of which they transport by the River Duna to Riga in Livonia and part by the River Niemen to Koningsberg in Prussia The first Palatinate of Lithuania Proper is that of Vilna whose Palatin is chief Governour of the City of that Name This Palatinate comprehends three large Districts which are The Districts of Osmian Bratislaw or Braslaw Wilkomitz In all which are the several Cities and Towns of Vilna Cap. Bish Osmian Bratislaw or Braslaw Wilkomitz Ikaznia and Drizwiatz The chief City of all which and Metropolis of the Great Dutchy of Lithuania is Vilna call'd also Vilenski by the Inhabitants and Wildaw or Die Wilde by the Germans and is situated near the Conflux of the Rivers Wilia and Wiln from whence it has its Name It lies about 130 Polish Miles from Cracow to the North-East 48 from Riga to the North 70 from Warsaw and a hundred from Smolensko to the East It is a large and very populous City well fortify'd with two Castles whereof one is built in a Plain and the other on a Hill the former wash'd by the River Wilia and the latter by the Wiln The first of these Rivers is large and navigable whereby the Inhabitants transport Merchandizes to Dantzic and the other small and inconsiderable The Houses of this City are generally low and mean being most built with Wood except some belonging to the Gentry others to Foreign Merchants and several publick Edifices which are all either of Stone or Brick Of the two Castles that on a Hill is very antient and almost ruin'd but the other is a Pile of beautiful modern Architecture The Churches here are all of Stone both those belonging to the Roman and Russian Persuasions The Cathedral stands in the Lower Castle wherein lies the Body of St. Casimir canoniz'd by Leo X. in a large Silver Tomb of great Value Here also is a very large Bell like to that of Cracow which requires above four and twenty strong Men to ring it Within this Castle is the Archiepiscopal See of the Metropolitan of Russia Among the other publick Edifices is the Great Duke's Palace in which is a famous Guard-Chamber furnish'd with all sorts of Arms and about two English Miles from this City stands another Ducal Palace nam'd from its Situation Rudnick that is Near the Water This Palace is entirely built with Wood and beautify'd with a Park pleasant Gardens Orchards c. Next comes the Academy of this City founded by King Stephen in the Year 1579 and erected into a University by Gregory XIII the same Year at the Request of the Founder Valerian Bishop of Vilna In this University are six Professors of Divinity five of Philosophy four of Laws and seven of Human Learning Among the Merchants Houses there is one particularly neat erected by the Moscovite Company for the Repository of their Furs Ermins and other rich Merchandizes brought from Moscow Here are also many other fair Edifices which I pass by for brevity's sake In this City Guns of all sorts are cast and likewise divers other Warlike Instruments of excellent Workmanship made Vilna has the Honour to have a Tribunal for all Lithuania The Moscovites found means to make themselves Masters of this City in the Year 1655 but were soon forc'd to surrender it to the Poles who are at present in possession of it Osmian a wooden Town Capital of its District about seven Miles from Vilna to which belongs a large Jurisdiction with several eminent Towns Bratislaw or Braslaw a Timber-built City situate on a large Lake with a Castle founded on a Rock This Place lies about twenty Miles from Vilna with a considerable Jurisdiction Wilkomitz a Wood-built Town upon the River Swienta Here is kept a Court of Justice to try the Causes of the Gentry To this District belongs a very large Jurisdiction in which are several considerable Towns belonging to the King Bishops and Gentry Ikaznia a Town built with Wood near a River of the same Name It lies about three Polish Miles from Bratislaw Drizwiatz a Town built on a Lake near a River of the same Name and about five Miles from Bratislaw The Senators of this Palatinate are only The Palatin and Castellan of Vilna For it must here be observ'd that there are no Minor Castellans in all Lithuania The Arms or Standard of this Palatinate are of four sorts The first of the Palatinate it self which are Argent and Azure in the former the Arms of Lithuania and in the latter two Pillars of the first Besides these each District has its Arms which are First of Osmian those of Vilna differing only in changing the Columns or Pillars to erected Swords That of Bratislaw a Field Gules with no Charge Thirdly That of Wilkomitz the same with that of the Palatinate changing only the Pillars to the Image of St. Michael The Second Palatinate of Lithuania Proper is that of Troki which has in it these four large Districts Viz. The Districts of Grodno Lida Cowno and Vpita In all which are these principal Cities and Towns Viz. Troki Cap. Grodno Lida Cowno and Vpita The chief City of all which is Troki otherwise call'd Troccum or Trocum built with Wood and seated on a Point of Land that shoots out into a Lake and which lies about four Miles from Vilna to the West This City had formerly a strong Wall to defend it but which was long since destroy'd by the Prussian Knights but yet it still has a Castle founded in the Lake and sufficiently fortify'd both by Nature and Art Gedeminus Great Duke of Lithuania laid the first Foundation of this City which was the Ducal Seat before it came to be translated to Vilna The Moscovites storm'd burnt and pillag'd this Place in the Year 1655. Grodno a Timber-built City on the River Niemen or Cronon having a strong Castle on a Rock near adjoining founded by King Stephen who was
Countries has been always â—â—o improve my self in what related pecuâ—â—iarly to the Practice of Physick and to Natural Knowledg yet for my own Satisfaction and Curiosity I was desirous to be inâ—â—ormed further both from the Natives themselves and their Historians of the true State and Origin of this vast Kingdom I found that Poland has met with the same Fate with most other Countries that is to be little known from its Minority For when this Monarchy was first founded by Lechus there were no Learned Men to hand down to Posterity by their Writings the true State thereof from â—â—ts Infancy but what small Account there is extant of it was written some Ages after Wherefore not having besides been a twelve-month in that Kingdom I cannot presume to give that satisfaction which perhaps your Lordship might otherwise expect from the discourse I lately had with you yet I can securely assert that the following Relation of the Origin of that Country is drawn out of its most authentick Historians POLAND by the Romans call'd Sarâ—â—natia Europaea came to be a distinct Nation and to be govern'd by Elective Princes much about the Middle of the Sixth Century sometime after that the Goths and Vandals had ravag'd the South parts of Europe and abandon'd their own bleak Northern Habitations to establish themselves in warmer Regions Italy France Spain and Africk which gave occasion to the Sclavonians as Sabellicus Thuanus and other Authors have it to quit the Cimmerian Bosphorus or Straits of Caffa Great Sarmatia and Great Russia or Moscovy to inhabit those desolate Countries Afterwards this People dividing themselves into two considerable Bodies one pass'd the Danube and settled in Dalmatia Istria Bosnia Carynthia Bulgaria as far as Greece and in some part of Germany while the other under the Conduct of three Brothers Lechus Cechus and Russus turn'd towards the North to possess themselves of those Provinces which the Goths and Vandals had forsaken These Brothers are said to have built Bremen in Germany so naming it from a Sclavonian Word signifying a Burden because they had there as one may say laid down their Burden and were in great measure freed from their former Miseries These Princes likewise divided their Followers into three Parties whereof one commanded by Cechus settled in that Kingdom which lies between Poland and Germany now call'd Bohemia the other headed by Lechus fix'd in the lower part of Great Sarmatia a Flat and Champain Country whence the Natives have since call'd it Polska from the Sclavonian word Pole which either signifies Plainness or Hunting and the Germans Poland or Even-Ground Hartknoch is of Opinion that Poland was an antient Name of Sarmatia in the time of Ptolomey before the Poles inhabited this Champain Country which it might have taken from the Bulani or Bolani that are said to have settled near the Vistula and to have come from Sarmatia The third Brother Russus establish'd himself in that Province of Poland which is now call'd from his Name Russia Not only the Testimony of Authentick Writers but also our own Reason will convince us that all these Nations have originally been the same which may appear by their Languages being but as so many Dialects of one Mother-Tongue the Sclavonian which is now spoke in more Countries than any Language of Europe Here Lechus had no great need of Force to establish himself he met with but little resistance all this Country having been left desolate for some time before by the Vandals Only Regulus a German Prince is said to have oppos d him at first and to have challeng'd him but was soon vanquish'd by him in a Duel whereby he became Master of Pomerania which was then Regulus his Country In these days there were no Cities in Poland no Money was yet known nor any Laws writ such as they had being only pronounc'd by their Princes Mouths and handed down by Tradition to the People Princes were then rather Fathers of Families than Lords and Masters and their Revenue consisted only in a moderate Imposition on their Subjects Labour Lechus my Lord settled in that great Province which joins the State of Brandenburg since call'd Posnania where he built the first City naming it Gnesna from the Sclavonian word Gniazdo which in that Language signifies a Nest and this because that where it was building a Tree was cut down which had an Eagle's Nest on the Top of it which Lechus taking for a good Omen not only call'd his City Gnesna and made it the Metropolis of his Kingdom but also order'd that the Arms of Poland should for ever after be a Spread-Eagle which has so continu'd even down to this day He likewise built another City in a Wood eight Miles from the former which he nam'd Posnania by the present Inhabitants call'd Posnan signifying in the Polish Tongue Knowledg because he there met and knew his Brother Cechus Prince of Bohemia after above twenty years absence This City gave occasion for naming the Province Posnania In Memory of Lechus to this day the Poles stile their Country in their Poems Lechia and Mr. Mountague North who liv'd for sometime at Constantinople has lately told me that the Turks call a Polander in their Language Lech making the Poles likewise derive their Name from their Founder Tho my Lord this Lechus brought that People under a kind of Monarchical Government yet neither he nor any of his Successors could ever so far prevail upon them as to make the Succession Hereditary they having continued Elective for above Eleven hundred years always reserving a full Power and Authority to themselves of choosing whom they pleas'd for their King Nevertheless it is to be observ'd that they have still hitherto elected one of the Royal Family where the deceas'd King had any Issue left except in this present Election which is like to go otherwise I find by their Chronicles that not so much as a Daughter has been excluded when there has been no Son However they always thought fit to acquaint 'em at the time of their Election that they were not to attribute their Accession to the Throne to any Right contracted from their Parents but were altogether oblig'd to the Senate and Gentry for putting that Scepter into their hands Hereby they intimated how much their Kings were indebted to 'em and what Necessity they lay under to behave themselves well towards a People that were pleas'd to raise 'em to a Supreme Dignity which they had no better Claim to than the meanest Gentleman in the Kingdom They acquainted them likewise that they thought themselves no longer oblig'd to pay them Obedience than that they kept to their Oaths And moreover they always reserv'd to themselves a Right of deposing them whenever they violated their Laws This Maxim has hitherto prov'd very beneficial to the Poles for enlarging their Country and maintaining their Privileges and might well have
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 Great Poland is that of Kalisch in which are these Cities and Towns Kalisch Metropolis and Castellany Kolo Land Naklo Odolanovia Chocia Stave Cosmin Dohra Grabow Opatovec and Plesovia The Chief City of all which is Kalisch built among Marshes upon the River Prosna and fortified only with a Brick-Wall and some low Towers It has in it some Religious Houses and a very magnificent College for Jesuits founded by Stanislaw Karncovius Arch-bishop of Gnesna Here are the Ruins of a strong Castle remaining which had formerly been destroy'd by the Teutonick Knights Kolo a Timber-built Town wall'd with Mud and Dirt At certain times it is encompass'd and wash'd by the River Wart near which it is built It is about eight Miles from Kalisch Land a Town upon the Wart about four Miles from Gnesna Naklo a Timber'd Town near the Lake Goplo with a wall'd Castle situate among the Marshes Odolanovia a Town with a Castle built likewise among the Marshes Chocia in which Andrew Lipski Bishop of Cracow founded a Collegiate Church with vast Expence The other Towns of this Palatinate are not very considerable and therefore are omitted The Senators of this Palatinate are The Palatin and Castellan of Kalisch The Castellans of Land Naklo and Kamin The Standard and Arms of this Palatinate It s Arms. are a Buffaloes Head eras'd Sables with a Crown between his Horns all in a checky Field Argent and Gules The third Palatinate of Great Poland is that of Siradia situate along the River Varta or Wart being divided into four Districts viz. The Districts of Siradia Schadkow Radomsko and Petricovia In all which are the several Cities and Towns of Siradia Cap. Rosprza Spicemir Petricovia Konarzew Wart Lask Vidavia and Pabianice The chief City of all which is Siradia situate in a Plain and fortified with a strong Wall with a Castle built on the Wart Subject to the Jurisdiction of this City are the following Cities and Towns Rosprza a Timber'd Town seated amongst the Marshes Spicimir a Town built likewise with Wood. Petricovia a Wall'd City by no means inconsiderable situate among Rivulets and Bogs Once a Year one of the great Tribunals of the Kingdom is kept in the Suburbs of this City in one of the King's Palaces Not far off there is another Palace of the King 's call'd Byki of a regular Structure whither his Majesty with his Court sometimes retires for his Pleasure at the time of the meeting of the Tribuaal There are several other Eminent Edifices built about this City belonging to Bishops and other Great Men among which the most famous is the Abby of Vitrovia and the Palace of Crusmen after the Italian manner Konarzew a Town of no great Importance Wart a large City built upon a River of the same Name Lask where formerly Johannes Lascus Archbishop of Gnesna founded a Collegiate Church and richly endow'd it at his own Costs To this Palatinate also belongs the Territory of Vielunia which has a Castellan and other Magistrates of its own and is divided into two parts viz. Vielunia and Ostresow Both which contain some Towns and a great number of Villages The principal of the Towns is Boleslaw which is defended with a very strong Castle Vielun environ'd with a high Wall and a very deep Ditch having likewise a Castle on the River Prosna Its Buildings are generally of Brick whereof there are several very stately Ostresow a Timber-built City on the Borders of Silesia situate in a very large Plain and encompass'd almost every way with Woods In this Palatinate the Gentry formerly had a Privilege of sealing their Letters with Red Wax which was only allow'd to the Senators in all the rest of the Kingdom and which they obtain'd by recovering the Standard of the Palatinate of Lanschet after it had been lost to the Prussians and Teutonick Knights The Senators of this Palatinate are The Palatin and Castellan of Siradia The Castellans of Rosprza Spicimir and Konarzew The Standard and Arms of this Palatinate are in a Field Vert a Lion Gules and Eagle Sables both counter-coup'd in the middle The Territory of Vielunia has its own Ensigns which are an Agnus Dei with a Cross Argent in a Field Guiles The fourth Palatinate of Great Poland is that of Rava which is divided into three Districts viz. The Districts of Rava Sochaczow and Gostinin In all which are the several Cities and Towns of Rava Cap. Lowitz Volboria Gombin Sochaczow Gostinin Viasdum and Biala The Capital City of this Palatinate is Rava situate in a Plain built for the most part with Wood and tolerably populous It has a Castle on a small River of the same Name in which Prisoners of the best Rank are kept The fourth part of the Revenue of this Castle goes towards the Payment of the Souldiers The same Constitution was in Podolia where former Kings thought fit to establish the best Guard they could against the frequent Incursions of the Tartars In this City is a very considerable College of Jesuits much visited by Learned Men. Lowitz a City much more populous than the former and about five Miles distant from it It is famous for being sometimes the Residence of the Arch-bishop of Gnesna or Primate of Poland His Palace there is built among the Marshes yet nevertheless consists of several fair Piles of Building The Church also is a beautiful Structure and enrich'd with several noble Gifts It has likewise a great many considerable Monasteries Abbies c. In this City are divers famous Fairs kept which the Gentry very much frequent from all Parts Volboria a Town wherein the Bishop of Cujavia commonly resides and where he has a Noble Palace This Place is also very populous Gombin a large Timber-built Town situate in a Plain Sochaczow a Place defended with Palisades and a Castle built on a Rock which is wash'd by the River Bsura Gostinin a Wooden City built in a Plain among Marshes This Place is famous for having in it the Prison where Demetrius Suski the Czar of Muscovy was kept for a long time and where he at length dy'd Viasdum remarkable for its Strength and Beauty of its Castle and situate not far from Rava on the Left-hand Biala a Town belonging to the Bishop of Chelm This Palatinate contains likewise a Noble Palace of the Arch-bishop of Gnesna call'd Squernevicid The Senators of this Palatinate are The Palatin and Castellan of Rava The Castellans of Sochaczow and Gostinin The Standard and Arms of this Palatinate are an Eagle Sables with the letter R on his Breast in a Field Gules The fifth Palatinate of Great Poland is that of Lanschet divided likewise into three Districts viz. The Districts of Lanschet Brezini and Orlow In all which the most considerable
Cities and Towns are Lanschet Cap. Orlow Bresina Piontkum and Vniejovia The Capital Place of this Palatinate is Lanschet a wall'd City built among the Marshes in a Plain and surrounded with a very broad and deep Ditch it has a Castle well fortify'd on a Rock and which is wash'd by the River Bsura Not far off in a Village call'd Kosciol there is a very neat Church built with Free-stone There are several famous Fairs kept in this City where one of the Little Diets is also conven'd pursuant to the King's Command Orlow a Timber-built Town seated between several small Lakes and a large muddy River It is four Miles from Lanschet Bresina a wooden-built Town indifferently large situate among Bogs and about seven Miles from Lanschet Piontkum or Piatek built among the Marshes on the Banks of the River Bsura This Place is famous for well-tasted Beer which is transported from hence all the Kingdom over Here is a Monastery erected to the Honour of St. Paul Vniejovia a Town where there is a very famous Castle founded on the Wart Both these Places belong to the Arch-bishop of Gnesna The Senators of this Palatinate are The Palatin and Castellan of Lanschet The Castellans of Bresina Brezina and Biechovia The Standard and Arms of this Palatinate are an Eagle Argent and Lion Sables both counter-coup'd in the middle and the latter crown'd Or all in a Field Gules The sixth and seventh Palatinates are comprehended in Cujavia whereof the former is The Palatinate of Bresty which is divided into four Districts viz. The Districts of Bresty Cruswick Coval and Predek In all which are the several Cities and Towns of Vladislaw Cap. Bresty Nisavia Radzieow Voisinow Kowalow and Sluzevia The Capital City of this Palatinate is Vladislaw built among the Marshes near the Vistula This City is famous for being the Episcopal See of the Bishop of Cujavia who always crowns the King in case either of the Death Indisposition or Obstinacy of the Primate It has a neat Cathedral built after the Gothick manner and about it stand the Prebends and Canons Houses with a large Free-School The Buildings of this City are generally of Brick with which the Castle is also built on the River Vistula The Country hereabouts is all Boggy and there is so great scarcity of Wood that the Inhabitants suffer very much for want of it Bresty a City seated in a Plain among Marshes and defended with a very strong Wall and deep Ditch The Houses here are for the most part of Brick Upon the same shore with Vladislaw lies Nisavia being not far off from it it is a wall'd Town Radzieow a Timber-built Town situate in an open Country near a very large Lake Koisinow a Town defended with a strong Castle Kowalow a Timber-built Town seated amongst the Marshes This Palatinate is very fertile and abounds with all sorts of Corn which not only suffices the Inhabitants but is also transported in vast quantities to Dantzic by several Navigable Rivers whence it is carried out of the Kingdom The latter and seventh Palatinate of the Province of Great Poland is that of Inowlocz which is divided likewise into three Districts viz. The Districts of Bydgosty Bobrounitz and Inowlocz This Palatinate extends it self from the Lake of Goplo and the City of Cruswick to the Vistula and Confines of Pomerania and has several Cities and Towns whereof the chief are Cruswick Bydgosty Gnieukow Vratislaw Solec Dibow and Strelce Cruswick an antient City next to Gnesna for Antiquity built upon the Borders of Bresty with a strong wall'd Castle near the Lake Goplo out of which it is said the Rats came that devour'd King Popiel II. his Wife and Family by a Divine Judgment In the Suburbs of this City is the Church of St. Peter built with Free-stone together with a College of twenty four Canons Here formerly the Court resided but was afterwards remov'd to Cracow Bydgosty a wall'd Town in a Plain wash'd by the River Barda by which several things are transported to Vladislaw being only six Miles distant The other Towns are not to be despis'd being generally very populous The Senators of Cujavia are The Palatin and Castellan of Bresty the Palatin and Castellan of Inowlocz The Castellans of Kowalow Cruswic and Bydgosty The Standard or Arms of Cujavia is in a Field Or an Eagle Gules and Lion Sables counter-coup'd in the middle The Second PROVINCE of this Kingdom is Upper or Lesser Poland which is bounded on the North by Masovia and Podlachia on the West by Lower Poland on the South by Hungary and on the East by Russia and is about fifty German Miles as well in length as breadth It is generally divided into three Palatinates Viz. The Palatinates of Cracovia Sendomir and Lublin The first Palatinate of Lesser Poland is that of Cracovia which besides four Districts contains also three Dutchies and one County The four Districts are Cracovia wherein are two Subdivisions Viz. The Subdivisions of Xianzen and Prossovia Lelovia Briecz and Sandecz The three Dutchies are Oswieczin Zator and Severia Which are part of Silesia and the County is that of Scepuz which belongs to Hungary and contains thirteen Towns the chief of which is Luboul having a well-fortify'd Castle wherein constant Guard is kept The chief Cities and Towns of this Palatinate are Cracow Bishoprick and Metropolis Biecz Wounitz Sandecz Lelow Kyaz Oswieczin Zator Seueria Proszovice Czenstochova Slaucovia Ilcussia Wicliczka Bocknia and Dobcitia Of all which the Capital of the Province and Metropolis of the Kingdom is Cracow a famous City seated in a spacious Plain near the Weissel by which Merchandizes are transported to Dantzic It lies nine Polish Miles East of the Frontiers of Silesia eleven from those of Upper Hungary twenty three from Sendomir thirty from Olmitz thirty five South-East of Vratislaw forty from â—â—ienna and about fifty from Buda and is plac'd in the 42 Degree of Longitude and 50 of Latitude It takes its Name from Cracus Gracus or Gracchus one of the first Dukes of Poland tho some others will have it to be the Cawdanum of Ptolomy corrupted into Cracow But let its Name come from whence it will it is certain that now considering the stateliness both of its publick and private Edifices and the great Plenty of all manner of Necessaries it is equal to most Towns of either Germany or Italy If this Character given to it by Starovolscius be disputed no body can deny but that it is the largest and best built Town in all Poland being divided into four Quarters Viz. Cracow properly so call'd Casimir Stradomia and Cleparia The first Cracow is encompass'd with a very high Wall and flank'd with round brick Towers with a broad deep Ditch wall'd likewise and a stately Castle about a Mile in Compass sounded on a Rock call'd
Zaclicin famous for a very considerable Market Lezaisk a Town celebrated for a Monastery wherein they pretend are miraculously kept several Relicks and which draw great Crouds of Pilgrims from all Parts The Senators of this Palatinate are The Palatin and Castellan of Sendomir The Castellans of Wislicz Radom Zawichost Zarnow Malogosch Poloviec and Sechow The Standard and Arms of this Palatinate are Party per Pale Argent and Azure in the first three Bars Gules and in the second three Stars Sables two and one The third Palatinate of Poland is Lublin join'd also by the Territory of Lucovia which contains near two thousand Gentlemens Houses This Palatinate with both the others is within the Diocess of Cracow which comprehends a thousand and eighteen Churches thirteen whereof are Collegiate In this Palatinate are the several Cities and Towns of Lublin Cap. Casimir Czemiernikow Vrzendow Lulow Parkow Opolia Curovia Crasnicz Levartovia and Lenczna Whereof the Capital City is Lublin situate in the 45 th degree of Longitude and 51 of Latitude and which lies five Miles from the Confines of Red Russia twelve West of Chelm fourteen from Sendomir twenty four South of Warsaw and thirty six North-East of Cracow It is seated at the foot of a Hill water'd by the River Bystricza and defended by a high Wall a broad Ditch and a huge strong Castle which owes its Foundation to the Russians This City is not very large but nevertheless exceeding healthy and well built and much frequented by the Turkish Armenian Muscovitish and German Merchants especially at the time of the four famous Fairs that are annually kept there It is encompass'd every way almost by Marshes and was wall'd round by Casimir the Great The Jews generally inhabit the Suburbs where they have a Synagogue The principal Church here was erected by Lescus Niger on occasion of a signal Victory he gain'd over the Lithuanians near this place This Church he dedicated to St. Michael who 't is said had promis'd him good Success the Night before he fought There are several other well-built Churches in this City as likewise divers magnificent Monasteries the chiefest of which was founded by Vladislaus Jagello This City is noted for two Courts of Justice or great Tribunals for all Poland which occasions a great Concourse of the Gentry to this Place Casimir a very fair Wooden City built among Rocks near the Vistula whose overflowing sometimes lays the Houses above half under Water It is about seven Miles from Lublin Czemiernikow famous for a very beautiful Palace formerly built by the prudent and illustrious Henry Firleius Arch-bishop of Gnesna and adorn'd with several delightful Gardens Vrzendow a large Timber-built Town situate on a Lake and about seven Miles from Lublin Lulow Capital of the Territory of Leucovia a City built with Wood in a Plain partly defended by a Bog and partly by Palisadoes It is about fourteen Miles from Lublin and has a very considerable Jurisdiction Parkow a Wood-built Town seated in a Plain near a very large Lake and about nine Miles from Lublin This Palatinate sends only two Senators viz. The Palatin and Castellan of Lublin It s Standard or Arms is a Stag Passant Argent Collard Or in a Field Gules The third PROVINCE of Poland is Prussia which depends only in part on the Jurisdiction of the Crown of Poland for it has its peculiar Laws Customs and Courts of Justice It is a Country of great Extent and every-where water'd with commodious Rivers and moreover towards the Baltic enrich'd with many convenient Ports and Havens In length it is about sixty Polish Miles and near fifty in breadth and is bounded on the West by Pomerania on the South by Cujavia and Masovia on the East by Lithuania and Samogitia and on the North by the Baltic Sea This Province tho it has no great store of Mines yet it abounds with all sorts of Cattle wild Beasts Fish and Fruit and enjoys a very temperate Climate The Merchandizes which it has from Poland Russia and Lithuania it transports in great quantities and likewise imports whatever either Europe or the Indies afford and that chiefly by way of Exchange Hence it comes to pass that its Inhabitants are generally richer and live better than in any of the other Provinces of Poland In this Province they make Glass of certain Wood-Ashes or of the largest sort of Pebles These they boil for twelve hours before they will vitrify When they would have their Glass clearer than ordinary they mix a certain Earth with the Ashes of the Colour and Hardness of Tartre which renders the Glass of different Colours according to the quantity of this Earth mixt with it Here may be remark'd that if Salt be mixt with Glass it becomes much easier to be blown by the Artificer The principal Rivers of this Province are The Weissel or Vistula The Niemen The Nogat The Elbing The Wesser The Passar The Alla The Pregel The Ossa The Drebnicz The Lica and The Lavia Together with a great many Lakes replenish'd with all sorts of Fish the chief of which are 1. Habus near fifteen Miles long and about two in breadth disjoin'd from the Sea only by the Isthmus Neringa or rather a small Neck of Land for I find it has Communication with the Sea where the Inhabitants gather Amber in small Nets of a Conick Figure with a large Mouth and narrow at the bottom This Net they tie to a long Pole and set out in the Sea when the Waves begin to come in wherewith they take pieces sometimes as big as ones Fist This Amber is thought to be form'd by the great number of Fir-Trees that grow along this Lake which dropping great quantities of Resina or Turpentine into it is carried into the Baltic Sea where being labour'd by the Waves it is congeal'd into Amber wherein are found Flies and other Insects But I am since better inform'd that Amber is a Mineral Juice that runs into the Sea which at first taking is soft but quickly hardens in the Air. It is also to be got all along the Sea-coast in this Province 2. Curona another Lake something larger than the former in Ducal Prussia Prussia is generally divided into Regal and Ducal This Province was at first subject to certain Soveraign Dukes until the Knights of the Teutonick Order got possession of it in the XIII th Century after a tedious War In the Year 1454 the Western Part was subdued by the Poles and in 1520 Albert Marquess of Brandenburg the 34 th and last Master of that Order having shaken off the Polish Yoke obtain'd the Eastern Part under the Title of a Dutchy so that ever since it has been divided as abovesaid The same Albert embrac'd Lutheranism perswaded most of the Knights to marry and introduc'd the Reform'd Religion into this Country whereof the antient Inhabitants are long since extirpated and the
with a Castle well fortify'd against the Tartars Resovia has in it a considerable Castle with several Monasteries and a Fair kept on the Feast of St. Albert. This Town is famous for a Linen Manufacture perform'd by the Germans whose Ancestors having been taken Prisoners by Casimir the Great were settled in and about this Place The Standard or Arms of this District are an Eagle expans'd with two Heads both Crown'd Or in a Field Azure The third District of the Palatinate of Russia is that of Halicz encompass'd towards the West with the Mountains of Transylvania to the South by the Boechy-Woods of Walachia and towards the East is divided into two Parts by the Tyra or Niester a rapid River which arises among the Carpathian Mountains and discharges it self into the Euxine Sea The South Division of this District is call'd Procutia The whole District contains these remarkable Cities and Towns Viz. Halicz Cap. Sniatin Cap. of Procutia Colom Martinow Dolina Strium Podock Brezana Buczavia or Busko and Podhajecia The chief all which is Halicz formerly Metropolis of the Russian Kingdom which was then divided into several Tetrarchies each of which had its proper Duke It is a large Timber-built City divided from Moldavia by the River Prud and on the other side wash'd by the Niester It has a wooden Castle situated on an Eminence hard by the Niester Its Inhabitants are somewhat Rustical and addicted more to Agriculture than Trade Sniatin a wooden Palisado'd Town on the Borders of Walachia water'd by the Prud and is Capital of Procutia In it were wont to be Fairs kept which the Valachians made their Magazine whence it became very well furnish'd with Cattle Honey Wax and an excellent Breed of brave Horses in great Numbers Colom a wooden Town built under a Hill near the River Prud. It is very much frequented on account of its Refining Salt with which it furnishes all the rest of Russia and Lithuania there being none in those two Provinces except only in the District of Premislaw Almost all over this District there are deep Wells whose Water is boil'd up into Salt In the Desarts likewise of the Vkraine near the Boristhenes there is a certain Lake whose Water by the power of the Sun is congeal'd into solid Lumps of Salt and which the Inhabitants thereabouts only use Martinow a Town in Procutia having a Castle built among the Marshes Dolina a wooden-built Town situated among the Hills Strium built likewise with Wood near the River of its own Name Podock on the other side of the Niester defended by a Castle and adorn'd by a fair Monastery built by Steven Potucius Palatin of Braclaw who dy'd and lies bury'd there Brezana a populous Town built with Wood having a wall'd Castle on a Hill hard by Buczavia or Busko built among the Marshes near which the River Bug has its Rise by means of which several Merchandizes are transported to Leopol Podhajecia environ'd with a Wall and other Fortifications having not far off the famous Castle of Zavalovia The fourth District of the Palatinate of Russia is that of Sanoch near the Mountains of Hungary and Transylvania and consequently abounding in little Hills except only towards Crosna In it are these Cities and Towns Viz. Sanoch Cap. Crosna Brozovia Rimanovia Dinovia and Lesko Of all which the principal City is Sanoch built with Wood among the Hills and near the River San. It has a no-ways contemptible Castle founded upon a Rock Crosna the Staple of the Hungarians whither they bring all their Merchandizes and Wines and therefore the Fairs and Marts here are more celebrated than those of their Neighbours In this City likewise the Jesuits have a College for Human Learning It exceeds Sanoch in its Number of Inhabitants and Concourse of Strangers The other Cities and Towns of Brozovia Rimanovia Dinovia and Lesko are Places of no small Strength against the Incursions of the Tartars The Senators of the Palatinate of Russia are The Archbishop of Leopol The Bishops of Premislaw and Kiovia The Palatin of Russia The Castellans of Leopol Premislaw Halicz and Sanoch The Second Palatinate of the Province of Red Russia is that of Podolia famous for the frequent Irruptions of Barbarians and the many Battles fought with them there If these People says Starovolscius might enjoy a wish'd-for Peace like the Western Countries of Europe they would have no reason to envy either the Plenty or Riches of Italy or Hungary This Palatinate has in it divers sorts of Marble and Alabaster in several Places and is divided into three Districts Viz. The Districts of Caminiec Trembowla and Laticzow In all which are these principal Cities and Towns Viz. Caminiec Cap. Trembowla Laticzow Bar. Husiatinow Czartikow Janow Czvaniec Chmielnic Miedzibosz or Misdzibozia Zinkow Jesupolis Jacloveck Satanow Tarnopolia Kitaigrod and Dunaigrod The Chief City of all which is Caminiec situate on the Confines of Walachia among Rocks and Hills It is well fortify'd both by Nature and Art and has a very strong Castle built on an adjacent Rock which commands the Town It s Avenue is cover'd with a Horn-work which is separated from the Body of the Place by a deep Moat Both City and Castle are almost encompass'd by the River Smotrzick which a little below falls into the Niester The Rocks lie every way so high about this City that you can discover only the Tops of the highest Houses It lies fifteen Polish Miles from Bar to the West thirty from Leopol thirty six from Jassy thirty from Kiow eighty from Warsaw and about a hundred and seventy from Constantinople This strong City which is the See of a Prelat Suffragan to the Arch-bishop of Leopol was very much damag'd by a Fire in the Year 1669 and has been often in vain attackt by the utmost Fury of the Turks and Tartars till in the Year 1672 it fell into the possession of the former in which it still continues It was blockt up by Motula General of the Cosacks in the Year 1687 and the Poles afterwards made great Preparations to join his Troops but were both oblig'd to retire upon the Approaches of the Ottoman Forces Afterwards another Blockade was form'd by the Polish Army in 1688 and the next year they actually invested the Place and began a formal Attack in the Month of August but the Siege was rais'd in September following and never since attempted so that the Infidels remain at present in quiet possession hereof together with several other considerable Places in this Palatinate Trembowla a City lying under a great Mountain with a Castle built upon an adjoining Hill Laticzow well fortify'd against Incursions with an adjoining Castle and Warlike Inhatants Bar a City built and palisado'd round by Buona Daughter of John Sforza Duke of Milan and Queen to Sigismund King of Poland so naming it
and is divided into two Districts Viz. The Districts of Chelm and Crasnistaw In both which are these Cities and Towns Viz. Chelm Bish Cap. Crasnistaw Zamoisk Ratno Lynbowlya Rozana Vlodavia Scebresin Turobin Tamogrod Tomasow and Ctesow The Capital of all which is Chelm a small City defended with a Castle the Outworks whereof are made of Wood. It lies about ten Miles from Lublin to the East twenty four from Premistaw to the North and twelve from Belsko It has been sack'd and burnt by the Muscovites and Tartars during the late Wars which occasion'd the Residence of its Bishop to be translated to Crasnistaw Nevertheless an Oriental or Russian Bishop still resides there Crasnistaw a wall'd Town upon the River Vepre where the Bishop of Chelm at present has his Residence in a Palace of modern Architecture Near this place the Arch-Duke Maximilian when he came with an Army to seize the Crown of Poland was shamefully repuls'd by John Zamoiski who immediately afterwards built a Town in that Neighbourhood calling it after his own Name Zamoisk well defended by high Walls deep Ditches and other strong Fortifications after the modern Manner He likewise built a fair Cathedral here and enrich'd it with all manner of Necessaries also a noble Academy furnish'd with Learned Masters from the famous University of Cracow This Person was so great a favourer of Learning that not only Zamoisk but also several other Places of the Province of Russia found the Effects of his Bounty Ratno a wooden Town built among the Marshes with a Castle wash'd by the River Perepet on one side and defended on the other by a Bog and the Niester It lies bout twenty four Miles from Chelm Lynbowlya a Town upon the Bug with a tolerably fortify'd Castle The Senators of this Palatinate are The Bishop and Castellan of Chelm The Standard or Arms of this Palatinate are a Bear Argent passant between three Trees proper in a Field Or. The Fifth PROVINCE of this Kingdom is Masovia situate almost in the Heart of the Kingdom of Poland and bounded on the North by Prussia on the East by Lithuania on the South by Upper Poland and on the West by Lower Poland It was formerly govern'd by its own Princes but in the Year 1526 by the Death of its Dukes John and Stanislaus that Dutchy fell to the Kings of Poland The Inhabitants hereof are generally Warlike They speak the same Language with the Poles only they differ in some few guttural Accents Their Manners Habits and Religion are much the same This Province is divided into three Palatinates which are The Palatinates of Masovia properly so call'd Ploczkow and Dobrina The first Palatinate of this Province is that of Masovia properly so call'd which in spiritual Matters is subject only to the Bishop of Posnan but in Temporal is divided into twelve Districts viz. The Districts of Warsaw Wisna Cyrna Zembrow Nuren Wissegrod Zakrow Cickanow Lombze Rozan Makow and Liw In all which the principal Cities and Towns are those of the same Name with the Districts adding moreover these following viz. Pultovia Czerniensk Czersko Akroczim Varka Blonye Pultowsko Tarcin Grodzyec Prasniz Garvolinia Vengrovia Stanislanovia Broc Viskow and Seroicz The chief City of all which and Metropolis of the Province is Warsaw defended with a Castle Wall and Ditch seated in a Plain in the very Center of the Kingdom and therefore pitch'd upon for the convening of the Diet. It lies upon the River Vistula in the 43 d degree of Longitude and 52 of Latitude and is divided into four Parts viz. The Old and New Town with The Suburbs of Cracow and Prag This City is adorn'd with divers stately Piles of Buildings particularly a spacious four-square Palace founded by Sigismund III. and much improv'd by his Successors where the Kings of Poland most commonly reside Opposite to this on the other side of the River stands another Royal Palace in the middle of delightful Groves and Gardens built by Vladislaus VII and call'd by the Name of Viasdow where the States or Diet of Poland formerly us'd to sit and debate the most important Affairs of the Kingdom There is moreover the Palace of King John Casimir as likewise a very stately one built by Count Morstin Great Treasurer of Poland Also a League from this City King John Sobieski built a neat Country Palace by the Name of Villa Nova The other Publick Edifices are no less remarkable being the Church of St. John Baptist where Secular Canons officiate the Arsenal Castle market-Market-place c. Divers kinds of Merchandizes are convey'd hither along a River from the neighbouring Provinces and from hence carried to Dantzic to be transported into Foreign Countries In the Suburbs of Cracow is a small Chappel built on purpose for the Burial of John Demetrius Suski Great Duke of Muscovy who died Prisoner in the Castle of Gostinin together with his two Brothers This City was taken by the Swedes in the Year 1655 and is scarce three Polish Miles distant from Lesser Poland about twenty four from Lanschet as many North-East of Lublin twenty nine South-East of Thorn thirty to the North from Sendomir thirty three West of Gnesna and forty to the North-East from Cracow and Posnan Wisna a Town in a Plain near the River Narew with a Castle upon an adjoining Hill Wissegrod a Wooden Town built in a Plain near the Vistula with a considerable Castle It lies about twelve Miles from Warsaw Ciekanow about the same distance from Warsaw being a Town built in a Plain likewise with a Castle among the Marshes Lombze a large City upon the navigable River Narew consisting of fair Buildings and about twenty Miles from Warsaw Rozan a Town built in a Plain near the River Narew Liw a Timber-built Town with a Castle founded on the Banks of the River Liwijecz Pultovia famous for being the Residence of the Bishop of Plosko It is a Town built with Brick with a good Castle and some other tolerable Edifices Czerniensk a large Wooden Town built on the Vistula Akroczim a Wooden Town likewise seated on the Vistula with a Castle It is about eight Miles from Warsaw Varka a large Town built in a Plain near the River Pilza and about eight Miles from Warsaw another way Blonye a Town about four Miles from Warsaw Pultowsko a Wall'd Town with a Castle situate on the River Narew Tarcin a Timber-built Town about five Miles from Warsaw Grodzyec about seven Miles from Warsaw and two from Tarcin Prasniz a large Town intermix'd with a great many fair Stone Edifices The Senators of this Palatinate are The Palatine of Masovia The Castellans of Cyrna Warsaw Wisna Wissegrod Zakrow Ciekanow and Liw The Arms or Standard of this Palatinate are an Eagle expanded Argent in a Field
I my self commanded for near ten Years This Place lies about fourscore Miles from Vilna and had formerly a Prince of its own Orsha a large Wooden City defended on one side with sharp and strong Palisadoes and on the other by the River Boristhenes together with a Stone Castle wash'd by the River Orshicza This Place lies about eighteen Miles from Witebsko Mohilow a very large Market-Town much frequented by the Moscovites whence they transmit their Firs into Poland and Germany Czasniki a Wood-built Town lying on the River Vla Sienno a Town with a Castle about six Miles from Czasniki Leplo a Town with a Castle well defended situate on a Lake and about seven Miles from Czasniki Woroniec a Town with a Castle lying upon the River Vsacza and about three Miles from Polocz The Senators of this Palatinate are The Palatin and Castellan of Vitebsko The Arms or Standard of this Palatinate are the Arms of the Great Dutchy in a Field Vert. The fourth Palatinate of Lithuanic-Russia is that of Minski which is divided into two Districts viz. The Districts of Minski and Borissow In both which are these several Cities and Towns viz. Minski Cap. Borissow Koidanow Radoskowice Lohoisko Swislocz Bobroisko Odruczko Smolniany and Turkow The Capital of all which is Minski a large Timber-built City with a double Wall a strong Castle and a very deep Ditch with other Fortifications It is wash'd by a River that turns a great many Mills It was formerly the Custom in Russia under whose Dominions this Palatinate was when this City was built to fortify their principal Towns with a double Wall and two Castles Here formerly the Diet was kept alternatively with Vilna and Novogrodeck Borissow a Wooden Town seated on the River Beresina which has a Castle well fortified It lies about forty Miles from Vilna and has in it a good Garison against the Incursions of the Moscovites Koidanow a Town with a Castle about twenty five Miles from Vilna Radoskowice a Town with a Castle where Sigismundus Augustus muster'd above 100000 Men at once in the Year 1568. Lohoisko a Town and Castle about eight Miles from Borissow Swislocz a Town situate upon a River of the same Name Bobroisko a Town lying on the River Beresina Odruczko a Town and Castle which formerly gave Name to a Dutchy whereof several Noble Russians had the Title The Senators of this Palatinate are The Palatin and Castellan of Minski The Arms or Standard of this Palatinate are the same with Lithuania only an M plac'd side-ways The fifth Palatinate of Lithuanic-Russia is that of Polocz which is divided into two Districts viz. The Districts of Polocz and Vsacz In both which are these Cities and Towns viz. Polocz Cap. Vsacz or Vsalza Disna Drissa Druha Starzitia and Volisia The Capital of all which is Polocz seated on the River Duna or Dwina It was formerly a City very considerable but in the Year 1562 John Basilowitz Great Duke of Moscovy took it and carried most of its Inhabitants away Prisoners This Place remain'd in the hands of the Moscovites to the Year 1579 when Stephen Batori recover'd it together with its whole Territory It was formerly a Dutchy and subject only to its own Princes Here at present resides a Russian Prelat The Jesuits also have a very fair Foundation in this City built and endow'd by Stephen Batori Vsacz distant about three Polish Miles from Polocz and situate on a River of its own Name Disna built on the Duna and tolerably fortified It lies about six Miles from Polocz and forty from Vilna Druha upon a River of the same Name The Senators of this Palatinate are The Palatin and Castellan of Polocz The Standard or Arms of this Palatinate are the Arms of the Great Dutchy with a P â— sideways plac'd in the middle of the Coat Having thus Sir describ'd to you the present Extent and chief Towns of the Great Dutchy of Lithuania it would seem requisite as usual to give you a particular Character of this Nation but having a design to proceed to a second Volume of this Undertaking where I will examine into the Genius Manners and Customs of both Poles and Lithuanians at present I can only take notice that to Jagellâ—â—'s time being the XIV th Century the Lithuanian were Pagans and worshipp'd many Gods or rather Devils First they paid Divine Adoration to Fire which they call'd in their Language Znicz signifying sacred and kept it always alight in some of their most famous Towns For thiâ—â— end they assign'd several Priests by whose Neglect or otherwise if ever it came to be extinguish'd they were immediately beheaded Next they worshipp'd Thunder calling it in the Sclavonian Tongue Perunum Also they had divers Groves where they pray'd to tall streight Trees which they held it Sacrilege but to touch The Devil or rather the cunning Priest it seems was so politick in those days as to promote all these Superstitions by frightning these Idolaters when they offer'd in the least to forsake them When the Sky was clouded they were of opinion the Sun was angry with them and therefore us'd their utmost Art to appease him by Prayers Musick c. They likewise believ'd Serpents to be Gods which were their Lares or Domestick Deities and therefore each Family kept one in their House to which they daily sacrificed Milk Fowls and the like and one of which if they happen'd at any time to offend they look'd upon it to be an Omen of Destruction to their whole Progeny They had also a set time appointed for a Solemn Sacrifice being about the beginning of October when together with their Wives and Children they feasted riotously for three days in like manner as we have said before in Samogitia Upon their return from the Wars they were wont to sacrifice one of the chief of their Captives with all their Booty to the Fire They us'd to burn their Dead with all their richest Ornaments on which they wore whilst living together with one of their most faithful Servants their Horses Arms Dogs c. whilst all their Relations and Friends brought Milk Honey Beer and the like and merrily feasted and danc'd about their Funeral-Pile to Musick of various kinds All these Pagan Superstitions and Errors Jagello after he became Christian in great measure abolish'd to effect which He together with his Queen Hedwigis the Arch-bishop of Gnesna a vast number of Priests and several other Learned Men went into Lithuania about the beginning of Lent in the Year 1387 where at Vilna he first caus'd the sacred Fire to be extinguish'd and the place wherein it was kept to be converted into the Church of St. Stanislaus then he proceeded to kill the Serpents cut down the Groves pull down their Altars and the like which the poor bigotted Lithuanians wondring at cry'd
extended their Dominions beyond those of any State in Europe had their other Constitutions been as well grounded or as exactly observed For tho the Poles have been constantly molested by their Neighbours the Suedes Moscovites Tartars Turks Hungarians and Germans and their Kingdom been several times reduc'd to Extremities burnt and plunder'd by frequent Incursions put into Convulsions and Desolations and thousands of their People been carry'd away into Captivity yet by the prudent Conduct and Courage of their Kings through a desire of gaining the Affection of their Subjects by serving their Country zealously to the end their Fame and Merits might raise their Children to the Throne after their deaths the Poles have not only always oppos'd but likewise repuls'd the exorbitant Force of their Enemies They have also by degrees enlarg'd their Country by vast Conquests and render'd it several times the most formidable of any Kingdom in Europe They have likewise never submitted to any Foreign Power no not even to the Romans by force They have also hitherto inviolably maintain'd their Liberties Properties and peculiar manner of Government against all the Attempts both of their Enemies abroad or the Cabals form'd either by themselves or their Kings at home and I believe I may say to their great Commendation that they are the only Nation in the World who have kept the longest Succession of Kings without subjecting themselves either to a Despotic or Hereditary Monarchy their Princes being now as most are thought to have been at first wholly elected by the People Tho My Lord I have said the Poles have never excluded their Kings Children yet must it be understood that their Crown has not always been in the same Family by reason that from time to time the Royal Line has fail'd and therefore they have consequently been oblig'd to elect Princes out of other Families but still I may very well affirm that there has never been any Stranger chosen except in the present Election where the preceding King had any Issue surviving The Princes and Princesses of this Kingdom have in all been fifty two whereof were Women as Venda and Hedwigis both having had the Government for some time and the other forty eight were Men. At first these Princes were only stil'd Duces Dukes or Generals of Poland as if their Office in those times had been no other than to head Armies for 't is to be observ'd that to Boleslaus Chrobry they were not so much as crown'd This Title continu'd from the Year 550 to the Year 1005. when the Emperour Otho III. created Boleslaus I. the Sixteenth Duke of Poland King being the second Christian Prince that had govern'd that Country all before him and Miecislaus I. his Father having been Pagans as were likewise the Poles themselves till the tenth Century when this Miecislaus the fifteenth Duke of Poland turn'd Christian in the Year 964 in Pope John the XIIIth's time by which means his Son Boleslaus came to have the Title of King All the Princes of Poland may be divided into four Classes whereof the first and last are of different Families the second and third of but one in which the Crown passes from the Father to the Daughter The first Class reign'd from the Year 550 to the Year 830 The second from 830 to 1382 The third from 1382 to 1574 and the last from thence down to our Time I shall now proceed to give your Lordship some short Account of the Succession and most Remarkable Actions of the first Class of the Dukes of Poland from the Year 550 to the Year 830. LECHUS Son of Annon first Duke of Poland as I said before founded this Nation He built the first City there naming it Gnesna now the Primate's See as likewise the City of Posnan Capital of Posnania 'T is uncertain how many govern'd before his Race came to be extinct and there is great Contest among the Polish Historians about his Successor but some affirm that he order'd by his last Will like Alexander the Great that they should elect the most worthy Person among them VISIMIRUS his Nephew was thereupon chosen who is reported to have extended his Dominions even to the very Borders of Denmark and to have built a very great Ship which was an exceeding Terror to the Danes He is also said to have given that Nation a great Overthrow by Sea and to have pursued his Victory into the very Bowels of that Kingdom where he subdued many Provinces and built several Cities whereof one was Wismar which retains his Name to this day In one Battel this Visimirus is said to have taken the Danish King Prisoner and to have carried him into Poland whence afterwards being releas'd and conspiring together with the Swedes and Holsatians he made an Incursion into Poland with a numerous Army but was soon met and vanquish'd again by Wisimir who thereupon push'd on his Victory so far as to reduce the greatest part of Denmark which he then united to Poland In opposition to this Story Monsicur Pauli Minister here from Denmark has assured me that the Poles never made any Conquest in that Country which may give some Exception to the truth of this King's Reign tho it may very well be suppos'd that several Kings reign'd during the space of 150 Years there being so much time between the beginning of Lechus his Reign and the Election of Cracus However to gratify the Curiosity of the Publick I hope I have not done amiss to insert it since I withal quote my Author After many glorious Actions having greatly augmented his Dominions this Wisimir died without Issue Vapovius says that Lechus his Posterity reign'd all that space of time between him and Cracus being 150 Years yet having consulted all their Historians I can find no manner of Account given of their Reigâ—â— nor of the Government of Poland in all that space of time Lechus his Issue being extinct 't is certain the People elected twelve Woievods in the Polish Language Captains of War to govern 'em who divided that Country into twelve parts for the Poles sticking close to their Liberty would then by no means put the Government into one Man's hands But soon after these Palatins disagreeing among themselves the People chose one CRACUS for their Head a very Rich and Popular Person reported to have been of the Race of the Gracchi at Rome who were banish'd into this Country by King Ancus Who this Cracus was all Historians do not agree The Polish Writers say he was one of the twelve Woievods but the Bohemians affirm he was a Prince of their Country He gain'd extremely upon the good Will of his Subjects for he soon appeas'd the impending Storms of a Civil War built a City on the River Vistula calling it after his own Name Cracow and transfer'd his Residence from Gnesna thither which is the reason that this City has ever since
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
married to Ferdinand of Austria whereby that House came into possession of the Kingdoms of Hungary and Bohemia as likewise of Silesia all which it enjoys to this day Sigismund dy'd not long after the Council of Trent begun being 82 Years old and having reign'd about 40 with great Success Paulus Jovius says that in this King's time there were three Heroes viz. the Emperor Charles V. Francis I. King of France and Sigismund I. King of Poland each of which deserv'd alone to govern the Universe had they not happen'd to live at the same time This King was as famous in Peace as War being adorn'd with more Vertues than any Prince of Poland before him Besides which Perfections of his Mind he had also great Strength of Body for he is reported to have been accustom'd to snap Horseshoes asunder and to have broke the strongest Ropes with his Hands only as I am credibly inform'd the Elector of Saxony at present King of Poland has often done He had two Wives Barbara Daughter of Stephen Woievod of Transilvania by whom he had one Daughter nam'd Hedwigis married to Joachim Marquess of Brandenburg and another Wife Buona Sforza mention'd before who brought him four Daughters which were Isabel married to John King of Hungary Sophia to the Duke of Brunswick and Ann and Catherine both successively to the King of Sweden and one Son Sigismund Augustus who succeeded his Father in the Kingdom of Poland Martin Bielski a Polander who writ the Annals of his Country in his Native Language mentions that in the beginning of this King's Reign a certain Gentleman nam'd James Melstinski Starosta of Brezina being not a little beside himself pretended to be Christ descended again upon the Earth and consequently together with one Peter Zatorski a Citizen of Cracow and eleven others of the same stamp set forward through divers Cities and Villages canting and imposing upon the common People all along as they went sometimes he pretended to raise the Deaâ—â— which he seemingly effected by help of 〈◊〉 Compact with some of his fellow Impostors Next he work'd several pretended Miracles by Legerdemain as by finding things in places where it was almost impossible for them to be which nevertheless he had prudently taken care to lay there before as Fish in Bogs and the like Afterwards he went to the Monastery of Cestochow where it seems he was not known Here he caus'd one of his Followers to pretend to be possess'd with the Devil who thereupon being immediately seiz'd on was led by the Monks to the Altar at a time when a great Concourse of People were gathered together to hear Mass but the Impostor having provided himself a large Coat with several deep and winding Plights as likewise of divers small Pebbles which he had wrap'd up in his Saâ—â— broke furiously from those that held him and immediately leap'd upon the Altar where seizing upon all the Offerings he soon convey'd them into these obscure Folds of his Coat when the Monks going to search him with great Violence found only the Stones in his Sash which they believing to be the Money transmuted by the Power of the Devil immediately fell to exorcising the Stones but finding the same Species still remain they threw down their Books in great Indignation and cry'd Talem Daemonem nunquam experti sumus abite cum eo ad omnes Daemones By help of the Money they had thus got by this Cheat they travell'd all over Silesia and at last came to a Gentleman's House where they told his Wife that Christ and his Apostles were come to visit her and that she must make some Offering and her Soul should be sav'd to which the Woman reply'd that her Husband was from home and therefore she could not possibly comply with their Requests whereupon they demanded of her if she had any Linen to sacrifice she answered she had and presently fetch'd them down a small parcel which they receiving from her hands told her they would keep that for themselves and Christ should bless her and encrease her Store whereupon enquiring farther if she had any more she shew'd them another Parcel but they being about to do the like by that as they did by the other she told them her Husband not being within she durst by no means part with it which Answer displeasing these Impostors they privily slid a piece of lighted Coal among the Linen which the Woman not knowing any thing of took the parcel and lock'd it up in her Chest as before but which not long after bursting out into a Flame first burnt the Chest and then the House The Husband coming home and finding his House on fire enquir'd into the cause of it whereupon his Wife answer'd that because she had treated Christ disrespectfully who came to visit her this Judgment had befallen them At this the Man flying out into a Passion cry'd This was an Impostor and no Christ wherefore calling his Neighbours together they pursued them close till they heard of them in a Village hard by which the false Saviour being inform'd of said to that Apostle of his nam'd Peter Peter now is my Hour come and the time wherein I am to drink that bitter Draught approaches which I have no other way to avoid but by leaping out at this Window To which Peter reply'd I also will follow my Master's Example that I may live Whereupon they both leap'd out at the Window and the rest of the Apostles fled also their several ways but the deluded Countrymen closely pursuing them at length overtook them and surrounding them with Clubs Scourges and the like laid them on most unmercifully crying all the while Prophesy to us O Christ with thy Disciples in what Wood did these Clubs and Scourges grow By this severe Discipline these Impostors having been totally reform'd confess'd that it was no small Task to imitate Christ and his Apostles Before his Death Sigismund got the Diet to elect his Son SIGISMUND II. surnam'd afterwards Augustus who was crown'd in the Year 1548 and reign'd to 1576. The Diet was very angry with him that after his Coronation he married the Lady Radzivil Widow to a Woievod without their Consent which is against the Constitution of that Kingdom but this Queen dying soon after without Children they agreed to his Marriage with the Princess Catharine another Widow of the House of Austria which was before married to Francis Duke of Mantua In his time Livonia which is a great Province that lies between Prussia Swedeland Muscovy and Lithuania whereof part belonged to the Teutonic Order and part to the Arch-bishop of Riga being the whole under Protection of the Empire was like to have been over-run by the Great Duke of Muscovy who brought thither a powerful Army for that purpose and took most of its Towns Whereupon the Inhabitants finding they were not able alone to resist so great a Force sent to the Emperor Ferdinand for Relief who being
who both put in for the Crown were look'd upon to have little or no Interest The Czar very bluntly demanded the Crown or upon refusal threatned to come and force a Compliance But George Ragozzi seem'd to have recourse to a milder Method yet tho he offer'd his Army of 30000 Men to the Republick to assist them against their Enemies he was suspected to have design'd it against them But at length the Threats of the one and Promises of the other had no better Effect than that they were both equally despis'd and rejected The Competitor that Casimir expected least was Prince Charles Ferdinand Bishop of Breslaw in Silesia and Ploczko in Poland who solicited the Crown for his Brother but design'd it for himself It was believ'd he had written into Sueden to engage the Queen in his Interest He had also lent a Million to raise Troops but this seem'd no extraordinary Policy since his Brother Prince Casimir had before been declar'd Generalissimo of the Army Stanislaus Zaremba Bishop of Kiovia was thought to have given Ferdinand this bad Counsel thinking if he could advance that Prince he might withal procure himself the chief Dignity in the Kingdom the Archbishop of Gnesna being then fourscore Years old and therefore not likely to live long Prince Casimir had always shewn an uncommon Vertue in all his Actions He lov'd War and had ever a great Inclination for Travel Whereupon in 1638 he embark'd at Genoa for Spain with design to assist that Kingdom against France but being taken in Provence he was kept two Years till he was restor'd to his Brother Vladislaus by means of an Embassy sent to the Court of France This Disgrace which hapned to this Prince did not hinder him from undertaking other Voyages for in 1643 he left Poland a second time and passing by Loretto became a Jesuit there without acquainting the King his Brother therewith To withdraw him honourably from this Company and prevent the Publick from blaming his Inconstancy Pope Innocent the Xth made him Cardinal in 1646 which Dignity Casimir seen after resign'd for his Brother's Son dying in 1647 and his Brother being neither like to have any more Children nor to live long he prudently bethought himself of other Measures wherefore in 1647 he sent his Renunciation to his Holiness by Francis Fredt de Moulinet a French Gentleman a Person he had always cherish'd and employ'd upon divers Occasions and whose approv'd Fidelity made him often say That a Prince was always better serv'd by Strangers than by his own Subjects This Retreat of Casimir among the Jesuits gave occasion to the Bishop of Kiovia to labour at his Exclusion in which he was zealously assisted by the Protestants who mortally hated that Society This Bishop likewise imagin'd he had got the major part of the Gentry on his side who seem'd also dissatisfi'd with the Jesuits but he was not a little mistaken for Prince Casimir being the Elder and King Vladislaus his Brother having recommended him by his Will to the States the Faction against him only retarded his Election for a few days the Senate in that time having a mind to reconcile the two Brothers The 6th of October began the Diet of Election where almost all were unanimous and only study'd to hinder the Progress of the Cosacks First John de Torres Archbishop of Adrianople the Pope's Nuncio the young Marquess of Grana Ambassador from the Emperour the Count of Arpajou Embassador Extraordinary together with the Viscount of Bregi Embassador in Ordinary from France recommended the Interest of Prince Casimir whereupon the 29th of the same Month John Tyskiewitz Bishop of Samogitia made an elegant Harangue in his behalf alledging the Case of Casimir the IId who had retir'd into the Abby of Cluny but nevertheless was not excluded the Throne The next day the Minister of Ragozzi Prince of Transylvania had Audience who contrary to all Expectation recommended Prince Casimir yet at the same time insinuated that if they did not think fit to elect him his Master who had always had so sincere Affection for Poland would gladly be their Prince The Diet altho they detested his Flattery yet express'd themselves grateful to his Master for the kindness he had profess'd The 3d of November Prince Ferdinand's Embassadors were introduc'd with the Bishop of Kiovia at their Head The Profers these made were receiv'd with a great deal of Indifference but when the Bishop began to speak with disrespect of Prince Casimir he was soon silenc'd by a universal Confusion of Voices which seem'd all to be against him Whereupon Prince Ferdinand sent forthwith his Excuses and publickly resign'd his Pretensions to his Brother which prevail'd so far upon Casimir that he granted him his Friendship and moreover made him a Present of the Principalities of Oppolen and Ratibor in Silesia and likewise re-imburs'd the Charges he had been at to oppose him in his Election which generous Usage so influenc'd Ferdinand that he express'd less Joy for all these noble Presents than Sorrow for having been concern'd against so deserving a Brother The 17th began the Election when all Obstacles being remov'd Casimir had been proclaim'd the same day if his Embassadors had sign'd the Articles propos'd to them but nevertheless on the 20th he was admitted to the Throne on the same Conditions with his Father Sigismund He marry'd by the Pope's Dispensation the Queen-Dowager Mary Ludovica his Brother's Queen She being a French Lady and medling too much with Affairs of State perhaps with design to promote a Successor of her own Country is thought to have contributed in great measure towards the Troubles which afterwards ensu'd Soon after he came to the Crown the Cosack General Chmielinski began to put in practice his Revenge Whereupon calling the Tartars to his Assistance he march'd at the Head of a formidable Army into Poland where burning plundering and ravaging wherever he came he did all the Mischief he could defeated the Polish Army took the City of Kiovia and afterwards besieg'd Leopol Capital of Russia with an Army of near 300000 Men yet could never take it tho its Fortifications are but very inconsiderable They nevertheless ravag'd the Country all about it for many Leagues together To revenge which Affront the Poles summon'd the seventh Man throughout the whole Kingdom and march'd against the Cosacks without the Consent of their King who had before refus'd to head them but were again miserably beaten Nevertheless the King's Army at other times had considerable Advantages over them for tho they found they were not able to fight them yet they fatigu'd and weakned them so that they were forc'd to call the Muscovites likewise to help them forward with their intended Work Whilst some put themselves under the Protection of Muscovy others had recourse to the Port so irreconcilable were they ever to have any more to do with the Crown of Poland and have been so ever since to their own
endu'd with the Warlike Spirit of his Predecessors for in his time the Turks not only over-run Podolia but also took its Capital City Caminiec and likewise oblig'd the Poles to dishonourable Articles of Peace whereby Michael was to pay the Turks an Annual Tribute The farther Particulars of this Matter are as follows Sobleski made Great Marshal and Crown-General by Casimir for having always adher'd to his Interest presenting King Michael when elected with a Coach and six Horses to comply with the Custom only for it must be understood Sobieski was his Enemy the King by the Perswasions of his haughty Mother refus'd the Present which the General greatly resenting sought all manner of ways to be reveng'd on him and in order thereto frequently caball'd with the Gentry assembled in Parliament against him and at length oblig'd the Diet to be dissolv'd without concluding any thing to his advantage while in the mean time I am positively assur'd he kept Intelligence with the Turks and Tartars as may appear by their taking of Caminiec and besieging of Leopol Mr. James Walker a Scots-man who was in the City when besieg'd and is now in London told me lately that there were 90000 Turks 20000 Tartars and 10000 Cosacks and Moldavians at that Siege which happen'd in the Year 1672 all which begirted the Town close playing continually upon it from five Batteries The Governour that held out against them was one Lonsky a Colonel of Dragoons who had as Mr. Walker assures me but five hundred of his Men in Garison without any Horse besides 1100 of the Inhabitants in Arms With these Lonski defended himself vigorously insomuch that what by the Correspondence he kept with the Christians in the Turkish Army and by the Bravery of his own Men he maintain'd his Defence three Weeks when the King sent Count Morstin and other Commissioners to treat with Caplan Bassa General of the Turks who agreed that for raising the Siege the King should pay 22000 Gold Ducats yearly Tribute to the Grand Seignior 100000 Lion-Dollars down on the nail to save the City whereof the Inhabitants paid 10000 presently and the Publick were to pay the rest this they gave eight Hostages to perform who were kept Prisoners at Caminiec and dy'd there by reason that the Debt contracted for was never paid Besides the Turks were to remain in possession of Caminiec and all Podolia But General Sobieski and the rest of the caballing Party being asham'd of this dishonourable Treaty came to a better Understanding among themselves and sided with the King to recover what had been lost Hereupon the Armies of Poland and Lithuania marched directly towards Podolia to retake it that of the Kingdom being commanded by General Sobieski and the other of the Dutchy by General Patz These two Generals soon obtain'd a signal Victory over the Turks near Kochim five Leagues from Caminiec by the Treachery of the Moldavians and Valachians who never hitherto signaliz'd themselves but persidiously which yet prov'd very advantagious to the Poles who were then in want of every thing but Courage Caplan Bassa commanded the Turkish Army being join'd by the Moldavian Troops headed by their Hospodar but the former being displeas'd with the Conduct of the latter his Souldiers being not so many as he expected and those not well equipt struck him over the Head with his Scimiter which the Hospodar highly resenting resolv'd upon Revenge which he afterwards effected by deserting the Turks in conjunction with the Valachians who took his part and going over to the Poles This mightily facilitated Sobieski's Entry into the Enemy's Camp which gain'd him a compleat Victory This Defeat had doubtless put the Affairs of Poland into a good Condition had the Generals sufficiently pursu'd it But as it has always been the unfortunate Custom of the Poles they immediately withdrew their Troops into their Country and so have since left the Turks in full possession of Podolia This famous Battel began upon Saturday and was scarce fully over in three days Some few days before this Victory obtain'd King Michael dy'd at Leopol November the 10 th 1673 suppos'd to have been poison'd by a French-man at Zamoisk being about 32 Years old and having reign'd about four Years leaving the Poles less afflicted at his Death than asham'd at the bad Choice they had made of him for their Prince This Prince not long before he dy'd had the Misfortune to see an Aga come from the Grand Seignior to demand Tribute of him who brought him from his Master a Commander's Staff and a Turkish Vest both being Badges of Vassalage He left no Children tho his Queen who was afterwards marry'd to Charles late Duke of Lorain has since had several She is lately dead and in my Travels from Italy to Germany resided at Inspruck the Capital Town of Tyrol where I had the Honour to kiss her Majesty's Hand being introduc'd by my Lord Carlingford Her Brother the Emperor allow'd her and her Children a Pension out of the County of Tyrol for she receiv'd nothing either out of Poland or Lorain the latter having been hitherto in the French Hands and the Constitution of the former being that when the Queen Dowager marries she forfeits her Pension setled upon her by the Diet at the King's Coronation An odd Story goes of a Child that was born in this King's Reign in the Year 1670 at Vilna in â—â—ithuania with a Golden Tooth which was esteemed truly such by all the Physicians Surgeons and Goldsmiths about that City being also tri'd on the Touchstone in the presence of the Bishop of that place But what is yet more wonderful that Child having a Fever afterwards in the Year 1673 his Golden Tooth was changed into Bone How worthy this is of Credit I leave to the Judicious Naturalists I have only this to say for my self that I found it in an authentick Author King Michael being dead was succeeded by John Sobieski the late King of Poland who was Captain of the Guards and Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber to King John Casimir Whilst he had these Employments he marry'd Prince Zamoski's Widow who had 10000 Rix Dollars left her for a Jointure by the contrivance and management of King Casimir and his Queen to whom she was then Lady of the Bed-Chamber At this Juncture Sobieski's own Estate was not 2000 Pounds Sterling a Year But however the King promis'd to advance him after he had marry'd this Lady which he accordingly perform'd and I may say that it was through the means of this Marriage that Sobieski was gradually promoted to the Supreme Dignity of the Crown Thus my Lord I have given as short and exact an Account of the memorable Actions of the fourth Class of the Kings of Poland as my Incapacity and the Precipitation with which it was publish'd would allow But before I put an end to this Letter I must beg your Grace's leave to take notice that the Crown of
Vavel on the Banks of the River Vistula It is a large stone Building consisting of two Wings magnificently rais'd about a Square-Court having Galleries supported with Pillars and pav'd with black and white Marble The King's Appartments with some others are adorn'd with divers curious Paintings and Statues and the Country round about affords one of the most delightful Prospects in Europe Here is the Cathedral of St. Stanislaus in which a late Bishop of Cracow Martin Szyscovius repair'd and beautify'd his Tomb which before had been all of Silver This Sigismund III. and his Son Vladislaus VII greatly augmented bestowing on it many Offerings of Gold and Silver Vessels Sigismund I. also in honour of this Saint built a Silver Altar near his Tomb bestowing on it several Golden Crucifixes and as many Vestments richly embroider'd with Gems of all sorts His Daughter Ann likewise Wife to King Stephen built another Silver Altar in the Chapel of the Annunciation whose Roof is all gilded and wherein the Kings of Poland are wont to be interr'd This Cathedral is principally to be noted for its Chapter and Treasury I pass by several other inestimable Riches which are to be seen here but I cannot omit one thing which is that God is so incessantly prais'd in this Church that the Priests are never silent Night nor Day The Bishop of this Diocess is Lord over thirteen Cities and Prince of the Dutchy of Severia His Chapter which consists of about thirty Canons with several other inferiour Priests having a proportionable Revenue This City was erected into a Metropolitan See upon the first Planting of the Christian Religion in Poland by Miecislaus I. but within a hundred Years after it degenerated into a Bishoprick under the Archbishop of Gnesna in regard that Lampert Zula could not be persuaded to receive his Pall from the See of Rome yet upon submission he was afterwards restor'd to that Dignity but which lasted only for his Life his Successors having been ever since only Bishops There are about fifty other Parish-Churches as well in the Castle as the Town whereof the most celebrated is that of the Virgin Mary in the Circle of Cracow which is govern'd by an Arch-Presbyter and fronts ten large Streets having moreover on all sides four Rows of magnificent Structures A University was first begun here by Casimir the Great and finish'd not till the Year 1401 by Vladislaus Jagello conformable to the last Will and Testament of his Queen Hedwigis and had its Privileges soon after confirm'd by Pope Vrban VI. However the Scholars forsook it in 1549 by reason that the Magistrates had refus'd to do Justice on the Servants of Andrew Czarnkowski who in a Quarrel had slain a great Number of them They afterwards dispers'd themselves into several Parts of Germany and becoming Protestants spread the Lutheran Religion throughout Poland and gain'd a great Number of Proselites Yet notwithstanding all this at last they return'd to the Obedience of the See of Rome In this University are taught all sorts of Learning and which is now as great an Ornament to the Polish Kingdom as Athens was formerly to Greece It contains in all eleven Colleges which are The Great College which is only for Philosophers The Law-College where the Professors of that Art cohabit and read Lectures The Physick-College which the Physicians do not live in because they are generally marry'd and have Families The College of Dlugossus for young Students in the Law The College of the Poor for such as we call King's-Scholars here The College of Nascovius for other Sciences The College of Jerusalem or of Olesnicius The College of Zisinius newly erected The College of Staringilius The College of Smiescovicius and The College for Human Learning To these may be added fourteen Grammar-Schools scatter'd throughout the City in which also sometimes University-Learning is taught All these Colleges and Schools are govern'd by a Rector or Vice-Chancellor who takes care that Orders be duly observ'd and Functions rightly administred which is so great Encouragement that there is scarce any Ecclesiastical or Political Dignity in the Kingdom but is fill'd by Persons that have been educated in this University In the Monasteries also are taught both Philosophy and Divinity but more especially in that of the Dominicans of the Trinity where there are daily Lectures kept and several kinds of Moral Learning also promoted There are likewise several sorts of Mendicant Friers in this City who upon solemn Feasts according to the antient Custom go in Procession cloth'd in divers Colours such as Mendicants of the Rosary in Red. Mendicants of Mercy in Green Mendicants of the Mantle in Blew Mendicants of the Passion in Black Mendicants of the Body of Christ in White Mendicants of Saint Sophia in Purple Mendicants of Saint Ann in Ash-colour Mendicants of Saint Monica in Crimson The Houses of this City are for the most part of Free-stone and four or five Stories high but cover'd on the Top only with Boards instead of Slate or Tiles The Quarter of Casimir is join'd to the rest by a fair Timber Bridg erected over the River Rudawka a Branch of the Weissel whilst the other two Stradomia and Cleparia are water'd by the Weissel and lie between Cracow and the aforesaid Bridg. Biecz in the Territory of the same Name is a wall'd City in a Plain water'd by the River Rapa a Branch of the Vistula out of the Froth of which they make Sulphur It is about fifteen Polish Miles from Cracow and five from Sandecz Wounitz or Woynicz a Timber-built Town on the River Dunaiecz from Cracow about nine Miles Sandecz a wall'd Town in a very pleasant Plain in the Territory of the same Name wash'd by the River Dunaiecx and about eleven Miles from Cracow It has a Collegiute Church and several Monasteries c. Its Inhabitants are Active and Industrious Lelow in the Territory of Lelovia of which it is the Capital environ'd with an old Wall and a strong Castle built upon a Hill wherein is a Palace and several Gardens after the Italian manner It is wash'd by the River Biala and about eleven Miles from Cracow Kyaz a wooden-built Town about seven Miles from Cracow Osvieczin Capital of the Dutchy of the same Name a Timber-built City in a Plain among the Marshes with a wooden Castle plaister'd only with Clay It is about seven Miles from Cracow Zator Capital of that Dutchy built with Wood in a Plain near the River Vistula and about five Miles from Cracow Severia Capital of the large Dutchy of the same Name It has a very strong Castle in an Island in the middle of a very broad Lake and another at Lipovecia upon a high Rock famous for being the Prison of the insolent Clergy of the Diocess of Cracow for that Bishop being Temporal Prince of this Dutchy which contains some Towns and Lipovecia among the
rest near Cracow it is most convenient for him to imprison Dclinquents there Czentochova a Town famous for good Beer which is not only fetch'd from all Parts of Poland but also from the neighbouring Provinces of Germany Without this Place is a very famous Monastery situate upon a Hill where is a Picture of the Virgin Mary said to be painted by Saint Luke and to which Pilgrims from all Parts come to make their Offerings We went upon our Journey from Silesia to Cracow to see this Convent where they shew'd us vast Quantities of Gold and Silver Plate of rich Ornaments for Altars and Habits enrich'd with all sorts of Jewels particularly with Pearls for the great Families in Poland think it a mighty Honour for their Posterity to have given any thing of value to this Place to be a Monument of their Devotion as well as Liberality The Monks told us of a great many Miracles that were wrought here with which they work'd such Effects upon the Minds of those credulous People that they scruple not to impoverish themselves to enrich this Place Not only the Church is very rich but likewise the Monks are Masters of a great Territory round about it and they maintain a Garison of 300 Men upon their own Charges whom I have observ'd to be in a better Condition than any other Soldiers of the Kingdom I can compare this Place to none more properly than Loretto in Italy both for Wealth and Bigotry Slaucovia in the same Dutchy famous for Silver Mines which bring great Profit to this Bishop Near to this City lies Ilcussia a Royal Town abounding also with Silver and Lead Its Citizens are very Luxurious but notwithstanding no less Devout This Town is encompass'd with a Wall and its Houses are for the greatest part of Brick The Bread here is extraordinary and Beef not to be equall'd in Cracow whence it is scarce distant above five Miles On the Eastern side of the City of Cracow lies Velisca or Wieliczka not above two or three Miles from thence a Town abounding with Christal Salt but which is not so transparent as that of Bochnia about five Miles from Cracow where Salt is dug out in great Masses and exceeding clear Next towards Hungary lies Dobcitia a strong Town with a Castle To the North of Cracow lies Proszovice a Timber-built Town seated in a Plain where there is a Palace of the King 's rais'd on the Banks of the River Sozeniava about four Miles from Cracow in which is kept a Provincial Diet. There are several other Cities and Towns belonging to Noblemen as likewise a great Number of Castles Palaces Religious Houses c. of no ordinary Structure in this Palatinate but all which for brevity's sake I have omitted This Palatinate excels all the rest in Mines except that of Sendomir only Silver and Lead are found about Ilcussia Slaucovia Severia and Novogora and Copper and Gold at Novotargus and in the Mountains about Sandecz Mineral Salt like to huge Masses of Stone at Bochna and Wieliczka Marble of all Colours at Selecia belonging to the Bare-footed Friers Nitre at Wislicz Vitriol at Becia Pit-coal at Tencinum Iron-Mine and Glass-houses at Obstinia as likewise at several other Places in this Kingdom But what I shall give your Lordship a more particular Account of will be of Salt and Glass which I have taken from my Observation in the Country That of Salt properly comes in here You go down into the Salt Mines near Cracow by four or five pair of wooden Stairs by which you go from one into the other The Horses also descend the same way The whole Depth of this Mine is thought to be near three hundred Geometrical Paces Below you may meet with a thousand Turnings and Windings and many Alleys and Streets like to a Town all which the Proprietor and hereditary Governour Monsieur Morstin Covalski told me would require above a Week's time to go over In some Places there is a great deal of fresh Water in these Mines which the Miners drink but in most it is salt of which they make Salt by Evaporation but still the best sort is that which is natural without Preparation Sometimes there are such fierce Winds in these Mines that nothing almost can withstand them and generally there is so much Cold that it is hardly to be endur'd Whilst it rains the Salt is commonly insipid They have Engines to crane up the Water that it may not any ways incommode the Miners The Revenue of this Mine amounts to about eight hundred thousand Timfs or Polish Florins annually which makes about 400000 French Livres whereof 50000 go to the King 10000 to the Queen and some thousands more to the Officers of the Crown and the Miners and other Labourers yet over and above all this the Proprietor is oblig'd to make a yearly Present to all the Cities and Towns of Poland and more particularly to their Starostas A Cobler about the Year 1548 first found out this Mine who digging a Well near this Place perceiv'd a Fountain with a thin Wall of Salt in the middle of it which breaking and not knowing what to make of he discover'd to the Owners of the Land who were then the Family of Morstin who digging deeper by reason they did not meet with much Salt near the Surface found it in so great Quantity that they have not been able to exhaust it during the Space of 150 Years The Miners say that the Lumps of Salt weigh a great deal less in the Mine than when taken out which I have not seen confirm'd There are four sorts of Salt in the Mine whereof one is extream hard and rocky like Christal Another less hard and clearer A third brittle and softer as also white and pure All these three sorts are brackish when the fourth only is somewhat fresher In these Mines you shall have on one side a stream of salt Water and on the other one of fresh There are some places in these Mines where you can't work because you dare not carry a Candle for fear of setting the Vapours on fire which are always Nitrous and easily susceptible of Flame In this Palatinate and in some others there is a particular sort of Manna which they gather in the Months of May and June by sweeping it off the Grass with Sives together with the Dew They eat this Manna and make several sorts of Dishes with it for their Tables More of this I shall take occasion to speak of hereafter The Senators of this Palatinate are The Bishop Castellan and Palatin of Cracow The Castellans of Wounitz Oswieczin Sandecz and Biecz The Castellan of Cracow precedes the Palatin for Reasons given before in the Life of Boleslaus III. otherwise call'd Krivoustus This Palatin's Jurisdiction is very large and extends several ways not only over the Citizens and Countrymen but also the Nobility or Gentry of his Palatinate
Next is the Pretor or Mayor of Cracow which Office Guagnini says has been discontinu'd ever since a Pretor in the time of Vladislaus betray'd that City to Boleslaus Duke of Oppelin for which he together with his Accomplices afterwards underwent deserv'd Punishment and the Pretorship devolv'd to the King who now thinks fit to name a Mayor himself who in my time was a Scotchman The Castle of Cracow is principally under the Command of the Palatin who has ten Deputies or Burgraves who both in time of Peace and War cause a strict Guard to be kept therein both Night and Day These Burgraves must always be chosen out of the Gentry Here the Crown and other Regalia are kept The Standard or Arms of this Palatinate are an Eagle expanded Argent crown'd Or in a Field Gules with a Baton cross its Wings of the Second The District of Sandecz has a peculiar Ensign which is Party per Pale Argent and Azure The Dutchy of Oswieczin has for Arms in a Field Gules an Eagle expanded Sables bearing an O in its Breast The Dutchy of Zator has also a peculiar Scucheon which is an Eagle expans'd Azure with a Z in its Breast The Second Palatinate of Lesser Poland is that of Sendomir which is divided into eight Districts Viz. The Districts of Sendomir Radom Stenziecz Corzin Wislicz Chencin Opoczno and Pilzno In all which are the Cities and Towns of Sendomir Cap. Opatovia or Opoczno Viazden Radom Jedbinsk Solecia Ilza Cunovia â—â—ozontin Kielcz Malogost Cast Sulovia Drevicz Inowlodz Sydlovecz Janovecz Slupeâ—â—z Lagovia Racovia Corzin Wislicz Pilzno Chencin Poloviec Zawicost Zarnow Zaclicin Lezaisk Osiec Stasow Polanecz Stobnicz Olesnicz Ossolin Paczanovia Sendisow Zarnovec Sokolow Praeclavia and Zaclycin The chief City of this Palatinate is Sendomir a very pleasant City seated on a Bank or small Hill of the River Vistula enjoying a very delightful Prospect and being much frequented by the Gentry on occasion of several Assizes of Justice held there by the Magistrates of this Palatinate It lies near the Confluence of the San with the Weissel and is twenty eight Polish Miles East from Cracow and thirty-two South from Warsaw It is fortify'd with strong Walls and a considerable Castle built to the South and wash'd by the Vistula in which the Palatin resides with some other regular Works rais'd by Casimir the Great Among the Publick Buildings the Monastery of Dominican Friers founded by Ivo formerly Archbishop of Cracow is most remarkable A Synod was conven'd here against the Heresy of Stancarus in the Year 1570 and another wherein the Confession of Ausburg Bohemia and Switzerland were reprov'd This Town was sack'd by the Tartars in the Year 1240 and taken by the Swedes in 1655 but restor'd to the Poles the Year following Opatovia four Miles from Sendomir situate in a very pleasant Country and wash'd by the River Pilcza It has several famous Religious Edifices Viazden a new-built Town much frequented and well fortify'd Radom Capital of that District built in a Plain and environ'd with a strong Wall and other Fortifications Jedlinsk famous for a School and a well-built Church Solecia situate upon the Vistula and celebrated for its Castle repair'd and beautify'd by its antient Duke Christopher Zboravius Ilza a neat Town built with Brick and belonging to the Bishop of Cracow It is famous for Earthen Ware with which it furnishes all Poland It has a Castle adjoining consisting for the most part of old Buildings yet the Bishop's Palace is all new and very stately To this Town belongs Cunovia or Kunow celebrated for all sorts of Marble and that of all Colours Iron is exceeding plentiful in this Palatinate but more especially at Bozentin the Bishop of Cracow's City and Residence This is a very beautiful Place well fortify'd in which the aforesaid Bishop has a very neat Palace with exceeding delightful Gardens This City is seated near the bottom of the Bald Mountain by much the highest in Poland Towards the West lies Kielcz famous for Mines of Copper and Lapis-Lazuli These two belong to the Bishop of Cracow who has here a very fair Collegiate Church and Episcopal See Chencin about three Miles from Kielcz abounding likewise with Silver Lead and divers kinds of Marble This Place belongs to the King Here is a Castle seated on a Rock where Justice is distributed to the District of the same Name Malogost or as some will have it Malogsch noted for being a Castellany It is a wooden-built Town and has nothing in it very remarkable Sulovia a Town of some Note by having Command over several neighbouring Places Drevicz and Inowlodz two Towns remarkable for the superb Ruin of two old Castles Sydlovecz the Name of a County formerly belonging to the Dukes of the Family of Radzivil abounding with Iron Mines good store of Fish and vast Quantities of Wood. It s chief Town is encompass'd with an old Wall and a Castle pretty well fortify'd Nevertheless it is not to be despis'd having in it a great many fair Edifices Stenzicz Capital of the District of the same Name and adorn'd with a very stately Monastery of Benedictin Monks A little higher lies Janovecz with a Castle on the other side of the River Slupecz belonging to the Abby of the Holy Cross on the Top of the Bald Mountain this Town being situate at the Bottom of it Lagovia a City belonging to the Bishop of Cujavia famous for making Earthen Ware Racovia a Nest of the Socinians formerly a City indifferently populous with a considerable Academy to instruct Youth but which being now prohibited by a Publick Edict the Catholick Religion is restor'd but not therewithal the Grandeur of the Place Corzin Capital of the District of the same Name a new Timber-built Town with a Castle seated near the River Vislock and surrounded every way with Marshes Wislicz a Town built with Wood and water'd by the River Nida It has a strong Wall and is moreover situate upon a Rock in the midst of a boggy Country Here is to be seen a Cathedral Church built with square Stone with a very beautiful Close for the Habitations of the Canons The Country round about this Place abounds with all kind of Serpents and Insects but as the Inhabitants tell you being interdicted by the See of Rome they have no power to do you any harm and being transported out of that Place they immediately die This City is a Castellany Pilzno a Timber-Town built on the River Wislock Poloviec a Timber-built Town lying among the Hills This is a Castellany Zawichost a Wooden City on the River Vistula with a double wall'd Castle on the other side This is likewise a Castellany Zarnow a Town built with Wood in which there is nothing remarkable but that it is a Castellany
present Prussians are a mixt People sprung from the several Colonies of the Swedes Poles Germans and other Neighbouring Nations Regal or Royal Prussia is divided into four Palatinates viz. The Palatinate of Pomerania Culm Marienburg and Varmia The first Palatinate Pomerania being not in possession of the Poles requires no Description The second Palatinate of Royal Prussia is that of Culm to which also the Territory of Michalovia lying to the South belongs and has in it these Cities and Towns viz. Culm Bish Cap. Thorn Graudentz Colmensee Brodnicz Radin Golubia Rogozna Brathian Lubavia and Kopriunicza Of all which the chief City is Culm an antient and famous Place built on a Hill the foot whereof is water'd by the River Vistula It lies about four German Miles from Thorn to the South and fifteen from Dantzic to the North. It was built by the Knights of the Teutonic Order in the Year 1223 who likewise fortified it against the Irruptions of the Heathen Prussians and Herman Desalza Master of that Order gave Laws and Constitutions for its Government This City suffer'd much Damage during the Swedish Invasion and is now very thin of Inhabitants insomuch that the Episcopal See subject to the Arch-bishop of Gnesna has been for some time remov'd to the neighbouring Town of Colmensee It has in it very fair Churches enrich'd with many valuable Ornaments and precious Offerings Thorn seated upon the Bank of the Vistula by which it is divided into two parts It lies four Polish Miles from Culm to the South thirteen from Marienburg twenty two from Dantzic fifteen from Lanschet and twenty nine from Warsaw It was heretofore an Imperial and Free City but was afterwards exempted from the Jurisdiction of the Empire and as yet enjoys very many Privileges It s Name seems to have been taken from the German word Thor signifying a Gate because built by the Teutonick Order as it were for a Gate to let Forces into Prussia whenever occasion serv'd Whence its Arms are suppos'd to have been taken being a Castle and Gate half open This City does not stand in the same place where the old one did that having been seated a Mile Westward from hence where are now to be seen the Ruins of an antient Castle and some other Monuments However this City at present is the fairest and best built of any in Royal Prussia the Streets being much broader and Houses more stately than at Dantzic It was very much beautisied by one of its Burgermasters Henry Stwband in the Year 1609 who built a small University here and endow'd it with a considerable Revenue He likewise founded an Hospital and a Publick Library where two of Cicero's Epistles are preserv'd written upon Tables of Wax and a Town-house built in the middle of the Market-place The Inhabitants revolted from the Knights of the Teutonick Order in the Year 1454 and put themselves under the Protection of Poland In this City the famous Astronomer Nicholas Copernicus was born and John Albert King of Poland died here in the Year 1501. It was taken by the Swedes in the Year 1655 and regain'd by the Poles in 1658. Afterwards the Swedes recover'd it and the Poles surpriz'd and retook it in 1665. Graudentz only famous for a Castle and very strong Wall Colmensee or Culmensee the Episcopal Seat of the Bishop of Culm translated hither from Culm It is distant nine Miles from Thorn to the North nineteen from Graudentz and twelve from Culm to the South-East The Territory of Michalovia is a strait Neck of Land between the Rivers Brodna and Drebnicz which was the occasion of bloody Wars between the Teutonick Knights and Poles The chief Town is Michalovia which with some others that are in this Territory deserves no Description The third Palatinate of Royal Prussia is that of Marienburg in which are these Cities and Towns viz Marienburg Cap. Elbing Stuma Mewa Gniew Now Stargardie and Ornet Of all which the chief City is Marienburg seated upon the Nogat a Branch of the Vistula about six Miles from Dantzic It is defended by strong Walls and high Towers together with a very large Castle wherein the better sort of Prisoners in time of War are kept This City receives no small Benefit from the Neighbourhood of the Island Zulava which is a very rich spot of Earth This Island is divided into two parts viz. 1. The Greater which lies next Marienburg and 2. The Lesser next to Dantzic to whose Inhabitants at present belongs Elbing a well fortified and trading Town in which the English they say had formerly a Consul Here Albert first Duke of Prussia founded an Academy in the Year 1542. but of no great moment The other Towns I find no Description of The fourth Palatinate of Royal Prussia is The Bishoprick of Varmia whose Gentry are exempt from all Regal Jurisdiction being wholly govern'd by the Laws and Customs of Prussia and by the Bishop who is a Temporal Prince It has in it these Cities and Towns Heilsberg Cap. Fraumberg Brunsberg Gutestadt Allestein Resla Vormitz Messac Vatemberg Seberg c. Of all which the chief City is Heilsberg famous for being the Residence of the Bishop and defended with strong Walls and other sutable Fortifications Fraumberg celebrated for the Cathedral of the Bishoprick of Varmia there built of which the famous Astronomer Copernicus was Canon Brunsberg situate on the River Passar so much frequented and so worthily esteem'd that it is reckon'd among the chief Towns of Prussia It has a College of Jesuits built by Cardinal Hosius There are several other Cities and Towns of which I find no Description and therefore have omitted them Ducal Prussia now entirely belonging to the Elector of Brandenburg has these Towns in it viz. Koningsberg Cap. Pilaw Memel Welaw Tilsa Marienwerder c. To the number of 60. The Metropolis Koningsberg is a Market Town divided into three parts and defended with a very considerable Castle It lies in the 43 d degree of Longitude and 54 of Latitude and has a small Academy founded by Albert Great Master of the Teutonick Order and first Duke of this Country in the Year 1544. The Citizens are generally Lutherans as are likewise most part of this Country which occasion'd Sigismund III. when he receiv'd Homage of this Duke in the Year 1621 to impose a Law that the Catholicks should have free Exercise for their Religion there The Senators of Prussia are The Bishop of Varmia who is the Chief The Bishop Palatin and Castellan of Culm The Palatins of Marienburg and Pomerania The Castellans of Elbing and Dantzic There are other Officers which belong to the Senate or Great Council of Prussia which they hold among themselves except when they are commanded to the Grand Diet of the Kingdom These are The Vice-Chamberlains of Culm Marienburg Pomerania Thorn Elbing and Dantzic Besides these
several Magistrates the Prussians have also a Treasurer Burgraves of Castles Sword-Bearers Judges and Sheriffs but none of all these have any Place in the Council The Palatins of Prussia have far greater Power than those in any other Province of Poland The Arms or Standard of Prussia are an Eagle expans'd Sables with a Sword evaginated and held by a dexter Hand Argent Both in a Field Or. The Fourth PROVINCE of this Kingdom is Red Russia the other being White Russia and belonging to Lithuania This Province extends it self from the Frontiers of Lithuania as far as the Mouth of the Nieper in the Black Sea which River separates it from Moscovy to the East as likewise do the Carpathian Mountains from Hungary to the South-West It is extreamly fruitful in Corn Beasts of all kinds Fish and Honey In this Province there are several Trees daily found along the Shore of the River San which are very hard and black as Ebony The Country People say they have lain there ever since the Deluge but it is probable they might have been wash'd down by the Course of the River a great while since It is bounded on the South by Hungary Moldavia and Bessarabia on the East by the Scythian Desarts and especially Moscovy on the North by Russia Alba separated by the Rivers Stiro and Pripecz and on the West by Lesser Poland from which it is divided by the Rivers Vislocz and Vepre This Province comprehends seven Palatinates Viz. The Palatinates of Russia Podolia Braslaw Kiovia Volhynia Belsko and Chelm The first Palatinate of this Province is that of Russia which is divided into four Districts which are The Districts of Leopol Premislaw Halicz and Sanoch The first of these Districts has in it these remarkable Cities and Towns Viz. Leopol Archbish Cap. Grodeck Javorisvia Zolkiew Gliniani Zloczow and Komarna Of all which the chief City is Leopol call'd Lwow or Luwow by the Polanders and Lemberg or Russe-Lemberg by the Germans It is the Metropolis of this Palatinate and lies in the 46 Degree of Longitude and 49 of Latitude It is built amongst the Hills on the Banks of the River Peltaw fifteen Polish Miles from Mount Carpathus to the South and as many from Premislaw to the West thirty from Caminiec forty from Cracow and about fifty from Warsaw to the South-East This City is large and well fortify'd having two Castles one within the Walls and one without on a rising Ground which commands the Town both which together with the City were founded by Leo or as they call him Loo Duke of Russia about the Year 1289. The Archbishop of Leopol is both Spiritual and Temporal Lord of his Diocess His See was translated hither from Halicz in 1361 by Order of King Casimir Here also reside an Armenian Archbishop and a Russian Bishop depending on the Patriarch of Constantinople with several Churches belonging to each Bishoprick The Armenian Roman-Catholicks have inhabited here time out of mind and are govern'd wholly by their own Prelat They enjoy very great Privileges on account of the considerable Commerce they maintain with the Persians and other Eastern People This City is famous for several Sieges it has sustain'd As first it was besieg'd by the Cosacks and Tartars with a dreadful Army Secondly by the Moscovites and Cosacks in the Year 1648 with an Army of above 120 thousand Men without being able to take it in two Months and a half but the last time the Turks became almost Masters of it in the Year 1672 yet by an Agreement oblig'd themselves to quit it This hapned under the Reign of King Michael Wiesnowiski who dy'd here in the Year 1673. This City gives great Encouragement to Learned Men who are very civilly receiv'd by their Academy which is supply'd with Professors from that of Cracow Here is kept a very famous Winter-Fair whither the Hungarian Moldavian and in time of Peace Turkish Merchants resort in great Numbers Amongst other Rivers it has Roxolania wherein Barbels are taken of a great Size It has likewise an innumerable Company of Fish-ponds all about it replenish'd with several sorts of very fat Fish which are salted up in great Numbers and transported all over Poland The Churches here are generally very fair and well-built and abound with all kinds of costly Ornaments Grodeck a palisado'd City with a Castle built in a Plain and surrounded with Bogs It lies about four Miles from Leopol Javorisvia famous for a natural Bath arising in the next adjoining Village of Sclovia This alone suffices to disperse several stubborn Distempers as Sixtus Leo a Physician of great Experience testifies in his Treatise concerning it Zolkiew a Town adorn'd and defended by a Castle and intermix'd with several delightful Gardens with a fair Church in the middle of it built with various sorts of Marble It was the Seat of the late King John Sobieski where my Lord of Rochester had Audience of him The Standard and Arms of this District are a Lion Passant Crown'd Or by a Rock Sables all in a Field Azure The second District of this Palatinate is Premislia which has in it these principal Cities and Towns Viz. Premislaw Bish Sambor Jaroslaw Lancut Resovia Fulstin Visnia Zidaczow Moscisca Dubiecz Canczuga and Prevorscia Whereof the capital City is Premislaw built on the River San with good strong Walls and a Castle situate upon a Rock on the other side of the River This City lies about six Leagues above Jaroslaw and twelve from Leopol towards the West There are in it two Bishops one of the Place and the other a Russian Prelat of the Greek Church Orichowski a Canon of this Cathedral maintain'd that Priests might marry Here is a College belonging to the Jesuits for the Education of Youth The Citizens are very much addicted to Trade and have several famous Fairs every Year Near this City is a very spatious Park of the King 's full of all kinds of wild Beasts and strongly wall'd in that they might do no mischief The Country hereabouts abounds with Castles for defence against the Incursions of the Tartars the chief of all which is the Castle Crassici lately built on the River San. Sambor a Palisado'd City upon the River Tyra with a Castle built near the Borders of Hungary Jaroslaw famous for a Fair kept on Lady-Day and the most celebrated of any in all Poland Where besides several Merchandizes brought from Persia Constantinople Venice Muscovy and Amsterdam they say it is wont to have above four hundred thousand Head of Cattle and half as many Horses In this Town the Jesuits have a College for Students and without it there is a very stately Nunnery of modern Architecture Neither is its Castle to be despis'd which is seated to the East on the River San. Lancut famous for several magnificent Churches founded by Stanislaus Lubomirski Palatin of Cracow together
from the Place where she was born It has a Castle on a Hill surrounded every way with Bogs and Lakes Husiatinow well fortify'd also against Incursions Czartikow with the like strong Fortifications and a Castle Janow and Czvaniec with several others are very strong Places Chmielnick a Timber-built Town defended only with Palisado's with a wooden Castle built upon the River Bog Miedzibosz a Town with a large Timber Castle situate among the Marshes to which there is no Avenue but over Bridges This Place was formerly much infested by the Tartars The Senators of this Palatinate are The Bishop The Palatin and The Castellan of Caminiec Podolia Caminiec The Standard or Arms of this Palatinate are the Sun in its full Glory in a Field Azure The Third Palatinate of the Province of Red Russia is that of Braslaw or Braclaw lying beyond Podolia upon the Borders of Tartary now out of possession of the Poles in which are these Cities and Towns Viz. Braclaw Cap. Vinnicza Zitomir Sarogrod Morachua Jarosow Felstin and Chmielnic Of which the capital City is Braclaw built on the River Bog with a wooden Castle and other Fortifications It lies a hundred and ten Miles from Caminiec to the East fifty five from Bar and fifty from the Confines of Walachia to the North towards Kiow It was taken and miserably wasted by the Turks in the Year 1672. Vinnicza a wooden City likewise built on the River Bog and defended with a Castle and a Wall This City is famous for a Meeting of the Gentry and a Court of Justice where the Jesuits also have a College to instruct Youth These two Cities have been very much infested by the Tartars I find no Description of the rest The Senators of this Palatinate are The Palatin and Castellan of Braslaw The Fourth Palatinate of the Province of Red Russia is that of Kiovia bordering on one side on Tartary and on the other on Moscovy It is divided in the middle by the famous River Boristhenes This Palatinate extends a great way towards the Euxine Sea to the Confines of White Russia in Lithuania In it are these principal Cities and Towns Viz. Kiow Bish Cap. Kaniow Circassia Oczakow Stepanow Fastovia Bohuslaw Pereslaw and Bialerkiow The chief City of all which is Kiow or Kiouf according to the Pronunciation of the Inhabitants an antient large and very populous City fortify'd with strong Palisado's a Castle Trench and some other Regular Works and situate on the Boristhenes or Nieper The old Kiow was built on a Hill a little beyond the River where are still to be seen the Ruins of many Arches high Walls Churches and burying-Burying-places of divers Kings with Greek Inscriptions Of these Churches two remain in tolerable good Condition viz. those of St. Sophia and St. Michael The Walls of the former are lin'd with curious Mosaic Work and the Dome consists of Earthen Pots well cemented and fill'd with Mortar St. Michael's Church is chiefly remarkable for its gilded Roof The Burying-places of the antient great Men of Russia were in several Caves near this City some of which are said to extend into the Borders of Moscovy above eighty Miles in length The Bodies here are preserv'd whole and entire especially those of two certain Princes which are drest in Antique Habits and have been not long since shewn to Travellers by the Russian Monks The Place where these Sepulchers are made is of a sandy Stone very dry and seems to be of the same Nature with the Catacombs of Rome Kiow was heretofore an exceeding large City as may appear from the Ruins of the Walls which extend themselves above eight Miles in compass It is said to have been first founded by a Russian Prince nam'd Kius in the Year of Christ 861 and then constituted Metropolis of Tauro-Scythia Next it became the Seat of the Russian Empire and was afterwards govern'd by its own Princes It was storm'd and pillag'd by the Tartars in the Year 1615 and has ever since declin'd from its primitive Grandeur It has been often taken and retaken within the Space of thirty Years but now remains wholly in possession of the Ozar of Moscovy to whom it was lately pawn'd by the Cosacks The Episcopal See of Kiow is subject to the Metropolitan of Leopol Here resides the Russian Archbishop supream over all of the same Persuasion throughout Poland Here are divers Roman and Russian Churches and a great many Monasteries c. Kaniow seventeen Miles from Kiow whose Inhabitants with its Neighbours round about are a very Warlike People Circassia a Timber-built City on the River Boristhenes about twenty five Polish Miles from Kiow Its Inhabitants were formerly the Circassi a Warlike People and much celebrated in History who likewise dwelt all along the Boristhenes Oczakow built upon the Mouth of the Boristhenes and inhabited by Tartars tho commanded and govern'd by Turks Stepanow fortify'd with a Castle a Wall and a Ditch Fastovia famous only for being the Residence of the Bishop of Kiow and the Jesuits College translated from Kiow Bohuslaw Pereslaw and Bialerkiow are all Towns indifferently populous and each defended by a Castle The Senators of this Palatinate are The Bishop Palatin and Castellan of Kiovia The Standard or Arms of this Palatinate are Party per Pale Argent and Azure In the former the Charge of Lithuania and in the latter a Bear Passant The Fifth Palatinate of the Province of Red Russia is that of Belsko joining to the District of Leopol and Palatinate of Chelm and plac'd about the middle of Red Russia It is divided into four Districts Viz. The Districts of Belsko Busko Grodlow and Grabow In all which are the several Cities and Towns of Belsko Cap. of the Palatinate Busko Cap. of its District Grodlow Cap. of its District Grabow Cap. of its District Sokal c. The chief of all which is Belsko or Belz a Timber-built City indifferently large and situate among the Marshes between Leopol and Zamoisk and about five Miles from the River Bug. It has a wooden Castle built on a Hill surrounded every way with Bogs Busko or Busk a Town seated in a Moor where the River â—â— g takes its Rise by which Merchandizes are ansported to Leopol only five Miles distant Grodlow a palisado'd Town with a Castle upon a Hill wash'd by the River Bug. Grabow a wooden Town seated in a large Plain with a Castle fortify'd both by Nature and Art and of very difficult Access Sokal a Town seated on the Bug and defended only with Palisado's The Senators of this Palatinate are The Palatin and Castellan of Belsko The Arms or Standard of this Palatinate are a Griffin Volant Argent in a Field Gules The Sixth Palatinate of Red Russia is that of Chelm lying between Lublin Lithuania and Volhynia
wont to reside here for conveniency of Hunting Sigismund III. built a fair Bridg here over the Niemen which is thought not to have an Equal in all Poland The Jesuits have a College or Academy in this City for Instructing of Youth From hence divers kinds of Merchandizes are transported from several Parts of Lithuania to Dantzic The District of Grodno is indifferently large having been formerly a considerable Dutchy Lida a Town Capital of its District built with Wood having in it a tolerable Castle and a Court of Justice for the Gentry Cowno a famous Timber-Town tho there are several Houses in it built with Stone situate on the Conflux of the Rivers Niemen and Wilia with a strong antient Castle founded on a Rock Vpita a Wood-built Town and Capital of a very large District wherein are several Towns The Senators of this Palatinate are The Palatin and Castellan of Troki The Arms or Standard of this Palatinate are the Arms of Lithuania in a Field Azure The third Palatinate of Lithuania Proper is that of Briescia or Polesia adjoining to the Palatinate of Lublin and partaking in all respects of the Manners thereof It has but one very large District which is that of Pinsko This Palatinate contains these Cities and Towns Viz. Briescia Pinsko Biala Prepetus Camenecia Cobrinia Janovia Voinia Rososia and Vlodava The chief of all which is Brescia or Briescia a large wooden City built on the Confines of Lithuania on the Banks of the River Bug with a Timber Castle founded on a Rock and wash'd by the River Muchavecz This City is distant about twenty five Miles from Lublin and thirty from Warsaw to the East In it is the most famous Academy for Jews of any in Europe whither that People resort from Italy Germany Moravia Silesia c. not only to study but take Degrees in that Religion Without this City also is a Regal Palace of Modern Architecture with variety of pleasant Gardens Pinsko a Timber-built City and indifferently large seated on the River Perepet which passing by divers Towns in Russia falls into the Boristhenes The Inhabitants of this Place are very Industrious and make frequent Journeys into Muscovy and Germany on account of Merchandizing They are generally of the Greek Persuasion and have a Bishop of that Sect who resides among them Biala famous only for a Palace built by the Dukes of the Family of Radzivil which is now converted into a College for the Instructing of Youth Prepetus a Town with an old Castle built on the River of the same Name The Senators of this Palatinate are The Palatin and Castellan of Briescia The Arms or Standard of this Palatinate are the same with the former differing only by a B in the middle The first Palatinate of Lithuanic-Russia is that of Novogrodec which is divided into two Districts which are The Districts of Novogrodec and Slonim In both which are these principal Cities and Towns Viz. Novogrodec Cap. Slonim Wolkowisko Lacowickz Mysza Zlucz Rozan Neswitz and Selecz The Capital of all which is Novogrodec a large Timber-City which formerly belong'd to the second Sons of the Princes of Lithuania Here interchangeably with the Town of Minski is held a Parliament for the Great Dutchy of Lithuania Slonim a wooden City whose District was formerly a Dutchy Wolkowisko a large Town containing a Court of justice or Tribunal for the Gentry Lacowickz famous for a very fair Palace built by a Grand General of Lithuania and well fortify'd after the Modern way Mysza a Town with a Castle seated by a Lake and all surrounded by a Plain Zlucz one of the largest Cities in this Country but nevertheless is all of Wood except only the Cathedral and Ducal Palace This City had not long since a Soveraign Prince with large Territories but he was always Tributary to Poland It is at present in possession of the Family of Radzivil Rozan a well-built Town with very fair Streets Neswitz where Nicholas Radzivil surnam'd the Pilgrim has founded several noble Publick Edifices a Description whereof I have omitted for brevity's sake The Senators of this Palatinate are The Palatin and Castellan of Novogrodec The Standard or Arms of this Palatinate are that of the Great Dutchy in an Azure Field The Second Palatinate of Lithuanic-Russia is that of Mscislaw lying between the River Peripet to the South and the Boristhenes to the East in a kind of Triangular form being for the most part either over-run with Woods or over-flow'd with Water What plain Land it has is generally very fruitful It likewise abounds with Cattle of all sorts and great Numbers of excellent Fowl and is divided into two very large Districts which are The Districts of Mscislaw and Modziria In all which are these Cities and Towns viz. Mscislaw Cap. Modzir Dambrownuna Bychow Kopysz Sklow Reczycza Viszchorod Strissin Cleckum Ouruckum Homlia Criczow and Ostrskum The Capital of all which is Mscislaw a Timber'd City built on the River Sosa with a Castle defended by Palisadoes It lies upon the Borders of Moscovy and therefore is strongly garison'd This District was formerly a Soveraignty but it is now reduc'd Modzir a City Capital of its District built among the Marshes Dambrownuna a Town with a strong Castle built upon the Confines of Moscovy about fourteen Miles from Smolensko Bychow a Town with a Castle seated on the River Boristhenes about twelve Miles from Mohilow Kopysz a Town with a Castle on the Boristhenes Sklow a Town with a Castle on the Boristhenes reputed to be a County and of which the magnificent John Chodkiewil writes himself Hereditary Palatin Reczycza a Town with a Castle situate on the Boristhenes Viszehorod situate upon the Boristhenes about three Miles from Kiow Strissin a Town and Castle on the Boristhenes The Senators of this Palatinate are The Palatin and Castellan of Mscislaw The Arms and Standard of this Palatinate are the same with those of the Great Dutchy differing only in an M plac'd in the middle The third Palatinate of Lithuanic-Russia is that of Vitebsko like the former bordering upon the Duna towards the East having but one large District which is The District of Orsha In this Palatinate are these several Cities and Towns viz. Witebsko Cap. Orsha Mohilow Czasniki Sienno Leplo and Woroniec The Capital of all which is Witebsko a Timber-built City indifferently large situate on the River Dwina by which divers sorts of Merchandizes are transported from hence to Riga in Livonia It has two large Castles well defended both by Nature and Art against the Incursions of the Moscovites who have been often repuls'd thence with considerable Loss In this City there are always four Companies of Foot Souldiers each consisting of 500 Men one whereof says Guagnini
out How can our Gods dissemble with these wicked Christians so far as to suffer 'em to profane their Divinities with unhallowed hands when if we had but offer'd to injure them in the least we always immediately underwent their Revenge But at length when they perceiv'd no Judgment to follow the suppos'd Sacrilege of the Poles they unanimously acknowlegd'd their false Worship and consented to be baptiz'd whereof about thirty thousand were brought to the Font in one day From henceforward the Lithuanians have for the major part continued Christians tho there are yet some Idolaters among them of different Beliefs towards the Frontiers of Moscovy and Samogitia in the great Woods who still worship Serpents c. as they used to do There are also in this Great Dutchy about thirty thousand Tartars with liberty of the Turkish Religion who have enjoy'd this Privilege for some hundreds of Years on condition that they shall send every Year twelve hundred Men to the Wars against the Turks and Tartars These Mahometans call their Churches Meczets Page 342. Upon this occasion I was assur'd by the King himself several Senators and other Great Men of that Kingdom and moreover it is the common and undisputed Report that Children are oftentimes nourish'd and brought up by Bears in these Parts They say likewise that if a hungry He-Bear finds a Child that has been carelesly left any where he will immediately tear it to pieces but on the contrary had it been a She-Bear then giving Suck she would undoubtedly have carried it safe to her Den and nourish'd it among her Cubs which after some time might probably have been rescued from her and been taken by Hunters as it happen'd in another Case of this nature in the Year 1669 which has been positively asserted to me in a Letter from his Excellency Monsieur de Cleverskerk now Embassador here to his Majesty King William from the States of Hollond which Letter I thought not amiss to insert A Monsieur Connor Monsieur JE veux satisfaire en partie à votre desir vous rendre conte d'un Enfant que J'ay veu à Varsovie en l'an 1669. Me rencontrant en cette Ville de Pologne pour étre present au tems de l'Election d'un Roy qui se devoit faire à la place du Roy Jean Casimir qui s'étoit démis de la Couronne Je m'informay à cette occasion de ce qu'il y avoit à voir en ce lieu J'ay appris entre autres choses qu'il se trouvoit au Fauxbourg de la Ville qui va vers le Palais que le Roy Casimir y avoit fait batir chez des Religieuses un Enfant Male qui avoit été nourri des Ours ayant été pris quêques tems auparauant à la chasse de ces Animaux J'allay à ce lieu pour Satisfaire ma Curiosité trouvay a la Porte le dit Enfant jouant dans les Sables sous l'Auvent qui étoit devant la Maison Il étoit selon ma meilleure Memoire de l'age de douze à treize ans Quand Je l'approchay il vint sauter comme par surprise à mon habit prit par la main avec beaucoup de precipitation un des boutons d'Argent que Je portois à mon Justaucorps approcha le Nez pour le Sentir Puis Jl se jetta tout d'un coup à un coin par terre faisant quêque bruit comme une espece d' Hurlement J'entray dans la Maison ou une Fille m' informa plus particulierement de lá Prise de cet Enfant Mais comme Je n'ay point avec moy le Livre ou J'ay écrit les Observations que J'ay fait dans mes Voyages Je ne sçaurois vous en faire le dêtail Cette Fille appella fit entrer le dit Enfant luy montra un grand Morçeau de pain ce que luy voyant il se jetta sur un Plancher qui étoit fait contre la muraille dans cette Chambre Il y marcha comme à quatre pattes Il se leva avec une grande vitesse prit par les deux mains le pain qui luy fut presentè le porta ainsi au nez se Jetta en bas faisant encore un bruit étrange comme auparavant On m'informa qu'il ne parloit point encore des paroles mais qu'on esperoit avec le tems luy en apprendre d'autant qu'il avoit l'ouiè bonne Il avoit quêques marques au visage qu'on pensoit avoir été des Egratigneures de l'Ours Voilà Monsieur tout ce que ma Memoire me peut fournir d'une Particularité qu'il y à si long tems que J'ay veüe Mais Personne ne doit trouver étrange que cela soit arrivé d'autant qu'on a d'autres Exemples dans les Histories Et on m'a informé en ce Pais que les Tartares y font souvent des Invasions par des courses qu'ils font avec unc si grande vitesse qu'ils entrent â—â—n peu de tems bien avant dans le Pais qui est ouvert leurs chevaux étant capables de faire un tres-grand cheminsans manger ni boire qu'étant allez jusques où ils ont proposé la ils Etendent leur grande Troupe prennent comme dans les filets toutes les Personnes qu'ils rencontrent en leur retraite les menent en Esclavage qu' d ces occasions les Hommes les Femmes tachants fuir n'ont bien souvent pas de tems de sauver leurs Enfants qu'ainsi celuicy peut avoir été laissé trouvé par quêques Ours qui sont en ces lieux de Lituanie ou de Pologne Je suis marri Monsieur ne vous pouvoir pas informer satisfaire à votre Curiosité avec plus d'exactitude cependant vous recevrez s'il vous plait cette Relation comme un petit témoignage de ma bonne Volonté comme etant Ce 1 Jan. 1698. Monsieur Votre tres-Affectionné Serviteur J. P. Van den Brande de Cleverskerk Thus in English SIR I Shall endeavour partly to satisfy your Request and to give you an Account of a Boy that I saw at Warsaw in the Year 1661 who had been brought up by Bears Coming to this City of Poland with design to be Present at the Election of a King after John Casimir who had Abdicated the Crown I enquir'd what was worth seeing in or about this Place whereupon I was inform'd among other things that there was in the Suburbs of this City which go towards King Casimir's Palace in a Nunnery a certain Male Child who had been brought up among Bears and who had been taken some time before at a Bear-hunting Vpon this Information I went immediately to that place to satisfy my Curiosity where I found the aforesaid Boy
ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ Hist des Cosques p. 32. Religion Abundance of Flies and Locusls Language Customs and Manners Customs and Manners in Peace and War Batori is refus'd to name his Successor His Character His Death Sept. 13. 1586. * Florus Polon lib. 4. p. 349 c. A Diet call'd The Lutherans obtain Liberty of Conscience The Lutheran and Catholick Factions Not to be â—â—nitâ—â—d The Lutherans 〈◊〉 Suppress'd Three Factions * Heidenstein Rerum Polon lib. 8. p. 253. col 1. Several Candidates The Lutherans Policy Ministers admitted to Audience * Heidenstein lib. 8. p. 256. col 2. Election Sigismund III. 1587. Lutheran Party dissents Elects and Proclaims Maximilian But pronounc'd Traitors by the Diet. A Comical Prophecy †Sued The two Candidates come into Poland Maximilian routed by the Polish General Sigisimund Crown'd Maximilian beaten again and made Prisoner Offer'd Liberty on honourable Terms Dissents Consents Sigismund 's Marriage * Hartknoch lib. 1. cap. 2. p. 105 c. Crown'd King of Sweden 1592. * Hartknoch lib. 1. cap. 2. p. 105. Depos'd and Charl. IX proclaim'd in Sweden What caus'd the War with the Muscovites The Poles in War with the Turks Invasion by Gustavus Adolphus Sigismund's Death His Character * Bizardiere p. 89. A peaceable Election Prince Casimir suspected for a Competitor A Diet call'd Proceeds to Election Foreign Ministers admitted Dantzic first allow'd a Vote Uladislaus VII 1632. His Marriage His Wars * Heidenstein lib. XI p. 327 c. With the Cosacks * Constit Ann. 1647. p. 9. tit Ordinacya Poszty His Death John Casimir 1648. * Piasecius ad Annum 1648. fol. 599. A Diet call'd Proceeds to Election Prince Casimir oppos'd His Character and Travels Like to be excluded Foreign Ministers admitted Casimir elected His Marriage His Wars The King of Sweden invades Poland Cause of his Invasion Cracow took by a Stratagem King of Sweden enters into a League with the E. of Brandenburg Treaty of Oliva * Pufendorf Rerum Brandenb lib. VIII Sect. 55. c. fol. 508. col 2. Motive and Means of Casimir's Abdication Casimir 's Death 1671. A Diet call'd Competitors for the Crown Reduc'd to two Foreign Ministers admitted Heats arise Appeas'd by a Speech A Plasto propos'd * Hartknoch lib. â—â— cap. 2. p. 109. Policy disappointed Michael refuses the Crown Accepts it The Primate conforms Michael Wiesnowiski 1670. His Marriage The Cosacks Rebellion Favour'd by the Turk Produces a bad Peace The Poles march to recover Podolia Conquer But fail in their Design Michael's Death Leaves no Issue * Hartknoch lib. 1. cap. 2. p. 109 110. An odd Story A Diet call'd Poceeds to Election Several Candidates A French Prince propos'd but not nam'd Queen Dowager's Zeal Only three Competitors and Factions left Whose Interest France espouses Magnificent Trains Lithuania against a Native Foreign Ministers admitted A double Election apprehended The Queen and Patz endeavour'd to be seduc'd Lithuania tends towards a Civil War Poland and part of Lithuania biass'd to Sobieski by a Speech Patz retires and dissents Complies with the rest of Lithuania John III. 1674. His Father His Mother His Travels His Marriage His Generosity A Jointure assign'd the Queen-Dowager His Conquests A Battle Podhais taken by the Turks His Coronation 1676. My Lord Rochester's Embassy into Poland in the Year 1676 Peace concludedwith the Turks Audience to the English Embassador He relieves Vienna Defeat of the Turks His Entry through the Breach of Vienna He pursues the Turks Takes Zytchin in Hungary Enters into a League against the Turks Is immoderately Covetous His Person and Dress The Habits of his Subjects His Character He engages the Author in a Physical Dispute The Dispute continues His Buildings His Care of his Children His great Riches The Queen's first coming into Poland Her first Marriage Her Age and Qualifications Her Address in disposing of Employments Pr. James his Character His intended Marriage disappointed But married to another A Character of his two Brothers Little Respect paid to the King's Children The Character of the Princess Her Marriage Her Portion Ceremony of her Marriage Pr. James officiates as Embassador The Ceremony continues Equipage for her Journey Begins her Journey Her Reception as Berlin Is met by the Elector Proceeds on her Journey The King's Sister A Consultation of Physicians Her Issue The King's Death The Interregnum Competitors for the Crown Frederic Augustus 1697. Crown'd K. of Poland The Antient Extent of Poland It s Increase by Conquests By Policy Present Extent Its Bounds Soil Its Products Number of Towns and Villages Climate Rivers Their several Courses Its Lakes I. PROVINCE It s Division I. Palatinate Cities and Towns of Posnan Gnesna Koscien Uskow Sremsk c. Miedzyrzecze Slupcza Pysdra Senators of Posnania It s Arms. II. Palatinate Cities and Towns of Kalisch Kolo Land Naklo Odolanovia Chocia Senators of Kalisch III. Palatinate The Cities and Towns of Siradia Rosprza Spicimir Petricovia Konarzew Wart Lask Territory of Vielunia Towns of Vielunia Senators of Siradia It s Arms. Arms of Vielunia IV. palatinate Cities and Towns of Rava Lowitz Volboria Gombin Sochaczow Gostinin Viasdum Biala Senators of Rava It s Arms. V. Palatinate Cities and Towns of Lanschet Orlow Bresina Piatek Uniejovia Senators of Lanschet It s Arms. Territory of Cujavia I. Palatinate of Cujavia Cities and Towns of Uladislaw Bresty Nisavia Radzieow Koisinow Kowalow II. Palatinate Cities and Towns of Cruswick Bydgosty Senators of Cujavia It s Arms. II. PROVINCE Lesser Poland Its Bounds I. 〈◊〉 Cities and Towns of Cracow Why so call'd The Castle The Cathedral The Bishop and Chapter Other Churches The University Its Colleges Vice-Chancellor Monasteries Mendicants Houses of this City Biecz Wounitz Sandecz Lelow Kyaz Osvieczin Zator Severia Czentochova Slaucovia Ilcussia Wieliczka Bochnia Dobcitia Proszovice Mines of Poland Account of Salt Mines Manna found Senators of Cracovia The Castellans Power Mayor of Cracow Government of the Castle Arms of this Palatinate Of Sandecz Of the Dutchy of Oswieczin Of that of Zator II. Palatinate Cities and Towns of Sendomir Opatovia Viazden Radom Jedlinsk Solecia Ilza Cunovia Bozentin Kielcz Chencin Malogost Sulovia