could never learn He enter'd into an Alliance with Jaroâ—â— Duke of Russia Son to Vlodomirus and 〈◊〉 ry'd his Sister Mary afterwards call'd Doâ—â—neva whose Mother was the Princess 〈◊〉 Sister to Basil and Constantine Emperoun Constantinople He conquer'd the Province of Masoâ—â— where now lies Warsaw and defeated â—â— Army of Maslaus then Duke of that Coâ—â—try who retiring among the neighbourâ—â— Barbarians not long after return'd 〈◊〉 greater Force and ravag'd Masovia â—â— along to the Vistula but was soon met 〈◊〉 overthrown a second time by Casimir whâ—â— flying to his Friends as he thought that 〈◊〉 assisted him they took flea'd and fastned 〈◊〉 to an exceeding high Cross saying That was but just that he should be exalted whose Aâ—â— tion was so boundless Afterwards Casimir beiâ—â— mindful of the Benefits he formerly receivâ—â— in the Abby of Cluny sent thither great Prâ—â—sents and Offerings At length this good King having setled hâ—â— Kingdom in its former Tranquillity dy'd and left three Sons Boleslaus Vladislaus and Miâ—â—cistaus and one Daughter Suentochna He was â—â—y'd at Posnan in the Year 1058. BOLESLAUS II. his Son surnam'd the d succeeded him who reign'd 23 Years n the beginning of his Reign he had Wars â—â—h the Hungarians Bohemians Russians and â—â—ssians all caus'd by the protecting of three â—â—les He vigorously maintain'd the Cause Bela Prince of Hungary who was then marâ—â—d to his Aunt and banish'd by King Anâ—â— Whereupon he dethron'd Andrew and â—â—wn'd Bela King of Hungary notwithstandâ—â— the considerable Succours sent to Andrew â—â— of Germany and Bohemia Afterwards reâ—â—ning into Poland he marry'd Viseslava ughter and Heiress of the Duke of Russia by om he had that Dukedom for a Portion Towards the latter end of his Reign he came very dissolute and lewd oppress'd the â—â—ple with extraordinary and insupportable xes took away publickly Gentlemens dies to satisfy his Lust could not endure â—â— that took notice of his Irregularities â—â—ish'd such as complain'd of his Tyrannical â—â—vernment and at length kill'd Stanislaus â—â—zepanovius Bishop of Cracow for refusing â—â— the Sacrament of the Altar the manner which was thus Boleslaus continuing in enormous Crimes and Extravagancies this od Man earnestly entreated him to amend Life but perceiving his Obstinacy one y he refus'd him the Communion Which s Prince being highly offended at watch'd an opportunity to revenge and a little while after as the Bishop was officiating at Mass he gave him such a blow with his Sabre that he made his Brains fly against the Wall and afterwards his Guards entring cut the good Bishop to pieces Hereupon he was soon pursu'd with Vatican Thunder and consequently render'd odious to his Subjects Wherefore fearing some Conspiracy might be rais'd against him he left his Kingdom and retir'd with his Son Miecislaus which he had by his Queen Viseslava to Ladislaus King of Hungary where 't is reported that out of meer Madness he afterwards kill'd himself This Bishop Stanislaus was Canoniz'd by Pope Gregory VII and has all along from thence been receiv'd for the Patron of Poland The Pope also excommunicated the whole Country and Boleslaus his Successors were for a considerable time depriv'd of the Title of Kings Next came ULADISLAUS HERMANNUS Brother to Boleslaus to be elected who being afraid of the Pope or else fearing his Brother's return would only accept of the Title of Prince He recall'd his Nephew Miecislaus who died in six Years after He built many Churches and Monasteries all which he richly endow'd This Prince also brought over the rebellious Pomeranians and Prussians and defeated likewise the Army of Vratislaus Prince of Bohemia whom the Emperor Henry IV. had dignified with the Character of King giving him moreover a Right over Poland tho he had no Title to dispose of it his Predecessor Otho III. when he crown'd Boleslaus I. King of Poland having renounc'd both for himself and his Successors all Claim to that Kingdom Nay I heard the Poles themselves say that this was rather a piece of Civility in Otho than any Obligation upon them their Country having never been conquer'd by any Foreigner not even by the Romans themselves He married Judith Daughter of Vratislaus King of Bohemia by whom he had Boleslaus III. surnam'd Krivoustus or the Wry-mouth'd and afterwards by a Daughter of the Emperor Henry IV. he had three Daughters He died in the fiftieth Year of his Age was buried at Ploscow and succeeded by his Son BOLESLAUS III. surnam'd Krivoustus or the Wry-mouth'd He was the most warlike and successful Prince that Poland ever had and at length subdu'd his Bastard Brother Sbigneius that rebell'd against him whom at last he was forc'd to cause to be murder'd But of all others his Contest with the Emperor Henry V. is most famous which is as follows This Emperor having declar'd War against Colomannus King of Hungary and engag'd the Bohemians on his side Boleslaus join'd Colomannus and to make a strong Diversion enter'd Bohemia and destroy'd the greatest part of that Country whereupon to be reveng'd on Boleslaus the Emperor surpriz'd the Provinces of Silesia and Marchia which were then in the hands of the Poles and had been absolute Master of them had not Boleslaus speedily marched with an Army to oppose him who finding his Enemies much superiour in number at first thought it better to compose the matter amicably and therefore sent an Ambassador to treat of Peace to which the Emperor thinking he had the Advantage would by no means condescend except upon very dishonourable Terms for the Poles And hereupon leading Scarbicus the Ambassador to see his Treasure he told him that that pointing to his Gold would bring the Poles to what Terms he pleas'd at which Scarbicus being highly affronted took off a Gold Ring from his Finger and throwing it into the Treasury said Whatever be your Imperial Majesty's Opinion I do not question but the Polish Iron meaning their Swords will prove as good Metal as the German Gold Which said he immediately took his leave and returning to his Master acquainted him with his Negotiation which the haughty Pole highly resenting resolv'd to hazard a Battel which he did and by the Bravery of his Army obtain'd a signal Victory in the Dogs-field near Breslaw chief City of Silesia whereupon the Emperor immediately struck up a Peace with him gave him his Sister Adleida in Marriage and his Daughter Christina to his young Son Vladislaus This Prince forc'd the Pomeranians to the Christian Faith which they had often rejected before The Poles all this while were in possession of Silesia but afterwards the Kings of Bohemia conquer'd it and therefore it consequently now is under the Emperor It is reported of this Prince that he had fought forty seven Battels with success except one only with the Red Russians which was meerly lost through the Cowardice of a
Woievod of Cracovia to whom the King after the Fight sent a Hare-Skin and Spinning-wheel for Recompence Nevertheless this one Defeat stuck so close to him that he soon after died leaving four Sons among whom he divided his Kingdom This King perform'd a great many more memorable Actions which my Lord because they might be too tedious to insert here I have omitted He was of an undaunted Spirit a great despiser of Danger and no less an observer of Truth and Right very liberal and generous upon the smallest Occasions and moreover endued with singular Clemency and Modesty He was further very ambitious of Glory but at the same time no Enemy to Peace tho he is said to have been train'd up to War from his very Cradle To ULADISLAUS surnam'd the Driveler his eldest Son he left the Supreme Power which was confirm'd and he elected in the Year 1140 but reign'd only six Years and to the other three he gave only some separate Provinces which afterwards was the occasion of great Disorders in Poland for the elder Brother Vladislaus pretending to dispossess the other three turn'd his Brother Boleslaus out of the Palatinates of Ploskow and Masovia and his Brother Henry out of the Province of Sendomir who both retir'd to their third Brother that govern'd Posnania Vladislaus had always with him a Nobleman call d Peter Dunin whom taking out one day to hunt they happen'd to be so late abroad that they were oblig'd to lie all Night in a Wood where for Diversion the King began to joke with his Companion after this manner Dunin quoth he I. believe your Wife lies more at ease to Night with the Abbot Scrinnen than we do To which Dunin forgetting himself tartly reply'd And it may be your Majesty's does the same with Dobessus Who it seems was a handsom Fellow about Court that his Queen Christina lov'd This Answer so nettled the King that he afterwards employ'd the same Dobessus to be reveng'd on Dunin which he effected by pulling out his Tongue and Eyes Hereupon the People perceiving how cruelly Vladislaus persecuted his own Brothers and at the same time how ill he treated his Subjects began to be daily more and more disaffected to him whereby his Brothers Party greatly encreasing he was beaten by them as he was going to besiege Posnan Wherefore discovering new Factions hourly appearing against him and fearing some ill Fate from a universal Hatred he timely withdrew into Germany to the Emperor Conrade III. Cousin German to his Queen Christina who several times endeavour'd to restore him but all in vain for his Brother Boleslaus Crispus having got possession of the Crown Vladislaus was forc'd to compound for Silesia only which afterwards fell to the Principality of Bohemia and has ever since been out of the possession of the Poles This Prince lies buried at Attenburg a City of Germany in Alsace Vladislaus with his Son having abdicated the Crown of Poland his second Brother BOLESLAUS CRISPUS or the Frizled was elected in the Year 1146 and reign'd to the Year 1175 yet the Emperor Conrade did what he could to restore Vladislaus To effect which he first sent Embassadors into Poland but to no purpose Then he resolv'd to make War with the Poles but defer'd it till his Expedition against Asia was over to facilitate which he had obtain'd leave to pass through Boleslaus his Dominions to the Euxine Sea But at his return being constantly solicited by Vladislaus and his Queen he march'd with a powerful Army against Poland yet what with Delays Stratagems and Ambuscades he was so fatigu'd by the Poles that he could do nothing till at last he was call'd home to appease some Intestine Broils in his own Dominions which having effected he soon after died His Successor Frederic Barberossa also espous'd Vladislaus his Cause but not being able to do any thing in his Favour by Embassadors he march'd with a numerous Army against the Poles which they likewise harass'd and wearied out till they had oblig'd that Emperor to strike up a Peace with 'em he being in War at the same time against Milan by which it was agreed that Boleslaus should remit Silesia to Vladislaus whose Posterity afterwards divided it into several Dutchies till at last it came to the Empire This great Province my Lord as I observ'd in my Journy through it is one of the most fertile and plentiful Countries in all Germany Boleslaus began another War against the Prussians for refusing to pay him Tribute and forc'd them to this Compliance that they should submit in case he left 'em to their Religion but otherwise they boldly declar'd that they would rather die than become Christians again Whereupon Boleslaus was forc'd to grant them Liberty of Conscience yet they soon revolted and by a Stratagem entirely routed the Polish Army and kill'd his Brother Henry This King died not long after and was buried at Cracow MIECISLAUS surnam'd the Old Brother to Boleslaus succeeded him being elected in the Year 1174 and reign'd only to 1178. He was call'd the Old from his great Sagacity and Prudence in his Youth His Covetousness induc'd him to hoard up great Sums of Money by oppressing the Gentry and People with unreasonable Taxes and selling all Employments tho against the Constitutions of the Kingdom This extreme Avarice brought him to be generally hated by the Clergy Nobility and People whereupon Gedeon Bishop of Cracow endeavour'd several times to encline him to pity his Subjects and despise Money since he had no need of it but he would by no means hearken to his Advice wherefore this Bishop concerted together with the Gentry to dethrone him and remit the Crown to Casimir his Brother who more deserv'd it which they effectually did after some little Bloodshed Here we may observe that Covertousness is the greatest Vice that any Prince can be guilty of especially a King of Poland whose Subjects as your Lordship doubtless has observ'd are generally liberal even to Extravagance At first Casimir refus'd the Crown offer'd him alledging it was his Brother's Right and that such an Alteration might occasion Civil Wars which he by no means had any mind to be the Author of But when they unanimously declar'd they would have no other King and could never more obey Miecislaus CASIMIR II. consenting to accept of the Government was elected in the Year 1178 and reign'd to 1195. He was surnam'd the Just being altogether unlike his Brother as appears by the following Particular Being at play with a Gentleman of his nam'd Conarius whilst he was Prince of Sendomir and having won all his Adversary's Money the Gentleman in a Passion struck him over the Face and fled but next day being brought before him was adjudged by every body to have deserv'd Death for his Insolence Not at all replied the good Prince for being affected with his Loss and not
besieg'd Friends when meeting with Conrade who came to oppose him near the River Raba he entirely routed him and forc'd him back again into his own Country This hapned about the Year 1285. This Prince dy'd and was bury'd in the Monastery of the Trinity at Cracow Lescus the VI. leaving no Children his Kingdom consequently fell into great Distractions for Vladislaus Locticus his Brother seiz'd on the Palatinate of Siradia and Boleslaus Duke of Ploskow Brother to Conrade Duke of Masovia on the Palatinates of Cracovia and Sendomir but this latter was soon dispossess'd by HENRY Duke of Breslaw surnam'd the Honest of the Family of Piastus in the Year 1290 who was likewise not long after turn'd out by Locticus but soon restor'd and reign'd in quality of King for the space of five Years tho I do not read he was crown'd He appointed Premislus Duke of Great Poland for his Successor being of the Family of Piastus likewise This Premislus also had the Province of Pomerania left him by Miescingus Prince of that Country PREMISLUS in the thirty eighth Year of his Age was crown'd King at Gnesna by James Swinka Archbishop of that City in the Year 1296 which was an Honour that had not been done to any Prince of Poland before for above two hundred Years since Boleslaus the Bold kill'd Stanislaus at the Altar but Premislus did not long enjoy this Title for seven Months after his Coronation he is said to have been murder'd by some Brandenburg Emissaries that Marquess being afraid of this King who was Master of Pomerania which join'd to his Country He was bury'd among his Predecessors at Posnan After the Murder of King Premislus ULADISLAUS LOCTICUS so call'd from the word Lokiec an Ell having his Name from his low Stature Brother of Lescus the Black was chosen in the Year 1296 and reign'd only four Years He went upon an Expedition against the Silesians that were enclin'd to assist the Bohemians against him who then pretended a Right to the Kingdom of Poland These Locticus subdu'd and having considerably ravag'd their Country return'd home where he afterwards gave himself up to a lewd and debauch'd Life insomuch that he neglected the care of all Publick Business and minded nothing but his own private Pleasures These his intolerable Vices brought upon him the Ill-will of his Subjects insomuch that after three years Reign they pronounc'd him unworthy of the Scepter and resolv'd to elect another Hereupon Locticus being dethron'd they invite WINCESLAUS King of Bohemia to accept their Crown who was marry'd to Rixa Daughter of King Premislus and crown'd King of Poland in the Year 1300 but reign'd only to 1305. After he came to reign he persecuted Locticus who hid himself for some time but was forc'd at last to quit the Kingdom When Winceslaus thus saw himself secure at home by the flight of Locticus and after having put Bohemian Garisons into the several Cities of Poland which seem'd very uneasy to that Nation he thought it high time to go and settle Affairs in Bohemia During this Vladislaus Locticus having a considerable Party in the Kingdom which daily encreas'd on account of discontent against Winceslaus and having got together several Troops out of Hungary he march'd directly towards Poland hearing that the Bohemian Government was somewhat burdensom to that Nation At first Locticus had considerable Advantage over the Bohemians but by the Death of Winceslaus which followed soon after he had all the Success he could desire for the Bohemians who had possession of the Garisons finding themselves in a strange Country and moreover hated and ill thought on by the People were afraid of an Insurrection against 'em and therefore made no great difficulty of surrendring to Locticus all those Cities and Towns they had possession of as Cracow Sendomir c. In the mean time young Winceslaus coming with an Army to dispute his Father's Kingdom with Locticus was murder'd in the Expedition 't is thought by Orders of the Emperour Albert and since his time the Bohemians have ever been govern'd by foreign Princes Winceslaus King of Poland and Bohemia dy'd and was bury'd at Prague in the Year 1305. After the Death both of Winceslaus the Father and Son Vladislaus Locticus was restor'd almost by common Consent in the Year 1305 and reign'd to the Year 1333. And this they did either because they thought he had had time to repent and mend his former Life or by reason they were afraid of Civil Wars if they should elect any other Notwithstanding the Palatinates of Posnania and Kalisch having a fresh Memory of his past dissolute Life would never acknowledg him their King Also the Governour of Pomerania which then belong'd to Poland being brib'd by the Marquess of Brandenburg deliver'd up to him all the Cities of that Province as likewise the City of Dantzic except the Castle which the Governour thereof one Bogussa being truly loyal to his King would by no means surrender In these days the Knights of the Teutonic Order were fully settled in Prussia being both very Strong and very Rich. They were establish'd there by Agreement with Conrade Brother to King Vladislaus Lasconogus for assisting him against the Prussians when he was oppress'd by them They there built some years before the City of Marienburg appointed for Residence of their Great Masters Here Locticus was oblig'd to crave their Aid against the Rebels of Pomerania and Dantzic which they readily granted on condition that half the Garison of the Castle of Dantzic should be of their Troops by which means they soon became Masters of the whole for they afterwards not only turn'd the Poles out of the Castle but both Brandenburghers and Pomeranians out of the City of Dantzic it self and likewise under pretence of assisting the King of Poland conquer'd all Pomerania for themselves when being Masters thereof they offer'd to buy the Title of Locticus for Money which he refus'd Then they offer'd the same Summ to the Marquess of Brandenburg to renounce his Right to that Province which he tho he had no Title to sell yet was wise enough to accept their Prosser The Poles were very sensible of all these Affronts and Injustices offer'd 'em by the Teutonic Order but before they proceeded to Revenge they thought it advisable to acquaint the Pope therewith who liv'd then at Avignon who after four years Delays and Debates order'd the Knights to give due fatisfaction to the Poles but they having had four years respit to fortify themselves and to make strong Alliances with some Neighbouring Princes and besides having a very considerable Army on foot answer'd his Holiness That they had often done great Services for Poland that that Kingdom ow'd them Sums of Money and that they presum'd that not only the Lands they were in possession of in Prussia and Pomerania
Constantinople the Pope and many other Christian Princes sent Embassadors to compliment him Afterwards Amurath under pretence of ransoming Carambeius sent Ministers to treat of a Peace but Vladislaus would only agree to a Truce for ten Years After this the Gentry of Poland sent to their King Vladislaus to return among 'em but he being advis'd by several Christian Princes especially the Pope who sent a Nuncio to him on purpose to break the Truce and continue the War instead of complying with the Poles Request march'd immediately with all the Troops he could get together into Bulgaria and came to Nicopolis Capital of this Province where Dromla or Dracula Palatin of Moldavia meeting him he earnestly entreated him to keep his Royal Promise with the Turks tho Enemies to the Christian Belief but perceiving the King 's inflexible Resolution to continue the War gave him 4000 Men under his own Son's Command In the mean while Amurath who after the Truce agreed upon with Vladislaus went to conquer a certain People of Asia call'd Caramani hearing of this great Army's marching against him turn'd his Forces consisting as Jovius relates of about 80000 Men to meet 'em and near the Town of Varna fought 'em where by his Camels frighting the Polish and Hungarian Horse together with the invincible Courage of his Janizaries he entirely defeated the Christian Army and kill'd King Vladislaus in the Year 1445. Whereupon some body made a Satyrical Epitaph upon this unfortunate King as follows Romulidae Cannas ego Varnam Clade notavi Discite Mortales non temerare fidem Me nisi Pontifices jussissent rumpere Foedus Non ferret Scythicum Pannonis Ora Jugum Ever after this the Turks always fortified themselves against the Christians who they thought could never keep either their Oaths or Word and not long after Mahomet the Great took Constantinople in the Year 1453 wherein Constantin Paleologus the last Christian Emperor of the East was crowded to death in one of the Gates King Vladislaus leaving no Children his Brother CASIMIR great Duke of Lithuania was elected next and crown'd in the Year 1446 and reign'd forty five Years He married the Princess Elizabeth Daughter to the Emperor Albert II. In the beginning of his Reign the Prussians threw off the heavy Yoke of the Teutonic Order and put themselves under Casimir's Protection Hereupon this King went in Person into Prussia to take their Allegiance and Fidelity where he likewise granted them many Privileges who thereupon oblig'd themselves especially at Dantzic to maintain the King and his Court for four days whenever he should please to come again in Person among ' em In the mean time the Teutonic Knights got together a strong Army in Bohemia and Germany with which they immediately march'd against Casimir and routed him before he could execute his Designs of besieging Marienburg and several other Towns which that Order had yet left in Prussia Casimir not a little sensible of this Affront to lose a Battel where he himself was like to have been kill'd call'd a Diet and prevail'd so far upon the Gentry as to grant him half their Yearly Revenues to carry on the War against the Teutonic Order By which means after a long and obstinate Dispute he at last oblig'd 'em to accept of Articles of Peace wherein the Pope's Nuncio was Mediator By this Agreement they were to restore to Poland all Pomerania the Territories of Culm and Michalow with the Cities of Marienburg Stuma and Elbing and were to be left in possession of the rest only on condition that their Great Master for ever after should be Prince and Senator of Poland and take Oath of Fidelity to the King The Moldavians likewise by their Hospodar desire Casimir's Protection against the Turks and offer to take an Oath to him as Vassals and a Tributary Nation which they continu'd for a long while after This King had four Sons whereof Vladislaus was first chosen King of Bohemia and afterwards of Hungary for this last Kingdom after their King's Death had entreated Casimir to send one of his Sons to reign over them Whereupon Vladislaus then King of Bohemia march'd speedily into Hungary with a small Body to prevent any of his Brothers pretending to that Crown Nevertheless his Brother John Albert went soon after with another Army to oppose him and met and fought him but Vladislaus having got the better was crown'd not long after yet he was kind to his Brother and gave him some Towns in Silesia which then belong'd to Bohemia In the time of this King Casimir the Deputies of the Provinces first appear'd at the Diet For before the King and Senators had the supreme Power of making Laws Hartknoch says that till this King's Reign the Latin Tongue was very rarely spoken in Poland for that when the King of Sueden had a certain Interview with Casimir at Dantzic neither Casimir nor any of his Court could discourse with him in Latin but were fain to be beholden to a Monk to do that Office for them which Casimir being much asham'd of publickly commanded all his Officers forthwith to set about the Study of that Language from which time the Poles have continu'd great Prosicients therein nay beyond any other Nation whatsoever This Prince dy'd in the Year 1492 and lies bury'd at Cracow having reign'd forty five Years and liv'd sixty four JOHN ALBERT succeeded his Father Casimir being thought the fittest tho I do not read he was the eldest of his Sons He was crown'd King in the Year 1493 and reign'd nine Years This Prince was very ambitions but withal unfortunate for designing to reduce the Valachians who were then Vassals to Poland and who according to the Condition they saw that Kingdom in would refuse or pay Obedience and who would sometimes side with the Turks and Tartars to ravage it He the better to compass his Intentions pretended to make War against the Turk and for that purpose march'd with his Army through Valachia as if he design'd nothing but to make his way into Turky but being once got into this Country he caus'd his Souldiers to pick a quarrel with the Valachians for not providing them with Forage as they desir'd which however was not an easy matter to do for an Army of 80000 Men which he had with him Hereupon he besieges Sozisaw one of their strongest Towns but the Inhabitants defended themselves so well and Stephen their Hospodar so fatigu'd the Besiegers by taking their Convoys and intercepting their Provisions that at last Albert was forc'd to raise the Siege and return into his own Country when the Hospodar greedily pursuing him destroy'd great â—â—art of his Army in a Wood where he had laid an Ambush Soon after this the Hospodar to be farther reveng'd on the Poles call'd to his Assistance the Turks and Tartars who all joining together enter'd Poland with a prodigious Army and carry'd away
married to Ferdinand of Austria whereby that House came into possession of the Kingdoms of Hungary and Bohemia as likewise of Silesia all which it enjoys to this day Sigismund dy'd not long after the Council of Trent begun being 82 Years old and having reign'd about 40 with great Success Paulus Jovius says that in this King's time there were three Heroes viz. the Emperor Charles V. Francis I. King of France and Sigismund I. King of Poland each of which deserv'd alone to govern the Universe had they not happen'd to live at the same time This King was as famous in Peace as War being adorn'd with more Vertues than any Prince of Poland before him Besides which Perfections of his Mind he had also great Strength of Body for he is reported to have been accustom'd to snap Horseshoes asunder and to have broke the strongest Ropes with his Hands only as I am credibly inform'd the Elector of Saxony at present King of Poland has often done He had two Wives Barbara Daughter of Stephen Woievod of Transilvania by whom he had one Daughter nam'd Hedwigis married to Joachim Marquess of Brandenburg and another Wife Buona Sforza mention'd before who brought him four Daughters which were Isabel married to John King of Hungary Sophia to the Duke of Brunswick and Ann and Catherine both successively to the King of Sweden and one Son Sigismund Augustus who succeeded his Father in the Kingdom of Poland Martin Bielski a Polander who writ the Annals of his Country in his Native Language mentions that in the beginning of this King's Reign a certain Gentleman nam'd James Melstinski Starosta of Brezina being not a little beside himself pretended to be Christ descended again upon the Earth and consequently together with one Peter Zatorski a Citizen of Cracow and eleven others of the same stamp set forward through divers Cities and Villages canting and imposing upon the common People all along as they went sometimes he pretended to raise the Deaâ—â— which he seemingly effected by help of 〈◊〉 Compact with some of his fellow Impostors Next he work'd several pretended Miracles by Legerdemain as by finding things in places where it was almost impossible for them to be which nevertheless he had prudently taken care to lay there before as Fish in Bogs and the like Afterwards he went to the Monastery of Cestochow where it seems he was not known Here he caus'd one of his Followers to pretend to be possess'd with the Devil who thereupon being immediately seiz'd on was led by the Monks to the Altar at a time when a great Concourse of People were gathered together to hear Mass but the Impostor having provided himself a large Coat with several deep and winding Plights as likewise of divers small Pebbles which he had wrap'd up in his Saâ—â— broke furiously from those that held him and immediately leap'd upon the Altar where seizing upon all the Offerings he soon convey'd them into these obscure Folds of his Coat when the Monks going to search him with great Violence found only the Stones in his Sash which they believing to be the Money transmuted by the Power of the Devil immediately fell to exorcising the Stones but finding the same Species still remain they threw down their Books in great Indignation and cry'd Talem Daemonem nunquam experti sumus abite cum eo ad omnes Daemones By help of the Money they had thus got by this Cheat they travell'd all over Silesia and at last came to a Gentleman's House where they told his Wife that Christ and his Apostles were come to visit her and that she must make some Offering and her Soul should be sav'd to which the Woman reply'd that her Husband was from home and therefore she could not possibly comply with their Requests whereupon they demanded of her if she had any Linen to sacrifice she answered she had and presently fetch'd them down a small parcel which they receiving from her hands told her they would keep that for themselves and Christ should bless her and encrease her Store whereupon enquiring farther if she had any more she shew'd them another Parcel but they being about to do the like by that as they did by the other she told them her Husband not being within she durst by no means part with it which Answer displeasing these Impostors they privily slid a piece of lighted Coal among the Linen which the Woman not knowing any thing of took the parcel and lock'd it up in her Chest as before but which not long after bursting out into a Flame first burnt the Chest and then the House The Husband coming home and finding his House on fire enquir'd into the cause of it whereupon his Wife answer'd that because she had treated Christ disrespectfully who came to visit her this Judgment had befallen them At this the Man flying out into a Passion cry'd This was an Impostor and no Christ wherefore calling his Neighbours together they pursued them close till they heard of them in a Village hard by which the false Saviour being inform'd of said to that Apostle of his nam'd Peter Peter now is my Hour come and the time wherein I am to drink that bitter Draught approaches which I have no other way to avoid but by leaping out at this Window To which Peter reply'd I also will follow my Master's Example that I may live Whereupon they both leap'd out at the Window and the rest of the Apostles fled also their several ways but the deluded Countrymen closely pursuing them at length overtook them and surrounding them with Clubs Scourges and the like laid them on most unmercifully crying all the while Prophesy to us O Christ with thy Disciples in what Wood did these Clubs and Scourges grow By this severe Discipline these Impostors having been totally reform'd confess'd that it was no small Task to imitate Christ and his Apostles Before his Death Sigismund got the Diet to elect his Son SIGISMUND II. surnam'd afterwards Augustus who was crown'd in the Year 1548 and reign'd to 1576. The Diet was very angry with him that after his Coronation he married the Lady Radzivil Widow to a Woievod without their Consent which is against the Constitution of that Kingdom but this Queen dying soon after without Children they agreed to his Marriage with the Princess Catharine another Widow of the House of Austria which was before married to Francis Duke of Mantua In his time Livonia which is a great Province that lies between Prussia Swedeland Muscovy and Lithuania whereof part belonged to the Teutonic Order and part to the Arch-bishop of Riga being the whole under Protection of the Empire was like to have been over-run by the Great Duke of Muscovy who brought thither a powerful Army for that purpose and took most of its Towns Whereupon the Inhabitants finding they were not able alone to resist so great a Force sent to the Emperor Ferdinand for Relief who being
means was rated much lower than the House of Austria could have expected For altho it was urg'd to Sigismund that as Charles the Vth dealt formerly by the King of France on the like occasion so he ought to have a Sum of Money paid down sutable to the great Quality of his Prisoner yet Sigismund answer'd That it was to no purpose to propose Charles the Vth as an Example in this Case since that Prince had been guilty of an Action unbecoming his Grandeur When for his part he did not look upon it sufficient Advantage to have got the better of his Enemy unless he likewise had the Glory to give him his Liberty and not to make him buy it By this Mediation Maximilian was to quit for ever his Title to the Kingdom of Poland to restore some Places which had been surrender'd to him and to remain in a perpetual Amity with Poland to all which the Emperour his Brother was made Guarantee But altho these Conditions were so very reasonable yet Maximilian would not ratify them till 1589. Wherefore his Wilfulness detain'd him in Prison till that time when he escape 〈◊〉 to his Parole of Honour Nevertheless he was afterwards brought to sign them by the Power his Brother had over him Sigismund III. was first marry'd to Ann Daughter of Charles Arch-Duke of Austria and after her Death to Constantia her Sister by both which he had three Sons Vladislaus by the former and Casimir and Ferdinand by the latter the two first succeeding him in the Kingdom When the King his Father was dead he went into Swedeland and was there likewise crown'd King of that Country in the Year 1592 on condition that every fifth Year he should come and reign over Sweden in Person but being engag'd in a long War against the Muscovites Turks and Tartars he could not be spar'd in fifteen Years and therefore sent a Senate of Jesuits to govern them and suppress the Lutherah Doctrine which was then mightily spread in that Country Here it must be observ'd that this King's Mother Catherine strictly adher'd to the Roman Church by the permission of her Husband John III. King of Sweden who also lean'd a little that way Whereupon when Sigismund's Tutor Arnold Grothusius would have seduced him from that Perswasion his Father John being in a great Passion and drawing his Sword upon the Tutor cry'd I will have my Son educated in hopes of both Kingdoms meaning his own and that of Poland These Jesuits the King order'd to be receiv'd with the same Honour as if he himself had come in Person at which the Swedes being grievously nettled sunk them in the Harbour of Stockholm in the Ship that brought 'em from Dantzic and immediately thereupon proclaim'd Charles Duke of Sudermannia Sigismund's Uncle their King who had embrac'd Lutheranism some time before and which the Swedes have profess'd ever since This occasion'd bloody Wars between these two Nations but Sigismund being likewise engag'd with other Countries was forc'd to accept of a dishonourable Truce In the beginning of this War King Charles IX took a great many places from the Poles in Livonia most of which were afterwards retaken by the Polish General and Chancellor Zamoski Besides this the King of Sweden was vanquish'd in a great Battel fought near Kirckholm and Riga where he narrowly escap'd himself but some intestine Divisions arising between the King and Nobility of Poland he got time to recover Breath The occasion of the Wars between the Poles and Muscovites was this A certain Person coming into Poland pretended to be Demetrius Son to John Basilowitz Great Duke of Muscovy and that he was to have been murder'd by order of Boris Gudenow afterwards Grand Duke who hop'd thereby to secure the Succession after the Death of Theodore eldest Son of the said Duke but that another had been kill'd in his stead Hereupon he found so great Encouragement from George Mniszeck Palatin of Sendomir that he married his Daughter to him and by the Assistance of some other Polish Lords gather'd together a great Army and march'd with Demetrius into Muscovy when Boris Gudenow then Grand Duke happening to die suddenly he was receiv'd by the Muscovites and proclaim'd Czar in Moscow Hereupon he sent into Poland for his Bride but while the Nuptials were celebrating in Moscow the People suspecting him to be an Impostor gather'd together rais'd a Tumult and attack'd the Castle where they cut to pieces Demetrius with most of the Poles that came along with him and his Bride and took her Prisoner Then Basilius Suski descended from the Grand Dukes by the Mother's side having got together about â—â—0000 Men was proclaim'd Czar immediately after which a Rumor being spread abroad that Demetrius had escaped tho Suski had taken care to expose his Body to view which was so mangled that none could know him and a Person pretending to be him the Poles acknowledg'd him as such whereupon they together with the Cosacks assisted this Person to recover his pretended Right and several times beat Suski and oblig'd him to set at liberty the Captive Bride She also acknowledg'd this Demetrius for her Husband but whether he was really so or not could never yet be determin'd Sigismund laid hold of this opportunity to try at least whether he could recover Smolensko and Severia whereupon he besieged the former in the Year 1609 but could not make himself Master of it till the Year 1611 when he took it by storm In the mean time the Poles who had hitherto sided with Demetrius were recall'd by Sigismund who thought it not convenient that so considerable a part of his Forces should be under the Command of another By the removal of this Army Suski had leisure to recover himself whereupon with the Assistance sent him out of Sweden he march'd directly against the Poles who then were besieging Smolensko but was shamefully defeated by them near Clusin By this Overthrow the Affairs of the Muscovites were again in a very dangerous Condition wherefore to avoid the danger they resolv'd to depose Suski who by his Misfortunes became odious to them and to offer their Crown to Vladislaus Sigismund's Son This Suski was afterwards surrender'd to the Poles and dy'd at Warsaw in Prison Whereupon Vladislaus marching towards that Country with a powerful Army in the Year 1610 and they hearing of it thinking he came rather to conquer than accept their Crown unanimously revolted against him especially when they heard that Demetrius had been murder'd by the Tartars who were his Guards Hereupon Prince Vladislaus his Expedition was made to no purpose he being forc'd to make a Truce with the Muscovites for fourteen Years whereby it was agreed that in the mean time the Poles should keep in their possession the several Dukedoms of Severia Zernikow and Novogrod which they had taken during the late Troubles in Muscovy In the mean time George Farenbach surrender'd several Places in
Iohn iij King of POLAND Great Duke of Lithuania Russia Prussia Samogitia c Pag. 163 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 Origin 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 Coronitâ—â—â— oâ—â— the King The Senate or House of Lords The 〈◊〉 and Form of Government The Privileges of the Gâ—â—â—â—ry their Religion Learning Language Customs Haâ—â—â—s Manners Riches Trade and Military Affairs together with the State of Physick and Natural Knowledg 〈◊〉 also an Account of the Teutonick Order and of the Duke of Curland his Family and Territories With Sculptures and a new Map after the best Geographers With several Letters relating to Physick VOL. I. By BERN. CONNOR M. D. Fellow of the Royal Society and Member of the College of Physicians who in his Travels in that Country collected these Memoirs from the best Authors and his own Observations Publish'd by the Care and Assistance of Mr. SAVAGE London Printed by J. D. for Dan. Brown without Temple-Bar and A. Roper in Fleetstreet M DC XCVIII THE PREFACE HAving neither a Genius nor a Talent for History much less for Politicks and having passed but a very small time at the late King of Poland's Court I can neither promise the Criticks nor Politicians that Politeness of Stile nor those exact Rules and Circumstances of History they generally expect and are accustom'd to meet with in Relaâ—â—ions of this nature For the Memoirs I collected and the Remarks I made in that Nation as well as in other Foreign Countries were first intended for my own Curiosity until being come some few Years ago from my Travels into England and finding there had not been yet publish'd in our Tongue any Account of this vast neighbouring Kingdom I was often discours'd chiefly during this last Election about the Constitution of that Country and was desir'd to communicate to the Publick what I knew of it This gave me occasion to revise my Memoirs and to consider that if they were put into good order they might perhaps be of some use because the Form of Government in Poland is in some respect like that of ours But the first Year I came over I spent some Months at Oxford to publish a small Latin Treatise of Physical Matters and to communicate to the Ingenious Gentlemen there what small Insight I was thought to have in Anatomy and in the Materia Medica The Summer following I made some Chymical and Anatomical Demonstrations at Cambridg These two last Winters I have been much taken up here in Town in trying a great many Chymical and Anatomical Experiments and in publishing my Treatise de Medicina Mystica and besides being busied in my other Occupations in the Practice of Physick to which I have entirely applied my self of late as being more sutable to my Temper and Profession than Historical ones I neither could take any Delight nor have any Leisure to write over or to put into due method the Memoirs I brought from Poland so that the Publick is indebted to my ingenious Friend Mr. Savage for without his help this Account of Poland could not doubtless have thus appear'd these several Years I hope Ingenuous and Candid Persons will excuse the Faults and Defects they will undoubtedly meet with in this Historical Relation since what I design'd only to do at my own leisure in some Years I have dispatch'd with too much Precipitation in few Months to satisfy the Curiosity of People during the late Election in Poland who long'd to see some Account of that Kingdom publish'd Wherefore I neither deserve nor desire any other Reputation by it than that being the first that has given any History of that Country in our Language I give occasion to others that may travel after me in Poland to give a more satisfactory Account thereof I admire our English Gentry who travel into Germany have never the Curiosity to go either from Berlin through Prussia or Posnania to Warsaw or from Vienna through Silesia to Cracow They may with ease perform this Journey in three Months time and not think their time lost for tho there are not so many Rarities to be seen nor that Conveniency of travelling â—â—s in most other Countries yet they may observe the most remarkable Places in Poland the peculiar form of Government the Splendor of the Court and the extraordinary Grandeur of the Nobility who are not so barbarous nor so unpolish'd as they are generally represented For these sixty or seventy Years past the Poles have taken a Humour to travel and have of late refin'd themselves extreamly having had French Queens and French Factions reigning amongst them during the four last Reigns successively which has produc'd this good Effect contrary to the private Designs of France that not only the rough Temper of the Poles is made more polite and their Behaviour more civil but likewise their Judgment improv'd and they themselves rendred more capable of knowing their own Interest and more wary than formerly of a Despotic Power which their Kings of late assisted by the French have labour'd to introduce for the Poles are now sensible that the French King who is absolute at home and well known to be ambitious enough to enlarge his Conquests abroad has just reason to think that it would have been casier for him to manage his Interest against the Empire with a King of Poland who was likewise absolute than it is now with one who entirely depends on the uncertain Resolutions of a free Parliament Because let a King of Poland be ever so Despotic his Kingdom being poor he will always want Money either to satisfy his Pleasure or to gratify his Ambition and will scarcely ever be proof against fifty thousand Louis-d'Or's The Poles are not only watchful against the encroaching Factions of France but likewise they begin to consider the unhappy Condition of their inslaved Neighbours the Muscovites Swedes Danes Germans and Turks who groan under the heavy Yoke of the unlimited Power of their Soveraigns These visible Examples make them so very jealous of their Kings and so extream fond of their Liberty that they will not only always keep their Crown elective but likewise oblige their new King to enlarge their Privileges which are at this time more ample than ever they have been before And it is not to be imagin'd that the King of Poland will become Despotic as the King of Denmark did because in Denmark the King Clergy and common People being kept under by the exorbitant Power of the Nobility join'd together and soon brought the Nobility to declare the King Absolute choosing rather to be under one Master than under several petty Tyrants But in Poland both Gentry and Clergy who are very numerous and
powerful have a joint Interest to limit the King's Power and to keep the Common People in subjection who are stupidly pleas'd with or rather insensible of their Slavery And the Notion of Liberty is so inbred with the Polish Gentry that if they should suspect that their King did aim at making any Breach upon their Laws they not only think themselves no longer oblig'd to pay him Allegiance but likewise exclude his Children For they maintain That â—â—ex est Rex their Law is their King and that they elect a Prince only to head their Army against the Invasion of Foreigners and to govern the turbulent Spirit of the Grâ—â—â—â—â—â— who think they are all equal among themselves and their King but the first among his Eqâ—â—ls So thâ—â— the â—â—urest way for a King of Poland to maâ—â— the Crown Hereditary is never to 〈◊〉 but to â—â—ave entirely to the free will of the Diâ—â— to â—â—ouse whom they please Which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the bad Success Prime 〈◊〉 had in the â—â—te Election caused by the ill Conâ—â—â—â— of King â—â—obieski his Father who prompted by his 〈◊〉 and French Counsel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—ears before his Death to perswade the Dieâ—â— iâ—â— thuse a Successor which drew such 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Jealousy upon his Children that very few appear'd for them in the last Election thâ—â— he â—â—lig'd the Chief Officers to whom he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—onsiderable Employment to take an Oath to 〈◊〉 his Childrens Interest after his 〈◊〉 But the Poles who think themselves to longer â—â—ound by their Oaths than they find them conformable to their Laws and Interest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tâ—â— abandon those Princes to chuse the Elector of Saxony and to give a new Precedent for two things they never practised before to exclude their own King's Sons and to elect a German Prince For the distance and situâ—â—iâ—â—n of the Elector of Saxony's Hereditary Dominions and the Jealousies the other German Princes would have conceiv'd had he usurp'd more Power than the Laws allow'd took away from the Poles all suspicion that this Prince would ever attempt to invade their Privileges as they apprehended the Prince of Conti and perhaps John III's Children would have done When I came first into this Nation my chief Design was to converse with Physicians and other Naturalists to improve my Knowledg in the Practice of Physick and in Natural History But finding little here to satisfy my Curiosity in these Matters that I might not lose my Labour in travelling in so remote a Country I resolv'd to look into their Chronicles to inform my self of the Origin of the Monarchy of the Succession and Remarkable Actions of all its Kings of its Geography and its Products and to enquire into the Antient and Present State of that vast Kingdom Which I have done with as much Care and Accuracy as I could well compass in so short a time People perhaps will admire how I could pretend to give an Account of so large and Antient a Kingdom not having been in it a full Twelve-month I own this were no small presumption in me had I undertaken to give a compleat History thereof but as I only relate briefly either what I have gather'd from the best Polish Authors learned from the most Intelligent Natives or observ'd my self I hope the Publick will have no ill Thoughts of me for this Attempt The first Writers of the Polish History like most other Historians were credulous and superstitious and have fill'd their Writings with a great many Romantio and almost fabulous Stories which I have omitted tho I have inserted some as the golden Tooth the devouring Dragon Popiel's being eaten by Rats and some others not with a design to make the Publick believe them or that I believ'd 'em my self but only to shew how the Ignorance of some and the unfair Relations of others have impos'd upon the World in all Ages I knew something of the Constitution of Poland before I went thither having formerly conversed with several Gentlemen of that Country at Paris in Italy and Germany which inclined me in some measure to travel with some of them from thence into that Kingdom Besides I came out of Poland with the Electoress of Bavaria the King's Daughter in Company with several Natives thereof who attended her Highness from Warsaw to Brussels In this long Journey I had likewise opportunity to inform my self further of the present State of that Country So that I have not only collected this imperfect Account which I have ventur'd to give of it during the little time I resided at the King's Court but likewise before I came thither and since I left it I did not at first design this Historical Account should swell to so great a Bulk nor that chiefly the Geographical Part should be so tediously long but thought to reduce the whole to the narrow compass of one Volume until Mr. S considering the Inconveniency of too small an Epitome enlarg'd the Geography of the Kingdom of Poland and of the Great Dutchy of Lithuania to make the Relation of them both more exact and more satisfactory to such as are desirous to compare the Towns and Provinces with the Map THE CONTENTS OF THE First Volume Letter I. TO the Right Honourable William Lord Dartmouth Of the Origin of the Kingdom of Poland with the Succession and remarkable Actions of its first Dukes from the Year 550 to 830. Let. II To the Right Honourable Laurence Earl of Rochester Embassador from his Majesty Charles II. into Poland Containing the second and third Classes of the Kings of that Country or the Succession and Remarkable Actions of the Families of Piastus and Jagello from the Year 830 to the Year 1574. Let. III. To his Grace William Duke of Devonshire Lord Steward of his Majesty's Houshold Of the Succession and remarkable Actions of the four Classes of the Kings of Poland consisting of mixt Families from the Year 1574 to 1674. Let. IV. To the Right Honourable William Earl of Yarmouth Concerning the Family and remarkable Actions of John III. King of Poland As also his Daughter's Marriage to the present Elector of Bavaria c. Let. V. To the Right Honourable Charles Lord Townsend Of the Extent and Products of Poland together with a Description of the chief Towns and Provinces of that Kingdom Let. VI. To George Stepney Esq His Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary to the Princes of the Empire Of the Extent and Products of the Great Dutchy of Lithuania with an Account of its chief Towns and Provinces The CONTENTS of the Second Volume being the present State of Poland In several Letters Letter I. To his Grace Thomas Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Of the Form of the Government in Poland and of the King's Power and Revenues Let. II. To his Grace the Duke of Norfolk Of the Senate of Poland or House of peers consisting of Bishops Palatins Castellans and the ten great Officers of the Crown as likewise of the Starosta's and other Persons of Note Let. III. To
Countries has been always â—â—o improve my self in what related pecuâ—â—iarly to the Practice of Physick and to Natural Knowledg yet for my own Satisfaction and Curiosity I was desirous to be inâ—â—ormed further both from the Natives themselves and their Historians of the true State and Origin of this vast Kingdom I found that Poland has met with the same Fate with most other Countries that is to be little known from its Minority For when this Monarchy was first founded by Lechus there were no Learned Men to hand down to Posterity by their Writings the true State thereof from â—â—ts Infancy but what small Account there is extant of it was written some Ages after Wherefore not having besides been a twelve-month in that Kingdom I cannot presume to give that satisfaction which perhaps your Lordship might otherwise expect from the discourse I lately had with you yet I can securely assert that the following Relation of the Origin of that Country is drawn out of its most authentick Historians POLAND by the Romans call'd Sarâ—â—natia Europaea came to be a distinct Nation and to be govern'd by Elective Princes much about the Middle of the Sixth Century sometime after that the Goths and Vandals had ravag'd the South parts of Europe and abandon'd their own bleak Northern Habitations to establish themselves in warmer Regions Italy France Spain and Africk which gave occasion to the Sclavonians as Sabellicus Thuanus and other Authors have it to quit the Cimmerian Bosphorus or Straits of Caffa Great Sarmatia and Great Russia or Moscovy to inhabit those desolate Countries Afterwards this People dividing themselves into two considerable Bodies one pass'd the Danube and settled in Dalmatia Istria Bosnia Carynthia Bulgaria as far as Greece and in some part of Germany while the other under the Conduct of three Brothers Lechus Cechus and Russus turn'd towards the North to possess themselves of those Provinces which the Goths and Vandals had forsaken These Brothers are said to have built Bremen in Germany so naming it from a Sclavonian Word signifying a Burden because they had there as one may say laid down their Burden and were in great measure freed from their former Miseries These Princes likewise divided their Followers into three Parties whereof one commanded by Cechus settled in that Kingdom which lies between Poland and Germany now call'd Bohemia the other headed by Lechus fix'd in the lower part of Great Sarmatia a Flat and Champain Country whence the Natives have since call'd it Polska from the Sclavonian word Pole which either signifies Plainness or Hunting and the Germans Poland or Even-Ground Hartknoch is of Opinion that Poland was an antient Name of Sarmatia in the time of Ptolomey before the Poles inhabited this Champain Country which it might have taken from the Bulani or Bolani that are said to have settled near the Vistula and to have come from Sarmatia The third Brother Russus establish'd himself in that Province of Poland which is now call'd from his Name Russia Not only the Testimony of Authentick Writers but also our own Reason will convince us that all these Nations have originally been the same which may appear by their Languages being but as so many Dialects of one Mother-Tongue the Sclavonian which is now spoke in more Countries than any Language of Europe Here Lechus had no great need of Force to establish himself he met with but little resistance all this Country having been left desolate for some time before by the Vandals Only Regulus a German Prince is said to have oppos d him at first and to have challeng'd him but was soon vanquish'd by him in a Duel whereby he became Master of Pomerania which was then Regulus his Country In these days there were no Cities in Poland no Money was yet known nor any Laws writ such as they had being only pronounc'd by their Princes Mouths and handed down by Tradition to the People Princes were then rather Fathers of Families than Lords and Masters and their Revenue consisted only in a moderate Imposition on their Subjects Labour Lechus my Lord settled in that great Province which joins the State of Brandenburg since call'd Posnania where he built the first City naming it Gnesna from the Sclavonian word Gniazdo which in that Language signifies a Nest and this because that where it was building a Tree was cut down which had an Eagle's Nest on the Top of it which Lechus taking for a good Omen not only call'd his City Gnesna and made it the Metropolis of his Kingdom but also order'd that the Arms of Poland should for ever after be a Spread-Eagle which has so continu'd even down to this day He likewise built another City in a Wood eight Miles from the former which he nam'd Posnania by the present Inhabitants call'd Posnan signifying in the Polish Tongue Knowledg because he there met and knew his Brother Cechus Prince of Bohemia after above twenty years absence This City gave occasion for naming the Province Posnania In Memory of Lechus to this day the Poles stile their Country in their Poems Lechia and Mr. Mountague North who liv'd for sometime at Constantinople has lately told me that the Turks call a Polander in their Language Lech making the Poles likewise derive their Name from their Founder Tho my Lord this Lechus brought that People under a kind of Monarchical Government yet neither he nor any of his Successors could ever so far prevail upon them as to make the Succession Hereditary they having continued Elective for above Eleven hundred years always reserving a full Power and Authority to themselves of choosing whom they pleas'd for their King Nevertheless it is to be observ'd that they have still hitherto elected one of the Royal Family where the deceas'd King had any Issue left except in this present Election which is like to go otherwise I find by their Chronicles that not so much as a Daughter has been excluded when there has been no Son However they always thought fit to acquaint 'em at the time of their Election that they were not to attribute their Accession to the Throne to any Right contracted from their Parents but were altogether oblig'd to the Senate and Gentry for putting that Scepter into their hands Hereby they intimated how much their Kings were indebted to 'em and what Necessity they lay under to behave themselves well towards a People that were pleas'd to raise 'em to a Supreme Dignity which they had no better Claim to than the meanest Gentleman in the Kingdom They acquainted them likewise that they thought themselves no longer oblig'd to pay them Obedience than that they kept to their Oaths And moreover they always reserv'd to themselves a Right of deposing them whenever they violated their Laws This Maxim has hitherto prov'd very beneficial to the Poles for enlarging their Country and maintaining their Privileges and might well have
extended their Dominions beyond those of any State in Europe had their other Constitutions been as well grounded or as exactly observed For tho the Poles have been constantly molested by their Neighbours the Suedes Moscovites Tartars Turks Hungarians and Germans and their Kingdom been several times reduc'd to Extremities burnt and plunder'd by frequent Incursions put into Convulsions and Desolations and thousands of their People been carry'd away into Captivity yet by the prudent Conduct and Courage of their Kings through a desire of gaining the Affection of their Subjects by serving their Country zealously to the end their Fame and Merits might raise their Children to the Throne after their deaths the Poles have not only always oppos'd but likewise repuls'd the exorbitant Force of their Enemies They have also by degrees enlarg'd their Country by vast Conquests and render'd it several times the most formidable of any Kingdom in Europe They have likewise never submitted to any Foreign Power no not even to the Romans by force They have also hitherto inviolably maintain'd their Liberties Properties and peculiar manner of Government against all the Attempts both of their Enemies abroad or the Cabals form'd either by themselves or their Kings at home and I believe I may say to their great Commendation that they are the only Nation in the World who have kept the longest Succession of Kings without subjecting themselves either to a Despotic or Hereditary Monarchy their Princes being now as most are thought to have been at first wholly elected by the People Tho My Lord I have said the Poles have never excluded their Kings Children yet must it be understood that their Crown has not always been in the same Family by reason that from time to time the Royal Line has fail'd and therefore they have consequently been oblig'd to elect Princes out of other Families but still I may very well affirm that there has never been any Stranger chosen except in the present Election where the preceding King had any Issue surviving The Princes and Princesses of this Kingdom have in all been fifty two whereof were Women as Venda and Hedwigis both having had the Government for some time and the other forty eight were Men. At first these Princes were only stil'd Duces Dukes or Generals of Poland as if their Office in those times had been no other than to head Armies for 't is to be observ'd that to Boleslaus Chrobry they were not so much as crown'd This Title continu'd from the Year 550 to the Year 1005. when the Emperour Otho III. created Boleslaus I. the Sixteenth Duke of Poland King being the second Christian Prince that had govern'd that Country all before him and Miecislaus I. his Father having been Pagans as were likewise the Poles themselves till the tenth Century when this Miecislaus the fifteenth Duke of Poland turn'd Christian in the Year 964 in Pope John the XIIIth's time by which means his Son Boleslaus came to have the Title of King All the Princes of Poland may be divided into four Classes whereof the first and last are of different Families the second and third of but one in which the Crown passes from the Father to the Daughter The first Class reign'd from the Year 550 to the Year 830 The second from 830 to 1382 The third from 1382 to 1574 and the last from thence down to our Time I shall now proceed to give your Lordship some short Account of the Succession and most Remarkable Actions of the first Class of the Dukes of Poland from the Year 550 to the Year 830. LECHUS Son of Annon first Duke of Poland as I said before founded this Nation He built the first City there naming it Gnesna now the Primate's See as likewise the City of Posnan Capital of Posnania 'T is uncertain how many govern'd before his Race came to be extinct and there is great Contest among the Polish Historians about his Successor but some affirm that he order'd by his last Will like Alexander the Great that they should elect the most worthy Person among them VISIMIRUS his Nephew was thereupon chosen who is reported to have extended his Dominions even to the very Borders of Denmark and to have built a very great Ship which was an exceeding Terror to the Danes He is also said to have given that Nation a great Overthrow by Sea and to have pursued his Victory into the very Bowels of that Kingdom where he subdued many Provinces and built several Cities whereof one was Wismar which retains his Name to this day In one Battel this Visimirus is said to have taken the Danish King Prisoner and to have carried him into Poland whence afterwards being releas'd and conspiring together with the Swedes and Holsatians he made an Incursion into Poland with a numerous Army but was soon met and vanquish'd again by Wisimir who thereupon push'd on his Victory so far as to reduce the greatest part of Denmark which he then united to Poland In opposition to this Story Monsicur Pauli Minister here from Denmark has assured me that the Poles never made any Conquest in that Country which may give some Exception to the truth of this King's Reign tho it may very well be suppos'd that several Kings reign'd during the space of 150 Years there being so much time between the beginning of Lechus his Reign and the Election of Cracus However to gratify the Curiosity of the Publick I hope I have not done amiss to insert it since I withal quote my Author After many glorious Actions having greatly augmented his Dominions this Wisimir died without Issue Vapovius says that Lechus his Posterity reign'd all that space of time between him and Cracus being 150 Years yet having consulted all their Historians I can find no manner of Account given of their Reigâ—â— nor of the Government of Poland in all that space of time Lechus his Issue being extinct 't is certain the People elected twelve Woievods in the Polish Language Captains of War to govern 'em who divided that Country into twelve parts for the Poles sticking close to their Liberty would then by no means put the Government into one Man's hands But soon after these Palatins disagreeing among themselves the People chose one CRACUS for their Head a very Rich and Popular Person reported to have been of the Race of the Gracchi at Rome who were banish'd into this Country by King Ancus Who this Cracus was all Historians do not agree The Polish Writers say he was one of the twelve Woievods but the Bohemians affirm he was a Prince of their Country He gain'd extremely upon the good Will of his Subjects for he soon appeas'd the impending Storms of a Civil War built a City on the River Vistula calling it after his own Name Cracow and transfer'd his Residence from Gnesna thither which is the reason that this City has ever since
Son and the other nam'd Hedwigis he left to succeed him in the Kingdom of Poland This Prince was very curious to know what Opinion People had of him and was also exact in reforming the Faults they laid to his Charge For this purpose he was wont to disguise himself and enquire among the People how they lik'd their King and what they thought amiss in him and according to their Answers he redress'd the Grievances suggested to him My Lord I have hitherto given you a succinct Account of the Family of Piastus next I shall proceed to present your Lordship likewise with that of Jagello being still a Continuation of Piastus his Family in the Line of a Daughter Of the Family of Jagello When Lewis King of Poland and Hungary dy'd his Daughter Hedwigis being with her Mother the Queen Dowager in Hungary the Poles tho there were several Princes of the Race of Piastus left in Poland and Silesia yet either because they did not think them deserving or else by reason that they believ'd 'em engag'd in their Enemies Interests sent a solemn Embassy for the young Princess HEDWIGIS who soon came into Poland with Cardinal Demetrius the Bishop of Strigonia and several others of the chief Nobility of Hungary At her arrival the Poles receiv'd her with great Joy Splendor and Magnificence and the Arch-bishop of Gnesna Bozenta crown'd her after the usual Ceremonies at Cracow on the Feast of St. Hedwigis always religiously observ'd in Poland in the Year 1382 and she reign'd alone four Years This young Princess being not yet marry'd had several noble Suitors among which Ziemovitus Duke of Masovia was the first whom she refus'd the next was William of Austria who came in Person to court her Him she lik'd but the Senate of Poland would by no means consent to a Marriage with him having always had a Maxim which they never hitherto broke that they would by no means admit any of that Family to their Crown and this fearing so powerful a Neighbour might one time or other find means to make himself Absolute in their Country But at last Jagello great Duke of Lithuania had better Fortune for he soon obtain'd her by the great and advantagious Proffers he made the Poles He first promis'd to embrace the Christian Religion with all his Country who were before Fagans Next to unite Lithuania to Poland during his time under the same form of Government and lastly that in case his Male Race fail'd it should for ever after be annex'd to that Kingdom Hereupon Jagello was baptiz'd and takes upon him the Name of ULADISLAUS V. and after having consummated the Marriage with Hedwigis was consecrated by the Arch-bishop Bozenta in the Year 1386. and reign'd 48 Years Not long after his Coronation he went with Priests into Lithuania and in a twelve Month's time converted all that Nation but this not so much by their Preaching and Vigilance as by his own exemplary Zeal and Perswasion After this he erected the University of Cracow which Casimir the Great had only begun and sent to Prague in Bohemia for learned Men to instruct the Youth in all manner of Sciences which had never before been taught in this Country About this time Queen Hedwigis dy'd after having endow'd the University to encourage Learning This Prince had long Wars with the Teutonic Order which then very much insulted over the Frontiers of his Kingdom whereupon the Poles were not a little enclin'd to be reveng'd on this proud and powerful People Now Poland not being alone sufficient to withstand 'em Jagello made up a considerable Army of Poles Lithuanians Russians and Tartars with all which he march'd directly towards them who were got ready to receive him with a Body of about 140000 Men yet notwithstanding after a long and doubtful Fight the Poles happen'd to have the better and entirely routed the Teutonic Army killing their great Master Conrade of Thuningen with about 30000 Souldiers and near 15000 taken Prisoners This Victory the Poles pursued so far that they took most of the Towns in Prussia and doubtless had entirely destroy'd that Order had not the Emperor Sigismund ' come to their Relief who soon forc'd the Poles to make Peace with 'em and to restore all they had taken from ' em Afterwards Jagello had several other Conflicts with the Teutonic Order in all which he conquer'd He dy'd of a Fever in Russia after having reign'd forty eight Years and some Months and lies buried in the Cathedral at Cracow This King had had four Wives all which he caus'd to be crown'd and two Sons Vladislaus VI. and Casimir IV. Tho his Son ULADISLAUS the Sixth was but nine Years old when his Father dy'd yet after long Debates and great Opposition in the Diet he was elected at Briescia in the Year 1435 and reign'd ten Years He was so young when he was chosen that his Coronation Oath was fain to be dispens'd with his Mother Sophia and some of the Peers having promis'd he should take it when he came of Age. In the mean time the Senate were Regents during his Minority Some while after the Tartars made great Incursions into Podolia which then belong'd to Poland when having kill'd the Polish General Bucarius and the greatest part of his Army they retir'd with great Booty into their own Country After this by the Death of the Emperor Albert Hungary having no King to defend it against the Turks who threaten'd it on all sides sent Embassadors to Vladislaus to entreat him to come and be their King which after some Deliberation he accepted of and going into that Kingdom notwithstanding the Cabals and Party of the Empress Elizabeth who was left four Months gone with Child he was crown'd King of Hungary at Buda The Child the Empress went with was afterwards born and call'd Ladislaus but she dying not long after left King Vladislaus in Peace at least at home till the Turks oblig'd him to take Arms for his Defence abroad for Amurath Emperor of the Turks was not only then on his March to besiege Belgrade in Person but also commanded the Hungarians to pay him Tribute Hereupon Vladislaus was forc'd to declare War against him and under the Command of Huniades sent an Army made up of Poles and Hungarians to oppose him which coming upon him by Night surprized the Turkish Army near the River Morava in Hungary and made such a slaughter of 'em that 't is thought the Turks lost above 30000 Men that day After this happy Victory Vladislaus banish'd all those Infidels out of Hungary and pursu'd 'em to the very Frontiers of Macedon in Greece where he gain'd a second Battel over Carambeius General of the Troops of Asia took him Prisoner and drove his Army into Mountains and inaccessible Places The King was wounded in this Action Upon this occasion John Palcologus Emperor of
then busied in other Wars answer'd he could spare 'em none but gave 'em leave to have recourse to whose Protection they thought fit Some therefore among them put themselves under Eric King of Sweden but the Arch-bishop of Riga and the Great Master of the Teutonic Order with all the Nobility and Gentry requested the Assistance of Sigismund King of Poland who would by no means grant it them unless they would submit themselves entirely to his Obedience and take Oath of Fidelity accordingly next that they should give up all their Towns and Country and lastly annex Livonia for ever to Poland To these Terms the Livonians were neither ready nor willing to submit however at length they thought it better to condescend to these Proposals than be forc'd to accept of worse from the irresistible Fury of the Muscovites and therefore having maturely deliberated on the matter consented that Gothotred Ketler a Gentleman of Westphalia then Great Master and General of their Army should publickly abdicate his Mastership and give up to Nicholas Radzivil Palatin of Vilna deputed for that purpose by the King the City and Citadel of Riga and declare Livonia from thenceforward subject to Poland which was accordingly done and at the same time by Order of the King his Master Radzivil proclaim'd Gothotred Ketler Duke of Curland and Semigallia which are two Provinces of Livonia and next day by further Orders declar'd him Vice-roy and Governour of Livonia These two Provinces of Curland and Semigallia Ketler's Posterity have enjoy'd ever since by Hereditary Succession but still as Vassals to Poland Upon this Agreement the King declares War immediately against the Muscovites who were then very strong having just before taken from the Tartars the Kingdoms of Astracan and Casan nevertheless he defeated their Army upon the Frontiers of Lithuania and forc'd 'em to retire into their own Country but they soon return'd a second time commanded by their Czar John Basilowits tho with as little success as before This Czar is reported to have been a most cruel Tyrant it having been his chief Diversion to invent new ways of torturing insomuch that 't is said that to boil and roast both his own Subjects and the Prisoners he took was the least Punishments he made 'em suffer It would be both tedious and horrid to hear all the Tortures he us'd towards Men Women and Children He was wont to recompense such as invented new ways of Torture but these his inhuman Cruelties did so exasperate his Subjects that Sigismund found no great difficulty to force him to a Peace After this Sigismund sent a small Army into Valachia to support Bogdan in his Intentions to make himself Prince thereof but the Valachians assisted by the Turks soon oblig'd the Poles to return home In this King's Reign the Lutheran Religion got great ground in Poland the cause of which was a Quarrel upon account of a Whore between the Courtiers and Scholars which induc'd the latter to retire into Germany where they first imbib'd these Principles and which upon their return they not a little propagated in their own Country The first Person of note that embrac'd this Religon was Johannes a Lasco Palatin of Lanschet who in the Year 1540 left his Government and went into Holland and England and at his return converted several to that Perswasion All this while the King gave disturbance to none that abjur'd the Roman Faith but rather favour'd them having heard several of their Preachers in his Court particularly two Johannes Cosminis and Laurencius Prasnitius which occasion'd most of the Bishops to be enclin'd to that Belief Here cannot well be omitted a great Escape King Sigismund had at Koningsberg in Ducal Prussia whither being invited by Albert Marquess of Brandenburg and at his Reception saluted with all the Cannon by negligence of a Gunner a Bullet was left in one of them which when fir'd came so near the King as to dash out one Wisnoviec's Brains who march'd just behind him In Sigismund's time flourish'd the jocular Commonwealth of Babina consisting of several merry Gentlemen of Lublin who met together at a place call'd Babin to exercise their Wits upon all occasions This Meeting to procure the greater respect for their Proceedings they modell'd into the form of the Government of the Kingdom electing a King and Senate together with divers Officers and Magistrates As whenever any among them talk'd out of his Sphere and meddled with matters that did no ways belong to him they created him an Arch-bishop or Palatin such a one as made a great many Blunders and delighted in Contradictions they chose for their Speaker or Chancellor and whoever boasted too inordinately of his Valour they prefer'd to be their General passing immediately a Patent for that purpose and which was to be presented to him with a great deal of Submission by the Bragadochios of a Minor Character but if the Person elect refus'd this Command they persecuted him with hissing and hooting till he had accepted it Thus they created several other Senators of different Qualities whence it followed that in short time they became judicious Censurers wary Talkers modest Observers humble Performers and true Relaters of any Exploit Whenever they admitted any of their Society they first enquir'd into his Abilities and requir'd a Specimen of his Parts and this to determine the better what Office or Employment he was fittest to execute in their Commonwealth they having several others of an inferior Rank besides those we have already mention'd As if any one introduc'd an impertinent Discourse of his Hounds or his Hawks him they immediately made either their Huntsinan or their Faulkoner Likewise if a Man run out too much upon Religion he was constituted their Chaplain and where any dealt too much in Matters of Controversy he was forthwith ordain'd their Inquisitor lastly where a Man was too exuberant in his Discourse about Horses or Houshold Affairs him they either promoted to be their Master of the Horse or their Majordomo By these means in a little time they reform'd most of the Abuses and Indecorums crept into the Government of Poland and prov'd than the force of Satyr is of no less benefit than that of Oratory At length this pleasant Constitution came to the King's Ear who was often delighted with hearing of their Transactions and one day enquiring after their dignified Members he ask'd whether they had any King among them to which the Starosta of Babina who was most celebrated for his pleasant Countenance and jocular Humour reply'd Far be it from us most Serene Monarch that we should make choice of any other King while your Majesty is living Which Answer so extreamly pleas'd Sigismund that he laugh'd heartily and was so far from shewing any signs of Dislike that by several Expressions which dropt from him he occasion'd great Mirth in all the Company Afterwards there arising some grave Disputes in this Society
about the Antiquity of the Monarchies of Persia Greece and Rome a certain merry Fellow started up and cry'd What makes you thus boast Gentlemen of the Antiquity and Extent of these Monarchies when ours of Babina is much more antient and of wider Bounds than them all What says David Omnis Homo Mendax all Men are Liars wherefore the whole Earth must consequently have been comprehended within the Limits of our Jurisdiction from all Ages His Opinion was unanimously receiv'd with Applause This Society further boasts of having always had Privileges and Immunities from Emperors and Kings but still such as were too severe in their Reflections were not to be admitted of this Republick The place where this Assembly met the Members term'd Gelda being the word that the Dantzickers use for a Tavern and which the Poles apply to a merry Company of witty Fellows Sigismund died of a Chronical Distemper at Knyssin in the Consines of Lithuania c and left no Children but had two Sisters surviving Catherine and Ann the former of which was first married to John Duke of Finland and then to the King of Sweden she was Mother to Sigismund III. who was afterwards King of Sweden and Poland Ann liv'd a long while a Maid till she was married to Stephen Batori Prince of Transilvania and afterwards King of Poland After this Sigismund's Death the Male Race of the Jagellonic Family was quite extinct I am afraid I have almost tir'd your Lordship's Patience with this prolix Narrative of the second and third Classes of the Kings of Poland yet I can safely aver that I have been as concise as the Subject Matter would hear since I have run through the Course of about 800 Years where your Lordship may observe that tho these Princes could never prevail with their Subjects to declare their Kingdom Hereditary yet they had sometimes Influence sufficient over them to cause them to elect their Children for their Successors while they themselves were yet alive And likewise sometimes the great Service they had render'd their Country oblig'd the Poles in Gratitude to advance their Issue to the Throne after their Deaths Besides the natural Affection which this Country always bore to the Royal Family enclin'd them to elect the next Relation to the deceased King But notwithstanding after Sigismund the Second's Death tho there were several of the Family of Piastus and Jagello remaining alive both in Poland and Silesia yet the Poles for fear so long and so uninterrupted a Succession of Princes of the same Line might subject them to a Despotic Monarchy as they almost were in Sigismund's time resolv'd to choose Kings out of other Families as they effectually did afterwards out of France Transilvania and Sweden which it would be too tedious to give your Lordship a Relation of and therefore to ease your Impatience I will subscribe my self My LORD Your Lordship 's most Obedient Humble Servant B. C. LETTER III. To his Grace WILLIAM Duke of Devonshire Lord Steward of His Majesty's Houshold Of the Succession and Remarkable Actions of the fourth Class of the Kings of Poland consisting of mixt Families from the Year 1574 to 1674. My LORD THE great Esteem and true Respect which your eminent Qualities and gallant Behaviour both beyond Sea and at home command from all those who have heard of your Name made me ambitious to give your Grace in this Account of Poland a Testimony of mine and congratulate my self in the Honour of being known to so great a Person The Subject my Lord I thought most sutable to so great a Mind and Genius as yours is a Relation of Heroic Actions I mean the Lives of the Kings of Poland from the last of the Jagellonick Family to the Election of the late King John Sobieski comprehending the space of a hundred Years By Sigismund the Second's Death the Great and Renown'd Family of Jagello came to be extinct as to Males for he left no Children and had only two Sisters Catherine and Ann. The former was first married to John Duke of Finland and next to John III. King of Sueden having been Mother to Sigismund III. who was afterwards both King of Poland and Sueden The latter Ann liv'd a Maid for a considerable while till Stephen Batori Prince of Transylvania being elected King of Poland marry'd her but had no Issue by her The ABp of Gnesna James Vchanski having notify'd the late King's Death to all the Gentry call'd a Diet after the usual manner to Elect another whereupon several Candidates appearing they all had their different Parties and Friends in the Kingdom The chief Pretenders were Ernest of Austria the Emperour's Son John III. King of Sueden the Great Duke of Muscovy and Henry of Valois Brother to Charles IX of France besides several Natives of the Country After a long deliberation they pitch'd upon HENRY of Valois Duke of Anjou and sent Adam Conarsky Bishop of Posnan and Albert Laski Palatin of Siradia in quality of Ambassadors together with several other Senators into France to bring him into his Kingdom after having agreed to the following Articles to the performance of which both the King of France and his Brother the King of Poland took a solemn Oath The Articles were as follows Imprimis That Henry of Valois should transport all his Effects and Annual Revenues in France into Poland 2. That the King of France should pay Sigismund the late King's Debts with his own Money 3. That the French King should maintain a hundred young Polish Noblemen at his Court and fifty in other Places 4. And lastly That he should build a Fleet in the Baltic Sea and help the Poles to carry on the War against the Muscovites There was another Article the King would by no means consent to till he came into Poland and that was 5. That he should marry the Princess Ann Sister to Sigismund late King of Poland King Henry having thus chiefly satisfy'd the Conditions he set forth from Paris about the beginning of October in the Year 1576 and pass'd through Lorain and Germany directly to Posnan in Poland whence he soon after went and was crown'd at Cracow the 21st of February 1577 but in four Months time after his Coronation receiving Letters from France that the King his Brother was dead without Issue and being begg'd to return to enjoy his Right he communicated those Letters to the Senate acquainting them withal that it was necessary he should return into France to prevent Civil Wars and maintain his Title to that Crown But fearing lest the Poles might have detain'd him as I have often heard them say they would certainly have done on the 18th of March he stole away and rid Post through Silesia and Germany into Italy and thence to France The King being miss'd next morning they sent several Senators after him who overtook him in Silesia and begg'd of him to return and not abandon a Nation so shamefully which
the Republick Next the Primate Stanislaus Karnkowski notify'd the Death of the King according to Custom and call'd a General Diet to meet at Warsaw in March where it was afterwards agreed that the Diet of Election should meet in June following The Lutherans contended so high for their share in the Government that for Peace sake they had more granted them than the antient Laws of the Kingdom allow'd For in this Assembly their Party was so strong that they not only obtain'd Toleration but also perpetual Liberty of Conscience This the Bishops vigorously oppos'd which made the Primate and Bishop of Vladislaw leave the Diet dissatisfied when Demetrius Sulikowski Arch-bishop of Leopol presiding in the Assembly in conjunction with Laurence Goslicki Bishop of Caminiec considering the Confusion occasioned by the Absence of the Primate thought it either necessary to comply with the Lutherans or to dismiss the Diet but the Bishop of Caminiec at last found a mid-way which was to grant the Lutherans their Demands but withal to insert a Clause that what had been done at that Session was meerly to preserve the Publick Peace The time of the Election being come Christopher Zborowski who was banish'd during Batori's Reign and now recall'd by the Power of the Lutherans appear'd at the head of 500 French with as many Germans and Lutherans as amounted to near 10000 Men with these Stanislaus de Gorka Palatin of Posnania join'd He was a Person of Wit and extremely popular for tho he was crook-back'd yet his great Estate and generous way of spending of it made him look'd upon with universal Esteem Zamoski was also at the head of a considerable number of Troops which tho they were fewer than those of the opposite Party yet were they much better disciplin'd with these he encamp'd within two Miles of Warsaw and entrench'd himself within Lines of Circumvallation The wiser part of the Diet having a mind to accommodate these two Factions order'd them Audience one after another forbidding either to appear in Arms before them They also shew'd an Inclination to reverse what had been decreed in favour of the Lutherans which these last would by no means hear of promising themselves a sufficient Defence from their Number which Zamoski ridicul'd relying upon the better Discipline of his Followers The Lutherans perceiving there was no Justice to be expected from the Diet without any regard to their Orders came in Arms before them After which they retir'd complaining that they were depriv'd of their Liberties This had soon occasion'd a Rokâ—â—z being an Association in which the Gentry are oblig'd to engage when they are oppress'd had not the Primate timely prevented it During all this the Lithuanians had not yet declar'd themselves and it may be it would have been difficult to have known their Minds had not a Confusion given them occasion to explain them There were three Factions at this Election whose Power was almost equal The first was that of Lithuania which was for electing Theodore Odonowic Great Duke of Muscovy he having proferr'd to unite his Dominions to those of Poland This Proposal might have been thought plausible enough had it been made by any but Muscovites The hopes several of the Gentry gave the Czar were apparently only to amuse him fearing he might invade the Kingdom during the Interregnum The second Party was that of Zborowski and Gorka Palatin of Posnania they were entirely in the Interest of Maximilian Arch-duke of Austria Brother to the Emperor Rhodolph These Anibal of Capua the Pope's Nuncio join'd notwithstanding they were Lutherans yet he all along fed them up more with Promises than Presents The third Faction was that of the Senate being the strongest of the three by reason that Zamoski with the Flower of the Polish Army was on their side It was much doubted upon which of the Competitors the Election would fall The Czar of Muscovy and a Piasto were talk'd of only for fashion-sake The Batori's of Transilvania had their Envoys at the Diet but they had no other Orders from their Masters than to demand the Personal Estate of the late King when had they ask'd the Crown likewise it is highly probable some regard might have been had to Batori's Family Sweden was upon the Roll a third time tho its King John had been rejected in the two former Elections by reason he was thought a Lutheran but by the Catholick Liturgy publish'd in that Kingdom in 1575 the Poles were disabus'd in that Opinion wherefore his Son Sigismund was no longer suspected for the Poles had occasion to oppose some great Power to the House of Austria and what could be sitter for that purpose than the Family of Jagello from which Sigismund was descended by his Mother King John also caus'd his Emissaries to give out that Lithuania of right belonged to his Son as being of the Jagellonick Race This bold Claim might well have rais'd a War between Sweden and Poland had not the latter prudently thought fit to avoid it In the mean time the Lutherans were firmly dispos'd to Maximilian's Interest but Zamoski broke all their Measures They had a mind to kidnap the Primate but by the Advice of this General he retir'd to the Castle of Warsaw Nevertheless Cardinal Radzivil to whom the House of Austria had given a Principality declar'd for Maximilian as likewise did several others by his Example This augmented the Courage of the Lutherans yet did not in the least diminish that of Zamoski's Followers both Parties were like to come to Blows had not the Bishops mounted on Horseback and interpos'd While these Prelats were thus doing their Duty the Pope's Nuncio tho lame clamber'd up the highest Tower in Warsaw to view the Army He doubted not but his Friends the Lutherans would get the better their Number being greater At this the Catholicks were extremely offended and us'd to say that Maximilian's Interest must needs fall being only supported by a Hook-back and a Cripple The Lutherans perceiving that both the Name and Family of Maximilian were odious to the Poles agreed together to relinquish him and propose the Czar by which means they brought over to their Party those who were neither for Maximilian nor Sigismund After this the several Embassadors had their Audience the Pope's Nuncio spoke first and made his Harangue chiefly on the good Qualities of Maximilian but this Candidate was not better lik'd of than his Orator or his Panegyrick Stanislaus Pawlowski the Emperour's Minister was heard next who run also out in Commendation of his Master's Brother but from whom there being more Ill to be fear'd than Good to be hop'd his fine Speech was but little minded Then came the Embassadors of Sueden to be introduc'd which were Eric Sparre Senator and Grand Chancellor of that Kingdom and Eric Brahé Great Master of Prince Sigismund's Houshold These insinuated that their Master did not send sooner because he knew the great
Livonia to the King of Sweden Gustavus Adolphus but it was suspected that he intended to betray that King for soon after the said Farenbach was reconcil'd to King Sigismund to whom he restor'd all the Places except Pernau In the Year 1620 the Poles were engag'd in a War against the Turks fomented as was suppos'd by Bethlem Gabor Prince of Transilvania for which the Turks afterwards endeavour'd to banish that Prince for siding with the Poles In the Year following the Turks march'd with their whole Forces against Poland but were met by the Poles near Chocim under the Command of Prince Vladistaus who with an Army of about 65000 Men repuls'd above 392000 Turks commanded by their Emperor Osman in Person The Turks attempted three times to force the Polish Camp but were as often beat back with Loss Nevertheless in the mean time the Poles suffer'd extremely for want of Ammunition and Provisions and besides were mightily weakened by Sickness and a huge Mortality among their Horses Notwithstanding all this at length the Turkish Emperor was forc'd to strike up an honourable Peace with them after having lost about 60000 Men in the several Attacks he made upon their Camp and a greater number in his March back to Constantinople In the mean time Gustavus Adolphus falling into Livonia took the City of Riga without any great Resistance and all the rest of that Country except Dunneburgh was conquer'd likewise by the Swedes in the Year 1625. Afterwards Gustavus enter'd Prussia in the Year 1626 where he took the Cities of Marienburg and Elbing besides some other Places This War was thus carried on without any general Engagement till the Year 1629 when Hans Wrangel the Swedish General defeated the Poles near Gorzno Then the Emperor sent some Forces to the Assistance of the Poles who in a Battle fought near Stuma were very near having made Gustavus Prisoner But however the Polish Affairs after this Battel falling into great Confusion they were forc'd to clap up a Truce till the Year 1634 by the Mediation of Charles the First King of England and of Lewis the Thirteenth of France the Swedes in the mean while being to keep possession of Elbing Mcmel Braunsberg Pillau and what besides they had taken in Livonia After this Sigismund dy'd the last day of April in the Year 1632 being sixty Years old and having reign'd forty four He had all the Qualities that could be requir'd in a great Prince He lov'd Justice and all the World commended his Piety He was always of an even Temper either in good or bad Fortune and the Lustre of the Polish Crown obtain'd when he was but young together with the loss of the Kingdom of Sweden to his Uncle might well have either exalted or debas'd him had he not had a great Soul yet among all these good Qualities he was too much wedded to his Opinion which was the cause of some Misfortunes that happen'd to him Prince Vladislaus was absent when his Father Sigismund fell sick yet he arriv'd at Court just as he was expiring whose Presence so much reviv'd the King as to give him Power to put the Crown of Sweden on his Son's Head tho he was to leave that of Poland to Chance This Election was much more peaceable than his Father Sigismund's in that he had no Competitors to oppose him Some thought Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden had a design upon the Crown and his boundless Ambition join'd with the great Number of his Friends the Lutherans dispersed throughout the whole Kingdom might very well support that Opinion yet the Gentry of Great Poland which were most to be suspected on account of Conformity in Religion with him were the first that strove to exclude him for they declar'd those Enemies to their Country that should in the least dare to propose him Likewise at another Assembly a Palatin offering but to insinuate that it would be proper to choose a Foreign Prince the Gentry were so unanimously offended at him that he was fain to retire betimes to avoid their Fury Also Gustavus Adolphus had then too many Irons in the Fire to draw any more Enemies upon his Back John Casimir Brother to Prince Vladislaus was likewise suspected to have a mind to the Crown and this Conjecture had a more plausible Foundation than the former These two Princes were both Sons to Sigismund III. yet had they not the same Mother That of Casimir did all she could to advance her Son to the Throne At the Diet met at Thorn she endeavour'd to have a Successor elected whilst the King was living whereupon she employ'd a certain Bishop to propose her Son but with which the Diet was so extremely incens'd that they would have immediately tri'd that Prelat for infringing the Publick Liberties had not more weighty Affairs interven'd which caus'd them to lay those Intentions aside During this Prince Casimir did all he could to satisfy the Publick that he had no Design upon the Crown but that all his Aim was to promote the Interest of his elder Brother The Primate John Vezik having notified the Death of the late King conven'd the Diet on the 27 th of June where the Lutherans continued their Cabals and Factions as formerly but did not favour any of Vladislaus his Competitors as before The Diet of Election was fix'd for the 27 th of September in the same Year whither the Gentry all flock'd at the time appointed but that more to ingratiate themselves in their Prince Vladislaus's favour than to sell their Suffrages One thing was propos'd at this Diet which had it been followed might have deliver'd the Kingdom from great Oppressions This was to digest the Laws into a Code and to get the King Elect to confirm it Also to reform the many Abuses crept into the Practice of the Law but this was too vigorously oppos'd by the interessed Party and therefore was fain to be let fall Hereupon the Diet devoted themselves wholly to the Election Prince Casimir first propos'd his BrotherVladislaus which Henry Firley Bishop of Premislia seconded by a Speech to this purpose That tho that Assembly had a Right to elect whom they pleas'd yet they had ever had a particular regard to the Offspring of their Kings that every body there acknowledg'd the Candidate to be of the Blood of Jagello That even the Merit of his Father pleaded for the Interest of the Son That Uladislaus his own Conquests had sufficiently testify'd his Valour and lastly that a favourable Result was to be expected from that Assembly since each knew as much of the Merit of that Prince as he This was courteously answer'd by the Primate after which they proceeded to admit the Ambassadors First Honorius Visconti the Pope's Nuncio had Audience who being plac'd on the left hand of the Primate first desir'd the Assembly to choose a Catholick Prince and then recommended Prince Vladislaus Next the Embassadors of the Emperour
Ruin and the great Disadvantage of the Poles The only Damage they sustain'd was when Chmielinski was celebrating the Nuptials of his Son with the Daughter of the Prince of Valachia where the Poles surpriz'd them re-took the City of Kiovia and plunder'd it as likewise made the Grecian Patriarch Prisoner Then the Cosacks sent to the King to know if this had been done by his Majesty's Order which being answer'd in the Negative and moreover that the Nobility had done it to be reveng'd on them for the frequent Damages they had done them they immediately in conjunction with the Tartars fell into Poland with the greatest Fury imaginable Against these the King went in Person at the Head of the Nobility and defeated them in Battle But nevertheless the King was afterwards forc'd to clap up a Peace with them tho the Gentry were very much displeas'd at his granting them their own Terms by which the Muscovites were left in possession of Smolensko and Kiovia which they enjoy to this day The Muscovites likewise took Vilna in Lithuania with some other considerable Cities in that great Dutchy In the Year 1655 Charles Gustavus King of Sweden rais'd a more fatal Storm in Poland for with an Army of chosen Men he enter'd that Kingdom and in two years time made himself absolute Master thereof He first conquer'd Great Poland and Masovia and afterwards the Lesser Poland with Cracow the capital City of the Kingdom from whence he march'd into Prussia where almost all the Towns immediately surrender'd to him except Dantzic wherein at first were a great many Citizens that favour'd the Suedes but who not long after by the Persuasions of some Ministers continu'd their Obedience to Poland The Resistance made by this one City was the main Reason why all the Advantages got by the Swedes at last prov'd fruitless and that they could maintain themselves no longer in Prussia notwithstanding that not only the whole Militia of Poland and that part of Lithuania which was under the Muscovites had submitted to the Swedes but also King John Casimir was fled into Silesia for the Poles having recover'd themselves after their first Consternation was over and being moreover join'd by the Brandenburgers and Tartars fell upon such of the Swedish Forces as were scatter'd up and down the Country The Lithuanians also rose up in Arms and kill'd all the Swedes that were in Winter-quarters among them The Occasion of this Swedish Invasion was some familiarity King Casimir had had with the Wife of the Vice-Chancellor Radziouski Father to the present Cardinal Primate This great Senator could by no means brook a Scandal so publick and therefore having first made a Party in the Kingdom he call'd in the Swedes through Livonia to revenge his Quarrel who soon got the Duke of Curland's Country and took him Prisoner Afterwards they had such vast Success in their Progress that all the Towns of Poland soon submitted to them none being able to withstand a Siege It is to be observ'd that there are but few fortify'd Places in Poland it being a Maxim of State there That their Kings should not strengthen themselves at home whereby their Enemies might take footing from abroad This vast Conquest made all the neighbouring Princes very jealous of the Power of Sweden for on one side Ragozzi Prince of Transylvania thinking perhaps to obtain that Crown for himself enter'd Poland but with no Success The Danes likewise made a considerable Diversion on their part by attacking Sweden Also the Muscovites came upon Livonia and the Emperour sent Troops to succour the Poles whereupon by Assistance of the Brandenburgers and Tartars and the prudent Conduct of General Czarneski the Polish Nobility in six Months time restor'd Casimir to his Throne This Czarneski re-took the capital City of Poland by a Stratagem which was by contriving to have some Cartloads of Wood enter the City betimes in the Morning and to break in their Passage through one of the Gates by which means with 800 Men he forc'd his way into the City and destroy'd the Swedish Garison The Advantage of an unfortify'd Kingdom will always be this That tho it be soon conquer'd it will nevertheless be as easily recover'd When Charles Gustavus King of Sweden had met with an Opportunity to make War with Poland he made several private Treaties with the late Elector of Brandenburg Frederic William and at length enter'd into a League with him on condition that when he had conquer'd Poland he should give him the Soveraignty of Ducal Prussia whereupon they both join'd their Forces together and soon conquer'd the Poles But afterwards the King of Sweden being call'd home to take care of his own Dominions which were then invaded by the Danes he was forc'd to compound with Poland for 800000 Rix Dollars which the Poles not having had any Intelligence of the Danish Invasion were glad to agree to But the Elector of Brandenhurg observing that the Money stipulated for was not like to be easily rais'd offer'd unknown to the Swedes to give the Poles that Sum and moreover to help them to drive the Swedes out of their Kingdom in case they would but confirm to him and his Heirs the aforesaid Soveraignty of Ducal Prussia To this the Poles being in extream Confusion and Necessity quickly condescended with this Restraint only That whenever the said Elector's Male-Issue fail'd that Dutchy should revert to the Crown of Poland Whereupon the Elector of Brandenburg having been proclaim'd Soveraign Duke of Prussia he immediately join'd the Polish Forces and in short time drove the Swedes out of their Kingdom which he before had been instrumental in bringing in This is the Account I have heard the Poles give of their Deliverance from the Swedish Yoke and Sir Robert Southwell also gave us lately the same Account at the Royal Society which he had had from the late Elector of Brandenburg's own Mouth At this Treaty of Oliva a Monastery near Dantzic the Poles likewise were to renounce all the Pretensions they had to Livonia Casimir after having routed the Swedes rais'd an Army of about 30000 Germans under pretence of being reveng'd on the Tartars for detaining several Poles Prisonners which he had betray'd himself the better to curb his Subjects But Prince Lubomirski Crown-Marshal having discover'd his private Design which was to render himself Despotic rais'd an Army likewise and attack'd that of the King with so good Success that he entirely routed it took its General a Frenchman Prisoner and quickly oblig'd the King to disband his German Forces At this Affront receiv'd from his own Subjects Casimir was extreamly netled insomuch that he abdicated the Crown not long after But some time before his Abdication he convok'd a Diet at Leopol to pay off the Army The best Expedient to effect this was thought to be to call in all the Gold and Silver of the Kingdom and re-coin it but this having been found deficient the
endu'd with the Warlike Spirit of his Predecessors for in his time the Turks not only over-run Podolia but also took its Capital City Caminiec and likewise oblig'd the Poles to dishonourable Articles of Peace whereby Michael was to pay the Turks an Annual Tribute The farther Particulars of this Matter are as follows Sobleski made Great Marshal and Crown-General by Casimir for having always adher'd to his Interest presenting King Michael when elected with a Coach and six Horses to comply with the Custom only for it must be understood Sobieski was his Enemy the King by the Perswasions of his haughty Mother refus'd the Present which the General greatly resenting sought all manner of ways to be reveng'd on him and in order thereto frequently caball'd with the Gentry assembled in Parliament against him and at length oblig'd the Diet to be dissolv'd without concluding any thing to his advantage while in the mean time I am positively assur'd he kept Intelligence with the Turks and Tartars as may appear by their taking of Caminiec and besieging of Leopol Mr. James Walker a Scots-man who was in the City when besieg'd and is now in London told me lately that there were 90000 Turks 20000 Tartars and 10000 Cosacks and Moldavians at that Siege which happen'd in the Year 1672 all which begirted the Town close playing continually upon it from five Batteries The Governour that held out against them was one Lonsky a Colonel of Dragoons who had as Mr. Walker assures me but five hundred of his Men in Garison without any Horse besides 1100 of the Inhabitants in Arms With these Lonski defended himself vigorously insomuch that what by the Correspondence he kept with the Christians in the Turkish Army and by the Bravery of his own Men he maintain'd his Defence three Weeks when the King sent Count Morstin and other Commissioners to treat with Caplan Bassa General of the Turks who agreed that for raising the Siege the King should pay 22000 Gold Ducats yearly Tribute to the Grand Seignior 100000 Lion-Dollars down on the nail to save the City whereof the Inhabitants paid 10000 presently and the Publick were to pay the rest this they gave eight Hostages to perform who were kept Prisoners at Caminiec and dy'd there by reason that the Debt contracted for was never paid Besides the Turks were to remain in possession of Caminiec and all Podolia But General Sobieski and the rest of the caballing Party being asham'd of this dishonourable Treaty came to a better Understanding among themselves and sided with the King to recover what had been lost Hereupon the Armies of Poland and Lithuania marched directly towards Podolia to retake it that of the Kingdom being commanded by General Sobieski and the other of the Dutchy by General Patz These two Generals soon obtain'd a signal Victory over the Turks near Kochim five Leagues from Caminiec by the Treachery of the Moldavians and Valachians who never hitherto signaliz'd themselves but persidiously which yet prov'd very advantagious to the Poles who were then in want of every thing but Courage Caplan Bassa commanded the Turkish Army being join'd by the Moldavian Troops headed by their Hospodar but the former being displeas'd with the Conduct of the latter his Souldiers being not so many as he expected and those not well equipt struck him over the Head with his Scimiter which the Hospodar highly resenting resolv'd upon Revenge which he afterwards effected by deserting the Turks in conjunction with the Valachians who took his part and going over to the Poles This mightily facilitated Sobieski's Entry into the Enemy's Camp which gain'd him a compleat Victory This Defeat had doubtless put the Affairs of Poland into a good Condition had the Generals sufficiently pursu'd it But as it has always been the unfortunate Custom of the Poles they immediately withdrew their Troops into their Country and so have since left the Turks in full possession of Podolia This famous Battel began upon Saturday and was scarce fully over in three days Some few days before this Victory obtain'd King Michael dy'd at Leopol November the 10 th 1673 suppos'd to have been poison'd by a French-man at Zamoisk being about 32 Years old and having reign'd about four Years leaving the Poles less afflicted at his Death than asham'd at the bad Choice they had made of him for their Prince This Prince not long before he dy'd had the Misfortune to see an Aga come from the Grand Seignior to demand Tribute of him who brought him from his Master a Commander's Staff and a Turkish Vest both being Badges of Vassalage He left no Children tho his Queen who was afterwards marry'd to Charles late Duke of Lorain has since had several She is lately dead and in my Travels from Italy to Germany resided at Inspruck the Capital Town of Tyrol where I had the Honour to kiss her Majesty's Hand being introduc'd by my Lord Carlingford Her Brother the Emperor allow'd her and her Children a Pension out of the County of Tyrol for she receiv'd nothing either out of Poland or Lorain the latter having been hitherto in the French Hands and the Constitution of the former being that when the Queen Dowager marries she forfeits her Pension setled upon her by the Diet at the King's Coronation An odd Story goes of a Child that was born in this King's Reign in the Year 1670 at Vilna in â—â—ithuania with a Golden Tooth which was esteemed truly such by all the Physicians Surgeons and Goldsmiths about that City being also tri'd on the Touchstone in the presence of the Bishop of that place But what is yet more wonderful that Child having a Fever afterwards in the Year 1673 his Golden Tooth was changed into Bone How worthy this is of Credit I leave to the Judicious Naturalists I have only this to say for my self that I found it in an authentick Author King Michael being dead was succeeded by John Sobieski the late King of Poland who was Captain of the Guards and Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber to King John Casimir Whilst he had these Employments he marry'd Prince Zamoski's Widow who had 10000 Rix Dollars left her for a Jointure by the contrivance and management of King Casimir and his Queen to whom she was then Lady of the Bed-Chamber At this Juncture Sobieski's own Estate was not 2000 Pounds Sterling a Year But however the King promis'd to advance him after he had marry'd this Lady which he accordingly perform'd and I may say that it was through the means of this Marriage that Sobieski was gradually promoted to the Supreme Dignity of the Crown Thus my Lord I have given as short and exact an Account of the memorable Actions of the fourth Class of the Kings of Poland as my Incapacity and the Precipitation with which it was publish'd would allow But before I put an end to this Letter I must beg your Grace's leave to take notice that the Crown of
the Opposition of the Lithuanians who did but dishonour their Country by excluding a Piasto yet they ought to choose one to shew the World that if their Ancestors had not done the like oftner it was because they had a mind to avoid the Jealousies which would have arisen between so many Subjects that deserv'd the Crown and that since now there was one present whose Merit was not to be question'd they ought forthwith to elect him Then he proceeded to name John Sobieski with this Character That his Life had been entirely devoted to the Service of the State which even while he was speaking peaceably enjoy'd the Fruits of his late Victory at Chocim and further that this present Happiness was hut a Specimen of what he was able to do for his Country and lastly that the Crown was due to Sobieski out of meer Gratitude and Acknowledgment since it was through his means that they sat there and had a Power to dispose of it The Gentry of Russia being influenc'd by what their Palatin had said immediately declar'd for Sobieski who was a Native of their Province and all the rest of Poland soon follow'd their Example together with some Palatinates of Lithuania brought over by the Management of Prince Radzivil Vice-Chancellor of that Dutchy every one being forward to deserve Favours from one whom they had acknowledg'd for their Prince The Great General of Lithuania being highly displeas'd at all these Proceedings left the Diet in a Heat and together with his Friends march'd out of the Field about Nine at Night no body being able to bring him back Hereupon he immediately enters Protest against this Election alledging that it was against the Constitution of the Kingdom for any King to be chosen without the common Consent The next day being the 20 th of May the Lithuanians return'd into the Field but retir'd after having made their Protestations against this Election whereupon several Senators and Nuncio's were sent to re-cal them but their Answer was that they were going to deliberate upon the Matter and would inform them of their Resolutions by their Deputies The Poles and Lithuanians who had espous'd Sobieski's Interest forthwith commanded the Bishop of Cracow to proclaim him which notwithstanding this Prelate declin'd wisely foreseeing the Disorders so rash an Election might occasion and which might probably end in a Civil War The Deputies of Lithuania arriv'd a little while after whereof the Chief being the Bishop of Vilna Brother to the Grand General deliver'd the Message giving Sobieski the Title only of Grand Marshal yet in the conclusion of his Discourse he told them that he was ready to give his Vote for him but desir'd the proclaiming him might be defer'd till next day to the end the Lithuanians might assist at it and thereby the Election become unanimous which Request of his was readily granted Whereupon the 21 st of May Andrew Trzebicki Bishop of Cracow who presided at the Diet in the room of the Primate Czartoriski just then deceas'd which happen'd very well for Sobieski the Primate having been no Friend of his went with the Senators before the New Prince to the Place of Election where they were met by the Lithuanians with their General Patz at their head who was too politick not to assist there with his whole Family JOHN SOBIESKI was soon after proclaim'd and the Gentry proceeded to sing Te Deum in the Cathedral of Warsaw ending the Day with usual Acclamations and Rejoicings This Prince was descended of a Noble and Antient Family tho none of the most considerable nor richest in the Kingdom His Father James Sobieski was Castellan of Cracovia a Person no less eminent for his Abilities in Affairs of State than renown'd for his Courage and Conduct in the Field He was employ'd in the Year 1621 as Embassador and Plenipotentiary upon a Treaty of Peace which by his Prudence and Address was honourably concluded with Sultan Osman He distinguish'd himself likewise on many other important Occasions and after several other great Services faithfully perform'd for his Country he dy'd in the Year 1646. His Mother was one of the Daughters of Stanislaus Zolkiewski Grand Chancellor and Grand General of the Crown who bravely fought that memorable Battle at Cicora on the 10th of September 1620 and tho he was again five times attack'd by the Turks on the 2d of October in the same Year yet he gallantly repuls'd them till at last being overpower'd with Numbers and forsaken by his Followers he was slain couragiously fighting among the thickest Troops of his Enemies This Prince was carefully educated by his Parents in his Youth and sent to travel into France where his Father bought him a Captain of Horse's Commission which gain'd him great Experience He also travell'd into England Germany and Italy where having observ'd all the different Manners Interests Laws Military Discipline Strength and Policies of those People and in a word all else that was necessary for a Person of Quality to learn in his Travels he at last return'd home when Casimir after several Trials both of his Valour and Discretion and admiring at his great Merit and quick Parts which he had improv'd so well both in Languages Sciences and Military Accomplishments made him first a Colonel of Foot and afterwards Captain of his Guards and from thence advanc'd him gradually through all the Posts of his Army till he arriv'd at being Grand Marshal of the Crown in the room of Lubomirski and Grand General of Poland in the room of Potoski He behav'd himself in all these Employments with that Courage and Prudence as became a Souldier and was reputed the Hero of his Age and the Terrour of the Ottoman Empire He marry'd Mary de la Grange Daughter to the Marquess of Arquien not long since made Cardinal of the Family of La Grange in Nivernois in France She by the contrivance of King Casimir's Queen to whom she was Maid of Honour was first marry'd to Prince Zamoiski one of the greatest Palatins in the Kingdom and after his Death to the Grand General Sobieski by whom she had several Children and amongst the â—â—est three hopeful Princes the eldest of which has the Honour to be Brother-in-Law to the Emperour King of Spain King of Portugal and to the Duke of Modena by marrying one of the Princesses of Neuburgh This Prince was not Crown'd till above fifteen Months after his Election during which time he gain'd great Advantages over the Turks and forc'd them to a Peace at Zorowna whereby they were oblig'd to remit the yearly Tribute stipulated for by King Michael but were still to be left in possession of the Fortress of Caminiec At the time of his Election he was pleas'd to promise of his own free Will and Motion that the Queen-Dowager should be provided for sutably to her high Quality and extraordinary Merit as also that the Arrears of the Army should be
Companions dead upon the Spot In this Action there were several brave Polish Gentlemen slain Afterwards the King being again ioin'd by the Lithuanians by which his Army amounted to fifteen thousand Men march'd to seek out the Enemy tho by a modest computation they might be reckon'd seven times as many But understanding that the Enemy had besieg'd Podhais he was marching thither to relieve it when by the way he receiv'd Intelligence of its being surrender'd burnt and plunder'd and twelve thousand Persons made Prisoners tho the Garison had expresly capitulated to march out with Bag and Baggage The King was extreamly nettled that so many Christians should be made Slaves and his Territories laid desolate therefore he resolv'd forthwith to remedy it or perish in the Attempt for he march'd the same day towards the Enemy who were then set down before Buozalz but upon notice of his Approaches they rais'd their Siege and retreated with all their Forces to Trembowla which they likewise invested Here they were often repuls'd with great Loss yet continu'd obstinate to pursue their Enterprize till at last happening to intercept a Peasant that was carrying a Letter from the King to the Governour wherein his Majesty assur'd him that he was coming with all speed to his Relief the Terrour of King Sobieski's Name struck such a faintness into the Infidels that they immediately dislodg'd their Cannon from their Batteries which consisted of a hundred Pieces and forthwith march'd towards Caminiec with a great deal of Confusion Nay so great was their Consternation that under the Cannon of Caminiec they thought not themselves sufficiently secure for not daring to stand an Engagement with the Poles they resolv'd to pass the Niester and march towards Valachia Yet this they could not do so speedily but Prince Lubomirski with part of the King's Army fell upon their Rear and slew great Numbers of them The Turks by the Fear they were in of being farther pursu'd re-pass'd the Danube and the Tartars return'd home with great Precipitation by the way of Bialogrod Whereupon the King resolv'd to put his Army into Winter-quarters and so to return home which he did to the Joy and Satisfaction of all his Subjects It being now high time to prepare for the Ceremony of the Coronation January the 17th the Corps of the late King Michael was convey'd from Warsaw in a Herse drawn by eight Horses attended by all the Officers of his Houshold and several Persons of Quality to Cracow where together with the Body of King Casimir likewise brought lately out of France it was honourably interr'd all Decency and Respect being paid to both their Memories This Ceremony being dispatch'd John Sobieski with his Queen Mary were both Crown'd in the Castle of Cracow the 2d of February in the Year 1676 with great Pomp and Magnificence After this the King applying himself to supply the Vacancies as usual made Lubomirski Grand Marshal of the Kingdom the Lord Siniawski Court-Marshal and Prince Demetrius Wisnowiski Palatin of Beltz He likewise bestow'd the Command of General of the Forces of the Kingdom on Jablownowski Palatin of Russia at present Great General of Poland In June following Sultan Nuradin with the two Sons of the Great Cham pass'd the Niester with a great Army having sent out Parties before to ravage the Country At the same time Ibrahim Bassa advanc'd likewise to several Posts about Caminiec Whereupon the King order'd what Troops he could get together near Leopol where they were to rendezvouz and likewise convok'd the Pospolite or Militia for the defence of the Country The same Year his Excellency Mr. Hyde now Earl of Rochester was sent Embassador from his Majesty Charles the IId to the Court of Poland to congratulate the King upon his Accession to the Crown and to stand for his Master Godfather to the young Princess now Electoress of Bavaria He arriv'd at Dantzic in August where meeting with the Queen of Poland who made a Journey thither while the King was in the Field he had Audience of her Majesty there and presented the young Princess her Daughter with a very rich Jewel a Cross of Diamonds of great Value He afterwards set forward for Poland and was received by the King in his Camp near Leopol in Russia with Demonstrations of Respect and Kindness sutable to his Character and Person where his Majesty sent some of his chief Officers to shew him the Army and their way of Encamping The Turks and Tartars began to appear now very formidable and yet at the same time continu'd so sensible of their last Year's Defeats and so dreaded the Name of King Sobieski that they seem'd to desire nothing more than Peace for which purpose the Grand Seignior by the Prince of Moldavia made an Overture for a Treaty which was accepted after a Battle gain'd by the Poles and some other small Mischiefs done on both sides The Peace being thus happily concluded to the Advantage of Poland his Majesty return'd in November to Zulkiew his own Patrimony whither my Lord Rochester waiting upon him had his publick Audience there in a more solemn Manner than before He was first carried in the King's Coach and then received by the Court-Marshal who is in the Nature of a Lord Chamberlain at the Stairs-foot of the Palace and was conducted to his Majesty who receiv'd him standing under a rich Canopy of State and after two Months residing there his Excellency had his Audience of Leave and return'd into England through Silesia Austria and the Empire The Poles enjoy'd this Peace with the Turks till the Year 1683 when they came under the Command of Cara Mustapha their Grand Vizier to besiege Vienna whereof Count Starenberg was Governour The King with his Son Prince James Prince Lubomirski and most of the Polish Grandees came with an Army only as they assur'd me of twenty four thousand Men to relieve it This the King of Poland was oblig'd to by the Alliance sign'd with his Imperial Majesty in 1683. When being join'd by the Imperial Army together with the Electors of Bavaria and Saxony the Duke of Lorain and a great Number of other Princes of the Empire in all amounting to near fifty thousand Men he attack'd the Turks with such Bravery and Conduct that on the 12th of September they tho consisting of 191800 Men as appear'd by a List found in the Grand Vizier's Tent were oblig'd after an entire Defeat to raise the Siege and retire towards Hungary The great Standard and the Horse's Tail were taken by the Poles who obstinately pursu'd the Turks in their flight tho no great way being too much fatigu'd before There was also great Booty found in the Turkish Camp which was wholly plunder'd even to the Tent of the Grand Vizier where they met with great Riches in Gold Silver and other precious things All their Ammunition and Baggage with their Artillery consisting of above a hundred Pieces of Cannon were taken This
mighty Victory was obtain'd with not above the Loss of a thousand Men on the Christians side and of those very few Persons of Quality This Overthrow was chiefly ascrib'd to the great Conduct and Courage of the King of Poland who exposed his Person among the thickest of the Enemy having always by him the Prince his Son who thus early signaliz'd himself Nor ought the Electors of Bavaria and Saxony the Duke of Lorain and Prince Waldec to go without their share in the Glory since they all behav'd themselves so wonderfully well in this memorable Action The King made his Entry into Vienna through the Breach with great Acclamations of the People the great Turkish Standard being carry'd before him which he afterwards sent to the Pope and which I have seen hung up in the Church at Loretto in Italy Next day after his Entry the Emperour came to meet him and made him his Acknowledgments with the most endearing Expressions imaginable while K. John receiv'd his Compliments with a Modesty equal to his Courage After his Imperial Majesty had order'd a rich Sword set with Diamonds to be presented to Prince James he departed and the King of Poland decamp'd with his Army and march'd towards Wisena in Hungary and thence by a Bridg of Boats over the Danube about a Mile below Presburg on the twenty fifth of September and on the twenty seventh the Imperial Army follow'd him over the same Place On the ninth of October understanding that a Body of about fourteen thousand Turks lay encamp'd near Barkan being the choicest of the remaining Troops under the Command of several Bassas the King of Poland and some of the Imperial Troops advanc'd thither The Turks no sooner saw them but they march'd briskly up and charg'd them very desperately but being as warmly receiv'd after a sharp Encounter the Infidels were put to flight one of their Bassas slain another taken and the rest of them hurrying over the Bridg at Gran the same broke and all that were upon it drown'd so that of all that great Body of Men there were scarce four thousand escap'd The next considerable Exploit was the taking of Zytchin a Place of great Importance in Hungary for the King having parted with the Duke of Lorain and understanding that the Turks had a considerable Garison at that Place which might incommode the Communication betwixt his Troops and the Imperialists he sent his Son with the Palatin of Lublin to invest it but the Garison soon retir'd into the Castle which the King immediately commanded to be storm'd Whereupon the Turks hung out a white Flag and the Commander in Chief with two others came out and begg'd his Majesty to permit them to march to Buda which was granted and they left behind them a great Quantity of Provisions and Ammunition This Town he put into the hands of the Imperialists Next the King sent to summon two Castles Brigh and Holoch which soon yielded at Discretion Then he return'd to his own Kingdom but left the Lithuanian Troops in Winter-quarters behind him He arriv'd at Cracow the 21st of December where he was joyfully receiv'd with Testimonies of an universal Affection from his People and to render his Triumphs yet more compleat he was saluted at his Arrival with the News of the General of the Cosacks the Sieur Kiniski's having obtain'd a great Victory over the Turks and Tartars in the Vkraine He afterwards made a League Offensive and Defensive with the present Emperor the Pope and Venetians against the Turks which has continu'd ever since tho very little to the advantage of either Party The Poles since the Siege of Vienna have been highly disgusted at the ill Treatment they receiv'd from the Germans whom they had deliver'd from the Turkish Invasion and besides it is thought that the King for several Years lean'd towards the French Interest 'T is certain that at last he lov'd Money so well that I heard the Poles themselves say That he was the most covetous and richest Prince that ever sway'd their Scepter Every Year for the 22 Years he reign'd they computed that he laid up a hundred thousand Pound sterling all which should have been disburs'd in the Expences of the War as all his Predecessors were wont to do Some of the Gentry told me moreover that if his Son James hapned to succeed him he would be oblig'd to disburse the best part of that Treasure to pay the eight Years Arrears due then to the Army As for what relates to King Sobieski's Person He was a tall and corpulent Prince large fac'd and full ey'd went always in the same Dress with his Subjects which because it is different from any other in Europe I thought an Account of it would not be unacceptable to your Lordship They have all their Hair cut round about their Ears like Monks and wear furr'd Caps large Whiskers and no Neckcloths a long Coat hangs down to their Heels and a Wastcoat under that of the same length tied close about the Waste with a Girdle Their Sleeves are extream close like those of Mariners coming down to their Wrists with a Flap on the back of the Hand which reaches as far as the middle Nuckle which they turn up in hot Weather and let down in cold for they never wear any Gloves This long Coat is of strong Cloth and is lin'd in the Winter with rich Fur but in Summer only with light Silk tho I have seen at Court some of the Persons of Quality wear Furs as they us'd to do in Winter for it is a fine Ornament under this Wastcoat they wear wide Shirts like Womens Smocks tied loose about their Necks with wide Sleeves coming down to their Wrists As to their Breeches they are likewise very wide and with their Stockings make one continued piece Instead of Shoes they always wear both abroad and at home Turky Leather Boots with very thin Soles and hollow deep Heels made of a blade of Iron bent hoopwise into the form of a Half-moon They carry a large Scimiter the Sheath equally flat and broad from the handle to the bottom it 's generally set richly with Diamonds according to the Quality of the Person It 's customary all over the Kingdom not only among the Gentry but also amongst the Vulgar to carry Pole-Axes in their Hands or on their Arms they take care that this Pole-Ax be kept bright and shining with Plates of Silver round the handle and sometimes set with Jewels I have seen the Palatins and other Senators come with those Pole-Axes into the King's Presence which seem'd when I came first to Court aâ—â— frightful Sight tho reckon'd an Ornament but I was inform'd that at first it was for Defence the Nation being tumultuous and quarrelsom that they might make use of these Pole-Axes in a Throng where their Scimiters could be of no use This Dress looks extreme manly particularly on Horseback and is the most expensive of
Parts of the Body desir'd to know what was properly Death The School Divinity maintains that Death was a Separation of the rational Soul from the Body I own'd indeed that in Death the Soul was actually separated from the Body but I could not allow that that Separation was the cause of Death but that the Death of the Body was the Cessation of the Motion of the Heart of the Blood and of the Spirits which Cessation could not proceed from the Separation of the Soul since these don't at all depend upon it as I proved before but it was occasion'd by some Defects in the Organs and Fluids of the Body which losing their due Disposition and their mutual Correspondence with one another all their Actions cease which Cessation is properly called Death so that the Soul finding them incapable of receiving its Influence and of obeying its Commands quits the Body after it is dead by which it appears that the Separation of the Soul is not properly the Cause of Death but that the Death of the Body is the cause of the Separation The King himself illustrated this Opinion with a familiar Example of an Organ and an Organist While the Organs were in their due order and symetry the Organist play'd upon them but when by length of time they were either broke used too much or any other way quite put out of Tune he leaves off playing on them This Discourse my Lord held from three of the Clock till seven and the Divines were extreamly warm in it and some of them had the boldness to tell the King that his Majesty should not suffer such Heretical Opinions as they called them to be introduc'd before such a great Assembly contrary to the receiv'd Doctrine of the Church This Discourse caused a great many other Matters to be talk'd on of which it would be too long to inform your Lordship By this you may plainly see how fond the Divines are of their old Opinions relying upon the Doctrine of Aristotle whom we can't suppose to be so throughly acquainted with the Structure Springs and Motions of the Humane Body nor indeed with all other Natural Causes as the Modern Physicians are yet it is the Policy of the Divines not only in Poland but in Spain Italy and in most other Countries where their Power is very great not to let any Opinions creep in among them that would seem to contradict those of Aristotle for having built their Systems of Divinity upon the Principles of this Pagan Philosopher they are justly afraid that if Experience and Reason should shake the Foundation the Superstructure would fall to the Ground as doubtless it would for the most part This King built several fine Houses both in Russia and other parts of the Kingdom particularly three Miles from Warsaw a neat Country House call'd Villa Nova very richly furnished He has had several Natural Children but took no care of any of them for it is not customary in Poland to have that Consideration for them as there is in other Countries but he left vast Riches to his Lawful Children and made a Motion in the Diet five or six Years before he died to settle the Succession on one of them He told the Assembly of the Disorders that usually happened in Elections after the King's Death that the Turks and the Tartars took then Opportunities to make Inroads into the Country and ravage all before them that the Nobility of the Kingdom were generally divided headed by Factions and biass'd by Self-interest against the publick Good of their Country and that he himself would be glad to prevent all those dangerous Broils before he died out of the Love he bore to his Country and Subjects But the Diet finding that his private Design was to get one of his Sons elected answered That they hoped that his Majesty would live yet a long while that it was necessary to take a long time to consider of a Matter of that great moment which the King seeing it was a civil way of refusing to enter upon that Subject never after intimated any thing to them like it but took all possible care to enrich his Children in case none of them should be elected after his Death It was exactly computed to me that he laid up every Year for above twenty Years 100000 l. Sterl which he left partly in Bankers Hands at Dantzick Hamburgh and Amsterdam and put the rest into the hands of the Jews who are very numerous in that Kingdom to trade with it besides he bought great Territories in the Kingdom tho it is against the Constitution so that his three Sons James Alexander and Constantino if they manage their Affairs right may be worth each above 50000 l. Sterling per Annum for it is the Law in Poland to divide equally the Estate among the Children The Queen was but ten or twelve Years of Age when she together with the present Duke of Gordon's Aunt afterwards married to Count Morstin great Treasurer of Poland came from France into this Kingdom with Ladislaus King of Poland's Queen who made them both her Maids of Honour and took great care of Madamoiselle d' Arquien being very ingenious and beautiful She got her married first to Prince Zamoiski who soon left her a Widow with a Jointure of about 2000 l. a Year she was afterwards married in Casimir's Reign to John Sobieski then Captain of the Guards who was not very willing to marry her until the King promis'd that he would give him considerable Places which he accordingly did by the Instigation of the Queen for he made him Great Marshal and Great General of Poland which gave him Authority and Interest enough to make himself afterwards King and her Queen so that this Marriage was the occasion of his Rise in the World which he was so sensible of that he refus'd to be divorced from her as the Diet would have perswaded him to do after his Election The Queen is now about fifty four Years of Age tho she appears not to be forty she goes in the French Dress as all the Polish Ladies do she speaks almost naturally the Polish Tongue which with lier sweet Temper refin'd Sense and majestick Air gain'd her such Affection with the Poles such Influence over the King and such Interest always in the Diet that she manag'd all with a great deal of Prudence and that to the advantage of her native Country France whose Interest she generally espous'd upon most occasions during the King's Life which was believ'd to be the Cause that he did not carry on the War with vigour these late years against the Turks and Tartars She maintain'd at her Court her Father Cardinal D' Arquien and her Brother Count Maligny who had but a very small Estate of their own She has two Sisters one is the Widow of the late Count Bethune who was Ambassador from France in Poland and afterwards dy'd in his Embassy in
thinks and think what he pleases without any Fear of the King After the King's Death Cardinal Radziouski Archbishop of Gnesna and Primate of the Kingdom took the Administration of the Government as is usual upon him and notify'd the King's Death to foreign Princes and to all the Governours of the Provinces and advis'd with the Senators that were then at Warsaw of the proper Method and fit Time to ohoose a new King They fix'd upon the 29th of August 1696 for the Convocation of the Grand Diet but there appearing several Competitors which made powerful Factions it was thought necessary to take more time to appease the Dissensions of the Nobility Wherefore the Overture of the Diet was deferr'd to the 15th of May 1697. They chose the Sieur Belinski for their Speaker whom they call their Marshal The chief Competitors were at first Prince James of Poland and his Brother Prince Alexander the Prince of Conti Don Livio Odeschalchi and Prince Lewis of Baden but at last the Elector of Saxony unexpectedly came to the Frontiers of Poland with 8000 Men and declar'd himself Candidate having a twelve-month before privately abjur'd his Religion to qualify himself for this Crown which procur'd him the Interest of the Pope and Clergy So that at length no considerable Party appear'd but for him the Prince of Conti and Prince James The Cardinal Primate with a great Number of the Palatins supported with all their Interest the Prince of Conti the French having for several years before as I observ'd when I was in that Kingdom given a great Character of his Merit and Valour which made the King of France believe that he would undoubtedly carry that Crown against all Opposers as it is probable he would have done had he been in Person as near the Place of Election as the Elector of Saxony was For on the 26th of June being the day of Election the Diet drew out into the Field and he had that day more Votes than either the Elector of Saxony or Prince James which the Primate observing went with his Party and immediately proclaim'd him King but the two other Parties knowing this could not be legally done without the universal Consent of the Diet protested against it as Illegal and Prince James perceiving his Party to be the weakest and having always been in the Interest of the House of Austria as being marry'd to the Empress and Queen of Spain's Sister resign'd all his Interest to the Elector of Saxony who was likewise supported by the Emperour These two Parties being thus united into one were more numerous than that of the Prince of Conti Wherefore coming next day into the field they got the Bishop of Cujavia after the Primate had refus'd it to proclaim FREDERIC AUGUSTUS Elector of Saxony King of Poland and sent Embassadors to acquaint him therewith and to desire him to accept of the Crown All this while the Primate and Prince of Conti's Party stood firm to the first Election and dispatch'd Couriers into France to desire that Prince to come with all speed into Poland The Generals of the Army were divided Count Jablonowski Great General of the Kingdom declar'd for the Elector of Saxony Prince Sapieha Great General of Lithuania seem'd to favour the Prince of Conti but the Governour of Cracow being for the Elector of Saxony invited him and his Army to take possession of that capital City where he was crown'd the 15th of September following which did extreamly facilitate the good Success he has since had in that Kingdom For tho the Primate and many other considerable Persons did insist on the pretended Legality of their Election tho the Prince of Conti himself came in Person to Dantzic with a Fleet vast Sums of Money and some disciplin'd Troops tho the French Embassador Monsieur de Polignac had manag'd a good part of the Army and a great many of the Senators with great Art and Policy tho the Turks and Tartars threatned an Invasion to support his Election and tho the Hungarians made an Insurrection in their Country to divert the Saxon Forces yet the Poles seeing the Elector of Saxony was actually Crown'd that he was in possession of the Metropolis Cracow the strongest Town in Poland that 8000 of his disciplin'd Troops were in the Kingdom that the major part of the Army had declar'd for him and that the Czar of Muscovy threatned an Invasion if they persisted to support the Prince of Conti they thought it more advisable to quit his Interest than to give occasion for a Civil War for I have often heard them say That Kings were easy enough to be had without shedding Blood for any and that they were easily depos'd if they usurp'd any greater Authority than the Laws allow'd And therefore they think it more prudent after having sufficiently empty'd the Candidates Pockets to declare for the first of them that joins his Party and appears in Arms since he is deem'd qualify'd than to expose their Country to ruin and devastation by adhering to an illegal Election of which the success is always doubtful for by their Constitution no Election can be really lawful nor any Law can be legally made without the universal Consent of the Lords and Commons of both States Poland and Lithuania assembl'd in Parliament The Prince of Conti having full Intelligence of the Posture of Affairs in Poland did not think it politick to conside any longer in the Promises of the Great Men who in that Country are naturally sickle and biass'd more to their own Interest than any Inclination they have to serve any Prince for they have no other Notion of Princes than of Tools to raise their own Fortune by Wherefore this Prince foreseeing no probability of success the Town of Dantzic having declar'd for the Elector of Saxony he thought it more prudent timely to quit his Pretensions by sailing back into France than to expose his Reputation by being forc'd to retire when the New King's Authority was more confirm'd as it is look'd upon to be at present King Frederick Augustus the IId being thus left in sole Possession of the Kingdom is likely to restore the decaying State thereof for having large hereditary Dominions of his own out of which he can have both Men and Money and being likewise naturally animated with a martial Spirit and moreover King over a most Warlike Nation which is at present in league against the Infidels with the Emperour Muscovites Pope and Venetians He has opportunity sufficient to enlarge that Kingdom and extend it to its antient Bounds the Euxine Sea by retaking Caminiec and the Vkrain I may here take notice that this is the first time the Poles have elected a German Prince and likewise the first that they have excluded their King's Son for from the Year 550 when this Monarchy began to this present Election the King's Children have been always chosen and the Crown tho elective has been in the same Family
successively for above eight hundred Years But hereafter it is likely to prove otherwise for the Gentry of Poland are so jealous of their own Kings and so covetous to be enrich'd by foreign Princes that probably henceforward they will choose no Native Besides the Pope will undoubtedly always use his utmost Authority and Interest in that Kingdom to get Protestant Princes elected For when I was formerly at Rome I heard the Politicians say that the best method to make the Protestant Princes of the North Roman Catholicks was to elect them successively to the Crown of Poland So that if the Pope sees that the present King of Poland's Children are confirm'd in the Doctrines of the Church of Rome he will doubtless after his Death make the same Endeavours to advance to that Throne either the King of Sweden the Elector of Brandenburg or the Elector of Hanover as he has done in favour of the Elector of Saxony who has been elected to the Crown of Poland not so much by the Power of his Wealth and Credit in the Kingdom as by the Influence of the Clergy privately instigated by the Authority of the Pope This I gather from a Letter sent me last Summer from Warsaw by my Friend Baron Scarlati Envoy Extraordinary at that Court from the Elector of Bavaria Thus my Lord I have given you as large an Account of John the IIId's Life and of what pass'd remarkable at Warsaw in my time as we need perhaps know of so remote a Country or I could my self learn in so short a time as I had the honour to reside at that Prince's Court where I was so much taken up in the Practice of Physick that I had neither Opportunity nor Time to make all the Political Remarks which another perhaps that had nothing else to do but to converse with Courtiers and Ladies might have leisurely done I cannot therefore pretend to give as is usual a Character of the King's Favourites nor of other Great Men about him nor to acquaint your Lordship with the different Cabals and private Intrigues of that numerous Court That were a Subject fitter for a Statesman than for me to write of my Genius and Profession prompting me only to make Observations in Physick and not in State-Affairs I hope therefore your Lordship will excuse the deficiency of this Letter when you consider it was writ by a Physician and one who values himself only upon it in being with all Respect My LORD Your Lordship 's most obedient humble Servant B. C. LETTER V. To the Right Honourable CHARLES Lord Townsend Of the Extent and Products of Poland together with a Description of the chief Towns and Provinces of the Kingdom My LORD I Know your natural Sagacity improv'd so much by your Travels and constant Application to Sciences and Politicks is no less inquisitive after the Extent and Products of Countries than after their Maxims of State and Forms of Government And this I discover'd in your Lordship as well when I met you some years ago in Holland as since your return to England and because you then discours'd me often about my Travels into Poland I thought a Geographical Description of that Country might not be unacceptable to you I must confess I were not long enough in that Kingdom to survey it exactly therefore have taken pains to learn not only from the Natives themselves but also from their correctest Authors an Account of such Parts of that Kingdom which I could not visit my self I must first take notice to your Lordship that the King of Poland's Dominions are divided into two different States which are the Kingdom of Poland and the Great Dutchy of Lithuania The Constitutions Language Customs and Genius of both which Nations are as different as those of England and Scotland except that one Parliament or Diet serves both which must nevertheless have one Session in Lithuania to two in Poland and the Senators and Deputies of each Nation must meet together as well in the Great Dutchy as in the Kingdom for no Law can be legally made without the mutual Consent of both Poland therefore being a distinct Nation of it self I will here as I have promis'd present your Lordship with a short Description of it alone My Lord POLAND when first founded by Lechus in the Year 550 like all other Nations in their minority was but a small Tract of Land in respect of what it afterwards grew to be for at first it contain'd only High and Low Poland with Silesia but in process of time either through Marriages or Conquests it became the largest and most powerful Kingdom in Europe and rais'd as well the Envy as Jealousy of its Neighbours The first Acquisition to this Crown was the Province of Pomerania conquer'd by Lechus by his having kill'd Regulus its Prince Boleslaus Chrobry likewise made Bohemia Russia Moravia and Prussia Tributary But Casimir II. entirely conquer'd all Prussia in the Year 1183 and Casimir the Great subdu'd all Russia in the Year 1338 when Maslaus the Duke of Masovia also submitted to the Polish Crown Some time after Valachia and Moldavia were united to Poland by Conquest and the Great Dutchy of Lithuania added by Jagello's Marriage with Hedwigis Queen of Poland The large and fertile Province of Livonia was conquer'd about the Year 1500 and afterwards the Poles extended their Conquests towards Moscovy when they took the Great Dutchies of Smolensko Severia and Czernicovia and in Vladislaus the VIIth's time conquer'd all that Country They in like manner enlarg'd their Dominions towards the Black Sea for they made themselves Masters of all Vkraina Over and above these vast Conquests the Poles likewise grew very considerable by electing several potent Neighbours for their Kings whereby they added to their own Strength that of Bohemia Hungary Sweden and Transylvania as they have likewise at this juncture that of the Electorate of Saxony In short the Poles in process of time grew so exorbitantly Powerful from the XIIIth to the middle of the XVIIth Century having in their possession all the Lands between Austria Moscovy and the Baltic and Euxine Seas that they gave their Neighbours the Turks Tartars Muscovites Swedes and Germans just reason to grow jealous of them Whereupon these several Potentates at different times made most bloody Wars upon them till by degrees they had brought their Territories to a narrower Compass and made themselves Masters of the greater part of them For the Emperour got from them the several Countries of Hungary Bohemia Transylvania Silesia and Moravia Valachia and Moldavia now chuse Hospodars or Governours of their own tho they are nevertheless Tributary to the Turk The Turks and Tartars are Masters of Podolia and the best part of Vkraina which they over-run in King Michael Korybuth's time and the Muscovites conquer'd the other part of it Kiovia as likewise all the vast Dutchies of Severia Smolensko and Czernicovia The King of Sweden also is now in possession of
considerable an Army and that chiefly of Horse as any Christian Prince He has ever had a great Reputation with the Eastern Princes and considering their History I find as remarkable Transactions and Exploits in the Lives of the Kings of Poland as in any other History whatever I must confess the Poles have not been such refin'd Politicians nor so prudently manag'd their own Interest as some of their Neighbours have done for by their ill Conduct and supine Negligence they have lost the best Part of their Antient Dominions which yet has hapned to them neither on account of their Deficiency in Courage or Bravery but at present the Poles beginning to enquire into the State of Foreign Countries and into their Maxims of Government they are become more Vigilant and Political and are likely under the Command of their present King as well to retrieve their Honour as recover their lost Dominions I would my Lord have presented you with a great many other entertaining Matters relating to the Geography and Natural History of this Country had I either seen them my self or been secure of the Relation of others but I would rather chuse to be deficient in this Account than to give your Lordship just reason to believe that I were too credulous I am My LORD Your Lordship 's most obedient humble Servant B. C. LETTER VI. To GEORGE STEPNEY Esq late Envoy Extraordinary from his Majesty to the Electors and Princes of the Empire Of the Origin and Extent of the Great Dutchy of Lithuania with the Succession of its Great Dukes and Description of its chief Towns and Provinces SIR THE Zeal you have shew'd for his Majesty's Service in your Ministry at the Courts of the Empire and the Reputation I found you left behind you in those Places to the Honour of so great a Master deserve not only the repeated Proofs of his usual Bounty and the Choice he wisely made of you a second time to represent his Royal Person but likewise the Esteem of all those that are acquainted with your Merits To pretend to inform you of the Constitution of any State in Europe would not be only the calling in question your Experience in Foreign Affairs and your undoubted Knowledg in Politicks but likewise exposing my own Judgment to the just Censure of the World Wherefore Sir thinking by our late Discourse about Poland that nothing could be new to you but what was either very remote or very antient I will endeavour only to give what I know of the Origin and Extent of the Great Dutchy of Lithuania which is that vast Tract of Land that lies between the Kingdom of Poland and the Frontiers of Moscovy The Great Dutchy of LITHUANIA call'd by the Inhabitants Litwa tho subject to the King of Poland as Scotland to the King of England yet is a distinct Nation from this Kingdom having different Customs a different Dialect and particular Privileges tho one Diet serves them both It lies between Moscovy on the East Livonia the Baltic Sea and part of Moscovy to the North Samogitia Prussia and Podlachia to the West and Russia Volhynia and Podolia towards the South It extends near ninety German Miles in length that is from the Borders of the Palatinate of Lublin to the Confines of Livonia and about eighty in breadth from the River Niemen to the Nieper In the time of its Great Duke Vitoldus it was of much larger Extent for then it reached from the Euxine Sea to almost all along the Baltic This Province is a flat and Champain Country formerly all over-run with Woods and of which a great Number still remain Yet what with the Industry of the Inhabitants and the Peace they have enjoy'd ever since Sigismund the First 's time it is now very fruitful and produces all sorts of Grain as likewise affords great quantities of Honey Pitch Tar and Timber with good store of Fish and Flesh Nevertheless the Air is generally unhealthy which occasions many places to be little inhabited and some quite Desert This great Dutchy was only begun to be united to Poland by Jagello in the Year 1386 for tho that Union was afterwards renew'd at Grodno in the Year 1413 yet Lithuania still retain'd its own proper Dukes till the Year 1501 when the great Duke Albert was chosen King of Poland by whose means this Country became absolutely under the Dominion of that Crown and which was afterwards confirm'd by a Diet held at Lublin in 1569 under the Reign of Sigismundus Augustus where it was agreed that Lithuania should enjoy its own peculiar Laws and Privileges and be constituted a part of the Polish Common-wealth insomuch that nothing of Importance was for the future to be transacted therein without the voluntary Concurrence of these States This Country consists of two Parts viz. 1. Lithuania properly so call'd and 2. Lithuanic or White Russia Both which are divided into several Palatinates and those again into Districts and all of them may be properly term'd Dutchies each having formerly had its peculiar Duke The Arms or Standard of Lithuania are Party per Pale Gules and Azure In the former a Horse in full career Argent with a Warrior insiding Proper brandishing a Sword over his head And in the second the Virgin Mary with our Saviour in her Arms surrounded by a Glory Before I proceed to a Topographical Description of this State I hope a short Account of the Origin of Lithuania with the Lives and most remarkable Actions of the several Dukes and Great Dukes of that Dutchy Samogitia c. may not be unacceptable which are as follows Lithuania as Guagnini thinks took its Name from this Occasion When the first Prince thereof Palaemon left Italy on account of Nero's Tyranny he together with several of his Countrymen fled by a long Voyage into these Parts Where after some time having been saluted Prince by the Inhabitants thereof he call'd their Country after the Name of his own La Italia which in process of time by mixing with the Idiom of those Barbarians might as he says have degenerated into Lithuania Others will have it to be so nam'd from the Latin word Littus a Shoar because say they this Prince settled along the Shoar of the Baltic Sea before he descended into Lithuania To confirm this Prince's Expedition into this Country there are several Italian and Latin words intermixt with its present Language As likewise most of the Noble Families have great similitude with the Roman Names tho the Vulgar sort are altogether Sclavonian Notwithstanding this Assertion Hartknoch with several others positively affirm that this Country had its Name from Littuo one of the Alani a certain Duke therefore long before Palaemon's Voyage So that from Littuo Alanus they call'd his Country Littualania which afterwards was contracted to Lithuania Palaemon first Duke of Lithuania being descended from the Roman Patricii after having undergon great Dangers and
it with both its Castles When Jauunutus flying towards a neighbouring Wood was there taken by Keijstutus his Men and being brought back to his Brother was by him order'd to be clapt in Chains A little while afterwards Olgerdus returning Keijstutus would have surrender'd to him the Crown as being his elder Brother but which Olgerdus refus'd saying It was due neither to his Fortune nor Merit and therefore he would not pretend to deserve it by Birth But at length they both agreed to divide those Dominions between them and Vilna with the supream Authority fell to Olgerdus but nevertheless they both bound themselves by Oath to intrench upon neither's Dominions To their Brother Jauunutus they yielded the Palatinate of Braslaw in Russia Olgerdus being thus possess'd of the Throne began his Reign with invading Prussia and Livonia where the Teutonic Knights did not dare to oppose him so that having over-run all those Countries and loaded his Army with Spoils he return'd triumphantly to Lithuania where he sacrific'd the Captive Knights to his Father's Ghost whom they had kill'd The same Year Olgerdus march'd silently against the Marquisate of Brandenburg which he destroy'd and plunder'd up as far as Frankfurt and all along the Banks of the River Oder Next he drove the Tartars out of Podolia about which time Caminiec was built by his Brother's Sons Afterwards Janowitz Czar of Muscovy being puff'd up with his great Power sent to Olgerdus then lying sick of a Fever at Witebsko That before a Month were at an end he would make him such Visit as should fright him into an Ague To which haughty Message Olgerdus only return'd That since he knew his Mind he would prevent his Journey and wait on him at Moscow Whereupon leaping out of his Bed he expos'd his Life to his Honour but which as it hapned did well enough for he recover'd in few days and getting speedily together a considerable Army he march'd forthwith into Moscovy laid Siege to Moscow and took it together with the baffled Czar whom he forc'd before he left him to agree to a dishonourable Peace and leave him in possession of great part of his Empire After which he reduc'd the major part of Russia which he join'd to his Dominions they having formerly been only wont to pay Tribute to Lithuania This Prince had by Mary his Wife twelve Sons of which Jagello and Skiergelo only were Great Dukes of Lithuania after him His Brother Keijstutus had six Sons whereof Vitoldus and Sigismundus came to be Great Dukes of Lithuania Olgerdus dying in the Year 1381 Jagello ascended his Throne with consent of his Uncle Keijstutus This Duke had a favourite Courtier one Voidilus a Man of an obscure Descent and whom he had rais'd from his Baker to be his Secretary and prime Minister This Person he affected so dearly that he gave him his Sister in Marriage which was highly displeasing to his Uncle who protested earnestly against it whereupon this subtle Upstart fearing lest Keijstutus might one day or other put him out of favour with his Prince he prevail'd with Jagello to look upon his Uncle as his Enemy and to proceed against him accordingly which Jagello being young was easily persuaded to do therefore clapping up a secret Truce with the Teutonic Knights with whom he was before in War he made all imaginable Preparations against his Uncle which Keijstutus being inform'd of was immediately alarm'd at till his Son Vitoldus quieted his Suspicions by persuading him that Jagello would never attempt any such thing but at length Jagello marching against the Russians of Polocz which were then his Uncle's Subjects his design was past all doubt and therefore Keijstutus got together what Forces he could upon so short a Warning and invaded his Nephew's Territories where he took Vilna and would have proceeded had it not been for his Son Vitoldus who still continu'd Jagello's Friend But afterwards Keijstutus being busy'd in subduing the Traitor Koributh Jagello not only retook Vilna but also besieg'd and gain'd Troki by Treachery which Keijstutus marching to recover he together with his Son Vitoldus was betray'd into Jagello's hands by means of his Brother Skergelo who pretended to bring these two Princes amicably together but Jagello having once got his Uncle into his Clutches detain'd him and threw him into Chains and afterwards order'd him to be strangled in his Prison at Kreva His Cousin German Vitoldus he ungratefully kept a long while in Bonds at Vilna who afterwards being remov'd to Kreva and a time appointed for his Death escap'd by means of his Wife who always having free Access to him by exchanging Habits with one of her Servants got her Husband away in her own Hence he fled to his Kinsman John Duke of Masovia but not thinking himself secure there he afterwards went into Prussia where at first he was reprov'd by the Knights of the Teutonic Order for having recourse to them only in time of Adversity but afterwards he was more courteously receiv'd and promis'd their Assistance to re-establish him in his paternal Dominions Whereupon together with the Samogitians who favour'd Vitoldus his Interest they made an Inroad into Lithuania and took Troki but they were afterwards nevertheless forc'd to surrender it At length Jagello by secret Messages recall'd his Kinsman out of Prussia and upon his Promise to be faithful to him settled him in his Hereditary Estate A little while after this the Throne of Poland becoming vacant by Lewis of Hungary's Death Jagello was invited thither to accept that Crown under certain Conditions which may appear more at large in his Life among those Kings Whilst Jagello was thus absent in Poland with great Numbers of his Subjects who went to wait on him into that Kingdom the Great Masters of Prussia and Livonia finding a fit opportunity enter'd Lithuania destroying with Fire and Sword as far as the Castle of Lucom in Russia which also they took and having furnish'd with all necessary Defence plac'd in it Andrew Jagello's Brother upon whose Request this Expedition had been undertaken About the same time Swetoslaus Duke of Smolensko invaded Russia and took Mscislaw and several other Places by force both which Actions Jagello being soon inform'd of immediately dispatch'd away his Brother Skirgelo and Kinsman Vitoldus into Lithuania who finding the Teutonic Army retir'd forthwith laid Siege to the Castle of Lucom which having taken they proceeded to Mscislaw which they likewise took and kill'd Swetoslaus who was in possession of it Afterwards having recover'd all the other revolted Dominions which had sided with Duke Andrew they made him Prisoner and carrying him into Poland he was order'd by his Brother Jagello to be cast into a noisom Dungeon whence upon the request of the good-natur'd Vitoldus he was not long after deliver'd After Jagello's Death tho there were several Great Dukes of Lithuania yet seeing they were Tributary to the Kings of Poland and Lithuania it self was afterwards united to Poland under
out How can our Gods dissemble with these wicked Christians so far as to suffer 'em to profane their Divinities with unhallowed hands when if we had but offer'd to injure them in the least we always immediately underwent their Revenge But at length when they perceiv'd no Judgment to follow the suppos'd Sacrilege of the Poles they unanimously acknowlegd'd their false Worship and consented to be baptiz'd whereof about thirty thousand were brought to the Font in one day From henceforward the Lithuanians have for the major part continued Christians tho there are yet some Idolaters among them of different Beliefs towards the Frontiers of Moscovy and Samogitia in the great Woods who still worship Serpents c. as they used to do There are also in this Great Dutchy about thirty thousand Tartars with liberty of the Turkish Religion who have enjoy'd this Privilege for some hundreds of Years on condition that they shall send every Year twelve hundred Men to the Wars against the Turks and Tartars These Mahometans call their Churches Meczets Page 342. Upon this occasion I was assur'd by the King himself several Senators and other Great Men of that Kingdom and moreover it is the common and undisputed Report that Children are oftentimes nourish'd and brought up by Bears in these Parts They say likewise that if a hungry He-Bear finds a Child that has been carelesly left any where he will immediately tear it to pieces but on the contrary had it been a She-Bear then giving Suck she would undoubtedly have carried it safe to her Den and nourish'd it among her Cubs which after some time might probably have been rescued from her and been taken by Hunters as it happen'd in another Case of this nature in the Year 1669 which has been positively asserted to me in a Letter from his Excellency Monsieur de Cleverskerk now Embassador here to his Majesty King William from the States of Hollond which Letter I thought not amiss to insert A Monsieur Connor Monsieur JE veux satisfaire en partie à votre desir vous rendre conte d'un Enfant que J'ay veu à Varsovie en l'an 1669. Me rencontrant en cette Ville de Pologne pour étre present au tems de l'Election d'un Roy qui se devoit faire à la place du Roy Jean Casimir qui s'étoit démis de la Couronne Je m'informay à cette occasion de ce qu'il y avoit à voir en ce lieu J'ay appris entre autres choses qu'il se trouvoit au Fauxbourg de la Ville qui va vers le Palais que le Roy Casimir y avoit fait batir chez des Religieuses un Enfant Male qui avoit été nourri des Ours ayant été pris quêques tems auparauant à la chasse de ces Animaux J'allay à ce lieu pour Satisfaire ma Curiosité trouvay a la Porte le dit Enfant jouant dans les Sables sous l'Auvent qui étoit devant la Maison Il étoit selon ma meilleure Memoire de l'age de douze à treize ans Quand Je l'approchay il vint sauter comme par surprise à mon habit prit par la main avec beaucoup de precipitation un des boutons d'Argent que Je portois à mon Justaucorps approcha le Nez pour le Sentir Puis Jl se jetta tout d'un coup à un coin par terre faisant quêque bruit comme une espece d' Hurlement J'entray dans la Maison ou une Fille m' informa plus particulierement de lá Prise de cet Enfant Mais comme Je n'ay point avec moy le Livre ou J'ay écrit les Observations que J'ay fait dans mes Voyages Je ne sçaurois vous en faire le dêtail Cette Fille appella fit entrer le dit Enfant luy montra un grand Morçeau de pain ce que luy voyant il se jetta sur un Plancher qui étoit fait contre la muraille dans cette Chambre Il y marcha comme à quatre pattes Il se leva avec une grande vitesse prit par les deux mains le pain qui luy fut presentè le porta ainsi au nez se Jetta en bas faisant encore un bruit étrange comme auparavant On m'informa qu'il ne parloit point encore des paroles mais qu'on esperoit avec le tems luy en apprendre d'autant qu'il avoit l'ouiè bonne Il avoit quêques marques au visage qu'on pensoit avoir été des Egratigneures de l'Ours Voilà Monsieur tout ce que ma Memoire me peut fournir d'une Particularité qu'il y à si long tems que J'ay veüe Mais Personne ne doit trouver étrange que cela soit arrivé d'autant qu'on a d'autres Exemples dans les Histories Et on m'a informé en ce Pais que les Tartares y font souvent des Invasions par des courses qu'ils font avec unc si grande vitesse qu'ils entrent â—â—n peu de tems bien avant dans le Pais qui est ouvert leurs chevaux étant capables de faire un tres-grand cheminsans manger ni boire qu'étant allez jusques où ils ont proposé la ils Etendent leur grande Troupe prennent comme dans les filets toutes les Personnes qu'ils rencontrent en leur retraite les menent en Esclavage qu' d ces occasions les Hommes les Femmes tachants fuir n'ont bien souvent pas de tems de sauver leurs Enfants qu'ainsi celuicy peut avoir été laissé trouvé par quêques Ours qui sont en ces lieux de Lituanie ou de Pologne Je suis marri Monsieur ne vous pouvoir pas informer satisfaire à votre Curiosité avec plus d'exactitude cependant vous recevrez s'il vous plait cette Relation comme un petit témoignage de ma bonne Volonté comme etant Ce 1 Jan. 1698. Monsieur Votre tres-Affectionné Serviteur J. P. Van den Brande de Cleverskerk Thus in English SIR I Shall endeavour partly to satisfy your Request and to give you an Account of a Boy that I saw at Warsaw in the Year 1661 who had been brought up by Bears Coming to this City of Poland with design to be Present at the Election of a King after John Casimir who had Abdicated the Crown I enquir'd what was worth seeing in or about this Place whereupon I was inform'd among other things that there was in the Suburbs of this City which go towards King Casimir's Palace in a Nunnery a certain Male Child who had been brought up among Bears and who had been taken some time before at a Bear-hunting Vpon this Information I went immediately to that place to satisfy my Curiosity where I found the aforesaid Boy
about 100000 Captives of which the greatest Part were Russians The Moldavians and Valachians quickly return'd home but the Turks out of covetousness of Plunder stay'd till the great Frosts and Snow surpriz'd 'em when not being us'd to such excessive Cold as this Country is subject to above 40000 of them were frozen to death Some among 'em that escap'd were forc'd to cut open their Horses bellies and thrust themselves into them to preserve their natural Heat After this John Albert made peace with the Valachians and Bajazet Emperour of the Turks Next he went in Person into Prussia to oblige Frederic Duke of Saxony then Great Master of the Teutonic Order to take Oath of Fidelity to him which he had for some time refus'd but dy'd suddenly at Thorn before he could effect his design Albert leaving no Children the Diet thought fit to elect his Brother ALEXANDER Great Duke of Lithuania the better to renew their Alliance with that Country This Prince being proclaim'd King comes to Cracow where by his Brother Frederic Cardinal and Archbishop of Gnesna he was crown'd in the Year 1501 and reign'd only five Years but the Archbishop refus'd to do the like Office for his Queen Helena because she was of the Greek Church being Daughter to John Great Duke of Muscovy which Country are all of that Persuasion Soon after that he was crown'd his Father-in-Law the Great Duke made War upon him and besieg'd the City of Smolensko Capital of a large Province of the same Name but Alexander coming in time to relieve it oblig'd the Muscovite to make Peace for six Years In his time also the Moldavians and Tartars made Irruptions into Poland but were beaten back with great Loss insomuch that 't is said there were kill'd only of the Tartars in that Action near 20000. The King was not in Person at this Victory he then lying sick at Vilna Capital of Lithuania where he dy'd soon after and was buried in that City He was of a middle Stature had a long Visage and black Hair was very strong built but exceeding dull-witted and consequently but a little Talker He exceeded all his Brothers in Generosity and was wont to delight much in Musicians and such trifling Artists Nevertheless this his Liberality was generally esteem'd but Prodigality insomuch that some were so hold as to say That he dy'd in time or else both Poland and Lithuania might have been lavish'd away To prevent the like pernicious Generosity for the future the Diet made a Law calling it Statutum Alexandrinum by which they revok'd all this King 's profuse Gifts Alexander leaving no Children and but two Brothers the Archbishop of Gnesna dying before him SIGISMUND was preferr'd to Vladislaus King of Hungary and Bohemia either because the Gentry were more affected to him being bred among 'em or by reason they were afraid of Vladislaus's great Power He was elected at Petricovia in the Year 1507 and reign'd forty one Years When Sigismund left his Government of Lithuania to come into Poland he substituted one Glinski a great â—â—avourite of the late King 's in his room This Palatin having great Authority among the Lithuanians became so ambitious as to think of making himself Absolute which concealing for a good while at length he agreed with Basilius Great Duke of Muscovy to allow him his share of that Province in case he would afford him his Assistance which Proposal the Great Duke being pleas'd with readily consented to and with all Expedition dispatch'd away an Army to Glinski but as such great Designs are not to be carried on without great Noise and Suspicions Sigismund came soon to hear of this treacherous Enterprize whereupon drawing up all his Forces to oppose the intended Invasion he meets and defeats their Army ravages and destroys their Country and at last obliges them to sue for Peace which he not without some difficulty granted Afterwards the Valachians and Tartars making Incursions into Russia and Poland he forces them to return home with great Loss The Muscovites likewise making War upon him a second time and taking the City of Smolensko with all the Country about it he beat their Armies in several Engagements and having kill'd in all above 30000 of their Men retook Smolensko and made 'em accept of a Peace the second time for five Years He soon after married Buona Sforza Daughter to John Galeatio Duke of Milan Afterwards he made War with the Knights of the Teutonic Order the reason of which was because Albert Marquess of Brandenburgh his Sister's Son and then Great Master refus'd to take an Oath as it was agreed in the late Wars Hereupon Sigismund took from him some Towns and had great Advantages over him in several Engagements but however Albert having considerable Succors sent him from Germany prolong'd the War for a good while in Prussia About this time Martin Luther's Doctrine came to be known in these Parts and most of the Citizens of Dantzic embrac'd it for which at first the King was very severe with them but at length fearing that to preserve their Religion they might side with the Teutonic Order against him he granted them Liberty of Conscience All this while that Order made vigorous Resistance and with equal Loss on both sides fatigu'd the Polish Army till at last it was agreed by both Parties to make the Emperor Charles V. and Lewis King of Hungary Arbitrators who determin'd that Sigismund should relinquish to the Marquess of Brandenburg all the Eastern part of Prussia which is above half of that great Province and that he and his Heirs should for ever enjoy it as they have actually done ever since without any disturbance from Sigismund but the Marquess of Brandenburg as Duke of Prussia for himself and his Heirs was to take an Oath of Fidelity to the Kings of Poland and to send to their Service every Year in time of War a hundred Horse ready equipt which those Kings were to maintain at their own Charges from the time they went out of Prussia At this time the House of Austria was not a little jealous of the exorbitant Power and vast Dominions of the Family of Jagello for not only Sigismund possess'd Poland the great Dutchies of Lithuania Smolensko and Severia and likewise all the Countries between the Euxine and Baltic Seas but also his Nephew Lewis Son of Vladislaus was King of Hungary Bohemia and Silesia insomuch that they secretly rais'd several Enemies against them whereupon the Muscovites Moldavians and Tartars came a third time to molest Poland but were forc'd to withdraw after having done some Mischief About this time Solyman the Great Emperor of the Turks made War with Hungary and gain'd the famous Battel of Mobac where King Lewis and the flower of his Army were slain and the better part of Hungary subjected to the Turk This King Lewis left only one Daughter which was