NEWES OF the present Miseries of Rushia Occasioned By the late Warre in that Countrey Commenced Betweene Sigismond now King of Poland Charles late King of Swethland Demetrius the last of that Name Emperour of Rushia Together with the Memorable occurrences of our owne Nationall Forces English and Scottes vnder the Pay of the now King of Swethland LONDON Printed for Iohn Bache and are to be sold at his shop on the backe-side of the Royall Exchange 1614. TO THE RIGHT Honorable sir Robert Carre Knight Viscont Rochester Earle of Somerset Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter and one of his Maiesties most honorable priuy Counsell IF in the great affairs of the kingdome wherein vnder our excellent Head your Lordship is worthily employed as a principall member there be any leasure left from the businesse of your high place It may then please your Lordship to cast a fauourable aspect vpon the humble Labours of such whom Fortune and their meane deseruings keepes vnder in the obscure ranke of Pouerty Amongst whom I haue presumed to write this little Booke as a Discoursiue Treatise vpon the Miseries of Russia occasioned by the late forreine and intestine warre in that Country which I haue aduentured to present vnto your Honours view if a pretious eie may looke vpon a woorthlesse obiect and it is not the meanest vertue to respect the poorest fortune for take away goodnesse from great men to whom shall the poore flee for refuge I haue therefore made bolde to shrowd it vnder the Patronage of your Honour which I wish may still transcend vntill with your high woorth it hold correspondencie And that those holy Nuptiallbands whereby you are now honourably lincked into the Noble House of Norfolke euen by the Soueraigne appointment of the most high God beyond the subordinate power of Destiny may till death proue indissoluble more hard to be vntwined then that Gordious knotte wherein lay infoulded the fate of Asia That you may liue long most happy as you are now most worthy both in your high Stile State Place Fortune and a Kings fauour Your Honors in all humble duty HENRY BRERETON The Warre and Miseries of Rushia CHAP. 1. Demetrius the last of that name after the death of his father Basilius succeeds him in the Empire he distrusteth his owne people and many of his Nobility and striues to strengthen his estate by mariage with a yong Lady neere in bloud to Sigismond king of Poland OF all the accidents that I haue read or heard of in the oppression of any State or Kingnome whatsoeuer either for the present or precedent ages there hath none in my opinion béene found so sudden strange and variable with occurrants so doubtfull and euents so fatall both to Prince and People to the inuader and the inuaded with such deuastation of Country depopulation of Townes combustion of Cities such deflowrings rauishemnts murthers and horrible treasons fire sword and famine the tragicke executioners of these miseries plots and stratagems deuised in hell by diuels and acted by men on earth as hath happened of late yéeres and is not yet concluded betwéene Sigismond nowe King of Poland Charles King of Swethland and Demetrius the last of that name called the great Duke of Muscouia or Emperour of Russia And this vnhappie countrey which before flourished in great wealth state pleasure and peaceable commerce with strangers no warre at hand nor none towards but such as no man looked for was on the sudden before a mans mind could thinke in such a case of a kingdomes alteration made the woefull Sceane and publicke stage whereon so many bloudy parts haue bene acted on all hands as haue brought wretchednesse to the people liuing and prepared misery for the child vnborne which warre well considered God neuer gaue vnto the world a more memorable example either in what vnsurety stands the state of any Kingdome or Nation that is not propt and supported by the high hand of Heauen or what miseries and calamities succéed in the progresse of such bloudy and dangerous intendments to a people so secure And finally what end followes such treasonable and despiteous crueltie as the lamentable sequell of this history shall declare You shall therefore vnderstand that Demetrius the last of that name Emperour of Rushia after the death of his father Basilius called for his stearne and austere gouernement as well by strangers as his owne naturall subiects the great Tyrant of Rushia succéeded him both in the Empire and hatred of his subiects For notwithstanding that Demetrius was a most excellent Prince framd euen in the prodigality of Nature endued with many commendable parts and hereyicke vertues in the flower of all his youth and beauty which commonly the people do much estéeme full of rich hope and expectation Yet such was the hatred they bare vnto his father that not dying with his death it liued still in his issue and proued in short time the confusion of this Prince who setting aside his haughty disposition which séemed to be inherent in him by Nature he was otherwise a most absolute Prince noble in mind and of a kingly presence He hauing thus by his fathers death obtained but not established himselfe in the Empire deuised the best meanes he could for the assurance of his estate which by reason of his subiects minds being Alians to him and many also of the Nobility which for his fathers sake also bare him no affection stood very fickle Amongst which there was at that time one Kneseuansusce a noble man and of great power that in the Raigne of the great Tyrant being great Maister of the Horse did also at this time beare many great Offices in the Empire which the present King Demetrius more for feare then loue suffered him to enioy And that state in a Prince must néedes bee vnassured where the subiects power shall bréed the Princes feare This Vansusce in the former Emperours raigne did flily by his bounty and popularity wind himselfe into the loue and opinion of the people and because that some fewe turbulent broyles and dangerous innouasions were by his power and policy pacified he was held in great estimation of the Prince and great veneration of the Nobility among which neuerthelesse there were some that looking vppon his state with an enuious eye did also with considerate eyes looke into his actions that springing from ambition more then from countries care or honorable ends they found his greatnesse to be dangerous and those acts which caried the name and colour of the Emperours good serued vnder hand to make way for his ambition as hauing only a reference to himselfe and his owne designes which Demetrius well perceiuing did neuerthelesse dissemble and coulourably made him faire countenance as loth in this gréene world to stirre the fire that lay hid in this embers This Vansusce was very noble in bloud deriued from a long continued auncestry honored in many ages with many alliances of the Empire alwayes held
cut off all succour that should be brought into the Citty so that the Muscouite in short time endured great want and misery to wright all the particulars of this siege that continued for the space of two yéers would aske a whole volume by it selfe I will onely touch the most speciall occurrants according to my best intelligence that happened in that time Vansusce vnderstanding the miseries that the Country people indured by the cruelty of the Poles and fearing all great miseries in the Citty if the fiege endured sent spéedily and secretly his Cursitours to Charles King of Sweathland whom hée knew to be mortall enemy to Sigismond King of Poland demanding vpon certaine condicions his aid to remoue the Leagure King Charles hauing at that time an Army of French English and Scottish in pay for any occasion offered from Sigismond but vnderstanding at that time all his preparations were disposed of in Rushia and knowing also that it the Pole set footing their hée should find him more dangerous there then in his owne Country yéelds easily to Vansusces demand imploying the forces of those strangers which he had strengthened with many companies of Swethens to the full number of twelue thousand vnder the conduct and generall command of one Pontus de la Guard a French Captaine a man of more fame then worth among them CHAP. 9. Sr. Robert Sherly comes as Embassadour from the Persian to Demetrius in the Leager the Muscouite mutiny but are appeased Glasco is suspected conuicted arraigned and executed in the Mosco KNesevansusee albeit he bare no great affection to King Charles and was loth also that so many strangers should bée brought into Rushia to harry and spoyle the Country yet knowing the difference that was betwixt him and Sigismond King of Poland he held it his best to make vse therof to serue his owne turne in their dissention and by any meanes rather to remooue the pole then vpon the best conditions to yéelde vnto their habitation there making choice rather of a sufferable than an intollerable stranger Now while these forces were thus a raising in Swethland for these designes in Russia Demetrius with his Army lying still before the City of Mosco that braue Spirit of England Sir Robert Sherley came as Embassador to Demetrius from the Sophie of Persia demanding his aide in the generall hostility to be made by christian princes against the common enemy the Turke where hee found that entertainement that those tumultuous times in warrelike leager could afford but for the matter of his Embassie the present troubles cut off the meanes of any present aid so that after his stay there some few daies hauing receiued many honourable giftes and presents hée departed onely furnished with hopes and faire promises howbeit his comming thither put the Muscouite into more then a presumption that it was the true Demetrius that beleagerd their Citty and that the report of his death was but a fained matter insomuch that in most places especially in the Mosco they beganne to murmure whispering one to an other that God had forsaken the guidance of them and their Citty and had giuen them ouer into the hands of strangers and others for their disloyalty they saide betwéene themselues that it could not be that the King of Poland other Princes and many noble men of Russia in the leager could be so long deceiued with a counterfet Emperour but either his countenance behauiour spéech or som ones report or other would betray him They compared the times present with the times past and found that the Errours and Indiscretions of a yong Prince being their naturall Lord were more easie to endure than the milder gouernement of an Vsurper for that the abuse and instabilitie of his estate had drawne infinite daungers and miseries by a contrary faction which they now endured in no meane degrée and were like héereafter to suffer in the greatest extreames these murmurings and priuie whisperings being brought to Vansusces eare he beganne to looke about and to preuent all occasions that might be offered for the raising of a faction within the Citty hée therefore sought to pacifie the Muscouites in the best manner he could and withall sent colourably vnder safe conduct certaine Gentlemen his friends to the Emperour in the Leager that if he were the right Demetrius his true and lawfull Prince he should shew it in a naturall loue and care vnto his Countrey and not suffer him to be thus defiled with the bloud of his people by the Poles crueltie and for his owne part if he found that it were so he would not onely surrender vp vnto him the Title and gouernement that he now held together with the Citty and other places in his command but also in all submission acknowledge and serue him in all faithfulnesse and duety as his naturall liege Lord hée further instructed them to excuse him in the plottes and courses that hée had taken and to blame but respectiuely his sufferance in the abuses of the Poles that had drawne on the hatred and indignation of the Muscouite so farre as being gathered to a head and breaking forth into action it prooued as a raging Torrent or violent Inundation that no wayes could be stopped hée willed them further to descend into particularities and to touch the seuerall factions on his part that it stoode him vpon to take the aduantage of his friends offers and the opportunity of euery reuolt to the end that the head of all which was himselfe might be the surer garded and this hée said hée learned of Nature and Necessitie that teacheth euery creature to defend herselfe and that albeit he could a long time endure the siege and that hée knew also the Forces were ready in Swethland to attempt the Leager he would yet neuerthelesse giue ouer these new hopes and designes for warre and with all his best endeuour to conclude a peace protesting with this conclusion that if by his maiesties fauor hée might enioy those lands honors and offices to the which partly he was borne partly he enioyed by the deceased Emperours gift and his owne admission no Prince in the world should finde a more loyall subiect or more faithfull Gentleman than himselfe Demetrius albeit he suspected a Padde in this straw did neuerthelesse either simply or colourably put them in hope of a Parlée and for a time held a cessation discharging the Messengers with faire words and countenance who at their returne into the Citty gaue out that this was not the true Demetrius but a counterfet by Vansusces instructions and that if they held out but a few dayes till the comming of the Swethen Army the Leager would easily be remooued Vansusce also bestirres himselfe to stirre vp the Muscouite to endure the siege vntil the comming of King Charles his forces In the meane time Demetrius had vnderstanding secretly of some causes of discontent giuen from Vansusce to the traytour Glasco both in the barres to his expected recompence and
larum was giuen this was about the noone of the day all the after noone was spent in councell and in giuing directions which also was done so couertly as the Poales themselues doubted nothing lesse than that which was intended Now is the houre come wherein Demetrius must passe as great or a greater danger by all opinion than that of the Castle in Mosco but with lesse feare or sorrow for his vnhappy fortunes had now so inured him to such disastrous accidents that his mind séemed to be suted to his miserie all things therefore being ready they beginne to dislodge the larum was first giuen in the Swethen Armie and was so suddenly answered in all places that it bred a horrible confusion the Poales feared a surprize from the Swethen Army the Swethen from the Poales When they came into the Emperours Tent not finding either his Guard or himselfe they cried out that he had betrayed them Pontus de la Gard drawes the best of his Foxes to the head of his Campe and there attends all attempts whilest the Emperor with the losse of a few men had passed the danger the darkenes of the night being a great help vnto him his guides before day had brought him out of all feare from any followers howbeit many of the Poales followed after and yéelded themselues afterward to him in Colloge All this time both the Campes stoode still without anie attempt on either side The Citty also not knewing the matter were soone in Armes howbeit kept themselues within the walles in the morning the Poales found the plot and being driuen euery way to obey necessitie they required Capitulations of truce with Vansusce which was granted the Articles drawne the composition made the Poles dislodgd and with colours displayd they went some into other parts of Russia turning Cossakes and liuing vpon spoyle some backe into Poland who hauing related to their King the manner of Demetrius flight and by it their owne enforcements he renounced for euer his friendship and alliance protesting from thence foorth neuer to aide him either with men or money But though hée séemed to be discontent hée was neuerthelesse inwardly glad that such occasion was proffered in his owne behalfe to reuenge and recouer the losse hée had sustained and vnder this colour together with the broken Title hée had to the Dukedome of Seuean to inuade the whole Empire of Russia and to kéepe it for himselfe which shortly after hée in person did as you shall heare And thus was the Polish Leager all this time remooued CHAP. 11. Kneseuansusce continues still his vsurped authoritie Sigismond King of Poland descends into Russia with an army of a hundred thousand men he beseegeth Smalensco and the great Citty of Mosco The Emperour Demetrius makes another attempt but is driuen backe into the Dukedome of Collogue NOw stoode Vansusce higher in state and opinion of the people than euer before Now were there daily feastings and triumphs in the Citty and all dedicated to Vansusces fortunes Orations made daily in the publique Hall to the people of eternall praise and immortall thankes to Vansusces greatnesse euen aboue the straine of slatterie attributing the safetie and preseruation of their liues and goodes to his wisedome and prouidence together with the generall good of the whole Land reduced by him from a manifest danger of vtter destruction the benefit of whose peace say they and happy state next vnder God wée deriue from his Imperiall Maiestie in his naturall and politique body the one so absolute in bloud and qualitie the other so excellent in State and Councell that as he giues place to no Prince liuing for Stile and Territorie reaching from the Riuer of Ipre to the Caspian Sea in Fame and Glorie they all giue place to him and it is the vniuersall Ioy of the whole Empire that to a Prince voluptuous and full of defects as was Demetrius there hath succéeded a Prince of such high worth and estimation They also gaue great praises and giftes to the French English and Scottish for their paines taken and valours shewne in their defence still retayning them in the Mosco for their garrison But though the Citty was for a time thus deliuered and in quiet the Poles that remained still in the Countrey hauing taken many Castles and strengthened themselues in many places commit all manner of vnspeakeable cruelty and villany on the poore people who can call nothing they haue their owne neither wiues children nor goodes but are all made a prostituted prey to the Poles lust and rapine in their houses sword and fire destroyeth them in the woods hunger and colde deuouceth them Thus the poore Russians in many parts of the countrey doe miserably foele or endure eyther aliue or dead the bondage of the Poles tyranny Yet these afflictions and calamities present are but as a sufferable paine or disease inflicting one part or limbe in respect of the vniuersall mischiefe following that tormented and almost destroyed the whole bodie of the Empire For by this time Sigismond King of Poland raiseth a mighty Army compounded of many Nations as Tartars Leiflanders Coerlanders together with some Companies of English Scottish and Dutch and many numbers of Cossakes which bée people drawne from all partes following onely for spoyle and prey Vansusce hearing of these great preparations in Poland fortifies the Mosco and other places of import in the Empire but especially the Citty of Smalensco whereof one KneIacob a Noble man of great power and vertue was Duke and Gouernour howbeit at that time for some reasons he committed the gouernement and defence of that Citty to an other whose name I could not learne Thus all things being in a readinesse both with the Pole for inuasion and the Russian for resistance Sigismond aduaunceth forward with his Army consisting of a hundred thousand fighting men This was about Michael masse in the yeare 1609. for he stayed of purpose till their Haruest was ended for the reliefe of his Armie Being descended into Russia he came with his whole forces before the Citty of Smalensco one Chollcosce a noble souldier that had done many honourable seruices against the Turke being his Lieutenant generall Now had Vansusce which I should haue remembred before sent to King Charles of Swethland for more ayde who presently dispatched his Messengers to France England and the lowe Countries for men There were taken vp in England of Voluntaries English and Scottish two thousand vnder the commaund of Captaine Caluine a Scottishman lieutenant Coronel to my Lord of Wormston and of Captaine Coborne a valiant Souldier Coronell of the horse There were also sent at that time out of France and the low Countries to the number of one thousand more the French vnder the commaund of Monsleur la Vile a Captaine of name and worth among them the Dutch vnder the commaund of Coronell Doue the English and Scottish Forces arriued in Swethland about the latter end of Maie some in the Nulies some
at Stock-holland and some in other places as the vncertaintie of winde and weather draue them But being all at length met at Stockhollam entertained mustered and sworne vnto King Charles our Forces together with the French and Dutch which by this time were all mette stayed there the most part of the Summer vntill the latter end of August in which time the King had made his preparations ready for his Intendments towardes Russia About the beginning of September these Forces tooke shipping for Russia but by contrary windes were driuen vpon Fynland where because the Commaunders had no directions to land their men the frost ouertaking them and victualls failing aboorde our people vnaccustomed to so colde a climate dyed in great numbers for want of foode and abundance of colde insomuch that being not able to indure the extremitie they landed their Forces by directions from the Gouernour of Abo a towne scituate vppon the Sea from thence to march to the Cittie of Wyborrough being distant from the place of landing thrée score and tenne leagues in which march they lost by the extremity of the colde many of their men by the way and many were left behinde sicke that neuerthelesse did afterward recouer the Army At the last being come to the Cittie of Wyborrough in Fynnland our Troupes reléeued themselues after this long weary march and being kindly entertained of the Bourgers kept their Christmasse in the citie and rested there for the space of fouretéene dayes wanting no necessaries that their present case required After this time expired our Troupes marched thrée daies iourney to the Sea side that Sea being narrow in that place parting Fynland and Russia héere they marched eight leagues vppon the Ice and hauing once set footing in Russia the people of the Countrey being vnacquainted of their comming forsooke their houses fléeing into the woods and other vnknowne places for the miserie of the warre was so great by the outrages of the Souldiers that they found cause to distrust all aswel those that came to defend them as such as came to destroy them Yet our troupes committed no other spoile in their march but onely in their prouision for victualls which in all places they found in aboundance our Troupes marched in small iourne is the foure moneths following Ianuarie Februarie March and Aprill vnder the guide and conduct of one Burrisse a Noble man of the Countrey appoynted by Vansusce for that businesse in which march they fréeed those partes of the Countrey which the Pole before was possessed of as the first a towne of import called Stallarusse which the Pole forsooke vppon their comming and fled But Monsieur la Vile following them with a few horse cut them in péeces They marched from thence to a Towne of defence called Costasco which the Pole had a little before beleagerd but vpon an assault made hauing found an vnexpected resistance And hearing the approach of the strangers they fled before our comming By this time the Sunne in his delight some progresse hauing passed the Equinoctiall had turned the wearie wrackes of wastefull winter into the cheerefull view of the Summers beauty at which time it being in the beginning of Maie our Troupes recouerd a very pleasant country where in great plenty they found all necessaries for horse and man After some few dayes march in this champian countrey our Troupes receiued intelligence where the Enemy lay to the number of seauen or eight thousand at a Towne called Arioua some foure score verts which is thrée score English miles from them This Arioua was a great Towne scituate on the side of a hill pleasant to looke vppon the great riuer of Vollga running through it and as it were equally parting it in the middest with a strong and faire Castle in it howbeit the Towne vnwalled and vndefensible Our men hauing receiued true relation both concerning the Towne the Poles strength the distance and the best way that leadeth vnto it they entered into councell what best was to be done for the surprize of this Towne and a non slaught of the Poles and as alwayes in such cases of weight there are diuersitie of Iudgements and Opinions some giuing councell one way some another the brauest spirites stirred vp with honourable emulation of others fame and greatnes presse forward for employment Coronell Coborne being the first that desired to haue the vndertaking of this businesse with fiue hundred horse but his plot being disliked as being too full of danger Monsieur la Vile the French Coronell vndertooke with foure hundred horse to doe some notable seruice or other as occasion should be proffered For many times in such doubtfull cases vnlooked for Accidents and vnplotted attempts finde better opportunitie and successe in preuayling vppon the sudden than premeditated and fore-decréed Councells Thus hauing taken some of euery Troupe English Scottish and French with the aide of thrée other Captaines as Captaine Cosmorre a Moore a very valiant Souldier brought vp in the warres of the Netherlands the other Captaine Crale an Englishman and Captaine Creton a Scottishman with this number of foure hundred horse La Vile earely in the morning leauing the Armie in their quarters marched towards Arioua by the way they mette with a Conskippe of the Enemy being a hundred horse vppon the skirt of a wood if beeing sent from the maine Armie in Arioua as a scowt-watch to discouer our Troupes for they had Intelligence before of our being in the Countrey Their Vancurriers hauing espied our forces gaue the larum and presently turned backe and fled but our Troupe followed flew some forced others to take the riuer of Vollga tooke many prisoners the rest fled fyring the Countrey as they went and brought the newes of our approach to Arioua La Vile with his troups held on his course méeting with no other Occurrents by the way till hée came to a little riuer which they found so déepe and the current running so swift by reason of the late dissoluing of the Snowe that they knew not how to passe ouer La Vile himselfe proffered to giue the attempt but was stayed by others that looked into the daunger a French Souldier of his Troupe shewing more courage than foresight tooke the riuer with his horse and by the violence of the Streame were both drowned Here they spent some time to séeke out a foord but found none at last they espied a narrow place where pulling downe an olde house standing hard by with the rafters thereof they made a little bridge vppon which they passed on foote swimming ouer with their horses in their hands Thus they marched forward till they came within sight of Arioua about the noone time of the day La Vile when he came within view of the Towne and saw how it stoode parted by the riuer of Vollga might perceiue afarre off on the other side of the Towne the Enemies colours displayed in great numbers the sodainenesse of the action bred a terrour on both partes the
length so pincht them that they found these mischiefes to be vnsufferable Now was Vansusce without heart or hope fearing daily to bée betrayed by his owne friends if we may call it treason to betray a traitor and his feares prooued true for many noble men that were about him looking into the present times condition and reducing to their mindes the nature of the times past they found Vansusce to be both the originall and efficient cause of all these miseries and that God had thus plagued them with the plagues of men for suffering an vsurper to raigne ouer them so that at last vpon aduice taken they tooke Vansusce prisoner sitting in councell among them with suppose by deliuering him captiue to make their peace with Cholcosce O had the vnkinde and vnstable Muscouite deliuered this vsurper vnto their lawfull Emperour Demetrius that lay on the other side the citie and had brought him in with their submission and acknowledgement of alegeance they might haue had the hand of God to haue fought for them and haply in short time recouered their former peace and glorie But they doubting his weakenesse and fearing the strength of the Poles deliuered vp their prisoner together with the Citty into the power of Cholcosce to be kept for the king of Pole Which in this maner was effected It was agréed vpon betwéene Cholcosce and the State of Russia that he should haue deliuered into his hands the Citty and the Castle to be held with a garrison for Sigismond King of Poland vnto whom they proffered acknowledgement of homage and fraltie conditionally that Cholcosce with his Armie should presently remooue the Leager of the Emperour Demetrius on the other side the riuer These proffers were accepted of Cholcosce together with the condition conditionally that they should deliuer sufficient hostages into his hands sor the safegard of himselfe and his Army which was graunted and a many of the Nobilitie chosen out as the great Patriarch of Mosco KoeIacob Duke of Smalensco and others of great power who being deliuered to the Cholcosce sent them all as pledges to the King of Pole Thus Cholcosce hauing taken possession of the Citty mariheth through to fight with Demetrius and in short time ouerthrew him who fléeing againe to Colloge found himselfe there also abandoued of all his friends Thus this vnhappy Prince fleeing from place to place finding no place for safetie was afterward as I haue heard it reported miserably slaine by a Tartar Thus Cholcosce returning backe to the Citty in triumphant maner was solemnely intertained of the Muscouite who presented him also with many great gifts He hauing stayed a while in the Cittie and planted a garrison of eight thousand Poles in the Castle returned to Smalensco with his prisoner Vansusce and deliuered him to his maister the King of Pole who not long after sent him into Poland to be kept prisoner at the Castle of Waringborrough where he yet liues a miserable captine Sigismond the yeare following takes in Smalensco vpon assault and returnes into Poland disposing the most part of his Armie into garrisons in Russia But the Muscouite in short time after rebelled and hauing drawne the Tartare as their Assistants after a long and bloudie assault they at the last recouered the Cittie and Castle of Mosco putting all the Poles to the sword Thus was the Colloge againe fréed but not secured from the tyranny of the Poales who are still possessors of a great part of that Countrey sometimes losing in one place oftentimes gaining in an other neuer resting but still in action which the wretched people doe miserably sustaine And thus as I vnderstand stands the condition of this torne Empire of Russia at this day FINIS
aboundance for a Princes life should now faile in necessaries for his interre-ment CHAP. 8. The wife of Tragus dies for sorrow his two children are detayned prisoners Vansusce is crowned Emperour of Rushia Demetrius with the Empresse flees into Poland from whence with a great Army he returnes backe into Rushia the warre begins AFter this tall Ceader of the Rushian state was from the mountaine of his greatnesse thus pulled downe many lower trées and shrubbes past the like fortune for whosoeuer stoode in Vansusces way must be remooued till it was made smooth from any oblique let for his transcending glory euen to the maiestike state of the Rushian Empire treacherous Glasco being the principall agent and speciall instrument for his designes and Intendments But before we set the Crowne on this vsurpers head whilest the preparations be now in framing for his Coronation wée will looke a little backe into the wretched state and miserable condition of this vntimely Widdowed Lady wife to the late noble Prince Tragus and his two sonnes both so young that they were not capable of their calamity To write of this Ladies teares and hir profound sorrowes were but like a Painter to counterfeit by art the teares of Lucresse for her enfrost wrong done to Collatyne or the true bred woes of Porcia for her déere Lord Brutus to shew outwardly the presentation of such tragike spectacles and so to féede the phantasie with imaginary griefe in which neuertstelesse their is neither life nor sense of reall sorrow To leaue therfore these teares with her that was the true owner of them who presently also leauing the world and the pleasures thereof enclosed hirselfe in a religious house where with long fasting and déepe melancholy spending her daies alone in the exercise of sorrow in short time she ended her life leauing behind her a notable example of loue and constancy his two sonnes are yet liuing but detained as prisoners by Vansusce howbeit happily reserued to better fortunes Now is Vansusce arriued at that Hauen he a long time did bend his course vnto euen through a Sea of bloud where neuerthelesse he shall not finde that safty that he expects for dangerous is the State that is obtained by bloud and treason as the sequell shall declare the Emperiall Crowne of Rushia being now set vpon his head there fell mischiefes thicke and as the thing euill gotten is seldome or neuer well kept thorow all the time of his vsurped raigne there neuer ceased bloudy war and slaughter no not in his owne destruction and captiuity for he had scarse time to finish the state and solemnity of his Coronation before he heard newes of the great preparations in Poland both to reueng the treasonable wrongs done to the Emperour and also the murder of the Poles or rather which is most like Sigismond the King of Poland making these but colourable pretenses for higher dessignes of another nature both to recouer the Dukedome of Seueare to the which hée challenged a title and further as the successe should follow to inuade the whole Empire of Rushia and to kéepe it for himselfe to make another entry that way into the Kingdome of Swethland such a passage had this ciuill discention made euen for the ouerthrow of the whole state but wée must now returne to the lawfull Emperour Demetrius who being by the happy fortune of his birth a Prince was now by the malignant power of his fate a fugitiue for hauing about some few of his friends that followed him in all fortunes hée gaue them in charge to looke carefully to the kéeping of that Dukedome it being still a receptacle for them in the worst of danger while he with his vnhappy Lady in great danger and strange disguise together with his trusty seruant past from Colloge and after a long and weary iourny at last tooke the Riuer of Ipre and with safty recouered the Territories of the Polish Kingdome Sigismond hauing notice of their comming sendeth his safe conduct together with directions for their entertainment but not in the state and sumptuous manner as before for in a change of fortune we finde a change of friendship and account being neuerthelesse come to Court they were honorably welcomed and comforted after their many endured miseries where they rested themselues awhile till the preparations for Rushia were made ready it being an Army of fourty thousand souldiers With this new raised power Demetrius raiseth new hopes both to recouer and to reuenge which fell not out according to his desire man purposeth but God disposeth Now Vansusce hearing of this great preparation in Poland fortifies the Citty of Mosco and other places of import gathering souldiers from all parts to strengthen his faction bearing the Muscouite in hand that it was the police of the Polish King to haue entertained some stragling runnagate to take vpon him the name and state of Demetrius only to countenance this inuasion staying by this suggestion the vncertaine minde of the Muscouite that otherwise he knew would be diuersly carried But Demetrius being now in all things furnished for the trantposing of this great Army into Rushia takes his leaue of the King and Quéene and other of his friends in Poland but aboue all of his deare beloued Empresse whom his vnhappy eies shall neuer behold againe to shew her sorrow in his departure were to stay vs in the pursuite of this great war that must be prosecuted with all spéed and cruelty Demetrius thereforewith many long marches at last had past the frontires of the Polish Kingdom he no sooner had set footing vpon the Territories of his owne Empire but the miseries of the war began and that Country that before flourished with along countinued peace and was growne excéeding rich both in their owne abundance and a prosperous commerce with others began now to be spoiled and harried of hir plenty fire and sword being the executiones the Pole spoiled and killed in all places in reuenge of the Massacre done in the Mosco sparing neither sort nor sex in any state or age whom they met withall neuerthelesse the most of them had before fled into Citties Castles Woods and other defensible places Thus mischiefe hauing set footing in Rushia it did in a short time take such rooting that in a long time after shée was not supplanted Demetrius either giuing consent therto or else wanting power in himselfe to curbe her howbeit he made as much spéede as he could to Mosco either to make the spoile of his Country lesse by his hasty marches or otherwise burning in desire to be reuenged on that place where he had receiued such wrong and outrage Being at last come to Mosco he beleagers the Citty but findes an vnexpected resistance it being so strengthened with men and munition that it was wel-néere vnpregnable all plaof strength and import about the Citty were in short time subdewed and giuen to the Pole who executes all manner of cruelty Demetrius laies wait in all places to
Poales verily beléeuing that the maine Armie of our Forces to be at hand and our troups supposing the Enemies strength to be as great on that side the riuer as on the other though vndescried howbeit they kept on their march towards the Towne with resolution to doe some notable seruice eyther by death or victorie when they came within halfe a league of the Towne they espied fiue hundred horses of the Enemie aduanced against them where on the sodaine both sides awhile stood in gaze one of an other at last fourty of the Enemies horses were drawne foorth with proffer of a charge after the manner of a Brauada a twelue or sixetéene of our horses gaue an onset to answer them slew some and beat the rest backe into their maine strength so that both partes againe stood in gaze one of an other Some doubted that it was the policie of the Pole to draw our Forces néerer to the Towne and so to encompasse them with their Armie on the other side of the riuer But La Vile whose courage ouercame all feare séeing no third way to be taken but eyther that night to die or to be Maisters of the Towne out of a braue and honourable minde with a few words in Dutch did after this maner encourage his Souldiers Wée haue come saith he thus farre my louing friends and followers with purpose and resolution to doe some speciall seruice or other in the honour of our Countries and profession for aduauncing the successe of the maine action for this Land against the Poles tyranny in the behalfe of the King of Swethen This place of Commaund which at this time I enioy with your consents I will striue with all my power to discharge as well for your safeties and contentments as mine owne honour and reputation and though we be of seuerall Nations Languages and Customes we are in this businesse tyed together in an indissoluble band of loue and partnership eyther to liue or die together the best hope is wée haue one God to defend vs all whose out-stretched arme ouer-swayeth all let not then eyther our owne weakenesse or our Enemies strength affright vs for besides the atchiuements of Honour that pricketh forward euerie worthy minde there is a necessitie to put vs forward for backe we cannot goe without certaine dishonour and destruction all places being harried and spoiled by the Pole and no reliefe to be found the riuers also and the champian fields will giue them aduantage with their numbers to heamme vs in and cut vs in péeces and if I be not deceiued they stand in more doubt of vs than we of them as I iudge by the vncertaine wauing of their colours on the other side the riuer and it may be all their feare hath giuen them false Intelligence that wée are to receiue seconds from our maine Armie which they suppose to be at hand From this feare of theirs springeth my hope that in spight of the Poales Armie wée shall rest in yonder Towne this night and with that crying out with a high voyce and spirite Ihesus met ounce which in English is Iesus be with vs with a braue courage they aduanced forward Captayne Cosmorre with the Englishmen gaue the charge and was seconded by the French men The Pole séeing the charge thus made with such resolution fearing as it was afterward knowne the approach of our maine Armie turned their backes and fled Notwithstanding they had a second of foure hundred horses more our troupes followed with all spéede slew many with the sword the most of them tooke the riuer of Vollga thinking to recouer their maine Army but the greatest numbers of them were drowned Our troupes thus entred the towne of Arioua without any other resistance and found the castle abandoned at which they maruelled that a Towne and Castle of such strength and import hauing eight thousand men to defend it should be thus forsaken CHAP. 12. Vansusce sends his forces to ioyne with the strangers to the number of thirty thousand Pontus de la Gard Generall of the strangers attempts to rayse the Poles Leager from Smalensco but in a set battell is fought withall and ouerthrowne by the Pole ARioua being thus taken in our Troups rested there thrée dayes till our maine Armie came vp in which time the Pole stayed in the Towne on the other side the riuer But when they saw the approach of all our forces they hastned their departure and because they supposed the Inhabitants had betrayed them they set fire on that side of the Towne in the dead of the night onely to reuenge suspition where after a most cruell and barbarous maner they burned and slew man woman and child a lamentable sight it was to beholde the flame and to heare the confused cries of the people which was the more miserable because as there was no pittie in the Pole to respect them so there was no way in our Troups to reléeue them by reason of the riuer which for want of boats they could not passe The Poles hauing thus satisfied their rage vpon the poore Russian with blood fire like incarnate diuells without remorce leauing this miserable people of all sortes and sexes from the impotencie of Age to the innocence of Infants burning in that earths hell of horror they marched away with drummes beating trumpets sounding colours displaying as if they had effected some notable atchieuement Early in the morning La Vile perceiuing them marching away hauing had the night before many boats brought vp the riuer by the Russe carried his principall Forces ouer and with all spéede followed them The first night they ouertooke them in their quarters slew many of them tooke many of their colours and forced the rest to flée who still burning and spoyling the Country as they went left no reliefe to helpe our Forces in the pursuite so that in thrée dayes hauing cléered all that part of the Countrey they returned to Arioua where our Armie rested some fouretéene dayes and as contraries are euer best knowne by their contraries they sound the excellencie of rest after their labour and of plenty after their wants For héere they found all things in aboundance that in many places before they wanted Not long after La Vile with Cosmer the Moore and lieutenant Conisby a very resolute Souldier tooke in a Towne called Pogrilla together with a strong Skonce manned by the Pole taking it vpon a sur prize in the night putting them all to the sword onely the Gouerneur and some few other reserued La Vile within a while after went to the Mosco accompanied with many Officers English Scottish and French where Vanscusce entertained them with liberall gifts and rewards to euery one Héere they met with Pontus de la Gard and found a great power of the Russians in a readinesse for seruice Sigismond lying all this while before Smalensco vnderstanding of the frée passages that the strangers had made thorow the Countrey euen to the Mosco And