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
taken her leave of the King and Court of Poland set forwards towards Musko and on the 26th of April entred the Imperial City being met by the way by Peter Bosmanno attended by a great number of the Nobility who conducted her into and through the City which was fitted and accommodated according to the Mode of the place upon such occasions the Citizens being disposed in their Formalities to make a passage for her and the streets ecchoing her Welcome with the confused noises of the People Trumpets Cymbals and other sorts of Musick Being arrived at the Palace she was received by Demetrius with all the imaginable demonstrations of Joy and Affection She also was not wanting in a very obliging reception of the Great Ladies that were presented to her and after a short stay at Court she after the manner of that Country was conducted back to the Monastery where the Empress Dowager was and where she was accommodated with an Appartment till the celebration of the Nuptials Four days after she was removed from thence to another Appartment prepared for her in Court and Royally furnished in order to her Marriage which was the day following after Evening-prayer performed by the Patriarch The Scepter the Apple and the Sword were born before the Emperour the Great Duke of Muskovy assuming that Title and the Crown wherewith the Empress was to be adorned was carried before her upon a Cushion of Crimson-Velvet the Walls of the Church being hung with the same Livery bordered with a deep Fringe of Gold The Church-ceremony ended they were both of them with their Crowns upon their Heads conducted back to the Palace all the Cannon Bells and Musick in the Town thundring ringing and playing without intermission where the succeeding night was wasted in Feasting Dancing Balls Masks and other Revels proper for the Divertisements of Kings and Great Personages The Solemnity was continued the next and other following days with all those Delights and Pleasures which the Wit of Russia could invent no excess being spared which might improve the State and Magnificence of the Nuptials till the 16th the fatal Eve of the ensuing Tragedy We have already given you some account of this Emperours disadvantages in the peoples esteem and by what ways he lost ground amongst them his manner of living bearing no proportion with the station wherein he was placed He was much to seek in the Art of Government neither had he discretion to make right application of the Advice of his Council or indeed to be much amongst them his whole time being spent in the Society of Players and such other Mimicks whereby his Nature being vitiated he grew profuse of the Treasures of the Crown which were so strangely wasted amongst his Rabble that to enumerate their sum must needs raise the Readers admiration They speak of many Myriads of Gold and Silver and twelve Bushels of Pearl and other Jewels and to have this prodigious stock of Riches havocked away in a few months rendered him the hate and scorn of the Nobles which was heightned by his introducing of forein Habits and Customs amongst them a people tenacious even to Superstition of the old Manners and Ceremonies derived to them from their Fathers All this being put together did so enflame them that what they first designed out of a levity in their nature was now pursued upon the score of Justice as being called to it by Divine Impulsion to chastise this Mushrome of a Prince whose growth being preposterous his end was likewise so Basilius Zuiski to the rest of his Arguments to conspire the ruine of this Prince had now an addition of Revenge to add to the heap for that publike reproach laid upon him not to be cancelled by new favours He confidered that the next transgression would be severely punished upon him and that he only held his life at the will of a Tyrant in whose power it was every moment to renew the old Judgment against him He was not wanting to inflame the Lords and people with a zeal as he termed it to the Interest of their Countrey who had taken fire to that height that they used to discourse publickly concerning him As for his Birth it was base being nothing of the Person or Manners of Jo. Basilius appeared in him and as for his Religion it was Heretical being he scorned coming to the Churches and if at any time he appeared there he manifested neither respect nor Devotion by his Outlandish Modes rendred his Presence a reproach to the Place He omitted bowing to St. Nicholas and other Saints which were had in Veneration by that people and in his Diet would ordinarily eat Calves-flesh which was held an abomination amongst them A bold fellow taking the liberty to discourse at this rate in the hearing of some of the Guards was seized upon and brought before the Great Duke who commanded him to the Rack but some of the Council interposing affirmed that the fellow was drunk and that it was below his Majesty to reflect upon such a worm adding that there was no cause for those fears in a potent Empire where he was able to raise Millions for the defence of his Sacred Person so that he was fatally swayed to neglect the business and being drowned in security and led away by the flatteries of a sort of Buffoons who fed his pleasures with fresh Inventions he left the Affairs of State to their own fortune accounting himself secure in the protection of his new Guards of Foreiners which were 300 men English French and Scotch and divided into three Squadrons commanded by Officers of their respective Nations They were armed with Swords and Halberds and cloathed for their every-days Habit in Scarlet and for Festivals in Crimson-Sattin These Guards were brought in the place of those Foreiners whom he had dismissed before but the Gangrene was run too far to be cured by so feeble an Application The Conspirators as we have already observed had purposely suspended the Execution of their Designe till the arrival of the Bride especially the return of the Jewels with another Consideration of no less Consequence as to time which was judged most seasonable at the Solemnity of the Nuptials when Demetrius and his Court would be drowned in pleasures Basilius Zuiski allied by the Mother to the Blood-Royal of Muskow had two Brothers John and Eogdan who were very serviceable to his Designe in the raising of some thousands of men in their several Territories and especially in their conveying of them into the City unobserved The Marriage of Demetrius conspired with them in that part of it as agreeable to the manner of the Eastern Nations for the Nobility upon such publike Solemnities do travel with a great Train of Friends and Attendants There was upon the 16th of May a more Royal Feast appointed than any had been held before as if upon a particular respect and Honour to the Polish Nation to which the Embassadors of that Country being invited
Kings Guards rendered himself famous for an Attempt wherein if he had been vigorously seconded the place had run the risk of falling into the Kings hands He fastened a Petard to St. Michaels Gate which laid the passage open into the Town but being ill seconded by his own men and multitudes of the Russians flocking to the danger he was forced to retreat without having effected any thing more than to render the Enemy more diligent who immediately blocked up their Gates with Mountains of earth making also great Trenches before them to prevent the like Attempt for the future And thus the Siege continued with various labours on both sides the King having lain about a year before it with more pertinacie than was judged conducible to the state of his Affairs which seemed to invite him to Musko the Imperial Seat as a place more probable to fall into his hands It was now the Year 1610 and the Zuiskians had laboured long against a prevailing Enemy at their Doors when the Aids came from Sweden The Poles in the Camp wanted not their inconveniencies They had a multitude of Chief Commanders which occasioned frequent Disputes to the disappointing of many probable Designes they had to this a licentiousness in their Discipline secure carelesness in the conduct of their Affairs the natural infirmity of that Nation and an instability and irresolution in their Councils all things seeming to portend their ruine Most of the great Cities and Provinces except Severia had revolted from their Obedience Their Taxations were become intolerable which the unseasonable Seditions of the Army had extorted from Demetrius for want of Pay the People now too late repenting themselves of the Contributions already paid them without which they must have left them to the enjoyment of that peace which by their own folly and fickle nature they had deprived themselves of They proceeded so far in many parts of the Empire as to seize upon imprison and kill the Tax-gatherers which caused the Poles to disperse strong Parties of their Army into several parts of the Land insomuch that their force in the Camp did not suffice to check the excursions of the Town by whom they were several times baffled Their Commander in Chief Rosinski upon one of those Sallies was shot into the side with an Arrow of which hurt he lay long sick and never perfectly recovered Upon an Encounter which happened in May the Poles had gained a notable advantage over them but delaying their Retreat gave the Enemy time to come on with fresh Troops against their wearied Souldiers whom they routed and snatching the Victory out of their hands took divers Prisoners and destroyed most of their Foot The time was thus wasted as well as the strength of each Party The Poles having received Intelligence of the advance of the Swedish Aids towards Musko under the Command of Pontus de la Garde sent Alexander Zbarowski with 2000 Horse to check their progress He beat one of their Regiments at Toccinum and killed 600 Germans upon the place The Muskovites concerned in the safety of these Auxiliaries drew out their whole strength and joyned with them The Poles also reinforced Zbarowski with their best Troops and being now in the Field again both Armies met at T wer 30 Leagues from Musko the Dispute was fierce the Demetrians rushing with contempt upon those they had so often beaten the Russians seemed more willing to die than be overcome which made the Fight bloody and doubtful until these were forced yet again to give place to the Ascendant Virtue of the Poles And certainly the business had there received an end had not the main body of the Army commanded by Zbarowski himself shrunk from the ground for both his Wings prevailed over those of the Enemy and dispersed those who had beaten his Battalia but their number being inferior to that of the Enemy they durst not follow the pursuit or attack the body of Foot which stood immoveable notwithstanding the defection of their Horse There were slain in this Fight 1000 German Horse and 6000 Muskovites with the loss of but 50 Poles The Main Body of Zbarowski's Army emulous of the Success of their Fellows and pressed with the shame of their own miscarriage resolved upon the very spot of ground to redeem their sullied Honour though contrary to the advice of some of their ablest Souldiers who counselled them to withdraw to a more advantageous Post The Army labouring thus under divided Counsels but united in a careless security some lying in the Field and others quartered in the Town The rallied Enemy about break of day fell upon them with a surprize so violent that they had no choice left them but to fly for their lives or lie by it Many save themselves in T wer which was Garrison'd with Cossacks others scarce looked till they got to the Camp at Musko The Poles did indeed what they could to have rallied but the Assault being universal it was impossible for them to do it which probably saved most of them but they lost all their Baggage and most of their Horses The Muskovites raised upon the stock of this Victory stormed the Castle of T wer thrice but were as oft beaten off with loss and now despairing of carrying the place they raised the Siege and marched towards the Volga where they met again with the Demetrian Forces and fought them at Kolasinum but parted upon equal terms Whilest Zuiski and Demetrius do thus with various Fortune strive for the Empire of Russia Sigismund continues obstinate at the Siege of Smolensko which if he had raised and transferred his Arms to Musko it is very probable he might have given Law to both those wearied and implacable Parties but he was absolutely resolved not to quit the place till he had taken it though it may be presumed he failed in his unseasonable distracting and weakning the Demetrian Poles which he ought rather to have assisted with fresh Supplies lest the Muskoviters prevailing Zuiski might be confirmed in the Government and attempt the relief of Smolensko with the united Forces of the Empire which also happened The King had not his Recruits so opportunely out of Poland as he desired but he could not well call his Countrymen from Demetrius without satisfying their Arrears and the rewards they had proposed from the Victory they seemed assured of and the exhausted Treasury of the Commonwealth could not suffice for such a sum but he positive in his resolves sent some eminent Emissaries to perswade them to abandon Demetrius and return to their Duty They on the other side sent their Embassadors to the King that they might not by an untimely desertion be defrauded of the fruit of their labours and after many altercations and disputes of Duty and Rewards the Souldiery resolved to persevere in their faith to Demetrius and which they were obliged to by the Sacred Ties of Vows and Oaths There were for all that some who promised Obedience provided
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
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
their hands who committed it to him He assured them that where he could not equal his Predecessors in Glory and Merit he would surpass them in Temperance Evenness of Government and the Impartial distribution of Justice to his People as deriving his Greatness from their choice and dedicating it wholly to their Service and Interest Boris being thus come to the Crown shewed no less wisdom and conduct in conserving his Dignity than he had exercised in the acquiring of it he secured the Army and men of War to him by Gifts the Nobles by Preferments Favours and sutable Graces and the Commonalty by a diminution of their Taxes increase of their Priviledges protection and encouragement of Trade and in all things by a gentle hand upon the Reins of Government whereby he was become the Darling of his people and the Honour of that Crown they had given him He had an eye to the state of his Affairs abroad in order whereto he was careful to renew the Treaties with the Swede Pole the Persian and neighbouring Tartar and being secure beyond humane apprehensions to the contrary at home and abroad he is from the Contrivances and Designes of a private Monk in a Cloyster hurried into those discords and perplexities which no forein Enemy with all his Powers could have reduced him to This Monks right name if we believe the contrary party was Hrisko Otropeia born a Gentleman but of a decayed Family in the Dukedome of Jareslaw The debaucheries of his younger years were extraordinary which necessitated his Parents to dispose of him into the Cloyster of Trinouka where he might have room to breath out the extravagancies of his youth by this more rigid conversation This retiredness did not at all quadrate with the licentiousness of Hrisko's nature who being of a Spirit over-active for the Contemplative life he was condemned to had therewith a very advantageous meen and presence which an old subtile Frier of that Covent taking notice of one who had a secret Antipathy to the person of the Great Duke though never disobliged by him if at all known to him he contracts a particular friendship with this young Probationer and fully instructing him in the History of the Russian Chronicle and with the present form of Government he also acquaints him with all the circumstances of the late Changes in the State and by what Arts and Assassinations Boris had possessed himself of the Empire The Frier having thus qualified his Pupil tempts him away from his Cloyster and Country and secretly conveys him into the Dukedom of Kiow where with some difficulty he places him in the service of Duke Adam Wisnioweski furnishing him with apt Rules for the discovery of himself when a seasonable opportunity should be offered Hrisko being thus disposed of the Frier leaves him and returns into Russia giving it out every where that Demetrius the right Heir of Moscovy was yet alive that his Murther had been designed by that bloody Tyrant Boris but that his Mother the Great Dutchess Dowager having gained private Intelligence of the Plot and in that Juncture of Affairs judging no place secure against the power and malice of the Favorite thought it more safe to avoid the storm than vainly to resist it in order whereto she caused Demetrius to be conveyed away under the conduct of only one Servant privy to his Estate and the better to disguise his flight had provided another Child of the same Age a Priests Son at Vglecz of shapes and features not unlike the Prince whom the Murtherers killed in his stead He affirmed further That the Corps was suddenly Coffined by the wary and honest Lord Chamberlain a German privy to this pious fraud in order to his Interment whereby the escape of the Prince was managed with less difficulty who was at present in Duke Wisnioweski's Court in great Honour and acknowledged and treated as Emperour of Muscovy That his preparations were in a good forwardness for the recovery of his Rights and assures the Cossacks that if they would espouse his Quarrel they should share in his Conquests and their Pay for it is a Military Nation be much bettered Whilst the Frier by whispers of this kind was accommodating the peoples inclination to his own Designes Demetrius for so we shall hereafter call him remains in the Dukes Court in the Quality of his Chamberlain but not forgetting the Rules his Tutor had left with him he employs all his spare time in the exercise of those Qualities and Graces which render Great Persons more considerable as riding the great Horse Tilting Fencing and whatever else might bear proportion with that Greatness he resolved to pretend to His Conversation amongst his Fellows was reserved and yet obliging towards his Mr. full of Respect and Submission not without the mixture of an Air which spoke his Services more the effect of Gratitude than Duty Thus did this apt Scholar demean himself in the Court of Wisnioweski watching all opportunities to put in practice the Documents of his Tutor which by an accident of some severity were seasonably offered and laid hold of by him For the Duke being one day in a Bath his Chamberlain had omitted some necessary circumstance about his Person wherewith his Choler being raised he strikes him upon the Face calling him the Son of a Whore Demetrius not at all surprized with this usage as if forgetting the Quality of a Servant seemed infinitely perplexed at so unkind a Treatment from a person his equal at least if not his inferiour and the scorn and unkindness of a Blow from one whom he had vouchsafed to serve transporting him to a discovery of himself beyond a retreat His Eyes filled with Tears he breaks forth into these words My Lord were my Quality as well known unto you as my Person and Service your Grace would have spared your ill Language and your Blows both which I equally scorn and grieve at being that where I promised my self a Sanctuary and Ayds for my Restauration I am discouraged by this rugged Treatment from expecting either And as recollecting himself for having said so much he stopt suddenly The Duke being strangely surprized by his Servants discourse and behaviour in this discourse hastily asked him What mean these ambiguous Speeches Who art thou Of what Country and Name and upon what designes art thou here His haste by these multiplied Questions to know all without permitting Demetrius to speak and answer them severally gave him room to cleer up and composing his Countenance into a more Grave posture not without a becoming sadness and modesty answered That his Country was Muskcovy his Father John Basilius the deceased Emperour his Name Demetrius and his Business there for Protection and Aid against Boris the most bloody of Tyrants who had laid designes to murther him but that by the care of his Mother and the fidelity of a Servant he was conveyed away another Child of his Age and not unlike him being laid in his place whom
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
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
to our Laws and to the Majesty of him that is seated upon the Throne These considerations did so long restrain me that I had almost suffered my self to be born down with the Torrent rather than tread a way to redeem millions of People from the Inundation But a just zeal to my native Country and the Honour of the Royal Family having at length subdued the temper of my Nature I shall instead of excusing what is done bemoan to you the unhappiness of our Fate that hath left us no other way to avoid Death and Confusion but through it To what extremes were we reduced when the Sword of Justice must be committed to the hands of the Multitude who commonly strike blindfold and that nothing but Blood Horror and Confusion could preserve us either a Being or a Name But the work is done the Tyrant is chastised and the ashes of our dead Emperour in some sort appeased We are now to look forward and in order thereto to consider how God the Disposer of Empires had by a long and uninterrupted Series of Princes devolved this greatest of Christian Kingdoms upon the Person of John Basilius whose great Mind not enduring to be restrained within the Bounds of his antient Dominions extended his Conquests by the accession of two great Kingdoms to the Empire and â—f any particular Persons suffered under the violence of his temper yet the universal benefits of his Victories did abundantly balance those private mischiefs My several Employments and Trusts under that Great Prince in Peace and War in Negotiations and Embassies and Battles as it gave me a particular knowledge of and Honour for so Illustrious an Emperour so it gave me an Inspection into the Mysteries of State which â—y degrees had so naturalized me into the â—oncerns of the Empire that I think I may without vanity assert my actings as principally respecting the Honour of my Prince and the safety of my Country But Basilius being dead our Glory as if he had been the Soul of our Nation withered away under the Conduct of Theodorus whose infirm melancholick Complexion bearing no proportion with the Courage of his People they seemed to degenerate from what they had formerly been and the barrenness of the Great Dutchess conspiring with the indisposedness of the Prince our Government was no longer supported by his Vertue but rendred a Prey to the Designes of her Favorites And though her unfruitfulness had by our known Laws actually repudiated that Lady from the Emperors bed yet by the artifice of that worst of men whose Name ought to be in horror with us she was continued near him whilst that cursed Brother of hers Boris having thus and by the Murther of Demetrius depriveâ— us of all hopes of a Successor had by the influence of a secret Poyson laid a Train for the life of Theodorus and was to take effect in point of time with his other hellish Contrivances for the attaining of the Empire Then was it that our Banks being born down in the Extinction of the Royal Family our Calamities broke in upon 〈◊〉 like a Deluge and such miseries as were not within humane Comprehensions were acted upon us by the vilest of Monsters whose Villanies were such that had we not our own Testimony for our Sufferings we should never credit that of any other It was from the Sense of this bleeding Condition that I judged it necessary to close with any Pretensions for the Extirpation of so abhorr'd a Tyranny judging it a less evil to own the supposed Demetrius than to sit under the Cruelties of Boris and no other way being then visible I was constrained by the Aid of an Impostor to revenge the Royal Family upon a bloody Vsurper In order whereto I recommended him to you my Lords and to the whole people as the rightful Heir But this Mushroom thus set at the Helm immediately attempts to hurry us from one confusion to another nothing of ours was Sacred in his eye the Religion of our Fore-fathers was become our reproach our antient Laws trampled on and violated new Fashions and uneasie Customs introduced upon us our Liberties taken away and the Government put into the hands of Strangers These considerations made me break through all difficulties to resist the Impostor and with the hazard of my life to refuse him those Honors which were due to a lawful Prince 'T is true I fell into his hands in the Attempt and that he spared my life when the Executioner was ready to take it from me But I owe it him but as to a Thief who had no right over it and who when he might did not take it away Though this might oblige any other of less zeal for his Country yet I who lay under greater obligations to that and that never cared to live for my self alone was after some reluctancies upon the sence of ingratitude resolved to embark my Fame in the same Vessel that had the charge of the Common-Interest chusing rather to Shipwrack with that than to lie secure with my own Concerns in the Harbour That which gave life to my Endeavours was the faithful concurrence of you my Lords whose Zeal and Courage in so glorious an Attempt as it contributes to the eternal Honour of your Memory so it receives Testimony from the Great Disposer of Empires who hath signalized his Approbation of our Actings in the Event And now my Lords being we are delivered from our Bondage and have once more day before us that the Royal Line is extinguished and that we are in the quality of a free people it behoves us as good Patriots to provide for the Government of these vast Territories in a way consistent with their antient Constitutions in order whereto let us look into the Commonwealth for what is denied us in the Royal-Family and pitch upon a Person fitly qualified for the Greatness and Honour of the Charge he is to undertake Let his Extraction be Eminent and of the first Rank that the Glory of the Empire may not receive diminution from the meanness of his Blood or the Nobles scorn Obedience to their Inferior and let his Virtue be so Illustrious that they have no room to envy his Precedencie But above all things make choice of a zealous Worshipper and Observer of our Religion in the Rites and Ceremonies of our Ancestors which besides that it draws down the Blessing of Heaven upon us it checks all Conspiracies hatcht under the Mask of Godliness and Conscience Let your Prince be a Person of years and Experience in the Affairs of State considering that besides our disorders within we are surrounded with Enemies from without who lie in wait to invade us and are ready to close with any distempered Spirits for our confusion Let him be one who will account Justice and Temperance a more firm Support than Pride and Arrogance to the Royal Majesty who measures his safety from the Affection of his People and his Treasure from the Preservation of
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
Sambore and Grodners provided they would not oppose him in his Conquest of the Empire sending him this answer That the King should deliver Cracovie to Demetrius and he might in return receive Warsovie from his Great Duke But she is now overwhelmed in another Deluge besides that of her grief And the brave though unconstant Zarucki who had adhered to her Fortunes falling likewise into the hands of the Great Duke was impalled shutting up the Tragedy of his Mistress by his own death And now the Competitorship upon the accompt of the Blood Royal seemed to have extinguished but as if to be Demetrius were to be immortal and that he had not been slain but rescued yet again an inconsiderable Scrivener by what inducement sway'd to it is unknown gave himself out to be Demetrius the Son of John Basilius and that besides his deliverance at Vglecz and Musko he had yet this farther Miracle of his preservation at Caluga The Fellow being of a ready Tongue and subtle got together some hundreds of men such whom the War had indisposed to any thing of labour And to these there flocked all the Vagabonds Bandites and idle persons the excrements of their late Dissentions that proposed to themselves any advantage from Rapine and Plunder His numbers being by this means increased to the bulk of a considerable Party he caused a Manifest to be published of his Birth and several Deliverances invited all his Loyal Subjects as he stiled them to that Obedience which they owed to him as Great Duke of Muskovy the only surviving Issue of John Basilius And to put the more countenance upon his Imposture he marched with his Force to Novogrod from thence to Jama and on to Iwanogrod where he was by the giddy multitude received honoured and owned as the undoubted Demetrius Great Duke of Muskovy Having proceeded successfully in this great Attempt he assumed yet more state and to give a becoming Reputation to his pretensions he dispatched an Embassy to Sweden to sollicite aids against the Treachery and ill-dealing of his Subjects who contrary to all Law Humane and Divine had set up another upon his Throne King Charles surprized with this Address could not satisfie his Wonder not ceasing to admire how that Demetrius who had been so often slain should now survive to demand his assistance But resolving not to be abused or imposed upon he dispatched Petreius as his Embassador to Iwanogrod with Letters of Credence and Power to conclude but first exactly to inform himself of the truth of all things And if he found this Person to be that real Demetrius who had been acknowledged Crowned and Sworn to at Musko then to give him all encouragement of Supplies for the regaining of his Rights and bringing his Subjects to their due Obedience Petreius being arrived at Iwanogrod could get no Audience from this new Duke for he being advertised that the Embassador had formerly seen the murthered Demetrius both in Poland and Musko would by no means admit of him into his Presence but pretending an indisposition in point of health referred him to his Council to treat with him and that he himself hoping he might in a few days be fit for business would ratifie the Treaty in Person The Swedish Embassador answered that the King his Master desired to enter into a strict League with the Great Duke and had therefore given him some particular Commands which he was to communicate to his Highness in Person but since it was not consistent with his health to receive him into his presence he being restrained by his Instructions not to entrust his Masters Secrets to any other would return for Sweden not doubting but if the Great Duke should think fit to send his Embassador thither but that the King his Master would be ready to comply with all his Honorable Designes and Desires And thus Petreius having ended his Negotiation left the place gathering from the refusal of Demetrius to admit him into his Presence and from other Observations made by him that he was only a fictitious Person who had assumed a Name and Title wherewith he had nothing to do But he having by this time got together a Force which might well enough bear the reputation of an Army took the Field and upon the 24th of June faced Pleschow a considerable place which being summoned in the Name of the Great Duke Demetrius was upon the point of surrendring when the Muskovitish Army advancing he made a hasty retreat leaving behind him his Cannon and most of his Baggage and being followed by them he hardly escaped to Iwanogrod The Russians having with so much ease and without a blow dispersed this new Army careless of prosecuting the success further retired Whereupon the Inhabitants of Plescow dispatched their Deputies to Iwanogrod with an humble offer to this Pseudo-Demetrius of their Town and Services as their Prince and Sovereign He over-joy'd with this unexpected Success went immediately away for Plescow with the Embassadors where he was received with all the imaginable demonstrations of Joy Honor and Obedience He transported with this Progress in his Affairs and not capable of improving the same to his advantage gave himself up to all manner of licentiousness and lust violating many of the Prime Citizens Wives and Daughters and proceeding from one degree of Debauchery to another he let loose the Reins to his Party who by his Example committed all manner of Insolencies and Villanies upon the people The Plescovites tired out and provoked with the barbarous behaviour of their Prince took Arms beat his Guards and forced him to fly the City for his safety The Cossacks seeing him thus forsaken of all resolved also to leave him but some of them more advised considered of seizing upon his Person whereby they might the better make their own peace He advertised of this Designe being well mounted clapped Spurs to his Horse and had undoubtedly escaped their hands but that he was overtaken by an Arrow out of a Cossack-Bowe which wounded him in the shoulder Hereupon he was taken and being bound hand and foot was sent to Pleskow and from thence to Musko where he was tied by a great Chain to one of the Gates remaining there an object of scorn and reproach to all the world until the Coronation of Michael Federowicz by whose Command this last Pseudo-Demetrius the fictitious Son of Jo. Basilius was hanged in publick This Mushrome after it had but peeped up expiring with shame and infamy THE END