yet nobly to die together whilest a trusty seruant of the Emperors found away and meanes for their escape the Prince in the habit of a slaue the Lady in mans apparrel thus in great sorrow and feare these two younge louers in this disguise tooke hand in hand and with their faithfull guide by his direction past through by-waies out of the Pallace then burning about their eares he deserueing for his care and duty to his Prince no lesse fame and memory then that patterne of all piety Aeneas did carrying vpon his shoulders his old father Anchises euen through the flames of Troy CHAP. V. Demetrius with his Empresse flies to the Dukedome of Collooge and findes entertainment Vansusce bruits him dead and causeth one like him to be carried thorow the Citty murdered the Muscouite beleeues it THus these two yoong Princes sprung from the lines of Kings in the chiefe pride of their flowring youth and beauty in the height of all their state and dignity in the middest of al their pleasures and delights from the happy society of their friendes and great Allies are now by the vilde treachery of Vansusce their sworne subiect and forsworne vassaile brought from their Imperiall greatnesse to so wretched and miserable a state as not the meanest in the Empire would now willingly change fortunes and conditions with them But to returne to their tragicke story They hauing by the aide of their trusty guid past the feares and dangers of the Pallace tooke the Riuer of Volga in a little boate the Prince himselfe helping his trusty seruant to row downe the streame O what a piteous sight it was to behold a Prince that but the day before held a Septer of so rich royall and spacious a kingdome serued in all state and maiesty attended on with Nobles and infinite numbers of men to be now tugging at a simple Oare and labouring for his life to preserue her whom aboue his life and all the world hée preferred and of all that he inioyed but thrée houres before to haue only this remnant left that he might call his owne his desolate Quéene his faithfull seruant and two silly Oares and a little Boate. But holding on our course we must publish to the world those dolorous occurrents and heauy calamities that followed to fill vp this sad Sceane of sorrow with matter more tragicall then that of Seneca in the wretchednesse of Locasta or that of Homer in the miseries of Hecuba thus this poore rich remaine of Rushia these two pretious iewels pluckt rudly from their golden frame these two great personages in this little Boate easing themselues in this heauy burden of care by the naturall participation of sorrow and comforting themselues in the sight each of other hold on their course towards the Dukedome of Colloga some fourescore verse as the Rushe cals it from the great Citty of Mosco which is about thréescore miles English a place for the naturall scituation so defensible by reason of Riuers Rockes and Castles that with an Army it is well neare vnaccessible Demettius hauing héere safely set his foote the whole Dukedome did generally entertaine him some also of the Nobility and many of his old seeuants that had past the dangers of the Pallace and the tiranny of Vansusce fled vnto him in whose sight hée comforted himselfe with this that he was not vtterly forsaken thanking almighty God vpon his knées that his state thorough this treason was not reduced to so low an ebbe but that hée might yet liue to out liue this misery and sith hée was in this short time raised from the attendance of one seruant and a little Boate to the possession of many seruants and a whole Dukedome he might also afterward by the reuolution of time and fortune recouer and repossesse his whole Empire checking his present feares with the hope of future contingents striuing thus to make a body of a limbe and to beguile the actuall condition of his fortunes with imaginary conceits of better But we will now leaue this crosse starre Prince in the sorry comfort of his wan hopes building new Castles in the aire while his fatall enemy Vansusce possesseth his old Castles in the Empire and letting him rest a while after the vnrest of that dismall night we will now returne where we left Vansusce burning or spoyling that great Castle and Palace of Mosco the royall Seate of many Emperours in many precedent ages which had bene a building many yeares and was thus miserably in one night destroyed or so much defaced that to this day it is not re-edin̄ed now must we bring vpon the stage Vsurpation attainders forfeitures and confiscation of Lands and Goods plots and stratagems to supplant polices and deuices to establish a Crowne vniustly gotten vpon an Vsurpers head that is neuer at rest or seldome sléepes in quiet Vansusce notwithstanding that euery thing succéeded according to his desire but that which was the maine of his proiect the flaughter of the Prince Demetrius whose escape none but his trusty friends knew of procéeds in his purposes to make himselfe Emperour albeit he knew that he had no title thereunto nor colour like to any The mind of man is infinite in opinion and wéening which being once set vpon ambition nothing can stay or limit her aduentures as appeared in Vansusce in whose way lay two great stumbling blockes the first was the escape of the Prince the other was the life and greatnesse of his Kinsman Tragus who was also great in the peoples opinion him must Vansusce néedes remoue or he finds a greater enemy exposd then Demetrius that was expeld this must be done secretly and vpon the sudden and there was no time slackt for thrée howers before the appearing of the day that followed this fatall night a brother of Vansusces whose name was also Demetrius was sent to surprise him with fiue hundred horse he lying then at a house of pleasure in the country some fiftéene miles from the City and to bring him prisoner to the Mosco where by forme of tryall he was to passe such censure as was preiudicated for him in those false crimes and imputations already set downe to be suggested and inforced against him for he durst not by reason of the peoples fauour procéed against his life but by processe of Law and because he knew also that it would be a hard matter to surprise him in his house he causeth a letter of Credence to be counterfeit in the Emperours name the tenor whereof was onely this That there was some matter of import that craued his present aide at Court and that he should set all other businesse aside and make what spéed he could thither the trust of this letter was committed to that vilde traytor Glasco as being found the fittest for this negotiation howbeit there will come a time wherein he that is now an Agent shall proue also a Patient in this bloudy tragedie when that treasonable bloud that now floweth in his
NEWES OF the present Miseries of Rushia Occasioned By the late Warre in that Countrey Commenced Betweene Sigismond now King of Poland Charles late King of Swethland Demetrius the last of that Name Emperour of Rushia Together with the Memorable occurrences of our owne Nationall Forces English and Scottes vnder the Pay of the now King of Swethland LONDON Printed for Iohn Bache and are to be sold at his shop on the backe-side of the Royall Exchange 1614. TO THE RIGHT Honorable sir Robert Carre Knight Viscont Rochester Earle of Somerset Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter and one of his Maiesties most honorable priuy Counsell IF in the great affairs of the kingdome wherein vnder our excellent Head your Lordship is worthily employed as a principall member there be any leasure left from the businesse of your high place It may then please your Lordship to cast a fauourable aspect vpon the humble Labours of such whom Fortune and their meane deseruings keepes vnder in the obscure ranke of Pouerty Amongst whom I haue presumed to write this little Booke as a Discoursiue Treatise vpon the Miseries of Russia occasioned by the late forreine and intestine warre in that Country which I haue aduentured to present vnto your Honours view if a pretious eie may looke vpon a woorthlesse obiect and it is not the meanest vertue to respect the poorest fortune for take away goodnesse from great men to whom shall the poore flee for refuge I haue therefore made bolde to shrowd it vnder the Patronage of your Honour which I wish may still transcend vntill with your high woorth it hold correspondencie And that those holy Nuptiallbands whereby you are now honourably lincked into the Noble House of Norfolke euen by the Soueraigne appointment of the most high God beyond the subordinate power of Destiny may till death proue indissoluble more hard to be vntwined then that Gordious knotte wherein lay infoulded the fate of Asia That you may liue long most happy as you are now most worthy both in your high Stile State Place Fortune and a Kings fauour Your Honors in all humble duty HENRY BRERETON The Warre and Miseries of Rushia CHAP. 1. Demetrius the last of that name after the death of his father Basilius succeeds him in the Empire he distrusteth his owne people and many of his Nobility and striues to strengthen his estate by mariage with a yong Lady neere in bloud to Sigismond king of Poland OF all the accidents that I haue read or heard of in the oppression of any State or Kingnome whatsoeuer either for the present or precedent ages there hath none in my opinion béene found so sudden strange and variable with occurrants so doubtfull and euents so fatall both to Prince and People to the inuader and the inuaded with such deuastation of Country depopulation of Townes combustion of Cities such deflowrings rauishemnts murthers and horrible treasons fire sword and famine the tragicke executioners of these miseries plots and stratagems deuised in hell by diuels and acted by men on earth as hath happened of late yéeres and is not yet concluded betwéene Sigismond nowe King of Poland Charles King of Swethland and Demetrius the last of that name called the great Duke of Muscouia or Emperour of Russia And this vnhappie countrey which before flourished in great wealth state pleasure and peaceable commerce with strangers no warre at hand nor none towards but such as no man looked for was on the sudden before a mans mind could thinke in such a case of a kingdomes alteration made the woefull Sceane and publicke stage whereon so many bloudy parts haue bene acted on all hands as haue brought wretchednesse to the people liuing and prepared misery for the child vnborne which warre well considered God neuer gaue vnto the world a more memorable example either in what vnsurety stands the state of any Kingdome or Nation that is not propt and supported by the high hand of Heauen or what miseries and calamities succéed in the progresse of such bloudy and dangerous intendments to a people so secure And finally what end followes such treasonable and despiteous crueltie as the lamentable sequell of this history shall declare You shall therefore vnderstand that Demetrius the last of that name Emperour of Rushia after the death of his father Basilius called for his stearne and austere gouernement as well by strangers as his owne naturall subiects the great Tyrant of Rushia succéeded him both in the Empire and hatred of his subiects For notwithstanding that Demetrius was a most excellent Prince framd euen in the prodigality of Nature endued with many commendable parts and hereyicke vertues in the flower of all his youth and beauty which commonly the people do much estéeme full of rich hope and expectation Yet such was the hatred they bare vnto his father that not dying with his death it liued still in his issue and proued in short time the confusion of this Prince who setting aside his haughty disposition which séemed to be inherent in him by Nature he was otherwise a most absolute Prince noble in mind and of a kingly presence He hauing thus by his fathers death obtained but not established himselfe in the Empire deuised the best meanes he could for the assurance of his estate which by reason of his subiects minds being Alians to him and many also of the Nobility which for his fathers sake also bare him no affection stood very fickle Amongst which there was at that time one Kneseuansusce a noble man and of great power that in the Raigne of the great Tyrant being great Maister of the Horse did also at this time beare many great Offices in the Empire which the present King Demetrius more for feare then loue suffered him to enioy And that state in a Prince must néedes bee vnassured where the subiects power shall bréed the Princes feare This Vansusce in the former Emperours raigne did flily by his bounty and popularity wind himselfe into the loue and opinion of the people and because that some fewe turbulent broyles and dangerous innouasions were by his power and policy pacified he was held in great estimation of the Prince and great veneration of the Nobility among which neuerthelesse there were some that looking vppon his state with an enuious eye did also with considerate eyes looke into his actions that springing from ambition more then from countries care or honorable ends they found his greatnesse to be dangerous and those acts which caried the name and colour of the Emperours good serued vnder hand to make way for his ambition as hauing only a reference to himselfe and his owne designes which Demetrius well perceiuing did neuerthelesse dissemble and coulourably made him faire countenance as loth in this gréene world to stirre the fire that lay hid in this embers This Vansusce was very noble in bloud deriued from a long continued auncestry honored in many ages with many alliances of the Empire alwayes held
in great loue and estimation of the people he was in his owne person of a Princely presence full of affability Court complement yet neuerthelesse ambitions cruell a great dissembler not letting to kisse whom he meant to kill sparing no mans death whose life withstood his purpose He was heard once say to a secret friend of his that that man was to be held vnworthy the stocke of all Noblenesse that yéelded his honour to vassalage whose fortunes might attaine to Soueraignty whereby discouering his owne affections he made himselfe transparant thinking that if his words were brought in question his power was able to defend them This Vansusces greatnesse gane principall matter for the Emperours distrust knowing well that his ambition once ioyned with the peoples hate against him whose natures are euer wout to follow Nobility there might be raised a dangerous faction for the preuention or méeting whereof his friends councelled him to strengthen his vnassured estate by mariage in the alliance of some forreine Prince for the furtherance whereof there was a young Lady at that time of Princely birth and admirable beauty as yet vncontracted in the Court of Poland Thither with great preparations were Embassadors with great expedition sent the principall of whom was a young Nobleman and kinsman to the Empereur called Tragus that bare chiefe place and honor who being honorably entertained in Poland found their dissignes happely succéede to their desires for in short time this young Lady was withall solemnity affianced to this yong Prince a great ioynture granted a rich dowry constituted and the Embassadour richly rewarded withall spéed richly returned into Rushia The Emperour embraceth the newes and his kinsman for them kisseth the Ladies picture confirmes the Articles exhausteth his treasure holds himselfe poore in the riches of his hope makes great preparations for his iourney into Poland still languishing in his desire to sée the substance of that beauty whose shaddowe onely had so incenced his fancy that that séemed to be true in him which was written by Plutarch vpon the languishments of Marcus Anthonius to Cleopatra Quéene of Egypt that the soule of a Louer liues not in his owne but in anothers bodie CHAP. 2. The Emperour Demetrius descends in person into Poland with an honorable traine and is there with all solemnity espoused to the Polish Princesse returneth into Rushia bringing with him sixe thousand Poles for his guard ALL things being in sumptuous manner prepared the Emperour Demetrius setteth forward towards Poland committing the gouernment of his Empire in his absence to certaine of his Noblemen whom he especially trusted constituting his Kinsman Tragus for his Vicegerent The people stocke from all parts to sée him but neither with outward acclamations nor inward desires of ioy which neuerthelesse he little respected supposing that this new alliance with Poland had so strengthned his estate as he should not need to feare any intestine innouasion and from forreine inuasions he was secured howbeit there were some that iudging of future centingents by the present times condition foresaw that this mariage and disposings of it might hereafter proue his confusion as indeed it did Howbeit we will not now mingle his present pleasures with vnseasonable feares of future troubles but bring him in all honorable and delightfull manner out of his owne territories into the Kingdome of Poland where in all places he found his entertainment to answer his estate and to excéed his expectation After many honorable stayes and méetings with many Princes and Nobles of Poland he came at last to Court the King lying then at Craccow the chiefe City in Craconia and the principall Seate of the Kingdome here he found all the honors that his heart could desire and sawe the rarest beauties that his eyes could behold but that which most pleased him was the sight of her whose beauty at first sight did so rauish him with astonishment that his eyes and other parts with outward complements were driuen to executs his tongues office in discouering his inward thoughts for he wanted words to expresse his Ioye Here feasting the time and his owne desires with banquets imbracements dances and other amorous delights at last the long wisht for day appeared wherein the solemnity and authority of the Church should consumate their hopefull longings with those happy imbrasings and that true touch of ioy that languishing Louers féele in the heigth of pleasure which then is at the full when with simpathy of affection that swéete is mutually tasted betwéene them with reciprocall desire as it was betwixt these two Louers in whom no compulsary consent did enforce mariage neither was there any incompacible bloud betwéene them to ouer-sway or dull affection for they were both of equall yéeres and both of them the most perfect and absolute frames of nature that liued at that time in that part of the world But at last all things being finished with the time for this Princely mariage they begin to prepare for their departure a new desire therein stirring them both him to reuiew his natiue Kingdome and her to behold that land whereof she was now stiled Empresse The King and Quéene of Poland a great part of the Nobility and the richest beauties of the Court accompany them to the Frontiers of Rushia the high-wayes townes and villages being strewed with flowers and swéet smelling herbes as if the ground had seemed too base to carry these Princely personages the people flocking from all parts to sée the blazing Comets of these two kingdomes whose beauties attracted all mens eyes with wonder to behold them At last the day of parting came wherein these two yong Louers hauing taken their leaues with seuerall tokens of ioy and sorrow held on their way by their appointed Iournals first to Smalensco the chiefe City in the Dukedome of Seueare where the Emperours Kinsman Tragus in honorable manner met them here staying awhile to rest and solace themselues within few dayes they departed holding on their conrse from thence to the great City of Mosco where by the directions of the Prince Tragus they were with all State and Magnificence entertained Here they liued a while in all delights and pleasure Who would haue thought that this Sunne thus shining but in his morning beauty could so suddenly haue found an Eclipse in this Horizon euen in the high-way of his ascending glory But O the incertainty of terrene pleasures this light that brought so great a luster to so great a Nation was by the same people whom it beheld with so faire an aspect suddenly extinct by the malignancie of Fate and opposite Enuy as you shall further heare The Emperour Demetrius brought with him out of Poland six thousand Souldiers well appointed to whom he gaue the guard of his person distrusting the ūdelity of his owne subiects which the rather did incense the Muscouite against him and in short time proued the cause of his vtter ouerthrowe CHAP. 3. The Emperours guard of Poles abuse his
fauour committing many outrages in the Citty and in short time fall into great hatred with the Muscouite Kneseuansusce Iaying hold of this occasion ioynes with the Muscouite and growes discontent NOw while the Emperour with his Lady delighted in nothing but what might please his fancy spending whole dayes and nights in Banqueting and Reuels thinking all safe and secure the Poles being a people proud in their owne nature and that pride nowe doubled in them by the Princes fauour commit without controlement many outrages in the Mosco and other places adioyning so that by degrées in short time they came to be extreamely hated of the Muscouite which Vansusce perceiuing would oftentimes complaine so farre as he durst to diuerse of his friends the Muscouites both of the Indulgence of the Prince and insolency both of the Pole alleaging probability of a Tyranny in the sonne more vnsufferable then that of his fathers Who foresées not saith Vansusce that perceiues any thing how this new Alliance with Poland is like to proue fatall to Rushia who sées not that these rude beginnings are certaine signes foregoing much greater mischiefes if they be not in time preuented we are scarse now secured of our wiues children and goods but that many times they passe the hazard of their barbarous cruelty if six thousand Poles kéepes vs thus in awe committing such outrages whereof there are daily complaints without controulement what will their greater numbers doe whereof there is a continuall expectance the Prince sleepes and dallies in the delights of his new loue forgetting his old friends his owne people are disestéemed the Pole hath all estimation no Rushian sues at Court but if he will thriue must haue a Pole to his Aduoacte nothing that is by the Pole begged but is by the Prince granted without respect of common profit the principall Offices begin already to be transposed both in Court and Citty what shall we looke for but a declination still from bad to worse vntill we haue lost all and the Pole hath got all These words together with their outrages had so incensed the Muscouite that there wanted but occasion to raise an innouation which vnluckely was soone after proffered for a Polish Gentleman casting by chance his eye vpon a Marchants daughter of Mosco a virgine of excellent bewty was so infangled in her loue that hauing tried all waies for the obtayning his desire by intreaties and gifts and finding stil his suite to returne in vaine was neuerthelesse so ardent in his outragious lust that hauing trayned her by deuise into a place of conueniency where in the pursuite of his desire all faire waies being denied him he in a most barbarouse manner rauisht her This deflowred damsell with great sorrow and heauinesse complained to her frinds of this vile abuse When the causes of our griefes excéede all bounds it workes in our minds diuersity of effectes not immoderatly those that follow our ordinary afflictions or the customary crosses of fortune which draw our sighes teares and other common tokens of calamity but in the excesse of grief when the obiect there of presents a veiw beyond al patience or sufferance it so distracts the minde and astonisheth the senses that reason giuing way to sorrow we fall into a boundlesse Ocean of the extreamest passtons such was the inuolued heart with griefe in that spectacle of all misery Hecuba Quéene of Troy who seeing herselfe betraid 〈◊〉 set on fire her Lord Priame flaine her children murdered and that flowre of al beauty Polixena in the loue of whom that mirror of all knighted Achilles fight slaine in her owne armes by vnrelenting Pirrhus in the view of these miserable obiects she was so far from finding ease in the vtterance ofsorrow that shée lost herselfe in the Maze and Labrinth of madnesse the like was that of Niobe vpon the slaughter of her seuen sonnes by the Goddesse Latona who in the fight thereof was so astonished with sorrow that the Poet fained her turned into a stone not much vnlike was the state of the friends of this deflowred damsell who hauing séene their daughters teares and knowen the cause of hir grieuance fell presently from the passion of sorrow to the passion of rage and in a furious manner with resolued purposes but vnguided steps ran to Court complaines of this abuse with frantike and vnséemly gesture set forth the guilt of this abhominable fact in the presence of the Emperour and after a violent manner rather commanding then crauing iustice what haue we committed saith the father to this wronged damsell that we your natural people hauing béene so long brought vp vnder your Lawes Religion and Gouernment should be so farre distrusted of our loyalties and so much distasted in our affections that you should repose your selfe in a strange guard and expose vs to their cruelty what outrages haue they committed since the comming of your Quéene into Mosco sparing neither age sex nor quality how many complaints haue béene made of their abuses but no redresse and I the sad father to this deflowred virgin perceiue by your lookes that I speake in vaine the way to oppression is plaine and open the path to Iustice is vntrodden the King is a stranger to his subiects and a King to strangers the Muscouite held himselfe wretched vnder the gouernment of your father but wee much more vnder your tyrannie these last words did so incense the Prince that with his foote he spurned the father of this damsell from him and being by rage wholy transported from reason without any respect either to the complainants cause or the Muscouites discontent committed him as a mutiner together with his wife and this wronged damsell to prison who causing them there to be laden with Irons did there by so ouerlade himselfe with the hatred of his people that in short time it proued a burden too heauy for him to beare ouer-pressing him so much that it depriued him of his Empire in the end of his life as the sequell shall declare CHAP. IIII. Vansusce with the aide of the Muscouite rebels surpriseth the great Castle or Pallace of Mosco kils all the Poles in one night in this garboile the Emperour is bruted to be slaine but with the aid of a trusty seruant escapes secretly with his 〈◊〉 disguised THe newes being spread abroad the great Citty of the vsage of his Marchant his wrongs and vniust imprisonment together with his wife and daughter the Muscouite in more open manner bewray their discontents on to another and all against the Pole so farre forth that they begin to mutiny flocking togther in great Companies with mindes of resolution to reuenge themselues for the wrongs receiued which the Pole vnderstanding kéepe within the great Pallace not daring to stirre abrdad The Prince looking but too late into the danger imploie certaine Noble men of his Court such whom he knew to be gracious with the people for the quieting of these tumults by whose care and
industry in short time they séemed to be pacified not appeased the Marchant his wife and daughter deliuered not contented a punishment vpon the offender imposed not executed a satisfaction promised not performed so that this fire was for a time smothered not extinguished which shortly after brake forth in such biolent manner that the flame thereof had well néere consumed the whole Empire The Prince being much perplexed in minde with these garboiles and continuall dangers of innouation demands councel of his friends what were best to doe rather for preuention of mischiefe then pacification of the people the best counsell was giuen to appease to apply himselfe to a gentle and debonaire behauiour towards his subiects that obedience was better from loue then feare to send backe the Pole into his Country to betake the gard of his person to his owne people and to apply his gouernment to the nature of the Muscouite But the worst is followed which is to fore-stall to make his Guard stronger with the aide of the Poles to fortifie his Pallace and other places of command in the Mosco to rule by force not loue and vtterly to disgrace and distrust the Muscouite to this end and for these purposes were there messengers secretly sent into Poland for ten thousand souldiers more to be entertained vnder his pay for the saueguard of his person When distrust once growes in a Princes minde and hatred once setled in the subiects hearts they are hardly remoued as was well found in this Prince and people howbeit if at that time he had followed the best counsell to haue cassiered the Pole and entertayned the Muscouite for his Guard vndoubtedly hée might long haue rained a happy Prince ouer a happy people and preuented infinite mischiefes that followed euen to y e vtter destruction of himselfe and great desolation in the Empire And thus in the beginning ends the last act of his comike Sceane and now begins the first act of his tragedy and as the first was short and full of pleasure so this last was long and more full of misery for his old aduersary Kneseunnsusce vnderstanding of the close dispatch of the Emperours messengers into Poland for this new supply foreséeing that the Prince would then be to strong for him except hee should openly raise his powers and so put it to the hazard of a battell the end whereof he wist was doubtfull as well for the number of the Poles that were knowen to be much better souldiers then the Muscouite as also for some few Noble men in Court both of land and power whom he knew were fast vnto the Prince and might soone raise there forces held it his best for the pursuing of his dessignes to take the aduantage of y e occasion present by a sudden surprise with the helpe of his friendes to make a new slaughter in the Pallace and places adioyning not only of the Poles but also of the Prince himselfe his chiefe friendes and followers To this end and bloudy purpose he sendeth secretly to his friends such as he specially trusted in the Citty to be in a readinesse armed at an houre appointed and as the Poet saith Tenebris audacia crescit the night was held fittest for this déed of darknesse the Pallace it self was made y e publike Theatre whereon was acted this horrible massacre the night being come they flocke on all sides to the house of Vansusce all waies being fore-laide to preuent intelligence of this bloudy proiect his friends and followers being thus assembled together to y e number of ten or twelue thousand all armed for the purpose Vansusce prepares for this bloudy assault telling them with words of much incouragement that now y e long lookt for time was come that should make the Muscouite famous to all posterity in the deliuery of themselues from the cruell tyrany of the Poles the experiment of whose proud natures and bloudy dispositions they were to wel acquainted with in their owne particulars and that now the houre was come wherein they might reuenge at full the vilde abuses and intollerable wrongs of this vnsufferable stranger and frée the Citty and the land of so dangerous a Viper these words of Vansusce together with y e credit and opinion that was held of him that spake them did so stirre vp the spirit of the Muscouite to the enterprise of this attempt that most of them with an uniuersall consent of reuenge the rest carried with hate and desire of spoile ran in disordered troupes from the house of Vansusce to the Pallace of the Emperour which was two miles a sunder now was there one Glasco a Secretary and in speciall trust with y e Emperor howbeit a most vile traitor for being priuy to all Vansusces proiects he was y e only meanes for their entry into the Palace this Glasco shall carry the stampe of infamy and for euer leaue it to his name and memory who had he béene faithfull to his Lord and Master might haue discouered this horrible treason preuented the infinite mischiefes that followed preserued the life of his Prince and purchast to himselfe immortal glory The entry was made with little resistance into the base Courts where hauing once set foot they cry out liberty liberty liberty kill kill kill the Poles some naked some weakly armed according to the shortnesse of the time passe with smal defence the cruelty of the enemies swords it fel out as Vansusce had expected for others that knew not the matter hearing the Larum-bell rung in the Pallace came from all parts and vnderstanding that Vansusce was there in person without inquiring further fell presently to execution killing all they found as well Muscouite as Pole that bare office in the Court now was there nothing heard in the Pallace but a horrible and confused noise of armour Horses and harqubuses a pittifull crie of all sorts of people of all ages and conditions going vnto death and the pitilesse shoutes of murtherers the Pallace died ouer with bloud to the which though hauing made choice of darknes they neuerthelesse set fire to giue them light for the execution of this massacre two houres murder and rapine make this one night famous in the infamy of the executioners to whom also afterwards it proued so fatall as all of them were enforced to confesse that mans bloud split violently when as the manner therof cannot lawfully challenge the quallification of iustice is odious in his sight who hauing created man according to his owne image sels his bloud déerly to the authors of such effusion neuerthelesse this was but the exordium or entrance or first or least part of this Tragicke Sceane for when their way was made into theinward Courts by fire and sword they spared none of any degrée or calling euery obiect they saw in the Court was a subiect to their fury The Emperour and his Lady being in the heart of the Pallace imbracing one another in great dolour and heauinesse determine
together with these counterfeit letters from the Emperour the Prince with a chéerefull and vnsuspected countenance giues him his hand bids him welcome demands of the Prince his health and the newes at Court all is deliuered in faire manner and coloured ouer with dissembled words the Prince beléeues all and distrusteth nothing receiues and reads the letter without suspition making himselfe ready for his iourny to Mosco Thus whilest the tongue and the heart of truth are in one line paralel the heart and tongue of treason are as farre sundered as the Poales such distance there is from their artike words to the antartike purposes the Prince is soone ready kisseth his faire Lady making more hast then good spéed to goe on with this traitour to the Mosco from whence he is neuer to returne nor euer to behold his wife againe shée wéepes at parting as bedewing his hidden fate with her open teares whether of present loue or fore signifying sorrow they mount on horse-backe and with halfe a doozin of the Princes followers they post towards the Mosco till they came within the compasse of the Ambuscado that all this while laie as still as midnight the larum being giuen on the sudden they surprise him and detaine him prisoner there could be no resistacne the Prince seeing himselfe thus vildly betraied and by him also whom he especially trusted bouldly desired to know the cause and whether it was the Emperours pleasure that he should be thus held in captiuity they answered him churlishly that he should know the rest at his comming to Mosco and when he began in goodly tearmes as he was an excellent wel spoken man to bewray his innocense they staied not the end of his speech but rudely put him forward at which the Prince sighed but it booted not All this was done within view of the Princes house and in the Ladies sight Now iudge all you houourable dames that loue your Lords and husbands with intire affections with what heart the sad eyes of this desolate Lady could behould this miserable obiect to sée her husband thus betraied within her view such was the sorrow of that euer memorable Roman Lady Cornelia wife to Pompey the great when from a farre off shée saw her Lord and husband in a little Boate betrayed and slaine by the treacherous Councellers and bloudy ministers of that periured Prince Ptolomie King of Aegypt when after his ouerthrow in Thessalie hée put himselfe vpon his protection And this poore Ladies sorrowes were the greater because shée neither knew the cause their purposes nor the meanes to helpe him but wee must leaue her in her passions and follow him in his captiuity whom they soone brought in a poasting iourney to Mosco and lodged him in a strong prison CHAP. 7. Tragus is arraighned condemned and iudged vniustly in the Mosco who out of the greatnesse of his minde to mocke Vansusces tyranny kils himselfe NOw were their daily counsels and consultations held in the Citty concerning the progresse of this businesse with this Noble-man by Vansusce and those of his secrets who â—ooâ—e grew to be powerfull by reason of his strong Guards and plurality of friends that from all parts flocked vnto him The day was soone appointed for this young Lords tryall not from his knowen innocence to cléere him but from their preiudicated doombes to confound him the publike place of iudgement was appointed the Theatre vpon which must be acted this Gentlemans tragedy thither at the day set downe comes Vansusce in a Princes Roabe together with his friends allies and a strong guard of souldiers the principal Officers in the Citty accompanying him and hauing all taken their places this Princly prisoner is brought in before them who with a chéerefull and vnaffrighted countenance beholds them all The allegations of treason obiected against him were that by his procurement the last warre with the Tartars was commenced that cost more treasure and bloud then the victory was worth that by his sollicitation that vnhappy marriage with the Polish Princes was mediated and concluded that the Polish Guard was by his meanes brought in by which so many outrages were committed that they were driuen to take the course they did for their slaughter in which the Emperor himselfe past an vnhappy destiny the guilt of whose death was laid vpon him as being the originall though not the efficient cause thereof that the bringing in of tenthousand Poles more was by his counsell vrged that the Princes treasure was by his prodigal profuse of mony much wasted that he had allowed the title of the Dukedome of Seuere to the Crowne and Kingdome of Poland with other matters not so much as thought vpon to all which the Prince answered so fully and so nobly as euery vnpartiall eare found his innocence howbeit truth neuer told her tale but enuy was either ready to wrong herby suggestion or falshood by subornation for vniust witnesses were produced against him by whose testimony this innocent Prince was condemned Vansusce then rising from his Throne began with a studied and premeditated spéech after this maner I cannot tell my louing Country-men in what tearmes or with what words I shall procéed in iudgement against this Noble-man late kinsman and néere Alley vnto our deare Soueraigne Lord the Emperour for when I thinke of the times past and compare them with the present the thought and consideration thereofso strikes me with astonishment my minde being diuersly distracted betwixt my Countries care and this Noble-mans respect that I stand deuided in my iudgment the one pleading rigor the other pitty what I shall definatiuly set downe in censure for him or against him first giue him his due who doth not sorrow that so noble a Gentleman so fully stuft with such excellent parts of mind of so admirable composure and constitution of body in the prime of his youth and beauty in the pride of his state and pleasures in the solace and comfort of his wife and children his ouer-héedlesse actions and ouer-wéening conceit his owne greatnesse in abusing the Princes fauour should now make him vnworthy of his life by reason of the states present condition whereas otherwise his life should haue bene most desired For mine owne part I would I had not liued at all or at least not till this time wherein sauing my countries care and the entire respect and affection I beare to all your liues and safeties I am otherwise euen against the consent of my soule and my best genious enforst to pronounce peremptory sentence of iudgement against such a man to whom but of late I gaue place to in honour For thus say my priuate thoughts to my common cares where Nobility greatnesse a Princes fauour or what excellent parts or qualities soeuer either of body or mind be in the same subiect that owes them transferred vnto it selfe without respect of common good to the which he owes a duty he growes not onely an vnprofitable but also a dangerous member to
also in the change of Vansusces fauour and countenance for it is commonly so with Vsurpers when their turnes are serued by such Ministers whohauing made all the vse of them they can they conuert their seruices done into iniuries especially where there is an expectation of rewarde aboue merit for benefites with tyrants are of no longer pleasure than they can with ease restore them that once transcended they study not how to reward but to kill for Glasco supposed that his seruices to Vansusce were of such woorth and greatnes that halfe the Empire had béene scarse his recompence Demetrius therefore striuing to worke vppon this his discantent and that by him some meanes might be wrought for the surprise of the Citty sent secretly his Lecters vnto Glasco wherein after hee had touched but in gentle termes his disloyalty he willed him to consider that there was no way for him to recouer the loue and opinion both of God and man but to vntreade againe those steppings of treason which from a corrupt minde his guiltie féete had before trodden promising him in the word of a Prince that if hée would find meanes for him to enter the Citty hée would not onely pardon what was past but restore him againe into his wonted place and fauour These Letters being intercepted were brought to Vansusce who presently caused this traytour to be committed to prison where hauing a long time endured much miserie hée was at last arraigned and condemned and finally were he faulty were hée faultlesse hée was executed in the Mosco a fit death for such a life There were many others of his confederacie which because I knew not their names I would not mention their actions but this I deliuer from report that none of them all died their naturall death onely one excepted that yet liues in a pelting Village in Ruscia poore wretched miserable and hated of all the world CHAP. 10. King Charles of Swethland sendeth an army of twelue thousand Souldiers into Ruscia vnder the command of Pontus de la Gard a French Coronell the Ruscians ioyne with them and remooue the Leager the Emperour Demetrius flees againe into the Dukedome of Colloge NOw must the miseries of Ruscia be augmented by the comming of this Armie compounded of so many Nations English French and Scots For though they came as a friend and for their aide yet who can stay an Armie from spoile and rapine which the vnhappy Ruscian found true in the pursuite of this bloudy warre not onely in their goodes and cattelles but euen in their wiues and daughters which in all places were made a prostituted prey to the lustfull appetite of the Souldiers It was about the beginning of Summer that this Army of King Charles descended into Ruscia vnder the commaund oâ— the aforenamed French Coronell Pontus de la Gard who with all spéede marched with this Armie to the Cittie of Mosco encamping in the most commodious place they could find neare to the Polish Leager Demetrius was before aduised to remooue by them who fore-iudged the proofe of that which the sequel manifested foreséeing that it would be a hard matter for Demetrius to resist both the Forces of the Mosco and this new raised power for being much wearied with a long siege being now also with this fresh Armie in a manner beleagerd themselues they seene found the want of victualles and other necessaries which in a short time brought them to great miserie and to increase the Swethen Army Demetrius the brother of Vansusce aduaunceth himselfe forward with twentie thousand Russians to ioyne with the Swethen forces Now are all places sorestalled that might bring in succours to the Polish Leager The Emperour Demetrius was now in greater miserie than euer before for besides the wants which he endured the Poales themselues beganne to murmure and muteny against him insomuch as he was often times enforced to heare many contumelious words and reproaches pronounced against him that he was an vnhappie Prince borne to a disastrous fortune and not onelie for himselfe but also for such as should take part with him The Councells that were daily held were continually diuided some aduise to make their way thorow the Swethen Armie others to continue the Leager the most to parlée the last was the worst that Demetrius liked knowing well that there would be no composition made without his deliuery either aliue or dead into the hands of Vansusce which though the Poales knew it was for their best safety so to do yet they did abhorre it as an execrable déed to betray a Prince whom they had vndertaken to protect and to yéelde him to his enemies hands whom they had vowed to defend To continue the Leager was without all possibilitie of effecting victualles growing so scarce in the Campe that all prouision was deuoured so farre as they were enforced to eate their horses and from this scarcitie followed a great mortallitie The Poale being so straitly ingirt that they wanted ground to bury the dead the vnhappy Prince sits alone in his tent all desolate and dismayed wanting both courage and councell in these extreames in the Campe he fées his dignitie decreased and his commaund not respected in his Tent he feares murder in his Cuppe poyson and though the causes of these feares were false there being no such in tendments yet to a troubled minde ouerwhelmed with sorrow oppressed with care distracted with opinion what comfort or conceit can assure his friends being a few noble men of Russia that were about him comfort him and councell him that he would aduenture with those companies of Russians hée had yet in his commaund which were faithfull to him in all fortunes being neuerthelesse not aboue the number of a thousand men make an attempt in the dead of the night for their escape euen through the Swethen Armie the necessitie of the time and place say they vrge you to this dangerous resolution or to die there being no third way for you to take you shall not néede to feare our loyalties because our owne liues lies in the same hazard and if wée line or die it shall be our glories that we haue either fréeâ—d you from this danger or that we haue communicated our seruice to the fortunes of our Prince For the attempt it selfe it may happily not prooue so full of perill as it appeares to be for that the darkenesse of the night the suddennesse of the action and the aduantage of the place wherein we are quarterd being but against the skirtes of the Swethen Armie may happily make our way with more safety and lesse losse than you imagine howsoeuer it falles out the greatest danger dwells héere where to remaine there is nothing more certaine than certaine destruction These words together with the desperate condition of their estates made him suddenly to apprehend the plot and to entertaine with courage the resolution of this attempt which was done so closely and so secretly as it was not discouered till the
larum was giuen this was about the noone of the day all the after noone was spent in councell and in giuing directions which also was done so couertly as the Poales themselues doubted nothing lesse than that which was intended Now is the houre come wherein Demetrius must passe as great or a greater danger by all opinion than that of the Castle in Mosco but with lesse feare or sorrow for his vnhappy fortunes had now so inured him to such disastrous accidents that his mind séemed to be suted to his miserie all things therefore being ready they beginne to dislodge the larum was first giuen in the Swethen Armie and was so suddenly answered in all places that it bred a horrible confusion the Poales feared a surprize from the Swethen Army the Swethen from the Poales When they came into the Emperours Tent not finding either his Guard or himselfe they cried out that he had betrayed them Pontus de la Gard drawes the best of his Foxes to the head of his Campe and there attends all attempts whilest the Emperor with the losse of a few men had passed the danger the darkenes of the night being a great help vnto him his guides before day had brought him out of all feare from any followers howbeit many of the Poales followed after and yéelded themselues afterward to him in Colloge All this time both the Campes stoode still without anie attempt on either side The Citty also not knewing the matter were soone in Armes howbeit kept themselues within the walles in the morning the Poales found the plot and being driuen euery way to obey necessitie they required Capitulations of truce with Vansusce which was granted the Articles drawne the composition made the Poles dislodgd and with colours displayd they went some into other parts of Russia turning Cossakes and liuing vpon spoyle some backe into Poland who hauing related to their King the manner of Demetrius flight and by it their owne enforcements he renounced for euer his friendship and alliance protesting from thence foorth neuer to aide him either with men or money But though hée séemed to be discontent hée was neuerthelesse inwardly glad that such occasion was proffered in his owne behalfe to reuenge and recouer the losse hée had sustained and vnder this colour together with the broken Title hée had to the Dukedome of Seuean to inuade the whole Empire of Russia and to kéepe it for himselfe which shortly after hée in person did as you shall heare And thus was the Polish Leager all this time remooued CHAP. 11. Kneseuansusce continues still his vsurped authoritie Sigismond King of Poland descends into Russia with an army of a hundred thousand men he beseegeth Smalensco and the great Citty of Mosco The Emperour Demetrius makes another attempt but is driuen backe into the Dukedome of Collogue NOw stoode Vansusce higher in state and opinion of the people than euer before Now were there daily feastings and triumphs in the Citty and all dedicated to Vansusces fortunes Orations made daily in the publique Hall to the people of eternall praise and immortall thankes to Vansusces greatnesse euen aboue the straine of slatterie attributing the safetie and preseruation of their liues and goodes to his wisedome and prouidence together with the generall good of the whole Land reduced by him from a manifest danger of vtter destruction the benefit of whose peace say they and happy state next vnder God wée deriue from his Imperiall Maiestie in his naturall and politique body the one so absolute in bloud and qualitie the other so excellent in State and Councell that as he giues place to no Prince liuing for Stile and Territorie reaching from the Riuer of Ipre to the Caspian Sea in Fame and Glorie they all giue place to him and it is the vniuersall Ioy of the whole Empire that to a Prince voluptuous and full of defects as was Demetrius there hath succéeded a Prince of such high worth and estimation They also gaue great praises and giftes to the French English and Scottish for their paines taken and valours shewne in their defence still retayning them in the Mosco for their garrison But though the Citty was for a time thus deliuered and in quiet the Poles that remained still in the Countrey hauing taken many Castles and strengthened themselues in many places commit all manner of vnspeakeable cruelty and villany on the poore people who can call nothing they haue their owne neither wiues children nor goodes but are all made a prostituted prey to the Poles lust and rapine in their houses sword and fire destroyeth them in the woods hunger and colde deuouceth them Thus the poore Russians in many parts of the countrey doe miserably foele or endure eyther aliue or dead the bondage of the Poles tyranny Yet these afflictions and calamities present are but as a sufferable paine or disease inflicting one part or limbe in respect of the vniuersall mischiefe following that tormented and almost destroyed the whole bodie of the Empire For by this time Sigismond King of Poland raiseth a mighty Army compounded of many Nations as Tartars Leiflanders Coerlanders together with some Companies of English Scottish and Dutch and many numbers of Cossakes which bée people drawne from all partes following onely for spoyle and prey Vansusce hearing of these great preparations in Poland fortifies the Mosco and other places of import in the Empire but especially the Citty of Smalensco whereof one KneIacob a Noble man of great power and vertue was Duke and Gouernour howbeit at that time for some reasons he committed the gouernement and defence of that Citty to an other whose name I could not learne Thus all things being in a readinesse both with the Pole for inuasion and the Russian for resistance Sigismond aduaunceth forward with his Army consisting of a hundred thousand fighting men This was about Michael masse in the yeare 1609. for he stayed of purpose till their Haruest was ended for the reliefe of his Armie Being descended into Russia he came with his whole forces before the Citty of Smalensco one Chollcosce a noble souldier that had done many honourable seruices against the Turke being his Lieutenant generall Now had Vansusce which I should haue remembred before sent to King Charles of Swethland for more ayde who presently dispatched his Messengers to France England and the lowe Countries for men There were taken vp in England of Voluntaries English and Scottish two thousand vnder the commaund of Captaine Caluine a Scottishman lieutenant Coronel to my Lord of Wormston and of Captaine Coborne a valiant Souldier Coronell of the horse There were also sent at that time out of France and the low Countries to the number of one thousand more the French vnder the commaund of Monsleur la Vile a Captaine of name and worth among them the Dutch vnder the commaund of Coronell Doue the English and Scottish Forces arriued in Swethland about the latter end of Maie some in the Nulies some
length so pincht them that they found these mischiefes to be vnsufferable Now was Vansusce without heart or hope fearing daily to bée betrayed by his owne friends if we may call it treason to betray a traitor and his feares prooued true for many noble men that were about him looking into the present times condition and reducing to their mindes the nature of the times past they found Vansusce to be both the originall and efficient cause of all these miseries and that God had thus plagued them with the plagues of men for suffering an vsurper to raigne ouer them so that at last vpon aduice taken they tooke Vansusce prisoner sitting in councell among them with suppose by deliuering him captiue to make their peace with Cholcosce O had the vnkinde and vnstable Muscouite deliuered this vsurper vnto their lawfull Emperour Demetrius that lay on the other side the citie and had brought him in with their submission and acknowledgement of alegeance they might haue had the hand of God to haue fought for them and haply in short time recouered their former peace and glorie But they doubting his weakenesse and fearing the strength of the Poles deliuered vp their prisoner together with the Citty into the power of Cholcosce to be kept for the king of Pole Which in this maner was effected It was agréed vpon betwéene Cholcosce and the State of Russia that he should haue deliuered into his hands the Citty and the Castle to be held with a garrison for Sigismond King of Poland vnto whom they proffered acknowledgement of homage and fraltie conditionally that Cholcosce with his Armie should presently remooue the Leager of the Emperour Demetrius on the other side the riuer These proffers were accepted of Cholcosce together with the condition conditionally that they should deliuer sufficient hostages into his hands sor the safegard of himselfe and his Army which was graunted and a many of the Nobilitie chosen out as the great Patriarch of Mosco KoeIacob Duke of Smalensco and others of great power who being deliuered to the Cholcosce sent them all as pledges to the King of Pole Thus Cholcosce hauing taken possession of the Citty mariheth through to fight with Demetrius and in short time ouerthrew him who fléeing againe to Colloge found himselfe there also abandoued of all his friends Thus this vnhappy Prince fleeing from place to place finding no place for safetie was afterward as I haue heard it reported miserably slaine by a Tartar Thus Cholcosce returning backe to the Citty in triumphant maner was solemnely intertained of the Muscouite who presented him also with many great gifts He hauing stayed a while in the Cittie and planted a garrison of eight thousand Poles in the Castle returned to Smalensco with his prisoner Vansusce and deliuered him to his maister the King of Pole who not long after sent him into Poland to be kept prisoner at the Castle of Waringborrough where he yet liues a miserable captine Sigismond the yeare following takes in Smalensco vpon assault and returnes into Poland disposing the most part of his Armie into garrisons in Russia But the Muscouite in short time after rebelled and hauing drawne the Tartare as their Assistants after a long and bloudie assault they at the last recouered the Cittie and Castle of Mosco putting all the Poles to the sword Thus was the Colloge againe fréed but not secured from the tyranny of the Poales who are still possessors of a great part of that Countrey sometimes losing in one place oftentimes gaining in an other neuer resting but still in action which the wretched people doe miserably sustaine And thus as I vnderstand stands the condition of this torne Empire of Russia at this day FINIS