Enemy and that a Conqueror may quickly ruin himself by neglecting the prudent Maxims of a cautious Policy As soon as the Polish Army arriv'd near the City of Orsza the Muscovites retir'd about 4000 paces beyond the Boristhenes concluding that their retreat would embolden the Polanders to pass the River and that afterwards they might easily defeat them and intercept their flight The Duke of Muscovy was then at Smolensko about thirteen leagues from his Army where he employ'd his time in dividing Lithuania and sharing it among his Generals allotting to each of them a part of the Country on the Mapp and considering how he should dispose of an Army whom he look'd upon already as his Prisoners But the Polanders who have always the advantage over the Muscovites in the open Field were so incens'd at the Pride and Insolency of the Duke of Muscovy who threaten'd to whip them that they resolv'd to give him Battle In pursuance of this Resolution they divided their Army into two parts one commanded by General Suirczowski and the other by General Ostrogski The two Generals having held a Council of War commanded a Bridge to be laid over the River and order'd all the Artillery with the Infantry to pass the same which being done the Cavalry follow'd 'em with an incredible bravery the Muscovites pursuant to the Czar's Order not stirring from their Posts The two Armies being drawn up in order of Battle Suirczowski detach'd 800 Horse for a body of reserve and order'd them to post themselves in a Wood at the side of the Enemy's Army and in the heat of the Fight to sally out and attack the Muscovites with terrible Cries to put 'em into a consternation King Sigismund's Army was so dispos'd that the Polish Cavalry had the right Wing and the Lithuanians the left the Infantry being plac'd in the middle The Battle began about three a clock the Polanders first attacking the Muscovites with an undaunted Resolution Sometimes they gain'd Ground of 'em and sometimes were repuls'd by the unequal numbers of their Enemies but immediately they rally'd and broke through 'em afresh On the other hand Ostrogski who commanded the Lithuanians attack'd the Muscovites with an extraordinary fury and made a great slaughter among them There was in the Polish Camp a little rising Ground which contributed very much to the gaining of the Battle for their Artillery being planted there made such a dreadful havock in the Enemy's Rear and broke all their Ranks in so terrible a manner that they began to be disorder'd and to take the flight and those who were in the middle perceiving that those who were in the rear gave way began also to fly while they were still sighting in the van During this disorder the 800 Horse who were posted in the Wood attack'd the Muscovites in the flank with so much Fury that being no longer able to sustain the shock of the Polanders the whole Army gave ground and fled In this Battle 32000 Muscovites were kill'd and many drown'd in a Morass which they endeavour'd to pass in their flight Some affirm the Muscovites lost 40000 Men and 't is certain the slaughter was so great that the Waters of the Boristhenes grew red with the Blood that was sned on its banks The Polanders took a great number of Prisoners and among others ten Generals of the greatest Lords of Muscovy seventeen Palatins or Governors of Provinces and two thousand Gentlemen Of the Polanders there were but 400 men kill'd but the number of the wounded was much greater They obtain'd this memorable Victory March 25. 1614. After the gaining of such an important Battle the loss of which would have been infallibly attended with the total ruin not only of Lithuania but also of Poland the Generals ought to have besieg'd the City of Smolensko which they might have easily retaken during the universal consternation that was spread over Muscovy but instead of making a right use of that advantage they retir'd without making any further attempt and King Sigismund himself who expected the event at Boryssow return'd to Vilna with the Prisoners whom he caus'd to be led before him in a kind of Triumph From thence he sent Ambassadors to all Christian Princes to notifie the great Victory which he had obtain'd over the Muscovites and that their Eyes as well as Ears might convince 'em of the Truth of that Advice the Envoys were accompanied with fourteen Muscovites who were remarkable for their white Hair But the Emperor being enrag'd at the loss which his Allies had sustain'd and at the unhappy event of a War of which he himself was the Author surpriz'd the Envoys of the King of Poland as they were passing thro' his Territories and took their Prisoners from 'em whom he sent back to the Czar by the way of Lubec It is so natural to the Polanders to neglect the advantages which they obtain over their Enemies that after they had defeated Gustavus King of Sweden in a memorable Battle in which he himself was wounded and could hardly secure his own person they were so far from pursuing him that they suffer'd him to retire to Stum between Marienburg and Marienwerder where having rally'd his scatter'd Forces he renew'd the War with greater Vigor than before Nor were they guilty of a less inexcusable blunder after the Victory they obtain'd in Vkrania June 30. 1651 for tho the Cossacks and Tartars were totally routed and the Cham with Chemelnski put to flight the Polanders retir'd as if they had been beaten and immediately concluded a Peace by which they suffer'd the Cossacks to keep an Army of 20000 Men in the Palatinate of Kiowia This Reflexion is so just and important that I cannot forbear adding another remarkable instance of the same nature which happen'd Anno 1489. About that time Russia and Podolia were miserably harass'd by the Tartars who infested these Provinces with continual Inroads and always return'd home with a multitude of Slaves at last King Casimir resolving to prevent the utter ruin of the Country upon advice that the Tartars were preparing to make a new Incursion into Russia and Podolia he sent John Albert his Son with a body of light Horse to oppose 'em and order'd all the Gentry of Russia and Podolia to joyn him The Tartars being divided into two bodies the first of which consisted of 15000 Horse and the second of 10000 were returning home without fearing any danger with a prodigious number of Slaves according to their usual Custom but the young Prince with his Troops meeting the first attack'd and totally routed them and took from them all the Booty and Slaves they had carried away After this Success he march'd immediately to attack the other body The Officer who commanded 'em made some resistance but was at last kill'd and the slaughter was so great that the Polanders were weary with cutting off so many Heads for not one of the Tartars return'd to the Crim. This total defeat of the
is only the Royal Prussia that ought to be reckon'd a Province of Poland and even tho' it belongs to the Republic 't is govern'd by its own Laws and enjoys particular Privileges They have a peculiar Treasury and a Treasurer and when the King summons the Arrierban the Nobility are not obliged to go beyond the Frontiers of the Kingdom This Province is divided into three Palatinates Culm Marienburg and Pomerania It s chief Cities are Thorn upon the Vistula Elbing a league from Frischlaff and Dantzic which is the most considerable of 'em all and the capital City of the Palatinate of Pomerania which comprehends all the Country Westward of the Vistula to the Confines of Germany Upon the Coast of Prussia the Waves of the Sea cast Amber upon the Shore which the Fishermen take up in Nets It is soft at first but soon after grows so hard that it may be turned or engraved and cut into all sorts of Figures 'T is also found in certain great Lakes in the same Province especially in the Bishoprick of Warmia There are also many Lakes that abound with Fish almost in every part of the Country In the Palatinate of Marienburg there is the Lake of Drausen which sends forth the River Elbing that discharges it self in the Frischaff which is a Bay or Gulf of the Baltick Sea about twenty leagues in length and two in breadth In the Palatinate of Pomerania there is a Lake betwixt Konicz and Schochaw which is seven leagues long and five broad and is the head of the River Bro which falls into the Vâ—stula about four leagues above Culm There are also three other almost as large as the former in the same Palatinate near the City of Dantzic and both the Palatinate of Culm and the Bishoprick of Warmia are so full of Lakes that it would be almost an endless Labour to mention every one of them particularly Massovia hath Prussia on the North little Poland on the South Podlassia on the East and great Poland on the West The Vistula and the Bugg are the principal Rivers that water it This Province began to be united to the Crown of Poland by Ziemowit who was Prince thereof in the Reign of Casimir the Great but the Union was not fully perfected till the Death of the Dukes John and Stanislaus in the Reign of Sigismund I. anno 1526. It contains only one Palatinate which formerly took its Name from the Town of Czersk but is now call'd after the Name of the Province Samogitia or Samojedia which is a Dependancy of the Dutchy of Lithuania is border'd by Courland on the North the River Niemen on the South Lithuania on the East and the Baltic Sea on the West The Christian Religion was introduc'd into this Country Anno 1413 by the pious Care of King Jagellon who took the pains to instruct those People himself because they could not understand the Polish Priests The chief Towns in Samogitia are Rosienia on the River Dubissa and Miednich There are no Palatinates here but the Province is divided into several Starosties or Governments of Castles and the first Starosta is a Senator Since Courland depends upon Poland and is the Frontier of Samogitia it will not be improper to give a short account of it here 'T is divided into two parts Courland and Semigallia the River Dzwina separates it from Livonia on the North 't is bounded with Samogitia on the South Lithuania on the East and the Baltic Sea on the West This Country has been subject to a Prince who is a Vassal and Feudatory of Poland since the Year 1561 that Godfrey Ketlâ—r great Master of the Teutonic Knights in Livonia having voluntarily resign'd his Office put all Livonia with the Town of Riga the capital City of the Province into the hands of Nicholas Radziwill in the Name of Sigismund Augustus who gave him Courland and Semigallis which were then reckon'd part of Livâ—ia on Condition that he should remain a Vassal to the Crown of Poland The City of Mittauw in Sâ—â—â—â—â—ita is at present the Metropolis of that little State and the Residence of the Duke Upper Volhinia reaches from Polesia on the North to upper Pâ—dâ—ia on the South and from lower Volbinia on the East to black Russia on the West It s chief Cities are Lucko or Lusuck or Luceowia on the River Ster and Kremienice which is situated upon an Eminence on the bank of the River Izwa about eight leagues from Luceowia towards the South The Province of Podlachia which was united to Poland in the Year 1569 is bounded by Lithuania towards the East and Massovia towards the West 't is ten leagues broad and thirty leagues long It s chief Cities are Augustow and Biclsk which gives Name to a Palatinate CHAP. III. Of the State of Poland with respect to its Neighbors and of the various Success of the Wars in which it has been engag'd with ' em POland reach'd heretofore from the Black Sea to the Baltic and from 〈◊〉 to Hungary but as all the States in the World are subject to great and frequent Revolutions Poland has had its share in the general Calamity and is at present confin'd within much narrower Bounds For it may be observ'd in general that every Republick is look'd upon by its Neighbors as a Country which they have a kind of Right to invade And the same Remark may in a peculiar manner be apply'd to Poland both with respect to the Manner and Constitution of its Government and the insatiable Ambition of all its Neighbors of which the Turks Tartars and Moscovites are most formidable 'T is long since the Turks dismember'd Valachia and Moldavia from this Kingdom and afterwards the Cossacks being oppress'd by the Nobility and restrain'd from their wonted Pyracies on the Black Sea resolv'd to shake off a Yoke which they could no longer bear and by that means gave the Turks an opportunity to invade Vbrania in the Reign of King Michael and to make themselves Masters of Caminiec the capital City of Vpper Podolia and the only place of strength which the Polanders had upon that Frontier That fatal War continued after the death of K. Michael and disturb'd the Reign of his Successor John III till the Polanders were at last constrain'd to make a Peace at Zurawno in Pokutia for the Army of the Turks and Tartars was so numerous and formidable that Year that it consisted of above 180000 effective Men and on the other hand that of the Polanders was so weak that they could not bring above 12000 Men into the Field because they were depriv'd of the Assistance of a considerable part of the Forces of Lithuania who were drawing together near Leopold under Prince Michael of Radziwill their General but could not joyn the grand Army because the Infidels had block'd up all the Avenues to the Camp so that the General was oblig'd to continue at Leopold with the Marquess de Bethune and the L. Hide Ambassador from the K.
persons of all Ranks and Sexes into Slavery so that Thracia Scythia and almost all Asia was fill'd with Polish Slaves The Tartars are naturally so hardy that they swim over the Rivers in the Winter when there is no Ice which without doubt proceeds from the Mothers washing their Infants with cold Water They cross the great Rivers such as the Boristhenes after this manner each of them prepares several Faggots or Bundles of Rushes or Reeds which he ties to two Poles upon these he lays his Clothes Arms Saddle and all that he intends to carry along with him then he ties this little Bridge of Fagots to his Horse's Tail after which with one hand he takes hold of the Horse's Main and whips him with the other and in this equipage passes the River stark naked When the Tartars take the Field to make Incursions they agree beforehand that when they are pressed too hard by the Enemy they shall divide into several Parties each of which shall retire by a different way and that they shall afterwards rendezvous at a certain place They take these Precautions that those who pursue them seeing many tracts of Horses feet may not know which to follow They are so afraid of being killed or taken Prisoners that when they are press'd by their enemies they fly with such an amazing swiftness that having tir'd one of their Horses they leap from him at a full gallop upon the back of another without dismounting and if they find that they are still hotly pursu'd they first throw away their Sabre then their Bow and their Arrows and at last without alighting from their Horse they cut the Girths and drop the Saddle and by that means ease their Horses If in their flight they meet with a Defile or narrow passage they gallop thro' it with so much precipitation and disorder that they ride over one-another without minding those who command them no not the Cham who is their Prince which is an evident sign that they are all extreamly apprehensive of being kill'd or taken Prisoners The Cham who at present governs the Crim Tartars is of the Family of Gilerey and both he and all those of his Race are cloath'd in Silk the Officers in Cloth and the rest in Sheep-skins with the woolly sides next their skin in the Winter but they turn 'em outwards in the Summer or in rainy weather They wear no Turbans as the Turks and Persians do but Caps like the Polanders their Arms are a Sabre with a Bow and Arrows every one of them carries a Knife and an Awl to make Whips and Straps which serve to tye the Slaves whom they take in their Incursions they are extreamly afraid of Fire-arms their greatest strength consists in the swiftness of their Horses which are very ugly but never tire and each Tartar has many of them which he leads along with him and they know their Masters so well that they follow 'em when they fly without losing 'em or running away from ' em Their usual Food is Horse-flesh which they like so well that they prefer it before Beef I have seen some Tartars who were Prisoners in Poland eat Horses that dy'd of any Distemper and even devour the Head Feet and Intrails None but the Rich eat Bread and the rest live upon Milk Millet and Turkey Wheat They are very lazy when they are in their own Country but are extreamly laborious and vigilant when they go abroad upon an Expedition The Poor kill no Horses to eat unless they be sick and when they kill one they give part of it to their Neighbors they make a sort of Pudding with the Blood of the Horse they kill and the Meal of Turkey Wheat or Millet which they reckon to be a very delicious Ragou They eat but little Salt because they believe it to be bad for the eyes and since they are Mahometans 't would be needless to add that they eat no Bacon These are some of the most remarkable Observations I made during my abode in Crim Tartary The Tartars are divided into Hords or Cantons almost like the Switzers These Hords are unequal in bigness number and strength the greatest of them all is that betwixt Kilia and Bialogrod which are two Towns one at the mouth of the Niester and the other at the mouth of the Danube Next to this the most considerable is that of Oczacow a City and Fort which the Turks call Dziarerimenda at the mouth of the Boristhenes the smallest of all the Hords is that of Kipozako which takes its Name from the River that runs by the Town The Cham of the Tartars never goes out of the Crim to take the Field unless all the Hords march with him There are also some Mahometan Tartars subject to Poland who live in Lithuania near Vilna where they possess Lands and work as the other Lithuanians do they were establish'd there by Vitold Uncle to King Vladislaus Jagellon after he had expel'd 'em out of the Lower Volhinia King Jagellon had also Tartars in his Army when he routed the Teutonic Knights in the Year 1386. After this short account of the Tartars I proceed to take a view of the Cossacks and first of Vkrania CHAP. V. Of Ukrania and the Cossacks with an Account of the Lithuanians and Livonians LOwer Volhinia and Lower Podolia are both comprehended under the name of Vkrania which in the Sclavonish tongue signifies a Frontier because those Provinces are the Frontiers of the Turks and Tartars who are the most terrible Enemies of Poland This is a very large Country containing above 300 miles from East to West and above 180 from North to South Kiovia scituated on the Boristhenes is the capital City and was once one of the largest Towns in Europe but it has been so often pillag'd and harass'd by the Tartars that there is nothing to be seen in it at present but ruin'd Houses and Cottages with a Fort in which the Muscovites keep Garrison The Boristhenes which is one of the greatest Rivers in Europe runs thro' the middle of the Country and receives all the other Rivers that water it The first Rendezvous of the Cossacks who were originally Russian Peasants was in the Isles of the Boristhenes especially that of Tamahoâ—ka from whence they spread themselves thro' all Vkrania betwixt the Cities of Kiovia and Czyrkassy At that time they liv'd only by Hunting and Fishing they are call'd the Zaporovian Cossacks because they inhabit along the Boristhenes to distinguish them from those who live on the Banks of the Tanais or Don which empties itself into the Palus Meotis Stephen Battori King of Poland was the first who brought the Cossacks under Military Discipline and appointed them the City of Trethymirow upon the Boristhenes about twelve leagues below Kiowia for their place of rendezvous for heretofore they had no Leaders and were so far from observing Discipline that they march'd rather like Freebooters than Soldiers But from that time they began to make
Capital City of Upper Podolia 'T is now in the hands of the Insidels The Sixteenth is the Bishoprick of Smolensko which is scituated on the Boristhenes the Metropolis of a Dutchy and of a Palatmate heretofore depending upon Lithuania but now in possession of the Muscovites 'T is to be observ'd that most of the Bishops have in their Diocesses a Suffragan or Subordinate Bishop in Partibus Infidelium because those who bear the Title imagine that they were only made Bishops that they might have a Place in the Senate and enjoy a sufficient Revenue to support that Dignity They allow a small Pension to their Substilties for the pains they take in giving Orders and performing all other Episcopal Functions CHAP. X. Of the Palatins Castellans and Officers of State who are Senators THE First Secular Senatos are 36 in Number viz. 32 Palatins who are properly Governours of Provinces 3 Castellans and one Starosta The First of all the Secular Senators is the Castellan of Cracow who was advanc'd to that Dignity by King Boleslaus Crivoustus about the year 1103. This Prince being provok'd by the Insolence of Scarbimirus Palatin of Cracow who was perpetually endeavouring to stir up the People to Rebellion expell'd him out of the Senate and threw him into Prison where he died And that he might leave an Eternal Mark of his Resentment to Posterity he made an Edict or Constitution by which it was Ordain'd that for the future the Castellan of Cracow should always precede the Palatin The Second and Third Places belong by Turns to the Palatin of Cracow and Posnania The Palatinat of Cracow is in Upper Poland and that of Posnanania in the Lower or Greater Poland In this Palatinate there is a Town called Srim scituated on the River Varta about Four Leagues above Posnania near which there is a Mountain where they dig up Pots Pitchers and other Earthen Vessels all form'd by Nature which are soft and afterwards harden in the Air. The Fourth is the Palatin of Vilna in Lithuania The Fifth the Palatine of Pandomir a City of Upper Poland scituated on the Vistula The Sixth The Castellan of Vilna The Seventh The Palatin of Kalisch a City of Great Poland The Eighth The Palatin of Troki a City of Lithuania scituated upon a Lake The Ninth The Palatin of Siradia a City of Lower Poland scituated on the River Varta about Six Leagues from Kalisch and Eleven from Lencicia The Tenth The Castellan of Troki The Eleventh The Palatin of Lencici a City of Lower Poland scituated upon an Eminence about Four Leagues Eastwards from the River Varta The Twelfth The Starosta of Samogitia The Thirteenth The Palatin of Brest or Bressici a City of Lithuania the Metropolis of the Province of Polesia scituated on the River Bug. The Fourteenth The Palatin of Kiovia in Lower Volhinia But this Palatinat is only Titular because the Muscovites have kept the possession of the Town ever since the Cossacks put it into their hands The Fifteenth is the Palatin of Inowlocz a City of Lower Poland scituated on the River Germ about Two Leagues below the Lake Guplo and Five from the Viscula The Sixteenth The Palatin of Russia so called from the Name of the whole Province though there are several Palatinats in it and though he is only Palatin of Leopold The Seventeenth The Palatin of Upper Volh nia or of Lucâ—oria The Eighteenth The Palatin of Upper Podolia which was farmerly a Province of Poland There are many Wild Oxen and Asses in this Country It extends from Upper Volhinia to the Niester and from Lower Podolta to Russia The Chief Cities of Upper Podolta are Caminiec scituated on the River Smotrzy and Bar seated on the Row which empties it self into the Bug about Seven Leagues below Braclaw But this Palatinat is at present a meer Titular Dignity because the Turks have been Masters of it ever since the loss of Caminiec The Nineteenth The Palatine of Smolensko This Palatinat is also Titular because the Muscovites have possessed it since the Year 1654. The Twentieth The Palatin of Lublin a City in Upper Poland seated on a Brook which falls into the River Vieprz about Two Leagues below the Town The 21th The Palatin of Losk a City of Lithuania seated on the River Dzwina The 22th The Palatin of Belcz a City of Black Russia about Three Leagues Eastward from the River Bug. In this Palatinat there is a Lake which grows dry once every Three years the Waters retiring with a great Noise into the Cavities of the neighbouring Hills But they return some time after and 't is only during this Interval that they can take the Fish The 23th is the Palatin of Nowogrodeck a City of Lithuania about Three Leagues from the River Niemen The 24th is the Palatin of Plocsko a City of Lower Poland scituated on the Vistula about Three Leagues from the Dutchy of Massovia The 25th The Palatin of Vitepsk a City in the Dutchy of Lithuania scituated on the River Dzwina The 26th is the Palatin of Massovia which is a Province of Poland the Metropolis whereof is Warsaw scituated on the Vistula The 27th is the Palatin of Polaquia or of Bielsk a small City about Four Leagues from the River Narew In this Palatinat is the Lake Augustow which is Five Leagues long and half a League broad The 28th is the Palatin of Rava a City in Lower Poland The 29th is the Palatin of Brzesty a City in Lower Poland about Four Leagues from Plocsko In this Palatinat is the Lake Gulplo which is very full of Fish and is Four Leagues long and one broad This Lake is the Head of the River Germ which runs to Inowlocz and in the Palatinat of Kalisch changeth its Name to Netec and afterwards empties it self into the River Varta The 30th is the Palatin of Chelm a City of Black Russia about Seven Leagues from the River Bug towards the East In this Palatinat there is a Lake called Biale which signifies White It s Water is extreamly black and the Fish very good 'T is said the Water of this Lake Polisheth every thing that is washed with it during the Months of April and May. The 31th is the Palatin of Mseislaw a City in the Dutchy of Lithuania scituated on the River Sosz which empties its self into the Borysthenes about Forty Leagues lower The 32th is the Palatin of Marienburg a City in Royal Prussia scituated on one of the Arms of the Vistula which falls into the Frischaff This City was heretofore the Seat of the Great Master of the Knights of the Teutonic Order and in the Church of the Castle are still to be seen a great many Forms or Seats which formerly belonged to those Religious Knights of St. Mary The 33th The Palatin of Braclaw a City in Lower Podolia scated on the River Bug. This Palatinat which contains all the Lower Podolia is at present only Titular There is a Lake in the Desarts betwixt this Province and
Presents of Flesh Fish Stuffs hay and Oats The Starosties ought only to be given to old Officers who have serv'd long time in the Army and are as it were Super-annuated for the Polish Word Starosc signifies old Age and he who enjoys one of those Estates is call'd Starosta from Stary which signifies an Old Man There are Two sorts of Starosties some are empower'd to exercise a Jurisdiction thro' the whole extent of their Territory whereas there are others without any Jurisdiction The first are the most considerable tho' they are not always the Richest Each Starosta is oblig'd to give the fourth part of the Revenue of his Starostie to the Republick and no Man can possess Two of those who have Jurisdiction The King may bestow the Reversion of a Starostie upon the Starosta's Wife except in Rússia which is a Frontier Province for since a Starostie is a Government the Republick supposes that the Governor ought to reside upon the place but Polish Gentlemen may be made Governours of Frontier Places because the Republick relies more upon their Fidelity than upon that of Forreigners tho' they are sometimes deceiv'd in this Maxim For he who surrender'd the City of Caminiec to the Turks without making any Resistance was not only a Gentleman of Poland but even a Palatine As for the Salt-works of Poland the most considerable are those of Vieluczka and Boehinia about Five Leagues from Cracow which yields about 400000 Livres Yearly They were found out in the Year 1252. They resemble deep Mines dug in the Earth to which they descend by a hole like to that of a Quarry The Workmen who are employ'd in Digging out the Salt begin to enter the Pits at Midnight and those who go down first begin to come out about Noon because they must be let down and drawn up with a great Rope like that with which large Stones are rais'd up out of Quarries As they dig the Salt out of the Mines they must leave great Pillars from place to place to support the Earth and since these Vaulted Pits are all cover'd with Salt when one goes down into them he seems to be surrounded with a Thousand Crystals which reflect the Light of the Torches There are some parts of 'em dug so far that it would be dangerous to go into 'em because one might easily lose himself in these Labyrinths The Salt is taken out in large Columns which being loosen'd from the Mine are drawn by Horses just under the Mouth of the Pit and afterwards drawn up like Stones out of a Quarry The Horses continue always in those Subterranean Caverns but the Men come out every day and which is very remarkable there is a Spring of Sweet Water in the Salt-pits of which both the Men and Horses drink After the Salt is brought out of the Pits they carry those great Pieces or Columns through the whole Kingdom except Prussia where they only use French Salt Before the Polish Salt can be us'd it must be beaten to pieces and then ground in a Mill. Besides these Pits of Bochnia and Vieluczka there are other Salt-works at Halicz in Pokutia on the Neister at Kolomey in the same Province on the River Prut and at Pinsk a City of Lithuania in Polâ—sia and besides these there are some others which belong to private Men for there is an express Law that the Republick shall not pretend a Right to the Mines of Salt or of any Metals which are found in any Gentleman's Lands There is also White Salt made in many other places of Poland as in the Palatinat of Craeow between Oswiecin upon the Vistula and Mount Crapat But this Salt is for the King's use besides they make great quantities of Salt in Russia by Boiling Salt-water which costs 'em little because that Province is all cover'd with Woods There are also some Mines of Lead mixt with Silver in the Burroughs of Ilkusch Slankow Kranow and Nowoguiia which are in the Palatinat of Cracow and in that of Sandomir there is Salt-peter at Vieliczca there is also Vitriol found at Byecz and Quicksilver at Tustan in Pokutia towards the Mountains The Ecclesiastick Estates are the Benefices as Bishopricks Abbacy's Priory's Canonships Curacies and all the Lands that are possess'd by the Regular Clergy The Benefices are not so numerous as in France for there are but Sixteen Bishopricks and some Abbacy's But the Bishopricks are of a great extent and endow'd with large Revenues some of these Prelates having above 100000 Livers Yearly Rent The Patrimonial Estates belong properly to the Polanders whether the Right of Succession be by Purchase or Inheritance and consist in Houses Lands Towns Villages Lakes Mills Meadows and Woods but especially in Peasants for a Gentleman's Riches are valu'd by the Number of his Peasants every one of them being worth 100 Livres a Year to his Master These Peasants are Slaves and cannot possess any thing all that they heap together belongs to their Lord whom they cannot leave without his permission unless they turn Priests or Fryers But these miserable Wretches work so hard without intermission that they have no time to study in order to fit themseives for admittance among the Secular or Regular Clergy except only in the quality of Lay-Brothers which the Polish Gentlemen take also care to prevent by obliging them to Marry young that they may not be receiv'd into the Convents To settle a Peasant upon a Piece of Land or in a Village the Lord causes a Cottage of Wood to be built for him and gives him Two little Horses one Cow some Hens Geese and Rye to subsist upon for a Year In the mean time he appoints a certain Piece of Ground in the Village which the Peasant is oblig'd to Till for his Landlord and upon which he is to maintain himself for the future for all the Goods of the Village belong to the Lord. The settling of a Peasant costs a Gentleman nothing but the price which he pays for him Because the other Peasants of the Village build the House and furnish the Cattel Poultry and all that he gives to his new Subject who with his Wife and Children is oblig'd to work Four days in the Week for his Master and to spend the other Two days in Tilling the Ground which is given him for his Subsistance When Harvest comes all the Peasants of the Village go out together to cut down and gather in the Corn for their Lord who appoints certain Persons to Oversee their Work and to beat 'em when they are idle For the Punishment of the Peasants there is a sort of Pillory in every Village on which those Miserable Wretches are sometimes forc'd to stand a whole day One would think the Peasants in Poland should reckon themselves the most unhappy Creatures in the World to see themselves reduc'd to perpetual Slavery and oblig'd to Work continually without the prospect of one day of rest But they do not so much as know that there are
any Persons of their condition happier than they for when they are young they see their Fathers treated after the same manner And besides they have this comfort that they never want Provisions Their Wives are employ'd almost in nothing else than Dressing their Meat of which they have usually 3 or 4 sorts every day for Dinner viz. a Dish of Pease with a little Bacon another of Oatmeal Barley Millet or of the Grain which they call Cachat and the rest of several sorts of Roots which they have in abundance and very good The Furniture of their Houses consists of some Earthen or Wooden Dishes and a Bed which they make of Chaff and Feathers with a sort of Coverlet over it As for their Children they never lye in Beds till they are Marry'd but upon Boards round the Floor which they use in many places in stead of an Oven to Bake their Bread and to Boil their little pots of Cachat and Roots These Stoves have no Chimney to let out the Smoak so that their Huts are always full of a Thick Smoak which has no other passage but a small Window about Four Foot from the Ground When they go into their Cottages they are forc'd to stoop that they may not be stiff'd with the Smoak which is so thick above the little Window that one cannot see the Roof and yet 't is impossible to go to Bed in the Winter without Stoves so that the Gentlemen have them in their Houses as well as the Peasants But those in Gentlemens Houses are neatly made of Burnt Earth like fine Earthen Vessels with a Chimney to let out the Smoak The Children of the Peasants especially in Russia go stark Naked as well the Girls as the Boys till they are Four or Five years of Age. They are never taught to go but as soon as they have got a little strength the Mother sets them down at the Threshold of the Door where they learn by degrees to Crawl along and get up by themselves and when they are dirty the Mother Washes them in cold Water which makes 'em so hardy that I have seen 'em slide Bare-footed on the Ice The Peasants are Cloath'd in Winter with a Wastcoat of Sheep's-Skins with the Wool and in Summer they wear a Stuff Coat of a Chimney-Sweeper's Colour with an ugly sort of Cap or Bonnet Sometimes they wear Boots but most usually Shooes which they make of the Bark of a Tree As for the Women their Habits are not much different from those of the Country-Women in France only their Smocks are so short that one may sometimes see their Skin between their Wastcoat and Petticoat In Russia the Women go all Summer in their Smocks with an Apron before them the Strings of which serve them for a Girdle but their Smocks reach to their Mid-leg They never Build a House in Poland without a Stove in each Room Some of the Gentlemens Houses are of Wood and others of Brick and all so contriv'd that they Lodge only in the Lower Rooms except in some Houses in the Cities The Gentlemen by reason of the frequent Incursions of the Tartars have but very little Furniture and that of no great value for they have only little Beds with Taffeta Curtains and some Turkey Carpets They have no more Beds than what are sufficient for their own Family so that when one goes to Visit them he must either carry a Bed along with him or resolve to lye upon the Floor Most of their Countrey-Houses are of Wood without Fountains Gardens or Avenues because the Polish Gentlemen take no delight in Planting Trees upon their Lands tho 't is certain Poland would be a very fit Countrey for Fruit-Trees and especially for Apples and Pears for in some places they grow wild and prosper to Admiration so that they might have very good Sider which would save them a great deal of Corn which they consume in Beer But they take very little pains either to Improve their Lands or Increase their Revenues There are many Great Lake both in Poland and Lithuania with Mills upon them for Grinding of Meal and Cachat But I never saw any Mills for Paper Cloath or Leather tho they might easily have them and consequently save all the Money which Forreigners gain by the Importation of these Commodities But the Polanders not only deserve to be Censur'd for not embellishing their Houses by Planting Trees about 'em and Augmenting their Revenues by erecting New Mills but are even so little mindful of their Interest that they neglect some Advantageous Improvements which would cost 'em nothing but the Labour of their Peasants They have vast Fens and Morasses and consequently might have a great deal of Pasturage so that they might breed and bring up abundance of Cattel which would be extreamly advantageous to them for I neither know nor ever heard of a Country in which there is more Flesh eaten than in Poland and consequently where there are more Cattel kill'd nor is there any place in the World where they use greater quantities of Leather for every body wears Boots and almost all the Gentlemen have Coaches or Waggons cover'd with Leather which they call Ridevans Nevertheless in stead of preparing the Hides and Skins of the Cattel which they kill they suffer Strangers to carry 'em away into their own Countrys where they Prepare them and afterwards make the Polanders Pay dear for that which they Sold for a Trifle There are many Lakes in Poland and Lithuania so large that it would be almost impossible to Drain them These Lakes abound with Fish which the Polanders usually take in the Winter When the Ice is pretty strong they make a great Hole to let down their Nets and afterwards make several smaller holes from space to space that they may draw their Nets along from hole to hole with a Rope which is fasten'd to a long Pole till they bring them back to the first large Opening When the two ends of the Nets are brought together they pull them out and bring up with them all the Fishes that happen'd to be in that space of Water through which the Nets were drawn for they cannot leap over the Nets because of the Ice The Fishes thrive so well in those Great Lakes that there are an infinite number of Pikes Four Foot long and Carps Two and a half The whole Countrey of Poland is full of Woods and Lithuania much more And there are some Forests so large that it would require at least a whole Day to pass from one side to the other The Revenue of those Forests which for the most part are Firr-Trees does not consist in the Sale of the Wood but in the gathering in of the Honey and Wax which they find in the Hollow Trunks of the Trees in so great quantity that in many Places it yields above 10000 Livres a Year There is so much Honey in Poland and especially in Lithuania that they make a sort of Wine or Mead of it