The Hiftory of POL ANDy
I N
Several LETTERS to
Perfons of Quality.
Giving an Account of the Antient and Prefcnt
State of that Kingdom.
Hifioricdj l^Foliticd^
GeografhicdS and
Phyficd, J ( Ecclefinjikai ^
1 Z.
Its Origin and Extent, with a Defcription of its
Towns and Trovinces; the SuccefTion and remarkable Afti-
ens of all its Kings, and of the Great Dukes of Lithuania:
The Eleftion, Power, and Coronation of the King: The
Senate, or Houfc of Lords: The Diet and Form of Go-
v(;rnnient: The Privileges of the Gentry j their Religion,
Learning, language, Culloms, Habits, Manners, Riches,
Trade, and Military Affairs 5 together with tue State
of Phyfick and Natural Knovvledg; as alfo an Account
of the Teutonick Order, and of the Duke of Cur land,
his Family and Territories. With Sculptures, and a new
Map after the beft Geographers.
With feveral Letters relating to Phyfick.
VOL. I.
By BERN. CONNOR,U.D. Fellow of the
Royal Society, and Member of the College of Phyficiant ■,
who in his Travels in that Country collefted thefc Me-
moirs from the beft Authors, and his own Obfervations.
Publijh'dby the Care and AJJijlance o/Afr. Savage.
London, Printed by J. D. for Dan, Brown without Temple-
Bar^ and A. Roper in Fleetftreet. M DC XCVIII.
( iii )
THE
PREFACE^
>
HAving neither a Genius^ nor a Talent
for Hiftory^ much kfs for Politicks^
and having paffed but a very fmall
time at the late King of Poland'f
Court^ I can neither promife the Criticks^ mr Po-
liticianSj that Politenefs of Stile^ nor thofe exa3
Rules and Circumjiances of Hijlory they generally
fjcped?, and are accujlom'd to meet with in Rela-
tions of this nature. For the Memoirs I cblleiled,
and the Remarks / made in that Nation.^ as wed
as in other Foreign Countries^ were firfl intended
for my own Curiofity; until being come fome few
Tears ago from my Travels into England, and
finding there had not been yet publifiPd in our
Tongue any Account of this vafl neighbouring
Kingdom, I wees often difcours'd, chiefly during
this lafl Bledion, about the Confiitution of that
Country, and was deflr^d to communicate to the
Publick what I knew of it. This gave me occa-
[ton to revife my Memoirs, and to confidtr that
if they were put into good order, they might
perhaps he of fome ufe^ becaufe the Form of Go-
vernment in Poland is in fome refpeii like thai
hf buh. But the firfl Tear I came over, I [pent
A 2 fomii
The Prefaced
fome Months at Oxford to ^uhlijh a [mail Latin
Treatife of Phyfical Matters^ and to communicate
to the Ingenious Gentlemen there what [mall In-
fight I was thought to have in Anatomy, and in
the Materia Medica. The Summer following 1
made fome Chymical and Anatomical Demon-
firations at Cambridg. Thefe two lafl Winters
1 have been much taken up here in Town in trying
a great many Chymical and Anatomical Expe-
riments^ and in publifhing my Treatife de Me-
dicina Myftica j and befides^ being bufied in my
ether Occupations in the PraQice of Phyfici^ to
which I have entirely applied my felf of late^ as
being more futable to my Temper and ProfeJJion
than Hijlorical ones^ I neither could take any
Delight^ nor have any Leifure to write over^ or
to put into due method the Memoirs I brought
from Poland: fo that the Publick is in-
debted to my ingenious Friend Mr. Savage; for
without his help this Account of Poland could
not doubtlefs have thus appeared thefe feveral
Tears.
I hope ' Ingenuous and Candid Perfons will ex-
cufe the Faults and DefeCls they will undoubtedly
meet with in this Hijlorical Relation •, fince
what 1 defign*d only to do at my own leifure in
fome Tears., I have difpatclPd with too much Pre
cipitation in few Months, to fatisfy the Curiofity
of People during the late Elellidn m Poland,
who long'd to fee fome Account of that Kingdom
publifhid. Wherefore I neither deferve nor defire
any other Reputation by it, than that being the
firjl that has given any Hijlory of that Country
in our Language, I give occafion to others that
may travel after me in Poland, to give tf more
fatisfaUory Account thereof.
I
The Prefaced
I admire our EngliJlj Gentry^ who travel into
Germany, have never the €uriofity to go either
from - Berlin through Pruflia or Pofnania to
Warfaw, or from Vienna through Silefia to
Cracow. They may with eafe perform this four-
ney in three Months time^ and not think their
time lofi ^ for tho there are not fo many Rarities .
to be feen^ nor that Conveniency of travelling
as in moU other Countries^ yet they may obferve
the moft remarkable Places in Poland, the peculiar
Form of Government^ the Splendor of the Court^
and the extraordinary Grandeur of the Nobility^
who are not fo barbarous nor fo unpolifh'd^ as
they are generally reprefented. For thefe fixty
or feventy Tears fafl, the Poles have taken a
Humour to travel^ and have of late refin'd them-
felves extreamly^ having had French Queens and
French Fad ions reigning amongB them during the
four lafi Reigns fucceffivelywhich has produc'd
this good Effed^ contrary to the private Dejigns
of France, that not only the rough Temper of
the Poles is made more polite^ and their Beha-
viour more civif but Ukewife their Judgment
improv^dj and they themfelves rendred more capa-
ble of knowing their own Intereft^ and more wary
than formerly of a Defpotic Power^ which their
Kings of late, ajftfled by the French, have la-
hour"*d to introduce : for the Poles are now fenjible
that the French King, who is abfolute at home,
and well known to be ambitious enough to
enlarge his Conquefis abroad, has jujl reafon to
think that it would have been eafier for him to
manage his Interejl againft the Empire with a
King of Poland, who was Ukewife abfolute, than
it is now with one who entirely depends on the
uncertain Refolutions of a free Parliament: Be-
A 3 caufe.
The Preface.
caufe, let a K'wg of Poland be ever fo Vefpotic,
Im Kingdom being poor^ Ije will always want Aio-
viey either to fatiefy his Pleafure, or to gratify
bis Ambition^ and will fcarcely ever be proof a-
gainfi fifty thoufand Louis-d'Or's.
The Poles are not only watchful againjl the en-
croaching Fa&ions 0/France,fcMt likewife they begin
. to confider the unhappy Condition of their in/laved
Neighbours^ the Mufcovites, Swedes, Danes,
Germans Turks, whogroan under the heavy
Take of the unlimited Power of their Soveraigns.
Thefe vifible Examples male them fo very jea-
Ions of their Kings^ and fo extreamfond of their
Liberty^ that they will not only always keep their
Crown ele&ive^ but likewife oblige their new King
to enlarge their Privileges^ which are at this
time more ample than ever they have been before.
And it is not to be imagined that the King of Fo-
land will become Defpotic as the King of Den-
mark did, becaufe in Denmark the King^ Clergy
and common People being kept under by the ex-
Qrbitant Power of the Nobility^ join*d togethery
and foon brought the Nobility to. declare the King
AbfolutCy choofing rather to be under one Majler
than under feveral petty Tyrants. But in Po-
land, both Gentry and Clergyy who are very nu-
merous and powerfuly have a joint Interefi toli-
mit the King's Powery and to keep the Common
People in fubjeSlion, who are ftupidly pleased with,
or rather infenftble of their Slavery. And the
Notion of Liberty is fo inbred with the Polifh
Gentryy that if they fhould fufpeCl that their
King did aim at snaking any Breach upon their
LawSy they not only think themfelves no longer
(>blig*d to pay him AilegiancCy but likewife ex-
elude
The Preface.
Ml
elude bis Children • For tkty ma'snta'm^ That
Lex eft Rex, their Law is their Kiag j
that they ekd a Prince only to head their Army
againfi the Invafim ef Foreigners, and to gmftrn
the turbulent Spirit of the Grandees, tebo think
they are all equal among themfelves, and their
King but the firjl among hi^-Equals. So that the
furefi my for a King of Poland to make the
Crown Hereditary, is never to attempt it, but to
leave entirely to the free-will of the Diet to
chufe whom they pleafe. Which Maxim is con-
firmed by the had Suceefs Prince James bad in the
late Ele&ion, caufcd by the ill Conduit of King
Sobieski his Fatlxr, who prompted by bis Amhi-
tion and French Counfei, endeavour d, fome
Tears before his Death, to perfwade the Diet ta
chufe a Succejfor; which drew fuch an Odium
and Jealoufy upon his Children, that very few
appeared for them in the laft Eleilian, tbo he
obliged the Chief Ojjicers to whom be gave any
co^dcrable Employment, to take an Oath to ef-
poufe his Childrens Interejl after lois Death.
But the Poles, who think themfelves no longer
bound by their Oaths, than thty find them cm-
formable to their Laws and Interefi,fcrup}ed not to
abandon thofe Princes to chufe the EleCior of Sax-
ony and to give a new Precedent for two
things they never prailiftd before, to exclude
their own Kirg's Sons, and to eleii a German
Prince. For the dijlance and fituation of the.
Eleilor of Saxony'f Hereditary Dominions, and
the Jealoufies the other German Princes would
have conceived, had he ufurp'*d more Power
than the Laws allowed, took away from the Poles
all fufpicion that this Prince would ever attempt
A 4 to
vlii The Preface*
fo invade their Privileges^ as they apprthended
the Prince of Conti, and perhaps John Ill'i
' fihildrenwould have done.
' WPien I came firji into this Nation^ my chief
JDeftgn was to converfe with Phyficians., and other
JVaturaliJls^ to improve my Knowledg in the
Praiiice of Phyfich., and in Natural Hijlory:
But finding little here to fatisfy my Curiofity in
thefe Matters^ that I might not lofe my Labour
in travelling in fo remote a Country, I refolv''d
to look into their Chronicles, to inform my felf of
the Origin of the Monarchy ; of the Succcjfwn,
and Remarkable AlHons of all its Kings 0} its
Geography, and its Produiis j and to enquire in-
to the Antient and Prefent State of that vajl
Kingdom. Which I have done with as much
Care and Accuracy as I could well compafs in fo
fhort a time.
People perhafs will admire how I could pretend
to give an Account of fo large and Antient a
Kingdom, not having been in it a full Twelve-
month. I own this were no fmall prefumption in
pte, had I undertaken to give a compleat Hifiory
thereof-, but as I only relate briefly either what
I have gather'^d from the befl Polijh Authors,
learned from the mojl Intelligent Natives, or
obferv^d my felf, I hope the Publick will have no
ill Thoughts of me for this Attempt.
The firfl Writers of the Polijh Hifiory, like mojl
other Hifiorians, were credulous and fuperfiitious,
and have fiWd their Writings with a great many
Romantic and almofi fabulous Stories, which j
have omitted, tho I have inferted fome, as the
golden Tooth, the devouring Dragon, Popiel'$
. eaten by^ Rats, and fome others •, not with a
The Prefaced
ix
defign to mai-c the Pullick belie've them^ or that I
believed ''em my felf, hut only to Jhew how the
Ignorance of fome^ and the unfair Relations of
others, have imps'd upon the World in all Ages.
* I knew Jomething of the Conjlitution of Po-
® land before I went thither, having formerly con^
verfed with feveral Gentlemen of that Country
" at Paris, in Italy, and Germany ■, which in-
' dined me in fome meafure to travel with fome of
(i -them from thence into that Kingdom. Befides,
'I 1 came out of Poland w'tth the Ek&orefs of Ba-
») varia, the King's Daughter, in Company with
i's fever al Natives thereof, who attended her High-
«• nefs from Warfaw to Bruflcls. In this long
$ Journey I had likewife opportunity to inform my
further of the prefent State of that Country.
f) So that I have not only colleBed this imperfeif
Account, which I have ventured to give of it,
'M during the little time 1 refided at the King's
t n Court, but likewife before I came thither, and
'm- fince I left it.
k I did not at firjb defign this Hijlorical Ac-
wj count fhould fwell to fo great a Bulk, nor that
it chkfly the Geographical Part fhould be fo tedi-
oufly long, but thought to reduce the whole to the
oc narrow compafs of one Kolume •, until Mr. S —■
(19 confidering the Inconveniency of too fmall an
Epitome, enlarged the Geography of the King-
rijl dom of Poland, and of the Great Dutchy of Li-
(J, thuania, to make the Relation of them both more
ij exaCi, and more fati/sfa&ory to fuch as are de-
\ firous to compare the Towns and Provinces with the
'Map.
i THE
C X )
THE
CONTENTS
OF THE
Firft Volumer
Letter I. 'TO the Right BonmraJjle William
A Lord Dartmouth.
Of the Origin of the Kingdom of Poland, with
the Succejfton and remarkable AClions of its
firji Dukes from the Tear 550 to 830.
Let. II. To the Right Honourcfble Laurence Earl
o/Rochefter, Embaffador from Im Majejly
Charles II. into Poland.
Containing the fecond and third Claffes of the
Kings of that Country, or the Succejfton and
Remarkable Anions of the Families of Pi-
alius and Jagello, from the Tear 830, to
the Tear 1574.
Let. III. To his Grace William Duke of De-
vonlhire. Lord Steward of his Majejiy's
Houfhold.
Of the Succejfton and remarkable Adions of
the four Claffes of the Kings of Poland,
confiding of mixt Families, from the Tear
1574, to 1574.
Let. IV.
Contents.
Let. IV. To the Right Honourable William Earl
0/Yarmouth.
Concerning the Family and remariahle ABions
of John III. King of Poland, jis alfo
his Daughter's Marriage to the prefent
Eledor of Bavaria, &c.
Let. V. To the Right Honourable Charles Lord
Townfend.
Of the Extent and Produds of Poland, toge-
ther with a Defcription of the chief Towns
and Provinces of that Kingdom.
Let. VI. To George Stepney, H'vs Ma..
']ejly^s Envoy Extraordinary to the Princes
of the Empire.
Of the Extent and Produds of the Great
Dutchy of Lithuania, with an Account of
its chief Towns 'and Provinces.
N
THE
( xii )
The CONTENTS of the Se-
cond Volume, being the prefent
State of Poland. In feverai Let-
ters.
Letter I. lis Grace Thomas Lord Arch-
Jl bifhop of Canterbury.
Of the Form of the Gocvernment in Poland,
and of the King's Power and Revenues.
Let. II. To his Grace the Duke of Norfolk.
Of the Senate of Poland, or Houfe of Peers^
conjifting of Bifhops^ Palatins^ Cajlellans^
and the ten great Officers of the Crown ^ an
Mkewife of the Starojla's and other Perfons
of Nojte.
Let. III. To the Right Honourable James Ver-
nop, £/^*, Principal Secretary of State.
Of the Diet or Parliament of Poland, and o-
ther Courts of Judicature.
Let. IV. To the Earl of Marlborough.
Of the EleTton and Coronation of a King of
Poland, with the Interregnum.
Let. V. To the Lord Marquefs of
Of the Power of the Gentry^ and Slavery of
the People in Poland ^ where the Genius^
Charade)-^ and manner of living of the
Poles are related.
Let. VI. To his Grace the Duke of Ormond.
Of the fiate of the" Army., Forts., and Military
Affairs in Poland.
Let. VII. To his Excellency Monfteur de Cle-
verskerk Embaffador from Holland.
An Account of the Trade and Riches of Po-
land, as likewife of the City o/Dantzic.
Let.
Contents. xiii
Let VIII. To the Earl of Burlington.
Of the Origin of the Teutonic Order^ and
the Succejfwn of its great Maflers in PrnHia,
and in Livonia j with tts ^refent State in
the Empire.
Let. IX. To Sir Thomas Millington, Treftdent
of the College of Phyficians.
Of the ftate of Learning., of Natural Know-
ledgy and particularly of the Prailice of Phy-
fick in Poland •, with an account of fome na-
tural things, chiefly of a Difeafe in the Hair
peculiar to the Poles, call'd Plica Polonica.
Let. X. From Baron Blomberg^ his High-
nefs the Duke of Curland's Minifier, to
Dr. Connor.
Giving an Account of the Duke of Curland'f
Family, Strength and Revenues, aslikewife
the Extent arid Produ&s of his Territories.
Let. XI. To the Honourable Mr. Bridges, eldefl
Son to my Lord Chandois, and FeUow of
the Royal Society.
Giving an Anatomical Account of the Natu-
ral Caufe why People mufl neceffarily die ,
of old Age alone, attended with no other
Difeafe.
Let. XII. To
Explaining the Nature of curable and incurable
Wounds, demonflrating by Pradical Obfer-
vations, and Anatomical Experiments, the
fmall number of Wounds which are of them-
felves abfolutely mortal, and /hewing the
true ufe and common abufe of Styptic Wa-
ters and Peuders in the Pradice of Surgery.
A
Ciiv;
A Catalogue of fuch Authors as have been
confulted in both Volumes of this Book;
whereof fome have been quoted, and
others omitted on account of Confent
in Opinion*
POmponius Meld de Sdrmatia.
Commentariolus Hartmanni Schedii de
Sarmatia.
%/£nea/i Sylvius de Polonia^ Lhhudnia^ & Prujfu,
five BoruJJia.
Aiartini Cromeri Polonia.
jilexandri Guagnini Rerum Polontcarum.
Sigifmundi Liberi Baronis in Herberjlein De-
fcriptio Lithmnits.
Jacobi Pritu/ii de Provinciis Polonicis.
Chronicon Polonix Vinccntii Kadlubki.
Mdtth. de Michovia Chronica Polonorum.
Polonici Regni tredecera Mutationcs.
Johannes Duglojfus Annales Polonorum.
Salomonis Neugebaveri Hilloria Polonica.
Johannes Herburtus a Fulftin Compendium Hif-
torise Polonica;.
Flofculi Legum Polonicarum.
Staniflai Orichovii Annales.
Mariciani APatthia Ladovii Conftitut. Pakn.
Compendium.
Paflorii Florus Polonicits.
Johannis Boteri Polonies Defcriptio.
Hilloria Reformationis Folonices. Authote
Scanijlao Lubiensko Equite Polono.
Staniflai Krdflanowickfl Status Polonies.
Siinonii
Catalogue of Authors.' sv
Shnoms Starevolfcii Poknia.
Reiation Hiftoriquc de Pologne. Par Monf.
Hauteville.
Hartkmchii RtSfpublica Polonorum.
Jdam Bremenfis Seculi IX. Scriptor, HiHo-
! ria Ecclefiafticju
jAlhm Chronicon.
Hofnii Area Noa.
HiHoria de Vita & OHtu Sigifmundi jiugufii.
Heidenfiein de Rebus Polonic'vs ab exceflu Si-
gifmmS j^gufli.
,j{ JDaastifcanorum Clades a Johanne Lafim Fchm.
Bobujlms Baibims Hiftoria Bohemia.
Dttheavil Hiftoria Bohemia.
3dkralU Chronica Pomerani£.
^bertiCraiizJi Pohfikamm Rerum.
Simtii Annales Polon.
jj. Henred L Regis Poloma cum Fragmentis
fikis.
'UUdifim Fohma & Su&:ia Princi]^s Vita.
Caflmir Roy de Pologne.
Gecrrc Ciyili di Pdonia, di j^herio VimntL
Dclctiption d' Vhaine., par Beau^lan.
Gmrrcs d^ Tura avec la Pologne.
HiftoircdeSiC^^stef & leursGo^rcs corirc
Tjr la Pologne.
La Politiqnc des FeUonoh.
Rizirdiere Hlftoire des Dictcs.
PMlippi Hoaorii de Interrcgno.
Gramnaatica feu laftkutio Polonicx Lingo«.
ESkta Regnm Pdsnia.
SfEgtiark Polmim.
ife
Sooks
Books printed for Daniel Brown
and Abel Roper.
I. TT'Our Treatifes of Phyfick and Chirur-
JL gery. i. A Phyfico-Medical Effay
concerning Alkaly and Acid, 2. Farther
Confiderations on the faid Eilay. 3. A new
Light of Chirurgery. 4. The new Light of
Chirnrgery vindicated from many unjuft
Afperfions. By J. Colebatcb, a Member of
the College of Phylicians.
2. Flis Treatife of the Gout.
3. HisDoftrine of Acids in the Cure
of Difeafes farther alTerted j in which is con-
tained fome things relating to the Hiftory of
Blood, &c.
4. Nature and Qualification of Religion,
in reference to Civil Society. Written by
Sam. Puffendorf, Counfellor of State to the
late King of Sweden. Tranflated from the
Original.
The Prefent and Antient State of Mufcovy^
in which is inferted all things material to be
known in relation to that vaft Country j with
feveral Sculptures, and a new Map.
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THE
Antient and Prefent State
O F
POLAND-
PART I.
The Antient State.
Letter I.
To the Right Honourable William
Lord Dartmouth.
Of the Origin of the KJngdom of Poland ;
with the Succefjion and Remarkable Acii-
ons of its firfi Dukes, from the Tear 550,
to 8^0.
My Lord,
HAving had the good Fortune, fome
Years fince, to meet your Lordfhip
at Fenice^ in my Travels from France,
through Italy and Germany into Poland, I
found, that not contented with a fuperficial
and tranfitory Account of places, your Ge-
B nius
2 Of the Origin and Let. I.
nius led you naturally to enquire not only
into the Government, Laws, and Cbarafters
of the feveral Nations you paifed througl^
but likewife to examine nicely into their
Maxims of State, and their different Inte-
refts j and this, that by difcovering the Excel-
lency of fome of their Conftitutions, and De-
fedfs in others, you might, like a wife and
thinking Patriot, admire the Perfeftions of
our own Government, Goodnefsofour Laws,
and Wifdom of our Senate, whereof you
yourfelf are fo worthy a Member.
My Lordj You may remember, that after
your Refolution to take Medicines, as well
as my fmall Skill in prefcribing them, had
had the good Effeifl of curing your Lordfhip
at renke of that acute Difeafe which made
me alrnoff defpair of your Recovery, I left
you at Padua with the Earl of Kildare to ga-
ther ftrength *, and went thro' Tyrol^ Bava-
ria and Auftria down the Danube^ to yienna;
where having ftaid for fome time to fee the
Empcrour's Court, I fet forward, with fome
Noblemen of Poland^ through Moravia and
Sikfia to Cracorx) ^ the Capital City of that
Kingdom \ from whence, in eight days, we
arrived, with a numerous Attendance, at the
King^s Court, which always refides at War-
fare \ where I was kindly receiv'd by the
' late King Jofcw Ssbkski, who did me the Ho-
nour to intruft me with the Care of his de-
caying Health: and fometime afterwards his
Majelly fent me with her Eledforal Highnefs
the PrincefsTerefaj his only Daughter, then
married to the Eledor of Bavaria, to take care
likewife of her Health in her long W jnter Jour-
f ney
firjl Trinces of Poland. 3
ney from Warfare to Brujfels ^ which gare mc
opportunity to come fooner out of that King-
dom, than I at firft apprehended I cou'd.
Tho, my Lord^ my chief bufinefs both in
Poland other Countries has been always
to improve my felf in what related pecu-
liarly to the Pradice of Phyfick, and toNa-
tural Knowledg i yet for my Own Satisfac-
tion and Curiofity, I was defirous to be in-
formed further, both from the Natives them-
felves, and their Hiftorians, of the true State
and Origin of this vaft Kingdom. I found that
Poland has met with the fame Fate with molt
other Countries, that is, to be little known
from its Minority: For when this Monarchy
was firft founded by Lechus^ there were po ,
Learned Men to hand down to Pofterity by
their Writings the true State thereof from
its Infancy ^ but what fmall Account there is
extant of it, was written fome Ages after:
Wherefore, not having befides been a twelve-
month in that Kingdom, I cannot prefume
to give that fatisfadion which perhaps your
Lordlhip might otherwife exped from the
difcourfe I lately had with you j yet I can
fecurely afiert, that the following Relation
of the Origin of that Country is drawn out
of its moft authentick Hiftorians.
Poland, by the Romans call'd ^ Sar-Origin of
matia Europaa^ came to be a diftind Nation,
and to be governed by Eledive Princes, much
about the Middle of the Sixth Century, fome-
B 2 time
* Pomp. Mela lib. I. de ficu Crbis, cap. 3. & lib. III.
Oj the 'Origin ami L e t. I.
time after that the Goths and Vctndals had
ravag'd the South parts of Europe, and aban-
don'd their own bleak Northern Habitati-
ons to eftablifh themfelves in warmer Regi-
ons, Italy, France, Spain and Africk, which
gave occafion to the * Sclavonians, as Sabelli-
cm, Thuanm, and other Authors have it, to quit
the Cimmerian Bofphorm or Straits of Cajfa,
Great Sarmatia, and Great RuJJia, or Mofcovy,
to inhabit thofe defolate Countries. After-
wards, this People, dividing themfelves into
two confiderable Bodies, one pafs'd the Da-
nube, and fettled in Dalmatia, Iftria, Bofnia,
Carynthia, Bulgaria, as far as Greece^, and in
fome part of -f' Germany •, while the other,
under the Conduft of three Brothers, Lechm,
Cechiis and Rujfm, turn'd towards the North
to polfefs themfelves of thofe Provinces which
the Goths and Vandals had forfaken.
Thefe Brothers jj are faid to have built Bre-
men in Germany, lo naming it from a Sclavo-
Word, fignifying a becaufethey
had there, as one may fay, laid down their
Burden, and were in great meafure freed
from their former Miferies. Thefe Princes
likewife divided their Followers into three
Parties, whereof one commanded by Cechus,
fettled in that Kingdom which lies between
Poland and Germany, now call'd Bohemia; the
other, headed by Lechm, fixM in the lower
part of Great Sarmatia, a Flat and Champain
Country •, whence the Natives have fince calPd
it
^ Albinus tit. 6. pag. 70, &c.
t Adam. Eremenfis fcculi fcriptor, ia lib. I. Hid:,
Ecckfiad. cap. lo, &c.
(1 Guagnini Rerum Polon. p. 50. -f
firfi: Princes Poland. y
it Polska, from the Sclavoman word Po/r, which ivhence fo
either fignifies Plainnefs^ or Hunting j and thc'"''^''^,
Germans^ Poland^ or Even-Ground,
\noch is of Opinion that was an anti-
ent Name of Sarmatia in the time of Ptolanej^
before the Poles inhabited this Champain
Country, which it might have taken from the
Bulani or Eolani^ that are faid to have fettled
near the Hifiulct., and to have come from Sar-
matia. The third Brother RuJJ'us efta-
blifli'd himfelf in that Province of Poland.,
which is now call'd from his Name Rujfta.
Not only the Tcftimony of Authentick
Writers, but alfo our own Reafon will con-
vince us, that all thefe Nations have origi-
nally been the fame ^ which may appear by
their Languages, being but as fo many Dia-
leds of one Mother-Tongue, the Sclavonian ^
which is now fpok'e in more Countries than
any Language of Europe.
Here Lechus had no great need of Force Foundedi>y
to eftablilh himfelf •, he met with but little Lechus.
reliftance, all this Country having been left
defolate for fome time before by the Fandals:
Only |j Regulus, a German Prince, is faid to have
oppos'd him at firft, and to have challeng'd
him, but was foon vanquilh'd by him in a
Duel J whereby he became Mafter of Pome-
rania., which was then Regulus his Coun-
try.
In thefe days there were no Cities in Po- .
land, no Money was yet known, nor any
Laws writ, fuch as they had being only pro- lYhatuws
B 3 nounc'd
* Lib. I. cap. 2. pag. 21.
f Hornii Arca-Nojc, & Pet. Liicari in Annal. Ragufnis.
11 Guagnini Rerum Polon. p. 51.
6 Of the Origin and Let. I.
nounc'd by their Princes Months, and
handed down by Tradition to the People.
^ Princes were then rather Fathers of Fami-
lies, than Lords and Mailers •, and their Re-
venue confilled only in a moderate Impoli-
tion on their Subjefts Labour,
Lechus^ my Lord, fettled in that great Pro-
vince which joins the State of Brandenburg^
fince call'd Pofnania, where he built the firfl
The firjl City, naming it -f- Gnefna, from the Sclavonian
word GniazJo, which in that Language figni-
fies a Nefi ^ and this becaufe, that where it
was building, a Tree was cut down which
had an Eagle's Nell on the Top of it: which
Lechm taking for a good Omen, not only
call'd his City Gnefna, and made it the Me-
tropolis of his Kingdom *, but.alfo order'd,
that the Arms of Poland fhould for ever after
be a Spread-Eagle, which has fo continu'd
even down to this day. He likewife built
another City in a Wood, eight Miles from
the former, which he nam'd Pofnania (by the
prefent Inhabitants call'd Pofnan) fignifying
in the Polifh Tongue Kncwlcdg, becaufe he
there met and knew his Brother Ccchus, Prince *
of Bohemia, after above twenty years abfence.
This City gave occalion for naming th'e Pro-
vince Pofnania.
In Memory of Lechm to this day, tht Poles
flile their Country in their Poems Lechia:
and Mr. Mountagiie North, who liv'd for fome-
time ^tConJlantjnople, has lately told me, that
the Turks call a Polandcr, in th:ir Language,
Lech,
* Kerburt. dc FuIftiii.Senat. Polon. iti Chrcnxo p. 2.
t id. ibicb
I
firjl Tr'mces of PolancJ, 7
Lech, making the Poles likevvife derive their
Name from their Founder.
Tho, my Lord, this Lechus brought that
People under a kind of Monarchical Govern-
ment, yet neither he, nor any of his SuccelTors
could ever fo far prevail upon them as to make
the Succeflion Hereditary •, they having con-
tinned Eleftive for above Eleven hundred
years j always referving a full Power and Au-
thority to themfelves, of choofing whom they
pleas'd for their King. Neverthelefs, it is
to be obferv'd, that they have ftill hitherto
elefted one of the Royal Family, where the
deceas'd King had any IlTue left, except in
this prefent Eledion, which is like to go
otherwife, I find by their Chronicles, that
not fo muyh-as~a Daughter has been excluded
when there has been no Son: However, they
always thought fit to acquaint 'em at the time
of their Eledion, that they were not to at- pgUcy oj
tribute their Acceffion to the Throne to any Poland.
Right contraded from their Parents, but were
altogether oblig'd to the Senate and Gentry
for putting that Scepter into their hands.
Hereby they intimated how much their Kings
were indebted to 'em, and what NecelTity they
lay under to behave themfelves well towards
a People that were pleas'd to raife 'em to a
Supreme Dignity, which they had no ,bctter
Claim to than the meaneft Gentleman in the
Kingdom. They acquainted them likevvife,
that they thought thenifelves no longer ob-
lig'd to pay them Obedience, than that they
kept to their Oaths: And moreover, they
always referv'd to themfelves a Right of de-
poling them whenever they violated their
Laws. B 4 This
8 Of the Origin and Let. I.
This Maxim has hitherto prov'd very be-
nelicial to the Poles for enlarging their Goun-
try, and maintaining their Privileges •, and
might well have extended their Dominions
beyond thofe of any State in Europe, had their
other Conftitutions been as well grounded,
or as exadtly obferved: For tho the Poles have
been conflantly molefled by their Neighbours,
the Suedes, Mofcoyites, Tartars, Turks, Hun-
garians, and Germans, and their Kingdom been
feveral times reduc'd to Extremities, burnt
and plunder'd by frequent Incurfions, put
into Convulfions and Defolations, and thou-
fands of their People been carry'd away into
.. Captivity', yet by the prudent Condudf and
its 'KinL Courage of their Kings, through a defire of
■ gaining the AlFedion of their Subjects by ferv-
ing their Country zealoufly, to the end their
Fame and Merits might raife their Children
to the Throne after their deaths, the Poles
have not only always oppos'd, but likewife
repuls'd the exorbitant Force of their Ene-
mies: They have alfo by degrees enlarg'd
their Country by vaft Conquefts, and render'd
it feveral times the moft formidable of any
Kingdom in Europe: They have likewife never
fubmitted to any Foreign Power,no ngt even to
the Romans by force: They have alfo hitherto
inviolably maintain'd their Liberties, Pro-
perties and peculiar manner of Government,
againft all the Attempts, both of their Ene-
mies abroad, or the Cabals form'J either by
•; themfelves or their Kings at home:, and
I believe 1 may fay to their great Commenda-
tion, that they are the only Nation in the
World who have kept the longelt Succedion
of
firjl Trinces of Poland. o
of Kings without fubjefting themfelves either
to a Defpotic or Hereditary Monarchy •, their
Princes being now, as moft are thought to
have been at firft, wholly elected by the
People,
Tho, My Lord, I have faid the Poles have
never excluded their Kings Children, yet inuft
it be underftood that their Crown has not al-
ways been in the fame Family, by reafon that
from time to time the Royal Line has faiPd ^
and therefore they Iiave confequently been
oblig'd to eleft Princes out of other Families;
but ftill I may very well affirm, that there has
never been any Stranger chofen, except in the
prefent Eleftion, where the preceding King
had any IlTue furviving.
The Princes and PrincelTes of this Kingdom ^'umber of
have in all been fifty, two whereof were Wo-
men, as renda^ and Hedwigis^ both having
had the Government for feme time ^ and the
other forty eight were Men. * At firft thefe
Princes were only ftil'd Duces^ Dukes or Ge-
nerals of Poland as if their Office in thofe /
times had been no other than to head Armies:
for'tis to be obferv'd that to Bolejlaus Chrohry
they were not fo much as crown'd. ThisTitle
continu'd from the Year 550, to the Year
1005. when the Emperour OtholU. created
Bolejlaus I. the Sixteenth Duke of Poland^The firjl
King, being the fecond Chriftian Prince that
had govern'd that Country, all before him
and Miecijlaus I. his Father having been Pa-
gans *, as were likewife the Poles themfelves
till the tenth Century, when this Miecijlaus
the
* Hartknoch Refpub. Polon. p. 22.
I o of the Origin and Let. L
the fifteenth Duke of Poland turnM Chriftiaa
in the Year 954, in Pope John the Xlllth's
time 5 by which means his Son Boleflaus came
to have the Title of King.
All the Princes of Poland may be divided
Fom claf- into four Claffes^ whereof the firft and laft are
fesofKings, of different Families \ the fecond and third of
but one, in which the Crown palfes from the
Father to the Daughter. The firft Clafs reignM
from the Year 550, to the Year 830; The
fecond from 830, to 1382; The third from
1382, to 1574; and the laft from thence
down to our Time.
I fliall now proceed to giV-e your Lordfhip
fome fhort Account of the Succefiion and
moft Remarkable Adions of the firft Clafs
of the Dukes of Poland.^ from the Year 550,
to the-Year 830.
Lcchus. L E c H u s * Son of Annon., firft Duke of Po-
550. land.f as I faid before, founded this Nation:
Gnefna ^uilt the firft City there, naming it Gnefnay
and Pof- now the Primate's See ^ as likewife the City of
nan built. Pofnan^ Capital of Pofnania. 'Tis uncertain
how many governed before his Race came to
be extind, and there is great Conteft among
the Poli/h Hiftorians about his Succeffor : but
fome affirm that he order'd by his laft Will
(^VikQ/Alexander the Great) that they fliould
eled the moft worthy Perfon among them.
Vifimirus. V i s i M i R u s his -f- Nephew was thereupon
chofen, who is reported to have extended his
Domini-
* Kadlubkon in Prafac. p. 8.
t Guagnini Rerum Polon. p. 52.
firfl Princes of Poland. 11
Dominions even to the very Borders of l>en-
ntark^ and to have built a very great Ship which
was an exceeding Terror to the Danes. He is
alfo faid to have given that Nation a great
Overthrow by Sea, and to have purfued his
Viftory into the very Bowels of that King-
dom, where he fubdued many Provinces, and nis Cm-
built feveral Cities, whereof one was Wtfmar^ quefls.
which retains his Name to this day. In one
Battel this Fifimhus is faid to have taken the
Danifh King Prifoner, and to have carried him
into Poland •, whence afterwards being releas'd,
and confpiring together with the Swedes and
Holfattans.^ he made an Incurfion into Poland
with a numerous Army, but was foon met and
vanquifli'd again by Wi/imir., who thereupon
pufh'd on his Vidory fo far as to reduce the
greateft part of Denmark.^ which he then united
to Poland. In oppolition to this Story Mon-
fieur Pauli.^ Minifter here from Denmark, has
alTured me that the Poles never made any Con-
quell: in that Country, which may give fome
Exception to the truth of this King's Reign:
tho it may very well be fuppos'd that feveral
Kings reign'd during the fpace of 150 Years,
there being fo much time between the begin-
ning of Lechus his Reign and the Eledion of
Cram. However, to gratify the Curiofity of
the Publick, I hope I have not done amifs to
infert it, lince I withal quote my Author.
After many glorious Adions, having greatly
augmented his Dominions, this Wijmir died
without Ilfue.
Vapo-vm fays that Lechus his Pofterity
reign'd all that fpace of time between him
and Cracus, being 150 Years : yet having
con-
II of the Origin and L e t. I.
confulted all their Hiftorians, I can find
no manner of Account given of their Reign,
nor of the Government of Poland in all that
fpacc of time.
Lechis his IlTue being e.vtind, 'tis certain the
Twelve People eletted twelve Woievods (in the Pr;//y&
Woicvods. Language Captains of IVar) to govern 'em,
who divided that Country into twelve parts:
for the Poles fticking clofe to their Liberty,
would then by no means put the Government
into one Man's hands. But foon after thefe
Dij'os'd. Palatins difagreeing among themfelves, the
People chofe one
Cracus. Cr A c u s for their Head, a very Rich and
» 700. Popular Perfon, reported to have been of the
Race of the Gracchi at Kome^ who were ba-
nifh'd into this Country by King Ancm. Who
this Cracus was all Hiftorians do not agree:
The Poli/h Writers fay he was one of the
twelve Woievods \ but the * Bohemians affirm
he was a Prince of their Country. He gain'd
extremely upon the good Will of his Subjefts,
for he foon appeas'd the impending Storms of
a Civil War, built a City on the River yiflula,
Cracow Calling it after his own Name Cracovo^ and
huiit. transfer'd his Refidence from Gnefna thither;
which is the reafon that this City has ever
fince been the Metropolis of Poland^ in which
all the Kings by the Conftitution are to be
crown'd, tho they are to live at Warfaxo.
-{- There goes a frivolous Story of a mon-
ftrous Dragon that rag'd in thofe days near this
City, who with his poifonous Breath kill'd all
that
* K/A'Bohufl. Balbinum, lib. i. Hid. Bohcm. cap. io»
p. 82, (^c. f Guagninj Rerum Polon. p. 55.
firjl Tnnces of Poland. i ^
that came near him, and likewife fometimes
fally'd abroad to the Deftruftion of thoufands i
to prevent which they were wont to throw him
every day three Oxen, which at length al-
moll caufing a Famine, Duke Cracus made ufe
of a Stratagem to deftroy him, which was
this: He order'd an Ox's Hide to be ftufFM
full of Sulphur, Nitre, Pitch, and the like,
and to be call: to the Monfter, who taking it
for no other than his daily Offering, greedily ,
devour'd it, but quickly found himfelf en-
flam'd with fo great a Drought, that he foon
after burfl: with drinking in the River rijlula.
After this Duke's Death he was buried, ffa Death.
by his own Orders, on a little Hill in fight
of the Town, and this to put the Citizens in
mind of their Founder. He left three Chil- ffk iffue.
dren, Cracus^ Lechus, and Venda^ whereof
L E c H u s II. to obtain the Principality mur- Lcchas ii.
der-d his elder Brother Cracus in a Wood^
which being foon dete<3:ed, he was banilh'd
the Country, and died in Exile. D7athT
V E N D A a Virgin (which Ihews the Affefti- Venda.
on the Poles have always had for the Royal 75o.
Family) fucceeded him. She was a very
beautiful Princefs, and amongft feveral others
was courted by one * Ritiger a German Prince,
who not proving much in her Favour, came
with an Army to force her to marry him, but
was bravely oppos'd and vanquilh'd by her,
as the Polijh Hiftorians will have it ^ tho the
German affirm the contrary, and fay Ihe
drown'd her felf upon his purfuing her clofe, HerDe.uh.
which
* Micralius lib. 2. Chron. Poaieran, num.. 22. p.
of the Origin and Le t. I.
which the others pretend was occafion'd by
her hearing Ritiger was a handfome Man, and
had kill'd himfelf in a rage.
With this Princefs Cracus his Family being
Tioelve cxtinft, the Poles chofe a fecond time twelve
woicvois. Woievods, who falling out as before among
themfelves, and the Hungarians and Moravu
Vepos'd. ans invading their Country, they thought fit
to eleft one Prewi/wf a Goldfmith for their
Duke, afterwards calM
Lefcus I. L E s c a s I. The reafon of whofe being
7 50- chofen was a Stratagem he had contriv'd, that
fav'd the Poles when they were in Diftrefs.
/{ow he The manner of which was as follows: They
came to be being in the Field againft the Hungarians and
tlelhd by Moravians^ and find^ing themfelves much infe-
rior in number to their Enemies, this Gold-
fmith contriv'd a way to make 'em feem more
numerous, and at the fame time to gain 'eni a
compleat Viftory •, to effefl: which he got a
certain number of Helmets made of the Bark
A strati- of Trees, which he dawb'd over with Quick-
gem. filver and Gall, and by Night hung 'em in
order of an Army on fmall Boughs at the fide
of a Wood, which the Enemy next Morning
perceiving, by Reffedion of the Sun upon 'em,
believing it to be the Poli(h Army, march'd
diredly towards 'em, when the Poles who were
behind the Trees removing the Helmets, the
Enemy thought they had retreated for fear j
whereupon hotly purfuing 'em into the very
heart of the Wood, the Poles^ who lay in
Ambufh, furrounded and cut 'em all to pieces.
He goyern'd the Poles in Peace and Quietnefs
for a good while, none during his Reign da-
firfl Princes of Poland. i 5
ring to moleft that Country. How long he
reignM, and where, and of what Diftemper
he died, is uncertain.
This Duke leaving no IlTue, a Horfe-race Eknkn bf
Was inftituted, wherein the f'^iiior was to fuc-
ceed in the Government. Hereupon a Stone
Pillar was rais'd before Cracow^ on which were
laid the Crown, Scepter, Globe and other
Regalia, and at the fame time a Herald pro-
claim'd the Throne to him that got firft from
the River Pradnk to the Goal. Upon which
feveral Candidates appearing, one Lefcm
thinking himfelf wifw than the reft, laid
Iron Spikes in the Road where the R^ce was
to be run, by which the others Horfes being A strata-
lam'd, he came firft to the Pillar: but this^f'" de-
Fraud being foon detefted, inftead of being
chofen, he was torn to pieces on the fpot, and
Lescus II. a poor Country Fellow, whomLefcas ii.
the Poles lookM upon to be deftin'd for their 11^-
Prince, was elefted in the. Year 775, who
while the others Horfes were haraper'd by the
way, running the Race on foot for want of a
Horfe, the rather to fhew his Swiftnefs than
out of any thoughts of the Crown, got next
the Impoftor to the Goal,
This Duke in Commemoration of his for- A cmmen-
mer Condition would once a Year folemnly
lay by his Robes, and put on his Country
Clothes, which he prefcrv'd whilft he liv'd
for that purpofe, and which induc'd all the
Courtiers to be as meanly clothed at the fame
time. They write that he was kill'd in the Hk Death.
Wars againjit Charles the Creat.
Lescus
15 of the Origtn and Let*. I.
Lefcusiii. L E s c o s nr. his Son fucceeded him, being
804- chofen in the Year 804. Hefoonforc'd the
m Death aforcfaid Emperor to a Peace, but when he
mcertain. died I find no mention made. He is faid to
have had above twenty natural Sons. ,
Popicl I. 'P o p IE L his Son fucceeded him in the Year
810" 81 o.This Prince had none of the good Qualities
either of his Father or Grandfather, his great-
Hit Vices, eft care being to make much of himfelf with-
out any regard to the Publick. He thought
Cracorv too much expos'd to the Incurfions
of the Hungarians and Ruffians, and therefore,
for fecurity of his Perfon, withdrew into the
Heart of the Country, firft to Gnefna, and
afterwards to Crufwitz., where he foon after
Nk Death, died fuddenly. * His common Execration
was wont to be that he might be devoured by
Rats, which tho it happened not to him, yet
his Son Popiel perifli'd by that Fate. \
Popiel II. P o p IE L II.' Son to the former, was elefted
815. next in the Year 815, and reign'd to 830,
who baing a loofe and profligate Prince, was
more univerfally hated than his Father *, which
his Wife perceiving, as likewife that his Fa-
ther's Brothers were more belov'd, contriv'd
a way to poifon them, thereby the better to
fecure the Succeffion to her Children. Here-
A mfed upon, by her Stratagem, Popiel feigns a dange-
Stratagem. Sicknefs, and invites his Uncles to vifit
him •, which they fpeedily obeying, he caus'd
'em to come to his Bed-fide, where taking
'cm by the Hands, as if juft going to leave
the
* Herburt, <Je Fulftin. p. n,
firftH^rinces of Poland. 17
World, he recommends to 'em a Cup to
ik, which they, little fufpefting any Poifon,
rteoufly accepted, and drank olF; when
ing leave of their Nephew, a little while
:r they fell into exceflive Pains, and foon
d. Upon which this barbarous Duke, by
• infligation of his Wife, gave out that it
. a Judgment from the Gods upon 'em for
treacherous Deligns they had form'd a-
lit him and his Children ^ and therefore
ered their Bodies to lie unburied for a con-
Table time, the better to take away ail
ucion of his Crime. Hereupon no body
P fo much as fufpefted either Popiel or
Wife of their Deaths, till at length Di-
e Juftice difcover'd, and puniih'd the Often-
■s after an extraordinary manner: For all
. Chronicles, Hillories, and general Tradi-
as of Poland agree, that out of thefe dead
lies came a vail number of huge Rats,
xh guided by an unknown Intelligence,
owed Popiel^ his Wife and Children where- el
r they went •, neither Rivers, nOr fttong
ills, clofe Rooms, nor their very Guards ^
they fay ) were able to prevent thefe Ani-
s from crawling about'em,and continually
iing on their Bodies both night and day :
ey firft devour'd the Sons, afterwards the
fe, andlaftly Pop/d himfelf, tho he retir'd
fafety to an Bland in the River riftula.
faid the Water-men were afraid that
fliould gnaw through their Boat, and fink
before they reach'd the Iftand ; for they
lys pnrfu'd tlirough Fire, or whatever elfe
oppos'd to 'em with a great deal of Noife
Fierccnefs.
C This
J 8 of the Origin J See. Let. I. ^
This doubtler§ your Lord/hip will think fa-
balous •, yet fince all their Hillorians unani-
moufly agree in it, I thought my felf d^lig'd
to relate it as they do.' 'Tis certain the Poles
would never eleft any of PopieVs Nephews, or
any other of bis Relations, for the Averfion
they had conceiv'd to his Name after this e-
normous Crime •, fo that he was the lafl; of his
Family that reign'd, and likewife the lalb of
the firft Clafsof the Dukes of Poland.
After the Death of Popiel., the Poles elefted
one Piajliu., a Wheelright, nothing related ei-
thcr to him, or any of his PredecelTors. His
Family reignMfi^celTively, without interrup-
tion, for about 8go Years, of which it would
be too tedious tO' trouble your Lordlhip with
a Relation, and therefore I will conclude with
giving you only this imperfeft Account of
the firfl Princes of Poland.^ and with fub-
bribing my felf.
My LORD,
Your Lordfliip's mofl: obedient
Humble Servant,
' ^ a c
V
Letter
LETTER IL
To the Right Honourable Lau-
y RENCE Earl of ^chejier, Em-
baflador from his Majefty Charles II.
into ToUnd,
Containing the fecond and third ClaJJes of
the KJngs of that Country^ or the Sue-
cejjion and remarkable Anions of the Fa-
milks of Piaftus and Jagello, from the
Tear 830,. the Tear 1574.
My L o R D J
TH E great Charafter I found your Lord-
(hip had left behind you in Poland^ to the
Honour of the Engli/h Nation, makes me as well
admire your prudent Conduft, and circum-
fpeft Behaviour at that Court, as the happy
Choice fo great a Prince made of you, to
reprefent his Royal.Perfon there: for tho this
Weftern part of Europe will hardly allow the
Poles the fame proportion of Senfe /and Judg-
ment with molt other Nations, yet Politicians
readily own that there is more Art and Policy
requir'd in an Ambaflador to manage his^
Mailer's Credit and Advantage withT:he tur-
bulent Spirit of the Senate of Poland^ than
witb any other Court whatever govern'd by
wbll regulated Methods, aiid refin'd Maxims. |
Ci This^'
Tbe Fmnlly of P iaftus, L e t . U.
This, my Lord, the vigilant Court of France
and wife Republick of renice have long ex-
perienc'd, and therefore of late, have fent
into that Kingdom none but their moft ac-
complifh'd Statefraen.
The Efteem the Court of Poland profefs'd
for your Lordfhip's Memory was frelh enough
in my time to convince me, that you were
throughly acquainted with the Genius and
Conftitution of that Nation*, Two things
Publick Miniders ought chiefly to be versM in,
and which are the Rules they generally go by in
theirMinifl:ry,to compafs more effedually their
Deligns. It would therefore, my Lord, appear
vain in me to prefurae to tell you any thing
New as to the prefent State of that Kingdom,
fince, by converfing with your Lordlhip, I have
learn'd fome Particulars of tijat Country I
knew nothing of before. The Subjedt I
thought mod agreeable for your Entertain-
ment, was a (hort Account of the Renowned
Families of Piaftus and Jagello^ who reign'd
about eight hundred Years, and whofe re-
markable Aftions were doubtlefs out of the
Memory of thofe Grandees you conversM with,
being only recorded in voluminous Annals,
which, probably, Publick and more Important
Affairs might not allow your Lordlhip lei-
fure to perufe.
The Kingdom of beginning to make
fome conliderable Figure in the World about
the * ninth Century, and having imbraced
the Chridian Religion in the tenth, foreisn
Nations, particularly its Neighbours, began to
look
* Hartknoch. lib. i. cap. 2. p. 38.
or the fecond Clafs of 11
look more nicely into it, and to embody its
Hiftory with their own ^ fo that from thence
forward I can promife your Lordfnip a more
certain Account of this Country than hither-
to I have given from the fixth Century to that
time.
After the Death of the inhuman Pop/V/, the
lall of the firft Clafs of the Princes of Po-
land^ his Coulin Germans, whofc Father he
had poifon'd, afpiring to the Crown, were
unanimoufly rejeded by the Poks^ either be-
caufe they were thought unqualified or un-
deferving, or by reafon of Popiel's Crimes,
which had entail'd a kind of Odium both on
them, and all his Pollerity. Whereupon a Ge-
neral AlTembly or Diet was callM at Crw/wrf?,,
a fmall Town in Lower Poland-, but not being
able to agree, their Sefiion was difidly'd, A
little while after another was conven'd in the
fame place, which being refolvM to pitch up-
on fome body to prevent farther Diforders,
eleded one
PIA s T u s a Wheelright, Son to CoJJlfco a Piaftus.
Citizen of Crufwitz., in gratitude for having
fupply'd their want of Provifions after the
following manner.
* Piaftus having provided a fraall Collation Caufeofhk
for the naming of a Child, born about the P-ledm.
time of that Convention, happened to be vi-
lited by two Pilgrims, Paul and John, whom
they report to have been afterwards Martyrs
at Rome. Thefe Mendicants being repuls'd
C 3 at
* Guagnini Rerum Polon. p. 64. Herburc. dc Fulilin.
lib. I. p. 13. & Hafcicnoch. lib. i. cap. 2. p. 68, ^c.
21 'The feeond Family Let. IL
at the Hall of Eledion^ were notwithftanding
kindly recciv'd by him, whereupon to return
his Civility, they named his Child Ziemovitus^
and departed. Afterwards, by the great Con-
courfe of Electors, Provifions growing fcarce
at Crufwitz,^ and many applying themfelves to
Piaftus for Relief, he furnifh'd them all^^'^l^w,
(but that not without being thought a Miracle,
for 'twas believ'd the Bleffing of thofe good
t Men remain'd upon him) and extended his
Bounty much beyopd his fuppos'd Ability,
which made 'em look upon him as a Man fent
from the Gods to govern 'em, and therefore
unanimoufly chofe him for their Prince.
This good Man, having thus obtain'd the
j/if Ver- Principality, did not yet change his Life with
iues. his Condition ^ but his Power being encreas'd,
continued his Bounty comparatively. In his
Reign there arofe many inteftine Diforders,
all which he foon quieted rather by his Cle-
mency than Severity. So being belov'd by
good Men, and refpeded by bad; and having
remov'd his Court from Crufvpitz^ which he
abominated for having been the Scene of
Hit Death, popiefs Wicked Life, to Gnefna, he died in the
izath Year of his Age.
His Family relgn'd above doo Years in
Pdland, nay, a Branch of 'em w^ere * Princes
of Silefia a long while after, to the Year
1(^75, when George William.^ the laft of that
Hoafe, dying without Iflue, the Dukedoms
of Lignitz and Brieg in Silefia fell to the Em-
peror. In memory of this Piafius^ when
iny Native ever after obtain'd the Crown of
Poland^
■ ^ Hartknock. Jib. ](. cap. 2. p. 74,
of the Trinces of PolanJ.
Poland, they callM him a Piajlo.
c€eded by his Son
25
He was fuc-
ZiE MO VITUS by his Wife Repicha, a Zicmovi-
brave and warlike Prince. This Duke had
confiderable Advantages by having the Admi-
nfftration of the Government Jong before his
Father's Death, who for fome time was fuper- '
annuated. He obtain'd great Conquefts over
the Hungarians, Moravians, and Germans^ and
was the * firft that brought the Poli/h Army
to a Difcipline, by inllituting Generals, Colo-
nels. Captains, and other Subaltern Officers
among them. He regain'd what the Popiels
loffi, and befides, confiderably enlarg'd his
Dominions by new Conquefts.
He was a Perfon of a boundlefs Refolution, m cha-
feem'd deftin'd for War -f-( being able to un-r<?5er.
dergo the greatefl Fatigues) and confequently
was exceedingly admir'd and belov'd by his
Subjedts. He dy'd at Gnefna, was burkd m Death.
there, and was fucceeded by his Son
L E s c u s IV, who being eledted young, was Lefcus iv.
under the Care of Governours for fome time. 8p2.
He was of a quiet and peaceable Difjiofition,
enclin'd rather to Peace than War, and con-
tented to preferve what his Father had left
him, without ever aiming to enlarge his Do-
minions. He dy'd in the Year 913, and visisffis Death.
fucceeded by his Son
ZiEMovisTus, who reigned 51 Years.Ziemovif-
This Prince was much of the fame Temper™^*
Hn Chit'
c 4
with
ratter.
* Herburc. de Fulflin. lib. i. p. 15.
t Florus Polcn. cap. 12. p. 22.
*
24 7'he fecond Family Let.U.
with his Father, there having been no Wars in
his time. Fie had but one Son Mieci/laus I. who
being born blind, was miracuIoulFy reftor'd
to his light about the Age of feven Years,
' when he was about to have his Head lhaven
according to the Pagan Cuftom ^ which gave
occalion to the Magi of that Kingdom, to
prognollicate that he fhould be the Light of
Poland^ which, not long after his Eleftion,
/^«DeiCt/;,carae to pafs. Zkmovifius dy'd, and was bu-
ried at Cnefna^ and his Son
Miecif- MIE c I s L A u s I. Came to the Crown next,
laiis I. He had feven Wives at a time, yet could have
9^4- no Children by them, which opened a way
How the for the Chriftian Faith to enter Poland \ for
Poles there being then feveral Chriftians wandring
up and down that Country to convert thofe
Pagans, they came to this Duke, and told
him he could never have any lllue till he had
turn'd Chriftian ^ which Mieci/laus hearkning
to, immediately put away all his Wives, and
Hit cir?/-niarpied Damhrawca Daughter to Bole/laus
nan Wife. Duke of Bohemia., on condition to turn Chrif-
tian and be baptized. Whereupon Pope
JohnXWL fent Cardinal ty£gidius with a great
number of Priefts into Poland., to preach the
Gofpel there, which before had been altogc-
thcr unknown in that Country. .
. This Duke evened the Arch-bifhopricks of
Gncfna and Cracow^ with feveral Bilhopricks,
In the mean while Mieci/laus had a Son cali'd
Bokflau:., which mightily augmented his Zeal
to oblige his Subjects to be converted: * for
Croinc.Ub lib. 5. p. 43. Harcknoch. lib. i, cap. 2o
p. 70. tiubuft. (leFulftiu. lib. 2. p.19.
of tJ?e Princes of Poliind.
he caufcd a Law to be made, that while any
part of the Gofpel was reading at Mafs, every
Man fhould half draw his Scimiter, to teltify
their forwardnefs to defend that Faith.
This Duke had Wars with Vlodimirus Wars,
Duke of Rujfia^ to whom he loft premijlia and
other Towns. He fent Lambert Avch-hifhop
of CracovD to Rome^ to obtain leave of Pope
Benedid VII. for the Princes of Poland to be
ttil'd Kings^ but was refus'd, this Pontiff not
being yet difpos'd to grant that Favour. He
buried Damhrawca^ and afterwards married
Judith Daughter of Jeffe Prince of Hungary,
and was fucceeded by his Sou
Boleslaus Chrobry, a vertuousBokflaus
Prince, who was eledted in the Year 999. and Chrobry.
* after fome Years reign by Confent of the
Pope, was dignified with the Title of King by Created
the Emperor OthoUl. who alfo remitted the-^*'-/^
Pretenfions his Predecelfors had to Poland as be- .
ing Emperors of the Romans, and this in con-
fideration of a kind Entertainment made him
by Bokflaus in his Pilgrimage, on account of
his Health, to the Tomb of St.Adalbert Bilhop
of Prague, who was martyr'd by fome Pagans
to whom he offer'd to preach the Chriftiau
Faith. Of thefe Barbarians bought
his E6dy, and caus'd it to be buried at Gnefna,
whither great numbers from all parts came to
pay their Devotion at his Shrine.
The Emperor Otho alfo at the lame time
married his Niece Rixa to Bokflaus his young
Son
* Dubravius lib. 6. Hift. Bohem. p. 49. & Albert.
Cranzius lib. 2. cap. 56. Kadlubkon. lib. 2. Chtoo, Epift.
xi. p. 130.
26 11)6fecondFmtly Let. If.
Son Ad'ieci/lausy who fucceeded his Father in
the Kingdom. To confirm his being crown'd
King by Otho the Emperor, it would not be
amifs to recite part of an old Epitaph written
upon him j
Obfamam honam tihi mttulit Otto Coronam^
Procter LuBamen fit tihi fitlus. Amen.
* This King was furnamed Ckrohy ((ignify-
ing in Polilh ylcute ) from the Quicknefs and
Excellency of his Parts. Bokfiatu made Bo-
hernia, Moravia and Pruffia tributary to Po-
His Wars, declar'd War agarnft the Saxom,
who made Incurlions into Pomerania, which
was then govern'd by Lefcut Ill's Family. He
TwelveSe-\\ktvi\^Q inftituted twelve .Senators to affill
vators df-him in theGoverament. This King's Death
Jiftants. .jygg fo fincerely regretted, that for a Year's
time there was no Mirth nor Splendor in Po-
land, -f- This Prince was of an undaunted
His cha- Spirit, tho withal modeft, courteous and en-
ra^er. dcaring. Both Boleflaus and his Father lie bii-
tied in the middle of the Cathedral Church
His Death, oi Pofnan, whofe Tombs I have there feen.
His Son
Miccif- Miecislaos II. being about 35 Years
laus II, old was eleded next, being crown'd by Hy-
politus Arch-bifhop of Gnefiia. He degenera-
ted in all refpeds from his Father, and loft
moft of thofe Conquefts which he had added
^is Wars.i-Q j-j^e Crowii. To him the Bohemians and
Mora-
* Herburc. de Fulftin. lib. 2. p. 22.
t Harcknoch. lib. i. cap. 2. p. 71.
of the Trinces of Poland. 27
Moravians refus'd to pay Tribute j yet he'
fubdued Pomerania^ which belong'd of right
to the Poli/h Crown, t^e was a Perfon very
tardy and ftupid, and chofe rather to be-^^ cha-
guided by his Queen and Companions than
his Council, which made him foon flighted and
defpis'd both by his Friends and Enemies: Yet
he reign'd almoft nine Years, and liv'd forty
four.. 'Tis faid he died mad, and left hnt His Death.
one Son,
I
C A s I MIR I. who being eleiled young, his Cafimir i.
Mother Rixa ofEciated the Regency during i°34*
his Minority. ThisKing was not chofen with-
out much difficulty, for many of the Eleftors,^^" *
fearing he might follow his Father's Iteps, vi-
goroufly oppos'd him at firfl:; Alfo the Poles
were dilTatisfied with his Mother's Admi-
niftration for feveral Reafons, among which
one was, her robbing the Treafury, and after-
wards flying with her Son to her Brother
Cafar in Saxony.
This young Prince being fent afterwards
by his Mother to ftudy at PiJnV, became a Be-
nedidin Monk at the Abby of Glmy in France.
In the mean time the Poles., having no body to
prefide in their Government, had great Dif-
fenflons among them ^ and therefore earneft-
ly entreated the Popb to difpenfe with Ca/s-
rnirh Vow, that he might return to hisThrone,
which they at length obtain'd upon * Agree-
ment, that for each Head, except thofe of the
Nobility and Clergy, they would contribute
yearly a farthing to maintain a Lamp perpe-
tually
* Ii|;^rrknoch. lib. i. ap. 2. p. 71.
»
28 T/^efecotidFamily L E t. IF.
tually burning in St. Peterh Church at Rome \
and moreover, for ever after caufe their Heads
to be (hav'd about their Ears like Monks,
( which is pi-aftis'd -to this day ) as likewife
Hand in a white Surplice while Mafs was offi-
Cafimir ciatingon all Holidays: upon thefe Conditions
recaU'l their King again ^ but when he was
crown'd I could never learn.
He enter'd into an Alliance with Jaroflaiis
His Mar- Duke of Rujjia^ Son to Vlodomirus^ and mar-
tiugc. ry'd his Sifter Mary afterwards, call'd Bobrog.
neva^ whofe Mother was the Princefs
Sifter .to Bafil and Confiantine^ Eraperours of
Confiantinople.
He conquer'd the Province of Mafovia^
H's Wars, where now lies IVarfaw, and defeated the
Army of MaJlauSj then Duke of that Coun-
try i who retiring among the neighbouring
Barbarians, not long after return'd with
greater Force, and ravagM Mafovia all
along to the but was foon met and
overthrown a fecond time by Cafimir; when
flying to his Friends, as he thought, that had
alfiftcd him, they took, flea'd, and faftned him
to an e.vcecding high Crofs, faying, * That it
■woi but lujl that he Jhould be exalted whofe u4mbi-
tion was fo boundlefs. Afterwards Cafimir being
mindful of the Benefits he formerly received
in the Abby of Cluny, fent thither great Pre-
fents and Offerings.
At length this good King having fetled his
Hk Death Kingdom in its former Tranquillity,dy'd, and
andif ue. left three Sons, Bokfiaus^ Vladifiaus^ and Mie-
cifiaus^
* Hcrburt. dcFiUftin. lib. 5. p. 34.
of the Tr'inces of Poland. ip
cijlatis, and one Daughter Suentochna. He was
bury'd at Pofnan in the Year 1058.
B o L E s L A u s TI. his Son, furnamM the Bolef-
Boldj fucceeded him, who reign'd 23 Years. I^usir.
In the beginning of his Reign he had Wars
with the Hungarians^ Bohemians^ RuJJians and
PruJJians^ all causM by the proteding of three
Exiles. He vigoroufly maintain'd the Caufe
of Bela Prince of Hungary^ who was then mar-
ry'd to his Aunt, and banifh'd by King Jn-
drew. Whereupon he dethron'd Andrew.^ and
cxov^vi'dL BelaKing of Hungary^ notwithltand-
ing the confiderable Succours fent to Andrew
out of Germany and Bohemia. Afterwards, re-
turning into Poland, he marry'd Vifejlava., Hk Mar-
Daughter and Heirefs of the Duke of Rujfia^ by
whom he had that Dukedom for a Portion.
* Towards the latter end of his Reign he^
became very difTolute and lewd •, opprefs'd the'
People with extraordinary and infnpportable
Taxes *, took away publickly Gentlemens
Ladies to fatisfy his Luft; could not endure
any that took notice of his Irregularities;
punilh'd fuch as complain'd of his Tyrannical Bk Vices.
Government, and at length kill'd Stanijlaus
Sz.cz.epanovitis Bilhop of Cracow^ for refuling
him the Sacrament of the Altar ^ the manner
of which was thus: Bole/latu continuing in
liis enormous Crimes and Extravagancies, this
good Man earneftly entreated him to amend
his Life ^ but perceiving his Obftinacy, one
day he refusM him the Communion : Which
this Prince being highly offended at, watclPd
an
r ::
* Harckncch. lib. i. cap. 2. p. 73.
JO ThefecondFamily Let. II.
an Gpportnnity to revenge j and a little
while after, as the Bilhop was officiating at
Mafs, he gave him fuch a blow with his Sa-
bre, that he made his Brains fly againll the
Wall i and afterwards his Guards entrih'g, cut
the good Bilhop to pieces. Hereupon he was
foon purfu'd with V'atican Thunder, and con-
fequently rendered odious to his Subjeds:
Wherefore fearing fome Confpirgcy might be
rais'd againft him, he left his Kingdom, and
mt of the which he had
"Kingdom, his Qiieen rife/lava^ to Ladiflaus King of
Hungary^ where 'tis reported, that out of
Hii Death, meer Madnefs he afterwards kill'd himfelf.
This Bilhop Stanijlaus was Canoniz'd by
Pope Gregory Vil. and has all along from thence
Patron of been receiv'd for the Patron of Poland. The
Poland. Pope alfo excotnmunicated the whole Conn-
try, and Bolejlaus his Succeflbrs were for a
Title of K confiderable time *depriv'dof the Title of
ceafcs. ' Kings. Next came
iiladii- - Uladislaus Hermannus, Brother
laus I. to Bokjlausfio be eledted ^ who being afraid of
1082. thg Pope, or elfe fearing his Brother's returir,
would only accept of the Title of -{- Prince.
He recall'd his Nephew Mieciflaus^ who died in
fix Years after. He built many Churches aad
Monafteries, all which he richly endow'd.
This Prince alfo brought over the rebelli-
His Wars, ous Pomeranians and Prujftans.^ and defeated
likewife the Army of Vratijlaus Prince of
Bohemia^ whom the Emperor Henry W. had
digni-
* Hartknoch. Jib. i. cap. 2. p. 40.
t Herburt. de Fulftin. lib. 4. p. 45.
of the Princes of Poland. ^ i
dignified with the Charader of King, giving
him moreover a Right over Poland^ tho he
had no Title to difpofeof it, his PredccelTor
Oiho III. when he crown'd Bolejlaus I. I^ng
of Poland^ having renounc'd both for himfeif
and his Succeflbrs all Claim to that Kingdom.
Nay, I heard the Poles themfelves fay that ■
this was rather a piece of Civility in Otho^
than any Obligation upon them, their Coun-
try having never been conquer'd by any Fo-
reigner, not even by the Romans themfelves.
He married Judith, Daughter of Vratijlaus Hu Mar-
King of Bohemia, by whom he had Bolejlaus III.
furnamM Krivoujlus, or the VVry-mouth'd;
and afterwards by a Daughter of the Emperor
Henry IV. he had three Daughters. He died His Death.
in the fiftieth Year of his Age, was buried
at Plofcow, and fucceeded by his Son
Bolesl aus III. furnam'd Krivoujius, or Eolcl-
the Wiy-mouth'd.
He was the moil warlike and fuccefsful
Prince that Poland ever had, and at length
fubdu'd his Ballard Brother Sbigneius that re- His (Varr:^
belPd againft him, whom at laft he was forc'd
to caufe to be * murder'd. But of all others,
his Conteft with the Emperor Henry V. is
moft famous, which is as follows.
This Emperor having declared War againfl:
Colomannus King of Hungary, and engag'd
the Bohemians on his fide, Bolejlaus join'd Co-
lomannus, and to make a ftrong Diverfion en-
ter'd Bohemia, and deflroy'd the greateft part
of that Country j whereupon, to be reveng'd
on
* Herburt. de Fulftin. lib. 4. p. io.
3^
:!i
ii
ii;-
Id
r
-H
0
■ ■ I
The fecond Family Let. U.
on Bole/lauf, the Emperor furpriz'd the Pro-
vinces of Silefia and Marchia^ which were then
in the hands of the Poles^ and had been ahfo-
fute Mafter of them had not Bolejlaus fpeedily
J marched with an Army to oppofe him; who
finding his Enemies much fuperiour in nura-
ber, at firll thought it better to compofe the
. matter amicably, and therefore fent an Am-
baflador to treat of Peace; to which the Em-
peror, thinking he had the Advantage, would
by no means condefcend, except upon very
dilhonourable Terms for the Poles. * And
hereupon leading Scarbicus the AmbalTador to
fee his Treafure, he told him, that that (point-
ing to his Gold ) would bring the Poles to what
Terms he pleased: at which Scarbicus being
highly affronted, took off a Gold Ring from
his Finger, and throwing it into the Treafury,
faid. Whatever be your Imperial Afajejly'^s Opi-
nion^ I do not cpuefiion but the Polifh Iron (mean-
ing their Swords ) will prove as good Metal
as the German Gold. Which faid, he imme-
diately took his leave, and returning to his
Mafter, acquainted him with his Negotiation;
which the haughty Pole highly refenting, re-
folv'd to hazard a Battel, which he did, and
by the Bravery of his Array obtain'd a fignal
Viftory in the Dogs-field near Brejlaw chief
City of Silefia: whereupon the Emperor im-
mediately ftruck up a Peace with him,gave him
Hts Mar- his SiHtv Mleida in Marriage, and his Daugh-
rkie, ter Chrifiina to his young Son Vladijlaus. This
Prince forc'd the Pomeranians to the Chriftian
Faith, whkh they had often rejeded before.
The
* Hcrburt. de FuHlin. Jib. 4. p. 55.
of the Princes of Poland. ^ ^
The Poles all this while were in pofleffion of
Sikfia, but afterwards the Kings of Bohemia
eonquer'd it, and therefore it confequently
now is under the Emperor. •
It is reported of this Prinxre, that he had '
fought forty feven Battels withfuccefs, zx-nk Valour
cept one only with the Red Ruffians^ which and Suc-
was raeerly loll: through the Cowardice of a
Woievod of Cracovia, to whom the King after
the Fight fent a Hare-Skin and Spinning-
wheel for Recompence. Neverthelefs, this
one Defeat ftuck fo clofe to him that he foon
after died, leaving four Sons, among whom
he divided his Kingdom. This King per-.'"'^#^*
form'd a great many more memorable Adions,
which, my Lord, becaufe they might be too
tedious to infert here, I have omitted.'
f He was of an undaunted Spirit, a great
defpifer of Danger, and no lefs an obferver
of Truth and Right very liberal and gene-
rous upon the fmallelt Occafions, and more-
over endued with lingular Clemency and Mo-
delly. He was further very ambitious of
Glory, but at the fame time no Enemy to
Peace, tho he is faid to have been train'd up
to War from his very Cradle. To
Uladislaus, furnam'd the Driveler^ his Uladif
eldeffc Son, he left the Supreme Power, which
was confirm'd, and he eleded in the Year
1140, butreign'd only fix Years: and to the
other three he gave only fome feparate Pro-
vinces, which afterwards was the occafion
D of
* Hartknoch. lib. i. cap. 2. p. 74.
t Herburc. de Fulftin. lib. 4. p. 72.
54 Jl>e feconJ Family LeT. II.
of grerit Diforders in Poland ^ for the
elder Brother Vladijlaus pretending to dif-
Ferrfmitcs poflels the Other three, turn'd his Brother
his Bra- j^olejlaus out of the Palatinates of Floskow and
Majovia^ and his Brother Henry out of the
Province of Scndomir, v/ho both retir'd to
their third Brother that govern'd Pofnania.
* Vladijlmis had always vnth him a Noble-
man, call d Peter Dunin., whom taking otiC
one day to hunt, they happen'd to. be fo
^ iate abroad, that they were oblig'd to lie
all Night in a Wood ^ where, for Diverfion,
the King began to joke with his Companion
after this manner. Dunin (quoth he) I he-
licve your Wife lies more at eafe to Night with the
ylhbot Scrinnen, than we do .-To which Dunin,
forgetting himfelf, tartly reply'd. And it ma}
be your Majefiy'^s does the fame with Dobeflus:
Who, it fecms, was a handfom Fellow about
Court that his Queen Chrijlina lov'd. This
Anfwer fo nettled ,the King, that he after-
wards employ'd the fame Dobeffus to be re-
Afevere veng'd on which he effefted by pulling
Rmenge. out his Tongue and Eyes.
Hereupon the People perceiving how cruelly
Vladijlaus perfecuted his own Brothers, and at
the fame time how ill he treated his Subjeds,
began to be daily more and more difalFeded to
him i whereby his Brothers Party greatly en-
crealing, he was beaten by them as he was
going to befiege Pofnan. W herefore difco-
vering new Fadions hourly appearing a-
gainil him, and fearing fome ill Fate from a
univcrlal Hatred, he timely withdrew into
Germany
* Floriis'Polon; lib. 2, cap. 7. p. yj.
of the Trinces of Pohnd. ^ ^
Germany to the Emperor Comade III. Coulln Pi-kkt
German to his Qiieen Chriftina^ who fevcral ""f f
times endeavour'd to reftore him, but all in
vain i for his Brother Bolefiaiis Crifpus having
got pofleffion of the Crown, Vladtflaiis was
forc'd to compound for Silefta only, which
afterwards fell to the Principality of Bohemia^
and has ever fince been out of the pollellion
of the Poles. This Prince lies buried at At- His Death,
tenburg^ a City of Germany in Alface. Via-
di/laus with his Son having abdicated the
Crown of Poland^ his fecond Brother,
BoLESLAUsCaisrus, or the Frizded^
wa$ elefted in the Year 1145, and reign'd
to the Year 117<5 ^ yet the Emperor Conrade
did what he could to reftore Vladi/laus. To
efFed which, he firft fent Embafladors into
Poland, but to no purpofe; Then he refolv'd
to make War with the Poles, but defer'd it
till his Expedition againft A/ia was over j to
facilitate which he had obtain'd leave to pafs
through Bokjlaus his Dominions to the Euxine
Sea : But at his return being conflantly foli-
cited by Vladijlaus and his Queen, he march'd
with a powerful Army againft Poland yet His Wars.
what with Delays, Stratagems, and Arabuf-
cades, he was fo fatigu'd by the Poles that he
could do nothing, till at laft he was call'd
home to appeafe fome Inteftine Broils in his
own Dominions, which having effected, he
loon after died. His Succeffor Frederic Bar-
berojfa alfo efpous'd Vladijlaus his Caufe, but
not being able to do any thing in his Favour
by Erabaffadors, he march'd with a numerous
Army againft the Pales, which they likewife
D "2 harafs'd
j6 7he fccond Fatnily Let.If.
harafs'd and wearied out, till they had ob-
ligM that Emperor to ftrike up a Peace vvith
'era, he being in War at the fame time againft
Milan ^ by which it was agreed, that Bole/laus
fliould remit Sile/ta to Vladi/laus^ whofe
Pofterity afterwards divided it into feveral
Dutchies, till at laft it came to the Empire.
This great Province, my Lord, as I obferv'd
in ray Journy through it, is one of the moft
fertile and plentirul Countries in all Germany.
Bokflaus began another War againft: the
Pru/fians for refufing to pay him Tribute, and
forc'd them to this Compliance, that they
fliould fubrait in cafe he left 'em to their
Religion ^ but otherwife they boldly declared,
that they would rather die than become
Chri/lians again. Whereupon Bole/laus was
forc'd to grant them Liberty of Confcience ;
yet they foon revolted, and by a * Strata-
gem entirely routed the Poli/h. Army., and
Bk Kill'd his Brother Henry. This King died not
long after, and was buried at CracoTa>.
Miecif- M1E c I s I, A u s, furnam'd the Old, Brother
laus III. to Bole/laus, fucceeded him, being elected in
*^74' the Year 1174, and reign'd only to 1178.
He was call'd the Old from his great Sagacity
and Prudence in his Youth. His Covetoufnefs
A firft^Fo-induc'd him to hoard up great Sums of Mo-
ney by oppreffing the Gentry and People with
unreafonable Taxes, and felling all Employ-
raents, tho againft the Conftitutions of the
Kingdom. This extreme Avarice brought
him to be generally hated by the Clergy, No-
bility
* Fli^us Polon, lib. 2, cap. 8. p. 78.
cf the Orifices of Poland. ^7
bilrty aad People; whereupon * Gedeon Bi-
Ihop of Craeow endeavour'd feveral times to
encline him to pity his Subjefts, and defpife
Money, fince he had no need of it j but he
would by no means hearken to his Advice,
wherefore this Bifliop concerted together
with the Gentry to dethrone him, and remit De/ArmV.
the Crown to Cafimir his Brother, who more
deferv'd it, which they clFcftually did after
fome little Bloodfhed.
Here we may obferve, that Covetoufnefs is
the greateft Vice that any Prince can be guilty
of, efpecially a King of Poland^ whofe Sub-
jefts, as your Loidfhip doubtlefs has obferv'd,
are generally liberal even to Extravagance.
At firft Cafm'tr refus'd the Crown ofFer'd
him, alledging it was his Brother's Right,
and that fuch an Alteration might occalion
Civil Wars, which he by no means had any
mind to be the Author of. But when they
unanimoufly declar'd they would have no o-
ther King, and could never more obey Mk-
cijlausj
Casimir II. confenting to accept of thecafimirll.
Government, was elefted in the Year 1178, "yS-
andreign'd to 1195. He was furnam'd the
JuJi, being altogether unlike his Brother, as
appears by the following Particular, -j' Be-
ing at play with a Gentleman of his, nara'd
Conar'm^ whilft he was Prince of Sendomr^
and having won all his Adverfary's Money,
the Gentleman in a Paffion ftruck him over
D 3 the
* lb. p. 80. & Herburt. de Fulftin. lib. 5.C. 9. p. 88.
t Harcknoch. lib.i. cap. 2. p. 7$. FlorasPolon. lib. 2.
•cap. 9. p. 82.
^8 Ty fecond family Lit. If,
the Face, and fled; but next day being brought
before him, was adjudged by every body to
have deferv'd Death for his Infolence. Not
A commeit' at all ( replied the good Prince ) for king af-
dable Ex-felled with his Lofs, and not having it in his
amp'e. power to revenge himfelf on Fortune^ it is no
wonder if he fell foul of her Favourite: and
moreover, rather blam'd himfelf for conde-
fcending to play with him, and likewife
thanked him for potting him in mind by that
Blow, how unworthy it was for a Prince to
' bcftow his time fo ill: And laftly, as a fur-
ther Argument of his diflenting from his
Brother's Principles, he return'd the Courtier
all his Money again.
I^liecif- . Miociflaus being excluded, retir'd with his
Jaus endea.- Princefs and Children to Ratisbon to the Em-
F'rederic his Kinfman, who yet could
rejior . good, he being engag'd at that time
in War both in Italy and ylfia ^ therefore his
next Recourfe was to his Brother's Clemency.
This fo far wrought upon Ca/imir, that he
made a Speech to the Senate to recal him,
but was extremely blam'd by them for olFer-
ing to prefer a private Kindnefs to the Pub-
lick Safety. All this while Miedjlaus was
little fenfible of his Brother's good Nature,
tho he afterwards under-hand endeavour'd
again to get him reftor'd.
Cafimir begun his Reign by eafing his Sub-
jefts of the Taxes his Brother had impos'd
upon 'em, and reftraining the Power of ex-
orbitant Magifcrates.' While he was abfent
in RuJftaj on account of compofing fome
Differences, by inftigation of Miedjlaus^ fome
of the Nobles confpir'd againll him, and en-
'' ' deavour'd
of the frtnces of Poland.
dearour'd to re-inftate Mkciflctus \ which the
better to bring about and fatisfy the People,
they pretended that Cafimir was poifon'd in
Ruffia. Hereupon Mieciflaus readily arrives
in Poland^ and was receiv'd every where but
in the Caftle of Cracow^ which Bifliop Fuko
held out againll him. Of all this Cafimir be-
ing foon inform'd, by Afiiftance of the Rujfi-
ans^ overcame his Brother, and gave both him
and his Array their Lives ^ which Gpodnefs
of his at length fo wrought upon Mieciflaus^
that he never after aira'd at the Crown. Submits.
After Cafimir was well fettled, being not
unmindful of the rebellious Prujfians^ nor of
the Death of his Brother Henry^ he march'd
with fo great fury againfl them, that he had
regard neither for Man, Woman nor Child,
but put great numbers of all forts to the
Sword, and burnt and plunder'd their Coun-
try to that degree, that at laft they quietly
fubmitted to the abfolute Dominion of Po-
land.
This King made a City of * Dantzic in Danaic
Prufiia, which before was only a poor Filher- >"He a
Town on the E^ic Sea. He lies buried at
Cracowy havingfleft two Sons Lcfcus and Con- . .
radCy and one Daughter Adleida. He
to the Age of fix and fifty Years. After his
Death the Po/er elefted his§on
L E s c u s V. furnamed the White, in the Lefcus v.
Year 119S, who being very young had "95-
for Guardians, his Mother Helena, with the Vndcr
Bilhop and Palatin of Cracovia. In the mean Guardians:
D 4 time
Florus Polon. hb. 2. cap. 10. p. 8^.
The fecondFamily Let.II.
time his Uncle Mieci/laus being yet alive
ffH Wars, came with a powerful Atmy of Poles and Si-
lefians to dethrone him, and gain'd a bloody
Battel over the Palatin of Cracovia, who
commanded Lcjctu his Army. Hereupon he
immediately difpatch'd Embafladors to He-
lena, to reprefent to her his unquellionable
Right to the Crown, his Strength ^ theDifor-
der among Lefcus his Tutors, who being too
young, was not able of himfelf to govern ^ the
great Advantages he had obtain'd in the late
Battel •, and laftly, his great Party in the
Kingdom. He moreover delires Helena to
make him Guardian over her Son,^ and pro-
mifes to adopt him for his own, to leave him
the Succeflion after his Death, and that he
will do nothing but what lhall be according to
the ConJditutions of the Kingdom. All thefc
Vethroifd. Ptoffers having been throughly weighed by
the Queen and Council: At lafl; Mieciflaus was
recall'd a fecond time in the Year 1199. after
reftor% having taken a folemn Oath to perform all
JI pp. hisPromifes. But being once reinthron'd he
foon forgot his Oath, and fell to confifcating
feveral of his Subjects Eftata^-^-and giving 'em
to others, faying, * Tl^at d King was no longer
ollig'd to hep his Oath, than 'when it was net-
ther fafe nor beneficial for him to breake it. Here-
VethrorCd. upon the Palatin of Cracovia feizes on the
Lefcus V. Cracow, and receives Lefcus a fecond
hflofd. ' time, whilil Mieci/laus^ being then abfent,
I • by all the Intrigues imaginable endeavour'd
to be reftor'd : Whereupon he flatter'd the
People, perfwading them that Lefcus his Party
had
* Herburc. de Fulftin. lib. 6. p. pp.
of the Princes of Poland. 4?
had caft falfe Afperfions upon him ^ and that
if he did any thing contrary to his Oath, he
was meerly betray'd to it by the malicious
Perfwafions of his pretended Friends, By
thefe and fuch like fair words he lulls afleep
the credulous People, and gains their AfFedi-
onsthe third time; Whereupoh he fends to
the Queen to inform her that Nicholas Palatin
of Cracovia had been the Author of the late
Dillurbances, and therefore wills her to re-
move him from Court, and receive himfelf
again i which ihe, pitying his unfortunate Cafe,
even in prejudice of her own Son, was inclined
to do, and would therefore admit of no Jufti-
fication from the Palatin, Whereupon this
Perfon being a Man of great Authority in the
Kingdom, goes and joins Mieci/laus many fol-
low his Example, and in fliort, the Qpeen was
quickly forc'd to rccal Mieciflaus a third time Miecif-
in the Year 1202. When being reinthron'd, J""*
he requited Queen Helena for her Services by
feizing upon the Territory of Fojlicia^ and
three other Places in Sendomir, which of right
belonged to her: and being about to do the
fame to feveral others, he was prevented by
a fudden Death in the feventy third Year of Fn Veatb.
his Age, leaving two Sons, Otho and Via-
dijlaus Lafconogiis.
After Mieciflaus his Death, the greater
part voted for Lefcus V. that was ftill alive;
but Nicholas Palatin of Cracovia^ and the
Bilhop of Cracow his Brother, would by no
means confent to it * unlefs Lefcus would
banifli
* Hartknoch. lib. i. cap. 2. p. 75> 76. Herburt. dc
Fulhin. lib. 6. p. 102,103.
1 ■
Tl:efecondFamily Let. IF,
banifh out of the Kingdom Couoric Paiatin
of Sendomir, of whom they were both very
jealous. Lefcus anfwer'd, FJe would not buy a
Kingdom (which by right wdsJois own) by do-
ing cm Injury to his Friend. Hereupon by the
Bifliop and Falatin's Intereft he was put by, and
Uladiflaiu Uladislaus Lasconogus, that is,
Lafcono- eleded in the Year 1203. But this
^^'203. Prince, confidering Lefcus his Right, af-
Surrenders ter three Years Reign, voluntarily furren-
bis crormu der'd to him, when J
Lclc® V. L E s c u s was receivM the third time, in the
f^flfd' ^ 2.C6, and reign'd to the Year 1225. lln-.
laod. Reign the Poles heard fird of the Tar-
tarsj a barbarous Nation that came from the
Cafpian Sea and Mount Imaus in who
made Irruptions into Taurica Cherfonefus., and
the Frontiers of Podolia and Rufia.^ and hare
ever lince been moft inveterate Enemies to
Poland. Lefcus had a Brother call'd Conrade.^
to whom he gave the Provinces of Mafovia
and Cujavia, and made one Suentopelus Go-
vernour of Pomerania.^ whereof one was Au-
thor of Lefcus^ Death, and the other of moft
bloody Wars in Poland: .For this Suentopelus
thinking to make himfelf abfolute in Pomera-
nia., employed People to * murder Lefcus.,
which they not long after effected according-
mrder'd ly, when this good Prince was in a Bath:
in a Bath Whereupon, after his Death, Suentopelus de-
dared himfelf Duke of Pomerania and Conrade,
and
42
* Guagnini p. 92.
of the Crimes of Po\a.nd. 4^
and -f- caird into Poland the Knights of the Teu- Teutonic
tonic Order, (who were then banifht out of Sjf-
via by the Saraz^ens^ and fettled in Germany) to
help him againft the Prujfians^ who were wont
to make frequent Incurfions into his Country,
to whom for Recorapence he gave the Terri-
tory of Culm^ and fome other fmall Places,
on condition they fliould aft vigoroufly a-
gainft the PruJJians, but after they had cop-
quer'd thofe People, they were to refign
Culm^ &c. and have the half of their Con-
quefts to themfelves. Thefe Auxiliary Troops
proved afterwards very pernicious to Poland^
having been the Caufe of many bloody Wars
in that Country. This Agreement between
the Knights of the Crofs ( as they were like-
wife call'd ) and Conrade^ was approved and
confirm'd by Pope Gregory IX. in the Year
1228. In a Ihort time thefe Knights effefted
what they undertook. This Lefctis lies buried
in the Cathedral at Cracom, and left behind
him a young Son,
BoleslausV. furnam'd the Chajl, whofe Bolef-
Guardians he order'd to be his Brother Con-
rade^ and Hemy Duke of Brejlaw his Coufin. '
This young Prince, notwithftanding the many
Intrigues and Cabals Conrade form'd againR
him, who defignM to make himfelf King, was
elefted in the Year 1228, and reign'd to the
Year 1278. He marry'd Cmigmda^ Daughter His Mur-
to Bela King of Hungary \ but after they were rhgc.
bedded, he had not the courage to confummate
the Marriage, and therefore by mutualConfent
both made a Vow of Chaftity. 'Twas
f Floras Polon. lib. a# cap. a. p. 94. & Herburt. de Ful®
ftin. p. III.
44 "77?^fecond Family L e t. IL
Sntoad 'of * 'Twas in this Prince's Reign the Tartars
Tartar^ made their hrft Irruptions into Poland^ where-
of there were three at feveral times. In the
firft they ravag'd all the Country about Lub-
lin and RuJJia^ and carry'd away an incredible
Number of Frifoncrs with great Riches. In
the fecond they return'd with more fury, and
not being contented with the Plunder of Po-
land^ fpread likewife all over Sik/ia, where
near Lignitz. they entirely defeated the Con-
federate Army of the Chriftians ; wherein
Henry Duke of Bre/law, Bokflaus Son to the
jits TroH- of Moravia^ Pompo Great Mailer of the
Teutonick Order, and feveral other Pcrfons of
Note were kill'd. f The Number of dead
Bodies was fo incredible, that they fill'd nine
great Sacks with the Chriftians Ears, cutting
off each Head but one, after the fame manner
as Hanibal at the Battle of Cannae fill'd feveral
Bulhels with the Rings cut oIF from the Fing-
ers of the Roman Knights only,that were there
kill'd. Bokflam had not the courage to march
in Perfon againft the Tartars when they came
a fecond time to invade him, but retir'd with
Retires in- his Court into Hungary^ and thereby left his
#»Hunga- Subjefts to the Mercy of their Enemies. Which
bafe Adion the Poles being extremely offend-
ed at, intended to have eleded a new King j
whereupon Bokflam, Son to Henry Dvkt oi
Breflaw that was kill'd in the Battle after-
wards, was nam'd *, but Conrade vigoroufly op-
pofing him, and pretending to have more
Right, the Gentry, to prevent Civil Wars,
recalfd
' * lb. p. & Herburt. de Fulftin. p. 116.
t Hartknoch. lib.i. cap. 2. p.yd.' ' Hcrbiurc. de Fulflin.
li). 7. p. 119. ' •'
of the Princes of Poland. 45
recaird their former King Bokjlaus ixomKttHxns,
Hungary^ and in the mean time dy'd.
Not long after the Tartars^ together with the
Lithuanians^ which were hitherto Pagans^ made
Incurfions a third time into Poland, when
they pillag'd the Country up as far as Cracow •,
which City, meeting with no body in it to re-
lift'em, they both plunder'd and burnt. After-
wards they went loVratiflaw,they found Hh Trou-
ready fir'd to their hands ^ for theTownfmen
having had timely notice of the coming of the
Barbarians, had got all their Treafure toge-
ther and fled, whillt the Souldiers, diftrufting
the Strength of the Place, and fearing it might
become a Prey to the Enemy, fet fire to it^
and retir'd into the Caflle j which having
greatly incens'd iht Tartars, they laid Siege
to the Caftle with all imaginable Vigour, and
would foon have taken it, had they not been
frighted from before it by a Prodigy. Du-
ring this, Boleflaus march'd in Perfon againft
the Lithuanians, whom he overthrew, and
kill'd their Duke Mindacus. The Pruflians
likewife being yet Pagans, fided with the Li-
thumians, when the Teutonick Order, which
was then fettled in Pruflia, call'd to their Af*
fiftance * Ottocarus King of Bohemia, who
quickly reduc'd the Pruflians •, and the better
£0 keep them in Awe, built a Fort call'd Ko~ pning?;
Ttingsherg or Royal Hill. built.
Boleflaus Was a pious and good Prince, and
lies bury'd at Cracow in a Monaftery founded Pits Death
byhimfelf. He built other Religious Houfes,
and reign'd near 50 Years*, and having made a
Vow
* FlorusPoloa. lib. 2. cap. 13. p. 103.
46
TljefecondFamily Let. IL
Vow of Chaflity, left no Children : Where-
fore his Uncle's Son, by the Father,-
Lefcus vi. L E s c o s VI. furnamM the Blacky Ihcceeded
him, being elefted in the Year and
reign'd only to the Year 1289. In the begin-
ning of his Reign the Ruffians 6. by the
Lithuanians and Tartars^ made Incurfions into
His Wars. Poland under Command of Leo their Duke ;
but were defeated, firft by Harfias the King's
General, and afterwards were beat by the
King himfelf out of a Village where they
had entrench'd themfelves, which from that
Cz^ofLeo-General's Name has been fince callM *Zeopo/,
■^o\^-whcnce and is now a fine City. Upon this Defeat the
jo called. Enemy were forc'd to retire with great Lofs.
Not long after they return'd again, but more
/ to their prejudice than in the former Irrupti-
on: for then, tho their Army confilted of a
prodigious Number of Men, and an innurae-
rable Company of Maftilf EDogs trainM up to
War i yet were they a fecond time routed by
LefciiSj infomuch that a certain People call'd
Jaz.yges^\vho then inhabited a part oiLithiiania.,
and can^e only to plunder in Poland., were fo
totally deftroy'd, that there remains nothing
left of 'em except the Name. But at length
the Tartars making another Irruption, had
better fuccefsy for they not only vanquilh'd
Lefcus., but alfo carry'd away, belides Men,
marry'd Women and Children, above twenty
thouland Maids into Captivity.
After this Defeat,an Infiirredion was rais'd
againft Lefcus by Paul Bifhop of Cracotp; for
that
i Herburt. dc FulAin. lib. 8. p. 13^.
An Injur-
teUion.
SSSIEI^E.
of the Trinces of Poland. 47
that under the Reign of Boleflaus the Chaft,
Lefcus had kept him about a Month in Prifon.
Hereupon, Conrade Duke of Mafovia was in-
vited to accept tlie Crown •, who, coming into
Poland for that purpofe, was met at Sendomir
by General Varjias ^ Paul the Bilhop, and
a great Number of the Nobility. Upon this,
Lefcus perceiving himfelf forfaken, fled into Heretms
Hungary to King Vladiflaus 5 but the City of into Hun-
Cracow ftill bearing a refpeft to him, conti-gary-
nu'd Loyal, and prepar'd to fuftain a Siege:
Whereupon having been furamon'd to fur-
render, their Aniwer was, TIm they could
not be treacherous to their lawful Soveraign Lefcus,
but would defend his Right to the lafi drop of their
Blood. Hereat the Nobles being grievoufly
nettled, refolv'd to fit down with their Army
before that Citybut, upon their Approaches,
finding it empty, the Inhabitants being re-
tir'd into the Caftle, they fet fire to it, think-
ing by thofe means to bring the Enemy fooner
to a Compliance. This done, Lefcus having
obtain'd a confiderable Army of King VlO'
diftaus., was marching direftly towards Cra-
cow., to relieve his befieg'd Friends when
meeting with Conrade, who came to oppofe
him, near the River Raba, he entirely rout- Returns
ed him, and forc'd him back again into w7Y/j/«c-
his own Country. This hapned about the
Year 1285.
This Prince dy'd, and was bury'd in the His Death.
Monaftcry of. the Trinity at Cracoto.
Lefcus the VI. leaving no Children,his King- 1
' dom confequently fell into great Diilrafti-
ons i for Vladi/laus Loifkus his Brother fei7.'d
on the Palatinate of Siradia, and Bok/laus Duke
of
^.8 ' The fecond Family Let. It.
of Ploshow^ Brother to Conrade Duke of Ma-
fovia, on the Palatinates of Cracovia and Sen-
dom'iY *, hut this latter was foon difpoITefs'd by
Henry I. Henry Duke of Bre/law, furnam'd the Ho-
1290. we/, ofthe Family of in the Year 1290^
who was likewife not long after turn'd out by
Loilicm^ but foon rellor'd, and reign'd in qua-
lity of King for the fpace of five Years, tho I
do not read he was crown'd. He appointed
Fremi/lus Duke of Great Poland^ for his Succef-
for,being of the Family of Piaftus likewife. This
Premiflm alfo had the Province of Pomerania
left him by Miefcingm Prince of that Country.
Premiflus. P R E M i s L u s, in the thirty eighth Year of
1295. ' his Age, was crown'd King at Gnefna by
James Swinka Archbilhop of that City, in the
■j-jflg ^jr Year 1296, which was an Honour that had
King re- not been * done to any Prince of Poland before
ftofd. for above two hundred Years,fmcc Bole/lam the
Bold kill'd Stani/laiis at the Altar ^but Premiflus
did not long enjoy this Title, for feven Months
after his Coronation , he is faid to have been
Murdefd. murder'd by forae Brandenburg Emiflaries,
that Marquefs being afraid of this King who
was Mailer of Pomerania which joinM to his
Country.He was bury'd among his Predecelfors
at Pofnan. After the Murder of King Premiflus,
Uladiflaus Uladtslaus LoctIcus, (fo call'd
III. from the word |1 Lokiec, an Ell, Wing his
1295. Name from his low Stature) Brother of
Lefcus
* Harcknoch. lib. i. cap. 2. p; 4c.
f Florns Polon. lib. 2; cap. 15. p. Guagnini
Tom. I. p. 97. H Harcknoch. p. 77.
of the iQngs of Poland.
Lefcus the Blacl^ was chofen in the Year I2p5,
and reign'd only four Years. He'Went upon
an Expedition againft the SHefians that vievQ His Wars.
enclin'd to allift the Bohemians againft hina,
who then pretended a Right to the Kingdom
of Poland. Thefe Loiiicus fubdu'd, and having
conliderably ravag'd their Country, return-'d
home, where he afterwards gave himfelf up
to a lewd and debauch'd Life, infomuch that^«r/cw.
he negleded the care of all Publick Buimefs,
and minded nothing but his own private Plea-
fures. Thefe his intolerable Vices brought
upon him the Ill-will of his Subjefts, infomuch
that after three years Reign they pronounc'd
him unworthy of the Scepter, and refolv'd to
eled another. Hereupon Loiikus being de- Dethron'd.
ihron'd, they invite
WiNCESLAUs King of Bohemia to accept wineef-
their Crown, who was marry'd to RixaImsk. of
Daughter of King Premiflus., and crowned ^hernia.
King of Poland in the Year 1300, but reign'd
only to 1305. After he came to reign he per-
fecuted LoSlicuSy who hid himfelf for fome
time, but was forc'd at laft to quit the King-
dom. When Wincejlaus thus faw himfelf fe-
cure at home by the flight of Loilicus., and
after having put Bohemian Garifons into the
feveral Cities oi Poland., which feem'd vcvy Falfe Poli-
uneafy to that Nation, he thought it high time f/*
to go and fettle Affairs in Bohemia.
During thisfUladi/laus Lodiciis having a con-
fiderable Party in the Kingdom, which daily
encreas'd on account of difcontent againft
Wincejlaus \ and having got together feveral
" Troops out of Hmgary., he raarch'd direftly ms Wars,
E towards
5o Tf?efecondFamily Let*. II.
towards Poland^ hearing that the Bohemian
Governnient was fomewhat burdenfom to
that Nation. At firft Loificus had confiderable
Advantage over the Bohemians^ but by the
Death of Winceflaus^ which followed foon af-
ter, he had all the Succefs he could defire \
for the Bohemians^ who had poflellion of the
Garifons, finding therafelves in a flratlge
• , Country, and moreover hated and ill thou^t
on by the People, were afraid of an Infurrec-
tion againfl 'em, and therefore made no great
difficulty of liirrendring to LoUicxu all thofe
Cities and Tbwns they had pofTeflion of, as
Cracow^ Sendomir, &c. In the mean time
young Wincejlam coming with an Army to dif-
pute his Father's Kingdom with Lodicus^ was
* murder'd in the Expedition, 'tis thought,
by Orders of the Emperour Albert \ and fmce
his time the Bohemians have ever been go-
vern'd by foreign Princes. Winceflaus King
HisDeath. Poland and Bohemia dy'd, and was bury'd at
Prague in the Year 1305.
Uladif- After the Death both of Winceflaus the Fa-
ther and Son, Vladiflaus LoBicus was reltor'd,
' 130's. almoil by common Confent, in the Year 1305,
and reign'd to the Year 1333. And this they
did, either becaufe they thought he had had
time to repent and mend his former Life, or
by reafon they were afraid of Civil Wars if
they fhould eleft any other, [j Notwithfland-
Meetswitb the Palatinates of Pofnania and Kalifchhav-
Digicul- ing a frelh Memory of his paft dilTolute Life,
ties. would never acknowledg him their King,
-f Alio
* FJorus Polon. lib. 2. cap. 17. p. 113.
t Herburt. dcFulftin. lib. 9. p. 147.
11 lb. p. 148. Sc Florus Polon. lib. 2. cap. 18. p. h p.
.1 of the Kfiigs of Poland. j i
kii Alfo the Governour of Pomerania, which then
ifcij: belong'd to Poland^ being brib'd by the Mar-
quefs of Brandenbuyg, deliver'd up to him all
the Cities of that Province, aslikewife the
Mr City of Dantz-k^ except the Caftle which the
fe Governour thereof, one BoguJJd, being truly
oi~ loyal to his King, would by no means fur-
te render,
iltkc In thefe days the Knights of the Teutonic Teutonic
ilfc Order were fully fettled in PruJJia^ being both t(-nights e-
leBt! very Strong and very Rich. They were
ali blifh'd there by Agreement with Conrade, Bro-
103 oi ther td King Vladiflam Lafconogus^ for aflift-
mtaai! ing him againft the PruJJians when he was op-
jjju; prefs'd by them. They there built, fome years
i before, the City of *Marienburgy appointed for of Mi-
tliig Refidence of their Great Mailers. Here Zoc-
ticus was oblig'd to crave their Aid againft the "
Rebels of Pomerania and Dantz.ky which they
jj,,? readily granted, on condition that half the
jW Garifon of the Caftle of DAntuc fhould be of
their Troops, by which means they foon be-
^^[1, came Mafters of the whole ^ for they after-
j,j|, wards not only turn'd the Poles out of the Teutonic
Caftle, but both Brandtnhurghers OiVA Pomera-^^'^'y
nians out of the City of Dantz.k itfelf; and
^ y", likewife under pretence of alfifting the ^ ^
[ji King of Polandy conquer'd all Pomerania for
ny themfelves ^ when being Mafters thereof, they
' .i|)l ofFer'd to buy the Title of Lodkus for Money,
'if which he refus'd. Then they ofFer'd the fame
ft Summ to the Marquels of Brandenburg to re-
nounce his Right to that Province; which he,-
, tho he had no Title to fell, yet was wife
enough to accept their Proffer.
E 2 TH
10. p. 120.
<2 The fecond 'Family Let.II.
^ The Poles were very fcnfible of all thefe Af-
fronts and Injuftices offer'd 'em by the TeutO'
nic Order •, but before they proceeded to Re-
venge, they thought it advifable to * acquaint
the Pope therewith, who liv'd then at Avignon^
who, after four years Delays and Debates, or-
der'd the Knights to give due fatiifidion to
the Poles : but they having had four years ref-
pit to fortify themfelves, and to make flrong
Alliances with fome Neighbour ing Princes j
and belides, having a very confiderable Army
on foot, anfwer'd hi^ Holinefs, That they had
often done great Ser^';ices for Poland that
that Kingdom owM them Suras of Money j
and that they prefurn'd that not only the
Lands they were in pofleflion of in PruJJia and
Pomcrania, were lawfully theirs; but that alfo
they thought the Poles oblig'd to giv^e 'era
either more Land or more Money to recom-
penfe the feveral Kindnefles they had done
Andthere- them. Hereupon the Pope excommunicates
forecxcom- Orderand the Poles^ under command of
^ythTpope. Kingi marcliM diredtly againft 'em.
Here Loliicus made an eloquent Speech to
Lofticus his Army, reprefenting the many Affronts and
his speech Injuftices they had received ftom a little Se3 of
19 bis Ar- People^ to which h'vs Predeceffors the Kings o/Po-
land had out ofmeer Goodnefs given their Protec-
tion when baniJlPd from their own Country by the
Sarazens. Then he enlarg'd upon the Covet-
oufncfsand Ambition of this and con-
xcluded by encouraging his Men to fight brave-
ly, and not fufFer thofe to become their Maf-
ters, who were at firft their Vafials. Here-
-|- upon
icnii Pclon. lib. 2. cap. i8. p. 123.
V
of tfe of Poland. ^ j
upon the Poles^ animated by this Speech of
their King, tho much inferior in Number to
their Enemies, yet fought fo fiercely and
bravely, that they entirely routed the T'eutonicOverthmvs
Order^ and kill'd about twenty thoufand of
their Men, tho they themlelve have had the"''^
prerumption to affirm that they did not lofe
above five or fix hundred.
* Among the wounded,there was one Tlori-
ams Sz.ari^ Knight of that wh having
his Belly open'd with a Scymiter, and hi. Guts
dropping out, which he held up with his
hands j the King paffing by, pity'd him :
Whereupon the Knight fa id to him. Sir, A
Man in his Village fuffers more than I do when he
has bad Neighbours. The King admiring at
this dying man's Thought, immediately caus'd "
his Surgeons to take care of him j and when
he was well, gave him Land that had no bad
Neighbours about it.
11 This Vladijlaus^tt feems,not being through-
ly latisfy'd with Premijlus his Right, to tranf-
mit the Title of King to his Pofterity with-
out leave of the Pope, fent an EmbafTador to
his Holinefs to requeft a liberty for himfelf h crown'd,
and his Qpeen Hedwigis to be crown'd, which together
was forthwith granted, and the Ceremony
perform'd in the Cathedral of Cracow by the^^^"'^?
Archbilhop of Gnefna, and other Bilhops, in the Pof.
the Year 1320. The King long after dy'd,
and was bury'd at Cracow, in the Year 1333.
E 3
C A SI-
* Florus Polon. lib. 2. cap. 18. p. 151.
{| Herburt. dc Fulftin. Iib.9. p.153. Hartknoch. lib. i.
cap. 2. p. 77, 78.
<5:4 The fecond family Let. I!.
Cafimir C A s I M t R the Great fuccee<led his Father
III. i,ocHcus^ being elefted in the Year ' 333-) ^nd
MA\es reignM to the Year 1370. He inadea Peace
Peace with the leutomc Order^ that was not at all
T^th the aclvantagious or honourable to the Polifli Na-
Knights being thereby Itill to re-
main in poireffion of Pmjjia^ Dantaic and Po-
tnerania, notwithftanding the Threatnings of
the Pope, and his Bulls of Excommunication.
This Cafimir had no Children : He is the lall
Male of the Family of Piajlns: Wherefore that
the Crown might not go altogether out of
his Family,before his Death he * prevail'd with
the Peles to eleft Charles King of Hungary his
own Sifter's Son •, but he dying before Cafimir^
his Son Lew'vs was chofen. The Poles had feve-
Kh Con- ral times conquerM Rujfia, but it was never
qnejls. enjoy'd peaceably till CafiimirH time •, who
having had better fuccefs than any of his Pre-
deceflbrs, annexM it as a Province to the
Crown of Poland. The Province of Mafovia
was likewifc conquer'd by him, and annex'd
to the Crown. -|- The Poles had never hither-
to any written Laws, and but very few made
f/it other till Cafimir began to make Inftitutions, name
loodDeeds. Judges, create Magiftrates, build Forts, and
to eftablifli a better Oeconomy in the King-
dom than any Prince before him. The Laws
and Conftitutions of the Teutonic Knights
feem'd very rational and political to him,
having had a fenfible Experience of the good
Government of this Order for a confiderable
time: Wherefore he introduc'd their Laws
into
* Herburt. deFulftin. lib. 10. p. 166.
t Floras Polon. Jib. 2. cap. 19. p. ijs-
of the ^ings of Poland. 5 5
into Poland, which have continu'd ever fince,
and are call'd the Magdeburg Laws.
This Cafmir was a very lewd Prince, but
withal exceeding Liberal and Juft: He
a Jewif] Concubine, at vvhofe requeft he grant-
ed great Privileges to that People: Hegain d
To well the good Opinion and Affedtion of his
Subjefts, that he was flil'd the Father of the
Poor and a great many Germans, who were
opprefsM by their own Princes, in his time
came into Poland, and have ever hnce inha-
bited the Foot of the Carpathian Mountains.
The Daughter of Boguflaus, Duke of Pomera-
nia, was then marry'd to the Eraperour
Charles IV. Caftmir celebrated the Nuptials
with great Splendor and Magnificence at
Cracow, where alTifted Lewis King of Hungary,
Sigifmund King of Denmar}i,zxA Petrua King of
Cyprus, with the Emperour, and many Princes
of Germany, Poland, and other Countries.
F'alachia at that time was a kind of Repub-
lich of it felf, having before had Governours,
which they call'd Hofpodars •, the laft of which
being dead, and his Children afpiring to the
fame Dignity, Cafmir fent an Array to fup- His Wars.
port 'era, but by an Ambulh of the FaUchians,
plac'd in a Wood, was entirely defeated.
CafimW dy'd foon after this of a Fall from his ifu Death.
Horfe, and was bury'd at Cracow. This King
reign'd thirty feven Years, and liv'd fixty.
-f- He was furnam'd the Great (being the only
Perfon that had had that Title among the '
E 4 Polijh
* Hartknoch. lib. t. cap. 2. p. 78. Scarovolfcius De-
fcript. Polon. p. 122.
t Bizardkrc Hiftoire desDietes, p.i. Guagnini Tom.i.
p. 102.
^6 The fecond Family Let.1L
Poli/h Princes) not becaufe he had gain'd a
great many Viftories, but by reafon of the
many beautiful Struftures and FortrefTes he
had built, aslikevyife of the many beneficial
Laws and Conllituions which he had made.
Cafimir^ being the laft King of the Family
of Piaftus, had caus'd liis own Nephew by
his Sifter,
Lewis Lewis, King of Hungary^ to be cleded
King of for his SuccelTor during his Life-time, who
Hungary, crownM accordingly in Poland in the
Year 1370, and reign'd 12 Years. The
Poles were not extraordinarily well fatisficd
with him, being a Foreign Prince, and there-
Obltg'd to fore oblig'd him before they would crown
take an him, to take an * Oath, not only to maintain
Oath. former Privileges, but alfo to enlarge
'em J for hitherto the Succeflbrs of Piafius
had almoft had an abfolute Power in Poland^
a great deal more than their prefent Kings
have.
Returns in- After fome time I^w'k was fbrc'd to return
to Hunga- into Hungary to fettle fome Affairs there,
ry. when he left the Adminiftration of the Go-
vernment, during his Abfence, to his Mother
Elfz.abeth.. His going away occafion'd.great
Troubles, for the Ruffians rebell'd, and^e
Lithuanians made Incurfions into the very
Heart of Poland. The Poles alfo were di-
vided among themfelves ; they could not en-
dure to fee their Towns in the hands of //««-
, garian Garifons ^ and befides, they were fo
much difpleas'd with their King's leaving 'em
to
*■ Radcvicus lib. i. cap. 3. p. 13.
of the IQngs of Poland. 57
to the Government of his Mother, whom
they neither lov'd nor efteem'd, that they
fent to acquaint him, that they thought it Ho-
now enough for himfelf to govern Poland. All
thefe Troubles and Diftrufts foon oblig'd the
King to return into Poland with a ftrong Ar-
my of Hungarians^ where he firfl march'd Hu
againft the Rebel Ruffians^ and fubdu'd them ^
next againlt the Lithuanians^ and oblig'd them
to a Peace: foon after which he dy'd, and was His Death,
buried at Belgrade in Hungary, in the %6th Year
of his Age, having reigned 12 Years. He
left two Daughters, but no Sons, one of which "
married to Sigifmund the Emperor's Son, and
the other, nara'd Hedvoigis, he left w fucceed
him in the Kingdom of Poland.
* This Prince was very curious to know
what Opinion People had of him, and was alfo
exaft in reforming the Faults they laid to his ^ cmmen-
Charge. For this purpofe he was wont to
difguife himfelf, and enquire among the Peo-
pie hort> they liPd their King, and what they
thought amifs in him; and according to their
Anfwers he redrefs'd the Grievances Tug-
gefted to him.
My Lord, I have hitherto given you a fuc-
einft Account of the Family of Piaftus next
I lhall proceed to prefent your Lordfhip like-
wife with that of Jagelio, being ftill a Gonti-
nuation of Piajlus his Family in the Line of a
Daughter.
Of
* Chwalkowski fingularia Polonica p. 20. Florus Po-
Ion. lib.. 2. cap. 20. p. 145,14^. Horburc. de Fuldin.
lib. II. p. i8p,
:7
Tl:e Fvjiily of Jagello, Let. 11.
Of the Family of Jagello.
Wlicn Lewi's King of Poland and Hungary
dy'd, his Daughter Hedvo'igts being with her
Mother the Queen Dowager in Hungary^ the
Poles^ tho there were feveral Princes of the
Race of Piajliis left in Poland and Silefia^ yet
either becaufe they did not think them de-
ferving, or elfe by reafon that they believ'd
*em engag'd in their Enemies Interefts, fent a
folemn Embafly for the young Princefs
Queen H E D w i o I s, who foon came into Po-
Hcdvvigis land^ with Cardinal Demetrius^ the Bifhopof
Strigonia, and feveral others of the chief No-
bility of Hungary. At her arrival the Poles
receiv'd her with great Joy, Splendor and
Magnificence •, and the Arch-bifliop of Gnefna^
Boz.enta, crown'd her after the ufual Ceremo-
nies at Cracow^ on the Feaft of St. Hedwigvs
( always religioufly obferv'd in Poland ) in the
Year 1382, and Ihereign'd alone four Years.
This young Princefs, being not yet marry'd,
had feveral noble Suitors, among which Zie-
Duke of Mafovia vjas tht fir&y whom
flie refus'd *, the next was WtUiam of Auftria.^
who came in Perfon to court her: Him Ihe
likM, but the Senate of Poland would by no
means confent to a Marriage with him, having
always had a Maxim (which they never hi-
therto broke ) that they would by no means
admit any of that Family to their Crown, and
this, fearing fo powerful a Neighbour might
one time or other find means to make himfeljf
Abfolute in their Country. But at lafl: Ja-
geUo great Duke of Lithuania had better For-
tune.
or the thirdCbfs of 55?
tune, for he foon obtain'd her by the great married
and advantagioiis Proffers he made the
He fir It promisM to embrace the Chriftian
. , cnjnes a
Religion with all his Country, who were be- chrijlhtu
fore Pagans: Next to unite Lithuania to Po-
land, during his time, under the fame form
of Government •, and laftly, that in cafe his
Male Race fail'd, it fliould for ever after be
annex'd to that Kingdom. Hereujion Jagtllo
was baptiz'd, and takes upon him ihe Name of
UladislausV. and after having confum- Jagello, or
mated the Marriage with Hedivigis, was confe- '^hadif-
crated by the Arch-bifhop Boz.enta in the Year
1381?. and reign'd 48 Years. Not long after
his Coronation he went with Prielts into Li-
thuaniay and in a twelve Month's time con- converts
verted all that Nation ^ but this not fo much tke Lithua-
by their Preaching and Vigilante, as by hisnw«x.
own exemplary Zeal and Perfwafion. * Founds the
ter this he eredfed the Univerfity of Cracow^ Vniverfity
which Cajimir the Great had only begun, and of Cracow,
fent to Prague in Bohemia for learned Men to
Inllrudf the Youth in all manner of Sciences,
which had never before been taught in this
Country. About this time Queen Hedwigvs Hedwigis
dy'd, after having endow'd the Univerfity, to dies.
encourage Learning.
This Prince had long Wars with the Teuto-
nic Order, which then very much infulted
over the Frontiers of his Kingdom where-
upon the Poles were not a little enclin'd to be
reveng'd on this proud and powerful People.
Now Poland not being alone fufficient to with-
ftand
* Herb.deFulft. 1. J3. p.207. HartkutI. i.e. 2.p.87.
So The third Family L e t. II.
ftand 'em, JageUo made up a confiderable
Army of Poks^ Lithuanians^ Ruffians and Tar-
tars^ with all which he march'd direftly to-
wards them, who were got ready to receive
him with a Body of about 140000 Men *, yet
notwithftanding, after a long and doubtful
Fight, the Poles happen'd to have the better,
and entirely routed the Teutonic Army, kil-
ling their great Mafter Conrade of Thuningen
with about 30000 Souldiers, and near 15000
taken Prifoners. This Vi&ory the Poles pur-
fued fo far, that they took raoft of the
Towns in PruJJia, and doubtlefs had entirely
deltroy'd that Order had not the Emperor
Sigifmund come to their Relief, who foon
forc'd the Poles to make Peace with 'em, and
to reftore all they had taken from 'em. After-
wards Jagelio had feveral other Conflidfs with
the Teutonic Order, in all which he conquer'd.
ffU "Deaths He dy'd of a Fever in Ruffta after having
reign'd forty eight Years and fome Months,
and lies buried in the Cathedral at Cracow.
This King had had four Wives, all which he
Ani Jjjke. caus'd to be crown'd, and two Sons, Via-
diflatu VI. and Cafmir IV. Tho his Son
tiladif- Uladislaus the Sixth was but nine
i!f Years old when his Father dy'd, yet after long
Debates and great Oppofition in the Diet,
he was eledted at Briefcia in the Year 1435,
and reign'd ten Years. * He was fo young
when he was chofen, that his Coronation
Oath was fain to be difpens'd with, his Mo-
ther Sophia and fome of the Peers having pro-
mis'd
* Floras Polon. lib. 5. cap. 2. p. 1^7.
of the Kj^ngs of Poland. 61
mis'd he fhould take it when he came of Age. The Se-
In the mean time the Senate were Regents
during his Minority.
Some while after the Tartars made great
Incurlions into Podolia which then belong'd to
Poland^ when having kili'd the Poli/h General
Bucar'my and the greateft part of his Army,
they retir'd with great Booty into their own
Country.
After this, by the Death of the Emperor
Albert^ Hungary having no King to defend it
againft the Turks who threaten'd it on all fides,
fent Embafladors to Vladiflaus to entreat him
to come and be their King, which, after fome
Deliberation, he accepted of j and going into
that Kingdom, notwithftanding the Cabals
' and Party of the Emprefs Eliz.abeth^ who was
left four Months gone with Child, he was
crown'd King of Hungary at Buda. The Child ukdiflaus
the Emprefs went with was afterwards born, cnwrCd
and call'd Ladijlaus ^ but (he dying not long "f
after, left King Vladiflaus in Peace, at leaft at
home, till the Turks oblig'd him to take Arms
for his Defence abroad ; for Amurath^ Empe-
ror of the Turks, was not only then on his
March to befiege Belgrade in Perfon, but alfo
commanded the Hungarians to pay himTri-
bute. Hereupon Vladiflaus was forc'd to de-
dare War againft him, and under the Com- -wuh the
mand of Huniades fent an Army made up of Turks.
Poles and Hungarians to oppofe him, which
coming upon him by Night, furprized the
-Turki/h Army near the River Morava in Hun-
gary, and made fuch a daughter of 'em that
'tis thought tfie Turks loft above 30000 Men
that day. After this happy Vidory Via-
6z The third Family L e t. 11.
dijlaus banifli'd all thofe Infidels out of Hun-
gary^ and purfu'd 'em to the very Frontiers
of Mace'don in Greece^ where he gain'd a fc-
cond Battel over Carambeius General of the
Troops of took him Prifoner, and drove
his Army into Mountains and inacceffible
Places, The King was wounded in this Adi-
on.
* Upon this occafion John Pdleologus Empe-
ror of Conjlantimpk^ the Pope^ and many other
Chriftian Princes, fent Embafladors to com-
cZlhan ^ Afterwards Amurath^ under
Princes on pretence of ranfoming Carambeius^ ftnt Mi-
his Viriory. niiters to treat of a Peace, but Vladiflaus
would only agree to a Truce for ten Years.
After this the Gentry of Poland fent to their
King Vladiflaus to return among 'em; but he
being advis'd by feveral Chriftian Princes,
efpecially the Pope who fent a Nuncio to him
on purpofe, to break the Truce and continue
the War, inflead of complying with the
Poles Requeft, march'd immediately with all
the Troops he could get together, into Bui-
garia, and came to Nicopolis Capital of this
Province, where Dromla or Dracula^ Palatin
of Moldavia^ meeting him, he earneftly en-
treated him to keep his Royal Promife with
the Turh^ tho Enemies to the Chriflian Belief j
but perceiving the King's inflexible Refolu-
tion to continue the War, gave him 4000 Men
under his own Son's Command. In the mean
while Amurath^ who after the Truce agreed
upon with Vladiflaus went to conquer a cer-
*■ Herburt. de Fulftin. lib. 14. p. 172,
f Florus Polon. lib. 3. cap. 2. p. 17s.
of the Kjngs of Poland. 6\
tain People of Ajia, call'd Caramani^ hearing
of tills great Army's marching againft him,
turn'd his Forces, confifting, as Jovius relates,
of about 80000 Men, to meet 'em, and near
the Town of Varna fought 'em ; where by
his Camels frighting the Polijh and Hungarian
Horfe, together with the invincible Courage
of his Janizaries^ he entirely defeated the
Chrillian Army, and kill'd King Vladi/laus Kiird and
in the Year 144$' Whereupon fomebody made routed by
a Satyrical Epitaph upon this unfortunate Turks.
King, as follows.
* Romulida Cannas, ego Varnam Clade notavi:
Difcite Mart ales non temerare fidem.
Me niji Pontifices jujjijfent rumpere Foedus^
Non ferret Scythicum Pannonvs Or a Jugum.
Ever after this, the Turks always fortified
themfelves againft the Chriftians, who they
thought could never keep either their Oaths
or Word; and not long after Mahomet the
Great took Conjlantinople in the Year 1453, ,
wherein Confiantin Pakologus, the laft Chrifti-
an Emperor of the Eaft, was crowded to
death in one of the Gates. King Vladi/laus
leaving no Children, his Brother
C A s I MIR, great Duke of Lithuania., was CafiniirlV.
elefted next, and crown'd in the Year i44<S, '44^-
and reign'd forty five Years. He married Mar-
the Princefs Elizabeth, Daughter to the Em- riage.
peror Albert II.
In
* Harcknoch. lib. i. cap. 2. p. 88.
^4 Family Let. 11.
In the beginning of his Reign the PruJJians
threw off the heavy Yoke of the Teutonic Or'
der^ and put themfelves under Cafmids Pro-
Aifiiis the teAion. Hereupon this King went in Perfon
Fru0ans into PruJJid to take their Allegiance and Fide-
the where he likewife granted them many
Kn'^tts Privileges \ who thereupon oblig'd them-
' felves, efpecially at Dantaic^ to maintain the
King and his Court for four days, whenever
he fhould pleafe to come again in Perfon
among 'em. In the mean time the Teutonic
Knights got together a ftrong Army in Bo-
hernia and Germany^ with which they imme-
diately raarch'd againft Cafimir, and routed
him before he could execute his Defigns of be-
(ieging Marienburg^ and feveral other Towns
Is routed which that Order had yet left in Prulfia. ca-
y^that Or-^ fenfible of this Affront, to
lofe a Battel where he himfelf was like to
have been kill'd, call'd a Diet, and prevail'd lb
far upon the Gentry as to grant him half their
Yearly Revenues to carry on the War againil
the Teutonic Ordei'. By which means after a
long and obftinate Difpute, he at laft oblig'd
'em to accept of Articles of Peace, wherein
* the Pope's Nuncio was Mediator. By this
Agreement they were to reffore to Poland all
Tet chtams Pomerania^ the Territories of Culm and Mi-
sen advM- chalow^ with the Cities of Marienburg, Stuma
tngioHs and Elbing \ and were to be left in poffeflion
Ttatt. Qj^jy Qjj condition that their Great
Mafter for ever after Ihould be Prince and
Senator of Poland^ and take Oath of Fidelity
to the King. The Moldavians likewife by
' their fJofpodar defire Cafimifs Protedtion a-
gaioll the Turks, and offer to take an Oath
t®
of the ^rt^s of Poland. 6j
to him as VafTals, and a Tributary Nation,
which they continu'd for a long while after.
IJ' This King had four Sons, whereof Vladif-
laus was firft chofen King or Bohemia,^ and af-
terwards of Humary j for this laft Kingdom,
after their King^ Death, had entreated C(J7?-
®- mir to fend one of his Sons to reign over them.
Whtrm'^oxi Vladiflav.t^ then King of
'te march'd fpeedily into Hungary with a fmall
J ^ Body, to prevent any of his Brothers pre-
' tending to that Crown : Neverthelefs, his
1 Brother John Albert went foon after with ano-
ther Array to oppofe him, and met and fought
'' him j but Vladiflaus having got the better,
was crownM not long after ^ yet he was kind
to his Brother, and gave him fome Towns in
^S'llefia, which then belonged to Bohemia.
In the time of this King Caftmir.^ the De- Veputks
"ft puties of the Provinces fir It appearM at the-^'".^ f'
Diet: For before, the King and Senators
Mlftk had the fupreme Power of making Laws,
iff ^ Harthnoch fays, that till this Kin^s Reign
IS sir the Latin Tongue was very rarely fpoken in
1 oil; Toland j for that when the King of Sueden had
ffl- a certain Interview with Cafimir at Dantdc^
By3 neither Cafimir nor any of his Court could
difcourfe with him in Latin, but were fain to
dH' be beholden to a Monk to do thatOfiicc for
f, J!i» theiTi':^ which Cafimir being much afham'd of,
jofdJi publickly commanded all his Officers forth- -
lirGiS with to let about the Study of that Language j
octrt from which time the Poles have continu'd
fiddiJ great Proficients therein , nay, beyoiid any
fifilj other Nation whatfoever.
fei- . F This
1 Oi^
S * tib. I. cap. 2. p. 8^
66 Tf^e thirdFdntily Let. II.
fiis Death. This Prince dy'd in the_Year 1492, and
lies buryM at Cracovp, having reign'd forty
five Years, and liv'd fixty four.
John AI- John Albert fucceeded his Father Ca-
being thought the fittftft, tho I do not
read he was the eldeft: of his Sons. He was
crownM King in the Year 1493, and reign'd
Hii cha- Years. This Prince was very ambitious,
racier, but withal unfortunate ; for defigning to
with that reduce the yalachians, who were then Vafials
<^0 Poland.^ and who, according to the Condi-
ac nans, Kingdom in, would refufe
or pay Obedience, and who would fometimes
fide with the Turks and "^"rtars to ravage it:
* He, the better to compafs his Intentions,
pretended to make Wai agsinfi; the Turk^ and
for that purpofe raarch'd with his Army
through Ftilachia, as if he defignM nothing
but to make his way into Turky j but being
once got into this Country, he caus'd his Soul-
diers to .pick a quarrel with the Kalachians for
not providing them with Forage as they de-
Cr'd j which however was not an eafy matter
to do for an Army of 80000 Men which he
had with him. Hereupon he befieges Sozifaw^
one of their ftrongefl; Towns j but the Inhabi-
defeated by defended themfelves fo well, and Stephen
tue vak- their Hojpdar fo fatigu'd the Befiegers by
chiaas. - tdking their Convoys and intercepting their
Provifions, that at lafl: jilhert was forc'd to
raife the Siege, and return into his own Coun-
try; when the Hofpodar greedily purfuing
him, defiroy'd great oart of his Army in a
f Wood,
* Florui Polon. 'lib. 3, cap. 4. p. 1^8.
'.I of the of Poland. . ^7
) C Wood, where he had laid an Ambufh. Soon
after this the Hofpodar^ to be farther reveng'd
on the P^es^ call'd to his Afliftance the Turks
and Tartars^ who all joining together, entePd
Poland vjith. a prodigious Army, and carry'd
lio; aWay about looooo Captives, of which the
greateft Part were Ruffians. The Moldavians
IK ^d Falachians quickly return'd home, but the
fc Turks out of covetoufnefs of Plunder, ftay'd
till the great Frofts and Snow furpriz'd 'em, '
ralii when not being us'd to fuch exceffive Cold as 5
iKi this Country is fubjeft to, above 40000 of
kIiI^ them were frozen to death. * Some among
fe 'em that efcap'd were forc'd to cut open their
aTaf> Horfes bellies, and thruft themfelves into them
jiEiii: to preferve their natural Heat, After this, MaJies
John Albert made peace with the Talachians^and P^ace with
is A' Bajazet Emperour of the Turks. Next he
not! ^ went in Perfon into Priiffia to oblige Frederic
Mil)!' Duke of Saxonythen Great Mafter of the
l&Si Teutonic Order, to take Oath of Fidelity to
ri® him, which he had for fome tinie refus'd, but
tk dy'd fuddenly at Thorn before he could effed His Death,
hisdcfign. Albert leaving no Children, the
wlaj Viet thought fit to eled his Brother
Alexander, Great Duke of Lithuania^ Alexander,
jdjv the better to renew their Alliance with that
w Country. This Prince being proclaim'd King,
jjuii; comes to Cracow^ where by his Brother Fre-
deric^ Cardinal and Archbilhop of Gnefna., he
was' crown'd in the Year 1501, and reign'd
jjjjj onlyfive Years j but the Archbilhop-|-refus'd
' . - 17 -» tr\
WoK H- Florus Polon. lib. 3. cap. 4. p. 201.
^ f Herburt. de Fulftin. lib. i p. p. 348. Ilarcknoch,
lib. 1. cap.,2. p. 90.
<^8 7'he third Family Let. 11.
to do the like Office for his QP^en Helena^ be-
caufe file was of the Greek Church, being
Daughter to John Great Duke of Adujcwy ; ■
which Country are all of that Perfuafion, Soorl
after that he was crown'd, his Father-ih-Law,
///J-the Great Duke, made War upon him, and
belieg'd the City of Smolensko, Capital of a
large Province of the fame Name; but ^kx-
dnder coming in time to relieve it, oblig'd the
Mufcovite to make Peace for fix Years. In his
time alfo the Moldavians and Tartars made
Irruptions into Poland^ but were beaten back
with great Lofs j infomuch that 'tis faid, there
were kill'd only of the Tartars in that Aftion
near 20000. The King was not in Perfon at
this Victory, he then lying lick at Vdna^ Gapi-
Hu Death, tal of Lithuania.^ where he dy'd foon after,
and was buried in that City.
m chx- * ^ middle Stature, had a long
rdhr. Vifage and black Hair ^ was very ftrong built,
but exceeding dull-witted, and confequently
but a little Talker. _He exceeded all his Bro-
thers in Generofity, and was wont to delight
much in Muficians and fuch trifling Artifts.
Neverthelefs, this his Liberality was generally
efteem'd but Prodigality, infomuch that fome
were fo bold as to fay. That he dy'd in time.^ or
elfe both Poland and Lithuania might have been
lavi/h'd away. To prevent the like pernicious
Generolity for the future, -|- the Diet made a
Law, calling it Statutum Alexandrinumby
which they revok'd all this King's profufe Gifts.
Alexander leaving no Children, and but two
Brothers, the Archbiihop of Gnefna dying be-
foie him, f 'Sicis-
* Fulflin. lib. 20. p. 3 55, f Hartkn. l.i. c.2. p.50.
of the of Poland. ^9
SioisMUND was preferr'd to Vlndijluus^ .siaT-
King of Hungary and Bohemia^ eitl;er becaufe n-.und I.
the Gentry were more alTeded to him, being
bred among 'em, or by reafon they were afraid
of Viadijiaush great Power. He was elefted
at Petricovia in the Year 1507, and reign'd
forty one Years.
YVhen Sigifmund left his Government of
Lithuania to come into Poland^ he fublf iuitcd
one Glinski^ a great Favourite of the late
King's, in his room. * This Falatin having
great Authority among the Lithuanians^ be-
came fo ambitious as to think of making him-
felf Abfolute j which concealing for a good
while, at length he agreed with Bafilius Great
Duke of Mi^covy^ to allow him his fhare of
that Province in cafe he would afford him his
Affiftance j which Propofal the Great Duke
being pleas'd with, readily confented to, and
with all Expedition difpatch'd away an Army
to Glinski: but as fuch great Defigns are not Defeats a
to be carried on without great Noife and^rwf Con-
Sufpicions, Sigifmund came foon to hear of thish'''''^0'
treacherousEnterprize 5 whereupon drawing^""-'*
up all his Forces to oppofe the intended In-
vafibn, he meets and defeats their Army, ra-
vages and deflroys their Country, and at lalf
obliges them to fue for Peace, which he not
without fome difficulty granted.
Afterwards the Falachians and Tartars mak- m other
ing Incurlions into Rujfta and Poland^ he for- iVan.
ces them to return home with great Lofs. The
Mufcovites likewife making War upon him a
F 3 fecond
* Florus Polon. lib. 3. cap. 6, p. 213, i^c.
70
HU
nagt.
His Wax
with the
Teutonic
Order.
\':
Ihe third Family LEt. II.
fecond time, and taking the City of Smolenskoy
with all the Country about it, he beat their
Armies in feveral Engagements, and having
kiird in all above 30000 of their Men, re-
took SmolenskOySindi made 'em accept of a Peace
the fecond time for five Years. He foon af-
Mar- ter married Buona Sforz.ay Daughter to John
Gakatio Du^e of Milan. Afterwards he made
War with the Knights of the Teutonic Order,
the reafon of which was, becaufe jllhert Mar-
quefs of Brandenhurgh his Sifter's Son, and
then Great Mailer, refus'd to take an Oath as
it wns agreed in the late Wars. Hereupon,
Sigifmund took from him fome Towns, and
had great Advantages over him in feveral
Engagements, but however udlbert having
conliderable Succors fent him from Germanyy
prolong'd the War for a good while in
PruJJia. _ K . '
About this time Martin LuthM^ Doftrine
came to be known in thefe Parts, and moft of
the Citizens of * Dantz.ic embrac'd it; for
which at firft the King was very fevere with
them, but at length, fearing that to preferve
their Religion they might fide with the
Teutonic Order againft him, he granted them
Liberty of Confcience. All this while that
■ Order made vigorous Refiftance, and with
eqiTal Lofs on both fides, fatigu'd the Poli/h
Army, till at laft it was agreed by both Par-
ties to make the Emperor Charles V. and Lewie
King of Hungary Arbitrators ^ who determin'd
that Sigifmund Ihould relinquifii to the Mar-
quefs of Brandenburg all the Eaftern part of
/ PruJJia
* I'brus Tolon. lib. 3. cap. 5. p. 22d.
\
of the Iftri'^s of PoLand.' , 7 *
Trujjia (which is above half of that great
Province) and that he and his Heirs flio.uld ty
•for ever enjoy it ( as they have adually done
ever llnce ) without any difturbance from Si~
gifmmd\ but the Marquefs of Brandenburg^ as
Duke of Prujjia^ for hiinielf and his Heirs
was to take an Oath of Fidelity to the Kings
Poland^ and to fend to their Service every
Year in time of War a hundred Horfe ready
equipt, which thofe Kipg;s were to maintain at
their own Charges from the time they went
out of PruJJia.
At this time the Houfe of ^uftria was
not a little jealous of the exorbitant Power
and vaft Dominions of the Family of Jagello:
fot not only Sigifmund poflefs'd Poland^ the
great Dutchies of Lithuania^ Smolensko and
Severia^ and likewife all the Countries between
the Euoiine and Balttc Seas ; but alfo his Ne-
phew Aeipw, Son of Vladiflaus, was King of
Hungary^ Bohemia and Silefia^ infomuch that '
they fecretly rais'd feveral Enemies againll
them; whereupon the Adufcovites^ Moldavians
and TdHars came a third time to molefl Po-
land^ but were forc'd to withdraw after ha-
ving done fome Mifchief. About this time
Solyman the Great, Emperor of the Turks^
made War with Hungary^ and gain'd the fa-
mous Battel of Mohac^ where King Lewis and
the flower of his Array were flain, and the
better part of Hungary fubjefted to the Turk.
This King Lewis left only one Daughter,
which was married to Ferdinand of ^ujlria^ Emperor
whereby that Houfe came into polfelfion oicame by
the Kingdoms of Hungary and Bohemia.^ as like- Hungary,
wife of ddilefiat all which it enjoys to this day.
F 4 Bigtf-
f I The third Family Let. 11.
Sigifmund dy'd not long after the Council^ of
7Ve«r begun, being 82 Years old, and having
reign'd about 40 with great Succefs.
Paulus Jovius fays that in this King's time
there were three Heroes, viz.. the Emperor
Charles V. Francis I. King of France., and Si^if-
mund I. King of Poland., each of which deferv'd
alone to govern the Univerfe, had they not
happen'd to live at the fame time.
ffff chd- This King was as famous in Peace as War,
ratler, being adom'd with more Vertues than any
Prince of Poland before him, Belides which
*ndipe. perfeftions of his Mind, he had alfo great
Strength of * Body ^ for he is reported to
have be^n accuftom'd to fnap Horfefhoes a-
funder, and to have broke the ftrongeft
Ropes with his Hands only, as I am ere-
dibly infordi'd the Elector of Saxony, at pre-
fent King of Poland, has often done. He had
two "Wives, Barbara Daughter of Stephen
IVoievod of Tranftlvania, by horn he had one
Daughter nara'd Fkdmgvs, married to Joa-
chim, Marquefs of Brandenburg and another
Wife Buona Sforz.a, mentioned before, who
brought him four Daughters, which were If a-
bel, married to King of Hungary, Sophia
to the Duke of Brunfvaiclt, and Ann and Ca-
therine, both fuccelHvely to the King of Swe-
den ■, and one Son Sigifmund Augujlus, who
fucceeded his Father in the Kingdom of Po-
land.
Afalft 'f" Martin Bielski, a Polander, who writ
Luiji. the Annals of his Country in his Native
Lan-
* Harcknoch, lib, r, cap, 2. p, po.,
f Guagnini Tom, i, p, 125,
of the Kfngs of Poland.
Language, mentions, that in the beginning
of this King's Reign, a certain Gentleman
nam'd James Melftinski Starojia of Brcuna^
being not a little beiide himf^lf, pretended to
be Chrifl defcended again upon the Earth
and confequently, together with one Peter iZa-
torski^ a Citizen of Cracow^ and eleven others
of the fame ftamp, fet forward through di-
vers Cities and Villages, canting and impofing
upon the common People ail along as they
went; foraetiraes he pretended to raife the
Dead, which he feemingly efFedted by help
of a Compaft with fome of his fellow Im-
poftors. Next he work'd feveral pretended
. Miracles by Legerdemain, as by finding things
in places where it was almoll: impofiible for
them to be, which neverthelefs he had pru-
dently taken care to lay there before, as f ifli
in Bogs, and the like. Afterwards he went to
the Monaftery of Cejlochow^ where it fecms
he was not known. Here he caus'd one of
his Followers to pretend to be poflefs'd with
the Devil, who thereupon being immediately
feiz'd on was led by the Monks to the Altau
at a time when a great Concourfe of People
were gathered together to hear Mafs •, but
the Impoftor having provided himfelf a large
Coat with feveral deep and winding Plights, as
likewife of divers fmall Pebbles which he had
wrap'd up in his Safh, broke furioufly from
thofe that held him, and immediately leap'd
upon the Altar, where feizing upon all the Of-
ferings, he foon convey'd them into thefe ob»
fcure Folds of his Coat, when the Monks go-
ing to fearch him with great Violence, found
only the Stones in his Salh, which they be-^
lieving
H^e third Fitnilji L fe t. 11.
lieving to be the Money tranfmiited by the
Power of the Devil, immediately fell to ex-
orcifing the Stones *, but finding the fame
Species ftill remain, they threw down their
Books in great Indignation, and cry'd. Talent
Damonem nunquam experti fumus, abite cum eo
ad omnes Damones. By help of the Money they
had thus got by this Cheat, they travell'd all
over Sile/ia^ and at laft came to a Gentleman's
Houfe where they told his Wife, thatChrift
and his Apoftles were come to vifit her, and
that Ihe muft make fome Offering, and her
Soul Ihould be fav'd*, to which the Woman
reply'd, that her Husband was from home,
and therefore Ihe could not pofllbly comply
with their Requefts: whereupon they deman-
ded of her,if (he had any Linen to facrifice ^ fire
anfwered, fhe had, and prefently fetch'd them
down a fmall parcel, which they receiving
from her hands, told her, they would keep
that for themfelves, and Chrift Ihould blefs
her, and encreafe her Store : whereupon, en-
quiring farther if (he had any more, Ihe
Ihew'd them another Parcel *, but they being
about to do the like by that as they did by
the other, Ihe told them, her Husband not
being within, fhe durfl by no means part with
it: which Anfwer difpleafing thefe Impoftors,
they privily Aid a piece of lighted Coal among
the Linen, which the Woman not knowing
any thing of, took thq parcel and lock'd it
up in her Cheft as before, but which not long
after burfting out into a Flame, firft burnt
the Cheft, and then the Houfe. The Husband
coming home and finding his Houfe on fire,
enquir d into the caufe of it j whereupon his
Wife
of the IQngs of Poland. 75
Wife anfwer'd, that becaufe fhe had treated
Chrift: difrefpectfully who came to vifit her,
this Judgment had befallen them. At this
the Man flying out into a Paflion, cry'd, This
was an Impfior^ and no Chrift ^ wherefore cal-
ling his Neighbours together, they purfued
them clofe till they heard of them in a Village
hard by, which the falfe Saviour being in-
form'd of, faid to that Apollle of his, nam'd
Peter^ Peter, now is my Hour come, and the
time wherein I am to drink that bitter Draught
approaches, which 1 have no other way to avoid
but by leaping out at this Window: To which
Peter reply'd, I alfo will follow my Mafter^s EX"
ample, that I may live. Whereupon they both
leap'd out at the Window, and the reft of the
Apoftles fled alfo their feveral ways •, but the
deluded Countrymen clofely purfuing them,
at length overtook them, and furrounding
them, with Clubs, Scourges, and the like,
laid them on mofl: unmercifully, crying all the
^while, Prophefy to us, O Chrifl, with thy Dif-
ciples, in what Wood did thefe Clubs and Scourges
grow. By this fevere Difcipline thefe Impof-
tors having been totally reform'd, confefs'd
that it was no fmall Task to imitate Chrift
and his Apoflles.
Before his Death, Sigifmund got the Diet
to eledt his Son
SIGI s M u N D II. furnamM afterwards ^u- Sigif-
guftus, who was crown'd in the Year 1548, and "^und il.
reign'd to 157(5'. * The Diet was very angry '548-
with
* Floras Polon. lib. 3. cap. 7. p. 238, Guagnini
Rerum Polon. Tom. i. p. 128,
7 6 The third Family Let, 11.
with him, that after his Coronation he mar-
Hii Lady Radz-ivil Widow to a Woievod
without their Confent, which is againft the
Dki" '' Conftitution of that Kingdom ^ but this Queen
dying foon after without 'Children, they a-
greed to his Marriage with the Princefs Ca-
th.-irine, another Widow of theHoufeof Au-
firia, which was before married to Francis
Duke of Mantua.
In his time Livonia.^ which is a great Pro-
vince that lies between Prujfta, Smdeland,
Mufcovy and Lithuania^ whereof part belong-
ed to the Teutonic Order, and part to the
Arch-bifhop of Riga^ being the whole under
Protection of the Empire, was like to have
been over-run by the Great Duke of Adufcovy^
who brought thither a powerful Army for
that purpofe, and took moll of its Towns.
Whereupon the Inhabitants finding they were
not able alone to rcfift fo great a Force, fent
to the Emperor Ferdinand for Relief, who,
being then bufied in other Wars, anfwer'd,
he could fparc 'em none^ but gave 'em
leave to have recourfe to whofe Protection
they thought fit. Some therefore among
them put themfelves under Eric King of Svce-
(ten ^ but the Arch-bilhop of Riga.y and the
Great Mafter of the Teutonic Order, with all
the Nobility and Gentry, requefted the Af-
fiftance of Sigifmund King of Poland., v/ho
would by no means grant it them, unlefs they
would fubmit themfelves entirely to his Obe-
dience, and take Oath of Fidelity according-
ly^ next that , they fhould give up all their
Towns and Country, and laftly, annex Livo-
ntaiox qycv to Poland. To thefe Terms the
LivO'
\
of the Kings of Poland. 77
Livonians were neither ready nor willing to
iubmit i however, at length they thought it
better to condcfcend to thefe Propofals, than
be forcM to accept of worfe from the irre-
fiftible Fury of the Mufcovites •, and there- Livonia u-
fore, having maturely deliberated on t\szriited to
matter, confented that Gothotred Ketler^
Gentleman of IVeJlphalia^ then Great Mafter
and General of their Army, Ihould publickly
abdicate his Mafterfliip, and give up to M-
cbolas Radzdvil Palatin of Filna^ deputed for
that purpofe by the King, the City and Cita-
del of Riga^ and declare Livonia from thence-
forward fubjedt to Poland, which was accord-
ingly done j and at the fame time, by Order
of the King his Mafter, Radz.ivil proclaim'd Firfl Duke
Gothotred Kctler * Duke of Curland and Semi- "t Curland
gallia, which are two Provinces of Li vonia
and next day by further Orders, declar'd him
Vice-roy and Governour of Livonia. Thefe
two Provinces of Curland and Semigallia Ket-
/er's Pofterity have enjoy'd ever fmce by He-
reditary Succeflion, but ftill as Valfals to Po-
land.
Upon this Agreement the King declares
War immediately againft the vthoidu Warf
were then very ftrong, having juft before
taken from the Tartars the Kingdoms
Ajlracan and Cafan •, neverthelefs he defeated
their Army upon the Frontiers of Lithuania,
and forc'd 'em to retire into their own Coun-
try, but they foon return'd a fecond time,
commanded by their Cz.ar^ John Bafilowits, tho
with as little fuccefs as before.
This
* Hartknoch. lib. i. cap. 2.
A
7S
Lutheran
Religion
The third Family Let. IL
This Ctiar is reported to have been a
moft cruel Tyrant, it having been his chief
Diverfion to invent new ways of torturing,
infomuch that 'tis faid, that to boil and roan:
both his own Subjeds and the Prifoners he
took, was the leaft Funiihments he made 'em
fufFcr. It would be both tedious and horrid
to- hear all the Tortures he us'd towards
Men, Women and Children. He was wont
to recompenfe fuch as invented new ways of
Torture ^ but thefe his inhuman Cruelties did
fo exafperate his Subjeds, that Sigifmund
found no great difficulty to force him to a
Peace.
After this Sigifmund fent a fmall Army in-
to Falachia^ to fupport Bogdan in his Inten-
tions to make himfelf Prince thereof j but the
Valachians^ affifted by the Turks^ foon oblig'd
the Poles to return h(^e.
-f- In this King's Keign the Lutheran Reli-
gion got great ground in Poland^ the caufe of
propagated, was a Qparr el,upon account of a W hore,
between the Courtiers and Scholars, which
induc'd the latter to retire into Germany.,
where they firft irabib'd thefe Principles, and
which upon their return they not a little pro-
pagatcd in their own Country. The firffc
Perfon of note that embrac'd this Religon,
was Johannes a L'afco Palatin of Lanfchet., who
in the Year 1540 left his Government, and
went into Holland and England-, and at
his return, converted feveral to that Per-
fwafion. All this while the King gave diltur-
bance
* Floras Polon. lib. 5. cap. 7. p. 255.
t Neugebaver. lib. 8. Hill. Polon. p. 572, &:c.
X
of the Kjngs of Poland. 7p
bance to none that abjurM the Roman Faith,
but rather * favour'd them, having heard fe-
veral of their Preachers in his Court, parti-
cularly two, Johannes Cofminis and Laurencius
Prafnitius, which occafionM moft of the Bi-
fliops to be enclin'd to that Belief.
Here cannot well be omitted a great Efcape
King Sigifmmd had at Koningsherg in Ducal
Prujfia, whither being invited by udlbert Mar-
quefs of Brandenburg^and at his Reception falu-
ted with all the Gannon, by aegligence of a
Gunner a Bullet was left in one of them, which
when fir'd came fo near the King as to dafh
outone^- Wifnoviec^s Brains, who march'd jult
behind him.
In Sigifmundh jj time fiourifh'd the jocular Com-
Commonwealth of Babina^conCiiiing of feveral mmwealtb
merry Gentlemen of Lublin^ who met together
at a place calFd Babin to exercife their Wits
upon all occafions. This Meeting, to procure
the greater rcfpeft for their Proceedings, they
modelPd into the form of the Government of
the Kingdom,ele(9:ing a King and Senate,toge-
ther with divers Officers and Magi ftrates. As
whenever any among them talk'd out of his
Sphere, and meddled with matters that did
no ways belong to him, they created him an .
Arch-bilhop or Palatin j fuch a one as made
a great many Blunders, and delighted'in Con-
traditions, they (ffiofe for their Speaker or
Chancellor ^ and whoever boafted too inor-
dinately of his Valour, they prefet'd" to be
their
* Sarnitius lib. 8. Annal. Polon. ad An. 1552, p. 3P4._
- t Neugebaver lib. 8. p. 585, (fy-c.
U Sarnicius lib. 8. Aunal. Folbo. p>
\
The third Family Let. II,
their General, paffing immediately a Patent
for that purpofe, and which was to be pre-
fented to him with a great deal of SubmiHion
by the firagadocBos of a Minor Charafter; but
if the Perfon eled refus'd this Command, they
perfecutcd him with hiffing and hooting till
he had accepted it. Thus they created fe-
veral other Senators of different Qiialities,
whence it followed that in fhort time they
became judicious Cenfurers, wary Talkers,
modeft Obfervers, humble Performers, and
true Relaters of any Exploit. Whenever
they admitted any of their Society, they firft
enquir'd into his Abilities, and requir'd a
Specmen of his Parts, and this to determine
the better what Office or Employment he was
fitteft to execute in their Commonwealth,
they having feveral others of an inferior
Rank befides thofe we have already mention'd:
As if any one introduc'd an impertinent Dif-
courfe of his Hounds or his Hawks, him they
immediately made either their Huntfman or
their Faulkoner: Likewife if a Man run out
too much upon Religion, he was conftituted
their Chaplain; and where any dealt too much
in Matters of Controverfy, he was forthwith
ordain'd their Inquifitor: laftly, where a Man
was too exuberant in his Difcourfe about
Horfes, or Houfliold Affairs, him they either
promoted to be their Mailer of the Horfe,
, or their Majordomo, By thefe means in a lit-
tie time they reformed moil of the Abufcs
and Indecorums crept into the Government of
Poland^ and prov'd that the force of Satyr is
of no lefs benefit than that of Oratory. At
length this pleafant Conllitution came to the
King's
of the IQngs of Poland.
King's Ear, who was often delighted with
hearing of their Tranfadions ^ and one day
enquiring after their dignified Members, he
ask'd, T^jether they had any King among them?
to which the Starojla of Babina^ who was
mofb celebrated for his pleafant Countenance
and jocular Humour, reply'd, Far be it from
us^ molt Serene Monarchy that we Jhould make
choice of any other King while your Ma'jefiy w
living. Which Anfwer fo extreamly pleas'd
Sigifmund that he laugh'd heartily, and was fo
far from (hewing any ligns of Diflike, that by
feveral Expreffions which dropt from him he
occaiion'd great Mirth in all the Company.
Afterwards there arifing fome grave Dilputes
in this Society about the Antiquity of the
Monarchies of Perjia., Greece and Rome., a cer-
tain merry Fellow ftarted up and cry'd, What
makes you thus boaft., Gentlemen., of the Ami-
quity and Extent of thefe Monarchies, when ours
of Babina is much more antient and of wider
Bounds than them all What fays David ? Om-
nis Homo Mendax, all Men are Liars •, where-
fore the whole Earth muft confequently have been
comprehended within the Limits of our Jurif-
diition from all Ages. His Opinion was
unanimoufly receiv'd with Applaufe. This
Society further boafts of having always had
Privileges and Immunities from Emperors
and Kings: but ftill fuch as were too fevere in
their Refledions, were not to be admitted of
this Republick. The place where this AlTem-
bly met the Members terra'd Gelda, being
the word that the Dantaickers ufe for a Ta-
vern, and which the Poles apply to a merry
Company of witty Fellows.
G Sigif-
Tf/C third Family Lfit. 11.
His Death, Sigiftnund died of a Chronical Diftemper at
Knyjfm in the Confines of Lithuania, ^ &c.
and left no Children, but had two Sifters
furviving, Catherine and the former of
which was firft married to John Duke of Fin-
land, and then to the King of Sweden •, (he was
Mother to Sigifmund III. who was afterwards
King of Sweden and Poland, ylnn liv'd a
long while a Maid till fhe was married to
Stephen Batori Prince of Tranfilvania, and
afterwards King of Poland.
Jagedonic After this Sigifmund'^ Death the Male Race
Family ex- of the Jagellonic Family was quite extinft.
tmH,
I am afraid I have almoft tir'd your Lord-
Ihip's Patience with this prolix Narrative of
the fecond and third ClafTes of the Kings of
Poland, yet I can fafely aver that I have been
as concife as the Subjed Matter would bear,
lince I have run through the Courft of about
Soo Years; where your Lordfhip may ob-
ferve, that tho thefe Princes could never pre-
vail with their Subjeds to declare their King-
dom Hereditary, yet they had fometiraes
Influence fufiicient over them, to caufe them
to eled their Children for their Succeftbrs
while they themfelves were yet alive: And
Kkewife fometimes the great Service they
had rendered their Country, oblig'd the Poles
in Gratitude to advance their IfTue to the
Throne after their Deaths: Befides, the na-
tural AfFcdion which this Country always-
bore to the Royal Family, enclin'd them to
eled the next Relation to tiie deceafed King.
But notwithftanding after Sigifmund the Se-
cond's Death, tho there were feveral of the
Family
■
of the IQngs of Poland.
Family of Piafim and JageUo remaining alive,
both in Poland and Silefia^ yet the Poles, for
fear fo long and fo uninterrupted a Succeflion
of Princes of the fame Line might fubjedt
them to a Defpotic Monarchy, as they almofl:
were in Sigifmund'& time, refolv'd to choofe
Kings out of other Families, as they effedu-
ally did afterwards out of Frame, Tranfilvanid '
and Sweden, which it would be too tedious to
give your Lordfliip a Relation of and there-
fore to eafe your Impatience, I will fubfcribe
my f^f.
My LORD,
Your Lordlhip's moft Obedient
Huiftble Servant,
jB. C.
G z Let:
foMth Family Let. Ill
Letter HI.
To bis Grace W i l l i a M Duke of
VeVoripnre^ Lord Steward of His
Majefty's Houfhold.
Of the Suaeffton and Remarkahle Anions
of the fourth Clafs of the Kjngs of Po-
* land, conftfing of mixt iamilieSj from
the Tear 1574, to 1674.
My Lord',
TH E great Efteem and true Rcfped which
your eminent (Qualities and gallant Be-
haviour, both beyond Sea and at home, com-
mand from all thofe who have heard of your
Name, made me ambitious to give your Grace,
in this Account of Poland^ a Teftimony of
mine, and congratulate my felf in the Honour
of being known to fo great a Perfon. The
Subjed, tny Lord, I thought moft futable to fo
great a Mind and Genius as yours, is a Relation
of Heroic Adions , I mean the. Lives of the
Kings of Poland, from the laft of the JageUo'
nick Family, to the Eledion of the late King
John Sobieski, comprehending the fpace of
a hundred Years.
By Sigifmmd the Second's Death, the Great
and Renown'd Family of Jagello came to be
extind as to Males •, for he left no Chil-
dren, and had only two Sifters, Catherine and
of the Ifjnp of Poland. 85
Am. The former was firft married to John
Dake of Finland., and next to John III. King
oiSueden, having been Mother to SigiJmmdlW.
who was afterwards both King of Poland and
Sueden. The latter Ann liv'd a Maid for a
confidcrable while, till Stephen Batori, Prince
of Tranfylvania, being elected King of Poland.^
marry'd her, but had no IfTue by her.
The ABp of Gnefna, James Vchanski, having Dlrr
notify'd the late King's Death to all the Gen-
try, call'd a Diet after the ulual manner, to
Eleft another ^ whereupon feveral Candidates
appearing, they all had their different Parties
and Friends in the Kingdom. The chief Pre-
tenders were Erneji of Aujlria the Emperour's
Son, John III. King of Sueden, the Great Duke
of Mufcovy, and Henry of Valotn, Brother to
Charles IX. of France, befides feveral Natives
of the Country. After a long deliberation,
they pitch'd upon
H E N R Y of Falois Duke of AnjoUf and fent Hcniy 9f
^Adam Conarsly Bilhop of Pofnan, and Albert Valois.
Faski Palatin of Siradia, in quality of Ambat
fadors, together with leveral other Senators,
into France, to bring him into his Kingdom,
after having agreed to the following Articles;
to the performance of which, both the King
of France and his Brother the King of Poland,
took a folemn Oath. The Articles were as
follows;
Imprimis, ThatFltnij ofValois/houldtranf-
port ,aU bis FffeCis and Annual Revenues in
France into Poland.
G 3 2- that
* Heidenftein Rcrum Polon. lib, i. p. 30, col. a.
The fourth Family Let. III.
i. TTjat the King of fxznct fhould pay SigK-
mund the late King's Debts with hvs own
Money.
3.' That the French King fhould maintain a
hundred young Polifh Noblemen at his Court^
and fifty in other Places.
4. And laftly. That he fhould build a Fleet in
the Baltic Sea^ and help the Poles to carry
on the War againjl the Mufcovites.
There was another Article the King would
by no means confent to till he came into
land^ and that was,
5. Tloat he fhould marry the Princefs Ann,
Sifler to Sigifmund late King of Poland,
King Henry having thus chiefly fatisfy'd the
Conditions, he fet forth from Pari^ about the
beginning of QBober^ in the Year 1575, and
pafs'd through Lorain Germany^ diredly
to Pofnan in Poland; whence he foon after
went, and was crown'd at Cracow the 21ft of
February 1577 : but in four Months time after
his Coronation, receiving Letters from France
that the King his Brother was * dead without
IlTue •, and being begg'd to return to enjoy his
Right, he communicated thofe Letters to
the Senate, acquainting them withal, that it
was neceflary he Ihould return into France
to prevent Civil Wars, and maintain his Ti-
tie to that Crown. But fearing left the Poles
might have detained him, ( as I have often
heard them fay they would certainly have
• done)
^ Heidcnftcin lib. i,-f. 62, col i.
of the IQngs of Poland. ', 87
done) on the i8th of March he ftoleaway^ Abdicates
and rid Poft through Silefia and Germany in- Poland,
to Italy, and thence to France. The King
being mifs'd next morning, they fent feve-
ral Senators after him , who overtook him
in Silefia, and begg'd of him to return, and
not abandon a Nation fo (hamefully which
had elefted him with fuch Univerfal Affefti-
on j yet nothing could prevail upon him, but
he however promkM, that as foon as he had
fettled -his Affairs in France, he would return
among them •, and moreover acknowledg'd,
that he was extreamly oblig'd to the Polijh
Nation for their Kindncfs and Good-will to-
wards him. Hereupon the Senate afterwards
fent two EmbalFadors into France to intreat bajjy into
him to return, which the King had feveral Prance
times a mind to comply with, for he lovM?"^*^"
that Nation extreamly well •, but his French^
Subjedts Itill prevail'd upon him to change
his Mind, reprefenting to hirfi the many Dan-
gers he would cxpofe France to by fuch a
Journey.
Thus the Poles having loft all Hopes of hav-
ingjtheir King again, the Primate Vchanski
calls a Diet at Warfctw the 4th of November
following, to proceed to a new Eleftion, where
two Princes were principally proposed, which Candidates
were the Emperour Maximilian, and Stephen a new
Batori Prince oiTranfylvania •, but they could EkUm,
never unanimoufly agree which of the two to
choofe, and therefore the Diet was dilfolv'd.
Maximilian's Party fent Embalfadors to ac-
quaint him that he was chofen, and that they
expefted he Ihould fpeedily come and be
crownM, while JS^Wori'sFadtion did the like for
G 4 him.
88 l[he fourth Family L e t. III.
him, and invited him to come forthwith into
Toland. Hereupon
Stephen B A T o R i made more hafle than the Em-
Batori. perour to comply with their Requeft j
for he immediately left Tranfylvania^ and
palling through ralachia and Ruffia, quick-
ly arrivM at Cracow *, where, on the 18th of
1577, he was receiv'd and crown'd by
Karnkonjius Biihop of Vladi/law^the Archbilhop
of Gnefna being for Maximilian ^ who yet af-
terwards, rather than he would undergo a
Siege in his Caftle of Lowitz.^ quietly fubrait-
ted to Batori.
In the mean time the Emperour was more
flow, refolving to come with an Army to dif-
pute his Right ^ but his Party growing lefs
and lefs every day, at length the Senate fent
Embafladors to acquaint him, that his Slow-
nels and Indifference had fuperfeded his
Right to the Crown, it being refolv'd to be
given to him that arriv'd firft. Hereupon
the Emperour, who was then at the Diet at
Ratubon^ order'd the Embafladors to be put
in Prifon, and forthwith deterrain'd to go for
Poland himfelf, but was prevented by a dan-
gerous Sicknefs j of which he foon after
dy'd, OQob. 12.
Batori., 'tis true, was chiefly indebted to
) his Merit for the Crown of Poland ^ yet at the
fame time the Family of Zborowski was not a
little aflifting to him, occalion'd by his civil
Reception of one Samuel of that Family, who
had been banilh'd his Country for ftriking
John Teczynsh Caflellan of Wounitz. in the King's
Courts Whereupon eraploy'd all his
Interefl:
of the ^ngs of Poland. 89
Intereft for Batori^ for at the time of the E-
leftion he writ to^ feveral of his Relations and
Friends to Vote for that Prince •, but it'being
the Temper of the Polanders never to think
themfelves fufficiently recorapens'd after they
have done a Service, Batori^ tho he fought
all he could to oblige that Family, yet could
not keep them from proving his moft invete-
rate Enemies, by reafon that he would not
fubmit to govern according to their Humours:
which not long after coft * Samuel his Life
by a formal Proceeding in a Court of JuT
tice.
Batoriwas firft, as I find him, a ipvivatc Hit Ri/e,
Gentleman in Tranfylvania j but at length by
his Merit and Valour came to have great Au-
thority among the People of that Country,
for he was once fent Embafladour to the Em-
perour's Court, where he manag'd Affairs to
the fatisfadion and advantage of both Parties i
fo that ^ter Prince John Sigifmund, Son to the
Sifter of Sigifmund II. of Poland, dy'd, they
elefted him Prince of Tranfylvania.
After he was crown'd King of Poland by
Karnkouski, whom he made Archbifhop of
Gnefna, he endeavour'd to appeafe the Difor-
ders among the great People, and to win the
Affedions of the Male-contents, which at
laft he effeded by marrying the Princefs ^nn, hh mr-
Daughter to Sigtfmund l. and Sifter to Sigif-riaie.
rnund II. by whom he had no Children.
-f- About this time the Emperour fomented T}'
a Sedition among the Inhabitants of Dantz.ic,Y^"^"'
which '
* Floras Polon. lib. 4. p. 540.
f Florus Polon. lib. 4. p. 302. Slcidan.1^^55*
*
fourth Fa?nily Let. Iff.
which induc'd them to refufe to take an Oath
of Fidelity to Batoriy and moreover to raifc'
an Army and ftand upon their Defence. But
the Senate of Poland having declar'd ""em Re-
bels, their Army was foon defeated, and Town
befieg'd *, and at laft they were oblig'd to com-
ply by Mediation of the Eleftors of Saxony and
Brandenburg^ and Lantgrave of Be([e. The
chief Caufc of this War was, that the Citizens
of Dantuc pretended not to be fubjeft to the
Republic of Poland^ but only to the King;
yet notwithftanding this Treaty, they were
forc'd to fubmit themfelves to both.
No coHTts * Hitherto there were no Courts of Judica-
•i JuJiiee. ture in Poland^ all Differences being decided
by the King and Council. But the Gentry
finding this way of Procedure too tedious to
the Nation, and too burdenfbm to the King,
obtdin'd leave of Batori to ered two Courts
of Judicature, which they commonly call Tri-
bunals, one at Petricovia^ and the other at Lub-
im, where all Civil Caufes were to be deter-
min'd abfolutely without any Appeal to Court,
unlefs upon any Matter relating to the State \
in which Cafe, the laft Decifion was to be re-
ferv'd to the King and Diet together.
This King was more fevere in his Funilh-
ments than the Polifh Laws allow'd, yet he
molefted none on account of Religion, al-
ways affirming that three Things God had
wholly referv'd to himfelf, which were, to
make fomething out of nothings to foretel Things
to conu^ and to govern and direEi Confciences,
This
* Florus Polon. lib. 4. p. 305.
t Hartknoch. lib. i. cap, 2. p. ro2, &c.
of the Kings of Poland. 91
This Prince, like Sigifmmd I. very much en-
courag'd fpeaking Latin in his Dominions, be-
ing reported to have faid often to the Gentle-
mens Sons, Dijcite tatink^ nam mum ex aiobi/s
aliquando faciam Mofci Pan, ( a great Lord.)
Whereby the Youth being all in Hopes, prac-
tis'd that Language with great Diligence,
which very much contributed towards the En-
creafe of Arts and Sciences in this Kingdom.
When Sigifmund I. feiit the Bilhop of Varmia
his Erabairador to Vienna^ the Emperour was
furpriz'd to hear even the Folifh Coachmen
fpeak Latin fluently. Alfo after Sigifmund the
Second's Death, when EmbalTadors were fent
to bring Henry of f^aloh into Poland^ the French
wonder'd that not one of ail their Train but
fpoke this Language with great Addrefs.
This King, in the beginning of his Reign,
was like to have been over-run by the Atufco-
vites ^ for they had fo great Advantages over
the Poles^ that they took feveral Towns from
them in the Dutchies of Severia, Smoknsko and
Lithuania. In thefe Wars the Mufcovites were HU Wart^
not a little politick, for they took occafion to
invade the Poles., either when they had Wars
abroad, or Difturbances at home i but at lalt
King Batori having appeas'd his own inteftine
Jars, and made Peace with his Neighbours, by 1
the concurrence of a general Diet declar'd
War againlt the Mufcovites^ and pour'd in up-
on 'em with fuch Vigour and Succefs, that iil
three Years time he re-took allhisownTowns,
and befides carry'd the War- into the very
heart of their Country, plundering and
de-
1 BiwdierCj p. 59.
p t 7l?e fourth Family Let. IIL
dcftroying wherever he came. In this Expe-
dition he got from them above twenty great
Cities an^Provinces, fuch as Polotia^ Sokola,
Su[}a, Krafna^ Vfviata^ Sitna^ Jeferifcia^ KoJJta-
«o, Nefcerda, all the Dutchy of Plotia^ Lukis^
Neuela^ Zavohtia, OJlrovia, &c. All this put
the poor Mufcovites into foch a fright that they
immediately difpatch'd an * Emballador to the
Pope, to give him hopes, that if he could pre-
vail upon the Poles to withdraw their Army
out of their Country, and make an honourable
Peace with 'em, they would all fubmit to the
Roman Church,
This your Grace may imagine fbon put the
Holy Father ijpon a pious Stratagem; for he
fent his Nuncto Poffevinus to aflure the Cz.ar^
that he would employ all his Intereft in his be-
half. Whereupon the Poles^ having befieg'd
Pleskom^ theftrongeftTowninv^/M/co^y, with
ill fuccefs •, and moreover, having loft above
forty thoufand Men during the War, at length,
through the prudent Management of PoJJevinus,
5 they agreed to a Sufpenfionof Arms for ten
58a, Years •, and farther, that the King of Poland
Ihould reftore to Mufcovy all the Provinces and
Towns he had taken in this War-, and that
on the other fide, the Czar Ihould give up to
the King all Livonia : yet the Cz-ar made no
Alteration in bis Greek Religion, as he bad
made the Pope believe he defign'd to do.
Thus ended the War with Mufcovy, which,
was like to have provM fo fatal to that Coun-
try.
The
* Bizardkrc, p. $9.
of the Kfings of Poland.
'f^Thel'artarsdurfl: not make any Incurfions
into Poland during his Reign i -and their Cham
having fent Embafladors thither to demand
the Tribute formerly paid them for Tranjyl-
vania^ he difraifs'^d their Embafly with a great
deal of Indignation, declaring he would pay
Tribute to no Man. The Turk likewife fhew'd
great Deference for this Prince, for he never
made any Hoftilities in Trartfylvania while Ba-
tori govern'd there j but his Nephew being
el&fted Prince of that Country, the Port
would have augmented their Tribute ^ but
Batori efpoufing his Caufe by an EmbalTy to
the Grand Seignior^ the Port chofe rather to
be contented with little than to hazard the
loling of all by difobliging fo powerful a
Prince.
All that huge Trad of Land, above three
hundred Miles long from Eaft to Weft, and
above a hundred broad from South to North,
was for fifty Years before in pofleffion of the
Poles. It is call'd by one general Name Vkrai- ukraixii
na^ which, in the Sclavonian Language, f\g.whenct
nifies a -f- Frontier, ferving for Bounds be- ;
twixtthem, the Turks and Tartars. Thisvali
and fertil Country is divided into two great
Provinces, Volhynia and Podolia. Of Folhynia^
the capital Town is Kiovia, built on the Boryf-
thenes, which was formerly, as they fay, one
of the largeft in Europe. It antiently belonged
to the Dukes of Ruffia^ but now is entirely
ruin'd between the Turks and Tartars. The
capital Town of Podolia is Caminiec^ a fort'fy'd
City built on a Rock. The Inhabitants of V-
kraina
* Bizardiere Hift. dcs Pieces, p. f Itdd.
The fourth Family Let.
Inhabitants haina are commoniy call'd jj Cofach, which in ^
tem'd Co- the Sclavonian Language fignifies Robbers. At
facks. they were Peafants that came from Rujfta
and other neighbouring Countries, fettling
in the Iflands of the River Borifihenes^ and
who afterwards fpread all over Vkraina^ and
liv'd on Robbery j for they us'd to make In-
roads into Tartary and Iwri/,plunder Trebifond
and Sinope^ and ravage even up to the Gates
of Conftantinople. They alfo us'd to pirate on
the Black Sea, and have been very ufeful to
the Poles when they were engag'd in War
againll the Infidels. I can compare 'em to no
People better than'to the Miquelets of Spaittj
or Highlanders of Scotland.
* King Stephen^ to make this People more
ferviceable to the Crown of Poland^ put 'em
Redued to under a good Difcipline, order'd 'em OlEcers
and a General; and moreover, gave 'em the
Town of Techtimoravia nipon the River Borif-
thenes., which they made a Magazine, as alio
the Place of Refidence for their Governours,
to be a Bulwark againft the Irruptions of the
Tartars^ who frequently infefted them. He
endow'd 'em likewife with many Privileges j
for all which they afterwards did him conli-
derable Services.
It will not here be amifs to give your Grace
fome farther Account of this People, who
are often much talk'd of, and yet at the fame
time but very little known.
'\'Alberto f^tmina in his.Civil Wars of Poland
fays, it is certain that they have their Name
from
II Heidcnftein Rcrutn Polon. lib. 9. p. 32^.
* Chevalier Hift. de Cofaques, p. 3.
t Guerre Civiji di Polon. fib. u p. 7.
pltne.
Whence
their
home.
X
of the Kjngs of Poland. 5>y
from the Sclavmian Word Coza^ v/hich figni-
fies a Goat *, and this either bccaufe they were
wont to be cloth'd with Garments of Goats
Hair, or that they liv'd like Goat-herds in
Huts ■, or clfe by reafon that they skipt about
like Goats, and found no Country of too dilE-
cult Accefs for them.
The Country they firft pofTefsM was not 4
above eighteen Leagues on either fide of the
Boryfthenes,^ not far from the Place where Ovid
was fent into Baniihment, and where they
affirm is a Caftle ftill that goes by the Name
of Ovidoua^ where Ovid may be fupposM to
have been buried : This Vimina fays he does
notat alldifcredit, the Country agreeing with
a Faflage of Ovid in his Elegies writ to
finus.
Non j4ger hie Pomum^ non dukes educat uvas.
iVo» falices Ripa : robora monte virent:
Neve fretum landes terra magis^ aquora femper
' Ventorum rahie^ folibus orba tument.
And the Fiercenefs of the People defcrib'd
by Ovid in another place, encreafes his Opi-
nion.
Maxima pars hominum^ nec tepukherrima curat
Roma, nec Aufonit Militis Arma timet,
Notwithftanding all this, we mull: not pre-
tend to derive this Modern People from An-
tiquity, for it is certain they were at firft a
Body of Vagabonds that fled from Jufticein-
to this Country, where they liv'd only upon
fiffiing and hunting, and^t laft, as now, upon
f Iracy and Robbery. The
9 6 The fourth Family Let. lit.
Vmr pre- * The prefent Extent of their Country is
much larger than formerly, for now it reaches
' ' I GO Leagues in length,and above 40 in breadth.
They report the Grafs here generally grows
fo high, that a Man on Horfe-back is eafily
hid under it. This Country abounds fo with
all forts of Grain, that the Inhabitants know
not what to do with it, their Rivers being
fliallow, and therefore not capable to tranf-
port it to other places. They have alfo all
forts of Beafts, Filh and Fowl, with moft o-
ther NecelTaries, except Wine and Salt, where-
of the firft comes from Hungary^ Tranfilvania^
Valachia and Moldavia and the fecond is
fetch'd from the Mines of Poland.
Then Bttil- The Houfes of this Country are generally
ding^i of IVood^ built in like manner as in Mufcovy
and Poland^ and rarely above one Story high.
The Walls of their Towns are moll com-
monly made of Earth kept up with Stakes
and Planks, fuch being moll proper to refill
the force of Cannon.
Cbaratler, || The Inhabitants of Vhaina are for the
moll part robull and llrong, generous, and
great Defpifers of Covetoulnefs, inconceiva-
ble Lovers of Liberty, and impatient under
the mildell Slavery: They are likewife inde-
fatigable, bold and brave, but withal excelfive
Drunkards, treacherous Friends, and perfidi-
ous Enemies: Their common Employments
are Hunting and Filhing, and they are indife-
rently skill'd in all the necelTary Arts of
Peace
* Hift. des Cofiques, p. 26, ijc.
t Bcauplan. Defcript. d'Ukraine, p. 3.
II Hift. d« Cofaques, p. 32.
V
of the I^ngs of Poland. 97
Peace and War j but what they excel moll in
is, the preparing Saltpetre, with which they
furnilh feveral parts of Europe. They arc
moreover excellent in making Gunpowder.
ThePealants of this and the Neighbouring
Countries are very Slaves, being forc'd to
work three or four days in a Week for their
Lords gratisy and to pay belides feveral rigo-
reus Duties •, but ftill this is nothing, for their
Lords Power extends not only over their
Goods, but alfo their Lives ^ wherefore if
cannot be wonder'd at if thefe miferable
Wretches have often rebell'd, and defended
their Liberty with great Obllinacy.
Their Religion is generally the Greek
Perfwafion, which they receiv'd in the Year
P42, under the Reign of Vlodomir Prince of
Rujfia-., yet the greateil part of the Gentry
profefs either the Roman or Reform'd Re-
ligion. Thefe Greek Principles extend all
over AEifcovy^ Moldavia^ Valdchia^ Turkyzndi
Terfia. The Cofack Priells are call'd Pops^
which in their Language lignifies Guides.
Their Falls are very frequent and rigid, for ^
then they not only abllain from Flefh, but alfo
from Butter, Milk, Cheefe, Eggs, drc. feeding
only on Herbs, Pulfe, Roots, and the like.
There are fome among them lb excedive de-
vout, that they will never eat Bread, nor drink
Water but on Saturdays and Sundays. The
Women court the Men in this Country, which
is fo common, that it is not at all thought im-
modell, for they fpeak only to the Perfoifs
Relations whom they defign to make their
Husband,
H
This
p8 Tlje fourtl? Family Let. III.
Abundance This Country is fo very much mcommoded
of Flies by Flies, that in Summer the Inhabtaints are
and Lo- forc'd to fortify themfelves feveral ways a-
cup. gainft them but it abounds much more with
Gralhoppers, who in a dry Seafon come in
Clouds of five or fix Leagues long, and four in
breadth, and darken the ^ky even at Noon-
day: Where-ever they fettle theyraake a clean
Harvefl in lefs than two hours: Th^ live but
fixth Months. Where they refide in Aumuh
they lay their Eggs, each having about three
hundred ^ thefe they hatch in the Spring, of
which but very few prove addle: Great ikams,
or a violent North-Eaft Wind cah only te-
move them. Before the young ones areitrong
enough to fly, they creep into the Houfes,
hop upon the Beds, Tables, Visuals, and the
like, infomuch that fcarce a bit can be fwal-
lowed without two or three of them along with
it: At Night they lie in the Roads and Fields,
which are moft commonly cover'd with them
above a Foot thick •, and when a Coach or
Wagon paiTes over them, it raifes a mofl in-
tolerable Stink.
icvgutge^ The Language of the Cofacks is a Dialed
of the Pollp).^ as that is of the Sclavonian.
It is very fofc, and full of Diminutives, and
confequently very delightful both to the Hea-
rer and Speaker.
cuftoms The chief Study of the Cofach is Arms,
and Man- which, tho they pradife for the moft part on
vers. Horfe-back, yet they will fometimes alight
to do the Duty of Foot. They endure the
Hardfhips of War to a wonder, and will
live upon little or nothing: They commonly
content themfelves with a fort of black Bif-
f ket,
of the of Poland. pp
ket, which they eat with Garlick and Onions.
They manage their Arc^ibufs and Bow with
great Dexterity, and aim make ufe of a kind
of Scimiter. They are very little acquainted
with Luxury, only they love ^qua-viu ex-
treamly, with which when mixt with Honey
they will often get drunk.
They have all forts of Handicrafts a- Cufloms
mong them, and their Women are imploy'd
chiefly in fpinning Linen and Woollen. The j
Peafants underftand perfedtly all forts of A-
griculture \ and the Inhabitants in general are
well skill'd in brewing Beer, making Mead,
Aqua-vitae, &c. There is fcarce any among
them, of what Age, Sex or Condition foever,
but will ftrive to out-do each other in drink-
ing and caroufing: and I believe there are no
Chriflians in the World that are more care-
lefs or negligent, tho they are by Nature
a^lmofl capable of any thing. When they are
in the Field againft their Enemies, they are
always extremely fober. Where the Cofacks
fhew the moft Courage is in their Tabords^
which are certain Chariots they ufe to fight
in j tho by Sea alfo they are not contemptible,
but on Horfe-back they are little worth, for
two hundred Polanders would eafily drive
two thoufand of their belt Troopers ^ yet
their Foot wll Hand to the laft Extremity.
When they aifcovcr any Vefiel by Sea that,
they have a mind to take, they lie con-
ccal'd with their Boats till about Midnight,
when they row towards her with great
Swiftnefs, and having cncompafs'd her round^
eafily take her by Surprize. When they
have drawn out all her Lading, they gc-
^ Hz ncraily
I oo fourth Vaviily Le t. III.
nerally fihk her, becaufe they are not able to
cany her off.
Having thus given your Grace a fliort Ac-
count, by way of Digreflion, of the ,Cofach,
I will return to King Stephen^ who having no
Children, propos'd to the Diet to eleft his
Succeflbr while he liv'd, and that to prevent
' Diforders that ufually happen in Interreg-
r., nums; which this Grand Council would by
Baton if a , r- J • • • L •
refus'd to no meaiis condeicend to, imagining he in-
name his tended to force one of his Brother's Sons
Shcceffor. upon them, or elfe for fear of giving a bad
Precedent for future Eleftions, which might
tend in time to the utter abolifhing of their
Privileges and Power This King, by the
Solicitations of the Pope and other Chriftian
Princes,being ready to engage in a War againfl:
the lurki, dy'd after ten Years Reign, and
! about the fifty fourth Year of his Age, at
Crodna in where he had eltablifh'd his
Refidence under pretence of its being a fine
Country for hunting, tho the true Reafon is
thought to have been, becaufe he did not care
to liveWith his Qpeen^ww, who was above
fixty Years old when he marry'd her.
//;>• cha- He was a prudent and circumfpeft Prince,
raiier. couragious, and juft even to Severity. He not
only enlarg'd his Dominions, but alfo fettled
a better Order in 'em than anf^ before him j
and I have heard the Poles fpeak of him with
the greatell Refpeit and Veneration.
fHf Death, On this Wife and Valiant Prince a certain
Sepc. 13. perfon compos'd the following Elogy, found
^ in an antient Manufcript.
h
\
the J^in^s of Poland. i o i
* In Templo plus quam Saccrdos.
In Republka plus quam Rex,.
In Sententia dicenda,, plus quam Senator'.
In Judicio plus quam Jurifconfultus.
In Exercitu plus quam Imperator.
In Acie plus quam Miles.
In Adverfis perferendis,^ Injuriifq-,, condonandisj
plus quam Vir.
In publica Libertate tuendti^ phjs quam Civis.
In Amicitia colenda^ plus quam Amicus.
In conviClu,^ plus quam Familiaris.
In Venatione,^ ftrifq-,, domandus,^ plus quam Leo.
In tota reliqua vita plus quam Philofophus.
The Death of Batori put Poland into the ^
fame Confufion it had been in twice before,
from the time of Sigifmundus Augufim. The
Provincial Diets afTembled in 1587, whofc bu-
linefs it was to fecure the Frontiers from In-
vafion, and fettle the Peace of the Republick.
Next the Primate Staniflam Karnhow^H no-
tifyM the Death of the King according to a Dkt
Cuftora, and call'd a General Diet to meet at eatt'd.
Warfavo in March,, where it was afterwards
agreed that the Diet of Election fliould meet
in June following.
The Lutherans contended fo high for their
fhare in the Government, that for Peace fake
they had more granted them than the antient
Laws of the Kingdom allow'd: For in this
AlTembly their Party was fo ftrong, that they
not only obtain'd Toleration, but alfo per-
H 3 petual
:—??— ■ ■ • ' •
* Floras Polon. lib. 4. p. 349,
loi The fourth Family Let. Ilf.
7«e Lt/f/jc-petual Liberty of Confcience. This the Bi-
rat;s obtain vigoroufly oppos'd, which made the
c[nfclncc. Pti^atc and Bifhop of Vladijlava leave the
Diet difiatisfied, when Demetrm Sulikovpski
Arch-bilhop-of Leopol, prefiding in the Aflem-
bly, in conjundtion with Lau^eme Gojlicki
Bifnop of Caminiec^ confidering the Confufion
occalioned by the Abfence of the Primate,
' thought it either neceflary to comply with
the Lutherans^ or to difmifs the Diet j but the
Bifliop of Caminiec at lafl found a mid-way,
which was to grant the Lutherans their De-
raands, but withal to infert a Ciaufe, that
what had been done at that Seffion was meet- .
ly to preferve the Publick Peace.
The time of the Eledlion being come, Chrif-
topher Zborowski^ who was banifhM during Ba-
torPs Reign, and now recall'd by the Power
of the Lutherans^ appear'd at the head of 500
French^ with as many Germans and Lutherans
The Luthe- as amounted to near 10000 Men; with thefe
ran and Stmijlaiis de Gorka, Palatinof Pofnaniaf ]o'm'd:
'^Fallions ^e was a Perfon of Wit, and extremely po-
pular i for tho he was crook-back'd, yet his
great Eftatc and generous way of fpending
of it made him look'd upon with univerfal
EReem. Zamoski was alfo at the head of a
confiderable number of Troops, which, tho
they were fewer than thofe of the oppofite
Party, yet were they much b€;;cter difciplin'd;
with thefe he encamp'd within two Miles of
Warfavp^ and entrench'd hirafelf within Lines
of Circumvallation.
The wifer part of the Diet having a mind
to accommodate thefe two Fadtions, order'd
them Audience One after another, forbidding
either
of the IQngs of * 105
either to appear in Arnjs before t'pem. They
alfo fhew'd an Inclination to reverfe what
had been decreed in favour of the Lutherans^
which thefe lalt would by no means hear of,
promifing therafelvesi a lufficient Defence from
their Number, which Zamoski ridicul'd, rc^
lying upon the better Difcipline of his Fol-
lowers.
The Lutherans perceiving there was no
Juftice to be expefted from the Diet, without
any regard to their Orders', came in Arms
before them: After which they retir'd, com-
plaining that they were depriv'd of their Li-
berties. This had foon occafion'd a Rokoz.TheLuthe-
( being an Aflbciation in which the Gentry arc
oblig'd to engage when they are opprefs'd )
had not the Primate timely prevented it.
During all this the Lithuanians had not yet
declar'd themfelves y and it may be it would Supprefs'd.
have been difficult to have known their
Minds, had not a Confufion given them occa-
fion to explain them.
There were three Faftions at this Eledion, f.ic-
whofe Power was alraoft equal. The firfttww-
was that of Lithuania^ which was for eleding
Theodore Odonovpic^ Great Duke of Mufcovy^
he having proferr'd to unite his Dominions
to thofe of Poland. This Propofal might
have been thought plaufible enough had it
been made by any but Mufcovites. The hopes
feveral of the Gentry gave the Cz.ar were
apparently only to amufe him, fearing he
might invade the Kingdom during the Inter-
regnum. The fecond Party was that ofZborowski
and Gorka Palatin of Pofnanid'., they were en-
tirely in the Intereft Maximilian Arch-duke
H 4 Pf
104 fourth Family L e t . Ill.
of Jujlria^ Brother to the Emperor Rhodolph.
Thefe * Jnibal of Capua the Pope's Nuncio
join'd notwithftanding they were Lutherans,
yet he all along fed them up more with Pro-
mifes than Prefents. The third Fadion was
that of the Senate, being the ftrongeft of
the three, by reafon that Zamoski with the
Flower of the Poli/h Army was on their fide.
It was much doubted upon which of the
Several the Eledion would fall. The
candi- Mufcovy and a Piaflo were talk'd of
dates. only for faihion-fake. The Batorts, of TranfiU
mania had their Envoys at the Viet, but they
had no other Orders from their Mafters, than
to demand the Perfonal Eftate of the late
King, when, had thcyask'd the Crown like-
wife, it is highly probable fome regard might
have been had to Batori's Family. Sweden was
upon the Roll a third time, tho its King
John had been rejeded in the two former
Eledions, by reafon he was thought a Luthe-
ran •, but by the Catholick Liturgy publifliM
in that Kingdom in i ^75, the Pdes were dif-
abus'd in that Opinion, wherefore his Son
Sigifmund was no longer fufpeded j for the
Poles had occafion to oppofe fome great
Power to the Houfe of Auftria, and what
could be fitter for that purpofe than the
, Family of Jagello, from which Sigifmund was-
defcended by his Mother? King John alfo
caus'd his Emiflaries to give out that Li-
thuania of right belonged to his Son,
as being of the Jagellonick Race. This
bold Claim might well have rais'd a War
between
^ Heidsnftein Rerum Polon. lib. 8. p. 253. col. i.
't
of the Kfngs of Poland. i o 5
between Sweden and Poland^ had not the lat-
ter prudently thought fit to avoid it.
In the mean time the Lutherans were firm- The luth-
ly difposM to Maximilian'^ Intereft, but Za-
moski broke all their Meafurcs: They had
mind to kidnap the Primate, but by the Ad-
vice of this General he retir'd to the Caftle
of IVarfaw. Neverthelefs Cardinal Raduvil,
to whom the Houfe of Zujlria had given a
Principality, declarM for Maximilian^ as like-
wife did feveral others by his Example. This
augmented the Courage of the Lutherans^ yet
did not in the leall dirainifli that of ZamoskPs
Followers; both Parties were like to Gometo
Blows, had not the Bifhops mounted on Horfe-
back and interpos'd.
While thefe Prelats were thus doing their
Duty, the Pope's Nuncio, tho lame, clamber'd
up the higheft Tower in IVarfaw to view the
Army: He doubted not but his Friends the
Lutherans would get the better, their Num-
ber being greater. At this the Catholicks were
extremely offended, and us'd to fay that
Maximilian''^ Intereft muff needs fall, being
only fupported by a Hook-back and a Cripple.
The Lutherans perceiving that both the
Name and Family of Maximilian were odi-
ous to the Poles^ agreed together to relinquifh
him, and propofe the Cz.ar^ by which means
they brought over to their Party thofe who
were neither for Maximilian nor Sigifmund.
After this the feveral Embafladors hsLpiMimfters
their Audience; the Pope's Nuncio fpoke
firft, and made his Harangue chiefly on the
good Qualities of Maximilian; but this Can-
didate was not better lik'd of than his Orator,
or
I o($ n^e fourth Fmilj L £ t. IIF.
or his Panegyrick. Stani/laus Pavolowiki^ the
Emperour's Minifter, was heard next, who
run alfo out in Commendation of his Mailer's
Brother^ but from whom there being more
III to be fear'd than Good to be hop'd, his fine
Speech was but little minded. Then came
the Embafiadors of Sueden to be introduc'd,
which were * Eric Sparre Senator and Grand
Chancellor of that Kingdom, and Eric Brahe
Great Mailer of Prince Sigifmund'% Houlhold.
Thefe infinuated that their Mailer did not fend
fooner, becaule he knew the great AfFedlion
the Poles always bore the JageUonick Family,
of which his Son was defcended. They made
no great Profers, knowing well that the fear
of Maximilians carrying it would not give
the Diet leave to ask that of them which at
other Conjundures they would furely have de-
manded.
The Primate being not unmindful of the
fright the Lutherans had put him into when
they form'd a Defign to carry him away, had
a mind to make a fpeedy End of the bufinefs
the Aflembly met about j and therefore, with-
out being deterr'd by any Threats, proceed-
"• cd to an Eledion the 9th of Auguft 1587. At
which time the Number of the Lutherans was
much Icfien'd, Gorka their Leader having a-
hus'd feveral of them \ wherefore, to be re-
veng'd, they went over to the contrary Party.
Upon the Poll, the Majority of Voices was
found for
Sigifmund Sigismund de Vasa, whomconlequent-
iii. 1587.
* HeidcnAein lib. 8. p. 2^6. coL-z.
of the of Poland. 107
ly the Primate proclaim'd King of PoIanJ.
After the ufual Acclamations the Afiembly ie-
parated ^ and the Archbiflicp, accompany d
by the Senate and Gentry, went diredtiy to
the Cathedral of IVarJaw to give Thanks for '
having fo happily ended this great-and clan-
gerous Affair. Hereupon-EmbaHadors wg-e
immediately difpatch'd to Suedtn to bring the
new King notice of his Eleftion, and that his
Coronation was defign'd to be the 7th of Odo-
ber following.
Whilfl the Catholicks were thus labouring
at the Eleftion of a King, the Palatine Gorka
and thok of ZborovfskPs Yarty minded nothing Lutheran
but Drinking j yet when they heai-d of what
had hapned, they were extremely furpriz'd »
but at the fame time endeavouring to repair
their Faults, they fell into much greater. They
immediately protefted againft the Election as
both Irregular and Illegal. Their Affembly
ordain'd, that the King that was to be chofen
Ihould annul all that had been done againft
Chriftopher Zboromki during the late Reigo.
They likewife made feveral other Regulations,
which were all fo very extravagant, that they
were but little regarded. To this Fadtion the
Gentry of Lithuania offer'd "their Mediation,
which yet they would not accept of, deda-
ring they were refolv'd to eledt Maximilian.
Whereupon on the 21 ft of Zuguft^ Gorka., with
his Aftbciates, proclaim'd Maximilian King Ekds ani
of Poland, and lent Embaffadors to acquaint Proclaims
him therewith. Whilft this was doing, the Maximili-
Lithuanians declar'd againft both Eledions, ^'
and thereby difengag'd themfelves from fa-
vouring either Party, till they law which was
like to have the better. Thp
10 3 The fourth Family L e t , III.
The Diet as yet was luckily not diflblv'd ;
But pro- which Aflembly pronouncM the Eledion of
Traitors ^'t^ximilian Seditious, and immediately null'd
that the Lutherans had done : but as the
beft Conliderations become ufelefs, if there
be not force fufficient to put them in execu-
tion, they at the fame time provided for the
fafety of the Kingdom againft the Attempts
of Maximilian and his Party j for this Prince
was then but at Olmitz. in Moravia^ and there-
fore might quickly have come into Poland^
when Sigifmund had not yet pafs'd the Bal-
t/c, which is a very dangerous Sea in Autumn.
The Diet, before they feparated, charg'd Za-
tnoski with the Care of the Commonwealth,
A Corned J acquaint your Grace of a fa-
top eey. niQug Aftrologer or Magician, who happening
to dine with Zamoshi fome hours before Sigif-
ntund was chofen, that General ask'd him. If
he could tell by his Art who Ihould be eleded
King? To which this Pcrfon, after a little
Confideration, reply'd , ^em Deus volet:
Which Anfwer not in the leafl: fatisfying
moshi^ was but little regarded by him. The
next day after theEle(flion,the fame Aftrologer
fent a Note into the Affembly, addrefsM to
Zamoski with thefe Words: 5/V, Ton under-
flood not yefierday the Anfrver which I made you^
t Sued, but now read the word •}■ Deus backwards^ and you
will find the My fiery explained.
The two Afterwards Maximilian and Sigifmund both
Poland. The latter being at Olivay
Poland. ^ Monaftery near Dantzic^ receivM the Oath
of Fidelity ^ and preparing to march towards
CV^con', which the former then befieg'd, for
want-
of the Kings of Poland. i op
want of Troops was forc'd to retire to
The Arch-Duke hop'd to have taken this Place
by the Intelligence he had with the Germans
which inhabited the Suburbs, who had pro-
mis'd him to harbour two Regiments in their
Houfes, which might feize on the weakeft
Gate, and fo let him into the City \ but this
Stratagem was deteded by Zamoski, who
marching to raife that Siege, had notice of
thefe Defigns •, whereupon firft fuffering the
two Regiments to enter, he fet fire to the
Suburbs, and burnt them and their Friends
together.
Afterwards the Siege was rais'd, but the Maxlmni-
Arch-Duke did not go far off from the City,
but drew up in Order of Battle in a Great
Plain, which infinitely pleas'd Zamoski, who ral.
had no lefs Inclination to fight than he.
At length they came to felows, and the Fight
lafted two Hours *, but in the end Maxi-
tnilian being defeated, retir'd to Cefiochow^
whither Zamoski did not think it proper to
follow him. A little while after Sigifmund
came to Cracorv^ where he was harangu'd by
the Bilhop of Caminiec^ whom he anfwer'd in
the PoVt^ Language which his Mother had
taught him. His Entry was ujher'd in with
that Solemnity, which was thought almoft im-
poflible to have been perform'd in time of
War. After fome Difficulties furmounted,
his Coronation was fix'd for the 27th of De-
cember following, when he was Crown'd by the Sigifmund
Archbilhop of Gnefna. The Lutherans ftill in-
lifted upon thofe Demands they had formerly
made, which were fain to be granted them,
becaufe Maximilian was again ready to
take
1 f o Tl:e fourth Family Let. III.
take the Field, notwithflanding his laft De-
feat.
In 1588, the Arch-Duke came again into
Poland^ and Zamoski marchM diredtly to meet
him j but Maxtmilian expeding more Aflif-
tance, went alide into , whither he
thought the Enemy would not dare to follow
him: But this valiant General not only over-
took and fought him, but alfo routed and
took him Prifoner in the City of Bicz.ycna^ af-
ter having befieg'd it fome fmall time. Hav-
ing taken this noble Prifoner, Zamosli gave
him all the refpeft due to a Perfon of his Qua-
lity and moreover, that he might not appear
under confinement at Cracoxv^ which he had
formerly befieg'd, he left him in the Citadel
of Crafnofiorvy whence Zborovoskth Party were
like to have recovered him, had not their De-
lign been difcover'd by Mark Sobieski Cover-
nour of that Place. In all other Refpefts, Za-
tnoski treated his Prifoner very honourably,
which gain'd fo much upon the Arch-Duke,
that he afterwards Hood Godfather to one of
his Children.
Maximili- -yhe taking of Maximilian^ with all his Ar-
Tgain'^Md was not the only good
made Fri- Event ot this Vidtory, for hereupon the Male-
(oner. contents immediately acknowledg'd
Alfo Zamoski's generous Ufage towards the
other Prifoners, whom he releas'd all upon
their Parole^ contributed very much to confirm
Sigifniund in the Throne. Tfhe Kingdom of
Poland now was become no more a matter of
Difpute. All the Houfe of Aufttia aim d at,
was to procure the Arch-Duke's liberty,
whioli at length was obtain'd through the
Medi-
of the Kings of Poland. 111
Mediation of the Pope, who' fent Cardinal
Hyppolito Aldohrtrndin into Poland to treat of his
RanforP, which by that means was I'ated much
lower than the Houfe of Auftria could have
expedted : For altho it was urg'd to
mund, that as Charles the Vth dealt former-
ly by the King oi France on the like occafion,
fo he ought to have a Sum of Money paid
down futable to the great Quality of his Pri-
foner^ yet anfwer'd. That it was ojfcr'd Li-
to no putpdfe to propofe Charles the Vth as an ho-
Example in this Cafe, fince that Prince had been
guilty of an Ailion unbecoming his Grandeur:
When, for his part, he did not look upon it fuffici-
ent Advantage to have got the better of his Enemy,
unlefs be likewife had the Glory to give him his
Liberty, and not to make him buy it. By this
Mediation Maximilian was to quit for ever
his Title to the Kingdom of Poland, to reftore
feme Places which had been furrender'd to
him, and to remain in a perpetual Amity with
Poland', to all which the Emperour his Bro-
ther was made Guarantee. But altho thefe
Conditions were fo very reafonable, yet
Maximilian would not ratify them till 1589.
Wherefore his Wilfulnefsdetain'd him in Pri- Biffsntst
fon till that time, when he efcap'd contrary to
his Parole of Honour. Neverthelefs, he was ^
afterwards brought to fign them by the Power ^ ,
his Brother had over him. "
^Sigifmund III. was firfl: marry'd to Ann sigif.
Daughter of Charles Arch-Duke of Aujlria •, mund'v
* and after her Death to Conflantia her Siller, Mmiagc*
by both which he had three Sons, Vladiflaus
by
* Harcknoch. lib. i. cap. 2. p. 105, &c.
112 The fourth Family Let. III.
by the former, and Cafitnir and Feydinarid by
the latter, the two firft fucceeding him in the
Kingdom. When the King his Father was
dead he went into Svoedeland^ and was there
CrowtCd likewife crown'd King of that Country in the
King of Year 1592, on condition that every fifth Year
Svveden, fhould come and reign over Sweden in Per-
fon ; but being engag'd in a long War againft
the Mufcovites^ Turks and Tartars^ he could
not be fpar'd in fifteen Years, and therefore
fent a Senate of Jefuits to govern them and
fupprefs the Lutheran Doftrine, which was
then mightily fpread in that Country. * Here
it mufl be obferv'd, that this King's Mother
Catherine ftriftly adher'd to the Roman Church
by the permiHion of her Husband John 111.
King of Sweden^ who alfo lean'd a little that
way. Whereupon, when Sigifinunefs Tutor
ylrnold Grothufm would have feduced him
from that Perfwafion, his Father John being
in a great PalTion, and drawing his Sword
upon the Tutor, cryM, I will have my Son
educated in hopes of both Kingdoms^ meaning
his own and that of Poland.
Thefe Jefuits the King order'd to be re-
cciv'd with the fame Honour as if he himfelf
had come in Perfon at which the Swedes be-
ing grievoufly nettled, funk them in the
Harbour of Stockholm in the Ship that brought
*em from Dantaic^ and immediately thereupon
Deposed, proclaim'd Charles Duke of Sudermannia^ Si^
Charf IX llncle, their King, who had em-
brac'd Lutheranifm fome time, before, and •
in Sweden, which the Swedes have profefs'd ever fince.
This
* Harcknoch. lib. i. cap. 2. p. 105.
of the Kfigt of Poland. 11 ^
This occafion'd bloody Wars between thefe
two Nations i but Sigifmund being likewile
engag'd with other Countries,, was forc'd to
accept of a dilhonourable Truce. In the be-
ginning of this War King Charles 11^. took a
great many places ftom the Poles in Livonia^
moil of which were afterwards retaken by
the Polilh General and Chancellor Zamoski.
Befides this the King of Sweden was vanquilh'd
in a great Battel fpught near Kirckholm and
where he narrowly efcapM himfeif: but
fome intefline Divifions arifing between the
King and Nobility of Poland, he got time to
recover Breath.
The occalion of the Wars between the' what
Poles md Mufcovites vVas this: A "certain Per- ca-is'd the
fon coming into Poland, pretended to be De-
metrius Son to John Ba/ilowitz., Great Duke '
Mufcovy, and that he was to have been mur-
der'd by order of Boris Gudenow, afterwards
Grand Duke, who hop'd thereby to fecure
the SuccelTion after the Death of Theodore,
eldeft Son of the faid Duke, but that another
had been kill'd in his Head, tlereupon he
found fo great Encouragement from George
Afnifz^ck, Palatin of Sendomir, that he mar-
ried his Daughter to him •, and by the Affif-
tance of fome other Polijh Lords, gather'd to^
gether a great Army, and raarch'd with Ds~
Kietrius into Mufcovy,vi\[erx Bork Gudenow, then
Grand Duke, happening to die fuddenly, he
was receiv'd the Mufcovites, and proclaim'd
Cz.ar in Mofcow. Hereupon he fent into Po-
land for his Bride j but while the Nuptials
were celebrating in Mofcow, the People, fuf-
I pedting
114 Tl)e fourth ramify LeT. III.
peding him to be an Impoflor^ gather'd toge-
thcr, rais'd a Tumult, and attack'd the Caftlc,
where they cut to pieces Demetrnw with molt
of the Poles that came along with him and
his Bride, and took her Prifoner. Then Ba-
filhis Suski^ defcended from the Grand Dukes
by the Mother's fide, having got together a-
bout 20C00 Men, was proclaim'd Cz.ar: im-
mediately after which a Rumor being fpread
abroad that Demetrius had efcaped, tho Suski
had taken care to expofe his Body to view,
which was fo mangled that none could know \
him, and a Perfon pretending to be him, the
Poles acknowledgM him as fuch ; whereupon
they together with the Cofacks allifted this
Perfon to recover his pretended Right, and
feveral times beat Suski^ and oblig'd him to
fet at liberty the Captive Bride. She alfo ac-
knowledg'd this Demetrius for her Husband;
but whether he'was really fo or not, could ne-
ver yet be determin'd. Sigifmund laid hold
of this opportunity, to try at leafl: whe-
ther he could recover Smolensko and' Seve-
ria-j whereupon he befieged the former in
the Year idop, but could not make himfelf
Mailer of it till the Year i5i i, when he took
it by ilorm. In the mean time the Poles^
who had hitherto fided with Demetrius^ were
recall'd by Sigifmund^ who thought it not
convenient that fo confiderable a part of his ^
Forces fhould be under the Command of ano-
ther, By the removal of .this Army Suski
had leifure to recover himfelf^ whereupon
with the Affiilance fent him out of Sweden^
he march'd diredly againil the Poles, who
Ujen
of the Kfnp of Poland. 11 j
then were belieging Smoknsko, but was fliame-
fully defeated by them near Clufin.- By this '
Overthrow the Affairs of the Mufcovhes
were again in a very dangerous Condition;
wherefore to avoid the danger, they refolv'd
to depofe Suski ( who by his Misfortunes be-
came odious to them) and to offer their
Crown to Vladi/laiu^ Sigifmund's Son. .This
Suski was afterwards furrender'd to,the Poles^
and dy'd at Warfaw in Prifon, Whereupon
Vlctdijlaus marching towards that Country
with a powerful Array in the Year 1610,
and they hearing of it, thinking he came
rather to conquer than accept their Crown,
unanimoufly revolted againfl him, efpecially
when they heard that Dcm^mus had been
inurder'd by the Tartars who were his Guards. ■
Hereupon Prince Vladiflaus his Expedition
was made to no purpofe, lie being fore d to
make a Truce with 'Mafcovites for four-
teen Years, whereby it was agreed, that in
the mean time the Poles fhould keep in their
poffeffion the feveral Dukedoms of Severia^
Zernikow and Novogrod^ which they had taken
during the late Troubles in Mufcovy. In the
mean time George Farenbach furrender'd feve-
ral Places in Livonia to the King of Sweden^
Guftavus Adolphus: but it was fufpeded that
he intended to betray that King •, for foon
after the faid Farenbach was reconcil'd to
King Sigifmmd^ to whom he reftor'd all the
Places except Pemrfjr.
In the Year 1620, the Poles were engagM The Polee
in a War againfl: the Turks^ fomented, as was hi War
fuppos'd, by Bethkw Gabor Prince of Tran[fl-f'^'\
I 2 vania^^^'^^'
116 7he fourth Pdnnly Le t. IIL
vania, for which the Turks afterwards eh-
deavour'd to banifh that Prince for liding
with the Poles. In the Year following the
Turks mardf d with their whole Forces againfi:
Poland., but were met by the Poles near Chocinv
under the Command of Prince Vladijlam.,
who with an Army of about 65000 Men,
repuls'd above 392000 Turks commanded by
their Emperor Ofman in Perfon, The Turks
attempted three times to force the Polillr
Camp, but were as often beat back with
Lofs. Neverthelefs in the mean time the
Poles fuffer'd extremely for want of Am-
munition and Provifions, and befides were
mightily weakened by Sicknefs and a huge
Mortality among their Horfes. Notwith-
Handing all this, at length the Turkifh Em-
peror was forc'd to ftrike up an honourable
Peace with them after having loH about 60000
Men in the feveral Attacks he made upon
their Camp, and a greater number in his
March back to Conjlantinople.
invafm by In the mean time Guftavus Adolphus falling
Guftavus into Liuonia., took the City of Riga with-
Adolphus. Quj- gpy gi-eat Refinance ^ and all the reft
of that Country except Dunneburgh was con-
(iuer'd likewife by the Swedes in the Year
1625." Afterwards Guftavus entered Pruftia
in the Year 1626, where he took the Cities
of Marienburg and Elbing., befides fome o-
ther Places. This War was thus, carried on
without any general Engagement till the Year
1629, yfhen Hans IVrangel tht Swedi/h Gene-
ral defeated the Poles near Gorz.no. Then
the Emperor fent fome Forces to the Affiftance
of
of the Kjngs of Poland. 117
of the Poles^ who in a Battle fought near
Stuma were very near having made Gujlavtis
Prifoner. But however, the Poli/h Affairs
after this Battel falling into great Confufion,
they were forc'd to clap up a Truce till the
Year 1534, by the Mediation of Charles the
Firft, King of England^ and of Lewis the Thir-
teenth of France •, the Swedes in the mean
while being to keep polfeffion of Elbing, Me-
mel^ Braumberg^ Pillau^ and what befides they
had taken in Livonia.
After this Sigifmund dy'd the la ft day of
^pril in the Year i<^32, being fixty Years Death.
old, and having reign'd forty fouix
* He had all the Qiialities chat could be re-
quir'd in a great Prince: He lov'd Juftice, and
all the World commended his Piety. He was '
always of an even Temper either in good or
bad Fortune j and the Luftre of the Polifli
Crown obtain'd when he was but young, to-
gether with the lofs of the Kingdom of Sweden
to his Uncle, might well have either exalted
or debas'd him, had he not had a great Soul:
yet among all thefe good Qualities, he was
too much wedded to his Opinion, which was
the caufe of fome Misfortunes that happen'd
to him.
Prince Vladiflaiis was abfent when his Fa-
ther Sigifmund fell fick, yet he arriv'd at
Court jull as he was expiring, whofe Prefence
fo much rcviv'd the King, as to give him
Power to put the Crown of Sweden on his
Son's Head, tho he was to leave that of Po-
land to Chance. This Eleftion was much
I 3 more
* Bizardiere, p. 89.
iiS The fourth Family LeT. IK.
A peace- more peaceable than his Father Sigifinund\
able Eke Competitors to oppofe him.
Some thought . Cm)?yldolphus King of
Sweden had a defign upon the Crowp and his
boundlefs Ambition, join'd with the great
Number of his Friends the Lutherans^ dif-
perfed throughout the whole Kingdom, might
very,well fupport that Opinion: yet the Gen-
try of Great Poland which were moft to be
fufpefted on account of Conformity in Reli-
gion with him, ,were the firft that ftrove to
exclude him ^ for they declarM thofe Enemies
to their Country, that fhould in the leaft dare
to propofe him. Likewife at another AlTem-
bly, a Palatin offering but to infinuate that
it would be proper to choofe a Foreign Prince,
the Gentry were fo unanimoufly offended at
him, that he was fain to retire betimes to a-
void their Fury. Alfo Gufiavus Adol^htu had
^ then too many Irons in the Fire, to draw any
more Enemies upon his Back.
Prince Ci- John Cafimir^ Brother to ?i ince VIadi/latUj
fimir was likcwife liifpecled to have a mind to the
peUedfor a Crown, and this Cunjedure had a more plau-
omp£titer. Foundation than the former. Thefe two
Princes were both Sons to Sigifmund III. yet
, had they not the Ihme Mother. That of Ca-
I ftmir did all Ihe could to advance her Son to
the Throne: At the Diet met at Tfoorn fhe
endeavoured to have a Succeflbr eleded whilit
the King was living j wi^ereupon fhe employ'd
a certain Bifhop to propofe her Son, but with
which the Diet was fo extremely incens'd, that
they would have immediately tri'd that Pre-
lat for infringing the Publick Liberties, had
not more weighty Affairs intervenM which
■ •' - . caus'd
of the Kjngs of Poland; ' '' P
.causM them to lay thofe Intentions alide. Du-
ring^this Princxj Cafimir did all he could to
fatmy the Publick that he had no Defign upon
the Crown, but that all his Aim was to pro-
mote the Interefl of his elder Brother.
The Primate John Vez.ik having notified Diet
the Death of the late King, conven'd i
the Diet on the x^th of June^ where the
Lutherans continued their Cabals and Fafti-
ens as formerly, but did not favour any of
Vladiflaus his Competitors as before. The
Diet of Election was fix'd for the xjth of
September in the fame Year, whither the Gen-
try all flock'd at the time appointed, but that
more to ingratiate themfelves in their Prince
'Uladiflau5\ favour, than to fell their Suffrages.
One thing was propos'd at'this Diet^ which had
it been followed, might have deliver'd the
Kingdom from great Oppreffions. This was
to digeft the Laws into a Code, and to get
the King EkB to confirm it: Alfo to reform
the many Abufes crept into the Pradice of
the Law •, but this was too vigoroufly oppos'd
by the intereffed Party, and therefore was fain
to be let fall.
Hereupon the Diet devoted themfelves proceeds
wholly to the Eledion: Prince Cafimir firft to EleUton.
propos'd his Brother Vladiflaus^ vilnch Henry
pirley Bifhop of Premiflia feconded by a Speech
to this purpofe, Tloat tho that Jjfemhly had a
Right to ek(i whom they pleased, yet they had ever
. had a particular regard to the Offspring of their
Kingsthat every body there acknowledged the
Candidate to be of the Blood of jagello: That
even the Merit of his Father pleaded for the In-
teyeft of the Son: That Uladiflaus his own Con-
I 4 ^ iuefts
no The fourth Family Let. 111.
quefis had fufficiently tefti/yd, his Valour j and
lafily^ that a favourable Refult was to le expelled
from that Afjembly ftnce each Jinew ae, much of the
Afi^nt of that Prince as he. Tlliswas courteoufly
anfvver'd by the Primate ^ after which they
proceeded to admit the AmbaiTadors.
Foreign f irft Honorhis Vifconti^ the Pope's Nuncio,
Mmifers Audience ^ who being placM on the left
a mn e , Primate, firft defir'd the Aflem-
bly to choofe a Catholick Prince, and then
recommended Prince Vladiflaus. Next the
Embailadors of the Emperoiir and King of
Sweden contended for Prior Admittance, when
the latter being prevented by the Gout, or
at leaft fo feigning it, was forc'd to yield.
The Emperour's Minifler therefore was in-
troduc'd, who in the Name of his Mailer re-
commended likewife Prince Vladiflaus. Af-
terwards the 5ipeil//?)Embafrador's Indifpofiti-
on gave him leave to be admitted ^ he pro-
pos'd a thrift Alliance-between Sweden and
Poland., in cafe the Diet would eleft none of
Sigifmundh Iflue, but on condition that he
Ihould firll renounce all Plight to the King-
dom of Sweden. This Propofal was not at all
approv'd of: and there was foraething elfe
faid alfo by this Miniller which mightily dif-
pleas'd theZJief; yet at that time they thought
it better to diflemble their Diflike, than pro-'
voke fo powerful a Prince as Gujlaviis by a Re-
' fentment.
pantzic At this Diet the City of Dantz.ic'hzd, a great
Favour granted them, which wgs for the fur
^ Vote. ture to have a Vote at the Eleftion of the
Kmgs of Poland ^ which Privilege had never
been granted before but to the Cities of Cra-
■ ' cow.
of the ^ings of Poland. 121
corv and riJna^ one being Capital of Poland^
and the other of Lithuania. Prince
Uladislaus was cliofen the 13th of No- Uladif-
njembtr 1632, when he took the ufual Oaths,
was proclaim'd by the Primate, and after- ^
wards crown'd on the 18th of February 1633.
He was firfl; marry'd to Coecilia Renata,^.^
Daughter to the Emperour Ferdinand II. and"'^'^^'
afterwards to the Princefs Mary Ludovica di
Gonz.a^a^ Daughter to the Duke of Nevers of
the Houfe of Mantua. The Kings of France
always match'd the PrincelTes of Nemrs and
Nemoursyci Princefles of the Blood, to Crown'd
Heads.
The Year after his Election, Vladijlaua^not H'u Wars
only forc'd the Mnfcovites to raife the Siege
of Smolensko., and obtain'd a fignal Vidory
over them, but likewife brought their Army
to fuch Extremities, that they furrender'd
themfelves •, and the Turks^ who had made a
Diverlion, were alfo at the fame time brave-
ly repuls'd. Not long after Vladijlam made
an advantageous Peace with the Mufcovttes^
by virtue of which they renounc'd their Pro-
tenfions to the two large Dukedoms of Smo-
lensko and Zernikow, which begat fuch a Ter-
ror in the Turks., that they alfo freely made
Reftitution for the Damages fuftain'd in their
laft Incuriion, and ftrangled their Bajfa who
commanded thofe Forces. He forcM likewife
the Swedes to rellore him thofe Places they
polfefs'd in Prufjia, and to prolong the Truce ,
for 26 Years j which they the eafier confent-
edto, by reafon that their Affairs in
were but in an ill Condition after the Battle
of Norlinguen, In
Ill Tl7e fourth Family Let. IIF.
* In the Year i537, the Foundation of the
With the War with the Cofach was laid, which brought
Coficks. unfpeakable Damages upon the Poles, and
which was occafion'd thus. The Privileges
the Cofach had obtain'd from King Stephen,
made them to encreafe in Number, and grow
much ftronger than they were before •, for the
Peafants of all the neighbouring Countries,
having been exceedingly opprelsM by their
Lords, to deliver themfelves from Slavery,
ran in great Numbers into the Vkraine,
whereby the Cofach foon grew very formida-
ble both to the Poles and Turks, which euv
bolden'd them to make frequent Incurfions
into Turky, and which was afterwards the oc-
cafion of many bloody Wars between thefe
two Nations. The Great Men of Poland hav-
ing purchasM divers Eftates in Vkraina,x.\m\^t
their Revenues might be confiderably aug-
mented, if the Privileges of the Cofach were
but reduc'd to a narrower Corapafs •, and if
inftead of plundering their Neighbours the
Turks, they were reftrain'd to manure the
Ground, and live upon the Produds of their
" own Labour. Whereupon the Poles prevail'd
upon their King Vladiflaus to fend General
Konicepoliski to reduce them. Hereupon at firll
the Cofach made a vigorous Refillance, and
oppos'd the Building of the Fortrefs Hudack
juft at a Point, where the River Zvoamer falls
into the Borifihenes. But being at lafl entire-
ly defeated by the Poles, they were oblig'd
to furrender their General Paulack, with fome
others of the chiefeft among them, who, not-
withllandiug
* Hddcnft«in lib. XI. p. 327, gjrc.
/
of the Ifhigs of Poland. 113
withftanding a Pardon promis'd them before-
hand, were all beheaded. Befides this, it was
decreed in the Dkt^ that all their former Pri-
vileges, together with the Fortrefs of Te£ii-
moravia^ granted them by King Stephen, Ihould
be taken from them, and a new Body of Mi-
litia fetled there in their Head. To put this
Decree in execution, the Poh/h Army marchM
forthwith into the Vkraine, but were oppos'd
by the Cofacks with great Bravery •, who yet
neverthelefs promis'd to be faithful to the
Crown of Poland, provided their antient Pri-
vileges might be continu'd to thenii which the
Poles readily agreed to, but however never
perform'd: Nay, treated feveral of them very
ill •, for among other opprelTive Methods, they
took from them fome of their Greek Churches.
Afterwards the Cofacks recover'd in fome
meafure under their General Bogdan Chmie-
linski, who having been juftly enrag'd by Ja-
rmski>% ravilhing his Wife, and afterwards
murdering both her and her Son, refolv'd on
fome Expedient to revenge this Affront, and
rid his Country of the Tyranny of the Polijh
Government,
* In this King's Reign Polls were firfl us'd
in Poland, fetled after the Otrman manner, in
the Year 1547. - /
King Vladi/laiis, after an indifferently happy ftk Death-
Reign, dy'd of a malignant Fever at Merick
in Lithuania the 20th of May,in the Year 1548.
The Mufcovites vanquilb'd under his Reign •,
The Turks forc'd to fue for Peace-,The Inclina-
tion he ever had to oblige every body, and tfie
concern
* Conftit. Ann. 1^47. V-9- dt. Ordinacya Pofcty.
124 71)6 fourth .Family L e t . lU.
concern he was always under, when it was
out of his Power to give fufficient Proofs of
his Liberality, were powerful Motives to in-
duce the Poles to regret his Lofs, whofc Con-
fternation was the more augmented after
his Death by their Defeat, and the taking of
divers Places by the Cofacks^ for want of him.
Vladi/laus leaving no Ilfue, his Brother
JohnCafi- John Casimir, who had led a religious
Lite for fome time, and was afteiAvards crea-
ted * Cardinal by Iwwocefjt the^Xth. hacceeded
> him,being eleftedKing in the fameYear that his
Brother dy'd,with thefolIowingCircumftances.
The Primate Mathtas LuhknsU having fig-
nifi'd the Death of the late King by Circular
A Diet Letters, and conYen'd a Diet to meet on the
aalTd-, 25th of June.^ (the Diet of Election having
been fix'd for the 6th of Odober ) all the Sc-
nators and Deputies met at the time appoint-
cd \ but there were no fuch Heats and In-
trigues among them as formerly, by reafon
that the Cofacks and Tartars had rais'd too
great Diforders in Poland for them to think
of any thing at that time but Union : for the
News of fuch prodigious Preparations made
againfl them, were enough to ftagger any Re-
folution but that of the Polanders^ whofe Va-
lour has generally procur'd them the greateft
Succefs.
Hereupon Orders were immediately ifiifd
out to raife Troops to oppofe thefe cruel In-
Proceeds vaders*, and afterwards the Gentry proceed-
to EleSm, £0 the Eledion of a SuccelTor to the Throne,
at
of the Khigs of Poland. 12^
at which time no body thought that Prince Ca-
fimir, who was then complimented with the
Title of King of Sueden, would have had any
Competitor i for the Great Duke of Mujcovy^
and the Prince of Tranfylvama^ who both put
in for the Crown, were look'd upon to have
little or no Interelt.
The Cz.ar very bluntly demanded the Crown,
or upon refufal threatned to come and force ^
a Compliance ; But George Ragozxi feem'd to
have recourfe to a milder Method ^ yet tho
. he ofFer'd his Army of 30000 Men to the Re- '
publick to afllfl: them againft their Enemies,
he was fufpedted to have defign'd it againft
them. But at length the Threats of the one,
and Promifes of the other, had no better ElFeft
than that they were both equally defpis'd and
rejeded.
The Competitor that Cafmir expeded leaft. Prim Cx-
was Prince Charles Ferdinand Bifhop of Breflaxe fimij "t-
in Sile/ia, and PloczJio in Poland^ who folicited
the Crown for his Brother, but defign'd it
for himfelf. It was believ'd he had written
into Sueden to engage the Queen in his Intereft.
He had alfo lent a Million to raifeTroops j but
this feem'd no extraordinary Policy, fince his
Brother Prince Cafmir had before been de-
clar'd GeneraliJJimo of the Army- Stanijlaus
Zaremha^ Bifhop of Kiovia, was thought, to
have given Ferdinand this bad Counfel, think-
ing if he could advance that Prince, he might
withal procure himfelf the chief Dignity in
the Kingdom, the Archbifhop of Gnefna be-
ing then fourfcore Years old, and therefore
not likely to live long.
12 The fourth Family Let. III.
^ Hii cha- Prince Cafiinir had always (hewn an uncom-
raihr and mon Vcrtue in all his Adions. He lov'd War,
and had ever a great Inclination for Travel:
Whereupon in 1638, he embark'd at Genoa
for Spain with defign to aTift that Kingdom
againit France ^ but being taken in Provence^
he was kept two Years, till he was reftor'd to
his Brother Vladijlatis by me#ins of an EmbalTy
^ fent to the Court of France. ThisDifgrace
which hapned to this Prince, did not hinder
him from undertaking other Voyages j for in
1643, he left Poland a fecond time, and paf-
. ^ ling by Loretto, became a Jefuit there, without
acquainting the King his Brother therewith.
To withdraw him honourably from this Cora-
pany, and prevent the Publick from blaming
his Inconllancy, Pope Innocent the Xth made
him Cardinal in 1645, which Dignity Cam
fmir foon after refign'd ^ for his Brother's
Son dying in 1547, and his Brother being
neither like to have any more Children, nor
£0 live long, he prudently bethought himfelf
of other Meafnres: wherefore in 1547, he fent
his Renunciation to his Holinefs by Francis
Fredt de AlouUnet^ a French Gentleman, a Per-
fon he had always cherifh'd and employ'd up-
on divers Occafions, and whofe approv'd Fi-
delity made him often fay. That a Prince vpoa
almys better ferv'd by Strangers than by his own
Subjeiis.
This Retreat of Cafimir among the Jefuits,
gave occafion to the Bifhop of Kiovia to' labour
^'kf oje at his Excluiion, in which he was zealoufly
^' a (filled by the Protellants, who mortally hated
that Society. This Bilhop likewife imagin'd
he had got the major part of the Gentry on
his
of the IQn^s of Poland. 127
his fide, who feem'd alfo diflatisfi'd with the
Jefuits j but he was not a little miftaken, for
Prince Caftmir being the Elder, and King Via-
diflam his Brother having reconnnended him
by his Will to the States, the Faftion againft
him only retarded his Eleftionfor a few days,
the Senate in that time having a mind to re-
concile the two Brothers.
• 1 he 6th of October began the Diet of Elec- ,
tion, where alraoft all were unanimous, and
only fludy'd to hinder the Progrefs of the
Cofach. Firft John de Torres^ Archbifhop of Pom^Mr
uddrianople^ the Pope's Noncio, the young
Marquefsof Grana Arabaflador from the Em-""'''
perour, the Count of Arpajou Embaflador Ex-
traordinary, together with the Vifcount of
Bregi Embaflador in Ordinary from France^
recommended the Intereft of Prince Cafimir
whereupon, the 29th of the fame Month, John
Tyskiewitz. Bilhop of Samogitia^ made an ele-
gant Harangue in his behalf, alledging the Cafe
of Caftmir the lid. who had retir'd into the
Abby of Cluny^ but neverthelefs was not ex-
eluded the Throne.
The next day the Minifter of Kagoz.zt^
Prince of Tranfylvania^ had Audience, who,
contrary to aU Expedation, recommended
Prince Cafimir; yet at the fame time infinua-
ted, that if they did not think fit to eledt
him, his Mafter, who hud always had fo fin-
cere AfFedion for Poland., would gladly be
their Prince. The Diet, altho they detefted
his Flattery, yet exprefs'd themfelves grate-
ful to his Mafter for t^ie kindnefs he had pro-
fefs'd.
The
12 8 The fourth Family Let. III.
The November Prince Ferdinand's Em-
balTadors were introduc'd with the Bifliop of
Kiovia at their Head. The Prefers thefe
made were receiv'd with a great deal of In-
difference j bnt when the Bilhop began to
fpeak with difrefped of Prince Cafimir^ he
was foon filencM by a univerfal Confulion of
Voices, which feem'd all to be againft: him.
Whereupon Prince Ferdinand fent forthwith
his Excufes, and publickly refign'd his Pre-
tenfions to his Brother ^ which prevail'd fo
far upon Cafimir^ tiiat l>e granted him his
Friendfiiipj and moreover,niadehimaPrefent
of the Principalities of Oppolen and Ratibor in
iSilefia, and Ukcwife re-imbursM the Charges
he had been at to oppofe him in his Eletti-
on; which generous Ufage fo influenc'd Fer-
dinand^ that he exprefsM lefs Joy for all thefe
noble Prefents than Sorrow for having been
concern'd againft fo defei ving a Brother.
Cafunir c- The 17th began the Eledion, when all Ob-
ieded. ftacles being remov'd, Cafmir had been pro-
claim'd the fame day, if his Embafiadors had
iign'd the Articles proposed to them; but ne-
verthelefs on the 20th, he was admitted to
the Throne on the fame Conditions with his
Father Sigifmund.
Hk Afar- He marry'd, by tke Pope's Difpenfation, the
ri'iie. Qiieen-Dowager Mary Ludovica his Brother's
Queen. She being a French Lady, and raedling
too much with Affairs of State, perhaps with
delign to promote a Succeflbr of her own
Country, is thought to have contributed in
great meafure towards the Troubles which
Hk Wars, afterwards enfu'd. Soon after he came to
the Crown, the Cofaek General Chmielinsh be-
gait
of the IQnp of Poland.
gan to put in praftice his Revenge: Where-
upon calling the Tartars to his Affillance, he
march'd at the Head of a formidable Army
into Poland j where burning, plundering and
ravaging wherever he came, he did all the
Mifchief he could, defeated the PoUJh Army,
took the City of Kiovia, and afterwards be-
fieg'd Leopold Capital of RuJJia, with an Army
of near 300000 Men, yet could never take it,
tho its Fortifications are but very inconfide-
rable. They neverthelefs ravag'd the Coun-
try all about it for many Leagues together.
To revenge which Affront, the Poles fum-
mon'd the feventh Man throughout the whole
Kingdom, and march'd againft the Cofacks
without the Confent of their King, who had
before refus'd to head them, but were again
miferably beaten. Neverthelefs the King's
Army at other times had confiderable Ad-
vantages over them i for tho they found they
were not able to fight them, yet they fa-
tigu'd and weakned them fo, that they were
forc'd to call the Mufcovites likewife to help
them forward with their intended Work.
Whilfl fome put themfelves under the Pfo-
tcftion of Mu^cwy^ others had recourfe to
the Port, fo irreconcilable were they ever to
have any more to do with the Crown of Po-
land^ and have been fo ever fince to their own
Ruin, and the great Difadvantage of the Poles.
The only Damage they fuilain'd, was, when
Chmielinski was celebrating the Nuptials of his
Son with the Daughter of the Prince of rala-
chia^ where the Po/e; furpriz'd them, re-took
the City of Kiowa and plunder'd it, as like-
wile made the Grecian Patriarch prifoner.
K Then
130
Tf)e fourth family Lfit. IIK
Then the Cofacks fent to the King to know
if this had been done by hi? Majefty's Order j
v/hich being anfwer'd in the Negative, and
moreover, that the Nobility had done it to be
reveng'd on them for the frequent Damages
they had done them, they immediately, in
conjunftion with the Tartan^ fell into ?o\ani
with the greatell Fury imaginable. Againft
thefe the King went in Perfon at the Head of
the Nobility, and defeated them in Battle.
But neverthelefs the King was afterwards
forc'd to clap up a Peace with them, tho the
Gentry were very much difpleasM at his
granting them their own Terms, by which
the Mufcovites were left in polTefllon of Smo-
knsko and Kiovia^ which they enjoy to this
day. The Mufcovites likewife took in
Lithuania^ with fome other conliderable Cities
in that great Dutchy.
In the Year 1655, Charles Gujlavus, King
♦/Sweden of Sweden^ rais'd a more fatal Storm in To-
invades ^ for with an Army of chofen Men he en-
ter'd that Kingdom, and in two years time
made himfelf abfolute Mafter thereof. He
firit conquer'd Great Poland and Mafovia.,
and afterwards the Lefier Poland^ with Cra-
coTP^ the capital City of the Kingdom •, from
whence he raarch'd into Pruffia^ where alraoft ^
all the Towns immediately furrender'd to him *
except Dantz^ic, wherein at firft were a great
many Citizens that favour'd the Suedes but
who not long after, by the Perfuafions of fome
Minifters, continu'd their Obedience to To-
land. The Refiftance made by this one City,
was the main Reafon why i!l the Advantages
get by the Swedes at laft prov'd fruitlefs, and
t that
27;e KLig
Poland.
t | of the ^ngs of Poland, i ^ i
that they could maintain themfclves no longer
in Prujfia: notwithftanding that, not only the
'S ^ whole Militia of Poland, and that part of Li'
thuania which was under the Mufcovites, had
^ fubmittedtothe^weiiej, butaifoKing Joib«C<i-
^'4 fimir was fled into Sikfia *, for the Poles having
113 ft recover'd themfelves after their firll Confter-
1?; nation was over, and being moreover join'd by
isFil the Brandenburgers and Tartars, fell upon fuch
iJir. of the Swedijh Forces as were fcatter'd up and
fe down the Country. The Lithuanians alfo rofe
m, t up in Arms, and kill'd all the Swedes that were
li'i £: in Winter-quarters among them,
bjt The Occafiooof this Swedijh Invafion was caufeofhit
mi: fbme familiarity King Cafimir had had with invafm. .
ioyK; the Wife of the Vice-ChanceWov Raduousli,
li Fk Father to the prefent Cardinal Primate. This
'ji( (i. great Senator could by no means brook a Scan-
dal fo publickj and therefore having firft
nii, £ made a Party in the Kingdom, he calPd in
ituii, the Swedes through Livonia to revenge his
Meot;: Quarrel, who foon got the Duke of CurlancPs
jariC Country, and took him Prifoner. Afterwards
they had fuch vaft Succefs in their Progrefs,
that all the Towns of Poland foon fubmitted
( to them, none being able to w ithftand a Siege.
It is to be obferv'd, that there are but few
neicli; fortify'd Places in Poland it being a Maxim of
. State there. That their Kings Jhould not Jlreng'
then themfelves at home, whereby their Enemies
, 0 might take footing from abroad.
' jlic This vaft Conqueft made all the neighbour-
ing Princes very jealous of the Power of Swe-
^ den j for on one fide Ragoz.z.i, Prince of Tr<J«-
, fylvania, thinking perhaps to obtain that
Crown for hirafclf, enter'd Poland, but with
K 2 , no
IJ1 The fourth Family Le t . Ill,
no Succefs. The Danes likewife made a con-'
fidcrable Diverfion on their part by attacking
Sweden. Alfo the Mufcovites came upon Livo-
nia^ and the Emperour fent Troops to iuccour
the Poles •, w hereupon, by Affiftance of the
Brandenburgers and T%rtarsj and the prudent
Conduft of General Cz.arneski^ the Polifh Nobi-
lity in fix Months time reftorM Cajimir to
his Throne.
This Czarneski re-took the capital City of
A Poland by a Stratagem, which was by con-
strata- triving to have" fome t^artloads of Wood en-
cm. ter the City betimes in the Morning, and to
break in their Paflage through one of the
Gates i by which means, with 800 Men, he
forc'd his way into the City, and deftrOy'd
the Swedifh Garifon. The Advantage of an
unfortityd Kingdom will always be this. That
tho it be foon conquer'd, it will neverthelefs
be as eafily recover'd.
King of When Charles Guftavus., King of Sweden^ had
Sweden Opportunity to make War with
league feveral private Treaties with
rvith the the late Eledor of Brandenburg., Frederic Wil-
£.9/Bran- Ham.) and at length entered into a League with
dcnburg. him, on condition, that when he had conquer'd
Poland) he ftiould give him the Soveraignty
of Ducal Prujfia ^ whereupon they both join'd
their Forces together, and foon conquer'd the
Poles. But afterwards the King of Sweden be-
ing call'd home to take care of his own Domi-
nions, which were then invaded by the Lanes^
he was forc'd to compound with Poland for
800000 Rix Dollars, which the Poles^ not hav-
ing had any Intelligence of the Dan'tfh Invafion,
were glad to agree to. But the Elcdor of
Branden-
of the iQnp of Poland. i j
. Brandenburg obferving that the Money ftipu-
lated for, was not like to be eafily rais'd, of-
fer'd, unknown to the Swedes^ to give the
Boles that Sum i and moreover, to help them to
drive the Swedes out of their Kingdom, in cafe
they would but confirm to him and his Heirs
the aforcfaid Soveraignty of Ducal PruJJia.
To this the Poles^ being in extream Confu-
fion and Necefllty, quickly condefcended, with
this Reftraint only. That whenever the faid
Eledor'? Male-lflue fail'd, that Dutchy Ihould
revert to the Crown of Poland. Whereupon
the Eleftor of Brandenburg having been pro-
claim'd Soveraign Duke of PruJJia., he imme-
diately joinM the Poltjh Forces, and in Ihort
time drove the Swedes out of their Kingdom,
which he before had been inftrumental in
bringing in.
This is the Account I have heard the Poles
give oftheirDeliverance from th^Swedi/hYok&j
and Sir Robert Southwell alfo gave us lately the
iame Account at the Royal Society, which he
had had from the late Eleftor of Brandenburg's
own Mouth.
At this * Treaty oiOliva (a Monaftery near ■Tre.tty of
Dantz.ic) the Poles likewife were to renounce Oliva.
all the Pretentions they had to Livonia.
Cafimir.^ after having routed the Swedes,
rais'd an Army of about 30000 Germans, un-
der pretence of being reveng'd on the Tar-
tars for detaining feveral Poles Prifoners,
which he had betray'd himfelf, the better to
curb his Subjedts. ^But Prince Lubomirski,
K 3 Crown-
Pafendorf. Rerura Brandenb. Hb.VHI. Seft. 55, &c.
fol. 508. col. 3.
1^4 7he fourth Family Let. III.
Cvown-Marfhal, having difcovcr'd his private
Defign, which was to render himfelf Defptic,
rais'd an Army likcwife, and attack'd that of
the King with fo good Succefs, that he cn-
tirely routed it, took its General, a French-
man, Prifoner, and quickly oblig'd the
King to disband his German Forces. At this
Motive and Affront receiv'd from his own Subjefts, Cafi*
Means of cxtrcamly netled, infomuch that he
abdicated the Crown not long after. But
'fome time before his Abdication he convok'd
a Diet at Leopl to pay off the Army. The
bell Expedient to etfeft this was thought to
be, to call in all the Gold and Silver of the
V Kingdom, and re-coin it; but this having
been found deficient, the States confented to
have vaft Quantities of Copper coinM, which
before had been very fcarce in that Country,
and to raife its intrinfick Value to almoft dou-
ble the common Standard. With this Mo-
ney the King paid the Publick for what they
brought in, as likewife the Arrears of the
Army, but kept all the Gold and Silver, which
he afterwards privately remitted into France^
and foon follow'd himfelf, whereby he beg-
gar'd the Nation; for which the Poks con-
demn him even to this day. They alfo hate his
Memory for having favoured the Cofach Re-
bellion to the empoverifhing thofe Gentlemen
that had Eflates in Vkraina. This appear'd
unqueftionable by a private Letter intercept-
ed, fent under Cafimir's own hand to Chmklin-
ski and Dorocx-mb, Generals of the Cofacks Ar-
my, whereby he invited them to make War
againft himfelf for not having been redrefs'd
in the Grievances they had fuitainM under the
Jews,
of the ^mgs of Poland. i ] 5
'JexoSy the Nobletnens Stewards in the Vhaine •,
by which means he gave them occafion to de-
liver themfelves from the Polijb Slavery, as
they continue to this day.
All this while the Cofach were not a little
troublefome to the Poks^ taking advantage of
thefe inteftineDiforders, and the ill Condition
the Affairs of Poland were in during Cajimir'^s
Time, who at length, after 20 years Reign,
being tir'd out with Vexations, publickly re-
fign'd his Crown, Charles V, at St. John's
Church at iVarfavD the "i 5th of September, in ,
the Year i568 j and retiring into Prance, dyM '
afterwards at Nevers, the City where his j5yj'.
Queen was born.
While I was at iVarfave, I fpoke with feve-
ral old Gentlemen about this King's Abdica-
tion, who told me that Ca/imir, the day after
his Refignation, obferving the People hardly
paid him the Refpe£t due to a Gentleman,
much lefs to a King, feem'd to have repent-
cd heartily of the Folly he had committed.
The Officers which this Prince had referv'd
to hirafelf in his Retreat, rais'd a ftately Mo- ^
nument to the Memory of their Royal Mafter
in the Abby of St. Germains at Par'vs, whereof
he was made Abbot, The Brafs and Marble
of this Monument fhall not outlafl: the Latin
Epitaph which Father Francis Delfault made
on this Prince, and which for the Excellency in
its kind, I lhall beg leave of your Grace to
infert.
K 4- t/Fterme
>
/
The fourth Vnrnily L e t. Ill
t^^tetna Mmona\
REGIS ORTHOBOXly
h e i c;
Fojl Emenfts Virtutis
Ac Gloria Gradus omnesl
Quiefcit^ Nohili fui PartCy
'JOHANNES CASlMlRVSy
Polonia
\ Ac Suecia Rex ^
Alto E JageUonidum
Sanguine ,
Familia yafatenfi
TOSTREMVSj
Quta Summm
LltTERlSy ARMIS, PIETATE.
Multarum Gentium Linguws
Addidicity (^uo iUea Propenjius
Sibi devinciret.
Septemdecim PralivSy coUatU
cum Hofie fignUy
Totidem uno minus vicity
SEMPER JNriGTVS;
Mofco
of the iQn^s of'Pohnd. 137
Mofcovitasy Suecos ^ Brandebuf'.
genfes, Tartaros^ Germams
AKMIS\
Cofacos, alio/que RebeUes Gra-
^ tia, ae Beneficivs
EXPVGNAfTlT',
ViSlorii Regem m fe Prabens,
Cletnemia Patrem.
Denique totis viginti
Imperii Amis,
Fortunam virtute vincens^
AVLAM HABVIT IJST CAS-
TRIS, PALATIA
IN TENTORllS,
SPECTACVLA
IN 1RIVMPHIS,
Liberos ex legitimo cmmbio
Sufcepity queis poftea orbatus eji,
»e fi fe majorem reliquiffetj
mn ejfet ipfe Mdximus \
Sin minmmy fiirps degeneraret.
Par ei ad fortitudinem
. Religio fuity
Nec fegftim' Coelo Militavit y
^AM SOLO.
. Nine
I
The fourth Fmily L £ t. III.
^mc exfruifa Monafieria, &
Nofocomia Varfavia,
Calv'mianorum fana in
Lithnmict excifai
Sociniani Regno pulfi^ ne Cafl-
mimm haberent Regent^
Chriftum Deu,rn mn
tisberent.
Senatus A Varivs SeCl'vi ad
CatboUca Fidei Communionem
Adduifus,
Vt Fcckjia legibus
Continerentur ,
'Jura Fopulis Dicerent.
Vnde lUi pradarum
orthodoxi no men
Ab Alexandra yil.
Indltum.
Nitmana Denique Gloria ^
Fajligium Pratergrejjiu ,
Cum Nihil Praclarius Agere
Pojfet,
IM'
of the ^ngs of Poland.
I^PERIVM SPONTB
ABDlCAjrir
ANNO M. DC. IXrill
t
Turn Porro Ictchryma ^ Quels
Nulii Regnam Excujftrat ,
Omnium oculis ManarunX,
^i Abeuntem Regem^ non fecus
Atque Obeuntem Patrem,
L V X E R E.
VitdB Reliquum in Pietatis
Ojjkiis cum Exegijfet,
Tandem Audita Kamenecia
Expugnatione, ne tanta cladi
Superejfet,
CHARITATE PATRltA
VVLNERATVS OCCVBVlT
Xril KAL. JAN. M, DC,
LXXII.
Regium cw monachU Hu]us
Ccenobiijcui Abbas prafueraty
Amor'vs pignut reliquit ;
^^od iUi ifihoc tumulo Moe-
reifftes condid&runt.
140 Tl^e fourth Family L fi t. III.
If King Ca^mirh Refignation procur'd
Quiet to himfelr, it occafionM no lefs Diftur-
bance to the Polijh Commonwealth •, for there-
by none of the Family of remaining, fe-
vera! Princes rais'd Fadfions to get the Crown
into their Families, and confequently each en-
deavour'd to hinder him that was moft like to
obtain it.
Staniflaus Prafmorpsii the Primate had con-
A Diet ven'd a Diet to meet at the beginning of De-
ca^d. cember^ where, after fome innocent Heats, the
fecond of May i65<? was pitch'd upon for the
Diet of Eledtion. ' This Interregnum^ unlike
the former, was not difturb'd by the Prote-
ftantsj King Cajimir having taken fuch Mea-
lures, that the Socinians were in his time ba-
nifh'd; and the other Sedts being look'd upon
with Contempt, were confequently difcou-
ragM in their Advances.
€'mrpeti- At this Diet of Eledtion, four Competitors
tars far the appeared, viz.. The Son of the Great Duke of
Cmr*, Mufcovy.^ \yho had been bred in Poland^ and
fpoke that Language ; on whole behalf the
Great Duke his Father offer'd, i. That his
Son Ihould change his Religion for that of the
Communion. 2. That he fhould make
a Publick Renunciation to Mufcovy. 3. That
all Places formerly taken from the Poles by the
Mufcovites Ihould be reftor'd. 4. That four
Millions ihould be advanc'd as his free Gift to-
wards the Payment of the Arrears of the Po-
li/h Army- And laflly. That he would be
oblig'd to aflift Poland againil all Enemies
whatever with an Army of forty thoufand
Men; and moreover, enter into a firm
and perpetual League with them. The
next
)
of the IQngs of Poland. 141
next was the Duke of Nmhwrg, fupportcd
by the French Intereft. The third was the
Duke of Lorain^ upheld by the German Fac-
tion. And the fourth was the Prince of
Conde's Son, whom the Archbifhop of Gnef-
tta, and General Sobieski were thought to fa-
vour.
At length the Contentions for the Crown Reduc'd to
of Poland were altogether lodg'd in two Pre- two.
tenders, for the Duke of Mafcovy declin'd
fending his AmbafTadors out of Pride, as be-
ing difpleas'd with the Poles i and the Prince
of Conde had quitted his Pretenfions on 3c-
count of Difcouragement; wherefore the
two Competitors that remain'd had the Gen-
try almoft equally divided between them,
and which arriv'd to thole Extremities, that
almoft every Night twenty or more were
found murder'd in the Streets. Thefe Dif-
orders the Marlhal of the Diet us'd feveral
Means to fupprefs, but at length found none
fo plaufible as to proceed forthwith to an
Eledion.
The 4th of June the Embafladors were firft ForeignMi-
admitted to Audience,when the Pope's Nuncio
made a Speech in Latin, and exhorted the''
Aflembly to eled a Catholick Prince. The
7th of the fame Month Count Schafgots had
Audience, who, contrary to the expedation
of every body, recommended the Duke of
Neuburg in the Name of his Mafter the Em-
perour.
On the 12th the Duke of Neuburg's Mini-
. fter had Audience, who promis'd in the Name
of his Mafter two Millions to pay the Army j
next to maintain always 4000 Men for the
Service
'r!
141 The fourth Family Let. III.
Service of the State out of his own Coffers j
and laftly, to build three Eortrefles on the
Frontiers of Poland, as likewife to found a
College for the Polanders in Germary. The
Prince of Leixin^ who had Audience next,
proferM almoft the fame on the part of his Ne-
phew the Duke of Lorain. To which the Ab-
bot of Riquet alfo added, that the fame Prince,
for whom he likewife fpoke, was ready to dif-
pute the Crown in fingle Combat with his Op-
ponent, to the end he might obtain it by the
moff; honourable Means. But nevcrthelefs, the
Pride of the latter of thefe Competitors had
not better effed than the Promifes of the for-
mer.
In the mean time the Gentry were very im-
patient at the tcdioufnefs oftheD/e^, and at
Heats length were ready to go together by the Ears;
w/ej when Palatin of Kalifchy to appeafe
the Diforder, made an elegant Speech, alledg-
ing, That it was meer Madnefs for them to
cut one anothers Throats about chooling of
Princes which they never law, and that it
would be more prudent to rejed them both,
their Birth and Alliance with the Houfe of
Jiuflria being fafiicient to merit their Exclu-
fion. And proceeding in his Harangue, he put
them in mind that the Aufirian Family, pro-
viding they perfiiled to make choice of a
Prince out of it, might in all probability ferve
them as it had formerly done the Kingdoms
of Bohemia and Hungary ^ and that therefore
it was not only unfafe, but alfo contrary to
the Conllitutions of their Kingdom to have
my thing to do with them. Hereupon the
Tumults began fomething to abate,which gave
him
ti
of the IQngi of Poland. 14}
him encouragement to go on and fliew, that
formerly, when Heats grew high, a Native,
meaning Piajius^ had been chofen,who govern'd
the Kingdom fo prudently, that even at 120
Years of Age his Death was regretted. Thefe Appeas'd
Precautions ( continued he ) our Fore-fathers
had agamft the Ambition, tsivy or Avarice of
fuch as pretended to the Crown: Let us
therefore (quoth he) leave the Duke of
Neuburg to govern his fmall Eftate and nu-
merous Family 9 and let the Duke of Lorain
exhaufl: his Treafures to recover his Paternal
Dominions. For our parts a Piafto would be
molt proper for us, as we may find by a feri-
6us Reflexion on thefe Divine Words,
mitte ad te alienigenam^ & fubvertet te-j Ad-
mit a Stranger among ye, and he lhall under-
mine and ruin ye.
By thefe means the Palatin of Kalifch having
pretty well calm'd the turbulent Spirits of the
Dkt^ and moreover influencM them with
kind thoughts of a Piajio^ he immediately
polled, together with the Palatin oiPofnaniay a Piafto
to Wiefnowiski then at IVarfaw^ where finding propos'd.
him in the Church of the RecolleCls^ they both
earneftly begg'd of him to accompany them
to the Field of EleQiion, which Requefl, after
fome difficulty, he comply'd with. Where-
upon all three arriving while the Partifans
of the two Competitors were ready to go
together by the Ears, the Palatins of Kalifch
and Pofnania took occaflon to propofe IViefno-
wiski j and the lllullrious Houfe he was * de-
fcended from foon determin'd the Gentry in
his
* Hartknoch. Jib. i. cap. 2. p. loj.
144 The fourth Family Let. Ill,
his Favour. It muft: be uaderftood that IVief-
nmiski was not lineally of the Race of JcigeUo^
for that ended with Sigifmmdus Auguftui^ but • >
collaterally defcended from Korybuth Jagello'i
' ' Brother.
Mr. Tard who went with Sir Peter Wyche to
compliment King Michael on his Accellion to
the Throne, told me lately, that the Palatin
of Culm acquainted them at Warfaw, that
Fahey dif' vyjign Michael was propos'd, the Intention was
'ppoin c. eleded, but only by propofing
of him to difcover how far the Diet would re-
lilh a Native •, fome of the Great Men among
them having fecret Defigns to advance one of
thcmfelves to the Throne, but which they
were unexpededly difappointed in by the E-
ledion of this poor Prince.
Wiefnowizli was not a little furpriz'd when
he heard himfelf nam'd, and which alfo en-
creas'd upon him when they feated him by
force in the midlt of the Affembly, and begg'd
of him to accept the Crown. At firfl: he
Michael burft out into Tears, and declar'd he was
jjQj. capable to fuftain fo great a Burden j but
the major part of the Diet perfifting in their ||
Demands, at length he thought fit to acquiefce
Jecefts it. and accept their Proffers. The Dukes of
Neuburg and Lorain were hereby immediate-
ly depriv'd of their moft profefs'd Friends:
But the Lithuanians would by no means accept
of a Prince they had not firfl: nam'd, and
therefore propos'd others. This dilfenting of
theirs occafion'd new Diforders, which grew
fo high, that a Gentleman fpeaking his Mind
too freely, was cut to pieces on the fpot j yet
' ■ at length, the latter being the weaker fide,
of the I^ngs of Poland.
they were forc'd to comply with the formet,
and-confirm Prince Wiefnorviski.
The Primate not approving of this Eledi- The Pri-
on, retir'd to his Caftle of Lomtz, •, but the mate con'
Gentry threatned to force him, and the
nators intreated him to confejit, which at
length he agreed to, and according to cuftom
procIaimM him.
It is faid that whilft the Palatin of Kalifcb
was haranguing, a Swarm of Bees and a Pi-
geon happen'd to fly over their Heads, which
the Poles immediately taking for a good Omen^
cryM out unaniraoufly, God fave King
Michael Wiesnowiski. This his Michael
Excellency Monfieur de Cleverskerk^ now Em- wicfno-
baflador from the States of Holland in England^
aflures me to be true, he having been prefent ^
at Warfavo as a Traveller at the time of this
Eleftion.
King Michael being thus chofen, chiefly in-
deed by the Minor Nobility, was proclaim'd
by the Primate, and crown'd the 17th of Sep-
tember in the Year ifJyo, and reignM to the
Year 1673.
He muTvicd Eleonora of Auflria^ Daughter
to Ferdinand III. and Siller to Leopold the pre- riaie.
fent Emperor of Germany j by reafon of which
Alliance Jealoufies were rais'd, that his Ma-
jelly had a mind to make himfelf Abfolute
and Hereditary, and to fubvert the PoUJh
Liberties, all which he foon appeas'd by a
timely compliance with the Demands of the
difalFefted. *
This Prince before he was advanced to the
Throne was very poor, fubfilling only on a
L Penfion \
w
146 T}7e fourth family LeT. III.
Penfion of 6000 Livres, which had been
charitably ahow'd him by King Cafimir and
his Qnccn Mary Ludovica 4i Gonz.aga. He
had, 'tis true, formerly a vaft Ellate in Vkrai-
na, but which the Cofacks were then in poflef-
fion of. He wa^as I am inform'd, Gentle-
manor the bcd-Chamber to the prefentEm-
peror of Gertjyny, which yet that Prince did
. not think iufncient reafon to e.^clude hitn
from marrying his Sifter after his Eledtion.
Tlx Co- In the Year ifSyi, the Cofacks^ affifted by
having again fallen to their old
Cuftom of rebelling. General Sobieski with the
Forces of the Crown foon chaftis'd them, and
forc'd their Leader Dorocz^inko to retire.
Fdvour'd occafion to quarrel
by the' Poland^ upon pretence he had taken the
Ttu'k: Cofacks into his Protcftion, whom he would
needs have to be oppreft.
This King was by no means .endu'd with
the Warlike Spirit of his PredeceOTors; for in
his time the Turks not only over-run Podolia^
but alio took its Capital City Caminiec, and
likevvifc oblig'd the Poles to dilhonourable Ar-
badTelcc ^^icKs of Peace, whereby Michael was to pay
''theTwrH an Annual Tribute. The farther
Particulars of this Matter are as follows: So-
hieski, made Great Marflial and Crown-Gene-
ral by Caftmir for having always adher'd to
his Intcrcft, prefenting King Michael when
cledfed with a Coach and fix Horfes to com-
ply with the Cuftom only, for it muft be un-
derftood Sobieski was his Enemy ; the King by
the Pcrfvvafior.s of his haughty Mother re-
fus'd thePrefent, which the General greatly
refenting fought all manner of ways to be
reveng'd
of the I^ngs of Poland. 147
reveng'd on him, and in order thereto, fre-
quently caball'd with the Gentry alTembled
in Parliament againft him, and at length ob-
lig'd the Diet to be diflblv'd without con-,
eluding any thing to his advantage*, while in
the mean time, I am pofitively allur'd, he kept
Intelligence with the Turks and Tartars^ as
may appear by their taking'of Caminiec, and
befieging of Leopol. Mr. James Walker a
Scots-man, who was in the City when be-
fieg'd, and is now in London^ told me lately,
that there were ^0000 Turks, 20 00 Tartars,
and 10000 Cofaeks and Moldavians at that
Siege which happen'd in the Year 1^72, all
Which begirred the Town clofe, playing c»n-
tinually upon it from five Batteries. The
Governour that held out againft them was
one Lonsky, a Colonel of Dragoons, who had,
as Mr. Walker afl'ures me, out five hundred oi
his Men in Garifon v/ithout any Horfe, befides
1100 of the Inhabitants in Arms: With
thefe Lonski defended himfelf vigoroufly, in-
Ibmuch that what by the Correfpondence he
kept with the Chriftians in the Turkifh Army,
and by the Bravery of his own Men he main-
tainM his Defence three Weeks,, when the
King fent Count Morftin and other Commifli-
oners to treat with caplan BalTa General of
the Turks, who agreed, that for raffing the v
Siege the King Ihould pay 22000 Gold Du-
cats yearly Tribute to the Grand Seignior,
locooo Lion-Dollars down on the nail to
fave the City, whereof the Inhabitants paid
10000 prefently, and the Publick were to pay
the refti this they gave eight Hoftages to
perform, who were kept Prifoners at Cami-
L 2 niec.
148 The fourth Family L e t . II I.
wec^ and dy'd there by reafon that the Debt
contrafted for was never paid. Belides, the
Turks were to remain in pofTeflion of Caminkc
and all Podolia. But General Sobieski^ and the
reft of the caballing Party being afham'd of
this difhonourable Treaty, came to a better
llnderflanding among themfelves, and fided
with the Kinp to recover what had been
loft.
^ Hereupon the Armies of Poland and Li-
wMcPt" marched diredly towards Podolia to
recovrr retake it, that of the Kingdom being com-
Podolia-, manded by General Sobieski^ and the other of
the Diitchy by General Patz. Thefe two
Generals foon obtain'd a fignal Viftory over
the Turks near Kochim five Leagues from Ca-
miniec^ by the Treachery of the Moldavians
and Valachians^ who never hitherto fignaliz'd
themfelves but perfidioufiy, which yet prov'd
very advantagious to the Polcs^ who were
then in want of every thing but Courage.
Caplan Bafia commanded the Turkifls Army,
being join'd by the Moldavian Troops, headed
^ by their Hofpodar-, but the former being dif-
pleas'd with the Conduft of the latter,« his
Souldiers being not fo many as he expeded,
and thofe not well equipt, ftruck him over the
Head with his Scimiter, which the Hofpodar
highly refenting refolv'd upon Revenge, which
he afterwards efFefted, by defecting the Turks
in conjundlion with the Falachians who took
his part, and going over to the Poles. This
mightily facilitated SobieskPs Entry into the
Enemy's Camp, which gainM him a corapleat
CorMrr- This Defeat had doubtlefs put the
' Affairs of into a good Condition had
the
of the Kings of Poland. 149
the Generals fufficiently purfu'd it. But, as
it has always been the unfortunate Cuftom of
the Poles, they immediately withdrew their
Troops into their Country, and fo have fince their De-
left the Turks in full polTeffion of Podolla.hn.
This famous Battel began upon Saturday, and
was fcarce fully over in three days.
Some few days before this Viftory obtain'd,
King Afichael dy'd at Leopol, November the i oth Michael!/
1673, fuppos'd to have been poifon'd by -^^eatb',
French-man at Zamoisk, being about 32 Years
old, and having reign'd about four Years,
leaving the Poles lefs afflidted at his Death,
than alham'd at the bad Choice they had
made of him for their Prince.
This Prince not long before he dy'd, had the
Misfortune to fee an ^ga come from the Grand
Seignior -to demand Tribute of hirai who
brought him from his Mailer a Commander's
Staff and a Turkifb Veil, both being Badges
of Vaffalage. Fie left no Children, tho Leaves no
Queen, who was afterwards marry'd to Charles iffue.
late Duke of Lorain, has fince had feveral.
Sl;e is lately dead, and in my Travels from
Italy to Germany refided at Infpruck, the Ca-
pital Town of Tyrol, where I had the Ho-
nour to kifs her Ma jelly's Hand, being intro-
duc'd by my Lord Carlingford. Her Brother
the Emperor allow'd her and her Children a
Penfion out of the County of Tyrol •, for Ihe
receiv'd nothing either out of Poland or Lo-
rain, the latter having been hitherto in the
French Hands and the Conllitution of the
former being, that when the Queen Dowager
marries-, fhe forfeits her Penfion fetlcd upon
her by the Diet at the King's Coronation.
L 3 An
The fourth Family L E T. lU
^ * An odd Story goes of a Child that was
born in this King's Reign in the Year 1670,
at Vilyia in Lithuania^ with a Golden Tooth,
which was efteemed truly fuch by all the Phy-
ficians. Surgeons and Goldfmiths about that
City, being alfo tri'd on the Totuchftone in
the prefence of the Bilhop of that place: But
what is yet more wonderful, that Child
having a Fever afterwards in the Year 1573,
bis Golden Tooth was changed into Bone. How
worthy this is of Credit I leave to the Judicious
Naturalills j I have only this to fay for my felf,
that I found it in an authentick Author.
King Michael being dead was fucceeded by
John Sobieski the late King of Poland^ who was
Captain of the Guards, and Gentleman of the
Bed-chamber to King JohnJ^afimir. Whilft,
he had thefe Employments he marry'd Prince
ZamoskPs Widow, who had 10000 Rix Dollars
left her for a Jointure, by the contrivance
and management of King Cafimir and his
Qtieen, to whom fhe was then Lady of the
Bed-Chamber At this Junfture SobieskPs
own Eftate was not 2000 Pounds Sterling a
Year: But however the King promis'd to
advance him after he had marry'd this Lady,
which he accordingly perform'd, and I may
fay that it was through the means of this
Marriage that Sobieski was gradually promoted
to the Supreme Dignity of the Crown,
Thus, my Lord, I have given asfhort and
exadl an Account of the memorable Adions
of the fourth Clafs of the Kings of Poland^ as
my
* Harrknoch. Jib. 1. cap. 2. p. 10^ 110.
of the I\ings of Poland. 151
my Incapacity, and the Precipitation with
which it was publifh'd, would allow. But be-
fore I put an end to this Letter, I mull; beg
your Grace's leave to take ndtice, that the
Crown of Poland^ tho always Elective, yet has
been fucceffively in the fame Family frdra Fa-
ther to Son, or at lead from Father to Daugh-
ter or other Relation, from the Year 830 to
the Year 1674, which is from Piajlus his Reign
to the Eledion of the late King John Sobieski\
except only the five Months that Hemy of
ritJlow reign'd, I mean-Hjnry HI. of France,
who was kill'd by a Monk. To evince this,
your Grace may be pleas'd to luiderftaird, that
the fail of the Family of Piafita in a direct
Line was the Princefs Hedrvigis, who marry'd
Jctgello, Great Duke of Lithuania. His Male
Race by her reign'd to Sigifmnnd the Second's
time, of whofb two Daughters, one was
marry'd to King Stephen Batori his Succeflbr,
and the other was Mother to Sigifmund III.
who with his Sons were fucceffively eleded to
the Throne to the time of King Michael IVief-
nowiski 3 who, tho he was not lineally defcend-
ed from Jagello, yet came laterally from the
Race of Korihuth Jagelloh Brother: So that
it is evident that the Poles have reconcil'd a '
free Eledion of their Kings with an uninter-
rupted Succefiion of the fame for 844 Years 3
as likewife that they have never excluded the
deceafed King's Son, nor ever eleded any
German Prince to the Throne before this
lad Eledion of the Eledor of Saxony, Frede-
rick Augtijlus, now King of Poland. But as it
is lawful for all Governments to alter their
Coriditutions at often as they find it conve-
L 4 nient
Yja The fourth Family,See. Let. III.
nient for the good of the Publick; fo the
Poles obferving that their Native Kings have
not of late fufEciently promoted the Interefl:
of their Country, were wife enough to choofe
a Foreign Prince, whofe Wealth and Courage
would enlarge their Dominions, as their pre-
fent King Frederick Augufius is very likely to
do, being in League with the Emperor,
Mufcovites and Venetians. 1 hope your Grace
will be plea^'d to pardon my Indifcretion in
prefumin^ to write of Matters which are al-
together out of my Element, lince it was only
to fhew with what Deference and Relpedt I
am,
My LORD,
Your Grace's molt Obedient
and molt Humble Servant,
fU r
Letter
'53
Letter IV.
To the Right Honourable W i l-
L I A M Larl of Yarmouth.
Concerning the Family and Remarkahle
Anions of John III. Kjng of Poland :
As alfo his Daughter's Marriage to the
prefent Elellor of Bavaria.
My Lord",
TH E Obligations I owe to your Brother
Mv.Alkrti and his Lady, join d with the
Value I have always profefs'd for your Lord-
Ihip's Friendlhip, makes me glad to find this
occafionof giving both you and them a publick
Teftimony of my Refped and Gratitude;
and fince you have often Ihew'd your felf wil-
ling to know foraething of the Affairs of Po-
land^ I thought nothing could be more agree-
able to your Temper, than that I Ihould in-
form you chiefly of the Heroick Adions of
that great Prince, with whom your Brother
for fo many Years fo prudently managed the
Intercft of the wifeft Republick in the World
in a long lingring War againfb the Ottoman
Empire. It is to his Kindnefs that I mull
pwn my felf indebted for the Honour I have
had of being in the Efleem of fo Warlike
a King, and of being moreover entrufted
154 Elehion of Let. IV.
with the Care of what was moil dear to
him.
John Sobieskt^ my Lord, is not fb much to
be efteem'd for his memorable Exploits after
his Eleftion, as for his Merits, and the wife
Gonduft by which he advanc'd himfelf from
a private Gentleman of an indifferent For-
tune, and nothing at all related to any of the
former Kings, through all the Polls of the
Army to the Crown of Poland^ notwithffand-
ing the feveral powerful Fadions which ap-
pear'd againll him.
Immediately after the Death of the late
King Michael Wiefnowiski^ John Sobieski then
Crown-General gave a fignal Overthrow to
the Turh near Caminiec^ which caus'd a great
Alteration in the Repnblick of Poland j for
thereupon the Turhtjh y^ga and Tieafurer
were not fo peremptory in their demanding
Annual Tribute lhamefully ftipulated for by
Michael^ as they had been before, but were
contented to be put off to the Diet of Eledion.
A Diet The Senate being affembled, order'd pub-
ciJl'd-, lick Rejoicings, and began their Sefflon by
leaving off their Mourning for the late King.
The Diet which preceded that of the Eledtion
was appointed to meet the i^th.Di January
1(^74, which was defign'd to be termi-
nated in 15 days \ but the ordinary Diflur-
bances that arofe in thefe fort of Aflemblies,
together with the Inclination which every
body had to advance General Sobiesh^ occa-
fion'd it to be prorogu'd till the iid or 2^d
of February^ without doing any thing but
afligning a Jointure to the Queen Dowager.
The
Jo^in Sobieski. 155
The 2Cth of ^pril began the Diet of Eledi- Poceeds to
on i the Candidates were in great number,
and every ones Pretenfions were heard. The
Cz.ar of /Ufufcovy^ who had been fo often
baffled at preceding Elections, yet made freffl
Interefl: at this. His Envoy demanded the
Crown for his Mafter's youngefl: Son, who
was then about thirteen or fourteen Years of
Age; but however he neither made lb great
Profers as formerly, nor us'd any Threats,
for he would' then have been laugh'd at, Po-
land being at that junfture in a much better
condition than before. Next the Prince of
T'ranfilvania ofFer'd fifteen Millions of Money,
aslikewife that he would unite his Principa-
lity to Poland^ and maintain fifteen thoufand
Men in the Service of that State againll the
Turk: but thefe Propofitions were look'd
upon too confiderable to be either real o'r
pollible; for the Poles believ'd that they had
poflefs'd therafelves of the greateft Treafure
of Tranftlvania when they chofe Stephen Ba-
tori for their King. The Eledor of Branden-
burg likewife had fome hopes in favour of the
Prince his Son,/ when he profer'd that he
Ihould change his Religion as foon as ever he
was eleded; but he foon quitted his Preten-
fions when he conlider'd what had pafs'd in
regard to the Germans and Protelfants in for-
mer Eledions. If this Prince had been a Ro-
man Catholick, his Family might have had juft
Pretences to Poland by the Interefl of uniting
Ducal Pru/Jia to that Kingdom.
The Dukes of Modena and Parma had alfo Several.
their Envoys at this Eledion; but whereas Crindt-
every body thought their bufinefs was to ask
the
Tloe EleFlion of Let. IV.
the Crown, they only came to condole the
Death of the late King, and congratulate the
Poles on their Vidory at Chochim^ fo that
they did not add to the number of the Com-
petitors.
Don Pedro di Ronquillos came from Spain
without taking upon him the Quality of Em-
baflador; His Inftrudions were to recommend
Duke Charles of Lorain^ after he had done his
belt in favour of Don John of Aufiria-, but
this Policy did not take, and the Council of
Spain afterwards found another Expedient to
rid themfelves of this Prince.
A French A French Prince, whofe Name was not
Princepro- mention'd (tho I fuppofe it was the Prince
pos'd, but of Conde) occafion'd the mofl: Jealoufy of all
not nam d. j.-pj,g other Pretenders to the CrOwn
were not a little pleas'd that this Prince was
not nam'd. The Duke of Neuburg renewM
his former Pretcnfions, tho they had fuc-
ceeded fo very ill. He did not defire the
Crown for himfelf, but for his younger Son
' Prince Philip. This Duke made the like
Profers for his Son as he had done for him-
felf at the preceding Diet. The Duke of
Lorain folicited powerfully on his part, and
Queen^ thc Queen Dowager had pawn'd even her
Jewels to augment his Party \ but a falfe Re-
port, of which forae Letters from Rome gave
the occafion, was intended to fruftrate all his
Endeavours: It was reported that this Prince
was marry'd to the Eraprefs Dowager. Every
body knew the Obligations he had to that
Princefs, and how fhe granted him Protection,
and made the Emperor his Friend after he had
been depriv'd of his Patrimony by Prance ^
J
J
John Sobieski. 15/
but notwithftanding the Queen Dowager
ftill continuM her Efteem for him, and fbon
diffipated the Rumours rais'd againfl him, by
which (he brought over the Lithuanians, who
leem'd altogether to have forfaken the Inte-
reft (he had before engag'd them in.
At length the number of Competitors was Only three
rednc'd to three, in favour of whom as many Oompeti-
Fadions were form'd, all which threaten'd
bad Confequences. The firft Faftion was
that of Lithuania, headed by the Grand Ge-
neral Patn, who declar'd for the Duke of
Lorain. It was obferv'd that whilft Patz. was
difcourfing \vith Sobieski, Grand Marlhal of
the Crown, at the Camp of Chocain, Sobieski
faid, that it was convenient to choofe a King that
was rich, 'valiant, and not young; ,to which
Patz, added, And who above all is not marry"*d.
This fufSciently (hewM, that whether the
Prench Prince or Sobieski was propos'd, it would
be no fmall difficulty to obtain the Confent
of the Lithuanians, who would have no King
but fuch a one as was in a condition to marry
after his Eledion. The fecond Fadion was
that of the Polijh Gentry, which was not
at all confiderable by reafon that it was di-
vided, one Part being for a Piajlo, and two
others for the Duke of Neuburg, and the Duke
of Lorain. The Army compos'd the third
Fadion, which was the moft to be fear'd. Ge-
neral Sobieki proposM the Prench Prince, but
in reality work'd under-hand for himfelf.
Prance employ'd its Intereft for the Duke oi^bofe in-
Neuburg, looking upon him as lefs engag'd
to the Floufe of Aufiria than the Duke oi
Lorain, who was indebted to that Family for
all
158 The EleHion of Let. IV.
all he either had or could expeft. If this
French Prince had been but nam'd when he
was put up, doubtlefs be would foon have
ruin'd the Meafures of the Germans^ for
whom the Republick never had any Kindnefs,
who confequently might have fav'd them-
' lelves a great deal of fruitlefs Charge had
the/ never thought of the Crown of Poland j
but on the contrary, their Ambition has all
along hitherto furmounted the,Dilates of
their Reafon.
Afigmficent The Gentry arrivM at the Diet one after
Trains, another with their Followers •, but however
none had any thing like the Train of the two
Marlhals of the Crown and of Lithuania: their
Parries feera'd too numerous to aflill at a
Diet where there is fo much Freedom as in
that of Poland. Neverthelefs muft be
indulged confidering the great Services he
had done the State, and common Juftice re-
quir'd the fame Liberty for the Lithuanians.
Thefe two Generals no doubt had different
Intentions. Sobieski apparently fought the
Crown from himfelf, and Patz. his Defign was
to hinder him from obtaining it. Both had a
fair opportunity to come to Blows, but it
feems Fate had ordcrM it otherwife, tho the
Duke of Lorain was with an Army on the
Borders of Silefia to animate his Friends,
tithuania The Lithuanians., who plainly perceiv'd that
againji a Sobieski aim'd at the Crown, omitted nothing
Aativc. that might prove a means to exclude him
from it; They therefore endeavour'd all they
could to raife ill Thoughts of a Piajlo, and
proclainfd thofe Enemies to their. Country
who were not of their Opinion. This was
/ thought
IQng John Sobieski. 155^
thought fo very unjuft, that moft of the Diet
protefted againft it, and that with fo great
Indignation, that there would doubtlefs have
been a great deal of Blood Ihed had not the
great Prudence of Sapieha grand Treafurer
of Lithmnia^ and Marlhal of the D/et, inter-
cepted and appeas'd their Fury.
The firfl: that had Audience of this AlTem- foreign
bly was Francis Bonvifius the Pope's Nuncio^ "'y"'v/v
who defir'd them in the Name of his Holinefs ^
to eleft a Catholick Prince. Next Chrifiopher
Count of Schafgots the Emperor's Embaflador,
recommended the Duke of Lorain'^ as like-
wife did the Bifliop of Marfeilles the eldeft
Son of the Duke of Neuburg, in t|Le Name of
his Mailer the King of France. Th^ Minillfers of
thefe two Competitors made almoll the fame
Profers as they had formerly done ^ yet not-
withflanding the before-mentioned different
Faftions, did not forfake the Interell of thofe
whofe Party they had efpousM ^ for that of
Sobieski continu'd to infill, in all outward ap-
pearance, on the Anonymous French Prince,
whofe Charader had procur'd him a great
many Suffrages. And the other of the Great
Chancellor Patz.^ tho not fo llrong, yet was
not a whit lefs conllant to the Interell of the
Qpecn and Duke of Lorain. Both thefe \t- A doMeE-
maining fo obllinate in their Pretenfions, gave
great reafon to apprehend a doable Eledion,^*^^ ''
which caus'd feme of the more prudent fort
to reprefent the great Diforders that had
enfu'd from thence-in the preceding Eledions
of the Kings Batori and Sigifmund-, but this
with little or no effed.
Thcfe
/
ii^b The EkB'ion of Let.IV.
"thefe Contefts and Heats occafion'd the
Diet to be prolong'd to the ipffo of May.
The Senate deputed four or five Bifhops to the
Queen to acquaint her, that if her Majcfty
would pleafe to forfake the Intereft of the
Duke of Lorain.^ they had orders to offer her
Prince Fhilip of Neuburg for her Husband, to-
gcther with the Crown. Thcfe Minifters,
the Qiieen received very civilly, and thank'd
the Senate for their Kindnefs to her, but
withal infinuated, that fhe did not believe that
the nuecn they were yet abfolute Matters of the Elefti-
and Patz on, fince her Friends the Lithuamans had not
vmr'd to The fame Prelats perceiving
be feduc'd. the unalterable Refolution of the Queen, went
in quell of the Grand General Patz.^ whom
they alfo found firm in the Duke of LorairC^
Intereft, which yet they could not but com-
mend in him, he having had great Obliga-
tions to the Queen.
Lithujnia The next day all the Gentry of Poland and
tends to- Lithuania met again, each Party refolving to
tfards a maintain what they had undertaken. It was
Civil War. plainly to be perceiv'd that Sobieshi was ftrong
enough to make himfelf Head of the Eledion,
and therefore the other fide had thoughts of
joining the Duke of Lorain's Army j but this
made all Men tremble who had regard to the
Good of thePublick. Atlaft the Palatin of
Ruffia made a Speech to the Affembly, re-
prefenting, That the Queen having refused a
Husband which the Government had frofer''dher,
the Republick had no more to do with her j and that
they had done but too much already for the Houfe
of Auftria Germany, neither of which had
ever dm them any Service j that notwithfianding
John Sobieski. 16 i
the Oppofition of the Lithuanians who did hut
dijhonour thtir Country by excfuding a Piafto, yet
they ought (V choofe one, to Jhew the World that if
their Ancejlars had not done the like oftner, it was ^
becaufe they had a mind to avoid the Jealou/ies
which would have arifen between fo many Subjeds
that deferv^d the Crown j and that ftnce ncrw there
was one prefent whofe Merit was not to be quefiiond,
they ought forthwith to eleli him. Then he pro-
ceeded to name John Sobieski with this Cha-
rafter. That his Life had been entirely devoted to
the Service of the State, which even while he was
fpeaking, peaceably enjoyed the Fruits of his late
P'tClory Chocim ', and further, that this pre-
fent Happinefs was hut a Specimen of what he
wds able to do for his Country: and laftly,
that the Crown was due to Sobieski out of
meer Gratitude and Acknowledgment, fmce it was
through his means that they fat there, and had a
Power to difpofe of it.
The Gentry of Ruffia being influenc'd by Poland
what tfieir had faid, immediately de-^"dpa)tof
clar'd for Sobieski, who was a Native of their
Province, and all the reft of Poland foon fol-
low'd their Example ^ together with fome<j speech.
Palatinates of Lithuania, brought over by the
Management of Prince Radz.ivil Vice-Chan-
cellor of that Dutchy •, every one being for-
ward to deferve Favours from one whom they
had acknowledg'd for their Prince.
The Great General of Lithuania being patz rc-
highly difpleas'd at all thefe Proceedings, left Sres and
the Diet in a Heat, and together with his'^#''^^ >
Friends maich'd out of the Field about Nine
at Night, no body being able to bring him
back. Hereupon he immediately enters Pro-
M tejt
i6i Tf?e EkBm of Let. IV.
tefi againft this Eleftion, alledging that it
was againft the Coiiftitution of the Kingdom
for any King to be chofen \yithont the com-
rnon Confent. The next day, being the loth
of May-, the Lithuanians return'd into the
Field, but retir'd after having made their
Proteftations againft this Eledion; where-
upon leveral Senators and Nuncio\ were fent
to re-cal them, but their Anfwer was, that
they were going to deliberate upon the Mat-
' ter, and would inform them of their Refo-
lutions by their Deputies. The Poles and Li'
thuanians who had efpous'd SobieskPs Intereft,
forthwith commanded the Bifhop of Cracow
to proclaim him *, which notwithftanding
this Prelate declin'd, wifely forefeeing the
Diforders fo rafli an EleAion might occafion,
and which might probably end in a Civil
War,
Complies The Deputies of Lithuania arriv'd a little
nith thr wlule after whereof the Chief being the
re!} qf Li-Bifhop of r<7>w,Br Other to the Grand General,
thuania. deliver'd the Meflage, giving Sobieski theTi-
tie only of Grand Marfhal; yet in the con-
clulion of his Difcourfe he told them, that
he was ready to give his Vote for him, but
defir'd the proclaiming him might be defer'd
till next day, to the end the Lithuanians
might affift at it, and thereby the Eledion
become unanimous: which Requeft of his was
readily granted. Whereupon the 21ft of
APay Andrew Trzebicki Bifnop of Cracow, who
prefided at the Diet in the room of the Pri-
mate Cz.artoriski juft then deceas'd (which
happen'd very well for Sobieski, the Primate
having been no Friend of his) went with the
t Sena-
l^ng John Sobieski, 163
Senators before the New Prince to the Place
of Eledion, where they were met by the Li'
thmnians with their General Patz. at their
head, who was too politick not to aflift there
with his whole Family.
John Sobieski was foon after 'pro- John III.
claim'd, and the Gentry proceeded to ling "^74*
Te Deum in the Cathedral of Warfaw, end-
ing the Day with ufual Acclamations and Re-
joicings.
This Prince was defcended of a Noble and
Antient Family, tho none of the molt confi-
derable, nor richell in the Kingdom. His Fa- mFather.
ther James Sobieski was CafieUan of Cracovia.,
a Perfon no lefs eminent for his Abilities in»
Affairs of State, than rcnownM for his doti-
rage and Condud in the Field. He was em-
ploy'd in the Year 1621, as Embalfador and
Plenipotentiary upon a Treaty of Peace, which
by his Prudence and Addrefs was honourably
concluded with Sultan Ofman. He diftinguilh'd
himfelf likewife on many other impqrtant Oc-
cafions i and after federal other great Services
faithfully performed for his Country, hedy'd
in the Year 1645.
His Mother was one of the Daughters o(Hi{Mother.
Stanijlaus Zolkiewski, Grand Chancellor and
Grand General of the Crown, who bravely
fought that memorable Battle at Ckora on
the 19th of September 16io i and tho he was
again five times attacked by the Turks on the,
2d of OHober in the fame Year, yet he gallant-
ly repuls'd them, till at lafl; being overpow-
er'd with Numbers, and forfaken by his Fol-
lowers, he was ikin, couragioufly fighting
M 2 among
ifL-4 AHions of Let.IV.
among the thickeft Troops of his Enemies.
This Prince was carefully educated by
liii Tra- his Parents in his Youth, and fent to travel
into France^ where his Father bought him a
Captain of Horfe's Comminion , which gainM
him great Experience: He alfo travelPd into
,JE.ngUMd^ Germany and Italy \ where having
obferv'd all the different Manners, Interefts,
Laws, Military Difcipline, Strength and Poli-
cies of thofe People, and, in a word, all elfc
that was neceflary for a Perfon of Quality to
learn in his Travels, he at laft return'd home,
when Cafimir after feveral Trials both of his
Valour and Difcretion, and admiring at his
great Merit and quick Parts, which he had
improved fo well both in Languages, Scien-
CCS, and Military Accomplilhments, made
him firll a Colonel of Foot, and afterwards
Captain of his Guards ^ and from thence
advanc'd him gradually through all the
Polls of his Army, till he arriv'd at being
Grand Marlhal of the Crown in the room of
Lubemirski, and Grand General of Poland in
the rooin'of Potoski. He behavM himfelf in
■all thefe Employments with that Courage and
Prudence as became a Souldier, and was re-
puted the Hero of his Age, and the Terrour
of the Ottoman Empire.
Jifar- He marry'd Mary de la Grange^ Daughter to
riagc. " the Marquefs of ( not long fince made
Cardinal-) of the Family of La Grange in Ni-
•vermis in France. She, by the contrivance of
KingC(2y/wz;V'sQiieen,to whom Ihe was Maid of
Honour, was firll marry'd to Prince Zamoiski^
one of the greatell Palatins in the Kingdom,
and after his Death to the Grand General So-
t biesU.t ^
John Sobieski. i6^
biezki^ by whom fiie had feveral Children,
and amongft the rcit three hopeful Princes,
the eldell: of which lias the Honour to be
Brother-in-Law to the Emperonr, King of
Spain^ King of Portugal^ and to the Duke of
Aiodena^ by marrying one of the Prihcefles
of Neuburgh.
This Prince was not Crowa'd till above fif-
teen Months after his Eledioh during w|ji(Jh
time, he gain d great Advantages over the
Turks^ and forc'd them to a Peace at Zorowna^
whereby they were oblig'd to remit the yearly
Tribute, ftipulated for by King Afchatl^ but
were ftill to be left in poUeflion of the Fortrefs
of Caminkc.
At the time of his Eledion he was plcas'd Hif Gen!-
to promife, of his own free Will and Motion,
that the Qiieen-Dowager fhould be provided
for futably to her high Qiiality and extraor-
dinary Merit •, as alfo, that the Arrears of the
Army Ihould be forthwith difcharg'd out of
his own Revenues, lince the publick Stock was
then hardly able to do it. He conferr'd the
Command of Grand Marfhal on Prince
trius, Uncle to the late King, and that of
Lieutenant General of the Crown, thereby
becoming vacant, on the Palatin of Cracovia,
But as he fignify'd his Refolution to profecute
the War againft: the Turk with the utraoft Vi-
gour, fo he promis'd that at his own parti-
cular Charges he would raife one thoufand
Foot, and maintain them during the War y
and this to encourage the Senators and other
Great Men of the Kingdom, to do the like
proportionably; For which reafon, he defir'd
that he might retain the Command of Great
M 3 General
\66 The AB'wn of Let. IV.
General in his ow.n hands till the Campagn
was ended, for that the prefent Urgency of
Affairs was like to prevent his Coronation.
To which Propofitions the Nobility immedi-
ately aflented.
/ Jointure Purfuant to the King's Promife, the Queen-
affiin'dtbe Dowager, by the Confent of the Diet, had a
Hueen- yearly Revenue of two hundred thoufand
Vovrager. Guilders affign'd her, with Liberty to rcfide
in any of the PoUfh Dominions, except Cra-
cow, or fome other fortify'd Places on the
Borders of Silefia •, whereupon her Majefty
made choice of Thorn in PruJJia for her Reli-
dence.
Tho the King was nroft felicitous to carry
on the War againft the Turk, yet the Nobility
and Senators were generally as remifs therein:
for tho they had promis'd him Maintenance
for fixty thoufand Men, yet he now defir'd
but forty thoufand ■, however, fuch were their
Diffenfions and Jealoulies, that they would not
afford him fo many.
Notwithllanding, to oppofe the Turh,
Mufcovites and Tartars in the Vkraine, he got
together a fmall Army of about fifteen or fix-
teen thoufind Men, with which he march'd
from Warfaw the 2ad of Auguji, towards the
Frontiers •, when at the fame time the Muf-
covite General's Army confifled of above one
hundred thoufand ^ but which neverthelefsdid
no damage, being diverted by thQ Turhs by a
Stratagem, infomuch that thefe, with the Thr-
tars, quickly got poffefiion of &\\ykrama, ex-
cept two or three Places.
The
I^ng John Sobieski. 167
The Troops of Lithuania^ confifting o"f about
twelve thouland Men, came up to the King,
which made his Army amount to near thirty
thoufand^ fo that he immediately call'd a
Council of War at Slotz.ow^ and refolvM to
march diredly toward the Vkra'me^ with de-
fign to fall upon the Enemy with all the fury
imaginable, notwithilanding forne Overtures
of Peace made him by the : But this
was looked upon by the Poles only as a Strata-
gem to amufe them, and foment the Jealou-
lies of the Mufcovitcs ^ by which means the
Turks thought to divicle them.
Accordingly, upon his Approaches, he fends
out the IVoievodof Rujjla to learn the Condi-
tion of the Enemy, who, near the Walls of
Catniniec^ fiirpriz'd and defeated a thoufand
Turkifh Horfe, and brought a hundred and
fifty away Prifoners. Whereupon he pro-
cceds vigoroufly, and takes feveral Towns of
great Importance in Podolia.
But at this time the Lithuanians would needs
leave his Majeity and return home, alledging,
that they were not able to bear the rigour of
the Winter. But neverthelefs the King with
his Gallant Poles refolvM to continue the Cam- ffk Con
pagn, and pufli on his good Fortune \ fcarce a
Week paffing, but fome conliderable Place or
other was yielded to him, the Turks all this
while not daring in the leaft to oppofe him*.
So that now his Majefty had fubdu'd all that
part of Vkraina^ which lies Weftward of the
Nieper^ except only the City of Czxbryn.
In April \ the Turks and Tartars began
in numerous Bodies to take the Field : not-
withftanding the King, animated by his na-
M 4 tural
1^8 Tk Aclions of Let. IV.
tnral Courage, refolvM not to ftiv a foot,
but forthwith reinforc'd the feveral Garifons
of Mohtlon\ Bradaw^ Kalmick and
Bialiderhcvc\ which done, lie had hardly for-
CCS enough left to deferve die Name of an
Army.
The Turks and Tartars^ after having been
baffled at Slotskorv^ march'd dircdlly towards
Leo^ol, where the King's Array lay within a,
Mile of the Town. That way the Enemy was
to approach, there was an Afcent of about
three hundred Paces, when one was to defcend
again by a very narrow Way, amidlt a Wood
that had lately been cut down. At the foot
of this Hill there was a Plain, through which
the Tartars muft necelfarily pafs to come at
the Poles. Here the King polled his Brother-
in-Law Duke Radzivil with fome Troops for
Cuard of the Pafs on the Right-hand of his
Camp. And General Kariski on the Left,
caus'd feveral Cannon to be planted on a Hill,
whence they might annoy the Enemy in the
Plain. He alfo caus'd the Wood on each
fide the narrow Way to be well lin'd with fe-
veral Companies of Musketeers. After which
hisMajefty order'd fome Troops of Horfe to
advance into the Plain to oppofe the Enemy,
who about four in the Afternoon appear'd in
fuch Numbers, that they almoll cover'd the
Ground. In the mean time the King from a
Hill obferv'd their Motions: After which
with his ufual Air of Gallantry, common to
him in time of Adion, at the Head of the
remaining part of his fmall Army he defcend-
ed into the Plain, encouraging his Souldiers,
by telling them that he came there with full
, . Refolu-
'' John Sobieski. \6^
k Refolution either to conquer, or die. Where- a Battle.
upon, repeating thrice the Name of Jefus^
he briskly advanced towards the Enemy. The
■' Fight began with great Fury on both lides •,
"h the King omitting nothing either as to Cou-
rage or Conduft, but performing both the
k part of a mofb prudent General and a vali-
k' antSouldier, by his Example infpiring all the
'in reft of his Officers, infomuch that with this
fmall handful of Men he forc'd Multitudes of
k the Enemy to fly before Night, leaving be-
hind them incredible Numbers flain upon the
Place.
The King would gladly have purfuM the
Enemy, but that the Night prevented j and
IKS that he fear'd likewife, left the Cham might
OK come up to their Affiftance. In this memo-
Dsfe rable Vidtory, the greateft perhaps that has
)fiii been known in any Age, the King had not
Uk aftually with him much above five thoufand
iHil Men, the reft having been left to fecure the
kii City of Leopol and the Paftes. With this fmaft
K' Party, to defeat by downright Fighting an
[ill' Army of threefcore thoufand Men, has
A more of Prodigy than Probability in it; yet fo
tfet great was the Fright and Confternation of
nep thefe Tartars^ that they fled in one Night as
many Leagues as they had march'd in three
dii Days before.
dofi But here this Difpute did not end, for the
jtd! Cham and Ifmael Bajfa^ to fhcw they were not
lojii), difmay'd at this ill Succefs, refolv'd to march
iftj; againft the King ^ and in order thereto, com-
eij!.' manded a Body of two thoufand Janizaries out
iefi to attack a Caftle near Brzeziani, wherein
fjj were only fixty Po/«, who defended them-
felves /
I70 Tl^e ASlions of Let, IV.
felves fo bravely, that they repuls'd the Enc-
my with great Lofs.
Soon after a Body of ten thoufand Tartars
advancing fomewhat near the City of L^opol^
the King fent out the Lord Harkowniskj/ with
a good Squadron of Horfe againft them, who
after a brisk Engagement forc'd them to take
to their Heels, leaving Thoufands of their
Companions dead upon the Spot, In this
Aftion there were feveral brave Polijh Gen-
tleraen flain.
Afterwards the King being again join'd by
the Lithuanians^ by which his Army amonnted
to fifteen thoufand Men, marchM to feek out
the Enemy, tho by a modefi: computation they
might be reckon'd feven times as'many.
But underftanding that the Enemy had be-
Podhais fieg'd Podhavs, he was marching thither to
taken by relieve it *, when, by the way, he receivM In-
f/jf Turks, telligence of its being furrender'd, burnt and
plunder'd, and twelve thoufand Perfons made
Prifoners, tho the Garifon had expreily capi-
tulated to march out with Bag and Baggage.
The Kin^ was extreamiy nettl^ that fo many
Chriftians fliould be made Slaves, and his Ter-
ritories laid defolate •, therefore he refolv'd
forthwith to remedy it, or perifh in the At-
tempt, for he march'd the fame day towards
the Enemy, who were then fet down before
BuesLdlz. i but upon notice of his Approaches,
they rais'd their Siege, and retreated with all
their Forces to Trembowla^ wiiich they likewife
inverted. Here they were often repuls'd with
great Lofs, yet continu'd obrtinate to purfue
their Enterpriie, till at lart happening to in-
tercept a Feafant that was carrying a Letter
from
IQng John Sobieski. i
from the King to the Governour, wherein
his Majefty afTur'd him, that he was coming
with all fpeed to his Relief ^ the Terronr of
King SobieskPs Name llruck fuch a faintnefs
into the Infidels, that they immediately dif-
lodg'd their Cannon from their Batteries,
wliich confiftedof a hundred Pieces, and forth-
with march'd towards Caminiec with a great
deal of Confufion. Nay, fo great was their
Confternation, that under the Cannon of Ca-
miniec they thought not themfelves fufficient-
ly fecure ^ for not daring to ftand an Engage-
ment with the Poles^ they refoiv'd to/pafs the
Niefier^ and march towards ralachia: Yet
this they could not do fo fpeedily, but Prince
Lubomirski^ with part of the King's Army, fell
upon their Rear, and flew great Numbers of
them. The Turh^ by the Fear they were in
of being farther purfu'd, re-pafs'd the Da-
mhe^ and the Tartars return'd home with
great Precipitation by the way of Bialogrod.
Whereupon the King refoiv'd to put his Ar-
my into Winter-quarters, and fo to return
home; which he did to the Joy and Satisfac-
tion of all his Subjefts.
It being now high time to prepare for the
Ceremony of the Coronation, January the 17th
the Corps of the late King Michael was con-
vey'd from IVarfaw in a Herfo drawn by eight
Horfes, attended by all the Officers of his
Houfliold, and foveral Perfons of Quality, to
Cracow \ where, together with the Body of
King Caftmir, likewife brought lately out of
France^ it was honourably interr'd, all De-
cency and Refped being paid to both their
Memories. This Ceremony being difpatch'd.
1/1 Tl^e AFlions of Let. IV.
ffif Coro- John Sobieski^ with h s Q]ieen Aiary^ v;ere both
Kdt'm. Crown'd in the Caftle of Cracow the 2d of Te-
bruary^ in the Year 1*575, with great Pomp
and Magnificence.
After this the King applying himfcif to
fupply the Vacancies (as iifual ) made Lubo-
tnirski Grand Marfhal of the Kingdom ^ the
Lord Sininwski Court-Marlhal, and Prince De-
metrius Wifnomski Palatin of Bdtz.. He like-
wife beftow'd the Command of General of the
Forces of the Kingdom on Jablorvnorvski Palatin
of RuJJia^ at prefent Great General of Po-
land.
In June following Sultan Nuradin., with the
two Sons of the Great Cham^ pafs'd the Nie-
f er with a great Army, having fent out Par-
ties before to ravage the Country. At the
fame time Ibrahim Bajfa advanc'd likewife to
feveral Polls about Caminiec. Whereupon
the King order'd what Troops he could get
together near Leopol, where they were to ren-
dezvouz, and likewife convok'd the PofjoUte.,
or Militia, for the defence of the Country.
My Lord The fame Year his £.xcellency Mr. Hyde.,
Roche- now Earl of Rochefler., was fent Embalfador
^I'r^ia 'o Majelly Charles the Ild to the Court
P^jand"in of Poland, to congratulate the King upon his
the Tear Accellion to the Crown, and to Hand for his
i6y6i. Mailer Godfather to the young Princefs, now
Ele£lorefs of Bavaria. He arrivM at Dantz.ic
in Auguft, where meeting with the Qiieen of
Poland, who made a Journey thither while
the King was in the Field, he had Audience
of her Majelly there, and prefented the young
Princefs her Daughter with a very rich Jewel,'
a Crofs of Diamonds of great Value : He af-
terwards
K^ng John Sobieski. 173
terwards fet forward for Poland, and was re-
ceived by the King in iiis Camp near Leopl
in Rujjia, with Demonftrations of Refped and
Kindncfs futable to his Charader and Perfon;
where his Majefty fent fome of his chief Offi-
cers to Ihew him the Army, and their way of
Encamping.
The Turks and Tartars began to appear now
very formidable, and yet at the fame time
continu'd fo fenfible of their laft Year's De-
feats, and fo dreaded the Name of King So-
hieski^ that they feem'd to defire nothing more
than Peace j for which purpofe the Grand
Seignior, by the Prince of Moldavia, made con-
an Overture for a Treaty, which was
cepted after a Battle pin'd by the Poles^ and ^ ^
fome other fmall Mifchiefs done on both
fides.
The Peace being thus happily concluded to
the Advantage of Poland^ his Majefty return'ii
in November to Zulkiew, his own Patrimony,
whither my Lord Rochejler waiting upon him. Audience to
had his publick Audience there in a more fo- the Eng-
lemn Manner than before. He was firft car-
ried in the King's Coach, and then received
by the Court-Marlhal, (yvho is in the Nature
of a Lord Chamberlain ) at the Stairs-foot of
the Palace, and was conduded to his Majefty,
who receiv'd him ftanding under a rich Cano-
py of State: and after two Mbnths refiding
there, his Excellency had his Audience of
Leave, and return'd into England through Si-
lefia, Aufiria^ and the Empire.
The Poles enjoy'd this Peace with the Turks
till the Year 1583, when they came under the •
Command of Cara Mupaoha their Grand
xier.
174 TJ)e JSlms of Let. IV.
z.ier^ to befiege Vienna^ whereof Count Sta-
He relieves renberg was Governour. The King, with his
Vienna. Son Prince James, Prince Lubomirski, and moll
of the Polijh Grandees, came with an Army
only, as they afTur'd me, of twenty four thou-
land Men to relieve it. This the King of
Poland was oblig'd to by the. Alliance fign'd
with his Imperial Majelly in 1683. When be-
ing join'd % the Imperial Army, together
with the Electors of Bavaria and Saxony, the
Duke of Lorain, and a great Number of other
Princes of the Empire, in all amounting to
near fifty thoufand Men j he attack'd the
' Turks with fuch Bravery and Condudl, that on
the 12th of September they, tho confifting of
191800 Men, as appear'd by a Lift found in
the Grand riser's Tent, were oblig'd, after
an entire Defeat, to raife the Siege, and re-
Defeat of tire towards Hungary. The great Standard
the Turks, Horfe's Tail were taken by the Poles,
who obftinately purfu'd the Turks in their '
flight, tho nagreatway, being too much fa-
tigu'd before. There was alfo great Booty
found in the Turki/h Camp, which was wholly
plunder'd, even to the Tent of the Grand Ti-
z.ier, where they met with great Riches in
Gold, Silver, and other precious things. All
their Ammunition and Baggage, with their
Artillery, confifting of above a hundred Pic-
ces of Cannon, were taken.
This mighty Vidory was obtain'd with not '
above the Lofs of a thoufand Men on the Chrif-
tians fide, and of thofe very few Perfons of
Quality. This Overthrow was chiefly afcribM
• to the great Condud and Courage of the King
of Poland, who expofed his Perfon among the
thickeft
I^ng Jolin Sobieski. 175
tluckefl: of the Enemy, having always by him
the Prince his Son, who thus early fignaliz'd
himfelf. Nor ought the Eledorsof Bavaria
and Saxony^ the Duke of Lorain and Prince
Waldec^to go without their lhare in the Glory,
lince they all behav'd themfelves fo wonder-
fully well in this memorable Adion.
The King made his Entry into Vienna^ Hit Entry
through the Breach, with great Acclamations
of the People, the great Turkijh Standard be- of
ing carry'd before him, which he afterwards
fent to the Pope, and which I have feen hung
up in the Church at Loretto in Italy. Next day
after his Entry, the Emperour came to meet
him,and made him his Acknowledgments with
the moft endearing Expreflions imaginable,
while K. John rcceiv'd his Compliments with a
Modefty equal to his Courage. After his Im-
perial Majefty had order'd a rich Sword, fet
with Diamonds, to be prefented to Prince
James., he departed, and the King of Poland
decamp'd with his Army, and march'd to- purfnes
wards Wifena in Hungary, and thence by a
Bridg of Boats over the Danube, about a Mile
below Presburg, on the twenty fifth of Septem-
her-, and on the twenty feventh the Imperial
Army follow'd him over the fame Place.
On the ninth of OCiober, underltanding that
a Body of about fourteen thoufand Tu^s lay
encamp'd near Barkan, being the choiceft of
the remaining Troops,under the Command of
feveral Bajjds, the King of Poland, and fome
of the Imperial Troops, advanc'd thither.
The Turks no fooner faw them, but they
march'd briskly up, and charg'd them very
defperately j but being as warmly receiv'd,
after
m\
11
1^6 '■ The/flions of Let. IV.
after a fharp Encounter the Infidels were put
to flight ^ one of their BajTas flain; another
taken, and the reft of them hurrying over the
Bridg at Cran^ the fame broke, and all that
were upon it drown'd *, fo that of all that
great Body of Men, there were fcarce four
thoufand efcap'd.
The next confiderable Exploit was the tak-
lyccWn in '"8 Zytchin^ a Place of great Importance
Hungary, Hmgary; for the King having parted with
the Duke of Lorain^ and underftanding that
the Turks had a confiderable Garifon at that
Place which might incommode the Communi-
cation betwixt his Troops and the Imperia-
lifts, he fent his Son with the Palatin of Luh-
I'm to inveft it j but the Garifon foon retir'd
into the Caftle, which the King immediately
commanded to be ftorm^ : Whereupon the
Turks hung out a white Flag, and the Com-
raander in Chief, with two others, came out
and begg'd his Majefty to permit them to
march to Euda, which was granted, and they
left behind them a great Quantity of Frovifi-
ons and Ammunition. This Town he put in-
to the hands of the Imperialifts. Next the
King fent to fummon twoCaftles, Brigh and
Holoch^ which foon yielded at Difcretion.
Then he returnM to his own Kingdom, but
left the LithuanianTtoo^s in Winter-quarters
behind him. He arriv'd at Cracovo the 21 ft of.
December, where he was joyfully receiv'd with
Teftimonies of an univerfal AfFedion from
his People; and to render his Triumphs yet
more compleat, he was faluted at his Arrival
with the News of the General of the Cofacks,
the Sieur Kiniskh having obtain'd a great
Vidory.
John Sobicski. 177
Viftory over the Turks and Tartars in the
Vkraine.
He afterwards made a League pffenfive and Enters mfn
Defenfive with the prefent Emperor,the Pope, League
and Venetians againfl the Turks, which has
continu'd ever lince, ^tho very little to the ^
advantage of either Sarty. The Po/w, fince
the Siege of Vienna^ have been highly difguft-
ed at the ill Treatment they receiv'd.from the
Germans^ whom they had deliverM from the
Turkifh Invafion ; and befides, it is thought i
that the King for feveral Years lean'd to- r
wards the French Intereft.
'Tis certain, that at laft he lov'd Money fo L immode'
well, that I heard the Poles themfelves fay, rately Co-^
That he was the molt covetous and richeft ""etom.
Prince that ever fway'd their Scepter. Eve-
ry Year, for the 22*Years he reign'd, they
computed that he laid up a hundred thou-
fand Pound ilerling •, all which Ihould have
been disbursed in the Expences of the War, as
all his PredeceiTors were wont to do. Some
of the Gentry told me moreover, that if his
Son James hapned to fucceed him, he would
be oblig'd to disburfe the belt part of that
Treafure to pay the eight Years .Arrears due
then to the Army.
As for what relates to King SobieskPs Per- fPs Perfin
fon, He Was a tall and corpulent Prince, large ^ndDrefs.
fac'd and full ey'd, went always in the fame
Drefs with his Subjedts ^ which becaufc it is
different from any other xnEuro^e^ I thought
an Account of it would not be unacceptable
to your Lordfhip. They have all their Hair cut
round about their Ears like Monks, and wear The Habits
furr'd Caps, large Whiskers, and no Neck-
H cloths
17^ 71:6 JSiions of LeT. IV.
cloths J a long Coat hangs down to their
Heels, and a Waftcoat under that of the
fame length tied clofe about the Wafte with
a Girdle : Their Sleeves are extream clofei
like thofe of Mariners, coming down to
their Wrifts, with a flap on the back of the
Hand, which reaches jlifTar as the middle Nuc-
kle, which they turn up in hot Weather, and
let down in cold, for they never wear any
Gloves. This long Coat is of ftrong Cloth,
and is lin'd in the Winter with rich Fur, but
in Summer only with light Silk •, tho I have
fecn at Court fome of the Perfons of Quality
wear Furs as they us'd to do in Winter, for
it is a fine Ornament; under this Waftcoat
they wear wide Shirts like Womens Smocks,
tied loofe rbout their Necks, with wide
Sleeves coming down to their Wrifts. As to
their Breeches they are likewife very wide,
and with their Stockings make one continued
piece. Inftead of Shoes they always Wear
both abroad and at home Turky Leather
Boots with very thin Soles, and hollow deep
Heels made of a blade of Iron bent hoopwife
into the form of a Half-moon. They carry a
large Scimiter, the Sheath equally fiat and
broad from the handle to the bottom; it's
generally fet richly with Diamonds, accord-
ing to the Qiiality of the Ferfon. It'.s cufto-
mary all over the Kingdom, not only among
the Gentry, but alfo amongft the Vulgar, to
cairy Pole-Axes in their Hands, or on their
Arras •, they take care that this Pole-Ax be
kept bright and fhining, with Plates of Silvtr
round the handle, and fometimes fet with
Jewels. I have fecn the Palatins and other
Sena-
IQng John Sobieski. I7p
Senators come with thofe Pole-Axes into the
King's Prefence, which feem'd when I came
firft to Court a frightful Sight, tho reckon'd
an Ornament j but I was inform'd that at
lirft it was for Defence, the Nation being
tumultuous and quai;f5liora, that they might
make ufe of thefe Pq^-Axes in a Throng
where their Scimiters could be of no ufe. This
Drefs looks extreme manly, particularly on
Horfeback, and is the moft expenfive of any
that I have feen in Europe ; for their Furs are
very fine and dear, their very Fur-Caps cofl
fometimes 20 or 30 Guineas: they change the
Fafliion of making their Clothes as often as our
Weftern Countries do.
The King was a well fpoken Prince, of ve- Uii chu'
ry eafy Accefs, and cxrreara civil, and had
moft of the good Qualities requilite in a Gen-
tleman \ he was not only well vers'd in all
Military Affairs, but likewife in all Polite
and Scholaftick Learning beiides his own
Tongue the Sclavonian, he underftood the
Latin, French, Italian, German and Turkifh
Languages^ he delighted much in Natural
Hiftory, and in all the parts of Phyfick ^ he
us'd to reprimand the Clergy for not admit-
ting into the Univerlity and Schools the Mo-
dern Philofophy he lov'd to hearPerfonsdif-
courfe of thofe Matters, and had a particular
Talent to fet People about him very artfully
by the Ears, that by their Difputes he might
be diverted, as hapned often in my time, ef-^ ^
pecially once when I was undelignedly con- the Author
cerned my felf:; the King being at a phyfi-
and having the Bifhops of Pofnanla^ Ploslo^cal Dif-
fnlna^ and other Divines about him, particu-^"^^*
N 2 iarly '
ABions of Let.IV.
larly Father Vqta, an ingenious Jefuit, the
King ask'd me in Latin, What part of the Bo-
dy I thought the Soul was in? I was willing to
decline talking of that Subjed, and told the
King, That being a Phyfician^my chief Enquiry was
about the Body, and that the Din/ines there prefent
were able to fatisfy his Majefiy. The King re-
ply'd. That fince the Soul has an Influence upon
the Body, and fince the Pajfions of the Mind, as
uinger and Fear, breed Fevers and other Diftem-
pers, it was necejfary that the Fhyficians jfhould
examine the. Soul in that refpeli as well as the
Body. I anfwer'd, That Fhyficians did enquire
into the Nature of Pajfions, and obferv'd that
there was fuch an Influence of the Soul upon the
Body, and of the Body upon the Soul, that altered
the thoughts of the one as well as the Operations of
the other -, but that the Soul being a Subftance invi-
fible, and without Extenfion, it was impojfllle for
Fhyficians to conceive the Nature of it themfelves,
or explain it to others, as they do that of the Bo-
dy, which they take into pieces by Anatomy, and
refolve into its minutejl Elements by Chymiflry,
that the Fhyficians only agree in the main, that,
the fupreme Author of things has ejlablifh d fuch
Laws between the Soul and the Body, which make
a mutual Correfpondence between them •, that as
for the Seat of the Soul, I might perhaps differ
from the Divines then prefent, and confequently
oppofe the common Dodrine of the Schools, for
they hold, with Ariftotle, that the Soul is entire
in all the Body, and wholly in every part of the
Body, which was impnjfible to conceive : for if
the Soul was entire in every part of the Body,
there would be as many Souls in the Body as thtrg
are Parts, Jince it is impojfible that the fclf-fame
Subftance,
John Sobieski.
Suhfiance^ tho an indiviftble Spirit^ can ever be in
two places at the fame time j be/ides^ the Soul can't
be but whtre it does thjnk^ and every one finds by
Experience^ that his Thought is not in his Hands
nor Feet^ but vs confcious to himfelf that h'vs Thought
is in his Head^ and that confeqUently the Soul
muft be only in the Brain^ which is the Seat of
Senfation, -and the Origin of all the Nerves^
which are the Organs of Perception and Aiotion.
Father F'ota being alarra'd at this- Dodtrine,
which feem'd altogether new in that part of
Europe^ laid. That if the Soul was only in the
Head^ the rejl of the Body would be dead^ fince
the received Opinion was^ that the Soul was the
Life of the whole Body, and that to enliven the
whole Body, the Soul muji he wholly prefent in every
part of it. This drew on a longer Difputc
than I expedted j for I anfwer'd, That the Ra-
tional Soul was not the Life of the Body, but the
Blood only and the Animal Spirits, and that this
Blood and Spirits circulated equally aU over the
Body^ and gave it its natural Heat and Motion,
which is properly its Life: and that this Circula-
tion of the Blood and Spirits could not pojfibly
depend on the Rational Soul, becaufe it was an
involuntary Motion formed by the Mechanic Struc-
ture of the Body, and by the natural Impulfe of
the Heart, which is the Primum Mobile of the
whole Machine ■, and that tho they all held not only
in Poland, but in other Countries, that the Ra-
tional Soul perform'd every minute Ailion in the
Body, yet this Opinion was irreconcilable with
the free (Mill of the Mind, which they all admitted:,
for fince they allow that whatever the Soul does,
not only it is confcious of it, but likcwife does it;
freely without being nece/Jitated thereto j when as
N 3 ' it
181
8i rk AB'iom of Let. IV.
it is evidently obhious to every one^ that the vital
Motions iti our Bodies^ i mean the Motion of the
Hearty and that of Refpration^ with the Perijlattic
Motion of the Stomach and Guts, are performed
naturally with fueh Mechanifm that the Soul can't
(lop them, no'nor cvs muth-MS haflen or retard
them, and that the Soul w not at all confcious of
thertr, for if wk think of any Objei}, or not think >
at all, 06 when we are ajleep, or in an Apoplex^
tbofe vital Motions £o on equally the fame.
The Bifhop of Pofnania, who was bred up
in his Youth a Phyhcian, feem'd to fpeak in
favour of this Opinion, as did likewife fomc
others of the Company which made the Je-
fuit very angry, infomuch that he acquainted
them in a kind of PalTion, Phat neither the King
nor they ought to hearken to any Difrourfe con-
trary to the received Opinion of the Church •, that it
might have been a pernicious Difcourfe had it been
publick: for (fays he ) if the Soul be not in all the
Body, and if it does not animate the Body and per-
form all its vital FunBions, it would be of no ufe,
and confequently we fhould live like other Animals.
I anfwer'd him. That doubtlefs the Operations of
Life were performed by the fame Mechanifm in us
as they were in Brutes, fsnce we have the fame Or-
gans with them, as likewife the fame Fluids to ew-
liven as: That the Prerogatives of the Soul are
not lefs for its not being prefent to every ABion
of the Body •, for the Soul, tho it is not the caufe
of fpontaneous or vital Motion in us, yet it per-
forms all voluntary ABions, as fpeaking, walk-
ing, and all other free Motions of the Body 5
it received all Imprefjions from the five Senfes •
it forms to it felf all Ideas of ambient Ob-
j^'ls : it reafons upon them, to know what's mojf
ufeful
John Sobieski. 185
ufeful and hurtful to it felf and to tht Body. Tlje
Souf in Jhort^ is like the Pilot^ tho it does not fet the
Body in motion.^ as the Wind does a Shi^.^ yet it is
capable of governing its A^iionsy and direSlmg
voluntarily its Courfe.
The King being thus fatisfied, that the ra- The Dif-
tional Soul did not aftuate, as they call it, or Me conti-
enliven all the Parts of the Body, defir'd to
know what was properly Death. The School
Divinity maintains that Death was a Separati-
on of the rational Soul from the Body. I own'd
indeed that in Death the Soul was aSlually
feparated from the Body^ but I could not al-
low that that Separation was the caufe of
Death., but that the Death of the Body was
the Ceffation of the Motion of the Heart., of
the Blood, and of the Spirits j which Cejfa-
tion could ilot proceed from the Separation of
■ the Soul, fince thefe don't at all depend upon
it, as I proved before j but it was occajjon'd
by fame Defeats in 'the Organs and Fluids of the
Body, which lofing their due Difpoftfon, and their
mutual Correfpondence with one another, all their
AS ions ceafe, which Ceffation is properly called
Death fo that the Soul finding them incapable of
receiving its Influence, and of obeying its Com-
mands, quits the Body after it is dead: by
which it appears that the Separation of the Soul
is not properly the Caufe of Death, but that
the Death of the Body is the caufe of the Se-
paration. The King himfelf illuftrated this'
Opinion with a familiar Example of an Or-
gan and an Organift : While the Organs
were in their due order and fymetry, the Or-
ganift play'd upon them ; but when by length
of time they were cither brokc,ufed too much,
N 4 or
184 7??^ ASiions of Let. IV.
or any other way quite put out of Tune, he
leaves off playing on them. ~
This Dilcourfe, my Lord, held from three
of the Clock till feven, and the Divines were
extreamly warm in it ^ and fome of them had
the boldnefs to tell the King, that his Majefly
ftiould not fulFer fuch Heretical Opinions (as
they called them) to be introduced before fuch
a great Aflembly, contrary to the receiv'd
Doftrine of the Church. This Difcourfe cauf-
ed a great many other Matters to be talk'd on,
of which it would be too long to inform your
Lordlhip. By this you may plainly fee how
fond the Divines are of their old Opinions,
relying upon the Dodtrine of Ariftotle, whom
we can't fuppofe to be fo throughly acquaint-
ed with the Strudure, Springs, and Motions
of the Humane Body, nor indeed with all
other Natural Caufes, as the Modern Phyfi-
cians are; yet it is the Policy of the Divines,
not only in Poland^ but in S^ain^ and in
moll other Countries where their Power is
very great, not to let any Opinions creep in
among them, that would feem to contradidt
thofe of yir'fflotk; for having built their
Syftems of Divinity upon the Principles
of this Pagan Philofopher, they are juftly
afraid, that if Experience and Rcafon fhould
(hake the Foundation, the Superftrudlure
would fall to the Ground, as doubtlefs it would
for the moft part. '
Mit Build- feveral fine Houfes both in
ir^s. and other parts of the Kingdom, par-
ticularly three Miles from IVarfavp^ a neat
Country Houfe call'd Filla Nova, very richly
furnilhed. He has had feveral Natural Chil-'
' dren.
IV, JoHn Sobieslci. iSj
drcn, but took no care of any of them*, for
■ it is not cuftomary in Poland to have that Con-
lideration for them as there is in other Coun-
tries: but he left vaft Riches to his Lawful
® XHhildren, and made a Motion in the Diet five m Care of
'V'fl or fix Years before he died, to fettle the Sue- chit-
15 (J! ceffion on one of them. He told the Aflembly
tfcli of the Diforders that ufually happened in
®'il Eleftions after the King's De^th^ that the
^5®!- Turks and the Tartars took then Opportunities
to make Inroads into the Country and ravage
nnj® all before them; that the Nobility of the
felw Kingdom were generally divided, headed by
piiiioi Fadions, and biafs'd by Self-intereft againfl:
the publick Good of their Country ^ and that
iqoaii;- he himfelf would be glad to prevent all thofe
to® dangerous Broils before he died, out of the
lihl Love he bore to his Country, and Subjeds.
Pliff- But the Diet finding that his private Defign
imJ5, was to get one of his Sons eleded, anfwered,
atiiii That they hoped that his Majefty would live
)ffcr ii yet a long while ^ that it was necefiary to take
■eepii a long time to confider of a Matter of that-
irM , great moment: which the King feeing it was
tlicir a civil way of refufing to enter upon that
icipk! Subjed, never after intimated any thing to
i# them like it, but took all polfible care to en-
lotli rich his Children in cafe none of them Ihould
fjte be eleded after his Death. It was exadly
computed to me that he laid up every Year
for above twenty Years I ooooo/. Sttrl. which j/u great
he left partly in Bankers Hands at Dantz.ick^ Riches.
Hamburgh and Amfterdam^ and put the reft
into the hands of the Jews, who are very nu-
jjjf merous in that Kingdom, to trade with it^
belides, he bought great Territories in the
King-
land.
Her firft
Marriage.
18(5 Tloe ASlions of Let. IV.
Kingdom, tho it is againfl: the Conftitution \
fo that his three Sons, James, Alexander and
Conftantine, if they manage their Affairs
right, may be worth each above 500001. Ster-
ling per Annum; for it is the Law in Poland^
to divide equally the Eftate among the Chil-
dren.
ThtQuetn's Qpfcn was but ten or twelve Years of
firft coming Age, when fhc togethef with the prefent Duke
into Po- of Gordon^ Aunt, afterwards married to Coaat
Morjlin great Treafurer of Poland, came from
France into this Kingdom, with Ladtflaus King
of Poland^ Queen, who made them both her
Maids of Honour, and took great care of-
Madamotfelle d'*Arquien, being very ingenious
and beautiful: She got her married firft to
Prince ZamoisU, who foon left her a Widow,
with a Jointure of about 20001, a Yearj
file was afterwards married in Cafimir^s Reign •
to John Sobiesh, then Captain of the Guards,
who was not very willing to marry her until
the King promised that he would give him
confiderable Places, which he accordingly
did by the Inftigation of the Qiieen, for he
made him Great Marlhal, and Great General
of Poland, which gave him Aufhority and
Intereft enough to make himfelf afterwards
King, and her Queen fo that this Marriage
was the occafion of his Rife in the World,
which he was fo fenfible of, that he refus'd to
be divorced from her, as the Diet would have
perfwadcd him to do after his Eledlion.
The Queen is now about fifty four Years of
and Quah- Age, tho file appears not to be forty *, fhe goes
fications. in the French Drefs, as all the Polilh Ladies
doj fte fpeaks almoft naturally the Polifn
Tongue,
Her Age,
John Sobieski. i 87
Tongue*, which with her fweetTemper, re-
fin'd Senfe, and mhjeftick Air, gain'd her
fuch AfFeftion with the Poks^ fuch Influence
over the King, and fuch Intereft always in
the Diet, that flie manag'd all with a great
deal of Prudence, and that to the advantage
of her native Country France^ wbofe Intereft
ihe generally efpous d upon moft occafions du-
ring the King's Life *, which was believ'd to
be the Ca'ufc that he did not carry on the War
with vigour thefe late years againft the Turks ,
and Tmars. She maintain'd at her Court her
Father Cardinal D'Arquim., and her Brother
Count MaVtgny.^ who had but a very fmall E-
ftate of their own. She has two Sifters, one
. is the Widow of the late Count Betbune., who
was Ambaflador from France in Poland.^ and
afterwards dy"d in his EmbalTy in Sweden ^ the
other is the Widow of a Nobleman in Po-
land.
The Qiieen had the Art to difpofe of all mr Ad-
the Imployments in the Kingdom for Money ^ dtyfs in
for the King, who by the Conftitution ought ^
not himfelf to fell any Place, gave to under-
ftand privately, that all Perfons Ibould apply
themfelves to her firft, that Ihe might fecret- v ,
ly negotiate the Price of every Preferment;
which Ihe did very induftrioufly, and obliged
them furthermore to take an Oath to efpoufe
the Intereft of one of her Children after the
King's Death. The Poles never fcrupled thofe
Oaths, tho they were refolved to keep them
no longer than they thought it for their In-
tereft, which was manifefted at this laft Elec-
tion, in which fo few appeared for Prince
James j for this unlawful way of treating the
Nobility,
IS8 The AElions of Let. IV.
Nobility, together with the King's extream
Covetoufnefs, and Prince James*^ Inconftancy
towards his Friends, fet the Minds Of the
Gentry againft them.
Pr. James T his Prince is black, has a thin and meagre
A//C/)4r^zc-Look, and is ot a low Stature, more like a
Frenchman or a Spaniard than a Pole \ he is ve-
ry fociable and courteous. He is now about
the Age of thirty, and has made feveral Cam-
pagns with the King his Father, particularly
that of Vienna \ and had his ConduQ: been
anfwerable to his Courage, he would doubt-
lefs have made a more confiderable Party:
He is extreamly Liberal, which is the only
good Quality he excels his Father in: He was
firfl contraded in Marriage to the rich Heirefs
of the Houfe of Radz^vil in Lithuania^ who was
Widow of the prefent Eleftor of Branden-
burg's Brother, who dy'd without Iflue. An
Envoy was fent to Berlin to negotiate the Mar-
riarge, which was agreed upon by the EleSor's
and her Confent, and the Prince himfelfcame
thither in Perfon with a numerous Attendance
to confuramate it. At the fame time came to
Berlin the Eleftor Palatm's Brother, Prince
Charles of Nevoburg^ Brother to the Emprefs,
to fee the Ceremony of the Marriage •, but
this Princefs taking more fancy to him than
to the Prince of Poland^ gave him encourage-
Hit intend-mtnx. to make his Addrelfes to her^ which he
ed Mxrri- with that fuccefs, that he engag'd her fo
and fo unexpedtedly, that he was private-
^ ' ly marry'd to her the night before fhe was
to be marry'd to the Prince of Poland^ fo that
Prince James wasforc'd to return back lhame-
fully : which the King his Fatlfer refented fo
King John Sobieski. 185?
highly, that he was refolv'd to have fatisfafti-
on from the Elcdtor of Brandenburg for fufFer-
ing his Son to receive fo notorious an Affront
at his Court-, but the Eledor knowing no-
thing of that private Intrigue, juftify'd him-
felf, and all Animolities were at laft adjufted
by Prince James's marrying his Rival's Sifter, But marrj-
the Princefs of Newburg^ who was fent into to am-
Poland^ and has two Daughters by him. ,
This Account I learn'd in Poland^ which was
lately confirmM to me here in Town by the
Sieur Danielman, now Envoy Extraordinary
from the Eledor of Brandenburg at our Court.
Prince James has two Brothers, Alexander a charac-
and Conflantine^ who were not taken notice ter of his
enough of in my time, to give your Lordlhip
a Charader of them, the eldeft being but^^^"'
eighteen, and the other lixteen. Alexander
was a tall and proper young Man, of a true
Polifli Complexion. The Queen had more
kindnefs for him than for Prince James^ as
I obferv'd when he was any ways indifposM ^
ftie was very careful of his Health, and did
not feem much concern'd for Prince James,
tho he was a weak and fickly Perfon.
I was furpriz'd to ^ee the little deference Ljttle Re-
the Nobility paid t«'thefe Princes, who did fpe^ptidto
not feem to take much more notice of them ^be Ring's
than of other Gentlemen, and treated them^^'^'^'''"'
very familiarly: for they fay that the King's
■ Sons, by the Lave, are no more than Gentlemen •,
and that if they give them the Title of Prince or
of Highnefs, it is more out of Courtefy to them,
andRef^eil to the King, than out of any Obliga-
tion they lay under to do it. The People had
more Elteem for Prince ./Alexander and Co«-
fiantine.
if*
jpo 11)6 JBions of Let. IV. 1
fimtine, bccaufe they were_ born after the f
King's Eledfion, than for Prince James^ who
was born before j for they fuperftitioufly ima-
gin'd that fome Royal Stamp was engraven
tipon them, or fome Royal Tindure infus'd
into their Blood, to give it a more exalted
Nature. Prince James was Knight of the
Golden Fleece, which made him obnoxious to
the French Party. Prince Alexander and Con-
fiantine are, fince my time, made (as I am
told) Knights of the Holy Ghoft, as the King
himfelf was, which makes them fufpeded to
the Houfe of uduftria to be of the French Fadion.
The cha- The King had one Daughter, the Princefs
raihr of Tercfa Cmigunda^ now about twenty • three
the Frin- years of Age, who,' tho fhe be not a compleat
^ Beauty, yet is a very comely Lady, of a mid-
die fizc •, and tho fhe has not the Life and Vi-
vacity, nor the Air and Wit of the Queen her
Mother, yet has Ihe a great deal of Senfe,
Modefty, and all the Accomplilhmentsbecom-
ing her Birth: She is well vers'd in the French^
Italian, Latin^ and the Polifh Languages j tho
fhe feems in her Carri.age and Difcourfe to be
humble, obliging, and of an eafy affable Tern-
per, yet fhe is of her felf high-fpirited and
f/cr Mar- imperious. She was marry'd in my time to
jiagc. his Highnefs the jjrefent Eledor of Bavaria,
who twice fent thither Baron Ze//, and after-
ward Baron5/weoM;,his Envoys Extraordinary,
to negotiate and conclude this Marriage: for
the Duke of Bavaria having had but one Son
by his deceafed Eledorefs, the Emperour's
Daughter by the Infanta of Spain, younger Sif-
tor to the late Qiieen of France-, and this
young Prince being defign'd to be King of
Spahtj
John Sobieski. ipi
Sfain^ if the prefent King fhould die without
Iflue, as is likely to be, the Bavarians were
afraid their Country fliould be reducM into a
Province, and therefore defired the Eleftor
to marry a fecond time, to have more Chil-
dren that might reign over them, in cafe the
cldeft Son fliould be call'd into Spain.
The King and Queen of Poland agreed to
this Match, and gave 500000 Rix Dollars for mr Porti-
her Portion, befides Jewels and other Ex-
pences in her Journey, and the third part of
her Mother's perfonal Elhitc when (he dies,
which is reckoned at 50000 Rix Dollars more.
The Ceremony of the Marriag^was perform'd Ceremony
in the Month of Auguft at Warfaw in the Year 4}°rMa.T»
1594, with a great deal of Splendor and Mag-
nificence. Moft of the Pcrlbns of Quality and
their Ladies and Children came to this Solem-
- Bity from all Parts of the Kingdom j for there
had not been a Princefs of Poland marry^d for
above 150 years before. The Ladies were ve-
ry richly dreft, and I faw at that time more
Jewels in that Court, than in any other that
ever I was at.The Gentlemen and Ladie3,after
the ufual Cuftom in gave great Prefents
to the young Princefs,fome fine Pieces of Plate,
fome Watches fet with Diamonds, fome preci-
ous Jewels, every one making a Complement
to her in a very formal manner. It was thought
that the Prefents amounted to the value of
100000 Rix Dollars. The Hofpodar of Mol-
davia fent her a pair of Pendants of a confi-
derable Value. This Cultom of making Pre-
fents to the Bride is not only for Kings
Daughters, but for every one elfe according
to their Quality j and the Gentlemens Daugh-
ters
91 J Sims of L E T. IV.
ters do not fo much reckon upon the Portion
their Fathers give them,as upon their Number
of Relations and Friends, who are to mak?
them Prefents ^ and the Husband is as diligent
to know-how many Relations flic has, as how
much her Father will give her.
Ft. James Upon the day of Marriage Prince James.,
0fficiatesas [hg young Bride's Brother, took upon him, by
J. Eledor of Bavaria's Confent,
the Quality of Embaflador for that day, by
reafon that the Court would not receive ( as
was fecretly whifpei 'd) Embafladors from the
Duke of Bavaria, as being not an abfolute
Prince: He went three Miles out of Town in
the Morning, and about two of the Clock
in the Afternoon made a raofl foieran Entry
on Horfe-back, having his Brothers Prince
Alexander on his Right-hand, and Prince Con-
fiantine on his Left, preceded by a great
Number of Coaches with fix Horfes, and a
noble Cavalcade of the Poli/h Gentry, who
went two by two.
lie Cere- Thus he marcb'd through the City to the
mony conti- Palace, where he was receiv'd by the King
and Queen *, and after half an hour the great
Officers of the Crown, the Palatins and o-
ther Senators, with an incredible Number of
Gentry, began to march from the Palace on
Foot two by two, upon Scarlet Cloth fpread
all along to St. John's Church, being about
three hundred Paces •, after them ?vince James
led the Bride, the French Embaflador Monfieur
de Polignac led the Queen, and the King came
laft alone with a grave majeflick Countenance.
The Ceremony of the Marriage was perform'd
by Cardinal Raduouski the prefent Primate,
John Sobicski. « ipj
who was the King''s Relation. Afterwards they
returned to the Palace where they were nobly
toais ' entertain'd for four days together, with Feafts,
■ Balls, Fire-works, and an Italian Pajloral in 1
)3sli(i nature of an Opera^ made upon this occalion
by the Secretary of the Pope^s Nuncio.
5 Jum. After the Ceremony was over, a fplcndid Equipagt
Equipage was prepared for the Princefs's/"''
Wot, Journey from Warfavo toBnijfels. The Bifliop 7""''"^''
of Ploskow was named EmbalTador, and the
OTtii . Palatine of Filna's Lady, Prince CtartoriskPs
rsfc;; Daughter, was appointed EmbafTadrefs; Mon- .
a alifa ficur Zalowski the Bilhop's Brother and his La-
ifTor.' dy were likewife nam'd, befides abundance
tieCk of Gentlemen, and about forty of the King's
iiraEi Life-guard, to attend her Electoral Highnefs.
nM: The Emballador reprefented to their Ma-
rnCmt jefties, that in fuch a long Journey of near*
a |itai I coo Miles, and in frofty Weather, it was ne-
a^aaJi celTary to fend a Phylician with the Princels
mjj f: for fear of any Accident or Diftemper by
' ■ the way: one Signior Revelli an Italian, and
[J tor ^^:veral other Phyficians made Interelt for
tieKiff;' place-, but the Qiieen would by no
hegreai means employ any of them, having no Opi-
nion of their Skill. Hereupon, my Lord,
iiiikr: I fpoke to Mr. Jlberti your Brother, Mi-
nifter there, from the Republick of Ftnicci
[jjfe' who had gmc Interefl: with the King and
M iic Queen, and defir'd him to get me imploy'd in
that Journey, for I longed to be out of that
remote Country (tho I had not been a twelve
Month in it) to come for England: for tho
the King and Qjieen had a great deal of Kind-
hefs for >ndPrkice James (whom the
P jjj-. Court Party looJt'd upon to be the King's
^ O • Suo
ip4 J Journey from Let. IV.
Succeflbr) promised me a conflderable Pen-
fion after the King's Death, yet feeing that
the King, then being fixty four Years of Age,
very corpulent, and labouring under feve-
ral Difteinpers, as the Dropfy, Gout, Rheu- I
matifm, and Oppreffion of the Lungs, could
not live long, and that Prince James was not
beloved, and befides having never had any
mind to engage my felf to live in any Fo-
reign Country, I refolv'd to come out of that
Kingdom. Their Majefties, not knowing ray
private Refolution of coming for Englandy
did me the Honour to name me Phyfician to
wait upon the Princefs in her Journey, which
I was very ready to comply with, tho to out-
ward appearance I did not feem much deli-
rous of it •, this, my Lord, gave me oppor-
tunity to come out of that Country fooner
than 1 could have decently done till the King
was dead ^ which I muft owe intirely to the
Friendfhip and Intereft of Mv. Alberts, who is
a great Lover of the Englifli Nation.
Bei'ins her The Princefs fet forward on the iit& of j
Journey. November following with a Retinu^ of about ]
two hundred Perfons, all which came to
Bruffels with her, befides abundance of the
Nobility who waited upon her Highnefs to the
Frontiers of Brandenburg. The Palatins of the
Provinces received and entertain'd her in all
the Towns Ihe pafs'd through with a great
deal of Splendor and Expence: our firft Re-
ception was at Lowitz., the Cardinal Primate's ■
Callle i here the Princefs lay one Night, and
was moll magnificently entertain'd. The next
was at Pofnan, a conliderablc City in the
Province of Pofnania, where jhc lay two
Nights:
« Warlavv fo Bruflels. 195
kPe;. Nights: the Palatin and the City made her
•-jtiui , a Prefent, entertain'd all her Retinue, and
got: Fire-works ready for her Reception,
derb^ Prom thence we went to Frankfurt upon the
itjUk . ■ Oder in the E. of Brandenburgh^s Country,
S® where his Eleftoral Highnefs fent his chief
iifasi. Officers to attend and compliment her: from
lade thence we went to where the Elector
•tiffo and Eleftorefs came two Miles out of Town ffer Re-
with a numerous Attendance to receive her ^
aorcj:!' they took her into their own Coach, and^*''^^"*
Tw . march'd in order to the Palace, giving her
with roaring of Cannons, and ringing of
15), it Bells, all Demonftrations of Refpect: Here
tliotot^ Ihe lay two Nights j the Court appear'd molt
Eicliit;' fplendid and very numerous, and the Elector
moj)|i' got fome Fire-works which reprefented the
Dj/ooi King and Qjieen of Poland^ and the Elector
tleKi! and Eledorefs of Bavaria's Names*, there
- were Balls both Nights, and Engliffi Country-
Tti,*!* Dances, which the Eledorefs ot Brandenburg^
01, being defcended from the Blood-Royal of
ienii: England^ delig'hted extreamly in ^ it was the
eof ala - firit time the Princefs of Poland had feen any,
m; and therefore was extreamly pleai'd. I waS
so(t glad to fee fome of our Engliffi. Gentlemen,
sristo: who travell'd in Italy in my time, as Mr. Ar-
itiascfi cher^ Mr. Ward^ Mr. Duncomb^ and the late
lieti:; deceafed Mr. Tent^ made fo much of at this
tjiajis Court, and behave themfelves fo handfomly
arJiife Balls. The Princefs of Poland mads
10R Prcfents to the Eledorefs of Brandenburg^ 2ivA
to moft of the chief Officers of the Court;
Ijieij- and the Eledorefs of Brandenburg likewife
jyij; made her a rich Prefent of a Poelie fet with
L If Diamonds, and to the reft of her chief Officers
Miffe O 2. Other
~
ip6 J Journey from Let. IV.
other Prefents. Afterwards we fet forwards
on our Journey, and were entertain'd for
twelve days together in the Eledor's Country;
it's ufual with him to defray the Charges of
all Princes while they are within the limits
of the Marquifate of Brandenburg: But when
the Princefs of Poland went out of it into the
other Territories of his Eledoral Highnefs,
Ihe bore her own Expences ^ the chief Towns
notwithilanding, as Adagdeburgh and Menden^
entertain'd her, as did likewife the Eledor of
Hanover^ the fiifhop of Heidelfheim^ and the
Bilhop of Munfier^ for we paft through fome
Skirts of the'r Territories.
I muft: take notice to your Lord (hip, that
pafTing through a part of the Eledor of
Hanover % Country, we receiv'd News that
Count Koningfmark^ a $wede, thought to have
been familiar with the Princefs of Hanover^
the Eledor's Daughter-in-law, was made a-
way with at that Court, and never heard Of
fince. At lad we arriv'd about the latter end
of December at IVefel^ a fortihed Town be-
longing to the E. of Brandenburg^ upon the
Borders of the Rhine^ near fix days Journey
from BruJJels-^ the Eledor of Bavaria with his
Court came hither to receive his Princefs, but
the River being full of great Flakes of Ice,
he could not pafs it in two days: but at
lafl being impatient to fee his Bride, he ven-
tur'd over in a little Boat with Prince Chimay,
Is met by Baron Stmeoni^ and two or three more of his
tbsEleUor. Courtiers ^ I hapned to be in the Room when
he Came in alone by way of the back Stairs,and
faluted his Princefs with all the tender Ex-
prefiions of Joy and Alfcdion^ and after
having
srwaii Warfaw^o Bruflels. ip7
fot having fpent about half an hour with her in
Compliments, he turn'd to the Embaflador
%[: and to the reft of the Company, and thank'd
us all for the Trouble and Fatigue of fo long
toiiis' a Journey then he and the Princefs with the
tkoi ' Embaflador and EmbalTadrefs withdrew into
another Room, where they paft about an hour
ffiiTofft and an half. In the mean time a great many o-
ilMwls ther of the Eledtor's Retinue came in, fo that
5fl®| the Court was very numerous at Nine of the
1) dm Clock at Night ^ and thus the Eledor paft till
ragkil Ten of the Clock, then went to fup abroad,
^ and immediately after Supper came to wait
on the Princefs again, and about One of the
HA Clock in the Morning he left her and went to
NeffSEf' Bed to his Inn. He came to her the next
ktoj4 Morning to make his Court, and to deflre her
Umn: Confent that the Marriage might be con-
fummated that Night, which being according-
[tah . lydone, he fent a Courier after Midnight to
ilatwd the King his Father-in-law, to acquaint him
fornikl therewith. The next Morning there was a
ujMojl rich Hungarian Sute of Clothes given him to
; joiit® wear that day from the King of Poland^ valued
jwiihlj' at ?oooo Rix Dollars *, it was a long Coat of
j(;e[s '/■ Crimfon Velvet, the Button-holes fet with
Clafps of Mafly Gold, and a Waftcoat of
.. 1)11.^ Cloth of Gold fet with Diamond Buttons,
, )5fy5 and a Girdle of fine Turky Leather wrought
[jfjjrf with Gold, with mafly Gold Clafps likewife.
fee with Jewels, a Scimiter with the Handle
richly adorn'd with Diamonds and Rubies,
and an Emerald Ring of great Value, with
a rich Zibelin Muff. In the Afternoon we all Proceeds
J,IK. paft the River, and next day the Baggage""
followed: all the Coaches the King's Guards,
\ O 3 and -
i
\
'J
.98 Arrlyal at Brtiflels. Let. fV.
and moft of the Retinne returnM back into
Poland-, for by the Articles of Marriage no
body was to ftay with her except two Pages,
two VVomen, and a Ihe Dwarf. The Eleftor's
Guards and Coaches were on the other fide of
the River to receive the Princefs: She went
through Antwerp to Meckl'm^ and from thence
to Brujfels^ where we arrived, after two
Months Journey, on the 12th of January. I ,
need not acquaint your Lordfhip with all the
Preparations made here by his Highnefs for
the Reception of his Eledorefs, nor of the
Prefents he gave to her Retinue, nor the Ope-
ra's and Comedies purpofely rnade for the So-
leranity of her Marriage j I will only fay,^'
that 1 never faw a genteeler Court, bet-
ter Order, more Formalities, more variety
of Drelfes, nor the Punctilio's of Honour and
Courtefy more ftridly obferv'd. There were
great Rejoicings all the firft Week, until the
Court received the unwelcome News of the
Death of our late Queen Mary. Sometime
afterwards, having left the Care of the
Princefs's Health to Monfieur Pijlorini the
Eledor s Phyfician, I took my Leave of her
Highnefs, and went for Holland, from whence
I arriv'd at London in the Month of February,
in the Year I dp p
Tkt King's The King of Poland had no near Relations
except one Sifter, who was married to that
Duke Radz-ivil, whp writ in Latin his travels
into the Holy Land, and defcribes the Pyra-
mids of Egypt •, he has been dead feveral
Years, and his Dutchefs died at Warfare in ray
time. What fmall Reputation I got in that
Country in the Pradice of Phyfick was by her
Death ;
A Confult of ^^hyfidansl ipp
Death *, for when I arriv'd at Warfaw^ the A cm/ki-
King made me confult with all the Phyficians
of the Town, which were about ten, con-
cerning her Difeafe. His Majelly's firft Phy-
lician was Dr. Jonas an Italian and profelTed
Jew; for your Lordfhip mull underftand, that
in Poland^ particularly at Court, Religion is
no Objeftion againft any Perfon, efpecially
a Phylician, lince the King at. his Coronation
proraifes to proteft four Religions, the Ro-
man, which he mult feem to be of hirafelf,
the Protellant, the Greek, and that of the
Jews. I examined the Princefs's Difeafe,
and found it was an Ague fomented by an
Abfcefs in the Liver, which made her vomit
up all that file took *, I thought her Cafe very
defperate, tho her ordinary Phyficians made
no account of it, thinking it was only an
Ague which the conftant ufe of Jefuits Pou-
der wbuld infallibly cure. I difcover'd they
were not acquainted with the inward Caufe
of her Difeafe, being not vers'd in Anatomy
wherefore I defir'd that moll of the Learned
Gentlemen at Court would be prefent to hear'
their Reafons and mine. Dr. Joncus^ who
fpoke firft, gave his Opinion that there was
no fear; and that fhe Ihould perfift only
in the ufe of the Bark, with which they had
cram'd her for three Months before*, all
the reft follow'd his Opinion. I fpoke laft,
and fumm'd up all their Arguments, to com-
pare them with her Difteraper, and declar'd
againft their Method, and intimated that I
bcliev'd Ihe could not live long let them
change their Method ever fo much for the
better. This alarm'd the whole Court in a
O 4 quarter
X
r
2 oo Vutchefs K^dzWiVs Death. Let .IV.
quarter of an hour. The Phyficians alTur'd
the contrary, and urged that I was a Stranger
to the Climate, and to the Princcfs's Con-
ftitution and Difeafe •, and they promifed in
a little time, tho fome of then^ began to be
diffident, to fet her upon her Legs again :
notwithftanding ffie grew worfe and worle
every day, and died in a Month's time in the
62d Year of her Age. The Queen order'd
her to be open'd, and three Biffiops were
prefent, but none of the Phyficians would
come but my felf^ we found not only an
Abfcefs in Iier Liver, but likewifQ a great
many fquare Stones like Dice in her Gall,
Bladder, and other Stones in one of her Kid-
nies, befides a great deal of Gravel in her
Liver, which grated and crumbled its whole
Subftance into putrid Matter.
■r ijfuc. Princefs left only a Son and a Daugh-
ter : Duke Radz.ivU her Son married a Rela-
tion of Prince Sapieha ; and her Daughter
was married to Prince Lubomirsh. Duke
Radz.ivil told me that he travell'd here in
England when King James II. was Crown*d,and
that the King his Uncle fent him the Cha-
rafter of Envoy to compliment him upon his
Acccffion to the Throne: He us'd to admire
the Government of England, and to fay that
it was the belt in Europe, except that of his
own Country 5 and the chief Reafon he gave
me why he preferr'd the Conftitution of Po-
land, was, that the King of England had a
Power of turning People out of Employ-
mcnts, and the common People had the Bene-
fit of the Law, and could buy Eftates as well
as the greateft Noble-man. This Prince
Ihew'd
The IQn^s Difeafe,
Jhew'd me an old Roman Sciraiter which his
Father brought from 'Jerufakmj and told me
it was that with which St. Peter cut off Mai-
ciw's Ear: which a great many had either Faith
or Superflition enough to believe, and paid it
a great deal of Refped.
The year after I came into England^ the
King of Polandh Symptoms encreafmg more
and more, the Embaflador Monfieur^^^/owii:#,
Bilhop of Ploskow^ fent me from Warfaw to
London the following Letter, .defiring Advice
concerning his Majefty's Diftemper, which
was very uncommon and extraordinary.
A Monjieur le DoHeur Connor a Londres,
Varfdvie 2 Juin 1696.
Monfieur,
p N Attendant queje vous Envoye les Memoires
^ que vous Souhaitea pour P Htfloire de Pologne
& de notre Roy^ qui, requierent queque loifir,^ que
Je n*ay pas encore pu prendre^ comme Je tache-
ray de faire le plutot qu^il me ferd po/fible, Vous
ohligeriez. beaucoup fa Majefte ft fur P Informa-
tion, que vous verrez. au bas de cette Lettre ton-
chant PEtat de fa Sante\ Vous vouliez. bien pren-
dre la peine dkn donner vos Avh^ & Confeils,, &
dp en prendre aujft des plus habiles Gens de la Pro-
fejfton,, dont votre Royaume ejl ft fertile j Vous
affeurant que vous en aurez. du Merhe duprez. de
Icurs Majeflez.^ 6* que vous travaillerez. a votrq
propre Gloire^ que Je Sohhaiteray de voir par Id
augmcntee^ etant
Monfieur,
Votre tres'humble Serviteur,
E. dePloskow^
101
k
ill
iP«;a
1 .^',1
ill
'Ir4 ■
! I
77;e ^ng's Difeafe. L 6 t. IV.
Information de I'Etat dc la Sante du Roy
de Poldgne.
Majejle h ks pieSj ks jamhes., & les cuif-
^ fes., metne la Region Inferieure du has ventre
tumifie'es confideraUement depuvs queque terns,
que ces Tumeurs font augmenteez.de pur en ']our
deputa cette Etc quelles avoient commence a pa'
roitre^ quoique fon appliquat ks plus efficaces re-
medes interieurs & exterieurs pour en empecber
'' le Progrez.., & pour ks diffiper. Lots qu'on preffe
du doit-ces Tumeurs.^ il nerejle aucun vejlige
du. doit j Carces Tumeurs ont la durete du Fer
(y la pefanteur du Plomb: Quand fa Majejle
marche elle croit avoir un poid pefant attache a
fes jambes, la durete' de ces Tumeurs ne peut
etre amoUie.^ cependant lors quon frotte avec un
linge chaud ks parties embarrajfe'es & afflige'es^
' eUes fembknt d'abord etre Vegagees 6* Soklage'es.
Metis peu apres elles retournent a kur premier
Etat: La Coukur de ces Parties tumifiees n'e/f
point Pak, mats Pourpre'e tirant vers k rouge.
Englilh'd thus.
Warfare the id of fune 16^6.
S I R,
T Will fend you as foon as pojjibk the Memoirs
* you dejire for the Hijiory 0/Poland and of our
King^ which require more leifure than I could have
hitherto had. In the mean timeym would mighti-
TJ?e J^ngs Difeafe, 205
1)1 oblige his Alajefiy^ if upon the Information you
VPiU find at the bottom of this Letter concerning the
State of his Healthy you would pleafe to give your •
Opinion and uidvice thereupon, and likewife con-
fult with the Ablefi of your Profejfion, who are fo
very numerous in your Kingdom, about it. I af-
fure you, you wiU greatly gain their Ma'jeflies E-
(teem thereby, and advance your own Reputation,
which I wi/h encreas'd by thefe means. Being,
SIR,
Tour mojl humble Servant,
E. Ploskow.
An Account of the State of Health of
the King of Poland.
HIS Majejly'^s Feet, Legs, and Tlnghs, as
likewife the lower Part of h'vs Belly, have
been conjiderably fweli^d for a good while. Thefe
Swellings have daily encreas'd fince they began
this Summer, notwithflanding the moft effedual
Remedies, both Inward and Outward, which have
been made ufe of to prevent their Progrefs, and
to difcufs them. When thefe Tumors are prefs'*d
with one^s Finger, they do not pit, for they are al-
mojl as hard as Iron, and as heavy as Lead.
When his Majejly walks, he imagins he has a
great Weight ty'd to his Legs. hardnefs of
thefe Tumours cannot be f^tned: JVeverthelefs,
when the fwoln Parts are ruifd a little with a hot
Cloth, they feem immediately to be abated and
eas'd j
204 Jo^n the llld's Death, L e t. IV.
easyd J but foon after they return to their former
condition. The Colour of the Swellings is not ^ale^
. kit reddi/h^ fomething enclining to Purple.
A Week after I receiv'd this Letter, news
Ktnfs came that this Prince was dead, as I could not
Death. reafonably exped he would be, labouring
under fo rare and dangerous a Difeafe, being
a Dropfy turn'd into a Schirrus^ or into a hard
and infenfible Tumor. Cafes of this nature,
my Lord, are very feldom feen. I have fpoke
lately with fome old Practitioners in Phyfick
that h|d never met with any for my part,
I, have never obferv'd any Dileafe like it •, and
I was at firll: furpriz'd that the King's Legs,
that us'd to pit an Inch deep when I was at his
Court, fliould become fo very hard and fo
heavy afterwards j but confidering that in
^ our Mafs of Blood there is, even naturally,
a great deal of earthy Parts or Dregs,and that
thefe Lees may, by way of Sediment, fall into
the Legs, and that their Weight and Quanti-
ty can hinder them from afcending to the
Heart with the circulating Fluids , I rather
admir'd why Cafes of this nature do not more
frequently happen, particularly in old and
Plethoric People, as the King was, Thefe
hard Swellings of his Legs hinder'd the Blood
to circulate downwards,and fo drove up all the
Humours to the Head j which opprelfing and
overflowing the Brain, caus'd an Apoplexy,
of which he died the 17th of .fifteen
I days after the date of my Letter, in the Year
1655, inthefixty fixth Year of his Age, and
the Z2d of his Reign. He was the oldel^King
then
'X
Tl7e Interregnumr toj
then in Chriftendom.'ilt kept his Subjeds in great
Awe, and the graateft Noblemen paid him ail
the Refped imaginable ^ they never us'd at
Court to eat with him at his Table. He din'd
always in Publick, and the Great Men waited
upon him, ferv'd him with drink, and none
of his Subjeds ever cover'd themfelves in his
Prefcnce. And I admir'd to fee the Perfons
thatabus'd him in the Parliament-houfe, and
fpoke to him with all freedom when he fat on
the Throne, pay him fo great a SubmilTion
and Refped evcry-where elfe. But the Liber-
ty of a Member of that Parliament is fuch,
that he can fpeaJt what he thinks, and think what
he pkafes, without any Fear of the King.
After the King's Death, Cardinal Radz.i* The Inter-
ouski, Archbilhop of Gnefna, and Primate ofrcgnum.
the Kingdom, took the Adminiftration of the
Government, as is ufual, upon him, and noti-
fy'd the King's Death to foreign Princes, and
to all the Governours of the Provinces, and
advis'd with the Senators that were then at
IVarfaw of the proper Method and fit Time to
choofe a new King. They fix'd upon the
29th of Auguft 1695, for the Convocation of
the Grand Diet •, but there appearing feveral
Competitors,which made powerful Fadions,ic
was thought neceffary to take more time to ap-
peafe the Diflenfions of the Nobility. Where-
fore the Overture of the Diet was deferr'd to
the 15th of May 1697. They chofe the Sieur
Belinski for their Speaker,whom they call their
Mar/hal. The chief Competitors were at firft Compett-
Prince James of Poland, and his Brother Prince w"
Alexander; the Prince of Conti Don Livio "
Odefchakhi, and Prince Lewis of Baden: but at
laft-
neEleBionof Let.IV.
laft the Elector of Saxony unexpectedly camd
to the Frontiers of Polandjwith 8000 Men/
and declar'd himfelf Candidate, having a
twelve-month before privately abjur'd his
Religion to qualify himfelf for this Crown,
which procurM him the Intereft of the Pope
and Clergy. So that at length no confidera-
ble Party appear'd but for him, the Prince of
Conti^ andVr'mcc James. The Cardinal Pri-
mate, with a great Number of the Palatins,
fupported with all their Intereft the Prince of
Conti^ the French having for feveral years be-
fore, as I obferv'd when I was in that King-
dom, given a great Character of his Merit
and Valour, which made the King of France
believe that he would undoubtedly carry that
Crown againft all Oppofers; as it is proba-
ble he would have done, had he been in Per-
fon as near the Place of EleCtion as the Elec-
tor of Saxony was: For on the 26th of June.,
being the day of Election, the Diet drew out
into the Field, and he had that day more
Votes than either the EleCtor of Saxony or
Prince James 5 which the Primate obferving,
went with his Party, and immediately pro-
claimM him King: but the two other Parties
knowing this could not be legally done with-
out the univerfal Confent of the Diet, pro-
tefted againft it as Illegal \ and Prince James
perceiving his Party to be the wcakeft, arid
having always been in the Intereft of the
Houfe of Aujiria, as being marry'd ,to the
Emprefs and Queen of Spain^s Sifter, refign'd
all his Intereft to the Eleftor of Saxony, who
was likewife fupported by the Emperour.
Thefe two Parties being thus united into one,
were
Frederic Auguftus.^ 207
were more numerous than that of the Prince
of Conti: Wherefore coming next day into ^
the Field, they got the Biftiop of Cti]avia^
after the Primate had refus'd it, to pro-
claim
Frederic Augustus, Eleftor of Saxo- Frederic
Tiy, King of Poland^ and fent Embafladors to Auguftus.
acquaint him therewith, and to delire him to
accept of the Crown. All this while the Pri-
mate and Prince of Conti's Party ftood firm to
the firfl; Elcftion, and difpatch'd Couriers in-
to France to defire that Prince to come with
all fpeed into Poland. The Generals of the
Army were divided. CoviUt Jahlonowski., Great
General of the Kingdom, declared for the
Eleftor of Saxony *, Prince Sapieha^ Great Ge-
neral of Lithuania., feem'd to favour the Prince
of Conti: but the Governour of Cracow being
for the Eleftor of Saxony., invited him and his
Army to take pofleffion of that capital City,
where he was crownM the 15 th of September
following, which did extreamly facilitate the k.o/Fo-
good Succefs he has fince had in that King-land-
dom. For tho the Primate and many other con-
fiderable Perfons did infill oh the pretended
Legality of their Eleftion •, tho the Prince of
Conti himfelf came in Ferfon to Dantzic with
a Fleet, vaft Sums of Money, and forae dif-
ciplin'd Troops i tho the French Erabaflador
Monfieur de Polignac had manag'd a good part
of the Army, and a great many of the Sena-
tors, with great Art and Policy ^ tho the Turh
and Tartars threatned an Invafion to fupport
his Eleftion j and tho the Hungarians made an
Infurrcftion in their Country, to divert the
Saxon
2 o 8 Frederic Auguftus Le t. IV.
Saxon Forces: yet the Poles feeing the Eledor
of Saxony was adnally Crown'd j that he was
in poflbfljon of the Metropolis Cracow^ the
ftrongeft Town in Poland that 8000 of his
difciplin'd Troops were in the Kingdom-, that
the major part of the Army had declar'd for
him, and that the Czar of Mujcovy threatned
an Invafion if they perfifled to fupport the
Prince of Conti\ they thought it more advila-
bie to quit his Intereft than to give occafion
for a Civil War; for I have often heard them
fay, That Kings mre eajy enough to be had with'
out /bedding Blood for any \ and that they were
eafily depos'd ifthey'ufurp'd any greater Authority
than the Laws allowed. And therefore they think
it more prudent,after having fufficiently emp-
ty'd the Candidates Pockets, to declare for the
firft of them that joins his Party, and appears
in Arras, fmce he is deera'd qualify'd, than to
expofe their Country to ruin and devaftation,
by adhering to an illegal Election, of which
the fuccefs is always doubtful: for by their
Conftitution no Eledlion can be really lawful,
nor any Law can be legally made without
the univerfal Confent of the Lords and Com-
mons of both States, Poland and Lithuania,
alfembl'd in Parliament.
The Prince oiConti having full Intelligence
of the Pollure of Affairs in Poland, did not
think it politick to confide any longer in the
Promifes of the Great Men, who in that Coun-
try are naturally fickle, and biafs'd more to
their own Interell than any Inclination they
have to ferve, any Prince *, for they Jiave no o-
ther Notion of Princes than of Tools to raife
their own Fortune by. Wherefore this Prince
fore-
prefent of Poland.
forefeeing no probability of fuccefs, the Towil
of Dantz.ic having declar'd for the Eledtor of
Saxony^ bethought it mOre prudent timely
to quit his Pretenfions by failing back into
France^ than to expofe his Reputation by be-
ing forc'd to retire when the New King's Au-
thority was more confirm'd, as it is look'd
upon to be at prefent.
King Frederick, ^ugujlm the Ild, being thus
left in fole Poflefllon of the Kingdom, is likely
to reftore the decaying State thereof; for
having large hereditary Dominions of hisown,
out of which he can have both Men and Mo-
ney, and being likewife naturally animated
'with a martial Spirit, and moreover King
over a moll Warlike Nation, which is at
prefent in league againft the Infidels with the
Emperour, Mufcovites^ Pope and Vemtims:
He has opportunity fufficicnt to enlarge that
Kingdom, and extend it to its antient Bounds
the Euxine Sea^ by retaking Caminiec and the
Vkrain.
I may here take notice that this is the firll
time the Poles have eledted a German Prince,
and likewife the firft that they have excluded
their King's Son; for from the Year 550,
when this Monarchy began, to this prefent E-
ledion, the King's Children have been always
chofen, and the Crown, tho eledive, has been
in the fame Family fuccelfively For above eight
hundred Years, But hereafter it is likely to
prove otherwife, for.the Gentry of Poland are
fo jealous of their own Kings, and fo covetous
^o be enrich'd by foreign Princes, that pro-
bably henceforward they will choofe no Na-
five; Befides, the Pope will undoubtedly al-
F Ways
10 Frederic Auguftus Let. IV..
ways ufe his utmoft Authority and Intereft in
. that Kingdom to get Proteftant Princes elec-
ted. For when 1 was formerly at Rome^ I
heard the Politicians fay, that the beft method
to make the Proteftant Princes of the North
Roman Catholicks, was to eledt them fuccef-
lively to the Crown of Poland. So that if the
Pope fees that the prefent King of Poland's
Children are confirm'd in the Dodrines of
the Church of Rome^ he will doubtlefs after
his Death make the fame Endeavours to ad-
vance to that Throne either the King of Svoe^
den^ the Eleftor of Brandenburg^ or the Elec-
tor of Hanover^^s he has done in favour of the
Eledor of Saxony ^ who has been eleded to
the Crown of Poland^ not fo much by the
Power of his We'alth and Credit in the
Kingdom, as by the Influence of the Clergy,
privately inftigated by the Authority of the
Pope. This I gather from a Letter fent me
laft Summer from Warfare by my Friend Baron
Scarlati^ Envoy Extraordinary at that Court
from the Eledor of Bavaria.
Thus, my Lord., I have given you as large
an Account of John the Illd's Life, and of what
pafs'd remarkable at Warfare in my time, as
we need perhaps know of fo remote a Coun-
try, or. I could, my felf learn in fo fHort a time
as I had the honour to refide at that Prince's
Court *, where I was fo much taken up in the
Pradice of Phylick, th?t I had neither Op-
portunity nor Time to make all the Political
Remarks, which another perhaps that had
nothing elfe to do but to convei fe with Cour-
tiers a nd Ladies, might have leifurely done.
I
prefent of Poland.
I cannot therefore pretend to give (as is
ufual) a Character of the King's Favourites,
nor of other Great Men about him, nor to
acquaint your Lordlhip with the different Ca-
bals and private Intrigues of that numerous
Court. That were a Subjedt fitter for a Statef-
man than for me to write of, my Genius and
Profeflion prompting me only to make Ob-
fervations in Phyfick, and not in State-Affairs.
I hope therefore your Lordlhip will excufe
the deficiency of this Letter, when you confi-
der it was writ by a Phylician, and one who
values himfelf only^ upon it in being with
all Refped,
My Lord,' ,
Vour Lordfhip's moft obedient
ft
humble Servant,
B. C.
Hi A Geographical Let.V.
Letter V.-
To the Right Honourable Charles
Lord Townfend,
:Li
MS
Of the Extent and ProduBs <?/Poland; to-
get her with a Defer if t ion of the chief toge
Towns and Provinces of the KJngdom. ,
mi
My Lord;
{Know your natural Sagacity, iraprov'd fo
much by your Travels, and conftant Ap-
plication to Sciences and Politicks, is no lefs
inquifitive after the Extent'and Produfts of
Countries, than after their Maxims of State
and Forms of Government: And this I dif-
cover'd in your Lordfliip, as well when I met
you fome years ago in Holland^ as fince your
return to England; and becaufe you then dif-
cours'd me often about my Travels into Pa-
land, I thought a Geographical Defcription
of that Country might not be unacceptable
to you. I muft confefs 1 were not long enough'
in that Kingdom to furvey it exadly, there-
fore have taken pains to learn not only from
the Natives thetnfelves, but alfo from their,
correftelt Authors, an Account of fuch Parts
of that Kingdom which I could not vilit my
felf.
I
Vefcrlption of Poland. 21 3
I muft firft take notice to your Lord/hip,
that the King of Poland's Dominions are di-
vided into two different States, which are
the Kingdom of Poland^ and the Great Dutchy
of Lithuania. The Conllitutions, Language,
Cuftoms and Genius of both which Nations
are as different as thofe of England and Scot-
iandj except that one Parliament or Diet ferves
both, which muft neverthelefs have one Selfion
in Lithuania to two in Poland, and the Sena-
tors and Deputies of each Nation muft meet
together, as well in the Great Dutchy, as
in the Kingdom *, for no Law can be legally
made without the mutual Confent of both.
Poland therefore being a diftinft Nation of it
felf, I will here, as I have promis'd, prefent
your Lordfhip with a fhort Defcription of it
alone.
My Lord;
P o L A N D, when firft founded by Lechus iSie AntU
in the Year 550, like all other Nations in their Extent
minority, was but a fmall Trad: of Land, in
refpedf of what it afterwards grew to be:
for at firft it contain'd only High and Low
Poland with Silefia \ but in procefs of time,
either through Marriages or Conqiiefts, it be-
came the largeft and moft powerful Kingdom
in Europe, and rais'd as well the Envy as Jea-
loufy of its Neighbours.
The firft Acquifition to this Crown was its m-
the Province of Ponterania, conquer'd by Le- h
chus, by his having kilfd Regulus its Prince,
Bolejlaus Chrobry likewife made Bohemia, Ruf-
fia, Moravia and Pruffia Tributary: But Ca-
fmir II. entirely conquer'd all Prujfia in the
P 3 Year
214 A Geographical LET. VJ
Year 1183, and Cafimir the Great fubdu'd
all Rujjia in the Year 1338, when Majlaus
the Duke of Mafovia alfo fubmitted to the
Poli/h Crown.
Some time after, Vdlachia and Moldavia
were united to Poland by Conqueft 3 and the
Great Dutchy of Lithuania added by JageWs
Marriage with Hedwigts Qjieen of Poland.
The large and fertile Province oiLivonia was
conquer'd about the Year t^oo; and after-
wards the Poles extended their Conquefts to-
wards Mofcovy^ when -they took the Great
Dutchies of Smolensko, Severia and Czernicovia,
and in Vladi/laus the Vllth's time conquer'd
all that Country. They in like manner en-
larg'd their Dominions towards the Black
Sea, for they made themfelves Mailers of all
Vkraina.
Sj FoUcy. Over and above thefe vail Conquefts, the
Poles likewife grew very confiderable by elec-
ting feveral potent Neighbours for theirKings,
whereby they added to their own Strength
that of Bohemia, Hungary, Sweden, and Tran-
jylvania, as they have likewife at this jundurc
that of the Ele^orate of Saxony. In fliort, the
Poles, in procefs of time, grew fo exorbitantly
Powerful, from the Xlllth, to the middle of
the XVIIth Century, having in their poirefTion
• all the Lands between Auftria, Mofcovy, and
the Baltic and Euxine Seas, that they gav-e
their Neighbours the T«r^J, Tartars, A/ufcO'
vites, Swedes and Germans, juft reafon to grow.
• jealous of them : Whereupon thefe feveral
Potentates, at different times, made molt
bloody Wars upon them, till by degrees they
had brought their Territories to a narrower
. .. , Compafs,
I
X,
^
Defcnptm of Poland. 11 j
Compafs, and made themfelvesMafleriofthe
greater part of them. For the Emperour got
from them the feveral Countries of Hungary^
Bohemia^ Tranfylvania^ Sikfia^ and Moravia.
Valachia and Moldavia now chufe Hof^odars or
Governours of their own, tho they are never-
thelefs Tril?utary to the Turk. The Turks and
Tartars are Mafters of Podoliaj, and the belt
part of Vkraina, which they over-run in King
Michael Ko^yhuth''s time; and the Mufcovites
conquer'd the other part of it, Kiovia, as like-
wife ai! the vaft Dutchies of Severia, Smolmsko
and Cz.ernicovia. The King of Sweden alfo is
now in pofleflion of all Livonia., except the
Dutchy of Curland.,^ which is left ftill Tribu-
tary to Poland. Ducal Prujpa is entirely in
the Eledor of Brandenburg's hands, of which
he is of late an Independent Soveraign.
Pomerania is now polTefs'd by the Swedes
and Germans between them; and Dantzic
is in the Nature of a little Republic or
Hans-Tovfny yet under the Protection of Po-
land. '
Thus your Lordlhip may obferve, that the Prefent
neighbouring Princes have clip'd fo clofe the Extent.
Skirts of this vaft Empire, that they have re-
duc'd it to one Third of what it has hereto-
fore been. Yet notwithftanding all thefe
Lolles, it is ftill reckon'd to the full as large^
as the Kingdom of France; but its Frontiei-s*
towards 7artary are altogether defolate, moft
of the Inhabitants having been carryM away
into Captivity, either by the Turks or Tar-
tars.
To
4
lid
A Geographical Let. Y.
T o give yonr Lordfhip a juft Account of the
prefent Extent of Poland, I muft divide it into
its feveral remaining Provinces, which are but
Eight, Fiz..
* But firft a word or two of the Country
in general.
Us Bounds. Poland, together with the Great Dutchy
of Lithuania, is now bounded on t^ North
by Mofcovy, Livonia, and the Baltic Sea; On
the South' by Moldavia, Tranfylvania, and
Jdungary •, On the Eaft by Vkraina, which
belongs to the Turks, and the Dutchies of
Smolensko, Sevcria, Caernkovia, and Kiovia,
which are now in poireffion of the Mufcovites •,
and on the Weft by Pomerania, Brandenburg,
Bohemia, and Sikfia. It extends itfelf from
South to North, that is, from the Carpathian
Mountains to the Gulph of Riga, about zoo
Leagues, from the 45 Degree 36 Minutes, to
the 5 5 Degree 29 Minutes of Latitude *, and
from Eaft to Weft, that is, from Smolensko
. and the Vkraine, to the Frontiers of Pomera-
nia, Bohemia, and Sikfia, above 240.
Soil. Its Soil, for the moft part, is Champain,
tho towards the Borders of Hungary veiy
mountainous and woody 3 yet as it declines
from thence, it generally grows more fruk-
ful. - There is only one great Mountain in
the middle of Poland, call'd Mons Cal-
/ Wis,
Little) Mafovia.
fie y Poland. Samogitia.
Great^ Folhynia
Regal PruJJia. &
Rujfia. Podlachia.
S^efcription of Poland. 217
vus. The Bald Mountain^ tho it has a Monafte-
ry on the top of it, furnam'd the Holy Crofs^
and dedicated to our Saviour. What others
, you fliall meet with may be rather term'd
little Hills than Mountains. The Eaftern
Part of this Kingdom is full of Forefts,
Woods, Marflies, Lakes and Rivers which afr
ford a delightful Fijla to the open Coun-
try.
Heretofore Poland is faid to have been al- its Pro-
moft all Woods \ but now, being cultivated
by the Induftfy of Its Inhabitants, it produ-
; ' ces every-where all kinds of Fruits, Grains,
I . and Herbs: Nay, it wants for neither Fowl
I nor Filhi and moreover, abounds with all
f forts of tame and wild Beafts. There are
alfo Vines in many Places, whofe Grapes ax-e
not ungrateful to the Palat, efpecially if the
• Summer and Autumn are never fo little fa-
. vourable ^ but theW ine is generally very lharp
I when it has once been drawn off. In the
Mountains are to be found Mines of Silver,
Copper, Lead, and Iron, with divers other
kinds of Minerals ^ as alfo Salt, which is
commonly taken out in huge Maires,like Stones
out of a Qixarry. The Weltern part of this
Kingdom produces a great deal of Corn,
which is tranfported in confiderable Qiianti-
ties into foreign Countries \ and befides, it
abounds with Honey, Wax, Hemp, and Linen
for Sails: All which are carry'd to DantUc,
and from thence tranfported.
The greateft Part of the Towns, and all Kumber of
the Villages of this Kingdom, are of Tim-a^d
ber and Tbatch'd, the Gentlemens Houfes
in the Country being alfo of the fame Make.
The
n 8 A Geog}'aphkal L te t. V.
The whole Number of Cities, Towns, Bo-
roughs and Villages in Poland amounts to near
a hundred and feventy thoufand, whereof
there are not much above twenty walPd.
There are two forts of Cities in this King-
dom ; the Firit belong to- the Republick,
of which the King names the Governours
and other Officers j and the Second arc
under the Dominion of particular Seigneurs
by hereditary Succeflion, of which there can
be no other Starojias but their own peculiar
Lords.
Climate. The Air of this Country is futable to the
Climate, and fometimes fo exceeding cold,
that Water freezes ere it falls to the ground.
And Lakes and Rivers are fo frozen up, that
Coaches and loaded Carts pals over them for
five or fix Months together, even to the end
of March.
Rivers^ The moft remarkable Rivers of this Coun-
try are,
(Weijfel or Vifiula.
Wart or P^arta.
Nieper or Borifihenes.
Niefter or Tyra.
^.Dwina or Duna.
I Bog or Bohus.
jBug or Bugm.
\Niemen or Nemenns.
Their ft- The Weijfel or Vtjlula takes its rife in the
vcrd Dutchy of 7 efchen in Silefia^ out of Mount Car-
Cturjes. pathus ( now Crapack ) and runs by the feve-
ral Cities and Towns of Ofwiecz.in^ Cracow^
Sendcmir, Cajimir^ Lublin^ War jaw ^ Plocskow^
VladiJlaWf Thorn, Culm, Bromberg, Crandentz,
Newen-
Defcri^tmofPolmd. i
Newenburg^ Elbing^ Marienburg^ and Dantaic.
This River antiently feparated Sarmatia Eu-
ropea from Germany, and having continued its
Courfe for aljove a hundred PoUfh Miles, di-
vides it felf into two Streams, emptying one
into the Bay of Frifch-Haff, and the other
into the Baltic Sea, vulgarly call'd Dc Oofi
Zee.
The Wart or Farta arifes in Lefler Poland ;
,and after having water'd Siradia, Kalifch,Pof-
nan, Olfiin, &c. falls into the Oder, a River
of Silefia.
The Nieper or Borifthenes, waters Smolensho,
traverfes part of Lithuania , runs through
Kiow or Kiovia, crofles the Vhaine, and at
length rolls into the" Black Sea near Ockaa-
low.
The Niefter rifes near the Lake of Leopol;
and having run by Halitz., Caminiec, &c. dif-
charges it felf in like manner into the Black
or Euxine Sea near Bialogrod.
The Duna, or Dwina, fprings n'ear Biatff in
Mofcovy, when having pafs'd by Witebsh,
Polocz., Dunenburg, Kokenhauz,, &ۥ with a
Courfe of 130 Leagues, it at lafl: throws it
felf into the Gulph of Riga in Livonia.
The Bog, or Bohus, takes its Origin from
a Lake in the Frontiers of Podolia •, and having
pafs'd by Confiantinow, Bar, and Braclaw, it
falls into the Nieper near Ockzahw.
The Bug fpvings in Ked-RuJJia, near Olesko,
or Zborow •, and having run by the feveral
Places of Glituani, Beltz., Sok'al, Vlodumierz,,
Chelm, Brejly, and Warfaw,f&\\s into the Weif-
fel by Wifchegrod.
The
tio A (jedgraphical Let. V.
The Niemefiy or Nemenus^ arifes near Slo'
rtimy or rather NeJ]ivkx,y in the Palatinate of
Novogrodec, and waters the Sides of Novo-
* grodecy Bielcz.y Grodnay Trokiy Vtlnay and after
runs into the Baltic near Tylfa.
Bs Lakes. In Lower or Greater PolandyCujaviayand the
Territory of Lubliny there are feveral confi-
derable Lakes,replenilh'd with all forts of frefh,
Fifh. The chief of thefe Lakes is Gop/o, five
Miles long, and half a Mile broad. Next
there is Biale, otherwife nam'd The White
Lake -y which might be fo call'd by an Jnti-
fhra/is^ becaufe in the Months of udpril and May
it dyes Skins with a fort of fwarthy Tinfturc.
To proceed according to my Divifion of
this Country, in which I have follow'd Staro-
volfciuSy I muft begin with the firft Province
of this Kingdom, which is
I. P R o- Great or Low Poland, bounded on the North
VIN c E. by Pomeranta and Pruffia, on the South by
Upper or Lefler Polandy on the Eafl by Adafo'
via, and towards the VVeft by Silefiay and the
Marquifate of Brandenburg, It is call'd Great
Poland, becaufe LechuSy the Founder of this
Kingdom, firft fettled there, and divided it
into two Parts ^ y7z..
Its Divi- I. Greater Poland, properly fo call'd ,
f'on. ^ and
2. Cujavia.^
Both which contain feVen Palatinates •, Viz.
The
Defcri^tion of Poland. izi
'Pofnania^ to which be-
longs the Territory of
Wfchow,
Kalifch.
Siradia, to which belongs
The Pillittiyiatei of the Territory of yie-
lunia.
Rava.
Lanfchet.
Brefty^ and
^^Inovolocz..
Of thefe, the two laft only belong to C«-
javia.
The chief of all thefe feven Palatinates is
Pofnania, in which are thefe feveral Cities
and T owns f riz..
C Biflioprick.
Pofnan Palatinate, and -
' C Caftellany..
Kofcien. | Slupeia.
Vskow. 1 Pyfdra.
Sremsh Kcina.
Miedzyrzecze, Conin.
Nacum. Premecz-^zxA
Curnic, Ragoz.no.
nate.
The capital Cky of all which is
cities ap£
Towns of
Pofnan., call'd by the Germans Pofen., lltuate Pofiian-
upon the River f^arta in the 39th Degree of
Longitude, and 52 of Latitude. It is 7 Miles
diltant
2 21 J Geographical Let. V.
diftant from Gnefna to the Weft, 20 German
Miles from Vratiflaw to the North, and
50 from Cracow to the South. It lies in the
midft of feveral little Hills environ'd with
a ftrong double Wall, and a very deep Ditch.
The City it fclf, it muft be confefs'd, is but
fmall, yet neverthelels exceeding beautiful and
well-built, its Edifices being for the moft part
ofFree-ftone. Among the publick Strudures,
the moft confiderable is the Caftle rais'd upon'
a fmall Eminence between the Rivers rarta
and Profna. It is generally provided with all
ibrts of Ammunition, and wants for neither
Strength nor Beauty. The reft of the Pub-
lick Edifices may juftly claim the like Charac-
ter, tho the moft ftately lie on the other fide
the River Varta in the Suburbs, which are very
large. Here is the Cathedral Church with a
College of Prebends, and the Bilhop's Palace
fituate among the Marlhes. This Pile of
Building is commonly call'd Valifovia^ and
built fo ftrong,' that like the Town, it is able
to withftand a Siege. John 'Lubranfcius, a
Bilhop of this See, founded here a College
to be vifited by that of Cracow^ and which
was afterwards very much augmented and
beautify'd by Adam Conarim his Succeflbr, and,
farther enrich'd by one Rofrafevim with feve-
ral noble Gifts: So that now the Jefuits
have a College in the City, where Learning
is greatly encourag'd. Yet this alfo in the
Suburbs does not want for noble Youth, who
daily flock thither to be inftruded by the
Ledures of Mathematicks and Law. Thefe
Suburbs are all furrounded by a Morafs and a
great Lake. They are frequently laid under
water
^efcriptlon of Poland. 223
water by ithe overflowing of the rarta, info-
much that fometimes with the neighbouring
Villages for feveral Miles together , the
tops of the Houfes are only to be feen. This
Inundation likewife often extends to the
Town it felf, notwithftanding its high Walls,
in a manner that Boats have been known to
fwim about the Streets: But this lafts not
long, for the Waters commonly retire in two
or three days at fartheft. There are three
very famous Fairs kept in this City, whither
the C'erwdwr, both Traders and Gentry, come
in great Numbers. The firft of thefe is kept
about the beginning of Lent ^ and lafts a
Month. The fecond at Michaelmas, and con-
tinues five Weeks j and the laft at Midfum'
mer, which is for the fame time.
The Inhabitants of this City are generally
Roman Catholkks, tho vaft Numbers of Jews
live alfo among them. The Government is
executed by a Starofta, chofen yearly out of
the Schipns, or Aldermen, who, as long as
this Office lafts, enjoys alfo the Title of Gene-
ral of Great Poland.
Seven Miles from hence lies Gnefna, fttuate Gnefna.
among Bogs and Hills, and call'd alfo by the
Germans Gnicfen, It is an Archbifhop's See,
and gives Title to the Primate of all Poland.
It is diftant three PoUjh Miles from the River
V^arta to the Nonh^ feven from Kalifch to the
South, as many from Pofnan to the Eaft, and
about thirteen from Thorn, thirty from Dant-
z.ic, and thirty three from V/arfaw to the
North-weft. • It was formerly Metropolis of
the whole Kingdom, having been built by
Lechtu, the firft Founder thereof, and fo
nam'd
224
» 1'
A Geo^raphicd L e T. V.
nam'd from an Eagle's Nelt, as is to be fecn
in the Life of that King.
This City was almoft confum'd by Fire in
the Year 1613. and is at prefent chiefly confi-
derable for being the ufual Refidence of the
Arch-bilhop and Primate of Poland^ who yet
^ enjoys very great Privileges. In the Cathe-
dral is repofited a great quantity^of ineltima-
ble Treafure, moftof which is owing to the
Tomb of St. Adalbert raifed in the middle of
the Churchy cas'd about with Silver by Si-
gifmund 111; and to the Gifts of Henry
Frrlem, late Arch-bilhop of that See, who,
among other Rarities, gave his own MitrCj
valued at 24000 Poli/h Gilders, or near 20001.
Sterling. The Gates opening to this Church
are all of Corinthian Brafs curioufly wrought,
which were firfl; taken from the Monallery of
Corfuna in Taurica Cherfonefus, afterwards re-
moved to Kiowy and thence brought hither
, by order of Bolefiaus II, Here are feveral
Fairs kept, the chief whereof is that on the
Feafl: of St. Adalbert.
Kofcien. Kofcien, a Town built in a Plain among
Marlhes, and defended with a double Wall
and a broad and deep Ditch: It is about feven
Miles from P^fnan.
Vskowy a waird Town fituate in a Plain like-
wife, and about eleven Miles from Pofnan.
Sremsky Prem'ecz. and Ragoz.nOy three Tim-
ber built Towns belonging to the Jurifdidlion
of Pofnan.
Miedzyrz^eczjey a Town built for the nioft
part with Wood in a Plain ampngft Rivulets
and Marlhes, and which alfo its Name ini-
ports: It is fituate upon the Goiifinls of
Hid
UskoWi
Sremsk^
<bc.
Miediyr-
zecze.
Defcriptlon of'PoXsin^, 22 j
kfta and Pomerania^ and has a ftrong Caftle
fortified both by Art and Nature, and, which
'tis commonly conjeftur'd, could hardly be
taken unlefs it were ftarv'd. This feveral
. German Princes have experienc'd at their
' Coils, who after a long and fruitlefs Siege of,
it, have at length been forc'd to return home
again re infeCla. It is about 15 Miles from
Pofnan.
■ Slupcza^ a Town upon the IVartVf ith a ve-Slupcza.
ry ilrong Wall, and other futable -Fortifica-
tions.
Pyfdr.a^ a WalPd Town upon the Wart like- P>fdra.
wife, built,, in a Plain among Woods, and
nine Miles from
The other Towns of this Palatinate are
fome of them wall'd, and chiefly built with
Wood, except only the publick Edifices, fuch
as Caftles, Towns, Churches, Monafleries,
Abbies, ^c. which are all either Stone or
Brick.
The Senators of this Pal-atinate are, Scnatirsof
1
The Arch-bilhop of Cnefna^
C Bifhop O
The Palatine and S of Pofnani4.
C Cajlellan J
Sremsk^
Miedz.yrz.ecz.e^
r^3 ^ /I II. £ \ Premecz..
The of ^
I Kriven, and
Zandoc.
Q.
Ihtre
116 A Geographical Let*. V.
There are moreover feveral other Officers
in this Palatinate, as well Civil as Military.
The Staroftas or Governours of Cities have
fome of them Jurifdidtion, and fome none, as
it is likewife all the Kingdom over.
■Its Arms, The Standard and Arms of this Palatinate
are an Eagle expanded Argent in a Field
Gules.
ir. Paiati- The fecond Palatinate of Great Poland^ is
nate. that of
Kalifcbf in which are thefe Cities and
Towns,
Metropoli/Sy and
CaJleUany^
Kalifch
Koloj
Land,
Naklo,
Odolanovia,
Cofmin,
Dohra,
GrabotPj .
Opatovec,
Chocia, 1 and
Stave, 1 Plefovia,
r!wns "tf The Chief City of all which is
italifch. Kalifch, built among Marlhes upon the
River Profna, and fortified only with a Brick-
Wall, and fome low Towers. It has in it
fome Religious Houfes, and a very magnifi-
cent College for Jefuits, foundtdLhy Stani/laus
Kayncovius, Arch-bi(hop of Gnefna. Here are
the Ruins of a ftrong Caftle remaining, which
had formerly been deftroy'd by the Teuto-
nick Knights.
Kolo. Kolo, a Timber-built Town, wall'd with
Mud and Dirt: At certain times it is encom-
pafs'd and walh'd by the River Wart, near
t which
Defcription of l?6[md, 217 j
which it is built. It is about eight Miles
from Kalifch.
Land, a Town upon the Wart, about four Land.'
Miles from Gnefna.
Naklo, a Timber'd Town near the LakeNaklo;
Coplo, with a wall'd Callle lituate among the
Marlhes.
Odolanovia, a Town with a Callle, built Cdolano-
likewife among the Marlhes.
Chocia, in which Andrew Lipski, Bilhop ofchocia.
Cracow, founded a Collegiate Church with vail
Expence.
The other Towns of this Palatinate art not
very conliderable, and therefore are omitted.
The Senators of this Palatinate are. Senators of
^ _ Kalifch. ,
of
•
C Land,
The CafieUans of A Naklo, and
C Kamin.
The Standard and Arms of this Palatinate, its Arms.
are a Buffaloes Head eras'd,^S'^JWf^,with a Crown
between his Horns, all in a cheeky Field, Ar-
gent and Gules.
The third Palatinate of Great Poland is in. rala-
that of tinace.
Biradia, lituate along the River Varta, or
Wart, being divided into four Dillridls, viz..
C Siradia,
The Dianas of ' '
C, Petricovia.
Q, z In
218 A Geographical Let.V.
In all which are the feveral Cities and
Towns of
Sirctdla Cap.
Rofprz.a^
Spcemir,
Petricovia^
ne citks Konarz.ew,
Wart^
Lash,
yidavia,
and
Pah'tanke.
tutd Towns
oj Siradia. The chief City of all which is Siradia, fi-
tuate in a Plain, and fortified with a ftrong
Wall, with a Caftle built on the Wart. Sub-
jed to the Jurifdidion of this City are the
following Cities and Towns.
Rofprza. Rof^rz.a, a Timber'd Town featcd amongll
the Marflies.
Spicimir. Spicimir, a Town built likewife with Wood.
Pctricbvia. Petrkovia, a Wall'd City by no means in-
confiderable, fituate among Rivulets and
Bogs. Once a Year one of the great Tribu-
nals of the Kingdom is kept in the Suburbs
of this City in one of the King's Palaces. Not
far off there is another Palace of the King's
calPd Byhi of a regular Strudure, whither
his Ma jelly with his Court fometimes retires
for his Pleafure at the time of the meeting of
the Tribunal. There are feveral other Emi-
nent Edifices built about this City, belonging
to Bilhops and other Great Men, among which
the mofl famous is the Abby of Vkrovia,
and the Palace of Crufmen, after the Italian
manner.
Konarzew. Konarz.m, a Town of no great Impor-
t^nce.
Wort. Wart, a large City built upon a River
of the Ihme Name.
f Lash,
J)cfcriptwn 0/Poland. 129
Lits\^ where formerly Johannes Lafcus Avq\\^ Lask.
bifhop of Gnefna^ founded a Collegiate
Church, and richly, endow'd it at his own
Cofts.
To this Palatinate alfo belongs the Terri-
tory of
rielunia^ which has a Caftellan and other Tewtoyy
' Magiftrates of its ovyn, and is divided into
two parts, viz.,
Vielmia, and
OJlrefow.
Both which'contain fome Towns, and a great
number of Villages.
The principal of the Towns is Bokjlaw.^ Torens of
which is defended with a very ftrong Caftle. vklunia. .
Vielun^ environ'd with a high Wall and a
very deep Diteh, having Hkevvife a Caftle on ,
the River Profna. Its Buildings are generally
of Brick, whereof there are feveral very
ftately.
Oftrcfosv, a Timber-built City on the Bor-
ders of Silefia, lituate in a very large Plain,
and encompafs'd alraoft every way with
Woods.
In this Palatinate the Gentry formerly had
a Privilege of fealing their Letters with Red
Wax, which was only allow'd to the Senators
in all the reft of the Kingdom, and which they
obtain'd by recovering the Standard of the Pa-
latinate of Lanfchet, after it had been loft t;o
the Prujfians^ and Teutonick Knights.
The Senators of this Palatinate are,
aa
Senators oj
Siradia.
The
^3-
A Geographical Let. V.'
Its Arms.
Arms of
"Vielunia.
C Rofprza,
The Cajlellans of ^ Spcimir, and
C Konarzew.
The Standard and Arms of this Palatinate
are in a Field Fert^ a Lion Gm/w, and Eagle
Sables^ both comter-coufd in the middle.
The Territory of Fielmia has its own
Eniigns, which are an yl^nus Dei with a Crols
jdrgent in a Field Guiles.
iv.palati- The fourth Palatinate of Great Poland is
natc. that of
Rava^ which is divided into three Diftrids,
"itiz..
C Rava,
The Diflrids of ^ Sochacz.ori>, and
« C Gojlinin.
of
In all which are the feveral Cities and Towns
Rava^ Cap.
Lomtz.^
Folboria^
Combin,
Socbaczj)Wy
Go(linin^
Fiafdum, and
Biala.
cities and
Towns of
Rava.
The Capital City of this Palatinate is
Rava, fituate in a Plain, built for the molt
part with Wood, and tolerably populous.
It has a Caftle on a fmall River of the fame
Name, in which Prifoners of the bell Rank
are kept. The fourth part of the Revenue of
this Caftle goes towards the Payment of the
Souldiers. The fame Conftitution was in Po-
dolia, where former Kings thought fit to efta-
blilh the beft Guard they could againft the
frequent
i
Defcription of Poland. 151
frequent Incurfions of the Tartars. In this
City is a very confiderable College of Jefuits^
much vifited by Learned Men.
Lowixz.^ a City much more populous than Lowicz,
the former, and about five Miles diftant from
it: It is famous for being fometimes the Refi-
deoce of the Arch-bifhop of Gnefna^ or Pri-
mate of Poland. His Palace there is built a-
mong the Marlhes, yet neverthelefs confifts of
feveral fair Piles of Building; The Church
alfo is a beautiful Strudfure, and enrich'd •
with feveral noble Gifts. It has likewife
a great many confiderable Monafteries, Ab-
bies, &c. In this City are divers famous Fairs
kept, which the Gentry very much frequent
from all Parts.
Folboria^ a Town wherein the Bilhop ofvolboria.
Cujavia commonly refides, and where he has
a Noble Palace. This Place is alfo very po-
pulous.
.Combin^ a large Timber-built Town, fi-Gombin.
tuate in a Plain.
Sochacaow, a Place defended with Palilades, Socliac-
and a Caftle built on a Rock, which is walh'd
by the River Bfura.
Gojlinin^ a Wooden City built in a Plain Goftinin.
among Marfhes. This Place is famous for
having in it the Prifon where Demetrius Suski
the Cz.ar of Mufcovy, was kept for a long
time, and where he at length dy'd.
Fiafdum, remarkable for its Strength and viafdum.
Beauty of its Callle, and fituate not far from
Rava on the Left-hand.
Biala, a Town belonging to the Bifhop of Bialai
Chelm.
This Palatinate contains likewife a Noble
Q, 4 Palace
1^2 A Geo^mphical Let. V.
Palace of the Arch-billiop of Gnejna^ calVd
Squermz'icia.
Senators The Scnatovs of this Palatinate are,
a/ Rava. . ^ paiatin and \ c ^
The
*'0f
Its Arms. The Standard and Arms of this Palatinate
are an Eagle Sables^ with the letter R on his
Breaft in a Field Gules.
V. Palati- The fifth Palatinate of Great Poland is that of
nare. Lanfchet, divided Ijkewife into three Di-
flridfs, viz..
C Lanfchet.^
The Dillrifts of P Brez.ini^ and
C Or low.
*■' ' In all which the moll ccnfiderable Cities
• and Towns are,
Lanfchet^Ca^. j Piontkum.^
Orlow.^ and
Breftnai^ ' Vniejovia.
4
Towns "of The Capital Place of this Palatinate is
ianichec. Lanfchet.^ a wall'd City built among the
Marflies in a Plain, and furrounded with a
very broad and deep Ditch •, it has a Caftle
well fortify'd on a Rock, and which is wafh'd
by the River Bfura. Not far olF in a Village
call'd Kofciol there is a very neat Church built
with Free-ftone. There are feveral famous
Fairs
$ Defcriptmt of Poland. ' 133
Fairs kept in this City, where one of the
Little Diets is alfo convened purfuant to the
King's Command,
Or/otp, a Tinibcr-built Town feated be-Orlow.
tween feveral fmall Lakes and a large muddy
River. It is four Miles from Lanfchet. ■
Brefina^ a wooden-built Town, indifferent- Brelina.
ly large, fituate among Bogs, and about feven
Miles from Lanfchet.
Piontkum or Piatek, built among the Marfhes Piatck.
on the Banks of the River Bfura. This Place
is famous for well-tafted Beer, which is tranf-
ported from hence all the Kingdom over.
Here is a Monaftery erefted to the Honour of
St. Paul.
Vniejovia^ a Town' where there is a very Uniejovia.
famous Caftle founded on the Wart. Both
thefe Places belong to the Arch-bilhop of
Gnefna.
The Senators of this Palatinate are,
The
r Brefina,
The Caftellans of ^Brez.ina^ and
■ - ■ . C^iechovia.
The Standard and Arms of this Palatinate its Arms.
are an Eagle jirgent^ and Lion Sables^ both
counter-coufd in the middle, and, the latter
. crown'd Or, all in a Field Gules.
The fixth and feventh Palatinates are com- Territory
prehended in Cu]avia^ whereof the former is o/Cujavia.
Senators of
Lanfchet.
The
2^4 ^ Geographical List. V.
I. Pdiati- The PalatinAte of Breftyj which is divided
°f into four Diftrids, viz^
Cu;avia, '
■ Brejly^
The Diftrlds of
^Coval^ and
. Predek.
In all which are the feveral Cities
Towns of
and
cities and
Towns of
Uladiflaw.-
VladiJlawj Cap.
Bnfty,
Nifaviay
Radz.ieoxf>y
t
VoifinorCy
Kowalowy
and
Sluz£via.
Brefiy.
The Capital City of this Palatinate is
Vladiflavo^ built among the Marlhes near
the njlula. This City is famous for being the
Epifcopal See of the Bilhop of Cujavia^ who
always ci'owns the King in cafe either of the
Death, Indifpoliition or Obftinacy of the Pri-
mate: It has a neat Cathedral built after the
Gothkk manner, and about it ftand the Pre-
bends and Canons Houfes, with a large Free-
School. The Buildings of this City are gene-
rally of Brick, with which the Caftle is alfo
built on the River riftula. The Country
hereabouts is all Boggy, and there is fo great
fcarcity of Wood, that the Inhabitants luffer
very much for want of it.
Brefty^ a City feated in a Plain among
Marflies, and defended with a very ftrong.
Wall and deep Ditch. The Houfes here arc
for the molt part of Brick.
i^Upon the fame Ihore with Vladijlaw lies
ISlira-
4 . J
Defcri^tlonof Pohnd, , 25j
Mfavia^ being not far off from it j it is a Nifavia,
wall'dTown.
Radx.ieow^ a Timber-built Town, fituate in Radzieow.
an open Country near a very large Lake.
Korfimvp, a Town defended with a llrong Koifinow,
Callle.
K:mkv^f a Timber-built Town, feated a- Kowalow,
monglb the Marlhes.
This Palatinate is very fertile, and abounds
with all forts of Corn, which not only fuffices
the Inhabitants, but is alfo tranfported in vafl:
quantities to DantzAc by fcveral Navigable
Rivers, whence it is carried out of the fong-
dom.
The latter and feventh Palatinate of the
Province of Great Poland is that of
Inowlocz,j which is divided like wife into three
Diftrifts, tHz,.
^ CBydgofty,
The Diftrids of Bobrounitz.^ and
^Inowlocz,.
This Palatinate extends it felf from the
Lake of Goplo and the City of Crufmck^ to the
Vtftula^ and Confines of Pomerania^ and has
feveral Cities and Towns, whereof th? chief
are,
Crufwici, 1 Gnieuhvo^ Solec^ j and
Bydgofly^ I Vratijlavo^ Dibow, j Strelce.
Towns of
\ Crufwick, an antient City next to GnefnaCixfmck.
for Antiquity, built upon the Borders of
Brejly, with a ftrong walfd Caftle near the
Lake Coplo, out of which it is faid the Rats
came }'
^^^6 A geographical Let. V.
came that devour'd King Popiel II. his Wife
and FamiW by a Divine Judgment. In the
Suburbs or this City is the Church of St. Peter^
built with Free-ftone, together with a College
of twenty four Canons. Here formerly the
Court relided, but was afterwards remov'd
to Cracow.
Bydgofty. Pydgojiy^ a wall'd Town, in a Plain, wafh'd
by the River Bardaj by which feveral things
are tranfported to Vladiflaw, being only fix
Miles diflrant.
Tlie other Towns are not to be defpis'd,
being generally very populous.
Senators of yjjg Senators of Cujavia arc,
cujava. CFalatia, and r\ . „
}Palatin. and ? c r i
'CCafteUan ^ of Inowlocz,.
C Kowalow^
The CafeUans of Crufwic, and
CBydgoJly.
Its Arms. ^ The Standard or Arms of Cujavia is in a
Field Or, an Eagle and'Lion Sables,
counter-coup'd in the middle.
II. Pro- The Second Province of this King-
viNCE. dom is
Leffer Po- Upper or Lefler Poland, which is bounded
a ^ North by Mafovia and Podlachia 5 on
rrBounds, vVell by Lower Poland •, on the South by
Hungary, and on th6 Eaft by RuJJia; and is
about fifty German Miles as well in length as
breadth.
It is generally divided into three Palati-
nat£s. Viz. The
Defcrtption of Poland.' 237
The firfl: Palatinate of Lefler Poland is that of
Cracovia-t which befides four Diftrifts, con-
tains alfo three Dutchies and one County.
Cracoviay wherein are two Subdivifions, Viz^
The Subdi- 5 Xianzen^ and
vifions of 1 Projfovia.
Leloviat
Briecz^ and
' Sandecz.
^ The three Dutchies are,
Ofmeczin,
ZatoYy and
Severia.
Which are part of Silefia, and the County
is that of Scepuz^ which belongs to Hungary^
and contains thirteen Towns, the chief of
which is Luboul, having a well-fortify'dCaftle,
wherein conftant Guard is kept.
The chief Cities and Towns of this Palati'
nate are,
^ 3Bilhoprick and 1 Seueria.
cracovD ^ I Profzovice.
The fourOiftrids are
Biecz.
Womitz.
Sandecz.
Lelow.
Kyaz.
Ofxpteczin.
Zator.
I Czenjlochova.
j Slaucovia.
llcujjia.
Wieliczha.
Boc\nia^ and
Dobcitia.
Of
238 J Geographical Let. V.
Cities and Gf all which, the Capital of the Province
Towns of and Metropolis of the Kingdom is,
Cracow. Cracow^ a famous City, feated in a Ipacious
Plain near the Weijfel, by which Merchandizes
are tranfported to Dantzic. It lies nine Folijh
Miles Eaft of the Frontiers of Silefia, eleven
from thofe of Upper Hungary^ twenty three
from Sendomir^ thirty from Olmitz,^ thirty five
South-Eaft of Vratt/law, forty from Vienna^
and about fifty from Buda^ and is plac'd in
the 42 Degree of Longitude, and 50 of Lati-
tude.
Why fo It takes its Name from Cram, Gram or
caifd. Gracchus, one of the firft Dukes of Poland, tho
fome others will have it to be the Cawdanum
of Ptolomy corrupted into Cracow. But let its
Name come from whence it will, it is certain
that now, confidcring the Hatelinefs both of
its publick and private Edifices, and the great
Plenty of all manner of Neceflaries, it is equal
to moft Towns of either Germany or Italy.
If this Charafter given to it by Starovolfcius
be difputed, no body can deny but that it is"
the largelt and beft built Town in all Poland,
being divided into four Quarters, Viz..
Cracow, properly fo call'd.
Cafimir.
Stradomia, and
Cle^aria.
The firft Cracow is encompafs'd with a
very high Wall, and flank'd with round brick
Towers, with a broad deep Ditch, wall'd like-
The Cafile. wife, and a ftately Caftle about a Mile in
Compafs, founded on a Rock call'd Vavel,
on,
T>efcription of Poland. 2 ^ p
on the Banks of the River Vifiula. It is a
large ftone Building, confifting of two Wings,
magnificently rais'd about a Square-Court,
having Galleries, fupported with Pillars, and
pavM with black and white Marble. The
King's Appartments, with fome others, are
adorn'd with divers curious Paintings and Sta-
tues, and the Country round about affords
one of the moll delightful Profpefts in Eu-
rope.
Here is the Cathedral of St. Staniflaus^ in TheC^th.^-
which a late Bifhop oi Cracow., Martin Sz.yfco- dral.
wia, repair'd and beautify'd his Tomb, which
before had been all of Silver. This, Sigif-
mmd III. and his Son Vladijlaus VII. greatly
augmented, bellowing on it many Offerings
of Gold and Silver Veffels. Sigifmund I. alfo
in honour of this Saint, built a Silver Al-
tar near his Tomb, bellowing on it feveral
Golden Crucifixes, and as many Veflments
richly embroider'd with Gems of all forts. His
Daughter Ann likewife. Wife to King Stephen^
built another Silver Altar in the Chapd of the
Annunciation, whofe Roof is all gilded, and
wherein the Kings of Poiand are wont to be
interr'd. This Cathedral is principally to
be noted for its Chapter and Treafury.
I pafs by feveral other ineffimable Riches
which are to be feen here ^ but I cannot omit
one thing, which is, that God is fo incefiantly
prais'd in this Church, that the Priefls are
never filent Night nor Day. The Bifliop of The Bi/Jjop
this Diocefs is Lord over thirteen Cities, and ohap-
Prince of the Dutchy of Severia. His Chap- "
ter, which confifls of about thirty Canons,
with feveral other inferiour Prielts, having
a pro-
240 J Geographical Let. V.
a proportionable Revenue, This City was
ereded into a Metropolitan See upon the firfl:
Planting of the Chriftian Religion in Poland
by Mieciflam I. but within a hundred Years
after it degenerated into a Biflioprick under
the Archbiihop of Gnefna^ in regard that Lam-
pert Zula could not be perfuaded to receive
his Fall from the See of Rome; yet upon fub-
miffion he was afterwards reftor'd to that
f Dignity, but which lafted only for his Life,
his SuccelTors having been 6ver fince only
Bilhops.
. Other There are about fifty other Parifh-Chur-
Churches, ches, as well in the Caflile as the Town:
whereof the moft celebrated is that of the
Virgin Mary in the Circle of Cracow^ which
is govern'd by an Arch-Presbyter, and fronts
ten large Streets, having moreover on all fides
four Rows of magnificent Strudures.
J^Uni- A Univerfity was firft begun here by Ca-
vcrfity. Great, and finifii'd not till thfe Year
1401, by Vladiflaus Jagello^ conformable to the
' laft Will and Teftament of his Queen
gis^ and had its Privileges foon after confirmed
by Pope Vrhan VI. However the Scholars for-
fook it in 1549, byreafon that the Magi-
Urates had refus'd to do Juftice on the Ser-
vants of Andrew Cz.arnkowski,vfho in a Quarrel
had flain a great Number of them. They af-
tcrwards difpers'd themfelves into feveral
Parts of Germany^ and becoming Proteftants,
fpread the Lutheran Religion throughout Po-
land, and gain'd a great Number of Pro/e/iter.
Yet notwithftanding all this, at laft they re-
turn'd to the Obedienceiof the See of Rome.
in
Vsfcri^tion of Poland. ' 241
In this Univerfity are taught all forts of
Learning, and which is now as great an Or-
nament to the Polijh Kingdom, as Athens was ^
formerly to Greece. It contains in all eleven Tts CoUe-
Colleges, which are, ges.
'Great College, which is only for
^ Philofophers.'^
Law-College, where the Profeflbrs
of that Art cohabit and read Lec-
tures.
Phyfick-College, which the Phyfici-
ans do not live in,, becaufe they
are generally raarry'd, and have
Families.
The <1 College of Ttlugofjus for young Stu-
dents in the Law.
College of the Poor, for fuch as
' we call King's-Scholars here,
• College of Nafcovius for other Sci-^
; ences.
College of Jerufalem or of Olefnicm.
College of Zifmm^ newly eredcd.
College of Staringilim.
College of SmieJ'covicm^ and
iColiege for Human Learning.
To thefe may be added fourteen .Gram mar-
Schools, fcatter'd throughou]^ the City ^ in
which alfo foraetimes Univeriity-Learning
is taught.
- All thefe Colleges and Schools are govern'd Vke-cbM'
by a Recftor or V ice-Chancellor,who takes care
that Orders be duly obferv'd, and Funflions"
rightly adminiltred j which is fo great Encou-
ragement, that there isfcarce any Ecclefiafti-
R cal
24^
Mtnajle-
Ties.
Ivtendi-
cants.
Houfes of
thii City.
Eiect.
* A Geographical Let. V.
cal or Political Dignity in the Kingdom but
is fill'd by Perfons that have been educated in
this llniverfity.
In the Monafteries alfo are taught both Phi-
lofophy and Divinity, but more efpecially in-
that of the Ddminicans of the Trinity, where
there are daily Led^res kept,and feveral kinds
of Moral Learnin^llb promoted.
There are lihcwife feveral forts of Mendi-
cant Friers in this City, who upon folemn
Fealls, according to the antient Cuftom, go
in Procefllon, cloth'd in divers Colours-,
fuch as
fthe Rofary
Mercy
the Mantle
the Paflion
the Body of Cbr^
Saint Sophia Purple.
Saint ylm Alh-colour.
L Saint Monica j uCrimfon.
Mendicants
of
rRed.
Green..
Blew.-
L .Black.
White.
The Houles of this City are for the mofl: part
of Frce-ftone, and four or five Stories high,
but cover'd on the Top only with Boards in-
ftead of Slate or Tiles.
The Qiiarter of Cafimir is join'd to the reft
by a fair Timber Bridg, ereded over the Ri-
ver Rudavoka^ a Branch of the IVeiJfelyWhilfi: the
other two, Stradomia and Cleparia, are watered
by the IVeiJfd, and lie between Cracow and
the aforefaid Bridg.
Biecz.^ in the Territory of the fame Name,
is a waird City in a Plain, water'd by the Ri-
ver Rapa, a Branch of the Fifiula, cut of the
Froth of which they make Sulphur, It is about
fifteen
Defcription of Poland, 141
fifteen PoUpt Miles from Cracow^ and five from
Sandecz..
IVounitz, or IVoynicz,^ a Timber-built Town Wounitz.
on the River Dunaiecz.^ from Cracow about
nine Miles.
Sandecz,^ awall'dTown, iaa very pleafantSandcczi
Plain, in the Territory of the fame Name,
wafhM by the River Dmaiecx^ and about
eleven Miles froni Cracow. It has a Colle-
giate Church and feveral Monafteries, &c.
Its Inhabitants are Adive and Induftri-
ous.
^ Lelowpn the Territoryjof Leloviafiiwhich it I-elow;
is the Capital,environ'd with an old Wall, and
a ftrong Caftle built upon a Hill, wherein is
a Palace and feveral Gardens after the Italian
manner. It is walh'd by the River Biala^ and
about eleven Miles from Cracow.
Kyaz.^ a wooden-built Town about feven Kyaz.
Miles from Cracow.
Opvieczan^ Capital of the Dutchy of the Ofrieczin;
fame Name, a Timber-built City in a Plain
among the Marflies, with a wooden Caftle
plaifter'd only with Clay. It is about feven
Miles from Cracow.
Zator., Capital of that Dutchy, built with Zator.
Wood in a Plain near the River ZiJlulaj and
about five Miles from Cracow.
Scveria., Capital of the large Dutchy of the Severia;
fame Name. It has a very ftrong Caftle in an
Ifland in the middle of a very broad Lake,and a-
nothcr atLipovecia upon a high Rock,famous for
being the Prifon of the infolent Clergy of the
Diocefs of Cracow, for that Bilhop being Tem-
poral Prince of this Dutchy, which contains
fome Towns,and Idpovecia among the reft near
K 2 CraeeWi
A Geographical Let.V.
Cracow, it is mofl: convenient for him to in>
prlfon Delinquents there.
Cz£ntochova,a Town famous for good Beer,
which is not only fetch'd from all Parts of
Poland, but alfo from the neighbouring Fro-
vinces qf Germany. Without this Place is a
very famous Monaftery, fituate upon a Hill,
where is a Pifture of the Virgin Mary, faid to
be painted by Saint Luke, and to which Pil-
grinis from all Parts come to make their Of-
ferings.
We went upon our Journey from Silefm to
Cracow to fee this Convent, where they fhew'd
us vafi: Quantities of Gold and Silver Plate, of
rich Ornaments for Altars and Habits,enrich'd
with all forts of Jewels, particularly with
Pearls, for the great Families in Poland think
it a mighty Honour for their Fofterity to
have given any thing of value to this Place, to-
be a Monument of their Devotion as well as
Liberality. The Monks told us of a great
many hiiracles that were wrought here, with
which they work'd fuch EfFeds upon the Minds
of thofe credulous People, that they fcruplc
not to impoverifh themfelves to enrich this
Place. Not only the Church is very rich, but
likewife the Monks are Mailers of a great
Territory round about it, and they maintain a
Garifon of 300 Men upon their own Charges,
whom I have obferv'd to be in a better Condi-
tion than any other Soldiers of the Kingdom.
I can compare this Place to none more pro-
perly than Lcretto in Italy, both for Wealth
and Bigotry.
Situ.'
'Defcription of Poland. 145
Skucoviay in the fame Dutchy, famous forSIaucovi
Silver Mines, which bring great Profit to this
' BiDiop.
Near to this City lies Iku/fia, a Royal Town, iIcuiTia.
abounding alfo with'Silver and Lead. IfsCiti-
-Zens are very Luxurious, but notwithftand-
ing no lefs Devout. This Town is encompafsM
with a Wall,and its Houfes are for the greateft
part of Brick. The Bread here is extraor-
dinary, and Beef not to be equalPd in Cracoa-^
whence it is fcarce diftant above five Miles.
On the Eaftern fide of the City .of.Craco:^
lies Velifca or Wielicika, not above two or wielic-z.ka,
three Miles from thence,; a Town abounding
with Chriftal Salt, but which is not fo tranl-
parent as that of
Bochnia, about five Miles from Bodmu,
where Salt is dug out in great Mafies, and ex- ,
ceeding clear.
Next towards Hungary lies Doic/t;(?,a flrong Dobciti.-i.
Town withaCaftle.
To the North of Cracow lies Profz.ovice^ a Profzoviee
Timber-built Town, feated in a Plain, where
there is a Palace of the King's rais'd on the
Banks of the Ri ver Soz.eniava^ about four Miles
from Cracow, in which is kept a Provincial
Diet. ^
There are fevertil other Cities and Towns
belonging to Noblemen, as likewife a great
Number of Caftles, Palaces, Religious Houfes,
&c. of no ordinary Structure in this Palati-
nate: but all which, for brevity's fake, I have
omitted.
This Palatinate excels all the reft in Mines, Mines of
except that of Sendomir only. Silver and Lead Poland,
are found about IkuJJia., Slaucovia^ Severia'.^
R 3 and
1^6 A Geographical List. V.
and Novogora't and Copper and Gold ztNovo-
targus^ and in the Mountains about Sandecz.;
Mineral Salt, like to huge MafTes of Stone,
at Bochna and Wieliczka \ Marble of all Co-
lours at Selecia, belonging to the Bare-footed
Friers *, Nitre at Wijlicz. \ Vttriol at Becia;
Pit-coal at Tencinum; Iron-Mine and Glafs-
boufes at Ohflinia^ as likewife at feveral other
Places in this Kingdom.
But what I lhall give your Lordfliip a more
particular Account of, will be of Salt and
Glafs, which I have taken from myObferva-
tion in the Country. That of Salt properly
comes in here.
Account of You go down into the Salt Mines near
SaltM'mes. cow by four or five jDair of wooden Stairs, by
which you go from one into the other. The
Horfes alfo defcend the fame way. The whole
Depth of this Mine is thought to be near three
hundred Geometrical Paces. Below you may
meet with a thoufand Turnings and Windings,
and many Alleys and Streets like to a Town ,
all which the Proprietor and hereditary Go-
vernour, Monfieur Mor/lin Covalski^ told me
would require above a Week's time to go
over. In fome Places there is a great deal of
frelh Water in thefe Mines which the Miners
drink,but in mofl; it is fait, of which they make
Salt by Evaporation; but ftill the bell fort
is that which is natural, without Preparation.
Sometimes there are fuch fierce Winds in
thefe Mines, that nothing almoft can with-
ftand them \ and generally there is fo much
Cold, that it is hardly to be endur'd. Whilft
it rains, the Salt is commonly infipid. They
baye Engines to epne up the Water that
it
Defcrll}tton of PolancJ. *47
it may not any Ways incommode th^ Miners.
(The Revenue of ^his Mine amounts to about
eight hundred thovifand Tirafs or Polipi Florins
annually, which Wiakes about 400000 French
Livres, whereof 5 Oooo go to the King, 10000
to the Queen, and fome thoufands more to
■the OlEcers of the Crown, and the Miners
and other Labourers ^ yet over and above all
this, the Proprietor is oblig'd to make a year- •
ly Prefent to all the Cities and Towns of Pa-
■land^ and more particularly to tbtir Starofia6.
A Cobler about the Year 1548, firft found
out this Mine, who digging a Well near this
Place, perceiv'd a Fountain with a thin Wall
of Salt in the middle of it ^ which breaking,
and not knowing what to make of, he difco-
ver'd to the Owners of the Land, who were
then the Family of Morfiin\ who digging
deeper,by reafon they did not meet with much
Salt near the Surface, found it in fo great
Quantity, dhat they have not been able to
exhauft it during the Space of 150 Years,
The Miners fay, that the Lumps of Salt weigh
a great deal lefs in the Mine than when taken
out, which I have not feen confirm'd. There
are four forts of Salt in the Mine, where-
of one is extream hard and rocky, like Chrif-
tal. Another lefs hard, and clearer. A third
brittle and fofter, as alfb white and pure. All
thefe three forts are brackilh, when the fourth
only is fomewhat frelher. In thefe Mines you
fhall have on one fide a ftream of fait Water,
and on the other one of frefh. There are
fome places in thefe Mines where you can't
work, becaufe you dare not carry a Candle
for fear of fetting the Vapours on fire, which
R 4 arc
248 A Geographical Let. V.
are always Nitrous, and eafily fufceptible of
Flame.
Mama this Palatinate^ and in fome others, there
pund. ^ particular fort of Manna^ which they ga-
ther in the Months of A4a)i and June by fweep-
'ing it off the Grafs with Sives, together with
the Dew. They eat this Manna, and make
feverai forts of Dilhes with it for their Tables.
, More of this I fliall take occafion to fpeak of
hereafter.
Senators of Senators of this Palatinate are,
C Bifliop V
Craeovia. The^ and S of
cPalatin j
r Wounitz..
C Biecz..
TkeCifitl- The Cajlellan of Cracow precedes thz Pala-r
luaFoiver. Rgafons given before in the Life of Bo-
leflaiis HI. othervvife call'd Krivouftus. This
Palatines Jurifdiftion is very large, and extends
feverai ways, not only over the Citizens and
Countrymen, but alfo the Nobility or Gen-
try of his Palatinate,
Mayor of Next is the Pretor or Mayor of Cracow,,
Cracow, which Office, Cua^nini fays, has been difconti-
nii'd ever fince a Pretor, in the time of Vladtf-
law, betray'd that City to Bolejlaus Duke of
Oppclin't for which he, together with his Ac-
complices, afterwards underwent deferv'd
Puniffiment, and the Pretorlhip devolv'd to
the King, who now thinks fit to name a Mayor
him-
^)efcription of Poland
himfelf, who, in my time, was i
map.
The Callle of Cracorv is principally under Govern-
the Command of the Palatin^ who has ten De-
puties or Bpfgraves., who, both in time of
Peace aatTWar, ca«fe a ftricl Guard to be kept
therein both Night and Day. Thefe Burgraves
mull always be chofen out of the Gentry.
Here the Crown and other Regalia are kept.
The Standard or Arras of this Palatinate are Arms of
an Eagle expanded Urgent, crown'd
Field Gules^ with a Baton crofs its Wings of
the Second.
The Dijlri& of Sandecz. has a peculiar En- of San-
fign, which is Party per Pale, Argent and A- decz.
zMre.
The Dutchy of Ofroiecz-in has for Arms in of the
a Field Gules, an Eagle expanded Sables, bear- "f
ing an O in its Breaft. ofwieczm.
The Dutchy of Zator has alfo a peculiar of that /
Scucheon, which is an Eagle expans'^d Az-ure,
with a Z in its Breaft.
The Second Palatinate of Lefler Poland is n. Palati-
that of .
Sendomir, which is divided Jnto eight Di-
flrifts, yiz,.
Sendomir.
.Radom,
Stenziecz..
The Diflrids of 4
Wtjltcz.
Chencin.
Opoczno, and
y-Pilzno.
km
ft jo A Geographical Let. V.
In all which are the Cities and Towns of
Sendomir^ Cap.
Opatovia or Opocz.no.
Wiflicz..
Pilzno.
Viaz.den.
Chencin.
Radom.
Polo^fiec-.
Jedbinsi.
.2awicofi.
Solecia.
Zarnow.
llz.a.
Zaclicin.
Cunovia.
Lezaisk.
Boz.entin. ,
Ofiec.
Kielcz..
Stafow.
Malogofl^ Cafi:.
Polanecz.
Sulovia.
Stobnicz.
Drevicz..
Olefnicz.
Inowlod:&.
Ojjolin.
Sydlovecz..
Paczanovia.
Janovecz.. \
Sendifow.
Slupecz..
Zarnovec.
Sokolorv.
Lagovia.
Racovia.
Praclaviaj and
Corzin.
Zaclycin.
m'tes and The chief City of this Palatinate is
Towns of
Scndomir. Sendomir^ a very pleafant City, feated on a
Bank or fraall Hill of the River rtftula^ en-
joying a very delightful Profpeft, and being
much frequented by the Gentry on occafion of
feveral AlTizes of jufticc held there by the
Maglllrates of this Palatinate. It lies near
the Confluence of the San with thefVeiffel,
and is twenty eight PoUjh Miles Eafl from Cra-
cow, and thirty two South from IVarfam. It
isfortify'd with ftrong Walls, and a confide-
rablc
Defmption of Poland, 251
rable Caftle built to the South, and wafh'd by
the ytfiula^ in which the Palatin refides, with
fome other regular Works rais'd by Cajimir
the Great. Among the Publick Buildings,
the Monaftery of Dominican Friers, founded
by /w, formerly A rchbilhop of Cracorv, is molt
remarkable. A Synod was conven'd here a-
gainft the Herefy of Stancarus in the Year
1570; and another, wherein the Confeffion
of Amburg^ Bohemia^ and Switz.erland, were re-
provM. This Town was fack'd by the Tar-
tars in the Year 1240, and taken by the Swedes
in 1655, but reftor'd to the Poles the Year fol-
lowing.
Opatovia, four Miles from Sendomir, fituate Opatovia.
in a very pleafant Country, and wafii'd by
the River Pilcaa. It has feveral famous Reli-
gious Edifices. *
Viaz.den^ a new-built Town, much fre- viazden.
quented, and well fortify'd.
Radom, Capital of that Dillrid, built in a Radom.
Plain, and environ'd with aftrong Wall and
other Fortifications.
Jedlinsky famous for a School, and a well- Jedlinsk.
built Chtirch.
Soleciay fituate upon the Fijlula^ and cele- Solecia.
brated for its Caftle; repair'd and beautify'd
by its antient Duke Cfsrijlopher Zboravius.
Ilz^ay a neat Town, built with Brick, and ilza.
belonging to the Bilhop of Cracow. It is famous
for Earthen Ware, with which it furnifhes all
Poland. It has a Caftle adjoining, confifting
for the moft part of old Buildings j yet the
Bifhop's Palace is all new, and very ftately.
A geographical Let. V.
Ciuiovia. T0 this Town belongs' Cmovia, or KunoWj
celebrated for all forts of Marble, and that of
all Colours.
Iron is exceeding plentiful in this Palatinate^
Bozentin. but more efpecialiy at Boz.entin^ the Bilhop of
Cracorv's City and Refidence. This is a very
beautiful Place, well fortify'd, in which the
aforefaid Bilhop has a very neat Palace with
exceeding delightful Gardens. , This City is
feated near the bottom of the Bald Mountain,
by much the higheltdn Poland.
Kielcz. Towards the Weft lies Kielcz., famous for
Mines of Cop-p^v,and Lapis-Lazoili. Thefe two
belong to the Bifliop of Cracow, who has here
a very fair Collegiate Church and Epifcopal
See,
ClieiKin. Chencin, about three Miles from Kielcz.,
abounding likewife with Silver, Lead, and
divers kinds of Marble. This Place belongs
to the King. Here is a Caftle feated on a, Rock,
where Juftice is diftributed to the Diftrid of
the fame Name.
M3!ogoft. Malogojl, pr as fome will have it, Malogfch,
noted for being a Cafiellany. It is a wooden-
built Town, and has nothing in it very re-
markablc.
Sulovia. Sulovia^ a Town of fome Note, by having
Command over feveral neighbouring Places.
» Drevwz, Drevicz. nndlnowlodz., t'Ho Tovins xtxnnxk'
fuperb Ruin of two old Caftles. .
Sydiovcez. Sydlovecz., the Name of a County former-
ly belonging to the Dukes of the Family of
Radzivil, abounding with Iron Mines, good
ftore of Filh, and vaft Q]tantities of Wood. Its
chief Town is encompafs'd with an old Wall,
,and a Caftle pretty well fortify'd. Ncverthc-
Defcri^tion of Poland. 155
lefs, it is not to be defpis'd, having in it a
great many fair Edifices.
Stenaici, Capital of the Diftrid of thesccnzici.
fame Name, and adorn'd with a very ftately
Monaftery of Benedidin Monks.
A little higher lies Janovecz.^ with a Caftle Janovccz.
on the other fide of the River.
Slu^ecz., belonging to the Abby of the Holy Slupecz,
Crofs, on the Top of the Bald Mountain, this
Town being fituate at the Bottom of it.
Lago'vla^ a City belonging to the Bifbop of Lagovia.
Cujcivia^ famous for making Earthen Ware.
Racovia^ a Neft of the Socinians^ formerly Racovia.
a City indifferently populous, with a confi-
derable Academy to inftrud Youth : but
which being now prohibited by a Publick
Edid, the Catholick Religion is refior'd, but.
not therewithal the Grandeur of the Place.
Corzin^ Capital of the Dillrid of the fame Corzin..
Name, a-new Timber-built Town with a
Caftle, feated near the River ri/lock, and fur-
rounded every way with Marfhes.
Wijlicz.^ a Town built with Wood, and wiflicz,
water'd by the River Nida. It has a ftrong
Wall, and is moreover fituate upon a Rock in
the midft of a boggy Country. Here is to be '
feen a Cathedral Church, built v/ith fquare
Stone, with a very beautiful Clofe for the
Habitations of the Canons. The Country
roundabout this Place abounds with all kind
of Serpents and Infeds ^ but as the Inhabitants
tell you, being interdided by the See of Rome^
they have no power to do you any harm, and
being tranfported out of that Place they im-
mediately die. This City is a Cajlcllaiiy.
Puz.m
2 54 J Geographical Let. V.
pihno. Pilz.no, a Timber-Town built on the Rivcf
Wiflock.
Poloviec. Poloviec, a Timber-built Town lying a-
mong the Hills. This is a CafteUany.
Zawichoft. Zawichofi, a Wooden City on the River
riftula, with a double wall'd Caftle on the
other fide : This is likewife a CafteUany.
Zarnow. Zarnow, a Town built with W ood, in which
there is nothing remarkable, but that it is a
Caflellany.
Zaclicin. Zaclicin, famous for a very confiderable
Market.
Lruisk. Lezaisk, a Town celebrated for a Monafte-
ry, wherein they pretend are miraculoufly
kept feveral Relicks, and which draw great
Crouds of Pilgrims from all Parts.
Senators of The Senators of this Palatinate are,
Sendomir.
.T-i r Palatin and 1 r „ , .
^otStndotmr.
f Wiflkz.,
j Radom,
j Zawicbod,
The CafteUans of Zarnow,
Malogofch,
1 Po/w/ec,and
^Sechow.
Its Arms. The Standard and Arms of this Palatinate
are Party fer Pale Argent and Azure, in the
firfl: three Bars Gules, and in the fecond three
Stars Sables, two and one.
nr. Pala- The third Palatinate of Poland, is
Lublin, join'dalfoby the Territory of Lu-
covia.
T^efcription of Poland. 2 ^ j
covia^ which contains near two thoufand Gen-
tlemens Houfes. This Palatinate, with both
the others, is within the Diocefs of Cracow,
which comprehends a thoufand and eighteen
Churches, thirteen whereof are Collegiate.
In this Palatinate are the feveral Cities and
Towns of
Lublin, Cap.
Cajimir,
Cz.emkrntkow,
Vrz^ndow,
Lulow,
Parkow,
Opolia,
Cwovia,
Crafnicz.,
Levartovia,
and
Lenczna.
Whereof the Capital City is xowns of
Lublin, fituate in the 4$th degree of ton- Lublin.
gitUde, and 51 of Latitude, and which lies
five Miles from the Confines of Red Rujfia,
twelve Weft of Chelm, fourteen from
mir, twenty four South of Warjaw, and
thirty fix North-Eaft of Cracow. It is fcated
at the foot of a Hill, water'd by the River
Byftricza, and defended. by a high Wall, a
broad Ditch, and a huge ftrong Caftle, which
owes its Foundation to the' Ruffians. This
City is not very large, but neverthelefs ex-
ceeding healthy, and well built, and much
frequented by the Turkijh, Armenian, MufcO'
mtijh and German Merchants, efpecially at
the time of the four famous Fairs that are
annually kept there. It is encompafs'd every
way almoft by Marlhes, and was wall'd round
by Cafimir the Great. The Jews generally
inhabit the Suburbs, where they have a Sy-
nagogue. The principal Church here was
■ " . erefted
1^6
P,\
if
lii. ;■
;!i::
I
i.) '
ti-
Cafimir.
Czemier-
nikow.
Urtendow
Lulow.
P.ukow.
Senators of
I.ublin.
t j'l
A Geographical L e T. V.
eredled by Lefcus Niger on occafion of a fig-
nal Vidory he gain'd over the Lithuanians near
this place. This Church he dedicated to
St. Michael^ who, 'tis faid, had promis'd him
good Succefs the Night before he fought.
There are feveral other well-built Churches
in this City, as likewife divers magnificent
Monafleries, the chiefeft of which was found-
cd by Vladijlaus Jagello. This City is noted
for two Courts of Juftice, or great Tribunals
for all Poland^ which occafions a great Con-
courfe of the Gentry to this Place.
Caftmir^ a very fair Wooden City built a-
mong Rocks near the Ftftula, whofe over-
flowing foraetimes lays the Houfes above half
under Water. It is about feven Miles from
Lublin.
Cz.emiernihw.^ famous for a very beautiful
Palace, formerly built by the prudent and
illuftrious Henry Firleius Arch-biihop of Gnef-
and adorn'd with feveral delightful Gar-
dens.
Vrz£ndorv, a large Timber-built Town, fi-
tuate on a Lake, and about feven Miles from
Lublin.
Lulotp, Capital of the Territory of Leuco-
^ia, a City built with Wood in a Plain,
partly defended by a Bog, and partly by Pali-
fadoes: It is about fourteen Miles from Lublin,
and has a very confiderable Jurifdidion.
ParkoTP, a Wood-built Town, feated hi a
Plain near a very large Lake, and about nine
Miles ffom Lublin.
This Palatinate fends only two Senators, ^iz,
{S" } '
Its
D^/cnp^/on o/Poland, 257
■ Its Standard or Arms is a Stag PaJJant, Arms.
Argent, CoUard Or, in a Field Gules.
The third Provijice of Poland is III.PRd-
Pru(jia, which depends only in part on the
lurifdidlon of the Crown of Poland •, tor it
has its peculiar Laws, Cuftoms and Courts of
Juftice. It is a Country of great Extent, and
every-where water'd with commodious Ri-
vers, and moreover towards the Baltic en-
rich'd with many convenient Ports and Ha-
vens. In length it is about lixty Polifh Miles,
and near fifty in breadth, and is bounded on its Bomi/,
the Weft Pomerania, on the South by C«-
]avia and Mafovia, on the Eafl by Lithuania
and Samogitia, and on the North by. the Bal-
tic Sea.
This Province, tho it has no great flore of^^^
Mines, yet it abounds with all forts of Cattle,
wild Beafls, Fifh and Fruit, and enjoys a very
temperate Climate. The Merchandizes which
it has from Poland, Rufjia and Lithuania, it
tranfports in great quantities, and likewife
imports whatever eitlier Europe or the Indies
afford, and that chiefly by way of Exchange.
Hence it comes to pafs tiiat its Inhabitants are
generally richer, and live better than in any
of the other Provinces of Poland.
In this Province they make Glafs of certain
Wood-A flies, or of the largeft fort of Pe-
bles. Thefe they boil for twelve hours before
they Will vitrify. When they would have
their Glaf^ clearer than ordinary,, tfffey mix
a certain Earth with the A flies of the Colour
and Hardhefs of Tartre, whicli renders the
Gldfs of different Colours^ accdtding to the
S quantitf
258 A Geographical L e t. V.
quantity of this Earth mixt with it» Here
may be remark'd, that if Salt be mixt with
Glafs, it becomes much eafler to be blown by
the Artificer.
ittRivers. The principal Rivers of this Province are,
f Weiffel^ or V'ijitila.
Nkmen^
Nogat^
Elbing^
WeJler,
T''=<;2r'
FrepeL
OJfa, . _ , :
Drebnicz.y
Lica^ and
Lavia.
Its Lakes. Together with a great many Lakes reple-
nilh'd with all forts of Eilh, the chief of
which are,
I. Habus^ near fifteen Miles long, and
about two in breadth, disjoin'd from the Sea
only by the Ifthmus Neringa^ or rather a fraall
Neck of Land-, for i findit'has Communica-
tion with the Sea, where the Inhabitants ga-
ther in fmall Nets of a Conick Figure,
with a large Mouth, and narrow at the bot-
torn. This Net they tie to a long Pole, and
fet out in the Sea when the Waves begin to
come in, wherewith they take pieces fome-
times as big as ones Fill. This yimber is
thought to be torm'd by the great number of
Fir-Trees that grow along this Lake, which
dropping great quantities of Refina, orTur-
pentine, into it, is carried into the Baltic Sea,
where
Defcr'il>tion of Poland,
where being labour'd by the Waves it is con-
geafd into Amber, wherein are found Flies
and other Infefts. But I am fince better in-
form'd, that Amber is a Mineral Juice that
runs into the Sea ; which at firft taking is foft,
but quickly hardens in the Air. It is alfo to be
got all along the Sea-coaft in this Province.
2. Cwonn, another Lake fomething larger
than the former in Ducal FruJJia.
Prujfta is generally divided into
Regal and Ducal.
This Province was at firft fubjeO: to certain
Soveraign Dukes, until the Knights of the
Teutonick Order got poflelfion of it in. the
Xllhh Century after a tedious War. In the
Year 1454, the Weftern Part was fubduedby
Poles', and in 1520, Albert Marquefs of
Brandenburg, the and laft Mafter of that
Order, having lhaken off the Poli/h Yoke, ob-
tain'd the Eaftern Part under the Title of a
Dutchy i fo that ever lince it has beeii divided
as abovefaid. The fame Albert embrac'd /,«-
theranifm, perfwaded moft of the Knights to
marry, and introduc'd the ReformM Religi-
on into this Country, whereof the antient
Inhabitants are long fince extirpated; and the
prefent Prujjians are a mixt People fprung
from the feveral Colonies of the Swedes, Poles,.
Germans, and other Neighbouring Nations.
Regal or Royal Prujfta is divided into fout Royd
Palatinates, viz., Pruffui
C Pomerania^ *
The rmmrnu of
C, Karmia.
, S a The
2^0 A Geographical Let.V.
I. Palati- jjie Palatinate^ Pomerania, being not
in poflreflion of the Polesj requires no Dc-
fcription.
IT, Palati- The fccond Palatinate of Royal Pru/Jja is
nacc. that of Culm (to which alfo the Territory
of Michalovia, lying to the South, belongs)
and has in it thefe Cities and Towns, viz,.
rBifh.
Culm &
cCap.
Thorn,
Graudentz,
Colmenfee,
Brodnicz,
Radin,
Golubia, •
Rogozna,
Brathian,
Lubavia,
and
Kopriunicza.
nms 'of Of all Which the chief City is
Culm. Culm, an antient and laraous Place built on
a Hill, the foot whereof is water'd by the
River Fiftula. It lies about four German Miles
from-Tfcorw to the South, and fifteen from
Dantzic to the North. It was built by the
Knights-of the Teutonic Order in the Year
. 1223, who likewife fortified it againft: the
Irruptions of the Heathen Prujftans -, and Her^
man Defalza, Mafter of that Order, gave Laws
and Conftitutions for its Government. This
City fulfer'd much Damage during the SmJifh
Invafion, and is now very thin of Inhabitants j
infomuch that the Epifcopal See, fubjed to
the Arch-bifhop of Gnefna, has been for forac
time removM to the neighbouring Town of
' Colmenfee. It has in it very fair Churches, en-
rich'd with many valuable Ornaments and
precious Offerings.
Thorn,
Defcript'ion of Poland. i6i
Thorny feated upon "the Bank of the Fffiulay Thorn,
by which'it is divided into two parts: It lies
four P(tli/h Miles from Culm to the South,
thirteen from Marknburgy twenty two from
Damz.iCy fifteen from Lanfcbety and twenty
nine from Warfaw. It was heretofore an
Imperial and Free City, but was afterwards
exempted from the Jurifdidioa of the Em-
pire, and as yet enjoys very many Privileges.
Its Name feems to have been taken from the
German word Thor, fignifying a Gate^ be-
caufe built by the Teutonkk Order as it were
for a Gate to let Forces into PruJJia whenever
occafion ferv'd: Whence its Arms are fup-/^^
pos'd to have been taken, being a Qallle and •
Gate half open. This City does not Hand
in the lame place where the old one did, that
having been feated a Mile Weftward from
hence, where are now to be feen the Ruins of
an antient Caftfe, and fome other Monu-
ments. However this City at prefent is the
faireft and belt built of any in Royal Prujftay
the Streets being much broader, and Houfes
more ftately than at Dantzic. It was very
much beautified by one of its Burgermafters
Henry Strvband in the Year 1509, who built a
fmall Univerfity here, and endow'd it with
a confiderable Revenue. He likewife founded
an Hofpital, and a Fublick Library, where two
of Cicero's Epiftles are preferv'd written upon
Tables of Wax, and a Town-houfe built in
,the middle of the Market-place. Thelnha-
bitants revoked from the Knights of the
Teutonkk Order in the Year 1454? and put .
themfelves under the Protedion of Poland.
In this City the famous Aftronomer Nicholas
S 3 • Co})er-cas.
A Geographical let. v.
Copernicus was born v and John Albert King
of Poland died here in the Year i$oi. It
was taken by the Swedes in the Year 1555, and
regain'd by the Poles in 1558. Afterwards
the Swedes recover'd it, and the Poles fur-
priz'd and retook jt in 16(55.
Graudentz, only famous for a Cattle and
very ftrong Wall.
Colmenjee^ or Culmenfev^ the Epifcopal Seat
of the Bilhop of Culm, tranflated hither from
Culm. It is diftant nine Miles from Thorn
to the North, nineteen from Graudentz, and
twelve from Culm to the South-Eaft.
tenitoryaf The Territory of Michalorjia is a ftrait
Wichalo- Neck of Land between the Rivers Brodna
and Drehnicz, which was the occafion of
bloody Wars between the Teutonick Knights
and Poles: The chief Town is Adichalovia^
which, with fome others that are in this Ter-
litory, deferves no Defcription.
III. Palati- The third Palatinate of Royal PruJJia is
' nate. that of
Aiarienhurg, in which are thefe Cities and
Towns, viz'
Marienburg, Cap. Gniew,
Elbing, Now,
Stuma, Stargardie, and
Mewa, Omet.
cities tcni
Towns of Of all which the chief City is
Marien- Marienburg, feated upon the Nogat, a Branch
bargo the f^ijtula, about fix Miles from Dantzic :
' ' ' It is defended by ftrong Walls and high
Towers, together with a very large Cattle,
' ' ■ ' " where-
261
Grau-
dentz.
Colmen-
fee.
Defcription of Poland. id3
wherein the better fort of Prifoners in time
, of War are kept. This City receives no
fmall Benefit from the Neighbourhood of the
Illand Ziilava^ which is a very rich fpot of
Earth. This Ifland is divided into two parts,
viz..
1. The Greater, which lies next Ma-
rknbwg^ and
. 2.'. The Lefler, next to Damzicj to
whofe Inhabitants at prefent belongs
Elbmg^ a well fortified and trading Town, Elbing.
in which the Englijh they fay had formerly a
Cmftil.. Here j4lberty firft Duke of PfuJJiay
founded an Academy in the Year 1542. but
of no great moment.
T he other Townslfindno Defcription of.
The fourth Palatinate of Royal PruJJia is iv. Palati-
The Bilhoprick of Varmiay whofe Gentry nate.
V are exempt from all Regal Jurifdidion, being
wholly governed by the Laws and Cuftoms
of Prujjiay and by the Bifliop who is a Tern-
poral Prince- It has in it thefe Cities and
Towns j
. Htilshergy Cap.
Fraumbergy
Brmsbergy
Cutefiadty
AUejleiny
Reflay ■
VormitZy
Mejfacy
Vatembergy
Sebergy &c.
cities and
Of all which the chief City is
Heilsberg^ famous for being the Refidcncc of Heilsbcrg.
the Bifhop, and defended with Itrong Walls
and other lutable Fortifications.
Fraumbergy celebrated for the Cathedral of Fraum-
the Bilhoprick of rarmia there built^ ofo^rg.
S 4 which
264 ^ Geographical LetI V.
which the famous Aftronomer ^opermctts was
Gmon.
Brunsberg. Brunsberg, fituate on the River Pajfar, fo
much frequented, and fo worthily efteem'd,
that it is reckon'd among the chief Towns (rf
PruJJia. It has a College of Jefuits built by
Cardinal Hofm.
There are feveral other Cities and Towns
of which I find no Defcription, and therefore
have omitted them.
«
Ducal Ducal Pruffia, now entirely belonging to
Prufiia. Eleftorof Bnndeitburg^ has thefc Towns
in it, viz..
KomHgsber£^ Cap,
Ttlaro^
. , Memely
tVelaxVy
til/ay
MarienmrdeYy &c.
- To the number of 60J
Town of
Koningf- The Metropolis Koningsberg is a Market
berg- Town divided into three parts, and defended
with a very confiderable Caftlc; It lies in
the 43 i/ degree of Longitude^ and 54 of Lati-
tude, and has a fmall Academy founded by
.Colbert Great Mafter of the Teutonick Order^
and firft Duke of this Country in the Year
1544. The Citizens are generally Lutheransy
as are likewife moft part of this Country,
which occafion'd Sigifrmtnd III. when he re-
ceiv'd Homage of this Duke in the Year
1621, to impofoaLaw, that the Catholicks
Ihould hare free Exercife for their Religion
there. . . >... . . i
i The
Defcrlption of Poland. 26 f
The Senators of Prti/Jia arc, Senators of
Fruilia.
The Bifliop of yarmia, who is the Chief.
r Bifhop "p
The e Palatin, and ^ of Culm.
CCaftellgn j
rb,eaftclhmcf{^£^^^
There\<N)thj^Officers which belong to
the Senate or Great Council of Pmlfia^ which
they hold among themfelvcs, except when
they are commanded to the Grand Diet of the
Kingdom. Thcfe are
f Culm,
KMtrieubtff'g,
The Vice-Chamberlains
^Thorn,
JElhing, aod
[^Damz.fc.
Befides thefe feveral Magiftrates, the Pr#/-
.^fians have alfo a Treafurer, Burgraves of
Caftles, SWord-Bearers, Judges, and Sheriffs
but none of all thefe have any Place in the
Council.
The Palatins of PruJJia have far greater
Power than thofe in any other Province of
Poland.
■ The Arms or Standard of Pruffia are an Its Anns.
Eagle expans% Sables, with a Sword evagina-
• ted,
266 J Geographical Let. V.
|jed,and held by a dexter Hand Argent: Both in
a Field Or.
IV.Pro- The Fourth Province of this King-
vinge. dom is
Ktd-Rujfta, the other being White-^i^^i,
fia. and belonging to Lithuania. This Province
extends it felf from the Frontiers of Li-
thuania., as far as the Mouth of the Nieper in
the Black Sea •, which River feparates it from
tothe Eaft, aslikewifedo the Carpa-
thian Mountains from Hungary to the South-
Weft. It is extreaiply fruitful in Corn,
Beafts of all kinds, Fifh , and Honey. In
this Province there are feveral Trees daily
found along the Shore of the River San^ which
are very hard, and black as Ebony. The Coun-
try People fay they have lain there ever fince
the Deluge, bur it is probable they might have
been waft'd down by the Courfe of the River
a great while lince. It is bounded on the
South by Hungary., Moldavia, and BeJJdrabia;
on the Eaft by the Scythian Defarts, and el^e-
daily Adofcovy *, on the North by RuJJia Alba,
feparated by the Rivers Stiro and Pripecz.-, and
on the Weft by LelTer Poland, from which it
is divided by the Rivers njlocz. and ye^re.
Palati-
The
This Province comprehends fcven
nates. Viz.
^RuJJia,
KPodolia,
\Bra/larv,
The Palatinates of ^Ktovia,
jFolhynia,
/ Belsko, and
^Chelm. *
Defcrifitm of Poland. 167
The lirft Palatinate of this Province is i. Palati-
that of
Rujfia^ which is divided into four Dillrids,
which are,
' Leopol,
ThcDiftriasof^Sfl'nd
, Sanoch.
The firft of thefe Diftrifts has in it thefe !• Piftrifl.
remarkable Cities and Towns, Fiz,.
r ^ ,SArchbilh.
Grodeck,
Javorifvia,
ZolherVy
Glinianf,
Zlocz^ow^ and
Komarna.
cities and
Of all which, the chief City is Towns of
Leopol, calPd Lwm or Lumxo by the ?q- Lcopol.
landers^ and Lemberg or Ruffe-Lemherg by the
Germans. It is the Metropolis of this Palati-
nate, and lies in the 46 Degree of Longitude,
and 49 of Latitude. It is built araongll the
Hills, on the Banks of the River Peltaw., fif-
teen Poli/h Miles from Mount Carpathm to the
South, and as many from Premi/law to the
Weft, thirty from forty from Cr^-
pou', and about fifty from Warfaw to the South-
Eafl. This City is large and well fortify'd,
having two Caftles, one within the Walls, and
one without on a rifing Ground, which com-
mands the Town *, both which, together with
the City, were founded by Leo ( or, as they
call him. Loo) Duke of RuJJia, about the Year
1289. The Arehbiftiop of Leopol is both Spi-
ritual
Several
times be-
fie£(L
■ttr
r'i
» I
A geographical Let, V«
ritual and Temporal Lord of his Diocefs. His
See was tranflated hither from Halicti in 13<5i,
by Order of King Cafmir. Here alfo rclidc
an Armenian Archbifhop, and a RujJian Bifliop
depending on the Patriarch of Conftantinomic^
with feveral Churches belqnging to each
Biflioprick. The Armenian Roman-Catholicks
have inhabited here time out of mind, and
are governed wholly by their own Prelat.
They enjoy very great Privileges on ac-
count of the confiderable Commerce they
maintain with the Perfians and other Eaftern
People. This . City is famous for feveral
Sieges it has fuftain'd. As firft, it was be-
fieg'd by the Cofacks and Tartars with a dread-
ful Army. Secondly, by the Mofcovites and
Cofacks in the Year 1648, with an Army of
above 120 thoufand Men, without being able
to take it in two Months and a half; but the
laft time the Turks became almoft Maftcrs of
it in the Year idy i, yet by an Agreement ob-
lig'd themfelves to quit it. This hapned un-
der the Reign of King Michael IViefnowiskiy
who dy'd here in the Year 1^73. This City
gives great Encouragement to Learned Men,
who arc very civilly receiv'd by their Acade-
my,which is fupply'd with ProfefTors from that
of Cracow. Here is kept a very famous Win-
ter-Fair, whither tht Hungarian., Moldavian,
and, in time of Peace, Turki/h Moixhants re-
fort in great Numbers. Amongft other Rivers,
it has Roxolania, wherein Barbels arc taken
of a great Size. It has likeWife art innume-
Table Company of Fifii-ponds all about it, re-
plcnifh'd with feveral forts of very fat Fifh,
which are faked up in great Numbers, and
tranf-
Defcr'iption of Poland. i6^
tranfported all over Poland. The Churches
here are generally very fair and well-built,and
abound with'all kinds of coltly Ornaments,
Grodeck., a palifadoM City, with a Caftle Grodecfc
built in a Plain, and furrounded with Bogs.
It lies about four Miles from Leopol.
Javorifvia^ famous for a natural Bath ari- Javorifvw.
fing in the next adjoining Village of Sclovia.
This alone fuffices to difperfe feveral Hub-
born Difterapers, as Sixtus Leo.^ a Phyfician of
great Experience, teftifies in his Treatife con-
cerning it.
Zolkiew^ a Town adorn'd and defended by zdkicw.
a Caftle, and intermixM with feveral delight-
ful Gardens, with a fair Church in. the middle
ofit, built with various forts of Marble. It was
the Seat of the late King John Sobieski^ where
my Lord of Rocheder had Audience ot him.
The Standard and Arms of this Diftrift are its Arms.
a Lion Pajfant Cvown'd Or, by a Rock Sables^
all in a Field Autre.
«
The fecond DifiriB of this Palatinate is ii.Diflrifl:.
Premiflia., which has in it thefe principal
Cities and Towns, riz..
Premiflaxo^ Biih.
Sambor^
Jaro/law.,
Lancut^
Refovia^ ■
Fuljliny
J^ifnia,
Zidacz.on>j
A'fofcifcaj
Dubiccz,^
Cancz.uga.f and
Prevorfcia.
Cities and
Whereof the capital City is Towns of
Premiflaw., built on the River San with Premiflaw.
good ftrong Walls and a Caftle, fituate upon
270 A Geographical Let. V.
a Rock on the other fide of the River. This
City lies about fix Leagues above Jarojlaw^znd.
twelve from Leopol towards the Weft. There
are in it two Bilhops, one of the Place, and
the other a Rujfian Prelat of the Greek Church.
Orichowski^ a Canon of this Cathedral, main-
tain'd that Priefts might marry. Here is
a College belonging to the JeJuits for the E-
duration of Youth. The Citizens arc very
much addifted to Trade, and have feveral
famous Fairs every Year. Near this City
is a very fpatious Park of the King's, full
ot all kinds of wild Beafts, and ftrongly walPd
in, that they might do no mifchief. The
Country hereabouts abounds with Caftles for
defence agaiiift the Incurfionsof the Tartars-^
the chief of all which is the Caftle CraJJtci^
lately built on the River San.
Sambor. Sambor^ a Palifado'd City upon the River
Tyra, with a Caftle built near the Borders of
Hungary.
Jaroflaw. JaroJlaw.^ famous for a Fair kept on Lady-
Day., and the raoft celebrated of any in all
Poland. Where, befides feveral Merchan-
dizes brought from Perfta., Confiantmopk ^
Venice., Mufcovy and Amflerdam., they fay,
it is wont to have above four hundred thou-
fand Head of Cattle, and half as many Horfes.
In this Town the Jefuits have a College for
Students, and without it there is a very ftate-
ly Nunnery of modern Architefture. Nei-
ther is its Caftle to be defpis'd, which is feat-
ed to the Eaft on the River San.
Lancut. Lancut, famous for feveral magnificent
Churches, founded by Staniflaus Lubomirski,
Palatin oicracow, together with a Caftle well
fdrtify'd againft the Tartars. Rg.
Defcription of 271
Refovia has in it a confiderable Caflle, Rcfovia.
with feveral Monafteries, and a Fair kept on
the Feafl of St. Albert. This Town is famous
for a Linen Manufafture perform'd by the
Germans^ whofe Anceftors having been taken
Prifoners by Cajirmr the Great, were fettled-
in and about this Place.
The Standard or Arms of this Diftrid are/^/ Ams,
an Eagle expans'd with two Fleads, both
Grown'd Or, in a Field Azjure.
IIJ.
The third DifiriS of the Palatinate of Rujfta Diftrift.
is that of
Halkz.^ encompafs'd towards the Weft with
. the Mountains of Tranfylvania^ to the South by
the Bctchy-Woods of Walachia^ and towards
the Eaft is divided into two Parts by the Tyra
'or Niejler, a rapid River, which arifes among
the Carpathian Mountains, and difcharges it
felf into the Euxine Sea. The South Divifion
ofthisDiftrift is cdfVd Procutia. The whole
Diftrift contains thefe remarkable Cities and
Towns, Fiz.,
Halicz^j Cap. Podoek.
Sniatiny Cap. of Procutia, Brez^ana.
Colom. • Bucz.avia or Busloy
jOfartinm. ' and
DoUna. ' j Podhajecia.
Strium. I
Cities smd
The chief all which is Towns of
HaUcz.y formerly Metropolis of the Ruffian uaiicz.
Kingdom, which was then divided into feve-
ral Tetrarchies, each of which had its pro-
per Duke. It is a large Timber-built City,
divided from Moldavia by the River Prud,
and
\ '
A Geographical Let. V.
and on the other fide wafh'd by the Niefter.
It has a wooden Gaftle fituated on an Emi-
nence hard by the Niejler. Its fnhabitants are
fomewhat Ruftical, and addided more to A-
griculture than Trade.
Sniatin, a wooden Palifado'd Town on the
Borders of Walachia, water'd by tht Prud^ and
is Capital of Procutia. In it were wont to be
Fairs kept, which the F'atachians mzde their
Magazine; whence it became very well fur-
nifh'd with Cattle, Honey, Wax, and an ex-
cellent Breed of brave Horfes in great Nura-
bers.
Colom, a wooden Town, built under a Hill
near the River Prud. It is very much fre-
quented on account of its Refining Salt, with
which it furnifiies all the reft of RuJJia and Lir
thuania^ there being none in thofe two Pro-
vinces, except only in the Diftrid of Premif-
law. Almoft all over this Diftrid there are
deepWel]s,whofe Water isboil'd up into Salt.
In the Defarts likewife of thiVlraine^ near
the Borijlheyies^ there is a certain Lake, whofe
Water by the power of the Sun is congeal'd
into folid Lumps of Salt, and which the In-
habitants thereabouts onlyufe.
Martinow^ a Town in Procutia^ having a
Caftle built among the Marlhes. -
Dol'ma^ a wooden-built Town, fituated
among the Hills.
Stnum^ built likewife with Wood,, nedr
the River of its own Name.
Podocky on the other fide of the Niejler^
defended by a Caftle, and adorn'd by a fair
Monaftery, built by Steven Potucius^ Palatin
of BraclaWj whody'd and lies bnry'd there.
^rezandi
Defcriptm of Poland. 27^
Srez.am,y a populous Town,built with Wood, Brezana.
having a wall'd Caftle on a Hill hard by.
Euczjivia, or Busko, built among the Mar- Buczavia.
Ihes, near which the River Bug has its Rife j
by means of which feveral Merchandizes are
' tranfported to Leopol.
Podhajecia.., environ'd with a Wall, and Podhaje-
other Fortifications, having not far off thefa-cia.
mous Caftle of Zavalovia.
• »*
The fourth Biflrid of the Palatinate o^ Ruf- iv.
fia is that of Diilrift.
Sanocb^ near the Mountains of Hungary and
Tranfylvania, and confequently abounding in
little Hills except only towards Crofna. In it
are thefe Cities and Towns, Fin.
Sanoch, Cap. Rimanovia^
Crofna., Dinovia, and
Brozjovia., Lesko,
Cities and
Of all which the principal City is Towns of
Sanoch, built with Wood, among the Hills, Sanoch.
and near the River San. It has a no-ways
contemptible Caftle, founded upon a Rock.
Crofna, the Staple of the Hungarians, whi- Crofta.
ther they bring all their Merchandizes and
Wines 5 and therefore the Fairs and Marts
here are more celebrated than thofe of their
Neighbours. In this City like wife the Jefuits
have a College for Human Learning. It ex-
cttds Sanoch in its Number of Inhabitants, and
Concourfe of Strangers.
The other Cities and Towns of Brontfjia, Brozovk,
Rimanovia, Dinovia ztxA Lesko, are Places of
no fmall Strength againft the Incurlionsof the
Tartars. T The
I
;|i
l-i
f.
274
Senators of
Sanoch.
and
II. Palati-
nate.
A Geographical Let. V.
The Senators of the Palatinate of Rujfta are
f Archbifhop of Leopol.
TI10 Palatin of RuJJia.
r Leopol. '
( Sanoch,
Th^ Second Palatinate of the Province of
Ke^-Rujfia^ is that of
Podolia, famous for the frequent Irruptions
of Barbarians, and the many Battles fought
with 'them there. If thefe People ( fays Staro'
volfcius) might enjoy a xvijh'd-for Peace like the
Wejiern Countries of Europe, they would have
no reafon to envy either the Plenty or Riches
of Italy or Hungary. This Palatinate has in
it divers forts of Marble and Alabafter in fe-
veral Places, and is divided into three Di-
ftrids,
r Caminiec^
The Diflrids of Trembowla, and.
C Laticzjsw.
In all which are thefe principal Cities and
Towns, Viz..
Caminiec^ Cap.
Trembowla.
Laticz,ovo.
Bar.
Hufiatinow.
CzMrtikow.
Janovp.
Czvaniec.
Chmklnic.
Miedzibofz.^ or
Mifdzibozia.
Zinkow.
Jefupolis.
Jaeloveck.
Satanow.
Tarnopolia.
Kitaigrod^ and*
I Dunaigrod.
The
V
Defcnption of Poland,.
The Chief City of all which is citks arid
Caminiec, fituate on the Confines of iVdla- "f
cbia, among Rocks and Hills. It is well for- CaminicQ
tify'd both by Nature and Art, and has a very
ftrong Caftle, built on an adjacent Rock which
commands the Town. Its Avenue is cover'd
with a Horn-work, which is feparatfed from •
the Body of the Place by a deep Moat. Both
City and Caltle are almoll encompafs'd by the
River Smotrz.ick, which a little below falls into
the Nkfler, The Rocks lie every way fo high
about this City, that you can difcover only
the Tops of the higheft Houfes. It lies fifteen
Polijh Miles from Bar to the Weft, thirty from
Leopold thirty fix from JaJJy^ thirty from Kion>^
eighty from Warfaw^ and about a hundred
and feventy from Conftantinople. This ftrong
City, which is the See of a Prelat, Suffragan
to the Arch-bifliop of Leopold was very much
damag'd by a Fire in the Year 1559, and haS
been often in vain attackt by the utmoft Fury
of the Turks and Turtars^ till in the Year 1572
it fell into the poflefiion of the former, in xvhich
it ftill continues. It was blockt up by Motula^
General of the Cofacks^ in the Year 1687^
and the Poles afterwards made great Prepa-
rations to join his Troops, but were both ob-
lig'd to retire upoii the Approaches of the Ot-
toman Forces. Afterwards another Bipckade
was form'd by the Poli/h Army in 1688, and
the next year they aftually invefted the Place,
and began a formal Attack in the Month of
jdu^ufi j but the Siege was rais'd in September \
following, and never fince attempted, fothat
the Infidels remain at prefent in quiet poffeffi-
On hereof, together with feveral other confide-
rable Places in this T 2 Trem^
27^
Treni'
bowla.
Laciczov,".
Ear.
Hufiati-
now.
Czarcikow,
Tanow,
fe-c.
Chmiel-
nick.
Miedzi-
bofz.
A Geographical Let.VJ
Tremlovola^ a City lying under a great Moun-
tain, with a Caftle built upon an adjoining
Hill.
Laticx.ovo^ well fortify'd againft Incurfions,
with an adjoining Caftle and Warlike Inha-
tants.
Bar^ a City built and palifadoM round by
Buona^ Daughter of John Sforza Duke of M-
/.-iw, and Queen to Sigiftnmd King of Poland.,
fo naming it from the Place where Ihe was
born. It has a Caftle on a Hill, furrounded
every way with Bogs and Lakes.
Huftatinow, well fortify'd alfo againft In-
curfions. .
Cz.aruk(yw, with the like ftrong FortiScati-
ons and a Caftle.
'JanovD and Czvaniec, with feveral others,
are very ftrong Places.
Chmielnicl, a Timber-built Town, defend-
ed only with Palifado's, with a wooden Caftle,
built upon the River Bog.
Miedz.ibofz., a Town with a large Timber
Caftle, fituatc among the Marflies, to which
there is no Avenue but over Bridges. This
Place was formerly much infefted by the Tar-
tars.
Senators of
I'odolia.
The Senators of this Palatinate are,
' Bifliop, p r Caminkc,
The Paladin, and r of < Podolia,
,CaJlellan j CCaminiec.
jts Arms. The Standard or Arms of this Palatinate
are the Sun in its full Glory in a Field jizMre.
The
V
natCv
Defertption of Poland. 277
Tlte Third Palatinate of the Province ofiii.Palati-
R^d-RuJJiaj is that of
Brajlaw, or Braclaw, lying beyond Podolia,
upon the Borders of Tartary^ now out of pof-
feflion of the Poles j in which are thefe Cities
and Towns, riz..
Braclare, Cap,
P'tnnicz.a,
Zitomir^
Sarogrod,
Moracbua,
Jarofovp^
Felfiin, and
Chmielnic.
cities «/
Of which the capital City is
Bradaw, built on the River Bog, with a Bradaw,
wooden Caftle and other Fortifications. It
lies a hundred and ten Miles from Caminiec
to the Eaft, fifty five from Bar, and fifty from
the Confines of Walachia to the North, to-
wards Kioxp. It was taken, and miferably
wafted by the Turks in the Year 1672.
Finnkz.a, a wooden City likewife, built on Vinnicza.
the River Bog, and defended with a Caflle
and a Wall. This City is famous for a Meet-
ing of the Gentry and a Court of Juflice j
where the Jefuits alfb have a College to in-
ftruft Youth. Thefe two Cities have been
very much infefled by the Tartars. I find no
Defcription of the reft.
The Senators of this Palatinate are,.
Senattrs of
Braflavv. •
The Fourth Palatinate of the Province of ly-
KQi-RuJJia, is that of tmate.
Kiovia, bordering on one fide on Tartary,
T 3 and
278 A Geographical Let. V.'
and on the other on Mofcovy. It is divided
in the middle by the famous Ittver Borijihenes.
This Palatinate extends a great way towards
the £uxine Sea, to the Confines of White-
RuJJiA in Lithuania. In it are thcfe principal
Cities and Towns, Fiz..
cities
Towns of
Kiow.
Kaniovp.,
Circaffia,
Oczakorv.^ J Bialerkiow.
The chief City of all which is
I Bohu/lawj
Perejflaw., and
Kww., or Kiouf., according to the Pronun-
ciation of the Inhabitants, an antient, large,
and very populous City, fortify'd with ftrong
Palifado's, aCaftle, Trench, and fome other
Regular Works, and fituate on the Borifthenes
or Nieper. The old Kiow was built on a Hill
a little beyond the River, where are ftill to
be feen the Ruins of many Arches, high Walls,
Churches, and Burying-places of divers Kings
with Greek Infcriptions. Of thefe Churches,
two remain in tolerable good Condition, wz.
thofe of St. Sophia and St. Michael. The
Walls of the former are lin'd with curious
Mofaic Work,and the Dome confifts of Earthen
Pots, well cemented and filPd with Mortar.
St. Michael's Church is chiefly remarkable for
its gilded Roof. The Burying-places of the
antient great Men of RuJJia were in feveral
Caves near this City, fome of which are faid
to extend into the Borders of Mofcovy above
eighty Miles in length. The Bodies here are
^ preferv'd
Defcriptlon of Poland. 179
preferv'd whole and entire, efpecially thofe
of two certain Princes, which are drelt in An-
tique Habits, and have been not long fince
Ihewn to Travellers by the Ruffian Monks.
The Place where thefe Sepulchers are made is
of a fandy Stone, very dry, and feems to be of
the fame Nature with the Catacombs of Rome.
Kioxp was heretofore an exceeding large City,
as may appear from the Ruins of the Walls,
which extend themfelves above eight Miles
in compafs. It is faid to have been firlt found-
ed by a Ruffian Prince nara'd Kius^ in the Year
of Chrift 861, and then conftituted Metropo- ,
lis of Tauro-Scythia. Next it became the Seat
of the kujfian Empire, and was afterwards
govern'd by its own Princes. It was ftorm'd
and pillagM by the Tartars in the Year i5i 5^-
and has ever fince declin'd from its primitive '
Grandeur. It has been often taken and re-
taken within the Space of thirty Years, but
now remains wholly in pofleffion of the Cz.ar
of Mofcovy^ to whom it was lately pawn'd
by the Cofacks. The Epifcopal See of/Cioip is
fubjed to the Metropolitan of Leopol. Here
refides the Ruffian Archbifhop, fupream over
all of the fame Perfuafion throughout Poland.
Here are divers Roman and Ruffiian Churches,
and a great many Monafteries, &c.
Kaniovp, feventeen Miles from Kiow, whofe Kaniow.
Inhabitants with its Neighbours round about,
are a very Warlike People.
Circaffia^ a Timber-built City on the River Circafiia.
Borifihenes ^ about twenty five Polt/h Miles
from Kiorv. Its Inhabitants were formerly
the Circaffii, a Warlike People, and much
celebrated in Hillory, who likewife dwelt all
along the Borijihenes. T 4 Ocz^a^
iSo
A Geographical Let. V,
o«akow/ Ocz.akow^ built upon the Mouth of the Borif-
thenes^ and inhabited by Tartars^ tho com-
manded and govcrn'd by Turh.
Stepanow. Stepanow, fortify'd with a Callle, a Wall,
and a Ditch.
Faftovia. Faftovia^ famous only for being the Rell-
dence of the Bifliop of Kioro, and the Jefuits
College tranflated from Kiow.
Bohuflavv. Bolmjlaw^ Perefiaw, and BialerlioTO^ are all
Towns indifferently populous, and each dc-
fended by a Caftle.
The Sena- The Senators of this are.
Its Arms. The Standard or Arms of this palatinate
are Party per Pale Argent and Azure. In the
former the Charge of Lithuania^ and in the
latter a Bear Pajfant.
V. Palaci- The Fifth Palatinate of the Province of Red-
Rufta^ is that of
BeUko^ joining to the DifiriQ of Leopold and
Palatinate of Chelm, and plac'd about the
middle of Kcd-Rufia. It is divided into four
DiJlri^Sj Viz. ' "
tors of
Kiovia.
The Palatin, and ^ of Kiovia.
C Cajlellan J
The DiftriGls of
Belsh,
Busko,
Grodlow^ and
Crahow.
In
Defcnptlm 0/Poland. 281
in all which are the feveral Cities and
Towns, of
Gap. of the Palatinate.
Busko^ Cap. of its Dijlriii.
Gtodlovffy Gap. of its Dijiriff.
GraboWi Gap- of its
Sokal, &c.
The chief of all which is
Towns of
Belsh^ or- a Timber-built City, in- Behko.
differently large, and fituate among the Mar-
Ihes, between Leopol and Zamoisk^ and about
five Miles from the River Bug. It has a
wooden Caftle, built on a Hill, furrounded
every way with Bogs.
Buskoy ov Busliy a Town feated in a Moor,
where the River takes its Rife, by which
Merchandi2es are tranfported to Leopol only
five Miles diftant.
GrodlovPy a palifado'd Town, with a Caftle crodlow.
upon a Hill walh'd by the River Bug,
Grabovey a wooden Town, feated in a large crabow.
Plain, with a Caftle fortify'd both by Nature
and Art, and of very difficult Accefs.
Sokaly a Town feated on the Bugy andde-Sokal.
fended only witli Palifado's.
The Senators of this Palatinate are Senators of
Belsko.
The Arms or Standard of this Palatinate its Arms.
are a Griffin Volant^ Argent in a Field Gules.
The
18 2 A Geographical L e t. V.
VI. Palati- The Sixth Palatinate of "Rs^-RaJJia is that
nate. of
Chelm^ lying between Lublin, Lithuania, and
Volhynia, and is divided into two Diftridtsi
Fiz..
In both which are thefe Cities and Towns,
Vlodavia,
Crajkijlaw,
Zamoisk,
Ratno,
Lynboplya,
Roz.ana,
Scebrefin,
Yurobin,
Tatnogrod,
Tom^ove, an4
Oefow.
TowL . The Capital of all which is
Chelm. Chelm, a fmall City defended with aCaftle,
the Outworks whereof are madeof Wood. It
lies about ten Miles from Lublin to the Eaft,
twenty four from Premiflaw to the North,
and twelve from Belsko. It has been fack'd
and burnt by the Mufcovites and Tartars
durilig the late Wars, which occafion'd the
Refidence of its Bifliop to be tranflated to
Crafnijlam. Neverthelefs, an Oriental or
Ruffian Bifhop ftill reGdes there.
Crafiiif- Crafnifiave, a wall'd Town upon the River
taw. Fepre, where the Bifllop of Chelm atprcfent
has his ReGdence in a Palace of modern Ar-
chitedture. Near this place the Arch-Duke
Maximilian, when he came with an Army to
feize the Crown of Poland, was flia'mefully
repuls'd by John Zamoiski, who immediately
after
Defcrlptlon of Poland. 183
afterwards built a Town in that Neighbour-
hood, calling it after his own Name,
Zamoisk, well defended by high Walls, deep Zamoisk.
Ditches, and other ftrong Fortifications, af-
ter the modern Manner. He likewife built
a fair Cathedral here, and enrich'd it with alt
manner of Necefiaries j alfo a noble Acade-
my, furnilh'd with'Learned Mailers from the
famous llniverfity of Cracow. This Perfon
was fo great a favourer of Learning, that not
only Zamoisk^ but alfo feveral other Places of
the Provinte of Rujfta found the Effefts of his
Bounty.
Ratno^ a wooden Town, built among the Ratno."
Marlhes, with a Cafble walh'd by the River
Perepet on one fide, and defended on the other
by a Bog and the Niejler. It lies bout twenty
four Miles frorn Chelm.
Lynhovolyat^ a Town upon the with a Lynbom-
•olerably fortify'd Caftle. lya-
The Senators of this Palatinate are,* Senators of
The Standard or Arms of this Palatinate
are a Bear Urgent pajfant between three
Trees proper in a Field Or.
The Fifth Province of this Kingdom is v. Pna-
Mafovia^ fituatealmoft in the Heart of the "^'^*^^*
Kingdom of Poland^ and bounded on the North Bounds.
by Pruffia, on the Ealt by Lithuania^ on the
South by Upper Poland, and on the Well by
Lower Poland. It was formerly governed by
its own Princes, but in the Year 1526 by
the
284 A geographical Let. V,
the Death of its Dukes John and Staniflaus,
that Dutchy fell to the Kings of Poland. The
jnhahi- Inhabitants hereof are generally Warlike:
tms. They fpeak the fame Language with the Poles^
only they differ in fome few guttural Accents:
Their Manners, Habits and Religion are much
' the fame. This Province is divided into three
Palatinates, which are,
rMafovia, properly fo
Divtfm. The Palatinates of ^ Plocz.kovo, and (calfd.
CDobrina.
I. Palati- 'j'he firft Palatinate of this Province is
that of
Mafovia properly fo call'd, which in fpiri-
tual Matters is fubjed only to the Bifliop of
Pofnan, but in Temporal is divided into
tvyelve Diftrids, wz,.
' Warfaw.,
Wifna^
Cyrna,
Zembrow,
Nuren^
The DiftriSi of <
CiehanoWy "
Lombzej
Roaan,
Mahwy and
{. Lire.
A
J
In all which the principal Cities and Towns
are thofe of the fame Name with the Diftrifis,
adding moreover thefe following, viz..
Pultoviitf
Defmotion of Poland.
l8j
Pultovra^
Cz.erniensky
Cz.ersko^
u4kroczim,
Varkay
BlonyCy
Pultorvsko,
Tarciriy
GrodzyeCy
Prafnizy
Garvoliniay
Vengrov'tay
Staniflanovicty
Brocy
Vishwy and
Seroicz..
The Chief City of all which, and Mctropo-
lis of the Province is ■'
' Warfawy defended with a Caftle, Wall and War&w.
Ditch, feated in a Plain in the very Center
of the Kingdom, and therefore pitch'd upon
for the convening of the Diet. It lies upon
the River Vijiulay in the degree of Lon-
gitude, and 52 of Latitude, and is divided
into four Parts, viz..
The Suburbs of
and
This City is adorn'd with divers ftately Piles
of Buildings, particularly a fpacious four-
fquare Palace founded by SigifmmdlU. and
much improv'd by his SuccelTors, where the
Kings of Poland molt commonly refide. Op-
polite to this on th6 other fide of the River,
.Itands another Royal Palace in the middle of
delightful Groves and Gardens, built by Via-
dijlaus VII. and call'd by the Name of FiafdoWy
where the States or Diet of Poland former-
ly us'd to fit and debate the moft important
Affairs
••■} Vi.,
,'OS
tw
•; fV'i
■ !J
i86 A Gtographkal Let. V.
Affairs of the Kingdom. There is more-
over the Palace of King John Cafimir^ as like-
wife a very ftately one built by Count Morfiin^
Great Treafurer of Poland. Alfo a Leagne
from this City King John Sobieski built a neat
Country Palace by the Name of f^iUa Nova.
The other Publick Edifices are no lefs re-
markable, being the Church of St. John Bap'^
where Secular Canons officiate *, the Arfe-
nal, Caftle, Market-place, drc. Divers kinds
of Merchandizes are conyey'd hither along
a River from the neighbouring Provinces,
and from hence carried to DantUc to be
tranfported into Foreign Countries. In the
Suburbs of Cracovo is a fmall Chappel built on
purpofe for the Burial of John Demetrius Suski,
Great Duke of Mufcovy^ who died Prifoner
in the Caftle of Goftinin^ together with his
two Brothers. This City was taken by the
Swedes in the Year 1^55, and isfcarce three
Poli/h Miles diftant from Leffer Poland^ about
twenty four froni Lanfchetj as many North-
Eaft of Lublin^ twenty nine South-Eaft of
Thorn, thirty to the North from Sendomir,
thirty three Weft of Gnefna, and forty to
the North-Eaft from Cracow and Pofnan.
wifna. IVifna, a Town in a Plain near the River
Narew, with a Caftle upon an adjoining Hill.
WifTegrod. Wijjegrod, a Wooden Town built in a Plain
near the F'tfiula, with a confiderable Caftle :
It lies about twelve Miles from Warfaw.
Ciekanovv. Ciekanow,2ihont the fame diftance from War--
faw^ being a Town built in a Plain likewifei
with a Caftle among the Marfhes.
Lombze. Lombz.e, a large City .upon the navigable
River Narew, confifting of fair Buildings, and
about
'N.,
DefcriptionofPohnd.
a bout twenty Miles from Warfaw.
Rozan^ a Town built in a Plain near the Rozan.
River NarevD. '
a Timber-built Town, with a Caftle Liw.
founded on the Banks of the River Lmijecz..
PuUovia, famous for being the Refidence of Pukovia.
theEifhopof Plosko. It is a Town built with
Brick, with a good Caftle, and fome other
tolerable Edifices.
Czerniensiy a large Wooden Town built on Czerni-
the Fijlula.
Ahoczim, a Wooden Town likewife feated Akroczim.
on the njiula, with a Caftle. It is about eight
Miles from Warfaw.
Varha^ a large Town built jn a Plain near Varka.
the River Pilz.a^ and about eight Miles from
Warfaw another way.
Blonye, a Town about four Miles fromBIonyc.
Warfaw.
Pultowsko^ a WalPd Town with a Caftle, PuJtowsko.
fituate on the River Narew.
Tarcm^_ a Timber-built Town, about five Tardn.
Miles from Warfaw.
Grodzyec, about feven Miles from Warfaw, Grodzycc.
and two from Tarqin.
Prafniz, a large Town, intermix'd with a Prafniz.
great many fair Stone Edifices.
The Senators of this Palatinate are.
The Palatine of Mafovia.
, '^Cyrna,
1 Warfaw,
j tVifna,
The CafieUans of Wiffegrod,
Zakrow,
Ciekanow, and
. i Liw.
Senators of
the Pal. of
Mafovia.
The
18 8 A Geographical L e t. V.
Its Arms. The Arms or Standard of this Palatinate),
are an Eagle expanded Argent in a Field
Gules.
II. Palati- The fecond Palatinate of the Province of
nate. JtJafovia is that of »
Ploskow, lying towards the Eaft between
the ri/lulcf and Pruffia. It is divided into four
Diftrids, ojiz.
C Ploczkow,
\ ^ Stenen.
In all which, are thefe principal Cities and
Towns viz.,
Mm 4"®'"'- .
l Cap. Mlaw, and
Cap.
Sieprcz,
Radzanow.
The Capital of all Which is
PJoczko. Ploczkoro, or Ploczh, Metropolis of the Pa-
- iatinate of that Name, which ftands on a high
Bank of the IVeijfel or Ftflula, from whence
one may have a very fair Profped of a plea-
fant and fruitful Country. This City is con-
fiderably inrich'd by the Navigablenefs of
its River, is very populous, and has been long
dignified with a Bifhop's See. Befides the Ca-
thedral, there are divers other Churches and
Monalleries richly endow'd, efpecially the
Abby of Benedidins in the Suburbs, where
amongft other Relicks, the Head of St. Sigif-
mund is kept in Gold which was given by King
Sigiftnund III.
Sieprcz,
Vefcriptlon of Poland. 289
Sieprac,, a Wooden Town built on a Hill Sieprcz.
among the Marihes, and about five.AUl^s from
Plocz.kow,
Sremko^ a Timber-built Town,Xeated inaSrensko.
Plain, with a Caftle founded among the Bogs.
This Place is about ten Miles from PloczJio.
a Town built on the Confines ofMlaiv.
PruJJia^ and walh'd by the River of its own
Name. It is alfo about ten Miles from
PlOCZjkcfCP.
Radnanow, a Timber-built Town , on theRadzanow.
River Vkra, with a Caftle founded upon a
Rock nmongft the Marflies. This Town is
about eight Miles from Ploczkovf.
Senators of
Ploskow.
TheCaMansofl^tr?"
The Standard or Arras of this Palatinate^
are an Eagle expans'd Sables with a P on the
Breaft; All in a Field Gules.
The third Palatinate of the Province
'Mafovia^ is that of
Dobrinaj lying towards the Weft between
Cujavia and Pri^a; It abounds with all forts
of Fruit and Fifli, and is divided into three
Diftri&s, viz..
f Dobrina,
The Diftrift of Ripin, and
C Slonsk.
V In
The Senators of this Palatinate me,
' Bifliop 2
The ^ Palatin and ^ of Ploskow.
[ Caftellan .>
ipo A Geographical Let. V.
In all which are thefe principal Cities and
Towns, <viz.
Dobrinaj Cap. j Slomk^ and
Ripift, 1 Gorzno.
cities and
Towns of Capital City of this Palatinate is
Dobrina. Dobrina^ a Timber-built City, feated on a
Rock near the River It had former-
]y a Caftle which was demolilh'd by the TeU',
tonick Knights.
Ripin. Ripin, a Wooden Town, built in a Plain on
the River Odleck: It is about five Miles from
Dobrina.
Slonsk. Slonsk., a Town in a Plain, fituate upon the
River Vifiula.^ and about two Miles from
Dobrina.
Gorzno. Corz.no., or Gurz.no., a Wood-built Town,
tolerably well defended by Nature and Art:
It is about fix Polifh Miles from Dobrina.
This Palatinate was formerly the caufe
of frequent Wars between the Poles., Teuto-
nick Knights, and PruJJians.
Senators of The Senators of this Palatinate are,
Dobrina.
r Dobrina,
The Capellans of .^Ripin, and
C Slonsk.
Its Arms. The Arms and Standard of this Palatinate,
are a Man's Head proper, doubly crown'd
Or and Argent: All in a Field Gules.
VI. Pro- The Sixth P r o v i n c e of this Kingdom is
viNCE. Samogitia, having in it no Palatinate, tho
many Capitanies, of which the chief Starofia
is
'Defcriptm of Poland. 2p i
is he of the Province who has a Place in the
Senate, tho no other of the fame Dignity
have the like throughout the whole Kingdom,
except he be otherwife qualified. This Pro-
Vince is indifferently large and fruitful, tho
it be very much over-run with Woods. To
the North it is bounded by Cttrland and the Bounds,
Baltic Sea: On the Welt it has Ducal PruJTid
and the Baltic; and towards the South and
Eaft it borders on Lithuania. It has feveral
Cities as well belonging to the King as the
Gentry, which for the moll part are ^ all
built with Wood. This Province takes^its
Name from its Situation, which is low and
marlhy; the word Samogitz. in the Language
of this Country denoting as much. It abounds
with Lakes and inacceflible Mountains, yet
affords great quantities of Honey, purer than
that eithet of Lithuania or Livoma^ and breeds
Horfes which are very much admir'd for their
Swiftiiefs. The ordinary People here live in banners of^
Cottages for the molt part feated near Lakes People,
or Rivers, and covcr'd either with Thatch or
Boards. They plough the Ground not with
Iron but Wood, tho the Soil be molt com-
monly fat and ftiff •, which Cullom they are
addided to even to Superftition: for when
a certain Starojia of that Country thought to
introduce Iron Plowlltares among them, and
the Seafon not happening to prove as kind as
ufiial, they attributed all the caufe to this
thange of Inllrument ^ whereupon they were
permitted to return to their old way for fear
of an Infurreftion. Their Horfes are gene-
tally fo fmall, that one would wonder how
ihey coilld undergo the Fatigue they put 'em
V 2 to.
I
A Geographical Let.T.
to. Mofi: of the Inhabitants of this Country
differ little in Manners, Habit or Language
from the Lithuanians j yet fbrae of them ftill
■ retain feveral Idolatrous Worfiiips, efpecially
^77;c;r Su- in the Deferts, where they pay Devotion to
ferjiitm. a four-footed Serpent, under the Name of
i^ivofit \ and you'll hardly find a Family in
thefe Parts without one of thefe Houlhold
Gods. Nay, even at this day in many Villa-
ges both of Prujfia and Lithuania., the poor
Peafants, altho they profefs Chrillianity, yet
keep Adders in their Houfes,. to which they
pay a more than ordinary Veneration, iraa-
giningthat forae great Mifchief would befal"
them if thefe Idols fliould come to any harm.
To be more particular with this Country,
your Lordfliip may underftand tliat their
Houfes (except only tliofe of the Gentry)
are built low and long-ways, with an Hearth
in the middle, and but one Room, which
iei ves not only for themfelves but their Cattel.
The better fort drink out of Horn Gups, and
eat out of Wooden Platters. The Honey
here is extraordinary, having but little Wax v
and fome of it is perfeftly white, with which
the Woods are every where almolt lin'd.
Manner o/The manner of the Pagan Sacrifices and
fMrijicin^. Feafls in Samogitia kept at this day about the
end of Ochber^ is as follows. Firfl, the Pj,ace
of meeting being affign'd, the Men with their
Wives, Children and Servants, pundiuallyap-
pear thereat, when fpreading a Cloth upon
the Straw, feveral Loaves are fet in due order,
and' between each Loaf a large Pot of Beer •,
then Beafls of divers kinds both Male and Fe-
male are brought in, and facrific'd after the
antient
fkfcrtptlon of Poland. 2pj
anticnt Cuftora, thus. Fir (I, the Augnr or
Prieft, after having mumbled over feme few
words, ftrikes 'em with a Wand he holds in
his hand on the Back, Belly, ire. when all
that are prefent likewife follow his Example,
crying out, O Zimiemick! ( for fo they call
their God ) the/e Offerings we make to thee for
protef^ing m fo mercifully hitherto, and we mofi
humbly implofe thee to have the like Compajfion
on US for the future, as to preferve us from Fire,
Sword^ Pefliknce and our Enemies: Which faid, ^
they immediately fall to, but firfb cut off" a *
Bit from every Plate, and throw 'em about the
Room, crying, O Zimiennick, graciou/ly par-
take of our Sacrifices^ and favour thy Adorers !
After which they eat and drink heartily, and
fo the Ceremony concludes. Thefe Sacrih-
ces are alfb ftiU obferv'd by the Country-
People in feveral places of Lithuania and
RuJJia. This Province is divided into three
Diflri&s, which are,
f' Rojlenia,
The DiJlriSis of Mednick, and
C Poniviefs.
In all which are thefe principal Towns, viz,
Rojienia, Cap. | Poniviefs, and
Mednick, j Cowna.
The Capital of all which is Towns 4
Rojienia, a fmall ill-built Town, tbo theRoficnia.
chief of the Province of Samogitia, being
leated on the River Dubifs, about twelve Po-
lilh Miles from Cowna to the North, thirty
from Riga, and twenty feven from rilna to
the Weft.
y 3 'Msdmk,
194 ^ Geographical Let. V.
Mednick. Mednick, fomewhat better built than the
former, and famous for a Suffragan's See be-
longing to the Arch-bifhop of Gnefna. This
Town is feated on the River JVirwitz,.
PonivieG. Poniviefs^ Capital only of the Diftrift of
that Name.
Cowna. Cowna^ fituate on the River Niemen, and
' famous for a College of Jefuits, and feveral
confiderable Monaftcries. This Town was
formerly much frequented by the German Mer-
chants, who built here divers fplendid Edi-
fices both with Stone and Brick, which the
Inhabitants have fince imitated, and in fomc
things excell'd.
Senators of
Samogitia.
vij. The Seventh Province of this King-
Pro- • •
VI N c E. p^olhynia, which is divided into two large
< Dillrifts, viz.. ' ' ■
TheDiftridsof \c7emen^
In both which are thefe principal Cities
and Towns, viz..
(.Cap. or Luceona.
Vhdimir.^ or Woldz.imiers. ^
Krz.emenec, Cap. of Cremen.
' Brocti,
The Senators of this Province are,
r Bifhop "p
The Starofia, and ^ of Samogitia.
cCaftellan j
Defcriptlon of Poland
Brodij
Olika,
Conflantimxo^
Zsbarafi.^
Ofiro^ium^
Wifyiiovec^
ZaJlavPj
Bafileaj
Duhna^
Czartorishy
Oksk,
Miedireczj and
Rubefow^ 1 Krilovf.
The Capital City of the Diftrift of Luceo- cities And
ria^ and Metropolis of rolhynia, is that of "f
Lutzko^ or Luzuk^ a Timber-built City, fi- Luako.
tuate on the Banks of the River Ster, near a
Lake which encompafles part of the Caftle.
It is hardly feven Miles from the Frontiers of
Red Ruffia to the Eaft, and twenty from Leo-
pol to the North-Eaft. It is a large City, and
is an Epifcopal See, and the Refidence of a
Biftop fubjed to the Metropolitan of Gnefna.
The Cathedral and Chaptcr-houfe are in one
of the Caftles, there being two built on ad-
joining Hills near this City. Here likewife
refides a Ruffian Bilhop.
Vlodimir, a Wooden Town, with Wooden Ulodimir.
Fortifications, and built among the Marflies.
It lies not far from Lutzko^ and is the Refi-
dence of a Ruffian Bilhop with a confiderable
Jurifdidion.
Jirrz^wewec, Capital of theDiftrid of Cre-Krzemc-
men^ a large Timber City with a Wooden
Caftle and Mud Walls.
Brodiy a Town built by Staniffam Konkepo- Brodi.
liski, Cajiellan of Cracovia^ with ftrong Forti-
fications, a Collegiate Church, and a publick
Academy.
Olika^ a Town belonging to the Houfe of oiika.
RadzivH, adorn'd with a fair Cathedral, and
Academy for all forts of Arts and Sciences.
V 4 Conjlan-
iirflSfW"
19(5 ^ A Geographical Let. V.
Cbnftan- Conftantinow^ adorn'd and defended by a
tinovv. well-fortified Caftle.
Zsbarafz. Zsbarafz^ formerly a Free City, with a Ter-
ritory or Dijlriif of its own, but now fiibjcdt
to that of Cremen.
Senators of
VoUjynia.
The Senators of this Province are,
CBifliop of Luceoria.
The < Palatin^ and \ r K mi.
Its Arms. The Standard or Arras of this Province of
Voihynia are Party per Pale.^ .Argent and Azatre^
the former containing the Arms of Lithuania.
[ VIII. The Eighth Province of this King-
Pro- dom is
VIN c E. Podlachia, a large Province and Palatinate,
bounded on the Weft by Mafovia, and on the
itsBomds.'E.z^ by Lithuania^ to which it formerly be-
long'd till Sigifmundus Augujim in the Year
1559 united it to Poland. In Spiritual Mat-
ters it is wholly fubjed to the Bifhop of Lu~
ceoria, but as to Temporal it is divided into
three Diftrids, viz.
t '
CByelsio,
The Di]iri£is of ^Drogiczynen.^ and
CMtelnick.
» In all which there are thefe Principal Cities
and Towns, w'z.
Byelshf Cap. Knyjjin,
Dr^gtcztn.,
Myelniciy
T)[koczin^
Augujloxp,
Mordi,
Wafilkow,
Narero.,
Bransko.,
Fifokie, and
Holovacz.
Qf
Defcripmn of Poland. 297
cities and
Of all which the Capital is Tofvns of
Byelsktt^ a large Timber-built City, Metro- Byelsko.
poUs of this Province, "and feated on the Ri-
I'f Byala dividing it from Lithuania, Its
>aftle was burnt down by Lightning, and ne-
ver fince rebuilt.
Drogtcz.in^ Capital of the Diftrid of that Crogiczin.
Name, and built on a fmall Rifing near the
River Bug. This City is famous for a Court
of Jullice, wherein theCaufesof the Gentry
are tried. It lies about ten Miles from
ito, and thirty from Warfaw.
Mielnick^ a Town on the Bug likewife, on- Myelnick.
ly famous for being Capital of its Diftrift.
It is about five Miles from Drogicdn.
lykoeziny a Town built in a Plain upon the Tykoczin.
River Narew. It has a Caflle well fortified
both by Art and Nature, being furrounded
by vaft Bogs, and defended every way with
fcveral large Cannon. Here part of the
King's Treafure is kept; and here likewife Si-
gifmundus jiugujim caus'd Money to be coin'd.
It lies about ten Miles from Byelsko^ and forty
two from P^ilna.
Kny/fm., a Wood-built Town, feated among Knyflln.
Marfhes and Woods, Here the King has a
Palace, and a very large Park, abounding
with Deers of all forts ; and huge Fifh-ponds,
replenilh'd with all kinds of frefli-Water
Fifli.
Auguftow a very large City, built by Sigif- Auguftow,
tnundus Augufius^ and which lies about twen-
ty Miles from Byelsko.
Mordia. Timber-built Town, feated on a Mordi.
very large Lake, and ubout five Miles from
DrogkzJn, ' Waftl-
f
£»>
ip 8 J Geographical L 6 t. V.
wafilkow, Wafilkow a Wood-built Town on the River
NareWj where the King's Starofta relides.
Narevv, Narew fituate in the raidft of Woods, and
near the River of that Name. This Town
lies about four Miles from Byelsko.
Bransko, Bransko built on the River Nar^ only famous
for a Court of Juftice held there. It lies a*
bout three PoU/h Miles from Byelsko.
Suras. Sura6 a Town built at the foot of a Hill
near the River Narew. It has a Caftle which
commands the Town.
Senators of
the Pro-
vince of
Podiachia.
The Senators of this Province arc.
The Palatine, andj^r
Caftdlan ^°irodlach.„.
Its Arms. The Standard or Arms of this Province
are Party per Pale., Argent and Gules: In the
former the Arms of Lithuania., and in the lat-
ter an Eagle Expans'd of the firft.
Thus far, my Lord, have I trac'd the Ex-
tent of Poland., and the Divifions of its Pro-
vinces, and have taken notice of what I have
both obferv'dand heard to bemoft remarka-
ble in them ^ whereby your Lordihip may
find that this vail Kingdom is not fo contemi)-
tible as we of the Weftern Parts of Europe
have imagin'd: for this Country abounds
with all Neceflaries to fupport itfelf, both in
Peace and War, without the help of its
\ Neighbours *, and had it been as well improv'd
by Art, and enrich'd by Trade, as it is made
fruitful by Nature, it would doubtlefs have
been able to vie with any Kingdom in Europe:
Which
^efcriptm of Polmd.
Which the King of France^ and other Prin-
j ces, are now fenfible of, lince they have pro-
fufely fpent vaft Sums of Money, to advance
either themfelves or Friends to that Crown,
i tho they were no ways certain of Succefs,
knowing, that let the Sums they fpent be e-
ver f® conllderable, they would be fully re-
compensM when they obrain'd their Ends 5
for a King of Poland can raife as confider-
able an Army, and that chiefly of Horfe,
as any Chriftian Prince. He has ever had a
great Reputation with the Eaftern Princes;
and conlidering their Hiftory, I find as re-
markable Tranfadions and Exploits in the
Lives of the Kings of Poland^ as in any other
Hiftory whatever.
I muft Gonfefs, the Poles have not been fuch
refin'd Politicians, norfb prudently manag'd
their own Intereft as fome of their Neigh-
hours have done i for by their ill Condudt,
and fupine Negligence, they have loft the belt
Part of their Antient Dominions: which yet
has hapned to them, neither on account of
their Deficiency in Courage or Bravery •, but
at prefent the Poles beginning to enquire into
the State of Foreign Countries, and into their
Maxims of Government, they are become
more Vigilant and Political, and are likely,
i under the Command of their prefent King,
as well to retrieve their Honour, as recover
their loft Dominions.
I would, my l^ord^ have prefented you with
a great many other entertaining Matters re-
lating to the Geography and Natural Hiftory
of
A geographical, 8ccl Let. V.'
of this Country, had I either fcen them my
felf, or been fecure of the Relation of others ;
but I would rather chufe to be deficient in this
Account^ than to give your Lordlhip juft rea-
fon to oelieve. that I were too credulous.
I am,
My L o R D,
Your Lordlhip»s moft obedient
humble Servant,
®. c.
*1.1" Ill 'jg.: Jioa .ytrm || .11 h
L E T-
Letter VI.
To George Stepney Efqj
lace Envoy Extraordinary from
his Majefty to the Elefiors and
Princes of the Empire,
Of the Origin and, Extent of the Great
Dutchy of 'Lithuania, mth the SucceJJion
of its Great Dukes, and Defcription of
its chief Towns and Provinces.
Sir,
TH E Zeal you have Ihew'd for his Maje-
fty's Service in your Miniftry at the
Courts of the Empire, and the Reputation I
found you left behind you in thofe Places, to
the Honour of fo great a Mafter, deferve not
only the repeated Proofs of his ufual Bounty,
and the Choice he wifely made of you a fe-
cond time to reprefent his Royal Perfon, but
likewife the Efteera of all thofe that are ac-
quainted with your Merits. To pretend to
inform you of the Conftitution of any State
in Europe, would not be only the calling in
queftion your Experience in Foreign Affairs,
and your undoubted Knowledg in Politicks,
but likewife expofing my own Judgment to
the juft Cenfure of the World. Wherefore,
Sir, thinking by our late Difcourfe about Pa-
land,-
A Geographical Let. VL
landy that nothing could be new to you, but
what was either very remote or very antient;
I will endeavour only to give what I know
of the Origin and Extent of the Great Dutchy
of Lithuania^ which is that vail Trad of
Land that lies between the Kingdonl of Pd-
land^ arid the Frontiers of Mofcovy.
Lithuania The Grtat Dutchy of L i t h u a n i a, calPd
bow caWd Inhabitants Litwa^ tho fubjed to the
'h'tMtl King of Poland^ as Scotland to the King of
' ' England^ yet is a diilind Nation from this
/ Kingdom, having different Culloms, a difi
ferent Dialed, and particular Privileges, tho
one Diet ferves them both. It lies between
Itsprefent Mofcovy on the Fall, Livonia^ the Baltic
Btundi. gjjgj pgj.{. jt^gfcovy to the North Sa-^
mogitia^ Prujfia and Podlachia to the Welt j
and RuJJia^ Folhynia and Podolia towards the
South. It extends near ninety German Miles
^ in length, that is, from the Borders of the
Palatinate of Lublin to the Confines of Livo-
nia^ and about eighty in breadth from the
River Niemen to the Nieper. In the time of
Antknt its Great Duke Fitoldtu it was of much larger
Extent. Extent, for then it reached from the Euxint
Sea to alraoll all along the Baltic.
Soil and This Province is a flat and Champain Coun-
ProduSs. try, formerly all over-run with Woods, arid
of which a great Number Hill remain: Yet
what with the Indultry of the Inhabitants,
and the Peace they have enjoy'd ever (ince Si-
gtfmund the Firll's time, it is now very fruit-
ful, and produces all forts of Grain ^ as like-
wife aHbrds great quantities of Honey, PitclL'
Tar and Timber, with good llore of Fi^
T>efcription of Lkhuznia,. 303
and Flelh: Neverthelels the Air is gene-
rally unhealthy, which occafions many pia-
ces to be little inhabited, and feme quite De-
fert.
This great Dutchywas only begun to hcvnmwitb
^ united to Poland by JageHo^ in the Year 1386 *, Poland,
for tho that Union was afterwards renew'd at Frivi'
Grodno in ihz Year r4i3, yet Lithuania ftill'^^^'^*
retain'd its own proper Dukes till the Year
1501, when the great Duke Gilbert was cho-
fen King of Poland^ by whofe means this
Country became abfolutcly under the Domi-
nion of that Crown, and which was after-
wards confirm'd by a Diet held at Lublin in
1559, under the Reign of Sigifmundus Au-
guflus^ where it was agreed that Litlmania
fhould enjoy its own peculiar Laws and Privi-
leges, and be conftituted a part of the Poli/h
Common-wealth; infomuch that nothing of
Importance was for the future to be tranC-
aUed therein, without the voluntary Concur-
rencc of thefe States.
This Country confifts of two Parts, viz,. Divifiom
1. Lithuania properly fo call'd j and,
2. Lithuanic,f ov White-RuJJia.
Both which are divided into feveral Palati-
nates, and thofe again into Diftrifts •, and all
of them may be properly term'd Dutchies,
each having formerly had its peculiar Duke.
1 he Arms or Standard of Lithuania are, ^rrns.
Party per Pale^ Gules and Az.ure: In the former
a Horfe in full career Argent,^ with a Warrior
infiding Proper, brandifhing a Sword over his
head. And in the fecond the Virgin A^ary with
ourSaviour in herArms,furrounded by a Glory.
Before
504 J Geographical L^t. VI.
Before I proceed to a Topogtaphical De-
fcription of this State, I hope a fhort Ac-
count of the Origin of Lithuania^ with the
Lives and raoft remarkable Anions of the fe-
veral Dukes, and Great Dukes of that Out-
chy, Samogitia^ &c. may not be unaccepta-
ble, which are as follows.
Lithuania, Lithuania^ as Cuagnini thinks, took its
whence fo Name from this Occafion. When the firft
called. Prince thereof Palamon left Italyon account
of Nero's Tyranny, he together with feveral
of his Countrymen, fled, by a long Voyage,
into thefe Parts: Where after fome time
having been faluted Prince by the Inhabitants
thereof, he call'd their Country after the
Name of his own. La j which in pro-
ceft of time, by mixing with the Idiom of
thofe Barbarians, might (as be fays) have de-
generated into Lithuania. Others will have
it to be fo nam'd from the Latin word Littus
a Shoar, becaufe, fay they, this Prince fet-
tied along the Shoar of the Baltic Sea before
Different ^^2 defcended into Lithuania. To confirm this
Opinions. Prince's Expedition into this Country, there
are feveral Italian and Latin words intermixt
with its prefent Language. As likewife molt
of the Noble Families have great fimilitude
with the Roman Names, tho the Vulgar fort
are altogether Sclavonian. Notwithltanding
this Aflertion, Hartknoch, with feveral o-
thers, pofitively affirm, that this Country had
its Name from Littuo, one of the Alani, a
certain Duke therefore long before Palamon's
Voyage: So that from Littuo Alanus they
call'd his Country Littualania^ which after-
, wards was contraded to Lithuania.
Palamon
\
\
Defcription of hxthumh. 505
Pal(Cmon fir{t Duke of Lithuania being de-Pakmon.
ftended froiTi the Roman Patricii, after having
undergon great Dangers, and efFeded many
glorious Enterprizes, died peaceably, leaving
three Nephews Borm^ Cunoffus and Spera^ all
which feparately fucceeded him in his Domi-
nions.
Borcm took for his Share part of Samogitia^ Borcus.
' where he built a Gaftle on the River Juria^
a Branch of the Nkmen^ and call'd it after
his own Name, and that of the River where-
on it ftood, Jurburg^ which continues even at
this day.
Cunojfus extending his Dominion a different Cunoflus.
Way, built Kunojfow another Caftle, calling
it after his own Name, and which remains to
this day.
Spera likewife built a Gaftle near the River Spera.
Siventa^ where he began his Reign.
At length and Spera dying, Cunajjlis
feiz'd on both their Dominions •, but foon af-
ter di'd alfo, and left two Sons, Kyernus and
Gyhutus \ whereof
Kyernus fettled in Lithuania^ and built the Kyernus,
Caftle Kyernove^ which he made the Place of
his Refidence \ and
Gybutus refided in Samogitia^ which he like- Gybutus.
wife govern'd. Both thefe Brothers joining to-
gether,made huge Devaftations in RuJJia, and
carried away great Booty ^ but. upon their
return home, found Satnogitia fervM the like
Sauce by the Livonians: To revenge which,
they forthwith enter'd Livonia^ and burnt
and plundered all that Country wherever they
came.
Kyernus dying, was fucceeded in Lithuania
X by
3o<^ Succeffion of the Let. VI.
Zivibun- by his Son Zivibundus^ and Gyhutus in Samo-
. gitia by his Son Muntwil which laft having
unc.vi. but little, dy'd and left his Son
Uikinc. vikint to fucceed him in Sdmogitia \ but
Zivibun- Zivibmdus liv'd a great while after, and
dus. prov'd no fmall Viftor over the Ruffians and
Tartars: for being willing to fhake off the
Ruffian Yoke, he fent his Brother Wikinti
Erdzivil. Erdz.ivil to invade that Country *, who fo far
fucceeded as to take the City and Caftle of
Novogrodef and to fix the Seat of a Dutchy
there: And after proceeding further, he
built the flrong Caftle of Grodno on. the River
Nicrnen, Then he defcended into Podlachia,
where he took feveral Towns, andfoonre-
duced all that Province. Afterwards he ^on-
quer'd Kurdaffus Prince of the Tartars^ at a
Town call'd Moz.era^ near the River Okuniow-
ha. This Erddvif after many Heroick Adti-
ons, and fucceeding his Brother Zivibundus,
di'd and left two Sons, Mingailus and Zlgi-
rnuntusj and divided his Dominions between
them.
Algimun- ZlgimuKtus chofe for his Samogitia%
and .
Mingailus. Ad'tngailus rul'd over Lithuania and Polocz, j
which laft Country he took from the Ruffiansf
and likewiCe extended his Dominion over all
the Dutchy Novogrodcc. This Duke died,
and left two Sons, Skirmunt and Ginvil.
Skirmunt. Skirmunt hiving perform'd his Father's Ob-,
fequies, enter'd upon the Government of Li- \
thuania^ with the Dutchy of Novogrodec. And
Ginvil. Ginvil by natural Right feiz'd upon Polocz.;
which having govern'd for fome time, he died
and left to his Son
Boris,
Dukes ofLiihiunh. ^07
5om, who Tul'd a great while in Po/ocs:, Boris;
and built a famous Church there with Brick,
calling it Sanf^a Sophia. He likewife founded
feveral other famous Edifices, with the
Town and Caftle of Borijfow upon the Ri-
ver Berefina. To him fucceeded his Son
Bajilius Rechmld., who liv'd to a great Age, Bafilius
and left behind him a Son called Hlebus^ and Bechwold.
a Daughter nam'd Poroskavia.
fJlebuT furyiv'd his Father but a little while, HIebus W
and Poroska-
Porofiavia wholly devoted her felf to the
Greek Rel^ion j but afterwards went to Rome
where (he died, and was Canonized for a
Saint. Now to return to the Dukes of Li-
thuania.
Skirmunt obtain'd great Ccnquefts over the
Tartars and Ruffians., and dying, left his Uncle
Kukovoitus to fucceed him in Lithuania and Kukovoi-
Samogitia ^ who having govern'd a good while, ^us.
died, and left his Dominions to his Son-in-
Law
Giedrujfus who had marri'd his Daughter Giedruf-
Poiata. This Dhke dying, left for his Succef- his.
for his Son
Ringolt, who having perforra'd his Father'^ Ringolc,.
Funeral-Rites after the Pagan manner, en-
terM upon the Government of Lithuania and
Samogitia. Againft this Duke the Ruffians.^
join'd by the Tartars., march'd with great fu-
ry to reduce him to pay Tribute-, but he
timely oppoiing them with equal Force, gave
them a fignal Overthrow near Mohilna on the
River Niemen. At length this Ringolt^ fa.r
hious likewife for feveral other Viftories, died
left His Dominions to his Son
X 2, Mindogj
m
a
wil Tqll
m
flli'
^08
Mindog,
124c.
Succeffton of the Let. VI.
Mindog^ or Mcndog^ in the Year 1240,
who had various Conflifts with the Dukes of
Smokmko and f^olhynia, both which atlafthe
totally fubdu'd. He likewife fought feveral
Battels with Bok/laus the Chaft King of Po-
land, and Daniel Emperor of Mofcovy, in
moll of which the Chriftians were worfted
with great daughter. He frequently made
Incurfions into Mafo-via, Dobrina^ Cuja-
via, &c. and return'd with great Booty. .He
alfo had bloody Wars with the Teutonic
Knights of Pru/Jia and Livonia: But at length
in the Year 1252, being over-perfwaded by
the then Great Mailer Henricus de Zalcza, he
gave up all his Dominions to that Order, in
acknowledgment of feveral Honours and Ser-
vices done him, and moreover confcnted to
turn Chrillian, and afterwards fent to Rome
to pay his D.evoir to that See. Whereupon
Innocent\V. deputed his Brother Heinderic to
confecrate him King. But whether it were
that Mindog repented the lofs of his Domini-
ons, or for any other Caufe, it is certain that
he refus'd to receive this Nuncio*, and the
very fame Year, together with all his Coun-
try, returned to their former Idolatry. Ne-
vcrthelefs the Teutonic Knights fufFer'd him
to continue King, and under him, in con-
jimclion with the Lithuanians, Samogitians,
fee. invaded Mafovia, and made great Ha-
vock of that Country. But afterwards Men-
dog^ being unmindful any farther of the Ci-
vility of thofe Knights, turn'd his Arms a-
gainil their Country, dellroying moll of
their Cities, and returning with great Spoils.
Next
Vukes of Lithuania. ^09
Next Mendog having gathered together a
great Army, and being likewife ailifted by
Swarm Duke of RuJJia^ marched againlt Se-
movitus Duke of Mafovia^ whom together
with his Son Conrade^ he furpriz'd in his Pa-
lace of Jafdow j where Swarm ftruck off
Semovitm his Head with his own hand ; but
Conrade was prefervM by Mendog^ and after-
wards ranfom'd by his Countrymen. Soon
after this the Lithuanians and Rujfians hav-
ing made great Devaftations in Mafovia^ rc-
tir'd with the Spoils and Captives into their
feveral Countries. The next Year the fame
People not being content with their former
Irruptions, march'd again into Majbvia ; but
fcafce finding any thing left to prey upon by
reafon of their laft Year's Work, they only
burnt and plunder'd a Houfc belonging to
the Arch-bifhop of Gnefna^ and fo return'd
home.
At length Heaven thought fit to favour the
Polifli Chriftians, by taking away King Min-
dog^ who. was murder'd by. his Nephew A:.i^}ndog
Stroinat^ and his Son-in-Law Dowmanty in the mmd'yd. ■
Year 1253.
Stromal begun his Reign in the Year 1253, Stroinar,
by the murder of his Brother Towcivil Duke 12153.
of Polocz. \ but not long afterwards Woifalk
Son of Mendogy tho then a Rufjian Monk, being
mindful of his Father's Death, depriv'd him
alfo of Life, and immediately feiz'd on his
Dominions.
Woifalk took upon him only the Title ofwoifalk,
Duke, and began his Government with fre-*264.
quent Irruptions into Poland^ Mafovia and
Prujfta: But in the Year 1267, endeavouring
X 3 to
i
^ i b Succeffion of the Let. VI.
to fubdue Rujfia^ he was circumvented by Leo
Duke thereof, (who built andflainin
the'Monaftery of Wromko.
Greit With him the Family of the Dukes of Li-
Dukes of thuania being extind, Vtenm^ or Vcienus^
Liehuama. (jefcended from the Kitauri^ Princes in that
Utenus. Country, was unaniraoufly elefted firfl: Great
puke of Lithuania and Samogitia \ who hav-
ing had divers Wars with the Ruffians and
PruJJianSj died, and left his Dominions to his
Son
Swintoro- . Swintorohus^ who reigning but little, tho
hus. very well, died, and left behind him his Son
Gcrmon- Germontus, who rul'd alfo a very little
tus. while, and was fucceeded by his Son
Trahus. Trahus, who govern'd well both in War and
Peace for fome time, and built a Town and
Caftle after his own Name, This Great Duke
left behind him live Legitimate Children, viz,.
Narimundus,y Dorvmantus, Holfanus, Giedru-
tus,, and Troidenus, who all feparately fucceed-
ed their Father in his Dominions.
Narimun- Narimundus the Eldeft had for his part the
Great Dutchy' of Lithuania,, with Samogitia;
both which he had a Right to by the Preroga-
tive of his Birth. He tranflated the Ducal
Seat from Novogrodec to Kiernovo. His firlh
Wars were in conjundion with his Brothers
upon Poland, RuJJia, Mafovia and Prijjfia.
Then he declar'd War againfl: his Brorher
' Dowmant for taking away his Wife, whom he
foon recovered, and drove his Brother out of
his Dominions who flying to the Ruffians
of Polocz,, was univerfaliy receiv'd for their
Prince.
This
Great Dukes of Lithuania. 311
This Duke is recorded, in the kuffim An-
rials, to have been the firft Inventor of the
Lithuanian Arms, which are in a Field Gulcs^
a Perfon armM Cap-a-pe^ Sables^ riding fnll
fpeed on a Horfe Argent, and fiourilhing a
Sword over his head of the third. To him
fucceeded his Brother Troidenus j but firft an
ACcbunt of the other Brothers.
Dotbmant had for his Share the Diftrift of Dowmant.
Cofnia^ where he built the Caftle of Vcian.
Holfanus, the third Brother, was allotted Hol&nus.
his Divifion beyond the River iVilia towards
I the Eaft.
Giedrutus, OX Giedrotus, the fourth Brother, Giedrucus.
i built a Caftlfe upon a Lake, calling it after his
own Name, and where he fixt the Seat of his
Dutchy. Whofe Defcendants are famous e-
veh to this day.
The fifth Brother Troidertus, fucceeded Na- Troidenus.
rimundus in Lithuania and Samogitia % who
having gathered together^n Army of about
i 30000 Men, divided them into three Parts \
' one whereof he fent againft Mafovia^ and the
other two againit the Teutonick Knights in
Prujfia where having deftroy'd divers
Towns, he return'd with a great Booty of
Captives and Cattle. The fame Year Cu-
javia was over-run by the Lithuanians. Some
fmall time after whith, Dowmant Prince of
Polocz,^ being provok'd to fee his younger
Brother on his Father's Throne, hir'd three
Rnfticks to murder him as he went into a
Bath ^ which they effected. But Dowmant
marching with a fofmidable Army to take
poiredion of Lithuania-) was met and van-
qui.fii'd by
X 4 Eimunt
\
^ \ I Siicceffton of the Let. VI.
Rimunt. Rimunt Son to Troidenus-^ who thereupon
fucceecied his Father for a while: but after-
wards calling a Diet at Kiernovp, he publickly
renounc'd his Right, and rctir'd to a Monaf-
tical Life, conlUtuting
vithenes, rithenes, of the Family of the Kitauri^ de-
1281. fcended of the Princes, Great Duke.'
This Prince was a Perfon of a brave and war-
like Spirit. Wherefore Rimunt^ when it was
demanded of him, Why he put hy the Families
of h'vs Uncles^ Giedrutus and Flolfanus? an-
iWered, Becaufe there mre none but Children a-
mong tkem^ when a Prince of Lithuania ought
to correfpond with the yirms of that Country^ in^
vented by bis Vncle Narimund, which were a
Warrior on Horfehack^ arm'd Cap-a-pe^ and pojl^
ing to fubdue h'vs Enemies, - This Great Duke
rithenes began his Reign in the Year 1281.
The Year following he invaded the Palatinate
of Lublin, and continued deftroying it for
fifteen days together*, till at length £e/cMi
the Black, King of Poland, being animated
thereto by a Vifion, met and fought him be-
tween the Rivers Narew and Niemen, where
the latter gain'd a fignal Vidtory. In tefli-
mony whereof he founded a Parochial Church
at Lublin, and dedicated it to St. Michael the
Arch-'Angel.
1287. In the Year 1287, the Lithuanians, Pruf-
Jtans, and Samogitians, made a Defcent upon
Dobrina-, and furprizing the Capital City
thereof on Sunday, when its Inhabitants
were bufi'd at Devotion, kill'd and carry'd a-
way great Numbers of them into Slave-
. ty.
After-
Great Dukes of Lithuania^ ^15
Afterwards in 1289, the Lithuanians^ to 1289.
the number only of. 8000, invaded a part of
Prujfta, burning, killing, and deftroying
wherever they came j but before the Country
could make head againft them, they were re-
tired with great Spoils. To requite which,
next Year the Prujfmns march'd into Lithua-
nia^ where they kill'd and took valt numbers
of the Inhabitants, aslikewife poflelTed them-
felves under the Condudt of the Commenda-
dor of Koningsherg^ of the ftrong Caftle Mc'
rabde. Afterwards Memer, great Mafter of
PmJJia^ enter'd Lithuania with a formidable
Army, and entirely deftroy'd two Di[lrii}s.
Not long after this rithenes invaded Cuja-
via, and burnt and deftroy'd all the Country
about BreJJici, and likewife cartied away great
Numbers into Captivity.
In the Year 1293, Comadus Stange, Com- *293
mendador of Ragncta, took the Caftle of
Mindog in Lithuania *, which Fithenes foon re-
quited by entring PruJJia, and deftroying it
eighty days together.
Afterwards in 1294, Vithenes, with a Body 1294
only of i8ooHorfe, marching thro^ Woods
and By-roads, furpriz'd a great Concourfe of
People met in the Collegiate Church of Lanf-
ch'et, whereof the greateft part hekillM, and
the others, confifting chiefly of Ecclefiafticks,
he carri'd away for Slaves. The Church he
rob'd, and thofe that fled he ftified by fir-
ingall the Houfe around them. After which
marching about the Country, he drove away
all their Cattel^ but upon his return, meet-
ing with Cafmir Palatine of Lanfchct, he was
bravely oppos'd for a while, till Numbers fup-
3 14 Succeffion of the L e t. VI.
plyM the defed of Valour, and he entirely
routed the Chriftians near Sohaczjoxv j which
having efFeded, he return'd peaceably into
' his Country.
This f^ithenes had a Mailer of the Horfe
nam'd Gedimimsy who being of a haughty and
ambitious Temper, confpir'd, together with
the Great Dutcheft, to take away-his Maf-
ter's Life, which in a ihort time he brought
aboutand having marry'd his Princefs, ho
feiz'd upon the Crown.
Gcdemi- Gedentims became Great Duke of Lithuania
"T200 beginning of whofe
Reign the PruJJian and Livonian Knights, hav-
ing got together a numerous Army, invaded
Samogitia^ which they fbon over-run, burning
and deftroying wherever they came, and tak-
ing the ftrong Caftle of Kunojfove by Aflault,
wherein they made Prifbner the Grand Gene-
ral of Lithuania. The Year following Cede-
minusj to revenge thefe infupportable Inju-
ries, having rais'd a confiderable Body of his
own Subjeds, together with the AfTiftance of
the Rujjians and Tartars^ march'd diredl'y a-
gainfl the Teutonic Knights •, when meeting
them near the River Okmiena^ both Armies
came to Blows, and fo continu'd for feveral
Hours, till at length the Samogitians forfaking
the Knights fide, came over to Gedeminus •,
whofe Strength thereby being greatly aug-
mented, as that of his Enemies weakned, he
fell furioudy in among them, and foon put
them to flight. This Vidory being thus
luckily obtain'd, Gedeminus profecuted it into
the very heart of PruJfiaj where he found no-
thing
Great Vukes of Lithuania, ^15
thing able to withftand him, except only the
two Caftles of Ragneta and Cilza ^ but which
neverthelefs he took in a fiiorttime. After-
wards having made a miferable havock in that
Country, as alfo totally regainM his Dutchy
of Samogitia, he return'd peaceably home.
In the" Year 1304, thi^ Great Duke having 1304."'
a Quarrel with fome of the Ruffian Princes,
made great Preparations againft them 3 when
marching forthwith into Ruffita^ he firft met
and fought Vlodomirus Duke of rolhynia^ whom
he flew, and routed bis whole Army. Then
he bent his force againlt AeoDukcof Luceoria,
whom he alfo vanquifti'd, and took his chief
City Lutzko: both which Princes being thus
defeated, made him abfolute Mailer of all
Volhynia. Next Spring, being tir'd out with
Idlenefs, he carry'd his Arms againft Stanif-
laus Duke of Kiovia^ whom he overthrew, to-
gether with feveral Princes his Neighbours
that came to aflift him. With this Viiftory
Cedeminus being not a little encourag'd, pro-
ceeded and took moft of the Cities and Towns
of Ru^ta 3 when ai^ter having compleated a ■
glorious Conqueft, he return'd Triumphantly
into his own Country.
Afterwards Gedeminus going to hunt about
five Miles beyond the River Wilia, occafio-
nally built a Caftle there near a Lake, and a
City, naming itTroki^ whither he then tranf-Troki
lated his Court from Kieynow. After this, in built.
the Year 1305, Gedeminus go\x\^ a Hunting
again towards the Eaft, after various For-
tune became greatly fatigu'd with that fport.
Whcrettpon, Night drawing on, he was forcxi
' to take up a Lodging upon a Mountain, then
caird
"{/'■'ii
■rl.'
14: ;]
i S
a
Succeffion of the Let. VI.
callM Krz.yunagora, now Turaagoria or Lijpt;
where foon falling aQeep, he dreamt that
he faw and heard roar a huge Iron Wolf,
which had above a hundred Wolves of the
fame Mettle in his Belly, which roar'd like-
wife after an amazing manner: whereat be-
ing extreamly frighted, he wak'd, and next
Morning put this Dream to his Courtiers to
expound; when every one having deliver'd
his Opinion a different way, at lafl a Pagan
Prieft nam'd Ledueiko (faid to have been
found in an Eagle's Neft) whofe Pradice was
to foretel Futurities, expounded it thus: TTie
Iron Wolf (quoth he) denotes a flrong City^ and
the other Wolves in his Belly a formidable Multi^
tude of Inhabitants. Hereupon he immediately
advifes Gedeminus to build a fortifyM • City
and Caftle there. Whence this Prieft came
to have the Name of Radzivil, that is,
Counfellor to build Vilna. From this Perfon's
Family have defcended a great many famous
Heroes, who have all fufficiently diftinguifh'd,
themfelves both in times of Peace and War.
Gedeminus being eafily mov'd by thefe Perfua-
fions, forthwith ereded two Caftles near that
Place, one on a high Hill, and the other in
* a Plain *, adding moreover a City cal^ Vilna^
from the River Wilia^ running by it; which
is now very populous, and Capital of that
Great Dutchy; to which City he not long
after transferred his Refidence from Troki.
In 1305, the Lithuanians having had Intel-
ligence that the Poles were lull'd in Sloth and
Security, march'd through Woods and By-
roads into Lower Poland., where they burnt
and plundered Kalifch., with feveral other Ci-
ties
Great Dukes oflAthwTLma.', ^17
ties and Towns, killing the old People and
Children'; and carrying the others away Cap-
tive. The fame Year Henry de Plei^ko ^ a
Saxon^ Great Mafter of the Teutmic Order in
PruJJia^ furpriz'd and took the Caftle of Gar-
tin in Samogitia, and put all the Lithuanians^
found therein, to the Sword. Theylikewife
proceeded in this War by help of the Germans \
and after having totally deftroy'd the Diftrid
of Karfouinj return'd v/ith great Numbers of
Spoils and Captives into Prujfia.
In 1307, the Lithuanians made an Irruption 1307.
into Siradia and Kalifch, where doing a great
deal of Mifchief, they fiiddenly return'd into
their own Country.
In 1308, Olgerdus, Son of Gedeminm^ march'd 1308.
with a great Army into Pruffia^ where he
made havock with Fire and Sword where-
ever he came, carrying off likewife great
Booty. Thefe Favours the Lithuanians and
Prujfians did frequently and alternatively for
one another within the fpace of few years.
In 131 f, the Lithuanians furpriz'd the 'Terri' *5' S*
tory of Dohrina^ where they made great De-
vaftations; and likewife took the City of that
Name, and burnt and plundered it. In 1322, 1322.
they likewife enter'd Livonia^ laying all waft
for many Miles together. In the fame Year,
in Winter-time, David^ Starojla of Gartin^ not
being difcourag'd by Cold, deftroy'd that
Country up as far as Raval^ carrying away
great Spoils and many Prifoners. After-
wards, in the fame Winter, they took the
Caftle of Memel, and alfo enter'd PruJJia^ and
kill'd the Comendador of Capion in a fet Battle.
David of Gartin likewife invaded Mafovia at
the
318 Succeffion 0/ the L e t. VI.
the fame time, and entirely ruin'd a greatraa-
ny Towns and Villages.
*323' Ln 1323, the Lithuanians came clandeftinely
upon Dobrina again, and did a groat deal of
Damage there. In the following Year the
Starofta of Gartin enter'd Mafovia again near
Floczko^ wherein he deftroy'd and burnt above
one hundred and thirty Villages,thirty Townsi
and carry'd away about four thoufand Cap-
tives ; whilfl: another Army made a Defcent
upon Livonia^ and ferv'd that Country^ after
the like manner.
1325. In 1325, Daughter to maci-
ry'd Cafimir^ Son to Vladiflaus King of Poland^
by which all that had been formerly taken
from the Polanders was reftor'd, and a Peace
concluded between thofe two Nations.
Afterwards, at the Siege of the Callle of
Tribourg^ belonging to the Teutonic Knights in
Samogitia, this Great Duke Gedeminus re-
ceiv'd a Wound with an Arrow which coft
Hk Death, him his Life. This Prince had fevenSonSj
riz..
Montividus, Koriatus^
Narimundus^ Jauunvetus^ " '
Olgerdm, , and
Keijfiutusy Lubartusj '
\vith fome Daughters, one of which was
marry'd as before. Among thefe Sons, he
divided his Dominions while he liv'd; gr-
ving to
Montivi- Montividas his eldeft, Kyernow zhA Slonim
with the Territories thereunto belonging!
■ Ndn-
Great Dukes of Lithuania. ^ i p
Nanmundus his Conqucfts, and other Ac- Narimun-
quifitions in Rujfa. On dus.
Olgerdus he beftow'd Krewo^ and all from oigerdus.
thence to Berefina. To
Keijflutus he gave Samo^itia, Troki, Witeb- Keijftums*
sh, &c. To
Koriatus the City of Novogrodec, with its Koriatus.
Territories. But on his Beloved
Jammtus he conferr'd the Metropolis of
Lithuania, Vilna, as alfo Ofmian and Brajlaw,
together with the fupream Command over all
his Brothers Dominions.
The youngeft Son Luhartm had no lhare Lubartus.
with his Brothers, becaufe by his Marriage
with the Duke of RuJJid's Daughter, in his Fa-
ther's Life-time,he had obtain'd the Succeffion
I to that Dutchy.
Among thefe Brothers, Oigerdus and Keijflu-
tus being mofl vex'd to fee their younger B'ro-
ther Jauunutus fo highly promoted, confpir'd
together, after their Father's Death, to drive
i him out of Filnafor the execution of which,
' they fix'd a certain time: but hap-
pening then to be abfent on fome extraordi,-
nary Occafion, was forc'd to fail of his Ap-
pointment. Neverthelefs, Keijflutus firmly,
adhering to his Vow, refolv'd to accoraplirfi
the Defign alone, and confequently marching
fecretly towards Filna, furprizM and took it,
with both its Callles. When Jauunutus, fly-,
ing towards a neighbouring Wood, was there
taken by Keijflutus his Men; and being
brought back to his Brother, was by him or-
der'd to be clapt in Chains. A little while
afterwards Oigerdus retxirn\n§,,Keijflutus would
have furrenderM to him the Crown, as being
5 lo Succtffton of the L e t. VI.
his elder Brother j but which Olgerdus re-
fus'd, faying. It wa/i due neither to his Fortune
nor Merit^and therefore he would not pretend to de~
ferve it by Birth. But at length they both agreed
to divide thofe Dominions between them,
and rilna^ with the fupream Authority, fell to
Olgerdus ^ but neverthelefs, they both bound
themfelves by Oath to intrench upon nei-
ther's Dominions. To their Brother Jauunu-
tus they yielded the Palatinate,of Brajlaw in
Rujfia.
Olgerdus. Olgerdus^ being thus poflefs'd of theThrone,
began his Reign with invading PruJJia and
Livonia^ where the Teutonic Knights did not
dare to oppofe him •, fo that having over-run
all thofe Countries, and loaded his Array with
Spoils, he return'd triumphantly to Lithuania^
where he facrific'd the Captive Knights to
his Father's Ghoft whom they had kilPd.
The fame Year Olgerdus march'd filently a-
gainft the Marquifate of Brandenburg^ which
he deftroy'd and plunder'd up as far as Frank-
furt\ and all along the Banks of the River
Oder.
Next he drove the Tartars out of Podolia,
Caminiec about which time Caminiec was built by his
bkilt. Brother's Sons, Aftevv/zrdsJanowitz,yCzaro[
Mufcovy ^ being pufPd up with his great
Power, fenttoO/^c»'ir«,then lying fick of a Fe-
ver at Witebsko^ Tloat before a Month were at dn
endy he would make htm fuch rifi^t as fhould fright
him into an Ague. To which haughty Mef-
fage Olgerdus only return'd, That[ince he knew
his Mtnd^ he would prevenP his Journey and
wait on him at Mofcow. Whereupon leaping
oiit of his Bed, he expos'd his Life to his Ho-
nour.
Great Dukes of Lithuania.' ^ H
nour, (but which, as it hapned, did well
enough, for he recover'd in few days) and
getting fpeedily together a confiderable Ar-
my^ he march'd forthwith into Mofcovy^ laid
Siege to Mofcow, and took it, together with
the baffled Cz.ar, whom he forced, before he
left him, to agree to a difflonourable Peace,
and leave him in poireffion of great part of
his Empire. After which he rednc'd the ma-
jor part of Ru/fia, which he joinM to his Do-
minions, they having formerly been only
wont to pay Tribute to Lithuania.
This Prince had by Mary his Wife twelve
Sons, of which JageUo and Skiergelo only were
Great Dukes of Lithuania after him. His Bro-
ther Keijftutus had fix Sons, whereof yitol-
dus and Sigifmundus came to be Great Dukes
of - Lithuania.
Olgerdus dYing in the Year 1381, JageUo Jagello
afcended his Throne with ccnfent of his Un- 1381.
cle Keijftutus. This Duke had a favourite
Courtier, one Voidilus^ a Man of an obfcurc
Defcent, and whom he had rais'd from his Ba-
ker to be his Secretary and prime Minifter.
This Perfon he affeded fo dearly, that he
gave him his Sifter in Marriage, which was
highly difpleafing to his Uncle, who protefted
earneftly againft it: whereupon this fubtle
Upftart, fearing left Keijftutus might one
day or other put him out of favour with his
Prince, lieprevail'd withy<?^e/lo to look up-
on his Uncle as his Enemy, and to proceed
againft him accordingly, which being
young, was eafily perfuaded to do: there-
fore clapping op a fecret Truce with the Teu-
tank Knights, with whom he was before in
\Y
' Succeffton of the Let. VI.
War, he made all imaginable Preparations
againft his Uncle: which Ke'tjflutus being in-
form'd of, was immediately alarm'd at, till
his Son ritoldus quieted his Sufpicions, by per-
fuading him that Jagello would never attempt
any fuch thing: but at length Jagello march-
ing againft the Ruffians of Polocz.^ which were
then his Uncle's Subjeds, his delign was palt
all doubt-, and therefore Keijjlutus got toge-
ther what Forces he could upon fo fhort a
Warning, and invaded his Nephew's Terri-
tories, where he took rtlna-, and would have
proceeded, had it not been for his Son lyitol-
dus^ who ftill continu'd jf^j^eWo's Friend. But
afterwardsbeing bufy'din fubduing
the Traitor Koributh JageUoy. not only retook
f^tlnay but alfo befieg'd and gain'd Troki by
Treachery ^ which Xeijflutus marching.to rc-
cover, he, together with his Soa-f^toldus, was
betray'd into Jagello'^ hands by means of his
Brother SkergelOy who pretended to bring
thefe two Princes amicably together 5 but
Jagello having once got his Uncle into his
Clutches, detain'd him, and threw him into
Chains, and afterwards order'd him to be
ftrangled in his Prifon at Kreva, His Coufin
German Fitoldus he ungratefully kept a long
while in Bonds at Ftlna ; who afterwards,
being remov'd to Krevay and a time appoint,
ed for his Death, efcap'd by means of his
Wife, who always having free Accefs to him,
by exchanging Habits with one of her Setr?
vants, got her Husband away in her own..
Hence he fled to his Kinfraan John Duke of
Mafovia-y but not thinking himfelf fecure
there, he afterwards went into Pmjfta, where
at
Grecit l)ttkes of iuithmmz,
at firlt he was reprov'd by the Knights of the
Teutonic Order for having recourfe to them
only in time of Adverlity j but afterwards he
was more courteoufly receiv'd, and promis'd
their Afliftance to re-eftablifti him in his pater-
nal Dominions. Whereupon, together with
the Samogitians^ who favoured P^ttoldm his In-
tereffc, they made an Inroad into Lithuania^
I and took Tfokij but they were afterwards
neverthelefs forc'd to furrender it. ^ At
length jdgello by fecret MelKges, recalPd his
.Kinfman.put of Pru(fia--, and upon his Promife
to be faithful to him, fettled him in his He-
■feditary Eftate, A little while after this, the
Throne of Poland becoming vacant by Lems
oi Hungary's Jagelio was invited thi-
ther to accept that Crown under certain
Conditions,'which may appear more at large
in his Life among thofe Kings.
WhilR:'jagelio was thus abtent in Poland
with greatKumbers of his Subjefts, who went
•to' wait on him into that Kingdom, the Great
MaRers of PrujJia and Li-vonia finding a fit
opportunity, enter'd Lithuania, deltroy^rig
with Fire and Sword as far as the Callle of
Lucont in RuJJid-, which alio they took, and
having furnilh'd with all pecefiary Defence,
plac'd in it Andrew JagellcPs Brother, upon
whole Requeft this Expedition had been un-
<^taken. About the iarne time- Sroeiojlaut,
Duke of Smoknsko, invaded RuJJia, and took
Mfciflavo .and feveral other Places by force j
.ipth. which Anions Jagellb beih^ foon in-
rdfiri'd of, immediately difpatch'd away his
, Brother iikiygelo, and Kinfman Fitoldus, into
. jiitfh'Mid j who finding the Teutonic Array
Y i re-
^24 Geographical Let. VfJ
rctir'd, forthwith laid Siege to the Caftle of
Lucom i which having taken, they proceeded
to ^c;^^,which they likewife took,and kill'd
Swetojlaus^ who was in poflTeflion of it. Af-
terwards having recovcr'd all the other re-
volted Dominions which had fided with Duke
Andrew^ they made him Prifoner \ and carry-
ing him into Poland^ he was order'd by his
Brother Jagello to be call into a noifom Dun-
geon, whence, upon the requefl of the good-
natur'd Fitoldus^ he was not long after deli-
ver'd.
After Jagello's Death, tho there were ftve-
ral Great Dukes of Lithuania; yet feeing they
were Tributary to the Kings of Poland^ and
Lithuania it felf was afterwards united to
Poland under one Form of Government, i
need not infilf any longer upon the Succelfion
of its Dukes, fince what paft remarkable in
their Time, js comprehended in the Hiftory
of the Kings of the Jagellonic Family, who
reign'd in Poland from jagelld's time to the
late King Michael Wiefnowiski *, therefore I will
proceed to enter upon the Geographical Dc-
fcription of this great Dutchy.
The two Provinces of Lithuania contain
thefe Palatinates, Viz.
I Pro- -r., ... *
VIKCE. Proper contams^j-«K; and
the Palatinates of ^Briefctaor Polefia,
fNonjogrodec,
., _ ^ . \Mfciflaw.
II. "PkO'i^tthuanic-RuJJia
yiNCH. the Palatinates of and
^Polocz., *
Lithtt^
l)efmption of hxihmniil 52^
Lltbuanic-RuJJia is 'commonly call'd Ruffia-
or White-Ru/fiay either becaufe its Hills
are generally cover'd with Snow, and which
lafts longer there than in any other Parts of
this Country , or elfe by reafon that the
Animals bred there are generally enclin'd to
be white, tho in other Countries the fame
.Species be of another Colour. Both thefe
Provinces abound with all manner of Nccef-
faries, befides feveral Merchandizes, part of
which they tranfport by the River Duna to
Riga in Livoniay and part by the River Nie~
men to Koningsberg in PruJJia.
The firft Palatinate of Lithuania Proper i? l. Palati-
that of nate.
VtlnUy whofe Palatin is chief Governour of
the C{iy of that Name. This Palatinate com-
prehends three large Diftri&Sy which are
r Ofmian,
The Difiri^s of Bratijlaw or BraflaxPy 8c
C Wilkomitz,.
In all which are the feveral Cities and
Towns of
yilna
I Cap.
ZBifli.
Ofmiany
Bratifiaw or Bra/law.
Wilkomitz,
Ikaznia, and
Drizwiatz.
The chief City of all which, and Metropo-
lis of the Great Dutchy of Lithuania^ is
Filna, call'd alfo rilenski by the Inhabitants, vilna.
and Wildaw or Die Wilde by the Germans, and
is Gcuated n^ar the Conflux of the ^vp:sWilia
X 3 '
A Geographical Let. VI.
and WUHj from whence it has its Name. It
lies about 130 PoUfh Miles from Cracow to
the North-Eaft, 48 from Riga to the North,
70 from Warfare, and a hundred from Smo'
Jensko to the Eaft. It is a large and very po-
pulous City, well fortify'd with two Caftles,
whereof one is built in a Plain, and the other
on a Hill ; the former walh'd by the River
Wilia, and the latter by the Wiln. The firft
of thefe Rivers is large and navigable, where-
by the Inhabitants tranfport Merchandizes to
Dantuc \ and the other fmall and inconfide-
rable, Tiie Houfes of this City are generally
low and mean, being moft built with Wood,
except fome belonging to the Gentry, others
to Foreign Merchants, and feveral publick
Edifices, which are all either of Stone or
Brick. Of the two Caftles, that on a. Hill is
very antient, and almoft ruih'd j but the other
is a File of beautiful modern Architefture.
The Churches here are all of Stone, both
thofe belonging to the Roman and Ruffian Per-
fuafions. The Cathedral ftands in the Lower
Caftle, wherein lies the Body of St. Caftmir,
canoniz'd byAeoX. in a large Silver Tomb
of great Value. Here alfo is a very large
Bell, like to that of Cracore, which requires
above four and twenty ftrong Men to ring it.
Within this Caftle is the Archiepifcopal See
of the Metropolitan of Rujfia. Among the
other publick Edifices is the Great Duke's Pa-
lace, in which is a famous Guard-Chamber,
furnilh'd with all forts of Arms^ and about
two EngUlli Miles from this City ftands ano-
ther Ducal Palace, nara'd frorn its Situation
Rudmck, that is, Near the Water. This Palace
Vefcription 0/Lithuania. 327
is entirely built with Wood, and beantify'd
with a Park, pleafant Gardens, Orchards, err.
Next conies the Academy of this City, found-
cd by King Stephen in the Year 1579, and
ereded into a Univerfity by Gregory Xlll. the
fame Year, at the Requeft of the Founder f^a-
lerian Bifliop of Filha. In this Univerfity are
fix Profeflbrs of Divinity, five-of Philofophy,
four of Laws, and feven of Human Learning.
Among the Merchants Houfes, there is one
particularly neat, erefted by the Mofcovite
Company for the Repofitory of their Furs,
Ermins, and other rich Merchandizes brought
from Mofcovo. Here are alfo many other
fair Edifices, which I pafs by for brevity's
fake. In this City Guns of all forts are caft,
and likewife divers otherWarlike Inllruments
of excellent Workmanlhip made, f^tlnctha^
the Honour to have a Tribunal for all Lithu-
ania. The Mofcovites found means to make
themfelves Mailers of this City in the Year
1555, but were foon forc'd to furrender it to
the Po/e^, who are at prefent in poflefiion
of it.
Ofmiany a wooden Town, Capital of its oilnian.
DiftriCl, about feven Miles from yilna ^ to
which belongs a large Jurifdiftion, with fevc-
ral eminent Towns.
Brati/larv or Bra/lave^ a Timber-built City, Braddaw.
fituate oij a large Lake, with a Callle founded
on a Rock. This Place lies about twenty
Miles from with a confiderable Jurif-
didlion.
iVilkomiiz, a Wood-built Town upon the ^ilko-
River Swienta. Here is kept a Court of Juf- mltz.
tice to try the Caufes of the Gentry. To -
Y 4 this
328 A Geographical "Let, VL
this Dijlri^ belongs a very large Jurifdiftion,
in which are feveral confiderable Towns be-
longing to the King, Bilhops, and Gentry.
Jkaznia. Jkaz.nia, a Town built with Wood near a
River of the fame Name. It lies about three
Foli/h Miles from Brati/law.
Drizwktz. Drizmatz., a Town built on a Lake near a
River of tfce fame Name, and about five Miles
from Bratijlam.
SemtiYsof The Senators of this Palatinate are only
For it muft here be obferv'd, that there
are no Minor Cajiellam in all Lithuania.
Its Arms. " The Arms or Standard of this Palatinate
are of four forts: The firft of the Palatinate
it felf, which are Argent and Azure *, in the
former the Arms of Lithuania^ and in the lat-
ter two Pillars of the firft Befides thefe,
each Diftrid: has its Arms, which are, Firft,
of Ofmian, thofe of Vilna differing only in
changing the Columns or Pillars to ereded
Swords. That of Bratijlaro a Field Gules^ with
no Charge. Thirdly, That of the
fame with that of the Palatinate, changing
only the Pillars to the Image of St. Michael.
JI. Bahd- The Second Palatinate of Lithuania Proper,
i nate. is that of
" Troki^ which has in it thefe four large Dif-
iriiis^ Viz.
* ■ • r Grodnoy
The DiJlriBs of <
^.... / ■ ■ ) Covonoy aAd
' ■"f. ' . A Vpta. |n
Defcrlption of hkhmnW, 3^9
• In all which are thefe principal Cities and
Towns, Ftz.
Troli^ Cap.
Grodno,
Lida,
Cowno, and
Vpta.
The chief City of all which is
Citie! and
Towns of
Trdki, otherwife calPd Troccum or Trocum, Troki.
built with Wood, and feated on a Point of
Land that fliootsout into a Lake, and which
lies about four Miles from Ftlna to the Weft.
This City had formerly a ftrong Wall to de-
fend it, but which was long lince deftroy'd
by the PruJJian Knights; but yet if ftill has a
Caftle founded in the Lake, and fufficiently
fortify'd both by Nature and Art. Gedemi-
niif. Great Duke of Lithuania, laid the firft
Foundation of this City, which was the
Ducal Seat before it came to be tranflated to
filna. The Mofcovites ftorm'd, burnt, and
pillag'd this Place in the Year i<J55.
Grodno, a Timber-built City on the River Grodno.
Metnen or Cronon, having a ftrong Caftle on a
Rock near adjoining, founded by King Stephen,
who was wont to refide here for conveniency
of Hunting. Sigifmund III. built a fair Bridg
here over the Niemen, which is thought not to
have an Equal in ^W Poland. The Jefuits have a
College or Academy in this City for Inftrufl:-
ing of Youth. From hence divers kinds of
Merchandizes are tranfported from feveral
Parts of Lithuania to Hantzdc. The ViJlriB
of Grodno is indifferently large, having been
formerly a confiderable Dutchy.
Lida,
^ ^ o A Geographical L e t. VI.
Lida. Lida^ a Town, Capital of its Dijlriif, built
with Wood, having in it a tolerable Caftle,
and a Court of Juftice for. the Gentry.
Cowno. Cowno, a famous Timber-Town, tho there
arc feveral Houfes in it built with Stone, fi-
tuate on the Conflux of the Rivers Niemen and
JVilia, with a ftrong anticnt Caltle founded
on a Rock.
Upita, VpitUy a Wood-built Town, and Capital
of a very large Diftrid, wherein are feveral
Towns.
Senators of The Senators of this Palatinate are
Troki.
Its Arms. The Arms or Standard of this Palatinate
are the Arras of Lithuania in a Field Az.ure,
in. Pala- xhe third Palatinate of Lithuania Proper,
tinate.
Briefcia or Polefta^zd\oimngtothcPalatinate
of Lublin^ and partaking in all refpeds of the
Manners thereof. It has but one very large
Dillrid, which is that of
Pinsh.
This Palatinate contains thefe Cities and
Towns, Viz..
Briefcia,
Pinsko,
Biala,
Prepetus,
Camenecia,
Cohrinia,
Janovia,
Voinia,
Rofofia, and
Vlodava,
The
Defcription of Lithuaniai
The chief of all which is
CUies and
Towns of
Brefcia or Briefcia, a large wooden City, Erefcia.
built on the Confines of Lithuania^ on the
Banks of the River Bug^ with a Timber Caftle
founded on a Rock, and walhM by the River
Muchavecz.. This City is dillant about twenty
five Miles from Lublin^ and thirty from War-
faw to the Eaft. In it is the moft famous A-
cademy for Jews of any in Europe^ whither
that People refort from Italy^ Germany^ Mo-
ravia, Sikfia^ &c. not only to ftudy, but
take Degrees in that Religion. Without
this City alfo is a Regal Palace of Modern
Architedture, with variety of pleafant Gar-
dens.
Pins\o^ a Timber-built City, and indif- Pinska
ferently large, feated on the River Perepet j
which paffing by divers Towns in Rujfia
falls into the Borifihenes. The Inhabitants of
this Place are very Induftrious, and make
frequent Journeys into Mufcovy and Germany
on account of Merchandizing. They are ge-
nerally of the Greek Perfuafion, and have a
Bifiiop of that Se'dt who refides among them.
Biala, famous only for a Palace built by Biala.
the Dukes of the Family of Radzivil^ which
is now converted into a College fojuthe In-
ftrudting of Youth. - _ *
Prepetus^ a Town with an old Caftle, built Prepetus.
on the River of the farne Name.
The Senators of this P-alatinate arc. Senators of
Briefcij.
The
55^ A Geographical Let. VI.
Its Arms. The Arms or Standard of this Palatinate
are the fame with the former, differing only
by a B in the middle.
I. Palati- The firit Palatinate of Litbuanic-RuJJiaj is '
that of
Novogrodec, which is divided into two
Diftrifts, which are
In both which are thefc principal Cities and
Towns,
Novogrodec, Cap. Zlucz.,
Slonim, Roz.an^
Wolkowisio^ JVefwitz^ and
Lacorp}ckz.y Selecz..
Myfza^
Cities ccf i
The Capital of aU which is
Novogro- Novogrodec, a large Timber-City, which
formerly belong'd to the fecond Sons of the
Princes of Lithuania. Here interchangeably
with the Town of Minsh^ is held a Parliament
for the Great Dutchy of Lithuania.
Slonim. Slonim^ a wooden City, whofe Diflrid
was formerly a Dutchy.
Wolko- IVolkowiskoa large Town containing a
T\i5ko. Court of Jullice or Tribunal for the Gentry.
Laco- Lacomckz.., famous for a very fair Palace,
•ftickz. built by a Grand General of Lithuania, and
well fortify'd after the Modern way.
Myfza. Myfza, a Town with aCaftle, featedbya
Lake, and all furrounded by a Plain.
Zlucz,
3)efcriptm of Lithuania^ ^ ^ }
ZlucZy one of the largeft Cities in this Conn- Zlucz.
try, -but neverthelefs is all of Wood, except
only the Cathedral and Ducal Palace.
This City had not long fince a Soveraign
Prince with large Territories, but he was
always Tributary to Poland. It is at prefent
in pofleflion of the Family of Radzivil.
Rozan, a.well-built Town with very fairRo2an.
Streets.
NefwitZy where Nicholas Radzivily furnamM Ncftvio.
the Pilgrinty has founded feveral noble Pub-
lick Edifices; a Defcription whereof 1 have
omitted for brevity's fake. - ^ .
The Senators of this are scnatm^
The Standard or Arms of this Palatinate, la Ams.
are that of the Great Dutchy in an .^zure
Field.
The Palatinate of Lithuanic-Ruffiay ii. Palad-
is that of narc.
Mfiiflaw. lying between the River Peripet
to the South, and the Borifthenes to theEaft,
in a kind of Triangular form, being, for the
moft part, either over-run with Woods, or
over-flow'd with Water. What plain Land
it has, is generally very fruitful. It likewife
abounds with Cattle of all forts, and great
Numbers of excellent Fowl, and is divided
into two very large DiJlriifSy which are
In
334
A Geographical Let. VI.
In all which are thefe Cities and Towns, viz.
cities and
Towns of
Mfciflaw.
Mfci/lawj Cap.
Modzir,
Bambrorpmna,
Bychow,
Kopyfz,
Skloxv^
Reczyczd^
Vifzehqrod^
StriJJiriy
Cleclurriy
Ouruckumy
Homliay
CriczovPy and
OJlrskum.
Modzir.
Dambrovv'
nuna.
Bychow,
Kopyfz.
,SkIow.
Reczycza.
Vifzeho-
rod. *
The Capital of all which -is
MfciJlaxPy a Timber'd City built on the
River Sofay with a Caftle defended by Palifa-
does. It lies upon the Borders of Mofcovyy
and therefore is ftrcMigly garifon'd. This
Dillridl: was formerly a Soveraignty, but it is
now reduc'd.
' Modzir, a City, Capital of its built
among the Marlhes. ,
Damhrownma, a Town with a ftrong Caftle
built upon the Confines of Mofcovy, about
fourteen Miles from Smotensko.
Bychowy a Town with a Caftle ffeated on
the River Borifikfies, about tVvelv? Miles ftom
Mohilow.
KofyfZy a Town with a Caftlt cfn the ^d-
rijlheyies. _ '
Sklowy a Town with a Caftl6 '6rL the
rifthenesy^ reputed to be a County, and bf
which the magni^c^nt jhhfi dho'dkiCwil WtifCS
himfelf Hereditary
Rcczyczai a Town with a'Caftle fttuat^ dti
the Borijlheness
rifzi'horodi fituate upoh tht BirifiheHes aboui:
three Miles from A'roip.
Strijitf'i
V.
T)efcriptm of Lithuania.' 3 ^ j
Strijfm^ a Town and Caftle on the Bo- ScrifTin.
Yffthenes.
The Senators of this Paiatmate are, Senators of
Mfciflaw.
The Arms and Standard of this Palatinate^ its Arms.
are the-fame with thofe of the Great Dutchy,
differing only in an M plac'd in the middle.
i
The third Palatinate of Lithuank-Rujfia is in. Pa!a-
that of tinate.
ritebslo^ like the former, bordering upon
the Dma towards the Eaft, having but one
large Dijlrii^, which is
The Diftrid of Or/ha.
In this Palatinate are thefe feveral Cities and
Towns, viz..
WitebshOy Cap.
Orjha.,
Mohiloxp.,
Cz.afnik^
Sienno.^
Leplo,
and
Woronkc. a
Citks and
The Capital of all which is
Witebsko^ a Timber-built City, indifferent- witebsko.
ly large, fituate on the River Dwina^ by which
divers forts of Merchandizes are tranfported
fi'ora hence to Riga in Livonia. It has two
large Caftles well defended both by Nature
and Art againfl the Incurfions of the Mofco'
vites^ who have been often repuls'd thence
with confiderable Lofs. In this City there
are always four Companies of Foot Souldiers,
each
5 J^ A Geographical Let. VI.
each confining of 500 Men, one whereof
(fays Cmgnlni) I my felf commanded for
near ten Years. This Place lies about fourfcore
Miles from Vilna^ and had formerly a Prince
of its own.
Orfha. Or/ha, a large Wooden City, defended on
one fide with (harp and Itrong Palifadoes, and
on the other by the River Borifihenes^ toge-
ther with a Stone Caftle wafh'd by the River
OrJhicz.a. This Place lies about eighteen
Miles from Witebsko.
Mohilow. Mobilow, a very large Market-Town much
frequented by the Mofcovitcs^ whence they
tranfmit their Firs into Poland and Germany.
Czafniki. Czafniki, a Wood-built Town lying on the
River Via.
Senno. Sienno, a Town with a Caftle, about fix
Miles from Gaafniki.
Lcpto. Leplo, a Town with a Caftle well defended,
fituate on a Lake, and about feven Miles from
Czafniki.
Woroniec. Wwonkc^ a Town with a Caftle lying upon
the River Vfacza^ and about three Miles from
Polocz.
Senators of The Senators of this Palatinate are,
Vitebsko.
«T*t ^ 311(17 r L T
icafleUan J
Its Arms. ^ The Arms or Standard of this Palatinate,
are the Arras of the Great Dutchy, in a Field
Vert. ir
IV. Paiati- The fourth Palatinate of Lithuanic^Ruffla is
natC' that of
l)efcription of 357
which is divided into two Diftrids,
•viz..
■n. vifir,as of
1
In both which are thefe feveral Cities and
Towns, viz.
Minslii^ Cap. Swijlocz.^
Bortfjow^ Bobroisko^
Koidamw^ Odruczko^
Radoskowice, Smolniany^ and
Lohoisko^ Turkow.
Cities ami
The Capital of all which is "f
Minskij a large Timberdiuilt City, with a Minski.
double Wall, a ftrong Caftle, and a very deep
Ditch, with other Fortifications. Itiswafh'd ^
by a River that turns a great mai^ Mills.
It was formerly the Cuitom in RUJfia, under
whole Dominions this Palatinate was when
this City was built, to fortify their principal
Towns with a double Wall and two Caftles.
Here formerly the Diet was kept alternative-
ly with Filna and Novogrodeck.
Borijfow, a Wooden Town feated on the'^odlTovv.
River Bere/ina, which has a Caftle well for-
tified : It lies about forty Miles from Ftlna,
and has in it a good Garifon againft the In-
curfions of the Mofcovites.
Koidanow, a Town with a Caftle about Koidanow.'
twenty five Miles from Filna.
Radoskowice^ a Town with a Caftle, where ^adosko-
Sigifinundus Augnjlm mufter'd above 100000^^^.
Men at once in the Year 1568.
Z
Loho'
3^8 A Geographical Let. Vfi
Lohoisko. Lohoisko^ a Town and Caflle about eight"
Miles from Borijfow.
Swiflocz. Srvi/locz,, a Town fituate upon a River of
the fame Name.
Bobroisko. Bobrokko^ a Town lying on the River Be-
refina.
Odruczko. Odruczk'o^ a Town and^ Caftle which for-
merly gave Name to a Dutchy, whereof feve-
ral Noble Ruffians had the Title.
Senators of The Senators of this Palatinate are^
Minski. '
The of
Its Arms. The Arms orl Standard of this Palatinate
are the fame with Lithuania, only an M plac'd
fide-ways.
%
V. Palati- The fifth Palatinate of Lithuanic-Kuffia is
nate. that of
Polocz.^ which is divided into two Dijlri6ls,
viz..
rru a -n c ^ Polocz., and
The Vijlnm of
In both which are thefe Cities and Towns,
) ''Viz.
Polocz, Cap. Druha,
Vfacz., or Vfalzoa, Starzitia,
Difna, and
Drifa, rolifia.
Cities and
Towns of yjjg Capital of all which is
Polocz. Polocz., feated on the River Duna, or Dwina.
It was formerly a City very confiderable, but
/ in the Year 15^2, John Bafilowitz, Great Duke
of
T>efcrtptm of lAthmnW,
of Mofcovy took it, and carried moft of its
inhabitants away Prifoners. This Plade re-
main'd in the hands of the Mofcovites to the
Year 157P, when Stephen Batari recover'd it,
together with its whole Territory. It was
formerly a Dutchy, and fubjed only to its own
Princes. Here at prefent refides a Ruffian Pre-
lat. The jefuits alfo have a very fair Founda-
tion in this City built and endowM by Stephen
Batori.
Vfacz,^ diftant about three Polifli Miles Ufacz.
from Polocz.y and lituate on a River of its own
Name.
Difna^ built on the Dma, and tolerably Difiia,
fortified. It lies about fix Miles from Polocz.,
and forty from Filna.
Druba, upon a River of the fame Name. Dniha.
The Senators of this Palatinate are. Senators of
' Polocz.
The Standard or Arms of tliis Palatinate^ its Arms,
are the Arms of thp Great Dutchy^ with a
P, fideways placM in the middle of the Coat.
Having thus, Sir, defcrib'd to you the pre-
fent Extent, and chief Towns of the Great
Dutchy of Litlmania, it would feem requifite *
(as ufual) to give you a particular Charader of
this Nation j but having a defign to proceed to
a fbcohd Volume of this Undertaking, where
I will examine into the Genius, Manners and
Cuiiloms of both Poles and Lithuanians, at
prelent I can only take notice, that to Ja-
pc//o'stimc, being the XlVti Century, theZ-i-
Z 2 tbuanian
^40 Antient and^refent Le.t.VI.
thuanians were Pagans, and worlhipp'd many
Gods, or rather Devils. Firft, they paid Di-
vine Adoration to Fire ( which they call'd in
their Language Znicz.^ fignifying facred ) and
kept it always alight in fome of their moft
famous Towns. For this end they aflign'd fc-
veral Priefts, by whofe Negled, or otherwife,
if ever it came to be extinguilh'd, they were
immediately beheaded. Next,they worlhipp'd
Thunder, calling it in the Sdavoman Tongue
Perunum. Alfo they had divers Groves where
they pray'd to tall ftreight Trees, which they
held it Sacrilege but to touch. The Devil, (or
rather the cunning Prieft) it feems was fo poll-
tick in thofe days, as to promote all thefe Su-
perllitions, by friglitning thefe Idolaters when
they offer'd in the leaft to forfake them. When
the Sky was clouded, they were of opinion the
Sun was angry with them, and therefore us'd
their iitmoft Art to appeafe him by Prayers,
• Mufick, iyc. They likewife believ'd Serpents
to be Gods, which were their Lares^ or Do-
meftick Deities, and therefore each Family
kept one in.their Houfe, to which they daily
facrificed Milk, Fowls, and the like \ and one
of which if they happen'd at any time to
offend, they look'd upon it to be an Omen of
Deftruftion to their whole Progeny. They
had alfo a fet time appointed for a Solemn Sa-
crifice, being about the beginning of O£lobcr^
when together with their Wives and Chil-
dren, they feafted riQtoufly for three days,
in like manner as we have^laid before in Sa-
mogitia. Upon their return from the Wars
they were wont to facrifice one of the chief
of their Captives with all the(r Booty to the
' Fire.
%eligtoyi of Lichuania.
Fire. They usM to burn their Dead with all
their richeft Ornaments on, which they wore
whiift living, together with one of their moft
faithful Servants, their Horfes, Arms,Dogs,drc.
whiift ail their Relations and Friends brought
Milk, Honey, Beer, and the like, and merrily
feaftedand danc'd about their Funeral-Pile to
Mufick of various kinds.
All thefe Pagan Superftitions and Errors
yagello^ after he became Chriftian, in great
meafure aboliih'dj to effedt which, He,toge-
thcr with his Queen Hedwig'vs^ the Arch-bifhop
of ^nefna^ a vaft number of Priefts, and fe-
veral other Learned Men went into Lithuania
about the beginning of Lent in the Year 1387,
where at Vilna he firft caus'd the facred Fire
to be extinguifh'd, and the place wherein it
was kept to be converted into the Church of
St. Staniflam \ then he proceeded to kill the
Serpents,cut down the Groves, pull down their
Altars, and the like, which the poor bigotted
Lithuanians wondring at, cr.y'd out. How can
our Gods dijftmble with thefe wicked Chrijiians^ fo
far as to fujfer ''em to profane their Divinities with
unhallowed hands, when if we had but offer'^d to
injure them in the leaf, we always immediately
underwent their Revenge ! But at length when
they perceiv'd no Judgment to follow the
fuppos'd Sacrilege of the Poles^ they unani-
moufly acknowlegd'd their falfe Worfliip, and
confented to bebaptizVi, whereof about thirty
thoufand were brought to the Font in one day.
From henceforward the Lithuanians have
for th; major part continued Chriftians, tho
there are yet fome Idolaters among them of
different Beliefs towards the Frontiers of
Z 3 Mofco-
t
^emarkahle Accidents L e t. VI.
Mofcovy and Samogitia, in the great Woods,
who itill worfliip Serpents, &c. as they
ufed to do. There are alfo in this Great
Dutchy about thirty thoufand Tartars with
liberty of the Turkijh Religion, who have en-
joy'd this Privilege for fome hundreds of
Years, on condition that they (hall fend every
Year twelve hundred Men to the Wars againft
the Turks and Tartars. Thefe Mahometans
call their Churches. Afeczets.
No part of the King ot Poland's Dominions
abounds more in Woods and Deferts than Li-
thuania., and there is one Foreft of above a
hundred Miles long, in which People are very
wild and ignorant, tho the Gentry of Lithuania
for the molt part are more polite,more fociable,
and more adive and fprightly than the Poles.
It was alTur'd me often at Court, and it is
certainly believ'd all over the Kingdom, that
Children have been frequently nurtur'd by
Bears,who are very numerous in thefe Woods.
There was one kept in a Convent in my time
who was taken among them, as I have de-
fcrib'd in ray Latin * Treatife, Of the Sufpen-
fions of the Laws of Nature. He was about
ten Years of Age (which might be guefs'd
only by his Stature and Afped ) of a hideous
Countenance, and had neither the ufe of Rea-
fon, nor Speech: He went upon all four, and
had nothing in him like a Man, except his
Human Strudure; But feeing he referabled a
Rational Creature, he was admitted to the
Font, and chriftcn'd j yatftill he was re/tlefs
and uneafy, and often inclin'd to flight. But
at
J FaVangel. Medici, Arc. 15. pag. 181.
in Lithuanra.^ 34 j
at length, being taught to ftand upright, by
clapping up his Bqidy againll a Wall, and
holding him after the manner that Dogs are
taught to beg •, and being by little and little
accuftom'd to eat at Table, he after fome time
became indifferently tame, and began to ex-
prefs his Mind with a hoarfc and unhuraan
Tonci but being ask'd concerning his courfe
of Life in the Woods, he could not give
much better account of it, than we can do of
our Aftions in the Cradle.
Upon this occaiion I was afiiir'd by the
King himfelf, feveral Senators and other
Great Men of that Kingdom ^ and more-
over, it is the common and undifputed Re-
port, that Children are oftentimes nourilh'd
and brought up by Bears in thefe Parts.
They fay likewife, that if a hungry He-Bear
finds a Child that has been carelefly left any
where, he will immediately tear it to pieces.;
but on the contrary,had it beena She-Bear then
giving Suck, fne would undoubtedly have ca. -
ried it fafe to her Den, and nourilh'd it among
her Cubs, which after fome time might
probably have been refcued from her and
been taken by Hunters, as it happen'd in
another Cafe of this nature in the Year
1669^ which has been pofitively alFerted to
me in a Letter from his Excellency Monfieur
de Cleverskerl, now EmbalFador here to his
Majefty King-lVilliam from the States of Hoi-
lond^ which Letter I thought not amifs to in-
fcrt.
■Z4' A
^markahle Accidents Let. VI.
A Monfieur Connor.
Monfieur,
1E veux fatisfaire en partie i voire defir^ &
voiis rendre conte cPun Enfant que J^ay veu i
f^arfovie^ en fan 166p. Me rencontrant en cette
FtUe de Pologne 'poMc etre prefent au terns de
VEleBion dfun Roy^ qui fe devoit faire i la place
du Roy Jean Cafimir, qui s'e'toit demis de la Cou-
ronne : Je tn'informay a cette occajion de ce qu'il
y avoit a voir en ce lieu, & J*ay appris, entre
autres chafes^ qu'il fe trouvoit au Fauxbourg de la
FiUe (qui va vers le Palais que le Roy Calirair_y
avoit fait batir) chez des Religieufes un Enfant
Male qui avoit ete nourri des Ours, ay ant e'tepris,
queques terns auparauant, a la chaffe de ces Ani-
tnaux. J'allay a ce lieu pour Satvsfaire ma Cu~
riofite', & trouvay a la Pone le dit Enfant jou-
ant dans les Sables, fous PAuvent qui e'toit devant
la Maifon. 11 e'toit, felon ma meiUeure Me-
moire, de Page de doUze a treize ans. £^and
Je Papprochay il vint fauter, comme par furprife
d mon habit, & prit par la main avec beaucoup de
precipitation un des boutons dl*Argent que Je por-
toi/s a mon JuJlaucorps, & approcha le Nez pour
le Sentir. Puis Jl fejetta,tout (Pun coup, a un coin
par terre, faifant queque bruit comme une efpece
W Hurlement. J^entray dans la Maifon, ou une
Fille nP informa 'plus particulierement de la Prife
de cet Enfant', Mais comme Je n'ay point a-
vec moy le Livre ou J*ay e'crit les Obfervations
que J*ay fait dans mes Voyages, Je ne fgaurois
vous en faire le detail. Cette FtUe appella & fit en-
trer.
in Lithuania.
trer le dit Enfant, & luy montra un grand Mar-
^eau de pain; ce que luy voyant il fe jetta fur un
Plancher qui etoit fait contre la rAuraille dans cette
Chambre '■> 11 y marcha comtne a quatre pattes .•
II fe leva at/ec unegrandeviteffe-,prtt par les deux
mains le pain qui luy fut prefente •, le porta ainfi
au nez., & fe Jetta en ha/s faifant encore un bruit
etrange comme auparavant. On m^infornta qu'il
ne parloit point encore des paroles, mats quon
efperoit avec le terns luy en apprendre, d^autant
qu'il avoit I'ouie bonne : 11 avoit queques marques
auvifage qu'on penfoit avoir He des Egratigneures
de POurs.
f^oila Monfieur tout ce que ma Memoire mepeut
fournir d'une Particularitk qu'il y a ft long tems
que J'ay veife, Mavs Perfonne ne doit trouver
etrange que cela foit arrive d'autant qu'on a d'au-
tres Exemples dans les fJiJloires : Et on tna in-
forme en ce Pats, que les Tartares y font fouvent
des Invaftons par des courfes qu'ils font avec une
ft grande vitejje qu'ils entrent en peu de tems bien
avant dans le Pais qui eft ouvert, leurs chevaux
e'tant capables de faire un tres-grand cheminfans
manger ni boire •, qu'e'tant allez, jufques ok Us ont
propose', la Us Etendent leur grande Troupe &
prennent, comme dans les filets, toutes les Per'
fonnes qu'*Us rencontrent en leur retraite, & les
menent en'Efclavage ; qu' a ces occafions les Horn-
mes iy les Femmes tachants fuir rPont Lien fou-
vent pars de tems de fauvcr leurs Enfants, & qu*-
ainfi celuicy peut avoir e'te laifse', & trouve par
queques Ours, qui font en ces lieux de Lituanie
on de Pologne. Je fuis marri, Monfieur, ne vous
pouvoirpoi informer & jat'tsfaire d votre Curiofite'
avec plus d'exaUitude: ,cependant, vous recevrez,,
, . ■ s'U
/
^emarkahle Accidents L e t. VI.
s'il vous plait, cette Relation comtne un petit
temoignage de ma bonne yblonte', comme etant,
Monfieur,
Ce I, Jan. F'otre tres-Affeiiionni Servheur,
idpS.
J. P. VdftA^n Brande de
Cleverskerk.
Thus in Englilh.
S 1 Tl,
I Shall endeavour partly to fathfy your Requefi,
and to give you an Account of a Boy that I
faro at Warfaw in the Year i66i, who had been
brought up by Bears. Coming to this City of Po-
land with defign to be Prefent at the Eleiiion of a
King after John Calimir, who had Abdicated the
Crown,! enquired what was worth feeing in or about
this Place : rshereupon J was inform'd,among other
things, that there was in the Suburbs of this City
{ which go towards King Cafimir'x Palace ) in a
jciunnery, a certain Male Child, who had been
brought up among Bears, and who had been taken
fome time before at a Bear-hunting. Vpon this
Information I went immediately to that place to
fatisfy my Curiofity, where I found the aforefaid
Boy playing under the Pent-boufe before th Nun-
nery Gate. Hvs Age, as well as I remember, J
guefs'd to be about twelve or thirteen. As foon as I
came near him he leap'd towards me as if furpriCd
and pleas'd with my Habit. Firjl, he caught one
of my Silver Buttons in his hand with a great deal
of cagernefs, which he held up to his Nofe to fmell •,
After-
in Lithuania.
{/^tertoards he Uap'd all of a fudden into a Comer,
where he made a firange fort of Noife not unlike
to Howling. I went into the Houfe, where a Maid'
fervant inforw^d me more particularly of the Man-
ner of hvs being taken. But having not with me
the Book wherein 1 wjrot my Obfervations in my
Travels, 1 cannot pojfibly give you an exaCi Ac-
count of it. This Maid call'd the Boy in, and
fhow"d him a good large piece of Bread ; which
when he faw, he immediately leaped upon a Bench
that woo joyn'd to the iVall of the Room, where he
walk'd about upon all-four: After which, he rais'd
himfelf upright with a great Spring, and took the
Bread in his two Hands, put it up to his JVofe, and
afterwards leap''d off from the Bench upon the
Ground, making the fame odd fort of Noife as
before. I was told that he was not yet brought
to fpeak, but that they hop^d in a fhort time he
would, having his Hearing good. He had fome
Scars on his Face, which were commonly thought to
be Scratches of the Bears.
Thus, Sir, you have all that I can remember of
aCuriojjty, which I faw fo longtime Jlnce-, the
Truth of which no body ought to (pueflion, fince there
are feveral parallel Examples in Hiftory; and I
have been informed in this Country, that when as
the Tartars make frequent Incur/ions there, which
they perform with fuch extraordinary Swiftnefs,
that they can over-run great part of the Country in
a very fhort time, their Horfes being able to Tra-
vel a whole Day together without drawing Bit •,
being arriv*d at the proposed Place, they immedi-
ately quarter themfelves in a great Circle, where-
by, as it were in a Net, they take all that come
within their Clutches, and carry them into Slavery.
•' C/,
^markahle Accidents Let, VI.
So that either the Men or Women finding them-
fel'Ves thus enfnar'^d^ and endeavouring to efcape^
have oftentimes not leifurt to take care of their
Infants, and therefore probably this Boy might
have been left behind after the like manner^ and
found and born away by the Bears-, Of which there
are a great Number both tn Lithuania and Po-*
land. J am forry. Sir, I cannot give you a more
fat'vsfaClory Account of this matter, but I hope this
will fujfice for a Tejlimony of my good Will, and
to afjure yoH that I am.
For another Confirmation of this Matter
of fad, I have the Teftimony of an authentic
Author, M- Chriftopher Hartknoch of Pdffenheim
in DviZoX-PruJfia, who writ two Books of the
State of Poland. He fays, that during the
Reign of King John Cafimir, in the Year 1669,
there hapned an Accident which perhaps
might hardly be credited by Pofterity *, which
was, that there were then two Boys found by
a Company of Soldiers among the Bears in the
Woods near Grodna -, one of which, as foonas
he favv the Bears affaulted, fled into the neigh-
bouring Morafs, whilft the other endeavour-
ing likewife to efcape, was taken by the Sol-
Jan. I.
SIR,
Tour mofl AffeUionate Servant,
J. P. yan den Brande de
Clcverskerk.
diers
" in Lithuania.' ^
diers and brought to Warfaw^ where he was
afterwards chriftenM bytheNaraeof
He was about twelve or thirteen years old,
as might be gueft by his height, but his Man-
ners were altogether beftiali for he not on-
ly fed upon raw Flefli, wild Honey, Crab-
Apples, and fuch like Dainties which Bears
are us'd to feail with, but alfo went, like
them, upon all-four. After his Baptifra he
was not taught to go upright without a great
deal of difficulty, and there was lefs hopes of
ever making him learn the Polijh Language,
for he always continu'd to exprefs his Mind
in a kind of Bear-like Tone. Some time after
Km^Caf%mir made a Prefent of him to Peter
Adam Opalinski, Vice-Chamberlain of Pofnan^
by whom he was employ'd in the Offices of %
his Kitchin, as [to carry Wood, Water, &c.
but yet could he never be brought to relin-
quifli his native Wildnefs, v/hich heretain'd
to his dying-day for he would often go into
the Woods amongft the Bears, and freely keep
company with them without any fear,or harm
done him, being, as was fuppos'd, conftant-
ly acknowlcdg'd for their Fofterling.
I might here, S/>, give you feveral o-
ther Accounts of this Nature, which I had
related to me when I was in Poland; and I
am told Mr. Gibfon^ a Parliament-man, has
formerly feen fome other Examples of this
kind in that Kingdom^ but by what I have
already mention'd, I believe you will be
Efficiently convinced, that the Hiftory of
Romuhis and Remus is not fo fabulous as it
is
55© ^markahle Accidents, Let. VL
is generally conjeftured to be,and as I thought
my felf it was before I had been in this Coun-
try i for confidering that Brutes (fince Phi-
lofbphers and Divines will allow them noRa-
tional Souls) breed up their Young meerly
out of a Natural Inftind or Sympathy, which
I need not defcribe here, I fee no Improba-
bility why they may not likewife bring up thofe
of another Kind, as we have feveral Inftances
daily. But I will not infill longer upon thefe
Philofophical Matters, nor examin here whe-
ther Examples of this nature refute or ellablifli
innate Ideas, as I have done in my Medicina
Myfiicaj but will conclude,
S 1 R,
Your very Obedient Servant,
B. C.
.-1—t.
THE
/
A Chronological Table. 351
A Chronological Table of the Succeffion,
Reigns and Deaths of the Dukes,Cover-
nours, Princes and Kings of Poland;
together with an exaft reference to the
Page where they are treated of.
L
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VL
VII.
VIII.
IX.
X.
XI.
XII.
XIII.
XIV.
XV.
XVI.
XVII.
XVIII.
XIX. '
XX.
XXI.
XXII.
XXIII.
XXIV.
XXV.
XXVI.
XXVII.
xxvin
XXIX.
J^EchWy I. —
VifrntriM -
XII. Woievods-
Cracm.
\Reign'd\DYd I
1 r;.r..lA.D.K
Began hk
Reign.
— 550 uncertain lo
— Guagtum only mentions.
— Depos'd. 12
Lechtu, II. -
Venda
XII. Woievods-
Lefcus, I,. —_
LefcWy II. —
LefcUtlU, —
Popiely I. —
Popiely II.—
Piafiits
Ziemovitm
Lefcuty IV..
Ziemoviflus
Mieci
Bolejiaw Cbroby
MieciflaiKy II.—
Cafimhy I.
MSy I.
Boleflaui, II.
Vladijlaw Hermannus
Bolejlauiy III.
Vladiflam Sputator
BoleJIam CrijpHS
Miecijlam, III. —
Cafmhy II.
LefcWy V.
Lafcojiogw jaoj
- 700
jb.
13
• 7SO
—
lb.
—
depos'd.14
760
16
776
ib»
77^
28
804
16
804
6
810
ib.
810
5
815
ib.
. 815
IS
830
ib.
830
861
21
S6i
31
892
23
892
21
923
ib.
913
51
P64
lb.
' 9<^4
35
999
24
999
26
1025
26
<}I02$
9
1034
lb.
1034
25
1059
27
1059
25
1082
29
■ 1082
21
1103
30
i U03
37
1140
3J
1140
6
1145
33
1145
28
"74
35
"74
4
1178
36
1178
i7
"95
37
"95
8
1203
39
■ J 303
3
12O5
42
XXX.
A Chronological Table.
XXX.
XXXI.
XXXII.
XXXIII.
XXXIV.
XXXV.
XXXVI.
IXXXVII.
XXXVIII.
XXXIX.
XL.
Began bifjReign'ti
Reign.\ Tears.
Z,e/c;« V.Reeftablifh'd 1206
Boleflauty V.
Lefcw Riger
Henry I.
Premiflui
1228
1279
1290
22
51
11
6
Vladiflauf LoSicui
Wincejlaui K. of Bo- ^
1296 jMon.
4
WU'
I2p6
1300
XLI.
XLII.
XLIII.
XLIV.
XLY.
XLVI.
XLVII.
XLVIII,
XLIX.
L.
LI.
LII.
LIII.
LIV.
LV.
LtilicKs reftor'd — 1305
.Cafimir III. the Great 1333
Lerfif K. of Hungary 1370
Queen Hedwigk — 1382
Jagetto, .or Vladi-'\ ■
flOHfj V. J ^
Vladiflaw, VI.
Cafimir, IV. —
John Albert
Alexander
Sigifmund, I. —
Sigifmund, II.—
Henry of Valok
Stephen Batori—
Sigifmund, III.
Vladiflaw, VII.
John Cafimir
143s
1445
»493
I $01
1507
1548
1574 $Afon.
1577 10
5
28
37
I?
4
49
21
43
8
6
41
26
Michael Wiefnowislfi
John Sohieski-
Frederic Augufius ?
now reigning— S
1587
1532
16^8
i6yo
1574
45
16
22
4
23
1^97 $Mon.
207
FINIS Partis Primtc,
)
( 28? )
A
Compendious Plan
0 F T H E
Body of Phyfick.
^ Letter from a. GentlemHn in Caltibridg
to Dr. Connor, concerning the Method
he us'd in his PhjJical and Anatomical
■ LeHures^ and in explaining the Materia
Medica, at Oxford, in the Tear 169 5*
SIR,
WE have; hei'e Ibmd Account of the Accurate
Courfe of the, Chymicai and Anatomical
Le(5^iires which you perform'd laft Spring-
at Oxford, and of your new method of explaining _
the \ aes of Medicines there, with the Appro-'
bation and Improvement of all that had the Happi-
neis to allift at them. I have Ipoke with foTie cu-
rious Genntlemen that Ibme Years ago faw your
DilTedions at Paris with the like good Succefs i
And I doubt .not but your Skill and Inhght in all
the Parts of Phyfick is confiderably augmented fince, \
by your Travels into Italy, Germafjy, Poland, and
the Law Countries, having had thereby the Oppor-
tunity of converfing with Malpighi, Bellini, Redi,
V and
ipo A Compendious Tlan
and the moft celebrated Phyficians of thofe Places.
1 have alfo, with a great deal of Pleafure, peruied
your ingenious Differtationes Medico-Phyficd^ or la-
tin Treatifes lately printed at Oxford, concerning
malignant Damps, peflilential Steams, infeStiotts Air,
and Subterraneous Poifons, with certain other ftu-
pendous and rare Phanomena. From all this I con-
elude, that you not only underftand Chymiftry,
AnatomVj and the Materia Medica very well
your leif, but that alfo you are capable to lead
others into the Knowledg of them, by a moft eaiy
and compendious Meth(3 •, in which Opinion I am
confirmed bv my Gjrrefpondent in Oxford. Many
befides my lelf in this Univerfity do earneftly wifti,
that your other Occupations would permit you to
pafs fome Months here with us, as indeed we ex-
peded you Ihould, when you left Oxford laft Sum-
mer. But fince it fo falls out that your Pradice
keeps you at London, we intreat the Favour of you
to let us underftand, whether we may obtain a
Scheme of your Method in thofe PhyficalExercifes,
or whether at London you can fpare any time to
fuch as are defirous to wait upon you to this pur-
pofe. Sir, by fo doing, you are like to oblige fe-
veral, but more particularly,
.€ambric{g,oS.ok. Your moft humble, and
1$. i6p$.
obedient Servant,
c. f.
Dr.
of the 'Body of Bhyjtck, ipi
Dr. Connor'i Anfwer, containing a Plan of h'vs
Corpus Rationale Medicum •, or of his new
and compendious Method Chymical and AnatO'
micaf for underfianding the Oeconomia Ani-
malis, the nature of Difeafes^ and the Mate-
ria Medica'.
t
SIR,
Wf Hatever you are pleafed to fay in Commenda-
* tion of me or my Book, I muft wholly at-
tribute to your Civility, and will return no other
Compliment to you for it, but that I lhall endea-
vour to deferve your good Opinion. I am extream-
ly oblig'd to your Correfpondent in Oxon for the
advantagious Charafter he gives of me ^ and I alTure
you that I have not met with better Difcipline, nor
with Perlbns more univerfally learned in any Uni-
Verfity of Europe.
As for the Method or Scheme I obferved at Ox-
ford to lead the Proficients in Phyfick, and other
ingenious Gentlemen there into* the Knowledg of
the Fabrick, natural Fundion^ and Diftempers of
the Human Body, as likewile into the Knowledg
of the Mata-ia Medica to cure the lame Dileafesy
it is as follows.
I confider'd Man, in the firft place, as a Being
compounded of Spirit and Matter : But fteing it is
only the laft of tnefe Parts wherein our Faculty is
concern'd, I took a ftrifter veiw of the Human
Body, and find the Strufture of it like that of molt
other Animals. But to have any accurate Know-
iedg of Man, we muft not only have a diftind: Ac-
count of his conftituent Parts, but likewile of all
the external Bodies which any way affed him, or
contribute to his Prefervation. Since therefore he
cannot live without Earth to tread upon, Air to
breath, Animals and Vegitables to feed upon, Sun
and Stars to afford him Warmth and Light, &c.
V z uc
A Compendious ^Un, See.
wc mull by confequence examine the Syftem and
Elements of the World, and particularly as they
concur to the Prefervation or Deftruftion of Man."
Wemuft be very well acquainted with the nature of
the three mixt Bodies of our Globe, viz.^ Animals,
Vegetables, and Minerals, before we can give any
tolerable^Account of the Generation, Nourilhment,
Health, Difeafes, or Death of Man before we can
difcover the admirable Fabrick and Contexture, the
Mechanick and Hydraulical Aftions, ChymkaiPre-
parations, the various Operations of Medicines, and
an infinite number of other furprizing Phoemmem in
the Human Body.
The belt Method therefore, I prelume, 'is to pro
ceed Analytically from the previais Examination of
all the known Parts of the great World, to parti-
cular Enquiries into the Microcofm. Now the fibril
ftep to this Method, is a good Infight by Chymical
Experiments into the Nature, more efpecially the
Figuration and Qualities of tne Principles of mixt
B(^ies, and chiefly of the Blood: For the want
fuch a Difcovery (which is not im^flible) has hi-
therto been a great Obftrudion to me Improvement
of Natural Philolophy, andthe PradiceofPhyfick.
It is plain to me, that a Man void of all Prejudice,
and who confiders that all the Operations of Bodies
iire perform'd by natural Caules without Miracles,
may be eafily convinc'd that the Caufes of Difeafes,
and the true ufe of Applications to cure them, can
be render'd very intelligible-, fothat vulgar Axiom,
Tioat there's no certainty in Phyfick^ will be found
raoft erroneous.
I don't, 5*V, pretend to have difcover'd this jufl;
Method, which I hold necefiary to lead us into the
abllrufe Secrets of Nature:, but! would fain hope
that the following Scheme, which is that I obferv'd
at Oxford, may approach it in feme degree which
Method, tho it may be call'd altogether new, may
perhaps be a juft Model for others to imitate here-
after in the true Theory and Pradice of Phyfick,
which rightly confider'd are one and the fame thing.
( I?? )
A
NEW PLAN
O F A N
Animal Oeconomy:
Demonftrated at Oxford in the Spring Jk'
KG 1695. at London the Winter follow-
ing, ana at Cambridg in the Year i696f
I. the Elements^ Fabrick^ and Syftem of
C f the World^ roith the mutual Cohefion^
Influence^ and Dependance of its Parts.
2. Of the Elements of Terrejtrial Bodies^ where
( after 'various Chymical Experiments) are conft-
der'd the Nature., Properties, Figures and Efftiis
of the four Chymical Principles, Earth, Watety
Salt and Sulphur, and their main mutualAiiion,
Fermentation as alfo the Produ&ions of Animals,
Vegetables, and Minerals.
3. Of the StruiHure of the Human Body, and
its divifion into fluid and folid Parts j where a par~
-ticular and new Account is given of the Nature
and Contexture of the folid Parts, being all made
0/Vafcular Fibres, anddemonflrated-to the Eye
by Diffeliion.
4. Of the fluid Parts of the Human Body •, of
the Nature, Principles, Fermentation, and Circu-
V 3 latfon
294 The Animal Oeconomy
lation of the Blood j of Nutrition^ of the TempC'
ramcnts^ of the Humours contain'd in the Bloody
of the feat and nature of Fevers^ where likewife
of Toulhy old ylge^ and Death.
5. Of the Reparation of the Bloody of the Chyle^
La{ieous F'effels^ Cbyliferous DuU j of udppetite,
Majlication, Digejlion, and the Ferment of the
Stomach 9 of the Precipitation or Separation of the
Excrements from the Chyle^ where of the StruHure
of the Oefophagus or GuUet^ of that of the Sto-
tnachj and all the Inteflinesj of the Perijialtie
and Ldmiperijlaltic Motions of the Guts, of the
Glands^ of the Mefentery, of the Lympha, and
the Lymphatic Veffels.
6. Of the StruRure^ Motion^ and Vfh of the
Heart., where of the 'various kinds'of Pulfes, ofj
the Polypus in the Heart, Palpitation, and
Swooning;, likewife a new Hypothefis of the
tion of the Heart, and of Sanguification.
Of the Contexture of the Windpipe, or
Trachea Arteria, and the Lungs, where of the
Caufe andVfe of Refpirationa new Account of
the Nature of the Air, Nitre, and of theVnvor
luntarinefs of Refpiration^ of the Hiccock. r
8. Of the Prsecordia or fanguiferous FeJJels
appended to the Heart, where the StruBure, Mo-^
tion, and Difference of the Veins and Arteries
are demonjlrated.
9. Of the numerous Ramifications of the Vena
Porta, and both the Vena GavaV, of VarixV,
Hemorrhoides^ Bleeding, See.
10. Of the Ramifications of both the Aor-
ta'i throughout the whole Body, of an Anev-
rifm. ,
11. 0/the Brain and Cerebellum-, a new
Account of the Animal Spirits., their Generation.
. Motion,
of the Human Body.
Motion^ and Vfe ; of Perception,Sleeping
and the Influence of the Soul upon the Body,
where of Senfation, and the five Senfes.
T2. Of the Eye, Tears, Nafal and Aqueous
Du£is', Of Sight, Blindnefs, Light, Colours and
the/harp Sight of fome Animals.
13. Of the F^rick of the Nofe, the Mem-
brana Pituitaria, Snot, Smelling, and Sneezing ■,
Of the mutual Influence of the Nofe and Tongue.
14. Of the Tongue, Palat, and Gums •, of
the Mufeles and Motions of the Tongue j of Tajle,
Foice, huttering, and Dumbncfs.
' 15. Of the Larynx,Pharynx, the Os Hyoides
of the Glands, Salivation and Spittle •, of the Al-
monds, and Uvula, &c.
t6. Of Feeling, the Cuticula, Skin, Hairs,
tniUiary Glands, the mucous and reticular Bodies •,
of Fat, Tranfpiration, Sweat, the Itch, cutaneous
Difeafes, Palfy, and Plica Polonica.
17. Of the Ear, Aqujedudt, Hearing, Deaf-
nefs. Tinnitus, <&€.
18. Of the Structure, Vfe and Number of the
Nerves •, of Motion and Senfe •, of the Pav-vagnm,
and the Intercoflal Nerves fpread over all the
Vifcera of the Breaft Abdomen.
19. Of the Structure and variotis Figures of
the Mufcles, the vafcular Fibres, where MufcU'
lar. Natural, and free Motion are explained, as
likewife flretching and gaping, leaping, fwimming,
and flying, with Convulftve, Tonic, Syfialtic,
EpileCiic, and Hyfieric Motions •, of Fapours and
Rheumatifm.
20. Of the Liver, Gall, and Pancreas, where
the Secretion, Motion and Mixture of the Bile,
and Pancreatic Juice, with the Chyle are fhewn j
of the Green Sicknefs, Fellow Jaundice and Pica.
V 4 21. 0/
The Animal Oeconomy
21. Of the Nature and Differences of all the
Glands or Strainers of the Body •, a new account of
the various Filtrations of the excrementitious and
recrementitious Humours., as Lympha^ Spittle^
Gall, Vrine, Seed, &c. Of ObJtruSlions and
Dropfies. /
22. Of the StruGure and Vfe of the Spleen,
and what Melancholy is •, what Symptoms happen
when the Spleen is taken out of the Body.
21. Of the Reins or Kidneys, the Atrahilary
Glands, the Ureters and Bladder •, where of the
Serum of the Blood, Urine, and what is con-
tained therein •, of the Stone and Gravel.
24. Of the StruGure and Ufe of the Bones,
Marrow, Ligaments, Perioftcum, and Jpophy-
fes •, of the liifferent Articulations or Joints •, of
the Nature and Seat of the Gout, Spina Ventofa,
Caries, Exfoliation, Rachitis.
25. Of the Parts of Generation in Man •, of the
Nature and Formation of the Seed, with its EjfeGs
in the Body of the Woman j the Caufe and Seat
of Kenereal Difeafes.
2'^. Of the Parts of Generation in the Woman,
of the Eggs and Ovarium of Generation, Con-
ception, going with Child, Flowers, Birth, Mon-
fters, Floodings, falfe Conceptions, Whites, See,
27. Of the Pojlure and Nourifhment of the
Embryo in the Womb', of the Umbilical Keffels,
the After-birth, the Force of the Mother's Imagi-
nation, and the peculiar way of the Circulation of
the Blood in the Foetus •, of Longings.
28. Some Conftderations of the Union of the
Soul and Body, where the Laws and EffeGs of
that Union are inquired into.
You
of the Human Bady, 197
You fee, Sir, that, after having examin'd the
different Parts of the World, and the Elements of
Bodies by Chymiftry, I have divided the Human
Body into folid and fluid Parts. Before I confi-
deir'd the folid Parts in particular, I thought it ne-
ceffary by way of Chymiftry, to be acquainted
with all the Hurhours, and Ipecially with the Prin-
ciples and Motions of the Blood, which is the .
Trimum Aiohile of the whole Machine •, for which
purpofe it is fit to know how by Digeftion the Meat'
becomes Chyle, the Chyle becomes Blood, how
the Blood becomes Flefli and Bone, and confequent-
ly how it muft be continually repaired by Aliment y
how the Heart is put in motion to communicate the
fame to the Blood y how the Blood expelled by the
Heart, after having been rarefied by the Air in the
Lungs, is convey'd by Arterial Tubes to all the
Parts of the Body, and from thefe Parts is brought
back again by the Veins to the Heart, To know
why this Blood is carried to all the Parts, and what
Alteration it receives in them, we muft by ocular
Infpeftion fee the different Strucfture of all the Parts
of the Body, and firft follow the Blood to the
Brain, to generate Animal Spirits, which Spirits
furnifti the Soul with Ideas in the Brain, and con-
yey'd through the Nerves to all the Parts of the Bo-
dy, they are the Caufes of Motion in the Mufcles,
and of Senfe in the five Organs, which convey the
Impreffion of exteriour Bodies to the Soul. I tdl-
^ow the feme Blood into the Liver, where it diP
charges its Bilious Juice y and into all other Glands,
where it leaves fome fuperfluous Huraonr, into the
Spleen, where its Motion is moderated y into the
Reins, where it leaves its ferous Particles y into the
Tefticles, where is Itrained from it a glutinous oily
Subftance called Seed. In ftioft, after knowing Man
in himfelf, I examine the natural Ways which he
uies to propagate his Kind, in begetting another by
way of Generation.
Man,
••. -■
4
A flmt 'Plan of the Materia Medica. ^
Man, as I (aid before, is made of two Subftances, I"®
Soul and Body. The Soul preferves the Body by
Reafon, and governs it by voluntary Motion.
The Body furnillies the Soul with Ideas of Corpo-
real Beings. The Life of Man is the Correfoon-
dence between Soul and Body j but the Life or the
Body is the natural Motion or the Blood and Spi-
rits, the CefTation of which Motion is Death. B!o
The Iblid Parts of the Body have no Motion (or
Life ) of their own, but fuch as they borrow from ^
the Blood and Spirits. The Blood and Spirits have
none neither, but fuch as they ar« allowed by the
general Laws of Nature eftablilh'd by a Supreme
Being. To maintain this mutual Correfpondence OT
and Dependance between Soul and Body, all the
Organs, Springs and Humours of the B(^y, muft tfr
be in their due Difpofition ; for the Death of the
Body is properly the lofs of this Difpofition, and n
not the Separation of the Soul, as is commonly be- i
liev'd; for the Body is dead before the Soul is gone ol
out of it j and the going out of the Soul is but the fl
Ceflation of its Correfpondence with the Body for Is
want of Motion in the latter. This Difpofition is c
difordered or ruined by Difeafes, all which Difeales
have their firft Seat in the Blood, from whence
they are communicated to the Iblid Parts j and the
folia Parts being afFed:ed,they reciprocally infed the
Blood. But tho the Blood was never infeded, and
Man never fick, yet he fhould die of courfe, by
the Relaxation and Attrition of his folid Parts,
from the long and continual Circulation of the Hu-
mours through them, which we call Old Age.
As to what relates to the Materia Mcdka^ or
the Account I have given of the Virtue and due
■ Application of inward Medicines in the Pradice
or Phyfick, I Ihould likewife give you a Seria of
the different Subjeds I treated of, as I have in my
Plan of the Animal Oeconomy^ but finding it too
tedious, af.d needlefs, I will only mention in ge-
neraJ,
f
A Materia Med ica. 299
ncral, thatd// intoard Difeafes have their jirft Seat
in the Jkfafs of Bloody that they are caufcd' by a
Ferrtient or Mutter hid in it, which deriv'd its
Origin from feme outward Caufes: That there are
no Specific Medicines for at^ part of the Body, as
for the Head, Heart, Liver, Stomach, Spleen, but
that they muft all operate upon the whole Mais of
Blood that confequently outward Applications can-
not avail mpich for inward Dijietnpers, that the Me-
dicines muft be carried in a convenient Vehicle
through the Blnod-tothe place where the Diftem-
per lies, and that then they either carry its Caufe
out of the Body by Evacuation, or change the Na-
ture of it within by altering the Mafs of Blood.
I may therefore reafbnably divide all the Ma-
tcria Medica, defcribed by fo many voluminous
Authors, only into two ClalTes of Medicines, Fva^
cuating and Alterating. I did not lb much talk of
thofe Remedies that evacuate only from fome pafts
of tfie Body, as Bleeding, Clyflers, Leeches, Iffaes,
Bliflers,Setons,Gargles,SnuJh,wad the likc,for they cah
hardly ever cure any inward Difeafey but of liich as
evacuate the Morbific Matter from the whole Maft
of Blood by the five general ways. Stool, Vomit,
Urine, Sweat and Salivation •, where, without re-
curring to occult or precarious Qualities, I reduced
to the Principles of Chymiftry and Realbn, the Na-
ture and Operations of PnrgatiDes, Emetics, Din-
retics. Diaphoretics, of Antimoiiy and Mercury, of
Venereal and other Dijeafes, as likewife the Nature
and Ufefulnels of Baths, and other Mineral Waters.
I have likewife examin'd and endeavour'd to ex-
plain the Nature and different Effefts of Alterating
Medicaments, which operate in the Mafs of Bl<;x>d
without any Evacuation, fuch us fweeten the Blood
when fowr, that thin it when grofs and thick, that
haften its too flow Circulation, that flop its too rapid
Motion, as in Fevers *, that cool the Blood, that heat
it, and raife the Spirits, as Cordials y that calm the
Spirits, as Narcotics y that Jlrengthen the Tone of the
Parts,
.... L'.
■
^ QO A fJiort Plan of the Materia MedicaJ
J'fOtJ, Styptics and Afiringems'^ that open Ob-r
firuclions^ as Aperitives. Here therefore I had
occafion to confider the Vertues and Operations of
SteeL Opistfff^ Jefnits Powder^ of Alcaliotts and Acid
jHeaicineSy and of the whole Tribe of other alte-
rating Remedies.
It would, Sir, he too prolix and needlefe to men-
tion to you all that can be laid in this nice and
weighty Subjcft, which includes in a manner the
whole Machine of the Univerfe, which requires fe-
veral Years fervent Application for any one to at-
tain a tolerable Knowledg of, and which coft me
fome Months Labour to demonftrate at Oxford
what fmali Infight I was thought to have in it:
Yet ftill I am not unwilling to comply with your
Defires, and to fpare fome time from ray other
Bufmefs here, to communicate what I know of
thefe Matters to any Perfons of both llniverfities,
or to liich other ingenious Gentlemen as have a
Curiofity for things of this Nature. And I lhall
take care that all be perform'd in fiich a decent
and creditable manner,-as may be for the Benefit
and Satisfadion of others, as well as my own par-
ticular Reputation. For not only my Duty, but
likewife the Ufefulnels and Agreeablenefs of my
Profeflion, tho in it felf very abftruft and difficult,
inclines me naturally to improve it as much as I
can i and I hope I fhall be able in few Years to pub-
liflj a Latin Treat ife of the Principles of Phyfick,
and of the Oeconomia Animals, which perhaps
then will give You and the Publick more Satisfadi-
on than they or your felf can at prefent exped
from.
S I R,
From Bosc-flreet in
Covent - Garden,
London, Aw. 2.
Your very Obedient
Servant,
!B. Connor ,
( 3°' )
A LETTER to JamesTjrrely Ef^;
from Dr. Comnor^ Fellow of the
Royal Society.
Containing a further Explanation and Vin-^
dication of the Plan of the Animal Oeco-
nomy^ or of the Chymical and Anatomical .
Method for underflanding the Fabrick,
Springs^ Tempers and Difeafes of the Hu-
man Body.
SIR,
IT is upon all hands acknowledg'd, that the Ac"
quaintance of Men of Learning and Worth is
of great benefit towards acquiring not only
the Knowledg of Men and Manners, but of Na-
ture too. But of all the Advantages to be reap'd
from their Converlation, that of correfting our'
Prejudices or Miftakes, and of fettingus in the right
way is the moft valuable. I Ihould be too difinge-
nuou^ Sir, if I Ihould not concur with the Publick,
in juftly allowing you to be as difcerning a Judg
as you are a true Friend. The World is convinc'd
of the firft by your fliewing your felf fo great h
Mafter as well of the Laves of Natnre and Nations,
as of thole of your own Country i and none that
have the Honour to know you can be ignorant of
your Sincerity acd Zeal, in correcting the Errors
bid Overfights of your Friends. To whom then
Ihould I more allowably communicate my Defigns ?
After begging your Pardon tlierefore for the Ambi-
tion of numbring my felf with your Friends, I
muit
A further Explanation
mufl: tell you, that being defir'd by feveral, and
willing my felf, not to conceal the finall Infight I
was thought to have in Anatomy, Chymiftry, and
the other parts of Phyfick", I thought firft conve-
iiient to borrow from Ibme Antient or Modern
Authors the moll eafy and compendious Method,
for the benefit of my Auditors. But I was frullra-
ted of my Expedations •, for after having examined
the voluminous Works of moil Writers in our Fa-
culty, I did not find it altogether fit to follow
their Method, nor fafe to efpoufe their Opinions.
But tlie bell courle, I think, is to pick the beft out
of each, elpecially what relates to Matters of Fad,
* applying their Obfervations to my own De.fign, and
taking Reafon and Experience to be my furell
Guides. But feeing feveral Perlbns either out of
Malice or Ralhnels, have very induftrioufly mife
reprefented my Undertakings I lliall now give a
larger Account of it than formerly, as well to latif
fy my Friends, as for my own Jullification.
My Defign therefore. Sir, is to find a Ihort, ealy,
and clear Method, to be acquainted with tne Fa-
brick, Fundions, Tempers, and Difeafes of the
Human Body: For which purpofe I mull not only
know Man in himfelf, but mull alfo know all Bo-
dies that are about him, and concur to his Prefer-
vation or Dellrudion. For as I cannot underftand
all that belong to my Finger, without I underftand
my whole Body, which lerves to nourilh and move
it s fo I cannot underftand my Body without I un-
derftand the whole Univerfe: And as I cannot
reafonably know any one Diftemper of ray Body,
without I know the general Sources of all Diftem-
pers s lb I cannot metho dicai ly cure any one Diftem-
per v^ithcut I undei ftand the Rules of curing all
Diftempers: Which Ihews that Qpacks, and other
ignorant Pretenders, mty not prelume to have me-
thodical Cures for any one Diliemper whatfoever.
Since therefore it is neceflary to have a general
view of the whole Univerfe to be competently ac-
quainted
of the ^yinciples of 'Phypck. 303
<luainted with Man, the firft thing we muft- exa-
mine is Matter, which is the general Principle of
all Bodies, or rather all Bodies are Matter.
Matter is the only thing, in my mind, that we
have any clear Notion of, if we have of any. We
conceive very well that an Atom has at ieall fix
Sides or Surfaces, of which one is nearer the Eaft
than the Weft, another nearer the South than the
North, and another nearer the Zenith than the
Nadir: confequently between all the fix Surfaces
we conceive a Space or Extenfion^ which we call
Matter or Body^ tho never lb little y and fince we
confider a real Space between them, we can men-
tally divide it into fcveral lefler Spaces, and each
iefler Space into as many other lefler ones as we
pleafe *, fo that every minute Particle will be infi-
nitely divifiblc. Befides, the diftance between the
fix Sides of the Atom isfo filled up and occupied by
the Atom or its Extenfion, that it is impenetrable by
any other Extenfion whatfoever. By an Atom I
mean the minuteft part in a Body aftually divided
from others, and ftill divifible in it felf. Then the
Properties of Matter will be Divifibility and Im-
penetrability.
There is no eflential Difference between one
' piece of Matter and another, fince all Matter is
extended, divifible and impenetrable. But fince
the Machine of the World is form'd of different
Bodies, and all Bodies form'd of Matter, we muft
derive their difference at leaft from the Accidents
of Matter: We find then that one part of Mat-
ter cannot be different from another, but in
Bulk,. Motion or Figure j and according as it differs
from others in one or more of thefe Qualities, they
will conftitute different Bodies: By theft three
Qualities of Matter we can give a general account
of the different parts of the World, as the zyEthe-
real Fluid, and Terrefirial Bodies. We may ob-
ftrve that the Stars and Planers, the Air, the Earth,
and the Water, are made of three different Ibrts
of
\
A further Explanation
of Matter. The u4toms of the firft Matter Have a
lefTer Bulk and more Motion than all the reft.
The yiioms of the ftcond Matter arc probably
fpherical, have as little Bulk as the firft, and lefs Mo-
tion : The yltoms of the third Matter are of an
irregular Figure, but have greater Bulk, and have
none, or a llower Motion than all the reft. We
may lawfldly fnppole all the Stars to be made up
of the firft Matter : The iMitherial Fluid, or the
Heavens of the fecond, and the Planets and Ttr-
refirial Bodies to be made of the third. For the
Parts of the firft being extream fubtile, and ex-
treamly rapid, muft be fluid and thin enough to
pals through the Pores and Inteftices of all other
Bodies, and leave no Vacuities ^ and influence up-
on us the fame way as the Sun does, by keeping
the Air in a perpetual Fluidity, and by producing
Fermentations in the Ground in fuch folid Bodies
as have no invincible Refiftance in their Parts.
The Parts of the lecond Matter being likewilc
fubtile, round, and conlequently agitated perpe-
tually by the Subtilty and Rapidity of the firft
Matter which pafs through it, muft form a Fluid
and Trhnfpareni Extenfion, as the Expanfum or the
Heavens are. The Parts of the third Element be- ,
ing more bulky, more irregular, and having no Mo-
tion, or at leaft an inconiiderahle one, muft form
grois, irregular, folid, opaque, and fenfible Bodies,
foch as we fee the Planets and Terreftrial Bodies to'
be. The ttvo firft Matters which I made mention
of, are exterior Jlgents, which Nature, or God
makes ufe of rather to influence a Motion into Ter-
reftrial Bodies, than to enter into their Compofi-
tion, contrary to Monfieur des Cartes. So this laft
Element of the World, is that which I am to con-
fider moft, being the only thing that our Faculty
is concern'd in, becaufe it conftitutes Minerals,
Vegetables, aud Animals, which are the three
Things that I defign chiefly to examine, bccaule
they furnilii as with Aliments and Remedies, and
are the C;wfes of moft Diftempers. Th*
of the Principles of Phyfck.
Tho we find an innumerable variety of Ter-
reftrial Bodies, and this variety depending upon
the difference of their Jltoms, yet by tracing ex-
adly the particular Effeds of thefe Atem^ and by
feveral Experiments of Chymiftry, I can reduce
all parts of Bodies to four only, njit.. Atoms of
Emh^ At(.ms of Wate-r^ Atoms of Sdt^ and Atoms
.of Sulphur. ' But when, for Example, I am to give
Rhubarb, Jeluits Powder, or any other Remedy
to a Patient, to be fure of its Effeds, and due Ap-
plication, it is not'enough to know that it is made
of Earthy Wuter, Salt^ and Sulphur, but alfo I muft
know what Water, Salt, and Oil themfelves
are : Befides, I am to know their Proportion, and
which of them predominates in it •, which Phyfi-
cians ne^leding to difcpver, have left the Pradicc
of Ph;, nek very obfcure, and will ever continue lo,
until they give themfelves the trouble to examine
with more Exadnefs and "'sicety. the Nature (I
mean the Figm'e) and Effeds of the Principles of
the Bloou, anu bt all Remedies likewife.
I know that the Chymifts >.vill immediately an-
Iwer, 1 hat they have with a great deal of Toil
and Lab' ur, not only feparated from miixt Bodies
the belore-mentioncd four Principles, but alfo difto-
vered their Naturefor they confidently tell us,
that the nature of Earth is to be porous, to ab-
forb Water,. Salt and Oil*, that the nature of Wa-
ter is to diflblve SaJjt *, of Sulphur to be inflammable
and of-Salt to prick, and be diflblved by Water.
But they need not take fo much pains to tell us of
a thing that evefy body knows without the leaft
infight in Chyraiflry. A Country-man knows that
a Pot full of Allies will fbak a great deal of Wa-
ter, or any other fluid Body: That Water difi
folves Sugar and Salt *, that Oil burns, and Salt
pricks the Tongue. This is not anfivefing the
Queftion, fo): they take the Effeds of thofe Elements
for their Nature. To fay that Earth abforbs, that
Wata* diffolves Salt, that Qil takQs flame, and
• X than
m
^06 A further Exflunatlon
riiat Salt bites, is to tell me only what thdc f rind-
pies are capable of doing, not what they really arc
in themfelves. If being asked by a Perlbn, What
is Mm ? I Ihould anlwer, that he is a reajonahlp
A^hmaL or an Animal capable Reafon ^ he Ihould
not doubtlels be fatisfied with my Anfwer, becauft
i tell him what Man can do, not what he is, fincc
lie exifts before he can reafon. I dcfire to know
vyhat is the particular Figure, the Specifick Fa-
brick, and the inward Nature of Eartlj^ that makes
^it produce an EfFed different to that of and
of to produce a different Effed to that of Oil.
Until therefore we are more intimately acquaint-
cd with the different Bulk, Texture, and Figure,
which are the ground of tne Virtues and Qualities
of all theft Elements, we can give no fetisfadory
Account of their Effeds •, and we muff confequent-
!y be uncertain as to the Operation a Remedy^
which has any of 'em predominating in it. I con-
fefs it will be a difficult matter to determine the
different bulk and figure of the Atoms of Princi-
pies, a priori, as they term it^ for they are lb
imall and imperceptible, that we cannot difcern
any of 'era even with the moft refin'd Microfcopes?
Yet I do not defpair, but by calculating and lum-
ruing up all the Effeds and Proprieties of each of
'em by Realbn, I may diftcver at leaft a pofteriori^
as they call it, their different Bulk and Fi^re,
which are the only primary (Qualities they differ
in. For it is plaia to me, that when I confider
that a drop ot Wdter is infipid, tranfparent, eajHy
evaporated, that it penetrates mofi Bodies, and dip-
folves all Salts •, I can reafonably determine the Fi-
gure and Bulk of its Particles that are futable to
theft Phenomena. I can lay as much of a Ipoonfol
of Earth, when I obferve that it is fpongy, j'olid,
porous, fnable, opaque, infipid j that it finks in Watery
tliat it cannot be raijed by Fire in Difiillation j
that it is the Matrix and Support of the reji of the
Principles of any mixt Body. Likewift of Oil or
Sulphur,
of the Principles of Phyficki
Sulphur, when I find it is infipid, ropp, iri"
ftammahleyextreamly pemtrating^and immifcible with
Watery I can giiels the Nature or Texture of i^arts,
which is capable of fuch EfFeAs. When I fee that
an Acid Salt is always of its own nature^ fiuid^ jharp^
trMifparenty penetrating j that it dijjolvesjolid Bodies^
and coagulates fulphureous ones^ as Blood, Milk, &c.
When I confider that an Alkali Salt is always of
its own nature folid^ whitey poroitSy friahle, fljarpy
dijfolvable by Water, eafily movable that it fer-
ments with Acids, abforbs them, and diffohes ful^
phureoHs Bodies-, I can reafbnably" conjedhire the
Figure that renders both Salts capable of produ-
cing liich different, nay contrary SfFefts ■, which I
endeavour to perform in the Chymicai and Anato-
mical Experiments, which I make at prefent in my
Lord Arch-bilhop of Canterbury's Liorary, which
his Grace, out of his wonted Inclination to ferve
the Publick, has been piealed to give me the ufe of
for this purpofe.
After having examin'd the nature of the difFe-
rent Atoms of Matter , I trace their EfFefts and O-
perations, all which I find are perform'd by Motion^
which is the only Caufe of ail things, and which has
no other Caufe or Nature it felf (that I know) but
the pure WiV/ of the Deity. For a Body cannot
be moved without it receives all its Motion from
another Body that is in motion •, which Motion this
feeond Body receiv'd from a third, that was put
in motion by a fourth, and this fourth by a firth.
So tracing backward to the Creation the fuccelfive
Tranfit o? Motion from ont Body to another, we
muft come to a firft Motion of Bodies, which
flowed immediately from the Creator. A Body
caimot lofc its Motion without communicating it
all to another ^y; coniequently there muft be
the fame quantity of^ Motion now in the World
as was in the beginning. For no Motion can be
loft, and no new Motion can be produced. By
examining the Laws and Occafions of Motion, J
X z confidei
A further Explanation
confider the Nature, Conditions, and EfFefts dc
Fermentation, which is the chiefeft and moft uni-
verfal Motion in Nature *, by the means of which
are formed fo many different Minerals, Vegetables,
and Animals of the different Proportion, different
Situation, and different Application of our four
Elements, Earth, Water, Salt and Si^hnr. But
my chief Defign is to fhew how the different Parts
of" Man's Body, which is the principal Subjedt of
this Animal Oeconom^, are made of them; For
iout of his Bones, his Flep, his yifcera, and even
his Blood and other Humonrs^ I draw in more or
iefs quantity, firft Water, then Folatil Spirit, or
Salt, afterwards an inflammable Oil and there re-
mains the Earth, out of which 1 draw by Water a
fxt Salt. I do not only examine the Nature and
Proportion of the four effential Principles of our
Body, but alfo, what is more neceffary, I defign
by Anatomy to demonifrate to the Eye the Struc-
ture, Texture, and Ufe of its folid, fenfibie and
integrant Parts, as Bones, Cartilages, Ligaments,
Jhhtjdes, Membranes, V'.ins. Arteries. Nerves,
Lymphatic Repels, and Glands ■, all whicn I find to
be formed of valcular Fibres of the fame kind:
for 1 do not fee that the Fibres of a Mnfcle differ
from them of a Tendon, nor die Fibres of a Mem-
brane from them of a Ligament, nor them of a
Cartilage from the Fibres of a Bone, nor the Fi-
bres of any part, as for their Strudlure, from the
Fibres of all the parts. I confefs the Fibres of
Ibme parts of^the Bod^ are more firidlly united
together than others, which makes the Compaft-
nefs of fbrae Parts, and the Limbernefs of others,;
jfo all parts differ from one another, only in a
ftrifter or loofer Union of their Fibres; fince we
find by Experience,, that Flefh becomes as hard as
Bone, and Bone as loft as Fielh: For we frequently
difcover in diffedlng dead Bodies, that the Center
of the Heart, which is naturally flelhy, that the
Aorta near the Heart, that Ligammt^j and Cani-
tie Principles of PhyjtcK,
Idges turn to Iblid Bone ^ we obferve likewife tliat
Bones in the Rickets, and by Monfieur Tapip's
way of boiling them, become as pliable as the Flelli
of Mufcles.
Before I Ihew the Parts of the Body, I fliall
firft examine the Humours, and chiefly the Prin-
ciples, Texture, Fluidity, Circulation, and Ferr
mentation of the Blood, the Seat of tne different
Conftitutions and Diftempers of Mankind. After-
wards I lliall confider how the Blood is repaired by
pigeftion and Chyle *, how it is rarefied by the Air
in the Lungs, how it furniflieth Animal Spirits in'
the Brain for motion in the Mufcles, and Senfa-
tion in the five Organs: What Alteration it re-
ceives in the Liver, in all Lymphatick Glands, in
the Spleen, Kichiies, and in the Parts of Genera-
tion y how it nourifheth fb many different Parts
of the Body at the fame tim^ as the fame Water
feeds feveral-thoufands of different Plants in the
fame Garden*, and how after fome Periods of
Years the Springs of the folid Parts mufl; be worn
out, the Vigor of the Body decay, old Age muft
come on, and be neceffarily followed by Death y
where I muft examine the Laws of the Union, Cor-
telpondence, and Separation of the Soul and Body.
You have here. Sir, a fhort Extraft of my Ani-
mal Oeconomy, by which you may perceive that
my Defign in it, is, by differing many Animals,
(as they lhall beft ferve ray purpofe) and by feve-
ral Experiments of Chymiftry, to difcover and
explain the Fabrick, Springs, Humours, and FunEli-
ons of Organical Bodies, but chiefly of the Human,
which, I hope, will confiderably facilitate the
Praftice of Phyfick, and latisfy the Enquiries of
the Curious. But thofe Gentlemen do me an Injury,
who give it out that this is a bare Courfe of Ana-
tomy. Truly that were a mean and ufelefs Bufmefs:
for, as I have often hinted, I am of opinion that
Anatomy can never be well underftood without not
only (Chymiftry, buf a tolerable Infight into the
X 3 other
310 A further' Bxpldnatiotf, Sccl
other parts of Natural Philofbphy ^ for which rca«
fon I comprehend them all together, to (hew their
mutual depend ance, and how they contribute to
the knowledg of one another, which is perhaps a
Method not commonly followed. Tho feveral may
be more capable of it, yet none can be more willing
to communicate it to the Publick than I am.
As for what other Perlbns have taught or aflerted
in Phyfick, I am not to confider their Authority, or
the number of their Followers, but how well they
have performed what they pretended to. Without
this liberty, there would be no hopes of Improve-
ment. or any further progrefs in Phyfick, nor no
other Labour be neceflary to attain it, but much
Reading and a happy Memory. It would be need-
leis for us to be at the Pains and Expences of tra-
veiling into foreign and remote Countries, to con-
verfe with learned and experienc'd Perfons, to learn
their different Methods and Maxims of curing Dif
eaL>, to obferve a great variety of Diftempers and
Symptoms in infedtious Hofpitals, to open fo many
dead Carcafes, and to try a great number of Ex-
periments, if the Diftates of Hippocrates^ oxGaleriy
or any other Author, were infallible Rules for us
to foiiow in the Pradlice of* Phyfick. Since there-
fore Experience and Realbn are our only Guides,
no Body is to take it amils if I cenfure liich as wrote
before me, with as much Juftice as they did their
Predcceflbrs y for I'm fworn to no Mafter.
You know, Sir, that the Place and Time are moft
convenient, and I hope you may give us often the ho-
nour of your Corppany, and according to your won-
ted Candor, both do me Juftice to your curious
Friends, and, vvhere I fpeak amif% convince rtie of
it, in which you will oblige,
Lind.¥&h.i2, Worthy Sir,
Your very Humble Servant^
i Bernard Qormor,
r- V *•
( pi)
A Letter to his Revcpend
Friend Dean J. {?(. concerning
Evangelium Medici/eu Medkina myfti-
CA de fufpmfii lSlatur<& Le^ihm:
O R,
A L/itm Treatife hteiy fuhUjhed at London,
in which fuprnatural Effects are fhilo-
fof hie ally comfar*d with natural ones^ and
explaifPd by the Principles of Phyfick, tho
mt conJfdePd within the reach of NatU'
ral Caufes.
S./ i?,
I Should be proud to meet with (brae occafion to
give you a Tcftimony of my Refoed and
Gratitude, and to fliew you how fenfible I am
of the Happinefs of having been educated in my
Youth Jby ib learned a Mafter : I am forry the
diftance between us, and the difficulty of Carriage
gives me no opportunity qf fending you the Trea-
tile you heard of concerning the Sufpenfwns of the
Laws of Name, I can only at prcfentpromife to
give you a general Idea of my Defign in that Book,
and of the occafion that put me upon examining thefe
Matters. I have been prefent often at fome Difputes
about fupernatural Effeds, in which fome main-
tain'd that there could ba:ve never been any per-
form'd: and laft Year I happen'd to be accidental-
iy ingag'd againft the Objedions of fome Perfons,
who pretended they could not conceive either the
poflibiiity, or the manner of them.
X4 Thefe
An Account of Bvajig'
Thefe Objeftions I looked upon as weak in them-
felves, and fteming to imply. That eitlier a Su-
pream Being cou'd do nothing but what their Fa-
culties were-capable to comprehend ^ or, that there
was a neceflity, that, to convince Unbelievers, to
confirm fome important Truth, or to bring about
fome other great or weighty End, it were requifitc
that the Deity fhould not only work an extraordi-
nary and furprizing EfFeft, but alio Ihew them the
WiOi and manner how it was perform'd. We freely .
own'd, That fuch Operations as are look'd upon
liipernatural, cannot be perform'd by the ftaied
Laws of ISlature, but immediately by a Supream
Power, for ibme great Defign.
This Anfwer, as being undeniably true, they
could not but admit: and tho where the Relaters
were of an undoubted Credit and \' eracity, they
could not but believe thofe Performances were fu-
pernatural ^ yet, for their clearer Satisfadion, they
defir'd my further Thoughts concerning the ?nanner
of fuch Supernatural EfFeds.
This being above my Sphere, which reaches no fur-
ther than Pbyfwk, or Nature in its ordinary Operati-
ons,wherein, however, I find Matter more than luffi-
dent to unploy my Time and Thoughts, and where-
in I plainly fee the Exiffence, and can never fuffi-
ciently admire the conltant Providence of ^jDeity^
yet being willing to comply with their Defires, I
promifed I would giv^ them what Satisfadion I
could therein.
This, indeed, was not the firft time the very
fame Difficulties had been propofed in ray hearing;
for I had formerly diicourfed with others, both in
this and other Countries, upon the fame Sunjed, and
bad fome Y ears ago drawn up a rude Scheme of an
jElfay towards the clearing of this Point. But if this,
or the like occafion, had not put me upon reviewing
this Paper, I might never have given my felf, or
any body elfe, the trouble of reading it. But
having thito unvyarily engag'd ray felf, f refolved
feu MeSctm Myjlical ] 15
ito revife this Defign, and to give thofe Perfons a
fight of itThis I did accordingly, and after-
wards Ihew'd it to fome Friends.
They owned the Notions I advanced, and the
ways of Explication I propofed were new to them,
anci might he lb to others and tho they were not,
nor could be convinc'd that thefe were the very
ways the Supream Power proceeded in the effect-
ing of fuch Operations, yet they feemed inclinable
to imagine, that upon theft Principles lupernatural
Effeds, and the Operations of them, were con-
ceivable by fuch as know any thing of the Nature
and Laws of Motion.
This Communication of my Thoughts gave oc-
cafion to others to difcourft with me about them,
and to dcfire that if I did intend to publifh them,
I would in the mean time give them, at lead, ^e
general Heads of my Defign.
This I was willing to have been excuftd in, as
having not digefted them into that Order I might-
at laft publilh them in, and was willing to reftrvc
to my felf a Power of making what Additions or
Retrenchments I fhould afterwards think fit to
make-, but the Plan of the Eflay happening not to
be fully repreftnted,and afterwards being worftun-
derftood and commented upon, I at laft refblv'd to
publilh it as loon as I could, feeing Perlbns in-
duftrioufly reported things I never thought of.
My Defign therefore. Sir, is to endeavour to
make it no longer, a Difficulty to conceive, and
make evident by Reafon, and the Principles of
Phyfick, I mean the Principles of Nature, ail the
fupernatural Effeds authentically dehvered to us
concerning Bodies chiefly, but particularly the Hu-
'mane: I mean, fuppofing thoft Efteds tobe true
Matters of Fad, and all Matters of Fad, as well
Natural as Supernatural, to be immediate Effeds of
a Supream Being, which muft be granted •, it is as
eafy to conceive the manner how this Infinite Power
may be apply'd to Codies, to work fupernatural
Effeds,
An Account of Evang, Me^,
Effcfts, as to produce the common Ph£nomena of
Nature. By this I hope to convince our Sceptich. the
Deifts, who muft give their Aflent,when they nave
the feme evident Reafon to conceive the Poffibility,
and confequently to believe the Truth of foch mi-
raculous Effeds, that are authentically related, as
they have to conceive that Straw can burn in a
flaming Fire.
The Foundation I go upon, is the Strufture of
the Human Body, which I nave often taken to
pieces by Anatomy, and refolv'd into its cITential
Elements, or minute Particles by Chymiftry: for
I find it as neceflary to be acquainted with its Fa-
bricl^ to mve an Account of the miraculous States
it is uippoled to have been in fimernaturally, as it
is to explain the natural EfFeas commonly pro-
duc'd in it. For want of a lufficient Infight in this
matter, feverai Divines of the latter Ages have
given very grols Ideas of the iupernatural EfFeds
they have pretended to explain ^ and in feverai
places where I have been, I faw them, either through
Ignorance, or for InterclF, give out for Miracles,
Fhdtnomena, that were only furprizing EfFeds of
Natural Caufe^ wliich has given fb great an occa-i
fion to Scepticifrtty^ and increafe of Deifm.
Having laid, down for my Bafis the Strudure of
the Human Body, as far as I could difcover from
my Senfes, Anatomy, Fire, Microlcopes, and Ex-
periments, I. proceed to examine, and endeavour to
explain the different ways its natural State is fup-
pos'd to have been fupernaturaliy alter'd by an In-
finite Power: For, finding that the Human Body is
all Matter, and that all this Matter is nothing but a
Union of Particles with Bulk, Figure, and ftfpedivc
Situation, I thought that all the Alterations that
could fupernaturaliy happen to this Bull^ Figure,
or Simation, could be conceiv'd. But before 1 en-
fcer upon thofe nice Subjeds, I find it firft neceflary
to enquire into the Caufty Natnrey and Laxps of Mo-
#jw, becaufe Motion is the only true Caufe of all Na-
tural
feu "Medkma Myjlica,
torsA Phenomena', and the Su(penfions of the Laws
of this Motion, arc the only Cajufe of all fuper-
natural EfFefts. I conceive the Laws of Motion
can be fufeended three different ways *, and by one
or more of thofe Laws of Sufpenfion, it is as eafy to
ibive clearly all fupematural Effefts, as it is to ex-
plain the moft evident EffeAs of Natural Caufes by
the common Laws of Motion.
Thol mention, that all fupernaturalEffefts what-
Ibever can be eaiily reduc'd to fome of the three
Laws of Sufpenfion of .Motion, notwithflanding I
do not defign to (peak of them all in particular, but
of fiich only as are moft in dilpute among thfc
Learned: Tetany underftanding Man may eafily
make his Application, and refolve all other mira-
^ous EffeCTs into one or other of 'em.
By the Sufpenfion of the Laws of Motion^ I do not
mean that tnefe Laws ara changed or abrogated,
but only that their Gxirfe is ftopt, while an Effecft
is produc'd by the immediate Acftiop of the Deity^
without any Influence of theirs, for fome particular
ifnd: and it cannot be denied but that theSupream
Legiflator, who made firft the Laws, may fufpend
them when he pleafes \ and in that ftate of Sufpen-
fion produce of himfelf alone, without their Con-
currence, the fame Effefts, which are wont to be
produceci only bv the feme Laws put in Execution.
So that the a Body, for Example, of a hundred
Pound Weight, by tne eftablifhed Laws of Motion
mufl be moved by another that has feveral degrees
of Motion, yet an Infinite Power may of hmfelf,
either move it without the Concurrence of ano-
ther Body, or hinder its being moved by any
oAerBoayof what weight Ibever, tho put into
the moft rapid Motion ^ as if combuftible Matter
(hould be in a flaming Fire without burning. _
Becaufe my Defign in that Book is to explain all
the fupematural States that our Body is fiippofed to
have been put into ^ and fince its being in two places ■.
at once, is the State the moft difputd and doubted]
' of,J
"Jn Account of Evangi Med,
of, I thought it convenient to examine the Reafons of
tiiofe that aflert it capable of being in feveral places
at once, to fee whether they are reconcileable with
our Senles, and with the Nature and Stradure of
a Human Body, which is the chief thing to be con-
fkler'd. I find it impoflibie to conceive that a Hu-
man Body can be in two places at the fame time,
after the manner they have hidierto defcrib'd, fince
the fame tinman Body can never be in two places at
once, with the fame Bulk, and with the fame quantity
of Matter.
It is true, that confidering the Divifibility of
Matter, the Strudure of the Human Body, the
finalnefs of the firfi: Stamina of the Embryo and
fcetm, and the Principles and Mechanifin of Genera-
tion, I have thought of one particular way, different
from all that has ever been laid upon this Subjed, by
which I *nay conceive, that tho the felf-fame nume-
lical Particles of Matter can never be in two places
at once, yet a*Human Body,'tho not the rational
Soul, can be multiplied by^an Infinite Power: But
fmce we have no evident Proof, or Experience, that
any Human Body has ever been thus multiplied y
and becaule from conceiving the poffibility of it,
it is thought People may perhaps hereafter take oc-
cafion to draw feveral Confequences that may be
liable to dangerous Conftrudions, and lead into er-
roneous Speculations, I was adviftd, and was wU-
ling to decline treating of this Subjed, having no
mind to meddle with Scripture or Religion, being
not my Province. Wherefore I have endeavour'd
only to explain thcfc fupernatural Effeds that moft
People agree upon, fubmitting my Judgment to
greater Capacities: For I had no other Defign in
that Book, but to enquire how far we may look into,
and confirm Supernatural EffeBs, thofe chiefly that
relate to Organical Bodies, by the Principles of
Ehyfick,
Sir, the Learned and Judicious Gentlemen of
your Gown can have no reafon to complain that 1
have
feu Medkina Myjllcd. ^ 17
have invaded their Province, or encroached upon
their Prerogatives: For I tlo not undertake to
prove that there were ever any fupernatural EiFefts
produced, that matter I think belongs entirely to
Divines to make evident from authentick Tefti-
ihony, i only endeavour to demonftrate tite Poffi-
bility of them, and if there were ever any, to ex-
plain the Afoile and Mechanifm with which we may
conceive how they might have been perform'd:
This is not doing any Prejudice to your Profefli-
on i for I have mat Refped to the Church, and
that Deference to the Clergy, that I did nothing
in this matter without the. Advice and Approbatioii
of thole of them that are in the highell; Station :
And they own'd, that tho this Subjed had never
been yet handled by any Phyfician, nor indeed by
any Divine that I know of, yet it was only a Phy-
lician's bufinefs to treat of, according to the Prin-
ciples of Natural Philolbphy and Phyfick. For fince
it is on all fides acknowledged, that miraculous
ElFeds are above Natural Caufes, no People can
better judg whether any EfFed is really lupernatu-
ral, than thole that make it their Bufmefs and Pro-
feflion to know how far the Adivity cf^Natural
Caufes can reach. For Phyficians may find fome-
times that what the wilful Miftakes of fome, and
the Ignorance of others take for fupernatural, is the
vifible Effed of a Natural Caule, as I obferv'd
once at Ibme Years fince: palling by chance
through the Strada del Popolo^ I law a multitude of
People hurrying a Man to Sx.Mark's Chappel,which
belongs to the Venetian Embafladors \ they told me
that he was polFefs'd with the Devil, and that they
were carrying him to be exorcis'd : I crowded thro"
the Throng into the Church, and felt the Man's
Pulfe;, I found him in a Fever, making hideous
Grimaces and Motions with his face, Eyes,Tongue,
and all his Limbs, which were nothing elie but a fit
of Convulfive Motions all over his Body, occafioifd
by dUbrder 9f his Bl«;^ and Spifits, being a Hypo-
chondtiacal
^ 18 An Account of Evarig, Med,
chondriacal Perfon. The Clergy and People begin
very devoutly to fright the pretended Devrt, out of
him, and in a little time his diforderly Motions
ceafed, which, as they thought to be the mira^ous
EflFeft of their Prayers, I attributed to the nature
abatement and ufual ceflation of fuch Fits.
Every, underllanding Naturalift knows that an
able Chymift can work fuch liirprizingEffcdis in his
Art as may very eafiiy pals for Miracles with &chas
are unacquainted how fax the force of Natural Caufes
can extend. It would feem to 'em very aftonifhing
to fee two Liquors, that are cold of their own na-
ture, ferment, boil, and become very hot, without
any vifible Caufe to put them in motion: To fee
Regalis diflblve MalTy Gold, Aqua Fonts
dilTolve Silver, Iron, Mercury, and moft other Mt-
nerals j to fee the Spirit of Nitre, and the Oil of
Cloves, which fepar^itely are very quiet, turn into
a burning Flame when mixed together i to fee
tranfparent Liquors when mixed, turn reel, green,
white, and into all forts of Coloins. I lay nothing
of the Phofphorus, of the liirprizing Effefts the
Air Pump, of the Elafticity of the Air, of the
Magnet, nor of an infinite number of other won-
derral Phanomena in Nature: which tho they may
be common, yet they are not the lefs furprizing,
becaule their Gaufe is as hid frorri thofe that do not,
and even to thofe that do iludy Nature, as that of
fupernatural EffeAs is to thofe Naturalifts who
trace Natural Caufes to their higheft Sphere of
Aftivity. I do not doubt but that if the Miffiona-
ries that are fent from the Weftern Churches to
convert the Pagans of the Eaftern Nations, were as
well vers'd in Anatomy and Chym-firy, as they are
in the Tenets of the Chriftian Religion, and in the
Mathematicks •, and that if they did but dazle the
Eyes of thefe ignorant People with a great many
curious and ufcful Experiments in thefe two fiinda-
mental Branches of Phyfick, they would perhaps
make as deep Imprcflions upon their Minds, and
give
feu Medicina Myftkal
give them as convincing Teftimonies of the Power
and Legality of their Mffion. as they can at pre-
fent by the Ipiritual or indelible Charader, they
lay is inherent in them by virtue (rf their Got,-
million.
Pope Clevtent the Tenth knew well the EfFeds
Chymiliry artfixlly applied might produce in the
minds of ignorant People, when he lecured the Per-
Ibn of the famous Italian Signer Borrl, who about
five and thirty Years ago by his Skill in Chymiftry
did work feveral extraordinary Cures oii Dil^fes
in Germcmy and gain'd fuch univerfal Reputation
all over the Empire and the Northern Kingdoms,
that (as it was reported of him) bethought he had
Credit and Opportunity fufficientto invent and pro-
pa^te a new Religion, by makmg his furprizing Ex-
periments in Chymiftry paft for Miracles •, which he
might eafily have done, fince Chymiftry being then
in its Minorityj was not much known in the World-
But the Pope foreieeing the ill Conlequence luch a
Defign might produce, gave timely Orders to his
Nmcio^ then at Vienna^ to defire the'prefent Em-
peror to get him feiz'd ^ which being accordingly
Gone, he was Lnt PniOner to Kome^ on condition
neverthelefs that bis Life Ihould be fafe \ here he
Jived in C?/?r/^e 5:, Angela for feveral Years, where
I faw him, and 'as curious Laboratory for Chy*
miftry allowed him for his Diverlion j no body was
admitted to dikourfe him without fpecial leave, for
fear, I fiippoie, he Ihould inform the World either
of his pretended new Dodrine, or of the Injuftice
he might intimate thac was done to him. He died
lately in this clofe Confinement fince I have been
at Rome.
Thus, Sir, I have given you as luccinft and
comprehenfive an / ccount of my Defign in that
Book as I could weil exprefs in fo few Lines,
by which you wUi believe peiJiaps that I have done
nothing in treating of thole Matters, but what
belongs
An Account, See,
belongs peculiarly to one of my Profellion to ex-
amines and tho I do not pretend to have explain'd
this nice Subjed with that Satisfaftion the Publick
might perhaps expeft, yet I hope that having been
the firft Perfbn that has ever handled it after this
manner, no body will blame me for having at
ieaft given occafion to others to examine it better
after me, and to give a more fetisfaftory Expla-
nation of it. I conceive the Subjedt I have under-
taken to treat of in that Book is nice as well as un-
grateful, wherein the Principles of Phyfick, the
Experiments of Chymifti^, and the Anatomy of
the Humane Body are phiiolbphically made ufe of
as a Foundation to illuftrate the Metaphyfical Ac-
count I have given of theft Supernatural EfFecftsi
which perhaps makes it not lb much univerfally
underftood as I defign'd ^ however I am refolv'd
not to meddle any more with Matters of this kind,
but to apply my ftlf entirely to the Pradice of
Phyfick. I am,
London,xht2xftoi Worthy Sir,
jAnmry^
Your Obliged Friend,
'' - and Humble Servant,'
.. I
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V. I
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