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
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
about 100000 Captives of which the greatest Part were Russians The Moldavians and Valachians quickly return'd home but the Turks out of covetousness of Plunder stay'd till the great Frosts and Snow surpriz'd 'em when not being us'd to such excessive Cold as this Country is subject to above 40000 of them were frozen to death Some among 'em that escap'd were forc'd to cut open their Horses bellies and thrust themselves into them to preserve their natural Heat After this John Albert made peace with the Valachians and Bajazet Emperour of the Turks Next he went in Person into Prussia to oblige Frederic Duke of Saxony then Great Master of the Teutonic Order to take Oath of Fidelity to him which he had for some time refus'd but dy'd suddenly at Thorn before he could effect his design Albert leaving no Children the Diet thought fit to elect his Brother ALEXANDER Great Duke of Lithuania the better to renew their Alliance with that Country This Prince being proclaim'd King comes to Cracow where by his Brother Frederic Cardinal and Archbishop of Gnesna he was crown'd in the Year 1501 and reign'd only five Years but the Archbishop refus'd to do the like Office for his Queen Helena because she was of the Greek Church being Daughter to John Great Duke of Muscovy which Country are all of that Persuasion Soon after that he was crown'd his Father-in-Law the Great Duke made War upon him and besieg'd the City of Smolensko Capital of a large Province of the same Name but Alexander coming in time to relieve it oblig'd the Muscovite to make Peace for six Years In his time also the Moldavians and Tartars made Irruptions into Poland but were beaten back with great Loss insomuch that 't is said there were kill'd only of the Tartars in that Action near 20000. The King was not in Person at this Victory he then lying sick at Vilna Capital of Lithuania where he dy'd soon after and was buried in that City He was of a middle Stature had a long Visage and black Hair was very strong built but exceeding dull-witted and consequently but a little Talker He exceeded all his Brothers in Generosity and was wont to delight much in Musicians and such trifling Artists Nevertheless this his Liberality was generally esteem'd but Prodigality insomuch that some were so hold as to say That he dy'd in time or else both Poland and Lithuania might have been lavish'd away To prevent the like pernicious Generosity for the future the Diet made a Law calling it Statutum Alexandrinum by which they revok'd all this King 's profuse Gifts Alexander leaving no Children and but two Brothers the Archbishop of Gnesna dying before him SIGISMUND was preferr'd to Vladislaus King of Hungary and Bohemia either because the Gentry were more affected to him being bred among 'em or by reason they were afraid of Vladislaus's great Power He was elected at Petricovia in the Year 1507 and reign'd forty one Years When Sigismund left his Government of Lithuania to come into Poland he substituted one Glinski a great â—â—avourite of the late King 's in his room This Palatin having great Authority among the Lithuanians became so ambitious as to think of making himself Absolute which concealing for a good while at length he agreed with Basilius Great Duke of Muscovy to allow him his share of that Province in case he would afford him his Assistance which Proposal the Great Duke being pleas'd with readily consented to and with all Expedition dispatch'd away an Army to Glinski but as such great Designs are not to be carried on without great Noise and Suspicions Sigismund came soon to hear of this treacherous Enterprize whereupon drawing up all his Forces to oppose the intended Invasion he meets and defeats their Army ravages and destroys their Country and at last obliges them to sue for Peace which he not without some difficulty granted Afterwards the Valachians and Tartars making Incursions into Russia and Poland he forces them to return home with great Loss The Muscovites likewise making War upon him a second time and taking the City of Smolensko with all the Country about it he beat their Armies in several Engagements and having kill'd in all above 30000 of their Men retook Smolensko and made 'em accept of a Peace the second time for five Years He soon after married Buona Sforza Daughter to John Galeatio Duke of Milan Afterwards he made War with the Knights of the Teutonic Order the reason of which was because Albert Marquess of Brandenburgh his Sister's Son and then Great Master refus'd to take an Oath as it was agreed in the late Wars Hereupon Sigismund took from him some Towns and had great Advantages over him in several Engagements but however Albert having considerable Succors sent him from Germany prolong'd the War for a good while in Prussia About this time Martin Luther's Doctrine came to be known in these Parts and most of the Citizens of Dantzic embrac'd it for which at first the King was very severe with them but at length fearing that to preserve their Religion they might side with the Teutonic Order against him he granted them Liberty of Conscience All this while that Order made vigorous Resistance and with equal Loss on both sides fatigu'd the Polish Army till at last it was agreed by both Parties to make the Emperor Charles V. and Lewis King of Hungary Arbitrators who determin'd that Sigismund should relinquish to the Marquess of Brandenburg all the Eastern part of Prussia which is above half of that great Province and that he and his Heirs should for ever enjoy it as they have actually done ever since without any disturbance from Sigismund but the Marquess of Brandenburg as Duke of Prussia for himself and his Heirs was to take an Oath of Fidelity to the Kings of Poland and to send to their Service every Year in time of War a hundred Horse ready equipt which those Kings were to maintain at their own Charges from the time they went out of Prussia At this time the House of Austria was not a little jealous of the exorbitant Power and vast Dominions of the Family of Jagello for not only Sigismund possess'd Poland the great Dutchies of Lithuania Smolensko and Severia and likewise all the Countries between the Euxine and Baltic Seas but also his Nephew Lewis Son of Vladislaus was King of Hungary Bohemia and Silesia insomuch that they secretly rais'd several Enemies against them whereupon the Muscovites Moldavians and Tartars came a third time to molest Poland but were forc'd to withdraw after having done some Mischief About this time Solyman the Great Emperor of the Turks made War with Hungary and gain'd the famous Battel of Mobac where King Lewis and the flower of his Army were slain and the better part of Hungary subjected to the Turk This King Lewis left only one Daughter which was
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
Ruin and the great Disadvantage of the Poles The only Damage they sustain'd was when Chmielinski was celebrating the Nuptials of his Son with the Daughter of the Prince of Valachia where the Poles surpriz'd them re-took the City of Kiovia and plunder'd it as likewise made the Grecian Patriarch Prisoner Then the Cosacks sent to the King to know if this had been done by his Majesty's Order which being answer'd in the Negative and moreover that the Nobility had done it to be reveng'd on them for the frequent Damages they had done them they immediately in conjunction with the Tartars fell into Poland with the greatest Fury imaginable Against these the King went in Person at the Head of the Nobility and defeated them in Battle But nevertheless the King was afterwards forc'd to clap up a Peace with them tho the Gentry were very much displeas'd at his granting them their own Terms by which the Muscovites were left in possession of Smolensko and Kiovia which they enjoy to this day The Muscovites likewise took Vilna in Lithuania with some other considerable Cities in that great Dutchy In the Year 1655 Charles Gustavus King of Sweden rais'd a more fatal Storm in Poland for with an Army of chosen Men he enter'd that Kingdom and in two years time made himself absolute Master thereof He first conquer'd Great Poland and Masovia and afterwards the Lesser Poland with Cracow the capital City of the Kingdom from whence he march'd into Prussia where almost all the Towns immediately surrender'd to him except Dantzic wherein at first were a great many Citizens that favour'd the Suedes but who not long after by the Persuasions of some Ministers continu'd their Obedience to Poland The Resistance made by this one City was the main Reason why all the Advantages got by the Swedes at last prov'd fruitless and that they could maintain themselves no longer in Prussia notwithstanding that not only the whole Militia of Poland and that part of Lithuania which was under the Muscovites had submitted to the Swedes but also King John Casimir was fled into Silesia for the Poles having recover'd themselves after their first Consternation was over and being moreover join'd by the Brandenburgers and Tartars fell upon such of the Swedish Forces as were scatter'd up and down the Country The Lithuanians also rose up in Arms and kill'd all the Swedes that were in Winter-quarters among them The Occasion of this Swedish Invasion was some familiarity King Casimir had had with the Wife of the Vice-Chancellor Radziouski Father to the present Cardinal Primate This great Senator could by no means brook a Scandal so publick and therefore having first made a Party in the Kingdom he call'd in the Swedes through Livonia to revenge his Quarrel who soon got the Duke of Curland's Country and took him Prisoner Afterwards they had such vast Success in their Progress that all the Towns of Poland soon submitted to them none being able to withstand a Siege It is to be observ'd that there are but few fortify'd Places in Poland it being a Maxim of State there That their Kings should not strengthen themselves at home whereby their Enemies might take footing from abroad This vast Conquest made all the neighbouring Princes very jealous of the Power of Sweden for on one side Ragozzi Prince of Transylvania thinking perhaps to obtain that Crown for himself enter'd Poland but with no Success The Danes likewise made a considerable Diversion on their part by attacking Sweden Also the Muscovites came upon Livonia and the Emperour sent Troops to succour the Poles whereupon by Assistance of the Brandenburgers and Tartars and the prudent Conduct of General Czarneski the Polish Nobility in six Months time restor'd Casimir to his Throne This Czarneski re-took the capital City of Poland by a Stratagem which was by contriving to have some Cartloads of Wood enter the City betimes in the Morning and to break in their Passage through one of the Gates by which means with 800 Men he forc'd his way into the City and destroy'd the Swedish Garison The Advantage of an unfortify'd Kingdom will always be this That tho it be soon conquer'd it will nevertheless be as easily recover'd When Charles Gustavus King of Sweden had met with an Opportunity to make War with Poland he made several private Treaties with the late Elector of Brandenburg Frederic William and at length enter'd into a League with him on condition that when he had conquer'd Poland he should give him the Soveraignty of Ducal Prussia whereupon they both join'd their Forces together and soon conquer'd the Poles But afterwards the King of Sweden being call'd home to take care of his own Dominions which were then invaded by the Danes he was forc'd to compound with Poland for 800000 Rix Dollars which the Poles not having had any Intelligence of the Danish Invasion were glad to agree to But the Elector of Brandenhurg observing that the Money stipulated for was not like to be easily rais'd offer'd unknown to the Swedes to give the Poles that Sum and moreover to help them to drive the Swedes out of their Kingdom in case they would but confirm to him and his Heirs the aforesaid Soveraignty of Ducal Prussia To this the Poles being in extream Confusion and Necessity quickly condescended with this Restraint only That whenever the said Elector's Male-Issue fail'd that Dutchy should revert to the Crown of Poland Whereupon the Elector of Brandenburg having been proclaim'd Soveraign Duke of Prussia he immediately join'd the Polish Forces and in short time drove the Swedes out of their Kingdom which he before had been instrumental in bringing in This is the Account I have heard the Poles give of their Deliverance from the Swedish Yoke and Sir Robert Southwell also gave us lately the same Account at the Royal Society which he had had from the late Elector of Brandenburg's own Mouth At this Treaty of Oliva a Monastery near Dantzic the Poles likewise were to renounce all the Pretensions they had to Livonia Casimir after having routed the Swedes rais'd an Army of about 30000 Germans under pretence of being reveng'd on the Tartars for detaining several Poles Prisonners which he had betray'd himself the better to curb his Subjects But Prince Lubomirski Crown-Marshal having discover'd his private Design which was to render himself Despotic rais'd an Army likewise and attack'd that of the King with so good Success that he entirely routed it took its General a Frenchman Prisoner and quickly oblig'd the King to disband his German Forces At this Affront receiv'd from his own Subjects Casimir was extreamly netled insomuch that he abdicated the Crown not long after But some time before his Abdication he convok'd a Diet at Leopol to pay off the Army The best Expedient to effect this was thought to be to call in all the Gold and Silver of the Kingdom and re-coin it but this having been found deficient the
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
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
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-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
Gules The second Palatinate of the Province of Masovia is that of Ploskow lying towards the East between the Vistula and Prussia It is divided into four Districts viz. The Districts of Ploczkow Zancren Mlava and Stenen In all which are these principal Cities and Towns viz. Ploczkow Bish Cap. Sieprcz Srensko Mlaw and Radzanow The Capital of all which is Ploczkow or Ploczko Metropolis of the Palatinate of that Name which stands on a high Bank of the Weissel or Vistula from whence one may have a very fair Prospect of a pleasant and fruitful Country This City is considerably inrich'd by the Navigableness of its River is very populous and has been long dignified with a Bishop's See Besides the Cathedral there are divers other Churches and Monasteries richly endow'd especially the Abby of Benedictins in the Suburbs where amongst other Relicks the Head of St. Sigismund is kept in Gold which was given by King Sigismund III. Sieprcz a Wooden Town built on a Hill among the Marshes and about five Miles from Ploczkow Srensko a Timber-built Town seated in a Plain with a Castle founded among the Bogs This Place is about ten Miles from Ploczko Mlaw a Town built on the Confines of Prussia and wash'd by the River of its own Name It is also about ten Miles from Ploczkow Radzanow a Timber-built Town on the River Vkra with a Castle founded upon a Rock amongst the Marshes This Town is about eight Miles from Ploczkow The Senators of this Palatinate are The Bishop Palatin and Castellan of Ploskow The Castellans of Sieprcz and Radzanow The Standard or Arms of this Palatinate are an Eagle expans'd Sables with a P on the Breast All in a Field Gules The third Palatinate of the Province of Masovia is that of Dobrina lying towards the West between Cujavia and Prussia It abounds with all sorts of Fruit and Fish and is divided into three Districts viz. The District of Dobrina Ripin and Slonsk In all which are these principal Cities and Towns viz. Dobrina Cap. Ripin Slonsk and Gorzno The Capital City of this Palatinate is Dobrina a Timber-built City seated on a Rock near the River Vistula It had formerly a Castle which was demolish'd by the Teutonick Knights Ripin a Wooden Town built in a Plain on the River Odleck It is about five Miles from Dobrina Slonsk a Town in a Plain situate upon the River Vistula and about two Miles from Dobrina Gorzno or Gurzno a Wood-built Town tolerably well defended by Nature and Art It is about six Polish Miles from Dobrina This Palatinate was formerly the cause of frequent Wars between the Poles Teutonick Knights and Prussians The Senators of this Palatinate are The Castellans of Dobrina Ripin and Slonsk The Arms and Standard of this Palatinate are a Man's Head proper doubly crown'd Or and Argent All in a Field Gules The Sixth PROVINCE of this Kingdom is Samogitia having in it no Palatinate tho many Capitanies of which the chief Starosta is he of the Province who has a Place in the Senate tho no other of the same Dignity have the like throughout the whole Kingdom except he be otherwise qualified This Province is indifferently large and fruitful tho it be very much over-run with Woods To the North it is bounded by Curland and the Baltic Sea On the West it has Ducal Prussia and the Baltic and towards the South and East it borders on Lithuania It has several Cities as well belonging to the King as the Gentry which for the most part are all built with Wood. This Province takes its Name from its Situation which is low and marshy the word Samogitz in the Language of this Country denoting as much It abounds with Lakes and inaccessible Mountains yet affords great quantities of Honey purer than that either of Lithuania or Livonia and breeds Horses which are very much admir'd for their Swiftness The ordinary People here live in Cottages for the most part seated near Lakes or Rivers and cover'd either with Thatch or Boards They plough the Ground not with Iron but Wood tho the Soil be most commonly fat and stiff which Custom they are addicted to even to Superstition for when a certain Starosta of that Country thought to introduce Iron Plowshares among them and the Season not happening to prove as kind as usual they attributed all the cause to this change of Instrument whereupon they were permitted to return to their old way for fear of an Insurrection Their Horses are generally so small that one would wonder how they could undergo the Fatigue they put 'em to Most of the Inhabitants of this Country differ little in Manners Habit or Language from the Lithuanians yet some of them still retain several Idolatrous Worships especially in the Deserts where they pay Devotion to a four-footed Serpent under the Name of Givosit and you 'll hardly find a Family in these Parts without one of these Houshold Gods Nay even at this day in many Villages both of Prussia and Lithuania the poor Peasants altho they profess Christianity yet keep Adders in their Houses to which they pay a more than ordinary Veneration imagining that some great Mischief would befal them if these Idols should come to any harm To be more particular with this Country your Lordship may understand that their Houses except only those of the Gentry are built low and long-ways with an Hearth in the middle and but one Room which serves not only for themselves but their Cattel The better sort drink out of Horn Cups and eat out of Wooden Platters The Honey here is extraordinary having but little Wax and some of it is perfectly white with which the Woods are every where almost lin'd The manner of the Pagan Sacrifices and Feasts in Samogitia kept at this day about the end of October is as follows First the Place of meeting being assign'd the Men with their Wives Children and Servants punctually appear thereat when spreading a Cloth upon the Straw several Loaves are set in due order and between each Loaf a large Pot of Beer then Beasts of divers kinds both Male and Female are brought in and sacrific'd after the antient Custom thus First the Augur or Priest after having mumbled over some few words strikes 'em with a Wand he holds in his hand on the Back Belly c. when all that are present likewise follow his Example crying out O Zimiennick for so they call their God these Offerings we make to thee for protecting us so mercifully hitherto and we most humbly implore thee to have the like Compassion on us for the future as to preserve us from Fire Sword Pestilence and our Enemies Which said they immediately fall to but first cut off a bit from every Plate and throw 'em about the Room crying O Zimiennick graciously partake of our Sacrifices and favour thy Adorers After
which they eat and drink heartily and so the Ceremony concludes These Sacrifices are also still observ'd by the Country-People in several places of Lithuania and Russia This Province is divided into three Districts which are The Districts of Rosienia Mednick and Poniviess In all which are these principal Towns viz. Rosienia Cap. Mednick Poniviess and Cowna The Capital of all which is Rosienia a small ill-built Town tho the chief of the Province of Samogitia being seated on the River Dubiss about twelve Polish Miles from Cowna to the North thirty from Riga and twenty seven from Vilna to the West Mednick somewhat better built than the former and famous for a Suffragan's See belonging to the Arch-bishop of Gnesna This Town is seated on the River Wirwitz Poniviess Capital only of the District of that Name Cowna situate on the River Niemen and famous for a College of Jesuits and several considerable Monasteries This Town was formerly much frequented by the German Merchants who built here divers splendid Edifices both with Stone and Brick which the Inhabitants have since imitated and in some things excell'd The Senators of this Province are The Bishop Starosta and Castellan of Samogitia The Seventh PROVINCE of this Kingdom is Volhynia which is divided into two large Districts viz. The Districts of Luccoria and Cremen In both which are these principal Cities and Towns viz. Lutzko Bish Cap. of Luceoria Vlodimir or Woldzimiers Krzemenec Cap. of Cremen Brodi Olika Constantinow Zsbarasz Ostropium Wisniovec Zaslaw Basilea Miedirecz Rubesow Dubna Czartorisk Olesk and Krilow The Capital City of the District of Luceoria and Metropolis of Volhynia is that of Lutzko or Luzuk a Timber-built City situate on the Banks of the River Ster near a Lake which encompasses part of the Castle It is hardly seven Miles from the Frontiers of Red Russia to the East and twenty from Leopol to the North-East It is a large City and is an Episcopal See and the Residence of a Bishop subject to the Metropolitan of Gnesna The Cathedral and Chapter-house are in one of the Castles there being two built on adjoining Hills near this City Here likewise resides a Russian Bishop Vlodimir a Wooden Town with Wooden Fortifications and built among the Marshes It lies not far from Lutzko and is the Residence of a Russian Bishop with a considerable Jurisdiction Krzemenec Capital of the District of Cremen a large Timber City with a Wooden Castle and Mud Walls Brodi a Town built by Stanislaus Konicepoliski Castellan of Cracovia with strong Fortifications a Collegiate Church and a publick Academy Olika a Town belonging to the House of Radzivil adorn'd with a fair Cathedral and Academy for all sorts of Arts and Sciences Constantinow adorn'd and defended by a well-fortified Castle Zsbarasz formerly a Free City with a Territory or District of its own but now subject to that of Cremen The Senators of this Province are The Bishop of Luceoria The Palatin and The Castellansof Volhynia The Standard or Arms of this Province of Volhynia are Party per Pale Argent and Azure the former containing the Arms of Lithuania The Eighth PROVINCE of this Kingdom is Podlachia a large Province and Palatinate bounded on the West by Masovia and on the East by Lithuania to which it formerly belong'd till Sigismundus Augustus in the Year 1569 united it to Poland In Spiritual Matters it is wholly subject to the Bishop of Luceoria but as to Temporal it is divided into three Districts viz. The Districts of Byclsko Drogiczynen and Mielnick In all which there are these Principal Cities and Towns viz. Byelsko Cap. Drogiczin Myelnick Tykoczin Knyssin Augustow Mordi Wasilkow Narew Bransko Visokie and Holovacz Of all which the Capital is Byelsko a large Timber-built City Metropolis of this Province and seated on the River Byala dividing it from Lithuania It s Castle was burnt down by Lightning and never since rebuilt Drogiczin Capital of the District of that Name and built on a small Rising near the River Bug. This City is famous for a Court of Justice wherein the Causes of the Gentry are tried It lies about ten Miles from Bielsko and thirty from Warsaw Mielnick a Town on the Bug likewise only famous for being Capital of its District It is about five Miles from Drogiczin Tykoczin a Town built in a Plain upon the River Narew It has a Castle well fortified both by Art and Nature being surrounded by vast Bogs and defended every way with several large Cannon Here part of the King's Treasure is kept and here likewise Sigismundus Augustus caus'd Money to be coin'd It lies about ten Miles from Byelsko and forty two from Vilna Knyssin a Wood-built Town seated among Marshes and Woods Here the King has a Palace and a very large Park abounding with Deers of all sorts and huge Fish-ponds replenish'd with all kinds of fresh-Water Fish Augustow a very large City built by Sigismundus Augustus and which lies about twenty Miles from Byelsko Mordi a Timber-built Town seated on a very large Lake and about five Miles from Drogiczin Wasilkow a Wood-built Town on the River Narew where the King 's Starosta resides Narew situate in the midst of Woods and near the River of that Name This Town lies about four Miles from Byelsko Bransko built on the River Nar only famous for a Court of Justice held there It lies about three Polish Miles from Byelsko Suras a Town built at the foot of a Hill near the River Narew It has a Castle which commands the Town The Senators of this Province are The Palatine and Castellan of Podlachia The Standard or Arms of this Province are Party per Pale Argent and Gules In the former the Arms of Lithuania and in the latter an Eagle Expans'd of the first Thus far my Lord have I trac'd the Extent of Poland and the Divisions of its Provinces and have taken notice of what I have both observ'd and heard to be most remarkable in them whereby your Lordship may find that this vast Kingdom is not so contemptible as we of the Western Parts of Europe have imagin'd for this Country abounds with all Necessaries to support it self both in Peace and War without the help of its Neighbours and had it been as well improv'd by Art and enrich'd by Trade as it is made fruitful by Nature it would doubtless have been able to vie with any Kingdom in Europe Which the King of France and other Princes are now sensible of since they have profusely spent vast Sums of Money to advance either themselves or Friends to that Crown tho they were no ways certain of Success knowing that let the Sums they spent be ever so considerable they would be fully recompens'd when they obtain'd their Ends for a King of Poland can raise as
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
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
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