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father_n	brother_n	daughter_n	sister_n	24,794	5	10.8865	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A35310	The antient and present state of Muscovy containing a geographical, historical, and political account of all those nations and territories under the jurisdiction of the present czar : with sculptures and a new map / by J.C., M.D., Fellow of the Royal Society, and a member of the College of Physicians, London.	Crull, J. (Jodocus), d. 1713?	1698 (1698)	Wing C7424; Wing C7425; ESTC R2742	334,877	511

publish'd till after the Consummation of the Marriage forasmuch as the Person the Czar makes Choice of which is done by Tying a Crown upon her Head is exposed to the Envy and Malice of such other Ladies as have been refused by the Prince so that to avoid any dangerous consequences but especially the Charms of these Rival Ladies which are much fear'd by the Muscovites there is scarce any thing known of the Czar's Marriage till it is Proclaim'd by the Sound of the Great Bell in Musco perhaps the finest in the World As the Fashion of the Czar's Cloaths is like that of the Nobility The Czaritza but only richer so the Dress of the Czaritza or Empress is little different from other Women the Attire of her Head is something higher and her Smock Sleeves are much longer to wit ten or twelve English Yards besides that her Robe or uppermost Gown has wide Sleeves not unlike to those of our Batchellours of Arts These are worn by all her Women of Honour Chamber-Women Ladies and Embroideresses The Father or Brother of the Czaritza or Empress dare not call her his Daughter and Sister nor dare any of the Kindred own themselves so It is a general Custom among the Russians The Czarovitz not to let their young Children be seen by any body but their nearest Relations for fear Strangers should cast some ill Aspect upon them This is more strictly observed with the Czarovitz or Son of the Czar none being permitted to see him unless it be his Tutor and Family Servants till he be fifteen Years old when he is exposed to publick View At the Birth of a Czarovitz the people to demonstrate their Joy bring great Presents to the Court which are for the most part return'd but if the Czar likes any of them he pays to the full Worth for them The Czar's Children are attended by other Children bred up with them who exactly know their distance and what manner of Respect is to be paid to them as well as other Persons of what degree soever None of them dare speak the least Word of what passes in their Court as it is death for any one to Reveal what is past in the Czar's Palace CHAP. XI Of the Religion of the Muscovites and their Church Government THE Muscovites do all profess one and the same Religion which may be said to be particular to them forasmuch as it extends not beyond the Grand Czar's Dominions unless it be at Narva where some few Muscovites live under the Jurisdiction of Sweden and that there is some Analogy betwixt them and those Inhabiting the Polish Russia that profess the Greek Religion The Muscovites glory that they are the only True Christians now in the World forasmuch as they are baptized whereas others have been only Sprinkled which is the Reason they alledge for Re-baptizing all such of what Persuasion soever that embrace their Religion They profess as they say the true Greek Religion which makes them shew abundance of Respect and Kindness to the Greeks so that the Greek Monks or Priests which frequently come from other parts into Muscovy with their Relicks know how to make an Advantage of their Simplicity and Ignorance They found their Religion on the Books of the Old and New Testament They are forbidden to bring the whole Bible to Church tho they are allowed to read it at home by reason of several passages in the Old Testament so that they only carry the New Testament and some certain chosen Psalms and Verses taken out of the Prophets It is about threescore years ago that they got the Bible translated into the Russian Language wherein they followed as they pretend the foot-steps of the Seventy Interperters They have also a certain Book which they call the History of the Gospel but the whole so adulterated with Fabulous Narrations and Impertinent Circumstances that in another Christian Country it would be so far from being look'd upon as a Book of Devotion that it would appear abominable As to the Explication of the Bible they follow St. Cyril Bishop of Jerusalem who flourish'd towards the latter end of the Fourth Age under the Reign of the Emperor Theodosius and ought not to be confounded with Cyril of Alexandria The rest of the Fathers which are in greatest esteem among the Russians are John Damascene Gregory Nazianzen St. John Chysostome and Ephraim the Syrian of whom they relate that an Angel having presented to him a Book writ in Golden Characters which no body could disclose he immediately received those Instructions from thence which he has transmitted in his Books to Posterity They relate out of their Annals that the Christian Religion was first established in these parts by the Apostle St Andrew who leaving Greece came to the Borysthenes where he embark'd and by the Sea of Ladoga came to Novogorod where he Preach'd the Gospel That the Christian Religion was afterwards extirpated by the Neighbouring Pagans who made themselves Masters of Muscovy till in the Year 989. Prince Wolodimer or Vlodimer Great Duke of Russia having given them a signal Overthrow and re-united several of these Provinces to his Crown grew so famous for his great Atchievements that Basilius and Constantine Porphyrogennetae Emperours of Constantinople sent their Ambassadours to Congratulate his good Success and that by the Conversation and Instructions of these Ambassadors Prince Wolodimer was induc'd to embrace the Christian Faith and to receive Baptism John Cropalates who writ part of the Byzantine History and lived much about the same time as also Cedren and Zonaras chiefly attribute the Conversion of the Russians to the Christian Religion to a Miracle perform'd by a Bishop that was sent thither by the Patriarch of Constantinople to instruct and baptize the people For these Infidels having objected to him That since God had preserved Daniel's Companions in the Fiery Furnace why might not with the same or more reason the Bible be prevented by God's power from being consumed by Fire The Bishop after having told them that he was assured he could not ask any thing from God which he could not obtain by his prayers cast the Bible into a great Fire made for that purpose where having lain till the Fire was all spent it was taken out as entire and untouch'd as it was cast in whereat Wolodimer being moved abolish'd all Idolatry and in lieu thereof planted Christianity in all his Territories From hence it is that they deduce the Origin of their Religion from the Greek Church which however they have much alter'd since The Creed of Athanasius is the general Rule of their Faith for they believe in God the Father as Creator of the World in God the Son as Saviour and Redeemer of Mankind and in the Holy Ghost as Sanctifier of all the Faithful but for the rest they are involved in a great many Superstitions and fix the Center of their Devotion more in the outward and Ceremonial Part than in the Internal Part

till 1697 By R. K. c. The Doctrine of Acids in the Cure of Diseases farther asserted Being an Answer to some Objections raised against it by Dr. F. Guthill of Dorchester in Dorsetshire in which are contained some things relating to the History of Blood as also an Attempt to prove what Life is and that it is principally supported by an Acid and Sulphur To which is added an exact Account of the Case of Edmund-Turner Esq deceased as also the Case of another Gentleman now living exact●y parallel to Mr. Turners By Joh●● Colebatch a Member of the College of Physicians London The History of Poland in several Letters to Persons of Quality Giving an Account of the Antient and Present State of that Kingdom Historical Geographical Physical Political and Ecclesiastical viz. It s Origine and Extent With a Description of its Towns and Provinces the succession and remarkable Actions of all its Kings and of the Great Dukes of Lithuania The Election Power and Coronation of the King The Senate or House of Lords The Diet and form of Government The The Priviledges of the Gentry their Religion Learning Language Customs Habits Manners Riches Trade and Millitary Affairs together with the state of Physick and Natural Knowledge as also an Account of the Tutonick Order and of the D. of Curland his Family and Territories with Sculptures a new Map after the best Geographers with several Letters relating to Physick By B. Connor Fellow of the Royal Society c. Books Printed for A. Bosvile at the Dial against St. Dunstan's Church in Fleet-street 1697. THe Memoirs of the Count de Rochefo●t containing an Account of what past most memorable under the Ministry of Cardinal Richelieu and Cardinal Mazarin with many particular passages of the Reign of Lewis the present French King never before in Print made English from the French the Second Edition Corrected The Christian Belief Wherein is Asserted and Proved That as their is nothing in the Gospel contrary to Reason yet there are some Doctrines in it above Reason and these being necessarily enjoyn'd us to Believe are properly call'd Mysteries in an Answer to a Book intituled Christianity not Mysterious The Second Edition with a Preface and other Additions A Discourse of Conscience Published chiefly for the Benefit of the Unlearned tho' it may also be useful to others Together with Brief Reflections upon that which the Author of Christianity not mysterious saith upon that known Text 1 Tim. 3 16. The Interpretation of Dreams digested into ●ive Books by that Ancient and Excellent Philosopher Artimedorus The Eleventh Edition much corrected by an old Original Copy with the Life of the Author with many more Additions with the Judgment of some of our Modern English Writers concerning the good use to be made of some Dreams and the Table very much amended Vol. II. CHAP. I. Containing a full Relation of the Revolutions in the Muscovian Empire after the Death of that Great Tyrant John Basilovits to wit Vnder the Reigns of Fedor Ivanovits his Son Boris Goudenou his Son Fedor and the Counterfeit Demetrius JOhn Basilovits had by Anastasia his first Lady two Sons John and Fedor or Theodor the first having been slain by his Father 's own Hands as we told before Fedor Ivanovits was after his eldest Brother's Death the next Heir to the Empire and accordingly Crown'd Grand Czar of Muscovy when he was scarce two and twenty years of Age. He was Married some years before his Father's Death to Irene Sister of Boris Goudenou a Lady of a very lofty Temper and Carriage by whom having no Issue he had been several times commanded by his Father to send her into a Monastery according to the Custom of Muscovy but his Affection and Endearments of this Lady being more prevailing with him than his Interest he had by several Delays put off the Execution of it Being now mounted on the Throne and Boris advanced to the Dignity of Lord High-Steward of Muscovy the highest Station next to the Prince in the Empire he knew how to manage the Affection of a Prince who always had preferr'd his private Pleasures and Retirement before Publick Affairs with so much Dexterity that the Princess in a great measure ow'd the continuance of her Greatness to him as he was absolutely beholding to her for his first Advancement Boris Goudenou was a Man naturally qualified for the Management of Affairs of State and in a very few Years had attained to that degree of Perfection in Flattery and Dissimulation that he seem'd to be the Darling both of his Prince and the People both being equally well satisfied in his Conduct Thus by the Advantages of his Quality and Dexterity and the Weakness of the Czar Fedor having got the whole Management of Affairs into his own Hands he began to bend all his Thoughts how to secure the Crown of Muscovy to himself and his Family the better to enable himself to obtain his Ends after he had gain'd the Affection of the common People he resolved to smooth his way to the Throne by the Favour of the Nobility most of whom having a Dependance from him as the only Person through whose hands all Places of Honour Trust or Profit passed were soon brought over by the Hopes and Advantages of Preferments to his Party Having thus laid the Foundation to his projected Greatness the main Obstacle of his growing Ambition was Demetrius the youngest Son of John Basilovits by a second Adventure and Brother to the Czar Fedor Ivanovits who was Educated under his Mothers care in the Castle of Vgletz His Death being therefore resolved on Prince Demetrius ●●ur ●ered four of the Prince's own Domesticks were by vast Promises engag'd to undertake the Fact The better to cover their Design they set at mid-night the City of Vgletz on Fire in several places and having thus fill'd all with horror and confusion they ran during the general Consternation to the Castle under pretence of saving the Prince and being admitted into his Bed-chamber took their Opportunity while he was looking out of the Window to see the approaching Flame and stabb'd him in several places with poyson'd Daggers and so leaving him wallowing in his own Blood took Post for M●sco flush'd with hopes of ample Rewards for so extraordinary piece of Service But they were grievously mistaken in their Account for Boris Goudenou considering with himself how dangerous they might prove one time or another to his Affairs took a Resolution to take the first Opportunity of ridding himself of these Evidences of his Treachery to effect which he hir'd others who by the Temptations of great Rewards were made the Executioners of those four Murderers of their Prince To prevent the Murmurs of the People who were all startled at the suddenness of so bloody a Tragedy he made use of the same Method he had done at Vgletz For having caused the City of Musco to be set on fire in several Parts he did not question but that

is time to return to more serious Matters It is to be observed that the Muscovites retain to this Day some Remnants of the Mosaick Law For though they do not abhor Swine's Flesh yet they will not touch a Squirrel Coney or Hare But which is the oddest of all They hold it Pagan or Vnclean to eat Veal but not Lamb For what Reason neither they nor any body else know They account it next to a Sin to omit Lotionem post inatum They look upon it as a great Sin for a Muscovite to lie with a Woman that is not of the same Communion But a Venial Trespass for a Russian Woman to accept of a Kindness from a Stranger They give for a Reason Because her Issue will be educated in the True Russian Faith whereas a Muscovite Man may happen to beget a Child upon a Stranger which is not likely to be educated in the same Religion Heresie is punished among the Russians with Fire The Heretick is carried to the Top of a low House from whence he jumps into the Fire made underneath and immediately they throw Straw upon him and good store of dry Splinters of Firr-Wood these being fired they soon suffocate the Malefactor CHAP. XII A Brief History of the Succession of the Russian Great Dukes from their first Origin till the Death of that famous Tyrant John Basilovitz THE first Origin of this Empire is very abscure for the Great Dukes of Muscovy derive their Pedigree from August●s Caesar yet if it be considered how confused the Atchievements and Successions of these Ancient Princes are among an ignorant People it is no difficult matter to imagine that their Ancient History must be full of uncertainty Thus much is certain that this vast Empire was in former Ages divided into a great many Principalities under their own Laws and Princes which in after Ages and by several Degrees have been united under one Head and compose that vast Body which now adays is known under the name of the Russians Empire But to return to their Chronicles they relate that Augustus Caesar among others of his Kindred whom he sent to be Governour over very remote Provinces One Prussus had assigned him Prussia had his Seat on the Eastern Baltick Shoar by the River Weixel Of him were descended by the fourth Generation Rureck Sinaus and Truvor who at the perswasion of one Gostomistius a rich Citizen of Novogorod were sent for by the Russians who at that time lived without any Civil Government to rule over them in the Year 1573. As they went into Russia they took a long with them Olechus their near Kinsman and so having divided the whole Country among themselves each in his Province laid the first foundation of a regular Civil Government Iverson the Son of Rureck the rest dying without Issue became Successor to them all He took to Wife one Otha the Daughter of a Citizen of Plesscon by whom he begot Stoslaus but being after that Slain by his Enemies his Wife Otha went to Constantinople where she was Baptized and Named Helen His Son Stoslaus was a Warlike Prince and very Victorious in several Battles till at last being Slain by his Enemies they made a Cup of his Skull Engraven'd with this Sentence Seeking after other Men's lives he has lost his own He left three Sons Teropolchus Olega and Volodimir Volodimir having slain his two Elder Brothers Volodimir I. made himself master of all Russia he married afterwards Anne the Sister of Basitius Porphyrogenites and in the Year 989 introduced the Christian Religion among the Russians himself being before instructed in it and Baptized in the Year 988. Some among whom is Zonara's report that it was done by a Miracle of which we have spoke before He built the City of Volodimir the Capital of the Province of the same Name upon the River Cesma which was for a considerable time after the Residence of the Great Dukes Volodimir left behind him Eleven Sons among whom he divided the Dukedom Beristus and Glebus forsook the World and for their Holy Life were Canon●sed after their Death their Feast is kept by the Russians in November The rest falling into contentio●s among themselves every one being ambitious of making himself the sole and supream Lord of all Russia they ruined one another till Jaroslaus was left the only inheritor of all their Dominions Volodimir Volodimir II. the Son of this Jaroslaus used to keep his Residence in the City of Kiovia upon the River Boristhenis He was grown very famous for the many conflicts he had with the Sons of his Uncles whom having at last subdued he was call'd Mono Machus He was also very Victorious against Constantine the Greek Emperor and having over-run all Thracia returned home loaden with Honour and a prodigious Booty whilst he was preparing to renew the War with more Vigour against the Emperor he sent to him Neuphytus Bishop of Ephesus and Eustathius Abbot of Jerusalem who having among other rich Gifts presented him with part of our Saviour's Cross and saluted him by the Name of Czar perswaded him to enter into a League with Constantine with whom ever after he cultivated a very good Correspondance He was succeeded by his Son Vuzevolodus after whom in order of descent Reigned George and Demetrius George Succeeded his Father Demetrius he fought with very ill success against Bathy the Tartarian Prince by whom he was slain in the Battle in the Year 1237 and the Russians brought under the subjection of the Tartars who made their Dukes dependent from them and as a token of their subjection forced them too often as the Tartarian Ambassadors should come into Russia to go out and to meet them and to stand bare headed in their own Courts while the Ambassadors delivered their message sitting About the same time the Tartars having ravaged Poland Plesia and Hungary Pope Innocent IV. obtained a Peace or rather a Truce from them for five Years the Russians affirm that this Bathy was the Father of Tamerain George was succeded by his Brother Jaroslaus and after him Reign'd his Son Alexander Daniel the Son of Alexander was the first that translated the Seat of the Great Dukes to the City of Musco and laid the first Foundation of the Castle he was also the first that took upon him the Title of Great Duke John the Son of Daniel was sirnamed Kalota which signifies a Scrip which he always carried about him and out of it he used to give Alms to the Poor His Son Simeon died without Issue and left the Dukedom to John his next Brother Demetrius succeeded his Father John and left two Sons Basilias and George Basili the Eldest Brother Reigned after his Father's Death and had a Son of his own Name but having conceived a jealousie against his Wife he disinherits the Son declaring George his Brother his Successor in his Dominions George being thus gotten into Possession of Russia puts his Nephew Basili in Prison but

they remained till they found a convenient Opportunity to send by one Means or another the Governor into the other World Which done his Kindred were sure to meet with the same Fate at Musco the Tyrant never wanting Means to root out the Shrubs after he had fell'd the Tree forasmuch as the Muscovites who are above all other Nations given to caluminate and draw one another into the Snare were always ready to furnish him with sufficient opportunity to rid himself of those under some specious pretence or another Thus he treated Knez Rostoroski descended from the antient Dukes of Roskovie or Rosthovie whom he dreaded for his Courage and Skill in Martial Affairs This Principality as well as those of T were and Bielski were in former Ages allotted to the Younger Brothers of the Dukes of Russia but were by Basili the Father of John Basilovits appropriated to his own Use leaving only to the Heirs a very moderate Share for their Maintenance The last of the Dukes of Kosthovie was Peter Rostowski whom the Tyrant had made Waywode or Governor of Nise Novogorod Having resolved his Ruin he sent thither 40 Ruffians whom he used to employ on such like Occasions with Orders to bring to him the Head of the said Governor These having found him at his Devotion they dragg'd him from thence and having stripp'd him stark naked and tied him in a Sledge they carried him streight-ways to the River Colga where he that commanded the Party having cut off his Head threw the Body into the River His Kindred and Children Fifty in Number were all murther'd by the Tyrant's Order and Forty of his Slaves condemned to perpetual Imprisonment John Pietrovits a Man of a very high Rank in Russia was fain to undergo the same Fate with his whole Family For having been falsly accused in the Year 1568 as if he aimed at the Crown the Tyrant without admitting them to be heard seized upon his Estate both Real and Personal which was very great and condemned him to go as a private Soldier in the War against the Tartars Having not so much left him out of all his Estate as an Horse to ride upon he was furnished with one by a certain Friar who took pity of his Condition so he obeyed his Orders And after having served several Years as a single Volunteer who used to have at his Heels a great Number of Servants he at last returned to Musco The Tyrant not thinking it sufficient to have humbled him thus he called together at a certain Time his Council of Nobles where having summoned Pietrovits to appear he with his own Hands as soon as they were all met put the Ducal Cap and Crown on his Head with a Sceptre in his Hand and thus attired in a very rich Robe set him upon a Throne in the Presence of all the Court where having shewed him the same Revernce as is usually paid to the Czars of Muscovy he spoke thus to him All Hail to our Great Duke and Monarch of Russia Now thou hast obtained what thou so much desiredst now it is thou hast encompassed thy Wish I knew thy Aim was to supply my Place in the Throne of Muscovy See how I have my self created thee Great Duke of Russia in a most solemn manner But know that as it was in my Power to set thee upon the Throne so I am able to dethrone and despoil thee of that Dignity as Pleasure He had no sooner uttered these last Words but he stabbed him with a Dagger several times through the Heart But this was only the Prologue to the following Tragedy for he did not only command all his Servants to be either strangled or drowned but he went in Person to the Castle of Columna 180 Miles distant from the City of Musco and formerly belonging to Pietrovits where 300 of his Vassals were massacred in the Tyrant's Presence But not satisfied with this after he had for a whole Year together ruined his Estate with Fire and Sword he shut up all the Gentlemen of whom there was a considerable Number that held any Lands under Pietrovits in one House and so blew them up into the Air with Gun-Powder Their Wives and Daughters after they had been ravished by his Guards were cut to pieces The Peasants with their Wives and Children were driven stark naked into the Woods The Wife of Pietrovits was shut up in a Monastery and his Children and whole Family destroyed by the Tyrant's Order In the same Year he caused his Chancellor Kozarin Dubrowski to be slain by his Guards with two of his Sons as they were sitting at Dinner and a third Son happening not to be at home escaped present Death for that time but he was afterwards taken and Quartered alive Boris Titow one of his Chief Counsellors of State coming one Day to pay his Reverence as is usual to the Great Duke as he was bowing his Head he cut off one of his Ears with his own Hands and presenting it to the Owner Accept says he of this small Gift at present Another time I will remember you better These Cruelites exercised on Persons of so eminent a Rank struck such a Terrour into the rest of the Nobility that they were resolved to try their utmost whether perhaps they might not be able to divert him from these cruel Designs Being therefore met at a certain Day to the Number of 300 they went all in a Body to represent to the Czar the Heinousness of his Cruelties telling him That they were ready to sacrifice both their Lives and Estates for his Service and that they would always remain stedfast in their Allegiance But on the other hand they hoped he would be pleased not to afflict in so horrible a manner his faithful and innocent Subjects The Grand Duke being not well pleased at their Errand he ordered them all together to be thrown into Prison and some Days after some to have their Tongues others their Legs and Arms cut off and 50 of the most Eminent among them were whipped round the Market-place the rest were dismissed without any Punishment for that time but they paid afterwards the whole Score with Interest For in the Year 1570 one Morning when the Citizens were opening their Shops they were not a little surprized to see 18 Gibbets erected in the Market-place surrounded by the Great Duke's Guards who had brought along with them all manner of Instruments for the Torture besides which there was a great Fire and over it was placed a great Caldron with boiling hot Water in it The Citizens I say being terrified at so horrible a Spectacle and presaging nothing but the worst to themselves as being uncertain for what End all these dreadful Preparations were made some instantly shut up their Shops again others more fearful than the rest left all what they had as it was and were for saving themselves by Flight or at least for hiding in some more remote Part of the City Which Place being thus

first his Arms and Legs and afterwards his Head cut off in the Presence of an infinite Number of People who flocked thither to be Spectators of the tragical Exit of him whom not many Month before they had looked upon as their most dreadful Enemy About the same time Maria the Empress Regent departed this Life and Czar Alexis Michaelovits was married soon after to another young Lady the Niece of Oatomon Sergoivits who having by this near Alliance with the Emperor obtained the whole Ministry of the Government acquired himself with great Applause and to the General Satisfaction of the People in this eminent Station till the year 1675. When Czar Alexis Mi●haelovits died Czar Alexis Michaelovits dies to the great Regret of his Subjects who by Reason of his great Clemency singular Devotion and incomparable Conduct during the last Years of his Reign lamented his Loss by all the Expressions of Grief due to the Memory of so great a Prince He left behind him by the first Adventure two Sons and a Daughter to wit Fedor John or Ivan and Sophia by the second one Son called Peter the same who now sways the Scepter of the Miscovian Empire He was succeeded by Fedor Alexiovits his Eldest Son being not quite Seventeen years of Age and of a very Sickly Constitut on who ●eigned seven Years under the Protectorate of Sophia his Sister till the year 1682 Fedor Alex●ovits dies when by his Death the Muscovite Empire was divided into two potent Factions which might have proved of very dangerous Consequence if the extraordinary Conduct of his present Czarish Majesty had not in a great Measure diverted the fatal Blow which seemed to threaten its Ruin CHAP. V. Containing an historical Account of the most remarkable Transactions from the Begi●ning of the Reign of the present Czar Peter till this time with some political Reflections on the present State of Muscovy in Relation to its Traffick and Strength in reference to its Neighbours AFTER the Death of Fedor Alexiovits John the second Son of Alexis Michaelovits being by Reason of his natural Infirmities incapable of undertaking the Administration of the Government was soon prevailed upon to resign all his Claim to the Russian Crown Two Factions after his Death to his younger Brother Peter who tho' very young being looked upon by most of the Boyars as the only Person who gave them all the imaginable Hopes of his future Ability to supply the Place of his Father Alexis Michaelovits Czar Peter crowned was crowned Czar of Muscovy instead of the deceased Fedor his Brother But the Princess Sophia seeing her self thus excluded from the Management of the Government of which she had enjoyed the full Advantage during the Minority of her Brother Fedor she with Knez Gailizin and some others of her Creatures took a Resolution not to part with so fine a Morsel at so easie a Rate but to endeavour by putting John in the Throne to maintain their own Greatness in Opposition to the New Czar Peter Alexiovits It is to be observed that the deceased Empress Maria Mother to John who had by his own Consent debarred himself from the Royal Dignity was infinitely beloved by the Common People by reason of her extraordinary Modesty Charity and other most eminent Vertues The Princess being not ignorant of this Advantage on her side sent abroad her Emissaries who insinuated into the People the Injustice done to John the eldest surviving Son of the Empress Maria the Darling of the People by an adverse Party who contrary to the antient established Custom of Muscovy had excluded that Prince from his Right in favour of his younger Brother These cunning Informations had such powerful Influence over the Common people but especially over the Guards that constantly attend the Czar●s Person that one Morning being headed by some of the Princesses Creatures they rose in open Rebellion declaring they would not lay down their Arms till they saw John the Elder Brother of Peter placed on the Muscovian Throne The Boyars in the Interest of the present Czar Peter Ins●rrection i● the City of M●s●o endeavouring by their Perswasions to appease the Mutiny did feel the dreadful Effects of their Fury for some had their Palaces ransack'd and pull'd down to the ground others were cut to pleces immediately others thrown out of the Windows so that nothing less than a total Destruction seem'd to threaten the City of Musco unless prevented by some Expedient which might stay the Fury of the enraged Populace For which reason the Heads of both Factions who by this time began equally to dread the Insolency of the Rabble after various Debates came to this following Resolution That to ballance the Interest of both contending Parties Czar Peter should be confirmed in the Throne of Muscovy but that his elder Brother John should be his Associate both in the Royal Dignity and Administration of the Government The Princess Sophia having thus once more by the powerful Influence she had over the weakness of her Brother John and by reason of the tender Age of the present Czar Peter che being not above twelve years of Age when he was Crown'd Czar of Muscovy got the Reins of the Government into her own hands managed all Matters under the Conduct of the Premier Minister Knez Gallizin her Creature with a great deal of dexterity for some time till at last by the removal of this her faithful Councellor being deprived of his Assistance and the Death of her own Brother Czar John who died about four years ago without Issue she was totally excluded from the further Management of publick Affairs and thrust into a Monastery where she is detained to this day The present Czar Peter was born on the 29th of May in the Year 1670 by a second Adventure and after the Death of Czar Fedor his eldest Brother Crown'd Czar of Muscovy when he was not full twelve Years of Age. After the removal of Knez Gallizin from the Ministry A Conspiracy against the present Czar and the death of his Brother the whole Administration of the Government being devolved to him he managed it with so much Conduct and Success as has rendred his Actions famous throughout all Europe which those of the contrary Faction looking upon with an envious Eye a Design was laid some few years ago against his Life which in all likelihood would have proved fatal to this great Prince if by the Imprudence of him who was to have been the Chief Actor in this Tragedy the whole Design had not been discovered before the Conspirators could meet with an opportunity to put it in execution This was a German by Birth whose name was Sickler who having a considerable Command in the Czar's Army and being extreamly beloved by him had a free Access to his Person This Man being inticed by the hopes of extraordinary Rewards even of the Crown of Muscovy undertook to dispatch the Czar the first favourable