Siberie or Severia a Province different from the Kingdom of Siberia in Tartary is of a very large extent Severia being formerly Govern'd by its own Princes who were nevertheless tributary to the Kings of Poland upon the account of Lithuania of which this Dukedom had a Dependance It is situated betwixt the Province of Smolensko the Precopian Tartary Podolia and Lithuania South-west of Smolensko The Prince of Siberie having revolted from the Crown of Poland under Casimir Son of Jagellon their King put himself under the Protection of the Czars of Muscovy till the Great Duke Basili ejected the Duke of Siberie and united the Province to his Crown The chief City of this Dutchy is called Novogorod Sieberski that is to say The new City of Siberia to distinguish it from two or three others called Novogorod under the Czar's obedience The other Cities of note belonging to this Province are Czerrigou Bransko Starodub and Petivola But now we must turn our Course more North-East Wiatkaâ— where the Province of Wiatka is situated upon the Confines of the Tartars Ceremisses sirnam'd Logovi its Capital City is of the same Name both of them being denominated from the River Wiatka which falls into the River Kama The next Province bordering upon Wiatka towards the Siberian Tartars is Permia being counted one of the greatest of Muscovy It s Capital City is called Permia Veliki situate upon the River Vishora which at about 60 Miles distance from this place The River Kama falls into the River Kama This River has its rise in this Province and about 60 miles beyond Casan falls into the River Volga The Inhabitants of this Province have a Language and Character peculiar to themselves they eat no Bread but feed upon Herbs they pay their yearly Tribute to the Great Duke in Horses and Furs Their next Neighbours to the North-East are the Tartars of Tumen bordering upon Siberia inhabiting the Province of Candora Candora its chief City is Warchaturia situated upon the River Tura besides which it has the City of Tumen near the conflux of the two Rivers Tumen and Tura Further to the North is the Province Petzora Petzora which extends it self towards the North-East all along the Frozen Sea The River of Petzora which has given its name to the Province falls by six several Channels into the Sea near a little City called Pustiziero On both sides of it are the Mountains The Riphean Mountains which the Antients called Ripheans or Hyberboreans and by the Muscovites are called Zimnopojas that is the Girdle of the Earth which afford the best Sables and Hawks in all Muscovy but the cold is so violent and durable in this Province that the Rivers are frozen up above nine Months in the year The Province of Obdorie Obdorie derives its name from the River Oby which having its Source from the Great Lake Cataisko and running from East to North The River Oby falls into the Frozen Sea Both these Provinces border upon the Samojedes of whom we shall have occasion to speak more hereafter Among the Northern parts of Russia Juhora are also reckoned The Province of Juhora famous for nothing but that the Hungarians are said to have their off-spring out of this Country The Province of Wachines Wachines only noted for its two Fortresses called Cameni and Pensolog The Principality of Bielski Bielski derives its name from the Capital City Biela The Dutchy of Kraina has the two Cities Kraina Jalatz and Brasowa The Province of Pole Pole the City of Bretock and Bogenaer Not to mention here the Paâ—atinate of Kiow Kiow which lying upon the Borders of Podolia and Lithuania 〈◊〉 part of it is under the Obedience of the Crown of Poland CHAP. IV. Of the Tartarian Kingdoms of Casan and Astrachan with an Account of the Great River Volga and the Caspian Sea THE Kingdoms of Casar and Astrachan with some other Tartarian Provinces under the Subjection of the Czar of Muscovy The River Volga being situated near the famous River Volga it will not be amiss to join the Description of those Countries with that of the said River There is in the Province of Roshovie of which mention has been made in the 2 Chapter Ten miles from its Capital City bearing the same Name in the Great Forest of Wolkowskiles a Lake called Vronow or Fronowo out of which rises a River that ten Miles from that Place falls into another Lake called Volga which gives it its name it being thence forward called Volga or Wolga It is doubtless the same which Ptolomy calls Rha and the Tartars Edel the greatest River in Europe being from its Source to the Caspian Sea into which it exonerates it self above 2900 Miles long It is to be observed that this River from its Source to the City of Nise Novogorod running for above 400 Miles through the Southern part of Muscovy carries but an indifferent Stream and touches upon few places of note till being encreased by the River Occa near the abovementioned place it is Four thousand five hundred Geometrical feet wide at the meeting of these two Rivers We have in the foregoing Chapter described that City and Basiligorod belonging to the Ceremisses both bordering upon that River and being obliged to give an accoâ—â—â— in this Chapter of the Tartarian Provinces of Casan and Astrachan we will follow the Tract of this great River as far as â—o the Caspian Sea and begin with the Tartarian Kingdom of Casan Forty miles distant from the City of Basiligorod The Kingdom of Casan is the City of Kusmademianski situate at the foot of a Mountain on the right side of the River the whole Country thereabouts being like one continued Forest of Elms of an extraordinary compass Forty miles further down the River and on the same Shoar is the City of Sabakzar the most pleasant for its Situation in those Parts and 25 Miles lower after you have passed two or three small Islands on the left side of the Volga a little City called Kockshage On the same side some Miles lower is the City of Suiatski built on the Aâ—cent of a Hill The Castle and some Churches are of Stone the rest of the Buildings and Fortifications of Wood. It 〈◊〉 20 Miles on this side of the City of Casan the Shoar all along betwixt these two places being covered with chalky and Sandy Mountains The City of Casan is seated in a fruitful Plain The City of Casan in 55 degree 38 min. Elev seven Miles distant from the River Wolga upon the River Casanska which has given the name both to the City and Province It is a very large City but its Houses and Fortifications as most all others in those parts of Wood. But the Castle and its Fortifications which consist in four Bastions and a good many Towers is of Stone the River serving for a Ditch about it The Garrison is composed of Muscovites only
the Archbishop of Riga and the Coadjutor of the Order of Livonia had made a League Defensive with Sigismund Augustus King of Poland unto whom they had promised 300000 l. Sterling towards the defraying the Charges of the War and for his Security had engaged several Bailywicks But the King of Poland being sensible of the extream danger they were in and how the City of Revel and the Province of Esthonie or Esthland had been forced to submit themselves to the Crown of Sweden refused to execute the Treaties unless they would follow the Example of the rest of Livonia and submit themselves upon the same terms to the Crown of Poland as they had done to Sweden Being therefore reduced to an absolute necessity of chusing the least Evil the Archbishop and Master of the Order were forced to Surrender all the Acts and Charters they had obtained from the Emperour and Pope into the Hands of Prince Radzivil who in the King of Poland's Name received also from them the Oath of Fidelity The King of Poland gave the Title of Duke with the Country of Gourland to the Master of the Livonian Order as we have said before in the Description of Courland in the Year 1562. And Twenty Years after to wit in the Year 1582. by vertue of a Peace concluded with the Muscovites the Poles got into Possession of the whole Livonia except that part of Esthonie which had surrendred to the Swedes who by degrees got all the rest from the Poles which was entirely resign'd to them in the Year 1666. by the Treaty of Peace made betwixt these two Crowns in the Monastery of Oliva near Dantzick The Country of Livonia is very fertile but especially in Wheat abounding in all sorts of Cattle Fowl and Venison an Ox being commonly to be bought here for Twenty Shillings a Hog for a Crown and a good Hare for a Groat but has within these two Years last past been so oppress'd with Famine that a great many Thousands of the Peasants have died for Hunger Its Inhabitants must be considered under different Qualifications Inhabitants of Livonia The first are the Germans and their Posterity out of which most of the Nobility and the Inhabitants of the Cities are composed The second are the Peasants the remainders of the Antient Inhabitants who living in the Champain Country of Lettie and Esthonie have nothing they can call their own but are absolute Slaves either to the Nobility or Chief Citizens They are called by the Germans Vnteutsche that is to say no Germans perhaps because they cannot be brought to conform themselves to the manner of Living and Language of the Germans They are the greatest Slaves in the World but it is alledged against them that if they were not kept under such a severe Subjection they would be always endeavouring to recover their Liberty at any rate of which they have given some Proofs when ever any Occasion presented The Origin of the Livonian Nobility is founded upon the Services they have in former Ages done against the Infidels and Muscovites Their Nobility they are free from all Taxes and Charges Volmar II. King of Denmark was the first that gave them Mannors to hold in Fealty which were confirmed by Eric VII by Letters Patents and augmented by the Masters of the Short Sword and the Grand Masters of Prussia Some of these Mannors especially in the Districts of Harrie and Wirland are Inheritable by the Daughters and their Issue to the fifth degree But they are above all beholding to that Famous Walter de Plattenbergh who being in the Year 1513. acknowledged a Prince of the Empire exempted the Nobility from all Subjection excepting such Services as they were obliged to do in Person upon the account of their Mannors When Necessity obliged them to have recourse to the Swedes they did not submit to that Crown but with a Proviso of retaining their Antient Priviledges which for the most part they keep to this day There is once a Year a Review made of this Nobility which does not only upon occasion furnish the King of Sweden with a considerable Body of Horse but also is look'd upon by the Sweden as their chief Nursery of Officers even to the Generals of Armies The Administration of the Government both as to Policy and Justice is committed to Twelve of the Body of the Nobility who are the Council of the Country of which the Governour of the Province from the Crown of Sweden is President Their Judicial Processes are very short and decided once a Year to wit in January by this Council who after a Declaration and an Answer proceed immediately to Judgment To perform this with the more conveniency each Province has its own Captain as they call him whose Business is to represent to the Governour and Council the Grievances of the People and this Employment is never continued above three Years in the same Person There are also certain Triennial Judges appointed for the determining of Differences in the flat Country concerning the Limits betwixt Private Men which have been rendred dubious by the Wars and some other Judges or Overseers of the High-ways Bridges and Causways But from all these there lies an Appeal to the Council of the Country As to their Religion Their Religion they are Lutherans here which must be chiefly understood from the Nobility and Inhabitants of Cities but as for the Peasants they can scarce be called half Christians much less to be said of any particular Religion being even to this day so deeply entangled in their Heathenish Superstitions that they scarce ever go to Church or at least never Communicate unless it be by force they being notwithstanding that wretched and slavish Condition they live in quite regardless of any thing else but this Life 'T is upon this Account that when they take an Oath they conclude with these words If I do not swear true I am content that the Curse of God may light upon my Body and Soul upon my Children upon all what appertains to me to the Ninth Generation Some of them especially the Peasants about Riga if they are to take an Oath at Law put a Turff upon their Heads with a white Stick in their Hands thereby signifying that they consent That they their Children and Cattle may become as dry as the Turff and Stick if they swear falsely They frequently put a Needle and Thread into the Grave with the deceased because forsooth he may perhaps have occasion to mend his Cloaths in the other World Sorcery is much more frequent among them than Prayers the first is propagated by Tradition from the Parents to their Children They never kill a Beast but some part of it is thrown away nor never brew but something must be spilt which they look upon as a Preservative against Witchcraft Nay they have a way of rebaptizing their Children themselves tho' privately if in some Weeks after the first Baptism they happen to fall sick which
by the Tartars carried it by Storm and thereby became Master of the whole Kingdom of Casan About two Years after he marched against the Nagajan Tartars bordering to the South upon those of Casan and having in the Year 1554 on the first day of August taken by Assault Astra Chan the Capital of the Province he also reduced that Kingdom under his Subjection By what accident he got into the Possession of the vast Country of Siberia which has since proved one of the most profitable to the Czars of Muscovy by which they have opened themselves a way into China as has been related before in the Description of that Province In the Year 1558. he turned his victorious Arms again Livonia where having ravaged the Bishoprick of Derpt and Virland he made himself Master of the Cities of Narva and of Toopator-Derpt So that the Livonians not being able alone to resist his Power and being put into Despair by the most horrid Cruelties exercised upon them by the Muscovites and especially against Furstenbergh the Master of their Order they were forced to submit themselves some under the Protection of Sweden the rest under the Crown of Poland In the Year 1570 he sent a very numerous Army under the Command of Maynus Duke of Holstein to besiege the City of Revel in Livonia but the City being assisted by the Swedes under whose Protection they were forced him to raise the Siege And when he attacked it a second time in the Year 1577 he met with no better Success And in the Year 1581 the Swedish General Pontus de la Guarde recovered the City of Narva from the Muscovites He was at first also very successful against the Poles till Stephen Battori Prince of Transylvania and elected King of Poland not only recovered all the Places he had taken from that Crown before but also obliged him to make a Peace in the Year 1582 by virtue of which he relinquished all his Pretensions to that part of Livonia which had put it self under the Protection of the King of Poland In the Year 1571 the Crim-Tartars also made a great Irruption into Muscovy destroying all with Fire and Sword and at last burnt the City of Musco As the first Years of his Reign were attended with Victories abroad so at home he ruled for some time with a great deal of Mildness and by the outward Shew of his Piety made his Subjects conceive all the Hopes that could be of a prosperous Reign For he would go frequently to Church say the Service himself sing and never fail to be present at any Ecclesiastical Ceremonies nay sometimes execute the Functions of Monks and Priests himself Which without Question was it that mis-led Paulus Jovius into that Mistake when he calls him a good and devout Christian For it will sufficiently appear in the Sequel of this History that he abused both God and Men and that his pretended Piety was only intended to gain the Popular Applause which he both effected and stood in need of and to cover his most horrid Designs against such of the Nobility as he was afraid would not submit without Reluctancy to the Yoak he intended to put upon their Necks He began to give the first Proofs of his cruel Disposition in the Year 1560 when having acquired a vast Reputation both at home and abroad by the great Success of his Arms against the Tartars Livonians and Poles he thought this the most convenient Time to put in Execution his Design of making himself the sole and absolute Master of this vast Empire His Grandfather had laid the first Foundation of this Maxim which was followed by his Son Basili the Father of John Basilovitz to wit To suppress the antient Nobility by despoiling them not only of their Castles and Strong Holds but also of their Estates But this Tyrant looking upon these Means as insufficient resolved by putting to death all the Great Men in the Kingdom whom he found in the least contrary to his Design to secure to himself the Arbitrary Disposal of this great Empire He made the first Beginning with one Demetrius Owezinovitz His Cruelties a Man of great Parts among the Russians Being therefore willing to be rid of him he invited him one Evening to Supper with a great deal of seeming Friendship where they drunk very merrily so that Demâ—trius began to be overcome by the Strength of the Liquor which the Tyrant perceiving and believing this to be a fit Opportunity to put his Design in Execution he drank to him a great Bowl-full of Strong Hydromel which he obliged Demetrius to pledge to his the Great Duke's Health but it being impossible for him to drink above half of it the Great Duke angrily told him That since he was so unmannerly as to refuse to drink his Health in his Presence he might get down into his Wine-Cellar where he should drink it at his own Leisure Demetrius being very willing to obey went without Reluctancy down into the Cellar where by the secret Orders of the Tyrant he was suffocated In the same manner he caused to be either secretly slain or suffocated several Persons of Eminent Quality without any Body's daring to enquire into their Death till at last the Patriarch and the other Prelates in Conjunction with some of the boldest among the Nobility having represented to him the Enormities of his Actions he seemed for some small Time to have changed his cruel Sentiments into a more mild Disposition The better to confirm them in this Opinion he got it spread abroad that he intended to abdicate the Empire and to retire into a Monastery And soon after having called together the Nobility he told them That since he had two Sons whom he intented to make his Successors he would recommend them to their Care That he did not question but they would not only pay them due Allegiance but also assist them with their Counsel and good Advice That for his part he intended to build himself a Monastery near the City of Musco where he would be ready at hand to give his Directions in Matters of any Moment Having thus cajoll'd them into a good Opinion he caused a very large Building to be erected surrounded with a strong Wall which he endowed with considerable Revenues for the Maintenance of such as were to abide with him there and to lead as he pretended a Monastick Life but in effect to serve as an Encouragement to such as he intended to employ in the Execution of his cruel Designs For after he had settled himself with his Gang in this Castle he used under pretence of Preferment to send such of his Nobles as he intended to sacrifice to his Ambition into some distant Province or another as Governors whither after some Time he would command some of his Soldiers under such Officers as were before-hand engaged to execute his Orders to the Place where the Fact was to be perpetrated under pretence of changing the Garrison where
very obnoxious to the Censures of the Nobles For having mounted the Throne by Blood and fraudulent Means he began to be jealous of his most trusty Friends and to gratifie his Fears exercised his Cruelties upon several Persons of an eminent Rank whom he caused to be put to Death upon no other Pretence than his having secret Intelligence of their Unfaithfulness As his Reign was one continued Series of Troubles so when he was at a Plunge he used to have recourse to Sorcerers and Witchcraft and being infatuated by their Perswasions he committed such Barbarities as are scarce to be named without horror It was upon this account he caused the Wombs of big-bellied Women to be ript open to make use of the immature Fruit to accomplish his Enchantments which he was vainly perswaded would be more efficacious against the Poles than his Sword Some of his Wizzards having foretold him that one whose name was Michael should succeed him in the Throne he caused three of his most faithful Friends and Servants to be made away for no other reason but because they bore that name which for all his barbarous Precautions was verified in the Person of Mich. Federowitz the present Czar's Grandfather There were in the great Church within the Castle amongst other Things of great Value thirteen Statues representing our Saviour and the twelve Apostles all of massie Gold each of them of the bigness of a Man valued at near three hundred thousand Pounds Sterling Zuski being at last reduced to great Straights for want of Money and having in vain try'd all the Skill of his Sorcerers who were not able to supply his present Occasions he had recourse to the twelve Apostles whom he displaced from their Station in the Church and having caused them to be melted down made use of the Metal for the Payment of his Soldiers He had so much Grace as to spare the Statue of our Saviour which the Poles not long after converted to the same use All these Enormities being now by the Nobles who had conspir'd his Ruin improved to his disadvantage the Populace whose Darling he was before prompted more by their Zeal for their golden Statues than the Love and Welfare of their Country Zuski deposed soon shook hands with the Nobility and seeing Demetrius to meditate a second time the Siege of their Capital City they with the same unanimous Consent wherewith they had raised him before to the Throne pull'd him down again and thrust him with his two Brothers into a Cloyster This done they sent their Deputies to Zolkievitzski the Polish General who commanded that Body which was approaching to the City of Musco unto whom they promised to chuse Vladislaus the Prince of Poland for their Great Duke provided he would defend them against Demetrius Zolkievitzki The Poles admitted in to the City of Musco gladly accepting of their Propositions detatch'd immediately a good Body of his best Troops who being readily admitted into the City he followed in few days after with the whole Army pitching his Tents on the East side of the City as Demetrius was encamped on the Western part Some time being spent in Consultations betwixt the Muscovites and Poles the first opened their Gates to the last so that Zolkievitzki marching with his whole Army through the City fix'd his Camp near to that of Demetrius who tho' not a little surprised at this sudden and near approach of the Poles yet was forced to put the best Countenance he could upon the Matter and to smother his present Resentment There being thus a communication and seeming friendly Correspondence maintain'd betwixt both Camps Zulkievitzki found it no very difficult Task to debauch that Body of Polish Horse Commanded by Spiaha which hitherto had remain'd stedfast in the Interest of Demetrius These having received the publick Faith of the Commonwealth of Poland for the Payment of all their Arrears unanimously revolted and declared for King Sigismund Zarucki the General of the Cosacks and Kasinowski Prince of the Tartars that served in the Demetrian Camp both intimate Friends of Demetrius seeing themselves thus deprived of the assistance of the Polish Horse the main strength of their Army and that the City of Musco was defended by a great Body of Poles both within and without its Walls began now to despair of the Fortune of Demetrius and thinking it not advisable to involve themselves in his Ruine they resolved to embrace the Party of the Conquering Pole expecting to reap from the Success of Sigismund the Fruits of their past Labours Whilst these were preparing to wait upon the King before Smolensko Demetrius retreats from before Musco Demetrius forsaken not only by the Poles but also by them he most confided in and seeing himself and his Affairs exposed to Dispair sought once more for Refuge at Calâ—ga which having served him as a Shelter before now received him again with open Arms. The Muscovites being thus freed from Demetrius would fain have recalled their former Promise of Electing Vladislaus their Great Duke alledging that they could not proceed to his Election till he were present in Person to confirm to them by Oath the maintenance of their Religion and Ancient Customs But Zolkievitzki having declared in the Name of King Sigismund that he would not quit the City with his Army till he saw Prince Vladislaus seated upon the Throne and that therefore he exhorted them to fulfil their solemn Promise without any further Tergeversations unless they would expose their Capital City to inevitable Destruction and that he was ready to swear to such Articles in the Great Duke's Name as should be agreed betwixt them they judged it most adviseable not to exasperate the Poles who at present had two potent Armies one in the very Bowels of the City of Musco the other in the Empire before Smolensko These Considerations at last prevailing over the Aversion they had against the Poles and being perswaded that the Childhood of Vladislaus could not but furnish them in a little time with an Opportunity of ridding their Hands of him as they had done of both the Demetrius's they proceeded with all the usual Solemnities to the Election The chief Conditions were That a general Amnesty and Act of Oblivion should be passed and all their Ancient Customs and Privileges confirmed and established That the new Great Duke Vladislaus should with all convenient Speed come in Person into Russia That he should conserve their Religion inviolable and for the better Settlement of the same and the whole Kingdom abjure the Roman Catholick Faith and embrace the Greek Religion Zolkievitzki and some of the great Officers of the Polish Army having confirmed these Articles by Oath in the Name of the new Great Duke he was tho' absent proclaimed with the usual Ceremonies and Fealty sworn to him by all the Boyars Uladislaus proclaimed Great Duke Nobles and Chief Officers there present as Great Duke and Emperour of Russia with great Demonstrations of Joy
of Smolensko which when taken he supposed he might appear among them as a Conquerour and prescribe such Laws to the deceâ—tful Muscovites as should be most consistent both with his Honour and Safety This was the Resolution of Sigismund But his ablest Counsellors were of a quite different Opinion For tho' they were no less satisfied in the deceitful Intentions of the Muscovites than the King himself yet did they not judge it advisable to drive Matters to extremities and to commit that to the hazard of the Sword which might be obtained without Opposition They represented to the King that the Conquest of so vast an Empire could not be obtained without the effusion of much Blood and the Expence of vast Treasures whereas if what had been sworn to by Zolkievitzki by the King's Orders were confirmed he might in one day make himself Master of all Muscovy They advised him therefore not to give the opportunity to an unstable People to take new measures who perhaps when driven to Despair might side with Demetrius which would take away all his Pretences of invading that Empire since he had undertaken his Expedition under the pretext of assisting him in the Recovery of his Right But to send Prince Vladislaus assisted by a good Body of Troops and some able Counsellors to the City of Musco where he being receiv'd and Crown'd Great Duke Russia might with their Assistance easily elude the Practices of the Muscovites That by this means Smolensko would fall on course into his Hands and his Army besides this might be paid all their Arrears out of the Great Duke's Treasure as belonging to Vladislaus their Prince who else as the Case now stood would be an intolerable Burthen for the Commonwealth of Poland And as to what related to the Articles they might without much Difficulty be either quite evaded or at least delay'd till the Prince strengthened with fresh Supplies out of Poland should find himself in a Capacity to Rule this false and stubborn People by such Laws as he should judge most convenient and suitable to his own Interest But these wholesome Counsels had no great Influence over the King who being prepossess'd with a vain Punctilio of Honour not to rise from before Smolensko before it was taken and with the pernicious Insinuation of his Flatterers who perswaded him that the Place was reduced to that extremity as not to be able to hold out long against him he resolved to leave nothing unattempted which might contribute to the Rendition or forcing of that important City For which Reason he caused a new Battery to be raised from whence and some others the Poles fired so furiously upon the Town that after some time they laid flat a great Part of the Wall and ruined two Bastions Smolensko stormed Upon which it was resolved to assault the Place which was executed with a great deal of Bravery But those within by reason of the Numerousness of the Garrison having had sufficient time to raise strong Retrenchments fortified with Pallisado's and a good Ditch behind the Breach the Poles were not able to lodge themselves in the Breach notwithstanding their reiterated Attacks made with the greatest Bravery imaginable were repulsed with great Slaughter After this ill Success of the Poles the Muscovites who hitherto had but murmured and whispered their Complaints began to explain publickly against the Breach of the Articles the detaining their Ambassadors against the Laws of Nations and the Outrages and Insolencies of the Poles who being got into the entire Possession of the Castle and Principal Ports of the City of Musco committed Violences upon the Citizens their Wives and Saints at the last of which they shot with their Pistols which being a thing intolerable to People infatuated with Superstition and Zeal for their Images would certainly have produced violent Commotions among them at that time if they had not been over-aw'd by the great Number of Poles within the bowels of their own City and which was the most prevailing that they saw Demetrius encrease again in strength at Caluga For Zarucki the General of the Cosacks and Kazinowski Prince of the Tartars who as we said before had left him at his second Retreat from before the City of Musco finding their Reception to bear no proportion with the Reward they proposed to themselves from King Sigismund and seeing themselves despised by the Nobility of Poland were since return'd to the Service of Demetrius who countenanced by their Return began to look up again and having drawn new Supplies out of the adjacent Places began to appear formidable at Caluga and would in all likelihood have once more appeared in the Field if he had not been prevenâ—ed by his sudden and untimely Death which happened thus Kazinowski the Tartarian Prince who was lately return'd to his Service had given him great Occasion of suspecting his Fidelity wherefore Dâ—metrius to prevent the Design which he believ'd to be form'd against his Life by the said Tartarian Prince caused him to be thrown into the River Occa and drowned there The Tartars but especially his Guards enraged at the Death of their Prince resolved to revenge it upon Demetrius with the first Opportunity which was not long before they met with it according to their intended Design For it is to be observed that Dâ—trius ever since his last Retreat from before Musco was grown excessive Melancholy which he was used to divert frequently with Drinking endeavouring to drown his Cares in Liquor Having been one day a Hunting he retir'd towards night with some of his most intimate Friends to the Enjoyment of his Customary Comfort the Bottle without any Guards about him The Tartars who had formed the Design against his Life having got notice of it secretly got near to his Quarters and finding him and his Friends involved in Liquor and a most profound Security Dâ—mâ—triâ—â— slain broke in upon him and slew him and some of his Friends who endeavoured to stop their Entrance upon the place This was the End of this Second Demetrius who from a mean and sordid Fortune was raised to so eminent a Station as to have bid fair for the Russian Empire till he met with his deserved Death among his own Servants and Friends He is agreed by all Hands to have been an Impostor some affirming his first Origin to have been a Schoolmaster others supposing him to have been a Jew because in his Closet were found several Hebrew and Talmudical Books which are Materials not belonging to the Profession of the Russian Schoolmasters whose Learning rarely exceeds Reading and Writing But whoever he was it is certain that he was an Impostor and slain by the Tartars who did not long escape Vengeance For Marina had no sooner received this dismal News which at one Stroke robb'd her of all her great Expectations but being seized with the most violent Apprehensions in the World and transported with Grief and Rage without any Respect to her Quality and Sex
toâ—e her Hair and Face and thus running into the Streets cryed out like a distracted Creature Either restore me my Husband Demetrius or else take pity of me and let the same Swords that so barbarously murthered him send me also to the Grave After the first Transports were a little over she ran in great Fury with a Dagger in her Hand to the Quarters of the Cosacks and calling to those she knew by their Names Dear Friends said she either revenge the Murther of my dear Lord or at least do not refuse to do an Act of Charity towards me take here cry'd she this Dagger and with it deliver me from that Life which since the fatal End of my Husband cannot but be loathsom and burthensom to me The Cosacks not able to resist the Tears and Prayers of this charming Lady fell with great Fury upon the Tartars whom they massacred wherever they met them in the Streets and very few would have escaped their Fury had they not at last been appeased by the Perswasions of their Leader Zarucki After the Cosacks had sacrificed several Hundreds of the Tartars to the Manes of Demetrius and the just Resentment of Marina A third Demetrius those of Caluga chose and proclaimed the Son of Demetrius and Marina Emperour of Russia and tho' it is most generally believed that Marina was barren and this pretended Son a supposititious Child yet Zarucki the General of the Cosacks being willing to carry on the Imposture in Opposition to the Polish Interest address'd himself to the Russians offering them his Aid with all his Forces if they would engage to aknowledge after the Example of Caluga this Son of Demetrius Great Duke and Emperour of Russia so soon as they should have chased the Roles out of Muscovy Zolkievitski in the mean time perceiving himself slighted by King Sigismund whom he found to have taken quite contrary Measures to what had been agreed on betwixt him and the Muscovites by the King's Order he left the Army under Pretence of going to fetch Prince Vladislaus to Musco and taking his Way by Smolensko to shew his Discontent he only saluted the King and without any further stay retired into Poland The Affairs of Russia having thus for a while hung in Suspence whilst the People were kept under by the apprehension of a double Danger to wit from the Poles within the Gates of their Capital City and the Demetrian Forces at Caluga they began now to change Face and to appear with another Countenance For the Muscovites after the departure of the Polish General finding King Sigismund resolute in not sending his Son Vladislaus into the Empire and in the Continuation of the Siege of Smolensko and seeing that both the Captive Zuski's and their Ambassadors were sent away Prisoners into Poland and that the King took upon him the supream and absolute Administration of Affairs putting such Officers into all Places of Trust as he thought most convenient for his Purpose they began to conceive great Jealousies and being now by the Death of Demetrius delivered from their Fear on that side prepared for an open Revolt in order to prevent their Empire from becoming a Province of Poland which they look'd upon to be the main Design of King Sigismund Whilst he therefore wasted himself at the Siege of Smolensko which he thought ignominious to abandon before it was reduced and thereby let slip the most favourable Opportunity in the World of Establishing his Affairs in that Empire the Muscovites had by his Delays sufficient Leisure given them to reunite themselves and make Provisions for their future Security The first that appeared in Arms towards the beginning of the Spring in the Year 1611 was one Lepanovits a Man of a great and ancient Family in Muscovy he having a great Interest in the Country had made secret Levies and appearing with a Body near Peresla invited and gained most of the Boyars and Nobility of the neighbouring Provinces into his Party He also sent his Messengers into the more remote Parts to represent to his Countrymen the Breach of Faith of the Poles how they had possessed themselves of their Capital City broke the Articles agreed on betwixt both Nations by continuing the Siege of Smolensko and not sending their Prince Vladislaus into Muscovy how that they not only kept the Zuski's but also their Ambassadors Prisoners against the Laws of Nations and in all other Respects treated them not like a free People but as Slaves depending from the Mercy of their Conquerours He exhorted them to shake off this Foreign Yoak and by giving timely Assistance to secure themselves and their Posterity against the Insolencies of their mortal Enemies the Poles This had the desired Effect for the Country flocked in from all Parts so that another great Army was raised near Nisi Novogorod under the Command of Prosowecki a Lord of a very eminent Rank in Muscovy and Zarucki joined his Forces with them under Condition that so soon as they should have cleared their Country from the Poles they should proclaim the Young Demetrius their Great Duke and Emperour which they were very free to promise tho' they had not the least Intention to perform it as Zarucki found afterwards to his Cost The Poles were not unadvertised of the Designs of the Muscovites but the King's Forces before Smolensko being scarce sufficient to carry on the Siege against a strong Garrison he could not spare any to disperse these Levies and the Poles within the City of Musco had enough to do to maintain their Posts and keep that vast Multitude of People in subjection so that these Levies from a small Beginning being improved into a great Bulk the Polish Forces which were quartered up and down in the Country to keep it in Obedience were so far from being able to attack them that they were scarce sufficient to keep on the Defensive The Inhabitants of the City being now encouraged by these Muscovian Lords appearing in Arms thought it now time to throw off the Mask and to give the Poles very sensible Proofs of their Aversion towards them A Design therefore was laid among them upon a Signal given to assemble and massacre all the Poles within the City The City of Musco was at that time much bigger than it ever was before or since by Reason of the vast Confluence of Strangers who during these intestine Commotions were retired thither out of all the neighbouring Provinces for Sanctuary so that it was computed to comprehend in its Circuit above a Hundred and fifty Thousand Houses All this vast Multitude of Inhabitants being enrag'd to the highest Pitch against the Poles were ready to lend a helping Hand to accomplish the Design of the Conspirators they only wanting a Head to lead them on to put it in Execution A thing of this Nature could not be carried on so privately but that Gaziowski who then commanded the Poles in Chief had timely Notice of their projected Design but thinking it
next Meeting of the Diet of that Kingdom he was received with all the Pomp and Ceremonies due to a Conquerour The Estates were not sparing in their Addresses and Congratulations many Speeches were made in the Assembly in Praise of the King who had added so great a Province to the Commonwealth made himself Master of the Imperial City of the Muscovian Empire and got their Great Duke Zuski in his Custody Sigismund himself was so intoxicated with these imaginary Honours that he caused Zolkievitzki who first took Possession of the City of Musco to make his solemn Entry in Triumph being attended by a most numerous and magnificent Cavalcade and followed by the Great Duke Basili Zuski Basili Zuski lâ—d in Triumph who with his two Brothers was seated in an open Chariot and thus like Captives led to the Senate-House where being admited Zolkievitzki presented these Captive Princes to the King and Assembly and having in a very lofty Harangue extolled the Fortune of the Commonwealth of Poland in having got these Illustrious Persons into their Possession by whose Misfortune they had opened themselves the Way into the Russian Empire and to the Throne it self by the Election of Prince Vladislans Great Duke of Muscovy He did not want Vanity to compare the Captivity of tâ—ese Princes to the greatest Exploits of the most renowned Heroes of Aâ—tiquity tho' it was sufficiently known that they were fain into his Hands more by the Treachery of the Muscovites than the Bravery of the Poles who whilst they trifâ—ed away their time in Complementing and Flattering thâ—mâ—eâ—ves let slip the best and most favourable Opportunity in the World to make themselves real Masters of that Empire which they had swallowed up in their imaginary Panegyricks Zuski and his two Brothers were by the King's Order sent Prisoners to Goston Castle where they were treated according to their Quality But Basili Zuski did not long survive the Loss of his Empire and Liberty the Weight of his Sorrows having as it is believed deprived him of his Life soon after He was some time after followed by one of his Brothers who also died for Grief They were both privately buried betwixt Warsaw and Thorn where their Ashes â—ested till the End of the War betwixt these two Crowns when they were translated into Muscovy and interred among their Aâ—cestors This Basili Zuski Hâ— dies in Poland Great Duke of Muscovy ended his Life in Captivity in a Foreign Country after a short and troublesome Reign He was a Person of a more than ordinary Capacity and Merit which had raised him to the highest Station in the Empire before he mounted the Throne which as he obtained by Fraud and Blood so he endeavoured to settle it by the same Arts by which he had gained it And knowing the Muscovites to be a People the most unstable in the World and soon hurried from one Extream to another he had at last when he found his Affairs in a declining Condition Recourse to Witchcraft and other violent Means which served him for no other End than to hasten his Ruin and to remove him from the Throne to a Prison where he ended his Days A remarkable Instance of the perpetual Vicissitudes of Human Greatness and the Instability of Popular Favour But it is time to return to the City of Musco and to see what different Effects this Retreat of Sigismund out of Muscovy produced among the Russians and the Polish Garrison The Muscovites being by the Departure of the King delivered from what they dreaded most to wit his Marching to the Relief of the Polish Garrison in Musco re-assumed new Vigour and by their repeated Attacks press'd so hard upon the Poles that they shut them up close within their Fortifications and these seeing themselves thus neglected by their Prince and expos'd to Danger without any prospect of Relief began to contrive Means for their own Safety a great many among them under pretence of want of Pay openly demanding their Dismission Gaziowski their General did endeavour by all means possible to keep them in Obedience flattering them with Hopes of a speedy Relief and perceâ—ving that his Words had not the desired Effect he contriv'd Counterfeit Letters to be brought to him as coming from the King out of Poland fill'd with Promises of a most powerful Relief in a very short time To take away all the Pretence from the Soldiers of demanding their Dismission for want of Pay he caused a Statue of our Saviour's of massie Gold valued at near fifty thousand Pounds which stood with the Twelve Apostles in the Great Church of the Castle the latter being melted down by the Order of Basili Zuski as was mention'd before to be divided among the Soldiery who quickly sacrificed the same Statue to their Avarice which they had adored but a few days before The General having by this and some other Dividends taken out of the Treasury of the Great Dukes of Muscovy which was in his Possession appeased and encouraged his disheartned Soldiers he kept them in continual Exercise by frequent Sallies from whence they seldom return'd without Advantage they were much flush'd with this Success against the Muscovites There was a Magazine of Salt without the Fortifications of the Poles which had been spared by the Flames when the Poles set the City on fire The Besiegers and the Besieged standing equally in need of this Commodity as having no other to supply their present Occasions this gave them constant Employment on both sides This Magazine was at so near a distance from the Poles that it would have been no difficult Matter for them to inclose it within their Lines but their General knowing that their own and the Enemies Wants would engage them in continual Skirmishes did not think convenient to take away this Opportunity of keeping his Men in Action He made it also his Business to sow the Seeds of Discord among the Muscovites and Cosacks that served in the Russian Army from whence he hoped to reap no small Benefit if he could bring over the Cosacks to his Party and at the same time contrive the Destruction of Lepanowitz the Russian General For which purpose he caused several counterfeit Letters to be dispersed in the Provinces written in Lepanowitz's Name wherein he commanded the Muscovites to fall upon the perfidious Cosacks in their Quarters having received certain Intelligence that they intended to side with the Young Demetrius at Caluga The General 's Name of the Dunensian Cosacks that served at that time in the Muscovite Army was Sidorus who formerly had been in the Interest of this Young Demetrius his Father Gaziowski was very careful to cause one of these Letters to fall into his Hands who not in the least suspecting any Fraud in the Matter without any further Consultation communicated it to the other principal Officers of the Cosacks representing to them their common Danger in Terms so lively and natural as sufficiently testified his Apprehension of their imaginary
before parting appoint the Time of their Rendezvouz against next Spring in one of these Isles near the mouth of the Boristhenes The great Exploits they had formerly done against the Turks had gain'd them no small Reputation among the Poles therefore Stephen Batori Prince of Transilvania and afterwards Elected King of Poland having considered with himself that these Cosacks might be of great use to the Crown of Poland not only against the Incursions of the Neighbouring Crim or Precopian Tartars but also might serve as a considerable Addition to the Strength of the Polish Army which consisting for the most part out of Horse would in effect be rendred more formidable when augmented by so considerable a Number of Foot It was upon this Consideration he resolved to put these Vagabond Soldiers into a good Order and Discipline which he effected by granting to them besides their Pay very considerable Priledges and putting them under the Command of a General of their own with a Power to chuse such Officers under him as he esteem'd most fit for Service Having thus reduced them into one Body he gave them the City of Techtimoravia with all the Territories belonging to it which being seated upon the Boristhenes they made it their Magazine and the Residence of their Governour General And to render this Body the more Serviceable against the Tartars he joyned to this Militia of the Cosacks being composed altogether of Foot two thousand Horse for the Maintaining of which he allotted the fourth Part of certain Revenues belonging to the Crown from whence they were called Quartans and by corruption Quartians and were disposed upon the Frontiers most exposed to the Incursions of the Tartars By this Means that Tract of Land which from Bar Bracklavia and Kiovia extends it self all along the Boristhenes to the Black-Sea and is now called the Vkraine which was before a desolate Country was in a little time fill'd with populous Cities and Towns As this Body has done considerable Services to the Crown of Poland by maintaining its Frontiers against the Irruptions of the Tartars so after sometime time it proved very dangerous having several times taken up Arms against the Republick For being once made sensible of their own Strength they refused to be obedient to the Orders of the Polish General Their first Rebellion was in the Year 1587 The Cosacks rebel under their General John Podkowa but being vanquish'd he had his Head cut off In the Year 1596 Sigismund III. King of Poland upon Complaints made by the Turks forbid them to cruise in the Black-Sea which Orders they obeyed for that time but soon after fell into the Polish Russia and Lithuania where they Ravaged the Country under their General Nalevaiko In vain did the King send his Orders for them to retire to their Habitations they on the contrary resolved to maintain their Ground against the Polish Army which was advancing against them under the Command of the Polish General Zolkieuski The Battle was fought near the City of Bialacerkiovia where the Cosacks had the better of it but Zolkieuski as he was a Great General having weather'd the Point for that time soon after got them into the Trap so that they were forced to submit and deliver up their General Nalevaiko who underwent the same Fate as his Predecessor In the Year 1637 the Cosacks revolted again the Occasion was thus A great many Polish Lords having Purchased Estates in the Vkraine the Quarter of the Cosacks and observing that the Boors their Vassals run frequently over to them they were of Opinion that their Revenues could never be well secured as long as the Cosacks enjoyed their Priviledges Having therefore represented them to the King as dangerous to the Republick by reason of the great number of Peasants that daily ran over to them it was resolved That the Polish General Koniespolski should order a Fort to be erected at a certain Point of Land called Kudak where the River Zwamer falls into the Boristhenes which for its Situation they had chosen as a convenient Place to bridle the Cosacks as being not far distant from the place of their ordinary Rendezvouz The Cosacks who were not so simple as not to penetrate into the Design of the Poles resolved not to suffer the Bridle to be put over their Heads and having defeated Coll. Marion who was left there with 200 Men to see the Fort perfected they assembled a considerable Body to prevent the Polish General in his Design But at the very juncture of time when they should have been most unanimous great Divisions arising among the Cosacks they revolted against their General Sawakonowiez whom they Massacr'd and in his Place set up one Pauluck of little Experience and less Conduct in Martial Affairs The Polish General having in the mean while taken this Opportunity to put the Fort in a state of Defence they marched out under their new General Pauluck but were surprised in the Plains near Korsun before they could Entrench themselves betwixt their Waggons according to their Custom so that being destitute of Horse they were easily Defeated by Potoskiâ— the Polish Marshal de Camp Those that saved themselves by flight got into Borovits but being immediately besieged by Potoski and the Place being not provided with Ammunition they were obliged to surrender their General Pauluck with four more of their Principal Officers who were afterwards beheaded at Warsaw notwithstanding their Lives were secured to them by the Capitulation It was also decreed at the Dyet held at the same time at Warsaw that not only all their Priviledges and the City of Teâ—â—htimoravia granted to them by King Stephen should be taken from them but also a new Body of Militia should be erected in their stead But the Cosacks being not discouraged at this Resolution resolved also on their Side to try the utmost for the Recovery of their Liberty and after having protested to the Poles that they would remain steadfast to the Interest of that Crown provided they were maintain'd in their antient Priviledges they fought a second time with Potoski in the Vkraine but with not much better Success than before so that finding their Circumstances desperate they Entrench'd themselves on the other side of the Boristhenes upon the River Statcza where during the space of two Months the Poles attack'd them at several times with great Vigour but were as often repulsed with all the Bravery imaginable so that finding there was no good to be done with these desperate Cosacks they were forced to come to a Capitulation with them and to confirm all their former Privileges and to promise the Re-establishment of their Militia upon the same Foot as before under the Command of their own General chosen by the King But this Capitulation was almost as soon broken as made For no sooner had they cajoled the Cosacks out of their advantagious Post but most of them were either cut to pieces or plunder'd by the Poles Their Militia was not
in favour of Bosman by the powerful Influence he had over the principal Officers of the Army soon prevail'd with them to refuse to submit to the Command of Bosman as a Soldier of fortune which Affront he dissembled for a while till he met with a favourable Opportunity to revenge it upon the whole Family of the Great Duke as we shall see anon In the mean while Demetrius had commanded the greatest Part of his Army under the Conduct of Zaporius to advance towards Krom and endeavour its Relief who haveing accordingly directed his March to the Muscovian Camp he received Intelligence by the means of Bosman of the Posture of the Enemy and that he intended to come over to his Party as soon as a favourable Opportunity should present Zaporius being resolved to improve so advantageous an Offer was impatient to come to Blows with the Muscovites but these being both superior in Number and strongly Entrench'd and consequently not to be attack'd without exposing the whole Army he drew them out of their advantageous Entrenchments by the following Stratagem He contrived a Letter directed to the Governour and Chief Officers of the Garrison of Krom wherein after having highly extolled their Valour and Zeal and made them ample Promises of Rewards he told them that he was advanced with a considerable Force near the Enemies Camp to annoy them and to intercept their Foragers till the arrival of Prince Demetrius himself who was on his March at the Head of the Cosacks and other Auxiliaries lately arrived from Poland to oblige the Muscovites to raise the Siege This Letter being given to one who undertook to carry it into the Place he was directed thus to the City by the secret Orders of Zaporius that he must of necessity fall into the Hands of the Enemiâ—s advanced Guards which having suceeded accordingly the poor Fellow was carried before the Muscovite General where haveing been examined he was forced to produce the Letter which as he believ'd was to have been carried into the City Hodwen the General of the Muscovite Army having perused the Letter and over-joy'd at the Discovery of the approach of Demetrius call'd immediately a Council of War wherein it having been judged most convenient to attack the Enemy before they could be join'd by Demetrius it was resolved to leave only a small Body to keep the Avenues leading to the Town and with the rest to give Battle to Zaporius He soon perceiving by the Countenance of the Enemy that his Design had thus far succeeded according to his wish drew out his Forces in Battle-Array but being much inferior in number and fearing not without Reason lest Bosman with his Party might be discouraged by the inequality of their Number he resolved to back his Letter with a second Stratagem He placed all the Servants Suâ—lers and other useless Persons belonging to the Baggage at some distance behind the Army with whom having join'd some Soldiers enough to make up a Front he order'd them after they had seen him Engag'd for some time to advance in good Order with their Colours flying Drums beating and Trumpets sounding Thus having prepared every thing according to his intended Purpose he marched directly towards the Muscovites whom he attack'd with the utmost Vigour but these being without intermission re-inforced by fresh Troops gave so much work to the Poles that the Fight was very obstinate and bloody and the latter would have been in no small danger of losing the Day had not Bosman who Commanded the Body of Reserve in the Muscovian Army as soon as he saw the Polish Mock Army advance in the greatest heat of the Battle with some of his Party gone over to Zaporius and declared for Prince Demetrius crying out aloud to the Muscovites that they should cease to fight against their Natural Prince Bosman being the Darling of the common Soldiers his Words and Example had such a powerful Influence over them that like one Man they cry'd The Muscovites revolt they would live and die with him The Nobility and Chief Officers of the Army finding themselves deserted by the Soldiers resolved immediately to send their Deputies to Demetrius who at that time resided at Puttiwoll to acknowledge their Fault in having so long stood out against their Prince to implore his Pardon for what was past and to give him all the imaginable Assurances of their Fidelity for the future Demetrius transported with Joy at so welcome a piece of News lost no time but having immediately put himself at the Head of such Troops as he had with him at Puttiwoll march'd directly first to Krom where he caused Hodwen the Muscovian General to be clapt in Irons and from thence to Avol where the revolted Army lay Encamped Being arrived there and having received fresh Demonstrations of their entire Submission to his Commands he offer'd his Thanks to the Chief Men but especially to Bosman and his Friends and by his Caresses so gain'd upon the Affections of the common Soldiers that they all with one Voice desired him to Lead them against the Son of the Usurper of his Crown Being thus become absolutely Master of the Field and the Army and believing that now he had but one step left to ascend the Throne to wit to make himself Master of the City of Musco the Capital of the whole Empire he ordered every thing to be got ready for the March Whilst he was thus advancing by slow Marches towards Musco he sent his Letters to the Magistrates of that City wherein he told them he was near at hand with a most Potent Army ready to attack them at his first Command but that taking commiseration of their Condition he exhorted them to make choice of the fruits of Peace before the inevitable Calamities of War That if they preferred the last before the first they must be answerable for all the Miseries which are the necessary Consequences of an intestine War but as he was persuaded they would consult their own Safety he advised them to root out the whole Progeny of that accursed Traytor Boris Goudenou who had murder'd his Brother the late Great Duke Fedor and would have acted the same Tragedy with himself if it had not been prevented by the Vigilancy and Care of his Royal Mother and lastly not to delay any longer to shew their Readiness in Asserting the undoubted Right of their Natural Prince This Letter having been read in the Presence of the People and the Messenger of Demetrius in the Market-place they began to assemble in great Numbers and after a short Consultation what Measures were best to be taken they sent some among them to the Palace of Knez Basilizuski who having peremptorily demanded of him to declare before them whether this were the true Demetrius Youngest Son of Czar John Basilovits that lay now encamped near their City Zuski positively asserted that he was and that he had been saved from the Assassins sent by Boris Goudenou for his Destruction by
signifying as much as Zuski he cunningly evaded thereby what he had formâ—rly declared of his being the Son of the Great Duke Basili Zuski and that as to what he spoke of his Wife's Jewels could not have the least Relation to him his Extraction having put him above the Rank of a poor Mechanick or Seller of Pins alluding to the Word Spilki which in the Russian Tongue signifies as much as Pinmaker He had some time before upon the Perswasion of a certain Russian Gentleman writ a Letter with his own Hand to the Patriarch of Muscovy in which he had writ That he was a Muscovite born and received the Name of Timoska at his Baptism That he had once when he was at the Ottoman Court been tempted to enter the Russian Empire with an Army of two hundred thousand Tartars but that he had been diverted from this pernicious Design by the Guardian-Angel of Muscovy That thereupon being resolved to lay aside all Designs against his Native Country he had quitted Turkâ— with an Intention to return into Muscovy That it would else have been no difficult Matter for him to have made his Escape out of Prison if he had not stayed for the Great Duke's Command This Letter being look'd upon as a material Point to overcome his Obstinacy was produced and read in his Presence but this had no more Influence over him than the Presence of Spilki whom he called a Cheat who had conterfeited the Letter to his Destruction To confirm which he writ another Letter so different both in the Stile and Character from the former that the most quick-sighted could not find the least Resemblance betwixt them His Highness the Duke of Holstein seeing all their Endeavours of making a true Discovery of the Imposture to prove unsucessful ordered some of his Privy Council to examine him and to try whether out of his former Depositions they might not be able to convince him concerning the true State of his Affairs They asked him For what Reason he was prosecuted by the Great Duke what could be the Reason of his having conceived so particular a Prejudice against his Person What House and Family he was descended of And whether he were of any Kin to the Great Duke He answered That he was no Kinsman of the Great Duke forasmuch as his Father was a Prince born whereas the Great Duke's Father was but a Gentleman That he was a Muscovite by Extraction but born and brought up in Poland That he was Hereditary Lord of Hukagina Severska in the Province of Novogarka Severskio upon the Frontiers of Muscovy That his Name was Johannes Sinensis which in the Polish Language signifies as much as Zuski That his Fathers Name was Basili Domitian Suiski who had received his Name from the City of Suâ—a in Muscovy That he was persecuted by the Great Duke upon no other Account that he knew of than that of his high Extraction But these Depositions varying much from what he had publickly professed before that he was Son to the Great Duke Bassli Zuski and that he was born in Poland with a grâ—â—â— many other inconsistencies which sufficiently testified the distractions of his Conscience he was by the Duke of Holstein's Order delivered into the Hands of the Deputies of the Great Duke Timoska finding that these Evasions would stand him no longer in â—tead fell into Despair and took a Resolution to kill himself For which purpose being upon his Way from Newstadt to Travemund in order to be put on Board the Vessel that was to carry him to Archangâ—l in Muscovy he threw himself down headlong from the Waggon striving to shuffle himself under the Wheels in Hopes they would pass over his Body But the Ground happening to be sandy and soft his Fall did him no harm and the Waggon being stopp'd immediaâ—ely before the Wheels touch'd any part of his Body they put him again into his Place where they faâ—tned and watch'd him so narrowly that he could not find the least Opportunity of putting his Design in execution Notwithstanding which he appeared very chearful during the whole Voyage thinking thereby as it was supposed to make his Keepers the more careless till he might find Means to be his own Executioner and so avoid the Torments which he knew were prepared for him in Muscovy For no sooner was he arrived at Archangel but he fell in so deep a Melancholy that he appear'd quite disconsolate and would scarce utter one Word From thence he was carried to Novogorod Veliki and so to the City of Musco 〈◊〉 brought â—o Musco where he was immediately condemned to the most exquisite Tortures This was put in Execution in the Presence of several Boyars and other Persons of the first Rank 〈◊〉 tortur'd but they could not prevail over his Obstinacy he refusing to give the least Answer to the Questions proposed to him He only told them That if they would send for Knez Nikita Ivanovits Romanow he was the only Man whom he thought worthy to receive his Confession as knowing him to be a Person of great Honour and Couâ—age While two of the Boyars there present were gone to find out Nikita he desired somewhat to drink whereupon some Qâ—tas or small Mead was presented to him which he refusing they gave him some Hydromel in a Silver Cup according to his Request which in a scothful manner he only put to his Lips without tasting the Liquor By this time Knez Nikita and the other two Boyars being come in he gave them a very civil Salute but 〈◊〉 persisted in his former Depositions that he was the real Son of Basili Zuski Great Duke of Mâ—scovy tho' it were sufficiently proved against him that he was the Son of Demki Ankudina a Linnen Draper in the Suburbs of Vologda and that the Great Duke Basili Zuski had no Children but only two Brothers who both died without any Male-Issue one in Poland the other in Muscovy some Years before Whilst he endured the Tortures with an uncommon Resolution his Mother and Son were sent for in hopes that their Presence might 〈…〉 prevailing over his Obstinacy than the Violence of his Tortures They both thâ—ew themselves at his Feet and with Tears and all the tender Expressions they were capable of conjured him to undeceive himself and the World and to acknowledge his Crime The Change of his Countenance sufficiently testified the various Agitations of his Conscience notwithstanding which he persisted in affirming that they were unknown to him and took him for another than really he was expressing in the midst of his most violent Tortures a most admirable Constancy or rather the most resolute Obstinacy in the World whether it was that he took a particular Pride to confirm in Strangers the high Opinion they had once conceived of his pretended Extraction or that he was assured that by his Confession he could not prevent his Death or obviate his Miseries is uncertain Last of all that nothing might be omitted which
generally excessive Cold in the Winter and the Heats in the Summer during the space of two or three Months very intense and violent The Country is generally flat and Sandy full of Trees and Woods so that Muscovy in a manner appears to be one continual Forest irrigated by a great multitude of Lakes and Rivers which renders it incomparably pleasant in the Summer and extreamly commodious for Travelling and Trading in the Winter The Lakes most remarkable for their bigness The most 〈…〉 Muscovy are 1. Ivanosera which is as much as to say John's Lake is situated in the great Forest of Epiphanow in the Province of Resan 500 English Miles long 2. Bieleâ—sera near 50 Miles in compass Ilmin or Ilmen 200 Miles long and as many broad near the City of Novogoâ—od Veliki Towards the West near the Confines of Finland there are two more not far distant from one another and of great extent the first is called Ladoga or Laduga which contains several small Islands and great store of Fish its Compass being near 300 Leagues The second is called Onega near 250 Miles long and 80 broad besides a great many others not to be mentioned in this place there being so prodigious a number of Lakes and Brooks all over Muscovy that scarce four or five Leagues can be travelled there without seeing some of them on all sides It is particularly observable in Muscovy that most of its Rivers even those of the first Rank take their original from Lakes The River Volga it self The Chiefâ—â—◠〈…〉 Muscovy the biggest in Europe if not in the World owes its first off-spring to a Lake call'd Fronow in the Province of Roscovie and derives its name from another Lake at some few Miles distance from the former called Volga through which it passes and after having traversed many Provinces and received a great number of small Rivers it disembogues near Astrachan into the Caspian Sea The next considerable River is the Boristhenes or Niâ—per it takes its source in the same Province of Roscovie where the Volga does and discharges it self into the Euxine Sea The River Oby taking its source from the Lake Catisco traverses the Desarts of Tartary from South to North-west and having served as a boundary betwixt that Country and the Muscovian Territories discharges it self into the Frozen Sea Besides these there are two considerable Rivers of the same name called Duina i. e. Twain or Two the first being the confluence of two Rivers viz. of the Jagel and Sâ—cogna disembogues into the white Sea near the Famous City of Archangel The second Duina owes its name and off-spring to a Lake of the same Name a few Miles distant from the Boristhenes or Niâ—per and falls about four Leagues from Riga in Livonia into the Baltique Not to mention here the Rivers of Mosca and Occa and others of less note wherewith this Country is stock'd which for the most part loose themselves either in the Volga or in the other abovementioned Rivers and will be more particularly taken notice of in their proper places The Territories under the obedience of the Czars of Muscovy Muscovy divided in four Parts are commonly divided into four several Parts The first is the Northern Muscovy bordering on Sweden which contains seven very large Provinces viz. The Muscovite Lapland Dwina Pleskâ—w Kargapol Wologda Novogorod Veliki and Biâ—leja Osera The second Part is the Northern Muscovy bordering on the Tartars divided into sixteen Provinces viz. that of Candora Juhora or Juhorski New-Holland near the Streight of Nassaw or Weigats Petzora Obdora Vstioug Perniski Wiatka Wachines the Principalities of Bielski Smolensko and Severia or Novogorod Seuierski part of the Palatinate of Kiow the Dukedom of Kraina and lastly the Province called Pole Besides which it contains three different Sorts of People called Czeremissi Logovoi Czeremissi Nagorni and the Morduates The third Part is that of the Southern Muscovy comprehending ten very large Provinces viz. that of Muscovy properly so called the Dukedoms of Werotin Rezan Welodi Jaroslow Sasdel Rostow T were and Roscow besides the Province of Nise-Novogorod The fourth and last is the Muscovian Tartary divided into nine Parts viz. into the four Kingdoms of Astrachan Bulgar Casan and Siberia into the four Provinces of Lucomoria Loppia Pegahorda and Javalhahordo the ninth Part containing eight different Sorts of People viz. the Samoyedes Tingoeses Vigulei Scibanski Tustiouski Calami Hugneski and Tartars-Cornubii Formerly the Sovereigns of Russia bore the Title of Great Dukes Titles of the Czars of Muscovy and their Coat of Armes but since they have extended their Conquests among the Neighbouring Tartars the Russians salute their Princes with the Title of Weliki Knez that is Great Lord in imitation of the Turkish Grand Seignior and that of Czar or his Czarish Majesty And tho' the Word Czar in the Russian Language signifies as much as a King the Russians nevertheless having understood that the Chief among the Christian Princes of Europe is stiled by the Name of Kaysar derived from the Name of him who laid the first Foundation of the Roman Monarchy the Great Duke's Interpreters make use of the same Word when they recite their Master's Titles the affinity which is in the sound of the two Words of Caesar and Czar having questionless furnished them with an Opportunity to commit this wilful Mistake in Etymology The Arms which they make use of in their Great Seal ever since the Reign of that Famous Tyrant John Basilovitz are likewise made in imitation of the Roman Emperours viz. A double-headed Spread-Eagle the Wings only somewhat less than the Imperial Eagle having on the Breast in an Escutcheon one on Horseback fighting with a Dragon representing as they say the Archangel St. Michael in the same manner as in these Parts we used to represent St. George Above and betwixt the Eagles-heads are three Crowns viz. that of Muscovy and the two Tartarian Kingdoms of Casan and Astrachan The whole Title of the Muscovian Czars runs thus Great Lord Emperour and Grand Duke Conservator of all the Great and Little and White Russia of Muscovy Kâ—avie Volodimerie Nofgorod Emperour of Casan Emperour of Astrachan Emperour of Siberia Lord of Pscove Great Duke of Lithuania Smolensko Twersco Volinsko Podolsko Vghorsco Permsco Veatsco Bolgarsco c. Lord and Great Duke of Nofgorod in the lower Countries of Chernigo Resansco Polotsco Rostofsco Yerostofsco Beloozarsco Oudorsco Obdorsco Condinsco Wetepsco Mstisclaaco and all the Northern Parts Lord of the Country of Iversco of Cartalinsco and of Gruzinsco and of the Country of Cabardinsco of the Dukes of Cercasco and Igorsco Lord and Monarch of several other Dominions and Provinces East West and North which are his Inheritance from Father to Son Most of these Provinces being of a vast Extent and all of them except very few in the possession of the Czars of Muscovy it is manifest that whether in respect of the vast Extent of their Empire or in regard of
The third Province is the Dukedom of Rhesan betwixt the two Rivers of Don and Occa lying Southward from Muscovy Rhesan from which it is divided by the River Aka being one of the most fruitful Provinces of all Muscovy abounding in Wheat Honey Fish and all manner of Venison and Fowl Its Capital City is called likewise Rhesan formerly a very considerable Place which had given its name to the whole Province but was in the Year 1568 totally destroyed as was the greatest part of that Dukedom by the Crim-Tartars The Great Duke having taken into Consideration the Fertility of the Country all along the River Occa which from thence extends its self to that great Trench which serves for a Fence against the irruptions of those Barbarians on that side and having got together the dispersed Inhabitants and furnished them with Materials he ordered the building of a new City at forty Miles distance from the former which is called Peresla Resanski because a great many Inhabitants of the City of Peresla heretofore mentioned came hither to settle themselves Notwithstanding which the old City of Rhesan retains to this day the Honour of being the Seat of an Arch-Bishop Besides which this Province has also the Cities of Domkagorod Corsira and Tulla the latter being situated upon a River of the same Name The fourth is the Province of Wolodimer Wolâ—dimer formerly the Chiefest of whole Muscovy The Capital City had its name from its first Founder Prince Wolodimer who lived in the Year 928 and was from â—hence communicated to the whole Province which â—e situated in the most fruitful Country of all Musâ—ovy above 150 Miles Eastward from Musco beâ—ween the two Rivers of Occa and Wolga This City which is situated near the River Clesna was â—or a considerable time the Residence of the Great Dukes of Muscovy till the Imperial Seat was transferr'd to Musco by Prince Danilou Michâ—elovits since which time it is much decayed from its former Splendor the Ruins of its Walls and Houses being undeniable demonstrations of its former Greatness Unto this Province are annexed the two Tartarian Principalities of Cassinou and Mordwa Cassinou and Mordwa The Capital City of the first is Cassinogord situated on the right side of the River Occa as one comes from Musco surrounded with a great many goodly Villages and Monasteries most pleasantly seated among the Woods The chief City of the second is Moruma being inhabited partly by Muscovites partly by Tartars but altogether under the Subjection of the Grand Duke It is situated on the left side of the River Occa the River Clesna which comes from Wolodimer falls into it at about 10 or 12 Miles distance The fifth Province is Nisenovogorod Nisâ—â—ovogorod having received its Name as most others in this Country from its Capital City called Nisenovogorod Thâ—â— City being built at the conflux of the two Greâ— Rivers Occa and Wolga at 56 degrees 28 min. neâ—â— 500 Miles distant from the City of Musco by Land and above 700 by Water received its Name from the Famous City of Novogorod the Inhabiâ—ants 〈◊〉 which were by Order from the Great Duke Basâ—â—â— translated to this Place It is true it falls far shoâ—â— in bigness of what the City of Novogorod was 〈◊〉 former Ages nevertheless it has very strong Towers and Walls of Stone and the Suburbs exceed 〈◊〉 bigness the City it self being near three Miles 〈◊〉 circumference and inhabited by Tartars Muscovites and some Dutch the most of them Merchants the latter of which have here a Protestaâ—â— Church whereas the City is for the most part take up with Military Officers Victuallers Sutlers â—â— being all under the Government of a Weywode Thâ— next City in this Province is Basiligorod built like wise by the Great Duke Basili who gave it 〈◊〉 Name and made it a Frontier-place against the Incursions of the Tartars called Ceremisses of whoâ— we shall have occasion to speak immediately It 〈◊〉 situated at 55 deg 51 min. at the foot of a Mountain on the right side of the Volga to reckon from its source the same being to be understood from all the other places mentioned in this Treatise at the falling in of the small River Sura heretofore the common Boundary betwixt the Muscovites and the Tartars of Casan Since the Muscovites have extended their Conquests over the Tartars on that side even to the Caspian Sea this place has been neglected its Walls being quite ruined and its Edifices altogether of Wood it resembles now more a great Village than a City The Tartars Ceremisses The Tartars Ceremisses whom we mentioned just now having their Habitation on both sides of the River Wolga betwixt this place and the Kingdom of Casan it will not be amiss to give a short Account of them in this Place They are a Nation barbarous treacherous and cruel living upon Robbery and addicted to Sorcery Their Food is Honey and wild Fowl they take in the Woods and Milk which their Pastures furnish them with they 〈◊〉 not inhabit Houses but most wretched Huts Those that live on the right side of the River Wolâ—a are called Nagorni or Mountaineers as those â—nhabiting on the left side are called Lugoivi from â—heir Meadows which supply them on both â—ides of the River with Hay They are generally â—peaking Heathens using neither Circumcision â—or Baptism They give a Child its Name from â—he first Person they meet that Day when this â—eremony is to be performed which is six Months â—fter its Birth They acknowledge an Immortal â—od the Author of all Good who ought to be â—dor'd but ridicule the Immortality of the Soul â—ho ' they do not believe a Hell they dread the â—evil as the Author of all their Misfortunes â—hom therefore they pretend to appease with Saâ—ifices Their chief Devotion and Pilgrimages â—hich they do to the Devil is performed at a place â—â—lled Nemda amongst the Fenns where every body 〈◊〉 obliged to carry a Present When they Offer â—â—eir Sacrifices to God they kill a Hoâ—se an Ox or a Sheep some of the Flesh thereof being roasted and put into a Dish and holding in the other Hand another Vessel fill'd with Hydromel or some other Liquor both is cast into a Fire made for that purpose before the Skin of the Creature that is Sacrificed being extended upon a Pole laid a crosâ— two Trees This Skin they adore in order to interceed for them with God unto whom they also make sometimes their Address the whole Subject of their Devotion tending to some Conveniency 〈◊〉 another of this Life but most commonly to the augmenting the number of their Cattle They pay a great Veneration even to Adoration to the Suâ— and Moon whom they believe the Authors of the Productions of the Earth They make use of no Churches Priests or Books their Sacrifices and other religious Exercises being performed near somâ— Torrent or another Polygamy is used amongâ— them even so as to Marry two or
in his Wars they are govern'd by petty Princes and Judges of their own and in time of War by their own Commanders The Great Duke to secure their Allegiance to him always keeps some of their Princes or Myrses as Hostages in the Castle of Astrachan They are generally Mahometans 〈…〉 of the same Sect with the Turks except some few that have received the Muscovian Religion They are used to â—ow some of their Children like the Nazarites to God or some Saint or other These are distinguish'd from others by a Ring which the Girles wear in their Nostrils the Boys in the right Ear. They live upon what their Cattle their Hunting and Fishing supply them withal they make use of Fish dry'd in the Sun instead of Bread tho' they make also Cakes of Meal and Rice Among other things they eat Camel's and Horse-flesh and Mare 's Milk is in great esteem with them Their Drink is generally Milk and Water tho' besides Wine Hydromel and Aqua-vitae there is indifferent good Beer at Astrachan Their Cattel is of a very large size not unlike to that of Poland Their Sheep have great fat Tayls weighing sometimes Thirty pounds their Ears hanging down like to our Dogs in Europe Their Horses are however but small and not well shaped but very hardy and strong The Tartars themselves are of an ill shape low and fat with large Faces and little Eyes of an Olive colour full of wrinkles in their Faces they wear little Beards and keep their Heads shaved but the Women are much handsomer Their Garment is a loose Coat of some course Cloath over which they wear a short sort of Cloak of Sheep's-Skin the woolly side outwards with a Cap of the same upon their Heads which commonly is chosen of a black colour The Women are clad in white Linnen Cloath with plaited Coifs upon their Heads on both sides of which as an Ornament hang a great many Muscovian Penny-pieces The Climate in those Parts is very hot the Heats in the Months of September and October much exceeding our Dog-days notwithstanding which the Winter which seldom exceeds two Months here is so cold that this large River is commonly frozen up and bears Sledges The Island of Dolgoi upon which the City of Astrachan is built is all over Sandy and barren and except it be some Gardens and Grounds cultivated with particular care by the Inhabitants of Astrachan produces nothing fit for Sustenance The Continent on the right hand exceeds if possible the Isle in barrenness but on the left there are some very good Pastures On this side of the Wolga Westward Desarts near Astrachan towards the Euxine Sea lies a vast Desart above 350 Miles long and to the South another near 400 Miles long stretching all along the Caspian Sea In these Desarts is neither City nor Village nay not so much as a Tree or Hill there being nothing to be seen but one continued vast Plain covered here and there with a little Grass for the space of 300 Miles there being not any Water to be met withal but what the little River Kisilar and some standing Pools of Salt Water afford Notwithstanding which these Desarts produce a prodigious quantity of Salt For within Ten Fifteen and Thirty Miles of Astrachan Salt-Pits there are large Salt-Veins which being congealed by the Sun swim upon the surface of the Water of the thickness of a Finger as fine and clear as Rock Crystal These Salt-Pits hereabouts are by the Inhabitants called Mozakofski Kainkowa and Gwostofski and produce such abundance of Salt that upon the spot one may have a Hundred weight under two pence which being from thence carried to the Wolga is transported into other Parts Besides which the Isle of Dolgoi about Astrachan and some other parts of this Province as also of Circassia of which we shall have occasion to speak in the next following Chapter are stor'd with excellent Fruit not yielding either in beauty or taste to any The Fruits of Nagaja even not to those of Persia and the Indies Their Apples Quinces Nuts Peaches and Melons exceed the rest in goodness but especially a certain kind of Melons whose Rind being of a lively green colour the Meat Carnation and the Seeds black are the most pleasing both to the Eye and Palate and are sold at a very cheap rate two or three of them being to be bought for a Penny It is not above Fourscore Years ago since any Grapes were to be seen in those Parts but the Persians having brought some Sets thither which were first planted by a Monk a German by birth in the Garden belonging to his Convent situate in the Suburbs of Astrachan this small Stock has been since improved and increased to that degree that not only the Walks and Arbours of the Gardens but also about the Houses of the Inhabitants are planted with Vines which growing to an extraordinary bigness there affords not only great store of Grapes for their present use but also a superplus for most Excellent Wine Besides which near Astrachan and all along the Wolga there grows abundance of Simples and very large The Herb Esula is hereabouts as high as a Man Esula and Angelica and the Root of Angelica as big as a lusty Man's Arm. About 30 Miles beyond Astrachan is one of the best Fishing-places upon the River Wolga which furnishes that City with Salmons Sturgeons White Fish and many other sorts of delicious Fish and the small Islands hereabouts great variety of Wild Fowl and tho' the Country hereabouts is not very fertile in Corn which in these Parts is trodden out by Oxen and Horses they are supply'd with that sufficiently from about Casan by the River all which makes this City one of the most pleasant and convenient for its Situation in Europe The Mouth of the River Wolga is about 60 Miles below Astrachan The Mouth of the Wolga From its Entrance into the Caspian Sea for the space of near 30 Miles into the Sea there are scattered a great number of Islands very small but all covered with Reeds or Canes which has occasioned some to affirm that the Wolga has as many Mouths as there are Islands hereabouts The bottom of the Sea is here very muddy and the Water very shallow as far as to the Promontory of Suchator situate on the right hand from the Wolga 100 Miles beyond Astrachan and 200 Miles on this side of the City of Terki of which more in the next Chapter the first place near which there is a tolerable Harbour in the Caspian Sea About 40 Miles from this City is the Isle of Tzenzeni situate in 43 degrees 5 min. Elevation It s length being from North-East to South-East about 15 Miles Here is the first Harbour of the Caspian Sea from the Mouth of the River Wolga From this Island may be seen in the Continent towards the South-West high Mountains reaching up to the very Clouds Mount Caucasus called
he is his Czarish Majesty's Galop or Slave It is therefore the Czar alone that gives Laws to the People it is he that disposeth of the Government of Provinces it is he that Levies Taxes makes Peace and War and to be short does what he pleases For tho' he consults in Matters of Importance with his Boyars or Councellors yet besides that this Counsel is of his own Chusing he does not always follow it but reserves to himself the Prerogative of doing what he judges most convenient The Honours of Knez Boyars Dukes or Princes owe all their Origin to the Czar's Favour which they bestow upon such as they would Reward for their Services and the greatest of them depend upon the Czar's meer Pleasure and own publickly that all they have belongs to God and Them Nay formerly within our Age they were whipt like the vilest Slaves and that sometimes for a small matter but of late years small miscarriages have been punished with two or three days Imprisonment This Slavish Subjection seems to be natural to the Muscovites forasmuch as in all these several Revolutions that have happened there in our Age they have frequently changed their Masters but never shew'd the least inclination of changing the Form of their Government which the Sovereign Power has devolved into their hands The wiser sort among them were perhaps sensible that those who are good Slaves make the worst Freemen in the World not only their natural Inclination but also their Education having infused into them the Principles of Passive Obedience in so transcendent a Degree as not to have the true Sense of that Liberty we enjoy in these Parts This is sufficiently evident out of their whole Behaviour both in publick and private None among them of what Quality soever approaches the Czar with a Petition or otherwise but he names himself in the Diminutive As for instance if his Name be Peter he will say I little Peter do implore c. When they are to be admitted into his Presence they say Shall I have the Honour to see the brightness of the Eyes of His Czarish Majesty If you ask them a Question that surpasses their Judgment they will answer God and the Czar knows and nothing is more frequent in their common Discourse than to own that all what they have is at God's and the Czar's Disposal The Great Duke John Basilowits was the first that reduced them to this entire Submission for when most of these Territories now under the Subjection of the Grand Czar of Muscovy were divided into a great many Principalities Govern'd by their own Laws and Princes there is no question but that the Nobility had their Share in the Government here as well as they had in former Ages in most Countreys of Europe and what confirms me the more in this Opinion is that at the Solemnity of the Czar's Coronation among other Things the Estates Ecclesiastical and Temporal are mentioned by the Patriarch as we shall see anon This entire Resignation and Subjection of the Muscovites to the Absolute Disposal of their Sovereign has ever since been maintain'd by three general Maxims The first is that no body is allow'd upon pain of Death to travel out of Muscovy without leave of his Czarish Majesty The second is that the Czar never Marries a foreign Princess but looks out for a Spouse among his own Subjects The third is the Discouragement of Learning and Sciences their Knowledge even of the Priests themselves not reaching beyond Reading and Writing their own Language The reason of it is obvious for asmuch as Ignorance makes people supple and conduces much to the easie Conservation of what by a long Custom and Education has been implanted in them whereas Knowledge is merely without Ambition Lycurgus was not ignorant of this Maxim when he establish'd Ignorance as one of the fundamental Laws of his Republick And the Emperours Valentinian and Licinius used to term Learning the Plague and Poyson of Sovereignty And that by Travelling abroad they might not be enamour'd with the sweet taste of Liberty other Nations enjoy and perhaps by their Conversation be instructed in such Matters as were not to be learn'd at home they were not only prohibited to go abroad into other Countreys but also Persons of a high Rank debarr'd from Conversing with foreign Ministers in their own Country without the Great Duke's express Permission And for fear that by introducing a foreign Princess some new Customs might be introduced among the Muscovites which in time might cause an Alteration in the State the Czars of Muscovy quite contrary to what is practised by other Princes in Europe always chuse their Spouses among their own Subjects The Czar being thus secure of his Subject's entire Obedience he alone creates and deposes Magistrates and orders them to be punished at Pleasure He appoints the Governours and Lieutenants of Provinces for the Management of the antient Demesnes and the Administration of Justice they have a Diack or Secretary and sometimes another Assessor join'd with them and take Cognisance of all Matters giving a final and absolute Judgment in all Causes and have full Power to see their Sentences put in Execution without any Appeal unless the Cause be removed before Judgment given to one of the Pricas or Courts of Justice in Musco They are changed from three years to three years Besides these Courts kept by the Waywode or Governour in the Provinces there are a great many others who are all kept in the City of Musco and are call'd Pricas where always one of the Boyars or the Czar's Ministers is President having join'd with him sometimes one sometimes more Assessors and a Diack or Secretary The chiefest are Pomiestnoi Pricas where a Register is kept of all Manors held by homage and the Sutes concerning them are adjudged and the Duties belonging to the Great Duke received In the Casanskoi and Siberskoy Pricas all differences of the Provinces of Casan and Siberia are determined and Accompts kept of all the Furs coming from thence to the Great Duke In the Rosboinoy Pricas all Robberies upon the High-way Murthers and other Criminal Causes are Judged The Provinces of Gallitz and Wolodimer have also their particular Pricas which is called Galliasko-Volodimirski Pricas as Novorodkoi Pricas belongs to Novogorod and Nise-novogorod The Knez and Boyars have their own Pricas as have also the Gentlemen and Officers of the Court The Diacks Secretaries Clerks c. have their own Judge In the Monasterski Pricas all Ecclesiastical Persons whether Secular Priests or Monks are judged except it be in priviledged Cases Besides which the Patriarch has his particular Pricas There are a great many other Pricas or Courts of Justice as those for the Czar's Factors for his Revenues for the Galops or Slaves for the Retalers of Wine Aqua Vitae and Hydromel or Mead for his Smiths Armourers Cannoneers For the Military Officers for the Cavalry and many more too many to be described here Besides which
whole Family upon a very slender Account So much are they accustom'd to Slavery that they scarce look upon it as a Punishment Sometimes the Executioner for a Present will suffer the Debtor to put a small Iron Plate under his Boots The same Rigour is used without any difference to all of what Quality Condition Sex or Age soever A Bojar or Muscovian Lord giving his attendance at Court or at any extraordinary Solemnity Pag. 177 CHAP. X. An account of the Coronation of the Czars of Muscovy their Grandeur Revenue Marriages c. NO sooner is the Czar of Muscovy dead but Messengers are sent every where to summon the Chief Officers of the Court and others who are to be present at the Coronation to repair to the City of Musco where this Solemnity is perfoâ—med with all the Expedition imaginable and sometimes the very next day after the Decease of the Predecessor The Metropolitans Archbishops Knez Boyars and the principal Merchants of the Kingdom being entred the place at the day appointed for the Coronation of the new Czar a Scaffold is erected three Steps high and covered with Persian Tapestry in the great Church within the Castle On this Scaffold are set three very rich Chairs at an equal distance from one another to wit One for the Great Duke another for the Patriarch and the third for the Ducal Cap embroider'd with Pearls and Diamonds with a Tassel on the Crown of it on which hangs a little Crown all over beset with Diamonds of a great Value and the Robe which is made of the richest Brocado lined with Sables The new Czar The Czar's Coronation attended by the Patriarch and Metropolitans being come within the Church the Clergy begin to sing certain Hymns which being done the Patriarch prays to God St. Nicholas and other Saints desiring them to be present at this Great Solemnity The prayer being ended the Chief Minister of State takes the Grand Duke by the Hand and presents him to the Patriarch and says The Knez and Boyars having acknowledged this Prince the lawful Heir to the Crown as being the next of Kin to the late Czar they desire that you may Crown him immediately The Patriarch then leads the Prince upon the Scaffold where being seated in one of the three Chairs he blesses him with a little Cross beset with Diamonds by putting it to his Head and immediately after one of the Metropoâ—â—tans reads the following Prayer O Great Lord our God thou King of kings who by the Prophet Samuel didst once chuse thy faithful Servant David to be King over thy People of Israel hearken to our Prayers which we thy unworthy Servants offer up unto thee at this time Look down from the highest Heaven upon thy faithful Servant here present who through thy Grace thou hast exalted to be King over thy People and thy Son hath redeemed by his Blood Anoint him with the Oil of Chearfulness protect him by thy Power and Crown him with a precious Diadem grant him a long and happy Reign put the Royal Scepter into his Hands that he may sway it upon the Throne of Justice Let all barbarous Languages acknowledge his Power and let both his Heart and Vnderstanding be always directed to thy fear and during the Course of this mortal Life let him never recede from thy Commandments Let Heresie and Schism not come near his Person or Government and may he always maintain and observe what is commanded and ordained by the holy Greek Church Judge thy People in Justice and shew thy Mercy to the Poor that when they leave this Valley of Misery they may be received into eternal Joys The whole Prayer he concludes with these Words For thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost be with us and remain with us The Prayer ended two Metropolitans by order from the Patriarch take the Cap and Robe up which are taken from their Hands by some Boyars who put them upon the Grand Duke whom the Patriarch blesses a second time by touching his Forehead with the Cross of Diamonds and whilst he is saying In the Name of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost and imparting the third Blessing to the Grand Duke the Ducal Cap is by two of the Boyars put upon the Patriarch's Head who causes all the rest of the Prelates there present to approach and give the Benediction to the Great Duke but only with their Hands Then the Great Duke and Patriarch sit down but raise again immediately when the Litany is sung every Verse ending with God have mercy upon us and the new Czar's Name The Litany ended both the Great Duke and Patriarch sit down again when one of the Metropolitans approaching to the Altaâ— sings the following Words O God preserve our Czar and Grand Duke of all the Russes whom God out of his great Mercy hath bestowed upon us God grant him good Health and a long and happy Life All that are present repeat the same Words and the Boyars and Chief Lords approaching to the Great Duke as a sign of their Subjection smite their Foreheads before him and afterwards kiss his Hand This Ceremony being over the Patriarch standing alone before the Great Duke admonishes him in the following Words Since through the singular Providence of God the Estates of the Kingdom as well Ecclesiastical as Temporal have Acknowledged and Crowned You Great Duke over all the Russes and have Entrusted You with a Matter of so great Weight as the Government of so great a Kingdom You ought to employ all Your Thoughts to the Love of God to the Obedience of His Commands to the due Administration of Justice and the Protection of the True Greek Religion Then the Patriarch gives him once more his Bendiction and the whole Assembly goes from thence into the Church of St. Michael the Archangel which is opposite to the former where the Lâ—â—any is Sung over again as before the same is done afterwards in the Church of St. Nicholas where an End is put to the Ceremony and the whole Assembly is most magnificently Entertain'd in the great Hall of the Great Duke's Palace In former times the Chiefest Dignity in the whole Empire Principal Offiâ—ers of the Court. was that of Lord High Steward of Muscovy call'd Sunderstrevoi Coiniske When Zurki was called to the Crown he was in that Office since which time it has been suppressed The next and which is now the first in Dignity is the Duaretskoy or Great Master which is correspondent to our Lord High Steward of the Houshold The next in order is the Orusnitshei or Master of the Horse These three precede all the other Boyars and Lords of the Court. Next to these are the two Secretaries of State the first whereof is the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal or Chancellour the other is the Vice Chancellour After them come the Posticnizei or Lord Chamberlain who makes the Great Duke's
publish'd till after the Consummation of the Marriage forasmuch as the Person the Czar makes Choice of which is done by Tying a Crown upon her Head is exposed to the Envy and Malice of such other Ladies as have been refused by the Prince so that to avoid any dangerous consequences but especially the Charms of these Rival Ladies which are much fear'd by the Muscovites there is scarce any thing known of the Czar's Marriage till it is Proclaim'd by the Sound of the Great Bell in Musco perhaps the finest in the World As the Fashion of the Czar's Cloaths is like that of the Nobility The Czaritza but only richer so the Dress of the Czaritza or Empress is little different from other Women the Attire of her Head is something higher and her Smock Sleeves are much longer to wit ten or twelve English Yards besides that her Robe or uppermost Gown has wide Sleeves not unlike to those of our Batchellours of Arts These are worn by all her Women of Honour Chamber-Women Ladies and Embroideresses The Father or Brother of the Czaritza or Empress dare not call her his Daughter and Sister nor dare any of the Kindred own themselves so It is a general Custom among the Russians The Czarovitz not to let their young Children be seen by any body but their nearest Relations for fear Strangers should cast some ill Aspect upon them This is more strictly observed with the Czarovitz or Son of the Czar none being permitted to see him unless it be his Tutor and Family Servants till he be fifteen Years old when he is exposed to publick View At the Birth of a Czarovitz the people to demonstrate their Joy bring great Presents to the Court which are for the most part return'd but if the Czar likes any of them he pays to the full Worth for them The Czar's Children are attended by other Children bred up with them who exactly know their distance and what manner of Respect is to be paid to them as well as other Persons of what degree soever None of them dare speak the least Word of what passes in their Court as it is death for any one to Reveal what is past in the Czar's Palace CHAP. XI Of the Religion of the Muscovites and their Church Government THE Muscovites do all profess one and the same Religion which may be said to be particular to them forasmuch as it extends not beyond the Grand Czar's Dominions unless it be at Narva where some few Muscovites live under the Jurisdiction of Sweden and that there is some Analogy betwixt them and those Inhabiting the Polish Russia that profess the Greek Religion The Muscovites glory that they are the only True Christians now in the World forasmuch as they are baptized whereas others have been only Sprinkled which is the Reason they alledge for Re-baptizing all such of what Persuasion soever that embrace their Religion They profess as they say the true Greek Religion which makes them shew abundance of Respect and Kindness to the Greeks so that the Greek Monks or Priests which frequently come from other parts into Muscovy with their Relicks know how to make an Advantage of their Simplicity and Ignorance They found their Religion on the Books of the Old and New Testament They are forbidden to bring the whole Bible to Church tho they are allowed to read it at home by reason of several passages in the Old Testament so that they only carry the New Testament and some certain chosen Psalms and Verses taken out of the Prophets It is about threescore years ago that they got the Bible translated into the Russian Language wherein they followed as they pretend the foot-steps of the Seventy Interperters They have also a certain Book which they call the History of the Gospel but the whole so adulterated with Fabulous Narrations and Impertinent Circumstances that in another Christian Country it would be so far from being look'd upon as a Book of Devotion that it would appear abominable As to the Explication of the Bible they follow St. Cyril Bishop of Jerusalem who flourish'd towards the latter end of the Fourth Age under the Reign of the Emperor Theodosius and ought not to be confounded with Cyril of Alexandria The rest of the Fathers which are in greatest esteem among the Russians are John Damascene Gregory Nazianzen St. John Chysostome and Ephraim the Syrian of whom they relate that an Angel having presented to him a Book writ in Golden Characters which no body could disclose he immediately received those Instructions from thence which he has transmitted in his Books to Posterity They relate out of their Annals that the Christian Religion was first established in these parts by the Apostle St Andrew who leaving Greece came to the Borysthenes where he embark'd and by the Sea of Ladoga came to Novogorod where he Preach'd the Gospel That the Christian Religion was afterwards extirpated by the Neighbouring Pagans who made themselves Masters of Muscovy till in the Year 989. Prince Wolodimer or Vlodimer Great Duke of Russia having given them a signal Overthrow and re-united several of these Provinces to his Crown grew so famous for his great Atchievements that Basilius and Constantine Porphyrogennetae Emperours of Constantinople sent their Ambassadours to Congratulate his good Success and that by the Conversation and Instructions of these Ambassadors Prince Wolodimer was induc'd to embrace the Christian Faith and to receive Baptism John Cropalates who writ part of the Byzantine History and lived much about the same time as also Cedren and Zonaras chiefly attribute the Conversion of the Russians to the Christian Religion to a Miracle perform'd by a Bishop that was sent thither by the Patriarch of Constantinople to instruct and baptize the people For these Infidels having objected to him That since God had preserved Daniel's Companions in the Fiery Furnace why might not with the same or more reason the Bible be prevented by God's power from being consumed by Fire The Bishop after having told them that he was assured he could not ask any thing from God which he could not obtain by his prayers cast the Bible into a great Fire made for that purpose where having lain till the Fire was all spent it was taken out as entire and untouch'd as it was cast in whereat Wolodimer being moved abolish'd all Idolatry and in lieu thereof planted Christianity in all his Territories From hence it is that they deduce the Origin of their Religion from the Greek Church which however they have much alter'd since The Creed of Athanasius is the general Rule of their Faith for they believe in God the Father as Creator of the World in God the Son as Saviour and Redeemer of Mankind and in the Holy Ghost as Sanctifier of all the Faithful but for the rest they are involved in a great many Superstitions and fix the Center of their Devotion more in the outward and Ceremonial Part than in the Internal Part
is time to return to more serious Matters It is to be observed that the Muscovites retain to this Day some Remnants of the Mosaick Law For though they do not abhor Swine's Flesh yet they will not touch a Squirrel Coney or Hare But which is the oddest of all They hold it Pagan or Vnclean to eat Veal but not Lamb For what Reason neither they nor any body else know They account it next to a Sin to omit Lotionem post inatum They look upon it as a great Sin for a Muscovite to lie with a Woman that is not of the same Communion But a Venial Trespass for a Russian Woman to accept of a Kindness from a Stranger They give for a Reason Because her Issue will be educated in the True Russian Faith whereas a Muscovite Man may happen to beget a Child upon a Stranger which is not likely to be educated in the same Religion Heresie is punished among the Russians with Fire The Heretick is carried to the Top of a low House from whence he jumps into the Fire made underneath and immediately they throw Straw upon him and good store of dry Splinters of Firr-Wood these being fired they soon suffocate the Malefactor CHAP. XII A Brief History of the Succession of the Russian Great Dukes from their first Origin till the Death of that famous Tyrant John Basilovitz THE first Origin of this Empire is very abscure for the Great Dukes of Muscovy derive their Pedigree from Augustâ—s Caesar yet if it be considered how confused the Atchievements and Successions of these Ancient Princes are among an ignorant People it is no difficult matter to imagine that their Ancient History must be full of uncertainty Thus much is certain that this vast Empire was in former Ages divided into a great many Principalities under their own Laws and Princes which in after Ages and by several Degrees have been united under one Head and compose that vast Body which now adays is known under the name of the Russians Empire But to return to their Chronicles they relate that Augustus Caesar among others of his Kindred whom he sent to be Governour over very remote Provinces One Prussus had assigned him Prussia had his Seat on the Eastern Baltick Shoar by the River Weixel Of him were descended by the fourth Generation Rureck Sinaus and Truvor who at the perswasion of one Gostomistius a rich Citizen of Novogorod were sent for by the Russians who at that time lived without any Civil Government to rule over them in the Year 1573. As they went into Russia they took a long with them Olechus their near Kinsman and so having divided the whole Country among themselves each in his Province laid the first foundation of a regular Civil Government Iverson the Son of Rureck the rest dying without Issue became Successor to them all He took to Wife one Otha the Daughter of a Citizen of Plesscon by whom he begot Stoslaus but being after that Slain by his Enemies his Wife Otha went to Constantinople where she was Baptized and Named Helen His Son Stoslaus was a Warlike Prince and very Victorious in several Battles till at last being Slain by his Enemies they made a Cup of his Skull Engraven'd with this Sentence Seeking after other Men's lives he has lost his own He left three Sons Teropolchus Olega and Volodimir Volodimir having slain his two Elder Brothers Volodimir I. made himself master of all Russia he married afterwards Anne the Sister of Basitius Porphyrogenites and in the Year 989 introduced the Christian Religion among the Russians himself being before instructed in it and Baptized in the Year 988. Some among whom is Zonara's report that it was done by a Miracle of which we have spoke before He built the City of Volodimir the Capital of the Province of the same Name upon the River Cesma which was for a considerable time after the Residence of the Great Dukes Volodimir left behind him Eleven Sons among whom he divided the Dukedom Beristus and Glebus forsook the World and for their Holy Life were Canonâ—sed after their Death their Feast is kept by the Russians in November The rest falling into contentioâ—s among themselves every one being ambitious of making himself the sole and supream Lord of all Russia they ruined one another till Jaroslaus was left the only inheritor of all their Dominions Volodimir Volodimir II. the Son of this Jaroslaus used to keep his Residence in the City of Kiovia upon the River Boristhenis He was grown very famous for the many conflicts he had with the Sons of his Uncles whom having at last subdued he was call'd Mono Machus He was also very Victorious against Constantine the Greek Emperor and having over-run all Thracia returned home loaden with Honour and a prodigious Booty whilst he was preparing to renew the War with more Vigour against the Emperor he sent to him Neuphytus Bishop of Ephesus and Eustathius Abbot of Jerusalem who having among other rich Gifts presented him with part of our Saviour's Cross and saluted him by the Name of Czar perswaded him to enter into a League with Constantine with whom ever after he cultivated a very good Correspondance He was succeeded by his Son Vuzevolodus after whom in order of descent Reigned George and Demetrius George Succeeded his Father Demetrius he fought with very ill success against Bathy the Tartarian Prince by whom he was slain in the Battle in the Year 1237 and the Russians brought under the subjection of the Tartars who made their Dukes dependent from them and as a token of their subjection forced them too often as the Tartarian Ambassadors should come into Russia to go out and to meet them and to stand bare headed in their own Courts while the Ambassadors delivered their message sitting About the same time the Tartars having ravaged Poland Plesia and Hungary Pope Innocent IV. obtained a Peace or rather a Truce from them for five Years the Russians affirm that this Bathy was the Father of Tamerain George was succeded by his Brother Jaroslaus and after him Reign'd his Son Alexander Daniel the Son of Alexander was the first that translated the Seat of the Great Dukes to the City of Musco and laid the first Foundation of the Castle he was also the first that took upon him the Title of Great Duke John the Son of Daniel was sirnamed Kalota which signifies a Scrip which he always carried about him and out of it he used to give Alms to the Poor His Son Simeon died without Issue and left the Dukedom to John his next Brother Demetrius succeeded his Father John and left two Sons Basilias and George Basili the Eldest Brother Reigned after his Father's Death and had a Son of his own Name but having conceived a jealousie against his Wife he disinherits the Son declaring George his Brother his Successor in his Dominions George being thus gotten into Possession of Russia puts his Nephew Basili in Prison but
at his Death though he had two Sons of his own resigned the whole Dukedom to the hands of the same Basili Basili being thus unexpectedly put into his supposed right was soon attack'd by Andrew and Demetrius the two Sons of George who could not brook the injury received by their Father's last Will and having surprised him they put out his Eyes thinking thereby to render him incapable of entertaining any further hopes of administring the Government but they were mistaken in their Aim for the Bojares and Nobles notwithstanding his Blindness kept stedfast to their Allegiance to the Great Duke who was therefore Sir-named Cziemnok or the blind Duke John Basilovits who began his Reign in the Year 1450 John Basilovits succeeded his Father Basili he was the first that brought the Russian Name out of Obscurity into Renown For after having secured himself at home by putting to Death all such of his Kindred as were likely to contend with him for the Superiority he applied all his thoughts to make himself formidable to his Neighbours Among them he bent his whole Force against the City and Dukedom of Novogorâ—d Veliki with whom he was engaged in a War for Seven Years till at last in the Year 1477. having vanquish'd them in a Battle he forced that Great and Rich City to a Submission and to receive a Russian Governour But afterwards thinking himself not absolute Master of the City and being unwilling to run the hazard of compelling them by force he went thither in Person under pretence of some Religious concerns in behalf of the Greek Religion so that being admitted into the City by the Authority of the Archbishop Theophilus he ransact it and carried away an incredible Booty to Musco with most of the Inhabitants and sent Muscovites thither in their place Having subdued this Potent Dukedom as also those of Tyversky and Plescou and several other petty Principalities bordering upon his Dominions he was the first that united Russia into one considerable Body and consequently laid the first Foundation of its future Greatness He entred into a War with the Livonians for no other cause than to enlarge his bounds and advanced as far as the River Narva where he built the strong Castle of Ivanogorod upon a steepy Rock opposite to the City of Narva which lies on the other side of that River but having received a Signal overthrew in a Battle fought against Guallies de Pletenbergh the Master of the Livonian Order of Knights he was forced to make a Truce with them for Fifty Years He had also some differences with Alexander King of Poland who having married his Daughter had as he pretended forced her to abandon the Greek Religion and to turn Roman Catholick which breaking out at last into a War was carried on for some time with no great advantage on either side nevertheless the Basilovits took Plescou in the Fray from the Luthianians His Wife was the Daughter of the Duke of Tiversky of her he begat John unto whom after he had Married him to the Daughter of Stephen Prince of Moldavia he resign'd the whole Dukedom But John dying soon after left only one Son who was called Demetrius Basilovits by reason of the tender Age of his Grandchild was obliged to reassume the Administration of the Government and soon after Married a second Wife to wit Sophia the Daughter of Thomas Polvologus who is said to have receiv'd her Doury out of the Pope's Treasury under condition that she should endeavour the Convertion of the Duke to the Romish Faith This Princess being of a very Haughty Temper and not able to endure that her Husband should be a Vassal to the Tartars did so effectually encourage him to shake of the Tartarian Yoak that having first dislodged the Tartarian Ambassadors that had their residence in the Castle of Musco and were the Duke's Overseers in State Affairs afterwards by degrees dispossess'd them of all they held in Russia By the perswasion of this Princess he transferred the Dukedom from Demetrius his Grandchild the Son of John deceased to Gabriel his Eldest Son by this Princess Gabriel was no sooner Great Duke Basili Ivanovits but he changed his Name and assum'd that of Basili Ivanowitz he after the example of his Father applied all his care to enlarge his Territories which he did with good success against the Lithuanians and Polanders from whom he recovered great part of Muscovy especially the City of Smoleusko on the River Boristhenes or Nieper in the Year 1514. He also ejected the Duke of Siberi or Severia and united the Province to his Crown he afterwards turned his Arms against the Tartars of Casan whom he defeated in a memorable Battle and made them his Vassals But the Tartars having soon after killed their Governour surprised him with a considerable Army and having forced him to retreat with such Forces as he could get together in hast under Novogorod on the River Occas they took and plundred the City of Musco and forc'd the Castle to a shameful Capitulation by vertue of which the Great Dukes were to be tributaries to the Tartars But the Tartars having soon after broken the Capitulation by Besieging the City of Rhesan and the Weywode or Muscovite Governor having by a straitagem got into his possession the Great Duke's Original Letters Patents whereby the Conditions made with the Castle of Musco were confirmed as has been related before in the Description of the City of Casan and having at the same time forced the Tartars to raise the Siege of the City and Castle of Rhesan both the People and Great Duke were so encouraged by the sudenness of so lucky an accident that the latter marched against the Tartars and Besieged the City of Casan which he caused to be attack'd with all the Vigour imaginable but these within being conscious of their guilt Fought like desperate Men so that afterâ— much Bloodshed on both sidâ—s the Great Duke was obliged to raise the Siege and to leave the Conquest of this as well as other Tartarian Kingdoms on that side to his Son John Basilovits whom he begat of Helan the Daughter of Knez Glinsky after having Divorced himself from his first Wife John Basilovits being but a Child John Basilovits succeeded his Father under the Tuition of George his Uncle in the Year 1540. But no sooner was he arrived to the Age of Maturity but he gave most evident proofs of his future Greatness Being willing to make himself formidable to his Neighbours by some memorable exploit at the beginning of his Reign he resolved to revenge the affront his Father had received before Casan which City he Besieged in the Year 1552 His Wars And after he had batter'd it very furiously for the space of two Months offered them very honourable conditions which they having refused to accept he ordered the general Assault to be given on the Second Day of July in the same Year and notwithstanding the resolute Defence made
had by all possible means endeavour'd to insinuate himself into the Favour of Wisnowiski with very good Success was only watching an Opportunity of making his intended Discovery which soon after offer'd it self when he least expected it For Wisnowiski being in a violent Passion one day not only call'd him a Son of a Whore but also seconded his Words with some Blows which Occasion Grisko taking hold of with a feigned Perplexity and Tears in his Eyes You would not said he my Lord treat me thus if you were as well acquainted with my Quality as my Person and what grieves me most is that I should receive this Affront from the Man in whom I had centred all the Hopes of my future Re-establishment Having spoken these Words abruptly and with a becoming Sadness and Modesty he was turning away from Wisnowiski who being surprised at Grisko ' s Discourse ask'd him all on a sudden And who art thou then what is thy Name what Business is it has brought thee into this Country Grisko Otropeja being not unprepared with an Answer told him with a well-composed Countenance The same Confidence which swayed me to put my self under your Protection obliges me to reveal a Secret to you which otherwise ought to be kept concealed in my own Breast Know then that Muscovy is my Native Country that the Great Duke John Basilovits was my Father and that I am the same Demetrius who by the Assassins sent by Boris Goâ—denou was to have been slain at Ugletz had not my Mother who had got private Intelligence of the intended Murther preserved my Life by sending me away secretly and putting a certain Priest's Son of the same Age in my place who was accordingly assassinated and buried in my stead I have ever since lain conceal'd in a Monastery till prompted by a just Ambition of Recovering my Right I took a Resolution to seek for Aid abroad against the Vsurper of my Throne the Murtherer of my Brother Fedor the late Great Duke and my mortal Enemy He shew'd him also a Cross richly beset with Diamonds which he pull'd out of his Bosom This said he is the only Remnant of my former Greatness and the dear Pledge of my Mothers Love and since I have freely trusted you with a Secret known but to very few in the World and thereby made you Master both of my Life and Fortune I live in hopes that you will not refuse me your generous Assistance in the Recovery of my Father's Throne which I shall always be ready to acknowledge to the utmost of my Power Demetrius was a Person of a great Presence of Mind and of an Understanding much above his Years and being besides this of a very handsom Aspect this with the late Rumour industriously spread abroad by the Old Monk first put Wisnowiski under a great Astonishment but having soon recollected himself he a thousand times asked his Pardon for the Faults committed against a Person of his eminent Rank with a Promise that he would endeavour to expiate the same by his future Services for his Interest Scarce a few Days were past before Wisnowiski got a most magnificent Equipage prepared in some Measure suitable to the Greatness of such a Guest which he offered to Demetrius with reiterated Promises that he would engage in his Interest and of all his Friends to support his Pretensions against the Usurper Boris Goudenou This sudden Change in the Court of Wisnowiski being soon spread abroad as well in Poland as in Muscovy as it served for a strong Confirmation of what had been whispered about by the Contrivances of the Old Monk so it was not long before it reached the Ears of Boris Goudenou He soon took the Alarm at so unexpected and surprizing a piece of News and thinking it most advisable to stifle this Monster in the Birth he immediately dispatch'd away a Messenger to the Duke Wisnowiski with Orders to inform him of the Imposture put upon him by this pretended Demetrius and how unbecoming his Quality it would be to espouse the Cause of an Impostor against a Legal Prince neither was he sparing in his Promises offering not only vast Sums of Money but also considerable Possessions to that Duke if he would surrender him dead or alive into his Hands But this had a quite contrary Effect upon Wisnowiski who being in some doubt before concerning this Demetrius was now by the great Offers made by Boris entirely confirmed in his Opinion that he must needs be the true Demetrius and therefore renewed his former Resolution of Adhering to his Interest maugre all the Temptations of Boris Goudenou But having wisely considered with themselves that he would leave nothing unattempted on his side which might facilitate the Destruction of Demetrius it was judged most advisable not to expose his Person any longer so near the borders of Muscovy as was the Duke's House but to retire to Wisnowiski a certain place well fortified and more remoâ—e from the Frontiers belonging to the Duke Wisnowiski who in the mean while returned to his own House to get the better Intelligence of what past in Muscovy Here he was met by another Messenger from the Great Duke Boris Goudenou who not only by his Master's Orders renew'd his former Offers but also promised more ample Rewards if he would surrender the Counterfeit Demetrius either dead or alive But this Messenger meeting with no better Success than the former he received secret Instructions to endeavour the Destruction of this Impostor at what rate soever not to be sparing of Dagger or Poyson great Rewards or any thing else which might contribute to his Ruin This was not so secretly carried on but that Wisnowiski had got some Scent of the Design laid against the Life of his Friend wherefore thinking him not sufficiently secured against the Attempts of the Muscovites in that place especially since they had drawn together a considerable Force upon the Frontiers it was resolved to send him to George Mniszeck Waywode of Sendomiria the Duke 's particular Friend which would both put him out of the reach of his Enemies and probably strengthen his Pretensions with the Interest of one of the most considerable Men in all Poland Pursuant to this Resolution Demetrius being provided with Letters of Recommendation from Wisnowiski went to the Weywode of Sendomiria's House by whom he was received with all the Honour imaginable due to his pretended Quality Demetrius being now at leisure to make serious Reflections upon the present posture of his Affairs had no reason to be dissatisfied with his Condition as being not without hopes of encompassing his End with the assistance of such powerful Friends but wisely considering with himself that their first Heat might by degrees grow weak if not quite become cool if not sustained by sufficient Fuel to nourish it he employed all his Thoughts to establish by some means or other his Fortune upon a more solid Foundation than that of bare Friendship He was sensible that
Expedition and the Duke Wisnowiski having also publickly declared for Demetrius a considerable Number of the Polish Nobility on the Frontiers of Muscovy being encouraged by his Example espoused this Interest Being strengthened by these and other Forces which were in several parts of the Kingdom raised for his Service he marched at the Head of them into Muscovy in the heart of the Winter where being joyned by a Body of Cosacks of 10000 Men under their General Corclos who had been engaged with great Promises into his Service Demetrius enters Muscovy by the Artifices of the old Monk it struck such a Terror into the Inhabitants of the neighbouring Provinces that as soon as his Army had passed the Boristhenes at Kiovia they advanced without any Opposition to the very Walls of Eringow which upon the first Summons surrendred to Demetrius The City of Puttiwoll one of the largest and most populous in those Parts followed the Example of Eringow the Garrison which consisted for the most part of Cosacks refused to fight against their Brethren The other Places of less Note trod the Footsteps of the others and put themselves under his Protection so that as he was advancing deeper into the Country his Army was considerably augmented by such as flock'd in to him from all the adjacent Cities of which none attempted to make the least Resistance except the City of Novogorod Sevieâ—â—ki which he besieg'd and attack'd with all the Vigour imaginable The Czar Boris Goudenou in the mean while had not been careless of his Affairs but having ordered considerable Levies to be made before as soon as he received Advice of the most stupendious Progress of Demetrius he published his Declaration wherein he promised Indempnity to all such of his Subjects as would abandon the Party of this Impostour and return to their Duty with most severe Comminations against all such as should persist in their treasonable Designs against their Sovereign in aiding and assisting the pretended Demetrius He sent also a solemn Ambassy to Sigismund then King of Poland who having immediately demanded and obtained Audience made most heavy Complaints That the Truce which was so lately made betwixt the two Crowns for Twenty Years was violated by the Poles who without the least Reason given had invaded the Czar's Territories taken his Towns and ravaged the Country That he hoped the King would take better Measures and not pursue a War that was founded upon nothing but an unjust Pretence but recall his Troops which were at that time employed to maintain the Pretensions of a vile Impostor against one of the most potent Princes in Europe who if provoked would not want means to give himself Satisfaction for the Damages and Affronts received from the Crown of Poland Neither was he sparing in his Promises by which and the great Presents he made to most of the Chief Ministers and other great Men of the Court he hoped to obtain what all his Remonstrances had not been able to effect but in vain for whether it were that they look'd upon Demetrius as the true Heir of the Crown and upon the Affairs of Boris as in a declining Condition or that the Authority of the Pope and Jesuits who had espoused the Interest of the first had made them deaf to all these Applications the Ambassador was sent back with this general Answer That the King and Commonwealth of Poland were not concerned in what was transacted in Muscovy and that if Demetrius who was a Muscovite born had obtained the Assistance of some Polish Volunteers to maintain his Pretensions against the Czar Boris Goudenou this could not be interpreted a Violation of the Truce betwixt the two Crowns which on their side they would observe inviolably Boris having missed his Aim in Poland dispatched a Messenger to the Camp of Demetrius to try once more his Fortune and to endeavour to undeceive the Wayvode of Sendomiria and Wisnowiski concerning the Fallacy put upon them by the Counterfeit Demetrius For this End having found out one of his Uncles in Muscovy whose Name was Smyrna Otropeja and judging not without Reason that if he could be confronted with Grisko Otropeja his Nephew his Confession would be of the greatest Consequence towards the Detecting of this Imposture he sent him along with the Messenger But whether the Wayvode look'd upon that as a Contrivance of Boris Goudenou invented on purpose to blast the Reputation of Demetrius and to ward the Blow which seemed to threaten his Ruin or that he thought himself engaged past retreating the Uncle Smyrna Otropeja was forbid under pain of Death to approach the Camp and the Messenger sent back with Scorn and Indignation Boris Goudenou finding all other Means to fail had Recourse to Arms and ordered his Army which consisted of above a Hundred thousand Men most of them Veteraâ—e Soldiers to march to the Relief of Novogorod Sevierski which defended it self bravely against the Poles under the Conduct of their Governour Bosman Demetrius tho' much inferiour in Number being not much above Twenty thousand but all chosen Men upon the Approach of the Muscovite Army leaving the Siege of Novogorod posted himself as advantageously as he could in sight of the Muscovites to facilitate the Passage of such Officers in the Army of Boris Goudenou as being corrupted before had promised to come over with their Soldiers to his Party But these seeing the great Disproportion there was betwixt the Numbers of these two Armies either quite changed their Resolutions or at least thought it most advisable to delay the Execution of it till a more favourable Juncture Demetrius therefore finding himself in a Post from whence he could not retreat without fighting was forced to put the best Countenance he could upon the Matter and having nothing to trust to but their own Courage the Poles fought so bravely that they not only repulsed the Muscovites who being over confident in their Number attack'd them with more Fury than Skill but also charged them at several times with so much bravery that the Victory remain'd doubtful for several Hours till at last the Muscovites being continually sustained by fresh Troops and the Poles quite tired by the long Fatigues of the Day were forced to give way more to the Number than the Bravery of their Enemies Demetrius routed who at last entirely routed them though not without a great Slaughter on their side killing 9000 of them upon the Spot with the loss of all their Cannon and Baggage If the Muscovites had been as careful in the Pursuit of Demetrius as they were fortunate in obtaining the Victory and had sent their Horse of which they had a considerable number immediately after to disperse such of the Polish Troops as were retreating in several Bodies towards Ribscum they might without question have put an End to the War at this one Stroke or at least have driven him quite out of Muscovy But instead of pursuing their Advantage they besieged Krom which defending
by the giddy-headed Multitude who being always in Extreams and fond of Novelties shewed their Approbation by digging up the dead Carcass of Demetrius which with most horrible Imprecations in which the Muscovites excell most other Nations they burnt and threw the Ashes into the Air yet did it not relish so well with the Poles but that notwitstanding all his specious Pretences they resolved to call him to a severe Account for the Barbarities committed upon their Country-men Neither was it long before they met with an Opportunity to revenge themselves and to give very sensible Proofs of their utmost Resentments against Zuski the Contriver and chief Actor of that Tragedy For tho' the dead Body of the late Demetrius was exposed to publick View for several days it was so mangl'd and hack'd by the Fury of the Multitude that it was impossible to be known even by the nearest of his Friends Which Schacopski the Lord Chancellor of Demetrius and one of his most trusty Friends having got notice of he made his Escape with two or three more whom he knew to be absolutely in his Interest to the City of Puttiwoll which had always stood vigorous for Demetrius from the first time he entred Muscovy with an Army As they were travelling upon the Road at some distance from the City of Musco they made it their Business to spread it about the Country that Demetrius was not dead that the People during the Tumult had apprehended and massacred another in his place he having at the very beginning of the Disorder saved himself by Flight They shewed to several Inn-keepers the Great Seal of Muscovy telling them at their Departure that in a little time they should know what a great Guest they had entertain'd that Night They were also very profuse of their Gold all which serving for a Confirmation of what they had heard them say before they took it as an undoubted Truth and the more they were enjoin'd Secreâ—ie the more eager were they in Whispering it about among their Friends so that in a little time it became currant News in the City of Musco where it having been encouraged and improved by some secret Friends of Demetrius there was scarce a Meeting where this surprizing News was not the chief Subject of their Discourse every one judging of the Matter according to his own Sentiment In the mean while George Schacopski was with his Friends arriv'd at Puttiwoll from whence having immediately dispatch'd a Messenger into Poland with Letters to the Weywode of Sendomiria's Lady wherein he gave her a full Relation of the Conspiracy form'd by Zuski and his Party against her Son-in-Law but that by a peculiar Providence he had saved himself in time by Flight and was retir'd to a Place of Security from whence he would suddenly return at the Head of a considerable Army to revenge the Death of his Friends upon these Traitors That her Husband also had by his Valour escaped the Fury of the enraged Multitude and remained in good Health in the City of Musco and that in a little time he hoped to give her a more ample Account of the further Success of their Affairs Having sent away the Messenger with these Dispatches he immediately demanded Audience in the Great Duke Demetrius his Master's Name which being soon granted he appear'd in the Assembly the next day where having highly extoll'd the Zeal of the Citizens of Puttiwoll in having been the first that espoused the Interest of Demetrius in the very Infancy of his Affairs and their Constancy in persevering ever since stedfast in their Loyalty to their Natural Prince he told them how Zuski the present Usurper prompted by his immensurable Ambition of putting the Crown upon his own Head had with his party form'd a Conspiracy against the Life of the Grand Duke Demetrius that to facilitate their Hellish Design they had massacred a great number of innocent Persons in their Beds against all the Laws of Hospitality and afterwards intended to have done the same to the Great Duke himself whom they intended to have surprized in his Palace but having been stopt for a little while by the Resistance made by his trusty Servants he had by a peculiar Providence of God Almighty got into his Stables where being furnished with some of his swiftest Horses he was with a few of his particular Friends escap'd the Fury of the People and had directed his Course to Poland from whence he soon hoped to return with so considerable a Force as to be able to reduce his rebellious Subjects to Obedience He told them that he had recommended to his Care the Affairs of the whole Empire in his Absence for the Confirmation of which he produced the Great Seal of Muscovy and that he had given him a most particular Charge to satisfie his faithful Citizens of Puttiwoll that he was alive and in a place of Security He further added that having had such constant and evident Proofs of their Loyalty he had in Obedience to his Master's Commands taken the direct Road to this City to discharge himself of his Commission and to give them fresh Assurances of the Grand Duke's Favour which they had at this time the best Opportunity in the World to improve to their Advantage if as they had done heretofore they would by their Stedfastness shew a good Example to the other neighbouring Cities and acquire to themselves and their Posterity the Glory of an unshaken Loyalty to their natural Prince The Citizens of Puttiwoll being by these speciâ—â—â— Pretences soon inveigled into a Belief of his â—â—â—cere Intentions and taking Compassion on the Misfortune of a Prince whose Interest they had always espoused from the time of his first comiâ—â— out of Poland into Muscovy they after having return'd their most hearty Thanks for the Honour he did them in putting so great a Value upon their Services declared unanimously that they were ready to sacrifice their Lives and what else was dear to them in this World for the Interest of their lawful Prince and that as a Token of their Fidelity they were ready to obey his the Lord Chancellour's Orders till the Great Duke himself should be pleased to honour them with his Presence The Chancellour's Project having thus far succeeded according to Wish 〈…〉 he dispatch'd some Messengers to the Tartars unto whom he represented the Cruelty and Treachery of Zuski and by what good Fortune the Great Duke had escaped his Hands commanding them in his Name to repair at their Rendezvous which he had appointed near Puttiwoll The Cosacks being also inveigled by the same Artifices of Schacopski as they had always adhered to the Interest of Demetrius so they were now the most forward in appearing in Arms for the maintaining of his pretended Right so that the Lord Chancellour seeing himself thus strengthned by a considerable Party of Cosacks Tartars and some Mâ—scovites and by the Surrender of several other Places in the Neighbourhood of Puttiwoll he obliged
them to swear true Allegiance to Demâ—trius with a solemn Promise not to lay down 〈◊〉 Arms till they had been reveng'd of that bloody Usurper Basili-Zuski and restored Demetrius to the Throne of Muscovy It is easie to be imagined that the new Emperour was not a little Alarm'd at so unexpected and unwelcome a piece of News Zuski routed by the â—â—â—trians but believing it most for his purpose to quench the Fire in the Ashes before it should break out into a Flame he marched with what Troops he could get together in haste towards the Enemy But these being in the mean while reinforced by a considerable Body under the Command of a certain Muscovian Lord whose name was Isthoma they Charged Zuski who was at the Head of his Troops with so much Fury that they put him entirely to the rout and remaining thus Masters of the Field pursued him so closely that with much ado he escaped to the City of Musco where he was block'd up by the Enemy who fortified their Camp within a Mile of the City The Poles in the mean while had not been idle but having received Intelligence that a considerable Party in Muscovy had declared for Demetrius they were over-joy'd to have found so â—avourable an Opportunity to revenge upon the Muscovites the Deâ—th of their Countrymen Massacred in their Quarters against the Laws of Nations for which purpose they maintain'd a Correspondency with Schacopski whom they inform'd that they had found out a certain Gentleman in Poland not unlike in his Person to Demetrius who intended to appear at the Head of a considerable Army in Muscovy In the mean while they had got together a Body of twelve thousand Cosacks under the Command of one John Polutnich who being sent by this new Demetrius to reinforce the Army that lay Encamped near the Gates of the City of Musco was by his special Commission constituted General over all his Forces This Polutnich was a Muscovite by Birth and now a Soldier of Fortune he had been bred among the Tartars and serv'd his Apprenticeship in Arms among the Cosacks where he had made himself famous for his extraordinary Atchievments till at last he was taken by the Turks and made a Gally Slave but by good Fortune rescued by the Venetians from thence he took his way through Poland where having met with this new Demetrius he obtained of him the Command over his whole Army Polutnich therefore having pursuant to his Commission join'd the Forces before Musco shew'd his Orders to Isthoma who was forced to obey but being extreamly disgusted at the Affront put upon him to see himself thus neglected and another to reap the fruits of his Victory he with ten thousand Men whom he had debauch'd before and brought over to his Party went over to Zuski who receiv'd him no less than his Tutelar Angel to whom he was indebted for his present Deliverance especially when he assured both him and the People that there was no such Man as Demetrius at Puttiwoll and that the whole was only a Contrivance of Schacopski who by these Intrigues intended to make himself the more Considerable The whole City being not a little over-joy'd at these comfortable Tydings the People as well as the Nobility sent their Deputies into the Camp to Polutnich The first desired that they might be admitted into the Presence of Demetrius their Prince and that they were ready to prostrate themselves at his Feet and to beg pardon for their past Offences Those of the Nobility represented to the General how miserably he was imposed upon by the Artifices of Schacopski that the true Demetrius whose Interest he had espoused was in the presence of a great many Thousands slain in the City of Musco and therefore whoever since had assumed his Name and counterfeited his Person must needs be an Impostor from whom he could expect neither Honour nor Profit That therefore he would be much better advised to leave his Party and to spare the Effusion of Christian Blood by acknowledging Zuski for the lawful Sovereign of Muscovy who would not fail to heap upon him such Honours and Dignities as should be suitable to his Merits Polutnich answer'd like a Man of Honour that he was sorry to understand that they took him to be like Isthoma a Traytor both to his Master and Country That they did him wrong in entertaining so mean an Opinion of him That tho' he was a Soldier of Fortune he would never give Demetrius the least Occasion of repenting himself of the Trust he had put in him That the Prince was certainly in Poland where he had seen and spoke with him and had from his own hands received this Commission of being General of this Army That if they were so nearly touch'd as they pretended in their Consciences with the Effusion of Humane Blood the best way to prevent it would be to return to their true Allegiance and pay to their lawful Prince due Obedience and as a Pledge of their future Fidelity and of their remorse for what was past to deliver up into his Hands the Usurper of his Crown That this was the only means left them to prevent these Evils which they dreaded and by which they might hope to deserve their Pardon and to secure themselves their Wives and Children and the whole City from destruction The Inhabitants of Musco being in no wise satisfied with Polutnich's Answer which served them for a Confirmation of what they had received from Isthoma before to wit That there was no such Man as Demetrius either in the Camp or any where else and encourag'd by the late Defection of Isthoma they resolved unanimously to stand by Zuski and not to hearken to any further Impositions but to treat Polutnich as an Enemy of their Country Pursuant to this Resolution most of the young Men inhabiting the City of Musco were put in Arms and being join'd with such regulated Troops as were brought over by Isthoma they made a furious sally with a hundred and twenty thousand Men and attacking the Demetrian General on all sides in his Entrenchments forced him to retreat to Catuga Zuski after a few days spent in modelling his Army march'd thither in Person and closely besieg'd Schacopski who so bravely defended himself against the Muscovites that he forced them to abandon the Enterprize and march back to Musco with the loss of some Thousands of their best Men. Some time was bestow'd in raising the necessary Recruits so that Polutnich in the mean while having recovered Breath saw himself once more in a Condition to appear with a considerable Body in the Field which having afresh Alarm'd the Great Duke he marched once more against them with a very formidable Army The Demetrians tho' much inferior in Number being as forward as they to come to Blows both Armies were drawn up in order of Battle in a great Plain not many Miles from the City of Thula and were just upon the point of Engaging
one another when a Body of five thousand Muscovites which were posted in the Front of the left Wing of the Demetrian Army instead of attacking the Enemy ran over to them all in a Body which having put Polutnich and the whole Army into a great Consternation it was thought most advisable to avoid fighting and to retreat to Thula Zuski falling in their Rear cut off a considerable number of them closely pursuing the rest to the Walls of the City which was immediately after surrounded by the whole Army and attacked with all the Fury imaginable The besieged having in their Retreat been forced to leave behind them all their Artillery and Ammunition were very ill provided with such Things as were necessary to sustain a Siege nevertheless trusting in their Courage they defended themselves so valiantly that the Muscovites seeing themselves repulsed with great Slaughter in several Attacks were obliged to enclose the City by making strong Line of Circumvallation round about it in hopes to reduce it by Famine which succeeded according to their Expectation For those within by their sudden Retreat haveing had neither Time or Opportunity to put Provisions in the City were in a little time reduced to the greatest Extremity for want of them Schacopski in the mean while was not a little amaz'd that he received not the least News out of Poland whither he had dispatch'd his Messengers to advertise them of the danger they were in and the Inhabitants of Thula who saw themselves reduced to that Extremity as to be forced to feed upon Cats Dogs Horses and such like Things without hopes of Relief began to be mutinous and to accuse both Schacopski and Polutnich of having betrayed them by their fictitious Insinuations as if their Great Duke Demetrius were alive in Poland which if he had been he would not have fail'd to give them his Assistance in this Extremity Schacopski put the best Countenance he could upon the Matter telling them that they could not expect him to come in Person unless back'd with a Force suitable to the Strength of his Enemies and that if they would but have Patience he did not question but in a few days to hear of his approach in order to come to their Relief Polutnich assur'd them upon his Honour that he himself had seen and spoke with a certain Person of about thirty Years of Age who was in Poland acknowledg'd to be the true Demetrius and from whose Hands he had received his Commission that they should not rely upon his Word alone but that he would advise them to send a trusty Messenger of their own one whom they knew to have seen the Prince Demetrius before into Poland to represent to him the true State of their Affairs and to solicite prompt Succors that at his Return he would be ready to join with them in any thing they should think most advisable for their common Safety The Citizens of Thula having given their Consent to this Proposal and dispatch'd a certain Messenger who by favour of the Night and the Carelesness of the Besiegers got safely thro' their Camp without being discovered they gave fresh Assurance of their Stedfastness to Polutnich till the return of this Emissary Schacopski in the mean while was not a little surprised that he could not hear the least Tidings out of Poland but the true Cause was that the Gentleman whom the Poles had engag'd to personate the true Demetrius haveing understood in what ill a posture his Affairs were in Muscovy after the two last Defeats began to retract his Promise of making himself an Instrument to satisfie the Revenge of the Poles upon the Muscovites and setting before his Eyes the fatal End of the late Demetrius Quia me vestigia terrent after he was in Possession of the Empire he look'd upon the Muscovian Throne like the Fox upon the Lion's Den and therefore wisely resolved rather to enjoy himself upon his plentiful Estate in Poland than to expose himself to danger for the imaginary Lustre of a Crown But the Poles being fully resolved not to acquit Zuski thus of the Barbarities committed against their Countrymen Another Demetrius set up by the Poles were not long before they found out another to supply his Place Muscovy so fertile of Impostors soon furnishing them with One whom they look'd upon as a fit Tool to promote their obstinate Revenge against Zuski this was one Ivan or John a Native of Pocala a City of Russia where he had been a School-Master for some time and being grown weary of his Employment took hold of this Opportunity to meliorate his Condition and if possible to change his School Scepter for that of the Muscovian Empire The first who publickly espoused his Interest was one Micharetski a Man of very eminent Quality in Poland who having gathered a considerable Body of Troops they marched at the Head of them to Puttiwoll where having been received with the greatest demonstrations of Joy and Respect due to their Sovereign they directed their March to the City of Staradub where being reinforced by some Muscovites that upon the Rumor spread abroad of the arrival of their Prince Demetrius flock'd in to them from all Parts it was resolved to march with all possible speed to the Relief of Thula The second counterfeit Demetrius Whilst they were concerting Measures to put their intended Design in execution the Messenger from the Citizens of Thula who for fear of being intercepted by the Enemies Parties that were abroad in great Numbers had been obliged to travel a great way about before he arrived at Staradub was introduced into the presence of this new modell'd Demetrius who tho' having some resemblance to the other Demetrius yet was so far different from him whom this Messenger had seen frequently before that he was not a little startled at the sight of it being scarce able to deliver his Message without confusion Demetrius by the dissatisfaction he observed in his Countenance so on guessing at the true Cause of it judged it not advisable to send back his Resolution of marching to the Relief of the Town by this Messenger who he fear'd might by this Discovery raise a great Prejudice in the Place against his Person and Interest wherefore having ordered him to be secur'd under a good Guard upon some Pretence or other he resolved to detain him till he in Person could march to raise the Siege of the Place This precaution Thula surrendred to Zuski tho' in it self founded upon very weighty Reasons yet proved the occasion of the loss of Thula For both the Garrison and Inhabitants of that City not receiving the least Intelligence concerning their Messenger whom they had dispatch'd into Poland they concluded that he must have fallen into the Hands of the Enemies and being reduc'd to the utmost Extreamity for want of Provisions it was resolved with Joint-consent rather to accept of the advantageous Conditions offer'd to them by Zuski than to perish by Famine
to render the Fallacy of his Adversary so evident to the Muscovites as that there should be no room left for any further Doubt to be made upon that score He deputed some Persons of the first Quality and great esteem among the Muscovites to Vgletz to disinterr the Body of the Prince Demetrius which had lain there fifteen years in order to have it conveyed to Musco to be deposited in the Sepulchre of the Grand Dukes of Muscovy Scarce was the Body taken out of the Ground but it was very industriously spread abroad and insinuated into the Muscovites who without the least difficulty receive an Impression which savours of Superstition that it had wrought most surprising Miracles as had been found by the experience of some diseased Persons who had touch'd it by chance They had been very careful in having at hand some suborned Lame and Blind who upon the first touch of it went away upright and clear-sighted besides a great many other pretended Distempers otherwise incurable which were removed in an instant by the miraculous Vertue of this Body They had also taken particular care to bring a Body which having not been long under Ground was as yet uncorrupted so that the Veneration of the Superstitious People being heightned when they found it entire after fifteen Years Burial it was look'd upon as a Crime deserving no less than Death to question the Truth of this Fable for which reason also the People made their Addresses to Zuski desiring that it might remain disinterr'd till a Temple could be built where it should be reverenced as a Saint which at their Importunity was granted them by the Great Duke for that time But not long after wisely considering with himself that such gross Absurdities could not be long hidden from the Eyes of the most quick-sighted and fearing lest the Cheat should be discovered to his Confusion and the no small detriment of his Affairs he caused the Body of this Saint to be suddenly but very solemnly interr'd among the Tombs of the Great Dukes to appease the Murmurs of the common People it was publish'd by Zuski's Order that tho' he did not discommend their Zeal for their Prince whose Memory ought ever to be sacred among them nevertheless that having observed his Subjects to pay the same Veneration to a mortal Creature which was only due to the immortal Creator he had taken this Resolution to deposite his Body amongst his Ancestors rather than to be instrumental in drawing upon himself and his Subjects the Vengeance of God Almighty at this time of imminent Danger when they stood most in need of his Mercy But it is time to return to the Camp where we have left Marina and her Father to recover themselves of their first Surprize occasioned by the Interview we have mentioned before These having in the mean while had sufficient leisure to consult with some of their intimate Friends what was best to be done in the present Emergency of their Affairs whether to accept the Offers of this new modell'd Demetrius who had not been wanting by his Emissaries to insinuate unto them his Pretensions as far as the Nature of so nice a Thing would admit of or to reject them with Scorn and by the Interest of their Friends in the Camp to endeavour their Return to the Court of Sigismund King of Poland They were not a little divided in their Opinions Some of them represented to Marina how ignominious it would be for a Person of her Extraction and Dignity to throw herself away upon an unknown Vagabond whom she herself knew to be an Impostor and set up by the Poles for no other End than to serve their own Turn of revenging themselves upon Zuski and the Muscovites which when they had effected and found themselves strong enough to maintain their Interest in Muscovy without him they would be sure to cast off and throw him upon the Dunghill with no less difficulty than they had taken him up That the Zuskians would not fail to improve the whole to her disadvantage and to alledge against her that she had married a mean Wretch and a suborued Property in hopes to satisfie her own Ambition and to gratify the Ends of a third Party On the other hand it was urged that there being no great likelihood that the Poles should abandon his Interest more than they had done that of the former as being founded upon the same bottom and link'd together by a mutual Interest the most indissoluble Knot of all humane Affairs no sufficient Reason could be alledg'd why she should not as well own this Demetrius as the former being both equally doubtful as to their Descent in relation to the Great Duke John Basilovits and that since she had once had the Misfortune of throwing herself into the Arms of an Impostor she might with the same Reason not refuse the Embraces of a Second when no less than the Crown of so vast an Empire lay at stake That supposing his Birth to be inferior to that of the other Demetrius he was just upon the point of accomplishing his Design and that the Muscovites reduced to the utmost Extremities as soon as they were informed of her having owned him for her Husband would not be long before they would receive him for their Emperour and place him in the Throne of Muscovy That the Crown would soon wipe off all the Stain of his ignoble Birth were it never so base and sordid and exalt him to the same degree with the most illustrious Monarchs of the World Besides that if she refused him she must run a great risque of her Reputation it being beyond all question that Demetrius and his Friends to put the better Colour upon their Pretensions would not fail to publish to the World That indâ—ed she had formerly been his Wife but that since he had Repudiated her by reason of her Incontinency Marina having well weigh'd all the Reasons alledged on both sides as Ambition was the most predominant Passion in her Soul and that she had once tasted of the Sweets of a Crown she inclin'd to the Advice of those who were of Opinion that since she had once sat upon the Throne of Russia she ought not to let slip any Means tho' never so difficult to recover it This Consideration being the most prevailing with the Lady who flatter'd herself with the hopes of better Success in this than the former Marriage she resolved to set aside all Scruples to accommode herself to the present ticklish Juncture of time and not to let slip this Opportunity to re-ascend the Throne of Muscovy which she had lost before almost as soon as she was in Possession of it This Resolution having soon been communicated to Demetrius as the whole Business was a Design of a popular Nature so it was thought most advisable to be transacted in view of the whole Army the better to blind the World and to put some Colour upon the delay of this publick
who was design'd for the Relief of the Castle of Musco he was afraid that if he should prosecute the Victory to the utmost he should rob his Friend to whom he was obliged for his Advancement of the Honour of having delivered the City of Musco into the Hands of King Sigismund so that being contented with having enlarged the Polish Quarters and chased the Muscovites out of their Posts he returned without pursuiâ—â— the Enemy having let slip a fair Opportunity of securing this Imperial City and consequently the whole Empire for King Sigismund both which were not long afâ—er lost by the King 's ill Conduct and the Jealousies which reigned among his Generals as we shall have Occasion to relate anon For tho' the Poles flush'd with this Success reassumed new Courage for a little time yet finding the Enemy after his first Consternation was over to attack them afresh with more Vigour than ever and by degrees to drive them out of their most advanced Posts and that they had but little Hopes of any solid Supply out of Poland which might be sufficient to divert the whole Force of Muscovy they in a mutinous Manner demanded their Pay declaring that they would no longer expose themselves to such Hazards without the least â—opes of Relief or Reward Gaziowski endeavouring by all means possible to appease the Tumult which was fomented by the Divisions among the Chief Officers it was agreed that Letters should be once more dispatched into Poland by a trusty Messenger after whose Return they should be at Liberty â—o dispose of themselves as they found it most convenient to the present Circumstances of their Affairs Accordingly a Letter was sent to King Sigismund written in the Name of the Polish Garrison of the Castle of Musco wherein having represented to the King how faithfully they had served him in their Station how they had held out for a considerable time against the whole Force of Muscovy struggled with Famine and all other Inconveniencies which must be the necessary Consequences of so long a Siege they found themselves and their Services neglected by not receiving any Supplies of Men or Money that their Condition was such as not to be able to defend themselves much longer against so numerous an Army if not powerfully assisted by the King That therefore they were obliged to consult their own Safety and to declare that if by the sixth of January next ensuing their Prince Vladislaus were not sent to their Assistance with a considerable Body of Troops and all other things requisite to enable him to maintain his just Claim by Virtue of the last Election to the Muscovian Crown they were unanimously resolv'd to quit the Castle to march back into Poland and to require their Arrears King Sigismund being not a little startled at the peremptory Demands of the Soldiery in Musco was uncertain what Measures to take to maintain his Interest in the Russian Empire but remaining stedfast in his Resolution not to send his Son Vladislaus he order'd Charles Chodkievitski Lieutenant-General of the Lithuanian Army to march with some Thousands of his best Troops towards the City of Musco and to maintain the Castle against the Muscovites till he having settled his Affâ—â—â—s at Home should be at leisure to march the next Spring to their Assistance with a Royal Army Potocki Palatine of Braclovia was at that time Commander in Chief over those Forces that were left for the Guard of â—he Province and City of Smolensko who had signaliz'd himself upon several Occasions at the Siege of that Place and being an intimate Friend of Gaziowski the Polish General within the Castle of Musco look'd with a very ill Eye upon this Advancement of Chodkievitski which he thought to have been due to himself or at least to his Friend Gaziowski and therefore resolved to thwart all his Designs For which purpose it was insinuated into the Chief Officers That Chodkievitski was sent with an Army out of Poland to prosecute the Muscovian War and to take Possession of the Imperial City to the gaining of which he had contributed little or nothing to defraud them of the Honour and Rewards of their past Labours The common Souldiers being also terrified with his Severity in Martial Discipline by the Artifices of Potocki's Emissaries were prepossess'd with such an Aversion against his Person that at his Arrival they refused to obey his Commands neither â—ould they be prevailed upon to make any more Sallies which the Muscovites improving to their Advantage straightned them more and more without any considerable Opposition The time was thus trifled away in Contests within the Castle till the sixth of January the Day prefix'd for the Departure of the Garrison in their Letter to King Sigismund if Prince Vladislaus did not come to their Relief when they unanimously declar'd That they would march directly into Poland to get Satisfaction for their Arrears Chodkievitski with all the Head Officers of his Party did omit nothing which they believ'd might keep them in Obedience they endeavâ—ured by Entreaties Promises and Threats to induce them to alter or at least to deferr their Resolution but in vain For having chosen one Joseph Cieclinski their General they march'd to the Number of betwixt seven and eight thousand Men most Horse out of the Castle and having opened their Passage with their Swords thorow their Enemies directed their March to the Lesser Poland where having distributed their Troops into several Palatinates they made Leopolis their Head Quarters and seiz'd not only upon the King 's Domains but also upon the Ecclesiastical Revenues for the Satisfaction of their Arrears There was however a Body of four thousand Men to wit that commanded by Sapiha left for the Guard of the Castle of Musco who were at last prevail'd upon to stay for some time longer by the pâ—ospect of great Advantages having all the Crown-Jewels of Muscovy consisting of two Crowns of Gold beset with Gems two Sceptres with Diamonds two Ducal Bonnets the Golden Apple and other precious Stones of great Value put into their Hands as a Pledge for their Pay Potocki having thus far succeeded in his Design and finding things reduc'd to Extremity by his Contrivances he thought it now fit time to step in for the Preseâ—vation of the Place for which purpose he sent a considerable Force from Smolensko under the Command of Konickpotski a Creature of his own and not long after his near Kinsman Nicholas Strusius with part of the Garrison of Smolensko to the Assistance of those within the Castle of Musco They entred without the least Opposition thro' that Pass which the Poles had as yet maintain'd on the other side of the River Mosca and those within being reinforc'd and encourag'd by so considerable a Number of fâ—esh Tâ—oops might without all 〈◊〉 not only have maintain'd but also have enlarg'd their Quarters if the Jealousie and Envy that reign'd among the Officers had not rendred all the Designs of Chodkicvitski fruitless
a Present the sooner make their own Peace and obtain Pardon for their Rebellion resolved to seize him and to deliver him up to the Muscovites They were just upon the point of putting their Design in Execution when he mistrusting the Matter clapp'd Spurs to his Horse and would without Question have saved himself by the Swiftness of his Horse if he had not been overtaken by an Arrow out of a Cosacks Bow Is taken and executed which having wounded him in the Shoulder he was taken and being bound Hand and Foot sent to the City of Musco where he was hang'd in a Chain before one of the Gates of that City The Muscovites in the mean while having consulted their own Safety after some Contests among the Nobles at last by the universal Suffrage of the People chose Michael Federovits the fatal Youth so much feared by Zuski their Great Duke who happily maintained himself in the Throne and restored Tranquility to the shatter'd Empire of Muscovy as will appear out of the following Chapter CHAP. IV. Containing the History of the Reigns of Michael Federovits of Alexi Michaelovits his Son and Fedor Alexiovits the Eldest Brother of the present Grand Czar of Muscovy MIchael Federovite was the Son of Fedor Nikitis who being descended from the Race of the Great Duke John Basilovits by one of his Daughtters had during the last Troubles in Muscovy lived a very retired life And at last having forsaken his Wife for God's sakâ— as they call it in Muscovy embraced a Religious Life and soon after was made Patriarch when he changed the Name of Fedor into Philaretes His Son was scarce seventeen years of Age when he was crown'd Great Duke of Russia in the Year 1613 with one of the Diadems which they found among the Rapines of the Poles notwithstanding which he governed the Russian Empire with a great deal of Prudence taking the Advice of his ablest Counsellors but especially of his Father in all Matters of any Moment The first thing he did after his Coronation was to recompence the Services of Prosowecki Boris Sicin and the General of the Dunensian Cosacks who had not only signaliz'd themselves by their Zeal in driving the Poles out of Muscovy Truce begun beâ—wixt the new Great Duke and the Poles but also had been very instrumental in his Election Those he constituted Generals of his Armies and by their Valour obliged the Poles to emancipate them from the Oath which the Muscovites had sworn to Vladislaus their Prince who was forced to make a Truce with this new Great Duke for fourteen Years yet under these Conditions That the Poles should keep in the mean time in their Possession the Dukedoms of Severia Zeâ—ikow and Smolensko which they had taken during the late Troubles in Muscovy He also renewed the Antient Alliances with the other neighbouring Princes and as he was of a very good Nature so by the Mildness of his Government he abolished the Memory of his Predecessors Cruelties that it is granted the Muscovites never enjoyed a more peaceable and happy Government for many Ages before His Father for whom he had always expressed so much Respect as not only to admit him to all Publick Audiences and Ceremonies where he gave him Precedence died in the Year 1633. Which had almost proved fatal to his Affairs by the unfortunate Siege of Smolensko if by a seasonable Peace he had not prevented the ill Consequences of so signal a Disgrace For the Truce with the Poles being expired some Years before and Michael Eederovits being resolved to remove these troublesome Neighbours at some further Distance from his Frontiers and to draw out the Thorn which stuck so close in his Flesh meditated the Siege of Smolensko For which purpose he had brought together an Army of above anâ— Hundred thousand Men among whom were several Thousand Germans and several Muscovian Regiments exercised according to the German Discipline and commanded by foreign Officers 〈…〉 and a great Train of Artillery consisting of three hundred Pieces of Cannon and all other things requisite to carry on the Siege with the utmost Vigour under the Command of one Herman Shein a Polander who by his changing Religion had gained him the Affection and Favour of the New Patriarch The Reduction of the Place seemed to be so much the easier in that the City is encompassed with Hills and only one single Wall built after the old Fashion without any Out-works or Ditch and that the Polish Garrison was not very numerous The new Great Duke besieges Smoâ—ensko For which Reason the Great Duke having ordered to attack it with all imaginable Vigour the Place was closely besieged in the Year 1633. The Germans soon made a large Breach in the Wall on their side and were resolved to give the Assault which was opposed by the General saying That it would be a Reproach to the whole Muscovite Army that a Handful of Germans should carry away the Honour of the Siege but these being encouraged by the rest of the Foreign Officers of several Nations mounted the Breach and were in a manner Masters of it when they received positive Orders from the General to retreat and that in case of Refusal he would turn his Cannon upon them So that not daring to make any further Attempt the whole Army continued the Siege without doing any thing worth taking Notice of Vladistaus the New King of Poland had in the mean while Leisure given him to get together a Body of Troops and being encouraged by the Divisions among the Officers in the Muscovite Camp or invited on purpose as some will have it by the Muscovian General Herman Shein marched to the Relief of the Place The City of Smolensko is surrounded with Hills and vast Woods which gave sufficient Opportunity to the Poles to possess themselves of those few Avenues that led to the Muscovian Camp Disgrace received before Smolensko and by which they received their Provisions so as that in a little time the Muscovites were reduced to such Straights for want of all manner of Necessaries that the General to prevent their being starved was forced to capitulate with the Poles to surrender the whole Army and Artillery at Discretion which was to be ransomed by the Great Duke The Loss of so great an Army put the whole Empire under a great Consternation and things began to look with a very ill Face especially when the People began to murmur openly and some of the great ones were suspected to have a Finger in the Treason King Vladislaus sent an Ambassador to the Great Duke immediately after this Defeat of the Muscovites who by his Insolent Behaviour sufficiently exprest the Sense the Poles had of the present turbulent State of the Russian Empire He caused the Muscovite Pristafs to alight and to uncover themselves first which they refuse to all other Nations declaring publickly that he was not come there to do the Muscovites any Honour but to receive
could in any wise contribute to overcome his Obstinacy and induce him to an ingenuous Confession one John Plessou who had been his intimate Friend and with whom he had left his Son before he retired into Poland with several others of his Fellow-Officers at the Tavern-Office were brought before him who each in their turn endeavouring to convince him of his Error and representing to him the Danger wherein he put his Soul in the Condition he was in exhorting him to pull off the Mask which he had made use of for some Years past to cheat the World and to create new Disturbances and infinite Miseries to his Native Country That the whole Mistery of his Impostures being revealed to the World by so many undeniable Witnesses there present he should not rely any longer upon these vain Elusions but consult the eternal Welfare of his Soul and not draw any further the weight of God's Vengeance upon himself He seemed to be moved at their Discourse but continued so obstinate in his former Resolution that he would not speak one Word afterwards The next day he was again put to the Torture which he endured with the same Resolution not vouchsafing to speak one Word Being searched and found circumcised he was immediately carried to the Great Market-place before the Castle where Sentence was pronounced against him and put in Execution First they cut off with an Ax his Right Arm below the Elbow Is execuâ—ed then his left Leg below the Knee next the Left Arm and Right Leg in the same manner all which he endured with an unparalell'd Constancy and without as much as a Groan Last of all the Head being severed from his Body and the Members being set upon Stakes in the Market-place and the Trunck left upon the Ground the last was in the Night devoured by the Dogs and the next morning the Executioner's Servants dragg'd the Members to the place where all the City-Dirt is thrown It is to be observed that some time before a Polish Ambassador was arrived in the City of Muscoâ— And the Muscovites who still bore a Grudge to the Poles on the Account of the Miseries they had endured in their last Civil Dissentions occasioned by the Contrivances of the several Impostors encouraged by the Poles had so well timed it as to give Audience to the Ambassador the same day that Timoska was put to death and to lead him in State through the Market-place just at the very Hour of his Execution where under some pretence or other contrived for that purpose they make a Halt that he might be an Eye-Witness and be able to give an Account in Poland of the tragical Exit of that Imposter whom they had looked upon there as Son to the Great Duke Basili Zuski Kostkaâ— the Servant of Timoska whom we mentioned before to have been carried loaden with Irons out of Sweden into Muscovy having made an ingenuous Confession of the whole Matter was pardoned as to his Life and his Punishment changed into that of losing three Fingers of his Right Hand But the Religion of the Muscovites obliging them to make the Sign of the Cross with their Right Hand thâ—s Punishment was again by the Intercession of the Patriarch moderated so that the same was executed upon his Left Hand after which he was banished into Siberia We said before that the Great Duke Michael Fâ—derovits died in the Year 1645. The next day being the 13th of July the Knez and Boyars theâ— present Alex is Michaâ—lovits crowned resolved unanimously to hasten the Coronation of Alexis Michaelovits his Son who was then not full sixteen Years of Age He was born in the Year 1630 on the 17th of March and had been by his Father committed to the Carâ— of Knez Boris Ivanovâ—s Morosou a Person of very high Extraction and extraordinary Ability It is beyond our Scope to relate here the Rise of the Family of the Romanow's from whence the Family of the present Czar derives its Origin one of the most Antient in Muscovy who first assumed the Name of Czar from whence descended Basil the Father of that Famous Tyrant John Basilovits who reduced most of the neighbouring Princes under the Obedience of the Russian Empire But the Muscovites relate a Story of the Father of this Boris Ivancvits Morosou which may not be beyond our purpose to be inserted here It seems he was a Favorite of the Tyrant John Basilovits and being a Widower presumed so much upon his Interest with the Great Duke that he begged a certain handsom Lady which had been the Tyrant's Mistress for a Wife The Great Duke granted his Request without the least Difficulty but whether it was that he repented himself of what was done or meerly to gratifie his cruel Temper he having got notice that the said Morosou and his new married Lady were at their amorous Sports one Afternoon in a withdrawing Room behind the Bath-stove he got secretly two wild Bears conveyed into the Room who immediately fell upon them and devoured them both This Morosou left two Sons Boris and Câ—leab who being very young were educated by the said Tyrant the eldest of which having improved the Advantages of his high Birth and Education above the ordinary Degree during the intestine Commotions in the Russian Empire was as I said before constituted by Czar Michael Federovits Governour over his Son Alexis Michaelovits whom he used frequently to charge to follow his Advice in all Affairs of Moment Knez Boris Ivanovits Morosou fearing that his Enemies might take Advantage of the Princes tender Years had the Coronation Ceremony performed a few days after his Father's Death who was according to the Russian Fashion deposited in the Church of S. Michael wherein are the Sepulchers of the Great Dukes the next Night after his Decease which was not performed with all the usual Pomp they wanting time to send for all those who are obliged to be present at this Solemnity After the Coronation was over Morosou changed the Quality of Governour into that of Protector exercising during the Princes Minority the same Power in the disposing of his Affairs as he had done over his Person during his Father's Life Knowing the young Great Duke to entertain 〈◊〉 most profound Reverence for the Dutchess Dowager his Mother he bestowed great Employments upon all her Kindred whom he preferred to the best Governments in the Empire but at 〈◊〉 stance from Court as made them incapable of opposing his Interest The same Method he made use of in regard of the Antient Nobility and such as had had the chief Administration of Affairs in the late Great Duke s Reign whom he sent away from the Princes Peâ—sâ—â— to far distant Countries â— Thus he did with the 〈◊〉 Rippine and Corakin the first of whom he constituted Governour of Nisi Novogorod the last of Caâ—an Having thus removed from the Princes Person all such as he thought might any way oppose his Greatness and filled all Places of Profit
other publick Buildings This Man being entrusted with a Commission of so large an Extent did abuse his Trust to the great oppression of the People For there was no Extortion so great which he was not ready to undertake He would receive Presents from both Parties and afterwards leave them in the lurch But not content with this his common Practice was to suborn false Witnesses whose employment was to bring in Charges against such of the Citizens of Musco as he knew to be rich enough to redeem themselves out of his Persecutions For whenever they fell into his hands he did not fail by imprisoning and other violent and oppressive Methods to oblige them to purchase their Liberty and his Favour with the ruine of their Fortunes He had a Brother-in-Law whose name was Peter Tichonovits Trochanistou one of those whom in Muscovy they call Ocolnits who are one degree under the Boyars who are chosen out of their Number Him they had made President of the Puskarskoy Pricas and consequently had the oversight over all the Great Duke's Founders Furbishers Cannoneers Armourers Smiths and Carpenters who wrought to the Arsenal These Mechanicks were usually paid once a Month according to the Custom of Mâ—â—covy where Payments are made with greater Exactness than in any other Part of Europe instead of which he used to keep them in Arrears for many Months together and in the mean while to make use of their Money to his own Advantage and when he had thus droven them to extremity to foice them to compound for half or what they could get and to give Acquittance for the whole Sum. Miloslauski and Morosou play'd the same Game in their several Stations not only by selling at an excessive Rate all the Employments in the Kingdom but also by procuring Monopolies which ruined the Trade of the whole Empire Among others they had got a Patent for one of their own Gang prohibiting the further use of the common Ells hitherto used in Muscovy but instead of that to make use of certain Iron ones with the Great Duke's Mark upon them on purpose to oblige the People to buy the latter at the Price of a Crown per Piece whereas they used to buy the others at 8 or 10 d. a Piece whereby a necessity being laid upon the whole Kingdom of having them from the Patentees at their own Price they gathered a vast Sum of Money without giving any Account of it to the Great Duke's Treasury They had also found out another Invention to raise the Price of Salt from twenty to thirty Pence per Measure containing about forty Pound Weight This proved a heavy Burthen to the People and of no Advantage to the Great Duke For the dearness of the Salt had hindred the Sale of it so that â—bundance of Fish being lost for want of Salting the Great Duke's Revenue suffered by it upon a double Account The Inhabitants of Musco had enjoyed the Fruits of a very quiet and mild Government under the Reign of his late Czarish Majesty who being a Prince of incomparable Clemency endeavoured thro' the whole course of his Reign to make the Government easie to his Subjects who had so long groan'd under the Calamities of their civil Diâ—tensions so that finding themselves thus oppressed beyond all measure they could not brook this sudden Change without shewing publickly their Resentments The Muscovites seldom or never make their Cabâ—s over the Bottle they do not look upon strong Liquor to be a suitable Companion for those who intend to treat of States Affairs they make use of their Hydromel and Aqua vitae according to it's primitive and genuine Institution to exhilerate the Mind and drive away Cares As they are the greatest Zealots in the World so they begin commonly their States Reformations a Jove after they have been at Divine Service Here it was the Chief Citizens used to meet and to utter their Complaints against the Oppressions which they groaned under by the Mismanagement of the Ministers of State and resolved at last to Petition the Great Duke for a Redress of their Grievances But the main difficulty was who among them all durst be so venturesome as to deliver the Petitiâ—â— so that no body being willing to undertake that Task a certain day was appointed to give it to the Great Duke himself with joint Consent as he should come out of the Castle to go to his Devotion They were as yet not so bold as to dare to attempt any thing against Morosou by reason of his near Alliance to the Great Dutchess tho' they knew him to be the main Istrument of these Calamities they suffered but their Petition was for the present chiefly levell'd against Lepont Stepanovits Plessou who by his most barbarous Exactions being become insupportable to them they desired that he might be removed from his Office and his Place be supplied by some Person of known Integrity of whom the People might expect more Justice They had watched several Opportunities to deliver it to the Prince himself as he was going to his Devotions or Divertisements but in vain for the Boyars who attended his Person had always took it from them telling them that they would make a Report of it to the Great Duke but this being done according to the Instructions received from Morosou the Petition was not as much as answered much less their Grievances redressed This hapning so often that they found themselves absolutely mistaken in their whole Expectation it was resolved that they should meet together and inspite of all the Opposition from the Boyars make their Complaints to the Great Duke by way of Mouth The sixth of July in the Year 1648 was pitch'd upon as a day fit for the execution of their Design when they knew the Great Duke was to be present at a Procession to be made to a Monastery in the City called Stertenski The People were got early together in the Morning in the great Market-place before the Castle to see him and his Cavalcade pass by as they were wont to do upon such like Occasions But whether it was that they did not think themselves strong enough other that their Leaders were not present they did not make the least Signs of dissatisfaction at his going to the Monastery But at his return they broke through those that attended the Great Duke came up to him stay'd him and taking hold of his Horses Bridle intreated him to take their present Case into his Consideration to hearken to the just Complaints of his Subjects concerning the Injustices and Violences committed by Plessou desiring that a Person of known Integrity might be put in his Place who should better discharge so great a Trust The Great Duke was not a little startled at this unexpected procedure of the populace but dissembling both his Surprize and Resentment he spoke to them with a very chearful Countenance telling them that he was much troubled to understand the Grievances of his good Subjects occasioned by the
after gave them such evident proofs of his great ability in the art of Government that they were satisfied their hopes would not fall short of their expectation especially when the CzaritZa within a twelve Month after brought forth as Young Prince who being now about Eight Years of Age gives all the imaginable hopes of being one day the inheritor of his Father's Vertues and Dominions For after the Removal of GalliZin having taken the Reins of the Government into his own hands and consequently suppres'd that Faction which hitherto had in a measure opposed his Greatness he began to lay the foundation towards the accomplishment of these designs which within these few Years last past have been the Admiration of all Europe and caused Terror to his Enemies The unfortunate War in which the Turks were engaged against the Emperour Poles and Venetians having sufficiently disenabled them to send any considerable Succours to the Crim Tartars The War against the Crim Tartars the hereditary Enemies of Muscovy which has so often felt the direful effects of their barbarous Cruelties the present juncture of time was look'd upon as the most favourable to reduce these troublesome Neighbours under the Obedience of the Russian Empire For which purpose a considerable Army having been brought into the field the Siege of Asaph was resolved on which City being seated at the mouth of the River Don or Tanais where it discharges itself into the Palus Meotides or the Sea of Zabacçhe is the Inlet into the lesser Tartary and conquently facilitates the Conquest of the Crim Tartars inhabiting the Taurica Chersonesus The Muscovites attack'd the City very vigourously but being destitute of Shipping and not sufficiently provided with good Canoneers they could not hinder the Turks from bringing in at several times fresh supplies of Men Ammunition and other necessaries whereby they were obliged at the approach of the Winter Season to raise the Siege for that time But the Czar was so far from being discouraged by this retreat that he resolved to repair this disgrace and to make himself master of the place let it cost what it will For which purpose having order'd a considerable number of Ships to be built and mann'd to prevent their Communication with the Sea and obtained a good number of Engineers Bombardeers and Canoneers from the Emperour Venetians Elector of Brandenburgh and some other Christian Princes he resolved to take the field in person in the ensuing year so soon as the Rivers should become Navigable and to open the Campaign with the Siege of Asoph Pursuant to this resolution having ordered a vast Train of Artillery Besiege Asoph consisting of 400 Pieces of Cannon and 150 Mortars to be got ready he Marched with a very numerous Army commanded under him by his Favourite the General and Admiral Le Fort the Chief of the Ambassy now in Holland by Mr. Gourdon a Scotchman and Afranou Nichelouits a Muscovite and laid close Seige to the said City whilst his Fleet guarded the Port and prevented any Supplies from coming to their Relief that way and the Cosack Generals MaZepa and Paley advanced in two distinct Bodies towards the Boristhenes to give a powerful diversion to the Crim Tartars on that side The Tartars within defended themselves for some time with bravery enough notwithstanding the great havock made by the Muscovite Bombs under the direction of the Foreign Bombardiers but finding themselves disappointed in their hopes of Relief by Sea the Muscovites having defeated those that came to their Assistance they beat a parley Takes Asoph by composition and Surrendered themselves upon certain Articles to the Czar After the taking of Asoph he advanced to Karikeumen which by the force of his Bombs he soon obliged to Surrender at discretion All the Castles and Places thereabouts underwent the same fate most of which he caused to be demolish'd unless it was Taran where he left a very good Garrison The same Summer the Cosacks had made themselves Masters of several Strong Forts on the Boristhenes which may in time much facilite the taking of Precop Scituate at the very entrance of the Taurica Chersonesus The Czar after the Conquest of a place so considerable for its Situation was received at his return by his Subjects inhabiting the City of Musco Enters Mosco in Triumph with all the demostrations of joy and other Honours due to a Conquerour For at his Entrance there were Triumphal Arches erected representing the Conquests of Asoph and other places taken by him the Summer before And as he went through the City to the Castle he was preceeded by the General Le Fort in a Litter and by General Gourdon on Horse back But what was most pleasing to the People was the Leading it Triumph of a certain noted Deserter who 's name was Jacob. He being taken at the Surrender of Asoph was brought into Muscovy and to compleat the Show was placed upon a high Waggon Seated under a Gibbet upon which he was hanged the next day after this Solemn Entry His next care was to send an Envoy to the-Court of Vienna not only to give an exact account of the Success of his Arms against the Infidels but more particularly to enter into a more strict Alliance with the rest of the Confederates against the Turks And having received certain intelligence that the French Ambassador in Poland was labouring for the advancing of the Prince of Conti to the Polish Crown he gave the Polish Nobility to understand by his Minister Resident in Poland that in case they should advance the Prince of Conti or any other Frenchman to the Throne they must expect to be treated as Enemies he looking upon the French Nation joyned in Alliance with the Turks to stand in opposition to the General Interest of Christendom In the mean while the Negotiation at Vienna Concludes an Alliance with the Confederates against the Turks concerning the Alliance against the Infidels went on with good Success the main Scruple to be removed being about the time of the Continuance of this Alliance and which the Muscovites desired to be for Seven Years whereas the Emperor and the Venetians insisted to have it continued for no longer than three Years But the Czar having sent new Instructions to his Envoy with full power to conclude the said Negotiation according to the Proposals made by the rest of the Confederates all things were at last agreed on to the Satisfaction of all the parties concerned in the Alliance and the Treaty was Sign'd and Ratifi'd at Vienna in the Presence of the Venetian Resident containing besides several others these three following Articles That the Alliance shall last three Years at least reserving to the Parties concerned the power to renew it after that time is expired if they think fit That none of the Parties shall make Peace without the Knowledge and Consent of the other And Lastly that in Case the Enemy shall make any Proposals of Peace to any one of the