account he lay now encamped before Musko But the Citizens perceiving that no Demetrius did yet appear took heart and making an unanimous conjunction with Zuiskis Troops made a furious Sally upon Polutnich who not able to sustain the assault of an hundred thousand men was forced to quit his ground and save himself by a disorderly retreat in Caluga Zuiski transported with the Success returned Triumphant into Musko and having modelled his Army for a march advanced towards Caluga and sat down before it but was forced by the Valour and Conduct of the Lord Keeper to raise his Siege However having recruited his Troops he marched again to find out the Enemy and both Armies being met were upon the point to encounter when Schacopski being terrified with the unexspected defection of 4000 of his men not daring to hazard the rest in so great a consternation was constrained to quit the Field retreating to Thula whither he was hotly pursued by Zuiski and the place closely besieged in such sort that not having had time to put in Provisions they were soon reduced to the eating of Horses Dogs Cats Rats and such other things as were abhorring to nature This quickly raised the Citizens into a mutinous posture against Schacopski and Polutnich as being betrayed by them upon an imaginary supposition to adhere to a fictitious person that had not a being else that Demetrius if he had been alive would not have failed in such a juncture of his Affairs to have asserted his Interest in Person Polutnich protested to them that he had seen and discoursed with a young man in Poland of about 28 years of Age who called himself Demetrius and was there acknowledged for such but whether he were really so or no he could not positively affirm having never seen him before But if the people would have a little patience and stand by him he would send out such a trusty Messenger as they should make choice of one that knew the Prince to inform them of the truth and to see what hopes of relief was to be expected from him This being resolved upon an Emissary was sent out by the favour of the night and the carelessness of the Besiegers the Citizens resolving with patience to expect his return In the mean time no Demetrius did appear that person whom Schacopski had designed to assume his Name and Fortunes being a Polish Gentleman who thought it more safe to depend upon a plentiful estate of his own than to change his private condition for the hopes and hazard of the Empire of Muskovy An Empire can never Escheat for want of an Heir a new Demetrius shews himself upon the Stage coming out of Poland the forge of all the contrivances and troubles of Muskovy He was conducted to Putiwol by Micharetski a great Polish Lord and acknowledged there and received with all imaginary honour as their Prince and Sovereign After a short stay there he marched with what force he could make to Staradub where he met the Messenger from Thula who being brought into his presence was startled at the sight of a person only very like Demetrius but in reality not he Demetrius observing his dissatisfaction judged it more advisable to carry the news of his relief in the head of his Army than put himself into the hands of one who might raise in the City a prejudice against his Person and Interests This precaution was not unreasonable though it proved fruitless the Garrison of Thula being reduced to those straights especially for want of water and supposing by the Messengers long stay that he was fallen into the Enemies hands they came to Terms for a Surrender which being honourable as to the condition of Souldiers Zuiski swore to observe but failed in the performance for he caused Peter Fedrowits an eminent person to be hanged and Polutnich to be cast into a loathsome prison where he was miserably famished to death Thula being reduced in this manner the Demetrian Cossacks quitted their own Party as desperate to follow that of the Conqueror and were with some other Troops sent by Zuiski to prosecute the Siege of Caluga the Enemies principal Receptable The Quarters were scarce marked out before the Town when there happened a desperate Mutiny amongst the Souldiers propagated by the Cossacks as was supposed upon the news of Demetrius his recovery and approach This gave so great a terror to the rest of the Army that being possessed with a pannick fear they ran out of the Camp in the night in so great disorder that they left their Baggage behind them and made towards Musko with all their might The Cossacks seeing themselves left to their own disposal called upon the Garrison to receive them into the Town assuring them of their friendship and the flight of the Russians The Garrison wondring their deliverance should be so near and so unexspected could not upon the sudden being agitated with the passions of hope and fear resolve what to do until being ascertained by their Spies and Parties they had sent out of the truth of it they opened their Gates and arms to receive their Deliverers and joyntly with them plundered the Camp bringing into the Town in Triumph all the Provisions and Cannon of the same The Cossacks themselves would not enter into the City but hastening to meet Demetrius joyned themselves to his Army with the mutual congratulations of both sides Demetrius being thus revived many Muskovites and very many Lithuanâ—… and Poles came flocking in to him 〈◊〉 out of Novelty others out of respâ—… many for Pillage and most for Revenge and being now rendered considerable by the accession of the revolted Cossacks he marched in quest of the Enemy whom he encountered and defeated being 8000 men and took Mathew Misinowski their General Prisoner with which success having gain'd a strong reputation the Towns of Severia gladly returned to the obedience of their old Lord and furnished him abundantly with all necessaries for the War But the Supplies from Poland were the main appay of his Army Duke Roman Rosinski being engaged in the Quarrel sent great Forces under the Command of Walareski a Creature of his out of that Country and a while after Duke Adam Wisnioweski Tischievicz Charlinski Mielski men of Eminence and at length Rosinski in person came up with the rest of the Army and at the same time there arrived at the Rendezvouz a Recruit of 8000 Zoporensian and Dumensian Cossacks so that the Army being now great and united into one body Rosinski by the suffrage of all the Peers and great Officers was declared General Basilius Zuiski observing the great growth and progress of his Rival caused new Levies to be made with which having formed an Army of 170000 though most raw men he placed his Brother Demetrius Zuiski in the head of them with Orders to find out and fight the Enemy And now behold both Armies in sight of each other encamped near the Town of Bolchow The first day was spent in Skirmishes
retreat They had lost many of their Horses and more died daily for want of Forrage they were harrassed with duty and had no hopes of relief from Poland being besieged by a barbarous Enemy ready every moment at least in their apprehension to storm their Camp their Provisions were short and no possibility of Supplies from without all the sides of their Camp being invested so that it was impossible for them to subsist for want of Food in expectation of succour from their own Country Neither had the King by reason of the interruption of the Passages received but one Letter from Zolkievius when it was too late wherein he gave him an account of his condition and how he had been unseasonably abandoned by some of the Army This was the state of Affairs in the Camp while the Enemy without lay close upon them and computing the distresses and disorders within by the desertion of those that had left them they were much raised in their hopes despising all proposals and overtures of quitting the place In so much that upon the 22th of September the whole Turkish Army was drawn up before the Camp threatning a general Assault unless they immediately surrendred at discretion On the 23th they did the like and on the 26th the Galga or Prince of Tartary approaching nearer the Trenches was met by Duke Corecki upon Parole who proposed to him an excessive ransom for himself and some few with him and descending to some particulars for a rendition of the Camp only that the Souldiers might march away with their Swords the Tartarian left him in scorn and anger and clapping his hand upon his Sable bid him expect no other conditions than what the sharpness of that would afford him Zolkievius having throughly computed the state of his Affairs resolved to quit the Camp and having ordered all things accordingly which took up three days time being assisted in the method of his Designe by Martin Kasanowski an old experienced Colonel and upon the 29th of September that part of the Wall through which the Camp was to pass being opened the Army about Sun-set began its march in the order following On both sides a row of Waggons as it were chained together five hundred paces in length drawn by their Horses closed the Wings The Front consisting likewise of linked Waggons took up three hundred paces and the Rear being fenced with the like Barricado was as also the other extremities of the Camp fortified with Cannon The wounded sick Baggage and all the best Horses of the Army were placed in the middest while the Officers and Souldiers marched on the out-side of the Camp with Colours flying and their Arms ready fixed to resist any impression The Tartars observing this order of the Poles did at first think they had drawn out to fight but when they discerned the whole Camp to move and that no man stirred out of his Rank they stood amazed at the Novelty and the night being so near they durst do no more but send out small Parties to observe their motion And so they marched two Moldavish Miles that night without any disorder save what they received at the passage of a Lake which was supplied well enough in respect they were not eagerly pressed upon by the Enemy On the 30th of September Skinder Bassa assaulted the Camp on all sides with his united Forces but being repelled with great loss they marched yet two Moldavish Miles more that night A Molvish Mile is more than a German On the first of October the Camp being lodged near a great Pool continued there that whole day and the night following The Infidels did extremely gall them from the other side of the Water with their shot and from the open side by their Excursions but were bravely repulsed with great slaughter of their men About Noon that day they prepared for a fresh Assault but instead thereof sent a Trumpet to the Camp to demand their Turkish Interpreter that they might speak with him which being granted they only detained him making no Attempt that day Octob. 2. The Turks having the day before observed the Camp stormed it with greater fury than ever and being repulsed returned fifteen times to the Assault The Courage of the Defendants growing by their being able to resist in so much that at last it did not only suffice them to make good their Station but that they followed the flying Enemy to a good distance from it in which Pursuit they took two Colours and a Piece of Ordnance having killed multitudes of their men Towards Sun-set they began their March with their shot about them which must needs retard their pace and yet they advanced three of their Miles before Morning being by computation fifteen English Octob. 3. Having gained the Advantage of a Rivulet and heights of Ground they easily repressed the Enemies fury and took a Tartar Colours they also eluded an Ambush of the Enemy and continued their Journey that night Octob. 4. They had strengthened their Camp by the Neighbourhood of a River But Skinder Bassa considering that by these Marches by night the Prey might slip out of his hands and sensible of the disgrace that would attend him to suffer it resolved to make an Attempt at the hazard of his whole Army and consequently gave order for a general Assault But being the Tartars were not so forward as he expected having been so many times baffled pretending the difficulty by reason of the posture of the Camp seated upon the advantage of the River by the help of which they would be able to bring more hands to the defence of those parts that were assaultable but the enraged Bassa impatient of Arguments turned hastily to his Janizaries And are you also affrighted with the greatness of the danger said he And will you suffer this handful of men to slip out of your hands for want of a vigorous Attempt upon them But they cried out He should not reproach but Command them for nothing was terrible to them but the anger of their General The rest of the Turks sway'd by this Example would be of the Party prompted by an Ambition to do the Service with their own hands without the aid of the Tartars And armed with these Resolutions they assaulted the Camp from all their Quarters and pressed on by a mixture of shame and fury broke in upon it in one place carrying their terror into the Bowels of their Enemy maugre all the resistance made against them All their former disputes and conflicts seemed but sport to this The Turks hurried on by their Principle of Predestination added to a zeal of gratifying their General made havock of their lives to preserve the footing they had gained in the Camp doing more than men in prosecution of the advantage The Christians armed with a native courage inflamed yet by their despair did more than they for despising their multitudes and resolving to conquer or die they made a charge upon those who had
that that Impostor might be forthwith delivered into the Great Duke his Masters hands whom he would unmask and render him to the World in his native Complexion a mean Creature set up by the Malice of a discontented Priest And then concluded that in case the King and Kingdom of Poland shall decline those equitable demands they would create to them an Enemy one of the greatest Princes of the World And thus having sprinkled his desires with a mixture of some Threats he added Rich Presents which were distributed amongst the Ministers of State and indeed most of those in Credit about the King with an open hand so that there were very few but tasted of Muskovitish Bounty But all this state and charge amounted to nothing the Interest of the Jesuites added to the Authority of the Pope had rendered the King and his Council deaf to the applications of the Embassador It was therefore resolved that Demetrius should be assisted with fresh supplies in order to his Restauration which was considered as the only Basis upon which to lay the Foundation of a perpetual League between both Crowns and the only means to root out that Schism in Religion which hitherto had fomented their Quarrels their affection being swayed by their faith These Resolutions were kept secret as the Arcana Imperii for they did not judge it fit to come to an open Rupture till they saw what was like to be the Success of Demetrius his Arms. Their Answer therefore was that the King and State of Poland knew nothing at least took no notice of what was done in Muskovy and that those Tumults raised by Demetrius a Muskovian born and Aided by Muskovians or any other Voluntiers engaged in his designes did not at all infringe or so much as trench upon the League which they should be always ready to observe towards that Crown and Empire The Embassador being dismissed with this general Answer without effecting what he came for In the mean time the Armies in Muskovy were drawn within sight of each other equal in hopes and desires though not in numbers Demetrius upon the Enemies advance raised his Siege and having chosen his ground with respect to the number of his men wherein he was inferiour to Boris he was not without some hopes that some part of the Enemies Army would upon the closing come over to him having held an intelligence with some of their Officers to that purpose But there appearing so formidable a power of the Muskovites and but a handful of men with Demetrius those who had made him a promise of coming over to his side judged it more adviseable to adhere to their own The Armies were now drawn so neer each other that it was impossible to part without Engaging Demetrius therefore and the Palatine judging their safety depended upon their Courage received the Enemies Charge as men resolved to conquer or lie by it not onely sustaining but resisting the fury of their Enemies The Success was a while disputed with doubtful hopes till at last the Victory began to declare it self for the more numerous Force which powring in fresh supplies the Polonian was forced to shrink under the impressions of the multitude after they had given testimonies of great resolutions having fought it out with so great a pertinacie that the Victory cost Boris the loss of many of his men His General received several wounds and it was with much difficulty that the Enemy quitted the ground at last they were disordered and broke saving themselves by flight Demetrius having rallied some few of his Troops retreated to Ribscum and the Palatine returned into Poland to raise new Forces having left 8000 of his men upon the place with all his Cannon and Baggage The tidings of this Victory was carried to Boris the Great Duke by Bosmanno the Governour of Novogrod whom Boris received as his better Angel and the General having rendered him with an advantagious character caused him to be presented with a great Bason of pure Gold filled with Ducats of the same Mettal and all the Officers of the Army with Medals and increase of Pay The Borisians shewed more Courage in gaining this Victory than Conduct in improving it to their advantage wasting their time at the Siege of Krom whilst the Enemy had room without interruption to gather together their scattered Troops who had they been chased while their fears had been upon them must necessarily have fallen into the hands of the Conquerours and then the Garrisons had followed their Fate But the Great Dukes Army being fate down bâ—â—â—re Krom the place was defended againse them with so great a Courage that they despaired of taking it whereupon the greater part of the Army being reinforced with fresh men marched towards Ribscum in order to the scattering of Demetrius his Forces and the interrupting of his Levies He upon this defeat found the experience of those friends which had been made with his Successes not himself Many who had run in upon the fame of his prosperous March ran now from him as from a falling house that would in its own ruine involve those within it Yet was not he wanting to himself having his Courage cherished by two Cistercian Monks and two Jesuites who attended him especially the latter in all his adventures These inflame him to a perseverance with promises that the Issue would be Crowned with Success to him and confusion to his Enemies In the mean time the Borisians advanced towards him upon intelligence whereof he sent out his Horse to face them while he was drawing up his Foot Who had seen the great disproportion between both Armies the one of a vast Body of Horse and Foot fleshed with Victory a great Train of Artillery Carriages the other not exceeding 5000 effective men those abounding with wants most of them Raw and Undisciplined and the rest the remnant of a defeated Army might reasonably have guessed at the Success But the power of Fortune or rather of Providence in this juncture appeared beyond humane expectation Demetrius was in a strange Country no Counsel about him unknowing in Discipline preposterous in his Orders and not so much as a temptation left him to hope his Horse being advanced were opposed by those of the Enemy of whom upon the Charge they killed about 1000 which discouraging the rest they shrink and being pressed on by the Demetrians had not time to rally but were in disorder forced upon their own Foot breaking their Ranks and doing for Demetrius what his Army could never have effected He pursuing his Success had the slaughter of that great Body which not being able to make Head were cut down without any resistance And thus what began but in a light Skirmish ended in an intire Victory The Demetrians laden with spoils the whole Camp and Train falling into their hands returned in Triumph to Puttiwol where the Fame of this signal Victory spreading it self to their advantage Five good Towns with their Forts rendered
at Court care was had for the interment of the deceased Duke whose Corps was without much solemnity laid in the Sepulchre of their Princes After this a Council was held for the more effectual prosecuting of the War Peter Bosmanno upon the accompt of his great service and known abilities was appointed General of the Army and dispatched to the Camp before Krom Mislikowski and Zwiski being recalled to assist the Regent and the young Emperour in the administration of the Government Krom had been assaulted by the Russians ten severaâ— times who were as often repulsed by the obstinate Valour of the Cossacks within it But Demetrius to cherish the Courage and Fidelity of the Garrison and setting much of his rest upon the conservation of the place dispatched Zaporius one of his chief Commanders with the greatest parâ— of his Army to the relief of it He having marched within a convenient distance of it and by his Scouts and other Spieâ— understood the posture of the Enemie Leaguer judged it very hard to attempt any thing upon it by force and therefore hath recourse to policie and framing a Letter to the Governour told him he was advanced so far as a Forlorn to the main Army and to keep the Leaguer from forraging the Country while the Polish and Cossack Auxiliaries were coming up to their relief under the conduct of Demetrius in person And then magnifying their fidelity and abounding in promises of rewards and honours to them he concluded with an assurance of speedy relief This Letter was put into the hands of a bold fellow who undertook the delivery of it but was by the crafty Commander directed such ways towards the Town as led him directly upon an Out-guard of the Enemies who having seized upon him brought him to the Head-quarters where being presented to the Rack he discovered his Letters and being examined confirmed the effects of them as a truth which he had heard discoursed of by the chief Officers of Zaporius his Army The Leaguer was as yet commanded by Hoduinus a near Kinsman of the late Great Duke's the principal Officers of the Army disdaining to submit to Bosmanno as a Son of Fortune Upon this intelligence there were 2000 Horse commanded to keep the avenues of the Town while the rest of the Army drew off to encounter the Enemy Zaporius that he might better countenance his contrivement drew out his whole Army in Battalia and having at a further distance behind him placed all his Boyes and Bedles of the Army with all the Carriages and some few Souldiers to make up a Front which he extended to a great distance He with his real Forces marched up to encounter the Enemy having given order to this mock-Army that was behind and which he had furnished with Trumpets Drums and Colours that upon the Engagement they should advance in view and fill the Air with shouts and noises that the Poles and Cossacks were at hand The Fight was fierce and doubtful in the beginning and Zaporius was so hard put to it by the greater numbers of the Enemy that notwithstanding all his skill he must have sunk under their weight had not Bosmanno disobliged by his own Party who had the command of some Reserves instead of charging the Enemy joyned his Troops to theirs and then in the head of his men declared that Demetrius was the true Emperour inviting all who had a zeal to the honour of their Country to follow his example in adhering to the rightful Prince This extraordinary adventure did equally surprize both Armies possessing the one with a consternation and the other with amazement in so much that the Fight held up as by joynt consent and both sides seemed to expect the determination of the Cause by some other Umpirage than that of their Swords Bosmanno taking advantage of this profound Silence shews himself again betwixt both Armies and crying out with a loud Voice invited all those who had any reverence for the Ashes of John Basilius or honour for his Son and affection to the publike peace that they should follow his example by rendring themselves to the obedience of their rightful Prince where they should be sure of Indemnity and Protection Bosmanno being of great reputation with the common Souldiers as one that had engaged with them in many Services had the fortune in this juncture to make so strange an impression upon their minds by his discourse that after some murmur amongst themselves they all cried out with a loud voice that they would live and dye with Bosmanno The Nobility observing the course of the stream and lest that they might be overwhelmed in resisting of it resolved to follow the Current and immediately declaring for Demetrius dispatched a Party of 500 to him to Puttiwol with tender of their Submissions supplicating his pardon for their former defections whereto they had been insnared by the Artifices of Boris They further offered him an entire Obedience of themselves and of the strength of the Empire beseeching him he would come over to them that they might march under his Conduct to the Possession of his Hereditary rights Hodwenus having thus lost his Army which deserted him as one man purposed to save himself by flight but being pursued by a Party thereto imployed was seized upon and presented to Demetrius in whose presence he disdaining to bow or pay those respects due to an Emperour was commanded to Prison and to be laden with Irons Demetrius transported with this happy news broke up with those Troops which he had about him marching directly to Krom where he caressed the Governor and Garrison with all kindness imaginable magnifying their Courage and Fidelity and heaping upon them promises of Mountains when he should be establisht in his Throne From thence he went to Arol where the revolted Lords and Army attended his coming and received him with all the Submissions and demonstrations of joy that could be expressed And being by this accession of Force rendred absolute Master of the Field he advanced by easie marches toward Musko the Seat of the Empire and being come as far as Tula he made some stay there as well to refresh his Army as to consider how to carry on the rest of his Affairs And having advised with his Council he writ his Letters to the Magistrates of Musko to acquaint them that God had in a wonderful manner owned him and his Cause by bringing over the Army that opposed him to their due obedience without bloodshed much to his satisfaction rather to have them reduced by the convictions of their Conscience than by the force of his Arms he therefore invited them according to that pious example of the Army to return to their obedience and as a manifestation of it to root out from the face of the earth that hated Progeny of Boris who had murthered his elder Brother and had laid Trains for his life but that he was rescued from them by deliverances not much short of miracle
could not appease the tumult neither would they any more be Commanded by him but chusing one Tiskevicius for their General prepare to follow Demetrius their old Lord. For all this the Chief Officers and those most in favour with the Souldiery had by their diligence and Authority welnigh appeased these disorders which they had also probably effected if new Commotions had not interven'd upon new considerations to wit that it was not safe to remain longer in the Camp so distracted and divided without Order or Discipline and in sight of an Enemy vigilant and intent upon every occasion This hurried them into new Confusions and like so many Furies they all cry out they would immediately be gone and packing up their Baggage fired their Camp which for the variety and Magnificence of its Structures seemed another great City and being ready to march mutually engaged to keep together till they came to Volock where every body should be at liberty to dispose of himself as he thought most for his advantage Being come thither Sapiha and all his men resolving to follow the fortune of Demetrius went to Caluga to him Rosinski and Alexander Zbarowski with 4000 Horse and the Dunensian Cossacks went to their King at Smolensko And thus this power which had so long blocked up Musko and had trampled upon the Empire two years and would certainly have subjugated both was dispersed in the beginning of March 1610 by the ill Counsel and to the very great detriment of King Sigismund for the Enemy being well-nigh broke with the long Siege of their Metropolitan gathered new force and vigour upon the raising of it and the King who might have prosecuted the War at the expence and danger of others drew the whole burthen of it as it were voluntarily upon his own shoulders In the mean time the Zuiskian Muskovites not ignorant of the dissentions in the Camp began to hope well but leaving them to their discords lest by attempting them the sense of their common danger might unite them they turned their forces another way They turned the Poles out of Peraslaw and Alexandria which lay there drive Sapiha from the Siege of Troyeze and reduced all the places about the Volga into their power But when the City it self was delivered from their troublesome Neighbours then as if they had broken their Fetters been delivered out of a long Imprisonment they reassumed new courage and new vigour and having in a short time recovered most of the Provinces which revolted to them they sent the best part of their Army to follow Rosinski who had possessed himself of Volock and the strong Monastery of Osippow He was necessitated to stay there by reason of the indisposition his hurts had procured him He kept with him 1500 Poles and 400 Cossacks having sent the rest of the Army with Zbarowski to the King His health was much impaired through his daily toils and the smart of his old hurt to which also contributed the perturbation and grief of his mind which his ill Successes had created him in that he had quitted Musko with less Glory and Splendor than he had attempted it Nature and strength being decayed in him he was overcome by the violence of his Malady and unable to resist longer was forced to submit to the necessity of his Fate which deprived him of his life and hopes in a strange Country which he had entred in Pomp and Triumph Rosinski being dead Volviovius the Zuiskian General taking the occasion of the distraction his loss had bred amongst the Garrison besieged Volock and took it without much difficulty Ossipow defended it self better in so much that the Auxiliaries from Sweden being French and desirous to shew of what importance they were to their Party having opened a passage into the Fortress with a Petard were after a very bloody Assault baffled and beaten off But the place being more oppressed by wants from within than by any force from the Enemy from without were forced to yield to the necessity of their condition but scorning a tame surrender they resolved upon a Salley and to take the hazard of that as their safest and last refuge The obscurity of the night was judged fittest for the Exployt which being come they refreshed themselves with the whole Provisions of the place and after mutual embracings and encouragement of each other they set open their Gates and made towards Smolensko Their Sally was furious like that of men resolved to die and they performed it with a Courage hurried on by despair which made the Fight bloody and the carnage great amongst the Muskovites but they abounding in their numbers and not being surprized upon this occasion killed most of the Poles so that scarce 300 of them escaped in safety and they were 1200 who sallied out to Sigismund's Camp The Muskovites raised with this variety of Successes formed to themselves an Army of 30000 men to which were added 1000 French De la Garde's Germans and 6000 Suedes newly arrived under the Command of Count Edward Horn. Demetrius after his quitting the Camp lay with a few Sapihans at Caluga but they despising his small force marched to the relief of Smolensko King Sigismund having notice of these preparations and their approach Commanded Stanislaws Zolkievius his General with 8000 choice men to obstruct their passage The two Armies engaged at Clusinum where the Muskovites were again overcome by the Fatal Virtue of the Poles in a great and memorable Battle But it cost the Poles dear for though their Right Wing had routed the Enemies Left Commanded by Demetrius Zuiski the Great Dukes Brother yet the other Wing consisting of Germans and other Strangers stood their ground which they had chosen advantageously amongst shrubs and other rubbage in such a place where the Enemies Horse could not come up to charge them without much difficulty but being well seconded by their Reserves they at last made so violent an impression upon this Wing also that it was put to flight There remained yet the Main Body of Foot made up of Germans and Swedes which kept entire and the Polish being recalled from the pursuit prepared to make a Charge upon them but they seeing themselves abandoned by their Horse and left singly to the fortune of the day many of their men likewise stealing from them and running to the Enemy durst not stand out the shock but waved their Hats and hands about their Heads in signe of Parley which being granted and Hostages delivered they surrendered themselves for all what la Guarde who was newly returned from the flight whilest they were in Treaty could intreat or do to the contrary Those Wings that had been defeated having rallied themselves returned also to their Station upon a confidence their Foot had stood their ground but they came only time enough to be beaten over again the Poles having the pursuit of them till late in the night and thus the Field being cleared of the Enemy they had the entire
were engaged The Poles had indeed ordered their Reserves but by an over-confidence advanced upon the Enemy from without the protection of their Forts contrary to the Generals Orders which the Enemy observing the Tartars shewed themselves on the Right Wing and extending that way endeavoured to get between the Christians Camp and the Rear of their Army which obliged Zolkievius to oppose against them his Reserves The Fight was Bloody and doubtful for two hours together but the Main Battle of the Poles having no Seconds by reason of the diversion of their Reserves to defend the Rear oppressed by the often-repeated Charges of the Enemies fresh Troops however keeping within the protection of their Forts on the left Wing were no longer able to sustain the Impression of those multitudes that swarmed upon them they therefore faced about and breaking through those Squadrons of Tartars who had got between them and the Camp made their retreat in reasonable good order the Barbarians being checked in their Pursuit by the Forts before-mentioned which were still defended by the Poles That on the Right Wing was violently assaulted by the Enemy who killed three hundred of the Defendants and took four of their Field-Pieces neither had their Success rested there but that the Christians not wanting to themselves in that extremity advanced with their best Troops to their relief forcing the Infidels after a hot dispute to a confused Retreat The Fort or Castle on the other Wing was left unattempted and night drawing on the Enemy after a kind of drawn Battle wherein there fell 1000 of theirs and about six hundred of the Christians retreated to their Tents The rest of that night and the following day were past without any Attempt on either side The Poles in the mean time went to counsel what was to be done upon this pressing occasion which being of an extraordinary nature they were able to fall upon no probable Resolutions During this time of their Consultation there was a report spread about the Camp of a purpose in the Chief Officers to steal away from the Army which put the Souldiers into confusion till they were undeceived by the generous professions of their Leaders who vowed to live and die with them Zolkievius proposed in Council that they should the next day try the fortune of another Battle wherein they might easily correct the errors of the former day and being now informed of their own and the Enemies strength they could better lay hold of such advantages as should occur having failed more in Conduct than Courage and if the Success of the next day should not answer the Attempt they might then think of retiring towards the confines of their Countrey where they should be sure to meet with new Supplies for the further prosecution of the War The very mention of another Battle surprized many of the Great Persons especially Alexander Kalinowski Duke Corecki and Nicholas Struse three of the most eminent Lords in the Army who maligning the Command of Zolkievius were the more apt to oppose his Counsels especially in this juncture which must bring their lives to an apparent hazard They therefore absolutely declared against it and that there was no safety but in a sudden flight by which means they might avoid death or a Turkish Bondage which was yet more terrible and being resolved to put the Counsels they had given in execution that night they took the first opportunity after the Watch was set to quit the Camp proposing to themselves that by the favour of the darkness they might get over the River Prut which covered the Rear of the Camp before the Enemy could take the Alarm of their departure Gratian the Vayvod for whose preservation the War was undertaken went away with them and having by the number of their Train and Dependants made a considerable Party they concluded themselves of strength able by the advantage of the night to break through all opposition There was a second Rumour spread about in the Army that the General himself was likewise gone which bearing terrour with it the inferior Officers and Souldiers were upon preparation for their flight also whereof he having speedy notice mounted on Horsback and causing many lighted Torches to be carried before him shewed himself to his Souldiers surrounded the Quarters spoke to every one he met and animated all with his presence and chearfulness He added That he could not be guilty of so nefarious a Treason as to desert so many brave men his fellow-Souldiers they had served too long under his Command to conceive their General capable of so wretched an act as to sully all his Honour by so sordid a Retreat That for his part he had no other consideration for his life but in order to their preservation and since some he must confess eminent Persons had preferred that to all sence of Honour he was glad they were gone hoping they had carried away with them that infection of Cowardize which might have tainted the whole Army He also would wish them a good Journey provided they would tell the King and such of their Friends that should enquire after them that they had abandoned the Army and their General in the Plains of Cicora engaged against theirs and the Common Enemy of Christianity Zolkievius though he had harangued his Souldiers in these kind of Terms and with a serene Countenance yet had he much ado to compose those minds which were agitated with terror and fear who could not be perswaded to return to their Duty until a sence of the danger of their disobedience obliged them to it But they were wholly confirmed by the ill Success of those who had deserted them who by their degenerous flight had hastened not prevented their ruine For in passing the River which was rather rapid than deep many of them missing the Ford were overwhelmed in it Kalinowski himself perished in the stream and such as got over at least most of them were knocked in the head by the Tartars who had the Guard of that Post Gratian and his Moldavians being skill'd in the Passage and ways got clear off but being pursued by his ill Fate had the recompence of his infamous flight rewarded upon him by the perfidy of his own Servants who murthered their Lord to possess themselves of what Treasure he had brought away with him The rest of the Party after a vain Attempt to pass the River not daring to land on the other side wet weary and confounded with shame came back for refuge to the Camp which a while before they had forsaken as desperate reposing now all their safety in that of the Army The Poles by these losses and the escape of 900 Cossacks who by a more lucky fate than that of their Fellows had broke through a neglected Quarter of the Enemy without opposition being much weakned and far unequal in strength to the Enemy and not daring to attempt another fight without manifest hazard to loose all resolved upon a
entred with a fury sutable to the constitution of their Affairs and forcing them back and upon those that followed made them contribute to their own disorders in such sort that not being able to rally they were repell'd with a great slaughter And having clear'd themselves from this violent storm they continued their march that evening alongst the Banks of the River for three Miles the enemy coasting them on the other side with an equal pace Octob. 5. The Tartars having got before them the day before lay directly in their way but they carrying with them the resolution of surmounting every difficulty and grown skilful in this new kind of March broke through all the resistance made against them though not without some disorder in their Rear occasioned by the fears of the Waggon-men which rendred them less exact and faithful in their charge But by the valour and conduct of Zemberg who commanded in that part the Enemy was repulsed and the disorder being repaired they performed a March of two Miles that day Octob. 6. They still advanced and like a wedge of Iron divided their passage through the numerous Squadrons of the Enemy who clouded their very sight with their showers of Shot and Arrows but seeing they could make no impression upon them they burnt up and destroyed all their grass and forrage in their way whereby they were extremely incommodated and by reason whereof and their often Skirmishes they were that day able to march but one Moldavish Mile The Poles still followed the Banks of the River Tire with a designe to gain Mohilow a safe Retreat after their tedious March They were constrained to avoid the nearest way thither as mountainous boggy besides great Woods in it which would obstruct them in the manner of their motion chusing for the sake of a more even passage to go about by such a way as brought them within a Mile of their desired Harbour The Camp was in perfect order and the Enemy tired with a repetition of fruitless Attempts and labours had forborn to press upon them being content to wait on their motion by a few Scouts only The Poles about the evening of this seventh day of their March continued their Journey according to their former Method and meeting in their Passage with some Barns stored with great quantities of Hay and Corn many of them but without order ran to the Bait to supply themselves with Provisions for their well-nigh-starved Horses In the mean time the Van of the Camp began to march without calling in their Forragers or giving notice as they ought and used to the Rear of their motion The Rear for want of the accustomed Signe being thus separated from the Main Body was seized on by a sudden horror and pannick fear which having laid hold on some was like Wild-fire carried through all Their apprehensions were various but all upon the account of fear heightned by the darkness and imaginary noises concluding their Van was cut off and that the Sword was at their Throats The same plague being spread over the rest of the Army infected the whole in a moment with its contagion whereupon the Carters Waggon-men Pedees and Servants imploy'd about the Carriages unloosed the Horses to serve themselves by flight upon them so that the whole Fabrick and Machine of the Camp being dissolved they could move no further There was yet another cause at least contributary to these Evils Upon the departure of Gratian and other Fugitives from the Camp at Cicora the Raskality of the Army with a mixture of Souldiers robbed and plundered their Tents and Lodgings whereof the Officers in that juncture durst not be over-inquisitive but being got on the Banks of the River Tire they began to speak of it and Koninkspolski the Lieutenant-General had that very evening improvidently enough let fall some threatning expressions concerning it The number of the guilty being many they began to think of their proper safety and the avoiding that punishment which if they stood to it would fall upon them they therefore in great numbers fled away from their friends as well as their foes These wretches having begun a Tumult upon this occasion the same was seconded by the dividing of the Camp as is before declared The confusion was so great that Zolkievius and the chief Officers about him could not be heard the variety of noises with the apprehension of the danger and the darkness of the night rendring the Army deaf to all his Commands and Orders The Tartars being by their Scouts advertised of these Tumults failed not to hasten thither and working upon the advantage given them by the Poles prepared to it by their own fears fell in among them with shouts and terror Zolkievius had Commanded that for the better safety of the Quarters and encouraging of the Souldiers all men should quit their Horses and march on foot wherein himself was the first example which was the reason that so many of the Chief Commanders fell and were taken in that encounter for when the Rout was become so universal that all resistance was to no purpose they perished upon the place for want of Horses to carry them off except such as escaped by swimming and so got away Zolkievius his Son with his Nephew and Strusius the two former being weak of their Wounds and forsaken by their Coachmen were made Prisoners and presented to the Tartarian Galga Zolkievius had before taken an eternal Farewel of his Son and then having made a short Confession to his Ghostly Father was lost in the confusion but found dead next morning upon the skirts of the Camp some say he caused himself to be killed by one of his Followers a Cossack chusing rather to perish with his Army than fall into the Enemies hands or survive his own glory But the Wounds in his Sword-hand on his Face and Breast and a Tartarian laid dead along by him seem to declare that he was killed fighting However it was Skinder Bassa caused his Head to be cut off and fixed upon a Pike exposing it for that day to the view of his whole Army and afterwards to be sent to the Grand Seignior his Master as a Testimony of his Victory The Lieutenant-General Corecki the young Zolkievius with the other Prisoners of Quality were sent to Constantinople where after a three years imprisonment they were ransomed and returned to their own Country And thus like a Ship after a long voyage sunk in the harbour Zolkievius having through all the accidents of his Life proceeded regularly from the Quality of a private Souldier to the Supreme Command of an Army was raised by his own Virtue to those Honours which rendered him eminent in those parts of the World Neither was there any thing wanting to compleat his Glory besides the Success of this Retreat which was reduced to that point that there wanted but two hours space to render him eminent amongst the most illustrious Captains of Antiquity It is held of all hands
reduced all those Forts and Out-works which had been formerly taken from them enlarging their Quarters to a more commodious distance But all this being considered by them but as a small intermission of their miseries and no solid Supply able to sustain the force of all Muskovy they dispatched Letters to their King in Poland with an account of their condition upbraiding his carelessness of their safety and declaring that if by the 6th of Jan. their Prince were not sent to them they would quit the place and come back to Poland to require their Arrears The Chief Officers of the Polish Army by a misunderstanding amongst themselves contributed unhappily to the Service of the Russians Potocki Palatine of Brachlaw was left Governour and Commander of the Forces about Smolensko but he could not suffer that Charles Chodkievicius Lieutenant-General of the Lithuanian Army should be sent to prosecute the Reliques of the Muskovitish War as to the possession of the Imperial Seat towards the gaining of which he had contributed little and reckoning upon this as a Designe fit to be reserved for his own Conduct he managed all his Counsels accordingly and though Chodkievits was maugre all his contrivements marked out for the Service of Musko yet the enraged Potocki perverted some of his Chief Officers and as it happened there was a concurrence of Causes to thwart the Polish Interest for upon the 15th of August it seemed more than probable that the Muskovites being hotly pursued might have been driven out of the City but that an old Colonel amongst the Poles considering if they should improve this Success to the utmost there would be nothing left for their General Chodkievits to do upon whom this Colonel had a particular dependance and it seems consulted his Glory more than the Common Good and therefore disswaded his Party from pressing their Fortune upon an apprehension of some supposed dangers In the mean time Chodkievits being design'd for the relief of the place marcht thither with an Army but the fame of his severe Discipline flying thither before him and augmented by the envy of his ill-willers begot a very great prejudice in the minds of the Souldiers against him and an aversion for him so that they upon his arrival disputed his Commands and looking upon all his Proposals with an eye of diffidence would not be engaged upon any more Sallies but as if they had placed a Religion in the performance of their former Letter to the King they quitted the Palace upon the sixth of Jan. as they had before declared They left indeed the Sapihan Regiment in Garrison behind them but upon the Temptation of vast advantages These had the rest of the Crown-Jewels put into their hands as caution for their pay which Jewels consisted of two Crowns of Gold richly beset with Jems a Scepter of Unicorns-Horn likewise gloriously adorned with Jewels two whole Unicorns-horns and another half cut the Great Dukes Saddle embroydered with Pearl and Gold two Hats wrought with Diamonds with the Scepter and Golden Apple both inriched with pretious Stones of huge value And having ordered the Affairs of the Fort at this rate they chose one Joseph Cieclinski for their General and appointing him a new Council of War they quitted the place notwithstanding the Kings Commands and the intreaties and threats of their Officers to the contrary and marched directly into Poland being 7000 effective Horse and being arrived at Leopolis made that their Head-Quarters and distributing their Troops into the several Palatinates of the lesser Poland they seised upon the Kings Domains and the Ecclesiastical Revenues which were very great under pretence of their Arrears due from the Commonwealth But to return to Musko which they had quitted the Sapihan Regiment which they had left there was reinforced and reassured by the access of fresh Troops brought thither by the two Konickspolski's from Smolensko but they were followed by an envy amongst the Great Officers as their evil Genius Potocki led on by his Ambition which had an influence upon all his Councils having suffered affairs to run up to a pitch of desperation judged it a fit time for him to step in to the preservation of the place in order whereto he sent his Kinsman Nicholas Strusius with part of the Smolenskian Foot as most proper for the Service in Garrison The Passage along the River Moscha was kept open all this time whereby they were able to receive in their supplies of Men and Victuals in spite of the Besiegers but their divisions and emulations within growing up to a height gave the Russians the opportunity to perfect their Line by blocking up that Passage Not long after the Sapihan Regiment consisting of 4000 Horse debauched likewise by the same spirit of Mutiny forsook Chodkiowits and chusing one John Zalinski to Command them by the Title of Marshal took the opportunity of breaking through the Enemies Leaguer and marching into Lithuania seated themselves at Brestia where they fixed dividing the neighbour-Palatinates the Kings Revenues and the Ecclesiastical Incomes as a subsistance for themselves till their Arrears were paid The Commonwealth of Poland being provoked by these repeated insolencies of their Souldiers failed not to charge their King with the causes of them in not permitting his Son to go to Musko which he was now inclined to and though dilatory in his nature resolved now to bring him thither in Person The Confederate Horse which had formerly desired Vladislaws with so much heat and in which the King confided most refused now to stir and change their repose and affluence of all things for penury and new toils Sigismund however with what Forces he could get together came to Vilna the Metropolis of Lithuania where two German Regiments of Foot were newly arrived from thence he went by slow Marches to Smolensko where encountring with new difficulties he was at a stand for the prosecution of his Design for the Horse which quartered there his best hopes refused to march with him till their Arrears were paid them The dispute was unseasonable to the Kings Affairs who wanted Monies to answer their demands and strength to exact their Obedience He therefore had recourse to entreaties and the temptation of fair Promises not only Arrears but Rewards which having no impression upon their hardened natures the King was forced to march with his Guards onely and a few Light-Horse though he was after overtaken by twelve hundred of those Horse who perswaded by some Officers most in credit with them not to expose their King now upon the Crisis of his Affairs but to signifie to the world by that Act of Obedience both their Loyalty and Courage These being overcome by such Arguments marched after the King to Viasna midway betwixt Smolensko and Musko where Chodkiovits also with his Forces joyned the Royal Army It happened and I would not omit a circumstance that carried noise with it that the Portcullis of the Kings Gate at Smolensko through which Sigismund was to