Pillage of it with all their Cannon and Baggage The Germans a Mercenary Soldatesque took pay in the Polish Army the rest of the Captives the Colours and other Ensignes of Victory were sent to the King at Smolensko who shewed them to the Besieged with what Military Pomp and Ostentation they could be exposed who were also invited to a Surrender after so signal and irrecoverable a loss but to no purpose for Sehin being of an intrepid Courage as if he alone would stay the declining fate of his Country did dare singly to resist the course of so many Victories Volviovius lay at Czarow with a Party of 8000 Zuis kians but terrified with this Success did upon the first Summons render himself and his Army to the Conquerors discretion Czarow being taken the Polish Army marched towards Musko whither the Sapihans having routed the Zuiskian Tartars at Troycze and a thousand Muskovites at Borowsko did also hasten The Russians broken with so many evils being vanquished at Clusinum at Troycze and at Borowsko and seeing the Poles approached their City and that the Demetrians did meditate a new Siege and finally being the Germans were revolted to the Enemy and that there was no appearance of repairing their ruined Troops did not know to what Saint to devote themselves or how to extricate themselves out of so many impending miseries At length after many and various agitations and consultations they fix upon an expedient of a very extraordinary nature for their deliverance In the first place they seize upon and depose their Great Duke Basilius Zuiski as the unhappy Author of all their miscarriages and infamous for his Misfortunes his Tyranny and his Sorceries with which they charged him and with a passion equal with that wherewith they had raised him to the Throne they pulled him down again and thrust him into a Cloyster giving at the same time out that they would elect Vladislaws King Sigismund's Son Great Duke in his stead proposing by this means that they should quit their hands of Demetrius whom they equally scorned and hated take away the cause of the War in one instant and compose their harrassed Country with such a Government that would immediately rescue them from all other pretensions They knew the Poles whom they naturally hated like emulous Neighbours would become secure by this Election and that they themselves having breathed a while and quit themselves of the War should be able either to elude the Election of Vladislaws or remove him as obnoxious to their Artifices by reason of his Childhood in due time They then proposed to themselves the choice of a Prince of their own Blood and Manners and the reverting of their Government into its antient Channel all which hapned as they did designe and their Counsels laid upon profound Reasons of State had a Success accordingly The Poles sway'd by a nearer Interest than that of Demetrius had no care of recruiting his Party but on the contrary prepared for the reinforcing of the City of Musko against his Attempts in order whereunto upon this bare Promise of chusing Vladislaws for their Great Duke Zalkievius sent Troops to their Aid to defend them against Demetrius and following himself with the whole Army he sate down on the East-side of the City Demetrius his Camp being on the other and a while after the Gates being set open for him he marched through the City and encamped with all his forces near Demetrius his Camp It was no hard matter for Zolkievius to debauch the Sapihans upon his engagement for the Publike Faith of the Kingdom of Poland to be given them for their Arrears so that they revolted unanimously to him Demetrius thus forsaken by them he confided most in retreated again to Caluga as an auspicious place for the shelter he had formerly received there His most faithful Friends as if they had been obliged to his Fortune not to him did in this disastrous juncture of his Affairs expose him to his own despair Zarucki that courageous Leader of the Dunensian Cossacks with Kasinowski Prince of Tartary his greatest Confidents did likewise leave him for a time submitting themselves with the rest to the will of the Conquereror The Muskovites being freed from Demetrius would have respited the Election of their new Duke but that there was no other choice now left them They had an Army in their Bowels resolved not to quit the City till they saw their Prince seated upon the Throne They therefore proceeded to the Election according to the usual Ceremonies causing him though absent to be Proclaimed and Fealty sworn to him as Great Duke and Emperour hiding all their secret aversions under the Mask of Joy and Acclamations and that they might remove all shadow of suspition from themselves they delivered the unfortunate Basilius Zuiski with his Brethren John and Demetrius into Zolkievius his hands who also engaged as likewise the great Officers of his Army to the Russians that the new Duke should speedily come to them conserve their Religion inviolable and maintain all the Priviledges of the Nobility and People And thus was the Government upon a sudden translated into new hands SECT IV. The Muskovites deal fraudulently with the Poles refusing to deliver Smolensko in Prince Uladislaws's Name Zolkievius lodges his Army in Mosko but being disgusted returns into Poland Demetrius is slain by his Guards The Russians revolt from the Poles and fight them in their Chief City Smolensko is taken and King Sigismund returns into Poland Zolkievius his Triumph Life and Death The Poles plunder the Ducal Treasury but being closely besieged in the Palace are forced to surrender King Sigismund returns but too late to the relief of Musko Marina and her Son are drowned being thrust under the Ice Zarucki is impaled Another Pseudo-Demetrius Who he was He gathers an Army but is delivered up by his own men Michael Federowicz is chosen Duke of Muskovy by whose Command this last Demetrius is hanged ZViski being thus laid aside and Vladislaws chosen in his place there was a splendid Embassy sent to King Sigismund still before Smolensko with an account of what they had done They were received with much Honour many prime Courtiers and all the Horse being sent to meet them Being introduced into the King's presence they humbly besought him in the name of all the Orders of Muskovy that he would be pleased to take them and their afflicted Country into his Royal protection They then sollicite the speedy dispatch of the Prince to them that in order to the compleating of their unanimous Election he might publikely be Crowned in the Royal City Great Duke and Emperour and that they might enjoy the comfort of his Presence and Protection They likewise brought with them the Conditions upon which he was to be received wherein the most considerable were That a General Amnesty and Act of Oblivion should be passed and all their Laws and Customs confirmed and established and that for the better settlement
that that Impostor might be forthwith delivered into the Great Duke his Masters hands whom he would unmask and render him to the World in his native Complexion a mean Creature set up by the Malice of a discontented Priest And then concluded that in case the King and Kingdom of Poland shall decline those equitable demands they would create to them an Enemy one of the greatest Princes of the World And thus having sprinkled his desires with a mixture of some Threats he added Rich Presents which were distributed amongst the Ministers of State and indeed most of those in Credit about the King with an open hand so that there were very few but tasted of Muskovitish Bounty But all this state and charge amounted to nothing the Interest of the Jesuites added to the Authority of the Pope had rendered the King and his Council deaf to the applications of the Embassador It was therefore resolved that Demetrius should be assisted with fresh supplies in order to his Restauration which was considered as the only Basis upon which to lay the Foundation of a perpetual League between both Crowns and the only means to root out that Schism in Religion which hitherto had fomented their Quarrels their affection being swayed by their faith These Resolutions were kept secret as the Arcana Imperii for they did not judge it fit to come to an open Rupture till they saw what was like to be the Success of Demetrius his Arms. Their Answer therefore was that the King and State of Poland knew nothing at least took no notice of what was done in Muskovy and that those Tumults raised by Demetrius a Muskovian born and Aided by Muskovians or any other Voluntiers engaged in his designes did not at all infringe or so much as trench upon the League which they should be always ready to observe towards that Crown and Empire The Embassador being dismissed with this general Answer without effecting what he came for In the mean time the Armies in Muskovy were drawn within sight of each other equal in hopes and desires though not in numbers Demetrius upon the Enemies advance raised his Siege and having chosen his ground with respect to the number of his men wherein he was inferiour to Boris he was not without some hopes that some part of the Enemies Army would upon the closing come over to him having held an intelligence with some of their Officers to that purpose But there appearing so formidable a power of the Muskovites and but a handful of men with Demetrius those who had made him a promise of coming over to his side judged it more adviseable to adhere to their own The Armies were now drawn so neer each other that it was impossible to part without Engaging Demetrius therefore and the Palatine judging their safety depended upon their Courage received the Enemies Charge as men resolved to conquer or lie by it not onely sustaining but resisting the fury of their Enemies The Success was a while disputed with doubtful hopes till at last the Victory began to declare it self for the more numerous Force which powring in fresh supplies the Polonian was forced to shrink under the impressions of the multitude after they had given testimonies of great resolutions having fought it out with so great a pertinacie that the Victory cost Boris the loss of many of his men His General received several wounds and it was with much difficulty that the Enemy quitted the ground at last they were disordered and broke saving themselves by flight Demetrius having rallied some few of his Troops retreated to Ribscum and the Palatine returned into Poland to raise new Forces having left 8000 of his men upon the place with all his Cannon and Baggage The tidings of this Victory was carried to Boris the Great Duke by Bosmanno the Governour of Novogrod whom Boris received as his better Angel and the General having rendered him with an advantagious character caused him to be presented with a great Bason of pure Gold filled with Ducats of the same Mettal and all the Officers of the Army with Medals and increase of Pay The Borisians shewed more Courage in gaining this Victory than Conduct in improving it to their advantage wasting their time at the Siege of Krom whilst the Enemy had room without interruption to gather together their scattered Troops who had they been chased while their fears had been upon them must necessarily have fallen into the hands of the Conquerours and then the Garrisons had followed their Fate But the Great Dukes Army being fate down bâ—â—â—re Krom the place was defended againse them with so great a Courage that they despaired of taking it whereupon the greater part of the Army being reinforced with fresh men marched towards Ribscum in order to the scattering of Demetrius his Forces and the interrupting of his Levies He upon this defeat found the experience of those friends which had been made with his Successes not himself Many who had run in upon the fame of his prosperous March ran now from him as from a falling house that would in its own ruine involve those within it Yet was not he wanting to himself having his Courage cherished by two Cistercian Monks and two Jesuites who attended him especially the latter in all his adventures These inflame him to a perseverance with promises that the Issue would be Crowned with Success to him and confusion to his Enemies In the mean time the Borisians advanced towards him upon intelligence whereof he sent out his Horse to face them while he was drawing up his Foot Who had seen the great disproportion between both Armies the one of a vast Body of Horse and Foot fleshed with Victory a great Train of Artillery Carriages the other not exceeding 5000 effective men those abounding with wants most of them Raw and Undisciplined and the rest the remnant of a defeated Army might reasonably have guessed at the Success But the power of Fortune or rather of Providence in this juncture appeared beyond humane expectation Demetrius was in a strange Country no Counsel about him unknowing in Discipline preposterous in his Orders and not so much as a temptation left him to hope his Horse being advanced were opposed by those of the Enemy of whom upon the Charge they killed about 1000 which discouraging the rest they shrink and being pressed on by the Demetrians had not time to rally but were in disorder forced upon their own Foot breaking their Ranks and doing for Demetrius what his Army could never have effected He pursuing his Success had the slaughter of that great Body which not being able to make Head were cut down without any resistance And thus what began but in a light Skirmish ended in an intire Victory The Demetrians laden with spoils the whole Camp and Train falling into their hands returned in Triumph to Puttiwol where the Fame of this signal Victory spreading it self to their advantage Five good Towns with their Forts rendered
Auxiliaries giving out that he would plant the Kingdom with Colonies of strange Nations This fill'd the people with dreadful Apprehensions of his Tyranny and imbarked the Lords in the same prejudice to find themselves neglected in the administration of Justice and the same managed according to the appetite and fancie of the Poles To all this he gave the Jesuites publike Churches and dwellings and to all of that Perswasion the free Exercise of it He had indeed himself been brought up in the Romish Religion which might in some measure have warranted the Profession of it in his own Chappel though Henry the Fourth of France dispensed with his former Faith upon his accession to the Crown endeavouring thereby to cure the Jealousies of the people who are no way so fervently engaged as upon the the account of Conscience But Demetrius his publike despising of the Rites of the Greek Church and his so open endeavours to introduce that of the Latins abhorr'd by the people gave the first shock to their affections and then his Habit Garb and Gesture being wholly Forein the Commonalty who see but the outside and make their judgment by that conclude his Inclinations were so too But what wrought most effectually upon those that understood best was to discern a lightness in his Behaviour bearing no proportion with so exalted a Quality as he bore in the world little Gravity and less Judgment in the manage of publike Affairs measuring concerns of a different nature by the same Standard From this short-sightedness being but newly invested in the Royalty he denounced War against the Swedes and with the same vanity writ to King Sigismund that he would arm against the Turk and Tartar before he knew the Constitution of his own Empire or by what establishment an Army was to be maintained Demetrius being Crowned Emperour his next care was the matter of his Amours those Passions were still alive in him and he had so much of the Constancie of a Lover as to invite Marina to the participation of his Greatness Upon this consideration he dispatcht a splendid Embassy into Poland with a Present of the Jewels of the Crown of an inestimable value The Palatine of Sandomiria had indeed deserved well from him but the Nobility of Muscovy abhorred the thought that the Treasure of their Empire should be havocked away upon that Negotiation which no way quadrated with their Appetite however this concern fell out so far luckily for Demetrius that it respited his fate for the Conspirators having laid their designe to be put in execution some days after the dispatch of this Embassie held it advisable to delay it till that was over lest by quitting their hands of their Great Duke the Jewels of the Crown should fall short and stay in Sandomiria They therefore directed the Embassadors who were also privy to the Confederacie to make secret Articles with George Mniseck the Palatine Marina's Father before they made their Present of the Jewels to her that she should bring them with her for her Ornament to Musko There was at the same time dispatched an Embassador to the King and Commonwealth of Poland Athanasius Rosclovius the Treasurer was made choice of for this Employment who being admitted into the Kings presence did in the Name of his Master the Great Duke present his very hearty acknowledgments to the King and Nobility for the seasonable Aids he had received from them declaring that next under God he derived all his Enjoyments from their Succours and confessed that had he not been vigorously owned by them he must have wandered about the world the pity of his Friends and the scorn of his Enemies whilst an Usurper possessed the Throne due to his Birth and in which by their kindness he was seated in perfect peace And as a Testimony of his further Gratitude he had sent his Embassadors to establish a perfect Friendship and League Offensive and Defensive betwixt the Crowns which was to extend to all the Enemies of either Nation especially the common Enemy the Turk who by the advantage of misunderstandings amongst Christian Princes got ground upon Europe And that he might be the more naturally linked to the Kingdom of Poland than the Ceremony of a League could extend to he desired the Kings permission to Marry a Lady his Vassal the Palatine of Sandomiria's Daughter His Obligations to her Father being of that nature that he knew not by what other means to contrive him a proportionable Recompence He had not only owned and received him in his Exile but engaged his Person and his Fortunes in his Quarrel and he could not stand acquitted to himself if he did not communicate to the Daughter of those Enjoyments which were derived to him by the kindness and Courage of her Father The King having fully heard the Embassador did with much Civility acknowledge the respect of the Great Duke in that Address that he wished him all happiness and did heartily congratulate the success of his Arms in the acquirement of his just rights Adding further that he did highly commend the pious resentments he was pleased to have for the sufferings of the oppressed Christians That he would willingly enter into a League with him against the Infidels but that without the consent of the Senate and Nobility of the Kingdom he could determine nothing of that Nature As to the Proposal of his Marrying the Lady Marina he should not only have his consent but his prayers also that God would render that Marriage auspicious to both Kingdoms by propagating between them a League of everlasting Friendship The King having expressed himself to this effect the Nuptials were within eight days after celebrated at Cracow in the presence of the King and a great number of the Nobility of Poland who were invited to this Royal Solemnity His Majesty delivered the Bride with his own hand to the Embassador exhorting that now she was to be transplanted into another Nation she should retain the Memory of her own Country and her Fathers house That she should do all good Offices betwixt both Nations and above all things that she should adhere to the Catholike Religion wherein she had been educated The Church-Ceremonies being finished his Majesty entertained the Bride at a Royal Feast Prince Vladislaus his Son the Princess of Sweden his Sister the Palatine of Sandomiria the Embassadors of Persia with all the Publike Ministers then at Court were invited to it where at the last Course those Jewels sent by Demetrius to his Marina and the Palatine her Father to the value of two hundred thousand Ducats were served up to the Table instead of Fruit which in so Illustrious an Assembly spoke the Magnificence of the Russ and satisfaction of the Bride to be courted at so valuable a Rate About the end of Jan. 1607 the Bride accompanied with the Embassadors of either Nation the Palatine her Father and Duke Constantine Wisnioweski and many other Persons of Quality and a splendid Train having
of the Kingdom their Duke must abjure the Romish Profession and declare himself for the Greek Rites The King having received their Message and not ignorant of the wiliness and reserves of that subtle Nation was not wanting in a return sutable to the occasion He told them that he did receive this Honour conferred upon his Son with great satisfaction which should oblige him at all times to serve their Country with his best Aids and Counsels And as to the Treaty relating to its particulars he did purpose to give Zolkievius then upon the place full Instructions for the compleating of it at their own homes The Embassadors after this Answer and having been sumptuously feasted by the Prime Officers of the Court with great and mutual professions of kindnesses in so much as they seemed to be but one people were dismissed The King having by this fully weighed the state of his Affairs gathered to himself many reasons not to believe the reality of the Moscovites for else why did they elect his Son and not him but that they should be able when he had withdrawn his Forces out of their Land to practise upon the unexperience of his Son by reason of his youth and to justle him out of the Throne to which they had raised him out of necessity not choice And on the other side if the King should forbear to send him to them till he were of Age they would take occasion from this delay to transfer their Suffrage upon another He took a further Umbrage of their Designes from the refusal of the Garrison of Smolensko to surrender their City in the name of Prince Vladislaws though he were declared and proclaimed Great Duke with the usual Ceremonies their excuse was that they could not own him by so publike an Act till he had been received in the Capital City Crowned and Sworn to the maintenance of their Laws and their Protection Zolkievius had many ill-willers about the King who were not wanting to cherish these apprehensions of prejudice contracted by him against the Russians and having gained the Kings ear they instill'd new Counsels into him That this Election of his Son was an affront and an imposing upon his Majesty instead of receiving Law from him That he had by his Arms reduced them to those distresses that they must suddenly lay themselves that they must suddenly lay themselves at his feet whereas now they addressed to him by their Embassadors with Conditions not only inglorious but inconsistent with the state of his Affairs and impossible for him to subscribe to And that upon the reducing of Smolensko he might consider himself as a Conqueror and Rule that false People by such Laws as he should judge sutable to his Honour and Safety But there were others of his Council that advised the preserving of that Faith which Zolkievius had Sworn to them in his Name and by his Approbation That by confirming of that he would in one day render himself Master of a vast Empire which it might cost him some years besides a great expence of Blood and Treasure to reduce And they being an obstinate people might fall upon new Counsels and close with Demetrius whose Title would give him a trouble to resist as well upon the account of Reason as the power of his Arms. For it was upon the pretence of aiding Demetrius that he invaded their land who being restored to the Throne the King could have no more a fair colour to stay in it That his Army might by this means be paid all their Arrears as the Souldiers of Vladislaws the Great Duke out of the Treasures of Russia whereas the Kingdom of Poland if it fell to them to pay it would grow uneasie under so intolerable a burthen That the practises of the Russians might easily be eluded by seating Vladislaws upon the Throne with an able Council about him who should immediately provide pay for the Army which they would not refuse upon his first reception and while it lay in their Chief City And as to the Articles they might be well enough evaded and delayed while more Recruits were coming out of Poland But the King's mind being prepossessed as if carried on by an irresistible Fate adhered to the more violent Counsels of such as blew him up with a Punctilio of Honour not to rise from before Smolensko before he had reduced it having cost him already above a years Siege and was now upon the point of a rendition or being forced The King had raised a Battery against it but did not prosecute his matters with that quickness but that they within had time to make a deep Ditch and to raise new Ramparts in opposition to the Battery after which the Cannon began to play which indeed laid flat a great part of the Wall with two Flankers that stood next it the Assault was made but in vain they being repulsed with great loss The Russians in the mean time clamoured at this breach of the Treaty which had been celebrated with the Solemnity of an Oath and that contrary to the Law of Nations their Embassadors were detained Which the King justified upon this Reason that they refused to give order to the Governour of Smolensko to surrender the Town in their Great Dukes Name and which they excused as not within their Instructions The Affairs of Russia hung thus in suspence for some time the people not daring to do more than mutter while Zolkievius and his Army lay enquartered in their Chief City Demetrius also began to look up again having sheltered himself in Caluga while he was reinforcing his Party which was much countenanced by the return of Zarucki and Prince Kazimowski to him whose reception by King Sigismund bearing no proportion with what they proposed to themselves left him and returned again to the Service of their old Lord. But Zolkievius disdaining to be thus treated by the King contracted violent discontents in so much that taking the pretence of going to fetch the Prince to Musko he left the Army and passing by Smolensko where he but saluted the King he retired into Poland The Russians after the Generals departure understanding that the King had refused sending his Son at his intercession that the captive Zuiskius's together with their Embassadors were sent away Prisoners into Poland and that the King took upon him the Administration of the Affairs of the Empire putting new Officers into all the great places and refusing to own them as a State prepared for a Revolt to which the death of Demetrius did very effectually contribute He had a little before upon some apprehensions of infidelity in Kasimouski against him caused him to be thrown into the River Occa and drowned there which the Tartars of his Guard so far resented as to study a revenge He was of late time used to divert his Melancholy with drinking drowning at least steeping his cares in liquor and having been one day a hunting he retired himself with some of his particular
The RUSSIAN IMPOSTOR OR THE HISTORY OF Muskovie UNDER The Usurpation of BORIS AND THE Imposture of DEMETRIUS Late Emperors of Muskovy LONDON Printed by J. C. for Thomas Basset at the George in Fleetstreet near Cliffords Inne MDCLXXIV IL VOSTRO MALIGNARE NON GIOVA NVLLA To the Right Honorable THOMAS Earl of Ossory OF The Most Noble Order of the GARTER c. I Had no sooner engaged my thoughts in the following Narrative but I judged it worthy of your Lordships view and my Concern in it your Protection Besides at what Altar could I more reasonably make tender of this humble Sacrifice but where I had already made Oblation of my self Or to whom should I more properly expose the great Atchievements of others than to Him whose Courage and Civility are such that both Peace and War seem equal Rivals for his Fame I had large room in the last Summers Expedition to contemplate the greatness of your Mind and the Honour of your Nature for I observed such generous impatience in you before the Fights so much Valour and Conduct and Temper in them and such care and pity for the hurt and unfortunate after them that I reverenced and admired so many Virtues in one Person These are the steps my Lord by which your Ancestors entred into the Temple of Honour Thus has the Splendor of your House for so many Ages been upheld And in what Firmament does there now shine a more Illustrious Star Continue then to be propitious to the Nation and kind unto My Lord Your Lordships most devoted Servant R. M. THE PREFACE THese Collections being the Issues of some of my Forein Rambles in the Late Times whilst our Intestine Calamities rendered it infectious to abide within the Air of them and laid aside amongst my neglected Papers have run the risque of being stifled in their birth when looking about me and finding nothing considerable of this Story made publike by any other hand I fancied I think not unreasonably that it might under the Character of being divertive appear abroad in the croud without too much exposing its Author Besides I found so much parallel betwixt these Troubles and those of my Native Country which by a Providence not many degrees short of Miracle is but lately rescued I may say uninchanted from an Imposture of more Artifice and Delicacie by how much it is more difficult for one person to vary his shapes to the same eyes than for those eyes to be deceived by variety of persons that I have here thought good to present the world with some Observations of the later sort The Scene of what I write was laid in the great Empire of Muskovy which in the Memory of man hath laboured under an Imposture no less strange in its birth than admirable in its productions and if we consider the various vicissitudes of the Actors in it not only surpassing what former Ages have delivered of this kind but hardly to be parallel'd by Posterity unless it had already happened For the better understanding of this History I have thought fit to premise somewhat but briefly concerning it upon no other designe than that of gratifying such as are less versed in the Manners and Government of that Country The vast Continent of Russia extends from the Frozen Ocean to the Caspian Sea being also bordered upon by the Swedes the Poles and the Tartars The length of it from the Cape of Ob to the Town of Czerkassy is accounted 1520 English Miles and its breadth from Corelenburg in the Confines of Finland to Lepin 300 German or 1200 English Miles This great Territory is divided into many large Provinces which give also names to or receive them from their principal Cities the Chief whereof is that of Moskwa so called by the Inhabitants and by us Musko from whence also the whole Region is called Muskovy The Country is sandy and plain but welnigh impassable by reason of the multitude of Lakes and Rivers save in the Winter which is long and insufferably cold but most of their Commerce is driven then upon their Sleds and Ice The Summer is in its turn as violently hot and seems the more intense by reason of its short stay sufficing howsoever to ripen their Herbage and Corn and Fruits especially such as survived the rigor of the cold It abounds in Flax and Hemp and an immense quantity of Hony the Woods which are many and great being filled with swarms of Bees as also of Birds and of wild Beasts the precious Furs of the later bring in such high esteem in the world The Inhabitants we will except those of the first Rank are barbarous yet cunning unfaithful immeasurably debauched luxurious cruel and yet so servile that they glory in it The Nobility think it an honour to be esteemed the most abject of Slaves to their Princes but they again insult and tyrannize over their Vassals though all acknowledge the Despotick power of their Duke who is so absolute that he is Sovereign of the lives and fortunes of every individual being fettered by no Law but that of his will which is as extensive as his pleasure In a word there is no Government in the world where the Prerogative of the Prince and the Servitude of the People are greater For all this He admits of a precarious Council many of them of the Clergy the better to impose upon the ignorant and superstitious Commonalty who think nothing Sacred that they have not consented to nor nothing hard that has their approbation Their chief Strength consists in their Cavalry all Gentlemens Sons for none are esteemed Noble who do not serve in the War When all these meet they are accounted 80000 and that is as oft as the Great Duke pleaseth these have Land and Stipends allotted for their subsistance The Foot all Fire-men are 12000 in ordinary pay nor are there any Strangers imployed but upon extraordinary occasions Whereas our chief care is to provide Victuals for our Armies their Prince takes none at all for his every Souldier being his own Purveyor and content with a little scarce using any thing but Bisket and Meal If they were as brave as they are strong and understood War as well as hardship what could resist their numbers and power But they are heavy and so addicted to servility that they scarce desire seldom acquire any great matters Yet they have one other excellent quality especially in Garrison tenacious even to obstinacie as appears together with most of their other Virtues and Vices in the sequel of this Narrative This as most other Countries was at first governed by many and several petty Princes and Lords until most truckling to the felicity of a few these again did by Alliances and Conquests devolve upon one John the Son of Basilius was the first that assumed the Title of Prince of all Russia having not only reduced all others to his obedience but shaken off the Tartars yoke from whom his Predecessors received their Scepters
and Power His Son Basilius equally happy â—dded the fair Provinces of Smolensko and Plescow to his Dominions with the Honor of Knez King and Emperor to his Titles John succeeded him who adding Industry and Discipline to the Arts of his Forefathers conquered the Kingdoms of Cazan and Astracan and extended his Empire to the Confines of Persia But he was no less cruel than brave which did much asperse the glory of so many Victories But this Prince being his Father whose Story we write we will refer the rest of him and the Reader to the subsequent Relation SECTION I. The Introduction Theodorus dies and Boris is chosen in his place He causeth Demetrius the Heir of the Empire to be slain to facilate his Election A new Demetrius appears his Education and Discovery He is acknowledged in Poland and enters Moscovy with an Army He is beaten He afterwards overthrows the Enemy in a memorable Battle Boris enraged with this loss and the Competition of a Rival transported with passion and fury dies suddenly His Elogie ALong and uninterrupted series of Succession had devolved the Dominion of the vast Empire of Muscovy upon the person of John Basilius who however preferrable for his Cruelty to the most monstrous of Tyrants did yet excel the Glory of all his Predecessors in the Lustre of his Actions and Greatness of his Atchievements For having added the severe Rules of Military Discipline to his Industry and Valour he extended the Bounds of his Dominions as far as Persia and Conquered the Kingdoms of Casan and Astracan in vain attempted by his Father before him This Great Prince having lived six and fifty Years and Reigned nine and thirty of them was forced to quit this World to search for that Repose in another which the violence of his mind had denied him in the midst of his Victories and Triumphs Anastasia his first Lady had born him two Sons John his Eldest whom he slew with his own hands upon no other provocation than that of his violent Temper and Theodorus Heir of his Empire not his Greatness though the Father labouring under the pangs of Death was not wanting to recommend with much passion to his surviving Nobles the Conduct of that Son in whom he proposed to himself the perpetuating of his Glories and Conquests He yet left behind him another Son of a second Bed the unhappy Demetrius born in the extremity of his Fathers Age and brought up by his Mother till his supposed Decease in the Castle of Vglecz The Great Dutchess a Lady of a Masculine Presence and Carriage was Sister to Boris Gedanow Master of the Horse who by the joynt Advantages of his Relation and Quality added to the dexterity of his Address and Contrivances to all which Conspired the Infirmness of Theodorus his Constitution and the easiness of his Nature had gained an entire possession of the Government This Glorious Favorite having by his Sisters Influence and his own Skill gathered into his Manage the greatest Concerns of the State had thereby the opportunity of obliging or removing the chief Officers of the Empire at pleasure And whether having tasted the sweetness of Dominion ordinarily quitted with much reluctancy or that he had from the Death of his old Master laid his designs of placing the Crown upon his own head is scarce questionable However it was the way seemed already smoothed by the indisposition of the Duke and the acquired favour of the Nobility who preferments passing through his hands gave them a necessary dependence upon him none being advanced to any place of Honor or Trust but as they were presented by this Prince-minister Add to this that Theodorus was Childless though Married in his Fathers life-time who by reason of his Wives Barrenness had oft commanded him to put her away a Practice consistent with the Power of those Princes but he consulting more his Affection than his Interest had all that time delayed it and now what the Dutchess by her Influence had before exercised for the raising of her Brother to the Great Dukes Favour is by his insinuations upon the Affections and Passions of the Prince returned to her with advantage who for his sake continued her as he had formerly for hers received him He had indeed attained to a very great perfection in the Art of Government which with the powerful Charms of Flattery and a well-dissembled passion for his Masters Interest as it rendered Boris absolute in his greatness so it rendered the Empire secure in the Fidelity and Watchfulness of so excellent a Minister that laying aside the present Care of his Dominions he was consequently as little thoughtful of a Successor but indulging himself in his private Pleasures and Retirements he became insensibly devested of the Majesty of one of the Greatest Princes of the Christian World The main obstacle to the growing Ambition of Boris was the Life of Demetrius Brother to the great Duke and Heir apparent to the Crown His destruction was therefore judged necessary to precede in whom the Blood-Royal determined there would want only the death of the Great Duke to make way for the Election of a new Emperor And the Constitution of that Government then considered Boris might reasonably propose to himself the suffrages of the Nobles and People who were actuated by his Counsels and imployed or discontinued in order to his Interests and Designs Bloody Tyrants never want Bloody Instruments witness that most horrid of Murthers perpetrated in our own Land upon the best of Princes neither is any Relation proof against the Charms of Ambition and Avarice in a degenerate mind Boris by the aid of vast Presents and promises of greater had gained four of Demetrius his Servants to murther their Lord. The horridness of so sad an Assassination made them for some time suspend its execution till hurried on by a consideration that they were too far advanced to retreat with safety by threats of the Tyrant and by the hopes of becoming suddenly Great they resolved upon the cruel performance of what they had so wretchedly undertaken All the difficulty now is how it should be compassed and several ways being proposed they at length conclude as followeth An obscure gloomy Night is made choyce of as most proper and sutable to so black a deed and the Town being set on fire in many places at once these miscreants fill all with Tumult and the terror of the Burning This done they fling themselves like men amazed into the Princes Bed-chamber and awaking him with a sudden Fright alarm his already-disturbed Spirits with the approaching danger Demetrius starts up at the noise and running to the window to see the Flames is set upon by those he trusted most and pierced in several places of his Body with long poysoned knives prepared for this inhumane Butchery While the unhappy Child lay wallowing in his Blood and strugling with his Fate these Villians by the advantage of the Night and the confusion they had raised and upon
Horses laid for them posted to Boris with the news of the execution of his Command and to receive their promised Salary The Tyrant upon the first advertisement labouring under the Impressions of his Joy received these Bloody Ministers of his will with no ordinary transport till the heat of that Passion being spent and reflecting upon what he had done as it is the Nature of Guilt and Treason never to think it self secure he thought likewise his Practices might come to light but being resolved these miscreants should not discover them he by the temptation of excessive rewards hired other Executioners to destroy and make away these four first Murtherers And that he might not be engaged upon new contrivances he designs the same Method for their Ruine which they had squared out for the death of the Prince in order whereto as Vglecz was Sacrificed to his destruction so Musko was put into flames for theirs The Town is fired in many places at once some hundreds of Houses buried in their own Ashes while these hated Traytors were though by unjust means punished with a just retaliation for their execrable Villany But to return to Vglecz As soon as the Fire was quenched and that the Citizens began to be Composed from their disorder a Rumor being spread that their Prince was Murthered they violently break into the Castle and finding what they feared to be true indeed their distraction being now heightened to Fury and Outrage they slaughtered all his Servants without distinction or enquiry supposing the carelesness and neglect of the Innocent no less culpable than the pernitious industry of the Guilty they thought happily to purge themselves from the stain of the Fact by their zeal in revenging it But in vain for Boris to clear himself if any durst suspect him and to signalize his pretended Passion to his Prince made use of this Irregular vengeance of the Citizens as an Argument of their Guilt and laying the Murther at their door because they had slain all those from whom inquisition might have been made concerning it without examining them at all he caused them to be proceeded against as Criminals Many of the chief amongst them were tortured hanged drowned Banished and exposed as examples of publique Justice while he the better to disguise his cruelty under the sence of so irreparable a loss vests himself and the whole Court in mourning And having dispatched Duke Basilius Zuisky with many prime Senators and Persons of Eminency with Orders to Celebrate his Obsequies with all the Funebrial Pomp and Honour imaginable he commanded that the very place of his Death as guilty in failing to protect him might not survive to be a witness to so great a loss but as Infamous be immediately razed and levelled with the ground Demetrius being thus removed Theodorus did not long survive him and 't is more than conjectural that his end was hastened by the impatience of Boris and the violence of a secret poyson However it was the Duke sensible of his weakness and the approach of his departure bequeathed the Government of the Empire to the conduct of the Lady Irena his Wife sister to Boris the Patriarch was appointed her Assistant and both of them by the dying Prince recommended to the Valour and Fidelity of the Great ones of his Kingdom Theodorus being dead and the Solemnities of his Funerals performed with all becoming Ceremonies and Circumstances his Dutchess did readily ascend the Throne but afterwards having some time toyled under the weight of so Great an Empire whether out of unwillingness to fustain so Great a Burthen or as is more probable to secure the succession in her own House by transferring it upon her Brother she declares her resolutions to quit so unequal a Charge And accordingly yeilds up the Ensigns of her Authority into the hands of the Nobles giving out that for the Repose of her Soul she would Sequester her self from the Turmoyls of this World into the Retirement of a private Life This news being spread amongst the people did infinitely perplex them for though they might have some reluctancy against the Government of a Woman or that the servility of their Nature might at other times render them patient of any Yoke yet they wisely considered it more safe to submit to one than many Tyrants Boris in the mean time laid his trayns at distance chusing rather to have the Government devolve upon him by necessary Consequence than rudely to break in upon it cherishes by his secret Agents and Emissaries the mutinous Temper of the People who without an head were become uneasie to themselves as well as others This subtile States-man had in the interim withdrawn himself from all publique business to the retirements of a Countrey-house All things in this State had a tendency towards confusion some not daring others not willing to lay hold upon the Government and indeed all the prime Ministers being raised by his Favour not secure in the Counsels of each other were emulous who should first conduct him to the Throne In order whereto they attend him with their Submissions and Addresses that he will take upon him the protection of a distracted State The people transported by the apprehensions of their Ruine seconded the Nobility with their Importunities The Clergy whose safety consisted in the Peace of the Empire brought in their Supplications The Nuns quitted their Cloysters and instead of praying for their exquisite Artist offer up their Prayers to him as their Tutelary Saint or Angel The very Children as if swayed by a Supernatural Impulsion besieged him with Tears and Cries And what he denied to all these Sollicitations either apart or united supposing them to have a respect to him only not to themselves he grants as he declared to the necessity of his Country which being without a Head and no man willing to undertake the care he must offer violence to his own nature rather than expose so glorious an Empire as a prey to every Invader Who could all this while under so dark a Veil suspect him guilty of Poysoning his Sovereign and the Murther of his Prince to make way for his Crown presented to him several times in vain by all the Orders of the Empire But permitting himself at length to be overcome he protested that he had given that to their importunity and the love of his Country which he should for ever have denied to his own Honor and Greatness and the Advancement of his House to so Illustrious a Rank He confessed himself too weak for so great a Burthen but Courting the Aid of his Petitioners to his Assistance he promised his utmost Endeavours to answer the obligingness of so Unanimous and Honorable an Election wherewith they were pleased to signalize him above his Fellows And since they had marked him out for their Emperour he would no longer Question their Judgment but chearfully receive the Honour of that Trust which he would die rather than betray or relinquish but into
the Assassinates killed supposing it to be him That since that escape he had been concealed in a Covent of Monks till a just ambition of getting his own had tempted him into the world to try what was to be done And to confirm all this putting his hand into his Bosome draws out a rich Cross of Gold beset with Diamonds which he said was the only Testimony of Royalty his Mother had left with him upon his escape Then casting himself at the Dukes feet he breaks forth into these Expressions Now Sir that I have discovered to you a Secret of that nature which no Rack could have extorted from me you are become Master of my life and fortunes neither have I thus exposed my self to your knowledge without designe it being equal to me to die as to wither and languish in this servile condition But if you will make good that confidence which first swayed me to put my self under your Protection refuse me not those favours which I have promised my self from your Justice and Vertue Let not the wickedness and evil consequence of the example receive countenance from so just a Prince but give your self the Honour of assisting me to cleanse my Throne from the usurpation of a Tyrant by so much the more Ignominious by how much he stands obliged to me as my Subject and Vassal And for your recompence besides the having performed so good an Act which brings with it its own rewards I shall think no acknowledgment too dear for you The Duke astonished at this discourse and at the same time reflecting upon former passages in the behaviour of his Servant which comparing with the seeming probability of his narrative and his meen in delivering of it besides the Rumour spread abroad that Demetrius was yet alive was at a loss how to behave himself but being divided in his resolution he made a kind of excuse to his Servant that not knowing his Quality he ought to pardon any miscarriage towards him and requesting him to stay where he was till he should send to him He left him very anxious what would be determined concerning him The Duke full of amazement and irresolution hastes to his Ladies Chamber to whom he repeated the whole story of his encounter with his Servant Hrisko The Dutchess according to the nature of Women much pleased with the novelty judged the matter very probable because not altogether impossible and then comparing all circumstances together she raises her likelyhood to a certainty that it could not otherwise be that she had ever observed in his very Face the marks of Greatness that he had ever aspired to noble Qualities that no Impostor could have dared under so young years to own so hazardous a discovery and that therefore it must be Demetrius and no other who had cast himself into their arms for Protection which by all Laws Divine and Humane they were obliged to afford him Thus having determined the matter care was had for his reception in a way proportionable to the Greatness of his Quality and the whole Court immediately disposed into a State fit to have received the Great Duke and Emperour of Muskovy that evening A train of Servants of all sorts with horses for the Saddle and Coach suitably accoutred were forthwith ordered and an Appartment in the most honourable part of the house was made ready with all imaginable State becoming so Great a Prince This being done the Duke having loaden twelve Servants with presents of the Richest things in his possession and most suitable for the occasion himself in Person ushers them with much Submission and Ceremony to his late Servant Hrisko conducts him to his Appartment humbly beseeching his Highness to receive those trifles as a testimony of his service and devotion to his interest declaring his resolution to contribute all his Powers for the setling him upon the Throne of his Fathers Demetrius being by this time reassured receives the Dukes Complement with a becoming Reservedness and Civility repeating to him his Engagements and that when it should please God to restore him to his Dominions he would give more effectual Testimonies of his resolutions never to forget so seasonable obliging Favours This extraordinary change in Wisnioweski's Court managed with so great Ceremonies in the view of the whole world failed not to justifie those Whispers scattered abroad by the Old Friers industry and gave a confirmation of those Rumours dispersed in the adjacent Kingdoms and Countries and what before could make no impression upon the faith of the Cossacks is now become an Article of it That Demetrius Son to John Basilius and right Heir to the Empire of Musko was alive and in safety But no man apprehended the report with more Terrour than Boris guilt and fear rendering even impossibilities conceivable though he knew not how to reconcile the present reports with those had been made unto him by his Assassinates and were confirmed by the Solemnities of the Princes Funeral but being of a present Courage and Judgement laid by his wonders to make room for his Industry and Conduct and wisely foreseeing what great disorders the Novelty might produce if not seasonably prevented He immediately posts away his dispatches with Presents to Wisnioweski besides an Offer of a perpetual League and several Castles and Towns upon the Borders convenient for him with a vast sum of ready Money upon condition he would dead or alive send him that Traytor and Impostor who presumed to abuse the world by assuming the name and person of Demetrius warily mixing his Courtship with some threats That Wisnioweski he hoped was too wise to be made a property to gratifie the Malice of any that should dare to interrupt his repose Wisnioweski was so far from being swayed by the Messages and Temptations of Boris that he became wholly confirmed in what he made some doubt of before and concluding that this seeming Hrisko was the true Demetrius he resolves to espouse his Cause and Interest In order whereto Boris having strong Forces upon the Borders the Duke with Demetrius took Coach immediately and with some Horse that he had in a readiness retires to Wisnioweski a strong Town of his farther in the Country being come thither he puts the Great Dukes Letters into Demetrius his hands who having perused them after some little pause cast himself at the Dukes feet and with interrupted words said to him Sir I am in Gods hands and in yours the Fortunes and Person of Demetrius are at your dispose but my Trust is in the Honour of your promises and that the temptations of this Usurper shall have no influence upon your Integrity Wisnioweski raised him up with much Humanity and Respect bids him be sure he would not depart from that faith he had already passed to him for all the Dominions in the world that he had therefore brought him to that place further out of his Enemies reach where he wished him to remain with his Attendants while himself
at Court care was had for the interment of the deceased Duke whose Corps was without much solemnity laid in the Sepulchre of their Princes After this a Council was held for the more effectual prosecuting of the War Peter Bosmanno upon the accompt of his great service and known abilities was appointed General of the Army and dispatched to the Camp before Krom Mislikowski and Zwiski being recalled to assist the Regent and the young Emperour in the administration of the Government Krom had been assaulted by the Russians ten severaâ— times who were as often repulsed by the obstinate Valour of the Cossacks within it But Demetrius to cherish the Courage and Fidelity of the Garrison and setting much of his rest upon the conservation of the place dispatched Zaporius one of his chief Commanders with the greatest parâ— of his Army to the relief of it He having marched within a convenient distance of it and by his Scouts and other Spieâ— understood the posture of the Enemie Leaguer judged it very hard to attempt any thing upon it by force and therefore hath recourse to policie and framing a Letter to the Governour told him he was advanced so far as a Forlorn to the main Army and to keep the Leaguer from forraging the Country while the Polish and Cossack Auxiliaries were coming up to their relief under the conduct of Demetrius in person And then magnifying their fidelity and abounding in promises of rewards and honours to them he concluded with an assurance of speedy relief This Letter was put into the hands of a bold fellow who undertook the delivery of it but was by the crafty Commander directed such ways towards the Town as led him directly upon an Out-guard of the Enemies who having seized upon him brought him to the Head-quarters where being presented to the Rack he discovered his Letters and being examined confirmed the effects of them as a truth which he had heard discoursed of by the chief Officers of Zaporius his Army The Leaguer was as yet commanded by Hoduinus a near Kinsman of the late Great Duke's the principal Officers of the Army disdaining to submit to Bosmanno as a Son of Fortune Upon this intelligence there were 2000 Horse commanded to keep the avenues of the Town while the rest of the Army drew off to encounter the Enemy Zaporius that he might better countenance his contrivement drew out his whole Army in Battalia and having at a further distance behind him placed all his Boyes and Bedles of the Army with all the Carriages and some few Souldiers to make up a Front which he extended to a great distance He with his real Forces marched up to encounter the Enemy having given order to this mock-Army that was behind and which he had furnished with Trumpets Drums and Colours that upon the Engagement they should advance in view and fill the Air with shouts and noises that the Poles and Cossacks were at hand The Fight was fierce and doubtful in the beginning and Zaporius was so hard put to it by the greater numbers of the Enemy that notwithstanding all his skill he must have sunk under their weight had not Bosmanno disobliged by his own Party who had the command of some Reserves instead of charging the Enemy joyned his Troops to theirs and then in the head of his men declared that Demetrius was the true Emperour inviting all who had a zeal to the honour of their Country to follow his example in adhering to the rightful Prince This extraordinary adventure did equally surprize both Armies possessing the one with a consternation and the other with amazement in so much that the Fight held up as by joynt consent and both sides seemed to expect the determination of the Cause by some other Umpirage than that of their Swords Bosmanno taking advantage of this profound Silence shews himself again betwixt both Armies and crying out with a loud Voice invited all those who had any reverence for the Ashes of John Basilius or honour for his Son and affection to the publike peace that they should follow his example by rendring themselves to the obedience of their rightful Prince where they should be sure of Indemnity and Protection Bosmanno being of great reputation with the common Souldiers as one that had engaged with them in many Services had the fortune in this juncture to make so strange an impression upon their minds by his discourse that after some murmur amongst themselves they all cried out with a loud voice that they would live and dye with Bosmanno The Nobility observing the course of the stream and lest that they might be overwhelmed in resisting of it resolved to follow the Current and immediately declaring for Demetrius dispatched a Party of 500 to him to Puttiwol with tender of their Submissions supplicating his pardon for their former defections whereto they had been insnared by the Artifices of Boris They further offered him an entire Obedience of themselves and of the strength of the Empire beseeching him he would come over to them that they might march under his Conduct to the Possession of his Hereditary rights Hodwenus having thus lost his Army which deserted him as one man purposed to save himself by flight but being pursued by a Party thereto imployed was seized upon and presented to Demetrius in whose presence he disdaining to bow or pay those respects due to an Emperour was commanded to Prison and to be laden with Irons Demetrius transported with this happy news broke up with those Troops which he had about him marching directly to Krom where he caressed the Governor and Garrison with all kindness imaginable magnifying their Courage and Fidelity and heaping upon them promises of Mountains when he should be establisht in his Throne From thence he went to Arol where the revolted Lords and Army attended his coming and received him with all the Submissions and demonstrations of joy that could be expressed And being by this accession of Force rendred absolute Master of the Field he advanced by easie marches toward Musko the Seat of the Empire and being come as far as Tula he made some stay there as well to refresh his Army as to consider how to carry on the rest of his Affairs And having advised with his Council he writ his Letters to the Magistrates of Musko to acquaint them that God had in a wonderful manner owned him and his Cause by bringing over the Army that opposed him to their due obedience without bloodshed much to his satisfaction rather to have them reduced by the convictions of their Conscience than by the force of his Arms he therefore invited them according to that pious example of the Army to return to their obedience and as a manifestation of it to root out from the face of the earth that hated Progeny of Boris who had murthered his elder Brother and had laid Trains for his life but that he was rescued from them by deliverances not much short of miracle
of the like upon his Posterity We have in this a lively Description of the peoples temper unconstant in their resolution violent in their love and equally so in their hate They in this juncture cast off all their gratitude to the memory of Boris their prosperity under his calm and wise Government his impartial distribution of Justice the many publike Buildings by him erected for the splendor and use of their City They had no remembrance left of his great industry and charges in providing Food for them in that more than Samaritan Famine which happened in his Reign in the years 1601 1602 1603. or finally no reflection upon the advantageous peace and repose which he had procured for them with their Neighbour-Princes But though they might be suspected to bury the memory of those things in the Grave of Boris yet the wonder was that they should so suddenly destroy their own Act in destroying him whom they had placed upon the Throne but two months before as a Soveraign of their own choyce contrary to the designe of the Nobility whom they forced to swear fealty to him vowing to live and dye in the defence of him his Mother and Sister now rendered the unhappy Objects of their boundless fury The Borisians being thus rooted out wherein the Citizens were equally cruel and diligent they dispatched their Deputies to Demetrius to render him their Submissions and to assure him that in obedience to his Letters they had destroyed the Family of the Gedanowes to a man That Fedro his Mother and Sister were in safe custody in order to his Majesties dispose and that not only their gates but their hearts were open too for his reception Demetrius upon this agreeable news advanced toward Musko with his whole Army such of the Lords as had not yet presented themselves to him met him upon the way and being come within a mile of the Town their Magistrates were there in their Formalities as a representative of the City with a tender of its Homage which he received according to the mode of that Nation in Bread and Salt They had also prepared a vast Present for him in Gold and Jewels which he received with a show of kindness And being now owned by all the Nobility and Orders of the Kingdom and well assured of the devotion of the people to his Interest he made his entrance into the Royal City in great State upon the 20th of June in the year 1605. Emperour and Great Duke of Muskovy and many other Provinces and King of Casan and Astracan The manner of this celebrious Cavalcade was thus The Polish Horse with their Launces presented had the Van Some thousands of Muskovites followed them in good order having in the midst of their Body the Coach of Demetrius drawn by six beautiful Horses with all his lead Horses nobly Sadled and Trapped with embroidery of Gold and Jewels After these came the Clergy with squared Ensignes born before them on which were Painted some Saint or other as our Lady St. Nicholas their Patron and the like The Patriarch brought up the Rear of these Spiritual Warriours and at some distance behind him was Demetrius himself mounted upon a goodly Milk-white Courser environed on all sides with the Lords and Gentlemen that made up his Train All the Bells rung for joy and all the Streets Windows tops of Houses and all other eminent places swarmed with multitudes of people who as he passed along fell upon their faces and then raising themselves up cried as one man Long live the Great Duke of Russia Thou art the right Sun and bright Morning-Star that now shines in Muskovy To which he replied God give you my Subjects Health and prosperity stand up and pray for me As he passed along he was shewed the Palace of Boris but he turned another way as loathing to behold that place where had been hatched all the Villanies against him and the Blood-Royal of Russia and declaring it his pleasure to have it defaced the willing people were not long in the execution of his Commands laying those goodly Fabricks in a moment level with the ground Demetrius being entered the Palace-Royal dismissed the Princes and Lords who trooped together into the Market-place where Bogdan Bielski made them an Exhortation to acknowledge the goodness of God for their Great Duke obliging them to be true and faithful to him That he was the undoubted Son of John Basilius and thereupon taking his Cross out of his Bosom with St. Nicholas his Picture upon it he kissed it and swore that their present Emperour was the right Demetrius and that to the day of his discovery he had been concealed and kept in the Bosom of St. Nicholas who had now restored him to them for the preservation of them and their Land Hereupon the whole people answered with joyful acclamations three times God save our Great Duke God give him health God punish all his Enemies and all those that fail in their Fidelities to him Demetrius being by this extraordinary Concurrence of his Affairs got upon the Throne assumed the manage of the Government into his own hands and having made it his study to understand the Interests of his Crown as it stood related to forain Princes upon the accompt of Traffick or any other considerations of State he informed himself what Embassadors were then in the Kingdom either at Court or upon their return he judged it advisable to signifie to them his happy Restauration And understanding that amongst others of other Princes that Mr. John Merrick Agent and Sir Thomas Smith Embassadors for the King Great Britain having received their Dispatches from Boris were upon their return homeward in order whereunto having finished their other Negotiations they were gone toward the Sea-side Demetrius sent this following Letter from the Camp at Thula to Mr. Merrick and a while after another with an Express by one of the Gentlemen of his chamber to the aforesaid Embassadors Demetrius his Letter to Mr. Merrick Dated the 8th of June 1605. WE Demetrius Evanowich Lord Emperour and Great Duke of Russia To John Merrick English Merchant We give hereby to understand that we are by the just Judgment of God and his strong Power as Duke and Sole Lord raised to our inheritance Throne and Empire of Uladomir Muskovy and all Russia Calling therefore to minde the Confederations and Amity which our Father Evan Vasilowich Lord Emperour and Great Duke of Russia held and kept with the Great Princes of Christendom We likewise are resolved to maintain and keep the same and in a more special manner to hold a more particular correspondence and friendship with your King James To this end we purpose to favour you his English Merchants with a greater measure of our Grace than heretofore you have enjoyed from our Predecessors So soon therefore as you shall have received these our Letters and finished your markets at the Port of St. Michael the Archangel our pleasure is that you hasten back
their Propriety and the Splendor of their condition When I discourse at this rate you will possibly say Where can you point us to such a Person of these Accomplishments I know 't is difficult to do so but it being the duty of a worthy Commonwealths-man and becoming the Honour of this great Assembly to propose the best things Let us in the Name of God proceed to our Election with all necessary prudence and sincerity This insinuating Speech being received by the whole body of the Lords with universal applause they passed an unanimous Vote in favour of the Orator who being a Person of great Birth and great Parts and Experience was elected Prince Emperour and great Duke of Muskovy by the concurring Suffrages of all the Nobility upon the place who immediately passed an Act of State for the confirming of the Election upon the Person of the Illustrious Prince Basilius Zuiski who ascended the Royal Throne of Russia upon the 17th of June 1606. SECT III. Basilius Zuiski being scarce warm in his Throne is disturbed by another pretended Demetrius Putiwol by the artifice of Schakopski declares for the Impostor His Lieutenants beat the Zuiskians and block up Mosko Masalski is defeated and the Muskovites being reduced to great streights give the Lady Marina her liberty who after some difficulty acknowledges this Pseudo-Demetrius to be her Husband King Sigismund invades Muskovy and Besieges Smolensko Demetrius flies to Caluga his Army mutinies by the practices of Marina and dissolves Zolkievius beats the Muskovites at Clusinum Zuiski is deposed and Prince Uladislaus chosen Great Duke of Muskovy BAsilius Zuiski being thus chosen Emperour his Coronation was hastened to prevent any change in the Affections of the People which being performed with the usual Ceremonies of State he took upon him the Administration of the Government placing Guards upon the Lodgings of the Palatine and Duke Wisnioweski as well to observe their motion as to preserve them from injury He also caused the Lady Marina to be delivered to her Father with what was hers except the Jewels of the Crown presented to her by Demetrius which were restored again into the Treasury And to put some Countenance upon the late Tumults he published a Declaration against the slain Demetrius rendring him guilty of Imposture Witchcraft Heresie and Tyranny The People as 't is their nature fond of what is new and of their own Creation received all that came from him as Oracles and perceiving he took delight to vilifie and traduce Demetrius in his Writings they to Complement his humour digged up his poor Carkass out of an obscure Grave which had been given it after three days lying above ground and after a repetition of barbarities upon him they burn the body and scatter the ashes in the Air. And now the Great Duke casts about how to establish his Interest abroad in order whereto he renewed those Correspondencies which had been held betwixt that Crown and forein Nations by writing his Letters to several Princes of Christendom wherein he gave a Narrative of the troubles of Muskovy and his own advancement to the Throne A Copy of his Letter to our King James is extant in our Country-man Purchas his Pilgrimage to which I refer the Reader it being too long to insert in this place Which though it be in a rude Copy of Language yet speaks that Nation to be men that understand the compass of their business though not much of Rhetorick And thus ended the most unhappy Demetrius an unparallel'd Example of both the extremes of Fortune and the Inconstancie of Popular Favour for being by them brought from a Convent to a Crown he was by them also precipitated from so splendid a height into a calamitous abyss of misery But whether he was truly Basilius his Son or not is uncertain and will ever be so nay it is questionable whether he was slain in this Muskovitish Tumult or afterwards for Fame as she had divulged him long since slain so now when he seemed dead to all men she again raised him and exposed him in a second Resurrection For the Tumult was scarce appeased when a report ran through the City that he was still alive another having in the hurry been kill'd for him not possibly to be known being so unhumanely mangled for all his being publikely exposed 'T was further muttered that he had disguised and withdrawn himself betimes escaping the danger upon swift Horses which he had taken out of his own Stables Neither was this Rumor without appearance there having been several Stalls in the said Stables found empty of their Horses which he afterwards affirmed he had made use of in his flight Such who wished him well believed this noise because they desired it and others who did abhor the flagitious Cruelty of what was acted or preferr'd turmoils before quiet did not contradict it But the business was put out of Controversie when after a few days Demetrius did indeed appear but whether the true or an Impostor which I am apt to believe is not yet decided Whoever he was the Poles flock to him to revenge their Massacred Country-men and the Violation of the Laws of Hospitality they acknowledge him for the true Demetrius Emperour of Muskovy and make War upon Zuiski with such revengeful obstinacie that it cost him his Crown his Liberty and lastly his Life and consumed them an immense multitude of Men and Money But to relate things in order During the Confusions and Tumults at Musko George Schacopski Lord-Keeper of the Great Seal and faithful to Demetrius seeing the irresistible Torrent that was broke in upon them contrived for his own escape out of Musko and taking two Poles with him in Russian Habit got away unobserved The designed place for his Retreat was Putiwol a City that had stood vigorous for Demetrius in the Infancie of his Acquisitions Being got about 30 Mile on his way upon his leaving the Inn where he had refreshed himself instead of asking the Hostess what was to pay gave her a handful of Gold with which she being equally transported with amazement and joy desired to know the Author of that Profusion Schacopski answered As for my self I am a Prince and Lord in Musko but my place is to attend upon the Great Duke whom the Rebels think they have murthered but you have had the Honour to harbour him this day under your Roof Having said this on purpose to raise a Rumor of his being yet alive they immediately take Horse and post away to the River Occa where being wafted over in the Ferry they gave the Waterman six Gold Crowns and told him he had had the Honour to serve the Great Duke Demetrius pointing at him that passed under that Character and promising the Waterman high Preferments for that days Service if he ever should be restored to his Empire charging him as the Hostess before in the mean time to keep their counsel lest they should be pursued Being landed they mount
again and post on towards Putiwol taking all opportunities by the way to possess the world of Demetrius his being alive and escaped out of the reach of the Conspirators Schacopski being arrived at Putiwol sent his two Poles forwards to Sandomiria with Letters to the Palatine's Lady of what had befaln in Musko and to assure her that the Great Duke her Son-in-law was escaped seasonably and hoped suddenly to be in the head of an Army to revenge upon his rebellious Subjects their Treason Disloyalty Schacopski having made his dispatches to Sandomiria applied himself to the Citizens of Putiwol desiring Audience from them in the Name of the Great Duke Demetrius his Master which being granted and an Assembly called he took the liberty to enlarge upon the unheard-of Barbarities of the Citizens of Musko how they had slaughtered the Inhabitants without regard of quality laying their malice so deep as to attempt the Murther of the Emperour but that he had been preserved by the Providence of God who had always an especial regard on his Sacred Person By whose Impulse having taken some of his best Horses out of his own Stable He with a small but faithful Company under his conduct had withdrawn himself betimes out of the Tumult That he was retired to his Allies in Poland for Aid against his Rebellious Subjects having left him to attend the Affairs of the Empire in his absence with an express direction to apply himself in his Masters Name to that Loyal Town to assure them that he was alive and well and preparing to vindicate the Honour of his Empire out of the hands of the Conspirators Schacopski was not wanting in Arguments to provoke the Zeal of the Citizens to the Service of their Prince how great an Honour it would be to that City to be the only place in that vast Empire to which their Prince durst commit his Person and Interest That he would not fail to stamp upon them particular marks of his Favours and Resentments for their seasonable Loyalty and that it would be their Eternal Glory to bring in their Great Duke and to place him upon his just Throne cleansing the same from the pollutions of Conspiracies and Usurpations His Oratory had that effect as to inflame them upon the place with Resolutions to declare for Demetrius as their Leige-Lord and Sovereign that their Lives and whatever else was dear to them should be at his devotion and that in the mean time till he honoured them with his presence they would submit to his Commissioner the Lord Keeper who having gained this great City failed not to sollicite the Neighbour-Country He dispatched Posts into Tartary inviting all that had the courage in behalf of an injured Prince to repair to Putiwol The Cossacks flock in and in four weeks he had perswaded fourteen Castles in those parts to follow the Example of Putiwol taking a new Oath of Allegeance from them in the name of Demetrius against all his opposers and particularly against the bloody Usurper Zuiski Zuiski alarmed with the Rumour of a new Demetrius and that a considerable party had declared for him under the Command of Isthoma a great Lord made all the speed possible in his Levies to check that growing evil and encountring that Demetrian General was totally defeated Who pressing upon him as Master of the field blocked him up in the Imperial City and sate down with his Army at the distance of about a Mile from it Whilst Isthoma lay incamped there there came up to him an Army of twelve thousand Cossacks under the Command of John Polutnich a Souldier of Name who was come out of Poland and produced a Commission from Demetrius to Command in Chief as General which Isthoma after some disputing was constrained to yield to but apprehended the affront with so great disdain that he resolved not to brook it or after having chased Zuiski out of the the field to truckle under the Command of Polutnich who was about to ravish from him the Palms due to his Victory Hurried on by these Sentiments of scorn he risked the blasting of his Honour by an extraordinary tenderness of it and having debauched 9000 of the Army he went over to Zuiski with them who gave him a reception sutable to the seasonableness of the kindness and much more when Isthoma had assured him that no Demetrius had appeared in Putiwol and that the whole trouble of his Affairs was formed by the contrivance of the subtle Schacopski who to render himself considerable had possessed the people with a suggestion of Demetrius his being alive This Relation from Isthoma was immediately communicated to the people who however were not without their fears and therefore sent out to Polutnich demanding of him to see their Lord Demetrius and they would cast themselves at his feet for pardon and immediately Polutnich returned answer that in truth Demetrius was in Poland that he had there seen and spoke with him and received from his own hand the Commission mission by which he then acted as General Some of the Lords sent again to assure him that the Great Duke Demetrius had been kill'd in Musko in the face of the whole people that if any one assumed that Name he was an Impostor Perswading him further to quit that counterfeit Prince and joyn himself to the Party of the rightful Emperour who would gratifie his Loyalty with Preferments and Honours sutable to the Merits of his Service in preventing the effusion of Christian Blood the harrassing of the Country the guilt whereof would lie heavy at his door if he should not hearken to their wholsome invitation But he rejecting those offers with indignation replied he had taken an Oath of Loyalty to Demetrius which he would preserve inviolable and not like the perfidious â—sthoma betray the trust reposed in him He added that he neither desired nor caâ—ed for Zuiski's favour only required of â—he Citizens that if they would not have â—hat Christian blood which they so much pitied spilt they should forthwith return to their Duty and Obedience they â—wed their lawful Prince deliver the Uâ—urper Zuiski into his hands and lay down their Arms in doing so he would grant them an Act of Indemnity and Oblivion in the Great Dukes Name and promised they should be restored to that rank place which the Loyal City did formerly obtain in the Great Dukes favour On the other side they were to expect nothing but the indignation of an incensed Lord and of an enraged Souldiery This Polutnich was a Muskoviter born but had been brought up amongst the Tartars and Cossacks and being taken prisoner by the Turks had served as a Gally-slave against the Christians till amongst others he happen'd to be released by the Venetians and passing through Poland towards his own Country he met at Sandomiria with this new Demetrius to whom being presented he received conditions from him and engaged himself in his Service as General of his Army upon which
reduced all those Forts and Out-works which had been formerly taken from them enlarging their Quarters to a more commodious distance But all this being considered by them but as a small intermission of their miseries and no solid Supply able to sustain the force of all Muskovy they dispatched Letters to their King in Poland with an account of their condition upbraiding his carelessness of their safety and declaring that if by the 6th of Jan. their Prince were not sent to them they would quit the place and come back to Poland to require their Arrears The Chief Officers of the Polish Army by a misunderstanding amongst themselves contributed unhappily to the Service of the Russians Potocki Palatine of Brachlaw was left Governour and Commander of the Forces about Smolensko but he could not suffer that Charles Chodkievicius Lieutenant-General of the Lithuanian Army should be sent to prosecute the Reliques of the Muskovitish War as to the possession of the Imperial Seat towards the gaining of which he had contributed little and reckoning upon this as a Designe fit to be reserved for his own Conduct he managed all his Counsels accordingly and though Chodkievits was maugre all his contrivements marked out for the Service of Musko yet the enraged Potocki perverted some of his Chief Officers and as it happened there was a concurrence of Causes to thwart the Polish Interest for upon the 15th of August it seemed more than probable that the Muskovites being hotly pursued might have been driven out of the City but that an old Colonel amongst the Poles considering if they should improve this Success to the utmost there would be nothing left for their General Chodkievits to do upon whom this Colonel had a particular dependance and it seems consulted his Glory more than the Common Good and therefore disswaded his Party from pressing their Fortune upon an apprehension of some supposed dangers In the mean time Chodkievits being design'd for the relief of the place marcht thither with an Army but the fame of his severe Discipline flying thither before him and augmented by the envy of his ill-willers begot a very great prejudice in the minds of the Souldiers against him and an aversion for him so that they upon his arrival disputed his Commands and looking upon all his Proposals with an eye of diffidence would not be engaged upon any more Sallies but as if they had placed a Religion in the performance of their former Letter to the King they quitted the Palace upon the sixth of Jan. as they had before declared They left indeed the Sapihan Regiment in Garrison behind them but upon the Temptation of vast advantages These had the rest of the Crown-Jewels put into their hands as caution for their pay which Jewels consisted of two Crowns of Gold richly beset with Jems a Scepter of Unicorns-Horn likewise gloriously adorned with Jewels two whole Unicorns-horns and another half cut the Great Dukes Saddle embroydered with Pearl and Gold two Hats wrought with Diamonds with the Scepter and Golden Apple both inriched with pretious Stones of huge value And having ordered the Affairs of the Fort at this rate they chose one Joseph Cieclinski for their General and appointing him a new Council of War they quitted the place notwithstanding the Kings Commands and the intreaties and threats of their Officers to the contrary and marched directly into Poland being 7000 effective Horse and being arrived at Leopolis made that their Head-Quarters and distributing their Troops into the several Palatinates of the lesser Poland they seised upon the Kings Domains and the Ecclesiastical Revenues which were very great under pretence of their Arrears due from the Commonwealth But to return to Musko which they had quitted the Sapihan Regiment which they had left there was reinforced and reassured by the access of fresh Troops brought thither by the two Konickspolski's from Smolensko but they were followed by an envy amongst the Great Officers as their evil Genius Potocki led on by his Ambition which had an influence upon all his Councils having suffered affairs to run up to a pitch of desperation judged it a fit time for him to step in to the preservation of the place in order whereto he sent his Kinsman Nicholas Strusius with part of the Smolenskian Foot as most proper for the Service in Garrison The Passage along the River Moscha was kept open all this time whereby they were able to receive in their supplies of Men and Victuals in spite of the Besiegers but their divisions and emulations within growing up to a height gave the Russians the opportunity to perfect their Line by blocking up that Passage Not long after the Sapihan Regiment consisting of 4000 Horse debauched likewise by the same spirit of Mutiny forsook Chodkiowits and chusing one John Zalinski to Command them by the Title of Marshal took the opportunity of breaking through the Enemies Leaguer and marching into Lithuania seated themselves at Brestia where they fixed dividing the neighbour-Palatinates the Kings Revenues and the Ecclesiastical Incomes as a subsistance for themselves till their Arrears were paid The Commonwealth of Poland being provoked by these repeated insolencies of their Souldiers failed not to charge their King with the causes of them in not permitting his Son to go to Musko which he was now inclined to and though dilatory in his nature resolved now to bring him thither in Person The Confederate Horse which had formerly desired Vladislaws with so much heat and in which the King confided most refused now to stir and change their repose and affluence of all things for penury and new toils Sigismund however with what Forces he could get together came to Vilna the Metropolis of Lithuania where two German Regiments of Foot were newly arrived from thence he went by slow Marches to Smolensko where encountring with new difficulties he was at a stand for the prosecution of his Design for the Horse which quartered there his best hopes refused to march with him till their Arrears were paid them The dispute was unseasonable to the Kings Affairs who wanted Monies to answer their demands and strength to exact their Obedience He therefore had recourse to entreaties and the temptation of fair Promises not only Arrears but Rewards which having no impression upon their hardened natures the King was forced to march with his Guards onely and a few Light-Horse though he was after overtaken by twelve hundred of those Horse who perswaded by some Officers most in credit with them not to expose their King now upon the Crisis of his Affairs but to signifie to the world by that Act of Obedience both their Loyalty and Courage These being overcome by such Arguments marched after the King to Viasna midway betwixt Smolensko and Musko where Chodkiovits also with his Forces joyned the Royal Army It happened and I would not omit a circumstance that carried noise with it that the Portcullis of the Kings Gate at Smolensko through which Sigismund was to