Juan â—elike or Great John was built by Czar John Basiâ—vitz standing by it self covered with Copper â—ilt its height being computed to be near the same â—ith that of St. Mark 's in Venice The second is â—nly Remarkable for its Great Bell which being â—ot to be managed but by the hands of Thirty Men 〈◊〉 seldom made use of but on great Festivals and 〈◊〉 honour the Entrance or Audience of a great Amâ—assador There are also within the compass of â—e Castle kept several of the Courts of Justice â—e Exchequer and the Grand Magazine of Proâ—â—sion and Ammunition Immediately without the â—ates of the Castle Walls is a very fair Church on â—â—e South side called St. Trinity or Jerusalem â—hich appeared so extraordinary a piece of Archiâ—â—cture to that great Tyrant John Basilovits that as soon as it was finish'd he caused the Architect's Eyes to be pull'd out to prevent his attempting any thing like it hereafter The Castle is faced by a very fair spacious Place the chief Market of the whole City and place of Resort not only for Buyers but for Persons of all degrees eve◠〈◊〉 the very Slaves The midst of it is taken up for the most part with Sempstresses Shops and 〈◊〉 store of other Women-Traders who 〈…〉 of selling Rings set with Rubies and 〈…〉 endeavour to vend their hidden 〈…〉 But what is the most regular and beautiful is that each particular Street leading to this Market-place has a certain Trade allotted by it self so that the Merceâ— does not intermingle with the Woollen-Draper noâ— the Linnen-Draper with the Goldsmith Furrieâ— Taylor or Shooemaker but every Trade having its proper Station the Buyer may with the greatest conveniency in the World in an instant cast his Eyes upon such Commodities as will serve his occasion It ought not to be forgotten here that the Painters have none of the meanest Station among the rest here for their Employment being to furnish the Muscovites with the Images of Saints they deal with their Chapmen by way of Exchange or Trucking where they are sure to make their own Market for a Muscâ—vite looking upon it as a point of Conscience to buy or bargain for a Saint seldom refuseâ— the Painter's demand The remaining part of this inner Circuit or Quarter of the City is taken up with the Houses of the Principal Merchants besides thâ—se of some Knâ—z and Muscovian Lords The Second Quarter Czaargorod or the Royal City which includes the First iâ— a Semicircle is called Czaargorod or the City Royal the little River Neglina passes through it being enclosed in a particular Wall called Biela Stenna oâ— the White Wall Here is the Arsenal and the Place called Poggana appointed for the Casting of Gunâ— and Bells in which the Muscovites are not behindâ— hand with any other European Artificers In thâ—â— part also live a great many Knâ—z Lords and Gentlemen besides a prodigious number of Traders of all sorts the rest is fill'd up with Butchers Bakers Drinking-Houses Corn-Chandlers Meal-shops and the Grand Duke's Stables The Third Quarter which running from the East all along the North-side to the West The Third Quarter of Musco called Skoradom includes the Quarter of Czaargorod is called Skoradom the little River Jagusa runs through it and afterwards falls into the River Mosca In this Quarter is the above-mentioned place for selling and buying of Houses The Fourth and Last Circuit is that called Strelitza Slavoda The fourth Quarter called â—trelitza Slavoda or the Suburbs of the Musqueteers belonging to the Great Duke's Guards who have this part of the Town assigned them for their Place of Abode It lies on the other side of the River Mosca Southly from that part of the City called Cataygorod its Ramparts and Bastions being all of Wood were design'd against the Irruptions of the Tartars Musco is inhabited not only by Muscovites but also by a great number of Tartars Persians and Greeks the latter being most agreeable to the Muscovites both in Religion and Manners are preferr'd by them before all other Strangers They allow nevertheless the publick Exercise of Religious Worship not only to the Lutherans and other Protestants but also to the Turks Persians and Tartars except the Jews and formerly the Roman Catholicks There is a large Slaboda or Suburb without the City Gate of Prokoski The Suburb called Nova Inasemska Slaboda called Nova Inasemska Slaboda where most of the Foreign Christians live together every one according to their own Country Fashion in which place the Germans English and Dutch c. do most commonly reside Besides the Grand Duke's Palace and the Castle that which appears most beautiful to the Eyes of Strangers is the great number of Churches and Chappels in the City and Suburbs of Musco of which their being Two Thousond in number every Lord having his private Chappel and each Street one at least some two or three built of Stone and of a Circular Figure whose Steeples being all covered with Copper make a most glorious glittering show at a distance especially if you happen to approach the Town in a bright Sun-shiny day The next City of Note in this Province is called Columna Columna situated on the right side of the River Mosca about 70 English Miles distance from the City of Musco by Land it being near Sevenscore Miles by Water It is of a considerable bigness and environ'd with a very fair Stone Wall and Towers a thing not very common in Muscovy it is the Residence of a Weywode or Russian Governour which shews it to be one of the most considerable of the Province It is to be observed that there is but one Bishop in all Muscovy who keeps his Residence in this City But what is most Remarkable here is that about three Miles above this Place near the Convent of Kolutin Serge Monarstir founded by one Sergius a great Saint among the Muscovites The River Occa. The Mosca falls into the River Occa which coming from the South is not only much largeâ— and broader than the former but having besideâ— that on both sides a Noble Country very populouâ— and fruitful and a great number of fair Oaks oâ— both shores which are look'd upon as a Rarity 〈◊〉 Muscovy renders it the most delightful in the World Two days Journey from Columna near the Borders of the Province of Rhesan is the City of Peresla or Preski seated upon the very Banks of the River Occa at 42 Degrees 42 min. Elevation being governed by its particular Weywode or Governour There are also in this Province some otherâ— less considerable which for brevity's sake we must pass by in silence The second Province of the Southern Muscovy 〈◊〉 the Province of Werotin Werotin having borrowed its Name from the Capital City of the same Name besides which it has two Cities more the first called Croom the latter Arvel all three of them so inconsiderable as not to deserve a particular Description here
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
under their own Weywode but the City is inhabited both by Tartars and Muscovites who have their own Governour The Province of Casan lies on the left side of the River Volga bordering to the East upon Astrachan to the North upon the Siberian Tartars It was heretofore Subject to the Cham of Tartary till it was conquer'd by the Muscovites in the following Manner The Great Duke Basili Ivanovits Father to that famous Tyrant Ivan Basilovits after a signal Victory obtained over these Tartars The Conquest of Casan had constituted one Sheale their Governour against whom with the assistance of the Crim Tartars they made an Insurrection and forced him out of the Country Flush'd with this Success they marched into the Southern Muscovy under the conduct of two Brothers Mendligeri and Sapgeri who forced the Muscovites that were Encamped near the River Occa to Retreat under Noviogorod There being nothing in their way to stop their March to the City of Musco the same was besieged taken and plundered and the Castle also forced to capitulate being first reduced to the utmost extremity upon very hard conditions viz. That the Great Duke and his Subjects should be Tributaries to them for ever and as a Sign of this their Subjection the Great Duke should be obliged to smite his Head before the Statue of Mendligeri erected for that purpose in the Market place of the City as often as the Tribute should be paid to the Tartars The Great Duke having been forced by an unavoidable necessity to confirm these Articles by his Letters Patents the two Brothers parted Sapgeri chusing Casan for the Seat of his Empire Mendligeri being the Elder the City of Crim. But the latter having in view no less than the Conquest of the whole Muscovy marched soon after against the City of Rhesan and having summon'd John Kowar the Weywode of the Castle to surrender unto whom he represented how the Great Duke his Master was become his Subject the Governour pretending to be quite ignorant of the Matter desir'd that some more satisfactory Proof might be given him before he could resolve upon a Capitulation Mendligeri imagining that nothing could be more convincing than the Great Duke 's own Letters Patents sent them to the Governour who extreamly glad of having got so favourable an opportunity to recover by this Stratagem the Great Duke's original Letters sent word to the Besiegers that he was resolved to keep both the Letters and Castle to the last drop of Blood Neither was he behind hand in his Promises but with the Assistance of a certain Italian Connoneer he so Gall'd the Tartars that having forced them to Retreat from before the Town and Castle he sent the Letters to the Court of the Great Duke The people being over-joy'd at so lucky and unexpected an Accident broke down the Statue and the Czar taking Courage by the Example of his Subjects besieg'd the City of Casan but after much Blood shed on both sides was forced to raise the Siege After the Death of the Great Duke Basili Ivanovitz his Son John Basilovitz being desirous to revenge the Affront his Father had received before Casan began his Reign with the Siege of that City The place was for the space of two Months batter'd furiously when he offer'd them very advantageous Conditions which they having refused in hopes of Succour from the Crim Tartars the Great Duke not to loose Time ordered his Mines to be sprung which succeeded so well that a vast Number of Tartars were buried in their own Ruins During this Consternation the General Assault was given and the Place carried by Storm the 9th of July in the Year 1552. not without a great Slaughter the Tartars defending themselves with the utmost Bravery in two several Retrenchments within the City after the Enemy had made themselves Masters of the Breach and at last seeing all past Recovery they forc'd their Way out of one of the Gates through the Muscovian Camp and got on the other side of the River Casanska The Czar knowing the Importance of the Place which made him Master of the whole Province ordered immediately the Breaches to be Repair'd and some considerable Additions to be made to the Castle ever since which it has remain'd in the Possession of the Muscovites the Tartars who are allow'd to live in the City not daring under severe Punishments to set a foot between the Walls of the Castle The Country hereabouts is extreamly fertile especially of all sorts of Fruit Melons growing there of an extraordinary Taste coming in bigness near to our Pompions but not very populous by reason of the frequent Incursions of the Cosacks It is to be observed that the course of the River Wolga The course of the River Volga from the City of Nise Novogorod to Casan is East and South East-ward but from thence to the City of Astrachan and so further to the Caspian Sea its current runs from North to South About 60 Miles below Casan the River Kama coming North-East out of the Province of Permia The River Kama falls on the left side into the River Wolga and about 30 Miles lower the River Zerdick being a branch of the River Kama falls also into the same River At about 30 Miles distance from hence is situate on a little Ascent the City of Tetus on the right side of the Shoar resembling by its disorderly Buildings rather a great Village than a City Twenty five Miles lower not many Miles from the opposite Shoar of the River Wolga is the River Vtka which rises near the City of Bulgar The Province of Bulgar the capital of a Tartarian Province to which it had given its name Some Miles lower is an Island called Staritzza being above 15 Miles long and not far below this the Ruins of a considerable City among the Tartars called Vrenoskora It is a place very delightful for its Situation and famous to this day for the Burying of one of their Saints to whom they pay a great deal of Devotion A good many Miles lower at the right side of the River Volga are likewise to be seen the Ruins of two other great Cities not far distant from one another very pleasantly seated near the River side the first was called Simberska Gora the second Arbeuchim from an adjacent Mountain that retains the same name to this day they were both destroyed by Tamerlan being situate under the 53 deg Elâ—v The River Wolga is hereabouts as most all along from its very Source to the Caspian Sea full of Sand-banks and small Islands which lying scatter'd up and down on both Shoars render its passage very difficult and sometimes unpassable for Vessels of great Burthen who are obliged to go for the most part in the Months of May and June when by 〈◊〉 of the Snow being melted and the Rivers which fall into it being thawâ—d the Waters of 〈◊〉 River swell up to an extraordinary hight so 〈◊〉 often they afford a
passage to the Boats over the 〈◊〉 Islands The River Volga contains a prodigious Store of Fish of all Sorts a very good Commodity in Musâ—ovy by reason of the great number of their Fast-days which both the Tartars and Muscovites catch with a Cord but in a different manner The Tartars fasten to the end of a long Cord a pretty big Stone which sinks to the bottom several great pieces of Wood being fastn'd to the other end 〈…〉 which swim upon the Water All along this great Cord many littles ones are fastn'd at some distance from one another each of these has at the end a goodâ—ook baited with a certain Fish which they know the rest to be greedy of by which Invention they catch often Fish of ten twelve and more foot long The Muscovites take also a Cord with a â—ook fastn'd to the end of it this Cord is tyâ—d about a piece of a well plainâ—d Board tinn'd over its â—igness about 4 or 5 Inches square which being draggâ—d behind a Boat by the reflection of the Sun resembles the Scales of Fish by which means they draw up Fish of a very great seize to the Bait and into the Snare Among other Fish wherewith this River abounds the Sturgeon is none of the least considerable whose Eggs afford that Ragout which the Italians call Cavayar 〈…〉 and the Muscovites 〈◊〉 the Eggs are put into a Paste being prepar'd 10 or 12 days with Salt This Commodity affords a considerable Trade to Muscovy being exported from thence to all Parts of Europe where it is look'd upon as the best of this kind for which reason the Czar keeps this Trade to himself Some Miles below the abovementioned ruined places the Shoar on both sides of the River is very Mountainous yet not â—o but that the Valleys afford very pleasant Pastures The first that appears on the right hand is a Mountain out of which the Muscovites get great store of Salt which being prepared in certain Huts at the foot of the Mountain is sent from thence by the River to Mâ—sâ—o Almost opposite to this is another Mountain at the foot of which the River Vssa falls into the Wolga On both sides are very fine Meadows bordering upon the Shoar but at some distance from thence are very thick Woods a place of retreat for the Cosacks which makes it very dangerous for Travellors Below this lies the Mountain Diwiagora or Maids-mountain which being divided into several steepy ' Hills of various colours and bearing Pine-trees in so regular an Order as if they had been planted there on purpose makes it appear very pleasant to the eye At the foot of this rises another which reaches near 40 Miles along the River But what is most remarkable here Thâ— Cyâ—â—â— Valley is the Valleys betwixt them which being stor'd with Apple-trees affords very good Cyder being called by the Muscovites Jabla-New-quas which is as much to say as Drink of Apples Some of these Mountains reach a great way into the Country others bordering only upon the River-side At the left side of the River about two Miles from the Shoar lies the City of Samara belonging to the abovementioned Tartarian Province of Bulgar and above 300 Miles distant from the City of Casan It s Form is square its Buildings all of Wood except the Churches and Monasteries which are three in number The River of Samar from whence it derives its name falls about three Miles below into the Volga About 100 Miles from hence is the Mountain of the Cosacks being all bare without any Wood it serves for a retreating place to the Cosacks living upon the Don or Tanais and hath from thence got its denomination Betwixt this and the City of Saratof above 200 Miles distant from hence are abundance of small Islands in this River so that at certain Seasons it has been fordable and consequently very incommodâ—ous for Ships of Burthen who at such places are obliged to unload part of their Cargo in smaller Boats which they carry along with them for that purpose The City of Saratof is situate in a very fair large Plain about four Miles from the River-side upon a Branch of the Wolga It is inhabited by Muscovite Soldiers who are put there as a Guard against the Incursions of the Tartars called Kalmuches Tartars Kalâ—uches Inhabiting a vast Tract of Ground which extends towards the Caspian Sea betwixt this River and the River Jaika About Three Hundred Miles lower 50 Miles on this side the City of Zariza The River Tanais the River Don the Tanais of the Antient Geographers advances within a days Journey near the River Volga as some Miles below the said City behind a certain Island called the Isle of Zerpinsko there falls a little River called Kamous which rises out of the before-mentioned River Don into the River Volga but it being very shallow affords scarce passage for small Boats Notwithstanding which there are some who affirm that it might be rendred more Navigable and consequently a Communication be established betwixt these two considerable Rivers Near the first of these two above-mentioned places The first Branch of the Wolga before you come to the City of Zariza near Achtobska Vtska the River Volga divides it self into two Branches whereof one taking its course to the left into the Country carries its Stream for a Mile to the North-East quite contrary to the Current of the great River but afterwards reassuming its former course returns to the South-East till it falls into the Caspian Sea About 40 Miles from hence at 5 Mile distance from the River-side are to be seen the Ruins of a great City formerly called Zaaresgorod that is to say the 〈◊〉 Royal built as it is related by Tamerlain Its Palace and Walls were all of Brick which have furnish'd the City of Astrachan for these many Years with Materials for their Walls Churches and Monasteries A few Miles from this Place lies the City of Zariza at the bottom of a Hill on the right side of the River 49 Degrees and 42 min. Elevation It is fortified with several Bastions and Towers but all of Wood it being a Frontier-Garison against the Neighbouring Tartars and Cossacks and inhabited only by Soldiers who also serve for a Convoy to the Vessels passing this way up and down the River All abouts here and even as far as Astrachan it self the Country except the before-mentioned Island of Zerpinsko which is Twelve Miles long and furnishes the Cattle belonging to the Garison with Grass the Soil is so barren that it affords no manner of Corn which defect however is easily supplyed by help of the River the fertile Grounds about Casan furnishing these Parts and even the City of Astrachan with Wheat at a very cheap rate About Sixscore Miles below the City of Zariza the River Wesowi near a small Island of the same Name falls into the Wolga on the right side as does the River Wolodinerski Vtsga 30 Miles lower
Tzumtzume I declare my self for that Religion but desire that I may die immediately being unwilling to live now without Subjects in a place where I was so powerful before Essi having granted his Request he died instantly and his Sepulchre remains here to be seen to this day under a Tree of an extraordinary bigness next adjoyning to which is a Scaffold erected of ten Foot high and sixteen Square On the other side of the City are to be seen some Thousands of Tombs cover'd with Stones half round Cylinder-wise but exceeding the ordinary Stature of Men haveing all of them Arabick Inscriptions It is reported that in former Ages yet since the Time of Mahomet there was a certain King in Media named Kassan who being engag'd in War against the Tartars of Dagesthan received there a signal Overthrow and caused the Bodies of the Officers killed in this Battle to be buried in these Tombs The Relation seems to be not altogether fictitious there being near the Sea-side at some distance from the rest forty others exceeding the before-mentioned Tombs in bigness and encompass'd with a Wall which having each its Banner are said to be the Sepulchres of so many Lords of the first Rank and other Holy Men that came along with them where the Persians and Tartars of both Sexes come to pay their Devotions by kissing these Sepulchres and laying their Hands upon them while they are at Prayers But it is time to return to the Tartarians under the Grand Czar's Obedience and among them to say something of the Province of Siberia This Province which lies quite Northward from Muscovy Siberia betwixt the Provinces of Obdora and Jugoria bordering towards the North upon the Samojedes is of a great extent but not very populous being inhabited by Tartars It s Capital City being also the Seat of an Archbishop is Tobol built upon a rising Ground near a small River and except some Muscovites inhabited by Tartars On the Frontiers of the Calmuck Tartars is the City of Daour And far beyond Tobol is Chnesortski the chief place of Commerce in the whole Province for Sables and other sorts of Firrs the Products of this Country The Natives are a poor and wretched sort of People notwithstanding that they have in some Parts good Corn Fields and great Store of Fish But the chief and most precious Commodity of this Country besides other Furrs are the Skins of Sables These Animals they catch either with Traps not unlike to those we catch our Rats with or by spreading of Nets under the Trees where they feed which being cut down they are entangled in the Nets In the Winter they have also a Way of hunting them with Dogs They were formerly Pagans being Govern'd by their own Czar or King till near 150 Years ago they were subdu'd by Czar Jobn Basilovits in the following manner A certain Famous Pirate among the Cosacks living near the River Wolga whose Name was Jormack Timorhof having taken a Ship loaden with Amunition and belonging to the Czar was for fear of being pursued and discovered fled for Shelter into a certain Island near the River Kama which coming from Permia one of the Northern Provinces of Muscovy falls below Casan into the River Wolga This Island belonging then to a certain Muscovian Merchant he proposed to him no less than the Conquest of some of those Tartarian Countreys lying more towards the North and being furnished by him with Arms Ammunition and other Necessaries he with about five or six hundred of his Followers went up the River Tagit and from thence to the River Tura where having possess'd himself of a small Island called Japouchin he march'd from thence to the City of Tumen which he also took without much opposition Being flush'd with this Success he directed his March streight ways to Tobol the Mâ—tropolis of the Province and then the Residence of the Siberian King where having also met with very little Resistance he soon became Master of the Place But being not contented with thiâ— extraordinary Success and proposing to himself no less than the Conquest of the whole Province he lost soon after both his Life and Conquests For having pursued the flying Enemy a great way beyond the City of Tobol all along the River Irtish 300 of his Men whom he had sent out on purpose to Atrack the Enemy at a certain pass being drawn into an Ambush were all kill'd upon the Spot so that Jormack with the rest being about 200 was forced to retire into a small Island there abouts where he Entrench'd himself as well as he could But the Tartars having by their late Victory got new Courage and being informed of what number of Men he had with him Attack'd him by Night where he with all his Followers except 40 who found means to get into Muscovy were either drowned or cut to pieces The remnants of Jormack's Party being at last come to the City of Musco and having given to the Czar a relation of what had past in Siberia it was thought advisable to give them some Forces thereby to enable them to try their Fortune a second time Having therefore obtained 600 Men with Amunition and other Necessaries suitable to such an Expedition they marched directly towards the City of Tobol the Metropolis and Residence of the Prince of Siberia and having a second time possess'd themselves of it without much opposition they took quite other measures to secure their Conquests from what Jormack had done before for they so strongly fortified themselves there that they soon were beyond all apprehension of being Attack'd by the Tartars and being afterwards reinforced with new Supplies of Men and other Necessaries by their frequent Incursions so fatigu'd the Neighbouring Tartars that they were 〈◊〉 to submit themselves under the Czar's Protection tho' it is not altogether improbable but that the Necessity of vending their Sables and other Furrs to the Muscovites might be their Chief Motive of surrendring themselves under the Czar of Muscovy's Subjection Since which time the Muscovites have built in these Parts several Cities fortified after the Russiian Fashion and much impâ—oved others as Narim and the great City of Tooina on the other side of the River Oby The Castle of Comgoscoi upon the River Telta and others Since the Conquest of Siberia it is chiefly to the Muscovites we are beholding for the particular Discovery they have made of that vast Extent of the Northern Countreys that lie betwixt the River Oby which traverses this Province and has been mentioned before and the Famous Chinese Wall which divides that Famous Empire from the Grand Tartary For the Muscovites having once been made sensible of the prodigious Quantities of all Sorts of precious Furrs as the Sables Martins and black Foxes those Countreys afforded and the vast Profit that must needs arise to their own Country by engrossing the Traffick of those Commodities have left no stone unturn'd not only to make the best Discovery they could
upper Lips or Chins The Stature and Proportion of their Bodies is very large something above the common Size they are clean and well proportion'd in their Limbs their Air tho' somewhat stern and resolute yet carries not any marks of Cruelty or Savageness along with it Their Habits resemble that of most all the other Tartars both Europaeans and Asiaticks being made in the nature of a Cassock or large Vest fitted to their Bodies but the Materials are for the most part only Sheep-Skins About the Waste they wear a Cord or small Girdle wherein hangs their Bow and Quiver which are their constant Companions wherever they go Their Heads are shav'd to the Crown where they preserve a good Tuft of Hair thick enough to make two good Locks one of which hangs down before the other behind Upon their Heads they were no other Covering than a round Cap or rather Bonnet made of the same Stuff with their Habits only that on the top of it there is a pretty large Tuft of red white or green Silk or perhaps of some other colour according to the Custom of such Hordes as they belong to these Hordes wearing these different colour'd Tufts as a certain mark whereby to distinguish themselves from one another Their Chief Men among them especially such as live in those places where the Sables and Martins are caught make their Garments either of those Furrs or else of Dog-Skins and sometimes especially during the Winter they join both together They generally wear the Hair of the Dogs of which they keep a great number outermost making the Furrs of the Sables or Martins the Lining to the other not but that they are sufficiently sensible how much the first exceed the latter both in Beauty and Value but say they We do not think it just that the Dog who in his life-time had been so serviceable to us in finding out and catching the Sables or Martins should be debased after his death below those he conquer'd but that his past Service ought to be remembered by preferring him after his death before his enemy which he vanquished when alive It is easie to be imagined that the Muscovites after they had hunted out these so far distant Countries did not acquiesce here but left no Stone unturned till they had made themselves an easie Passage through those Tartarian Countries to the Empires of China and Japan To obtain this end they used to send frequently their Ambassadors and sometimes Messengers on some Pretence or another into those Parts who having taken several ways at last made the Passage betwixt the Russian Empire and China tolerably commodious to their Merchants who now Travel from the City of Musco to Pekin the Capital City of the Chinese Empire in less than Four Months time with Conveniency enough especially since the Muscovites for the conveniency of their Caravans have built several Cities and Forts as the City of Genessay or Jenessay among the Tingoëses upon the River of that Name The City of Szelinga upon the River of the same Name besides several Fortresses the last of which is called Albazin built upon the River Yamour three Months Journey from the City of Musco and but three Weeks Travelling from Pekin the Metropolis of China When the Muscovian Merchants undertake this great Journey How the Muscovite Travel into China they commonly take the Advantage of the Winter-Season which being the most commodious in Muscovy for Travelling by reason of the Rivers and Lakes which in the Summer-time are no small Obstacles to Travellers being all frozen over they usually set out towards the latter end of February or the beginning of March when the Snow being well beaten they Travel in Sleds from the City of Musco to Tobol the Capital City of Siberia to wit above 800 English Miles in less than three Weeks From hence they continue their Journey by Land to the utmost Frontieâ—s of Siberia and from thence to the Tostiouski a Horde of Tartars under the Subjection of the Muscovites Here they change their Carriage which they send back into Siberia for one much more swift and commodious For whereas the Muscovite Sleds are usually drawn but by one Horse they make use in those Parts of a certain Beast called the Reen or Rain-Deer which they put in their Sleds and to make it go the more swift they tye a great Dog behind that by his barking The Reen or Rain-Deer scaring the poor Beast makes it run with that swiftness that it carries the Sleds Six or Sevenscore Miles a day This Creature probably the Tarandius of the Antients is by the Modern Latins called Rangifer from the Word Reen which is the Name given it by the Laplanders who as likewise the Samoyedes and some other Northern Nations make a considerable Advantage of these Beasts not only in their Sleds but also by making Cloaths of their Skins It is as big as a large Stagg but much stronger with a very high Breast where the Hairs which are of a grayish colour inclining to white are very long and rough They have cloven Hoofs the Horn of which is as hard as Iron so that making at every step an Impression in the Ice they go as securely as if they were shoo'd with Frost-Nails or walk'd upon the Ground and that with such swiftness that they often Travel 150 Miles a day their Horns are higher than those of the Elk and larger than a Stagg They have on the Forehead two Brow-anklers wherewith in the Winter they dig up the white Moss from under the Snow for their Food and break the Ice to get Water to quench their Thirst For the rest they are very Sociable Creatures feeding in Herds and easily tamed and made serviceable for the draught of Sleds which they perform with an incredible swiftness By the help of these Creatures the Muscovian Merchants Travel with great Expedition as long as the Ice continues to bear to the City of Genessay or Jenessay built by the Muscovites upon a River of the same Name for the conveniency of Travellers From thence they take Boat to go up the two Rivers Lake of Biakala Tongusi and Augara to the Lake of Baikala where both these Rivers have their rise The Waters of this Lake are extraordinary clear but what makes the Passage over it very difficult and tedious is that it being surrounded on all sides with very high Rocks and the Winds being thereby check'd they blow so variously and from several Points at a time that they put the Masters of the Vessels to a great deal of danger and trouble so that tho' its breadth be not 30 Miles over yet are they obliged to spend sometimes a whole Week in passing it After they have got over this Lake they immediately enter towards the South the Country of the Mongul Tartars Sleds with Sails where being furnished with Mules and Dromedaries they continue their Journey towards the Confines of China which is commonly done in
have which they prefer before our Sugar Spices or Vinegar which they have been observed to refuse as they also shew'd more satisfaction in their ordinary Food of Sea-Dogs Calves Reens Foxes House-Dogs and Fish but especially Stock-fish than in any of our Dishes The swarthy colour of these Inhabitants of the coldest Climate in the World might very well furnish us with an Opportunity to make a Digression here in contradiction of what is affirm'd by Pliny to wit Lib. 2. c. 78. That the heat of the Sun burns the Skin as on the contrary the Cold whitens it if Natural Philosophy were not at present beyond our scope wherefore we will pursue the Tract of our History and give a short Description of Livonia The Country of Livonia or Liefland Livonia borders on the East upon Muscovy on the North it is divided from Sweden and Finland by a Gulph of the Baltick Sea called by the Latins Sinus Livonicus On the West it hath the Baltick Sea and on the South Samogitia Lithuania and Prussia It is of a very large extent being near 600 English Miles long and 200 broad It is divided into three Provinces to wit into Esthonie Lettie and Courland The first of these Provinces is subdivided into five Circuits called Hanie Wirland Allentaken Jerwe and Wiecks its Metropolis is Revel as Riga of the Province of Lettie and Goldingen is the Capital of Courland The City of Revel The City of Revel the Capital of the Province of Esthonie is situate upon the Baltick Sea at 50 degr 25 min. Latitude and 48 degr 30 min. Longitude It hath for its Founder Waldemar or Wolmar II. King of Denmark who laid the first Foundation of it in the Year 1230. But King Wolmar III. sold it in the Year 1347. with some other Cities in that Country to Goswin d' Eck the then Master of the Livonian Order of Knights The Muscovites have for above these Hundred Years past been very ambitious to unite not only this City but also the whole Livonia with the Russian Empire which has occasioned several Wars not only betwixt them and the Masters of the Livonian Knights but also with the Swedes after this City had put it self under the Protection of Eric King of Sweden near a Hundred and Fifty Years ago This City is very Famous for two memorable Sieges it held out against the Muscovites the first in the Year 1570. the second in the Year 1577. both which the Muscovites were forced to raise with great Loss The City is fortified according to the Modern way but its chief strength lies in its Castle which being most advantageously situated upon a Rock steepy on all sides renders it almost unaccessible except towards the City where it is defended by very good Works It has a most excellent Haven fitted rather by Nature than Art for the convenience of Trade especially with Muscovy It is one of the most Antient Towns belonging to the Hanseatick League and had for some Years in Conjunction with the City of Lubeck the Direction of the College belonging to the Hanseatick Towns in the City of Novogorod Veliki It was very flourishing in its Commerce from the Year 1477. till the Year 1550. when having broken with the other Hanseatick Towns the Muscovites soon after took the City of Narva and established there the Trading they had before in this City Notwithstanding which it enjoys to this day the Priviledge of being a Mart which has been confirmed to them by several Treaties betwixt the Muscovites and Swedes to wit in the Year 1595. at Teusma in the Year 1607. at Wibourg and in the Year 1617. at Stolvova tho' at the same time their Wings have been clip'd of late Years as to several Priviledges granted to them formerly by the Masters of the Livonian Order and were since look'd upon as dangerous to the Prerogatives of their Sovereign The Ecclesiastical Government is here like in most other Commonwealths that profess the Protestant Religion according to the Tenure of the Ausburg Confession administred by a Consistory and a Superintendent And their Civil Constitution comes very near to a Democratical State the Magistrates having no Power to Transact any thing of moment without the Advice of the Principal Men of several Professions and in Matters of Extraordinary Consequence not without Summoning every Freeman of the City Within half a League of it towards the Sea-side are to be seen the Ruins of a stately Monastery about 200 Years ago dedicated to St. Bridget by a very wealthy Merchant of this City The only thing Remarkable here is a Book composed of the Foundation of this Monastery intimating That the Religious Men and Women for it consisted of both of this Monastery had been so ingenious even in those days as to have found out a way to make themselves to be understood by one another by certain Signs without the help of Words The next City of Note in the Province of Esthonie Narva is Narva situate in the Circuit of Allentaken at 60 degrees Elevation It hath its Name from the River Narva or Nerva which having its rise in the Lake Pripis falls with a very swift Current into the Gulph of Finland about Ten Miles below this City Near three Miles above it there is a most dangerous Cataract or Water-fall which obliges the Ships that come down the River from Plescou and other Places to Narva to unlade their Merchandizes near that Place This Town which is not very large but exceeding strong by reason of the adjacent Castle is said to be built as well as the City of Revel by Wolmar II. King of Denmark and was in the Year 1558. besieged and taken by John Basilovits Great Duke of Muscovy but recovered by the Swedes in the Year 1581. under the Conduct of Pontus de la Garde the Swedish General under whose Jurisdiction it remains to this day It hath for many Years past enjoyed the same Priviledges with the other Hanseatick Towns and was in the last Age a Place of very good Traffick till the Muscovian Trade was from thence by the English and Dutch transferred to Archangel and the Wars betwixt the Muscovites and Swedes destroyed its Commerce During the War betwixt the English and the Dutch in Oliver Cromwel's Time the Commerce to Archangel being interrupted there began to be a Prospect of reviving the Trade into Muscovy abundance of Ships making use of this Harbour for that purpose at that time so that the Haven was repaired and several new Additions were made to the Town for the Conveniency of Strangers It has two Castles belonging to it one on this side of the River and the other on the opposite Shoar in a Peninsula made by the River Nerva It is called Ivanovogorod and was built there by the Muscovites upon a Rock so inaccessible that it was judged Impregnable and was not taken by the Swedes till in the Year 1617. when Gustavus Adolphus made himself Master of it At the
by the Tartars carried it by Storm and thereby became Master of the whole Kingdom of Casan About two Years after he marched against the Nagajan Tartars bordering to the South upon those of Casan and having in the Year 1554 on the first day of August taken by Assault Astra Chan the Capital of the Province he also reduced that Kingdom under his Subjection By what accident he got into the Possession of the vast Country of Siberia which has since proved one of the most profitable to the Czars of Muscovy by which they have opened themselves a way into China as has been related before in the Description of that Province In the Year 1558. he turned his victorious Arms again Livonia where having ravaged the Bishoprick of Derpt and Virland he made himself Master of the Cities of Narva and of Toopator-Derpt So that the Livonians not being able alone to resist his Power and being put into Despair by the most horrid Cruelties exercised upon them by the Muscovites and especially against Furstenbergh the Master of their Order they were forced to submit themselves some under the Protection of Sweden the rest under the Crown of Poland In the Year 1570 he sent a very numerous Army under the Command of Maynus Duke of Holstein to besiege the City of Revel in Livonia but the City being assisted by the Swedes under whose Protection they were forced him to raise the Siege And when he attacked it a second time in the Year 1577 he met with no better Success And in the Year 1581 the Swedish General Pontus de la Guarde recovered the City of Narva from the Muscovites He was at first also very successful against the Poles till Stephen Battori Prince of Transylvania and elected King of Poland not only recovered all the Places he had taken from that Crown before but also obliged him to make a Peace in the Year 1582 by virtue of which he relinquished all his Pretensions to that part of Livonia which had put it self under the Protection of the King of Poland In the Year 1571 the Crim-Tartars also made a great Irruption into Muscovy destroying all with Fire and Sword and at last burnt the City of Musco As the first Years of his Reign were attended with Victories abroad so at home he ruled for some time with a great deal of Mildness and by the outward Shew of his Piety made his Subjects conceive all the Hopes that could be of a prosperous Reign For he would go frequently to Church say the Service himself sing and never fail to be present at any Ecclesiastical Ceremonies nay sometimes execute the Functions of Monks and Priests himself Which without Question was it that mis-led Paulus Jovius into that Mistake when he calls him a good and devout Christian For it will sufficiently appear in the Sequel of this History that he abused both God and Men and that his pretended Piety was only intended to gain the Popular Applause which he both effected and stood in need of and to cover his most horrid Designs against such of the Nobility as he was afraid would not submit without Reluctancy to the Yoak he intended to put upon their Necks He began to give the first Proofs of his cruel Disposition in the Year 1560 when having acquired a vast Reputation both at home and abroad by the great Success of his Arms against the Tartars Livonians and Poles he thought this the most convenient Time to put in Execution his Design of making himself the sole and absolute Master of this vast Empire His Grandfather had laid the first Foundation of this Maxim which was followed by his Son Basili the Father of John Basilovitz to wit To suppress the antient Nobility by despoiling them not only of their Castles and Strong Holds but also of their Estates But this Tyrant looking upon these Means as insufficient resolved by putting to death all the Great Men in the Kingdom whom he found in the least contrary to his Design to secure to himself the Arbitrary Disposal of this great Empire He made the first Beginning with one Demetrius Owezinovitz His Cruelties a Man of great Parts among the Russians Being therefore willing to be rid of him he invited him one Evening to Supper with a great deal of seeming Friendship where they drunk very merrily so that Demâ—trius began to be overcome by the Strength of the Liquor which the Tyrant perceiving and believing this to be a fit Opportunity to put his Design in Execution he drank to him a great Bowl-full of Strong Hydromel which he obliged Demetrius to pledge to his the Great Duke's Health but it being impossible for him to drink above half of it the Great Duke angrily told him That since he was so unmannerly as to refuse to drink his Health in his Presence he might get down into his Wine-Cellar where he should drink it at his own Leisure Demetrius being very willing to obey went without Reluctancy down into the Cellar where by the secret Orders of the Tyrant he was suffocated In the same manner he caused to be either secretly slain or suffocated several Persons of Eminent Quality without any Body's daring to enquire into their Death till at last the Patriarch and the other Prelates in Conjunction with some of the boldest among the Nobility having represented to him the Enormities of his Actions he seemed for some small Time to have changed his cruel Sentiments into a more mild Disposition The better to confirm them in this Opinion he got it spread abroad that he intended to abdicate the Empire and to retire into a Monastery And soon after having called together the Nobility he told them That since he had two Sons whom he intented to make his Successors he would recommend them to their Care That he did not question but they would not only pay them due Allegiance but also assist them with their Counsel and good Advice That for his part he intended to build himself a Monastery near the City of Musco where he would be ready at hand to give his Directions in Matters of any Moment Having thus cajoll'd them into a good Opinion he caused a very large Building to be erected surrounded with a strong Wall which he endowed with considerable Revenues for the Maintenance of such as were to abide with him there and to lead as he pretended a Monastick Life but in effect to serve as an Encouragement to such as he intended to employ in the Execution of his cruel Designs For after he had settled himself with his Gang in this Castle he used under pretence of Preferment to send such of his Nobles as he intended to sacrifice to his Ambition into some distant Province or another as Governors whither after some Time he would command some of his Soldiers under such Officers as were before-hand engaged to execute his Orders to the Place where the Fact was to be perpetrated under pretence of changing the Garrison where
pursuant to which Resolution the Place surrendred it self upon very honourable Terms which were however but very ill observed by Zuski who contrary to his Oath caused several of the Chief Officers of the Garrison to be hang'd and the Brave Polutnich and the Cunning Schacopski to be cast into a loathsome Prison where they both vvere miserably Famish'd to death The Cosacks that had hitherto stood firm to the Interest of Demetrius having had no Intelligence of his Approach consequently looking upon his Cause as desperate embraced the Party of Zuski who being overjoyed at the Conquest of Thula and the Accession of so considerable a Force ordered his Army in Conjunction with these Cosacks to form the Siege of Caluga the strongest Place as yet in the Possession of the Demetrians The Army was scarce sat down before the Place when a Rumour being spread among the Cosacks that Demetrius at the Head of an Army was arrived at Staradub they began to mutiny first and having drawn some of the Muscovites into their Party the whole Army upon the News spread industriously by the Cosacks that Demetrius was advancing to fight them was possessed with so panick a Fear that without the least Order Zuski's Army dispersed they at Midnight left their Tents Cannon and Baggage every one making the best of his Way to the City of Musco where they brought the first News to Zuski of their imaginary Defeat and the Flight of his Army without being pursued by any body The Cosacks and their Party being thus left absolute Masters of the whole Camp at the first Break of Day did not fail to give notice of what had happened to the Inhabitants of Caluga and that Demetrius was arrived at Staradub but these looking upon it as a Stratagem and a Contrivance of the Cosacks to catch them in a Trap at first answered them with Fire and Ball till upon their reiterated Assurances that the Muscovites were fled and their offering Hostages as Pledges of what they had related to them to be Truth they sent out some of the Officers of the Garrison into the Camp who at their Return having confirm'd what they had been assur'd of before by the Cosacks they soon open'd their Gates and having shar'd the Booty found in the Camp with them they entred triumphantly into the City After they had bestow'd a few days in rejoicing and refreshing themselves the Cosacks with part of the Garrisonâ— to the Number of Ten thousand marched from thence to the Camp of Demetrius near Staradub where having rejoiced him with the unexpected News of the Relief of Caluga they were received with great Demonstrations of his Royal Favour and vast Promises of ample Rewards after his Recovery of the Throne Thus whilst Zuski was repenting himself of his fatal Error of having receiv'd into his Army so considerable a Number of his Enemies Troops Demetrius encreased in Strength every day The Reputation of what had happen'd before Caluga and his being join'd by the Cosacks made such lively Impressions upon the Minds of the Muscovites that many of them were â—or siding with the most fortunate and the Poles and Lithuanians bordering upon Muscovy being enticed by the Hopes of Reward and Booty flock'd in great Numbers to his Camp so that seeing himself in a Capacity to encounter his Enemies he march'd in quest of them and having found Misinowski the Muscovian General advantageously posted at a strong Pass he nevertheless attack'd him so furiously that he entirely routed them The Zuskians routed killing near Ten thousand upon the Spot besides a great number of Prisoners among whom was their General Matthew Misinowski himself This Victory gained such a Reputation to Demetrius that the whole Province of Severia with some other adjacent Places readily submitted to his Obedience acknowledging him for their true and undoubted Sovereign and promising to furnish his Army with all manner of Necessaries But the Poles being more especially encourag'd by this Success to pursue their Revenge to the Destruction of Zuski sent considerable Supplies to back the Pretensions of Demetrius Duke Roman Rosinski sent a good Body of chosen Horse under the Command of his Friend Walareski Adam Wisnowiski Charlinski Mielski and several other Lords of the first Quality in Poland soon after joined him with such Troops as they had raised in their respective Countries besides that a new Body of 8000 Cosacks upon the first News of his Victory had declared for him and taken service among his Troops Not long after Duke Rosinski being also arrived in the Camp was by the Consent of the Polish Lords and other Principal Officers declared General of the whole Army Basili-Zuski had in the mean while applied all his Care in getting ready his Recruits and making new Levies throughout the whole Empire with an Intention to bring so formidable an Army into the Field as to be able to stop the further Progress of his Enemy For this end having formed an Army of above a Hundred and fifty thousand Men and declared his Brother Demetrius Zuski General he ordered him to march directly towards the Poles and fight them wherever he met them Pursuant to these Orders the Zuskian Army march'd towards the City of Bolchow where having fix'd their Tents within sight of the Enemy some Days were spent in Skirmishes whilst the Generals of both Parties watch'd their Opportunity of Deciding their Quarrel by a Battel to the best Advantage It was not long before they found it being equally eager of Engaging For as I said before scarce had they lain thus encamp'd a few days but they saw the Zuskians early in the Morning drawing out to put themselves in Battle Array having detach'd a Body of their best Horse to possess themselves of some advantageous Posts near to the Demetrian Camp which these have soon been advertised of by their Parties that were abroad to observe the Motion of the Enemy they with all speed sent also a Body of their best Horse to engage the Muscovites and to maintain those advanced Posts till they could be sustained by some of their Infantry The Polish Horse engaged the Muscovites with so much Bravery that after an Engagement of an Hour they forced them to quit those Posts whilst the whole Army was putting in Order of Battle having taken the Advantage of the same Ground which the Muscovites intended to have made use of against them The Muscovites being bassled in their first Enterprize however did not lose Courage as trusting to their Number and Demetrius Zuski their General at the Head of them left nothing unattempted which might encourage his Soldiers to fight bravely against the sworn Enemies of their Country He told them That a great part of the Demetrian Army was composed out of Vagabonds and Rebels whom they had seen fly before them so often of late and who now puffed up with their late Success near Caluga more to be attributed to their Treachery and a Luckâ—y Chance than their
bravery had once more the Impudence to look them in the Face hurried on by their ill Destiny to receive the Reward of their Treacheries from their Hands That the rest were Poles the Hereditary Enemies of their Country and Religion unto whom must be ascribed all the Evils and Mischiefs which had befaln their Empire for these several Years last past That this insolent Nation not being contented to have once before involved their Country in Blood and Confusion by setting up an Impostor instead of the true Demetrius slain at Ugletz were now upon the point of Imposing upon them a Second in order to dispose of the Throne of Muscovy at their Pleasure to enslave their Country and to root out the true ancient Greek Religion He represented to them how inglorious nay ignominious it would be to the whole Russian Nation who had extended their Conquests over most of the neighbouring Countries to receive Laws from the Poles who had conspired their Ruin and Destruction That therefore they being to expect nothing but Misery from their mortal Enemies they must look for their Deliverance in their own Courage with a Resolution not to out-live that Day which if lost would put an End to all the Glory purchased by their Ancestors to their own Felicity and that of all their Posterity Rosinski on the other hand the Demetrian General was not wanting to enflame the Courage of his Soldiers by representing to them That the Muscovites which they saw before them were the Remnants of those whom they had so often beaten with a much less number witness their late Engagement with Misinowski whom to their eternal Glory they had droven from his advantageous Post notwithstanding the inequality of their number That therefore they should not be startled at their Enemies who tho much more numerous were for the most part an undisciplin'd Rabble terrible only in outward Appearance the rest who so lately had experience of their invincible Courage scarce daring to look their Conquerours in the face He desired them to remember the Slaughter of that Countrymen in cold Blood against all the Laws of Hospitality by that very same Rabble whom they were now going to Engage that their Blood crying for Vengeance they had now the fairest Opportunity in the World to take the most ample Satisfaction from those barbarous Wretches and to punish them for their Cruelties He concluded That they ought to consider that the Conquest of whole Muscovy depended upon the points of their Swords and that one day's labour would put them into Possession of a vast Empire and all the Riches and Treasure of their Enemies be the Reward of the Victory Rosinski finding a great eagerness in his Soldiers to Engage led them on straight to the Enemy whom they attack'd with an unparallell'd Bravery and forced them several times to shrink before the daring Poles but being continually reâ—â—forced with fresh Supplies they maintain'd theâ— Ground in spite of the Bravery of the Demetrians so that the Success of the Battle remain'd doubtful for a great part of the Day But it is to be observed that the Cosacks in the same manner as Zaporius did some years before when he fought Hodwen the Borisian General had placed all their Boys and other Attendants belonging to the Baggage with some Soldiers enough to make up a Front at some distance behind the Line of Battle these upon a Signal agreed betwixt them advanc'd during the heat of the Battle with their Colours flying Drums beating and Trumpets sounding which the Muscovites who were already scarce able to sustain the Fury of the Poles having perceived and believing it to be a Body of Reserve coming to attack them afresh they began to give Ground which the Polish Horse being sensible of they renew'd the Charge with so much Bravery that in less than an Hours time they forced the Muscovian Cavalry to quit the Field in great disorderâ— Zuski's Army entirely routed The Infantry being thus exposed both in Front and Flank were soon put to an entire Rout with a great Slaughter being bereav'd of their Horse to cover their Retreat so that out of this vast Army there were not five hundred left that quitted the Field in a Body except five thousand who saved themselves in the City of Belchow but were in a few days after forced to surrender at discretion to Demetrius who falling into the same Error as Zuski did before with the Cosacks took them into Pay and received the same Reward from their hands as we shall see anon Demetrius being by so signal a Victory become Master of the Field and the whole Camp Cannon and Baggage of the Enemy what wonder if all the adjacent Places followed the Fortune of the Conquerour unto whom they opened their Gates without the least Opposition unless it were Moâ—â—â—sko and two or three more who had Courage enough to make some shew of Resistance but at the approach of the Victorious Army surrendred also at Discretion Having thus opened his way to the Capital City of Musco he directed his March thither not questioning but that the Terror of his last Victory would have so strong an influence over the disheartned Citizens as to make them open their Gates at his first arrival before the City It is nâ— difficult thing to imagine that the Loss of so vast an Army on which seem'd to depend the Fate of the whole Empire must needs put that City upon the approach of the Conquerour into such a Consternation as is not easie to be express'd But besides the presence of their Great Duke Basili Zuski who in this extremity of his Affairs was not wanting by all means possible to inspire Courage into his dejected Subjects there were two thingâ— which contributed not a little to the Resolution ofâ— the Citizens to adhere to Zuski to the last Extremity The first was That Demetrius in lieu of Marching directly to the City of Musco trifled aâ— way his Time in the more Northern Provinceâ— where the Poles rambling up and down the Country were often intercepted by the Muscovites who in the mean while had leisure given them to recover themselves out of their first Fright and to take such measures as were most suitable to the present Condition of their Affairs The second was the Perfidiousness of these five thousand Musâ—â—vites who after their Surrender at Bolchow hadâ— taken Service under Demetrius and now having watch'd their Opportunity left him again and went over to Zuski unto whom they gave an Account of the whole Condition of the Army assuring him that the Poles were not near so formidable nor numerous as represented to them by Fame and that it would be no difficult matter foâ— the City to defend it self against them till beâ—â—â— reinforced with fresh Supplies out of the more 〈◊〉 mote Provinces of the Kingdom they might meet with a more favourable Opportunity to remove them from their Walls This relation and the delays of Demetrius haveing put new Courage
into the frighted Citiâ—â—ns it was resolved with what Forces they could assemble in haste to post themselves in a very advantageous Place on the borders of the Province of Severia thereby to cut off all Communication betwixt the Poles and the Southern Provinces of Muscovy bordering on Lithuania from whence they must be supplied with Men and all other Necessaries for the carrying on of the War The Poles were not a little staâ—tled at this vigorous Refolution of the Muscovites whom they believed to have been lost past all recovery but having no other way left them to secure their Retreat and to keep open the communication with their own Country than their Swords they resolved to make an Amends for their ill Conduct by their Bravery Having therefore drawn back their Army from the more Northern Parts to the South side of the City of Musco they march'd to the Frontiers of Severia where having with a most gallant Resolution either to vanquish or to die The Muscovites defeated attack'd those Forces in their advantageous Post they put them to the rout and thus having opened their Passage they pitch'd their Tents near the City of Tusin betwixt the two Rivers Tusin and Moska which in a manner surrounded and secur'd their Camp Being now become more and more sensible of their Error Musco block'd up by Demetrius in having neglected to make themselves Masters before of so advantageous a Post which in all likelihood would have prov'd fatal to that City during the first Consternation they by frequent Excursions endeavoured to repair their first Fault by which they so enclosed the Citizens within their Walls that scarce a Man durst appear at any distance from the Town The Inhabitants seeing themselves thus reduced to great Scarcity as being very near quite shut up by the frequent Excursions of the Poles and seeing themselves in no Capacity at present to drive them from their advantageous Post it was resolved to try whether by certain Proposals of Peace they might not disunite the Poles in the Camp of Demetrius They had ever since the last Massacre of the Poles detained the Polish Ambassadors and the Weywodâ— of Sendomiria with his Daughter the Great Dutchess Marina Prisoners and as they did not question that they were very desirous of their Liberty so they believ'd they might make use of them as fit Instruments to encompass their Design It was not the Reconciliation with the Poles they aim'd at but knowing the Nature of the Poles to be unstable they hoped by this Artifice to 〈◊〉 time at least till the arrival of those Supplieâ— which were raising for their Relief in the Northern Provinces by Knez Basili Masalski a near Kâ—â—man to the Great Duke Basili Zuski To obtain this end a Treaty of Peace was proposed to the Polish Ambassadors and the Wey wode of Sendomiria and that in the mean while to remove all Obstacles a Cessation of Arms should be agrreed on for a certain Time The Wey wode of Sendomiria being very willing to lay hold of this Opportunity to free himself from his Captivity sent one of his best Friends into the Camp of Demetrius to make these Proposals and in case of Refusal to endeavour to perswade the Poles to separate themselves from Demetrius and to cease from committing any Hostilities which in all likelihood might prove an obstacâ—e to the Conclusion of the Peace and consequently to his Liberty But the Poles in the Demetrian Camp not measuring their Interest by that of the Weywode but by the Success of Demetrius from whence they hoped to reap the fruits of their past Labours were so 〈◊〉 from hearkning to these Propositions that they would not as much as enter upon the least Coâ—merce of a Treaty unless it were granted as a Preliminary Article That Demetrius should be immediately restored to the Throne and the Vsurper Zuski to be delivered up into their hands The Muscovites finding themselves disappointed in their Expectation had no other Means left to secure themselves but to repel Force with Force For which end having dispatch'd frequent Messengers to Basili Masalski whom we mention'd before to hasten to their Relief he pursuant to the reiterated Orders from Court march'd with his Army which consisted of near fourscore thousand Men towards the City of Musco where having entrenched himself upon the Banks of the River Chodiunka about a League from the City he hop'd to meet with a favourable Opportunity to dislodge the Demetrians or at least to annoy them and hinder their frequent Excursions But Roâ—inski who was not insensible of the Inconveniencies which must needs be occasion'd by the nearness of so great an Army to his Camp resolved to beat up their Quarters with the first Opportunity For which purpose he drew his Army out of the Lines unperceiv'd of the Enemy by favour of the Night The Zuâ—kiâ—n Army roâ—ted and having approach'd the Enemies Camp over-secure in their Number and nearness to the City attack'd them in their Entrenchments with such Fury that in a few hours they kill'd near Twenty thousand upon the Place the rest escaping to the City leaving among the Prisoners their General in the Hands of the Enemy The Poles who had purchased so signal a Victory with the loss of very few of their Men had almost dearly paid for it at last For having dispersed themselves all over the Fields without the least Order or any Guard to secure them and being thus engaged in the Pillage of the dead Bodies and the Enemies Camp the Muscovites at break of day having been advertised of the Disorder they were in â—â—lly'd their scattered Troops Kally again and being reinforced with fresh Supplies out of the City return'd to the Charges and renewing the Combat fell every where upon the victorious Poles before they had time to put themselves in a Posture of receiving the Enemy so that there was nothing but Disorder Confusion and Slaughter to be seen all over the Field and the Muscovites were upon the point of snatching the Victory out of the Hands of their Conquerours who began to prepare to save themselves by Flight had it not been for their Generals who coming in timely with a small Body of Horse to their Assistance both by their Words and Example encouraged them either to vanquish or to die They appear'd in every place where they found their Presence most necessary to animate the Soldiers opprest by the Number of their Enemies they told them that being surrounded on all sides they must put all their Hopes of Relief on the Points of their Swords they represented to them how ignominious it would be to be routed by those they had so lately vanquish'd and to suffer themselves to be robb'd of the Fruits of their Victory so that partly out of Shame partly out of Despair they first began to make good their Ground and then being animated with Revenge they fell with such fury upon the Muscovites The Zuskians
Tumult no body knowing what Resolution to take some being for going to Sigismund others for following Demetrius and a third Party siding with neither being uncertain what side to chuse The general Complaint was against Rosinski by whose Perfidiousness they said Demetrius had been forced to quit the Camp whereby the Soldiers should be deprived of the Reward of their Blood and Labours Marina taking advantage from their Animosities and Irresolution appear'd among them like another Amazon and with the Charms of her Words and Looks transported them beyond all bounds She spoke to all she met and calling such of the Commanders as she knew by their Names Is it possible said she that you can be so over-seen as to flatter your self into a Belief that Sigismund will trouble himself to reward the Services done to another It is from the Great Duke Demetrius you ought to expect your Stipend and the full Reward of all your past Labours It is out of the Immense Treasure of the Russian Empire and the prodigious Riches gathered by the present Vsurper and the Plunder of the rebellious Muscovites you ought to be recompensed for your undaunted Courage All these if you persist in your faithfulness to Demetrius will be at your Disposal in a little Time for you may rest assured that he will think no Recompence too great for those to whose Fidelity and Courage he shall be Indebted for his Crown These Words were like Fuel added to a raging Flame for a great many of the Soldiers but especially the Cosacks declared they would follow the Fortunes of Demetrius and began to pack up their Baggage in order to their departure Rosinski having in vain endeavoured to disswade them from their Resolution caused the Trumpets to be sounded being resolved with a strong Body of Polish Horse to stop their Passage But these persisting both Parties had recourse to Arms the Cosacks endeavouring to break through the Polish Horse so that a bloody Conflict ensued the Cosacks fighting like Lions and the Poles having the Advantage of their Horses the greatest part of the Cosacks opened their way with their Swords and marched without any further Opposition directly to Demetrius at Caluga some few ran over to the Muscovites in the City the rest with their Commander in Chief Zarucki were forced to Retreat into the Camp till a more favourable Opportunity should present There were near two thousand kill'd in this Engagement on both sides Marina during this Confusion seeing she had effected what she proposed to herself being disguised in Man's Apparel and fearing lest Rosinski should be outragious to her if she stay'd till the Engagement was over she attended only by a few trusty Cosacks and one Maid made her Escape and got safe to her Husband at Caluga Before her departure she writ a Letter which she left in trusty Hands to be communicated after her departure to the Soldiery wherein she inveighed in most bitter Terms against Rosinski telling them that neither her Husband nor she being able any longer to resist the Insolence of the perfidious Rosinski had been forced to seek for shelter at Caluga that for her part nothing should have induced her to leave the Camp in that Distraction if it had not been to save her Honour her Fame and her Life That she did not question but that the Great God the avenger of all Wrongs would in due time punish the flagitious Perfidy of Rosinski and his Adherents and reward the fidelity of those who remain'd constant to their Vows and Promises to Demetrius from whom they might assure themselves of all they could reasonably desire after the recovery of his Throne by their Assistance The Words of this Epistle being read to the Soldiery sounded in their Ears no otherwise than an Alarm Bell every one ran to his Arms and the General Rosinski saw his Tent surrounded in an instant with whole Troops of threatning Soldiers Is it thee cry'd they Rosinski that hast by thy Villanies and Insolence forced the injured Marina to follow her Husband â—Is it thee that by thy Perfideousness hast betray'd us to rob us of the due Rewards of our Labours Either restore us our Prince or be sure thou shalt not escape the hands of Justice They had no sooner spoke these Words but they made several shots with their Pistols at him so that seeing himself in the utmost danger he made his escape into another Quarter The revolted Party â—hose immediately oâ—e Tiskevitz for their General decâ—â—â—ing publickly that they would follow their old Loâ—d Demetrius and cut all in pieces that should oppose them But by the Authority and Vigilance of their new General and the rest of their Chief Officers they were appeased for that time But not many days were past when it having been spread about the Camp as it is believed by some of Demetrius's Messengers that it was not safe to tarry longer there in the â—ight of an Enemy who questionless would improve these Divisions and Animosities to his Advantage and if not prevented by their sudden Retreat make himself a bloody Arbitrator of their Intestine Dissensions The consideration of so imminent a Danger raised the Fury of the Soldiers to the highest pitch who cry'd out aloud that Rosinski intended to sacrifice them to his Ambition and that they would begone immediately and so they fell to packing up their Baggage But it having been wisely considered that if they should march out in separate Bodies the Enemy might easily intercept their Passage or at least be very troublesome to them in their March wherefore it was resolved by mutual Consent to keep together till they came to Volock where every body should be at his disposal to take what way he found most convenient for his Purpose According to this Resolution The Demetrian Campbroke up they set Fire to their Camp which for the regularity of its Streets variety of Structures and all other Conveniencies resembled rather a great City than a Camp all which being sâ—on consumed by the Flames they marched in good Order with their Cannon Bag and Baggage to the abovementioned Place where Rosinski and Zlarowski with some thousand Horse and the remnants of the Cosacks having declared for King Sigismund Sapiha with all his Men and such others as were resolved to follow the Fortune of Demetrius directed their March to Caluga where they were received with all the demonstrations of Joy their Fidelity deserved The Muscovites in the City had sufficient Information of the Dissentions that reign'd in the Camp which they fomented under hand keeping themselves close within their Walls all this while for fear if they should attack them they might become sensible of their Error and by the common danger that threatned them be re-united for their mutual Security which succeeded so well that they saw the same puissant Army which had given Laws to the whole Empire for the space of two Years and reduced the Capital City it self to the last Extremity
so that notwithstanding the considerable Accession of these Troops the Muscovites found Means â—o pen them up closer every day and at last to cut of their Communication with the Country by perfecting their Lines on the other side of the River Mâ—sca The Sapihan Horse consisting of four thousand Men seeing themselves in danger of being enclosed without any Hopes of Relief and unwilling to lose the Treasure they had got so lately in their possession declared unanimously that they were resolved not to endure any longer the Dangers and Fatigues of a close Siege without the least Prospect of Success on their side and that they would follow the Example of â—he rest who were some months before marched into Poland Accordingly having chosen one John Zalinski their Commander in Chief they march'd out with all the Crown-Jewels in their Possession and having with great Bravery foâ—ced the Enemy's Lines march'd directly into Lithuania setting up their Head Quarters at Bresla and treading the Footsteps of their Brethren in the Lesser Poland took up their Quarters in the neighbouring Palatinates where they liv'd at discretion upon the King 's Domains and the Ecclesiastical Revenues till their Arrears were paid King Sigismund was by this time become sensible of his fatal Error in not sending his Son Vladislaus into Muscovy especially when the Polish Nobility exasperated by the Insolencies of the confederate Forces in the Lesser Poland and Lithuania began to break out into open Complaints charging the King with the Causes of all these Disordeâ—s which might have been prevented if he had not preferr'd the Insinuations of his flattering Courtiers before the wholesom Advice of his Senate and his most experienced Officers To repaâ—r therefore if possible his former Miâ—â—ake he resolved to bring Vladislaus thither in Person at the â—â—ad of a good Army and having assembled what Forces he had in Readiness march'd directly to Vilna the Capital City of Lithuania Siâ—â—â—mund mâ—rches to the Relief of Musco expecting to be join'd there by the Confederate Forces by reason of their great Zeal for the Interest of their Prince Vladislaus But these having once tasted the Sweets of their pâ—entiful Quarters and having yet in fresh Remembrance their late Fatigues sustain'd in the Castle of Musco were not for changing their present plentiful Condition for the Toâ—â— and Chances of War so that when the King oâ—der'd them to prepare for the March they unanimously declar'd that they would not stir unless they receiv'd full Satisfaction for their Arrears The King tho' disappointed in the Assistance of those Troops in which he confided most having receiv'd a Reinforcement of two thousand German Foot directed his March towards Smolensko where by the Accession of those Forces that Quarter'd thereabouts he hop'd to be in a Condition to attempt the Relief of his Subjects within the Castle of the City of Musco But the same Evil Genius which had alienated the Confederate Forces from his Service did follow him to Smolensko For the Horse in those Parts after the Example of their Brethren in Lithuania and Poland declar'd that they would not stir out of their Quarters till their Arrears were paid them King Sigismund wanting Money to satisfie their Demands and Strength to reduce them to Obedience was fain to have Recourse to Entreaties and Promises not only of their Arrears but also of vast Rewards but these verbal Temptations not making the least Impression upon the Souldiers the King declar'd that if they all refus'd to follow him he would in Person at the Head of his Guards only march to the Relief of his Subjects in Muscovy Some of the Horse overcome with Shame and the Perswasions of their Officers who upbraided them with Cowardice and want of Loyalty being at last prevail'd upon not to leave the King at this critical Juncture Sigismund resolv'd to prosecute his March to Viasna mid-way betwixt Smolensko and the City of Musco I had almost forgot to have mention'd here an Accident that hapned to the King at the time of his marching out of one of the Gates of Smolensko which is call'd the Kings Gate the same was interpreted as an inauspicious Omen to Sigismund For it hapned that just at the same Instant as he was to go thro' the abovemention'd Gate the Portcullice fell down and stopp'd his Passage so that he was forced to â—urn back and take another Way to Viasna where he halted expecting to be join'd by some other Forces that were quarter'd in the neighbouring Provinces Whilst the King who was always dilatory in his Affairs was advancing with slow Marches towards the City of Musco the Russians had pressed on the Siege of the Castle with more Vigour than before and having perfected their Lines on all sides and fortified them with Redoubts at convenient distances and reduc'd the Poles within to great Straights who for want of a sufficient Number of Foot were no longer able to maintain their Works much lest to hinder the Appâ—oaches of the Enemy However they supplied the Defect of their Foot by the Service of their Horse who during the whole Summer notwithstanding all the Passages were fortified and guarded by the Muscovites at several times broke thro' their Lines and brought in Provisions for the Garrison But these Supplies being brought in so small Quantities as not to bear any proportion with the Necessities of the Soldiers who were at last reduced to extream Want Chodkievitski resolv'd to make his last Effort and to try whether he could not by the same Way of the River which he had made use of before bring in a Supply of five hundred Waggons laden with all manner of Provisions into the Castle For which purpose having order'd a Sally to be made with the greatest part of the Horse and all the Foot within the Castle they by break of day forced the Guards of the Muscovites on the other side of the River Mosca to facilitate the Passage of their Convoy which they met at some diâ—tance from the Town But they advancing very â—lowly by reason of the great Number of Waggons the Muscoviteâ— had sufficient Leisure given them to draw the greatest part of their Forces out on that side so that at their Return they were warmly received by the whole Power of the Muscovites who knowing the Fate of the Siege to depend from the Success of this days Action fought with great Obstinancy The Polish Horse induced by the same Motives fought like Men resolved to conquer or to dy and notwithstanding the great Inequality of their Number had brought the Muscovian Horse into Confusion and would in all likelihood have carried the Day if they had been duly seconded by their Foot commanded by Strusius But he being a near Kinsman and Creature of Potocki Poles beaten by the Muscovites who as we mentioned before look'd with an ill Eye upon the Advancement of Chodkievitski under pretence of guarding the Convoy of Provisions advanced so slowly to the Rescue of the Horse
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
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
other publick Buildings This Man being entrusted with a Commission of so large an Extent did abuse his Trust to the great oppression of the People For there was no Extortion so great which he was not ready to undertake He would receive Presents from both Parties and afterwards leave them in the lurch But not content with this his common Practice was to suborn false Witnesses whose employment was to bring in Charges against such of the Citizens of Musco as he knew to be rich enough to redeem themselves out of his Persecutions For whenever they fell into his hands he did not fail by imprisoning and other violent and oppressive Methods to oblige them to purchase their Liberty and his Favour with the ruine of their Fortunes He had a Brother-in-Law whose name was Peter Tichonovits Trochanistou one of those whom in Muscovy they call Ocolnits who are one degree under the Boyars who are chosen out of their Number Him they had made President of the Puskarskoy Pricas and consequently had the oversight over all the Great Duke's Founders Furbishers Cannoneers Armourers Smiths and Carpenters who wrought to the Arsenal These Mechanicks were usually paid once a Month according to the Custom of Mâ—â—covy where Payments are made with greater Exactness than in any other Part of Europe instead of which he used to keep them in Arrears for many Months together and in the mean while to make use of their Money to his own Advantage and when he had thus droven them to extremity to foice them to compound for half or what they could get and to give Acquittance for the whole Sum. Miloslauski and Morosou play'd the same Game in their several Stations not only by selling at an excessive Rate all the Employments in the Kingdom but also by procuring Monopolies which ruined the Trade of the whole Empire Among others they had got a Patent for one of their own Gang prohibiting the further use of the common Ells hitherto used in Muscovy but instead of that to make use of certain Iron ones with the Great Duke's Mark upon them on purpose to oblige the People to buy the latter at the Price of a Crown per Piece whereas they used to buy the others at 8 or 10 d. a Piece whereby a necessity being laid upon the whole Kingdom of having them from the Patentees at their own Price they gathered a vast Sum of Money without giving any Account of it to the Great Duke's Treasury They had also found out another Invention to raise the Price of Salt from twenty to thirty Pence per Measure containing about forty Pound Weight This proved a heavy Burthen to the People and of no Advantage to the Great Duke For the dearness of the Salt had hindred the Sale of it so that â—bundance of Fish being lost for want of Salting the Great Duke's Revenue suffered by it upon a double Account The Inhabitants of Musco had enjoyed the Fruits of a very quiet and mild Government under the Reign of his late Czarish Majesty who being a Prince of incomparable Clemency endeavoured thro' the whole course of his Reign to make the Government easie to his Subjects who had so long groan'd under the Calamities of their civil Diâ—tensions so that finding themselves thus oppressed beyond all measure they could not brook this sudden Change without shewing publickly their Resentments The Muscovites seldom or never make their Cabâ—s over the Bottle they do not look upon strong Liquor to be a suitable Companion for those who intend to treat of States Affairs they make use of their Hydromel and Aqua vitae according to it's primitive and genuine Institution to exhilerate the Mind and drive away Cares As they are the greatest Zealots in the World so they begin commonly their States Reformations a Jove after they have been at Divine Service Here it was the Chief Citizens used to meet and to utter their Complaints against the Oppressions which they groaned under by the Mismanagement of the Ministers of State and resolved at last to Petition the Great Duke for a Redress of their Grievances But the main difficulty was who among them all durst be so venturesome as to deliver the Petitiâ—â— so that no body being willing to undertake that Task a certain day was appointed to give it to the Great Duke himself with joint Consent as he should come out of the Castle to go to his Devotion They were as yet not so bold as to dare to attempt any thing against Morosou by reason of his near Alliance to the Great Dutchess tho' they knew him to be the main Istrument of these Calamities they suffered but their Petition was for the present chiefly levell'd against Lepont Stepanovits Plessou who by his most barbarous Exactions being become insupportable to them they desired that he might be removed from his Office and his Place be supplied by some Person of known Integrity of whom the People might expect more Justice They had watched several Opportunities to deliver it to the Prince himself as he was going to his Devotions or Divertisements but in vain for the Boyars who attended his Person had always took it from them telling them that they would make a Report of it to the Great Duke but this being done according to the Instructions received from Morosou the Petition was not as much as answered much less their Grievances redressed This hapning so often that they found themselves absolutely mistaken in their whole Expectation it was resolved that they should meet together and inspite of all the Opposition from the Boyars make their Complaints to the Great Duke by way of Mouth The sixth of July in the Year 1648 was pitch'd upon as a day fit for the execution of their Design when they knew the Great Duke was to be present at a Procession to be made to a Monastery in the City called Stertenski The People were got early together in the Morning in the great Market-place before the Castle to see him and his Cavalcade pass by as they were wont to do upon such like Occasions But whether it was that they did not think themselves strong enough other that their Leaders were not present they did not make the least Signs of dissatisfaction at his going to the Monastery But at his return they broke through those that attended the Great Duke came up to him stay'd him and taking hold of his Horses Bridle intreated him to take their present Case into his Consideration to hearken to the just Complaints of his Subjects concerning the Injustices and Violences committed by Plessou desiring that a Person of known Integrity might be put in his Place who should better discharge so great a Trust The Great Duke was not a little startled at this unexpected procedure of the populace but dissembling both his Surprize and Resentment he spoke to them with a very chearful Countenance telling them that he was much troubled to understand the Grievances of his good Subjects occasioned by the
should be less dilatory and Criminals to be Examined and Judged by the Governours of the Provinces with their Assistants whereas most of the Criminals were before that time brought to Musco with no less Trouble to the Prisoners than Charge to the Czar He was a great Admirer of Monarchy and a Patron of the English as on the other hand Bogdan Matfeilt always was a secret Enemy both to Nashockin and the English but a great Friend of the Dutch who used to purchase his Favour by great Presents This Bogdan was bred up with the Czar from a Child and was much of the same Age. He was Lord High Sreward of the Houshold having in his disposal all Domestick Affairs He used to be called the Whispering Favourite because the Czar asked his Advice oftner in his Closet than at the Councel-Board It was by his Connivance that the Jews got secretly footing in that Court and the City of Musco whereas before that time they were abominable to the Muscovites because they supplied him with handsom young Slaves out of Poland which he entertaineâ— for his Pleasure some in the Country and some in his Palace in Musco His Lady being Jealous of these Slaves shew'd her Reâ—entment at several times in so outragious a manner that her Death being resolved on she was one Night Poysoned in a Plate of Sweet-meats or as others will have it in a Glass of Wine As for the Czar Alexis Michaelovits himself he was a Person of a Majestick Deportment The Character of Alexis Michaelovits Tall incling to Fat of a Sanguine Complexion and Light Brown Hair Beautiful and Charitable but severe in his Anger of a very strong Memory strict in his Devotion and a great Favourer of his Religion in the Observance of which he was the strictest Man in the World For he never missed Divinâ— Service and if indisposed used to have it performed in his Bed-Chamber On Fast-days he would frequent Mid-night Prayers standing four or five hours together prostrating himself to the Ground During the great Fasts he would eat but three Meals a Week being contented for the rest with a piece of Brown Bread and Salt a pickled Mushroon or Cucumber and a Cup of Quas or small Mead. In short it has been observed of him that no Monk was ever more observant of the Canonical hours than he of Fasts it having been computed that he fasted above Eight Months in the Year He would also frequently appear at the Processions bare-headed and on foot and was always a declared Patron of the Muscovite Church notwithstanding which he would sometimes make bold with the Church Revenue upon Loan in time of War which he was not very careful to repay knowing that the Church Treasury which is supplied out of the best part of the Empire may now and then dispense with a Loss for the benefit of the Publick He also made an Ordinance to restrain the profuse Bounty of dying Men to the Clergy neither would he ever suffer a Monastery to be Founded without his License Every Good-Friday he used to visit in the Night all the Prisons in the City of Musco to take Personal Cognisance of all the Prisoners among whom he would buy out some that were in Debt and release others that were Criminals and bestow sometimes great Summs for the use of such as he knew to be really necessitated He would cause the Empress to do the same and to redeem yearly a certain number of Women out of Prison He ordered also at about seven or eight Miles distance from the Imperial City Work-Houses to be built for Hemp and Flax in that good Order Beauty and Capacity that they were sufficient to Employ all the poor in the Kingdom with Work having settled for that use a good many Miles of waste Lands by which he improved the Manufactury of the Country and fed his Labourers at a very cheap rate He Assign'd that part of the Building where the Women were Employ'd for the Use and Profit of the Empress He was of so mild a Temper that he seldom condemned any to Death but most commonly to the Strapado and Banishment into Siberia Being one time urg'd by some of his Foreign Officers to make it Death for any Man to Desert his Colours he answered them That he thought that would be too hard upon the poor Soldiers since it was certain that God had not given every Man an equal share of Courage Notwithstanding these his Mild and Charitable Inclinations he was of a Warlike Spirit having been Engag'd in Wars against the Poles Swedes Crim-Tartars and Turks For being sufficiently sensible of the Advantage the Poles had got during the late Intestine Commotions in Muscovy by making themselves Masters of the Provinces of Severia and Sâ—olâ—â—sko in the Possession of which they were confirmed by Virtue of the Truce made by his Father Mâ—chael Federoviâ—s after his Disgrace received at the Seige of Smolensko And the Term of the said Truce being now expired when the Poles were Engaged in a Mortal Quarrel with the Cosacks he look'd upon this Juncture as the most fabourable that could be by the Recovery of these Provinces to secure his Frontiers against so Potent a Neighbour For which purpose having settled a Correspondence with Chmielniski the then General of the Cosacks and offered them his Protection these were aâ— first very successful against the Poles of whom they killed Ten Thousand upon the spot and took from them the City of Kiovia And the Poles having drawn out a second time their whole Force against them were again miserably beaten by the Cosacks till at last having committed great Depredations in Poland King John Casimir was obliged to March in Person against them who having totally routed them they Embraced the Protection of the Great Duke Hâ—s Wâ—r with the Poles He finding himself thus strengthened by the accession of so considerable a Force did apply all his Care for the recovery of Smolensko for which purpose having brought together a great Army The Taking of Smolensko and a vast Train of Artislery he besieged the City of Smolensko in the Year 1653. and notwithstanding the Resolute Defence of the Polish Garrison made himself Master of it in the Year next following The taking of which Place was chiefly attributed to the Cosacks who upon all occasions gave the utmost proofs of their Bravery and Hatred against the Poles during this Memorable Seige Having thus opened his way into Poland he carried the Terrour of his Victorious Arms into the Great Dutchy of Lithuania he Ravaged the whole Country took many Cities and in the Year 1655. also the Capital City Takes Vilna called Vilna where as well as in other places the Muscovites committed most horrid Barbarities in Retaliation as they said of those Calamities they had suffered by the Polish Invasion during their Intestine Commotions In the same Year Charles Gustavus King of Sweden entered Poland with an Army of Chosen Men and
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