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
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
Poland tho always Elective yet has been successively in the same Family from Father to Son or at least from Father to Daughter or other Relation from the Year 830 to the Year 1674 which is from Piastus his Reign to the Election of the late King John Sobieski except only the five Months that Henry of Valois reign'd I mean Henry III. of France who was kill'd by a Monk To evince this your Grace may be pleas'd to understand that the last of the Family of Piastus in a direct Line was the Princess Hedwigis who marry'd Jagello Great Duke of Lithuania His Male Race by her reign'd to Sigismund the Second's time of whose two Daughters one was marry'd to King Stephen Batori his Successor and the other was Mother to Sigismund III. who with his Sons were successively elected to the Throne to the time of King Michael Wiesnowiski who tho he was not lineally descended from Jagello yet came laterally from the Race of Koributh Jagello's Brother So that it is evident that the Poles have reconcil'd a free Election of their Kings with an uninterrupted Succession of the same for 844 Years as likewise that they have never excluded the deceased King's Son nor ever elected any German Prince to the Throne before this last Election of the Elector of Saxony Frederick Augustus now King of Poland But as it is lawful for all Governments to alter their Constitutions at often as they find it convenient for the good of the Publick so the Poles observing that their Native Kings have not of late sufficiently promoted the Interest of their Country were wise enough to choose a Foreign Prince whose Wealth and Courage would enlarge their Dominions as their present King Frederick Augustus is very likely to do being in League with the Emperor Muscovites and Venetians I hope your Grace will be pleas'd to pardon my Indiscretion in presuming to write of Matters which are altogether out of my Element since it was only to shew with what Deference and Respect I am My LORD Your Grace's most Obedient and most Humble Servant B. C. LETTER 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 My LORD THE Obligations I owe to your Brother Mr. Alberti and his Lady join'd with the Value I have always profess'd for your Lordship's Friendship makes me glad to find this occasion of giving both you and them a publick Testimony of my Respect and Gratitude and since you have often shew'd your self willing to know something of the Affairs of Poland I thought nothing could be more agreeable to your Temper than that I should inform you chiefly of the Heroick Actions of that great Prince with whom your Brother for so many Years so prudently manag'd the Interest of the wisest Republick in the World in a long lingring War against the Ottoman Empire It is to his Kindness that I must own my self indebted for the Honour I have had of being in the Esteem of so Warlike a King and of being moreover entrusted with the Care of what was most dear to him John Sobieski my Lord is not so much to be esteem'd for his memorable Exploits after his Election as for his Merits and the wise Conduct by which he advanc'd himself from a private Gentleman of an indifferent Fortune and nothing at all related to any of the former Kings through all the Posts of the Army to the Crown of Poland notwithstanding the several powerful Factions which appear'd against him Immediately after the Death of the late King Michael Wiesnowiski John Sobieski then Crown-General gave a signal Overthrow to the Turks near Caminiec which caus'd a great Alteration in the Republick of Poland for thereupon the Turkish Aga and Treasurer were not so peremptory in their demanding Annual Tribute shamefully stipulated for by Michael as they had been before but were contented to be put off to the Diet of Election The Senate being assembled order'd publick Rejoicings and began their Session by leaving off their Mourning for the late King The Diet which preceded that of the Election was appointed to meet the 15 th of January 1674 which was design'd to be terminated in 15 days but the ordinary Disturbances that arose in these sort of Assemblies together with the Inclination which every body had to advance General Sobieski occasion'd it to be prorogu'd till the 22 d or 23 d of February without doing any thing but assigning a Jointure to the Queen Dowager The 20 th of April began the Diet of Election the Candidates were in great number and every ones Pretensions were heard The Czar of Muscovy who had been so often baffled at preceding Elections yet made fresh Interest at this His Envoy demanded the Crown for his Master's youngest Son who was then about thirteen or fourteen Years of Age but however he neither made so great Profers as formerly nor us'd any Threats for he would then have been laugh'd at Poland being at that juncture in a much better condition than before Next the Prince of Transilvania offer'd fifteen Millions of Money as likewise that he would unite his Principality to Poland and maintain fifteen thousand Men in the Service of that State against the Turk but these Propositions were look'd upon too considerable to be either real or possible for the Poles believ'd that they had possess'd themselves of the greatest Treasure of Transilvania when they chose Stephen Batori for their King The Elector of Brandenburg likewise had some hopes in favour of the Prince his Son when he profer'd that he should change his Religion as soon as ever he was elected but he soon quitted his Pretensions when he consider'd what had pass'd in regard to the Germans and Protestants in former Elections If this Prince had been a Roman Catholick his Family might have had just Pretences to Poland by the Interest of uniting Ducal Prussia to that Kingdom The Dukes of Modena and Parma had also their Envoys at this Election but whereas every body thought their business was to ask the Crown they only came to condole the Death of the late King and congratulate the Poles on their Victory at Chochim so that they did not add to the number of the Competitors Don Pedro di Ronquillos came from Spain without taking upon him the Quality of Embassador His Instructions were to recommend Duke Charles of Lorain after he had done his best in favour of Don John of Austria but this Policy did not take and the Council of Spain afterwards found another Expedient to rid themselves of this Prince A French Prince whose Name was not mention'd tho I suppose it was the Prince of Conde occasion'd the most Jealousy of all the rest The other Pretenders to the Crown were not a little pleas'd that this Prince was not nam'd The Duke of Neuburg renew'd his former Pretensions
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
the Right Honourable James Vernon Esq Principal Secretary of State Of the Diet or Parliament of Poland and other Courts of Judicature Let. IV. To the Earl of Marlborough Of the Election and Coronation of a King of Poland with the Interregnum Let. V. To the Lord Marquess of Of the Power of the Gentry and Slavery of the People in Poland where the Genius Character and manner of living of the Poles are related Let. VI. To his Grace the Duke of Ormond Of the state of the Army Forts and Military Affairs in Poland Let. VII To his Excellency Monsieur de Cleverskerk Embassador from Holland An Account of the Trade and Riches of Poland as likewise of the City of Dantzic Let. VIII To the Earl of Burlington Of the Origin of the Teutonic Order and the Succession of its great Masters in Prussia and in Livonia with its present State in the Empire Let. IX To Sir Thomas Millington President of the College of Physicians Of the state of Learning of Natural Knowledg and particularly of the Practice of Physick in Poland with an account of some natural things chiefly of a Disease in the Hair peculiar to the Poles call'd Plica Polonica Let. X. From Baron Blomberg his Highness the Duke of Curland's Minister to Dr. Connor Giving an Account of the Duke of Curland's Family Strength and Revenues as likewise the Extent and Products of his Territories Let. XI To the Honourable Mr. Bridges eldest Son to my Lord Chandois and Fellow of the Royal Society Giving an Anatomical Account of the Natural Cause why People must necessarily die of old Age alone attended with no other Disease Let. XII To Explaining the Nature of curable and incurable Wounds demonstrating by Practical Observations and Anatomical Experiments the small number of Wounds which are of themselves absolutely mortal and shewing the true use and common abuse of Styptic Waters and Pouders in the Practice of Surgery A Catalogue of such Authors as have been consulted in both Volumes of this Book whereof some have been quoted and others omitted on account of Consent in Opinion POmponius Mela de Sarmatiâ Commentariolus Hartmanni Schedii de Sarmatiâ Aeneas Sylvius de Poloniâ Lithuania Prussiâ five Borussiâ Martini Cromeri Polonia Alexandri Guagnini Rerum Polonicarum Sigismundi Liberi Baronis in Herberstein Descriptio Lithuaniae Jacobi Pritusii de Provinciis Polonicis Chronicon Poloniae Vincentii Kadlubâ—â—i Matth. de Michovia Chronica Polonorum Polonici Regni tredecem Mutationes Johannes Duglossus Annales Polonorum Salomonis Neugebaveri Historia Polonica Johannes Herburtus à Fulstin Compendium Historiae Polonicae Flosculi Legum Polonicarum Stanislai Orichovii Annales Mariciani Mattbiae Ladovli Constitut Polon Compendium Pastorii Florus Polonicus Johannis Boteri Poloniae Descriptio Historia Reformationis Polonicae Authore Stanistao Lubiensko Equite Polono Stanislai Krzistanowicksi Status Poloniae Simonis Starâ—â—volsâ—â—ii Poloniae Relation Historique de Pologne Par Mons Hauteville Hartkâ—â—â—bii Respublica Polonorum Adam Bremensis Seculi IX Scriptor Historia Ecclesiastics Alhini Chronicon Hornii Arca Noae Historia de Vitâ Obitu Sigismundi Augusti Heidenstein de Rebus Polonicis ab exoessii Sigismundi Augusti Dâ—â—â—â—soanorum Clades a Johanne Lasicio Polonâ—â— â—â—obâ—â—slaus Balbinus Historis Bohemiae 〈◊〉 Historia Bohemiae 〈◊〉 Chronica Pomeranie Alberti Cranzii Polonicarum Rerum 〈◊〉 Annalâ—â—s Polon 〈◊〉 I. Regis Poloniae cum Fragmentls 〈◊〉 Vladislai Boloniâ—â— Sueciae Principis Vita Casamir Roy de Pologne Guerre Civili di Poliniae di Alberto Viâ—â—ina Description d' Vkraine par Beauplan Cuerres des Turcs avec la Pologne Histoire des Cosaques leurs Guerres contre la Pologne La Politique des Polonois 〈◊〉 diere Histoire des Dietes Philippi Honorii de Interregno Grammatica seu Institutio Polonice Linguae Effata Regum Poloniae 〈◊〉 Polonica Books printed for Daniel Brown and Abel Roper 1. FOur Treatises of Physick and Chirurgery 1. A Physico-Medical Essay concerning Alkaly and Acid. 2. Farther Considerations on the said Essay 3. A new Light of Chirurgery 4. The new Light of Chirurgery vindicated from many unjust Aspersions By J. Colebatch a Member of the College of Physicians 2. His Treatise of the Gout 3. His Doctrine of Acids in the Cure of Diseases farther asserted in which is contained some things relating to the History of Blood c. 4. Nature and Qualification of Religion in reference to Civil Society Written by Sam. Puffendorf Counsellor of State to the late King of Sweden Translated from the Original The Present and Antient State of Muscovy in which is inserted all things material to be known in relation to that vast Country with several Sculptures and a new Map A New Map of POLAND Exactly delineated after the best Modern Geographer THE â—â—ntient and Present STATE OF â—â—OLAND PART I. The Antient State LETTER I. 〈◊〉 the Right Honourable WILLIAM Lord Dartmouth 〈◊〉 the Origin of the Kingdom of Poland with the Succession and Remarkable Actions of its first Dukes from the Year 550 to 830. MY LORD HAving had the good Fortune some Years since to meet your Lordship at Venice in my Travels from France â—â—hrough Italy and Germany into Poland I â—â—ound that not contented with a superficial â—â—nd transitory Account of Places your Genius led you naturally to enquire not only into the Government Laws and Characters of the several Nations you passed through but likewise to examine nicely into their Maxims of State and their different Interests and this that by discovering the Excellency of some of their Constitutions and Defects in others you might like a wise and thinking Patriot admire the Perfections of our own Government Goodness of our Laws and Wisdom of our Senate whereof you your self are so worthy a Member My Lord You may remember that after your Resolution to take Medicines as well as my small Skill in prescribing them had had the good Effect of curing your Lordship at Venice of that acute Disease which made me almost despair of your Recovery I left you at Padua with the Earl of Kildare to gather strength and went thro' Tyrol Bavaria and Austria down the Danube to Vienna where having staid for some time to see the Emperour's Court I set forward with some Noblemen of Poland through Moravia and Silesia to Cracow the Capital City of that Kingdom from whence in eight days we arrived with a numerous Attendance at the King's Court which always resides at Warsaw where I was kindly receiv'd by the late King John Sobieski who did me the Honour to intrust me with the Care of his decaying Health and sometime afterwards his Majesty sent me with her Electoral Highness the Princess Tcresa his only Daughter then married to the Elector of Bavaria to take care likewise of her Health in her long Winter Journey from Warsaw to Brussels which gave me opportunity to come sooner out of that Kingdom than I at first apprehended I cou'd Tho my Lord my chief business both in Poland and other
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
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
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
several Magistrates the Prussians have also a Treasurer Burgraves of Castles Sword-Bearers Judges and Sheriffs but none of all these have any Place in the Council The Palatins of Prussia have far greater Power than those in any other Province of Poland The Arms or Standard of Prussia are an Eagle expans'd Sables with a Sword evaginated and held by a dexter Hand Argent Both in a Field Or. The Fourth PROVINCE of this Kingdom is Red Russia the other being White Russia and belonging to Lithuania This Province extends it self from the Frontiers of Lithuania as far as the Mouth of the Nieper in the Black Sea which River separates it from Moscovy to the East as likewise do the Carpathian Mountains from Hungary to the South-West It is extreamly fruitful in Corn Beasts of all kinds Fish and Honey In this Province there are several Trees daily found along the Shore of the River San which are very hard and black as Ebony The Country People say they have lain there ever since the Deluge but it is probable they might have been wash'd down by the Course of the River a great while since It is bounded on the South by Hungary Moldavia and Bessarabia on the East by the Scythian Desarts and especially Moscovy on the North by Russia Alba separated by the Rivers Stiro and Pripecz and on the West by Lesser Poland from which it is divided by the Rivers Vislocz and Vepre This Province comprehends seven Palatinates Viz. The Palatinates of Russia Podolia Braslaw Kiovia Volhynia Belsko and Chelm The first Palatinate of this Province is that of Russia which is divided into four Districts which are The Districts of Leopol Premislaw Halicz and Sanoch The first of these Districts has in it these remarkable Cities and Towns Viz. Leopol Archbish Cap. Grodeck Javorisvia Zolkiew Gliniani Zloczow and Komarna Of all which the chief City is Leopol call'd Lwow or Luwow by the Polanders and Lemberg or Russe-Lemberg by the Germans It is the Metropolis of this Palatinate and lies in the 46 Degree of Longitude and 49 of Latitude It is built amongst the Hills on the Banks of the River Peltaw fifteen Polish Miles from Mount Carpathus to the South and as many from Premislaw to the West thirty from Caminiec forty from Cracow and about fifty from Warsaw to the South-East This City is large and well fortify'd having two Castles one within the Walls and one without on a rising Ground which commands the Town both which together with the City were founded by Leo or as they call him Loo Duke of Russia about the Year 1289. The Archbishop of Leopol is both Spiritual and Temporal Lord of his Diocess His See was translated hither from Halicz in 1361 by Order of King Casimir Here also reside an Armenian Archbishop and a Russian Bishop depending on the Patriarch of Constantinople with several Churches belonging to each Bishoprick The Armenian Roman-Catholicks have inhabited here time out of mind and are govern'd wholly by their own Prelat They enjoy very great Privileges on account of the considerable Commerce they maintain with the Persians and other Eastern People This City is famous for several Sieges it has sustain'd As first it was besieg'd by the Cosacks and Tartars with a dreadful Army Secondly by the Moscovites and Cosacks in the Year 1648 with an Army of above 120 thousand Men without being able to take it in two Months and a half but the last time the Turks became almost Masters of it in the Year 1672 yet by an Agreement oblig'd themselves to quit it This hapned under the Reign of King Michael Wiesnowiski who dy'd here in the Year 1673. This City gives great Encouragement to Learned Men who are very civilly receiv'd by their Academy which is supply'd with Professors from that of Cracow Here is kept a very famous Winter-Fair whither the Hungarian Moldavian and in time of Peace Turkish Merchants resort in great Numbers Amongst other Rivers it has Roxolania wherein Barbels are taken of a great Size It has likewise an innumerable Company of Fish-ponds all about it replenish'd with several sorts of very fat Fish which are salted up in great Numbers and transported all over Poland The Churches here are generally very fair and well-built and abound with all kinds of costly Ornaments Grodeck a palisado'd City with a Castle built in a Plain and surrounded with Bogs It lies about four Miles from Leopol Javorisvia famous for a natural Bath arising in the next adjoining Village of Sclovia This alone suffices to disperse several stubborn Distempers as Sixtus Leo a Physician of great Experience testifies in his Treatise concerning it Zolkiew a Town adorn'd and defended by a Castle and intermix'd with several delightful Gardens with a fair Church in the middle of it built with various sorts of Marble It was the Seat of the late King John Sobieski where my Lord of Rochester had Audience of him The Standard and Arms of this District are a Lion Passant Crown'd Or by a Rock Sables all in a Field Azure The second District of this Palatinate is Premislia which has in it these principal Cities and Towns Viz. Premislaw Bish Sambor Jaroslaw Lancut Resovia Fulstin Visnia Zidaczow Moscisca Dubiecz Canczuga and Prevorscia Whereof the capital City is Premislaw built on the River San with good strong Walls and a Castle situate upon a Rock on the other side of the River This City lies about six Leagues above Jaroslaw and twelve from Leopol towards the West There are in it two Bishops one of the Place and the other a Russian Prelat of the Greek Church Orichowski a Canon of this Cathedral maintain'd that Priests might marry Here is a College belonging to the Jesuits for the Education of Youth The Citizens are very much addicted to Trade and have several famous Fairs every Year Near this City is a very spatious Park of the King 's full of all kinds of wild Beasts and strongly wall'd in that they might do no mischief The Country hereabouts abounds with Castles for defence against the Incursions of the Tartars the chief of all which is the Castle Crassici lately built on the River San. Sambor a Palisado'd City upon the River Tyra with a Castle built near the Borders of Hungary Jaroslaw famous for a Fair kept on Lady-Day and the most celebrated of any in all Poland Where besides several Merchandizes brought from Persia Constantinople Venice Muscovy and Amsterdam they say it is wont to have above four hundred thousand Head of Cattle and half as many Horses In this Town the Jesuits have a College for Students and without it there is a very stately Nunnery of modern Architecture Neither is its Castle to be despis'd which is seated to the East on the River San. Lancut famous for several magnificent Churches founded by Stanislaus Lubomirski Palatin of Cracow together