Prince of Condee who was Duke D'Engwin Design'd to Match the Niece of the said Queen Born of her Sister Princess Palatine NOr were French Pistols wanting to dispose The whole Court-Party to advance that choise Which much incensed other Noble Peers And near once more set Poland by the Ears In opposition to the Queens design Many great Persons joyntly did combine Of all whom Lubomirski was the Chief A mighty Party joyn'd to their Relief In this Rebellicus Consorts and Commates Naming themselves Polands Confederates But after sev'ral Traverses of Warr Treaties of Peace to heal this Rending Jarr 'Twixt both The Rebels to their Homes are forc'd And Lubomirski's Party's put to worst Being deserted o's Confederats To Breslaw in Silesia retreats His place Grand Mareschal was taken fro'm And SOBIETSKI ' stablish'd in that Room The Rebel Lubomirski hence was driven In Januar sixty six or sixty seven And of a Palsie shortly after 's dead Who with late Ague Pole's State shaken had SOon after this Crown-General Potoski Dying 't fell to th' share of SOBIETZKI As hath been said ere while tho most oppose Alledging two such mighty Trusts as those Of Marshal General to and by one Could not be well conferr'd nor rightly done And would have had the last of those we name To Prince Demetrius great by Worth and Fame But Casimir Poles wise and generous Prince Foreseeing's late shak't KINGDOMS Exigence Requir'd no less then Peerless SOBIETSKI In Council prompt in matchless Valour Brisk ay FOr as when Head or Heart of any Wight Affect'd with Maladie grown to some hight The Eyes look pale and dull and languishing The Pulse beats saint unev'n like slack'ned String Of Lute or Viol Hands Feet Fingers Toes And th' extream parts which from the. Body grows Refuse that Duty which of right to Head Heart allows Ev'n so the Cossacks Poles remoter parts Inhabiting when hearing Jarrs and Thwarts 'Twixt Prince and Peers resolve to take their time Of Courts Vertigo's still Rebellions prime Joyning the Tartars promised Turks Aid Poles Frontiers with great Spoils forthwith invade And in their Insurrections furious Maza They seise the strong Town known by name PODHAYS And in the Month which doth preceed September Flock'd up from all Resort the strong RUSS-LEMBER THese COSSACKS are a compound mingled Rout Of many Nations hardy fierce and stout The gross whereof are Polish Peasants who T' avoid the slav'ry of the Tyrant Po lish Noble-men forsaking Pole as Cain Did SETH withdrew so to the UKRAIN A Province near the Turks and Tartars plac'd With all things sit for Humane Life well grac'd Being all Greeks as to Religion Having a Select PATRIARCH of their own Residing at the great and strong and mighty Fenced with Art and Nature KIOFF'S City Acknowledging themselves in gross and whole Liege-men and Subjects to the KING of Pole Serving his Majesty in 's Wars they say Against the Infidels still without Pay In Arms are born bred live and die these mighty men of Prey This Armed State for their Security Partly and part for Poles Nobility They keep These Nobles they do still despite And these with mutual hatred them requite They for their Freedom ' gainst Poles Lords still Rage These would reduce them to their Vassalage So that 'twixt mutual Fears Hopes Spoils and Harms Th' one ' gainst th' other frequently take Arms. Against which Cossacks with fierce Tartars joyn'd Great Gen'ral SOBIETZKI is enjoyn'd To march Who by their dreadful num'rous swarms Reduc'd to greatest Straits this Son of Arms. For while h' hath scarce once seen descry'd and found'em They with most thick Batallions quite surround him Amidst which pinching Push and Jeopardy No Council's left save either do or dy THen like some Lyon roused from his Den With Noise of Hounds and Huntsmens voice a main Great SOBIETZKI startled once next animats his men ' ANd thus Accosts them Valiant Native Poles ' My fellow Souldiers Can your fearless Souls ' Whose glorious Arms late quell'd the Roaming Swed ' And chas'd him from our Bounds and home him sped ' Can all those Trophees num'rous as your feet ' Late trampling down the Marshie Muscovite ' Giving that proud and mighty Knez the Chase ' And bending back the VVar to Mosco's face ' Forcing him to our KING to sue for Peace ' Those dreadful Swords which did at once give Laws 'To the Great Czar and Warlike stout Gusta'us ' And Lubomirski and 's Confederates al 's ye ' Fought vanquish'd routed frighted in a Palsie ' But those you 'l say were Strangers or Piastis ' And what 's this Raff and Mungrel Race of Mastives ' But the vile Scumm of Polish Slaves a Rabble ' Of coarsest Dregs of all God drove from Babel ' Shall we who 'd well near giv'n snatch'd back Poles Crowns ' And of two crowned Heads cropt such Renowns ' Be fac'd crouded to our Beards with such Rafscalion Clowns ' Up up March on Charge Fight what needs more words ' Let 's force and cut this Vict'ry with our Swords THen as a Flash of Light'ning rends a Cloud Next killing Thunder comes which roars aloud Then plump suden Rain like that which made No's Flood Just so their Swords Shout Shot Shock rains Seas of Cossacks Blood When in a trice or twinkling of an Eye Thousands of Rebels bleed full spraul and dy By num'rous Heaps vast Swarms and hideous Shoals With little loss or none to th' Gallant Poles Thus having quit himself of pinching strait He forc'd the Rebels first to Begg then Treat A Peace most Honourable for Polands Crown Whose terms are in the following Words set down 1. ANd first as to the Tartars there should be For all in this late War an Amnestie Until that Casimir great Polands KING The Purport of this Treaty should once Sign 2. And next if after Differences arise They should not Arm in any kind of ways But strive to reconcile't by their Envoys 3. The Sultan Galga promis'd in the name Of his own Master Tartarys great Cham To be an Enemy to all and whole Such as should War against the Crown of Pole With all his Force to Aid when e're requir'd Being of Poles with yearly Pension hir'd And for so doing Hostages to give Until the States assembling them relieve By Moneys rais'd for their Redemption And Tartars present Satisfaction 4. And in the fourth place that the. Tartar Cham Nor any else of his or in his Name In Vkrain should Quarter any Forces Neither of Infantry Dragoons nor Horses Nor any other part of Poles Dominion Without the KINGS consent and full Opinion 5. If any Forraigners in this Campaign Who serv'd the Cham should pole invade again Of their own Head or others Mal-direction That Cham give them no aid nor yet Protections 6. That Prisoners on both sides be releas'd And with restored Liberty be grac'd That Sultan Galgas Force nor Spoil Kill Burn Nor least Disorders act in their Return WIth Doroskensko Gen'ral of the
heard things which you would not and whatis ' to follow is known to GOD alone ' WE alwayes wrote both to your King and you what hath now come to pass which you might have prevented by sending Ambassadors to his Imperial Majesty with Royal Presents as is usual and Promise of Tribute who thereby might have appeased the burning Wrath of our great Lord and obtained better Conditions from you Nay had you ever since for the Gate of Mercy of our Emperour is open to all sent Ambassadors to offer a Tribute it was to be hoped they might have obtained the good-will of our Lord and he permitted them to renew the Ancient Friendship If therefore after all you have any care for the quiet and good Estate of your Armies Kingdom and Subjects do what you intend very suddenly without any delay and the sooner you do it the more advantagious it will be for you That you have desired the most glorious Cham of Tartary to be Mediator at this Treaty you do well for he hath offer'd his friendly Perswasions on your Behalf Peace be ' to those that believe the Commandments of GOD. BY this time Winter with his Hoary Face And cold sharp Breath was hast'ning on a-pace Which doth not suit the warm venereous Turk And alwayes stints in Field his further work When the bravevaliant Gen'ral SOBIETSKAY Who still out-does what biggest Hopes expects ay At this time unawares had fall'n upon Without's foresight or expectation A dreadful Body twenty thousand strong Of Tartars serving Turks for Right or Wrong 'T was at a place known by the name of Try Where all their Host he routed totally Streams of Tartarian Blood did soak this Field Where ten times thousands of their Breaths did yield Their Ghosts to Fate And from those bloody Knaves Rescu'd as many of poor Christian Slaves After which soon within few days thereafter Defeats as many more with hugest Slaughter Whereby the Countrey near to Desolation He fred from Rapines further Devastation And in that Nick or Juncture of Affairs He wanteth Reason Sense and Eyes and Ears Who will not readily own and confess 't This the most Advantagious and Best Service which could be done to Polands Crown Which all that Kingdome to this day will own THe KING his ARRIER BAN had Summoned That is a General Convention had Of all his Princes and Nobility Throughout all Pole and the great Litwanie All to appear in Feir of Weir and Arms When Poland Kingdom takes most dreadful ' Larms As near Samosch he did encamped ly He did request his whole Nobility To take into their grave Consideration Those called Mal-contents within the Nation Whereof Arcb-Bishop Gnesna was call'd one As likewise was the General of the Crown And many others which were ordered As soon as could be to be summoned To make Appearance Oath and Obligation And enter straight in this Confederation Which Oath aforesaid their and then fram'd was Upon their having tane the same to pass An Act of general oblivton But if Recusant durst be any one Refusing to appear and enter Oath They were to be by King and Nobles both Declared Traitors and their Office Trust Disposed of to others held more Just And all their Moveables Lands whole Estate Unto the Publick Treasury Escheat This Oath which would have cost Poles Crowns and Swords Had it tane place run in these following words The FORM of the OATH of the CONFEDERATION I' Of my own free-will none forcing me Swear by the Holy and bliss't Trinity That for the Honour of great GOD Almighty And for the Welfare and the Dignity Of our Elected Crowned KING and Lord And this Republicks Safety and Accord Its Priviledges and Immunities Its Franchises and freest Liberties Against all whatsoever its Haters Foes My Life and Fortunes frankly I 'le expose And that I 'le ne're forsake nor yet depart From this Confederation but take Part With this our Countrie till the same be sped And from all Dangers Civil Forraign fred But will do all as far as I am able To make this Treaty yet more firm and stable Ay while we have obtain'd the foresaid ends And when I know that any man intends To Counteract this joynt Confederation And Brotherly Agreement of the Nation I 'le stand engaged to Reveal the same Without regard to Friendship or to Fame And shall account and prosecute that He As open Traitor publick Enemie To be corrupted I have tane no Money Nor shall hereafter on that head take any ' I shall not hold the least Intelligence Nor act one any whatsoe're pretence To prejudice my Countrie or my KING But truelie and sencerely in each thing Shall still observe this firm Confederation In Vnitie without least Reservation Or any Hopes to be dispens'd from this So help me GOD and bring me to his Bliss THings running thus at such a high flow'n Tide The Mal-contents thought fitt to step aside Retiring to Meaco in the Prusse While Primat Gnesna did not care a Rush Keeping still at Livitz his Residence Nothing concern'd with all this vehemence Of the Nobilitie who off'red had A Thousand Ducats for his sev'red Head To any man should bring it to the Leaguer And in a madder Bravery swear and swagger They will depose th' Arch-Bishop and degrade him But this the Popes own Nuncio there forbad 'em Such violation of the Libertie Of Holy-Church for those the Laytie Thus to proceed ' gainst any one said Mass Without Leave ask't and giv'n by 's HOLINESS Mean-while Commissioners from KING to th' port clap't up a Peace of following Purport The FORM of the DISHONORABLE PEACE suddenly patcht up betwixt MICHAEL KORIBUT WIESNOWITZKI and the GRAND SEIGNIOR in the follwing ARTICLES most disadvantagious to the Interest and unmortby the Name of the Valiant POLANDERS 1. FIrst That the People called Lipcee Tartars Which formerly had dwelt in Polish Quarters And who have since forsaken their Resort Having obtain'd Protection from the Port Yet so as having left their Wives and Yong And all their Moveables not worth this Song Shall have free leave to come return and fetch Away this Baggage And that such as itch To stay in Poland shall have Liberty Without Disturbance or to Stay or Hy. 2. That Polands KING shall by 's Ambassador Send twice ten thousand and two thousand more Of Ducats to the Port and yearly pay This Sum on Saint Demetrius's Day Which Day falls on the fifteenth of November On this Condition that the Turks remember To ' fend the Subjects of the Polish Crown From Turks and Tartars fierce Incursion And other People subject to the Port In case the Poles shall by their mad Resort At any time be dammaged then for 't The King of Pole thereafter may demand Redress and Satisfaction from the Grand Seignior this Tribute may forbear to pay Until Amends be made one or another way 3. Podólia shall as in old time before Be Subject to the Port And on that Score If any
serve Occasions after the next Spring AT which time Tidings came unto the KING That Turks in dread of any more Pursuit Had marched ev'ry Day and ev'ry Night And had again Repassed the Danow And that the Tartars hurled Homewards too Taking the nearest Cutt of shortest Road Onwards the Way leads by Bialogrod THus being fred of Swarms of Turks and Tartars The KING put 's Army to their Winter Quarters Where when his MAJESTY had caus'd them come Resolv'd to settle his Affairs at Home So as he might early next Spring take Field Accordingly November twelfth he held To Zulkiew three Leagues of from Leopold Where as most welcome to his Royal QUEEN And the yonng Princes their dear Children So no less almost was the Joy of all The People crouding to behold and sal ute meet shout praise extol and bid welcome Their common FATHER and DELIVERER Home GREAT ANGEL GUARDIAN of all CHRIST'NDOM A LETTER To the Right HONOURABLE Sir GEORGE DRUMMOND OF MILN-NAB LORD PROVOST OF EDINBURGH My LORD HAving as an ESSAY of what I can and peradventure may hereafter say both better and more of the Greatest and most Antient MONARCH in the whole World the present KING of BRITAIN and that I might if possible by these excite an Emu'ation of the united Force and Brav'ry of all Christian KINGS and PRINCES against the proud and insatiable Cruelty of that Infidel Enemy of CHRIST'NDOM the TURK attempted in Verse such as they are the MEMOIRES of that Heroick PRINCE the present KING of Poland I cannot but think the pains I have already been and the whole Charge I am even now at the better bestowed when it shall be presented to a Person of your Lordships Character here and great Interest and Acquaintance in the whole Polish Dominions You are so known to the whole Frame and Methods of the Government the Succession of the Dukes and KINGS the History and Scene of the various Changes of Fortunes of that brave Magnanimous People the Topography of the Places of that vast Country the Situations of Leopol Cochmi and Caminiec c. and many other the Triumphant Theatres of his brave prowesses whose Names will be still consign'd to the Immortal Glories and Victories of JOHN the Third I know your Lordship has seen his two immediat Predecessors CASIMIR and MICHAEL and knew not only himself before but after his being Crown General as well as that you have seen and known his Illustrious PARENTS with those Waywoods Palatines Castellans and other great and valiant Personages who have accompanied and born some share in his happy and holy Victories and by your intimat Correspondence with so many Persons of great Interest and Fidelity in these Parts have had the best and truest Accounts of those signal and amazing Services done the whole Christian World by the Great SOBIETZKI Seeing your Lordship in all these Capacities may be the fittest Judge in this place of the World to condemn or correct the Lapses or Mistakes by Missinformations or Distance of Place or where my Author has not swerv'd the best Witness to avouch the Fidelity and Ingenuity of Your LORDSHIPS most humble and much devouted Servant ALEX. TYLER Chap. VI. The KING Crowned OBTAINS another great VICTORY over the TVRKS and TARTARS The ARTICLES of PEACE The Magnificent ENTERTAINMENT of his EXCELLENCY the English AMBASSADOR T' Was now high time all things prepared be For Coronation of his MAJESTY Since by the Constitutions of Poles Land Their ELECT PRINCE somethings may not Command Nor yet perform until once Passed be Their Coronations Solemnitie WHerefore on January the sev'nteenth Was KING MICHAELS Corps convey'd at length From Warsaw in a Chariot drawn by six Horses his Houshold officers marcht next And Multitudes of men of Quality Tending their PRINCES last Solemnity Alongs the Way from Warsaw to Cracow Where both their present Majesties were now Lately Arriv'd and waited on by the Whole Kingdoms Senators Nobility THe Body of KING CASIMIR which had Been sent for out of France was here convey'd To Cracow where on one the self same day Were both KINGS Funerals perform'd they say With all the usual Solemnities And Honors due to ROYAL Memories THis being once dispatch'd and Passed o're Of sev'nty six second of Februar KING SOBIETZKI and his QUEEN were now Crowned within the Castle of Cracow With all the Pomp Magnificence and Shew Which Art can fancy or the Eye can view And the next day his new Crown'd MAJESTY Receiv'd the Hommage o's Nobility His Gentry Senators and of the whole Orders and States of Litwanic and Pole THe French Ambassader did soon present To 's MAJESTY his Masters Complement Which was a solemn Declaration In favours of the QUEEN French born by Nation That 's MAJESTY of FRANCE adopted had The QUEEN of Poland now his Daughter made Declaring further that accordingly She should on all occasions Treated be And look't upon what ever hap might chance Still as a Daughter of the Crown of France HOwe're on eight of March next following Her Majesty had one to Pole more owing When safe delivered of a Princesse young THen did his MAJESTY himself apply The Vacant Trusts and Honours to supply Prince Lubomirski Polish Names sound harsh all Was made of Polands Kingdom the Grand Marshal And Mareschal of Court Lord Sinawski Crown-General Prince Demetrius Wisnowiski By whose Removal one Jablownowski Who was the Prince and Palatine of Russie Vacant the Place Lievtenant General Giv'n to the Last these vacancies the KING thus filled all JVne seventy six did Sultan Nuradin With Chams two Sons all pass the Neister soon And like those Fishes which do swim in Shoals Around great Whales so these surround the Poles In vastest Bodys sending out strong Bands To Ravage and harrass the Polish Lands And Ibrahim Bassa swarms of Turks doth place At sev'ral Posts about Caminiec MEan while altho good Resolutions were Tane at last Polish Diet to prepare For this Campaign they 'd so neglectful been Of this throwout each sev'ral Palatine The Dicts purposes to execute That both of Men and Money destitute His MAJESTY was still remaining yet In 's old Complained Straits and most unfit To make Resistance yet he ordered Those few Remains of tatter'd Troops he had To March directly to his last years Hold And have their Rendezveuz at Leopold And being Destitute of all else than Means of Supply Convoc's the Arrierban That all might meet for Kingdoms joynt Defence IN August seventy six his Excellence LAURENCE Ambassador from Britains KING Unto his Polish Majesty being Arriv'd at Dantzick And the Polish QUEEN Came also to that City after soon Upon her Road for France to Drink at Wells Of Burbon which as t 's said some Griefs soon heals Of whom their being he had Audience And thereupon the young Princess presents To whom his MASTER of Great-britain was Pray'd to be God father at her Christ'ning Mass With a Rich noble Jewel on the part Of his said MAJESTY and so doth
part For Poland where he was received still With all the Demonstrations of good-will Welcome Respect and Love and Kindness meet Which might his Character and Person suit MEan while The Turks and Tartars as wee 've told Altho they seem'd more Formidable and Bold Yet were so mindful of last years defeat And so afraid of the sole NAME of Great KING SOBIETZK they gap't for nothing more Then Peace For which end the Grand Seignior Did by the Despot Prince of Moldavie Make Overtures and Offers of a Treaty Nor were the KING of Polands Camp or Coffers In a Condition to resufe such Profers So on both sides Commissioners were sent Who from both Potentates to Treaty went HOwbeit that nothing might be left undone For Publick saf'ty understanding soon The Turks were on their March to Jaslowiec About six Leagues beyond Caminiec The KING march'd out the fixt day of September From Javarow and lest it should Surrender Resolved to Reliev't But whether by Its Governours great Fear or Treachery T' was yielded up tho little Harm was don 't Then Sackt and Plunder'd Riffl'd Fir'd and Burnt AS likewise other two or three beside Were just so Treated by them at that tide And having razed these three places foully Were all straight Marching toward Trembowla Whereon his MAJESTY with much ado now Leaving his Baggage all at Zorawno To make more haste October twenty fourth Like sudden stiff Stern Wind blown from the North Fell with such Rustling force on the Turks van That it blew breathless many thousand man Disord'ring all the rest Tartars first dally'd But being thirty thousand quickly Rally'd And on the Polish Army comming down A Bloody Fight of new was then begun Which did continue to the Night from noon This doubtful lasting Dispute in Conclusion The Infidels did flie in great Confusion BUt 's Majesty vastly Inferior To Numbers of the Cham and Seignior The KING scarce having fifteen thousand then To Rout an hundred fifty thousand men Had many gallant Persons as t 's oft found For Countreys Honor slain maim'd bled and wound Le ts have th' Account from all Historians Pens Where Vnits have been worthier then tens As these prov'd here in downright Fight withoutleast stratagems UPon the TVRKS part these bad Successes Disposed them the rather to seek Peace Which in the following terms concluded one Thus advantagious to the Polish Crown 1 FIrst that the Treaiys with late KING concluded Should be abolished and quite exploded 2 That as to what Podolia concern'd Both partys were content thus to decern't That Turks should still retain Caminiec Round which a Circuit of certain space And as for what concern'd the Vkrain The Poles its greatest part should still Retain As Pauloz Galnick and Bialacirkew And many other Towns with Memocrow So that whate're of it fell to Turks share Was small and under Doroskenskos Care 3 All Prisoners and slaves shall be made free And from this time no more Hostility 4 The Christian Faith at freedome shall remain In all parts which by these the Turks Retain 5 That Turks shall quite Renounce all their Pretensions To Moneys which MICHAELS Treaty mentions And that those Hostages giv'n for that Sum Should be Releas'd and safe conveyed home 6 That Turks and Tartars should in part and whole promise a strict Alliance to the Pole And that in all Poles Wars in any wise They should assist them ' gainst their enemys 7 That Custody of Holy SEPULCHRE To the Franciscan Friers they should Restore That Christians being pleased in this point They might award mistakes on that Account PEACE being thus concluded happily And Infidels Retir'd as speedily His Majesty back in November came To Zulkiew where my Lord of HIDE the same BRITAINS AMBASSADOR had Audience In a Most splendid manner To presence In the KINGS Richest Coach convey'd and mett By Marshal of the Court at the Stairs Gate Who did Conduct him to the Presence Chamber WHere stood the KING like Diamond set in Amber For nothing's fine for one so good so great Under the Richest Canopy of State Clad in a large long Robe of Cloth of Gold Which did a Vest of Silver round enfold AFter the Audience Ceremonys o're And that the KING had some good time before Treated his EXCELLENCE Familiarly With the most smooth and sweetest Interparly Of kind Discourses he was pleas'd to take His EXC'LENCE to the QVEENS Apartment Back Thus ev'ry where Receiv'd with great Esteem From both their Majesties of KING and QUEEN Who as a further Proof were pleas'd t' Invite His EXCELLENCE to Supp with them that Night IT was prepar'd in a large stately Room Where both their MAJESTIES in Pomp did come His EXCELLENCE on the KINGS Right Hand sat And next him too the QUEEN on 's Left in State And underneath her MAJESTYs Left Hand Sat sev'ral primest Persons of the Land After some sev'ral Hours this Supper done Which was with great Magnificence serv'd in THe KINGS best Coaches brought his EXCELLENCE Back to the Place of his own Residence The next day all the Senaiors straight came And other Persons of the highest Name To make their Visits to his EXCELLENCE Which he Returned next day following hence THe thirteenth of November being come Had 's Audience of Congee for coming home Then Hast'neth on to Nimiguen where he As English Plenipotentiary Sat and Assisted all that Meetings space For Mediating of a General Peace ANd in the next September following His MAJESTY of France most Christian KING In token of his lasting Amity Unto his Royal Polish MAJESTY Did give Commands to his Ambassadour Resident in that Court to Inaugure With the high order of the Holy Ghost KING SOBIETZKI and Defray the Cost Which Ceremony was in all mens Sence Of extraordinar Magnificence At which same time the said Ambassadour In further Sign of KING his Masters favour To both their MAJESTIES some Presents made Which were at sev'ral Millions valued Chap. VII Of the ACTIONS of his MAJESTY of Poland Afterwards and particularly in his EXPEDITION for the RELIEF of the EMPIRE at the Raising of the SIEGE of VIENNA and since to 84. THE furious Tempests of late Wars o'reblow'n And Clouds of Turks and Tartars vanish'd gone Left Calm and Cleer all Polands Horizon Great SOBIETSKI's Arms thus having once Restor'd sweet Peace to his Dominions Which after sad Confusions Dangers Toils Wounds Deaths and Slaughters Batt'ls Sieges Broils Stormings and Sackings Plunders Firings Burnings Victors loud Shouts of Joy Vanquishd's sad Mournings Loud Roaring Voices of great Thundring Guns Cracklings of smaller Shot Rumblings of Drums Shrill Nighs of Horses Trumpets brisk Allarms And the dread Clashing Noise of Rustling Arms And all that Misery and Desolation Which Fire and Sword can bring upon a Nation All which endur'd what could be more Welcome Unto his Poles then Rest Peace Ease and Home YEt notwithstanding during this Repose Wherein his Subjects of all Ranks Rejoice His MAJESTY did not himself abandon To sloathful Ease
MEMOIRES OF THE LIFE and ACTIONS Of the most INVINCIBLE and TRIUMPHANT PRINCE IHON THE GREAT Third of that Name PRESENT KING of POLAND CONTAINING A Succinct Series of Affairs from his Craddle to this present Day With a particular RELATION of his many Great and Stupendious VICTORIES obtain'd against the TVRKS and TARTARS from the time he was first made CROWN GENERAL and afterwards Elected KING of POLAND Done in Verse out of H. G's Historical Account of the said PRINCES LIFE and ACTIONS By a Lover of the PEACE and GLORY of CHRISTENDOME EDINBVRGH Printed by the Heir of Andrew Anderson Printer to His IMPERIAL MAJESTY of GREAT-BRITAIN Anno DOM. 1685. TO THE MOST ANTIENT OF ALL CHRISTENDOMS and the whole WORLDS MONARCHS The most Potent the most Heroick the most August JAMES The Seventh the Ornament and Glory of all other PRINCES KINGS and EMPERORS His Imperial MAJESTY of GREAT BRITAIN France and Ireland c. GREATEST SIR AS an Essay whether or not this my obscurity dare approach the most Glorious and August Theme in the World and that is Your MAJESTIES own I have attempted the MEMOIRES of the Heroick and Victorious KING of POLAND which will become yet the more Memorable when Graced with Your PRINCELY EYE and ROYAL PROTECTION The Subject being in it self so Noble might very well have become a much greater and finer Pen than the many diss-advantages of so low an Author could well afford it However Mannag'd as it is by the unworthiest of a thousand being the Account of the Life of so great so glorious a PRINCE Comprising some of the memorablest Actions and Victories which have yet Adorn'd any other Age It could not have been offer'd withour diminution of that Glory due to Soveraign MAJESTIES to any else of whatsomever Sphere below GODS Prime MOVER of the WORLD the Royal Nay nor yet of all those Foundations or that Firmament of the Universe to any other Intelligence or power save Your MAJESTY alone For to whom else should the Heroick Atchievments of this Valiant PRINCE have been Address'd but to another KING the most Wise the most Valiant the most Enriched with all those distinguishing Marks of Excellency and transcendent WORTH which ever yet Dignify'd that highest Character And tho the alone Elective KING this day in Europe if not in all the World which is more the dissadvantage of His Subjects there being for most part a kind of Metempsychosed ROYAL GENIUS in the continued Successions of an Ancient Race of Hereditary KINGS The want of which with that wild Nemine Reclamante in their Diets being the two great Flaws in the Polish Government have no doubt been ever yet the Grand Obstacles whereby that otherwise Magnanimous Nation has not long ere now born a much greater Figure in the World But this is none of our HERO'S fault His Loss it may be in several Instances but especially in his being hereby the youngest Brother of all other KINGS To whom else then should His Polish MAJESTY repair but to the Eldest of all these and that is Your ROYAL SELF For Reckoning from KING FERGUS the First of the longest Race of an hundred and eleven KINGS Your Royal PROGENITORS in a Reign of two thousand and fifteen years The Primogeniture of the whole Worlds MONARCHS is the indisputable Right of the Sacred Imperial MAJESTY of Great BRITAIN whom that Heaven may still Protect as it hath ever yet done with Miracles and Wonders for the Glory of God and the Good of his Church in this Queen of Islands and all other Your MAJESTIES Dominions for the great lasting Ornament of the eldest ROYAL BROTHERHOOD of all other KINGS for the Ballancing the Affairs of CHRISTENDOME for the glorious Defence of the true Christian Faith and the Encouragement of all other Christian KINGS and PRINCES to a generous and just Charity and brave Resolution of uniting their joynt and firmly Combined Forces against the Common Sworn Insidel ENEMIES of our most holy RELIGION shall be ever the constant standing or kneeling Prayer of the least and unworthiest of all other Your MAJESTIES Most Humble and most Obedient Servants and Subjects ALEX. TYLER A LETTER to his GRACE WILLIAM DUKE OF QUEENSBERRY MARQUES of Drumfreis-shire EARL of Drumlanerick and Sanqubar VICE-COUNT of Nith Tortherwald and Ross LORD Dowglas of Kinmonth Middlebie and Dornock His MAJESTIES High COMMISSIONER for His Ancient KINGDOM of SCOTLAND Lord High THESAURER of the said KINGDOM one of the MEMBERS of His MAJESTIES PRIVY COUNCIL of both KINGDOMS May it please your GRACE BEside the Succession of a great many Durkes Regents KINGS I range them in the order of their own History and the entire Reigns of the two preceeding KINGS of Poland JOHN CASIMIR MICHAEL KORIBVT WIESNOWITZKI the voluntary Resignation of the Polish Crown by the former and the great Hazard of its and that fierce and undaunted Nations being well near made Tributary to the Ottoman Turbant by the timorous precipitation of the latter and a light touch of the Government Laws Politys and Customs of that great People sprinkled all along this little small Work the manner of their Diets or Parliaments the Splendid and Pompous way of Election of their KINGS where each Waywood Palatine and Castellan for these are the Titles of their Peers and Senators appear equip'd like as many EMPERORS having every one a Retinue so August so Numerous so High and yet so Orderly as tho they were all severally Triumphant CAESARS who when once assembled to the number often-times of some hundred thousands all gallantly appointed and richly and strongly Arm'd The Diet sits or rather stands in that Field for most part neer Warsaw their Capital City call'd Kolw for no House in the World could suffice to contain And I doubt if many Cities could well accommodat beside the own Inhabitants such prodigiously-vast Swarms of Men of all Ranks all at once I say beside all this your GRACE has offer'd you in these Sheets the Life and Actions from his Cradle neer to this day of one of the Greatest and Bravest KINGS except the IMPERIAL MAJESTY of Great-Britain alone whom GOD still preserve and bless second to none else that CHRISTENDOME or the whole World dare challenge this day or peradventure yet ever could own His Descent of the most Illustrious and Noble Families of his Countrey His Education the stepps of his Advancement His being made Crown-General His Exploits while in that Trust during the Reigns of two KINGS His immediat Predecessors His rare Virtues for which GOD hath Anointed him with the Oyl of Gladness above his Fellows His Election and mounting up to Polands Throne His many Battles fought with all the disadvantages of Number Strength and oftentimes Place and other Circumstances where Triumph still Pearch'd upon his victorious Ensignes and of all these the Place the year of God the day of the Moneth the very time of the day wherein he has so oftentimes made Christendome glorious brave happy while Infiaels
Took up the Crown of fair and puissant France Now falling to him by Inheritance I write the just words of my Authors Text Puts this in year five hundred seventy sixt AFter the Recess of this last nam'd Prince The Poles next Diet were not of one sense One Party nam'd for KING Stephen Bathor The Transylvanian prince as many more The Austrian Arch-Duke Maximilian Which 'twixt those Princes open War began But Stephens Valour with the Victory Obtain'd the Crown who Issueless did dye In year of Christ five hundred eighty sixt Then Sigismund the third succeeded next Son to the King of Sweden named Ihon Being chose to fit on Polands mighty Throne Soon after which the Father Ihon deceast Did Sigismund with 's Native Crown invest This Sigismund now King of Pole and Swed Had by his Mother secretly been bred In Popish Tenents And all this was done Without least Inkling of his Father Ihon As Zealous Protestant as any one On whose Election unto Polands Crown He Protestant suspect'd not Popish known And Romes Religion still obtaining there To satisfy the Poles he did declare That he for ever would maintain and own The Roman Catholick Religion This made the wary Swedes still Lutheran Desire conditions that he should maintain Their Protestant Religion as 't then was And let no Popish Innovations pass But some few Churches by his sufferance Or sloath not known some Places of Defence Had Popish Priests and Catholick Commanders Which made those stiff and jealous Swedenlanders Suspect this Sigismund of Male-intent And then Revolt at last with joynt consent Charles third son of Gustave Errickson His Uncl's lift up to the Swedish Throne HEnce came those Strifes and Fends and Wars amain 'Twixt Polands Kingdom and the Crown of Sweden For Sigismund did prosecute his Claim And Charles maintaind's Election by the same Which Strise 'twixt Vncle and Nephew did not dy But did descend to both's Posterity Just in the year six hundred thirty two Dy'd sigismund succeded Ladislow His eldest son who dy'd in fourty eight Whose brother Cazimir had next that Right By Choise who after twenty years of Reign The Polish Crown did willingly resign Michael Coribut Wiesnowitski Came next and now this glorious SOBIETSKI Who for his Countreys Honour Safety Crown Hath done yet doth such deeds of loud Renown Made them so great and glorious in each thing As mov'd each Polish heart to choise him King REader I hope thou 'l pardon this Deduction Plain as it is was meant for thy Instruction And understanding things express'd of Course Which needs we must recount in this Discourse Nor can't be needless you should also hear That KINGS of POLAND still Elective are Marvel with me how comes't their Sov'raign pow'r So much restrain'd should yet so long endure Or how Poles Princes straight bound up with Fetters Their Royal Hands so Chain'd with Words and Letters Should sway a Scepter or a Sword should shake To Rule or ' Fend their People while one Sneak Or Waspish Fellow in their Parliament Tho the least Nuntio shall dissassent In any point of greatest Importance Be it the Kingdoms Ruine or Defence The KING himself and the whole Polish Diet Must leav 't undone and sculk away in quiet Some Authors talk but whether lye or troth I shall not say that Polands Kings take Oath Not only to Govern conform to the Laws And Constitutions Statutes Customs Cause O' th' Kingdom to maintain the sev'ral Rights And Priviledge of all their Orders right And not to mince the Kingdoms Revenue But that there 's yet in th' Oath a Clause more blew In case the King should rule in otherwise Absolving People from Obedience Tyes I shall not here my doubts again renew Tho unto me this seems more strange than true That Fundamental Law of Germany Call'd Aurea Bulla can 't compared be VVith this for not to name the many things VVherein the Emp'rors case is wide of Kings In Pole th' Electors ev'ry one by one Are sev'ral pieces of a State that 's one All private men Subjects at most at best But in the Empire this may well be prest Where each Elector's Prince of Sov'raign State And cannot yoak his Pow'r at other rate It s then a Fancy or is't be ought true It s but of yesterday and late and new For in th'authentick form of the old Oath Of Polish KINGS which Orichovius hath There is not the least mention made of this HOw e're it be without Oath true it is That by their ancient Constitutions known Their KING can nothing great perform alone Without consent of th' whole Estates in one In making War or in contracting Peace Levying of Taxes or in Crown-Lands Lease Nor any important affair of State But by the joynt advice of full Senat. Yet as the stern stout Poles Nobility Have such strong Holds of Soveraignity So they assume and still pretend each one At least presume or formerly have done Unto themselves a more transcendent Pow'r Then they 'd allow to King or Emperour In all their Seigniories as accords They do behave themselves like abs'lute Lords This Kingdoms Palatinats thirty four Or Governments each of whom all is o're His own Castellans which of Cities are Captains or Governors in Peace and War Of whom in Poland if we 've counted even There are in all much about eighty seven Of Grand Ecclesiasticks they have two Archbishops GNESNA and of Le'pold too Of old a third at RIGA also had Until that City sell unto the Swed This Gnesna is prime Senator of State Who when the KING shall die without debate He hath the chief mannage of great Affairs During the Interreign tho 't were for Years And Issues Warrants for the States to come To the Election of a new Prince whom When Chose the Oath administers to him And sets upon his Head Poles Diadem All their most important Affairs are done Determin'd and advis'd resolved on In Diets or in Parliaments alone Which Parliaments or Diets thus are held Being summon'd by the King and thus they 'r call'd To Prelats Palatines the KING doth send By 's Chanc'lor Letters of Instruction pen'd Which mentions all his Majesty thinks sitting To be propos'd then ' points their time of Meeting Which Letters had each Senator alone Considers the Design they drive upon The Consequences Qualities and Natures Of those Affairs propos'd in the KINGS Letters The very same and of that full extent The KING' 's to offer to 's next PARLIAMENT Concerning all each Free-man of his Vote Hath a full Liberty o's yea or not Just as he pleaseth or he is in Mood For privat Interest or publick good Beside all these the KING doth Letters send Into each Pa'atinate to be kend When the Nobility are all to meet That ev'ry Province then may have its Leet And Representatives they may be chose Who here are always called LAND-NUNTIOS For which effect Convention's held in all And ev'ry County which they LANDT-JAG call
all with such Consternation Receiv'd as Souldiers do a Decimation VVhen the sad fatal Military Lots The Dy thrown on the Drum cuts all tenth Throats Or a Storm'd Town or near sure Victory Snatch'd from their hands and hopes unluckily By Ambush laid or succours sent from some new Enemy HOw much brave Armies prize their valiant Chiftain It straight appear'd by all their sudden Huff tane Yet as all Passion 's strongest at Rebound So Rage succeeding Grief's most eager found Not those cold Griefs which Sin brings and save Crosses And Cares and Tears leaves nothing But from Losses Not Irreparable and a Frustration Of Hopes which swell'd the mind with expectation Defeated fills the Soul with sharp vexation Commencing Rage menaceth all those Harms Vengeance can breath gives Souldiers Arms new Arms. Then as pure oyl which feeds a clear bright Lamp When wet doth sparkle so the Polish Camp Dissolv'd in Tears which nothing could asswage But vengeance wreckt on those wrought this Outrage These who had late but grumbled for Arrears Now for their Gen'ral turn'd all Mutineers Swearing tho it should cost their Lives and Souls They'd have their Chieftain maugre all the Poles And with loud Cryes mad Shouts their voices Hoarse all Eccho'd around le ts on le ts on to Warsaw Let 's Teach this new made KING by whom he stands Which of his Scepter or our Swords Commands WHen in good time the General was sent Unto the Army posted as he went And as the Sun after impetuous Flouds Of Rain when once wink'd up dispels the Clouds So the first fight of SOBIETZKI's Face Hush'd all their Tumults into Joy and Peace Who as a most discreet and wise Physicion That Cures the sharpest Humors by diversion Takes first occasion which did then present To give their itch of Fighting fullest vent THose Wretches without Faith to Man or God The Tartars that are of Bialagrod Upon Podolia and the Vkrain In hideous Numbers having fallen in And made great Spoil and Havock and in Droves Led the poor People of those parts their Slaves Against whom SOBIETZKI marcheth straight Did in an instant put them all to Flight Whose Courteous Haste had made them all so kind As leave their Prey and Prisoners behind VPon the twenty sev'nth of Februar In sixty nine or sev'nty in stile newer Did KING Michael Match QVEEN Eleanor Sister unto the German EMPEROUR By reason of which Match some Jealousie Was raised that his Royal Majesty Had thoughts himself Hereditar to make And all the Polish Rights to quash and shake Insomuch at a Diet short while thence Th' Equestrian Order sev'ral suits Commence ' Mongst others openly the KING hear read PACTA CONVENTA or agreements made Which they had finally concluded one At 's Majesties own free Election All else their Suits the KING did freely grant But this with 's greatest loathness scarce obtain 't Until his Majesty perceiving that Their Resolutions were obstinat Not to proceed in any State-affair Till that their Proposition granted were Unwillingly thereto he gave Assent And so next day the Knights together went Into the Honse of Senators where sat His Majesty under a Cloath of State On whose each side were plac'd Poles greatest Peers Where the said PACTA read at full length hears At whose last Article which did Import That if the King o's Duty should fall short Of what he then and there had promised That they from their Allegiance quite were fred Which last words were no sooner full Read out When all the Knights did Seal them with a shout WHich passage reasonably may compone Some Authors differences hereupon Concerning Poles KINGS Oath spoke of before 't Which some would stretch beyond its due Import Tho no such words at all are to be had In all the Oath but in the Agreements made THe Prince Demetrius WIESNOWITZKI The same Kings Vncle under SOBIETZKI Lievtenant General now between these Lords There was no tender Friendship nor Accords To have which two some better understood The KING in 's Royal Wisdom thought it good Having us'd sundry means this Work to Crown He did think fit a Marriage to propound 'Twixt Prince Demetrius Princess Ostrogie Niece to the General SOBIETSKI Which Consummat with all Solemnities Did henceforth Stopp their Animosities IN sev'nty two the Cossacks with the Tartars Or weary of their Faith or of their Quarters Having again fall'n to their wonted Trade Of old Rebellions an In-rode made Whom General SOBIETSKI did Chastise Forcing their Leader now defeated twice 'T was Doroskensko mentioned before A Man enur'd to Robb'ries Murthers Gore To leave 's Rebellious Arts of Sword and Fire And with more Haste than good Speed to Retire FRom whence the great Turk takes occasion To pick a quarrel with the Polish Nation Upon pretence that he had taken on The Cossacks into his Protection And with a quick Incursion in a trice Invests the City strong Caminiec Where having made Approaches slow and soft Under the shelter of great Sacks well stuff't With Cotton Wool and rais'd a Battery Upon the which they plant twelve Cannons high Wherewith twelve days they furiously play While those within having done all they may VVere forc'd on Articles the Town to Morgage For Marching out alive with Bagg and Baggage The Garrison were not two thousand strong Of whom two hundred men were quite undone By their own Powders blowing up a Tow'r Which with their Courage less'ned much their Pow'r And was ' mongst many others one great Cause Of so soon yielding to the Conqu'rors Laws Grand Seignior in Person present was At taking of this Town and ent'red as Poles Garrison march'd off placing thereon Eight thousand Janizars in Garrison His Army whole had the prodigious Force Of hundred ninety thousand Foot and Horse AT Janowitz this time Poles KING did ly Waiting Arrival o's Nobility Who now from all Parts unto him Resort While he to gain time sent unto the Port Ambassadors unto Grand Seignior Whose Peace or else Cessation might procure To whose Vice-Chancellor the Grand Vizier In Barb'rous Stile return'd him this Answer Which as I had you's have it Just as Terse For 't speaks it self better in Prose than Verse To the Vice-Chancellor of Poland ' THe Letters of the most Serene and Honourable KING of Poland our great Friend to our most Serene most Glorious and most Potent Emperor of the World and Monarch like to Alexander the Great who is the Shield of the whole World was together with your Letter directed to me brought to my Hands in our Camp near Caminiec some days before our taking that Place I delivered the Imperial Letters to his Majesty and having caused mine to be Translated I understood what you Wrot That which I Wrot to you from Andrianople gave you notice of what hath since happened and may serve for Answer to those Letters But you were wanting to do these things in time which were necessary for the preservation of your Countrey And therefore have seen and
Difference hereafter rise Concerning Limits or on otherwise It shall be amicably finished By Deputies from either Party sped 4. The Polish Forces now in any Fence Or Fortress of Podolia shall march thence Who with their Goods shall have free Liberty To Return home in all Security 5. ON t' other side GRAND SEIGNIOR shall Restore All Strengths from Pole in Russia tane before Free Exercise of their Religion Shall be secured unto ev'ry Person 6. Such as desire with Goods and Families Forthwith to part and leave Caminiec Shall have all freedom to Return to Pole Within the time of two full Moneths whole After this Treaty shall be Ratify'd They shall have Weleome or to go or bide 7. The ukrain as 't was in times of old Be left unto the Cossacks for free Hold And Poles shall quitt all Forts and Places there They have possest and with their Goods forth fare And when this Countrey they shall all abandon They's have all other Arms except their Cannon 8. The Cossacks that have with Hanensko been May if they please return to th' V'krain And from the other Cossasks shall Be none Dammage or Injury unto them done Only excepting Hanensko himsel Who shall Remain and into Poland dwell 9. All former Treaties 'twixt the Port and Pole Shall still Remain in force in part and whole Besides all which a distinct Paction was Which 'twixt the Poles and Tartars thus did pass That Polands Crawn should twice eight thousand pay Ducats a year to CHAM of Tartary This Sordid Slavish Ignominious Peace Which to each Christian ear sounds vile and Base So far Beneath the Ancient Polish Glory As nothine such is read in all their Story Ne're to th' Alcoran did here th' Evangel Stoop till Michael came sure no Arch-Angel But some Inferior Sp'rit below Heav'ns Scroles Who ne're had lookt so high as either Poles For as the Sun excels each lesser Star KINGS other Mortals do transcend as far He lack't that Genius to all Monarchs giv'n To which all Mankind's low as Earth's to Heaven Or else hee 'd never crouch'd and stooped down To yield that ever Independent Crown To two its Heathen Neighbours Tributar And that when never Mightier for War Beside their Constant Army daily held Who were with SOBIETSKI in the Field The KING at Lublin at the same time had Arm'd Force which more then hundred thousands made Was by the Gen'ral very ill Resented And many other who themselves absented And lookt upon it as some Slie Device That these might be at leisure to advise How they might have the best Convenience To Crush the Party called Male-contents And therefore tho two Senators were sped From this Convention to the Army led To take the foresaid oath them to Invite Yet SOBIETZKI still declined quite This Loathsome Peace worse then Eternal Wars Basly enslaving Poles to Turks Tartars THe Polish Grandees whether for Sharp Air Of Winter Weather or for want of Fare That is of Forrage or Provision Or else for Shame of having Slav'd their Crown Did in the Moneth of october's end Break up th' Assembly and did homewards tend Leaving two thousand and three hundred Men Arm'd for the KING'S Life-guard Agreeing then That their next general Diet should Conveen Held of the Deputes of each Palatine In the first end of January next When this Confederation should be fixt Then should proceed to try each Male-content And to Condemn all such as should Absent Themselves or should Refuse the foresaid Oath With Forfeiture of Fortune and Life both Wherein the Army quickly enters on A Counterbent CONFEDERATION Wherein for to defend they do declare ' The Liberties of their old Countrey dear And Priviledges of Nobility Which they alledg'd were all most violently Crush'd under shadow of a meer Pretence Of sticking to the KINGS design and Sense Of the late Oath Confederation Peace Which to their lasting shame had taken place And therefore they Resolved to Protect Those of the Nobles who without Respect Of Duty Dignity or of Man-Rent Were stressed under name of Male-content And prosecuted for their more Disgrace As sole Disturbers of the Kingdoms Peace Titles which did more properly belong To their Accusers doing them this wrong Pursuant to this Solemn Declaration It put the Court in horrid Consternation When the Recusant Army 'gan to draw With quick Advances nearer to Warsaw Yet Gen'ral SOBIETZKI thought it fit'st Not to Approach ought further then Lowitz Being desirous by a sweet Composure To make them Friends that his and Poles sworn Foes were To which end several Overtures were made Till this Accommodation was had In th' end of Marches Mon'th in Sev'nty three Which in these following terms runs as you see 1. THat all offences and Mistakes by past Should be forgiv'n Forgott Cancell'd and Quashe 2. That the Confederation last year had By the Nobilitie should void be made 3. That All who during these late wild Mistakes Had born the Brand of Mal-contented Sneaks Should on all Turns without Exception Enjoy the Royal Favours no Distinction At all made now nor should hereafter be 'Twixt these and others the Nobilitie Which good Accord yet more to firm the same With Num'rous Train great SOBIETZKI came To Warsaw where solemnly entertain'd On KINGS Part by 's Vice chanc'lor and the Senat By t 's Deputie the Waywood of Posen And from the Lords their Deputies two chosen And that the Diet more might complement him With fiftie thousand Dollers they present him As their Acknowledgment of his vast Merit But SOBIETZKI'S Noblest Generous Spirit Considering the Publicks present Straits One third part of the Sum freely abates THis done his vigorous Speech in Council prest That Polands ancient Glorie be Redrest Which by last Summers Ignominious Peace Had damp't its blooming Honour with Disgrace And that it ne're be Writ in future Storie That Poles free Crown was one day Tributarie To the Sworn Enemies of Christendom Opposing Payment of the agreed Sum Off'ring with Armie sixty thousand strong If that Poles State would see them pay'd erelong He made no doubt but that he should with gain Give such Account of this next years Campaign And Promise made if Diet please may Book it He 'd pay the Port a slaughter'd Turk for ev'ry promis'd Ducat Which he hop't to perform without delay Before the Tributes Term Demetrius Day THis said the Diet 's much encouraged To think upon a War and so provide Its Sinews Money And so hereunto The Poles Crown Jewels of a great Value Which they before had ordered to lay down For payment of the Tributes in a Pawn These were esteem'd at sixty thousand Liv'res Which to secure the Army their Arrears Are in the Generals own Hands now Pledg'd And so his Excellence forthwith Dislodg'd To Sokal where the Army Rendezvouzed Whose gallant Conduct these War-men Rejoiced MEan while soon after ending of this Strife Archbishop Gnesna did depart this Life In twelfth of April of year sixty three The King in 's Room
rais'd Bishop Cujavie WHen the GRAND SEIGNIOR heard understood These glorious Changes made for Polands good And knowing of their Warlike Preparation Doth thus menace that brave undaunted Nation In following Letter by a Chiaux sped But not dilivered till Poles KING was dead And for my part shall n'ere in Rithme be either seen or read The GRAND SEIGNIORS LETTER to MICHAEL KING of POLAND THou the chief Prince of the Christian People Administrator of the Nazaren Kingdom of Poland ' KING Michael our Friend May your Administration have an happy issue By these Letters we give you to understand that Achmet Bassa our Grand Vizier is the chief Administrator of our Dominions the Dignity and Authority of whose Ministry let GOD increase We have not long since understood that you refuse to pay our most Serene Majesty the Tribute stipulated by the late Treatie between us and you And to remove the Garrisons out of your places on the Frontiers wherefore it appears clearer then the Light that you have broke the Peace that was concluded with me And is it thus lawful for you in so short a time to violate the Peace The Governours and Souldiers of our Frontier-places have not done your Subjects any Dammage nor given you any cause of offence wherefore then have you broke the Peace and why have you provoked me the Monarch of the World to anger What do your Souldiers think to delude us Send us quickly the Tribute and the Gifts which by vertue of the Treatie tho by you violated and the promise of your Envoy ought to have been payed upon the day of St. Demetrius last past Send them quickly if you will that the ancient Treaties between us be Preserved and Re-established Send the Gifts Restore the Castles Repair the Dammages and do it sufficiently unless you desire to be by my Arms compelled to it If you omitt it by the Help of GOD I will with Innumerable Armies infest and destroy thy Poland Be therefore ready for War and send back my Messengers quickly that ' I may know thy Mind BUt all these proud Menaces were in vain While SOBIETZKI had advanc'd amain Unto the Banks of the great River Neister's And by Commanded Party tall like Switzers Under Crown Standard Bearers valiant Conduct Who after strong Resists did soon Command took The strong Town with its Castle Miedzibos 'T was storm'd tane plunder'd sacked by these High Boys Taking beside this many other place ' Mongst which was that Strong Hold Jaslowiec Great Shoals of Captives driving back in Throng Who told that Hussain Bassa lay along On t' other side the Neister being then A Bodie much 'bout fourty thousand men Waiting great Reinforcements to come up To him from out of Asia whereupon General SOBIETZKI did intend With greatest Haste to pass the River and To fight them turning down their Turbant Copes Before Arrival of their fresher Troops ACcordingly His Army once past o're Himself Advances all the Host before Towards the Turks whom he doth soon espy Trench'd under Cochmi's Walls Commodiously And which might bred great Mars himself much Cumber Vastly exceeding all his Poles in Number November ninth six hundred seventy three Came up the valiant Polish Cavalry And never stop't their March still Brisk and Eager Till within Gannon Shot of Turkish Lea'gre When the Grand General in Person Hies Within short Musquet Shot of the Enemies That he might best observe where their strength lyes Whence when Return'd he presently did call A Warlike Council where 't is Resolv'd by all That seeing scarce Provisions Poles now Pinches 'T were best Attacque the Turks within their Trenches Towards the Ev'ning all his Infantry Came up and with them the Artillery Whilst sev'ral little Skirmishes did pass ' Twixt's formost Troops and the Enemies nearest was NExt Morning of the tenth as we have said His Excellence drew up Rang'd and Array'd The Army in Battalio display'd And having placed his Artillery So as 't might most annoy the Enemy And serve them quickest with Hott Iron anon Shot from dread Mouths of Fifty Piece of Cannon In goodliest Order all advanced on Towards their Camp with Resolution Where when come pretty near The Hospodars A People Born to deal in Arms and Warrs In Provinces Wallach and Moldavie Belonging unto Poland formerly Immediatly Revolted from the Turks Leaving the Treaches soon comes o're the Works Five thousand of them to the Polish side And presently all things were briskly ply'd For the Attacque which in five sev'ral places And Posts was to be made in equal Spaces Crown-Watch-Master did next the Neister bide The Rivers Brink hard by Czeczora's side Next him the valiant Gen'ral SOBIETZKI And then Lievtenant-Gen'ral Wisnowitzki Assisted by the Waywood of Kiovie The other two by Troops of Litwanie THus Marshal'd they the Enemy surround But th' Army Rang'd into this Posture 's found To take much Time That Night the Turks who were Not wanting in Defence nor VVatch nor Care Their utmost Trenches yet remaining whole They seem'd t' have some advantage of the Pole Crown-Watch-Master this night had in his Post A Brave Commander Col'nel Danemark lost Captain Jarozki also was cut off With many Souldiers of the common Raff Nor were the Turks with lesser Slaughters beat The En'my's Lost being ev'ry way as great All the whole Night the Polish Troops in Arms Stood Ready within Musquet Shott and Harms O' th' Enemies Retrenchment timely next Morrow November ' lev'nth to bid them all Good morrow The General adventured once more On Foot their Posture better to disco're And tho most of his Officers disswade Him from such Hazards he continued In 's most impregnable firm Resolution To fall upon them with quick Execution Ord'ring his Cannon all at once to Play Most furiously by the first Break of Day Upon the Enemy And ev'ry where Having giv'n Orders sit and necessar Did thus encourage all the Souldiery With full Assurances of Victory ' FEllows in Arms dear Pariners of this Warr ' The Lawfullest cause needfullest by farr ' That ever Polands Kingdom did Commence ' Or any other Christian King or Prince ' Against this wretched Infidel For these ' Have some for Trade some Captives to Release ' Some to Prevent some to Repair their Harms ' Of this dire Tyrant havetane up just Arms. ' Some for to Lessen his enlarge their own ' More Vast already then 's Dominion ' Some to Amaze the World with their loud Story ' Have Fought for Prowess Triumphs Trophees Glory ' Time was when Pole fought for no more but these ' But some new Accidents have wheel'd the Chase ' We fight for Liberty against these Knaves ' That Poles be not their Tributary Slaves ' And what 's more worthy to be thought upon 'Our Infinitely dear Religion ' IF Poles lost Honour danger'd Liberty ' Religion Conscience Stern Necessity ' All now at Stake can move true Polish Hearts 'To stirr their Hands to Act Warrs Valiant Parts ' As needs they must