and Trust at Court with his own Kindred or Creatures such as he knew wholly to depend on his Fortune He used frequently to get the Young Prince out of the Capital City under preâ—ence of Hunting or some other Divertisements so to beget in him an Aversion to Business whereby the whole Management of Affairs might fall to this share But in order to an entire Establishment of his Fortune he thought nothing more conducing to make sure of the young Princes Favour than if he could get him to chuse a Wife out of such a Family as being absolutely in his Interest and where he himself might engage in an Alliance by Marriage would enage both the Prince and Great Dutchess in his future Preservation The Person he pitch'd upon as most suitable to his Purpose was one 〈◊〉 Danilovits Mioslauski of obscure Genâ—â—â—ty raised by the Death of Grammatine the Chanâ—â—llor of the Ambassadors Office his Uncle by the Mothers side whose Servant he had been formerly This Man was looked upon with a very favourable Eye by Morosou by reason of his constant Attendance on him and his two beautiful Daughters one of which he designed for the Great Duke the other for himself Whilst this Favourite was thus employing all his Cunning to establish his Fortune in the near Alliance with his Sovereign he was upon the Point of having been frustrated in his Hopes if by his Dexterity he had not extâ—icated himself out of that Difficulty which was likely to have rendred his Design abortive For a certain young Lady who was exceedingly beautiful having been brought before the young Great Duke withoutâ— his Knowledge the Czar was 〈◊〉 an instant with so violent a Passion for her that he presented her with a Handkerchief and Ring the usual Present the Czars of Muscovy make to such Ladies as they chuse for their Spouses She was to appear again in Royal Dress in a few days after when according to Custom the young Great Duke was to tye the Crown upon her Head But Morosou having been by this time sufficiently informed of what had passed tho' managed with great Secrecy â— had laid the Plot with the Attire-Women that they should tye up her Hair so hard as to put her in a Swoon which succeedâ—d according to Expectation For whilst she was in the Great Duke's Presence and they were busied in tying the Orown about her Head she fell into a Swoon which was presently by those that were present and most of them Creatures of Boris Morosou construed an Apoplectick Fit So that the poor old Gentleman her Father who believed himself just upon the Point of being exalted to one of the most eminent Stations in the Empire by the Alliance with his Sovereign saw himself not only unexpectedly deceived in his Hopes but being besides accused of 〈◊〉 Treason in pretending to put his Daughter labouring under such a Distemper into the Arms of the Great Duke was forced to undergo the Strapado and was banished into Siberia where he no sooner arrived but he died with Grief leaving his Family in Disgrace The Maid remained a Virgin ever after till her Death and was never known to have had any fit since and the Emperour being conscious of the Wrong done to her and her Father allowed 〈◊〉 a large yearly Pension which made her to be courted by many of the Nobility whom she all refused and kept the Handkerchief and Ring as Pledges of the Injury done to her Family But to return to Morosou who having weathered this Point and relying upon the Fidelity of Ilia Danilovits Miloslauski he took the first favourable Opportunity to speak to the Great Duke concerning him and thence to extoll the Beauty and Deserts of the two Gentlewomen his Daughters These Commendations having raised in the Great Duke a desire to see them he sent to them under pretence of a Visit to be made to the Princesses his Sisters where having taken a full View of â—â—em both he became instantly so enamoured with the Beauty of the Eldest whose Name was Mary that he dispatched one immediately to her Father to bring him the welcom News that the Czar intended to honour him with his Alliance and to marry his eldest Daughter It is easily imagined that as Mâ—iloslauski was not altogether unprepared for it so he received the Message with the most profound Respect and without being in the least discomposed returning his most humble Thanks to his Czarish Majesty for the Honour he intended to do his Family Some days after the Great Duke senâ— Presents of a very great Value to his Bride and having been informed concerning the Circumstances of Miloslauski which being such as that he and his Family could not appear at the Wedding without a present Supply he order'd them a considerable Sum of Money to put them in an Equipage suitable to their Present Condition The Marriage Ceremony was performed in the beginning of the Year 1647 The Young Great Duke 〈◊〉 but very privately for fear of Witchcraft a thing much â—â—eaded among Persons of Quality in Muscovy especially at 〈◊〉 Weddings The Czarissa was a very beautiful Lady besides which her Modest and Religious Behaviour and many Charitable Actions made her afterwards the Darling of the People The next thing Boris Morosou had to do was to petition for Ann the youngest Daughter of Miloslanâ—ki and Sister to the Empress which having been soon granted he married her in eight days after so that his former Interest being now strengthned by this new Alliance his Fortnue was established beyond the reach of his Enemies But his Content at home was not altogether answerable to his great Fortune at Court For he being a Person pretty well advanced in Years and she a brown Buxsome Lass found herself deceived in a great measure in her Expectation so that instead of Children Jealousies were got which produced the ordinary Effects to wit first Contentions and afterwards after the Muscovian way the House-Discipline and some Persons among whom was also an Englishman being suspected to have too free an Access to Boris Morosou's House were by his Instigation banished into Siberia But whatever his Fortune might be at home he was not careless in his Affairs at Court where in Conjunction with Ilia Damilovits-Miloslauski the Great Duke's Father-in-Law they managed every thing to their own Advantage For they not only removed most of the Nobility from Court but by degrees cast off all such old Officers of the Houshold as were yet remaining in whose stead they brought in their own Kindred and Creatures who let sâ—ip no Opportunity to enrich themselves at the Expence of the Publick Among others they had made one Leponti-Steppanovits-Plessou Chief Justice of the Semskoy Duor or Semskoy Pricas a Court instituted for the Judgment of all Civil Causes between the Citizens of Musco where are also paid the Duties arising from Places and Houses that are sold as also the Taxes levied for the Reparation of Bridges Gates Fortresses and
The third Province is the Dukedom of Rhesan betwixt the two Rivers of Don and Occa lying Southward from Muscovy Rhesan from which it is divided by the River Aka being one of the most fruitful Provinces of all Muscovy abounding in Wheat Honey Fish and all manner of Venison and Fowl Its Capital City is called likewise Rhesan formerly a very considerable Place which had given its name to the whole Province but was in the Year 1568 totally destroyed as was the greatest part of that Dukedom by the Crim-Tartars The Great Duke having taken into Consideration the Fertility of the Country all along the River Occa which from thence extends its self to that great Trench which serves for a Fence against the irruptions of those Barbarians on that side and having got together the dispersed Inhabitants and furnished them with Materials he ordered the building of a new City at forty Miles distance from the former which is called Peresla Resanski because a great many Inhabitants of the City of Peresla heretofore mentioned came hither to settle themselves Notwithstanding which the old City of Rhesan retains to this day the Honour of being the Seat of an Arch-Bishop Besides which this Province has also the Cities of Domkagorod Corsira and Tulla the latter being situated upon a River of the same Name The fourth is the Province of Wolodimer Wolâ—dimer formerly the Chiefest of whole Muscovy The Capital City had its name from its first Founder Prince Wolodimer who lived in the Year 928 and was from â—hence communicated to the whole Province which â—e situated in the most fruitful Country of all Musâ—ovy above 150 Miles Eastward from Musco beâ—ween the two Rivers of Occa and Wolga This City which is situated near the River Clesna was â—or a considerable time the Residence of the Great Dukes of Muscovy till the Imperial Seat was transferr'd to Musco by Prince Danilou Michâ—elovits since which time it is much decayed from its former Splendor the Ruins of its Walls and Houses being undeniable demonstrations of its former Greatness Unto this Province are annexed the two Tartarian Principalities of Cassinou and Mordwa Cassinou and Mordwa The Capital City of the first is Cassinogord situated on the right side of the River Occa as one comes from Musco surrounded with a great many goodly Villages and Monasteries most pleasantly seated among the Woods The chief City of the second is Moruma being inhabited partly by Muscovites partly by Tartars but altogether under the Subjection of the Grand Duke It is situated on the left side of the River Occa the River Clesna which comes from Wolodimer falls into it at about 10 or 12 Miles distance The fifth Province is Nisenovogorod Nisâ—â—ovogorod having received its Name as most others in this Country from its Capital City called Nisenovogorod Thâ—â— City being built at the conflux of the two Greâ— Rivers Occa and Wolga at 56 degrees 28 min. neâ—â— 500 Miles distant from the City of Musco by Land and above 700 by Water received its Name from the Famous City of Novogorod the Inhabiâ—ants 〈◊〉 which were by Order from the Great Duke Basâ—â—â— translated to this Place It is true it falls far shoâ—â— in bigness of what the City of Novogorod was 〈◊〉 former Ages nevertheless it has very strong Towers and Walls of Stone and the Suburbs exceed 〈◊〉 bigness the City it self being near three Miles 〈◊〉 circumference and inhabited by Tartars Muscovites and some Dutch the most of them Merchants the latter of which have here a Protestaâ—â— Church whereas the City is for the most part take up with Military Officers Victuallers Sutlers â—â— being all under the Government of a Weywode Thâ— next City in this Province is Basiligorod built like wise by the Great Duke Basili who gave it 〈◊〉 Name and made it a Frontier-place against the Incursions of the Tartars called Ceremisses of whoâ— we shall have occasion to speak immediately It 〈◊〉 situated at 55 deg 51 min. at the foot of a Mountain on the right side of the Volga to reckon from its source the same being to be understood from all the other places mentioned in this Treatise at the falling in of the small River Sura heretofore the common Boundary betwixt the Muscovites and the Tartars of Casan Since the Muscovites have extended their Conquests over the Tartars on that side even to the Caspian Sea this place has been neglected its Walls being quite ruined and its Edifices altogether of Wood it resembles now more a great Village than a City The Tartars Ceremisses The Tartars Ceremisses whom we mentioned just now having their Habitation on both sides of the River Wolga betwixt this place and the Kingdom of Casan it will not be amiss to give a short Account of them in this Place They are a Nation barbarous treacherous and cruel living upon Robbery and addicted to Sorcery Their Food is Honey and wild Fowl they take in the Woods and Milk which their Pastures furnish them with they 〈◊〉 not inhabit Houses but most wretched Huts Those that live on the right side of the River Wolâ—a are called Nagorni or Mountaineers as those â—nhabiting on the left side are called Lugoivi from â—heir Meadows which supply them on both â—ides of the River with Hay They are generally â—peaking Heathens using neither Circumcision â—or Baptism They give a Child its Name from â—he first Person they meet that Day when this â—eremony is to be performed which is six Months â—fter its Birth They acknowledge an Immortal â—od the Author of all Good who ought to be â—dor'd but ridicule the Immortality of the Soul â—ho ' they do not believe a Hell they dread the â—evil as the Author of all their Misfortunes â—hom therefore they pretend to appease with Saâ—ifices Their chief Devotion and Pilgrimages â—hich they do to the Devil is performed at a place â—â—lled Nemda amongst the Fenns where every body 〈◊〉 obliged to carry a Present When they Offer â—â—eir Sacrifices to God they kill a Hoâ—se an Ox or a Sheep some of the Flesh thereof being roasted and put into a Dish and holding in the other Hand another Vessel fill'd with Hydromel or some other Liquor both is cast into a Fire made for that purpose before the Skin of the Creature that is Sacrificed being extended upon a Pole laid a crosâ— two Trees This Skin they adore in order to interceed for them with God unto whom they also make sometimes their Address the whole Subject of their Devotion tending to some Conveniency 〈◊〉 another of this Life but most commonly to the augmenting the number of their Cattle They pay a great Veneration even to Adoration to the Suâ— and Moon whom they believe the Authors of the Productions of the Earth They make use of no Churches Priests or Books their Sacrifices and other religious Exercises being performed near somâ— Torrent or another Polygamy is used amongâ— them even so as to Marry two or
reason of the nearness of the River and the Lake It has besides this two Cities more called Ostrow and Opolsko The Province of Wologda Wologda which sometime belonged to the Dukes of Novogorod is since reunited to the Crown of Muscovy its Capital City has the same Name with the Province both of them having borrowed their Names from the River Vologda which having its rise near the famous City of Novogorod Veliki disembogues in the Baltick Sea The City of Wologda or Vologda is one of the most considerable in those Parts not only by reason of its bigness and strength being surrounded with a very strong Wall but also of its Commerce It is situated on the left Shoar of the River Sucagna raised upon the very Banks of it which River running by Tetma and Vstiga runs some Miles below the latter into the above-mentioned River Dwina which renders it very convenient for Trading and consequently very populous There are two Cities more in this Province called Socsoa and Stâ—litz The Province of Vstiugha Ustiugha lying betwixt the Provinces of Dwina and Wologda was also subject to the Dukes of Novogorod till like all the rest in those Parts it was united to the Crown of Muscovy The Capital City here is likewise called Vstiugha from the Word Vst which signifies as much as the Latin Word Ostium or the Mouth of a River and Jugh it being not far distant from the conflux of the River Jugh and Sucagna built upon the very Banks of the latter which at some Miles below this place exoâ—erates it self in the River Dwina as we have mâ—nâ—ioned before It has its own Weywode or Governour This Province is famous for the best black Foxes it affords above all others in Muscovy It has two Cities more called Kollas and Dobriâ—a The next Province both for Rank and Situation is Novogorod Veliki Noâ—ogorod Veliki owing its Name to its Capital City likewise called Novogorod Veliki It is seated in a very fair spacious Plain at 58 degrees 23 min. Elevation upon the Wologda or Vologda a River different from the Volga The River Vologda The River Vologda hath its rise out of the Lake of Ilmen about three Miles above this City from whence crossing the Lake of Ladoga it passes in its way through the River Niova the Boundary betwixt Muscovy and Sweden on that side near the City of Noteburgh till at last by the Gulph of Finland it exonerates it self into the Baltick Sea This River is of great Advantage to this City affording not only great store of all sorts of most excellent Fish at a very cheap rate but also being Navigable from its very source and the Country round about very fruitful abounding in Wheat Flax Hemp Wax and Honey but especially in Russia Leather which is look'd upon here to be better dress'd than in any other part of Muscovy makes this City to be reputed one of the chief Trading Cities in the whole Empire It was in former Ages governed by its own Princes who having extended their Conquests over several of the adjacent Provinces as has been mentioned before this City was look'd upon as one of the most Potent and celebrated of Europe so that it was grown into a Proverb in those Parts Who can oppose God and the Great City of Novogorod The Hanseatick Towns had in those days an Office of Address in this City so that it was not only frequented by the Livonians and Muscovites but also by the Danes Germans and Swedes It was Sirnamed Veliki which signifies Great there having been some who have compared it for greatness with Rome it self It 's true they have in this much over-shot the Mark nevertheless the great extent of the Ruines of the Antient Walls and the number of its Steeples yet remaining are sufficient Proofs of its foâ—mer Glory and that its present condition falls incomparably short of what it was before its destruction the City being now only surrounded with a Wooden Wall and the Houses built of the same Materials The first that put a stop to the Grandeur of this Place was Vithold Great Duke of Lithuania and at that time General of the Polish Army who in the Year 1427. oblig'd it to pay a considerable Tribute to that Crown About Fifty Years after the Great Duke of Muscovy John Basili Grotsdin famous for his Tyâ—anny after a War of Seven Years having defeated their Army in the Year 1477. forced them to do him â—omage and to receive a Muscovian Governour and soon after put a fatal period to this Great and Poâ—ent City For having considered with himself that its Inhabitants would not fail to take hold of the first Opportunity to recover their Liberty went thither in Person under pretence of establishing the Greek Religion which he pretended to be in danger by the contrivances of the Roman Catholicks being encouraged in his Design by Theophilus the then Archbishop of the City he had no sooner entred the City but it was by his Order pillaged and the Inhabitants transported from thence into other places of Muscovy but especially to Nise-Novogorod which we have spoke of before in whose stead he planted there a Colony of Muscovites The Booty which he got there was incredible having besides all sorts of Rich Stuffs and other sumptuous Moveables carried away Three Hundred Waggons loaded with Gold Silver and Jewels About Fourscore Years after Viz. in the Year 1569. the then Great Duke of Muscovy John Basilowitz having conceived the same Suspicion entred the City with an Army and after he had caused an infinite number of People to be trampled to Death by the Horses Feet and some Thousands killed by the Sword such a multitude of dead Bodies were thrown into the River Wolgda that its Current being stop'd the Neighbouring Fields were overflown round about the Town The stench of the dead Carcasses caused such an Infection in the Air that what had escaped the Fury of the Soldiers was destroyed either by the Plague or Famine no body daring to venture to carry thither any Provisions But that which was the most inhumane of all was that even the few remnants that had escap'd his former Cruelty the Plague and Famine having fed upon dead Carcasses were at last all cut to pieces by the Tyrant's Soldiers Notwithstanding all these Calamities sustained its advantageous Situation for Commerce has in process of time drawn thither a considerable number of new Inhabitants by whose Industry it is brought into that State it appears now which tho' it must only be look'd upon as a meer Shadow of that great Body it represented in former Ages nevertheless next to the City of Archangel it may pass for one of the most considerable Trading Towns in those Parts For besides the Wooden Fortifications we have mentioned before it has a Castle on the other side of the River opposite to the City and joyn'd to it by a Bridge This Castle is surrounded by a strong Stone Wall being
Siberie or Severia a Province different from the Kingdom of Siberia in Tartary is of a very large extent Severia being formerly Govern'd by its own Princes who were nevertheless tributary to the Kings of Poland upon the account of Lithuania of which this Dukedom had a Dependance It is situated betwixt the Province of Smolensko the Precopian Tartary Podolia and Lithuania South-west of Smolensko The Prince of Siberie having revolted from the Crown of Poland under Casimir Son of Jagellon their King put himself under the Protection of the Czars of Muscovy till the Great Duke Basili ejected the Duke of Siberie and united the Province to his Crown The chief City of this Dutchy is called Novogorod Sieberski that is to say The new City of Siberia to distinguish it from two or three others called Novogorod under the Czar's obedience The other Cities of note belonging to this Province are Czerrigou Bransko Starodub and Petivola But now we must turn our Course more North-East Wiatkaâ— where the Province of Wiatka is situated upon the Confines of the Tartars Ceremisses sirnam'd Logovi its Capital City is of the same Name both of them being denominated from the River Wiatka which falls into the River Kama The next Province bordering upon Wiatka towards the Siberian Tartars is Permia being counted one of the greatest of Muscovy It s Capital City is called Permia Veliki situate upon the River Vishora which at about 60 Miles distance from this place The River Kama falls into the River Kama This River has its rise in this Province and about 60 miles beyond Casan falls into the River Volga The Inhabitants of this Province have a Language and Character peculiar to themselves they eat no Bread but feed upon Herbs they pay their yearly Tribute to the Great Duke in Horses and Furs Their next Neighbours to the North-East are the Tartars of Tumen bordering upon Siberia inhabiting the Province of Candora Candora its chief City is Warchaturia situated upon the River Tura besides which it has the City of Tumen near the conflux of the two Rivers Tumen and Tura Further to the North is the Province Petzora Petzora which extends it self towards the North-East all along the Frozen Sea The River of Petzora which has given its name to the Province falls by six several Channels into the Sea near a little City called Pustiziero On both sides of it are the Mountains The Riphean Mountains which the Antients called Ripheans or Hyberboreans and by the Muscovites are called Zimnopojas that is the Girdle of the Earth which afford the best Sables and Hawks in all Muscovy but the cold is so violent and durable in this Province that the Rivers are frozen up above nine Months in the year The Province of Obdorie Obdorie derives its name from the River Oby which having its Source from the Great Lake Cataisko and running from East to North The River Oby falls into the Frozen Sea Both these Provinces border upon the Samojedes of whom we shall have occasion to speak more hereafter Among the Northern parts of Russia Juhora are also reckoned The Province of Juhora famous for nothing but that the Hungarians are said to have their off-spring out of this Country The Province of Wachines Wachines only noted for its two Fortresses called Cameni and Pensolog The Principality of Bielski Bielski derives its name from the Capital City Biela The Dutchy of Kraina has the two Cities Kraina Jalatz and Brasowa The Province of Pole Pole the City of Bretock and Bogenaer Not to mention here the Paâ—atinate of Kiow Kiow which lying upon the Borders of Podolia and Lithuania 〈◊〉 part of it is under the Obedience of the Crown of Poland CHAP. IV. Of the Tartarian Kingdoms of Casan and Astrachan with an Account of the Great River Volga and the Caspian Sea THE Kingdoms of Casar and Astrachan with some other Tartarian Provinces under the Subjection of the Czar of Muscovy The River Volga being situated near the famous River Volga it will not be amiss to join the Description of those Countries with that of the said River There is in the Province of Roshovie of which mention has been made in the 2 Chapter Ten miles from its Capital City bearing the same Name in the Great Forest of Wolkowskiles a Lake called Vronow or Fronowo out of which rises a River that ten Miles from that Place falls into another Lake called Volga which gives it its name it being thence forward called Volga or Wolga It is doubtless the same which Ptolomy calls Rha and the Tartars Edel the greatest River in Europe being from its Source to the Caspian Sea into which it exonerates it self above 2900 Miles long It is to be observed that this River from its Source to the City of Nise Novogorod running for above 400 Miles through the Southern part of Muscovy carries but an indifferent Stream and touches upon few places of note till being encreased by the River Occa near the abovementioned place it is Four thousand five hundred Geometrical feet wide at the meeting of these two Rivers We have in the foregoing Chapter described that City and Basiligorod belonging to the Ceremisses both bordering upon that River and being obliged to give an accoâ—â—â— in this Chapter of the Tartarian Provinces of Casan and Astrachan we will follow the Tract of this great River as far as â—o the Caspian Sea and begin with the Tartarian Kingdom of Casan Forty miles distant from the City of Basiligorod The Kingdom of Casan is the City of Kusmademianski situate at the foot of a Mountain on the right side of the River the whole Country thereabouts being like one continued Forest of Elms of an extraordinary compass Forty miles further down the River and on the same Shoar is the City of Sabakzar the most pleasant for its Situation in those Parts and 25 Miles lower after you have passed two or three small Islands on the left side of the Volga a little City called Kockshage On the same side some Miles lower is the City of Suiatski built on the Aâ—cent of a Hill The Castle and some Churches are of Stone the rest of the Buildings and Fortifications of Wood. It 〈◊〉 20 Miles on this side of the City of Casan the Shoar all along betwixt these two places being covered with chalky and Sandy Mountains The City of Casan is seated in a fruitful Plain The City of Casan in 55 degree 38 min. Elev seven Miles distant from the River Wolga upon the River Casanska which has given the name both to the City and Province It is a very large City but its Houses and Fortifications as most all others in those parts of Wood. But the Castle and its Fortifications which consist in four Bastions and a good many Towers is of Stone the River serving for a Ditch about it The Garrison is composed of Muscovites only
was for a considerable time in the possession of the Poles who had taken it from the Muscovites till in the year 1562 the Swedes made themselves Masters of it but was however three years after recoverd by the Poles by Stratagem and ten Years after that taken by the Muscovites who remain'd in possession of it till by virtue of the beforementioned Treaty betwixt the Muscovites and Poles this with the rest of Livonia was surrendered to the latter The Swedes retook it from the Poles in the Year 1617 and have kept it ever since by the ensuing Treatises betwixt these two Crowns The third Province of Livonia Courland is the Dutchy of Courland being divided from the former by the River Dune This Province was miserably ruin'd during the Wars betwixt the Muscovites Poles and Swedes and when the Master of the Teutonick Order and the Arch-Bishop of Riga were forced to submit themselves to the Protection of Poland with all that was remaining under their Jurisdiction Sigismund Augustus King of Poland made Courland a Dukedom which he bestow'd upon Godard Kettler of Nesselroth last Master of the Teutonick Order in Livonia to be held as a Fief from the Crown of Poland But William the youngest Son of this Godard who enjoy'd the Dukedom after his Elder Brother Frederick died without Issue was dispossess'd of it by Sigismund III. King of Poland being forced to live in Exile till the year 1619. when by the Mediation of several Foreign Princes he was re-establish'd in his Dukedom whose Posterity enjoy it to this day It s Capital City is Goldingen but the Residence of the Duke is at Mittaw Mittaw situate in that part of Courland which is called Semgalles above thirty Miles from the City of Riga During the first War betwixt the Poles and Swodes the latter took the City of Mittaw which they fortified and kept in their Possession till the year 1629 when by Virtue of the Truce then agreed on betwixt these two Crowns they were obliged to restore it to the Duke of Courland At the Entrance of the Gulph called by the Inhabitants Couri-Chaf or Lake of Courland is a pleasant little Town Memel called Memel by the Germans and Cleupeda by the Courlanders It is encompassed by the River Tange which not far from thence falls into the Gulph It s Castle is extreamly pleasantly situated and well fortified and its Harbour very commodious It was built in the Year 1250 and belonged to the Fryars of the Order of Livonia who in the year 1328 sold it to the Master of the Order of Prussia By Virtue of the Truce concluded betwixt the Poles and Swedes in the year 1635 this City and that Dutchy were absolutely surrendred under the Jurisdiction of the Elector of Brandenburgh who remains ever since in full Possession of it The Country of Livonia it self was not known in these Parts till in the Year 1158. when a certain Ship of Bremen being forced by a Tempest into the Gulph of Riga the Merchants of that City began to establish a Commerce and soon after the Christian Religion in this Country its Inhabitants having been all Pagans before that time of whose Superstitions and Sacrifices we shall have occasion to speak anon The first that preached the Gospel among them was Menard a Monk of Segeberg afterwards in the Year 1170. made the first Bishop of Livonia by Alexander III. Pope of Rome His Successor Bertold a Monk of the Order of White Fryars not following the foot-steps of his Predecessor was for employing the Sword in converting these Idolatrous People who having taken up Arms kill'd him with above 10000 Christians so that the Christian Interest was in the utmost danger of having been quite lost in that Country had not the Prudence of Albert a Canon of Bremen and Successor to Bertold in the Bishoprick of Livonia in part restored what the former had lost For he Livonian Knights the better to establish the Christian Interest in these Parts by the Authority received from Pope Innocent III. laid the first Foundation of the Order of the Livonian Knights or Fryars of the short Sword so called because they wore on their white Cloaks a red short Sword with a Star of the same colour which they have chang'd since into two short Swords Salter-wise They were obliged almost to the same Rules with the Knights-Templars were to fight against the Infidels and Barbarians and to have the third part of all that they gain'd from their Enemies But in regard this New Religious Order at first was scarce sufficient to subsist upon its own Bottom it was joyn'd to the Order of St. Mary of Jerusalem in the Year 1238. in the Person of Herman Balek Grand Master of the Teutonick Order in Prussia since which time the Masters of the Livonian Order had a dependance from the Grand Masters of that Order till being hardly press'd upon by the Muscovites they were forced to submit to the Protection of the Crown of Poland It is from hence that the Emperours of Germany first claim'd the Title over these Lords or Masters of the Order of Livonia and in the Year 1513. they became entirely Subjects of the Empire when the Archbishop of Riga with his Suffragans and the Master of the Knightly Order who had in part freed himself of the Subjection of the Grand Master of Prussia were received among the Princes of the Empire But the Muscovites by reason of its convenient Situation had for a considerable time look'd upon it with a wishful Eye and in the Year 1501. entred it with a very Powerful Army but were vanquish'd in a pitch'd Battel fought betwixt them and Walter de Plattenbergh Master of the Livonian Order where 40000 Muscovites were kill'd upon the spot which obliged them to make a Truce with the Livonians for Fifty Years This being expired the Grand Duke of Muscovy John Basilovits being flush'd with his late Conquests of the Kingdoms of Casan and Astrachan and taking Advantage of the Differences that were then betwixt the Master of the Knightly Order and the Archbishop of Riga entred Livonia with a numerous Army and having ruined all with Fire and Sword in the Bishoprick of Derpt or Torpat and Wirland retreated into Muscovy This having put the whole Country into a great Consternation they were for seeking Aid in all Parts and having made their first Application to the Empire but with little Success the City of Revel which was the most exposed of all offered to put it self under the Protection of the King of Denmark which having been refused they had recourse to Eric King of Sweden who likewise refused them the desired Succours of Men and Money unless they would put themselves under his Protection in which case he would maintain them in their Priviledges the City and adjacent Nobility separated from the Master of the Order and submitted to the Protection of the Crown of Sweden in the Year 1560. In the mean while
re-establish'd but another set up in their stead where no Cosacks were permitted to enroll themselves But scarce two Years were elapsed before the Poles had sufficient Occasion to repent themselves of this Change For the Tartars who before the Reform of these Cosacks never durst so much as approach these Frontiers made a great Irruption into the Vkraine and after having ruin'd all with Fire and Sword in the Tertitories of Pereaslaw Corfun and Wisnowitz return'd home with a vast Booty and a great Number of Prisoners according to their wonted Custom Ladislaus therefore then King of Poland having duely weighed the Necessity there was to keep on foot this Body upon which he much relied especially at that time when he was likely to be engag'd in a heavy War against the Turks and Tartars effectually restored them to their former Condition having given them for their General one Bogdan or Theodore Chmielniski But a great many of the Polish Nobility having conceiv'd a mortal Hatred against the Cosacks miss'd no Opportunity of doing them what Mischief they could Among the rest a certain Polish Gentleman whose Name was Jarinski did not only burn some Mills belonging to the General of the Cosacks Chmielniski but also after having ravish'd his Wife killed both her and her Son Chmielniski being provok'd to revenge so barbarous an Affront after having demanded Satisfaction which was denied him stirred up his Cosacks who with burning plundering and ravishing continually pestered the Polish Nobility so that they address'd themselves to King John Casimir Brother of the deceased King Ladislaus desiring him to march against them in Person which he having refused to do they brought together an Army of 50000 Men but were miserably beaten by the Cosacks and having a second time encountred them without the King's consent they received another Overthow To revenge this they watch'd their Opportunity when Chmielniski was celebrating the Nuptials of his Son with the Daughter of the Prince of Moldavia the Poles then surprised the Cosacks plunder'd the City and took the Grecian Patriarch Prisoner The General having sent to the King to know whether it were done by his Orders was answered no but that the Nobility had done it to revenge themselves upon the Cosacks Chmielniski being vehemently incens'd against the Nobility entred into a League with the Tartars and entring Poland with a vast Army the King march'd against him in Person at the Head of a Hundred thousand Men The Battle was fought near the City of Berestesko on the River Ster where both the Cosacks and Tartars were entirely routed though they were almost three to one stronger than the Poles Notwithstanding which their General Chmielniski who escaped after the Battle having re-assembled the Remainders of his broken Army so continually harassed the neighbouring Country that the King thought it most convenient to come to an Agreement with them in the Year 1651. But the most of the Nobility being dissatisfied with the King's Proceedings did let slip no Opportunity that offered it self to affront the Cosacks but especially their General Chmielniski which obliged them about two years after to wit in the Year 1653. to join with the Muscovites who with their assistance took in the Year nex following the City of Smolensko and Vilna so that it was chiefly owing to their Valour that the Muscovites got into the Possession of the Provinces of Smolensko and Severia and the greatest part of the Palatinate of Kiovia which were confirmed to them by the Treaty of Peace made at Oliva in the Year 1666. About which time the greatest part of the Cosacks put themselves under the Protection of the Muscovites the rest under the Turks whereby they opened the way to the latter into the Vkraine and Podolia where two years after they took the famous Fortress of Caminieck from the Poles Out of what has been related concerning the Cosacks Retreating Place of the Cosacks it is sufficiently manifest that they were a certain Body of Soldiers Established for the Guard of the Frontiers They used to be enrolled in the Provinces of the Polish Russia Volinia and Podolia and had originally but one City belonging to them which was the Residence of their Governour or General They were sirnamued Zaporogian Cosacks to distinguish them from those living upon the Don or Tanais the Word Porochi signifying in the Russian Tongue as much as a Stone or Rock At a considerable distance from the mouth of the River Boristhenes there are a great many Rocks lying so close together that they seem to be all of a piece which render the passage of Ships of Burthen quite impossible and takes away all opportunity from the Inhabitants of the Vkraine to Transport their Wheat and other Commodities which grow there in great abundance to Constantinople and other places Some of these Rocks are scarce to be seen above the surface of the Water others again rise above it some six some eight or ten Foot which occasion several dangerous Cataracts or Water-falls which are impassable to any body else but the Cosacks in their light Ships There are in all thirty of these Cataracts some of which at low Water are twelve or fifteen foot high No body can pass among them for a true Cosack unless he have passed all these Cataracts which they call Porohi and from whence they are called Zaporouski and consequently have made a Voyage upon the Black-Sea as the Knights of Maltha are obliged to serve on Board their Gallies before they are received into that Order There are a great number of Isles near these Rocks but among the rest below the River of Czertomelick there is a certain Island which is surrounded with several thousand little ones some of which have Sandy others Marshy Ground but all of them covered with Bulrushes which render these Little Channels by which they are separated almost invisible 'T is into these narrow Passages and Watery Labyrinths the Cosacks make their Retreat they call them Skarbnissa Woyskowa which is as much to say as the Treasury of the Army this being the Place whither they carry all the Booty they Purchase upon the Black-Sea the Passage to it being difficult and dangerous so that most of the Turkish Gallies that pretended to pursue them here have been lost This is also their Place of Rendezvouz The first thing they do How they go upon their Expeditionâ— after they have met here is to chuse their General who is to Command in the intended Expedition which being done they begin to work on their Ships which they make themselves being about threescore Foot long and about ten or twelve broad very slightly built every one having its Oars some ten others twelve and sometimes fifteen or sixteen Their Sails are very wretched notwithstanding which by the help of their Oars which they most rely on they far exceed the Turkish Gallies in swiftness Their Provision consists in Bisket and some Barrels of boil'd Millet this is chiefly their Food they
till 1697 By R. K. c. The Doctrine of Acids in the Cure of Diseases farther asserted Being an Answer to some Objections raised against it by Dr. F. Guthill of Dorchester in Dorsetshire in which are contained some things relating to the History of Blood as also an Attempt to prove what Life is and that it is principally supported by an Acid and Sulphur To which is added an exact Account of the Case of Edmund-Turner Esq deceased as also the Case of another Gentleman now living exactâ—y parallel to Mr. Turners By Johâ—â— Colebatch a Member of the College of Physicians London The History of Poland in several Letters to Persons of Quality Giving an Account of the Antient and Present State of that Kingdom Historical Geographical Physical Political and Ecclesiastical viz. It s Origine and Extent With a Description of its Towns and Provinces the succession and remarkable Actions of all its Kings and of the Great Dukes of Lithuania The Election Power and Coronation of the King The Senate or House of Lords The Diet and form of Government The The Priviledges of the Gentry their Religion Learning Language Customs Habits Manners Riches Trade and Millitary Affairs together with the state of Physick and Natural Knowledge as also an Account of the Tutonick Order and of the D. of Curland his Family and Territories with Sculptures a new Map after the best Geographers with several Letters relating to Physick By B. Connor Fellow of the Royal Society c. Books Printed for A. Bosvile at the Dial against St. Dunstan's Church in Fleet-street 1697. THe Memoirs of the Count de Rochefoâ—t containing an Account of what past most memorable under the Ministry of Cardinal Richelieu and Cardinal Mazarin with many particular passages of the Reign of Lewis the present French King never before in Print made English from the French the Second Edition Corrected The Christian Belief Wherein is Asserted and Proved That as their is nothing in the Gospel contrary to Reason yet there are some Doctrines in it above Reason and these being necessarily enjoyn'd us to Believe are properly call'd Mysteries in an Answer to a Book intituled Christianity not Mysterious The Second Edition with a Preface and other Additions A Discourse of Conscience Published chiefly for the Benefit of the Unlearned tho' it may also be useful to others Together with Brief Reflections upon that which the Author of Christianity not mysterious saith upon that known Text 1 Tim. 3 16. The Interpretation of Dreams digested into â—ive Books by that Ancient and Excellent Philosopher Artimedorus The Eleventh Edition much corrected by an old Original Copy with the Life of the Author with many more Additions with the Judgment of some of our Modern English Writers concerning the good use to be made of some Dreams and the Table very much amended Vol. II. CHAP. I. Containing a full Relation of the Revolutions in the Muscovian Empire after the Death of that Great Tyrant John Basilovits to wit Vnder the Reigns of Fedor Ivanovits his Son Boris Goudenou his Son Fedor and the Counterfeit Demetrius JOhn Basilovits had by Anastasia his first Lady two Sons John and Fedor or Theodor the first having been slain by his Father 's own Hands as we told before Fedor Ivanovits was after his eldest Brother's Death the next Heir to the Empire and accordingly Crown'd Grand Czar of Muscovy when he was scarce two and twenty years of Age. He was Married some years before his Father's Death to Irene Sister of Boris Goudenou a Lady of a very lofty Temper and Carriage by whom having no Issue he had been several times commanded by his Father to send her into a Monastery according to the Custom of Muscovy but his Affection and Endearments of this Lady being more prevailing with him than his Interest he had by several Delays put off the Execution of it Being now mounted on the Throne and Boris advanced to the Dignity of Lord High-Steward of Muscovy the highest Station next to the Prince in the Empire he knew how to manage the Affection of a Prince who always had preferr'd his private Pleasures and Retirement before Publick Affairs with so much Dexterity that the Princess in a great measure ow'd the continuance of her Greatness to him as he was absolutely beholding to her for his first Advancement Boris Goudenou was a Man naturally qualified for the Management of Affairs of State and in a very few Years had attained to that degree of Perfection in Flattery and Dissimulation that he seem'd to be the Darling both of his Prince and the People both being equally well satisfied in his Conduct Thus by the Advantages of his Quality and Dexterity and the Weakness of the Czar Fedor having got the whole Management of Affairs into his own Hands he began to bend all his Thoughts how to secure the Crown of Muscovy to himself and his Family the better to enable himself to obtain his Ends after he had gain'd the Affection of the common People he resolved to smooth his way to the Throne by the Favour of the Nobility most of whom having a Dependance from him as the only Person through whose hands all Places of Honour Trust or Profit passed were soon brought over by the Hopes and Advantages of Preferments to his Party Having thus laid the Foundation to his projected Greatness the main Obstacle of his growing Ambition was Demetrius the youngest Son of John Basilovits by a second Adventure and Brother to the Czar Fedor Ivanovits who was Educated under his Mothers care in the Castle of Vgletz His Death being therefore resolved on Prince Demetrius â—â—ur â—ered four of the Prince's own Domesticks were by vast Promises engag'd to undertake the Fact The better to cover their Design they set at mid-night the City of Vgletz on Fire in several places and having thus fill'd all with horror and confusion they ran during the general Consternation to the Castle under pretence of saving the Prince and being admitted into his Bed-chamber took their Opportunity while he was looking out of the Window to see the approaching Flame and stabb'd him in several places with poyson'd Daggers and so leaving him wallowing in his own Blood took Post for Mâ—sco flush'd with hopes of ample Rewards for so extraordinary piece of Service But they were grievously mistaken in their Account for Boris Goudenou considering with himself how dangerous they might prove one time or another to his Affairs took a Resolution to take the first Opportunity of ridding himself of these Evidences of his Treachery to effect which he hir'd others who by the Temptations of great Rewards were made the Executioners of those four Murderers of their Prince To prevent the Murmurs of the People who were all startled at the suddenness of so bloody a Tragedy he made use of the same Method he had done at Vgletz For having caused the City of Musco to be set on fire in several Parts he did not question but that
this general Consternation would divert the Peoples Thoughts from enquiring into the true Circumstances of this Murther And to remove as far as possibly could be from himself all Suspicion of having had the least hand in so barbarous a Murder he declared that he would revenge the Death of the Prince Demetrius upon the Inhabitants of Vgletz For no sooner was the first Consternation occasioned by the Fire in that City a little over but a Rumor being spread that the Prince had been Murder'd the Inhabitants forced their Way into the Castle and transported with a furious Zeal of revenging his Death slew all his Servants without any distinction This which in all probability seem'd to clear them from the Stain of the Fact was by the Contrivance of Boris interpreted to their Destruction alledging that they having slain all those from whom any Inquisition might have been made concerning this Assassination it would but be a sufficient Argument of their Guilt and that the Murder being to be laid at their door they must be proceeded against like Criminals In effect a great many of the Citizens of Vgletz were banish'd some were tortur'd hang'd and drown'd And not contented thus after he had caused the whole Court to go into Mourning and recommended the Care of the Funebrial Pomp to Knez Basili-zuski he commanded the Castle of Vgletz to be raz'd and levelled with the Ground Having thus signaliz'd his pretended Passion for Demetrius 〈…〉 his next Care was to remove the only remaining Obstacle to his Greatness to wit the Grand-Czar Fedor whose End was hastned with Poyson after he had reign'd twelve Years The Great Duke being sensible of his approaching Death did bequeâ—th the Administration of the Government to his Lady Irene Sister to Boris to be assâ—sted by the Counsel of the Patriarch in Matters of Moment The Widow 〈…〉 after his Death ascended the Throne without any Reluctancy but after she had for some time labour'd under the weight of so vast an Empire whether she was grown weary of the Burthen or that she thought it more convenient to entail the Crown upon her Family by transserring it to her Brother she declared her self uncapable of undergoing it any longer and acquitting her self of so great a Charge and that she preferring the Contents of a private Life before the Toils of a Crown was ready to resign all her Authority into the Hands of the Nobility which she did accordingly in the Year 1597. Boris Goudenou who was sufficiently acquainted with the mutinous Temper of the Muscovites when freed from that Servile Yoak which otherwise keeps them under Subjection and that most among the Nobles being raised by and dependent from his Favour would not dare to lay hold of the Government was resolved to improve the general Consternation and Confusion of the People to his Advantage being sensible that the Nobles would be emulous who should most shew his Zeal in placing him upon the Throne Finding therefore the Nobility ready to make their Addresses to him he cunningly caused a Rumor to be spread abroad by his Emissaries that being tir'd with the Toils of his Charge of Lord High Steward of Muscovy he was resolved to quit it by retiring into a Monastery to end the remainder of his Days in quiet The People being thus more and more transported with the Apprehensions of their Ruin when they perceived that among all the Nobility there was not one who durst as much as to undertake the Management of the Government they join'd with the Nobility and the Clergy whose chief Interest consisted in maintaining the Publick Peace were of opinion that all the States of the Empire ought to make their humble Submissions to Boris to try whether by their joint Importunities he might perhaps be prevail'd upon to take upon him the Burthen of the Empire The Nuns quitted their Cloisters and the Women ran with their Children in their Arms to back the Estates of the Empire and to offer their most humble Prayers to Boris like to the tutelar Saint of Muscovy so that being at last overcome by their Prayers and Lamentations he yielded to the absolute Necessity of his Country and after he had spoken much in praise of a retir'd Life he protested to them That it was not to the Honour and Greatness of his House Bori Goudenou accepts of the Crown of Muscovy but meerly to their Importunities and the Love of his Country that he was going to sacrifice all the Satisfaction he found in a retir'd Life and that the only motive which made him offer Violence to his own Inclinations was that he could not see any longer so glorious an Empire exposed to the imminent Danger of approaching Ruin But knowing himself too weak for so great a Burthen he hoped that they would not deny to Aid him with their Counsels when Occasion should require and that relying upon their Honour and Judgment he would chearfully receive the Trust which he would be ready to Maintain and Defend to the last Drop of his Blood assuring them that if he could not equal his Predecessors in Greatness and Glorious Actions abroad he would endeavour to exceed them in Temperance and the Mildness of his Government It must be confess'd that Boris did shew no less Conduct and Wisdom in preserving the Crown than he had used dexterity in acquiring it For he entirely engag'd the Army to his Service by great Rewards he continued the Nobility in their former Dignities and heap'd upon them new Favours and Preferments The common People he ty'd to his Interest by easing them of their Taxes and the Mildness of his Government and having thus secur'd the Affections of his Subjects at home he was no less careful of Establishing a good Intelligence abroad with the Neighbouring Princes for which purposes new Treaties were set on foot and concluded betwixt him and the Poles Swedes and other Nations bordering upon Muscovy Thus the whole Interest of his Government seem'd in all human Appearance to be built upon so solid a Foundation that no power upon Earth was like to overturn it as being founded upon the general Affections of the People at home under the Management of a Prince who for his Wisdom Experience and Courage was look'd upon abroad as one of the most promising Princes that ever ascended the Throne of this vast Empire But mark the sudden Change of all humane Affairs how subject to continual Vicissitudes What perhaps the most powerful Foreign Enemy durst scarce have attempted at that Juncture of Time was effected by a poor inconsiderable Monk who by his Devices put the whole Russian Empire into such a Confusion that in spite of all the Precautions of Boris he broke all his Measures and brought the Empire of Muscovy to the very brink of Ruin and Destruction The first counterfeit Demeâ—rius Whilst the Old Monk was thus preparing the Minds of the Muscovites and especially of the Cosacks Grisko Otropeja who in the mean while
in favour of Bosman by the powerful Influence he had over the principal Officers of the Army soon prevail'd with them to refuse to submit to the Command of Bosman as a Soldier of fortune which Affront he dissembled for a while till he met with a favourable Opportunity to revenge it upon the whole Family of the Great Duke as we shall see anon In the mean while Demetrius had commanded the greatest Part of his Army under the Conduct of Zaporius to advance towards Krom and endeavour its Relief who haveing accordingly directed his March to the Muscovian Camp he received Intelligence by the means of Bosman of the Posture of the Enemy and that he intended to come over to his Party as soon as a favourable Opportunity should present Zaporius being resolved to improve so advantageous an Offer was impatient to come to Blows with the Muscovites but these being both superior in Number and strongly Entrench'd and consequently not to be attack'd without exposing the whole Army he drew them out of their advantageous Entrenchments by the following Stratagem He contrived a Letter directed to the Governour and Chief Officers of the Garrison of Krom wherein after having highly extolled their Valour and Zeal and made them ample Promises of Rewards he told them that he was advanced with a considerable Force near the Enemies Camp to annoy them and to intercept their Foragers till the arrival of Prince Demetrius himself who was on his March at the Head of the Cosacks and other Auxiliaries lately arrived from Poland to oblige the Muscovites to raise the Siege This Letter being given to one who undertook to carry it into the Place he was directed thus to the City by the secret Orders of Zaporius that he must of necessity fall into the Hands of the Enemiâ—s advanced Guards which having suceeded accordingly the poor Fellow was carried before the Muscovite General where haveing been examined he was forced to produce the Letter which as he believ'd was to have been carried into the City Hodwen the General of the Muscovite Army having perused the Letter and over-joy'd at the Discovery of the approach of Demetrius call'd immediately a Council of War wherein it having been judged most convenient to attack the Enemy before they could be join'd by Demetrius it was resolved to leave only a small Body to keep the Avenues leading to the Town and with the rest to give Battle to Zaporius He soon perceiving by the Countenance of the Enemy that his Design had thus far succeeded according to his wish drew out his Forces in Battle-Array but being much inferior in number and fearing not without Reason lest Bosman with his Party might be discouraged by the inequality of their Number he resolved to back his Letter with a second Stratagem He placed all the Servants Suâ—lers and other useless Persons belonging to the Baggage at some distance behind the Army with whom having join'd some Soldiers enough to make up a Front he order'd them after they had seen him Engag'd for some time to advance in good Order with their Colours flying Drums beating and Trumpets sounding Thus having prepared every thing according to his intended Purpose he marched directly towards the Muscovites whom he attack'd with the utmost Vigour but these being without intermission re-inforced by fresh Troops gave so much work to the Poles that the Fight was very obstinate and bloody and the latter would have been in no small danger of losing the Day had not Bosman who Commanded the Body of Reserve in the Muscovian Army as soon as he saw the Polish Mock Army advance in the greatest heat of the Battle with some of his Party gone over to Zaporius and declared for Prince Demetrius crying out aloud to the Muscovites that they should cease to fight against their Natural Prince Bosman being the Darling of the common Soldiers his Words and Example had such a powerful Influence over them that like one Man they cry'd The Muscovites revolt they would live and die with him The Nobility and Chief Officers of the Army finding themselves deserted by the Soldiers resolved immediately to send their Deputies to Demetrius who at that time resided at Puttiwoll to acknowledge their Fault in having so long stood out against their Prince to implore his Pardon for what was past and to give him all the imaginable Assurances of their Fidelity for the future Demetrius transported with Joy at so welcome a piece of News lost no time but having immediately put himself at the Head of such Troops as he had with him at Puttiwoll march'd directly first to Krom where he caused Hodwen the Muscovian General to be clapt in Irons and from thence to Avol where the revolted Army lay Encamped Being arrived there and having received fresh Demonstrations of their entire Submission to his Commands he offer'd his Thanks to the Chief Men but especially to Bosman and his Friends and by his Caresses so gain'd upon the Affections of the common Soldiers that they all with one Voice desired him to Lead them against the Son of the Usurper of his Crown Being thus become absolutely Master of the Field and the Army and believing that now he had but one step left to ascend the Throne to wit to make himself Master of the City of Musco the Capital of the whole Empire he ordered every thing to be got ready for the March Whilst he was thus advancing by slow Marches towards Musco he sent his Letters to the Magistrates of that City wherein he told them he was near at hand with a most Potent Army ready to attack them at his first Command but that taking commiseration of their Condition he exhorted them to make choice of the fruits of Peace before the inevitable Calamities of War That if they preferred the last before the first they must be answerable for all the Miseries which are the necessary Consequences of an intestine War but as he was persuaded they would consult their own Safety he advised them to root out the whole Progeny of that accursed Traytor Boris Goudenou who had murder'd his Brother the late Great Duke Fedor and would have acted the same Tragedy with himself if it had not been prevented by the Vigilancy and Care of his Royal Mother and lastly not to delay any longer to shew their Readiness in Asserting the undoubted Right of their Natural Prince This Letter having been read in the Presence of the People and the Messenger of Demetrius in the Market-place they began to assemble in great Numbers and after a short Consultation what Measures were best to be taken they sent some among them to the Palace of Knez Basilizuski who having peremptorily demanded of him to declare before them whether this were the true Demetrius Youngest Son of Czar John Basilovits that lay now encamped near their City Zuski positively asserted that he was and that he had been saved from the Assassins sent by Boris Goudenou for his Destruction by
very obnoxious to the Censures of the Nobles For having mounted the Throne by Blood and fraudulent Means he began to be jealous of his most trusty Friends and to gratifie his Fears exercised his Cruelties upon several Persons of an eminent Rank whom he caused to be put to Death upon no other Pretence than his having secret Intelligence of their Unfaithfulness As his Reign was one continued Series of Troubles so when he was at a Plunge he used to have recourse to Sorcerers and Witchcraft and being infatuated by their Perswasions he committed such Barbarities as are scarce to be named without horror It was upon this account he caused the Wombs of big-bellied Women to be ript open to make use of the immature Fruit to accomplish his Enchantments which he was vainly perswaded would be more efficacious against the Poles than his Sword Some of his Wizzards having foretold him that one whose name was Michael should succeed him in the Throne he caused three of his most faithful Friends and Servants to be made away for no other reason but because they bore that name which for all his barbarous Precautions was verified in the Person of Mich. Federowitz the present Czar's Grandfather There were in the great Church within the Castle amongst other Things of great Value thirteen Statues representing our Saviour and the twelve Apostles all of massie Gold each of them of the bigness of a Man valued at near three hundred thousand Pounds Sterling Zuski being at last reduced to great Straights for want of Money and having in vain try'd all the Skill of his Sorcerers who were not able to supply his present Occasions he had recourse to the twelve Apostles whom he displaced from their Station in the Church and having caused them to be melted down made use of the Metal for the Payment of his Soldiers He had so much Grace as to spare the Statue of our Saviour which the Poles not long after converted to the same use All these Enormities being now by the Nobles who had conspir'd his Ruin improved to his disadvantage the Populace whose Darling he was before prompted more by their Zeal for their golden Statues than the Love and Welfare of their Country Zuski deposed soon shook hands with the Nobility and seeing Demetrius to meditate a second time the Siege of their Capital City they with the same unanimous Consent wherewith they had raised him before to the Throne pull'd him down again and thrust him with his two Brothers into a Cloyster This done they sent their Deputies to Zolkievitzski the Polish General who commanded that Body which was approaching to the City of Musco unto whom they promised to chuse Vladislaus the Prince of Poland for their Great Duke provided he would defend them against Demetrius Zolkievitzki The Poles admitted in to the City of Musco gladly accepting of their Propositions detatch'd immediately a good Body of his best Troops who being readily admitted into the City he followed in few days after with the whole Army pitching his Tents on the East side of the City as Demetrius was encamped on the Western part Some time being spent in Consultations betwixt the Muscovites and Poles the first opened their Gates to the last so that Zolkievitzki marching with his whole Army through the City fix'd his Camp near to that of Demetrius who tho' not a little surprised at this sudden and near approach of the Poles yet was forced to put the best Countenance he could upon the Matter and to smother his present Resentment There being thus a communication and seeming friendly Correspondence maintain'd betwixt both Camps Zulkievitzki found it no very difficult Task to debauch that Body of Polish Horse Commanded by Spiaha which hitherto had remain'd stedfast in the Interest of Demetrius These having received the publick Faith of the Commonwealth of Poland for the Payment of all their Arrears unanimously revolted and declared for King Sigismund Zarucki the General of the Cosacks and Kasinowski Prince of the Tartars that served in the Demetrian Camp both intimate Friends of Demetrius seeing themselves thus deprived of the assistance of the Polish Horse the main strength of their Army and that the City of Musco was defended by a great Body of Poles both within and without its Walls began now to despair of the Fortune of Demetrius and thinking it not advisable to involve themselves in his Ruine they resolved to embrace the Party of the Conquering Pole expecting to reap from the Success of Sigismund the Fruits of their past Labours Whilst these were preparing to wait upon the King before Smolensko Demetrius retreats from before Musco Demetrius forsaken not only by the Poles but also by them he most confided in and seeing himself and his Affairs exposed to Dispair sought once more for Refuge at Calâ—ga which having served him as a Shelter before now received him again with open Arms. The Muscovites being thus freed from Demetrius would fain have recalled their former Promise of Electing Vladislaus their Great Duke alledging that they could not proceed to his Election till he were present in Person to confirm to them by Oath the maintenance of their Religion and Ancient Customs But Zolkievitzki having declared in the Name of King Sigismund that he would not quit the City with his Army till he saw Prince Vladislaus seated upon the Throne and that therefore he exhorted them to fulfil their solemn Promise without any further Tergeversations unless they would expose their Capital City to inevitable Destruction and that he was ready to swear to such Articles in the Great Duke's Name as should be agreed betwixt them they judged it most adviseable not to exasperate the Poles who at present had two potent Armies one in the very Bowels of the City of Musco the other in the Empire before Smolensko These Considerations at last prevailing over the Aversion they had against the Poles and being perswaded that the Childhood of Vladislaus could not but furnish them in a little time with an Opportunity of ridding their Hands of him as they had done of both the Demetrius's they proceeded with all the usual Solemnities to the Election The chief Conditions were That a general Amnesty and Act of Oblivion should be passed and all their Ancient Customs and Privileges confirmed and established That the new Great Duke Vladislaus should with all convenient Speed come in Person into Russia That he should conserve their Religion inviolable and for the better Settlement of the same and the whole Kingdom abjure the Roman Catholick Faith and embrace the Greek Religion Zolkievitzki and some of the great Officers of the Polish Army having confirmed these Articles by Oath in the Name of the new Great Duke he was tho' absent proclaimed with the usual Ceremonies and Fealty sworn to him by all the Boyars Uladislaus proclaimed Great Duke Nobles and Chief Officers there present as Great Duke and Emperour of Russia with great Demonstrations of Joy
and the Acclamations of the People As a further Pledge of their Fidelity and to remove all the Shadow of Dissimulation from themselves they sacrificed Zuski and his two Brothers to the present Exigency of the State who were surrendred into the Hands of Zolkievitzki and by his direction sent to Sigismund King of Poland where the unfortunate Zuski Zuski surrender'd to the Poles with one of his Brothers after having been forced to adorn the Triumph of King Sigismund and Zolkievitzki ended his Days in Prison as will appear out of the following Chapter CHAP. III. Containing a full Relation of the Revâ—lutions which hapned in Muscovy from the time of the Election of Uladislaus Son of Sigismund King of Poland till the Beginning of the Reign of Michael Federowitz the present Czar's Grandfather ZOlkievitzki the Polish General having in the Name of the new Great Duke Vladislaus taken Possession of the Castle of Musco and the Royal Palace with a Guard of a Thousand Poles it was unanimously resolved to send a splendid Ambassy to King Sigismund before Smolensko to make a Tender of the Crown of Muscovy to his Son Vladislaus and to desire his Confirmation of the Articles agreed on betwixt the Russians and the Polish General The Ambassy being composed of some of the Chief Boyars of the Empire attended with a most magnificent and numerous Train they were received with more than ordinary Honour by King Sigismund who sent out the whole Body of Horse from before Smolensko with all the great Officers of the Army and his Courtiers to receive them at some Distance from the Camp Being introduced into the King's Presence they addressed themselves in a Speech full of Flattery and Dissimulation The Muscovites tender the Crown to Uladislaus under which they hid their secret Aversion to the Poles They told him how overjoy'd they were to see that Day which they hoped would restore Tranquility to their harrassed Country by the Choice they had lately made of his Son Vladislaus for their Great Duke humbly beseeching the King that in regard of the near Interest he now had in their Preservation he would vouchsafe to take them and their afflicted Country into his Royal Protection as the only Means to revive the former flourishing State of the Russian Empire which had been reduced to the very Brink of Ruin by their intestine Divisions That their late Election having been unanimous and founded upon Hopes of their future Felicity they begg'd of his Majesty not to deny them their earnest Request but to send as soon as possibly might be their Prince into Russia in order to let them enjoy the Comfort of his Presence and Protection and to compleat their Election by Crowning him Great Duke and Emperour with the usual Ceremonies in the Royal City of Musco They related to him the Conditions upon which he was to be received as we have related them in the foregoing Chapter They enlarged themselves much in praise of the Greek Religion and how necessary it would be for the Prince to accommodate himself to the Rites of the Muscovian Church which they said ought to be looked upon as the Foundation-Stone of that Monarchy from whence depended the common Safety both of Prince and People all which they recommended to his Royal Wisdom King Sigismund who was not ignorant that these subtle Insinuations proceeded more from the present Necessity of their Affairs than any good Will either to himself or the Polish Nation was not wanting to give them an Answer suitable to the present Occasion And having received their Message with a very serene Countenance and seeming Gladness he answered them in general Terms That he could not but receive the Honour conferr'd upon his Son by the Offer of the Crown of so great an Empire with a great deal of Gladness but that as the chiefest Satisfaction he took in their Election was their unanimous Consent so he assured them that he should look upon it as an indispensible obligation to assist at all times hereafter their Country with his Aids and Counsels by which means he hoped a mutual good Correspondency might be established betwixt thâ—se two potent neighbouring Crowns of Muscovy and Poland to their mutual Advantage And as to what related to the Particulars of the Treaty they being of such a Nature as to deserve a particular Consideration he would after having well weighed the Matter send his full Instructions to his General Zolkievitzki Resident in the City of Musco with whom the whole Matter might be compleated at their own Homes to the Satisfaction as he hoped of both Parties The Ambassadors being in all outward Appearance very well satisfied with this Answer there passed abundance of Caresses betwixt them and the Polish Lords by whom they were sumptuously feasted at sundry times with such mutual Professions of Friendship as if they had been but one People The same Kindness was shewn betwixt the Muscovites and Poles in the City of Musco whereby the Inhabitants being inveigled into a profound Security the Poles found Means by degrees to creep into the Castle to the Number of six or seven thousand which afterwards proved fatal to that City The Ambassadors having not long after demanded their Audience of Leave from Sigismund in order to their Departure the King in return to their Demand asked from them the Surrender of Smolensko in the Name of Prince Vladislaus elected and proclaimed Great Duke of Russia unto which they having answered That they had nothing of it in their Instructions and that they were of Opinion the Russians would be unwilling to surrender a Place of such Importance till the Great Duke were come in Person to the Capital City and Crowned and sworn to the Performance of the beforementioned Articles they were not permitted to depart till further Orders For Kiâ—g Sigismund having fully weighed the whole State of the Matter and especially their Refusal of the Surrender of Smolensko began to be more and more convinced of their fraudulent Dealings and knowing that it was not their free Choice but the absolute Necessity of their Affairs that had raised his Son to the Throne he had all the Reason to fear that when he had withdrawn his Forces out of Muscovy they would make their Advantage by the Unexperience of his Son and justle him out of the Throne But if he should forbear to send him till he came to his riper Years they would from thence without question take Occasion to recall their Choice and elect another in his stead And considering that he had reduced them to such Straights as had made them take those Measures so little suitable to their Incinations but meerly invented to disintangle themselves out of their present Distresses he looked upon it not only as inglorious by accepting their Conditions to receive instead of imposing Laws upon them but also quite inconsistent with his own Interest and the Safety of his Son All his Thoughts therefore were bent upon the Siege
of Smolensko which when taken he supposed he might appear among them as a Conquerour and prescribe such Laws to the deceâ—tful Muscovites as should be most consistent both with his Honour and Safety This was the Resolution of Sigismund But his ablest Counsellors were of a quite different Opinion For tho' they were no less satisfied in the deceitful Intentions of the Muscovites than the King himself yet did they not judge it advisable to drive Matters to extremities and to commit that to the hazard of the Sword which might be obtained without Opposition They represented to the King that the Conquest of so vast an Empire could not be obtained without the effusion of much Blood and the Expence of vast Treasures whereas if what had been sworn to by Zolkievitzki by the King's Orders were confirmed he might in one day make himself Master of all Muscovy They advised him therefore not to give the opportunity to an unstable People to take new measures who perhaps when driven to Despair might side with Demetrius which would take away all his Pretences of invading that Empire since he had undertaken his Expedition under the pretext of assisting him in the Recovery of his Right But to send Prince Vladislaus assisted by a good Body of Troops and some able Counsellors to the City of Musco where he being receiv'd and Crown'd Great Duke Russia might with their Assistance easily elude the Practices of the Muscovites That by this means Smolensko would fall on course into his Hands and his Army besides this might be paid all their Arrears out of the Great Duke's Treasure as belonging to Vladislaus their Prince who else as the Case now stood would be an intolerable Burthen for the Commonwealth of Poland And as to what related to the Articles they might without much Difficulty be either quite evaded or at least delay'd till the Prince strengthened with fresh Supplies out of Poland should find himself in a Capacity to Rule this false and stubborn People by such Laws as he should judge most convenient and suitable to his own Interest But these wholesome Counsels had no great Influence over the King who being prepossess'd with a vain Punctilio of Honour not to rise from before Smolensko before it was taken and with the pernicious Insinuation of his Flatterers who perswaded him that the Place was reduced to that extremity as not to be able to hold out long against him he resolved to leave nothing unattempted which might contribute to the Rendition or forcing of that important City For which Reason he caused a new Battery to be raised from whence and some others the Poles fired so furiously upon the Town that after some time they laid flat a great Part of the Wall and ruined two Bastions Smolensko stormed Upon which it was resolved to assault the Place which was executed with a great deal of Bravery But those within by reason of the Numerousness of the Garrison having had sufficient time to raise strong Retrenchments fortified with Pallisado's and a good Ditch behind the Breach the Poles were not able to lodge themselves in the Breach notwithstanding their reiterated Attacks made with the greatest Bravery imaginable were repulsed with great Slaughter After this ill Success of the Poles the Muscovites who hitherto had but murmured and whispered their Complaints began to explain publickly against the Breach of the Articles the detaining their Ambassadors against the Laws of Nations and the Outrages and Insolencies of the Poles who being got into the entire Possession of the Castle and Principal Ports of the City of Musco committed Violences upon the Citizens their Wives and Saints at the last of which they shot with their Pistols which being a thing intolerable to People infatuated with Superstition and Zeal for their Images would certainly have produced violent Commotions among them at that time if they had not been over-aw'd by the great Number of Poles within the bowels of their own City and which was the most prevailing that they saw Demetrius encrease again in strength at Caluga For Zarucki the General of the Cosacks and Kazinowski Prince of the Tartars who as we said before had left him at his second Retreat from before the City of Musco finding their Reception to bear no proportion with the Reward they proposed to themselves from King Sigismund and seeing themselves despised by the Nobility of Poland were since return'd to the Service of Demetrius who countenanced by their Return began to look up again and having drawn new Supplies out of the adjacent Places began to appear formidable at Caluga and would in all likelihood have once more appeared in the Field if he had not been prevenâ—ed by his sudden and untimely Death which happened thus Kazinowski the Tartarian Prince who was lately return'd to his Service had given him great Occasion of suspecting his Fidelity wherefore Dâ—metrius to prevent the Design which he believ'd to be form'd against his Life by the said Tartarian Prince caused him to be thrown into the River Occa and drowned there The Tartars but especially his Guards enraged at the Death of their Prince resolved to revenge it upon Demetrius with the first Opportunity which was not long before they met with it according to their intended Design For it is to be observed that Dâ—trius ever since his last Retreat from before Musco was grown excessive Melancholy which he was used to divert frequently with Drinking endeavouring to drown his Cares in Liquor Having been one day a Hunting he retir'd towards night with some of his most intimate Friends to the Enjoyment of his Customary Comfort the Bottle without any Guards about him The Tartars who had formed the Design against his Life having got notice of it secretly got near to his Quarters and finding him and his Friends involved in Liquor and a most profound Security Dâ—mâ—triâ—â— slain broke in upon him and slew him and some of his Friends who endeavoured to stop their Entrance upon the place This was the End of this Second Demetrius who from a mean and sordid Fortune was raised to so eminent a Station as to have bid fair for the Russian Empire till he met with his deserved Death among his own Servants and Friends He is agreed by all Hands to have been an Impostor some affirming his first Origin to have been a Schoolmaster others supposing him to have been a Jew because in his Closet were found several Hebrew and Talmudical Books which are Materials not belonging to the Profession of the Russian Schoolmasters whose Learning rarely exceeds Reading and Writing But whoever he was it is certain that he was an Impostor and slain by the Tartars who did not long escape Vengeance For Marina had no sooner received this dismal News which at one Stroke robb'd her of all her great Expectations but being seized with the most violent Apprehensions in the World and transported with Grief and Rage without any Respect to her Quality and Sex
a Present the sooner make their own Peace and obtain Pardon for their Rebellion resolved to seize him and to deliver him up to the Muscovites They were just upon the point of putting their Design in Execution when he mistrusting the Matter clapp'd Spurs to his Horse and would without Question have saved himself by the Swiftness of his Horse if he had not been overtaken by an Arrow out of a Cosacks Bow Is taken and executed which having wounded him in the Shoulder he was taken and being bound Hand and Foot sent to the City of Musco where he was hang'd in a Chain before one of the Gates of that City The Muscovites in the mean while having consulted their own Safety after some Contests among the Nobles at last by the universal Suffrage of the People chose Michael Federovits the fatal Youth so much feared by Zuski their Great Duke who happily maintained himself in the Throne and restored Tranquility to the shatter'd Empire of Muscovy as will appear out of the following Chapter CHAP. IV. Containing the History of the Reigns of Michael Federovits of Alexi Michaelovits his Son and Fedor Alexiovits the Eldest Brother of the present Grand Czar of Muscovy MIchael Federovite was the Son of Fedor Nikitis who being descended from the Race of the Great Duke John Basilovits by one of his Daughtters had during the last Troubles in Muscovy lived a very retired life And at last having forsaken his Wife for God's sakâ— as they call it in Muscovy embraced a Religious Life and soon after was made Patriarch when he changed the Name of Fedor into Philaretes His Son was scarce seventeen years of Age when he was crown'd Great Duke of Russia in the Year 1613 with one of the Diadems which they found among the Rapines of the Poles notwithstanding which he governed the Russian Empire with a great deal of Prudence taking the Advice of his ablest Counsellors but especially of his Father in all Matters of any Moment The first thing he did after his Coronation was to recompence the Services of Prosowecki Boris Sicin and the General of the Dunensian Cosacks who had not only signaliz'd themselves by their Zeal in driving the Poles out of Muscovy Truce begun beâ—wixt the new Great Duke and the Poles but also had been very instrumental in his Election Those he constituted Generals of his Armies and by their Valour obliged the Poles to emancipate them from the Oath which the Muscovites had sworn to Vladislaus their Prince who was forced to make a Truce with this new Great Duke for fourteen Years yet under these Conditions That the Poles should keep in the mean time in their Possession the Dukedoms of Severia Zeâ—ikow and Smolensko which they had taken during the late Troubles in Muscovy He also renewed the Antient Alliances with the other neighbouring Princes and as he was of a very good Nature so by the Mildness of his Government he abolished the Memory of his Predecessors Cruelties that it is granted the Muscovites never enjoyed a more peaceable and happy Government for many Ages before His Father for whom he had always expressed so much Respect as not only to admit him to all Publick Audiences and Ceremonies where he gave him Precedence died in the Year 1633. Which had almost proved fatal to his Affairs by the unfortunate Siege of Smolensko if by a seasonable Peace he had not prevented the ill Consequences of so signal a Disgrace For the Truce with the Poles being expired some Years before and Michael Eederovits being resolved to remove these troublesome Neighbours at some further Distance from his Frontiers and to draw out the Thorn which stuck so close in his Flesh meditated the Siege of Smolensko For which purpose he had brought together an Army of above anâ— Hundred thousand Men among whom were several Thousand Germans and several Muscovian Regiments exercised according to the German Discipline and commanded by foreign Officers 〈…〉 and a great Train of Artillery consisting of three hundred Pieces of Cannon and all other things requisite to carry on the Siege with the utmost Vigour under the Command of one Herman Shein a Polander who by his changing Religion had gained him the Affection and Favour of the New Patriarch The Reduction of the Place seemed to be so much the easier in that the City is encompassed with Hills and only one single Wall built after the old Fashion without any Out-works or Ditch and that the Polish Garrison was not very numerous The new Great Duke besieges Smoâ—ensko For which Reason the Great Duke having ordered to attack it with all imaginable Vigour the Place was closely besieged in the Year 1633. The Germans soon made a large Breach in the Wall on their side and were resolved to give the Assault which was opposed by the General saying That it would be a Reproach to the whole Muscovite Army that a Handful of Germans should carry away the Honour of the Siege but these being encouraged by the rest of the Foreign Officers of several Nations mounted the Breach and were in a manner Masters of it when they received positive Orders from the General to retreat and that in case of Refusal he would turn his Cannon upon them So that not daring to make any further Attempt the whole Army continued the Siege without doing any thing worth taking Notice of Vladistaus the New King of Poland had in the mean while Leisure given him to get together a Body of Troops and being encouraged by the Divisions among the Officers in the Muscovite Camp or invited on purpose as some will have it by the Muscovian General Herman Shein marched to the Relief of the Place The City of Smolensko is surrounded with Hills and vast Woods which gave sufficient Opportunity to the Poles to possess themselves of those few Avenues that led to the Muscovian Camp Disgrace received before Smolensko and by which they received their Provisions so as that in a little time the Muscovites were reduced to such Straights for want of all manner of Necessaries that the General to prevent their being starved was forced to capitulate with the Poles to surrender the whole Army and Artillery at Discretion which was to be ransomed by the Great Duke The Loss of so great an Army put the whole Empire under a great Consternation and things began to look with a very ill Face especially when the People began to murmur openly and some of the great ones were suspected to have a Finger in the Treason King Vladislaus sent an Ambassador to the Great Duke immediately after this Defeat of the Muscovites who by his Insolent Behaviour sufficiently exprest the Sense the Poles had of the present turbulent State of the Russian Empire He caused the Muscovite Pristafs to alight and to uncover themselves first which they refuse to all other Nations declaring publickly that he was not come there to do the Muscovites any Honour but to receive
the Chief whereof was a certain Ocolnitza called Bonis Ivanovits Puskia And in regard that it was 32 Years since the Accounts had been cleared betwixt the two Nations it was Agreed by certain Articles made at that time That for the first Thirty Years there should be a Liquidation of all Accounts but that in regard there were more Swedes now in Muscovy than there were Muscovites in Sweden by which the first remain'd considerably Indebted to the last the Great Duke should pay to the Crown of Sweden 190000 Rubles which amounts to Ninety odd Thousand Pounds Sterling of English Money whereof 300000 Crowns were to be paid in ready Cash and the rest in Rye and the whole Payment to be at the beginning of the next following Year which was but a few Months after the Conclusion of the Treatise Pursuant to this Agreement the Queen of Sweden had sent one John Rhodes in Quality of her Commissioner into Muscovy who received the above-named 300000 Crowns in Ducats and as to what related to the Rye he was ordered to receive it from one Fedor Amilianou a Muscovian Merchant in the City of Pleskou This Merchant having been Impowered by the Great Duke to buy up thereabouts so much Rye for his Use as would answer the remaining part of the Debt which amounted to 90000 Crowns made use of this opportunity to enrich himself at the cost of his poor fellow Subjects For having under the Cover of the Great Duke's Authority caus'd all the Rye thereabouts to be seis'd and not permitting any body either to buy or to sell any without his leave he Engrossed the whole Commodity for his own use selling it at his own Rate which was so excessive that a great many poor people were droven to the greatest extremity for want of it The Inhabitants of Pleskoa as they wâ—â—e most â—eaâ—â—y concerned in this Abuse so they were the first that openly murmured against this Oppression chaâ—ging not â—â—â—y the Sâ—edes with Aâ—â—â—â—â—â— but 〈…〉 exclaiming against Puskin the Muscovian Ambassador in Sweden whom they charged with Prevarication in his Employment and Perfideousness to his Prince They did not spare Morosou who they said preferred the Interest of Strangers before the Welfare of the Natives They were not wanting to draw the City of Novogorod Veliki and other adjacent Parts into their Party and being perswaded that this Negotiation had been carried on without the Knowledge and contrary to the Intention of the Great Duke every thing seem'd to tend to a general Insurrection in those parts if the Weywode or Governour of Novogorod by his prudent Conduct had not kept those under his Jurisdiction in Obedience yet could not hinder their taking a Resolution to stop the Money as it should come their way in order to be carried into Sweden Those of Pleskou absolutely refus'd that such a quantity of Rye the transportation of which in all likelihood must starve them should be exported into Sweden And the better to be satisfied whether the said Treaty was set on foot and executed by the Great Duke's Order they sent three Deputies of their own to Court to wit a Merchant of that City a Cosack and a Strelits to inform themselves concerning the truth of the matter and to desire Redress of their Grievances But they were no sooner arrived at Novogorod but the Weywode of that City caused them to be clapt in Irons and thus Fetter'd sent them to Court where at the same time arrived the Weywode of Pleskou and the Merchant Amilianou who had been forced to quit the City for fear of the Populace For the first having endeavoured to prevent those Disorders which were daily committed by the Mob they forced him with his Guards out of the Town and Amilianou not thinking himself safe without the Governour 's assistance accompanied him to the City of Mâ—sco to make his Complaints to the Great Duke Nor was he mistaken in his Judgment for no sooner had he left the City Another 〈◊〉 at Plâ—skoâ— but the Citizens of Pleskou without expecting the Return of their Deputies or before they had the least Notice of the Treatment they had receiv'd at Novogorod ransack'd Amilianus's House and tortured his Wife in a most cruel and barbarous manner to make her confess where her Husband had hid his Money The same Game they plaid with several Swedish Merchants living among them whom they robb'd plunder'd and abus'd in their Persons This done they published their Manifesto against Monopolies and Patentees inviting the Neighbouring Cities to join with them in the Defence of their Privileges The Court having soon received Intelligence of these Insolencies they were not a little surprized especially when they got notice that this mutinous Spirit began to spread it self in some of the other Cities in the Northern Provinces bordering upon Sweden and thinking it therefore most advisable to try whether by gentle Means they could suppress and prevent any further Tumults it was resolved to send back the Weywode of Pleskou and with him a Boyar who in the Great Duke's Name should endeavour to quiet those restless Spirits Those of Plesko were for a considerable time debating whether they should open their Gates to them or not but the first being at last resolved upon they gave them Admittance but it was to put the Weywode in Prison and to affront the Boyar who having spoken to them in the Great Duke's Name with more Authority than they thought becoming him in his present Station they fell upon him with Cudgels and beat him so severely that he was fain to seek for Refuge in a Monastery where he laid for some time half dead every one despairing of his Recovery The Great Duke having received Infoâ—mation in what manner his Ministers had been treated by the Pleskovites who had shut their Gatâ—s and put themselve in a poâ—â—ure of defence and fearing â—ot without reason that some of the neighbouring Cities encouraged by their Example might tread their Footsteps if by a severe Chastisement they were not deterr'd from such like Undertakings against his Authority for the future it was resolved to prosecute the rebellious Pleskovites with the utmost Rigour In order to which the Great Duke commanded Ivan Nikitovits Gavenski to assemble the Nobility and standing Militia of the neighbouring Provinces and to join with them several Regiments of the foreign Forces commanded by the Collonels Kormichel Hamilton and others to besiege the City of Pleskou and not to stir from thence till they had reduced it to Obedience Plesko bâ—sieged The Inhabitants at first seemed not at all startled at this Resolution and were so far from making their Submission to their Prince that they resolved unanimously to stand it out to the last and accordingly put themselves and their City in a posture of Defence They shewed at the first approach of the Czar's Army no less Bravery than they had shewed Resolution in their Counsels For they made several furious Sallies upon the Besiegers with
destruction there will be some that will take surer measures than I have done He was going on in his discourse if he had not been dragged away immediately to Prison where after having been put to the Rack he was executed privately for fear of incensing the people This Outrage was soon after followed by another less dangerous in its Contrivance but sufficiently convincing to GalliZin of the Sentiments the people had of his Ministry He was then just upon his departure for the Army which he was to Command as General against the Crim Tartars when one night a covered Coffin was found at his Pallace Gate with a Note in it containing these Words GalliZin Vnless the Campaign which thou art now going to open prove more successful than the former we are resolved to make sure work with thee The worst of all was that these menaces proved true in the Event for after his return from the Army he was so closely press'd upon by the rest of the Boyars that not being able to justifie himself against the manifold miscarriages laid to his charge he was dismissed from all his Imployments at Court GalliZin banished his Estate Confiscated and he banished into Siberia where he was forced to lead a miserable or rather shameful life Much about the same time Prince Archilla King of Iveria and Mengrelia who had for some Years last past lived with his Princess in the Court of the two Czars was preparing for his return into his Kingdoms This Prince being originally a Georgian by Birth had been prevailed upon to embrace Mahometism for the peaceable enjoyment of the two Kingdoms of Iveria and Mengrelia which border upon Persia The Chan of Persia Prince Archilla who 's Vassal he was and to purchase whose favour he had changed his Religion was very favorable to him at first and tho' he not long after return'd to the Christian Religion which he profess'd before did not use him with the same severity as he did the rest of the Petty Princes that were his Vassals But this seeming kindness of his proceeded as it appear'd afterwards not so much from any inclinations he had for his person as the Beauty of his Princess For having received great recommendations of the excellency of her Person as he was insatiable in his Lust to Women so tho' he never had seen her he was resolved to purchase the enjoyment of so much Beauty at any rate so that he made this unfortunate Prince sufficiently sensible that he had no longer any regard for his person being now become no less troublesome to him than he had appear'd kind before His first endeavours were carried on by fair means by vast promises and hopes of great Rewards but these proving insufficient to obtain his desire he proceeded from mildness to Threats but finding these also not to have the desired effect he had recourse to open Violence ordering his forces to advance into the Territories of Archilla to seize him and his Princess and carry them prisoners to his Court. Archilla dreading the indignation of the Chan who 's Forces he was not strong enough to oppose was obliged to seek for safety in his flight and retired with the Princess to the utmost confines of this Kingdom of Iveria which being the most distant from Persia border upon the Turkish Territories on that side towards the Black Sea in hopes to shelter themselves there against the forces of their enemies But the Chan of Persia resolved not to quit his pretension at that rate found means to engage the Turkish Grand Seignior in his Quarrel who having sent some forces to seize the Prince they surprised and carried him to a Castle under the jurisdiction of the Turks on the borders of Iveria where he was detained Prisoner till further orders They had shewn so much favour to the Princess whom they were unwilling to use with violence that they had not detained her person But she being exasperated to the highest degree by the outrages committed upon her husband retired secretly into Iveria where without any further delay having assembled some Gentlemen the bravest and most trusty among her Subjects she like another Amazon marched at the head of them to the Relief of her husband The Garrison had got some intelligence of her approach some hours before her arrival near the place wherefore having prepared themselves for a resolute defence the Iverians met with a stout resistance But being encouraged by the presence and example of their Princess who was resolved either to deliver her Husband or to fall in the attempt they at last forced the Castle where their Prince was kept Prisoner in spite of all the resistance the Soldiers could make carried him off and set him at Liberty So soon as they had time to reflect upon their present condition they were sufficiently sensible that an act so extraordinary and so bold must needs draw upon them the indignation of both these Great Princes their Neighbours and that consequently they could not tarry long with safety in their Kingdoms encompassed as it was on all sides by their enemies Therefore they were forced to abandon their Subjects to the mercy of these two Potent Neighbours and with some of their most trusty friends to seek for shelter in Muscovy They were received with all the demonstrations of friendship by the two Czars Prince Archilla arrives in Muscovy who assign'd them a Palace in the City of Musco and during the space of three Years allowed them a Pension suitable to their Quality till their Subjects having composed matters with the Grand Seignior and become weary of the Persian yoak sollicited their return into the Kingdoms of Iveria and Mangrelia promising to Sacrifice all what was dear to them for their Interest against the Persians their common enemies The same Year the Youngest of the two Czars The present Czar marries the same who lately honoured this Kingdom with his presence married the Daughter of an Officer of the Army He was then but Eighteen Years of Age and a few days after the marriage was published by the sound of the great Bell in Musco perhaps the finest in the World he was seized with the falling Sickness Those who did not know this distemper to be Hereditary to his Family but were sufficiently acâ—uainted with those frequent misfortunes that happen in Muscovy to persons of a high Rank at the time of their marriages occasioned by the Envy of the contending Rivals of the Female Sex looked upon it as an effect of the Jealousie of such families as being by this marriage excluded from the hopes of that Alliance they had aspired to had let their vengeance fall upon their young Prince But this accident not being attended with any further ill Consequences these Rumors were soon dispersed and the rejoycings continued to the Great Satisfaction of the Muscovites who had placed the chief hopes of their future prosperity in the Activity and Courage of a Prince who soon
three Sisters at 〈◊〉 time Their Women and Maids are all wrapt up iâ— a piece of coarse white Cloath scarce any thing being to be seen but their Faces The Men wear a lonâ— Coat made of Linnen Cloath under which thâ—â— wear Breeches they all shave their Heads thâ— young Men who are unmarried leaving howeveâ— for distinctions sake a long Tress of Hair hangiâ—â— upon their Back Their Language is peculiar 〈◊〉 themselves having no relation with that of the â—ther Neighbouring Tartars or with the Turkish 〈◊〉 Muscovian Languages tho some of them that aâ—â— conversant with the Muscovites have attained soâ—â— knowledge of their Tongue But it is time to return to the Description of the five remaining Provinces of the Southern Muscovy which being muâ—â— less considerable than those we have described bâ—fore we will treat of with all the brevity imaginable scarce any thing but the Names of their 〈◊〉 Places being to be known by Foreigners The sixth therefore is the Province of Jarostve 〈◊〉 Jarostaf Jarostaf having besides its Capital City of the samâ— Name two Cities called Riâ—iena and Nova Româ— The seventh is Susdal Susdal having also borrowed its Name from its Capital City of that Name which 〈◊〉 also the Seat of an Archbishop besides which 〈◊〉 contains the Towns of Jorgowitz and Castroâ—mow The Eighth is called Rosthou Roâ—thou its Capital City is Vglitz These three Dukedoms were for a considerable time appropriated to the use of and enjoyed by the younger Brothers of Muscovy till under the Reign of John Basilovitz viz. in the Year 1565. they were reunited to the Crown of Muscovy North-east of the City of Musco is the Ninth Province belonging to the Southern Muscovy T were calâ—ed T were it has received its Name from the Capital City T were as the latter is indebted for its Name to the River T were which together with â—he River of Volga passes by it the City being siâ—uated at the side of a Hill About Forty Miles from hence more to the North is another Town â—alled Torsock built likewise on the descent of a â—ill not altogether so big as T were but surrounded â—ith Ramparts and Bastions of Wood. Both of â—â—em have their particular Weywode oâ— Governour The tenth and last of these Provinces is Roshovie Roshovie â—aving not any thing Remarkable but its Capital City â—f that Name if it were not for the three famous â—ivers of Volga the Dwina and the Boristhenes â—hich have their rise in this Province CHAP. III. Of the Northern Provinces of Muscovy THE Northern Provinces of Muscovy being divided into those which border upon Sweden and those bordering upon Tartary Muscoviâ—â— Lapland we will begin with the first where the Muscovian Lapland offers it self to our consideration It is subdivided into three lesser Provinces the first called Mouremankois has the Cities of Kola the Capital of the Province and Swanchet The second called Terskoi where is the City of Jokena and Polin-osâ—ro The third called Bellamoresko contains the Cities of Kondulatz Omay and Komi The Second in Order of the great Northern Provinces belonging to Muscovy is the Province of Dwina Dwina having derived its Name from the River Duina which having its rise at the conflux of the Rivers of Jagel and Sachona falls into the White Sea near the City of Archangel This Province being the greatest and most Northern on the Swediâ—â— side of Muscovy was in former Ages subject to thâ— Dukes of Novogorod and had but one City calleâ— Duina in the very centre of it But since thâ— English Dutch and Hanseatick Towns removed theâ— Traffick from the City of Narva to Archangel thâ— Province is become one of the most considerabâ—â— of the Russian Empire as the City of Archangâ—â— is now the Staple of the whole Continent of Mâ—â—scovy by reason of its safe and commodious Hâ—â—bour The City of Archangel or St. Michael Archanâ—â—â— an Archbishop's Seat Archangel and now the Capital of 〈◊〉 Province is situated at the Mouth of the Riâ—â—â— Duina on the left side as you enter it from the Wâ—â—â— Sea where it makes the Island of Podesemski 〈◊〉 none of the largest but withal so populous that no other place in whole Muscovy is comparable to it by reason of the great concourse of Merchants which flock thither from the circumâ—acent Provinces to truck their Commodities which consist in Corn Caviarr Furrs Hemp Russia Leather and Wax against Cloth Velvets Damask Spices Tin Lead Wine and Strong-Waters imported by the English Dutch and Hamburghers so that sometimes 300 or 400 Ships are to be seen of several Nations in the Port of Archangel the Customs of which are said to amount Yearly to near 200000 l. Sterling It is above Sevenscore Years ago since the English began to remove their Trade from Narva to this place For King Edward VI. having set out a Fleet for the establishing a Trade in some unknown Country they having followed the Northern Passage were at last brought into the Port of Archangel John Basilovitz the then Grand Czar of Muscovy being very desirous to draw the English Traffick thither â—o encourage their Undertaking granted them a Priviledge of Commerce without any Custom or Impost so that in the Year 1555. the English settled a Company there under the Direction of one Mr. Killingworth and the Muscovy Trade has been ever since continued from that place to the great Advantage of the English Nation tho' at the same time it cannot be denied but that since the Year 1591. when the Town became a Mart the Dutch and Hamburghers have interfered with the English in their Commerce It has a considerable Castle which was built in the Year 1506. and the Town being for the most part reduced to Ashes in the Year 1663. is since that time restored to a more flourishing condition than before In the Gulph which the Sea makes near the Mouth of the before-mentioned River Dwina there are three small Islands called Soloska Anger and Colova the first whereof was heretofore Famous for the Sepulchre of a Muscovian Saint whose Body was about Fifty Years ago translated from thence to the City of Musco Besides this and the before-mentioned City of Dwina St. Nicholas Lapas and Korela are the most worth taking notice of in this Country The next considerable in Rank tho' not in Order Pleskou of these Northern Provinces is the Dukedom of Pleskou having taken its Name from its Capital City called Pleskou The Muscovites call it Pskou from a Lake about two or three Miles distant from it from whence arises a River of the same name which runs by the City and has communicated its Name not only to this City but the whole Province Both the City and Dutchy were formerly govern'd by their own Princes till in the Year 1509. the Great Duke John Basilovits reunited both to the Crown of Muscovy The Town is not extraordinary large but very convenient and pleasant by
could in any wise contribute to overcome his Obstinacy and induce him to an ingenuous Confession one John Plessou who had been his intimate Friend and with whom he had left his Son before he retired into Poland with several others of his Fellow-Officers at the Tavern-Office were brought before him who each in their turn endeavouring to convince him of his Error and representing to him the Danger wherein he put his Soul in the Condition he was in exhorting him to pull off the Mask which he had made use of for some Years past to cheat the World and to create new Disturbances and infinite Miseries to his Native Country That the whole Mistery of his Impostures being revealed to the World by so many undeniable Witnesses there present he should not rely any longer upon these vain Elusions but consult the eternal Welfare of his Soul and not draw any further the weight of God's Vengeance upon himself He seemed to be moved at their Discourse but continued so obstinate in his former Resolution that he would not speak one Word afterwards The next day he was again put to the Torture which he endured with the same Resolution not vouchsafing to speak one Word Being searched and found circumcised he was immediately carried to the Great Market-place before the Castle where Sentence was pronounced against him and put in Execution First they cut off with an Ax his Right Arm below the Elbow Is execuâ—ed then his left Leg below the Knee next the Left Arm and Right Leg in the same manner all which he endured with an unparalell'd Constancy and without as much as a Groan Last of all the Head being severed from his Body and the Members being set upon Stakes in the Market-place and the Trunck left upon the Ground the last was in the Night devoured by the Dogs and the next morning the Executioner's Servants dragg'd the Members to the place where all the City-Dirt is thrown It is to be observed that some time before a Polish Ambassador was arrived in the City of Muscoâ— And the Muscovites who still bore a Grudge to the Poles on the Account of the Miseries they had endured in their last Civil Dissentions occasioned by the Contrivances of the several Impostors encouraged by the Poles had so well timed it as to give Audience to the Ambassador the same day that Timoska was put to death and to lead him in State through the Market-place just at the very Hour of his Execution where under some pretence or other contrived for that purpose they make a Halt that he might be an Eye-Witness and be able to give an Account in Poland of the tragical Exit of that Imposter whom they had looked upon there as Son to the Great Duke Basili Zuski Kostkaâ— the Servant of Timoska whom we mentioned before to have been carried loaden with Irons out of Sweden into Muscovy having made an ingenuous Confession of the whole Matter was pardoned as to his Life and his Punishment changed into that of losing three Fingers of his Right Hand But the Religion of the Muscovites obliging them to make the Sign of the Cross with their Right Hand thâ—s Punishment was again by the Intercession of the Patriarch moderated so that the same was executed upon his Left Hand after which he was banished into Siberia We said before that the Great Duke Michael Fâ—derovits died in the Year 1645. The next day being the 13th of July the Knez and Boyars theâ— present Alex is Michaâ—lovits crowned resolved unanimously to hasten the Coronation of Alexis Michaelovits his Son who was then not full sixteen Years of Age He was born in the Year 1630 on the 17th of March and had been by his Father committed to the Carâ— of Knez Boris Ivanovâ—s Morosou a Person of very high Extraction and extraordinary Ability It is beyond our Scope to relate here the Rise of the Family of the Romanow's from whence the Family of the present Czar derives its Origin one of the most Antient in Muscovy who first assumed the Name of Czar from whence descended Basil the Father of that Famous Tyrant John Basilovits who reduced most of the neighbouring Princes under the Obedience of the Russian Empire But the Muscovites relate a Story of the Father of this Boris Ivancvits Morosou which may not be beyond our purpose to be inserted here It seems he was a Favorite of the Tyrant John Basilovits and being a Widower presumed so much upon his Interest with the Great Duke that he begged a certain handsom Lady which had been the Tyrant's Mistress for a Wife The Great Duke granted his Request without the least Difficulty but whether it was that he repented himself of what was done or meerly to gratifie his cruel Temper he having got notice that the said Morosou and his new married Lady were at their amorous Sports one Afternoon in a withdrawing Room behind the Bath-stove he got secretly two wild Bears conveyed into the Room who immediately fell upon them and devoured them both This Morosou left two Sons Boris and Câ—leab who being very young were educated by the said Tyrant the eldest of which having improved the Advantages of his high Birth and Education above the ordinary Degree during the intestine Commotions in the Russian Empire was as I said before constituted by Czar Michael Federovits Governour over his Son Alexis Michaelovits whom he used frequently to charge to follow his Advice in all Affairs of Moment Knez Boris Ivanovits Morosou fearing that his Enemies might take Advantage of the Princes tender Years had the Coronation Ceremony performed a few days after his Father's Death who was according to the Russian Fashion deposited in the Church of S. Michael wherein are the Sepulchers of the Great Dukes the next Night after his Decease which was not performed with all the usual Pomp they wanting time to send for all those who are obliged to be present at this Solemnity After the Coronation was over Morosou changed the Quality of Governour into that of Protector exercising during the Princes Minority the same Power in the disposing of his Affairs as he had done over his Person during his Father's Life Knowing the young Great Duke to entertain 〈◊〉 most profound Reverence for the Dutchess Dowager his Mother he bestowed great Employments upon all her Kindred whom he preferred to the best Governments in the Empire but at 〈◊〉 stance from Court as made them incapable of opposing his Interest The same Method he made use of in regard of the Antient Nobility and such as had had the chief Administration of Affairs in the late Great Duke s Reign whom he sent away from the Princes Peâ—sâ—â— to far distant Countries â— Thus he did with the 〈◊〉 Rippine and Corakin the first of whom he constituted Governour of Nisi Novogorod the last of Caâ—an Having thus removed from the Princes Person all such as he thought might any way oppose his Greatness and filled all Places of Profit