I UNIVERSITY OF N.C. ^ j j| jj j| ^^^^^ 10001656762 THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL ENDOWED BY THE DIALECTIC AND PHILANTHROPIC SOCIETIES .B21 10001656762 This book is due at the WALTER R. DAVIS LIBRARY on the last date stamped under "Date Due." If not on hold it may be renewed by bringing it to the library. DATE DUE RET. DATE DUE RET. APRi i Q 2 0 04 H I S O R Y OF THE LIFE and REIGN Of the Czar T ETER the GREAT, Emperor of All R u s s i a. And Father of His Country. Giving an exaft relation of [II. His wars with tbeSwcdes, Turks, Tartars, andPef- fians; viaories by fea and land; acquifuions of terri- tory , and increafe of power f V. His regard to genius and nierit, particuiarly in the inftances of General Le Fort, Prince M^nzikolf and the Errpre s Cath.- nne:andhisii,verejuft;:ce on offenders, exemplified in tl^ proceedings againft tiicCz4rewit2,and others. To which is prefixed, A chronological fumniary of the hirtoryofRu/To a political view of the conffitution, and .eo' graphical defcription of that vaft Empire. The whole compiled from authentic memoirs and containing many particulars that were never be- fore colkaed together. By the author of the critical review of the political life of Oliver Cromwell. Panted in theYear, -MDCCLIV. I. His travels, ftudifs, and perfonal t^atigues, for the att -silling of knowledge in civil and military afi^airs, aid t'ivj improvement of his fubj. as. II. liis introdu£lion of arts and Iciences.a naval force, and commerce with fo- reign nations :alfo his ma- ny reformations in chunrh and State, the army, and the cullonis and manners cf his people. PREFACE- IF ever there was a man whofe a6tions deferved a particular hiftory, it was Peter I. Emperor of Ruffia. The hiftorian of the late King of Swe- den, when he fays that Charles XII. and Peter Alexiowitz were the moft extraordinary perfor^g that have been known for many ages, allows the latter to be far the greater man of the two. — The one had indeed much to be-^dmired,litde to be imi- tated ; the other will be a fubjedt of wonder to all mankind, and a pattern of imitation to every Prince who aims to be truly great. But neither does the bufmefs of human life per- mit, or our natural curiofity require, to read over all the circumftances of the mofi: illu(hious life, in order to form an idea of the perfon. Contempora- ries may be pleafed to view thefe particulars as they rife, but mud wilh, when the adions are over, to take a retrofpe<5l of them in a narrower compafs, and not for ever to have recourfe to a journal. This will hold good at lead in generrJ ; and for thofe who are of a contrary opinion, there were hiftorics of the Czar Peter already in print in dieir own tafie, when we ventured to pubiiih one more adap- ted to ours. If the merit of Compiling gave a fanc- tion to tranfcripdons in one particular, we thought that of Abridging might do it to extracts in ano- ther. But we were mifraken in the fenfe of the word Abridgment, which we are informed, from unquef- tionable authority, does not fignify merely to re- duce into lefs compafs, but at the fame time to give a new form. Had we known this before, our pro- ceedings had not been liable to cenfure ; and we now willingly acquiefce in a determination, that may at leaH:, on other occafions, be of as much fervice to us as to thofe who procured it. The public itfelf, we venture to fay, will be no lofer by what has been done. It has now in A 2 reality P R E f A C E. icaiit}' a new hiPtory, in a great meaiure written froin new materials, and containing many parti- fculars which were not in oAir former, nor in any life of the Czar Peter that has yet come to out hands. This indeed is the whole of the qucfhon, in whi'-h the world has any concern ; and as w'e were obliged to fay fomething of the difpute which f at a (lop to the fale of what we had before print- ed, it is but juftice to ourfelves to declare, that wc have envkavoured to make it fome amends. M, de Fontenelle's admirable oration, pronoun- ced in the academy of fcienCcs at Paris, in-memo i-y of liis Imperial collegue, is undoubtedly the bc'l fummary of his life that has ever appeared. We have tranflatcd this alm.ofl entirely, made it the text or ground-work of our hiilory, and done little more, in many places^ than build upon it thofe ch-cumftimces for which it gave us a founda- tion. But the bufmefs of war was thought foreign to his fubjecl by our eloquent academician, who" confidered the legiflatov mare than the conqueror. This obliged us to have recourfe to other helps for the Czar's military hiftory, Vr'hich are ufually referred to at the bottom of the page. We have even quoted a monthly joiima^ in fome of the longefi: defcriptions, as in the battles of Lezna ^ and Pultowa, and a few other particulars ; not fb much for the reputation of the book referred to, ^if} to fhew that we and our oppofers are but equal- ly copyifts. Where indeed can there be more authentic accounts of fuch actions, than in the re- lations of thofe concented in them, to the ufeof- v/hich every one has an equal right ? Tho' the adlions of M. de Voltaire's hero and ours are frequently interwoven together, we have yet fpared that ingenious gentleman more thaa might h^ive been expeded. His hiliory has long been known and efleemed in Englifn; for which rea- fon we have ufually been mofl concife where he has moftly enlarged ; particularly in the affairs of Po- P K E t A C E. land. We can hardly think we have omitted any other book that was confalted by thofe who have gone before us in this track, and the reader will find Tome referred to by us, which apparendy they never faw- The firft book is only an introda6Hon to the reft ; but fuch an introduction as we prefume the whole will be the better for. After running thro' that, the reader will be acquamted with the coun- try he travels in,and the people he converfes with ; which he could otherwife know only in part, and from accidental eircumftances. The brief recapi- tulation of the Czar's eftablifhments, and the fhort view of his charader, which we have drawn to- gether at the end from feveral authors, and a litde reiiedioli on the hiftory, is at leaft fo far a necef- fary part of this work, that we have the example of moil other.writers of lives to bear us out, and we do not remember above one that has quite luitted every thingof that natui-e. The follo'imng terms not being explahted In the body of the book, I fhall give the fenfe of the?n here, Batoags, A fort of punifhment, in which the criminal is laid flat on his face, with his back all bare, and his legs and arms extended ; when two perfons whip him with battocks, which are flicks , as thick as a man's little finger, keeping time like fmiths, till the party who inflids the fentence fays it is enough. Knout, A punifliment never inflided but in con- fequence of a formal trial, or by command of fbme great man. The knout is a hard leather thong about 3 foot and a half in length, faftened to the end of a flick 2 foot and a half, with which the hangman, or Knoutavoit mafter, ftrikes the offender upon his bare back, as often as the judge commands. The criminal is horfed like one of our fchpol-boys. PREFACE. Pine, A fevere way of giving the knout, Vv hen a man's hands are tied together behind his body, and he is drawn up by a rope fixed to them, a weight at the fame time hanging on his feet, till his llioulders turn out of joint : arid in this pofition the executioner fcourges him according to his fentence. After this, in capital cafes, the perfon's raw back is fometimes roafted over flow lires. Riibel, This was formerly an imaginary coin, confiding of lOO copecks, or about nine fliillings Englifh, The Czar Peter had rubels coined, whofe value cannot be cert^'nly fixed, becaufe of their frequent variations. In captain Perry's time a rubel was worth 8 /. 4 ^f. Englifli, or 100 Englifh pence, IVerJl. A meafure of]ongitude,containing 3504 Englilh feet, or about two thirds of an En- glifh mile. They reckon 80 of thefe werfts to a geographical degree, and four to a league. The CONTENTS, chronolo- gically digeftcd. Book I. Introdudory to the Czar Peter's life, i An abridg7nent (Tf the Hijiory of Rujfia to the accejjion of Peter Alexio-vjitz, The shara^ier and vtanners oft be Ruffians, and a vienju of their govern- 7nent,civila72d ecclefiaflicaly at that time, A geo- graphical defer ipt ion of thewohole E^npire^ as it njuas left to the Czar Peter 1, Book II. To the taking of Afoph from the Turks44 The Czar bor7i, A n . 1 6 7 2 — Proclaiined, 1682— At njoar nvith the Tartars, 1 6 8 7 , 168 9 — married^ fhiits up his Jifter in a mo?2afiery, aiid punifoes her confederates, 1689 — Enten in Le Forfs company. Has a fon born, 1 6^0—Takes Menzikoffinto favour, 169 1 — 'vifts the floips at Archangel, 1 694, 1 69 5 — • Begins to build fome at Vero7iitz,Becomes fole mo- narch, 1696 — Takes Kafikenneeny 1 69 5 — Md Afop-h in a fecond ftege, 1696. Book III. To the breaking out of the war with Sweden 78 Enters Mofcoix) i?i triumph at the beginning of 1697. — The fajne year fets out on his travels, and in that and the next vifits Germany, England, Hoi- land, and Poland — reprejfes a rebellion, and ester- inmates the Strelitzes, 1698 — Regulates his re- venues, reforms the habits, and retrenches the beards of his people, ib. 1699 — ^Abolifyes the pa^^ triarchal authority, introduces the chrijiian A Era, and juakes fever al other regulations, 1700 Book IV. To the building of Petersburgh 116 Befiges Narva, iJohere his army is defeated, 1 700 — Invades Livofiia, 170 1 — 'conquers Ingria, and makes great progrefs in Lithuania, Livonia, and Finland, 1702 falls in love ^ith Catharine, ib,-- Builds Petersburgh and Cronflot, 17 03, 6c feq„ Book V . To the vidtory at Pulto waJ^ i ^ \ Drives the Snvedes out of Courland \ made a Co- lonel n his on,m ariny, i^o^—His troops au/> the battle of Calif? y 1 7 06 — He goes into Poland^ and remains CONTENTS. remains Jfiajler there ^ lioj — 'Retires before the King ofS'VJeden, ^whorji he leads i?2to great freights ^ and beats General Lemvenhaupt at Lez?20y 1708— At the battle of Pultonva, takes' or dejlroys almojl the IV hole Sn^vedi/h ar77/y^ , 1 709. Book VI. To his firft naval triumph, 206 Triumphs for the victory at Pultonva, Receives fatisfaBioJi for the affro?it to his a?7ibaJJador in England. Becomes 7?iajier of Livonia, the neigh- bouring ijlands, and part of Finland, Ernbr oiled nvith the Turks y 1710 — Surrounded a7jd dijiref fed in Moldavia y but obtains a peace by the Cza* finds prudence. Marries his fo72, 171 1— -Marries the Czarina publickly, and rene^js peace nvith the Turks y 1 7 1 2— 'Takes Frederickfladt and Aboy ^i72s the battle of Pulkona, 17 13 — Obtains a victory at feay 1714. Book VII, To the death of the Czarewltz 262 Inftitutes the order of St. Catharine y 17 14. Punifoes fever a I of his mi72ifiers. His fa77iily in- creafed nx:ith a fo72 and agrandfo72y 1 7 1 5 -'C07}imands the fleets of four nations. Gronx)s cold in the allia72ce, NegleCis the defce72t on Sclm2eny 1 7 16. —In this and the 72ext year travels thro* De7277iarky Holland^ FrancCy Ger77ianyy 'ho had been married, and was forced trom his wife, to change his name to Philaret. He lelFened the taxes on the populace, encreafed the preroga- tives of the nobility, and gave privileges to the merchants, in hopes at once to augment the riches, and win over the affections of his fabjedls. But all his precaution could not fecure him from the mis- fortunes that are ufually the lot of ufurpers; for his rcfiiied policy was difco.icerted ia a very unex- Book I. Peter I. Czai^ of Mufcovy. ^ peded manner, by an inftrunient the moft unlikely that could be imagined. One Grilka, or Frifka Otropeia, a young fellow, crt r n of a good family indeed, but in no better capacity ^ . than thatofa monkjhavina been thruft into the mo- ^^^^^^^vf^^ naftery of Trinouka by his parents on account of his extravagancies, had given over aJi thoughts of the world,^ and refolved to make an advantage of ne- ceffity, by living calmly and contentedly in his pre- fent confinement. But a politic old father of the fame monaflery, who was a fecret enemy of the Great Duke Boris,obferving the beauty ofFriska's perfon and mien, the excellency of his wit, and the natural vivacity of his temper, refolved to make ufe of him againft the ufurper, whom he faw with indignation on the throne of Ru/Iia* He got inti- mate with the young monk, inftru(5led him con^ cerning the Mulcovite government, the prefent pofture of affairs at Court, the particulars of the: Czarian family, and efpecially the artifices by which Boris had acquired the fovereignty : and having fully informed him of thefe matters, and oF the manner he fliould proceed in to get himfelf ac- knowledged for Prince Demetrius, brotjier of the ' Czar Theodore, he fent him to Kiow, and gott hire( taken into the fervice of Prince Adam Wifho- wieski, there to wait for a favourable opportunity to opejQ the fcene. Mean time the Father himfeir took care to have it whifpered about, thatDemetri- usjfonof the great John Baiiliowitz IL was^ yet a- live: that his mother, having notice of Boris 'sdefign^, had fent him away from Uglitz with only one gen- tleman, and put in his place thefon of a RuiTiaa. priefl, about the fame age and fize that thc y.oung Prince had taken refuge at Wifnowieski's. Court, whence he would foon fet out with a pow^ erful arniy, to take vengeance on the ufurper.. Whilft this report was getting.windia Mufcovy,, Otropeia had the good fortame to rife in his mafter s favour, who advanced him to be gentleman of hb^ ^ rhe H ISrO RT of BookL bed-chamber. In fhort, he had foon Infinuated himfelffo far in the Prince's confidence, that he thought it high time to open the important fecret. One day, when the Prince had paflionately chid D^dares ^-^^^^ ^ fault, Friflva, with a moft compofed countenance, rephed, that if his Highnefs knew /ions to ^^^^ would not ufe him in that manner. p.^lj.rfi Wifnowiefki's attention was inftantly raifed, and lYlfpQ;^^.^ tlie impoflor took care to engage it by owning him* '^y^^ ^ ^ felf to. be Prince Demetiius , and relating how Boris " ' would have ficrificed him to his ambition, but for the ftratagem of his mother. I pttt myfelf^ fays he,. vitoyoiu'fervkey as ^j:cII for prefe?2^tfecurity, as to, merit your aljtfance againft the nfurpery ivho has vobb/d 7/ie ofuiy efates. And the more to ftrength- en what he faid, he fliewed the Prince a crucifix^ richly adorned with precious ftones, which he told liim was put about his neck at the time of his bap* tifi n. All this was confirmed by the rumour which the old monk had already fpread, and which the populace were willing enough to believe. Boris took the alarm ; and as his crimes gave- iVBo pro-- him reafon to be apprehenfive of the confequences,. ^Ssh him ; he forgot no artifice to prevent them. He fent couriers to AVifnowieflci, made him very confider- able offers, and even engaged for the ceflion of certain provinces, if he would deliver up to hini Pemetrius, dead or alive. But that Prince, who regarded his honour more than his intereft, rejec* ted diefe advantageous propofals ; and. to remove the young Czarewitz from all danger, he fent him Ahd: f?idx George Mnizeck palatine ofSendomir, his inti^ k'un to th^ friend, who received him with all imaginable pt'iLithie ^-^e^pe<^' foonerwas the impoftor at the court *^^nclo77iir : ^f^'^^s nobleman, but beginning to refledt upon die qddnefs of his adventure, and the uncertainty of a continued fuccefs, he refclved to fecure fome efta- blifhment for life, in cafe fortune or his friends ihould hereafter abandon his enterprife. Marina,, ^fi. Palatine's daughter, was a young lady of moft Book I. PETEk T. Czar ^Mufcovy. 7 exquifite beauty,and Demetrius was fmitten with Whofe her at firft fight : he thought it advifeable, there- daughter fore, to lay hold of a beautiful miftrefs and a rich fjj^ '^Impo- heirefs at the fame time ; demanded her of the fa- jIq^. mar^ ther in the moft paflionate terms, and found no ^ obftrudion to his wifties. Dazzled with the thought of his daughter's grandeur, in cafe flie came to be EmprefSjthe Palatine engaged all his friends in the intereft of the young Mofcovite \ and having great authority in the fen ate, he brought over moft of the Polifti nobility. King Sigifmund permitted hira to raife forces in his dominions,and Demetrius foon faw himfelf at the head of a confiderable army, with which entering Mufcovy, he reduced feveral cities to his objedience. He was already advanced And enters beyond Krom, when news was brought him that Mofcovy Boris had died fuddenly, having, as was thought, "with an deitroyed himfelf by poifon ; that the populace had army, placed his fon Fedor, aged only fixteen years, on The deaih the throne, and conftituted his mother Emprefs of Boris, regent during his minority ; and that the nobility had declared in his favour, and acknowledged him for fovereign. This obliged Demetrius to march with all expedidon towards Mofcow,to fecure that capital ; the inhabitants of which threw open their J^^p^^f^'^^^j gates, received him with acclamations of joy, and, f^^^i.^.^din- as if every thing had confpired at once to his feli- fQj\/iQf^Q^ city, delivered up to him Fedor and his mother, who were both ftrangled. The impoftor, now in peaceable pofleflion of the Empire, caufed himfelf to be crowned by the pa- // crooned triarch, with the ufual folemnities, on the 21ft of July 1605. His coronation was followed by that of his wife Marina ; and he even brought to court the mother of the true Demetrius,whom Boris had confined in a convent ; appeared before her amidft a numerous alTembly, gave her apartments in the caftlc, and treated her with the utmoft magnifi- cence. She, in return, acknowledged him for her ibn, tho' flie knew him to be an impoftor. He then 8 - The H IS TO R Y of Book L then applied himfelf to the affairs of government* and gave prefages of a happy reign. He fet at liberty all whom Baris Godenow had imprifoned, made Theodore Romanow archbifhop of Rollow, and fhewed great favour to all the Imperial family. But how difficult is it forimpofture to be long con- . cealed, or a crown to be ufurped with impunity I Kum into Demetrius, overcome with his good fortune, be- gxcefst trayed himfelf by his incontinence and debauchery. He left the management of affairs to his minif- ters,plunged headlong into the purfuit of pleafure, and thought of nothing more than gratifying his pallions by all manner of ways. His extravagant cxpences, which he could not fupport but by ths opprelEon of his fubjed:s, rendered him odious to all mankind. The principal kneez and boyars, provoked at the pride and haughtinefs of Marina, who was the accomplice of all her hufband's crimes, and the affront which Demetrius put on them, by leaving the government to-his Polilli favourites, who attempted to introduce the Romifh religion^ Game into the confpiracy of Bafil SuiUci, defcended from the great Dukes of Mufcovy by the Dukes of Sufdal. They forced the palace in the night, May the I yth, 1 606, and entered the Czar's bed-chamr ber ; who thinking to efcape by throwing himfelf out of a window, was taken up, and after the Em- prefs dowager had difowned him for her fon, pro^ tefting that Ihe before acknowledged him only ta be revenged on Boris for the cruelties he had ex- Is affafTi- ^^^^i^^^i^*^ family, Suifld difpatched him with a natedby pi^^^- Marina, with her father and brother, were Suifki P^^ into prifon, and this revolution cod the lives ' of above 1700 perfons, who had been in the ur furper's in te reft. Who af- Suiild was immediately proclaimed Emperor, cends the ^'^^ ^^^^ pofFelTion of the tlirone on the firft day of throne, June. But fcarcely was he inftalled, before Demcr- Another ^^'^^s was again brought upon the ftage. It was Dmetrius given out that he made his efcape under favour of a dark Book I. Peter I. Czar (^/^Mufcovy. 9 a dark night, and that another man, clerk to one of the fecretaries of State, had been piftoFd in his place. The Poles fupported this new pretender, who was a fellow of mean birth : they gave him troops, with which he got po/Teflion of feveral confiderable cities. Marina came to him in his camp, embraced him in fight of the army, and acknowledged him for her husband ; hoping by that means to preferve the rank and title of Em- prefs. After a bloody war, which lafted three years, Suifl^i was deprived of his crown, fhut up in acloifler, and afterwards in the caftle of Gofty- Stufhidc' nin in Poland, where he died. As for the impof- y,^/^^^ tor, Demetrius, he was affaffinated at Coluga by the Tartars ; and the ambitious Marina was The ufur-^ thrown into a river, together with her fon. per Jlai?!. The Mulcovites, willing to avoid a new war, with which they were threatened by the Poles, in revenge for an affront they had received at Mof- cow at the marriage of Demetrius, made applica- tion to King Sigifmund for leave to chufe his eldeft Muf' fon Uladiflaus for their Czar, on condition that ^^"^'^^^^ he fliould be re-baptifed according to the Grecian Uladi* rite, in prefence of the clergy and nobility of xhc J^^^^^ ^ fe^ kingdom. General Solkouski advanced with an of the K. of army to the very gates of Mofcow, and took the ^^^^^d ^ oath of fidelity from the inhabitants, while he cxpeded the Prince to follow him in perfon : but refii-^ whether his confcience would not fuffer him to ac- r^^ cept a crown at the expence of his religion, or ^^^Qti^.^i^ that he dreaded putting himfelf in the povv er of his moft irreconcileable enemies, Uladiflaus never came. In the mean time the Poles,to the number Cruelties 6coo,having entered Mofcow, exercifed the moft Q^the Poles unheard-of cruelties on the inhabitants,put num- Mo/cjsvj bers of them to the fword, fet fire to feveral parts of the town, plundered the treafury of the Great Duke, the churches, and the convents, and carried away a prodigious quantity of gold and filver. The Mufqxjvites, however, got together an army, fol- lowed JO TheHlSrORYof Book T. lowed them in their retreat, and obliged tliem to Ele^io7i ^l^^ve their territories. After which they depofed Michael Uladiflaus in form, and elected in his place Mi- Federo- chael Federowitz Romanow, fon of the metropo- nxsitz Ro' -^^^^^ Roflow, and founder of the prefent Im- 7?iaH0'W, P^^i^l family. He was proclaimed grand Duke to- wards the end of the year 1 6 1 3 . Soon after ftart- Another ed up a new impoftor, who called himfelf the fon ijupojlgr, Suiski, but was in fad the fon of one Timoska, a linnen-draper. He met with fome partizans, by whofe affiftance he got pofTcdion of the city of Plellcow : but running afterwards into the mod fcandalous debaucheries, he was carried to Mof- cow,and there executed in the great market-place. Young P^omanow's mother, terrified at the fate of fo many preceding Czars, attempted to invali- date her fon's ele^ftion : but the nobility flood to what they had done, and engaged to be his guar- dians. His father, the archbifhop, was then a pri- foner in Prulna, where he had been detained upon an embalTy from the Czar Suilld. Michael notifying His father his acceflion to the Poles, they immediately fent 7?iade pa- back the old prelate, who upon the death of the triarch, then patriarch, was advanced to that dignity. Mse alh'ci The Czar Michael was a pacific Prince. His charaHer defire of peace prevailed with him to fend an em- and ails» bafTy to the Emperor Matthias, to beg his media* tion of the differences between Mufcovy and Po- land. Conferences v/erelield hereupon atWiefma, in the province of Mufcow, in 1 6 1 5 ; but were broke off on accouat of the dimcaldeaiu fettling, the pretenfions on both fides. The Mufcovites be- fieged SmoienlKo, and the Poles iviofcow, till a fufpenfion of arms made them both defift. It was prolonged into a truce for fourteen years, which not being renewed, the Mufcovites again blocked Smo- lensko. King Uladiflaus came to its fuccour, and raifed thefiegebya complete vidory. The Czar, alarmed at this defeat, again made propofitions of peace, in confecjuenee of which the ambafladors Qn Book I. Peter I. Czar (J/^ Mufcovy . it on both fides met in 1634, at the village of Di- vvilna, upon the river Polanow. At laft, after ma- ny conteftations, it was agreed that Uladiflaus fliould renounce for ever his pretenfions on Muf- covy, together with the title of grand Duke, which he had alfumed in right of his former eledi- on.and that he (hould keep the dutchies of Smolen- flco and Severia, as a fief of the crown of Poland. Michael having lived forty-nine years, and ^'^^/^ reigned thirty-fix, diedfuddenly in the month of ^^^^ his fin July, 1645. Alexis Michaelowitz his fon, then ^^^^^^^f^^^' but fixteen years of age, w^as crowned two days ^^^^^ after, by the addrefs of the boyar Boris Ivano- witz Morofow his governor. The firfl: thing he did after his coronation, was to fend from court all thofe boyars who had mod: credit with his fa- ther. He then broke the treaty of Polanow, took Smolenflio, ravaged Lithuania, and made an ir- ruption into Poland. The Emperor Frederick III. interpofed on this occafion, and offered an accom- modation between the two crowns. Polifh ambaf- fadors came to Vilna, where the Czar then was, and concluded ^ truce with him, which was af- terwards changed into a treaty of peace. * The Czar Alexis was a man of good under- His cha^ (landing. Being a flranger to foreign languages, ra^er. he caufed an epitome of fevcral fciences to be tranfl'ated into the Ruflian tongue, which he dili- gently read. He made fome regulations in the army, and particularly introduced a great number of » foreign officers. At one and the fame time he had war with the Turks, the Tartars, and the Poles, From the latter,befides Smolcnfico, he took Kiow, Czernigow, Bclaja, and the Ukrain, and had once pofiefTion of the greateft part of Lithuania and Volhinia,which he added to his title : but no po- tentate * StraMen.berg's defcript'on of the North and iafl parts of Europe and Afia, The H ISrO RT of Book L tentate being willing to allow him that acquifition, he furrendered again both title and territory, after the peace was concluded. He took from the Tar- tars a large tra6l of land towards the Crim, which he added to his dominions ; received prefentsfrom the Perfians,Chinefe,and other Afiatic neighbours; ^ quelled three dangerous rebellions ; caufed the Ruffian laws to be colled:ed together and printed ; introduced feveral manufactures ; augmented his revenue ; and had fome thoughts of building a fleet ; in fhort, he was a great warrior, and a~ bet- ter Prince than mofi: who had gone before him. ^ Alexis died in 1676, leaving by his firft wife, Mary llgenita, two fons, Theodore and John, and three daughters, Sophia, Mary, and Catharine ; and by his fecond, Natalia Kirllowna, daughter of the prime minifter Kirili Narafldn, his fon P T E R, the fubje<51: of this hiftory, and the Princefs Natalia. Before his death, he made peace with all his neighbours, except the Turks. His eldeftfon Theodore fucceeded to the crown ; a Prince of a weak conftitution, and peaceable dif- pofition : but a lover of poetry, vocal mufick, building, and horfes. He introduced mufick into the churches,according to the Roman notes,which brought on him the imputation of being inclined to popery. He embellifhed the city of Mofcow with ftone buildings, and took fome pains to have other cities repaired. For thofe who could not rebuild their houfes, he fent them money out of his trea- fjry, to be re-paid in ten years. He deflroyed the charters of the nobility, that prerogative af- terwards might be grounded only on merit. His inclination for horfes occafioned the bringing of many from foreign countries, efpecialfy Pruffia ; and by fetting up ftuds, a good breed was raifed in a fliort time. So far as his capacity and ftrength would permit, he feemed to purfue the welfare of his people, and gave an uncommon in- ftance how much he had it at heart, by excluding from Bpokl* VetekI, Czar o/Mm^covj, 13 from the fucceffion his own brother John, who had weak eyes, and a fliallow undcrftanding, in favour of his half brother Peter, a mu^h more promifing prince. Some give the honour of this elev5lion to the fenate ; but moft allow that what they did, was in purfuance of the Czar's dying requeft. Theodore had two wives. The firfl, a Polifh lady, lived with him but a fliort time. The fe- cond he married not long before his death, at the , inftigation of his chief favourite Jafykow, who did it merely to deprive Peter of the fuccefTion. She was daughter of Apraxin, a new created noble- man, and a fcrivener's fon. But the Czar v/cls too weak for the minifter's purpofe, and is faid to have died without touching her, in the 23d year of his age, June the 27th, 1682, having reigned only ^ fix yeaTs. His death was followed by violent commotions, in oppofition to yoiing Peter's elec- tion : but of thefe we lhall treat in the fecond book, after having, in the remainder of this, taken a po- litical and geographical view of the Ruflian Em- pire at this jundture. The conftitution of Mufcovy is entirely monar- i?///^* chical. Unity in religion, the abfolute pov/er a?i confii" the Czars, and the profound fubmiOion of their f^fiQ^j fabjects, all contribute to maintain this form of government. As the Czars pretend to derive their original from the Roman emperors, they bear the Jn?is, fame arms as the Emperor of G crmany ; except that there is a St. G eorge on horfeback on the breafl of the eagle, and a mitre crovs^ned upon each of his heads. They are not only the fource of all au- Czar'^s au* thority, butufed to be refpectedas the centre fi^^j-ify^ •sll knowledge; and to hinder any inquiGtive per- fon from endeavouring to penetrate into die mylle- • ries of their government, they entirely banifhed the fcicnces from their dominions, and forbad the profeffion of diem under fevere penalties. They * C would 14 The HI STORY of Booktr Learnhig would not permit the eftablifhment of any coilege, prohihiU'iL ^o^" the inflTud:ion of youth, that none of their fubjeds might kiK)w more than themfelves. The patriarch Micon, who, under the reign of Alexis Michaelowitz, father of the late Peter the Great, would liave eftablifhed r\vo proMbrfhips at Mof- cow, for the Latin and Greek languages, was dif- graced on that very account : fo different were the maxims of that Prince, one of the beft Ruffia ever before had, from thofe of his fon ! it was then common with the Mufcovites, when they Ipoke of any thirig fecret, or hard to be comprehended, to fay, God and the Czar only kn(m it. As for their own parts, the utmoft of their learning was to write and read. Chriftianity itfclf, which impofes on the' priefts, at lead, afortof necelfity of leaiTiing, did yet leave the Ruffian clergy as ignorant as the laity. All they knew was, that they were of the Greek profeffion, and muft therefore mortally hate the Latins. Not a doftor among them was able to make a fermon, even to fuch auditors as the poor Ruffians. It was not liiiEcient that books were not read, but in Ruffia fcarce any could be found, even in the richeft and moft antient monafteries. A ^ No fubje<5t of Mufcovy could travel \^thout n^ tja- ^1^^ Char's permiffion, and his ordintmces wei^ ^^^S' very fevere againft thofe who infringed this reguf lation. The converfation of Grangers, according' to thefe princes, would render them tcfo knowing, and teach them to live with greater liberty. The grandees were not even fuffered to retire from court ; and tho' they had large pofleffions in the provinces, they never went to vifit them, but left the whole care of their eftates to the manage- ment of ftev/ards. Obedience to thefe fevere in- jundions was become fp habitual, that we fhail find it one of the Czar Peter's moft difficult works to introduce a more natural freedom. Thefove- reign himfclf, in thofe times, never married a fo- reign wife, but chofe one from aaiong his nobility, ' and ir s Book 1. Pe t Ell I. Czar of Mufcovy. and fometimes tlie cdromon people, whofe rela- tions had never any particular honour, but only during her life. Bm the defpotic manner of their government, ^ did not however hinder them from taking the ad- vice of their council of ftate, on all matters of ^^^^^'^-'^ importance. This afTembly was com l^ofedof the^?^^^- boyars, or principal lords of the courts fome of the Ocolnics, or gentlemen of the bed-chamber • of the Dumni-Duoranins, or grand councillors, who are all noble ; affilted by three Dumni-Diacks, or '.chancellors, chofen from among the commonalty, '^vho always flood while the others were feated* All pubiick affairs, relating as well tp the exterior as the interior of the (late, were confidcrcd in this •council. The commifTaries for foreign cmbaflies Avere always chofen out of it, the Czar referving to himfelf the riglit both to nominate the head of the -commilTion, and the Diaeks, or under-chancellors, who were to ailiii hun. There were ieveral tri- bunals for ilie adminift ration of juftice, called q^^^^^^ fre-caiifesy in which the counciliors of ftate, ei- ; • ^ ther boyars , Ocolnics , or Dumni-Duoranrns ^'^ ^' tnight prefide, and the Diacks performed the of- ?fice of regifters. They decided caufes only at their firft hearing, after which there was an ap- peal to the council of ftate. The Czars, on account of theivaft extent of their dominions,^ could raife a very numerous army in a ^^''(^^^ of Ifiiort time. It has been reported, by thofe v/ho ^'^^ Czars. feve refidcd in Mufcovy, tiiat they might eafily 'fering together 300,000 men within forty days^ ^hich is owing to the form of government in the Ieveral provinces, that, upon fending notice to the Vaivodes, or governors, obliges them to fumifh their feveral complimenfts, at the time prefcribed, i^ut then thefe troops were only a fort of militia, fo little accuftomed to the exercife of arms, that they knew neither the order nor difcipiine of war ; ^feich mak^s 4t die lefs to be wondered at^ th^ C 2 they The -H ISTO RY of Book 1. they were fo often defeated by their eneniies. The Czar, however, had a body of 40,000 men, called Strelitzes, for his life-guard, a third part of which were ahvays near his perfon, and the refl in the frontier garrifons . Thefc fellows, like the Turkifh Janiffaries, made themfcives formidable to their maflers, at the fame time that they were u terror to his fabjeds. The cavalry, in time of peace, was reduced to a fmall number; biit in time of war it confi(kd of a great many regi- jrtents, each containing 1 1 companies, and every company 100 men. There was alfo a corps of dragoons, compofed entirely of gentlemen, who Were called Slnboiarks. The command of armies was not given to merit, but only to birth ; whence it happened that the generals were without ex- perience, and liable to commit the moft notorious faults ; efpecially as they had no regular general oflicers, according to the cuftom of other couii- tries. The colonels, the lieutenant-colonels, the majors, the captains, and the other fubaltern ofE- cers, were almofi: always foreigners, chieily fol- diers of fortune, driven by neceffity out . of their native countries, and brought thither only by the hopes of rew^ard. Their pay was very large, and the efteem they met with, (hewed how much the Mufcovites were in want of officers. As in their own countries they v/ere feldom more than com- mon foidiers, and only in Ruilia raifed to be officers, they knew little more of their nev/ trade than if they had never been in an army. In a v/ord, the military art, unhappily as indifpenfable as hut bandry itfelf, was quite negleded. The Ruffi- ans had indeed extended their dominions, but then it was to the Eafl and the North, where they met with people yet more barbarous than thein*- felves. Towards the Weft and South they could make no impreffion, againft the Swedes, the Poles, or the Turks. The nobility and gentry, by a falfe policy of the Czars, were exempted from fcrvicej, Book I. Veti^kJ, Cz^r o/^Mufcovy, t7 fervice, and they looked on this fcandalous ex- emption as a matter of honour. An army thus raiied by force, compofed of the dregs of the people, badly difcipiined, badly commanded, could never make head againft a v/arlike enemy, and there mufl be aconjunclion of very happy circum- fiances to give them a tolerable vi(5tory. This want of ftrength to cope with otlicr powers, T'/j^/r a/' made it necelfary for the Czars to be very careful in /iances^ fecuring the friendlhip and alliance of thdr neigh- bours ; and at this they were ufaaily pretty dex- trous* They lived in Ihi'ft union with the kings of Perfia, whofe iniereft it equally was to diminifli the power of the Turk, their comnpon enemy. With the Swedes they were generally at peace, and al- ways in league with the Poles when a war was on foot againft the Infidels. Peter's predece/Tors had formerly laid claim to .the cro wn of Poland ; but befides the diiferent terxiper and religion of the two nations, the Poles apprehend£:d that if the* Grand Dukes of Mufcovy were once eleckd their fovereigns, their great power, and the vicinity of their t,^itates, would tempt them to become theic opprefTors, rather than their protectors. The M'ufcovites were a clownifh ignorant people-, deftitute of politenefs, and even civility : which was owing to. their being denied the ufe of thefciences, 'j]/[^^r^^ and the liberty of travelling. They were very irre- y:^^^^^ gular in their manners, regardlcls of faith, treaties, ^ and oaths ; moft excellive drinkers ;. but very har- dy, and able upon occafion to bear hunger, coldy and all the fatigues of war. They did not want na^ tural vivacity and penetration, being expert imita- t,ors of whatever they faw : but dien. all induftry was entirely ibpprefled among them. The peafants, born, in flavery to their merciiefs lord, w^ere con- tent with a rude fort of agriculture, which juit brought them: in fumcient to live on. Rich, they could not grow, nor durft they if able : even the cobles were afraid to appear fo. But arts are tha C 3. cliildfcai The HISrORT of Book!. x^nldren of riches, and lenity of government j no wcsider then if they werc ftrangers in Ruffia. Relhton religion, they ufe the ceraiK>nies and difci- ^ ' pline of the Greek church. Their patriarch, the Thcpatri- fupremeinall ecclefiaftical afikirs>. was eleded by ^rch^ theinetrc5>o]itans, the arciibifhops, the bifliops, and the inferior clergy, from among the monks of St. Bafil. His eiedion was confirmed by the Czar, with . the ceremony of delivering to him a paltoral ftafF. Antiejidy he depended on the fee of Conftanti- Gople : for Wolodiraer, the fon of Suatiilaus, hav- ing embraced Chriftianity, ^ficolas Chryfoberg, pa- triarch of diat fee,.eftabJi£hed Micliaei metropolitaii of all Ruffia. His fucceilbrs were contented with that title till 1588, when Job affumed the rank of patriarch, and was confirmed in it by Jerom, who had been degraded from his dignity at Conflanti- nople. The fucceflbr of Job, jealous of his new- g'^- -acquired title, bought off the dependance of it for a 1 1 " v ^ fum of money, which he had the addrefs to raife ^ from the Mufcovites, under tlie pretence of re- leafing them from all foreign authority in matters of religion, and that it was their intereft ami ho^ nour to become a feparate church. There were befides reafons of ftate in this alteration. The Czar looking m all thofe Turks, who were fent to hun by the patriarch of Conf^antinople, as fo many ipies ; to avoid tlii s inconvenience, which might be attended with dangerous confequences, he thought a feparatiem was the mod infallible means. The patriarch called himfelf Proto-x4.rGhimandrite of ^he order of St. Bad. He ufed to crown theCzars, iind to regulate abfoluteiy ail affairs of religion, for wliich he had particular tribunals, where juf*- tice was adminiflered in his name. The Roferad> one of their courts, took cognizance of all that re- garded the efFe«5ls of the church. The fccond, called Sudnoi, determined the affairs^ of the monks Ctf St. Bafil. The third, which bore the same oF Cafamioi^ infpeded tlie patriarch s trcafures and reve- Book I. PETEk T, Czar of Mufco^. 1^, i-e venues. The pomp and gtandeur of this prelate was almoii: ina edibie, and can only be accounted for from the ignorance of the laity, even of the nCzai-s tliemfelvesi, who on Palm-Suaday, their ibiemri day of proceffion, went on foot, fupported 'iy the boyars, holding the bridle of the patriarch'^ feorfe. It was no wonder that Peter aboliftied aft authority, which fo much interfered with, and fome meaiiire eclipfed his own. a j t Next after the patriarch were the Metropolitans ^j^^ ^^"^^ of Novogrod, Cafan,Roftow, and Sark, who preild*- ^^^^'iJ* ed in their refpedive provinces, and had «onfider>- able power among the clergy. Then followed the archbilhops of W ologda,Tw€er, Aftracan,Siberia, Archangel, andPleikov/; and after them the two bifhops of Viatka and Golumna. The abbots^ or archimandrites, amounted to about fifty ; the provofts, or protopapas, to a grea*t many more ; and the priefts, or papas, moft of whom were very if% ignorant and debauched, to a prodigious number. The precepts of Chriftianity, and the pfalms which tliey fang in the churches, were writ in Scia*- vonian charadlers ; the Mufcovites, till lately^ knowing nothing of the Latin. They believed Ceranonies baptifrii inefFedtual, unlefs it were adminiftred by a triple emerfion, according to the antient pradice of the church. They receive the eucharifl: in both kinds, and even adminifter it to infants of feven years old, whom they believe fubjedl to fin. They look on Purgatory as a fable ; but hold with con- fellion, prayers for the dead, the fign of tlic crofs, proceffions, and many other ceremonies in common with the catholicks. They imagined the world was created in autumn, and therefore made the firft of September their new-years day, till the Czar Peter reformed their calendar, and expof- ed their ridiculous opinion of the origin of things* They have a great number of fatts, which they ob- ferve very ftridtly : For befides Lent, the flift of Yajlsi, St» Peter lails from the odaye of Whitfuntide till the 2r> The HI STORY of Book L the feffival of that faint ; that of the virgin, from the firft of Augufl till the day of Aflumption ; that of St, Philip,from the 1 4thof November till €hriftmas- EaJ}ei\ day. When E after comes, they abandon themfelv es to all manner ofexceffes, to teftify their joy for our Saviour's refurredion. As this is the moft fo- lemn of all their feafts, they ufed to celebrate it in the following manner. They placed the princi- pal perfon in company ia the midft of the room where they affembled, and then encircling him a- bout, fang altogether in concert, accompanied by their Priefls. Thus they went three times round, and every one gave him the kifs of peace, and a prefent of eggs, either painted or gilt. Thofe of the firft rank have three eggs, others two, and the inferior fort but one. Their jollity at this time is extravagant, and he who has ofteneft been drunk, has fhcwn the raoft Eafter devotion. They fome times come to blows in thefe frolicks, and knock one another down with great poles. The mod: gallant young fellows^, who love that way of faluting the women, run up and doAvn all day with their eggs, (which it is euftomaryfor one fex to prefent the other in the ftreets) give the kifs of peace, and make their prefent, laying m the Ruf- fian tongue, Chriji is' rifen : to which the woman anfwers, 7>/, he is rifen. The clergy givx this Guftoni a fpirituai interpretation^ Ther€ were noXefts among the Mufcovites,they No feBs being forbid all religious difputes,- upon thefe among the niaxims of their rulers, that " they who talk of Rtiftans, religion leaft, talk of it beft," and tTiat "the vulgar ought tO be fincerely devoted to the faitir tliey have received from God, without perplexing tiiemfelves about difficult queftions,. which are a:?, bove their comprehenfion. "Hence it was that they had ever continued firm in tbxir old opinions, with* out bjDrrowing any new dodrines, either from th« Theh- Papifts or Proteftants. The veneration they have faints^ &t fuints,and efpecially for St, Nicoks,is vcr.ygrea'-^ Book I. Pe t £ R T. Xlizar of Mufcovy . ^ Not a family but has Tome tutelar faint of its own, which they revere above all others. His pi^fture is always placed in fight, as you enter their apart- merlts, and if vifitor happens to overlook it at firfl glance, he immediately aiks for the faint, whom he falutes before the mailer of th<^ houfe*. The mod: vigorous lover dares not receive a favour from his miflrefs, be the moment ever fo critical, .without firll covering the fliints in the room, that they may not be witnelTes of what is done* It is ufuai to carry thefe faints to funerals; andnopef- fon is buried among them, but has a certificate from the metropolitan put into his coffin, to in- form St. Nicolas what were the life and manners of the decesfcd. It is common alfo to throw a piece of money into the tomb, and leave provifions there both for eating and drinking. But among all their lidiculous and iliperftitious cuftoms, the Mufcovites had fome more lignificant and inftrudive. They put a crowTi of wormwood J\X(^ffi(ja^j upon th(f heads of new -married perfons, to repre- * ^ fent the bitternefs of marriage ; and as a token of fecundity, fprinkled diem with hops. They cover- ed the woman's eyes with a veil, to fignify that fhe ought not to fee the faults of her hufband. Their laws did not prohibit bigamy ; yet thofe who com- mitted it were never refpeded after, but looked upon as the fhame and diihonour of their families. ' They believed no women to be honeft nnlefs they entirely refrained the converfation of men, and kept themfelves pnfoners in their houfes. Virtue, accor- ding to them,conCfl:ed in being confined within four walls, and die more favage and unpolifhed, the bet» ter wife. Hufbands might kill their wives by v/ay of corredion, without incurring the penalty of the law : they might alfo repudiate them for (leriUty, and force them to retire into a convent : and yet, w^hat is hardly credible, it was ufual for the wife to be proud of her hufband's jealoufy and ill-na- ture. It was ngt till towards the beginning of the ^2 Grecit fuh 7niJfion of the Mufco vites : And ail' tbority of the Czan, The H ISrO RY of Book I, Czar Peter's reign, .that it became cuftomary for £uhers, in marriage-contracts, to article that their daughters fhould be ufed according to their qua- lity, fed mth good vit5luals, and not be cudgelled on every flight occaiion. Women who deilroyed .their huibands (a thing frequent in Ruffia till the late reformations) were fet alive m the ground> and ftarvcd to death. As the Mufcovites are more fubmiffive than even the Turks, they glory in calling themfelvcs flaves to ^ their prince. His will, which they always regard as, the will of God, is the only rule of their anions. Thus the yoke of a tyranny, otherwii'e infupport- able, was made eafy by a voluntary and habitual fervitude, perfedly natural to the whole nation. They would tremble at the ver}? fight of the Czar, throw themfeives at his feet as he pafled along, ■ccnfcfs tiiat they liad nodiing of their own, but tliat their lives and po^elSons were all from his bounty, and no lojiger theirs tlian he was pJeafed to permit. The Czars, for their parts, made their advantage of this credulity, and drew from their fubje£ls whatever they pleafed. Befides the traffic m Siberian furs, tlie cuftoms, the taxes upon bran* dy-fhops and other publick-houfes, the p-operty of baths and floves, the duty upcai entry and de- parture in the port of Archangel (amounting alone to above 600,000 crowns) the impofh on the ca* viare of Aftracan, upon Icthyocoi and Agaric, the profits made of the IVsrfian and Armenian merchan- dizes, the commerce of Ikins, wax, honey, and hemp ; befides all thefe, and what they levied on -their officers, the Czars were, and ftiil continue, the lawful and fole heirs of all who die int-eilate, dr who have been accufed of any crime, ^ind the abfo- Jute mafters of all their fubjedts effeds, Which ^he^ ufually furrender to the next of blood, tipoft their paying a confiderable fine . The Engliffi and Dutch, who for a long time pafl have carried x>a a-confiderable trade with tlic Book T. Peter I. Czar of Mufccwy. 23 Ruffians, advifed the Czar Bafil Suifid to mak^ a j fhefne canal from the Wolga to the Jug, which falls intoy^^. joining the Dwina, and another in the kingdom of Aftra- of riven* can, between the Wolga and the Tanais, by which means he would have joined all the neighbouring feas, and confequently muft have brought gifeat a- bund ance into all the parts of hts wide-extended territories. But that Prince rejeded a propofal fo J^^je^ed. glorious to himfelf, andfo advatitageous to his fub- jcifls, upon the weak pretence that fo much foreign commerce would diaw a great number of ftrangers into his dominions^ and that the concourfe of fo many different nations, might occafion innovations in religion, and corrupt the manners of his fubjeds. His fucceflbrs, indeed, on political confiderations, Profe- did afterwards permit the Lutherans and CdlVi- fants tolc^ nifts the exercile of their religion in Mufcovy, de- rated* nyiftg them only the ufe of bells. The great num- ber of merchants and foldiers, Englifh, Scot-s, Ger- man, Swedifli, and Dutch, wlio w^ere there fettled, were found of fo great advantage, as well as fe- curity to the ftate, that it was prudently thought better to relax a little on the head of religion, than to run much greater hazards, by difcourag- ing thofe people to inhabit among them. Yet th^ fame averfion'^to the opening new canals of trade, and a more free correfpondence with foreigners, contiotted to reftrain them from all farther advan- ces; till the late gloiious reign of Peter the Great. The little commerce they before had, was entire- ^ ly in the hands of foreign merchants, who were ^^^^^'^^^^ but too much tempted to impofe on them. The fea had never borne any Mufcovite fhips, either for traffic or war, and the port of Archangel was for ftrangers only. To fum up the chara<5ler of thefe people : * there r 1 r , ^ , 1 ■ 1 t Lciclu ion reigned every where an extreme depravation, both r^! 1? r CI manners and lentiments, which was not, as in ^ l ' . /tans cha- other ^ „ racier^ ' ' "%< Biogc Ju Cxar Pierre I. par M. de Fontene!ie. 24 • The H IS T OJt r of ■ Book L other places, fo much as concealed under a mo- dell outdde, or dreffed in the appearance of wit and fuperficial humour. Yet, as pride is the pcr- fe<51:ion of ignorance, this fame people was fuper- latively haughr\', and full of contempt for every thing they did not iinderftand. The Mufconte nation, knowing nothing, and little known by any of its neighbours, made a fort of peculiar people, which did not enter into the fyilem of Europe, Iiad no intimate alliance with any of her powers, was iitde regarded by them, and of which they had little curioflty to be acquainted with the hiilorv. Such was the political (late of .Mufcovy, when Prince Peter w^as proclaimed Czar on the death of his brother Theodore ; and indeed little was it im- proved for fome years after, during the minority of the young monarch. Let us now fee what thofe dominions were, w^hich then devolved to his au- thority; leaving his own acquihtions, and the im- provement he made in his hereditary countries, to be fpoken of in dieir proper places. Extent of Mufco\7, properly lb called, is but a province the Ruffian of Great Rullia; as die two Ruflias united make empire^ only a part of that vafl empire, to which they now communicate their n?jiie. Such a prodigious traft of land as the whole North of 'Afri, and of the greateft part of Europe, is to be found under the dominion of no one monarch, but the fove- reign of RulTia, The whole length of it, between China and Sweden, is computed at 1500 leagues. In this defcription of its feveral parts, I fiiall write of fomethlng more inftrUv5live than the mere lon- , gitude and latitude of places. Bounda- "^^^^ Ruffian empire may be di\ided into the ries and European provinces, included under the general divlfion cf name of Mufcovy, and the Aliatic provinces, or^ Mifcov-rti Siberia and Mufcovite Tartary. To begin with the Europe tinl:, or Mufcovy in Europe: die rivers Oby and - litis Sook I. Phte^ I. Czar oflslwkovj, 2 J Irris bound it on the eaft; a line drawn from the latter to the Cafpian-Sea, from thence to the river Don, and along by the north of Grim Tartary, on the South ; on the Weft, the river Nieper (fiivides it from Poland : North of which lie the provinces fince conquered from Sweden, on whofe territories it confines quite to the frozen ocean, which makes the northern boundary. It is near 2 300 miles in length, and 1800 in breadth. The ufual divi- fion of it is into South and North Mufcovy ; and tlie latter is again fubdivided into Eaft, and Weft, the one bordering on Tartary, and the other on Sw^eden. The weftern part of North Mufcovy, includes Wt[ft part Eaft Lapland, the province of Dwina, the dutchy ^orth ofElef]cow,the provinces of Kargapol and A^dog- Mufcovy^ da,andthedutchiesofNovogrod and Biela-Ozero. -n ri j Eaft Lapland, formerly called Biarmia, lies be- -V'^^ ^^P' tween the lake Ejiaretrelk and the northern ocean; ^ is a defart and uncultivated country, confifting of three great provinces ; iMourman/l<:oi-Leporia, in which is die port of Kola, at die mouth of a river much frequented by the Engliili and Dutch, for the multitude of fldns there fold : Terf]<:oi-Leporia, between the northern ocean and the White-Sea ; and Bellamorc/lvi-Leporia, at the bottom the lat- ter. The cold here is extreme. The province of Dwina has its name from the ^'^^'^-'^^^ river fo called, which divides it in the middle. of Dnx:i7ia\ The principal city is Archangel, at the mouth ^^.^/.^y.^ael of this river, a very populous place, aiid till of late ' " *^ years famous for its extend ve commerce. There have fometimes been feen 500 large fliips together in its port, from England, Holland, Sv/eden, and Denmark,freighted uith all forts of merchandifes. The Englifti firft arrived there, during a war be- tween the Danes and IVIufcovites, after having made feveral voyages on the coafts of Norway and Lap- land, and eftabliftied a trade that confiderably * D aug- 26 rhe H ISrO RY of Book T. augmented the Czar's revenues. Archangel is an archiepifcopal fee . There is befides in this province St. Nkho- of Dwina the port of St. Nichols, but much in- las, ferior to that of Archangel. Dutch of '^^^ dutchy of Pleskow extends between the P^eskiw ^^^^^^y Novogrod on the Eaft, and Livonia on ' * the Weft. It was a long time governed by its own Princes, who were ele<5ted by the people. But John Bafiliowitz drove out the reigning fovereign in 1 509, and made himfelf mafter of the country. City, Pleskow, the capital city, upon the river Weliki> is divided into four quarters, which have their re- fpedlive walls ; and defended by a caftle built up- on a rock. The Dukes of Livonia took it in 1 2 4 1 . Alexander great Duke of Mufcovy reftored it to liberty, which it preferved however but till 14 1 4, when Vitold grand Duke of Lithuania re- duced it. Twelve years after it revolted, and continued again independant till 1 5 09 , wlicn John Bafiliowitz obtained it by the treachery of fome priefts. Stephen Bathori King of Poland befieged it in 1587, but v/ithout effed. It is the fee of ap archbifhop. Kargapol, The province of Kargapol lies between the lake Onega and the river Dwina. It has a city of the {ame name near the lake. - . /r , j;^ i Wologda xhe province of Wologda is a very marfhy province country, near the fource of the Dwina. It takes and city, j^s name from the city of Wologda upon that ri^ ver, a large place, and fortified fmce the reign of John Bafiliowitz II. The archbifhop of Wologda takes place of all others in Mufcovy. Great No- The dutchy of Novogrod is fo called from the vogrody city of Novogrod Weiiki.or Great Novogrod, fitu- dutchy of, ate in an extenfive plain on the river Wolkow, a- dorned with fine buildings, and well fortified. It is the oldeft city in all RufTia, and was formerly a po- ^^O'v tent republick, maintaining itfelf long againft all the efforts of its enemies. Vitold grand Duke of Lithuania fubduedit in 14 14. John Bafiliowitz 1. took Book!. Peter I. Czar ^Mufcovy. 27 took it from the Lithuanians ; obliged Cafiinir III. King of Poland, to renounce all his pretenfions o- v€r it, and reftored the inhabitants to their antient liberty. The conftable de la Gardie took it in 1 6 1 1 ,but the Swedes reftored it to the Mufcovitts in 1 6 1 3 . Its metropolitan is the lirft in rank. There is alfo in this province, and upon the Wolkow, the city of Ladoga, near where the lake of that name receives the faid river. This was formerly a place of importance, by being on the frontiers of Swe- den, till the late war altered the boundaries of the two States. They worfhipped an idol antientiy in this province, called Perum, under the figure of a man grafping thunder, and his name is ftill pre- ferved in the monaftery of Perumski. The dutchy of Biela-Ozero lies between Wo- Biela-Oze- k)gda and Novogrod. Its capital,of the fame name, dutchy k a place of confiderable ftrength. It ftands upcii a ^^^^ aty. fort of mole that advances far into the lake, and on the land fide is defended by a citadel almofl in- acceiFible. Here the Czars ufed to depofite a part of their treafure, under the care of apiincipiii courtier. That part of North Mufcovy which borders on Eafl part Tartary, comprehends the provinces of Condora, of North Juhorski, Petzora, Obdora, Uffioug, Permski,and Mufcovy, Viatka, with the countries of the Czeremi/Tes and Morduates. The province ofGondora lies between Petzora Condora, and Defart Tartary. It confiils only of woods and frightful defarts. The nadves are idolaters, and pay their tribute in skins and furs. The province of Juhorski lies between thole o{ Juhorski, Condora and Petzora. Its inhabitants are a fort of uncivilized Tartars. I he Mufcovites have pofief- fed it ever fince the reign of John Bafiliowitz II : but neither cities nor towns are to be found here ; only a few ports upon the frozea fea, deftitute of any trafBckr D 3 The 23 The H ISTO RT of Book L P^izcra, province of Petzora extends along the fro- ' ' ' zen fea, between the White fea and Wey gat's freights. It has a river and one city of the. lame name. The former ifTues from the Riphean moun- tains, which extend from the White-Sea to the river Oby. There is alfo a fortrefs in this pro- vince, near the mouth of the river Petzora, cal- led Pufliezero. Mdora, The province of Obdora extends to the frozen fea, beyond tlie river Oby. It is quite a defart country, without towns, except a few fortrefTes on the coafts. The Northern parf is inhabited by fe- veral idolatrous nations, and here is faid to be the temple of that antient idol called by the Mufco- vites Zolota -baba, reprefented by an old man with a child in his arms, and another by his fide. This god is in the higheft efleem throughout the neigh- bouring countries, and corifulted as an oracle ia ^ times of difficulty. Vjhcug, province of Uftioug lies between Wologda and the CzeremilTes. It is watered by the river Su- chana, which affords the inhabitants great plenty The city, of fiHi. The city of Uftioug is fo called from a Ruflian word, fignifying the mouth of a river, Ix.caufe it was built upon the conflux of the Sucha- na and the Jug; It is large, and fortified with a good calHe. Demetriofl-', upon the Dv/ina, was founded by the gran*! Duke Demetrius, whofe name it prefer^'cs. r^rn/i^u '-^'^'^ province of Permski, or G reat Permia, lies on the Weil oF Siberia. It is a very raarQiy country, partly under water, partly full of woods • and horrid dcfarts. John Bafiliowitz II. fubdued, but few people ventured to inhabit it. It abounds,, in wild beafts,feeniingly defigned by nature to give them an afylum. 1 he few natives live by hunt- ing thefe creatures, whofe flelh they eat, and fell The cit^, ^^^^'^ ^^^y Permia Weliki, upon the river Kam, is capital of the province, and the Book I. Peter I. 6W ^Mufcovy. ^ 29 feat of an arclibiihop in conjimcHon witji Wo- ''The province of Vratka lies to the Weft of V^^^^^prc^ Perraia. It abounds in honey and wax, and pro- '^'^!'^^^ duces too a great number of hides. The city ^^^^^ of Viatka is remarkable only for being a bifhoprick. It ftands upon a little river of the fame namd, and has been fortified by the Czars, to preferve it from the irruptions of the Tartars. The country of the CzeremifTes extends along (country. ^ the banks of the Wologda/romthe dutchy of Nifi- Czcrs- Novogrod to the kmgdomof Aftracan. Thefe peo- ^^^i^-^* ^ pie are divided into Logouvoi Czeremifles, or in- habitants of the meadows, and Nagornoi Czere- milfes, that is, people who live in woods and moun- tains. The firft are Htuated beyond the Wolga, and live in tents, v/hich they remove from place to place, as they fmd pafturage. They breed up oxenjhorfesjand other beafts. They never plough nor fow, have no harveft, but live upon milk and fiefh. Their drink refembles our Aqua-vitae^ and they often ufe it to great excefs. The Nagor- noi Czeremifres inhabit on this fide the river,, in a rude and uncultivated country, full of woods and mountains. They live upon wild honey, v/hich they gather in the forefts ; fpend their time in hunting and indolence ; and as they have no ma- giftrates, neither have they any form of govern- ment. Th€ Morduates inhabit tov/ards the South of the q r^^^ Nagornoi Czeremiifes, in vaft defarts, which ex- ^j^^^;^^, tend to the dutchy of ^'N^'olodimer and Crim Tar- ^^^^^ ;tary. They fpeak the fame language as the Czere- mlffes, are like them of the Mahometan religion, and their Princes are equally tributary to the Czar. South Mufcovy comprehends the provinces of South Mufcovy, and the dutchies of Worotin, Pvczan, Mujcovj^ Wolodimer, Nifi,. or Little Novogrod, Jaroflaw, D 3 Sufdai, Mzifcovy proper^ Cchmna, rhe H ISTO Rr of Baok r. Safdal, Rollow, Tweer, Reskow, Bielki, Smolcnf* ko, Scveria, and Gzernizow. Mufcovy Proper, or the province of Mofcow, lies between the provinces of Roftow, Sufdal, Re* ian, Bielki, and Worotin. It is the firft in rank of the whole Empire, nor is any one inhabited by a greater number of nobility. The city of Mofcow, upon a river of the fame name, which comes out of the province of Tweer, is the capitiil of ail Ruf-^ fia. Its foundations were laid by George Duke of V/olodimerin 1334, and Daniel Alexandrowitz hating chofen it for the feat of his refidence, it became one of the ftrongeft and moft beautiful ci- ties of the North : but io(l: much of its glory upon being pillaged and burnt by the Tartars, who took it the 24th of May 1570. It recovered its rank however afterwards, and became larger and more popular than before* It is divided into four quar- ters , all enclofed with walls. The Czar's palace is within the citadel, which includes the arfenal, the houfcs of many of the chief nobility, feverai nionafteries, and the Precaufes, or courts of juf- tice. The patriarch's palace joins to the Czar's j is built of ftone; but the arcliitedture of it is very mean and poor. The houfes in general are of wood, and were reckoned about 50,000 in num- ber. Columna, upon the river Mofcow likewife, is another city of this province. It (lands about a league from the junction of that river with the Occa, and is the fee of an archbifhop. This province is in faft one of the moft conliderable of the whole Empire, andean furnifh 30,000 boy- ars, or gentlemen, in time of war. The dutchy of W orotin is the moft foutherli province of all Mufcovy, bordering upon thofe of Mofcow and Refan,and upon Little Tartary. The country is full of woods and lakes, and might be rendered very fertile,, if the inhabitants would take any care of its cultivation : but the dread of ^ihe Tartars, who continually kept them alarmed Book T. Pbter t. Czar ^Mufcovy. I St by their incurfions, makes them inadive and j^I- ritlefs. They content themfelvcs with fowin^ their corn in a very negligent manner, and beftow no fartlier pains on it till their harveft, when they ■ go to the field in order of batde, to defend themfelves againft thofe mercilefs enemies. One would think, to fee them all armed and in rank, that they were going rather to fome military expe- dition than to labour. Yet are they often furpriz- cd, notwithftanding their caution : the Tartaris knowing fo well the art to deceive them, either by feigning a flight, or laying of ambufcades, that they carry off not only the corn, but the men and horfes. Veronitz is a fmall city upon the Occa, VeronitZi defended with a few fortifications, to fecure the inhabitants from the irruptions of the Tartars. We fhaii fay more of this place hereafter. The dutchy of Rezan extends to the frontiers of Litrie Tartary, between the Don and the Oc^fii. "^^^v • It is a country extremely fertile in corn, very po- pular, and was governed by its own Princes till fubdued by John Baliliowitz II. Rezan, the capi- Qty* tal city, formerly confiderable for its magnitude, was ruined by the Crim Tartars in 1 568, but is ftill the feat of an archbifhop. The other cities of this province are BorifTa and Coluga. Boris Godenow, whofe name it bears, built the firft of them upon the river Bogdan. The latter ftands where the little river Upa falls into the Occa, and was fortified j^^^^^ j^^^ by the Mufcovites in the laft century. The Don, ^ known to the antients,by the name of Tanais, and which pafies for one of the largeft rivers in Europe, _ ifTues in this province from the lake Juvano- > vou-Lezioro. It begins to be navigable near the i ruins of the antient city of Donch ; then rutis within feven miles of the^Wolga, as if it would unite with its dreams, but fuddenly changing its courfe, and tuming towards the Weft, by the little city ofSanifFa, where it forms a great angle, proceeds and empdes itfelf in the Palus Maeotis, be-^ $a ne BISTORT of BookL below Afoph,having received in its courfe feveral other rivers, the chief of which are the Sofna, th^' Donee, and the Saniara. ; Wolodh?ier The dutchy of Wolodimer is bounded on tfid dutchy. North by the province of Nifi-Novogrod, by the country of the Morduates on the Eaft, by the dutchies of Rezan and Sufal on the South and Weft. It confi/ls of fine fpacious plains, fo fertile, that the people need only lightly turn up, the ground at feed- time, and for one bufhel thrown in, they ufuaily reap more than thirty. It is wonderful to fee the quantity of honey here colledled, the jforells being full of fwarms of bees ; and where they have no trees to fettle on, they work their combs in caverns of ihe ground. The natives make a liquor of this proauct, tempering the fweetnefs with bitter roots. It is commonly drunk in all the ^. northern provinceSjand often very intemperately at their feflivals. Woiodimer is a fine city upon the river CleCna, which a few leagues lower falls into the Occa. It was the relidence of the antieht Dukes of Mufcovy, and prefei-ves the name of its founder, who affumed that of Bafil after his coa- verfion to Chriftianity. It is defended by a caflLe with wooden walls.. Little Na- -Y\iQ dutchy of Niii-Novogrod extends along vogrod ^j^g Wolga, between the dutchy of Wolodimer, dutchy, province of Wologda, and the countries of the. City, Czeremifies and Morduates. Its cities are Novo- grod, at the conflux of the Wolga and Occa.; BafiUgO' large, handfome, and defended by a citadel, rod, ere^fled by the grand Duke John Bafiliowitz II. and Bafiligorod, upon the Wolga, where it re- ceives the river Surez, which had the Hune Prince for its founder. Jaro^flaiv The dutchy of Jaroflaw is watered by the dutchy, Wolga, having the province of Wologda on the North, and the dutchy of Roftow on the South. The famous John Baiiliov/itz,fo often raeiitioned, drove out the Ruiru':.n Princes, who had poflt /Ted k Book I. Peter T. 62;^r ^xVTufcovy. / it for many centuries, and incorporated it with his dominions. It is of great extept, abounds in honey and flax, and has fine meadows and pafture- grounds on the borders of the WoJga, which breed abundance of cattle. The city of Jaroflaw ftands on the banks of this river. It is a rich mer- City, cantile place ; and, as it ferves for the magazine of all goods imported and exported by the way of Archangel and St. Nicolas, abounds in people who carry on a regular correfpondence with the Englifh and Dutch, and aH the traders on the Cafpian and Black Seas. The city is walled about with wood, according to the cuftom of that country, fuch fortifications being fufficient to re- pel the attacks of the Tartars, who have neither arms nor engines to carry on a regular fiege, and only make fudden irruptions into the open coun- " try. In this province is likewife the little city of Uglitz, famous for the death of Demetrius, "^g^ii^* which produced fuch great revolutions in Muf- . covy. The dutchy of Sufdal, Ctuate between the pro- *^«/"^^ vinces of Wolodimer and Roftow, is a level d^^^h* fertile country, furrounded with forefts full of wild be alls, the hunting of which is the chief exercife of the inhabitants. Jeroflaus, grand Duke of Mufcovy, gave it to Andrew his. Cxth fon, pro- genitor of the family of the Suiski, from whom de- fcended Bafil Suiski, elec^ted Czar after the death of the falfe Demetrius. The great Bafiliowitz wrefled this country from the Dukes whopoffelTed it, and united it to his other eftates. Sufdal is a fmall city, the feat of an archbifhop, built entirely Ctty^ with wpodjwith which the country abounds. This mannner of building is common to all the northern people, who ai*e little curious in their habitations : nor is it to be wondered at, that people deftitute of abundance, jfhould have no great fliare of po* litepefi. The 54 The H ISTO RY af Bbok ft Rqftovj The datchy of Roftow borders upon thofe of dutchy, Sufdal and Tweer. It was formerly one of the great Ruffian principalities, and an appendage of the Czars fecond fons. But BafiliowitZjWho could «ot bear to have another fovereignty in the raidft of hiseftates, united it to the Empire in 156c, caufing the laft Prince to be inhamaidy murthered. The province abounds in many things, particular-^ ^. . ly in fait and fiih. Its cities are Roftow upon the Cotor, the leat of the metropolitan ; and Pere- - flaw, which lies between Jaroflaw and Mofcow, The dutchy of Tv/eer lies between thofe of autc y, Roftow and Novogrod Weliki, and the province of Mofcow. Antientiy it was one of the mofl: flou-* rifhing States in Riiflia, governed by Princes de- fcended from the grand Dukejeroilaas Sevoloditz,' and who bore the fame title of grand Dukes, till Michael, the laft of them, was defpoiled both of dignity and dominion by John Bafiliowitz 1. who City. united this principality to Mufcovy in 1 486. The city of Tweer is fo called from the iitde river T werza, which falls there into the Wolga » It v/as built by grand Duke Jerollaus, and fortified with a caftle at the conflux of the two rivers. It was made an archbifhoprick in the laic century. Refchonv The dutchy of Refchow, or Rezeva, lies on the dutchy ; borders of Lithuania, between the dutchies of Tweer and Bielki. ' It fufFers much in a war be* tween the Poles and Mufcovites, by the frequent Cities of, P^^'^g^ of armies. The foil is tolerably fertile. Refchow, the capital, near the foiarce of the Wol- ga, is defended by two citadels with wooden walls. Taropiecz (lands on the brink of the lake, which covers it from the incurlions of its thievifh neigh- bours. Welikieluki, a third city of this province, is ftrongly fortified on the top of a mountain, the foot of which is watered by the river Lowat. It was taken in 1 5 80 by Stephen King of Poland, but reftored to the Mufcovites by the treaty v/hich put I Book r. Pet E ti I. Czar of Mufcovy . J 5 an end to that war. The Wolga, called by the antients Rha, arifes in this province from the "^^^ iake Wronow, in the midft of the foreft of Vol- IVolga. konflc. Two miles from its fource it traverfes the lake Wolga, whofe nameit preferves. It is after- wards augmented with the waters of feveral ri- vers, and, running eaftward, in its courfe wafhes the walls of Tweer, Jaroflaw, Nih-Novogrod, and Cafan, beyond which latter it turns to the South, crofTes the kingdom of Aftracan, forms fe- deral ifks in a defart countiy, near the extremity of which all its branches are united, and again di- viding, it falls by feveral mouths into the Caf- pian-Sea. The dutchy of Bielki is bounded on the Eaft Bielkt and North by the dutchy of Tweer, and the ^ro- dutchy, . vince of Mofcow, and on the South and Weft by the great dutchy of Lithuania. It was formerly tri- butary to the Jagellons, Duke of the latter coun- try ; but Bafil,the laft of them, releafed them from their fervitude. Bielki, the capital, upon the little City* nver Bielki, has often changed its face in time of war. ; as well as W^oloks, fitiaate on the Nieper. The Dutchy of Smolensko ^lies on the Eaft Q£Smolenfi0 - Lithuania, between thofe of Refchow, Bielki, and dutchy. Severia. 0}ech,the coufin of Rurich, conquered it from the Sclavonian Princes. Boris dying without iflue, Wolodimer Monomachus gave it to Miciflaus one ^of his fons, whofe grandfon being driven from thence by Vitold, it was united to Lithuania. Ja- gellon, when eledled King of Poland, made it a palatinate, aad it was the more important for ly- ing on the frontiers of Mufcovy : but the Czar Alexis MichaelovvitZjfather of Peter, almoft whol- ity conquered it in i.6545fince when it makes a very confiderable province of the Ruffian Empire. The v'" 'OXj of Smolensko is fituate on the banks of the Nieper, among woods and inacceffible mountains, V/hich render the approach of it diihcult. Belides a thick 36 The HISTORY of Book I. thick wall, adorned with towers, it is defended by a ftrong caftle built on an eminence,which com- mands all the neighbouring country. This city has frequently changed mafters between the Poles and Mufcovites, which latter now pofTefs it ; and hence it has juftly been called the apple of difcord be- tween two nations, naturally enemies. Sigifmond III. King of Poland, eftablilhed an archbiihoprick here, for thofe Greeks who were of the Romifh communion, and.alfo abifhoprick for catholicks. The former dignity is kept up by the Mufcovites, but for a prelate of the Greek communion. The jurifdidion of Smolenllco extends over thirty neigh- bouring villages, which were the fubjedt of the war in 1643. Severla '^^^ dutchy of Severia was part of the palatinate dutchy, Smolenflco, and belonged antiently to Princes defcended from the great Demetrius, who were ftripped of it by Bafil. Sigifmond III. incorporated it with Poland ; but it was ceded afterwards to the Mufcovites by treaty, as a dependance of Novogrod- smolenilulgar, Cafan, and Siberia, the country Tartary, of the Samoieucs, Lucomoria, Loppia, and the coun- try of the Tingoefes, v/hich formerly made a part of Tartaria Deferta, and for the mod part at pre- fent confifts of barren defarts, or uncultivated lands. The Kingdom of Aftracan lies tov/ards the mouth of the Wolga, between Bulgaria and the Cafpian- AJlracan Sea. It is of large extent, and the feat of a con- Kwzdouu fiderable trade, carried on between the Perfians, the Armenians,the Pvurherians,and the Greeks. The foil is good and fertile. Befides a large traffic in dried fifh, this country fends away every year a great quandty of caviare, which is a fort of bou- targo, made of the melts of the Beluga and the Stur- geon, and much eat by the Mufcovites. A confi- derable quantity of fait alfo comes from Afliacan, which is taken out of the lakes, where it fwims E like The H I STO RY of Book L like ice. The ancient Sovereigns of Afiracan, ex- pelled by John Bafiliowitz in 1554, were of Tar- tarian race. Its capital, of the fame name, ftands on the river Wolga, which feven leagues lower falls into the Cafpian fea. It is enclofed with good walls, and guarded by a ftrong citadel. Since the Mufcovites have poflefled it, they have made it very commodious, on account of their com- merce with the Orientals. Bafiliowitz, its con^ queror, made it an archiepifcopal fee. The Nogay, or Nagaia Tartars inhabit the eaflern part of this Kingdom, on the other fide the Wolga. The Mufcovites call them PoIonH^i, that is, Vagabonds, becaufe they live in tents ere<51ed on the open plains, which they tranfport from place to place, according to their humours or nccelTities. They never cultivate the earth, but fpend their time- in hunting or fiiliing, and live contentedly on the fpontaneous produds of nature. They are tribu- taries to the Czar, who gives them liberty to chule their own Prince or leader. The Kingdom of Bulgaiia lies to the north of Aflracan, and borders ea(lward upon Defart Tar- tary. On the well: it is watered by the Wolga, which divides it from the Nagomoi Czeremifies and the kingdom of Cafan. Here are neither towns. Villages, nor houfes. The inhabitants, divided in- to hordes, refide under tents made of hides. A horde ufually confiils of 50 or 60 tects pitched in a circle, in which their wives, their children, their holies, and their catde, lodge all in common. When they have eat up all the forage in one place where they had encamped, they firike their tents, and remove into frefn pafture. They march in companies, commanded by the heads of their refpe(5i:ive hordes, whom they call their elders. They fight in platoons, and upon the firft flight attack, either force the enemy or flee themfelves. This nadon, among fo many others, is one of the frwits of John Bafiliowltz's victories, who de- prived Bodk I. Peter I. Czar ^Mufcovy. 39 prived them of their own natural Kings, and made them vaffals to RulFia. The Kalmuck Tartars inhabit to the Eaft of Bui- Kalmucks, garia, and are included in the fame divifion. They are taken for the remains of the Orgafes, a people of Scythia, who followed the Allans, when thefe latter invaded the Roman Empire. The Kalmuks are taller and more tawny than the o- ther Tartars, who are ufually fhort, but ftrong and well fet. Their country extends to Olgaria, a part of Great Tartary bordering upon the Calpian- Sea. The Kingdom of Gafan is bordered by the pro- Cn^m vince of Viatka on the North, the Kingdom of Bui- Klnadom^ garia on the Eaft, the Gzeremifies oq the Weft and South. It ftretches along the Wolga, which about a league below the city of Gafan receives the ri- ver Cafanka, whence the w^liole country took itr, name. The land here is ferdlc, and commodi- oufly fitaated. The inhabitants are more civilized thn.,; tl.;: ether Tuiar nation-:, occafioned by their eonverling more with ftrangers. They apply rhemfelves entirely to commerce, and carry on a coniiderable trade in hides. Formerly they v/cie a gallant and warlike nation, and their Kings were dreaded by the neighbouring States, But being engaged in civil wars, they were deprived of roy - alty and dominion by John BafSliowitz II. The only confidej'able city is Gafan, which is large ^, and populous, fortified with a good caftie, and fa- mous for its trade over the Eaft, its metropoli- tan, w^ho was ^ftabliftied here by the conqueror, has the fecond rank among thofe of the order. Siberia is fituated towards the river Cby, Eaft of the provinces of Permia and Gondora. John Ba- fihowitz began the redudion of it, which was completed under the reign of his fon, by the af- liftance of one Stroginoff, a wealthy Ruffian farmer,, whofe pofterity were rewarded with great privi- leges and grants for this piece of fervice, and are E 2 knov/o Siberia, 40 The H ISTO RY of Book L known in Raffia by the name of the rich peafants. < Tho' the Mufcovites have planted many colonies here, yet the greateft part of the country remains uninhabited, conlifling only of wilds, woods, and dciarts. The martens, which yield the fineft furs, are almofl peculiar to Siberia, where it is death for any one to kill them but thofe appointed for that purpofe. Thefe hunters are either flaves or criminals, diftributed into cantons under proper ofHcers. They go in troops to the chafe, and fnoot with fuch dexterity, that they ufually wound the animal jud: on the nofe, for fear of damaging the fur. Thefe furs are carried to the treafury, where their price is fixed, and applied to the pay- ment of the troops. The Czars raife immenfe liims from this traiiic in furs. In the fame forefts are taken elans, or wild afles, and zouricks, a crea- ture rcfembiing the badger both in fnape and feize, except that the hair is darker, and the legs fhorter. Strange Itories are told concerning the wars and politicks of thefe anim.als, whicli would feem in- credible, if not well attefted. The Siberians have a particular language of their own, and do not even underhand that which is commonly fpoken in Tartary. They are a grofs ignorant people, with- out religion or civility. In the room of bread they eat dried 'fjfli, their rivers and lakes being ex- ceeding prolific. They have no houfes, but lie in the open air during the fevereil cold, and fel- dom make a fire but for curing their fifh. The city of Tibollld, upon the confiux of the rivers To- Td'oljh, bol and L tiih, "was built and fortified by the Muf- covites, who make it the capital of Siberia. Hi- ther the Czar fends iris State prifoners, and the trade carried on here in flaves is fo very confider- able, that the town is become large, populous, and rich. An archiepifcopal fee has been here e- Tumen. reded. The cities of Tumen and Vergateria are al- Verpateria comprehended in the government of Siberia. The firft (lands on a river of the fame name, and 5ook I. Peter I. Czar ofUMkovY. is inhabited only by Mufcovite exiles, who are fent thither to cultivate the country. The other is lituated on the river Tocra, above where it falls in- to the Tobol, and inhabited both by Ruffians and Tartars. proportion as they are more or lefs careful to make themfelves ugly. Thofe among them who pretend to magic are in the higheft efteem, and inverted with a fort of Prieftly charafler : the common people are entirely devoted to them, and undertake nothing of importance without liril afk* ing their advice. They even confult them upori a hunting-match, and take their diredions as ta the time and place of making it. The riches of the the Samoiedes coniift in the abundance of their deer, of which the forerts are full. Some of them arc fa very tame, that they will come at being called,. flj fufFer 42 The HISrORT of Book I. fufFer themfelves to be harnefled and faftened to fleds, which they draw with incredible celerity. Lucomoria lies beyond the Oby, amidft horrible Liicomoj'ia defarts, which make it difficult of accefs. Little certain is known either of its extent or inhabitants, few ftrangers having ever been there : and thofe who pretend they have, give fuch fabulous relati- ons, as render their credii fufpeded. Loppia lies to the north of Lucomoria, between Loppia^' the province of Baida on the Eaft, and the Oby, w^hich feparates it from Siberia, on the weft. It is a vaft extent of country, without one city, and only a few fcattered cottages. In the middle there are fine fruitful plains, but feldom any Muf- covites venture thither, becaufe of the danger of the vv^ays,' which runs thro' narrow defiles, and the want of guides who are acquainted with them. 'I1ic inhabLants are idolaters, and ufually either huntfrnen or fhepherds. The former live in caves, and the latter in huts, made of branches of trees, and covered with hides. The province of Baida lies towards the Peifida, a large and deep river, which runs into the frozen fea. It borders upon the Tingoefes and Loppia, and was firfi: difcovered by the Mufcovites. The Tingoefes inhabit towards the Northern O- cean, far Eaitward of the Samoiedes. They are lels favage than the latter. The Jenifei, a river larger than the Oby, runs thro' the country, having on one fide extreme high mountains, and on the o- ther extenfive plains, which it renders fertile by its annual inundations, as regular as thofe of the Nile. Climate, It is impoflible to give any general account of the air and feafons, in fo vafl an Empire as Muf- / covy, which, in Europe only, extends from the 47th to the 70th degree of North latitude. The greateft part of it muit be extreme cold in Win- ter, when very little fun is there, and hot in the few months of Summer, when there is fcarce any ' thing Baida, The Tin goefes. Book I. Peter I. Cz^r (p/'MufcoVy. 4 thing elfe. At Petersburgh', in latitude 60, the inhabitants are wrapped in furs for near 8 months of the year, and even their boots, which they wear conftantly, are lined with them, The fummer heats are as troublefome as the Winter colds, oc- cafioned by the vapours which the fun raifes, and which burft in thunder and lightening almoft e- very day. The foil, principal rivers, and produdls of each particular province, we have mentioned in their proper place. The general produdl and manufa^flures ofRuffia, Produ^. the ground of their commerce, are principally pot- afh, weed-afti, leather, furs, linnen, ilax, hemp, feal-skins, train oil, rofin, pitch, tar, caviare, tal- low, honey, wax, ifing-glafs, timber and planks. But a« no conveniences are wanting in the extent of this Empire, either for producing a greater number of commodities, or for exporting them to foreign countries, there is no judging what advantages may accrue from the article of trade, in progrefs of timc; to the fucceffors of Peterthe Great, 4 THE / THE HISTORY O F T ETE R the GREAT, Emperor of RUSSIA. BOOK II. Hiftory of the Czar Peter Alexhnjuitz, from his ac^- cejjion to the throne ^ till his taking of Afoph from the Turkic ? * TEETER, the fan of Alexis Michaelowitz, and eter s ac- J-^ Natalia Kiriiowna Naraskin, was born the nth of June, 1672. He was but ten years old when proclaimed Czar, upon the death of his bro- ther Theodore, to the prejudice of Prince John, who, as well for the vveaknefs of his mind, as the imbecility of his body, was judged incapable of the government. The Strelitzes, excited by the Princefe Book II. Peter I. Czar of Mufcovy. 45 Priaccfs Sophia, an artful and ambitious woman, P rtncefs revolted againft him in favoup*bf John, the Prin- Sophia's cefs's own brother. She, who in Czar Theodore's intrigues, xmx^y had made her way from a monaftery to the court, contrary to an antient cuftom then in being, and towards the end of his reign had far infinuated herfelf into the management of afFairs,was too well acquainted with the charad:er of Peter, and thofe who were like to be about him, to expedt any great fhare in the adminiftration under the young monarch. This, and the regret fhe conceived at feeing her own brother excluded from the crown, engaged all hp r addrefs to prevail on fome great men of the court, and in particular General Cou- vanlld, prefident of the Strelitzes, and the palatine Odoyerski, to bring over the troops to John's in- j^fi^f.y^n • terefh on of the The more effectually to accomplifli this, they ^^^^//^^^j, fecured the officers who were to attend the Czar Theodore's funeral. Thefe declared to their re- fpcctive con-jpanies, that Theodore had been poifon- ed by his phyficians ; and that the Naraflims,the ma- ternal uncles of Peter, had fmothered Prince John with a cufhion. " And there is now a conlpiracy, gentlemen, faid they, againft yourfelves ; for certain boyars have been tampering with us, to *^ mix poifon in the liquor, which, according to " cuftom, is to be diftributed to you at this fo- ** Icmnity." Their infinuation had all the effe<5l they could wifh for : the alarm-bell i^ng, and the whole city cried out. The Narajkms have mur- dered Prince John, The guards drew up in order of battle before the palace, on the 15th of May early in the morning, and demanded to have the Narafkins delivered to them : but Prince Odewfid, for whom they had fome refpedt, came and told them, they were impofed on ; for both the Princes were alive, and if they would have but a litde pa- tience, he would bring them into their prefence. Tiiis 46 ' The H ISrO RY of Book 11. The 7na[fa- might have fapprefTed the whole confpira- cre that ^"^^ Princefs fent down fome casks of cnfiied, t)r''^^ndy among the rioters, under pretence of quiet- ing, but with intent to inflame them afrefh, .-.s it effe<5lua]ly did : for tho' the two Princes appeared immediately after, and in their own perfons exhort- ed the foldiers to retire ; they again demanded the perfons whom they fufpeded to be the authors of the late Czar's death : and, upon receiving a de- nial, they forced the gates, entered the apart- ments, and threw out of window all the officers they met with, others below catching them on their pikes. They came at lail into the chamber of the young Czar, andmaffacred in bis prcfcnce all v/ho were fled thither for refagb : nor was their fury appeafed with all this defeudlion ; for they entered the apartments of the Czarina dowager Natalia, mother of Peter, and robbed it of all tlie riches they could find there. They murdered her elder brother ; dragged out her father by force, and thrufl hwii iota conveiit* Thcoui>-c r;cinso'.7,VvTiCj refembled another of the Karaskins ; Romadanow- ski, who had been GeneraliiTimo of the Czar's ar- my ; General Czeremetow, who loft the batde a- gainft the Poles in 166I5 and had been redeemed but two years before; General Dolhorouki, with his brother and two fons; Landnow,fecretary of i'tate ; the chancellor, who had been recalled from ba- nifliment, reftored to his office ; Tapkin, w ha concluded the laft treaty of peace with the Turks ; Boutarkin,the phyfician in ordinary,and many other officers, were aJl put to the fword in tliis niilitaTy execution. Their bodies were dragged into the market-place, and there expofed for three days fucceilively. Their houfes were pillaged and burned. In a word, the maffiacre continued till Prince John was proclaimed Czar, in conjunvflion with Peter. They were both crowned, and the Princefs Sophia declared regent, w hich put an end to the rebellion, During Book ir. Pete R I. Czar of Mufcovy. 47 During thefe difturbances, Anaftafius Naraskin, jr^f^ of A" having hid himfelf in a church, the Czarina was naftafius induced by threats to diibover him, Princefs So- jsjarafkin* phia promidng her own interpofitiou with the po- pulace in his favour. But all her intreaties were in vain, (and probably fhe, who was author of the whole mifchief, defired they fhould be fo ;) the mob tore Irim from her, carried him into the chancery, before the prefident Couvanski, where, under pretence of many accufations, he was fe- verely tortured, and afterwards brought into the market, and hewn to pieces. The Czarina Natalia, foon after this, retired, The Impe-' under pretence of devotion, with the Czar John, rlalfarnily to the I'roitski or Trinity Monaftery, whither retire. Prince Boris Galliezin had already conveyed Peter. She fummoned hither the nobjjity and moil: of the fenators ; who being together, fent to the rebels at Mofcow, to demand the authors of this infur- re6iion. Accordingly, and without hefitation, all who were known to be guilty were delivered up, together with the tenth man in ever}^ regiment of Strelitzes, amounting in all to above 2000. Thefe Suhnnfion unhappy wretches, looking on themfelves as juft ^^/^^ vidims to infuited authority, having received the Strelitzes* facrament, and taken leave of their families, came to the convent full of the moft affeding penitence. They Brought with them the inftrumerlts for their own execution, the ring-leaders having halters about their ri'^cks, and every three of the others bearing two of them a block, and the third a hatchet. When they came into the court of the convent, under the windov/ where the tv/o Czars were, they laid down their necks on the blocks, crying out, We are all guilty^ audit depends on tke pleafire of the Czars to punifo not only us, but all our funilies : let them pronoirnce our fent e?ice. In this pofture they lay above three hoars, be- fore any refolution was taken. Mean while the pre- 4$ The HI ST CRT of Book II. Tkeir pre- pfefident Couvanski was Tent for, and taken into Jidsntfeiz- cuftody, together with his fon, before they could ed; reach the convent. The fenators would have ex- amined the cafe, according to the ordinary form of procefs : but Miloflauski addrefHng himfelf to the Czars, perfuaded them to wave all trial, which could now be only a matter of form, fince the prifoners had pleaded guilty. The reft of the council came into his fentiment, and the refult of Andexe- .^^^^^ ^^^g^ ^1^^^ Couvanski and his fon, witli a- cutea, ho\xt thirty of the chief rebels, were beheaded, and all the reft difmilTed. ?/liioflauski had a private reafon for prDceeding in this filent manner, which was never known till after his death. Princefs Both the brothers now reigned, in conjunction Sophia's with the princefs, who had her image ftampcd on authority, the coin, together with theirs, and figned all writings, not only in the Empire, but to foreign courts. She frequented the fenate diligently, ex- horted the members of it to their duty, governed with great prudence, and fhewed a zeal for the welfare of the Empire. Her love to her brother John, and hatred to Peter, made her zealous to She gets a procure a wife for the former, notwithftanding his nsoife for ill ftate of health. The lady pitched upon was her brother daughter of Alexander Soltikow, who had before John. been defigned for Czar Theodore, and was counted ^ the handlbmeft woman in the whole Ruffian Em- pire. She was brought to court in a difguifed manner, that the match might not \z prevented. From Siberia, of which her father v/as then go- vernor, fhe was conveyed to Mofcow, without any one*s knowledge but the contrading parties ; and in three days after her arrival fhe was declared Czarina, and the nuptials confummaicd. Endea^ While the intertfl: of John, and the m.eans of vours to continuing the fuccefiion in his fiimily, v/ere thus fpoil the promoted, the very education of young Peter was CzarPeter The Mufcovite education was in gene- ral very bad, and that of Princes, expofed as they f5bok II.- Peter I. Czar ^Mufcovy. 49 they are to fiattcry more than truth, is feldom ,. good in die moil: polite cotirtries. iiut there wis yet more in the cafe of Peter, whom ail premedi- tated means were taken to fpoil. 1 he ambitious Sophia plainly forefaw, that if he one day proved the great Prince he feemed capable of making, her own authority mifft fall of courfe. She placed a- hovA him every objedt that might fix his attention, ftifle his natur^il light, corrupt his heart, and de- bauch his manners. But neither can a good edu- Bzif to m cation create a great charadter, nor a bad one fpoil purpofe. it. Heroes of all kinds come finiflicd out of the hands of nature, and tlie qualities (he gives them are infurmountable. An inclination i*br military ex- ercifes appeared in the very infancy of Czar Peter ; he was then delighted with beating a drum, not as a mere childifh diverfion, but that he might learn the bufinefs of a foldier. By this means lie became fo expert, that he would frequently gi\ e lellbns to thofe of the profeflion, the beft of whom he excel- led But nothing was more remarkable in the youth ^ , of this monarch, than the ilrong antipathy he then ^'^!^ ^ had for water, which, had it not been removed, ^^^^^P^^^y muft have rendered ineffcaual moft of his great qualities. A Swedifh- officer, who lived thirteen years in .the country, afTurcs us, " that from the iixth to the 14th year of his age, Peter was fo fearful of this element, that he cdlild not look upon {landing, much Icfs running water, efpecially if attended with any noife ; and that for this reafon he never walked in the garden of his palace, which is watered by the river Mofcua, norvvouldhe crofs over the fmalleft brook, tho' on a bridge, unlcfs the windows of his coach were fliut clofe." It inay be worth while to relate the caufeofthis llrange averfion, and how it was reniGved. F * When * -^log^s ^ C. P'lr FuiUenelle. 50 The H IS TO RT^f Book II. Hcnv con- * "When he was about five years old, his mo- tracied, ther had him one day afleep in her lap, in a coach, and pafling over a dam where there was a catarad, the violent fail of water awaked him in fuch a fright, as threw him into a fever, which, tho' he happily got rid of, it left fuch a terror on his fpi- rits, as produced the above mentioned effect. And hovj This averfion continuing, was matter of great cured, concern to all about him, as it neceilarily checked his enterprifing genius. But one fine day Prince Boris Galiiczin, his governor and chief favourite, perfuaded him to ride into the country, and par- take in a hunting-match, without informing him that there was any brook near that place. After a little diverfion, Gallic zin, cried out, JVhat hot nveather 1 0 that there n^as a river at ha fid ^ that 1 77iight jvjnp in and bathe ! Ho--iV I faid the young Cza.v, mouldy ou kill your f elf ? The Prince anfwered, /^^^d" frequently bathed nriihyour father, and yet your Majejiy fees me alive. Nothing call be more nvholfome in fultry nveather. The Czar was furpriz'd, and coldly xf^McdJ have heard that people are frequently drowned, Ay^ faid Gallic zin, but not in nvater fcarce fo high as ojie^s knees. If you pleafe^fir, I nxyill fe)id fd^nebody to look for aRrea?n^that you may fee it is pofible to bathe ruoitkouf droi^vning. -"Tht brook was eafily found ; the Czar rode towards it trembling, and flopped his horfe a good way off. Galhczin ordered fome men to crofs it on horfcback, forwards and back- Wards ; upon which the Czar ventured to ride near- er. The Prince feeing this, rode through himfcif, and ordered fome of his people to crofs it on foot. They did: The Czar admired at what he faw; but at laft had the courage to ride his own horfe over. Pleafed with what he had performed, he from that time ufed himfelf to the water, till, by de- * Strahlenberg's Jefcnptiqn of the North and Eaft parts ©f Europe and Afia. P. 2, 7 3 . Book IT. Pe T E R I. Czar of Mufcoiy. 5 1 degrees, he got quite rid of this troublelbme anti- pathy. This Galliczin was nephew to the prime mini- fler of that name, who made fo great a figure du- ring the adminiflration of the Princefs Sophia ; to whom he was entirely attached, as his kinfman was to Peter. The charaders of thefe two men, and the hiftory of their refpe^ive fortunes, will take in moft of the affairs during the Czar's mi- nority. The elder Galliczin, Prince Bafil Baflliowitz, CharaBer was defcended from the Jagellons, Grand Dukes of the elder *of Lithuania ; which made him no lefs confiderable Galliczin* for hisilluftrious extradion,than for the high ftation he was advanced to. He was the ablcfl politi- cian at that time in iNIufcovy ; the mofl: learned and accompliflicd of all the bayars ; a friend to foreign- ers, and an encouragcr ofindudry : he would in- deed have been without exception, had not his affedion for his miflrefs led him beyond th^ bounds of his duty, arid involved him in the ruin of that ambitious woman. It was chiefly owing to his advice and dexterity, that fne was able fo long to maintain her va(l audiority ; which fhe, in return, exerted to the utmoft in his fupport, againfi: thofe of the boyars, who were in theinterefl of the Czar Peter. But at laft, refclving no longer to be impofed upon by this over-grown favourite,(whofe great cre- dit with the Princefs did not efcape fome malicious interpretations) the nobility found means to remove him from his employments, after feveral unfaccefs- ful attempts. Once he narrowly efcaped an afTaliination, as he An at- was going into his fled to wait on the Czarr An tejnpt to obfcure perfon, who ha^^rl a- ^^^^"^ '^^^^^^^^» ^ proper perfon was debated on to ';.^,/a command the army of the former. Prince Gallic- '^Tarta''' '^ zin would gladly have been excufed, as well for fear of the enemies he muft leave behind him at Court, as becaufe he- knew how much his credit ' mult depend on the fuccefs of the expedidon : but the reafon of his refufai being fufliciently obvious, he was univerfally complimented ipto the accep- tance of this charge, which he executed in two campaigns, in the years 1687 and 1689, with much more parade than real advantage, k was )uft upon his de^'arture to the laR of tliefe, that a co- vered coilin was found at his palace gate, with a 't trick to "^^^^ enciofed, containing thefe words. Galliczitiy intlni'dute ^^-^^^^fi ^'^^ campaign thou art nonv going >to opeUy . prove 77iore juccejsful than the former y uoe are - folved to fnake fare nvork ivith thee. It is needlefs to enter into the particulars of a war, which confiiied more of pompous preparati-- * ons, and tedious marches, than any aftions worthy of notice. Gailiczin, though unexperienced in - military affairs, had however the addrefs in the Toro^cvsthe expedition, to throw off the odium that dlfgrace threatened himfelf, upon John Samuelerrick, Prince of his lit Hettj-nan of the Coffacks, who was iuftmrly de- Juccefs 071 p^f^.^^ xMazeppa, a man we fiiall have occa- another. ^ f^^^ B'ook II. Peter I. Czar ^Mufcovy, 53 lion to mention hereafter, ele^led in his room ; while GalJiczin was received by the Princefs regent with all tlie honours of a conqueror, and very magnificent prefents. The next year he had penetrated farther than before, and with a more powerful array, when he furprized the world with- a treaty of" peace, juft when it was expedled he would have pufhed the enemy to the laft extremity. He wag Sells a tempted, it fcems, to adl thus, by the promife of a peace, andt very large fum of ducats : but when, the barrels // cheated^ came to be opened, in which the purchafe-money iiz the pay^ was Tent, a great part of their contents appeared w^*;;/., to be only counters. As thefe Grim Tartars will h'equently be men- _^^cconntofj^ ticned in this hiftory, I fhall here give fome ac- ^ Cri7?i count of them, Theii* chief feat is a fine fertile / Peninfula, called antientlyTaurica Cherfonefus, fir- rounded partly by the Pal us Maeods, and pardy by the Black Sea. Befides which their Cham or Prince reigns over a large tracSl of land to the Northward,, and extending far eaft and wefl:, including Vogai, Bongiac, and part of Circallia. They have lived many centuries in, ilridl alliance with, or rather in heavy vailalage under, the Porte ; and in cafe of a failure in the Otloraan male line> the Gham- of Tartary is to fuccced to the Turkifh Empire.. This Prince is called Emperor by his own fab- jeds,. and has gre^t outward refpecl: ilicvvn hini;. by the Porte ; yet a little matter ierves. to. dcpafe him, and occafions of this nature are fo frequently" found, that few Ghams ha.ve died upon the throne: in an old age. The Tartars are the. .greatc{J: thieves upon earth, and continually make inroad's on their neighbours only to. rob them :. but at the fame time, in imitation of their anctftors the Scy-- thians,. they are the mxoft hofpitable to f Grangers,, when any pafs thro' their couritry. Vvhen they . go to war with the Ottoman an-ny, they are main- tained by the Port* ; but receive no other pay,, ex- cept their booty. I'hcy were formerly victontnis, i 3^ agaijafisr 54 The H 1 STO RT of Fook IT. againfl: the Ruffians, and have often penetrated ia* to the very heart of their country. They once burnt the city of Mafcow, and made the Czars fub- mit to thofe fcandalous terms, which were fhook off by * John BaflHowitz-. T/)e Czar Gailiczin's expeditions againft thefe people,werc Peter but a prelude to thofe of his mafter againft the ■married', 'i'uiks,. which foon after followed.. The young mo^ narch, now in the eighteenth year of his age, was married, during the minifter's abfence, to Ottokefe Federowna, daughter of the boyar Fedor Abra- hamowitz. This affair, managed by Gailiczin's enemies, and entirely againft the inclinations o^ the Princefs, increafcd the party of Czar Peter, which had hitherto been weakeft. So that when Gallicrhi ^^^^^^^^^'^^ came home, he found all his mcafures dlfiO'inte- ^'^-'o^^certed ; a ycung Czarina big with. child; a nance i !»; '^^"^^^^ party of enemies, welHnformed of all the jP' / v* particulars of his diflionourable campaign 5 and a mader, who now began to be fo in fatfr, denying him audience at firft, and hardly prevailed on to grant it at the interceflion of the Princefs : in a v.'ord, lie underv/ent the moil: fevere reproaches, and had nothing to plead in his. own j unification. Thefe prefages of his approaching- ruin, which b:^an to di aw on apace, engaged the unhappy mi- niiier to run every length, that the enterprizing genius of his midrefs could iindv Out, Unwilling to bear any controul, fhe in an arbitrary manner, according to the cuftom of the Ruffians after a /- re- ^ardvd by victory, would diftribute the Imperial favours to' 'if hid, ' ^'^^ general officers, as if they indeed, had been v;clorious. But whereas it was before ufual to give only a royal ved as tlie higheft mark of honour, fhe beftowed on her favourite no lefs than 1500 peafants houfes, and on the other commanders in proportion. Peter oppofed this extravagant bene- fi.jLce, and. v/as for enquiring into the merit of" thqir Vi Je page 3 Book II. Ti:tek I. Czar of Miifcovy, 55 their refpedive fervices ; but the regent*s authority for this time carried it againft the Czar's. The Princefs, having thus try'd her Rrcngth, y^/td rejio- ^ brought Galikzin once more into full power : and, red to willing to prevent her own difgrace, v/hich mvSk aiithGrity , terminate in the being thruft again into a convent, fhe formed a defign againft the life of her k'other. A confpi^ Galliczin, tho' naturally a friend to moderate ^'^9' ^" councils, perceived he had embarked too far \xigainJiCzar her intereil: to think of receding, and came eafily P eter^. into her fcheme. Eurt a number of men, entirely devoted to her fervice, W£is necefTary in the ca- pital. The Hettman Mazeppa owed his whole for- tune to G a lliczin's policy, and was therefore judged a proper inftrument on this occafion. He was in- troduced, with 500 .of his principal officers, un- der pretence of doing homage to the Czars, who would never admit him into their prefence : for John, in Ipire of natural affecftion, was now fo fully convinced of his lifter's ambitious views, that he ufually came wholly into Peter's intereft, which was indeed his own. One Theodore Thekelavitau, who had been pre- fhekelavi^ fident of the Strelitzes fince the death of Gouvanfld, ^^^^ under'- was pitched upon as the leading man in this bloody ^^^^^ ^v. enterprize. Peter waS at one of his country houfes, ^^^^^ /^^ upon the river Yarus, a fnort league from Mofcow, which was to be the fcene of this horrid aftailina- tion. Among the 60a Strelitzes, who were to attend Thekelavitau to this place, there were two however more faithful than the reft. Thefe men, fliock'd at what they had undertaken, efcaped pri- vately to Czar Peter , and warned him of his danger. The Czar jumped immediately out of^^^ bed , fent for the Narafl^ins, his maternal uncles, and, after confutation, difpktched one of them> with Boris GalUczin the favourite, to enquire into the truth of this intelligence. They met Thekel- . avitau on the road, hid themfelves while he palled by with liis troops, and then pofted back to fe- cuje 5• His Majelly, capable of every thing, foon excel- led in his exercife, and was thus ai^ling the part of a life-guard-man, while his brother John, more agreeably to his natural weaknefs, maintained the port of a Czar, Peter, willing to have all his troops ^ difciplined in the fame manner, commanded captain Le Fort to procure him all the foreigners he was able, and ordered him what money fhould be ne- ccfTary, Tlte captain made large remittances on this account, with great fuccefs, to Amfterdam, Geneva, and other places ; not forgetting. M. Fran- conis, who was no lofer by the bargain. Thus was the Czar furnifhed, at one and tlie fame time, with a new fpecies of foldiers, and a- nother fort of minifter than Ruffia had ever yet feen *. The rank his Majefty took in this com- -^^'^^ M.IP^ pany^ and the difcipline he underwent, was not a ^^-^^^ tlye vain reprefentation, which ferved only to divert ^nea-fieji himfelf and his court. He abfolutely forbid his degrees of captain to remember he was Czir, and per- '^i* formed his duty with all the regularity and fab- miiTion that his place required. He lived upon his pay, and lodged in no better tent than another man of the fame rank. At laft he was made a ferjeant, after ha\ing merited it in his officer's opi- nion, whom he would have punifhed for a partial G 2 i^dg- • M. Fontenelle, Eloge, &c. j>. ft. ^4 The HISTORY of Book IL ^ judgment in his favour. Thus his elevation was e/-i\iv -^^'^ ,ji}^e-that of a foldier of fortune, whofe very com- Si Ipetitors r^iull own it his due. By this he gave a lefroh to his nobility, that birth alone was not a fu-Hcient title" to the attainment of railitury dig- nities, and informed his other lubje6ts, that merit in the leafi: of them was a valid qualification. The mean employs he pafTed thro', the hardihips and fatigues he underwent, gave Iiim a If ronger right, than even his defpotic authority, for requiring the Makes a ^ ^ V^"^^- ' ' ^ ^^or7p'' i To this iiril company of fifty men, he foon ad- ''-'J^y,'^^'^^^' " others, and formed at lall. a confiderable corps, " * all commanded by foreigners, and difciplined after the German manner. As he was then at. peace ^plth his neighbours, he exercifed them in mock . battles and fieges : teaching them experience with- out Icfs of blood, and keeping in adlion that agility and courage which were the prelude of future vidories. The Strelitzes, all this while, looked upon it only as the amufement of a young Prince, 'tind took part therafelves in the diverfion of this ' new fjght. But the Czar, perceiving them too powerful, and v/holly devoted to his fifler's in* tereft, conceived from the fnH a defign to hum- ble their pride, which he v/ould effeft by fecur- ing a body of better difciplined, and more faithful troops, Encouv' Q2:ar Theodore, as we before took notice, ^"igss atajle )^.^^ been a great lover of horfes, magnificent for 77mgfii- (^jj-efles, and equipages. Peter, tho' for his ov/n fics?icc\ Y^^xX. he defpfed this pompous outfidc, as ufelefs and burthenfome, was yet pleafed to fee that his fubjeds, who had hitherto been too averfe to every thing politely great, began by little and little to come into a better tafle. About the fame time that he began this refor- mation in his ^irmy, an acddent ftarted that pm ' bis Majefty on a new purfuit ftill more difficult than the Bookir. 'PETvrk I, Czar cfMuCcovy. 65 > the former. A fmall Englilh veffel, wlilch he Conceives ikw floating on a lake at ifmaelofF, one of his plea- /^^^ cf fare houfes, where it had long laid abandoned and aimrhie^ ufeiefs, revived in iiim the fpiiit of his father Alexis Michaeiowitz, and gave him the notion of a fleet, tho' he had at that time no place where to life itj except the White Sea. He found a fliip carpenter, a Dutchman, who, for want of other employ, had been obliged to turn joiner ; got the veffel repaired, had it worked in his prefence,. and refolved to liave more of them as foon as poffi- ble. Accordingly^ procuring a number of foreign • workmen, he had firlt feverai little boats built at Mofcow, and ther^ four frigates, of four guns each, upon the PerefLiuski lake. Thefe were often en- gaged againft one another,, the Czar himfelf being prefent : and in 1 694,his Majefiy vifited Archangel, ^ went on board the Engliih and Dutch fhips, and got all poflible information concerning marine af- fairs. He did the fame again the next year ; and in 1696, after fome fearch for a convenient place,, workmen, were fent to Veronitz,. where an undertaking was begun quite new in Ruilia ; the building of fhips, galhes, and other vc/Tcls, which were to down into die Don, and thro' that to the Black Sea, after the taking of A- foph, which his Majefty this fummer firfl attemp-^ ted. Czar John dying, in the beginning of this year, lOeat'haridl 1696, Peter, now fole monarch, was in a condi- chrtrctftev tion to execute what he could not before, during orCTar their divided authority : and from this period of his life, we may date the commencement of all his grciit adions. Jphu left him behind three daug.htcr.s, one of whom, Anne Jo.innowna, is the prefent Emprefs of RuiIia.. A. late writer tells •us, * it v/as obfervable ia tliis Prince, that tho' his. underilanding.was but weak,, yet he vvas very G 3. l^-ugUt^^ * Strahlenlierg's hi.lory, 5cc 6d The H ISrO RT of Book II. haughty and fevere. However, he had great re- gard for the welfare of the Empire ; and tho' he lov^d his filler very much, yet her reigning jointly with him, and his brother, did fo litde pleafe him, that, upon all occafions, he rather fided with his brother than Vv'ith her. He alfo often declared, that when once his brother was of age, he would reign no longer. His own widow has faid, that when jfhe once told him the Czar Peter fli^rhted Princeis Sophia too much, his anfwer was, She is my own lifler, but has ufed Peter fo ill, flie does not defcrve we iliould look " upon her ; " and if you fpeak ill of him, I fhall efteem you his fecond enemy. The welfare of the whole Empire depends on him, Vv'hich L am bound ta '* fet a greater value upon, than even upon you, my dearefl v/ile." He behaved thus to his lali moments. Frnncs A- 'Ytiz death of Czar John, added to die birth of k^xis born Prince Alexis Petrowitz about lix years before, en- .1690^ tircly cut off all hopes from the Princefs Sophia and her party. This Prince Alexis was the unhap- py Czarev/itz, whofe confpiracy, trial, and death, made fo mucli noife in Europe many years fince.. His mother v/as almofl equally unfortunate ; for about a year after liis birth, Ihe was repudiated up- M'h mo- a pretence of didoyalty; tlio' the true caufe ti 'her rcpw her difgrace was afcribed to the refentment of d'hf.ed.. a nevv' favourite. Alexander Menzikoff, who had a little before been raifed from among the dregs of the people. Nay, the enemies of Menzikoff did i^.ot Hick to afBrm, that he nor only caufed the Czar to divorce and imprifon' this lady, whofe vir- tue v/as never fufpedled, upon fome reproaches^ (violent indeed, but not v/ithout caufe, and which ler jealoufly extorted from her) that he carried her bufbiind among lewd women^, formerly his cuf-- tomers for cakes ; but that, not fatisfied with re- venging thefe arfronts on her ov/nperfon,he carried b"5 identrQent ev.en to the foD; whom he caufed tJxQ Book II. PiETEk L Czar oJCMuCcovy. 6.7 the Czar to difinherit, and afterwards to condemn to death, to make way for another fucceiTor. But to return to M. Le Fort, wliichwill lead us ^^^^^^^-^ to the advancement of MenzikofF. Never was there ^^^^ a miniflerin Ruffia^ of whom the people to this day fpeak with the fame refped as of that foreigner *. He never, fay they, gave any ill advice to the Czar ; but, on the contrary, faved the lives, liber- ties, and fortunes of a great number of his richeft and moft illuflrious fubje(5ts, by putting himfelf between them and death, v/hen his Majefty, na- turally violent, and in his youth inclined to cru- . eity, was ready to pronounce the fevereft fentence, and perhaps to execute it with his own hands. This generous behaviour, nor only difarmed his Majefty's ferocity, but fometimes made him affec- tionately kifs both the vidim and the mediator, , The foreigners Le Fort had brought into his fervice, among whom were many artificers, were fo agree- able to the Czar, that he refolved to introduce arts and fciences into his dominions. But Le Fort told him, his finances wanted to be reformed, as much He im- as his troops ; for that otherv/ife his revenues proves the would not anfwer the expences of his great de* finances, figns, and the fupport of fuch a number of fo- reigners, who- could be allured into his domini- ons only by a view of great advantage. The Czar confented to follow his advice ; and this wor- thy minifter having reprefented that the reafon why his revenues were fo inconfiderable in ready money, was the height of the taxes on all com- modities, which proved a great encouragement to fmuggling ; he put him upon reducing the duties from I o to 4 or 5 per Centy with fevere penalties on thofe who attempted to defraud his Majefty of them. By this means the people were brought to pay more equally, and with greater chearfulnefs* fo that near two millions of roubles extraordinary were • M..de la Motrayc, 68 The HI ST DRY of Book If. were produced to the treafury the firft year. And Le Fort having thus put it in his mafter's power to pay the foreigners generoufly and regularly, a great number of all nations came over, efpecially Germans, Scots, and French ; not only officers and foldiers for the army, but able_men of all profcf- fions, fome of whom acquired immeofe fortunes; Bu;^ to take away all caufe of jealoufy from the Rufiian fabjects againft foreigners> M. LeFort re- comipended to the Czar for preferment, all thofe Rec(/f?i ^^^^^'^s whom he and the others had made capa- mends' filling the moft lucrative poib. Of this Menzko-F ^^^^^^^^^ MenzikofF was an inftance,. who was T^A crying his Piragi Podovi, or puff-cakes,, about the to t.e ^ar j^^^^^^ ^£ Mofcovv, when M. Le Fort arrived there : but that minifter both made him capable of hold- ing the feveral employments he had in the army, before he was made a Prince by the Czar's favour, and recommended him to them. In a word, Le Fort was dilinterefted to that degree, that he never would accept of any prefents from thofe he had advanced : yet, being in this high fituation,. he got riches eilougb by his merit, his fervices, and Or ther jufl: and honourable means, which he poffefTed without envy from the Ruffians, who looked upoa him as their father. Original of MenzikofF was tall and well made, and had a that fa- natural fprightlinefs of temper. All this was tar vourite, ken notice of by the Czar, who fawhim one day crying his pufF3,and linging fongs about the fireets. Being called by his Majefty, and asked fome trifling queftions, as whether he would fell his puffs and his basket ? he gave fuch pleafing anfwers, thai the Czar then declared, according to Motraye, he would make his fortune, and immediately put him into a fmall place at court. However that might be, it is certain he was. taken no farther notice of at prefent and we find, him afterwards a foldier in ths; fccond regiment of Le Fort's eftablifliment, which Book II. Peter I. C'zar of bli\izo\Y* 69 v/liich perhaps might be the only preferment the Czar then gave huii. * He was 2 1 years of age, when he firft enter- ed among the foldiery, where he continued about two or three years. As the guard of the Czar's • perfon, and the .charge of the city, were then committed to the troops of the foreign difcipline, it was young MenzikofF's great good fortune to ftand centinel at the Baihna, (the office where the mufter rolls, and the drums and colours of the regiment were kept) one evening when the Czar paffed by, to fee with what exadnefs the foldiei:3 upon guard obferved their orders. There had that evening been diredions given, that the centinels fliould interrogate each paflenger thrice, Who he nvas P And if no anfwer was given, to fire direct- ly. His Majefty coming about 10 o'clock, and giving no anfwer to the queftion, MenzikoiT fired his piece at him, but happily without damage, "^^^^^^^^^^'fi The commanding officer, with the reft in xhz^f ^'^^ P^^^' guard-room, were alarmed, andfearched about for the perfon fhot at, cither dead or alive. No one being difcovered, an officer gueffed it muft be the Czar, (who had been ufed to make fuch vifits) and upon this conjedure they feized MenzikofF, and made him prifoner. Next morning the Czar fent to enquire, who had kept the guard at fuch a poll laft night at 10 o'clock. Every one was ready to tell of MenzikofF, in order to clear them- • felves. Immediately MenzikofF v/as ordered away under a file of mufqueteers, and brought into the Czar's prefence. This incident, which was thought to prefage the utmoft ruin to the young fellow, proved the rife of the greateft and weakhiefi: fa- vourite that has been known for many years in any court of Europe. Terrified with the thoughts of laft night's adion, and chilled with the dread of what he * (^laurett's preface to the State of the Rufllan church. 70 rhe H I STO RY of Book IT. apprehended would be his certain deftiny, Mcnzi- kotF came trembling into the fun-fliihe of Mdjelly. The Czar was exceedingly pleafcd with his con- dud, but duTembled his fatisfa<5lion while he exa- mined into the reafons of it. Menzikoff falling down at his Majefty's feet, alledged in his de- fence the orders of the fuperior officers, and pro- tefted he did not conceive the perfon he fliot at to be his fovereign. The Czar then pardoned him, ordered him to ftay in the room, and at dinner time placed him at table with himfeif and his nobles r His fheepifh looks and aukward beha- viour made a great deal of mirth for the compa- ny, and the Czar himfeif broke feveral jefls on that fubjcdl. But Le Fort foon difcovered, under that //// cha- difguife, a genius capable of great things. He racier, nurfed and cultivated the generous feedjand brought the young Ruffian forward in his mafler^s favour, by flich furprifing fteps, that he foon became the envy of all the great men of the Empire. Happy had it been for his country, if this minirter had purfued the fteps of his predecefTor; but, notv;ith- fbnding his great abilities, the many exactions he laid on the people, die numerous executions he oc- cafioned, his haughtinefs to the old nobility, his boundlefs ambition and avarice, made him the ob- je6t of general hatred, and at laft brought oa his ruin, tho' not till after the death of his maf- ter. The Czar Peter himfeif was liot infenlible of thefe faults in him, and more than once fcverely punifhed them ; but could not part with a fervant, whom, upon the whole, he found fo very faithful. The many great things the Czar had in view, for the good of his fubjeds, made him ne^Ie^l for fome time the war againft the Tartars, u hich he had refolved to purfue after the difgrace of Gal- liczn, in fpite of the difhonourabie treat) made by that general. As a war with thefe people would in all likelihood bring on one with die Turks, and as Book I L Pe T E R I. Czar of xVIufcovy . 7 1 as his Majefty was much invited to break with 77,^ Czar thefe latter by the Emperor, the Poles, and the l^rea.ks Venetians, who were already jointly engaged a- c^.j//^ the gainft them, he declared war with the Porte in Turks, 1694, and purfued it withafuccefs that firil raifed . the reputation of his arms. The firft thing done was to clear the eaftern Repels the . bimks of the Wolgafrom the Tartars, who made Tartars frequent incurfions into the Mufcovite dominions, Jeveral ravaging far and near, according to their ufual places, method. They were foon efFedually drove back by the troops liis Majefty fent ; and at the fame time the CofTacks, who were his fubjefls, fell up- on a great body of Crim Tartars on the fide of Circaflia, gave them a total defeat, and left 15,000 dead on the field. General Gordon, a Scots gentleman, and an officer of great experience, entered Circaflia itfelf, and after giving the Tartars fcveral more ovcnhrows, reduced the whole coun- try to the Czar's obedience. His Alajcfty feeing his army fo fuccefsfal on this For7?2s a fide, immediately perceived a way open for mak- projefi of ing himfclf powerful by fea; a proje*5t: he had long beco7ning conceived, but never found pratTticable till now. ponverful Tho' the Wolga be a great river, and runs above hy fea, 2500 milc3, yet has it no depth of water at its influx into the Cafpian Sea, being every where - chocked up with flats and fands : nor is the, fea itfelf, for many leagues on the Ruflian fide, ca- pable of any confiderable navigation ; for which reafon it has never yet borne anyfliips of burthen. Befidcs, liad this fea been ever fo navigable, as it rd'peds only Armenia, Georgia, Pedia, and part of Tartary, it could not fuflice for any of the Czars glonoas projedls, either of conquefl or trade. Bat the Black Sea lay convenient for both, opened a v/ay intolcfler Afia, and to the gates of Condan- tlnopie itfelf: fo that being once mafler of that, he might, either by force or treaty, obtain a palfa^^e thro' the Hcllcfpont,into the Mediterranean Sea, 72 The H I STORY cf Book rL Sea, and cflabli/Ii a free commerce between his country and the ports of Italy, France, "Spain,- and the whole Turkifh Empire, which would give; him a fliare in all tlie trade of the univerfe. Here, ' as * one ohferves, was a field of adion large e- nough to gratify the ambition of afovcreign, born for great things, and who pofTeiling an Empire fuperior to any of his neighbours, wanted nothing but an entrance upon the ftage of greatnels, that he might ad Hke himfelf. In purfuance of this defign, he pufh^d on his _ war with the Turks, which was to give him foot- ing on the coafl, and haftened the marine prepa- rations at Veronitz, which were to fecure him the pofTeilion when once obtained. Having concerted meafures Vv'ith his Allies, at the beginning of the year 1695 he appeared with two arrhies in the £eld. The firiljConhding of 90,000 foot and 20,000 hoife, led by his majefty in perfon, marched into Circaflia, and entering the Turkifh dominions, fat At)t)earsbe' ^^"^^'^ before Afoph, an important fortrefs upon fore Afopk t)?-"^s of the Tanais, near where it empties it- felf into the Palus Maebds. The other army, containing 24,000 foot and 36,000 CofTack horfe, commanded by Lieutenant-General Czeremetoff, marched by the way of the Ukrain, and keeping the courfe of the great river Borifthenes, fat down before Kahkermeen, a Tartarian city of great AndCzere- ftrength, within two leagues of the Black Sea. tnetoff he- Tliefe places were equally confiderable, as they fore Kafi- ^yere fituatcd at the two great entrances into the kerjnesn, Pontus Euxinus, that were neareil: liis Czarilh majedy's dominions. It was an agreeable furprife to the Chriiliart world, when they faw tlie Czar break with the Turk in a jundure fo very feafonablc to the con- federates, to find a Prince, of whofe genius they had yet formed no notions, begin a war with fuch * Life of the Czar, by a Biitiih officer. \ Book 11. ?E'TEK I. Czar of Mukoxy, 73 fuch apparent proofs of an exquifite forefight, and a perfed undcrftanding of the confequence of what h'j had undertaken. The Turks, on the otiier hand, having lately received feveral terrible over- throws, and already loft the Morea, great part of Hungary, and fome confiderable places in Dal- matia, were in the utmoft confternation at an at- tack fo very fetifible , from fuch a formidable power. They now faw their miftake, in that, having had Afoph many years in their poffeflion, they never confidered it as one of the moft impor- tant barriers of their whole empire. The fituation of the place, in a low marlhy ground, made it ca- pable of fo good fortifications, that it could be ta- ken only by a vigorous bombardment : but the befi: they could now do, was to fupply the weaknefs of the fortifications by the ftrength of the garrifon : they fent thither 10,000 of the moft refolute Ja- nilTaries, befides- Tartars, under their moft expe* rienced officers, and with all manner of provi- fions for a vigorous defence. The Mufcovites, as yet, had but little experi^ ence in carrying on a fiege ; and the garrifon fo well did their duty, that tho' the Czar attacked it in form, battered it with 100 pieces of cannon, and 40 mortars, he w^as fo harrafl'ed by the def- T/pe p.-^^ye perate fallies of the Turks, and a continual fixzof Afo^h from the walls, that the Winter coming on, -mdraijld. provifions growing fcarce, he was obliged to turn the fiege into a blockade, and retire with confide- rable lofs. * One Jacob, a foreign engineer, was partly the occafion of this ill fucccfs ; who hav- ing been kept out of his pay by the boyar he fcrv- ed under, nailed up the cannon he was entrufted with, defcrted to the enemy in the night, and ad- vifcd them to a final fally, which put the Afufco- vites into confuGon. * H Kafi- * Parry's ptv:fcnt date of RulTia. The HIS TO RT or Boolc TL Nc^^' pre paratioiis 74 KaCiker- Kafikermeen, tlio' better fortified than Afopli, 7nL'e?i taken ^'^^'^s not fo well defended. The CoiT^cks, under Prince Czeremctoff, ,puflied on their iittaeks with fuch fury, that they carried the place fvvord in hand, the garrifon having but jufl: time to re- treat into two large forts, where they obtained ar- ticles of capitulation. The Prince was cenfured in regard to this aftion, for fuffcring the CofHicks to plunder the place after articles were figncd ; and his difgrace, which followed foon after, was af- cribed to the complaints againS him on that head. However, as he was agdn reflored to his mafk-r's " favour, we may prefume he cleared liimfelf of that accufation. The Czar was not idle during the AVlnter. The prodigious preparatio-ns made in his vafl: do- minions, for re-uniting his army, remounting his cavalry, and fupplying his magazines, intimated plainly that the defign upon Afoph was not laid afide. But the expeditious manner in which he furniflied himfclf with a fleet, by having veficls built on the river Occa, carried over land to the Don, and conveyed down that river together with tliofe from Veronitz, farprized all the world. If the Turks committed an overfight in not for- tifying of Afoph before, they were guilty of the moll inexcufable neglect in not fLCuring it now: but fach v/as their contempt of the Rufiiaaildll in war, after what had happened the lafl year, that they thought them incppable of giving much mo^ leihition. Mean time the garrifon was daily v/eak- ened, in their fillies on the .Mufcovlte blockadcrs, and their magazines continually exhaufted.^ The Porte neglected to fapply them by fea, and the Mufcovites prevented the bringing in any thing by land : fo that with a much lefs number, and worfe provided than iall: Summer, they were thfS year to withftand double the Ih ength, joined to more ex- rience/ The Cz?r had now pr^paEcd no lefs Negle^ed hj the - Turks. pe tJian 400 pieces of cabnon, und 150 mortars. The Book II,. T E'J^ I* Czar Mufcovy. 7 5 The body of the army arrived before Afoph at ^j^g J^^cond the end of April but the rivers being not,yet open j^^,^^ ^ for.bnnghig 4ovyh the veiTels laden with artillery ^^^^^/^^ and provi(ions, till the middle of May. tht ficge Was not; a(3ually formed till the beginning of June. Yet ;the l'urks:omitted to relieve the place till the middle of July, when their Heet began to ap- pear on the Blaek Sea, and found by fiid experi- ence they were come too late. The Czar was arrived in perfon when the fiege began, and ii^et with a refolute defence from the garrifon. General Gordon, who commanded, fent ihnimons after fummons, threatening them with no quarter if the place was taken by llorm. The , ground did not admit of carrying on trenches, and 300 pieces of cannon, upon the works continually demolilhed the Mufcovite batteries. Upon this, the General contrived a rolling parapet, which, ^Oi.ing with a multitude of hands, and about 3 weeks P^^^t-^' labour, he brought to perfedion. It was begun at a good diilance from the place, and, by tlie continual application of 30,000 men, w^ho were relieved every foui" hours, it came gradually for- \vards, the men behind .throv\Aing up the fandy earth fi-om the bottom, and others tolling it to one' another upon ilages, till the uppermofi: threw it quite over the top. They brought it at lad w^ithin half a muflcet's fliot of the walls, which it every where overlooked, to the aftonifnment and terror of the beiieged. Mean while the mortars, now ef- fectually fccared from all damage, played incef- fantly upon the town, till ail the lioufcs were re- duced to afhes ; nor durfl: the JaniHaries appear on dieir works, but they were immediately knocked down with fmall fhot from the rolling, bank, which hung orer them like a mountain. -^^-^ While this was doing by land, the Czar,, who The Czar took upon him in particular the direction of the brings navy, brought his gallies dovm by a channel of the doivn hiS' riferDoa, that was out of the reach of the cannon t^t^eu H 2 of 76 rhe H I ST OR r of Book 11. ofAfoph, and judged impalTable. The befeged Avere adonifhed when they faw him with a fleet below the town, having thought it impoiTible fur him to get out, but under the mouth of their guns. Ifis Majefty tl>en caufed feveral batteries of can» won to be planted in a fmaii ifland, on the other ' fide the river Don; and drawing up all his fhal- loups and brigantines behind the ifland, waited the arrival of the Turkifh fleet. At length it appeared in the Palus M^eoti^, ,ftanding ip among the ifland^ in the mouth of the Don fo that the firft thing it had to encounter w^as the Czar's gallies, which dravv ing much lefs water than thofe of the Turks, could go farther upon the fliaDows. The Otto- man tleet conniled of 12 lai-ge galHes, 30 anned brigantines, and about 60 tranlport iliips ; hav- ing on board 8000 foldiers, a va(t<]uantity of am- munition and provifions, and 50,000 ducats ia money to pay the garrifon. Beats tia* Turkiili faicks and brigantines, endeavonr- of^ the ^^^^ Ruilian gallies, kept among the ^ , iflands ia flioal water : which the Czar perceivings he took a fuihcient number of troops into his fha- loups and brigantines, and bringing them out from theii* arnbufcade, fell upon the enemy with fuc}> bravery and faccefs, that they were entirely de- feated, and. the whole convoy taken in fight of the- garrifon, not one vefTcl being able to reach the ^•Poph fur- ^^'^ overthrow of the fleet was foUov/ed renders, furrender of the tov/n, the garrifon capitu- lating on the 28th of July. His MajeHy gave them very honourable terms, in eonfideration of their bravery. It was faid that out of 12,000, which were at the beginning of the fiege, not a- bove 1 300 men marched out of the town. The Ruflians found there 300 pieces of cannon, bcfides" a great quantity of ammunition . This glorious victory of the Czar's was the more talked of, and his perfonal bravery and con- duct the more magnified, (tho* indeed too much. coul4 Book II. Peter I. Czar -of Mufcovy, could hardly be faid of either) becaufe it was a new thing to hear of any great and regular action from a Mufcovite army, and much left of a warlike Em- peror at their- head. It was thought a happy pre- fage "to all Ghriftcndom, and a fatal omen to the Ottoman power, that a people hitherto defpifed, led by a Prince hardly yet known, could perform fo much in the moft difficult parts of war ; efpecial- ly as they had all the advantages of number, ex- tent of territory, and plenty of fupplies, to make them; a match for any power on earth. T h: e: THE H I S T O R Y OF TErER the GRE AT, Emperor RUSSIA. BOOK III. From' the taking of Jfoph, till the Reformation of the- Riiffian Year y and the beginning of the War ^cvith Siveden . ^'h ITT^ H E Czar having made himfelf matter of ' X Afoph, was far from leaving it in the con- J^'^^^^^^f^ dition he found it. He not only repaired the old: -^■^^■^ ^V^P-^*- works, but ordered it to.be ftrengthened with new fortifications ;' added two new bafHons ; caufed a CQunterfcarp,. with a covered way, to^be drawni r.ound t-he whole, and the ditch, to be fccured withi BoakllL Peter 1^2^r ^Mufcovy. 7^9 all fueh neceflfary outworks, as might render It inaeceffibk ; letting in the river Don like wife al- inoft round the town. In the marfhy grousds, which the river ufually overflowed, he laid a folid foundation, raifed the furfaee to a confiderable height, and built a royal fort upon it, containing fix regular baftions, v/ith proper outworks ; join- ing the whole to the main land, with a ftone bridge of 36 arches, reaching all over the morafs. The ground round it could be laid tindef water,. by flaices appointed for that purj)ofe. In this pofture, ftored with military provifions, having 400 pieces of cannon mounted, and a garrifon of 15,000 men, he left Afoph in the year 1697. His fuccefs in the redudlion of this place, by the help of his veflels, made him more than ever ^^^p^''^^^ fenfibie of the importance of a maritime force, ^u^^^'^^g G allies and briaantines were not fufTicient ; he re- ^^^'g^ ^^^^^^ folved to have capital men of v/ar, from 60 to 80 91 guns, and declared his intention to the boyars ; but he perceived alfo the great difadvantage of buying them from other powers, or having them built by foreign workmen, as all his veffels had hitherto been. He refolved to deliver himfelf from this inconvenience : * But as the means h« concerted for doing it were too extraordinary to be put in deliberation,and as the execution of his pro- jedl:, trufted to any other but himfelf, would be very uncertain, or at leaft flower thari he defired, be engaged his own perfon in a bold undertaking,, fo extravagant in appearance,, that had it failed of fuccefs, all the world would have cenfured his rafhnels, except thofe few who can diftmguifli true grandeur where-ever it appears. It was no Icfs than- travelling himfelf, to acquire that know- ledge he wanted his fubjeds to learn. In the mean time his foreign workmen were all em- ployed,. ^ M. de Fontenellir,. Sq^ Tie BIS TORT ^ BooJc nr. ployed, and every thing done that was yet in his» power. £. titers before he fet cut-in order to give his people Mofconjjm an idea of this great undertaking, he niiuie a tri- trhmph. umphant entry into Mofcow, for his late naval vie- tory, with all the pomp and fplendor that could, be devifed. Here was none of that vain oftenta- tton fo remarkable among the antient Romans, but an attempt to fhew the value of what he had chief- ly at heart, ajid to flir up an emulation in the no- bility to fupport it. The traitor Jacob, who had rendered ineffedual the firft fiege of Afoph,. andwas delivered up by the Turks in the fecond,, was carried naked and chained to a ftake in an o'*-' pen waggon,with a gibbet over his head; on whioh^ after he had been three times tortured, he was publickly hanged for a terror to others. All the boyars appeared on this occafion, to compliment his Majefty, and kils his hand. After which there was- an aflembly, in which he repeated to them the nature and advantages of his conquefts on the Black Sea, declared his refolution of en- deavouring to maintain them, and if poflible to- open a channel for commerce into the Levant* Hence it was eafy to argue the neceflity of a fleet, fuch an one as might be a match for the G rand Seignior's. Laftly, he publifhed his inten-!- tion of travelling, in order to gain experience in the art of fhip-building, which they wanted no materials, nor any other advantages, to bring tb as much perfeflion as any of their neighbours. Obliges hif The bufinefs of the day being over, he began fubjefts to think of a proper fund, for carrying on his de- bulldJJyips. figns, and for providing fuch men of war as were immediately necefTary. The great Lords, who had vaft eftates, and a proportionable number of flaves, were, obliged each of them to build a (hip at his own coft, which he might call too by his own name. The mon arteries , the cities and tQVriis, the merchanta and gentlemen, were all- ta* Book nr. Fetk R I. Czcir of Mufcoty. 8i to contribute towards this new undertakirig : and if the Ihips were not ready in three years, every inan's propcfrtion w^s to he doubled. Another inftance of his great penetration, be- j4nd the fore he Tet out, was no lefs renmrkable than young tjO'- we have- related. He fent the principal yo\xng hi I ity ta Mufcovites, fons of the boyars and gentlemen, travel, to different parts of Europe, hinting to every one; iiccording to the different diipofitions he perceived^ in theni, the fcience they ought pecuHarly to iludy.- What he chiefly direded them ta, were the^' rnathematicks, navigation, engineering, and fuch* other parts of knowledge as might contribute to his grand .deSgn. And, to prevent any unealinefs^ at this injun(ftion, he ordered them ilipends at the publick charge. Yet fome of them obeyed with great relu(ftance, and one in particular, who re-^ tired to VeRice,fhut himfelf up there four years, to: fcave the futisfadtion of coming home as ignorant as;he went thence. But die expedient in general: had the defired fuccefs, as well by keeping them: cut of the way dming his own abfence, and fo preventing any cabals againfl him, as in opening to them new fciences, in the different nations of Kurope, which engaged their curiofity, and were turned by many of them to real advantage. While the Czar was thus bufiedin laying the ^ confpi* foundations of glory and greatnefs for his fab- ^,^cy a- jjeds, they, refilhng their own advantage, ^^^"^^ gainjihm. confpiring againft his life, f The building of fliips, which had never been known in RulTia be- fore, and the obliging the boyars and gentlemen to travel, were looked upon as terrible grievances : the hrft would entail a charge upon them beyond the common tax, befides bringing in foreigners to huild and navigate their vefTels ; and as to the latter, it was infinuated by the priefts, that the fending their children abroad would be a means: of t Pirr;^'s State of RuiHa^ p. 151. 8^ TI^ H I STO RY of 33m5k Iir/ of corrupting theii* religious principles. Iho^z texts of fcriptLire were eiftduaily urged, whieh forbad the ifraelites to have any commui)icatioi1. , with the nations round about thenij that they might not partalic of their idolatry : for whkii reafon the Rufiian envoys, who l:iad formerly been ient to foreign courts, were prohibited taking their fons with them ; and it was death for any ivlulco- ^ vite to go oat of his country without leave froin the patriarch. The Czar, they faidj adhered whol* ly to Grangers, went daily to their houfes, and admitted them freelv to his converfadon. This was judged in him very criminal, and made ufe of ' by the Princefs Sophia's friends, who wanted to be again at the head of the government.. Horn) to he His Majedy, who always intereftcd himfelf in* executed, whatever concerned his fubjccls welfare, was wont to appear in perfon at the fires, wliieh frequendy happen in iMofcow, v/hcre moll of thehoufes are entirely wood. After many debates, concerning the manner of etreding their defign,. it wasrefolved by the confpirators to let fome houfes on fire in the * night, and while the Czar ciime to help to extiii- guifh the flames, to affaiFina.te him arnidil the. con- - fuiion; Unnatural projccl, to engage their fove- reign in an of the greatell tendernefs to his. people, in order at thatinibnt to eiTcd their par- ricide I the next things to be done, were, to join the Don CoiTacks with their party.; to^relcafc the' Princefs Sophia from her confinement, and -ft t thej crown on her . head. ; to recal the , Prince Bafil on tobacco, which he con- traded to have fent over by the Eaftland company of Englifli merchants, (of which Mr. Heathcote, afterwards Sir Gilbert, was then mafl:er) and would frequently fpeak the moft affed;ionate things of his Lordfliip, after his return into Ruflia. Refides at ^ 1^^^^^ ii^ London did not agree with his tafte, Deptford ^i^^wer the intention of his travels, and there- ^-^ ' fore, fome da^^s after his arrival, that of Mr. Eve- lyn at Deptford, an agreeable feat, was prepar- ed for him. A back-door was opened from it into the King's yard, thro' which he could go a- mong the fhip-builders , who fliew'd him their draughts, and the meafure of laying down any vefk;! by the rules of proportion. This made him repent that he had fpent fo much time in Holland, Vv'here the method was much more inartificial : and from this time he refolved to have nothing but Englifli -built iliips in his country; for which pur- pofe Book III. Pkter I. C%ar of Mufcoyy. ^7 pofe he contraded with feverai artificers; the chief of whom was ?vTr. Dean, whofe father, fir Anthony, was faid to have firft taught the French the art of Ihip-building. His Majefiy was fliev/n both houfes of parlia- ^^'^^ '^^ ment, while fitting, and was once or twice Q^.r- fp^^^^ ^^^^ ried to the play. He vifited die archbishop oi^'i^^^^ ^^^^'^^ Canterbury, and was waited upon by bifliop Bur- net, (as that prelate tells us in his hiftory) who was deputed by his brethren to converfc with him about the dotftrines of the church of England.- He often took up the carpcntci^ tools, and work- ed in the King's yard at Deptford. Sometimes he went to the fmiths, fometimes to the gun-found- ers ; and there was fcarce any mechanic trade, from the watch-maker to the coffin-maker, which he did not more or lefs infpedl. His drefs was in the Englifh fafhion, fometimes as a gentleman, and fometimes as a failor. He went abroad with very littie attendance, and if at any time thd mob began to gaze at him, he would immediate ly retire out of the way. Prince jNienzikoff his fa- vourite, Count Gollowin,and feverai other perfons were with him here, and contravfled for fuch things as his Majefty wanted : in particular, having fcen the Printing-houfe at Oxford, he ordered them to purchafe all materials for fetting up one like it. His fl-ay in England was about three months, all which time he was attended by the King's cooks and fervants, and had his expences defrayed, as alfo forwards and backwards. Among other things that were here fliewn tlie SI:e^vjn a Czar, the King ordered admiral Mitchcl to go vr.ck-e?:- down witlvhim to Portfmouth, w here a fquad ron o f gageincnt men of war then lay. His Majert-y was highly at fea, delighted to fee ihem go out to fea, form into two fleets, and engage with powder. He was told the reafon of every thing he faw done, and ex-' prefs'd an infinite deal more fatisfaction than at a * K fiiew 98 The H 1 BT 0 RY of Book II f. fliew of the fame kind^n Holland, which did no^ give him half the in{iru(5lion. Before his departure, the King made him a . prefent of the Pvoyal Tranfport, the lined and bell yacht then in England, built frigate fafhion, and carrying twenty-four guns. It was contrived by the Marquis of Carmarthen, for the King's own ufe in his paflage to and from Holland. He had alfo leave to hire fuch of his Majefty's fubjeds as he had occafion for, and who were willing to ferve ^ him ; and his agents contracted with feverai i^/t^/y^^j;^- j^^^l^gj^^^— oflicers, engineers, and others; ralc.ngiijb g^j-^Q^g ^J^om were Mr. Fergharfon, two young ovet nxjith from Chrift's Hofpital, and the ingenious cap- tain Perry, from whofe State of Ruffia I have ex- tra(51:ed fome of the foregoing particulars. The captain was tv/eive years in his fervice, and had the direction of feverai great works ; but met with difcouragement from the RuHian miniftry, and at lad was obliged to put himfelf under the protec- tion of the Englifh ambaflador, Mr. Whitworth, in order to get back to his country. Goes hack from England the Czar went back to Holland, tQ Holland: v/here two of his ambalTadors had waited all the while, except that M. Le Fort had been once pri- vately over. From Holland he fet out for Vienna, carrying with him the whole fcience of fhip-build- ing, acquired in lefs than two years : but the rea- fon was, that he had acquired it himfelf, by a fort of abdication of tlie Imperial dignity, a price that ' w^ould have fcemed exorbitant to any other fo- Afid to vereign. Viemia* 1 fliall not detain the reader with an account of what pafled in his way thro' Germany, nor the particulars of his reception at the Imperial court, Tho' every part of this latter was fuitabie to the dignity of the two monarchs, yet as it confided only of magnificent ceremony, and v/hat might be cxpedled on fuch an occafion, it can add little to a hifiory that regards only the real great man. After Book Hi, Peter 1. Czar of Mufcovy. 99 After his ambaffadors had had their audience, nrj^e^ice he and himfelf had converfcd feveral times with the fuddejily Emperor Leopold, and the chief perfons of his ^^)f^,d. court, his Majefty was juft upon his departure to /-,^^;^^ Venice, whither he hadfent eight of his retinue ij^fj^^reai' before, when an exprefs came from Mofcow that ^^^^ called him fuddenly thither, and put an end for the prefent to this unparalelled progrefs. A re- volt of the whole body of the Strelitzes, to the number of 40,000, threatened entire ruin to his government. He arrived among them before they knew he was upon the road, put an end to their clhiblifnment and namCjand exacted that rcfped to iiis perfonal courage, which they refufed to fliew to his orders. His infantry of the new difcipline, which lie had before the precaution to form, and immediately augmented to 30,000 men, were of the utmoii: fcrvice to him on this o^cafion. The rife and progrefs of this revolt, and the manner of its fappreiiion, is in fubftaace thus related by captain Perry ^. While the Czar was making his obfervaticns in ^ ^ foreign parts, and colledling whatever he thought ^ ^-''^ worthy of regard for his grand dcGgn, repeated advices came to Moscow that his ^vlajefty was ex- tremely pleafed with what he liad obferved in his travels, and in particular had m.et with the greatell fausfadion in England : and that as a proof of this, he was fending great numbers of ofhcers and mechanicks from that country, Holland, and other parts, into his fervice. Upon thefe advices, the malcontents, and adherents to the Princefs So- phia, put the molt malicious conftrudtion on all his Majefty's defigns, andinfinuated jealoufies in- to the minds of the people, which were fomented by the priefts,as if his Majelty's proceedings tendr cd to the fubverfion of their holy religion, by. Bringing fuch a number of foreigners among them, K 2 whQ.v * State of RuiTia, p. X78» .////, ?ia ae- ,00 - The H IS TO-R T of Book IIL who would certainly be his f.ivo:: rites and council- lors. Thefc ilrangcrs^ it was ad4ed,.wouId inMt and domineer over the r/atives at plea fvi re, ex- tirpate the antieut eflablilhinent of the Sirelitzes, and entirely fubvert and after their beloved cuf- toms and manners. There needed noihing mare to excite the jea- loufy of a people, fuper(titioufly tenacious of all their old habits. Many of the heads of the clergy, , feveral of the nobility and great men, who had been looked upon asiq the Czai-'s interei'l^confpir- ed together to cut the throats of the foreigners, J^i^'' and all who flood in their way.; to declare the throne vacant by his Majedy's abfence, and to place his iiiler upon it, who was always thought of on fuch occahons. About 10,000 StreKtzes were then in winter quarters, on tlie borders of Lithuania, 500 miles fiom Moleow. The General of thefe, and moft of then* Oi^cers, were made fare of by the con- Bcgun by fpirators. They were to begin the rebellion hr- tkcStreht' derfome pretence concerning their pay ; to break i:v/. up their quarters, and march direcdy to Mofcow, . where other malcontents were to join them, ill order to put the de%n in execution. 'i'he regency, upon advice of this mutinous march, apprehended the wicked delign of thele me n, who had more than once been in open re- bellion before. iT^ey deputed feveral perfons of dillindion, v;irh full power, and money to pay tlicm not only the arrears demanded, but to give them fix months advance, and to ufe all the footh- ing arguments to perfuade them to retire, and join the other forces, who were juft ready to 0- pen the campaign againfl the Turks. But all this would not do. They wanted, they faid, to fee their friends at Mofcow, and to know whether the Czar was living or dead, and therefore were refolved to continue their march. The people were llruck with conftemation at hearing this, and macy Book in. ?ET^K I. Czar of Mukcvy. l< many of them left their habitations, dreading- the infolencies of thefe mutineers, from whom they had lately fuffered fo much. To prevent the rifmg of any others, and ftop General' the mifchief that threatened the city, the army Gordon commanded by General Gordon, confifting chieHy p^jt a- of old foldiers and foreign oificers, was ordered to gainj} make head againft the rebels. They came u]^ 'f/:em;: with them about 40 miles from Mofcow, near the Jerufalem MonaRery, from whence the General fent to them feveral officers, and fome confider- Jible Lords whocanfie out 7oluntiers,to afiure tliera* of honourable fatisfadlion in whatever they defired,. provided they would return to their duty. But they perliiled in their refolution to fce Mofcow, and know what was become of the Czar ; declar- ing that if their brothers, (meaning General Gor- don's troops,) offered to oppofe them, they wouldl refllt, tho againft double their own number. Gordon, upon hearing this oblHnate anfwcr, or- dered fome cannon to be fired over their heads, in order to terrify them : but this had juft the con- trary effed ;, for the pricfls, always at hand in. cafes of public mifchief, immediately cried out, yd' viiracle ! the Jhothave no poiver to hurt you, n.vho are afierting your antioit rights. The rebels gave a fhout, and fell upon the General's army ; where- upon a fharp engagement begun, whicli laifed near 'two hoars;, till atlaftthe Strelitzcs, finding ^^'Jf^^'' the battle was in earricft, and that they had be- tvveen 2 and 30Q.o.men dead on the fpot,. furren- -y^'^-^ , dered thenifdves prifoncrs, very few efcaping. The General, after the P-.oman manner of decima- tion, hung up every ttndi man,. 2nd carried the reft to Mofcow, where feveral of the rinp^- leaders being examined on the pine, they confelftd their crimes, named the chief perfons concerned with, them, and all the particulars of the x}\ox. K 3. tit-zes cx- tirp^Jed. -aa 7T)e H I STO RY of BooklH. It was this infurre6lion that the Czar was formed of at Vienna, and which brought liim home ^vith fuch expedition and fecrefy. His Jtrrival gave no fmall joy to his loyal lubjedts and friends, nor lefs confafion to his enemies. Thefirfl thing he did, the very day he came to Mofcow, was to reward thofe foldiers who fought faithfully for him. The next day he had all the confpirators brought before him, and after having examined them himfelf, delivered them to the Lords, who ^ ^. condemned them in a full hearing. Prince Colo - * rin, General Romanodoflcowfldjfeveral friars and Ij^ff-^ed Vp'-^^^ of the firfl: rank, and fome ladies of qua- ^ * lity, were involved in this fentence. Some of thern were beheaded, others broke on the wheel, TJ?'' Sire- '^^■'^ others buried alive.. The Strelitzes, v/ho had a^ually fought againO: their fovereign, and ever fince his acceflion been in all the intrigues of his enemies, were moll: fe- verely puniflied. Upwards of 2000 of them were executed, fome on blocks, others on gallows e- reded for that purpofe at all the gates of the three Y/alls of the city, with their crimes wnt over their licads. As this execution v/as in the depth of vvlnter, the bodies were immediately frozen, and ordered to remain in the fame poflure they had f ufTered, till the warm weather rendered them ob- noxious. There were alfo gallows placed on all the public v/ays leading to Mofcow, at about two miles diftance, upon which numbers of them were hanged, and monuments of Hone ere61:ed by them,. \Ath a declaration of their crimes deeply engraven, and ordered to be kept for ever in repair. The very houfes of thefe criminals were razed to. the ground, and the name of Strelitzes utterly abolifned ; that of Soldatee, or foldiers, being fobflituted. in its room. Such of them as were judged the mofi: innocent, having their lives fpared, %'cre banifhed to Siberia, Aftracan, Afbph, and QtJiec Book III. Peter T. Czar ^Mufcovy. 3t03 other frontier places^ with their wives, children, and near relations. * The vafl projedl:, which his Majefty had long The Czar conceived, began now to appear in its full extent, heghis his There was nothing in Mufcovy that -Wanted per- refonnati- feding only, for every thing waS to be entire^ on, Re^ ly done. A new nation was to be created, and f eft ions that by the fovereign alone, without help, with- thereon, out inftruments ; which made it a faint fhadow of the original creation. The blind policy of hispre- deceffors had difunited their country from the reft of the world, and quite negledted commerce, the fource of genius as well as riches. The Czar laid open his vaft eftates, hitherto fliu'c from man- kind ; fent his principal fubjeds among ftrangers,. in quell: of knowledge ; drew to himfelf all the foreigners he could, who brought that knov/ledge with them : in a word, officers for land or fea fervice,mariners, engineers, mathematicians, archi- te6ls, miners, workmen in metals, phylicians, furgeons, artificers of every kind, all were weK come, all were carefled in Mofcovy. But the very name of Novelties, artfully made ufe of, was fufficient to debafe the merit of all thefe performances. We fliall often fee it make fuchobftinate malcontents, that the defpotic au- thority of the Czar, great as it was, had hardly weight enough to fupprefs them, flis Majefly had to do with a (lubborn, indocile people, grown in- dolent from the little advantage they could hope to reap from their labours, accuftomedtothemoft rigorous and frequently unjuftpunifhments, inured by mifery to a contempt of life, perfuaded by long experience that felicity was out of their reach, infenfible of that happinefs they knew nothing of. The moO: indifferent and trivial alterations, fuch as retrenching their antient habits, or fhaving their long beards, met with the flrongeft oppofition, and * M.. de Foiitenelle. Eloge, &c. p. 8. 104 War cofp- certed a*' gain/} The H IS rO R r of Book TIL and was Ibmetimes fufficient to caufe an infur- recftion. To reconcile this people to the moil •ufeful innovations, a rigour that elfewhere would liave been unjuftifiable was found abfolutely na- ceffary : and the Czar was by fo much the more obliged to ufe it, as the Mufcovites had no idea of greatnefs or fu-periority, but from the power of doing hurt. A kind mafter with them was no mafter at all, nor could an indulgent Prince ever pafs for a great one. We muft not wonder then at the feveritiesof the Czar, who knew the neceffity of them, but grieved that fuch a neceflity fliould cxift. His Czarifh Majefty, ia his return to Mofcow, at the end of the year 1699, had a faort inter- view with Auguftus King of JPoIand, in which that terrible war againft Sweden is thought to have been concerted, which broke out the next year, and for twenty years after kept all the North in a flame. But the Czar did not appear in it at the beginning, having firft the temper of his fubje«5ts to reform, which took up fome months after his arrival. The principal reformations he made, or begun to make this winter, were, i. In his revenue.;. 2. In the habits and beards of his fubjeds ; 3. In ecclefiaftical affairs ; and 4. in feveral cuftoms re*- Account ^rgarding civil fociety. the Ruffian * '^^'^ affeflment of all duties, laid upon the people, the coile6ting the Czar's revenues, and the fole decifion of civil caufes, had hitherto been committed to fome favourite Lords, who aded as fbvereigns under the Czar in their feveral provin- ces, and made ufe of his name in iffuing their or- ders. Each of them had. an office or court of juf- tice at Mofcow, where they ufually refidcd, to v/hlch there was an appeal from the lefTer di- fliiils. In each of thefe offices was a bench of Diacko, who determined caufes, (as well relating to- governors. * Perry's State, &c. p. 187. Book III. Peter I. Cz^ir ^Mufcovy. loj to the treafury and the militia, as to civil affairs) and reported them to their refpedive lords, who feldom fat themfeivcs in perfon ; and there was no " higher court of appeal. Each of thefe Lords ap- pointed governors of the feveral cities and towns in his province, and every governor had a Diack and court of jdKce, which determined matters abfolutely ; only in matters of life and death, they were obliged to fend the Lord a reprefentation of the cafe, before any man was executed ; which they always did according to their own inclina- tion. Thefe governors held their places but for three years at mofl, and, inflead of having falaries ap- pointed them, ufually gave the Lord 3 or 4000 roubles for the purchaie of their commifTion, be- ' fides a great deal more to the Diacks of the head office in Mofcow : yet thefe Vaiwodes, or gover- nors, feldom failed of making their fortune in the three years ; by which their equity may be con- ]e(5lurcd,both to Prince and people. In all difputes between man and man, the firfl: thmg done was bribing the judge, and he who gave moft carried the caufe. Thro' the hands of thefe governors paf- fed all the taxes in their refpe<5tive diftridls, and they gave fuch account of them as they thought proper to the grand Precaufe at Mofcow. The Czar, believing a more faithful return The Czar might be made of his revenue, and with lefs op- purpojts to preifion on his fubjc<5ts, propofed in a council of take from his Lords, that there fliould be one general office tkein the e reded at Mofcow, and called the Rate-houfe, for collect on the better colledion and improvement of the pub- of his re- lie income : that a number of reputable men venue i fliould be chofen out of the merchants, and entit- led Burgo-Mafters, to fit daily five or more af them, to appoint clerks and officers for their owa di(lri(ft of Mofcow, and Burgo-Mafters for all th« other divifions, to colled and receive the cufloms and tolls, and the cxcife on beer,brandy,ajnd mead, whic;l\ 106 The H 1 SrO RY of Book m. which are not to be made without licenfe, nor fold but for the particular profit of the Czar. The common people durd not brew or diflii, for their own ufe, bat only a certain quantity againll iome holiday, and that too by permiffioq : the rcll they muft buy at the Cobacks, or places of fale j and this reflraint hath lince been carried yet far- ther. Now the Czar would have all the money thus colleded returned to the general rate-houfe, where the accompts were to be adjuded, and from thence tranfmitted to the treafary, or whither the emergency of the ftate fhould require : and only the land-tax and poll-tax to be levied by the go- vernors, as before. Jl'hich the But this ufeful propofition, as it lopped oK a Lords op-- confiderable branch of the power of the Lords,was pofe, far from meeting with their approbation. They re- monftrated, that the office of collefling the reve- nue had always been veiled in the nobility, who they hoped had difchargedit faithfully ; and rlicre- fore 'implored that his Majefty would notfo far dif- grace them as to take away this public trull, and lodge it in the hands of boors and (laves. ^ t'ind^ ing this ineffedual, they propofcd fevcral fchemcs for the Czar's fatisfadtion, whereby fome part of this truft might (till be prefervcd to themiel ves . But But in tbe Czar vf as inflexible, and began to grow warm : vain, upon which, fearing that fome of their he.ids might pay for their obflinacy,they acquielced; his Majefty's propofals were put in execution, and continued fome years' to very great advantage. The Czar alfo laid a tax upon all the monauei ics, and ordered that no perfon who was not turned of 50 fhould be admitted a monk. This he did to prevent fuch multitudes of his fubjeds from being, rendered ufelefs, and by leffening the nunVoer of religious penfioners, he could the more eaaly take a part of their pcnfion. The Book in. Vetek I, Czar of Marcoyy. The general habit of the Ruffians was a long jj^ veftment, hanging down almofi: to their ankles, yj;.^^^. and gathered up in plaits at the hips, like a wo- habits man's petticoat. The Czar refolved to have this changed, and gave orders firft to his boyars,yj'^^^j.^. and allwho came to court,that they fhould furnifh themfeives, according to their feveral abilities, with handfome clothes, after the Englifh mode, the weaithieft of them with gold or filver trim- ming. He alfo commanded that futes of clothes in the Englifh falhion fhould be hung up at all the gates of the city of Mofcow, and that all perfons, except the peafants who brought in pro- viiions, fliould drefs themfeives after thofe pat- terns. Whoever difobeyed this order, was o- bliged to pay 2 grevens, (about twenty pence of our money) at palling the gates, or fubmit to kneel down and have their il^irts cropt, fo as juft to touch the ground in that pofture. Many hun- dreds of garments were to be feen thus curtailed ; and as the whole was done in good humour, it foon reconciled people to the new fafhion, which was found the moft commodious. The women too, efpecially the ladies about the court, were ordered to reform their drefs accord- ing to the Englifh manner, and inftead of their long fliift-fleeves, which they twirled out acrofs a room when any one came to vifit them, to have fuch as V.' ere fhort and decent. To make this go down the better with the fair, he abrogated the cudom of keeping them in apartments by them- feives, and admitting them only once to come into any company, prqfent a di-am of brandy round,and retire ; ordering that for the fatare they fhould be prcfent at all public entertainments, and converfe freely with the men, efpecially at v/eddings. The Czar hlmfelf would frequently honour thefe with hisprefence, and give fomething to the bride equi- valent to the extraordinary expence. This indul- gence lo8 TheHISrORTcf Book III gence in the ladies favour, foon reconciled them to the drefs. And rc- I before took notice of the retrenchment of trenches beards, as well as of habits. The RulTians wore tketr long ones, hanging down on their bofoms, and beards, nicely comb'd out. Even the hair on the upper lip was fo long, that they were obliged to wipe it after drinking ; at the fame time that That on the head was worn quite fhort, except only by the priefls. To reform this foolifh cuftom, the Czar laid a heavy tax on all his fubjeds, exclufive of the prieds and peafants, for the wearing of beards. The very common people were obliged to pay a copeck, for entering any city or town with a beard, and an officer waited at the gate to receive it. But fuch was their veneration for this piece of natural ornament, as they efteemed it, that they looked upon the Czar as guilty of a grievous fin, and this injunftionpafTed for a terrible pcrfecution. Indeed it was rigoroufly put in force on fonie of the moftobftinate, who had their beards plucked up by the roots for non-compliance. Some were fo fu- perftitious as to fave the hair when taken off, in or- der to have it put in their coffin, that they might give an account of it to St. Nicolas. Libels were writ on tliis occafion,and dropped about the ftreets, charging his Majefty with heathenifm and tyran- ny. But the women liking their hufbands and fvvcethearts the better,mo(l of the men by degrees were reconciled to this depilation of their chins. Kejlrains In the firft book of this hiftory I mentioned the the Pa- Mufcovite Religion, and in particular the grandeur triarch, and authority of the patriarch. The Czar had been in England, andfeen what advantage accrued to the fovereign from being the chief in ccclcfia- flical affairs. He rcfolved to be fo himfelf in Mof- covy, but would not attempt to depofe the pre- late in po/Tefiion, tho' he fometimes tcok the liberty to cuib the exccfs ofhispricftly power. * One duy the * Cruli's State of Mufcovy. Vol.. II. p. xo6. Book III. Pete K I. Czar sf Mufcovy. 1 09 the reverend lire took upon him to expoflulate with his Majedy, (who was come to vifit his mo- ther, then on her death- bed) concerning his alters ing the anticnt cuftoms, and in particular the drcfs of* his fubjeds, a^aiaft their confent. Father, faid the Czar, are 7iotyoi(rthc head of the Riijfian church ? the Prelate anfwercd, Tes Sir, by your Javour, To which his Majefty replied, A/i-d ivhy do you turn the head a fid advocate of the Taylors F I intend to give 7ny Juhje^s 7?iore fuhftantial proofs of the caro I take for their nxielfare, tha?i ivhat depends on the imagitiary differences cf drefs^ I'his Prelate, wIk) was a very old man, dying ^^^^ about the time we are upon, the Czar refufed to f-n^ j^y. have any other eleded, and took upon bimfelf to be ^^Jj^^j^^^. head of the church : only he appointed the metro- ^' ' politan of Refan^ a native of Poland, and the pioft learned of all his clergy,to take upon him the admi- niftration of ecclefialhcal affairs ; but with this re- ilriction, that he fhould reprefent all matters of moment to his Majefty, and receive his directions thereupon. This furprifing turn caufed a great un- eafinefs among the chief of the clergy, and one of them fpoke a little too freely of the matter : which coming to his Majerty's ear, ho, ordered him to be degraded; and when the other bifliops excufed tliemfelves from doing it, alledging, that as they had no patriarch, and were themfelves all of e<]uai authority, they coeat intercedions were made for inaixy, efpecialiy fuch of thefe hangers-on as were gentlemen born, and only waited for preferment : but his Majefty's commands were pundual , and allowed of no refped of perfons. There had been a printing-houfc ereded in Mof- Gow, by tliC approbation of one of the former Czais: Book HI. I*ETE R I. Czaf ^^/Mufcovy. 1 1 1 Czars : but not long after it was fet on fire in the ~ night, and the prels and letters burnt, as was thought by the procurement of the prieils, who looked upon all books, but the legends of their faints, the hiftory of their own Country, and the exploits of their Czars, to be as bad as witchcraft. As they had no univerhty, nor any fchool wordiy Reviark* of nodce, it was unlikely they fnould have any able in- tafte for literature. Ko longer ago than the hz- fiances of ginning of the laft century, the fecretary of a Per- Rufan lian ambaiTador coming thro' Ruifia v/ith his maf-^/?^^vV///;^ tcr, in the way to Denmark, calculated the hour and duration of an eclipfe that was juft ready to happen. It was hardly believed at nrft that ar-y man could know fo much ; but when die proof of it came, and the fun appeared a(5lu ally dark, the people thronged about the ambaiTador's houfe, and demanded his fecretary, that they might burn him as a fjrcerer ; and it was with fome difficulty that he was refcued by the guards. But things began now to put on a new face in Ru/Iia; books were printed, fchooh were ere (fled, the n:Iathem^:tick3 were ftudied, even allronomy iifeif. Captain Perry relates another Itory of a furgcon, who v/as condemned to death as a forcei er, and had Certainly been executed, but for the intercellioa ' of the boyar who was his patron, becaufe a fke- leton that hung up in his room, near the window, was feen to move, by the wind, vv'hile the mailer played on a lute. Some Strelitzxs, Vv ho came by, and obferved the motion, went and gave evidence that they had feen the dead bones dance to the fargeon's muiick ; wliich was confirmed by others, who were fcnt on purpofe to examine into the truth of the matter. It was with fome difficulty that the lord made the ufe of the ilceleton under- ftood, and the poor furgeon was glad to fiive his life at the expence of his ilying the countiy. The paflive Hceleton, which had thus been wrought orr by the power of magick, could not hov/ever efcape L 2. tW 112 The HISTORY of Book nr. the refentment of the populace, but was dragged about the Greets and burnt. The Czar 1 before mentioned that the Ru/Tians began their rcformj the year upon the firll of September, becaufe the world, Ruiftaus they imagined, was created in Ai>.tiuiin, when the \ear ; fruits of the earth were in perfe^k>n; and very fond they were of an argument, which they thought nnanfwerable. But the Czar Peter had often fhewn his boyars a map of the globe, and merrily gave them to underjftand that Rttllia was not all the world, for that it was Summer in the Scxithem he- rnifphcre at the fame time it was Winter with them; and moreover, that in all appearance the feafons had been confidcrably changed fincc tlie creation, for want of exacrnefs in computing the length of a true foJar year. He hr.d fo far inculca^ ted thefc remondrances, that at the beginning of the prefent century, a period the moft happy for be^innins a nev/ fucceilion of time, lie refolvcd to make h'j^i fubjecls conform to what the wifeli of them could not but be convinced was very ratio' nal. W^ith this view he proclaimed, a. jubilee on the iii il: of January 1700, and commanded it to be fo- kmnized a whole v^eek together, with firing of CHins, rinainor of bells, illuminations, and other acts of publick fedivity ; and then ordered that no per^ ion, from that time forwards, iliould make ufe of GUY other date, under a fevere penalty, than what was followed by tlie other nations, of Europe. MauT looked upon this as flriking at the very ground of religion, and though every body conformed to it through fear, yet Ibme of the old Ruifians w^ould aftei'wards get together on the fiid of September, and privately folemnize that day with great zeal, and fuperlfition, as the firft of the new year; af- ferting that the world was jufl: as old as they rec-' koned it, that is, about 500 years older than in any other modern computation. * His Fc-xrv'saate of RufTia. Book III. Pe te r I. Czar of Mufcovy. 113 His Majefty alfo aboliflied the old cuftom of J^j^ the writing theirfelves flaves, and reciting all his titles mamier of at large, in any addrefs from the RafTians to their cir^riting to fovereign ; ordering that the word raab or fuhjed^ himfelf fhould be fubftituted inlkad of goliip or flave^ and that To his vioft highly gracious Majefy fliould be the fuperfcription of every thing direded to the throne. While thefe civil regulations were on foot, the ulatei army and navy had not been neglected. All the ^^^^^.^^^ . . troops were new difciplined, and regularly cloth- ' ed, according to what was pratflifed in other na- tions : for till now every foldier, except thofe on Le Fort's eftablifhment, was dreffed according to his own fancy. And that no man in his dominions might want employment, die Czar ordered lifls to be taken of fuck gentlemen as had none, and commanded fome of them to enter as volunteers^ giving the reft appointments in different ftations, cither about the navy or in the frontier gax- rifons.. His Majefty then went to Veronitz, In order to ^^^^^^^ view thofe fhips and gallies that were built there ^ . ' by the Dutch in his abfence. But as the Englilh- '^^'^^ ' built fhips had fo highly pleafed him in his tra- vels, he now ordered that none fhould be laid down in any other fafliion, and made the Englifli he brought over with him his chief mafter-builders. One man of war, of 50 guns, he had put imme- diately upon the ftocks, according to a draught of his own making, in which he had fo contrived it, that the veflel fliould remain tight tho' her keel were knocked off. When- the work was a Tittle advanced, he left it to be carried on by two young Ruffian gendemen, who had attended him in his travels; but they were to advife upon occafion with the Englifli builders : and then ordering V'ice- Admiral Crufs, and Rear-Admiral Raes, to fit out all the velTcls that were ready ibr that purpofc,. L 3 whicli 114 "The H I STORY of Botk HI. which were to be convey'd down to Afoph^the next year, he returned back to Mofcow. Veroritz '^^^^^ ^^^^ Veronitz, the naval magazine for d^frhed ^^^^^"^ ^^^^ fpeaking of, ftands on *^ ' the top of a hill, the Weft of the river Veronitz^ and is furrounded with a wooden wall. It contains about I OjOCO inhabitants. On the defcent of the hill, near the river, are feveral hand fome buildings, and the docks, yards, and ftore-houfes, make a good figure. Captain Perry was employed here, by the Czar's command, to dam out the water - which incommoded the workmen at the annual inundations, and did it in fuch a manner, that, as he exprefTcs it himfelf, " his works are in no danger of giving v/ay fo long as the world en- dures. " But neither for this , nor aiiy thing clfe he undertook, could the Captain get paid according to contra<5l ; of which he complains fe- >erely in his State of Ruflia ; tho' without charg- ing his ill ulage on the Czar, but only on Ad- miral Apraxin. It feems indeed to have been a maxim at that time in RuiHa, either of his Ma- jefty or his minifters, ( how juftifiable I will not take upon me to fay) to withhold the wages of thofc ingenious men whom they had invited over, in order to prevent their ever returning to their native countries. Th^ death But to return r in the midft of thefe labours andfune-^ for the good of his people, the Czar was fenfibly ral of M, touched with the lofs of that wife and good man, who had firft guided him into the paths of true greatnefs. The reader will know, from what has already been faid, that this can mean only M. Le Fort, who from the time of his advancement had defervedly Hved in the higheft honour and reputation, and was now, at his death , chief general of his Majefty's armies, admiral of all Lis fleets, and prime minifter. The Czar, wil- ling to teftify his regard for fuch extraordinary 2Xierit> buried him v/ith fuch funeral pomp as had never Book nr. Peter I. (G^^r i^^Mufcovy. 115 never been feen in Ruffia before, nor fcarcely fur- pafTed in any other country. All the great offi- cers of State and the army, the foreign minifters, and the chief of the nobility, attended it. His Majefty himfelf led the guards in mourning, and affiited at the funeral fermon, which was preached by a divine of the reformed religion. The Czar's miniikrs, fome time before this, The order had made a truce with the Turks for two years, of St. An- at the congrefsof Carlowitz : but as the Germans, dre^co in- Poles, and Venetians, had entered into prelimina-y?/'/^^/^^, ries for a general peace, his Majefty applied to the late King William, who was mediator in thefe ne- gotiations, to get the truce prolonged into a lafl- ing treaty. This being done, and M. Le Fort's obfequies over, the Czar, willing to honour thofe who had ferved him faithfully during the wars, instituted a new order of knighthood, the firft that ever was known in Ruffia, under the patronage of St. Andrew, for whom the Mufcovites have a great veneration. The collar of the order is a blue ribbon, to which hangs a crofs with St. Andrew's image, the two letters S. A. furmounted by an eagle, and the words, Peter the -firft ^ Eijiperor of Rujjia, preferver of the country. Prince MenzikofF was the firft on whom Ihs Majefty conferred this mark of dilKndion. And now began that tedious and bloody war, which was firft concerted at the Czar's return from Vienna, and continued for twenty years, with va- rious fortune to the contending parties. But Peter the Great, who for fome years of it was rather un- fuccefsful than profperous, had the glory at laft to triumph over an obftinate enemy, and to fecure to himfelf by treaty a large addition of territory. Peace with the Turks, and war with Sweden, were proclaimed at Mofcow the fame day. THE THE HISTORY G F T ETER the GREAT, Emperor o£ RUSSIA. B O O K IV. From the hegintiing of the n.var ivith Snjjeden, till the reduflion. of Ingria and Livonia y and the, building of Peter shurgh and Cronjlot, IT was in the year 1700 that his Czariih Ma*- jefty, fupported by the alliance of Auguftus King of Poland, and Frederick King of Denmark, CharaBer ^^g^g^d in a war with Charles XII. King of of Charles Sweden, the moft formidable rival he could pof- XII K, of^^^^y ^^^^'^ thepiirfuit of glory, Tho' but 18 Scii^ede^, y^^^s of age, this Prince was not only an enemy to alrfoftnefs and effeminacy, but even fond of the Book IV, Peter I. Czar ^Mufcovy. I17 the moil violent fatigues, and all the feverities of a military life. Invincibly obflinate in thofe excefies to which his courage tranfported him, he run into dangers with the higheft relifh and delight, and wanted nothing of being a very Alexander, biit the addition of a few vices *. Both he and the Czar, it is pretended, believed in abfolute pre- de(Hnation, and owed much of their intrepidity to this fpeculative notion. But tho' there might feem to be fome equality hiequaltty between the two Sovereigns at war, it was far oj the Map- otherwife with refped to the nations they com- covites and manded. Mufcovites, who in general had not yet Swedes ^ the flighteft tinclure of difcipline, were never inured to the pra<51icc of valour, nor pofFeffed of a reputation they could either fear to lofe, or make ufe of to infpire them with nevv^ courage ; thefc Mufcovites marched againft veteran Swedes, ufed to a difcipline the raolT: exacfl, accuftomcd ta the field under a long fuccellion of warlike Kings, animated to brave adions by the very remem- brance of their ov/n hidory. The Czar was fo fenfible of this, that he frankly faid at the begin- ning of the war, when news were brought him of the defeat before Narva : / k?i(nv very ivell that viy troops ^vi II be heat for fo7ne time; but this ivill teach them to conquer at laji. He armed himfelf witliL a patience more heroic that even valour it- feif, and facrificed the intereft of his own glory to that of making his people brave and w^arlike. It wTre to be wiflied that the Czar's motives for T'/jc Czar's entering into this war, had been as juftifiable in ^^^othes to, themfeives, as they were well concerted for carry-. '^^f' ing on his grand projc6l. Livonia, tho' formerly '^^^^ S^^e-. difputed with Sweden, by bot^ the Mufcovites and Poles, had been in quiet pofTeiTion of the former P rovinces near an hundred years. Carelia and Ingria had difmeiJi- indeed belonged to Rullia, but were ceded to i>red. SwedcA * -^lo§e ]^ar Fcntenelle, P. iC. Ii8 The HISrORYof Bookiv; Sweden by Michael Federowitz, the Czar's grand- father, and remained to that crown ever lince. A long deduvf^ion of the Czar's pretenlions to thefe feveral provinces was however publilhed, by which it was eafy to fee that all the other caufes alledged for this rupture were only fubfervient to thefe. His Majefty's projed of becoming powerful by fea, excited him to revive thofe preteniions, which, purfued with fuccefs, would put him in po/Ieffion of Narva, Revel, Riga, and other confiderable ports on the Baltick, and the gulf of Finland. To give the better idea of thefe feveral particular^, it is proper here to infert an abftra6l of the geo- graphy and hiflory of thefe provinces. A defcrip' ^^"^^ province of Livonia is bounded on the tioiiofLi- Weit by the gulf of that name; on the north by vonia, ^^"^^ gulf of Finland ; on the ea(i by Ingria and the Dutchy of PlcfiCowin Mufcovy ; and on the fouth by Lithuania and Samogitia, Its antient inhabi- tants were barbarians, v/ho had no commerce VAth their neighbours. Certain German Pyrates, who cniifed k the Baltick in the reign of the Emperor Frederick Barbaroffa,landing tli€re,faund the coun- try fo fine and fertile, that they refolved to make it the place of their refidence. Their firfl care was to ferde a traffic with the natives, by which they propofed to themfelves large profit, efpecially upon corn, honey, and wax. This view to intereff changing afterwards into a zeal for religion, they formed a military fociety for eftablifhing the Chrif- tian faith among thefe infidels ; and after feveral battles, in which they murdered many thoufands under this pretence, they became mafters of the province. Their fociety being confirmed by the Pope, they took the r?ame of Knights of Livonia, and chofe William of Vienna for their Grand Maf- ter. The country was divided into feveral govern- ments, and the archbifhop of Riga had a part in the Sovereignty. This conceflion to the prelate, which they looked on as their greatefl fccurity. Book IV. Pe TE R I. Czar of Mufcovy. j j ^ ^^'as the caufe of their ruin : > for having fome iiiifunderfLanding with him, the Grand Mafter Volquin implored the help of the Teutonic Knights, under the heavy condition of receiving them for maders* The Knights of Livonia got rid of this fcrvitude, for a large fum of money, under Albert of Brandenburg, who fome time after renounced his order, and turned Lutheran. The Livonians followed his example, embraced the dodtrines of Luther, feized the eftates of the order, and made them hereditary, Gottard de Ketler, their Grand Maftcr, put himfelf under the protedlion of Si- gifmund AuguRus, King of Poland, and prefcrved to himfelf Courland and Semigallia. During thefe religious diforders the Mufcovites Q^^igljj of got pofTellion of the greateft piirt of Livonia, the Mifco- They were drove out of it by Stephen Bathori, who ^y^^^ claim fucceeded Henry of Valois King of Poland, and re- this pro- took it again in the reign of Sigifmund, with whom they were at v/ar on account of the falfe Demetrius, Having broke with Guftavus L King of Sweden, that Prince invaded and reduced Li- vonia: but his fucce/Tor loft it again to the Mufco- vites in 1590, who were now no more able to re- tain it than they had been before. The conflable de la Gardie not only took from them what they hud recovered from Sweden, but obliged the Czar Michael entirely to renounce it by the treaty of Stockholm in 1618. The Poles oppofed this cefTion, pretending that tlie Czar had no right to make it, in prejudice to their claim from the grand mafter of the order, and a prior celTion from the Mufco- vites to them in 1582. They were anfwered by the Swedes, and the contention came to the point of a rupture, when Lewis XI 11 King of France, adjured it by his mediation in 1629, leaving the Svvedcs in pofTcriion of all they had got, except Courland, vv^hich he obliged, them to reftore. The treaty of Oliva, in 1660, confirmed all that had beenbcfu:c done, and allowed the Kings both of Po- 120 The H ISrO RY of , Book IVJ Poland ami Sweden to call themfcivcs Dukes of Livonia, to the utter exclufion of the Mufcovkes. But the Czar Alexis IMichaelowitz revived the claim which his father had renounced, and Peters was now refolded to make the mofl: of it. Livonia is a country of great importance, on account of its advantageous fituation, and prodi-* gious fertility in corn and pafturage. The Li- vonian nobility are very numerous, and were pof* fefl'ed of great power and many privileges, before the reign of Charles XL King of Sweden, who op- Faikul s prefTed them equally with the reft of his fubjcdls. * jio7])\ Patkul, (ince unhappily famous for his tragical death, was deputed by the reft of the Livonian no- bility, to bear their united complaints to his iNIa- jefty ; whom he addrefled in a manner very refped- ful, and with that manly eloquence, which calamity, joined with courage, infpires. Charles, who knew how to dillemble, when he did not give himfelf up to the tranfports of his paflion, gendy ftruck Patkul on the fhoulder : ** You have fpoke for " your country, fays he, like a gallant man, and I ** efteem you for it: proceed." But a few days after he got him declared guilty of high treafon, and condemned. Patkul, who had hid himfelf, made his efcape, and carried his refentment with him to Poland, where we leave him for a moment. Divijion of "^^^ Duna divides Livonia into two parts : hivoiiia^ fouth of the river lie Courland and Semigallia, both fiefs of the crown of Poland. The other Li- vonia, comprehends Eftonia and Litland. In the f©rmcr are contained Eftonia Proper, Wikezland, Alentaken, Harcnland, Jervenland, Oldenpo, and Wirland. . Eftonia Proper lies between Litland, Oldenpo, Eftonia Jervenland, and Wikezland. The only remark- ope? » ^i^j^ ^j^y -J. Pernaw, at the mouth of a river / enia^v, ^j^^ name, which falls into the gulf of Li" ♦ Voltaire. Lift Ire Jw Churles >ai. Book IV. Pe T E R I. Czar of Mufcovy. 1 2 1 Livopia. It is a place of good trade, (tho' fmall) on account of the great quantity of corn there loaded for the Low Countries. It has a ftrong citadel, and was formerly the capital of a Polifh Palatinate. \Mkezland extends along the BaltickS^a, hc- Wikezland tween Eflonia Proper and Harnland. Hapfcl, for- merly a billioprick, on a fiiiall gulph of the fame name, and Lehal, are its principal towns. Aicn taken lies between the gulph of Finland and -^^^^^^^^^ the lake Peybus or Czudzko. The city of K^lrva here, upon a river of the fame name, which di- vides Livonia from the dutchy of Pleilcow, and two miles lower falls into the gulph of Finland, is one of the ftrongefl: places in the whole pro- vince, defended by a large caftle on the banks of the river. Revel, upon the gulph of Finland, is the capi- -^-^^^^^^^^^^Z tal of Harnland. It is one of the richeft and moft ^^vel, ^ mercantile places in the North, a bans town, and pofFefTed of feveral privileges, that were confirmed to it by divers treaties between the Kings of Sweden and the grand Dukes of Mufcovy. A^^al- dcmar 11. built it in 1228. The Mufcovites be- fieged it in 1557, with a numerous army; but "were obliged to retire without fuccefs. Wittenftein, Lais,and Overpolen are towns of Jerven* Jen'enland, which lies between Harnland, Eftpnia lafid. Proper, and Wirland. Oldenpo, or Kikeland, is furrounded by Alen- OldeitpOp taken, Mufcovy, Litland, and Eftonia Proper. Dorpt, Dorpt, or Junigorod,upon the river Embeck, is the principal city of this dlftri(5l. It is very antient, but run much to decay. The Knights of the Teutonic order drove the Mufcovites out of it in 1280, and were expelled again themfelves in 1558, by the grand Duke Bafil, The Poles topk it in 1^82. Chailes Duke of Sudermania took it from the Poles, in his wars with King Sigifmund. The Muf- covites retook it, but loft it again to the conftable * M de i Vitland, Riga* Jnpria, The H IS TO RY of Book IV. de la Gardie in 1625. Guftavus Adolphus erc(51ed an univeHity there in 1632, and it remained to the Swedes tiii the end of that centurv. The other towns in this province are Vernebec, Heime- de, and Ringen. Wirland is contiguous to Eftoniaand Harnland. The moft remarkable towns in it are Wefenberg, taken by John King of Sv/eden, and Tolfberg, upon the mouth of the river Serafchebuck. Litland lies between Eftonia, Mufcovy; the ri- ver Duna, and the gulph of Riga. It is divided into Eaftand Weft, t}ie latter of which is largefh In the former are Duneburg, a fortified city on the Duna ; Rofiten, Lutzen, and Marienhufen. The capital of Weft Litland is Riga, upon the borders of Courland, a large handfome place, well forti- fied, and confiderable for trade. It was formerly (and may be ftill reckoned) the capital of all Li- vonia, the ufual refidence of the grand mafter of the Knights of that denomination, and the feat of an archbifhop. Charles IX. King of Sweden be- lieged this town ineffectually ; but his fon, Guf- tavus AdolphuSjbecame mafter of it in 1 62 1 . Tbe Mufcovites attempted to furprife it fbme years af- ter, and were obliged to retire with very great lofs. The other cities of this divifion are Teydar, V/olmar, Wenden, and Kokenhaufs; the latter built upon an eminence, the bottom of which is watered by the river Duna ; a place much ftronger by nature than by art. The ]VIufco\'ites took it in 1654, and reftored it by the treaty which put an end to that war. There are fome iftands upon the coaft of Li^ vonia, which v/e may have occafion hereafter to menuon. Ingria is bounded on the North by the lake Ladoga, by Mufcovy on the Eaft, by Livonia on the South, and on the Weft by the gulph of Fin- land. It belonged formerly to the Mufcovites ; but tlie Book IV. Peter L Czar Mufcovy. 123 the Swedes having got pofTeHiorijthe Czar Michael Federowitz gave it up entirely to Guftavus Adol-. phus by the treaty of Stockholm, which was con- firmed in 1 66 1 between K. Charles XL and the Czar Alexis Michaelowitz. Itslituation between Finland and Livonia, fnade it always confide rable. Nottcburg* Notteburg, the capital, a ftrong place, lay at the head of the river Neva, where it rifes oat of the lake Ladoga. It was taken by the conftable de la Gardie in 16 14. The other cities of Ingria are Caporia, Imagorod, and Ivanagorod. Carelia lies between the gulph of Finland, the Carella. province of that name, and the lake Ladoga. Birger King of Sweden fubdued it in 1293, and it remained in the hands of his fuccefibrs till 1338, when they divided it with the Mufcovites. The Czar Siiilki promifedto give up his part to Charles IX. upon condition of being affifted againft the im- poitor Demetrius. Charles fent him troops under the command of Pont de la Gardie ; but the Muf- covites, after the war was over, not readily keep- ing to the propofa],the Swedes feized on Kexholm, and afterwards on all Carelia Proper, which from that time was entirely united to the crown of Sweden. The capital of Carelia Proper is Wiburg, a IVihoiwg, ftrong place, with a good citadel, which the Muf- covites had often attempted to furprife. The ca- pital of Kexholm is of the fame name, and ftands Kexholm, upon the lake Ladoga, at the mouth of the river Voxen. It is defended by a ftrong caftle,whiph was took by the conftabie de la Gardie. Some authors / make Kexholm a province by itfelf ; but we lhali cot difpute about names. Thefe were the provinces claimed by the Czar Peter, in his declaration againft Charles XIL The reader will guefs, from this ftiort account^ on what he founded his pretenfions, and howjuft- ly. We fliall only remark, that wars have oftert M 2 been^ 124 "^he HI STORY of Book IV. been entered into on more flight foundations. And probably any other Prince, capable of the fame great defigns, would have thought thtfe at leaft very fufficient. But the Czar added others to them, which he called for crofled the fea from Carelferoon to Pernaw ; aga'mji ths and the Czar received advice of his being landed Q^^^j.^ on the 15 th of November. His Majefly forefaw that * Hiaoire dc Charles XII. and Hiflory of the Ciarby a Britilh officer.. 128- The H ISTO RT of Bookrv. ^at this Kingj young and enterprifing as he was., ,would play the delperate game ; and therefore, flir from defpifing his inferiority of number, having difpofed his army before Karva in the teft man- ner (placing three advanced guards, the firft of fi.ve, the fecond of twenty, the third of thirty thou- fand men, before the main body) he ported away to Plefkow, to haften theimarch of 40,000 recruits who were by this time got thither. The King in the mean time made a flying march from Pernaw to Revel, and thence to Narva, with only his 4000 horfe, and about the fame number of foot. With Repulfes ^^^^-fe attacked the firfl pod, and eafily diflodged the Mufco' P^'^ them to flight, before they could know vites at 'what flrength he had. The five thoufand fled to three pofts' twenty, with Charles at their heels, whoim- ' mediately attacked and routed them alfo. They carried their confternation among the thirty thou- fand, who were ported within a league of the camp.; and the panick feizing on thefe too, they retired to the main body without rtriking a blow. All this was done within two days and a half, and the King of Sweden then appeared, with his 8000 men, fatigued with a long march, before an army of 100,000 Mufcovites, defended by 1 50 pieces of brafs cannon. The Duke de Croy made the bert difpofition he Gould at fo fliort a warning ; for the King, after three vidlories,. would hardly give his men time to breathe,, before they were ordered again to fall on. The Mufco vite infantry were ported in an entrenchment, where they fired as in- a covered- way, with a fecond line to fupport them, and the ca- valry behind to fijpport all. But this numerous army wanted the prefence of their maftcr, whicli would have been better than die forty thoufand re- cruits : and he did not doubt, when he left them, but that he ftiould come back again in time. Book IV. Peter I. Czar of Mufcovy. 125 On the 30th of November 1700, about ^om,' And de- the 8000 Swedes, headed by their King, began-y^^^j. ^^^/^ rlie attack. The Mufcovires ftood it bravely for ^Jjokrighi fome time, and returned a terrible fire. But a vio- qy/;;^. Jent fcow falling, was driven by the wind full in^ their faces, which proved of great advantage to the enemy. General Rebinder, at the head of eight batallions, prelTed on with fuch intrepidity,that tho^ the General himfelf fell in the charge, there was no rcfiffing the fury of the attack. The firfl: line was forced, and after that the fecond, which being driven tipon the cavalry, put them in fuch diforder, that they could not draw up to charge. Thus in three hours time all the entrenchments were forced> and the whole right wing routed. The King purfued near fifty thoufand, the number of that wing, with his own left wiF>g of about four thou- fand, as far as the river of Narva, which was in- ftantiy covered with dead bodies, the bridge breaking under the Mufcovites feet. The reft, after defending their barracks a fhort time, furrendered tlicmfelves prifoners of war. The General's Dol- horucki, G(jllowin, Fedorowitz, and the Duke de Croy himfelf, were in the number of the latter. Charles, before the battle, did not doubt offuC- Hh cvcji cefs ; and during the adtion behaved as if no danger behaviour\ could approach him. He attacked the Czar's quar- ters in perfon, not knowing him to be abfent ; and as he was mounting a third horfe, two having been killed under him, " Thefe fellows, fays he, make me exercife." He received the prifoners of diftin6£ion, after the (laughter was over, with ant air of politenefs ; detained only the general of- ficers, and fent the fubalterns and common fol- (Jiers, being firft difarmed, over the river to return home. Theii he took pofTeflion of the enemy's cannon, and wrapping himfelf up in his cloke, flept fome hours on the ground. But all had not yet been over, if the terror of what they law had not afFe<5^ed the reft of the J30 The H I STO RY of Book IV. Mufcovite army. The* their right wing was thus^ deftroyed, the left continued fighting tiii night, and was ftill fufficient to have cut all die Swedes to pieces. The King intended, at day-break, to fall upon them with his whole force. But General The Muf" Weid, who commanded that wing, hearing how covite left ^^^^ ^^"S ^^^^ other general officers, rujijjgfur^ and that he had difmifled all the reft, fent about re?iders, ^^^^ ^' clock in the morning to demand the fame favour. Tliis was granted, and the General ap- peared fbon after, with '30,000 Mufcovites, be- fore lefs than 7000 Swedes, to whom they furren- dered their arms and colours. The King then en- tered victorious into Narva^ amid the acclamations of the people. Tlie Mufcovite horfe had retreated in pretty good The C-^ar made off towards Plefkow. They met hears ^of ^^^^ ^"^^^ received their account ik'sa^ion ^^^^ defeat without the leaft diforder, or ex- preiling any refentment at the conduct of his of- ficers. He was too good a judge of the great dif- ference between fuch veteran troops as the Swedes, and thofe that he was able to fend againft them, either to wonder at what had happened, or to at- . tack the remainder of the vidor's little army with his 4O5OOO recruits, affifted by the horfe. Inftead of this, he returned from whence he , fame, and took all pofiible meafures to draw toge- ther the fhattered remains of his own army, in or- der to be ready for future adion. But the King of Sweden, having relieved Narva, and gained a complete vidory, put his troops in- to winter quarters for the feafon, without attempt- ing an^ thing farther. This was contrary to what every one expeded, and juft as the Czar himfeif would have wilhed. Charles had defeat- ed two enemies, and, without remembring how foon thefe might recover the fhock, from this time thought only of the third. He fent over for all the Book IV. Peter I. 62:<5rr ^Mufcovy. 13 1 tlie regular troops in Sweden, and ordered the raifing of new levies for the guard of his country. The Czar expelled him again next Spring,at the ^^^^ head of 40,000 old foldiers, one half of which / were already vicronous ; and accordingly prepared for the reception of fuch an enemy. He did not-^ ^ command out a certain number of men, as had been ufual in Mufcovy, only to ferve for one cam- paign, and then to return to their habitations ; but lent drums to beat up for voluntiers all over his- empire, who, viththe promife of newcloaths, regular pay, and preferment according to their merit, got together a prodigious number of able- bodied young fellows. To thefe he made fuch additions from among the fervants of the nobili- ty, (who w^ere all obliged to fend one, two, or more, according to the number they kept,) that before the Spring he had near 120,000 new-lifted men, all formed into regiments of four, two, or one batallion, as in other countries, and regularly difciplined. * In the mean time the league between Poland Has an in- and Mufcovy was more firmly cemented than ever, tervienjj The two Princes, in order the better to contrive ''^'^tb the their meafures, agreed upon an interview at Bir- King of fen, a fmall town in Lithuania, where they met Poland • without any of thofe formalities which ferve only to retard budnefs. They fpent fifteen days to- gether, in the enjoyment of feveral extravagant pleaflires, efpecially drinking, the great vice of the North. Auguftus engaged to furnifh the Czar with 50,000 German troops, to be hired of feveral Princes, wliich the Czar was to pay for ; and 50,000 Ruffians were to be fent into Poland, to be trained up to war, for which the Czar was alfo to pay three millions of rix-doUars, within two years. At * Hiadire de Charles XIL 132 "T^he H ISTO RT of Book IV- TI?e refult ^^is interview, Charles, upon Count Piper's ^ii'/^/V/; /■/ pcrfuafion, made ufe of that policy, which he dfcovered had hitherto difregarded. A young Scots gentle- hy Charles: ^^^"5 ^^^o fpoke German, pafled himfelfupon the colonel of horfe that guarded the Czar for a na- tive of Brandenburg, was ma'de a lieutenant, and fo infinuated himfelf into the favour of the fecrctaries, that he got from them all the fecrets of their maf- tcrs. No fooner had the King of Sweden this in- formation, but he appeared with his army in Li- vonia, on the North of the river Duna, the Saxons being extended along the other fide, ready to dif- pute his pafTage. The King himfelf proje<5i:ed the ^ manner of it, which he performed with boats of a peculiar invention. At the fame time fetting fire to fome wet flraw, he raifed a great fmoke, which ' the north wind blew over in the face of the Sax- ons, and hindred them from feeing what he was about. He was over himfelf in a quarter of an hour, vexed to fee that three men had leaped a Ihore before him ; and no fooner had he landed his cannon, but the mifl was diflipated. Who heats Marfhal Stenau, who commanded the Saxons in tJie Saxons conjundion with the Duke of Courland, (King Auguflus being fick of a fever, occafioned by his intemperance at Birfon) fell furioufly upon the Swedes, with the left of his cavalry, as foon as he faw them landed ; put them intodiforder, and even drove them back into the river. The King ral- lied them in a moment in the midfl of the wa- iter, and leading them on, in a body more compa(5t than before, repulfed the marfhal from the fhorc, and followed him into the plain. A fharp en- gagement immediately enfued, in which the Duke of Courland had two horfes fhot under him, and was himfelf at lafl carried off for dead: upon which the Saxons fell into confufion, and no long- er difputed the field. Charles, Book IV. Peter I. Czar ^Mufcovy. ^ I33 Charles, after this vid:ory, marched diredly to y^;.^. Mittaw, the capital of Couriand, and took it. The f/.^ other towns of the dutchy furrendered at difcre- depojition tion, without giving him the leaO: trouble ; and of Augnf': when he came to Birfen, where the Czar and the /^^j-. Kino: of Poland had contrived his deftru6tion, he llrft conceived the thoughts of dethroning the lat- ter, which he immediately proceeded to put in execution. The inte(Hne divifions of the nobi- lity, for which the Poles (the only people that preferve the old Gothic form of government) have ever been fo remarkable, and which at this time run very high, partly through diliadsfadion Vv^ith their King, and partly through private fadions, not only encouraged him to this attempt, but con- tributed not a little to the making it fuccefsfui. The Czar, having had leifure to raife and dif- ^J-'^ ^^^f" cipline a large body of troops, ported them mJ^^^-^ ^-^^^ great numbers on the frontiers of Livonia. Here ^'^fi ^^-^ they had continual fkirmiflies with the Swedes, in ^^'^^edes in which tho' they were often worfled, they had the l^^^^onia. plcafure too of conquering in their turns, and finding that their enemies were not invulnerable. As they were continually recruited,they overpov/- ered them with numbers ; and by frequent fight- ing with thefe redoubted warriors, they learned to be lefs afraid. The King of Sv/eden, all this while," was fo intent on his fcheme of depofing Augndus, that he negleber- lain's fifter from baniftiment: and, in the midft of her grandeur, ftie did not forget her benefac- tors, but gave a penfion to M. Gluck and his fa- mily. —I thought it beft to throw together thefe particulars, moft of which are found in de la Mo- traye, tho' fome of them are very diftant in order of time. Cou7tf J' The fame author affures us, that Count d' Al- Alberf dif' bert, who commanded for the King of Sweden in fuadcs his Livonia, reprefented to that Prince ail that his viajler long experience in war could didate, to divert fromaban- him, after the battle of Narva, from carrying the donmg Li' v/ar into Poland, and leaving his own provinces vonia» expofed. And when that General faw the pro- grefs of the Mufcovites, under good foreign officers, he Sook IV. Peter I. Czar -^^Mufcovy. 145' he could not helpf:iying, " The King, my maf- tcr, has kit me here with a handtal of men only to excrcilehis enemies, that they may be able to beat as;" Adding, . that he wifned the King had loft the day at Narva, which might have prevented the lofs of Livonia. The event foon proved, that the Count was no bad politician. ^./^^v^ When the Czar had taken Notteburg, now cal- ^ , .^j^' led Sleutelburg, in 1702, and the year after Nie- fliantz, or Shantz-ter-nie, a trading town in In- ^ ^ gria, he obfervcd leveral iflands at the mouth of ^ the river Ncvajabout a German mile lower, which he thought would be a convenient fituation for a new, city, that might open a communication with the Baltick. He ordered a fort to be built on one of thefc iflands, and fent a detachment of troops to make themfelves maflers of Retufari, another ifland in the gulph of Finland, which commands the paffage to the mouth of the Neva. This they - accomplifned after a fmart engagement, in which the Swedes were driven on board their fliips that lay under the ifland. The Czar then examined and founded the coafts, and finding every thing anfwer his wiilies, immediately fet upon his new proje(5l, which was no lefs than building an Impe- rial city, for the feat of his ov/n refidence. Such - a city here, would not only be a check upon the Sv/edes, but might be the center of a far greater trade than Archangel could ever be. He drew himfelf the plan of the town, the fortrefs, the port, the keys, and the eaflle which defended the entrance. ^ * Thefe defart and uncultivated iflands, which ^^^cuted^ were nothing but a heap of mud in the fnort fum- mer of that climate, and in winter a frozen pool ; which were not to be approached by land, but by pafling over wild forefts, and deep morafl'es, and had till then been the habitation of bears and * O wolves, * Voltalre'o Hift. of Charles XIL V The H ISrO RY of Book IV. wolves, were in 1703 fiJled with above ^a,ooo men, whom the Czar had Called together from the farthcft parts of his dominions. Th(i peafmts of Aftracan, and thofe v/ho inhabit the frontiers of China, were tranfported to PeterfDurg. He was obliged to break thro' forerts, to open ways, to dry up moors, to raifc banks, before he could lay the foundations of the tov/n. The whole was a force put upon nature : but the Czar was refolved to people a country, which did not feem defigned for the habitation of human creatures. Not the in- undations which ruined his works, not the bar- rennefs of the foil, not the ignorance of tTie work- men, nor a mortality which carried off above ico,ooo men, could fliake his fixed refolution. Poderity will ftand amazed at its being founded amidil: fo many obftacles, as nature, the genius of the people, and an unfortunate war, had raif- ed againfl: it. Peterfburg was become a city in 1705, and its port was filled with veflels. The Em.peror drew Grangers thither in great numbers, by the rewards he gave them ; beftovv^ing lands upon fome, houfes upon others, and encouraging all the artifts, who came to civilize the favage climate. Above all, he made it inacceffible to the eitorts of the enemy. The Swedifh Generals, who frequently beat his troops in other quarters, were not able to do the leaft damage to this grow- ing colony, which enjoyed a perfed calm amidd war that farrounded it. * V/hether his minlflers were averfe to this defigUj or by whatever other accident it happen- ed, there were at firfl: neither provifions to fublift the workmen, nor wheelbarrows, fiiovels, and o- ther tools, to work with. This did but little re- tard the projedl ; the Czar overlooked it himfelf, 2nd the dirt was carried in bags, or the fidrts of the men's clothes, till they were furnifhed v/ith bet- ter * Salmcn's Trefei t St2te» ^c. Vol VI. P. I7> &c. Book IV. Petek I, Czar o/M\ii^cory. 147 ter conveniences. The nobility, merchants, and tradefmen,, were ordered to tranfpiant themrehes from feveral parts of the Empire, to ere6t houfes for themfeh^cs, and ftrengthen the new colony. Finland, Carelia, Ingria, and Livonia, having lately fulFered fo much by military execiuions,- faw themfelves half depopulated in favour of Pe- terfburg. Thofe who had knowledge orintereft in trade, made great advantages by furnifhing the refl with the neceiTaries of life, which in time be- came tolerably plenty, tho' they ftill continue dear. In a few years arofe 60,000 houfes, vvhere Dcfcripti- in 1702 were only a fewmilerable huts. As the on cfPe- whole ftands pardy upon iilands, and partly upon tcryburg, the continent, it appears at a dillance rather like feveral didant tovv^ns, than a fingle city. The lo wncfs of the country makes it fubjedt to frequent inundations, by v/hich great loiTes have been of- ten fa(}ained> The breadth of the river Neva at Peterfburg is about half a mile, and the cur- rent is very deep and rapid : but v/here it opens into the bay the fands render it {hallow, which, obliges large fliips to unload fhort of the town* It v/as propoled to the Czar to build a bridge of pontoons over this river (any other bridge being judged impravSticable on account of the rapidity of the flream :) but he v/ould not confent to iij^. becaufe it was his intention to train up as n^viny failors as podible. A great many pafT^nger/at iirfl: were downed, before the RuOiaos became dextrous at managing their fails ;. and oars were then prohibited : but they are fince allowed., to people of fiOiion, who keep their own water- men, generally four in number. There are fome handfome ftonerbuilcangs, pa- laces, and churches in Peterfburg ; bat niof]- of the haufes are of wood. The iides confift of fquare pieces of fir timber, laid one upon another.- Turnips, cabbages, and cucumbers^ are almoii the only plants that grow near tliis city, whicb o 2 ' m i^S The HISrORT of Book IV. IS fapplied with provifron from Novogrod, Flef- ko\v, MoTcow, and even from Cafan, 1200 miles didant. Thoufands of ilcds are peqktu ally tra- velling in winter for this end, loaded with corn, fioar, ' fruits, and the feveral produ(fcs of the re- fpe^fdve countries ; which in the fummer are brought by the lakes and rivers. When the boats happen to meet with any accident, every thing grows exceilively dear on a fadden, not in Petersburg only,but in the Country round it, which is all furnifhed by the lame channels. ' Retufari lies about 12 miles to the Weftward ef Petersburg, at the mouth ofthegulph ofFin- land, and the only paflage for fnips is on the fouth of this iiland, where the channel is about two thoufand paces broad, and very deep. Tho' the foil of the ifland is barren, the Czar Peter, ob- . ferving the advantage of its f tuation, built in it Cro?ifiQt, grft a caflle, which he called Cronflot, and then a pretty large town by t-lie name of Cronltadty making a commodious harbour for the rcctpdoa of his fleet. The coafl: of Ingria, from Crorjilct, up to Petersburg, is fall of pleafure-houfes ; a- mong which are the Impeiial ones of Oranjenba- um, PeterOioff, and Stelna-^Iuife, all elegantly- ' built in the modern tafle, the f rfl; by Prince Men- zikoff, and the two latter by the Czar. Narva While thefe nev/ colonies were thus grov/ing taken. under his hands, the Czar refolved on the attack of Karva, and the fort of Ivanogrod that lay over againfc it. The trenches were opened on the beginning of Augufi: 1704, and after a regular fiege of 13 days, in which 40 pieces of cannon and 12 mortars were employed, he took the place by alTault, tho' the garrifon confilled of 1600 ' men. Asfoon as the foldiers were matters of the town, they fell to plunder, and gave themfelves up to themoft horrid barbarities. The Czar ran himfelf from place to place, to put a flop to the Mufcovites ; fnatched the women out of the hands of Book IV, PsTER I. Czar ^xMufcory. tU0 of the foldiers, who were going to cut their tliroats, after having abufed their bodies ; and e- ven killed fcvcral Mafcovites with his own hands, who did not obey his orders. They yet fhew the tablcj fays M. de Voltaire, in the town-houfe at Narva, upon which he laid his f,vord as he en- , tered, and tell the words which he fpoke to the citizens, who thronged thither after him. It ** is not with the blood of the inhabitants that luy fword is ftained, but with that of the Mufco- vites, which I have ilied in your defence. "~ The "Czar's difgrace before Narva, about 4 years before, was entirely cancelled by this adion. The; caftle of Ivanogrod held out for fome days after the town ; but fearing at laif to fhare the fame: fate, the governor furrendered it upon honourable- conditions. The Sv/edes were not a little uneafy at tins pro*° grefs of his Majefly's arms, as well as at the fiic- cefs with which his works went on at Petersburg and Gronflot. Their Kins alone, whom on this occafion one might have expecled to iind chiefiy concerned, feemed utterly infenfiblc of what he was lofing, as well in glory as in dominion. V/hcn he was told of the buildings carrying on by the Czar, Let him amufe himfelf, fays Charles, if he thinks proper, in railing of cities :. I (hall foon. take them from him, and either keep them, or burn them if they are not worth keeping." ButMajor-General Meydel, v/ho commanded in? Carelia, and admiral Ankerfteirn, with the whola Swedifii licet , were foon convinced by experience,, that it was.no fuch eafy thing, as theirraafierhad' imagined, to wreft his new pofleflions out of ther liands of the Czar. The former landed a detach-- y^/'^v////r^/}f meet on the iOand of Retufariv which xfiX^'m^L^attanpt^ of: without being able to e fled any thing againd the th^.Srjjedej-^ jfortiXifs ; and the other was repulfed before Cron- fiot, by a fleet much inferior to his own,, comr- raandcd by General Ikuce. 03 Thus,, The HISTORT, c.Li ' Book V. Peter I. Czar of Mufcovy. l fpe6l only the orders of the Marfhal of the RoyaJ Confederacy." In the mean time the primate and his party, who thought themfelves fafe under the victorious Swedes, difregarded the Czar's letter, and proceeded to the degradation of AuguRus, and the elecUon of a new King. But the choice at laft not pleafing the primate, he was from that time a friend to neither of the Kings. This revoluti- on was in the month of February 1704. Augufhis made fome efforts to reftore his affairs^ He fnrprl^ and even furprifed the city of Warfaw fo iwdi^ii^n- fcsJVarfanjj ly, that the cardinal primate, the new Queen, with feveral palatines and grandees, were obliged to efcape with the utmoft precipitation. He took the caltle afterwards by capitulation, and in it a great number of prifoners, Sv/edes and Poles. A- mong the latter was the bifhop of Pofnania, who proclaimed the new King, and died a_ prifoner not long after in Saxony ; the caftellan Kimpski, and two fons of the caftellan of Cracow. Hoorn, the Swedifh General, obtained leave upon his pa- role, to go to the camp of his mafter, upon con- dition that he fhould furrender himfclf tvv^o months after in Saxony. The Czar, after the taking of Narva, had di- vided his army into three bodies : the firft was, to block up Revel, the fecond Riga, and the third to cover their camp, and guard the pafles into the country. But the defperate fituation of his Ally,, whom he was refolyed not to defert, prevented for the prefent his opening thefe fieges in form. The forces he had already ifent into Poland, tho' pretty numerous, were not able to make head againf! the King of Sw^eden, who had hitherto carried vidory where-ever he went in perfoo. Count Shuliemburg,, to whom Auguftus had given the care of his army in this laft extremity, had made a glorious ftand againft King Charles, and a more glorious retreat when his iofs v/as judged inevita-^ We ; bu; ail this did little iervice to his mafter^ J54 The HISTORY of Book V. who was once more obliged to abandon Poland, and withdraw into Saxony, trembling for the ca- pital of his hereditary eftates, which he new for- TheC- r '^^^^^^ ^^^^^ poffible expedition. It was at this enters "Po j'"^"^^^^ ^^^^ entered Poland in perfon, lajid ^Hih ^^^'^'^ army of 100,000 men, refolving to give battle to the Swedes : and as he had never before ;/ aii?iy, ^^^^ ^^^j. xk^^^^z in his own name, he thought it pioper to publifh a manifeflo to thePolifh nation, 21 order to convince them of the jufHce of his un- dertaking. This paper is dated from his head quarters at Potof]<, June the 23d, 1705, and con- tains in fubflance as foliovv's. His T/iani- " That, purluant to his alliances with the re^ J}/]q^ public and King Auguftus, his Majefty had ufed his utmoft endeavours to oblige the King of Sweden to retire out of Poland, and, in his letter fent to the republic, declared his utmoft abhorrence of the fliiftioa who for two years had fought to depofe their lawful King: that Lefczinflci, "Waywode of Pofoania, had neverthelefs been eleded King, b-}? an- inconfiderable party, in oppofition to the car- dinal primate, and other perfons of the firft rank ; the Swede perfifting obftinately to maintain his e-. lection, and exerciilng an abfolute power over the republic: that by reafon of the diflance of Iiis Czarifh Majedy's troops^ and the animofi ties be- tween thofe of the republic, King Auguftus had been obliged to march into Saxony, to fecure his eledorate from an intended invafion, and was ob- flracted by the Swedes in his return to Poland, who had (hut up all the palTages, publifhed circu-. lar letters to confirm the unlav/fui election, and fummoned a diet in confequence thereof :. that the enemy had endeavaured to get it believed, that the party of the new King was efpoufed by the primate and the King of Privilia, which his Czarifh Majefly could not imagine it would be by any, except fuch fubjeds of the republic as were blinded by bribes; that thefe tilings confidered. Book V. Peti:k I. Czar of Mufcovy. his Majedy refolvcd to defend his brother and Ally King Augufhis ; and with that view, upon a peti- tion dehver.ed to him from the repubhc, was ad- vanced in perfon with an army into Pohmd, in or- der to expel the enemy who had difturbed its peace, without any pretenfions himfelf upon the rights of the republic/' Field-Marfhal CzeremetofF was fent before in Mittauj this expedition with i8 or 20,coo men, toharrafs furprifed the enemy , and make the way clear to Riga. In by the iVLiif" the mean time General Baur, with 20,oco horfc, covitcs, penetrated as far as Mittaw, the capital of Cour- land : which he took by furprife, cut to pieces a regiment of Swedes commanded by Colonel Kno- ring, and carried off prifoners all whom he found, \- active in his camp, having fummoned a general diet at Warfaw, for the coronation of his new monarch. The intereft his Czarifh Majeily had to prevent the meeting of diis afiembly, which he knev/ the conqueror would awe to a compliance) made him for the prefent defift from other defigns, in order the better to look after that great affair* In the mean time he wrote to the citizens of Dant- zick, as did alfo Count Piper on the part of the King of Sweden, to complain of their flievv'ing protedion to thofe in the oppofite intereft ; the conduct of the Dantzikers being at this time To equivocal, as to give fatisfadlion neither to Swedes nor Ruffians. Count Patkul the Livonian, firft a fubjed of Sweden, then fervant to King Auguftus, and now- ambaflador from the Czar to that Prince, had, by the orders of his mafter, perfaaded the depofed monarch to venture acrofs Poland to Grodno, to confer with his Czariih Majefty upon their common intereft. The King fet out from Drefden incog- nito, attended by only three perfons, and arrived at Grodno with General Shullemburg, and a few troops. The Czar there prefented him with fix Standards, a moiety of what the Ruffians had ta- ken at the bridge of Praag, upon the Viftula, where they had furprifed and beaten the Swcdifli guard. ^ As the dethroned King was no longer afraid of cxafperating the Poles, he made no fcruple, in thefe conferences, to give up their coun- * Voltaire. Hlftoirede Charles XIU country to the Mufcovites, and came into a refo- kition that the Czar's army Ihould be divided in- to fcveral bodies, to cppofe every motion of the Swedes. It was at this interview that King Auguflus in- fiitiited the order of the \^'hite Eagle ; a poor ex- ^^'^ ^^^."^ pedient, in his condition, to draw over to his in- ^ t^reft fcveral PoUHi lords, who werd in fact more ^^^^^ defirons of real advantages, than a meer nominalj^^^''^^^^* honour ; which became ridiculous when held from one who had nothing left of a king but the dtie. But the fpirits of AuguPcus feemed to be quite de- preffedby his misfortunes; and this, which could have no other ill elFedt than to fliew how little he reigned in Poland, v/as not the only infrance he gave of his weaknefs, during the triumplis of the King of Sv/eden. Another farce that was here performed, had in it fomediing truly infrriidive, and deferves, fays M. Fontenelle, to be aded be- fore all the monarchs of the univerfe. * According to the law which the Czar had prefcribed to himfelf, never to advance in military The Czar dignities but in proportion to his merit, his Ma- ivade a co- jefty, hitherto but a lieutenant-colonel, was now lo72cl i?i bh worthy of fome higher preferment. There were ^itv7 arm)\ two vacant regiments to be difpofed of, and Peter intreated the King of Poland to take upon him the fovereign command of his army, in order to con- fer them -on the mod deferving. The propofition of filling up thele pofts w^as made in public by Ge- neral Ogilvi. King Auguuus faid, he was not yet fufFiclently acquainted with the Mufcovite officers, and begged him to nominate the men whom he thought moft w^orthy of this dignity. Ogilvi men- tioned Prince Alexander Menzikoff, and Lieute- nant-Colonel Peter Alexiowitz. The Kina faid, he knew the merit of MenzikofF, and would im- mediately order his commiffioa to be got ready ; * but, * M. de Fontenelle, Flloge, &c. P. 8. 158 rhe H I STO RT of Book V. but, as for the other, he muft be better informed of his fer vices. The affair hung in fufpence iiv^ or fix days, and much follicitation was ufed for Peter Alexiowitz, who at laft had the regiment given him. Goes to conference of thefe two monarchs ended Muscovy, ^ manner pretty extraordinary. The Czar gave the command of his troops to his Ally, and un- der him, to Prince MenzikofF ; departing faddenly himfelf for ?.Iofcow. An infurre ravenftad quite di/heartened his party, and enabled the King of Sweden to drive the Ruffians out of Lithuania.. ^-/,^^./^,^^^^^ Then immediately turning South, and joining t- rs -u- ^"^^'^^^^^ Renchild, he entered Saxony with his ar- . " iny, encamped at Al't-Ranftadt, and began to raife contributions on the Ele(51oratc. lliis was the crifis of the King of Poland's fate, who now fei^t a letter with his own hand to beg peace, and re- ceived the conditions impofed by the vi, 16-2 The H ISTO RT of Book V. of the prayers of the church, and omitted in all public inftruments. But the moft giievous thing exadted of him,- was tiie delivery of Count Patkul, who was theo fhut up in the cafHe of KonKHng in Saxony. The Czar loudly demanded back his ambaffador, and the King of Sweden made terrible threats, if he was not furrendered. Auguihis thought of an expedient, in this dilemma, that might both fa- tisry the King of Sweden, and preferve the un- happy 'Count. He fent an order in public to de- liver up the prifoner to the SwediHi troops, and another in private to let him efcape. The gover- ^nor knew Patkul to be very rich, and would wil- lingly have made him pay for that liberty he was commanded to give; which the Count, informed of the King's intentions, and relying on the law of €aimt Pat- nations, refufed to comply with : fo the negotia- kul deliver- ^i^^^ went on till the Swedes arrived;^ and it was too ediip, late to think of his prefer\'ation. They carried him to Alt-Ranftad, where he was three months bound to a flake with an iron chain, and then removed to Gafimir. A council of w^ar was called at this laH: place, and Charles, forgetting * he was the Czar's ambaffador, ordered fentence to pafs on him, that he iliould be broke alive and quartered. A chaplain came to him to let him know he muft die, without informing him of the manner how ; and this gallant man, who had braved death in fb many battles, now gave way to human weaknefs, and poured out a flood of tears. He defired the chaplain to vidt a Saxon lady, who had every ad- vantage of birth, merit, and beauty, and to whom he had thoughts of being married about this time; to offer her all the confolation in his power, and affure her of the tendernefs of his paiTion. }Jjs execu- When he v/as led to the place of execution, ihn. ii-d faw the infrruments of torture prepared, he fell into conv-ulfions, and dii'ew hiinfelf in the arms Book V. Peter I. Czar of Mufcovy. j^j ^rms of the miniller. And upon hearing the fen- tence read by a Swediih officer, This is the ex- " prefs order of his Majelly, otir 7?ioJ} merciful lord, that this man, who is a traitor to his coutitry^ be broke upon the wheel and quartered, for the " reparation of his crimes, and for an example to ** others;" he cried out, What mercy? I have ferved ??iy cott?2try too^'welL He received fixteen blows, and endured the longeft and raoft dread- ful tortures that can be imagined. Thus died the unfortunate John Renold Patkul, who had been a fubjedt to three princes, "and was now ambaiTador extraordinary from the Czar of Mufcovy. His members were quartered, and remained ex- pofed upon gibbets, ull the year 1713, when _ King Auguftus, having regained the throne, or- dered thofe teftimonies of the necelTity he v/as re- duced to at Alt-Ranftadt to be collcifled together. They were brought to him in a box to Warfaw, in prefence of the French ambaffador ; to whom the King fhewing the box, only faid, See the mem- hers of Patkul ; and no one prefent ventured to fpeak farther on fo tender a fubjedt. The Swedes accufe Patkul of forming the plan -n n n.' of that triple alliance, between Mufcovy, Poland, ^^^^^J^ and Denmark, for bringing thefe powers at once upon Charles XII. Which was the reafon, fay they, that Charles confirmed the fentence which his father had procured againft him, and conti- nued fo implacable in his refentment. DelaMo- traye, upon this fuppofition, endeavours to vindi- cate the King of Sweden from the charge of bar- barity and injuftice , which all the world has brought againft him. But Voltaire, who would douhtlefs have been glad to bring off his hero, with his ufual free good fenfe confe/Tes, " That tho' thofe who looked ,upon him only as a iubjcft, who had rebelled againft his king, faid that he deferved his death ; thofe v/ho confidered him as a Livonian, born in a province which had pri- vileges |64 "The H I ST 0 RT of Book V. vilegcs to defend, and who recolleded that he v/as driven from Livonia, only for having luppor- ted thofe rights, called liim a martyr to the li- berties of his country: that all agreed, tlmt the - . chara<5ter of ambaffador to die Gzar ought to have rendered his perfon facred : only that the King of Sweden, brought up in the principles of arbitrary power, thought he had done no more than an a6l of judice, whilft all Europe condemned his cruelty. I'he ^zar ^^^^ heard of the treaty of Alt- ^ Ranftadt, and that his an^baflador was delivered ivrites to . \ r-irji-- i- the All'rs coniequence ot it, he ipread his complaints over ail Europe. Rewrote to the Emperor, the Queen of Great Britain, and the States General, aecufing King Augultus of treachery and cowar- dice, conjuring thofe powers to mediate for the fending back his ambaiTydor, and not to become guarantees for the treaty of Alt-Raniiadt. But thefe letters had no other efFe^l:, than to fhev/ how much the King of Sweden was at that time regarded. The Allies guaranteed the treaty, and did not think fit to provoke a prince of Charles's character, at a time when it was fo much in his power to be revenged on the Empire. The (^zar, who was then at Sraolenflco, with 20,000 of his befl: troops, and 30 or 40,000 CofTacks under the Hettman Mazeppa, found all his meafures thwart- ed by the w^eaknefs of his Ally, and was obliged to retire into ingria and Livonia, to fecure his conquefts in thole parts. Refufes to * ^'^'l^en the news came of Patkul's execution, I it was propofed in the Czar's council to retaliate P t' iVs ^^"^ ^ Sweden, by treating the S\yedifh /^^^u ^ officers, who were prifoners at Mofcow, in the fame manner that the King of Sweden had treated the minider of his Czarifh iVLijelly. But the Czar would not confent to a proceeding fo barbarou'?, which Voltair.'s- Hia:^ry. Book V. Peter I. Czar of Islw^covy , ' 165 which befidcs would have been attended with very fatal confequences, as there were more Mufcovkes prifoners in Sweden than there were Swedes in Mufcovy. He refolved on a revenge more advan- tageous, as well as more honourable, by fupport- ing the party in Poland who flood up for their liberty againit the Swedes. Having received a formal notification of the treaty concluded at Alt- Raniladt, his Majefly was requefled to take the republick under his proteflion. This he had now a good opportunity of doing, while Charles and Staniilaus,,.v/ith the main body of the Sv/edifii -army, lay idle in Saxony; and General Leuv/en- haupt, who v/as left in Poland with about 20,000 men, was unable to guard the pafTcs. Accord- ingly the Czar re-enters Poland, with about 60^000 men, whom he divided into fevend bodies, and inarches forv/ards, with a flying camp, till he came to Zolkiew. «His Majefly th^n v/rote to the general of the Writes to Crown, the primate chofen by Auguftus, (for there PoHJh was at this time another ele&d by Staniilaus) and Grandees i -the reft of the grandees, to reprefent to them, " that" he concluded an Alliance with the republic, and not in particular with Auguflus ; and that he was a- bliged to perform ail the articles thereof, and airiil the republic with all his force againll the •Swede, who not being fatisned with having oblig- ,ed Auguflus to abdicate his throne, would impofe upon them a King of his own eledion ; that his Majefly would fliortly repair to Leopold, to concert meafures v/ith the republic ; and in the mean time would afTift it with fuch an army, as fhould enable the Poles to vindicate their independency." The primate, upon this, held a council with ^j^^ throv the officers of the crown, in which an aflembly ^'1, 'I ^^^^ was appointed to meet at Leopold. In this afTem- bly the throne was declared vacapt ; and Poles were admonifhcd to acknowledge Staniflau^s ^ only as palatine of Pofnania. The Primate alfo wrote l66 The H ISrO RY of Book V. wrote to the Emperor, the Queen of Great Britain, the Kings of Denmark and PrufEa, the States General, the Pope, and other potentates, to acquaint them with the vacancy of the throne. Tlie General of the crown publifhed his univer- falia, forbidding the forces of the republic to re- ceive any orders either from Augudus or Staniflaus ; and promifing a reward to the perfon who fhould deliver up, dead or alive, M. Smigiefid, a gentle- man who had till lately been the chief partizan of Auguftus, but had now declared for Staniflaus. Several pathetic fpeeches were made in this af- fembly, to explain the occafion of their rneeting, andr^piefent the ftate of their country; and the Confederacy of Sendomir was renewed, as the moil e.Teclual means to put them in a condition of averting their liberties. Prince Dolhorucki, the Czar's ambaffador, had The Czar's ^ public audience of this grand council, to which embajfy to ^y^g conducted with the utmofl; ceremony, and the p|.^(,^j l^e^T^^en two chief minifters of the re- ^QundL public. There he delivered a letter from his Czarifti Majefty, impordng, " That notwhh- ftanding the republic feemed to be reduced to the lail extremity, by the retreat of King Au- guftus, yet they v/ere ftiil in a condition to re- trieve their affairs, if they would conctur in the meafures that fhould be propofed to them by the Czar, whom no private advantage fhould feparate from their intereft: concluding with an exhorta- tion to take vigorous meafures againft their common enemy, and an aflurance that the Czar would re- ftore to the republic fuch places in the Ukrain, as formerly belonged to it." The primate, in the name of the republic, returned the Czar thanks for his affection and friendfliip, and affured his minifter that the council would not feparate, till they had taken fuch refolutions as the diitrefTed - ' condition of their country required." Po- Book V. Peter I. Czar of Mufcovy. l6f Poland was now in a fair way of having three }{^ ^o^/ Kings, without knowing which fhe mufl obey at hijnjyif to lad. In the interihi of thefe coniultations, the J^^opold, Czar, with his fon. Prince MenzikofF, and other perfons of diftindion, arrived at Leopold. He was complimented upon his arrival, and entertained fuitably to his dignity. He aflifted at their de- bates, and at the confccration of a new bifhop of Cujavia, whom he prefented with a crucifix v/orth 15,000 rix-dollars. After feveral conferences be- tween his miniders and thofe of the republic, his Majedy returned to Zolkiew, leaving Prince Dol- horucki behind as his plenipotentiary. And as a report was now fpread, that the Czar intended, at the diet of Lubin, which was to be held fooa after, to propofe his fon, the Czarewitz, then 17 years of age, to be King of Poland, his Ma- jefty fcnt away that Prince to Mofcow, to prevent any fufpicions of that kind, and ordered 500,000 florins to be paid to the Polifli troops, and 300,000 to thofe of Lithuania. The following letter, written by his Czarifli Majcrty to the great General of the crown, and dated from Zolkiew^ February 7, 1707, will fully explain his fentiments in regard to the Kingdom of Poland, and the prefent war, " The King of Sweden, having by force and ///j- letter management compalTed his defigns againll: King Aw- to the great gu'lus, feeks with no lefs cunning to gain his ends ^^^^^..^/^ of us and the republic, and to render fruitlefs our good difpofitions to maintain the common intereft : with this view, his minifters in all foreign courts infinuate, that he is treating of a peace feparately with us. We do not deny that formerly, at Stro- litza, when feveral foreign miniders founded our inclinations towards peace, Vv^e intimated, that oat of Chriftian duty, and to fpare the efFufion of blood, we fliould be- al\va5fs ready to hearkeji to all propofitions of peace which the King of Sweden fhould offer; but, on condition that fach peace iliould i<58 HIS TORY of Book V. fliould be negotiated openly, and witli . the confent and participation of the republic \ an4 concluded by ComniilTioners appointed by all the nations concerned. We never did, or fhall enter- tain any thoughts of treating of peace fecretly, by the intervention of any foreign courts ; pre- ferring to all intereft and advantage, the reputa- . tion, honour, and inviolable good faith of a mo- narch, in the ftricl obfervance of all his al- liances. We therefore afTure your Lordiliips, that we have not yet entered into any manner of ne- gotiation of peace with Sweden, not, for the fu- ture, will enter into any, otherwife than we have already declared, with the confent and participa- tion of the eilatcs of the republic; being abfo- lutely determined to keep inviolably the alliance and guarantee we are engaged in with the re^ public." While theie things were tranfadling in Poland, Narva was ftrongly fortified, the works went on incelTantly at Peterfburg, and a fleet was getting ready in the gulph of Finland. 7 heSwedilh ad- miral had already made another attempt, with as little fuccefs as before, on the Czar's new city: Wyhnrghe- y^"^^^ which his Majefly,in order to divert the c- fie(yed. nem.y from molefting his young colony, made a diverfion in, their own country, before he fet out for Poland, and in the depth of winter, laid (lege to Wiburg, the capital of Carelia, with 18,000 foot, and 6000 horfe. The fiege laftcd 3 weeks, with great vigour, and 1 500 bombs were thrown into the town ; but the place being flrongly-gar- rifoned, and the fea open .behind^ it, there was X!0 pofTibility of taking it at this time. Thefe X motives however gave the Swedes to undcr- (land, that he was not only in a condition to repulfe their attacks, but to annoy them when he thought proper : which kept them c[uiet, and made his Majefty eafy with rep,ard to the conquer- ed provinces, during his expedition into Poland, whither Book V. Peteii I. Czar o/Mukory. 169 whither he now drew the greateft part of his troops. ' While the conferences were held at Leopold, Obtahu of- the Czar pnvately drew from the Emperor, who peers of the was now terribly alarmed at the King of Sweden's Emperor^ neighbourhood, a new acquifition of German olH- and diftri* cers, to whom he gave great encouragement. Ai- butes re- fo in memory of thebatde of Kaliih, he gave his nvards. own picture fet round with diamonds to all the Mufcovite generals and colonels, who were con- cerned in it. The inferior oiTicers had medals of gold, and every common foldier a medal ot filver, all ftruck in his new city of Petersburg, where arts and fciences now advanced in the . ^ fame proportion as military fldil in his army. The aflembly being transferred, at the Czar's deCre, from Leopold to Lublin, the throne was again declared vacant, and a Diet called for a third Irrefoluti clecftion. ^ But the change of place did not leffen on of the the diforders and uncertainty that had before Poles. reigned among them at Leopold: fo that while they owned neither Auguftus norStaniilaus, they could not refolve upon a new ele(nion* Mean time the partizans of the two Kings made war upon one another ; the Swedes deftroyed all that oppofed Staniflaus, and the Mufcovites all that acknowledg- ed him. The Poles in general, ruined by their own troops, by Swedes, and by Mufcovites, equal- ly hated their two Kings, Charles XIL and the Czar. \^^hen the alTembly firft met at Lublin, his Czarifh Majefty made an excurfion thither, with a guard of 3000 dragoons, and exhorted them to unanimity in their proceedings : but becaufe his prefence Ihould be no obftrudlion to their freedom of debate, he immediately returned to his army, and from thence wrote again his refolution never to make peace without them, and that in con*- * jundioii •vM, Voltair€, XI O The H IS TORT of BookV- jun^llon with them he would give the King of Sweden battle the firfl opportunity. All this had no eitecl on that divided people, ^ who, while they couited his ailiflance, let his Majefty fee that he had nothing but his own pov/er to depend The Czar upon. The aflembly continued fome time fitting, ivithdra^j-js without coming to any refokition : which the Czar i'titchLithii- obferving, he withdrew into Lithtiania with anicj^ upon the body of his army, leaving only 40,000 horfe ijjhich Sta- in Poland, which the King of Sweden was now 7iijJau5 is ready to re-enter. King Staniflaus immediately again ac- fet out from Alt-Ranftadt, \Wth General R^nchild, kno'ivledg' 16 Swedifli regiments, and a great fum of mo- ed, ney. The affembly difperfed at his approach, and as the towns in Poland are all open to the firft comer, he vvas rvcknowledged wherever he paiTed along. Count J^iniauski, grand General of the crown of the nomination of AuguftusV a hiaa of great abilities, and much ambition, was the only one who diftutbed his government. The troops of tlie crown, who continued under his command, had fcarce any other pay but the li- berty of plundering with impunity ; and as he could not get to be elected King, which he had much 1 iboured at, he was content to be the he kd^ of a third party. ^ ' . ; . The King The King of Sv/eden took leave of hii camp of Siveden at Alt-Raniladt in September, 1707, followed by leaves Sa:<' an anr.y of 43,000 men, fhining with gold and mj. filver, the fpoils of Poland and Saxony. Count Lcuwenhaupt, one of the bertofhis Generals, was ready to meet him with 20,000 more. Thu^ the abdication of xA^ugufrus, far from rertoring- peacc in Poland, did but render the condition of that unfortunate people worfe than ever. As the^ Mufcovites had lorded it over them all the fura-' mer, the Swedes now did the fame in their turn. The Czar had left Poland, and retumed thither again, about twenty times during the courfe of the Book V* P^TF-R I, Czar (j/'MufcoVf: 17 1 tlie war. The country lying open on all fides, left him at liberty, to appe^ir there as often as he thought proper, and evea to advance as far as the King of Sweden. But now, upon that King's appearanpe with fach extraordinary force, the Czar thought fit to withdraw to the frontiers of The Czar Rufiia, and from thence to take a journey to takes a tour Mufcow, where he had not been for two years Mofco^eo btjfore. His ftay there was fnort : for having cauf- ed the ring-leaders of the rebels, who had been in arms at Aflracan and Afoph, to be exemplariiy punifiied, he returned to Minlki at the latter end of January 1708, and gave orders for a large bo- dy of men to march into Lithuania. Prince Men- zikofF, who commanded there, had fent his Ma- , - jefty frequent intelligence of the progrefs of the Sv/edes : and indeed King Charles, tho' he con- tinued in Grait Poland longer than he expedcdy on account of the heavy rains that made the roads impaffable, had at laft taken the advantage p.. of the firir hard froft, and paffed the Viflulr ^^''^ ti:e^kinaof the 9th of January over tl^c ice. He was follow- ^^^vf^/tv/. ed by his baggage and artillery; but the ice breaking in fome places, feveral horfes and wag- gons \Vere lofh Thence he continued his march ihto Lithuama,accompaniedby the King Stanillaus, and expeding every day to be joined by General LeuT/enhaupt. The badnefs of the weather no. more retarded his march ; lie obliged the Muf- covites to abandon Grodno, Tycockzin, Wilna, and feveral other places, and to retire behind the lines they had made about Minfld, where a gene-- ral rendezvous was appointed. Notwithllanding the itrength of the King of Sweden at this time, the Czar v/as fo much his ftiperior, and hadfuch a number of good officers^ that people rightly imagined he did not retreat- thus haftily thro' fear, but only to draw the ene- my .into his own territories, v/here they mull either fight him with great difadvantge, or retire 0^2 ^72 The HIST 0 RT of Book V. thro' a defolate country, which could not afFord thiim any fubfiftance/The King of Sweden however /, i;,. v/as not of this opinion, or did not apprehend thofe '^^i ; .. . flital confequences from the ftratagem, which he ■fi foon after exj^erienccd. It was enough for Charles that he drove all before him, and that his o^mi troops had the advantage in moft of the rencoun- ters that happened. The Khig * Twice however, during this iivHiorious march, of Solved e '/I the Swedifn hero was in danger of his life, or at i;: dani^er. ^'^'^'^'^ his liberty. The firft time was in a foreil",. whither he had advanced with btit a handful of men, amidfi wham he was attacked, and almofl flirroHnded by a large body of Mufcovites : but a- Bother detachment of his troops opportunely came up, and prevented the lofs of their King. A fe- cond time was in Grodno, whither,notwithftanding- his danger, he advanced in the fame rafh~ manner before the body of his army, with only 600 of his guards. At the head of thefe he entered the tov/D, where the Czar then lay with 2000 men, who, ignorant of the enemy's ftrength, miftaking- thatfraall number for the van -guard of his army, thought proper to retire before him. But the Czar learning the fame day, from a Polifh de- ierter, to what an inconfiderable body he had abandoned the town, and that the reft of the Swedifh army was five leagues behind ; his Majef* ty fent back a detachment of i50o horfe, to fiar- prife King Charles in the night. 1 he Mufcovites advanced to the firft guard without being known, and there met with a gallant reception for fevcrai minutes from only 50 men. Charles, who lay at the other end of the town, was inftantly there widi the reft of his 6co, and being feon after joined by General Renchild's regiment, he repulfed the Mufcovites, and purfued them. Thus, by rnere dint of his good fortune, he came off a vic- t Mercure hii}on round, and to retreat beyond the Nieper, where his Majefty would give them other lands, to culti- vate. Beiides this, General Goltz, with i5,ooo> Ruilians, and 12,000 Volofqucs, was ordered to> ^attend the. motions of the enemy, and gall them; *^ iD the flank.. While the Mufcovite army lay betv/een Po- 7?^; • loczko and Smolenilco, and the Sw^edes were pent of S<:vedem I up in the midft of Lithuania, King Chailes breathed. //y;v^7/j;jj nothingbut vengeance againff the Czar; declaring, the Czaro^ He would never give him peace, till he hid o- " bliged him to refiga his crown to his fan." It wasbdieved that the Czar, at this time, feeing.^ tlh march 174 ' 'The H ISrORT of Book V. his people difcontented with the long war, efpecial- ly as it now threatened their own country, would, have been pleafed to find his enemy lefs implac^ able ; and fome aflert, that he was even prevailed^ on to write a letter to the King of Sweden, to of- fer him terms ; but that the latter fent it back un^- ©pened, and told the perfon who brought it,. That a^s he hoped fliortly to be at Mofcow,he would there treat with the Czar by word of mouth." This Prince fhould have confidered, that the fuccefs he had in Poland was no argument that he would as eafily fuccced in Mufcovy, where the people have very di&rent notions of the pov/er of fovereign Princes. ^ From Grodno to the Boryflhenes eaftward: ' lies nothinfT but morafTes, defarts, mountains, and . . y.j(>£Qj.grLg^ ^pi-^^ Kingof Sweden provided him- felf v/ith bifcuit for this toilfome march, and after he had pafied the forell of Minflci, thro' whicli his men were obliged to hew their way, he found, himfelf on the 25 th of Jane 1708, before the river Bcrezine, over-againft Boriflow. General Goltz, with about 1 2 or 1 5 ,000 of the bell: RulTian troops, was encamped in that place, in order to difpute the piiilage : but the King, getting fome regiments on the banks in fight, as if he propofed to attempt it there indantly, amufed the Mufcovites while he , fuarched his army up three leagues higher, where he threw a bridge over, and then cut a way thro' a body of 3000 Mufcovites, who defended that poft. General Goltz, hearing the Swedes were, coming up, did not ftay to receive them, but inarched towards the Boryfthenes, laying all the. T'fe hitth ^^'^'^^y wade as lie went along. rzj n ' T A body of horfe was detached from the Muf- • coYite army, to itop the enemy at the pals of Ho- * M. de oltalre's biftory, Sec. f Account fent by the Mufcovite caurt to their a^ent at: j^nilsrdan:, and. \^oi.taire's. hill:, „ Book V. Pete r T. Czar ^Mufcovy. Holowzin, which was rendered ftrong by the adja* cent moraiTes tind woods, and a little river nam- ed Wabitz. Soon after the Mufcovites arrived there, the King of Sweden approached, with his whole army, to attack them. Hereupon four parties, one of Field- Maifhal CzerennetoiT's divi- iion of infantry,, another of Prince Menzikoff's horfe, a third and fourth of Pricce Pvepnin and General Goltz's divifion, were commanded to poft themfeives within half a mile of Holowzin. Gene* ral Ailart, with another divifion of foot, and a bri- gade of horfe under Lieutenant-General Piiug, were ordered to a pafs three miles diltant, which it was thought the enemy would attack. At three o'clock in the morning, July 14th, 1708, the Swedes, by favour of the darknefs and a hard rain, began to advance againft the di- vifion of General Repnin, who commanded divers, polls, and had begun to make an entrenchment,^ and a communication by bridges with the other divifions. He had but 5:000 troops, upon whom the Swedes fired brifxly with their cannon, and endeavoured to break in betv/een them and Mar- shal Czeremetoff. As this attempt was not ex- pedted, there were only fome centinels placed in the paflage, to give notice of what happened ! and Prince Repnin, finding himfelf unable to (land the attack of the whole Sv/edifh army, reared o- ver pontoons to CzeremetofF's divifion, in pretty good order. General Goltz joined the Field- Marfhal-General about the fame time. The Swe- difli cavalry charged thefe three united divifions,, who fuftained their fhock about four hours,, and did confiderable execution. But the ground was. fo narrow, that the Mufcovite cavalry could not fecond each other, and pufn the enemy with fuf- ficient vigour: fo that the vidlory fell to the Swedes. The King purfued the Mufcovites into the adjacent woods, and there halted, and cafi: up aa entrenchment. The Mufcovites lofl a Ma- jor* 174 HIS TO R Y cf Book V%. jor-general, about 2000 inferior oilicers andfolr diers, and 10 pieces of cannon. The Swedes air fo loft a major^General, and almoft an equal num- ber of foldiers. Of all die batdes die King of Sweden ever fought, he was in this expofed to the moft danger, and file wed the grcateft abiliues. The fire was fo terrible for an hour and an half, that fome ofiicers, who had been in feveral battles, confef- fed they never faw the Uke. The King was on borfeback at the beginning of the adtion ; but Captain Gullenfteirn, a young Swedifli officer, whom he refpeded, being wounded, his Majefty gave him his horfe, and fought^ during the reft of the action, at the head of his foot guards, ex- pofing his perfon to the greateft danger. After the batde, the Mufcovites repafTed the Boryfthenes, and joined their main arn^.y in the entrenched camp. Here the Czar arrived in about two days more, having been detained at Smolenflto, for ^he Czar fome time paft, by a fit of ficknefs ; and from this arrives at hour he never left his army again, unlefs in one hh camp, fiiort excurfion to Veronitz, till he entirely defeat- ed the Swedes at Pultowa. Mohilow, Bychow, Copitz, and fome other pofts along the Nieper, being abandoned by the Mufr covitesjfell into the hands of the King of Sweden, who found a plenty of every thing in this coun- try. The Czar retreated towards the provbce of Sm^olenflvO, in which lies the great road from Po- land to Mofcow; and the King of Sweden march- ed fo clofe after him, that frequent, fldrmifhcs happened between the rear-guard of the Mufco- vites and the van-guard of the Swedes. Tho' the latter had generally the advantage, they did but weaken themfelves even by conquering : for tbofc adlions were never decifive, and the Swedes. could receive no re-inforcements, as the Mufcovites fre- quently did. Book V. Peter I. Czar ^Mufcovy. ijj * Among the exploits in this march, the King ^„ a^iiott of Sweden, with only fix regiments of horfe, and ^j^^^ Smo* 4000 -foot, attacked 10,000 horfe and 6000 [^f^jj^^^ Kalmucks near Smolenfko ; broke their ranks oil: the firft onfet, at the head of his Oftrogothic regi- ment, and advanced upon them fo fir, through rough hollow ways, that he found himfelf in the utmoft danger. The Kalmucks who had lain con- cealed, broke in between the King's regiment and Vif2(f the reft of the Swedifh army. In a moment the regiment was furrounded, and the King's horfe / ^^^^ ^ being (hot, he was obliged to fight on foot, en- danger^ circled by a few of his officers. So- many of thefe were inftiuitly taken and flain, that at laft only five were left near his perfon. It is faid he killed above a dozen of the enemy with his own hand \ but, quite fpent with fatigue, muft have furren- dered or fallen, had not Colonel Dardof, with in- expreflible bravery, forced his way thro' the Kal- mucks with a fingle company, and brought his Majefty off. The reft of the Tartars were cut in pieces by the Swedes, and Charles, whofe good fortune had never yet left him, mounted a frcfh horfe, and purfued the Mufeovite cavalry two kagues. Never was more aflion in any one campaign? than in this, not a week pafling without fome confiderable Ikirmilh. ^ Within a few days pf that now related, there happened another, in which the Mufcovites had the advantage, f The army of the Czar being encamped near the rivu- let Bela»napata, and the Sv/edifli army at the dif- tance of but one league, near a place called Ma-- kticze, and covered by the advantage of mar/hy The a£lioK ground on the fide of the rivulet Czar-napata, rfCzar- the Swedes refolved to take poft on this rivulet, j^apata. the paffage of which they expeded to have dif- puted * Voltaire^s Hifl:. f From, the R^clation publilhed by Authority*. 178 TIk' H ISrO RY of Book V, puted with them. For this purpofe the King of Sweden detached four regiments of foot, and onq of cuiraffiers, confiding in all of 5000 men, the. beft in his whole army, under the command of General Rofen. Thofe regiments advancing to the rivulet, to facilitate the palTage of the whole army, the Czar ordered Prince Galliczin to march againfl: them with 8 battalions, and 1 3 fquadrons of Pri-rice MenzikofF's horfe. . As the way was full of difficult moraffcs, the cavalry were oblig- ed.to difmount ; and tho' they threw a great num- ber of fafcines into the moft boggy places, fome of the foldiers funk in up to the breall:. The Prince, notwithfbmding, continued his niarchj and at five in the morning, on the 9th of September, palled the rivulet at the head of his troops, and by favour of a thick mift approached the enemy.- Hav- ing viewed their (ituation, he ordered them to be inifantly attacked, which they accordingly were; v;ith a terrible difcharge. The Swedes received the fire with great firmnefs, and the adion was very Obftinate on both fides. At laft, aibniilied at the intrepidity of the Mufcovites, whom they found to be their equals in the art of war, the Swedes began to give way, and were expofed to a conti- nual ikughter for tWo hours together, ia which, all the five regiments were entirely ruined. Prince Galliczin fignalized himfelf in this engagement, and by appearing every where among the thickeft of the foes, contributed not a little to the viilory> The Mufcovites loil about 600 men , and had 1000 wounded. They took five colours, two ftandards, and a very confiderable booty. After the adion was over, the Czar, to teftify his fatif- faclion with the Prince's condud, conferred on him 7he Kin order of St. Andrew. fSnve^en Charles, after this aflion, made a ret^iew pf zrc/jes to "^^^^^ "^"^"^l > ^'^^ taking an account of their marcoes 0 p^Q^,-[-Qj^g found he had not a fufficiency for ic mjaras the % m m- r • Ukraln. There was jio pollibiiity 01 getung more Book V. Vet EV. I, Czar of Muicovy. Ijj m the country where he was, and the Mufcovltes had befides made all the roads impaflable. This obliged him to turn to the right from the high road of Smc/lenlko, toward the Ukrain, or country of the CoHacks, which the Mufcovites alfo took care to lay defolate. * He met with another blow near Lodzin, by IMajor-General Mikufh, on the 17th of September.' Then, after a counter-march for two days, he pafled the river Soza at Czernikow, and advanced towards the Ukrain as far as Poczop. ^Hi^ '^fmy being by this means fatigued, '^^ ^j^^ j^i^^^y greater want than ever of all things necellary for ^ o ? ^ c rvr 1 -a r Of bsw^den the lupport or Jire, ana at a great dutance from / i.n r the body -under Letiwenhaupt, (who was to bring ^ 'J J ' them 7000 waggons loaded with all forts of pro- villons and ammunition, which he had colleded in Livonia and Courland), he was obliged to wait for the fuccours with which they had fo long flat- tered themfelves. Leuwenhaupt,that he might obey the orders, and fupply the prefling neceflities of his mafrer. haftened his march as much as pofflble, and pafTed the Boryflhenes at Sklow. His Czariili Majefly, who had made all imagi- nable difpofitipns to break the enemy's meafures, gave orders to the Field-Marllial Gzeremetoff, and to' theLieutenant-Field-Marfliial Goltz, to harrafs, the mod they could, the king of Sweden ; while he hirnfclf would endeavour to engage Leuwen- haupf, with a body of 10 regiments of horfe and .fix battalions of foot. His Majefiy had fight of the enemy the 8th of Oflober, on the banks of tlie "^^'^ ^"'^^ little river Pronia ; and the enemy made as if comes up they would oppofe his pafHige ; but no fooner "^^^'^^ were feven field-pieces brought up to cannonade ^^^^'^^ Leu- them, than they firuck off towards the village of ''o^enhau^t. Lezno. To- * Relation of the batd? of Lezno, fent to M. de Iv^atucof, the Ruflian ambafTador in Holland. See the hiHtJiXal and political 'Mercury 'for 1708. ^go Th H ISTO RY of Book V. Towards die evening his Czarift Majefty gave orders to his generals to hold themfelves ready to march the next day, in order to attack the ene- ^ my. About four in the morning the army began to march, and about nine, at fome diihmce from Lezno, met the enemy, who hadfent before fome parties for intelligence. Leuwenhaupt was no fooner informed of the Mufcovites march and approach, than he drew up his army in order of battle, and made all pofTible difpofitions to give them a good reception. To that end he caufed two battalions to advance 1000 paces before his camp,to difpute their pafTage through a fmall morafs, by which they were o- bliged to come at him. The battle Upon this, his Majefty ordered Prince Menzl- cf Lez?io, j^Qff to command Colonel Campbel, who had the van-guard, to caufe his regiment of dragoons to difraount and attack the enemy's two battali- ons ; who made fo quick a fire upon the Mufco- vites,that they had hardly time to form themfelves into order of battle. Colonel Campbel, obferving how adive the enemy were,caufed five fquadrons, who had difmounted, to advance, that he might give opportunity to the reft of his troops to put themfelves into a pofture to follow them; and thefe difmounted dragoons having flood the enemy's fire for fome time, his Czarifh Majefty caufed them to be fupported by four batalions of his guards, and two of I^germanland. The Mufcovites, pouring in their fhot upon the two battallions,kilkd above half of them, gained the pafFagCjand fo facilitated their drawing up in battalia before the enemy's front. General Leuwenhaupt, perceiving his van-guard was beaten, refolved to prevent the Mufcovites, and caufed his army to move up to meet them in battalia. Then his Czarifh Majefty, obferving that the enemies line extended wider than his, order- ed Prince MenzikofF to caufe 4 regiments of dra- goons to alight ; and they were immediately 'Bcfok V'> Pt TEii I. Czm- kifcovy. ittat placed on the left wing, with two regiments of hoiTe to cover their flank, under the comman4 of general Pflug, The right was commanded by the Princes of Galliczin and Darmftadt, whofe; flank was covered by two regiments of dragoons of Prince Menzikoff's guards. All thefe diipo*-'- fitions being made by about ii o'clock, the fignal for attacking the Swedes was given by a ge* neral difcharge of all the artillery^ The Swedes began to advance with great flercenefs and refb- lution ; and the fight being hot and obftinate on both fides for above an hour and an half, the victory hang in fufpence. During the terrible fire which was made every where, his Czarifli Majefty ap- peared in the places of moil; danger, to animate^ by his valour and prefence, all the officers and foldiers ; and obferving that the left wing fuffered much, he caufed it to be reinforced by Prince iNIen* zikoff's regiment of guards. , The Swedes, obferving how well the Mufcovites acquitted themfelves under the eye of their augult monarch, began to give ground, yet drew off in order of battle. Then the Mufcovites redou- bled their efforts, to improve that advantage : and the enemy being, driven back to their wag- gons and baggage, adion was for fome time for- born on both lides. About three o'clock the Czar's eannou coming up, began to play again : and his Majefty being informed that General Baur was within half a league of him, with 4000 men, thought fit to wait a little for his arrival. About four o'clock General Baur came up with General his body, and was obliged to endure the fire o^Baur the enemy's artillery before he could join the coiiies ti^» right wing, where he was to poft himfelf. From this jundlion his Czarifli Majefty began to. enter- tain hopes that all would end well; and ordered that neither the right nor the left fliould renew the fight one without the other : but the left wing R havirg rhe H ISTO RY of Book having flood a good while without attacking, the impatience of all the ofHcers and fol- diers fuperfeded that order. The right wing renewed the attack likewife with the utmoft vi- gour. The Swedes feeing thenifelvcs repulfed, cauf- ed two battalions and ten Iquadrons of their re- ferve to advance, and charge the Mufcovites right in flank ; but they were fo well received, and afterv/ards fo clofely purfued, that of the two bat- tallions, not above fifty men efcapcd. Upon this advantage, the left and center of the Czar's ar- my pufhed forwards among the enemy's waggons, breaking all their left wing. On their right Leu- wenhaupt rallying his troops, faced the Ruf- fians who w^ere among the waggons, and caufed fuch a fire to be made on the battalions andfqua- drons, as obliged them to retire. But the center and left wing advanced at the fame time againft the Sv/edes, who were obliged to face to the right a- bcut to make head againft them. The charge was renewed with greater fury than before, both by the horfe and foot ; and their fire, which the ^Wedcs anfwered duly, did not ceafe till it was dark night, when neither party could any longer diftinguifh their own men from their enemies. In the night, his Czarifli Majefly confidcring the difficulty of diflodging the enemy from be- hind their w^aggons, forbad the officers, on pain cf being calhiered, and the foldiers of being hang- ed, to quit their ranks to rifle the dead : fo the ar- my kept all night under arms, watching the ene- my. In the mean time the trophies of the day v/ere prefentcd to his Majefly, confifting of 47 colours, and Standards; and 16 cannon, which tiiey had gained, v/ere added to their train of ar- tillery. Thus the Ruffians pafTed the night, "U'hich was very cold ; and towards the morning they faw the enemy kindle fires about their waggons. His Czarifh Book V. Peter I. Czar ^Mufcovy. 183 Czarifli Majefty ordered that lires lliould be alfb made in the front of his right hne, and that his men Ihould hold themfelves in readinefs againft day-break : which being come, they marched to- wards the enemies waggons, expecting to meet no lefs refifbnce than before: but they found that Leinve?i-' Leuwenhaupt had made ufe of that ftratagem to l^aupt i-e* cover his flight, abandoning to their difcretion treats^ all his wounded, and 7000 waggons, defigned to fupply the want under which the army of the King his mailer laboured. General Pilug was immediately ordered, with 1000 grenadiers on horfeback, and 2000 dra-* goons, to purfue and harrafs the iiying enemy. He had not marched above half a league, when he found the remains of the enemy in a wood; and falling upon them, he made a flaughter among them for the fpace of a league and an hah^, to Pro- poisk, where the reft of them, to the number of 3000, retired into the Church-yard. General Pflug advancing to force them, they made a %nal that they were defirous to capitulate ; and he fent a lieutenant-colonel, with 6 grenadiers, to receive their offers of capitulation : but moft of the Swedifh foldiers, being drunk with brandy, would not agree to their officers proportions, and many of them firing, killed two of the Mufcovite grenadiers. The heutenant-colonel feeing their headinefs, redred, and General Pilug refolved not to fpare them. His grenadiers and dragoons en- tered the Church-yard, and, fword in hand, kil- ' led all that reiifted. During this execution, part of them fled towards the river Soza. General Mikufch purfued that party two hours, and faw Count Leuwenhaupt fwimming through that riveir among his men ; whereupon he fwam it with his detachment, and coming to the other fide, moft of the Swediftiofficers begged mercy .TheGeneral gave them quarter, but caufed the foldiers to be put to the R 2 fwordo. 584 The H ISTORT j!f RookV. f\vord. He then rejoined General Pf]ug with ail the officers and booty. The next day bisMajefty caiffed thinks to be folemnly returned ta the Almighty for this fignal viclory^ which cofl the enemy aimoll 20 regiments, Lory'in^hls ■1'1'ioiTnting in all to 16000 men, and among them aclion^ Major-Generai Stackelbergh, who was killed in the field of battle, with mod of the ofhcers who were not taken. Kis Majefty had 2673 pn^oners, 103 officers, 47 colours, 10 ftandarcfe, • 16 cannon, 7000 waggons, and all the arms and * tiaggage, the vi^ftory being complete. On his Sdt were lofl 70 ofikers killed or dangcroufi)? wounded, 1277 foldiei-s killed, 2734 v/onnded, and among them his Highnefs the Prince of Darm- fradt^ Genera] Baiir, Colonel VVeiden, and two Mufcovite colonels. . In the beginning of tliis battle, his Czarifh Ma- S.rtrjery. ^efty, feeing himfelf in fome danger of being de- kisCzanfb feated, raq to the rear-guard, where theCofTacks ^^■^'Udh'' ^i"^d Kalmucks were ported, and commanded thein to fire upon every man that ran away, even upon himfelf, if he Ihould prove fo cowardly. And this vi61:ory was the more glorious to his Majefty, bccaufe„ as he declares himfelf in his circular let- ter, not 10,000 of his men. were engaged in the avfrion : wliich entirely deftroys M. de Voltaire's aiTtTtion, in his Hillory of Charles XII. that ths Czar loiL above 20,000 foldiers. As for General Leuwenhaupt,. he end indeed efcapc to his ma(i:er's camp, but without either proviflons or an army^ which did but heighten the diftrefs of that n.ow un- fortunate monarch. But tho' fortune Iiad begun to thwart the mea- fjres, Ihe had not yet broke the Spirit of the King cf Sweden. Hg expe<51ed to be re-inforced from two other qimrters, from Poland by King Stanis- laus, and the Palatine of Riow, and from the Uk- rain by General Mazeppa, who had revolted from l^s allegiance to th^ Czar. I promifed before fbme Book V. Pet e r I. C-zar cf Mufcovy. X 85 farther account of this commander, which I fliall here introduce. Ukrania, one of the moft fertile countries in Mazeppas the univerfe, (tho' the Southern part of it be un- Hijiory, cultivated, and defart, thro' its calamitous fitua- uon) has always afpired to be free ; but being furrounded' by the dominions of the Grand Seig- nior and Poland, it has ever been at a iofs for a protector in- one of thefe three eflates. It has been fuccellively under the Poles and Mufcovites, the latter of v/hom at laft ailumed the right of no- minating their general^ or Hetman, which is the name they give their Prince. Upon the depo- fition of * Samuelerrick, Mazzepa, a Polifn gen- tleman, born in the Palatinate of Podolia, was e- leded. He had received fome tindure of polite learning at the court of John .Cafiinir, to whom he had been page. But an intrigue being dif- covered bctv/een him and the lady of a Poliih nobleman, the hufoand caufed him to be whipped, and then fent to feek his fortune, tied upon the back of a wild horfe. As the beiifi: had been brought out of Ukrania, he iled thither with Ma- zeppa, who was half dead with hunger and far tigue. He was relieved by fbme of the coun- try people, among whom he continued a long time, and ^gnalized himfelf in feveral excur- fions againft the Tartars, their Southern enemiesv But the fuperiority of his underfLandingmade him foon become confiderable, and his encreafing repu- tation induced the Court of Rullia to chufe him Hetman. Mazeppa, while a Prince, did not lofe the re*- putation he had before acquired. He fignalized himfelf on many occafions in his mafter's fcrvice, efpecially in the prefent v/ar againfl the Swedes t but upon fome difgufl, the occafion of which is R 3 vari^ ^ Hiftoire de Charles XII. \ ^ p. 5:;. >8 men,, all properly accoutred and provided. It was chiefiv ^m tliis reafon that Chariea- diredled his. niatcb- towards, the Ukrain, and ordered Leuwen- iaaiipt to join him there, to the aflonifliment of all his officers, who were not in the fecret. Ggaeral Lguwenl^aupt had with. hini,. before his » ctefeat, 600,000 Rix -dollars in money, 6000 bar- rels of powder, 500 tons of musket-bullets, and ^,000 fmall arms i which, latter were- to arm fcclitofthe revolting CofTackSj.as might not be a- iVle to furnifli tlxemfelves-. The difiiilcr of that tJeneral deprived the King of Sweden of all thcfe fc-pplies,. and tliie tjmcly difcovery of Mazeppa's llpii prevented him fi om keeping his pcomifc, and- s-lcptdic CoiTacks to their allegiance, notwithAand- il^gthe defefrion of their connp^jinder ; who appear- ed at. iaft rad-icr as a fugitive than an Ally, follow- ^^d.by only, 6000. men.. ^ 'M>e Metman, &ding his. fubje(5ls. not fb. com- plying, as lie expeded, had endeavoured all in his power to intercept any provifions from being, brought to the Czar, and to harrafs the country, "I'o pnnira. this treachery^ Prince Menzikoff was. fent with 24,000. foot and 6oco hoi-fe,. tq the eaft fide of the Ukrain wh.er.e having received the flibnxiiTion oPthe gi'eatell part of the Caffacks, he -M^tiurliri adv^pced to* Battarin, Mazeppa's capital, which; ^^.m.,. the Hctman liad fortified, forefeeing what would !iappep,and garrifoncd v/ith 6000 refolute foldiers, itirnillied with. everything neceflary for a defence. These wa^^ only the river Dcfna,. which had no-; 'brsi^l^e, between this town and the Swedifh, army "l^ctrthe Prince came fairly up, and attacked it in. ife:r^}^ ^hi;c the Sweden iii a manner looked on.,. Book V. Pete k T. Czar ^ MufcOry. igff in two days time he raifcd three batteries, and fired fo furioafly, that in one night and a day, he made a tolerable breach, which he ordered to. be immediately ftormed. The garrifon defended themfelves with much obftinacy, and. kil-ied the befiegers by heaps in the ditch. But the Ruffians, animated by their general, fell on again with fuch fury, that they entered the iQwn fword in hand, and cut all the Ccffacks in pieces. This executioa effectually grwed the rcO: of the nation, and o- bliged their ciiief to fly in the manner we have related. - * After the reduction of Batturin, his ,SwedinX: Majelly retired between Starcdub and. Czcrnikow, to a very advantageous camp^ which he caufed to- be intrenched, that his troops might not be fiir- prizcd by the detachments from tl>e Mufcovite ar-- my, which gave them continual alarms. Of the fcw Gofl a cks who revolted with Mazeppa, feveral^ came back to their allegiance, on die encourage- ment of a general pardon, which his CzariHi Ma- jefly caufed to be publifiied for all thofe who with- in four weeks fliould quit the Swcdifh femce^ and a promife that they fliould be reftored todieir honours and offices. His, Majefly alfo caufed a proclamation to be iflued, promifing a reward, to thofe who fliould bring in General Mazeppa alive or dead. On his Majefty'^ arrival at the head quarters of . the Cofiacks, he caufed the fentence pronounced by a council of war againft Mazeppa to. be execut- ed, in the prefence of Prince Menzikoff,.and Count Golofkin, both knights of the order of St. Andrew. A herald tore the traitor's patent of knighthood, J\f^re-bf>a and threw the pieces on the ground ; took from ^^graded off a wooden flatue, made for the occafion, the ^^ciexecut'* blue ribbon and medal of the order, and then -^^ ^^r threw down the ftatue. The hangman came * . ^' next,. * Meccure Hifloricjue ^ Puiitigue,.. Janvier 17 op, iSS "The H ISTO RT of Book V. next, tied a halter about the neck of the itatue^ and dragged it to the place of execution ; where the fentence againft him was read aloud ; and he thereby declared to be fallen from his honours, tides and dignities, and to be condemned to be hanged. The hangman tore in pieces the arms of his fa^mily, broke his fcymitar, and hung the ftatue on the gibbet ; a great multitude of people at- tending. This done, the principal men of the Coiiacks repaired to the great church ; and after -divine fervice, they afTembled in the church-yard* , and proceeded to the elecdon of a new General which fell upon M. Skoropacky, who was declar- ed with the acclamations of the aflembly ; and a triple difcharge of artillery andmuikets was made by the Cofi'acks, who were draw-n up in order. The new General, accompanied by a great num? ber of officers, went immediately and proftrated himfelf at the feet of his Czariiii Majcity, who confirmed his election. The com- All this while there continued to be frequent viiuilcatl- rencounters between parties of the two armies^ on cut off v/ith various fuccelTes ; tho' the Swedes in fa(5l het^j:eeji were always fafferers, as they could not repair a- theS^joedes nyof their lofTes. Neither King Stanillaus, nor andPo' the Palatine of Kiow% with all dieir art, v^as able laiid. to bring them the lead fuccour; fuch effectual means did the Czar talie to prevent the jundcion of the enemies forces, as well by the army in Poland under General Goltz, as by the detack- ments perpetually fent from his main array at Sraolenllio. But what more than all gave the RuHians the advantage, was,they had plenty of e- very thing in their camp ; whereas, on the con- trary, the Swedes fuffered by v/ant of provifipns, which, with the extreme cold, induced many of them to defert to the Mufcovite army. In one of thefe aclions, about this time, between Prilack and Haydicks, 6oco Swedes were defeated, and a great number of them taken priloners. The. 'Book V. Peter I. Czar ^/'Miifcovy, 1&9 The Mufcovites fo well fecured the paffes, that no, letters could now come from the Swedifli camp; oot even to King Stanillaus, who was very impatient to have a true account of their conditi- on. ' It is impofflble to dcfcribe the wretched ftate Dijlrefs of of the Swedilh hero,^.at this time, more feniibly, fj^^ Snjue- than his own hilforian, M. de Voltaire, has done ^^jj^ army^ it. " The memorable Winter of 1708-9, which was ftili more terrible in thofe frontiers of Europe than with us, carried off part of his army. Charles refolved to brave the feafons, as he had done his enemies, and ventured to make long marches »with his troops during the exceflive feverity of the weather. In one of thefc marches 2000 of his men were frozen to death almolt before his eyes. The horfemen had no boots, and the foot were "without fhoes, and almoft without clothes. They were forced to make ftockings of tlie fkins of beafts, in the beflr manner they could. They of- ten wanted bread. They were obliged to throw the greatcft |3art of their cannon into quag-mires and rivers, for want of horfes to draw them a- long. So that this once fiourilhing army was re- duced to 24,000 men, ready to perifh for hunger. I'hey I'leither received any nev/s from Sweden, nor could fend any thither. In this condition only one officer co.mphiined. Hoil\ fays the King, arc- you uneafy that you ar-e fo f ar from your nvife P If you are a true foldier, Ii'j/ll carry you to that di- fiance^ that you fnill farce hear from Siveden ifi, three years, A loldier, in prefence of the whole army, ven- tured with a murmur to prefent him with a piec-e of bread, that was black and mouldy, made of barley and oats, the only food they tlien had, and of that not a fuihciency. The King received tlie piece of bread without the leali: emotion, cat it entirely up, and then faid coldly to the foldier, // // not gocd^ but it ifiay be eaten. This litde turn, if J9Q ' The H I STO RY of Book V- if any thing may be called little which ferves to increafe refped and confidence, contributed more than all the reft to fupport the Swcdilli army under extremities, wliich would have been into- lerable under any other General." Yet, refolute as the King of Sweden was, the cold at laft obliged him to a fufpenfion of arms. In the month of February he renewed hoftilides, and foon found his little army yet more reduced. The 1 8,000 Swedes that were left muft even now have periftied, had not Mazzepa, notv;ithftandin^ fome condinons faid to be offered him by the Czar, continued faithful to his new ally, and pro- cared a fubiiftence for him and his troops. Charles did not yet defpair, with his 18,000 Swedes, and as many ColTacks, of penetrating as far as K, Charles ji^iofcow ; and with that view, towards the end laysftege of May went and laid fiege to Pultowa, upon the toPulto-uja^y^^^ Vorllat, on the Eaft of Ukrania; which if he could take, a paffage would be open at leaft into aland of plenty. * Mazeppa, who had correfpondence m the town, was confident the King would foon be m after of it : but Charles perceived, from the firft,, that he had taught his enemies the art of war. Prince MenzikofF, notwithftanding his precaudon, threw frelli troops into the town, which encreaf- ed the garrifon to almoft 10,000 men. The advanced works were however carried, and two attacks had been given to the body of the place, when the King, having rode a little too near, re- ceived a ftiot from a carbine, which fhattered the bone of his heel. He continued afterwards on horfeback for near fix hours, and gave his or- ders v/ith fach compofure, that no man fufpeded he was w^ounded. At laft one of his domefticks perceived his boot was bloody, and the King's pain at the fame time grew fo violent, that they were forced * Voltaire's Hiftor^» 5cc. Book V. Peter I. Czar of Mufcovy. ipt forced to carry him into his tent, where he held his own leg while the furgeon made his incifions. As they were laying on the dreilings, he gave or- ders for an afTault the next morning ; but was im- mediately obliged to alter that refolution, upon the news being brought him that the Czar appear- 77^^ Czar ed with an army of 70,000 men. In this litua- appears tion, and incapable as he was of a6ling himfelf, he m^jth his fcnt for Marfhal Renchild into his tent, on the army, 26th of June O. S. at night, and without calling any council, commanded him to attack the Czar the next morning. Renchild knew his mafier's temper, and did not difpute his will. it was on the 27th of June 1709, that the de- ciUve battle of Pultowa was fought, between the two moft famous monarchs then in the world ; Charles XII, illuftrious by a courfe of nine years vi6i:orie"S, flattered with the title of Invincible, ■> which one unhappy moment might deprive him of; and Peter Alexiowitz, no lefs illuftrious by . nine years fatigue, honoured by the nations round him with the furname of Great, of which no defeat could deprive him, as no vidory beftowed it on him. An adlion of this importance deferves peculiar regard, even in a work where brevity is ihidied 5 and therefore I fliall give all the cir- cumflances of it, as they were publifhed by au- thority. ^ * ilie Mufcovites having paiTed the river Vor- ilat with their whole army the 20th of June, they encamped within a league of the enemy till the 24th. That day they advanced within a quarter of a league of the enemy's army, and encamping, caufed an entrenchment to be thrown up before their camp, to prevent all furprife. Their cavalry was pofted in the woods, covered by redoubts fur- nifhedwith cannon; and tho' the Czar gave out orders for preparing to attack the enemy, they pre- , 19^ The HIS TO RY of Book V. Is attacked pi'^ventcd them,according to their ufual temerity v hy the ^^"^^ 27th, early in the morning, while it was 8nx!edes, d^vk, the Swedes came out of the defiles^ where they had lain all night on their arms, and attacked the Ruflian cavalry with their horfe and foot fo vigoroufly, that notwithftanding they were repulfed fcveral times, and beaten off with great lofs from the redoubis which they allaulted, the cavah-y, who could not be affiiled in time by their infantry, were obliged to retire towards their en- trenchment ; but foon returned to the charge, en- tirely defeated the enemy's right wing, and took prifoner General Schlippcnbach who command- ed it. While this was doing,the Czar detached Prince Menzikoff, General in chief, and Lieutenant-Ge- neral Rentzel, with fome horfe and foot towards Pultowa ; as well to cut off the troops who were advancing to the aiTilbnce of the enemy, as to attack thofe left in the trenches under General Rofen, and fo to relieve the town from the blcc- , kade. The Prince marching accordingly, met in his way the enemy's body of referve of 3000 men, whofe right wing was flanked by wood : after fome refinance, he broke them, put fome to the fword, gave quarter to the reft, and return- ed to the main army, leaving Lieutenant-General Rentzel to proceed on to Pultowa ; at whofe ap- proach. General Rofen retired with his regiments into the works they had made. However Rentzel attacked him, and forced him, after fome reOft- ance, to furrender with all his men at difcretion. On the other hand, the Swedifli horfe having in retiring joined their foot, all their army drew up in order of battle againft the Ruflians front, at the diftance of about a quarter of a league. The Czar, at the fjune time, caufed two lines to move out of the entrenchment, leaving the third to guard the camp ; and drew up his army in fuch a manner, that his infantry nxade the main bo- Book V. Peter I. Czar of Mufcovy. jp^ dy, and the cavalry the two wings. TJie right wing was commanded by Lieutenant-Gene- ral Baur, in the room of Lieutenant-General Renne, who was wounded in the firft engagement. The left was led by Prince Menzikoff, and the main body by the Czar in perfon : the Field-Mar- flial CzeremetofT, the generals of foot Prince Rep- pin and M. Hallard, as alfo Lieutenant-General Belling, attending each at his port. Lieutenant- General Brous had the diredion of the artillery. The gene- The Ruffian army, being in this poflure, no ^^^/ ^clion^ Iboner began to move towards the enemy, than, contrary to expectation, the latter had the courage, after the repulfe they had received, to advance to meet them. About feven in the morning the fight began, and the fire grew thick on both fides; which the Ruffians continued with fuch bravery, that they defeated and broke the enemy after a battle of half an hour, r;nd put both their horfe and foot to the rout. The latter, not daring to halt, or make further oppofition, were driven like a herd of cattle, with fword, bayonet, and pike, quite to the woods. Major-General Stackelbergh was the firfl prifoncr taken ; then General Hamil- ton, Field-Marflial Renchild, the Prince of A^^ ir- temberg, coufin to the King of Sweden, many co- lonels and fubaltern officers, and fome thoufands of horfe and foot, a great number of which yield- ed themfelves voluntarily with their horfes and arms. The Ruffian cavalry purfued the enemy's full fpeed, about half a league : fo that the plains and woods, for three leagues round Pultowa, wereflrewed with the enemy's bodies ; the num- ber of their killed being 8 or 10,000. It is wor- thy of remark in this adion, that it was only a line of foot of ten thoufand men who defeated the enemy, the other line not being engaged. And when the Swedifh foot advanced, the Mufco- Vites gave them but one fire, after wh'ch * S ihey ly^ The H ISTO RY of Book \\ they charged fword in hand, and broke in upon the Swedes line of battle with fuch fury, that they were immediately difordered, and began to retire. The Czar was very a(5iive during the whole difpute, and rid down fourhorfes while it laded. His IMajefty received a Ihot in his hiind. The engagement was wholly ended about eight ia the morning. The generals who were prifoners dined with *n:eCzar*s his Majelly, and were ufed with great generofity. co'/iverfa- His Majedy difcourfed upon the change of affairs, tio7i -jsith addreiHng himfelf particularly to G enenJ Recchild, Renchlld and enquired into die real number of the Swedilli after il:e troops. He w;is anfwered, " That his Majeily battle, of Sweden had only an exact knowledge of his forces, and never communicited further to his officers than v. as exa<511y necelTary for their obe- dience, and the execution of his orders ; but he believed the army confuted at the beginning of the engagement of 30,000 men, 19,000 of whom . v. ere regular troops, and the reil: ColTacks.' • The , Cz^r obfervedto him, " That he thought that a fniali force to march fo far into an enemy's coun- try." The general faid, " His duty v>-as only to obey.'' Upon which, his Majefty took off his own fword, and gave it to the general, denring him to wear it as a teilimony of the eileem he had for fo good a fervant to liis Prince. It 'vas not at lirit knowTi what was become of the King of Svs cden. The litter he made ufe of rles'shiha- -ccount of the wound in his foot, was found V. a7iii j- j-^u^n pieces, and General Renchild was fuH of efcape, apprehenfion for his Majefh'. That Prince had endeavoured to lit his horfe at the head of his troops, but found it impoilible ; and when he w as taken out of his fhattered litter, all covered with blood, and carried upon pikes by four grenadiers, he cried our, Swedes \ Sv/edes 1 in hopes to r^Si-^ feme of his regiments. His Majefty efcaped al- moft to a rdracle, in count piper's coach, (hav- ing Book y , Peter I. Czar of Mufcgvy. 1 515 ing none of his own fince he left Stockholm) and got into Turkey, where we fliall have frequent oc- cafion to viiit him. Prince Galiiczin, with the regiments of Inger- merland and Aflracan, and foot-foldiers mounted behind each trooperjand Lieutenant-General Baur, with ten regiments of horfe, were immediately difpatched in purfuit of the flying enemy. Count piper feeing no 'way to efcape, as alfo fome fe- cretaries of the chancery, came voluntarily to Pultowa, and yielded themfelves prifoners. The niext day Prince MenzikofFwent after the Sw^edes, and was followed by fpme regiments of foot. Thbfe who w^ere 'detached to bury the' dead, re- ^ported^that they counted above 8000 bodies of the enemy on the field of battle 5 befides thofe who Account of fell in the purfuit whom they buried in feveral places, the lTain\, The Swedes abandoned above 3000 waggons, prifoners^. which fell into the hands of the Ruffians. The and booty ^ prifoners taken, in the %ht and purfuit, were in all 2978* The trophies were, I4 'llandards of horfe, 29 of dragoons, 93 colours, of which fr^ . were of the regiment of guards, in all 137 flan- dards and colours : cannon only four pieces, be- caufe the enemy brought no more into the action : one pair ©f kettle-drums of filver, belonging to the regiment of guards, and three pair of cop- Prince Men zikofF, who marched the 28th, could not overtake the Svs'edes xA the 30th, notwitli- ftanding all the ex.pedidon he rnade; for they re*- tired precipitately, leaving behind them" the great- eft part of their baggage. That day his Highnefs difcovered them, potted very advantageoufiy near- the fm all town of Perewoloczna, at the foot of a mountain on the bank of the Borydhenes ; and wa3- informed by the quarter-made r. of a regiment, and fome Walachians, who were taken prifoners, that the King of Sweden had pafTed the Boryfthenes- by fwimming, widx the Majors-General Sparr and. 3 2, Lar^ . 196 "The H ISrO RT of Book V, . Lagercroon, and 300 of the beft mounted troopers, about three hoars before ; and had left on this fide the remains of his army, under the command of General Leuwenhaupt. Whereupon, without Icfs of time, his Highnefs caufcd his body of men, which did : not exceed 9000, to advance againft the enemy. And the prifoners having addedj that they believed they might, be "difpofed to f irrender themfelves on terms of capitulation, his . Highnefs fummoned them to yield, intimating to them that they were deprived of all means of efcaping by a retreat, and that if they rejected his offer, they were not to hope for q^uartcr, but flioald all he put to the fword. The r^ft of ^'^^'^^P^^'j enemy fent Major-General the Snj^^' (Treutz, Colonel Ducker^Lieutenant-ColonenVaut- fetter, and Adjatant-Gencral Count Douolafs, to difb a f itly \ - , ^ • capitulates capitulate; and an agreement ^vas prdently made ajul frr- ^'S"^^ afterwards Dy Prince Menzikofr and General ^^>\fcrs i^^'Vcrihaupt, purfuant to which the enemy, v/ha, contrary to all expectadon, were yet 16287 men ftrong, well armed, and moflly horfe, yielded themielves priibners cfwar, and laid down their aims; fur'rendering that day to Lieutenant-Gene* ral Baur, together with the camp cheil: or trea- sure, the military chancery, all the colours, flan- dards, kettle-drums, and drums. Thus ail their enemy's army wTre fubdued by, or fubmitted to, the vi'florious arms of his Czarilli Majeffy, fome few hundreds excepted, who efcaped v/ith their King: in purfuit of whom feveral thoufand horfe v/ere alfo fent, who overtook, and cut to pieces 2CO of his chofen band, and fent back about 100 prifoners. His Czarifh Majefly came up in perfon, and joined Prince Menzikoff, juft at the . . ^time when the Swedes laid down their arms. Jriicles of capitulation, I. All the Swedifh troops, capitulate- ^^.-^i^^.^^ exception, commanded by Count Leuwea- . haupt, as well generals arid officers as foldiers, were with their fervants to yield themfelves prilb- uers Book V. ?E TE R J, Czar of Mufcovy. ners of war to his Czarifh. Majefty. \l, AU pri- vate foJdiers, troopers, dragoons, and mufke- teers, were to lay down their arms, and to remain prifoners of war till their exchange or ranfom j but to keep their mounting, and all that they had, except their arms and ammunition : and ail their horfes, except thofe belonging to the officers, were delivered to his Czarifli .Majefty, III. All the generals, and other officers, were to keep their baggage and equipages, and their perfons were to be releafed without ranfom or exchange, as foon as peace was made between his Czarifh Majefty and the King of Sweden. In the mean time, they fhould be honourably ufed, and permitted to go, for a while, to their own country, on their parole. IV. The Swedifh aitillery, all the ammunition, colours, ftandards, and the inftruments of mufick, ftiould be delivered to his Czarifli Majefty; as likewife the military cheft of the King of Sweden. V. The Zaporogians, and other rebels, now among the troops of Sweden, were to be immediately furrendered to his Gzariffi Majefty. The total of prifoners taken by this capitulation, /^^^^ were 16,287 perfons, befides Charles Guntfer, ^^^-^^ chamberlain, Sirchigel, apothecary to the houf-'^^^^^^ hold and army, Schimbers, quarter-mafter, Afil, Bier, and Brampt,commiflaries, 5 purveyors, and other fervants of the King's houfhold. The tro- phies were, colours and ftandards, 142 ; brafs can- non, four five pounders, one of five pound and a half, twelve of three pound, three Ruffian pieces of three pound, taken by the enemy at Wef- prick : two hauwitzers of fixteen ; two or three mortars of fix, and four of three, with two i- ron cannon of three pound. The killed and wounded on the part of the Ruffians, ia this great adtion, according to the printed lift^ were ^ only 463($« S3 Tife . rhe H I S T 0 R T of Book T,. The Czar '^^^ firft care of the Czar was , to acquaint the 72otifies his Emperor, the King of Pruffia, King Auguftus, and vit^ory. States, with the great fiicceis of his arms; and he difpatched likewife a captain of his guards to the Duke of Marlborough* The fieur Matueof^, his ambaffador at the Hague^ having received the orders of his mafter, notified the defeat of the Swedes to . the States. General, by way of memori- Jll, v/hich he delivered.tothe prefident of the afTem- bly, Auguft 2^* That minifter alfo made a moft magnificent entertainment on the occafion, which lafted thre^ days, as the vidory had done,, from the beginning to General. Leuwenhaupt's, furrender. Khig '^^^ ¥Ang of Sw eden havihgpaffed the Boryflhe- ^jT Snxjeden continued' his retreatj with, all imaginable in Tiirkcy. fpeecl, towards Tartary, and made no ftay till he came to Oczacow, the chief city of the Tartars of that name, not far from the Black fea. He was very well received by the Bafhaw, and thought fit to continue there till he w^s cured; of the.; wound he had received at the liege of Pultowa, He writ from^ thence to his mother, the regen- cy of Sweden^ and fome of his minifters abroad,, that he hoped to be well in a few days,^ aiid to, join>. by the way of Podolia, his forces under General Gi'afTau* King Auguftus having received advice of the de-. AUgupus feat of the Swedifli army, did not think fit to defer. -.r4'^ , T 2 p o t- • Yoltah'e's.hifl* of Charles Xll, ^o8 The H I S TO R r of Hook VL pC/feflion of \V ifmar, the fineft city in his dutchy ;• and as he was to marry the Czar's niece, he could -with the greater fecurity join in the alliance. The Ele<5lor of Hanover, afterwards King of Great Britain, had alfo a profped of enriching^^ himfelf with feme of Charles's difmembered pro- vinces; as the dutchies of Bremen and Ferden,now in pofle/Tion of his prefent Majcfty, adually are. IIo-vJ ike The Czar,more powerful than^ll his Allies puf Czar- ads together,became at this conjundiire, what Charles- in this al' had been before, the arbiter of the Kordi. He- liancc, lent an army into Poland, to affifi Auguftusinthe recovery of his throne ; but whereas the King of .Sweden had a^ied only for revenge or glory, his t'l^zarlih xMajdly had the wifdom to confult his own interelf. The Swedifh hero had fuccoured iris Allies, and defeated Ins enemies, without in- iiiling on the leafl advantage, as the fruit of his ^;idories : but the Ruffian monarch acted more like a jovereign than a hero, and ailifted the King of iFoland o^ily upon the condition that Livonia (hould be delivered lip to him^ That province, for the fake of which Augufrus had kindled the war, was •r/, r ^'^^"^ remain to the Mufcovites for ever. the Lzar # ^|^^ 5 th of September, 1709, the Czar of ornvcs at ^f^jfj^^yy^ with the hereditary Prince, and fevei^cil Uub..n, perfons of r.ote, arrived at Lublin. The fame day in the evening the Princes MenzikofF, Golof- fj, arrived there aifa ; as did the next day f ield Maiihal Goltz, having left the army under his command at a little diilance on the 0- thtr lide of the river. That General was favou- rably received by the Czar, who the next day viewed his army. His Majefty held a council, when I oco dragoons were detached towardsWar- fa\^s to fecure foinc polls upon the road^ and a- nother detachment of 400 was fcnt to take a poft on. * Mercure hi{lon!>: y/:^ -d- :? > f Aniinterview having been^appointei at Thomv i^ter^ between the Riiffian and Polilh monarchs, the lat- vien.v be- ter, upon advice that the Czar intended to come Hveen the by \vater,took boat on the 8th of 0(5tober,.attendr Czar an edby the w-hole court,, and went up the Viftula ; K,-A^^g':*-Jr where he met his Gzarilh Majefty , who immediately tus at left his own boat, and came into that of King Au- Thar^ri'^' guftus. They embraced one another very tender^ ly, and. botli exprefied their joy and. fatisfacfdon. to meet again. The Czar congratulated King Au?- guftus on his happy return into his dominions, and^ King Auguftus congratulated the Czar on the fignal vidtory obtained over their common enemy : after which the Polifh' fenators, and Saxon minifters,> that were prefent, paid their relpedts to his Cza- rifli Majefty, and complimented him on the fame: fubjed:. Some of them expreiTed themfeU es in: ^e following words : That they had. prayed to God' J or a vi6iory^ hut had not expelled it Jb-co??ipleteand^ , entire. To which ; the Czar was plcafed to anfwer^ . T^hat they had put up their prayers for it according ix) human frailty y but that G odhadigiveriit accord-- ing to his/t?ifinite mercies,. Their Majefties being . landed neatt Thorny the: Czar received the compliments of the Magiftratcs in a body, and after having returned them: an an-- fwer by the great chancellor Count Goloffliin^ the: monarchs got on horfeback, and went , to a houfe: upon the market-place, prepared for the Czar^, who rid on the right hand. King Auguftus, after' afhort ftay, went from this houfe to>his own par Jace; The Czar dined with his Majefty,. and hadi again the right hand at table. During that enf- tertainment, which- lafted till late at night, the: trumpets, kettle-drums, and other raufick, were- jiaying, and the people afTembled. in great num^- T 3 . bmi t Mereurc^hii^ori^ue & pplitiviue,.Octobf J 7PPi- The H I S TO RT of Book VT. bers under the windows, to- fee both the mo* , narchs : with which the Czar was fo well pLeaf* cd, that he defired his Polifh Majefty tadiilribute iome hogilieads of wine amongft them. This be- ing done, nothing but Long live the Czar a?id the Kmg^ was heard throVaJlthe feeets. The Polilh fenators were extraordinary well fatisfied with the good intentions his Czariili Majefty expreffed to- wards their republic. - Auguftos and Peter having taken fuch meafures^ here as were thought requihte, the former departed for Saxony, and the latter to 3Iarienwerder, where And at Vve was ta meet the King of Pruffia, who arrived Marien-^ there on the 25th of October. M. Graben, gover- ^-erderae- nor of the place, caufed the caftie to be fitted up t^x^en- ths fQj. reception of his mafter and the Gzar ; but CzLir md Yiix\^ time he had to make thefe preparationsv ih: cf ould not allow to receive them- with as much ^-^ujia. magnificence as he intended. The King being in- formed, that the Czar was coming dov/n thither by the Viftula, went above half a mile out of the tovvn, and received him at his landing, gi- ving him the upper hand ; and tliey expre/Ted all i?r>aginable refpect towards each other. They got into the fame coach, in which fat likev/ife the ' iieur Keyierltng, envoy of the King of Pru/Tia, and jiroceeded to the caftie ; the garrifon and burgh- ers beina en their armc, and falutinf^ them with three falvo's. Prince MenzikofF and Count War- ten)bergh came together in the next coach, and af- 'Serv/ards the chief oihcers of both Princes. In this interviev/, befides confirming former alliances, it v/aj concluded that the D. ofCourland, nephew of the King, fiiould have his. dutchy reftored to him„ Prince MenzikofF received here a letter from brigadier Kropotock,who was 1-eft on the frontiers ©f Podclia with a body of troops,giving an account, that having received intelligence by his fpies, that the Swedes, who made their efcape over the >sie- jcr after the defeat near pultowa^ were on their Book VT» P£ T E R T. Czar ^JVTulcovy. 5 1 1 march for Moldavia or Tranfilvania^ to- retire by the way of Hungary, that General marched with the forces under his command, with all poflibLe fpeed, to cut oiF their retreat; and that arrivin^g not far from Tfernjatoka, a little town on the fron- tiers, he received intelligence that the enemies were but at a fhort diftance from him. His foot being fatigued by the long marches they had made^ he detached Colonel Trafkey, with the horfe, and gave him orders to attack the enemy, and amufe them with fldrmifhes, to give time to the foot to come up ; which orders he executed with a great Snve* deal of condudl, charged them feveral times, and ^^-^ refu^ took a captain, a lieutenant, two enfigns, and fix; c^^^-^ '^C/^^^'* private men prifoners. The enemy being thus o- vertaken, retired into a wood, which, as foon as> the commander came up v/ith his infantry, he cauf- , ed to be furrounded, and attacked them therein. They mad^ at firft a brave defence, but not being able to refift fuch a body of troops, they furrender- cd prifoners of war, to the number of 250 men,, including officers,- The Swedes had 500 Cof- facks with them , who fearing to be puniflied as rebels to their Prince, fouglit defperately ; but were ail killed on the fpot, except fome few who threw theiTtfelves into the river Pruth, to make their efcape ; and mod of them were drowned,. Thus was deftroyed a great part of Charles's re- maining little army, who had retired with him in- to Turkey, and were now fent to. reconnoitre the ftate of affairs in that quarter. From Marienwerder the Czar went to Mittaw, ^ where he gave audience to the Courlanders, and, ta mitigate their complaints, releaftd them from part of the contribudons which his generals had levied on them. His Majefty then went to Riga, and fet fire to the firll: bomb thrown into, that place. From thence, leaving the fiege to be carried on by his ge* nerals, he made the beft of his way thro* Peterf- turg, to the neighbourhood of Mofcow^ tlZ The H ISTO R r of Book VL. 7he Czar's - the rft of January 17 l o, the Czar made hit fiMic en- entry into his antient capital, with an unheard-of try into magnificence. All the Swedifh prifoners, gene* Mofco^, rals, officers, and foldiers, taken in the battles of Lefno, Pultowa, and the furrender at Perewo* loczna, were led therein in a triumphant manner. Amongft the former were Count Piper, firft mini- fter of ftate, and great mafter of the houfhold of the King of Sweden; the General Field-Marfhal Renchild, General Leu wenhaupt governor of Riga, and the Majors-General Schlippenbach, Kreutz/ Krufe, Rofe, Stackelberg, Hamilton; andfeveral others. The cannon, ftandards, colours, kettle- drums, and other trophies taken in thofe battles, were carried in this folemnity by the perfons who took them. It was certainly one of the fined fpec* tacles^ that ever was^ feen in thofe parts of the world, and perhaps in any other fince the declen* fion of the Roman Empire. The ftreets and pub- lic places, through which the Czar went, were adorned with feven triumphal, arches, and crowd- ed with an incredible number of fpeCtators, both: Mufcovites and foreigners. The Czar having ufed the Swedifh prifoners, af* ter the battle of Pultowa, with fo much humanity and civility, the ufage they met with in this eh-^'" Try feemed furpriiing to many people, as the ChriiHans had long ago abolifhed the cuftom of leading prifoners of war as caprives, and expof* ing them to the view and contempt of the mobi IMen of honour, whom a crofs fortune thrown prifoners into the hands of a generous enemy, ought to be pitied, and their condition fhould be made as eafy as is confiftent with the ufe and cuf* tom of war. This is the pra(5^ice of all civiliz'd nations, at leaft in Europe, which made the con* dud of the Czar appear fomewhat unjuft: but if we confider that that Prince had received many in* tolerable provocations from the Swedes in their profperity,, and that it was his intereft to peifuade i'- hist:- BookVL Peter I. Czar i?/Mufcovy. his fubjeds. both of his own great capacity In war, and tliat the Swedes, of whom they were fo much afraid, were not invincible ; the reafons ariiing from thefe confiderations, are faiHcicnt to excufe, >f not ahogether jdtify, what the Czar did this entry ^ and rather the more, becaufe his Majef- ty s temper was known to be averfe to. pride and ©llentation. * On the fame day his Czarifh Majefty treated all dK: chief perfons of quality, and the foreign minifters, at a public dinner. In the evening, a fumptuous firework, on which were feveral repre* fentations andinfcriptions, was prepared, and went off with great exa<5lnefs. The chief machines were a. Phaeton ftriick with a thunder-bolt, and anotlier figure in allafion to a late medal ftruclc in Sweden. Two- pillars were firll: lighted, which fupported imperial crowns, and were adorned with a great variety of blue, green, and pale flames. When they had burnt fome time , a lion moved forward, on whofe approach the firft pillar broke fbort at the pedeflal; but as he advanced near the fecond, a fpread-eagle, reprefenting his Ma- jefty*s arms, launched a rocket, which blew up the lion's head and neck, and the pillar remained firm to the laft. In order to introduce a very particular affair; wliich happened during the Czar's refidence at Mofcow, it is neceffary to. turn back to fome parti- culars, which we did not before mention, for fear pf breaking the thread of hiftory that regards the King of Sweden's expedition. While the Czar was defending his own domini- ons againft the iavader, an accident happened in England, that had like to have broke off the good underftanding between the courts of London and petcrlburgh. M.. Andrew de Mat.ueof, his Gzarifli Majefty's ambaffador to the Queen of Great Bri- tain,. * Mcrqare hiftoiiiiUje, & politique, Feb, 1710, 214 The H ISTQ RT of ^ BdokVI/ His avi-^ tain, Was arrefted by one Moreton, a lace-man m hajadorat Covent-Garden, and other tradefmen; who find- the court i^^g ^^is Excellency had an audience of leave of her of Great Majeliiy, and imagining, or pretending to imagine, Britain af ^'^'^ would leave the kingdom incogfiito^ employ- fro72ted, fome bailiffs to fecure their debts. The Am^ baflador, juflly furprifed at this treatment, fo con^ ; trary to the law of nations, and perhaps Dot. rea^ dily fubmitting to the authority of thefe officers^ was ^ ery roughly handled by them. Upon this he made application for redrefs to her Majefty, and her council, who immediately took care to confine the parties concerned, for having thus, in contempt, of the fupreme authority, put this affront upoa him. V arious (lories fiew about, m regard to^the particular reparation infifred on by the Ambilffa- dor • but this is certain, that his Excellency at laft retired into Holland, after feveral letters had paffed between him and Mr. Secretary Boyle ; and the^ Queen ordered her attorney-general, a little be- fore Michaelmas term 1708, to profecute thofe who had been guilty, in the Queen's -Bench. In the mean time the Czar wrote a letter to the Queen, which we fliall here infert, becaufe it contains feve- ral circumflances of the affair, as they were re* prefented by the AmbalTador. His Ma ** X"^/^ cannot forbear notifying ta your Ma- 'efl V let VV j^^^Y' "^^^^ ^^"^ great trouble- of mind ter 071 that ^^^^ ^^^^^'^^'j humble remonflrance of An* drew de Matueof, our ambaffador at your court, occajion, ^.j^^rged with feveral important commiflions, we have received an unexpeifled piece of news, viz. That the faid ambaffador, after having obtained an audience of leave of your Majefly at London, the place of your refidencej out' of premeditated ^ malice, and of fet purpofe, (as it appears) was fet upon, in the open flreet, by feveral bailiffs, who- * • received their commiflions from a certain vilcount or fheriff, and aded like robbers, againfl the pub- lic Sobk VT. P'e T E R T . Czar of Mufcovy . lie laws of nations, with an unheard-of and un- paraleird barbarity: for by dilperfing his fer-* vants, violently breaking his coach, taking away hisfword, cane, and hat, and tearing his clothes, they put upon him fach a notorious aiFront, as no ci- vilized perfbn would prefume to offer to a foreign minifter of his charader, nor even to a commo- ner, unlefs he would run the rifque of being mofl feverely punifiied : and what moil: of all enhances the heinoulnefs of the fa6i:, while our faid am- bailador, crying out for help againft the outrage and robbery, had got together fome perfons, who intended to refcue him out of the hands of the pillagers ; and when they, for that purpofe, had flopped the coach, and being defirous to know the caufe , brought him into the next vidualling- houfe; the audacious mifcreants produced a war- rant from the magiftrate to detain the faid am- baflador, for the fum of 50 pounds flerling, due from him to certain merchants ; and when the peo- ple who ran together, began to leparate again upon the difcovery of the matter, they forthv/ith hur- ried him into a hackney-coacli, taken by force, and delivered him up to be confined in a certain infamous houfe, called The Black Raven, And although our faid ambaffador had notified this un- heard-of and flagitious outrage to the Secretary of State, neverthelefs he could not be found ; and Sc- x:retary W alpole only came to the faid houfe, not to fet him at liberty (as it mofl evidently appears) but to be an eye-witnefs of this barbarous ufage, the like to which was never yet feen under the fun. Neither did he offer any afliftance to our am- bafTador, as a perfon f]<:iiled in the public law of nations, which protedls the charader of an ambaf- iador from all manner of infults, but went away : fo that our faid ambaflador, being deflitute of all help, and foi fiiken, was forced to redeem himfelf from the houfe of bondage, and, after a long fpace *)ftinie, to procure his liberty. For- ' The H ISTD RY of BookVL Forafmuch then as our Majefty is apparently aflaulted by this wicked attempt, and indignity put upon the perfon of our ambaffador, fuch as was never pradifed, nor even heard of in the whole world, much lefs among civiliz'd people ; not only profaning, but t^uite fubverting the law of nations : therefore, we hope that your royal Majefly will have a due regard to the grievous affront offered to us in the perfon of our ambafl'ador, together with the infringement of the law of nations ; oc- cafioned primarily by the fiieriff, as the author of the whole mifchief, inafmuch as the faid fheriff countenanced fo audacious an attempt, and look- ed upon the detaining of our ambafl'ador as a trifle ; and fecondarily by the bailiffs, who prefumed to abufe our faid ambaffador in the open flreet, after the abovementioned manner ; and laflly by the merchants, who occafjoned his confinement (as is evident from their malevolent infbgation, in or- der to overthi ow the antient friendfliip eflablifhed with us and our empire : ) wherefore wx being perfuaded, that your Majefty will effeem thofe perfons no otherwife than as the mofi: profligate of pillagers and violators of the laws of nations, proportionably to their guilt, we intreat your Ma- jefty to confent, that, for an example to others, a diligent fearch be made after the refl of the ac- complices of the crimes, and that a capital punifli- ment, according to the rigour of the law, be in- ili<5led on them all, at leafl:fuch an one as is ade- t^uate to the nature of the affront which every par- ticular perfon put upon the ambafl'ador. The fame ambaflador, by virtue of the inflruc- tions given him on this fubje<5i:, will more largely explain our requefl to your Majc fty ; which has been already declared by our minifters to your Ma- jefly 's refident in our court. On thefe confide- rations, we have reafon to hope from your Ma- jefly's juftice fuch a fatisfadion for this intolerable outrage; and the radier, in regard that your Ma- Book VI. Teter I. Czar of m\kovy. 217 Majefty's honour, and the reputation of all your • fubjedls of Great Britain, will, by this means, be- come famous throughout the whole world ; and v/e fliall be certainly aflured of the continuance of your royal friendiliip, and all efFefls of a con- trary opinion wall be entirely removed ; and lefr, upon failure of a fatisfaclion worthy of, and equi- valent to the injured honour, w^e be compelled to obtain it by way of reprifal, which indeed would be very irkfome to us, upon account of that par- ticular efleem we have for your Majefly's friend- iliip. Finally, we widi your Majelly health and a profperous reign." In purfaance of the Queen of Great Britain's Proceed- cqm.mandjan information was tried at the Queen's- ings therc^ Bench, Weftminder, the T4th of February, before uporu the right honourable the Lord chief juftice Holt, for the Queen, againfi: Thomas Morton, Ifaac Spiltcumb, Andrew Slan, Edward Young, and ten others, for meeting, confulting, and confpiring to arrefl: and imprifon the Mufcovite ambalTador ; for %vhich they were ail found guilty,excepting Youni^, faving the fpecial matter of the privilege of ambaf- fadors, to be argued before the judges the next term. There were prefent in court, the right honourable the Earl of Sunderland, the right ho- nourable Mr. Boyle, the Lord Halifax, and feveral other perfons of quality. The proceedings in England, were not fufiiclent, to fatisfy either the Czar or his minifter ; and fomething farther being infifted on, Mr. Whit- U'orth, her Majefly's envoy at the court ofRuffia, was invefled with the characTter of ambafiador ex- traordinary for the particular occafion^ to make preparation by a public excufe ; which the Czar received during his abode now at Mofcow, in prefence of the nobility and foreign minifiers . U * The QiB ' ne H ISTO RT of Book VI. The Brt' * The 8th of February being appointed for the tijloaynbaf- Solemnity, the chief carver of his Czarifh Ma- fador has aceompanied by tht cup-bearer, who offici- audknce. ated as mailer of the ceremonies, went from the court in one of his Majelly's coaches, to the houfe of the Britifh ambafTador, being followed by 20 other coaches of the grandees, feme to make up a train, and others for the ambaflador's fecretary and gentlemen, who were all richly clothed. Be- ing come to the ambaflador's houfe, the carver and cup-hearer, went up to his apartment, where they declared the bufinefs they w^ere come about ; and, after feme moments converfition, they went into the coach with the ambafTador, who took the place of honour: the fecretary and gentlemen of the embaffy went in the coaches appointed for them, each according to his rank. Arriving at the court, the two regiments of guards, w^ere there drawn up, made the fa- iutes of honour to the ambaffador, and remained ftanding in parade during the whole audience, making a very fine fhow. Monfieur de Narafl lieutenant colonels who commanded them. This a6tion was the bolder, becaufe the town was fortified with twelve royal baftions, two ditches filled with waters, and a high wall with ramparts of turf. Major General Noftitz, in confideration of the gallant behaviour of the com- manding Swedifh officers in this adion, returned, them their fwords till the Czar's pleafure fliould be known. Thofe officers confefled that they could not conceive how the Major-General came to hazard fuch an enterprize, and yet lefs how it came to fucceed fo happily ; attributing the faccefs entire ly to the good conduct and bravery of the officers and foldiers of his Gzarifti Majefty. The prifo- ners were the Lieutenant-Colonels Bethun and Ja- ger, lo captains, 13 lieutenants, 12 enfigns, 95 fubalterns and gunners, 766 foldiers. And fortl* The Major General re -fortified Elbing, and put jled by the into it a ftrong garrifon, which was the more jyiufco-- wondered at, becaufe an agreement was faid to have ^//^/, been made between the Czar and the King of Pruflia, for the immediate delivery of this place to the latter. It is certain the Prince of Holftein de- manded it in the King's name ; but the Mufco- vite General denied his having knowledge of any fuch agreement, and refafed to comply without an exprefs order from his mafter. He gave a like denial to the Polifh diet, who alfo demanded it for the republic, to whom it formerly belonged, lhat The H ISrO RT of Book VT. DhiJIo^if That aflembly in the mean time was greatly di- ofthePoles vided in itfelF; the members making the continu- ance of Ruffian troops in Poland a pretext for their animofiries ; refufing to come to any refolution on the flate of the nation, till thofe troops were fent out of the kingdom. This reafon alone would have obliged the Czar to continue them, left he fliould lofe the fruit of all his vidlories. His Majefty left Mofcow the latter end of Fe- bruary, in order to go into Poland ; but firft he un- dertook the fiege of Wyburg, which would open his troops a way into the Great Dutchy of Finland. He came before the place in April with 23,000 men, 80 pieces of cannon, 26 large and 250 fmall mortars. He was here in fomedan^^er of being furprifed by a Swedifh ileet of 13 fail, which however only fliewed itfelf, without attempt- ing any thing. Admiral Apraxin was left to carry on the fiege, who attacking the fuburbs, the Swedes quitted them, having fet their magazines on fire. The Mufcovites put out the flames, and feized on three fliips in the port. The fiege con- tinued till June, when the f governor obtained Wyhitrg leave to march out with arms and baggage : but fiirrendsr- Count Apraxin, upon his quitting the place, caufed ffd^ him and his garrifon to be detained prifoners of war, as a reprifal for feveral pra(5lices of the Swedes contrary to the laws of nations, pnd the ufe of war. That general publiflied a fort of ma- nifefto, containing the reafons which induced him to this feeming breach of the capitulation, whichconlifted of three articles, i . That a Muf- covite fnip being fent to Sweden with a flag of truce, as had been often pradlifed in the like cafes, had been detained contrary to all manner of juftice, 2. Becaufe the refident of the Czar, who was at Stockholm in the beginning of this war, had been detained, and had his effeds conlifcated, tho* t Mercure Hiflori^ue & politique, Janvier lyop, Book VI. Peter I. Czar ^Mufcovy. 2 tho' the Swediih minifter rcfiding at Mofcow was fent back without moleftation. 3. Becaufe the fubjCv^s of his Gzariih Majefty, who were, come into Sweden in times of peace, to carry on a trade beneficial to both nations, were detained upon the beginning of the war, and had their efFeds con- fifcated. Hie number of the garrifon, includ- ing the (ick and wounded, was near 5000 men. There was found in the town a large quantity of arms and ammunidon. The garrifon of Riga, which furrendered about the fame time, had >a better fate than that of AVyburg. f The fiege of that place had been along time carried on, with various hopes of fuc- cefs, and was now reduced to a blockade. On the 2 2d of January p^il:, the l.iboratory for bombs had taken lire, which in an inftant blew up the whole houfe, and the magazines adjoining, to the great terror of the garrifon, of whom near 2000 were entirely loft. General Gzeremctoff had after this offered very honourable conditions to General Stromberg the governor, to induce him to furren- der; but the intrepid Sv/ede returned thofe civi- lities only from the mouth of his cannon, expedt- ing, but in vain, to be relieved by fea. f At laft, on the 29diof June, being the feafi And Ri^ of St. Peter, whofe name his Gzarian IMajcuy bears, v/hen the General officers v/ere at dinner with Field- Marflial GzeremetofJ, the Swedifh go- vernor fent out one to notify that he deiired to ca- - pitulate, and would fend out deputies for that purpofe. The next day the Field- Marihal fent .into the town, for hoftages, two colonels and an auditor ; and his coaches brought back to the camp 1 1 hoftages from tlie town. Fieing conducted int^ the prefence of the Field-IVIarnial, tliey made a fpeech to him ; ^nd he nominated tv/o colonels and one auditor to treat with them. They deli- X veredl f Mcrcure, &c. The H isro RY of Book vr. vered about 65 articles, upon which his excellen- cy having deliberated with the other generals, fent them back into the town, with his refolution, by the Swedifli auditor, who was ordered to return at nine the next morning with that of Count Stromberg. The auditor came at the time limit- ed, but it was only to defire fome delay for the governor ; which being refufed, the governor fent out his refblutions in the afternoon ; and the whole was agreed, figned, and exchanged. By virtue of the capitulation, the garrifon was to be conduced to Revel, and thence tranf|wrted to Stockholm : but this lafl: particular was never com- plied with, for reafons publifiied by the Field- Marflial. The town and citadel were immediately garrifoned by 7 Mufcovite regiments,commanded by Prince Repnin. What forced the governor to furrender, was the famine,which was fo great, that at leaft 100 men of the garrifon died every day during the laft weeks of the (lege ; and of above 10,000, of which the garrifon conf Peed when the place was invefi:ed5no more than i Scawere left able to bear arms. Sixty thoufand of the towns people periflied iikewife during the fiege, partly by famine, and pardy by the plague. TheSwedifn garrifon v/ent out with the ufaal m,arks of honour, of drums beating, colours flying, arms and baggage, and fix cannon, Vvith powder and ball for fix charges each. But Prince Czeremetof? detained the remains of the two regiments of Carelia and Wyburg,ailedging that they were become fubje6ts of the Czar, by his late conquefts. And fo favou- rable an impreilion did the Prince give of his maf- ter's govei nm.tnt, that a great number of officers, and almofl: all the Li\ onians, put themfelves vo- luntarily under his protc:ar, y^^ willing, if pofTible, to prevent a rupture, he ■VvTOte feveral letters to the Sultan, offering to refer their differences to other potentates. He rercived no anuver to thefe, but inllead thereof, heaixi that a manif-do v/as fent to all the officers and gover- nors of the Ottoman Empire, commanding them to prepare for the enfuing war. Upon this he gave orders for the defence of Afoph, and fent thither Tice admiral VanderCruys, with 300 good fca- Oificcrs, leaving to Prince Menzikolf the command of all his forces in Livonia, Ingria, and Finland. He-then fet out in perfon for Mofcow, the more readily to attend his new levies, and to difpatch an iumy into the Ukrania. The generals Repnin, yillard, and Galliczin, conducted crofs Poland, in three columns, the bed part of his troops that %vere in Samogitia and Lithuania; v/hich he faon increafed to 100,000 men,by ordering one in four of all that were able to bear arms, and the fecond of all the valets of the nobility, to repair to his Ihuidard. Apaka 7^aquin, Prince of the Kalmucks, icnt him 25,000 men \ and Prince Romanadowski Book VL Peter I. Czar of Mufcovy. ijj advanced againft the Tartars with the niiJitia, which made the whole army 1 50,000, exclulive of Prince MenzikofF's force. His Majefty alfo publifhed a manifeflo, fetcing forth at large the infidelity and treachery of the Turks, and afTert- ing the juftice of his own caufe. And as the Saltan had fent an aga to Vienna, to prevent the Emperor's taking umbrage at this rupture with the Czar, his RufKan Majefty tranfmitted thither a fhort declaration, that it might be communicated to the Turkifh minifter, and vindicate himfelf m cafe his propofals were difregarded. As this piece contains a brief deducfdon of the whole quarrel, I <:hafe rather to give it a place, than reprefent the particulars of it in other words. TXTHereas we have received information, jyy^ VV fi'om divers places, that the Ottoman claration Porte endeavours to juftify the violation of peace, concevnin? by a war already declared againft us, and adually begun by the irruption of the Tartars into our territories: and for that purpofe, charges us with feveral groundlefs matters, by which they pre- tend, they were forced to come to a rupture ; and amongft others, as if we were not inclined to con- tinue in peace with them, but had a61ually refolv- ed to begin a war : as alfo, that contrary to the peace concluded with the Ottomans, we had ere6t- ed feveral new fortifications on our frontiers ; fufFered our troops to enter the Turkifh dominions ; and that we would not give them leave to con- voy the King of Sweden in fafety back to his own territories : we have thought it neceffary to de- clare here openly, that we never had the leaft in- tention to break, in any manner whatfoever, the peace concluded between us and theOttomanPorte, and to enter into a war with the Turks ; but the fame has hitherto been religioufly and inviolably obferved by us. The fortificadons ereded by us, ^re likewifc in no refpe^t againft the treaty, but upoj> The H ISrO RY of Book VL upon our own territories, which partly belonged to us of old, and partly were yielded to us by the treaty, and the limits marked out by the commif-, faries on both fides, which have been fixed many years ago: and it is therefore to be wonder- ed, that the Porte fhould take occafion to com- plain thereof at this jundure. Our troops never entered on the Turkidi dominions, but remained only upon the frontiers; and althcugh they did fome time ago, according to the laws of war, pur- fue their enemy into the Turkilh territories, and feized them therein ; which, however, was done in fuch places, where there v/ere no inhabitants ; yet all this, as well as other matters, were fully fettled and adjufted, in the confirmation of peace renewed laft year, whereby the Porte did likewife ftipulate with our ambaffador, that they fliould convoy the King of Sweden w^ith 500 Turks, thro' Poland, and that v/e fliould guard him by our officers from the frontiers ; to which we not only confented, bat alfo promifed to procure the Jikeconfent from the king and republickof Poland. But this being not accepted by the Porte, on the account of feveral pretences, we did at laft, in tvv^o of our letters to the Sultan, and by our am- baffador and privy-councillor Tolftoi at Conflanti- nople, declare that we would fuffer the King of Sweden to pafs thro' Poland free and unmole(i:cd, into his own dominions ; and to that end, did per- mit him a guard of 5000 Turks, to fend him fafc thro' Poland ; whereby our peaceable temper fufh- ciently appears, and that on our part, we have con- tributed whatever might prevent all manner of difturbance, and maintain a good^correfpondence, and neighbourly friendfhip with the Ottoman Porte: And that all the world may be fenfible thereof, we confirm here, with our former declaration, an offer, before a tedious war be commenced, to ac- commodate matters with the Porte, and to live in a neighbourly amity with her, as formerly : and not- Book VI. . Peter I. Czar ^Mufcovy. 237 notwithdanding, in order to provide for our pre- fervation and recarity,(after wehave been informed from all parts of a rupture, and that the war is ac- tually declared againd us at Conirantinople, and our ambaffador carried prifoner to the Seven Towers,) we hav^e caufed our troops to march to the Turkifli frontiers ; they fhall, however, not undertake any hollilities, provided the Turks live on their part peaceably ; put a flop to all prepa- rations of war, and fet our ambaflador, with all his retinue, at liberty : and we will, as foon as we are fufficiently allured of thefe things by the Ottoman Porte, order our forces to withdraw from the frontiers, and facilitate, as much as in us lies, a friendly accommodation. So we willingly ac- cept, and herewith defire the mediation of his Im- perial Majedy, her Majefty the Queen of Great Britain, and their high Mightinefles the States General. But in cafe the Porte, without any oc- cafion given her by us, fliould pcrfill: in her refo- iution to Break the peace with us, and begin the war with us ; we declare before God, and all the world, that we are excufable, and not guilty of all the blood that may be fpilt on this occafion ; and we have an entire confidence in God, that he will alTift our juft caufe, and profper our arms with victory, againfi: an enemy who breaks trea- ties, and who but a year ago, by fo many oaths and promifcs, confirmed and renewed the peace with us." Every unprejudiced perfon mull: be convinced, from this declaration, that the Czar vv^as forced into this war. There was no avoiding it, and his IVIajefty made all polTible preparations,notwithftand- ing the bufinefs he had already on his hands. The Ram's fudden irruption was attended with bad ^^'^^^fi ^onfequences ; he took feveral fmall places, pe- netrated as £ir as Samara, and burnt ijo fmall veirds that lay there for tranfports. His fon, the ^ The H I ST DRY of Book VI. the Sultan Galga, and Potocki palatine of Kio^, advanced along the Boryfthenes, diflribiuing niani- feftos every where as they went, and railing con- tributions on the country: but at lafl:, fitting down before Bialocerkiew, Prince Galliczin came up before they could take the citadel, put them to flight, killed 5000 of their men, and retook all the prifoners, and the booty they had made. * The Czar had created a fenate at Mofcow Marches the year before, confifting of nine boyars; and to^ Molda- having fettled with thefe the affairs of govern- Via* mentin his abfence, he wentdiredlly to the main army, which, with an expedition fcarcely credi- ble, Inarched to the borders of Moldavia, over a tradt of near 2000 miles. They were in all a- bout 80,000 men, of whom half at leaft were horfe. The Czar expeonourabU con- ditions, Ofrnan Aga, the Vizir's lieutenant, fr- Conded the Ruffian m[m(l:er; and as the Vizir himfelf was no, foldier, he thought it fafer to take tlie advice of one that was, than hazard a batde with troops who niull needs be defperate. ^ He p^^^^ granted a truce for fix hours, and in that time a eluded ^^eaty was concluded-, by which the Czar agreed to give up Afoph, v/ith its territories and difhit^ls ; to dcmclilh Taiganrog, and other forts which he had crcfled on the Turkifh fide ; not to concern himfelf with the affairs of Poland, nor with the CoiTacks Book VI. Peter I. Czar ^j/'Mufcovy. ^43 Coflacks who had been under the Porte ; to grant ' the King of Sweden a free and fafe paflage, and to releafe all Turkifli prifoners. On thefe conditions, he had liberty to march o# with hts whole army, all with their baggage and ammunition, as if they liad returned from a viciory. Poniatowflci, when he faw the Czar's fate, as he thought, inevitable, had fent poll: for his maftcr to come to the camp, and feed his eyes with the fpedacie of his rivaPs misfortune. Charles arriv- ed jufl as the peace was concluded, and was great- JVhich the ly mortified to find the Vizir inflexibly juil to his K-ofS^ive- agreement. He begged only 50,000 men, and den endea- promifed vv^ith thofe to recover the advantage which I'ours in the other had given away. Poniatowfid ufed all vain to get his eloquence to perfuade the Turk to a compli- ^i'^/^^^^* ance, and urged the Czar s proteflations of friend- fhip to the King of Sweden in 1700, at the fiime time when he was pxeparing to fall upon his domi- nions, as a reafon for infringing this treaty in the King of Sweden's favour. But all would not do, and die King of Sweden, after a little reproach thrown on the Vizir, icornfally turned round on his heel, and rode back to Bender. This memo- rable peace was figned. on the 2 ifl: of July 1 7 1 1, to the immortal honour of the Czarina (for by that title fhe was foon after acknowledged) and the en- tire ruin of all Cliarles's intrigues, during the two years he had been in Turkey. The Vizir had infifted, during the treatx^, that the Hof|3odar Cantemir fhould bcf delivered up, as a rebel to the Sultan ; and moil of the Czar's cour- tiers were for agreeing to it: bat his Majelly would by no means confent to facrifice the life of a Prince, who had already abandoned a principa- lity in his fervice. The Hofpodar was therefore fiiut up in the Czarina's coach, and the ambaiTa- dors were ordered to tell the Turks that he, was not in the army ; fo that the article for furrendering him was thrown out. He continued ever after in y 2 high i244 The H I SrO RY of Book VL hrgh efteem with the Czar, who fettled on him fevcral large eftates, and a pendon of 20,000 rubles per annum, Canteniir was a very learned Prince : he wrote a hiilory of the Ottoman, or (as he calls it) Othman Empire, in Greek and La- tin, and had a fon not long fince amba/Tador at the court of Great Britain. O^J)er irr'-'i' "The Czar had two other unfortunate princes c^/ under ^'"^^^ ^^is proteciion. Conto Cantacuzeno, fon by the C-^ars ^ ^^^^^^ Prince Canteniir, to the Hofpodar of , X. , Walachia, who was ftrangled at Conllantinople, protection, '. 1 • u r, rr r • i was a major-general in the PcUiiian iervice, and had a penlionof 5000 roubles. Tlie other was MilitetjOd Prince of Georgia, who was divefled of his foverelgnty by the Schah of Perfia, and died at Mofcow. Anonly fon of tliis Prince, whom the Czar had promifed to re/lore to his father's domi- nions, was taken prifoner in the batde of Narva^ where he commanded the artillery. His Czariih Majefly never ceafed,dunng all thefe tranfadions, to carry on his defigns at Peterfburgh, and ip particular to prepare a good fleet : but the fituadon of affairs would not yet fuffer him to ho- nour that place widi his prefeoce. Since the ^>wedes would not confent to the execution of die ncutralrt}^, as ftipulated by the alliance again/I: France, hisCzariOi Majefl}^, and the Kings of Po- land and Denmark, were no longer obliged to ob- ferve it. They all join nov/ in a body, to pi>fli Ge- neral CrafTau in Pomerania, where he had lain for fome time unmolefled. The King of Poland pub- T/V K of ^^^^^^ ''^ ^^^S manifefto, in which he fet forth the Poland's I'^^^^^s ^t{. ^cnd 25,000 men for his quota againfl Fr^ance ; the Diet was too cautious to accept hispropafal, pre- tending that it might engage them in all the quar- rels in Poland, but really dreading to have fo pow- erfal a Prince admitted into their co-llege. The Czar> immediately after the wedding, fet i^oes to out for Silefia ; and at the beginning of November Fcterf the Czarewitz, with his new confort, departed ^i^-gh^ On the v/ay to Peterfburgh. When tjiey came ta Koningfberg in Pruilia, his Czarifh Majefly agaia met th<:m, and they were all magnilicently enter- tained by the governor. They then continued fheir journey, thro' Riga and Revel, where the Czar was mofl: refpeeifully received by liis new fubjefe, and arrived in December at Peterfburgh,. whither his iMajefly was now called byTomenew troubles with the Turks,, excited by the Svvedifli and French fadions. 'fi'^'-mhrolh ^^^^^ agreed by the treaty of the Pruth, that ^^v^th ih^ ^^"S Sweden fhould have free liberty to re- gr-;,^,^ ' turn to his domifiions, and the Vizir did all that he v^as able to fend that Monarch home : but he being foon after depofcd, (tho' not, as was pretend- ed, by the King of Sweden's influence) and Charles continuing obftinately refolvcd that he would not return,, but on certain conditions of his own ima- gining; the Czar, who expelled the execution of lhi5 part of the treaty, had not been over hafly m lerforrning his own.. This was reprcfented to the idStaUt taider the adminiftration of a new Vizir,. Book VI; Peter T. Czar of Mufcovy. 545^ fo much to his Majefty's difadvantage, that a re-^ folution pafled at the Porte for renewing the war, and the circular letters were iffued out to the feve- ralbafliaws. But the vigilance of the Czar andhis minifters at Conftantinople, prevented the bad con- fequences of this refolution ; his Maj ei]:y by order- ing Afoph to be immediately demoliilied, and the ambafTadors, by remonfirating their maker's cafe in an audience obtained of the Vizir, in which they were feconded by the Englifh and Dutch mi- niilers. The letter for renewing the war was dated ^ in December lyoi, and in the April following , new treaty was concluded bet v/een Rullia and the ' Porte^ by which the Czar agreed to withdraw his troops out of Poland, and to let the King of Swe- den return unrnolefted to his dominions, when and in what manner the Sultan pleafed. Neither party \vas to ereft any forts between Afoph andCiral]d> nor at Kamenieck and Savar ; but tne Sultan might rebuild the Fort of Cinoli, over-againd Afophv The Czar was to reftore, or pay for, 60 pieces of brafs cannon that were in Afoph when he took it ; and this peace was to continue 25 years, within which time it might be renewed. This treaty, concluded and executed with great For ivhkh fincerity on both fides, was a new mortification the K, of to the King of Svv'eden : and as the Englifti and S^veden Dutch rainifters. Sir Robert Sutton and Count Col- hlavies the year, were thought to be inftrumental in procuring Englif? it, that Prince could not help expreifmg his refent- and Dutch rnent againfl: them. Sir Robert, in particular, was 7mnifers*. branded as adling without orders from his miftrefs, and his Majefly even wrote to England, to accufe him with efpoufing the Czar's interefl:, and requir- ing no lefs fatisfaftion than the having him recal- led and difgraced. But neither had thefe remonftrances any efFe(fl againft the Englifh minifter, nor did the treaty V'hich occafioned them long continue. The Sultan again fujSered himfcif, before the end of the year, to 548 rhe HISTORY of Book VJ; to be prevailed on by the Kam of Tartary, and the French and Swedifh minifters, upon the pre- tence thatfome Ruffian troops were flill in Poland. This indeed was the only article in which the The Turks treaty of Moldavia was not precifely executed \ break it : nor was it fairly infringed even in this, lince El- bing and Thorn, the towns his Czariih Majefly held in Poland, were conquefts made upon the Swedes, and of right to continue in his pofTellion till the war wath Sweden was over. But as the Sultan, at this time, received all his information from perfons in the intereft of Charles, (one of w^honijan aga of the Janiffaries,was feni expresfly into Poland to learn the truth of the affair) he was made to believe what the faction thought proper. War was adtually declared againft Ruflia, and the Czar's two ambafladors, Count SchiiiHrof and young CzeremetofF, were imprifoned in the Se- ven Towers. The Sultan came with his whole court to Adrian ople, in order to be nearer the place of a^51:ion. His refentmcnt even fell upon the am- baffadors of the Czar's ally King Auguftus, who were feized and imprifoned upon the road : it was refolved that Charles fliould be conducted home with fplendor, that Staniflaus fhould be re~placed on the throne of Poland ; and the v/ar, in lliort^ feemed inevitable. lUie great actions of fovereigns, which make fuch a figure on the theatre of life, are often no more than the effeds of intrigue, in Vv'hich the monarch is perhaps the dupe of his ov/n creature This was now the cafe with Sultan Achmet, whofe favourite, Ali-Coumourgi, having fome defigns in view% which required the friendfliip of the Czar, turned the tide of all thefe preparations, perfuad-^ ed his maftcr that he had been impofed on by per- fons in the intereft of the King of Sweden, brought And re- ^^^^ Mufti, who had before declared ?ie^\j it U" treaty renewed. Auguflus, gain : ^^^^^^ ^^^^^ found means to gain the Kam Book VI. Peter. I. Czar ^Mufcovy. 245^ of Tartai'y, the moft dangerous enemy the Czar had on that fide ;.and the King of Sweden, who was big with expeclation of his f^ivourite reverge, faw himfelf at once deferted, and received orders to leave the TurkiOi territories. Every one is ac- quainted v/ith his obitinate behaviour on this oc- cafion, and the violent meafures the Turks were obliged to take, in order to reduce him to reafon. He beheld with regret thofe ambaffadors carelled, who had juft before been imprifoned ; and was a witnefs to the public rejoicings they made in Con- ftantinople, to which all the foreign niinilters were invited, upon the anniverfary of the battle of Pultowa. ■ Among the other fpedacles, exhibited during this entertainmentjWere two beautiful figures,each of two hearts united ; the one infcribed. Long The Czar live the Flynpei'or Peter L andtheEfjiprefs Cat ha" publlckly rine^ and the other, Long live the Prhice Imperial married^ Ale:\is^ and the Princefs Charlotte, We have re- lated the marriage of this latter couple, and muft here take notice, that the Czar, during the dif- pute between him and the Turks, had publickly folemnized his marriage with bis confort Catharine, to v/hom he was long before privately betrothed. This ceremony v/as called his Majefty's Old Wed- ding, to fignify its being only a publication of w^hat was before done ; and the nobility were invited to it under that denomination. The Czar appeared in the habit of an admiral, attended by his fea- ofiicers, two of whom were the bride-men, and who in general had the chief fhare in the folemni- ty. It was celebrated at Prince MenzikofF's pa- lace, where the evening was concluded with a iplendid ball. The habit of admiral was fo much the more proper at this time, as the Mufcovites now firfl began to fee a fleet growing up at Peters- burg, to which his Majefty contributed not only his perfonal directions, but even his bodily la- bour. One fiiip, of 54 guns, in which himfelf had ZS<^ "The H ISTO RY of ' Book VI. had been chief carpenter, was foon after launch- ed, and called the Pultowa. He alfo put on the fl:ocks many gallies, a fort of vefiels before un-' known in rhofe feas, but which were indeed the moft proper for the fnallow coafb of Sweden and Finland. We fliall foon fee w hat ufe he made of them. Prince MenzikofF was ah eady in Pomerania, at the head of 36,000 men, when his Czariili Ma- jefty arrived there, with his confort and fon : but as the attempt on Stralfund had failed of faccefs, ' and the united armies had nothing farther to do this feafon than to fccure themfelves behind their lines, and to keep Stetin blocked up, the active Ipirit of this monarch w^ould not fuffer him to at- tend thefe flow operations, but carried him away to Berlin, after he had given the command of his troops to King Augufbs. Here mutual civilities . pafled for fome days between their Czariili and . Prufiian JMajeiHes, and then the former fet out for Garelsbad, in order to drink the waters, from Steinhock which he had before received benefit. Mean marches time Count Steinbock made a fally out of Stralfund, into Meek' leaving the defence of it to the burghers and afe- : hrsburg. led garrifon. It was expected he was going to force the enemies lines ; but, inftead of that, he took on a fudden, the rout of Mecklenburg, got pofleilion of Roflock, and laid the whole dutchy under heavy contributions. This fuccefs of the Swedes, and the hazard there was on both fides in coming to a battle, induced King Auguftus to think of a ceflation of arms, x^hich was . agreed • to for three months. This feparate agreement of the King of Po- land a litde ftartied the Czar and the King of Denmark, who began to fufped; him of carrying ■ on a private treaty. The Danifii monarch was then . coming back from the dutchy of Bremen, where ; he had bombarded Stade, * a ftrong town on the i:lbe, Voltaire's hia. of Chraies XU. Book VI. Peter I. Csr^r ^]Vrurcovy. ti^t Elbe, and obiiged the garrifon, after a vigorous* defence, to lurrender at diicretion, before Count Steinbock could eome up to their alliftance. He had burnt the place to afhes, which ferved Steinbock foon after for a pretence to exerclfe a much greater i cruelty. His Majcily's intendon was, to. join as foon as poUible the Mufcovite troops, which were alfo advancing to meet him: but he had the misfortune to be flrengthened only by a few Saxon fquadrons,before the Swedilli Ge- neral came up with him, on the 20th of Decern- ^^^^ ^^^^^^ hep '17 1 2, at a place called Gadebufli, near ^ ^^^^^^ " xivcr of that name in the Dutchy of Mecklenburg, ^^^^^^ The Danes and Saxons were poded with a mo- rafs between thcm,and a wood before, which, with tjbe fuperiority of their numbers, gave them all poffible advantage. Steinbock notv/ithftanding led on his troops, which were about 12,000, over the niorafs, ; xbro- the iire of the Danifh artillery, , and begari one of the raofi: bloody engagements that bad ever happened between the two nations. After an adion of three hours, the Swedes re- mained mafters of the field, having entirely rout- ed the Danes. As the Sa^cons-did) not engage, they made the bejl of their way to" rejoin the RulPians, that they might be -irr. a condition together to oppofe the vicl:orsr,ihvb0'it:was now thought would attempt to penetrate into Poland. But Count Steinbock, far from. doing as they expected, and as in policy he ought to have done,turned av/ay towards Holliein, in order to take up his quarters in the King of v Denmark's territories, for v/hich he had the direc- tions of the Swedifii regency. Here the firfl thing he attempted was upon the town of Altera, -^^^^^^ which Hood a little below the city of Hamburgh, ^-^^^^^ and by the encouragement of its fovereign, the King of Denmark, was become no infigniiicant rival in trade to that famous mart. Steinbock per- f p "The : BI STO R T of- Book VI peremptorily fummoned the inhabitants to evacuate the place with their effects, telling them he was refolved to deftroy -it immediately . The magit fti^ates fell on their knees before him, and oifered him 100,000 crowns for the ranfom of their town : but he inlifted upon twice that fum, and as they could not inftantly raife it, the foldiers, who had already their torches lighted, began to kindk the flames. A (bong north wind affifted them, and by 10 o'clock in the morning, on the loth of January 17 13, there was fcarce" any fign of a building, where the midnight before flood 2. large and populous town. Bed-rid old-people, and women newly delivered, were obliged to efcape into the -fields, where raoft of them perifhed by the extreme cold weather. Not a foul of thena could get admitted into Hamburgh ; for which the Hambarghers pretended the infectious diftempei-s that had been in Altena, but were fufpec^ed of a "who had but followed their example." . .>d,af^^ A Per/tan While the Swedes and their enemies were a ambajjadcr ing on thefe terms of violence againft each Other, at Mofco%v his Czarifh Majefly had the pleafure to fee all his great defigns going forvi^ards at home, and to hear that the fame of his anions had reached the ceti- ter Book VI . Peter I. Cs^r ^ Mufcovy. 2S3 ter of all Afla, and brought an ambafHidor • from Perfia to Mofcow, where he had made a mod magnificent entry, and now waited his MajeRy's return. The Czar however did not go thither immediately, but having firft concerted the opera- tions of the next campaign, paid a vifit to the un- happy remnant of the inhabitants of Altena. He greatly compaflionated their diftrefled condition, diibibuted looo rubles among their poor, and promifed them confidcrable privileges in their trade with his fubjeds. About this time the Staroft Grudzinfld,w^ho had ^<^'veral gone over to the King of Sweden, made an ir- ^dvajita- ruption into Poland, furprifed General Baur's re-^^^-^ loft to giment, and met with fuch fuccefs, that if the ^^^^S^-^^des King of Sweden and Staniflaus had been there in h ^^^^^^ perfon, the latter in all likelihood would have re- ^^^^gs gained the throne. But the infurmoiintable obrti-y^'^^'^"' racy of Charles, which kept him (HIl a voluntary exile in a remote country, defeated all the good effects of the advantages gained by his troops, was the reafon that Grudzinlki was again furprifed in his turn, and that Steinbock himfelf loft by piece-meal, all that he had gained in feveral great actions. Such a fatal influence has the abfence of a chief upon all military affairs, and fo contrary was the conduct of the Swedifli to that of the Ruflian monarch, whofc v/ant of prudence never threw a fliade over the luftre of his valour, ex- cept we allow (what may yet be difputcd) it did fo in the fatal acflion at the river Pruth. The troops of the Allies now advanced by fe- veral ways, in order as well toenclofe the Swedes, as to be able to join on a proper occ.ifion. Four thoufand Rufiians, under General Baur, carried the bridge of Hollingfledt, which was defended by a party ofSwedes,madc feveral prifoners, and after- wards broke down the bridge. Steinbock, upon this, perceived the'miftake in his own conduft, and had no way to prevent his immediate ruin, but by * Z in- 2S4 rheHlSrORTof Book VT? Intrenching himfelf between Frederickft:adt,Hufum» and Tonningen. Hither the Cziir advanced, and bn the 1 2th of February, at the head of only five battalions and fome dragoons, attacked and became' mafter of the entrenchments : Upon which the garrifon at Frederickftadt betaking themfelves to The Czar ^^S^^^' INIajeRy took poflelfion of the to^vn, takes Fre- ^'^^^^ ^^^^ enemies baggage, and about 300 pri- derick- foners. The diftrefs to which General Steinbock' fiadt^ was now reduced, occafioned that famous retreat into Tonningen, which not only for thatfeafon put' an end to ail a6lion in the field,but gave a pretext for the fequeftration of the Duke of Holftein*s cflates, that Prince being then a minor. * The bifhop of Lubeck, uncle to the Duke,; governed this unhappy and divided country, under the name of adminiftrator ; and being willing at^ the fame time to prevent the lofs of the Swedilh army, to preferve the sppearance of a neutraji- t^, and to avert the v/ar from the dominions of^ his pupil,* he had recourfe to artifice, the mean and dangerous refuge of weak minds. hen Steinbock dcmimded of him admittance into tlie caille of Tonningen, he ordered Wolf the gover- nor to receive the Swedilh troops, but never to own he had any fuch order, and take all the blame of Siemhock's a^^non on himfelf. They were accordingly ad- retreat in- flitted; but the Duke, the admini{lrator,and Steih'- to To7w'm' bock, all psid dearly for their contrivance : for the* a^ri. Czar, with the Kings of Denmark and Poland, re fcnting this infradion of the neutrality, foiTned the' blockade of Tonningen, and fo effectually kept all provifions from the little Swcdifii army, (which ihil confiited of about 10,000 men, including tlie' fick and wounded) that the General was obliged, on the 1 7th of Marcli 1 7 1 3, tofurrender that and himfelf to the King of Denmark. It was in vain- tliat he pretended" he had got into the town by ' ' ■ tea-- *M,dc Volcire. Book y|. Peteh 'I. Czar of MufcOTy. ,;^i> ftratagem, and that the govemor fwore the Aime : He fur- a copy pf the treaty was found among the gene- renders raPs papers,:, and Woif afterwards conielied th^ ^y///; /vV feqret. It was in vain that the adminifirator ap- ar?ny. plied to the courts of Berlin and Hanover, to beg their mediation with the King of Denmark ; who was glad of this occafion to feize the young Princess territories, moft of which he has kept ever ftoce.. Pomerania, all but Straifund, the iOe of Riigeii, axid fome neighbouring places, fell im- Diediately after into die hands of the Allies, and were fequeftered in the keeping of the King of JPruilia.. At the feme time the dutcliics of Bremen raod Verden, fmce made over to the Eleclor of Haoover, were filled with Danilh garrifbns. • Whatever was conquered on that fide, tho' by the troops of the Czar, was gat only for thofe iitllies who were members of the Empire ; a rank ^which his Majefty had not been able to obtain. ■^'^^ ^'^^^ ;This made him the more intent on another part of the war, in which, as he ax^led alone againft the ent^m^'j fo^ke had no rival in his claim on the new acquifitions. He left Tonningen even before Steinbeck llifrendered, and afTured his Allies that he would fi*3d work for the Swedes on the fide of Finland. Ie his way home he took the courts of Hanover, Wolfenbuttel,and PrnfFiasConverfed with the fovereigns of each,and was particularly charm- ed with the Princefs dowager Sophia, at that time heir to the crown of Great Britain: then porting from thence to Dantzick and Koningsberg,he found the Czarina at Riga, newly delivered of a Princefs, whom he called Maria Petrowna. Prince Menzi- kofF had the command of the Ru/Han forces, that were left behind in Germany, where he added not a little to the glory of his Majefty's arms, in the reducftion of Stetin, taking the ifle of Rugen, arid driving away the remains of the Swedifh troops: then, having in his way raifed contributions on the cities of Hamburgh, Lubeck, and Dantzick, upon Z 2 foma ' ^6 ne H isra RY of iBooii vt fome pre tenfions, which foldiers never want, took the road to Petersburg, where the Czar was^ new- ' ly arrived from his expedition in Finfand: '" '^ '-^'^ Makes a For no fooner was the monarch in his new xS- dejcent in pital, but he made preparations for adefccnt on f'mlarid. that country. Having got together from Revel, Narva, and other parts, about 200 tranfports ; with thefe5 2omen of war, and 100 gallies, he fct fail from Petersburg, and meeting with a favour- able wind, landed' 1 2, 000 men at Heldngfors, a fmall town on the Gulf, G eneral Lubekker, who was pofled here with fome Swediih troops, made no refiilance, but retired precipitately to Abo, the capital of the province. JU fuccefs on the fide of the Swedes had quite changed the face of the war, and the terror, w hich for fome years they every where carried, was now- transferred to the Mufcovites. The Czar forced the paffage of T I /JJ defended by 80a men, and coming up lakes AbQ. Abo, found the place abandoned to him. His Majcfly took here a very valuable collection of books, which he transferred to his new library at Petersburg. The Swedifh army, confifting of 7000' old fol- diers, w^s retreated to the fide of Thavafthus, and there lay ftrongly intrenched, at a place called the Pafiage ofPulkona. Lebekker being recalled, (General Arnfeldt was fent in his room,aDd brought with him a large body of new recruits. This addition of flreogth, and the advantage of their fituation, obliged the Ruffians to halt when they came within fight of their camp, and cover them- The hattle felves alfo with an intrenchment. \ As there of Piilkoria was no coming at the enemy in front, the Ruf- ' fian Generals, A praxin, Butterlin, and Shermi(hev% attempted to pafs over fome deep moraffes in their rear, that were now covered with water. While the Swedes thought themfelves prepared for a long de* } General ArnfeUs's letter after the battle. 3ook VI. pETik I. Czar ^jMufcovy. defence, adviqe was brought their General that .7 000 iMufcovites were coming over about a quar- ter of a ieaguj^ be]:^ind thern, having got together a number of boats, pontoons, and floats of timber. Arnfcldt ported a party of horfe where he expell- ed them to land, with a large body of foot to fup- port it. But the wind turning in favour of the Ruffians, brought fuch a thick fog upon the Swedes,that they did not perceive their enemy till prince Galliczin attacked their horfe, and obliged xhem to retire. The 7000 men were almoft land- ed before General Ariifeldt came up with the foot, \vhen a watiii action inftantly began. At the_fir{l: charge of the Sv^^edifa infantry, fome of the Ruf- fians were driven back into the water; but thefe foon recovering their ground, after an a(5tion of . foiH* hours, the intrenchments were carried, and the Swedes pqt to tlie flight, who retired towards .Tammersfort. 7'he Radians \o[\ 700 men in this .fcattle, but (lew more of the enemy, took above - 200 prifoners, with feveral pieces of cannon, and eight colours. The ^Swedes would have nillied foon after the fight, had not Prince Galliczin pur- ;f^ed them, and given thcni another rout near Lapla, ijVV'here -Arnfeldt had again intrenched ; but could ; j>ot now make head any longer. The v/i^olc pro- ^X^^ince pf Finland^ foon feil iato the hands of tl^: ' ^;^r,. who Immediately fortified Tiiavailhas, to prevent the Swedes from penetrating into itagaia. The Czar was not prelent in the battle of Pul- . .kqna? having employed himfelf in the mean, time at fea,whcre he narrowly efcaped being cad away on .the rocks. As the country fuffered rrtiich in this war,hi5 >f ajefty ordered a manifeilo to be publifhed, wh-rein he charged the continuance of it on tlie * .JCing of Sweden, to whom he had frequently ofler- .ed peace on very eqnicable conditiom- Then, to make the beft ufe of the prefent law canditioo of the enemy, he ordered colonel vSchub ;jof, gover- nor of Wvburg, to attack NyQot,the chief fortreft Z3 of of Savolaxia, ^vith a detachment of men from hi^ y^n, gai*riion, and a train of artillery. 1 lie gaver- ^ '-^ t^' ^Qj- it with good fuccefs, and the place far* rendered, by capitulation, on the 29th of Jun^ 17 14. ^ Th^re had been a congrefs held at Briinfwick fince the battle of Piiikona, in the intermediate winter ; but as the conferences there came to no* thing, his Ca:afi{h Majefly again refolved on- a vi-- gorotis profecution of the war, and to tliat pur- pofe concerted-new meafures with the King of Den- Jiiark. In the mean time the arts of peace were "tiot negledted, efpecially thofe which regarded the ■city of Petersburg, whither families from other parts were continually transferred, foreigners were allured by all the baits of encouragement, and where arts and fciences abundantly Hourillied. His Maj.£% attempted, at this time, to bring thither the trade which had hitherto been at Archangel ; but this could not be fully effeded till fome years after, wheii the war was entirely over, and the navigation of the Baldck become •free and open. Czar * While Prince Galliczin was in Finknd, the itis out a Czar put to fea with a fleet, to make a defcent ^reatfii^et^ on Aland, an idand about 10 leagues from Stock- hoIm» Europe was furprifed to fee 30 Ihips of the line, 80 galTies, and 100 half-galiies, with 20,,aQ0 men on board, fet fail from a place where a few years, before was neither fhip nor harbour* 'The Swedes were alarmed, and lent out all the "i^rength they could, under the command of ad- siiral Wartrang *, who at lirft gained fome ad- Yt^ntages on the coaft of Abo-. Admiral Apraxin fommandedthe Ruilians, and the Czar ferved un- d^er him as rear-admirah 1 hey came up to the coafi of Revel on the 15th of July, and on the ■\2 6:ththey faw the Swedifli vice* admiral Liliie,, witli ^ Vultcii-e, hiO:. de Charles XIL Book Vrr Pete ft T* Czar of Sfufcovy. fey9^ with 1 4 men of war. The Czar, as rear-aditiiral, K defired to be fern with 25 gallies, to take a view of the Swedifli fleets which being gran tedy and . t his Majerty judging, upon obfervation ofWar- trang's iituation, that their defign might be to at* tack the Ruffian fleet, he fent for the admiral to come and join him. ^ ' ^ Thirty five gailies, in two fquadrons, paffed by Gains a the next day between the Swediih fleet and th^ vitiory at fliore, and afterwards the whole RuiHan fleet for- y^^, ced a paflage, with th€ iofs of only one galky. Commodore ifmaiewitz, with 20 gallies, blocked tip the Swedifh rear-admiral, and an officer was fent to funjmon him - to furrender : which the rear-admiral refufing, an adion enfued between him and the Ruffian van-guard, conduced by the Czar in perfon, which lafted three hours, and end- ed in the taking of rear-Admiral Ehrenfchild, after he had made a mofl gallant defence. This Vie^ory, which was complete, was the more to the Char's honour,, as the Swedifh fliips diat en- gaged were ra^ch larger than the Ruffiar^, and threw a greater weight of metal. The Swedes lofi hear looo men, killed and taken, and as many vcffels as mounted 1 16 guns, which, with the pri^ foners, were fent to Revel. The fame day 16,000 , Ruffians were landed in the ifle of Aland, where they took prifonfers all the Swedifh foldiers, and fent thcra on board the Czar's fleet. His Majefly i-educed the fort, and all the rtrong places in the ifland, intending to tranff)Ort thither his troops that were in Finland, and to make a defcent in the neighbourhood of Stockholm, at thefamet ime that the King of Denmark landed an army in Schonen* But the feafon putting an end to all the operations of this year, his Majefty retook the rout of Revel, arid returned to Cronflot, with Ehrenfchild's fhip, three lelTcr ones, a frigate, and fix gallics, all ta* 'ken in the late a<5lion* 26q For njohlch be efiters PeUrs- burgh in triumph. His gene- rojttyto ad- ryiiral Eh- renfchild* The H I STORY of BookVL From Cronflot he failed in triumph to Peterf- burgh, followed by his vidorious fleet and the fhips he had taken. He was received under a triple difcharge of 150 cannon. Then going on {hore, he made a publick entry thro' the city, with much the fame ceremonies as before at Mofcow ; but vith morefecret pleafure to himfelf, as being dor.e amidft 40,000 houfes, all of his own railing in ten years time, and for a naval vidory won by a nation who till his reign knew not what a fleet was. * This was indeed anew fpedacle for Muf-, covy, and what the Czar himfelf wa-s perhaps fur- prifed to exhibit fo fooa. The vivftors marched under a triumphal arch, and the Czar, who tri- umphed iefs as the Sovereign of Rufna, than as the author of her marine, and the firA who had in per- fon ihov/n the ufe of it, appeared only in his qua- lity x)f rear-admiral, in which he had fouglit. They proceeded to the citadel, where the vice- Czar Romanodowfl 1, THE HISTORY O F T ETER the GREAT, Emperor RUSSIA. BOOK VII. _ From the King ef Snreden^s return to his domini" ^ ons^ to the death of the Czare^itz, THE King of Sweden * h^^ving at lafl quitted the Turkilh temtories^ in Odo- ^nveden re- "[^QX 17 14, and rode incognito thro' Geimany to turnshorne. Stralfund, after performing things at Bender beyond what romance ever feigned, his Czari/h Majefty had again this formidable and adive e« nemy to make head againft. He was now ftrength- ened * Eloo;e, ire, par Fontenellc. Book VII. Pe t^, r' l.Czar of Mufcovy, ^6} enfed ■lioweva' by Ris Alliance with Denmark ; whereas in the war in Poland and the Ukrain, when Sweden was in a much better condition, he had no alliftant. But there was fomething to be done at home, before this monarch would again venture on a foreign war; and therefore, while the preparations v/ere making, his Majefly went on board one of the Ruffian veffels, which had a fhare in the late vidlory, and was built at Peterfburgh; where, fitting amidft feverai old Ruffians, he addreffed a difcourfe to them to the following c&a. *' Is there a man among you, brethren, who ^^^^"^(^r^s, thirty years ago thought of being employed fPf^^^^ me in the art of fhip-building ? Who ever dream- theoldRuf' ed of coming to fettle on the (hores of the Baltick,7^'^'^"^* in a country conquered by our perfonal fatigues ; to fee foldiers and feamen, brave as we now be- hold, fprung from Ruffian blood ; our fons coming home able men from remote countries ; foreign artificers and tradefraen living in our dominions, and the mofl: diftant potentates {hewing us marks of their efteem ? The fciences, which inhabited antiently in Greece, expelled thence by the fata- lity of the times, fpread firft in Italy, and after- wards difperfed themfelves over the refl: of Europe : but the perverfenefs of our anceftors fixed their utmod limits in Poland, where a better tade in the governors opened the eyes of the commonalty, and made them what the Grecians had been be- fore. If you will but fccond my defigns, endea- vour to fiiake off your blind obedience, and be- come voluntary agents in thepurfuic of knowledge, Mufcovy (liali nowfhine forth in her turn. Who knows but the day may one time come, when the afts fnall quit their abode in England, France, and Germany, and transfer themfelves for fome centuries to dwell a^iiong us ? Let me only recom- mend to you diligerice and devotion, which I am p'erfuaded, 'evtn in 'our life-tiihe; will enable us to put 7-^^ ^ IS TORT of Book VII. put other nations to the bJufli, and raiie to the utmoft the glory of the Ruffian name." Tho' the old Ruffians outwardly applauded this fpeech, they did not yet feera very earnefl to im- prove the contents of it. The Czar, after near twenty years labour, was almoft fingle in his great deligns, which no genius but his own could ever have purfued amidft fuch difcouragement. But as the men, efpecially the elder fort, appeared yet too uncomplying, he wifely concluded that the fur- eft way to prevail on them, was to bring the fair fex, whofe opinion and example are feldom inef- Orders the beauty of w hat he propofed. ^ With this view he made an order, that the mar- ivo7?:en to , . , ... , . v • i trave/ ^ nobility, who were m a condition to travel, fhould take their ladies along with them ; and as this gave them a liberty which they had hitheito wanted, the women were infinitely plealed with the injundion, and did not a little contribute to pro- mote the ends of it. We have fince beheld yet more: v/e have feen two v/omen fovereigns of Ruffia, who of their ov/n choice have purfued the fleps which the Czar Peter had trode before them. Anmnhaf Afchcrbi, amba/Tador from the KamofUfbcck ^ ^ arrived at Petersburgh on the lythofMay, with a ti IT 1 L retinue of i6 perfons. He had an audience of the Usbeck , ,^ , * , • i • i Tartar' Czar the next day; m which, after paying his compliments in the Eaftern way, he recom- mended his mafter to his Majefly's prcte(5tion; defired that a neighbouring Tartarian Prince, the VcifTal of Ruffia, might be enjoined to live in amity with the Ufteks; he offered the Czar 50,000 foldiers on occnfion, and fome advantage ous articles with regard to a trade with China. Then lie laid at his Majefty*s feet a valuable, . prefent of flks and furs, fliling him all along the n^'ife Eirperor ; v. hich tide, ss it is the high- eft diftindtion in his country, may fliew the good fenfe of a people Vvhom we are apt to call bar- barous.' This ambafiador vv^as firft Minifter to Book VII. Peter T. Czar (j/'Mufcovy. 265 to his Mafler, and had been fonnerly his gover- nor. He gavG pertinent anfwers to feveral quef- tians his.Majefly put to him, on which the Czar made, judicious reiiedions. M. Weber, his Lite Majefly's niinifter at Petersburgh as Elecflor of Hanover, v/as prefentat thefe conferences, and has given a very particular account of them. It was during the Czar's abode this time at The order Petersburgh, that he infHtuted the order of St. Ca- of St, Ca- tharine, in memory of the fervice he had received tharine in- from the Czarina at the river Pruth. That prin- ftituted, cefs, who was chief of the order, and had the li- berty of conferring it on whatJadies Hie pleafed to honour, appeared firft in her collar on St. Andrevv/-'s day. The prefent Czarina continues to wear it as Sovereign, and has lately beftowed it on her royal Highnefs the Princefs of HefTe CafTel, daughter to his Britannic Majelly. A chapter of fifter-Knights, all equally illufrrious withthoie I have mentioned, as it adds to the glory of the Great inftitutor, may it not rival fome more antient orders of the other fex ? The adminiftration of the Czar's affairs, chief- hiqul- ly thro' his ov/n neceffary abfence, had been yf//^/^ re- greatly perverted fince the year 1706. * ^^^"^ gardingthe Ma jelly fearched into the bottom of the difbrder ; minijh}\ found- why. his army had fufFered fo much, and been fo ill paid ; why fo many workmen had mi* ferably periflied, trade had fo fenfibly decayed, and poverty fpread over the country. The con- fufion his finances were in, and the mifapplica- tion of monies raifed, appeared to be the fource of all thefe misfortunes. The Czar Peter would fl^reen no man from the infamy of his crimes : He inffituted a grafid inquifitior!, of which Prince Polhoruki was preh'dent, and the fcrutiny was car- ried on with that feverity, that moft of the great men in the Empire were found guilty. McnzikofF, * A a A- * Preflnt S^te of Rulua. Vol. I, 266 The H I STO RY of Book VTL Apraxin, and Bruce, as their commands in the ar- my kept them continually from Petersbiirgh, ex- culed themfelves upon the impoffibillty of their in- fpcding the matters under their care, and fo threw off part of the blame on their unfaithful fervants ; but had their purfes however well drained to make reparation. The red, as they had nothing to urge in their own vindication, either underwent feme bodily puniflmient, or were baniflied to Siberia, and had their eflates confifcated. Imbro^ce' The fame caufe which had contributed to this ??ic?2^Tat "^^^"^d^i^i^^^'^^jcsn, had in fome meafure retarded Peters- ^^^'^ public buildings at Pctcrsburgh. But now his hur^yh Majelly was on the fpot, he not only carried on ^ " with vigour thofe that were already begun, bat fet others on foot. The fortifications v^'ere enlarg- ed, the citadel ftrengthened, and, in fhort, 40,000 men were found infufficient to carry on the fe- veral works : fix thoufand Swedifh prifoners were fent for from the river Wolga, and the peafanrs of Finland were preifed into the fcrvice. In the mean time the encouragement to foreif^ners was renewed. They had lands given them to build on, and were exempted from taxes for ten years; but, whereas a great part of the houfes were hi- therto of wood, all who built for the future v/ere enjoined to ufe only brick for the walls, and tiles for the roofs. Near 12. 000 families were at this time introduced here from other places, and a- mong them the Czar John's widow, with the Piia- cedes her daughters. When J lis Majefiy was the laO: year in Holftein, to animate the war there againfl: the Swedes, hz bad fpent a great part of his time in making ob- fervations of various kinds. He had caufed his engineers to t;-ke the plan of every city, and the dciigns of all the diflerent mills and machines which were riot in Ruilia. He had informed him- f:lf * Ho^e, (irr. par Fontenclle. Book VII. Pete K T. Czar of Mufcovy. 267 felf of every particular relating to husbandry, as ^-j^^ ^^^^^^ well as the mechanicks. At the city of Gottorp, ^rQ.j^^^p which then belonged to the King of Denmark, he f faw the famous globe, celcihal and terrellrial, that p^^J,^'^^^;^ was made from a defign ofl^ycho Brahe, and fo ' large that t welve pcrfons might fit within ude of it, round a table, and make their obfervations by turning it about. A curiofity fo extraordinary qould not but (Irike a man of Peter's temper, and make him defirous to have it in his own po/Teffion ; nor could the King of Denmark deny it to his re- quefl. The great difficulty was how to get it home without damage, which was done firfl: by conveying it in a frigate to Pruilia, and from thence in a great fled over the fliow to Riga, vv^here it was again /hipped for Petersbuvvh. A large room was built there on purpofe to receive it, for the ufe of the aflronomers. Tko' the Northern war Rill continued, the dif- poGtion of things with regard to the Czar vv^as fa^ altered, that all the diilicalcies of it migiit be faid to befurmounted. I rnall be the more brief therefore in thehiflory of his following Campaigns, which, as they do not aflbrd fuch a variety of adion as the preceeding, fo are the affairs of theni more complicated with thofe cf other nations^ The Czar did rot now fght to conquer, but to fecurc the pofrdFion of what he had conquered by an advantageous peace. The King of Sweden, upon his return home, T/pc K, of found himfelf furrounded v/ith new enemies. The Snjj^deji's fame obfHnate temper that kept him from treating enemies, when in exile, occalioned him, the next day after Jiis arrival at Stralfund, to give orders for renew- ing themintary preparations, tho' he was then Ihut up in almoft the only town that was left him of all his foreign dominions. He demanded the reffi tution of Pomerania, in very high terms, of the King of Pruflia, in whofe hands it had been fe- queftered by the Allies. This demand procured a: A a z mar 268 rhe H ISrO RT of Book VIL manifcfto from that Prince, ia which he fet forth the re.ifons of his not complying with it, and afTert- ed the iuilice of what he had done. Mean while the Prailian forces, with the Danes and Saxons, in ail 36,000 men, inverted Charles in Stralfund ; the troops of Hanover, and others of Denmark, laid (iege to Wifmar; the Czar, with 20 men of war, and 150 tranfports, having on board 30,000 fol- diers,kept the Bciltick, and hovered over the coafb of Sweden. Never was a place attacked or * Prefent State of Ruflla, Vol.I, pyz the HIS TO RT of Book Vlt his indolent wicked courfe, as to make an alliance in the Empire, to marry him with a German Prin- cefs of high rank and generous education. But the depravity of the fon's condud had almoft weaned the father of his paternal afFedlion, and made him drop fome intimations, that unlefs he gave timely hopes of amendment, hefhould be deprived of the fucceffion, and thruft into a convent. Tho' he had an averfion to all foreigners , the young Prince was wrought upon by his favourites, on the fight of his own danger, feemingly to fall in with his father's fentiment, and defire leave to make the tour of Germany, in order to chufe him a confort ; declaring his refolution to lead a new courfe of life. The Czar joyfully gave his confent, and the marriage was performed at Tor- gau, as before related. No fooner was the young couple arrived in Her cruel ■^xsSvx, but the Czarewitz made himfclf a mere nfage frovi ftranger to bis beautiful Princefs. He never fliew- ker hiif- \^^^ the lead complaifance, nor even fpoke to band, her in public company. As they lived in feparate wings of their palaces, they feldom faw one ano- ther once a week, and had not the Czarewftz look- ed upon the begetting of an heir as neceffary to his own fapport, they had been quite invifible to each other. -Even the repair of the houfe was fo neglec- ted, that her Highnefs was expofed to the injuries of the weather in her ov/n bed-chamber : and if ever the Czar expoilulated with him on thefe mat- ters, he would load her with reproaches as a ca- lumniator; whereas there was no witnefs of her complaints and tears but the Princefs of Eaft Frief- land ' her companion, and the walls of her apart- ments. Mean while the Czarewitz kept a Finland- ifn captive in the houfe as a miflrefs, and was ne- ver out of her company night or day. Thus did airairs continue till the Princefs lay in, when, part- ly by the neglefl of her midwives, and partly thro' the aiHidion of her mind, flie v/as 6 days after de- livery Book VII, Pe T E R I. Czar of Mufcovy. 2 7 J livery fcized ^vith fuch a violent indifpofition, that every one delpaired of her life. The Czarina was herfelf fo near her time, that file darft not venture to pay a vifit to her dying daughter-in-law. The Czar was likewife ill : but, at the defire of the Princefs, he was brought to fee her upon a rolling machine. She took her leave of him in the moft moving expreffions, and recom- mended her children and fervants to his protec- tion. Then embracin'g her infants with all the figns of maternal tendernefs, fhe with tears delivered them to her hufband, who immediately carried them to his own apartment , and never returned to her again. It was impofTible life could nov/ be defirable. She v/ould not be perfuaded to take any more medicines, but flung the phials behind the bed, and faid to her phyiicians with fome emo- tion, Let 77te die hi quiet, for Invill live no lo?7ger. This unfortunate Princefs was filler to the preient Emprefs of Germany, and had been married jull 4 years and 6 days. She was buried on the 7th of November, and the next day the Czarina was alfo delivered of a fon, who on the 1 7th was chriften'd j i^^,^^ Peter Petrowitz. As the Czar was determined to q^j. cut off his eldeft fon, unlefs he gave viGble figns of a reformation, he was exceedingly tranfported that Heaven had given him another ; and indeed the public grief, for the death of the Princefs, was al- moil funk in the joy for the birth of a young prince ; which was folemnized, by his Majefry's order, for 8 days fucceffively. I'he Czar and Czarina fet out for Germany on ^^^^ ^r^/' the 6t]i of February 1 7 1 6. It was in his way thi- -^^^^ ther, at Dantzick, that he folemnized the ^^"^"^'^^g^ Q^^ljiam of hi^niece, the Princefs Catharine before mention- ' ed,with the Duke of Mecklenburg, The King of Poland made a fplendid entertainment on this occa- /ion, at which the Czar alTifted ; and fetting out for Koningfberg, where part of his fleet was arrived, he gave audience to a Perfian ambaffador, who had been i 74 H iSrO RY of Book VIL been in France about two years. His miniders hai orders, during his abfence, to offer certain articles to the Dantzickers, who had adted very equivo- cally during the whole war, and to declare them enemies in cafe of non-compliance. The chief of them were, " That they fhould have no commerce with Sweden; and *' That they fliould furnilh 4 privateers of 50 men each, or 2 00,000 rix-dol- lars infpecie. But the King of Poland compound- ed the matter for them for 100,000 rix-doUars, the maintainance of 4 fhips which he would fur- nifh, and the renunciation of commerce with Swe* den: fo that the Czar, at his return, v/as receiv- ed there with great honours. Has an in- Stolpe, in the v/ay to Stetin, his Majefly had tervievj interview with the King of Prullia,. in which it ivith t%vo ^^^^ agreed to oppofe any invafions of the Swedes khm King of Denmark's territories, which they were ready to enter; but at the fame time not to zM\ the Danes in making conqaefls on Sweden, which was already fufficiently reduced. The Czar- then proceeded to Altena, where he was met by the Danifh Monarch, who continued with him for fome time in the neighbourhood of that place^ Here was concerted the famous defcent on Sehohcn, in order to. draw the King of Sv/eden out of Nor-^ way, into which he was now penetrated with 24,000 men. M. de Voltaire obferves, that the world had not feen any general fince Hannibal^ who, when he could not make head againil: his enemies at home, went to attack them in their own dominions. But King Charles feemed little to regard what he iofl:, provided he could ftill con- quer.' Barren rocks, amid iiiow and ice, were more pleafant to him, when taken from an enemy, than the beautiful provinces he had been ftripped of in the Eaft and South, The Czar From the Dutchy of Holftein the Czai' and Cza- at Copen^ rina went to Copenhagen, where they fpent three baue?i, months BookVIT. Peter L Cr^r (?/"Mufcovy. 275 months in the diverfions of the Danifh court. But at tiie fame time that thefe were outwardly the Czar's employment, he viGted all the colleges, all the academies, and every private man who had acquired reputation in the learned world. There was no manner of ceremony in thefe vilits, and it was juft the fame to the Czar Peter whether the ftudent waited upon him, or he upon the ftudent. Every day he went out in boats, with two engi- neers, upon the coafls of Denmark and Sweden, meafuring all their bays, founding all their depths, and making fuch cxacl charts of the whole, that not the fmalleft bank of fand efcaped his notice, it was a proof that his Ally had the higher!: ve- neration for his perfon and genius, fince he did not attempt to hinder his getting thefe exadt informa- tions, which were almod enough to have excited jeaioufy. There was a yetgreater token of refpedl: fhewn Comi7ia?ids to Peter the Great, during his refidence at Co- ff^Q jl^Qts cf penhagcn, when nations the moil experienced iny^^^'^, naval aff lirs paid their fubmiffion to him, the firft fi^^^^^ Ruffian who had ever known tlie fea. The Englifli and Dutcli fqnadrons, under Sir John Norris and Conimodorc Grave, arrived in the Sound to join the Ruffians, and Danes, and all the flag-officers unanimouily agreed to confer on him the command of this united fleet of four nations. In this quality the Czar hoiitcd his flag, on the 13th of xA.uguft, on board one of his fineft fliips ; and his Majelty declared that he never in his life had more fatif- faiflion than in receiving this honour. Notwirhilanding that meafures were fo well jr^^. ^^/» concerted, and the defence of Norway neg]e6led fj^^ ^^fcent in favour of the intended defcent, the orders for Schonm it were on a fudden countermanded, after the ne- cclfary difpofitions had been agreed on, in a coun- cil of war between the two monarchs. All Europe was * iloge par Fonteneiie. i27<5 The H ISrO RY of Book VII. was amazed at this behaviour in the Czar, who coldly alledged that the feafon was too farfpent. The King of Denmark complained aloud of this breach of articles^ in a rnanifeflo, which leaves Providence and time to difcover what might have induced his Ruffian Majefty 'to take a ftep fb prejudicial to the Northern alliance." In the mean time no one doubted but he had very (Irong rea- fons for this piece of conduct , tho' they were not as yet apparent. The King of Denmark was doubtlefs the firil who e rea- propofed this invafion, and the Czar readily came '/ r ^'^^^ ^"^y apparent means at that time :e aiajo, bringing the King of Sweden to terms. But after he faw, from repeated inftances, that of all the Allies his intereft was the leafl regarded, and that the only way to fecure himfelf was to de- pend lefs upon others ; he began to look with ano- ther eye on this attempt, which might poffibly coft him the flower of his troops, and, if fuccefs- ful, v>^ould procure a peace for the red, and bring the Vvhole weight of the war again on himfelf. In this fituation, it would have been hard for him to keep his new acquifitions ; as probably one ar- ticle of a feparate agreement might be to affiil the Swedes to regain them, and fo he would not only be left in the lurch, but puflied by thofe very al- lies whom he had hithei"to fupported. An accom- modation between him and the King of Sweden, he knew, would be very hard to bring about : for as, on the one fide, he fliould never confent to part with thofe fea-ports, which were fo nece/Tary for carrying on his vaft defigns ; fo the King of Swe- den, on the other, would ufe all poflible means to get them reflored. But then the Czar was fo well acquainted with the heroic temper of his enemy, that he had forne hopes of working upon it by a nicety of honour. The King of Sweden, he rightly judged, muft be now lefs exafperated againft liim, who had ail along carried on the war with various Book VII. Peter J. Czar (?/'Mufcovy. ^77 variou^.facGefs, cind. frequently rnade overtures of pe4ce,. tl'iap .vvith the reft of the Confederates /^vho, in breach of treaties, had taken the advantage of his misfortunes, fell upon hira in an ungeneroi.i5 manner, and made a partition of his provinces. It is one great charadcr of a true politician^ //// that he knov/s,diow to accommodate hiihfeif to ^jer of the, genius of an adverfliry. The reft of-the Al: vord from liim, than to the ftrongeft affu- rances, and even treaties, from fome others. Thefe kind of civilities, he had good reafon to think, would make a deep impreffion on the mind of thftc gallant hero, and perfuade him rather to facriiice a real intcrell to a generous enemy, than to grati- fy, in things of lefs moment, thofe by whom he had been inhumanly ufed. And if this did not fuc- ceed, he.fliould however make his Confederates iineafyby feeniing inclined to come to a negc>tiati- on, which mud engage them to be the more folici- tous to keep him in the alliance, by granting fuch concelTions as he fliould require for hiso vvn intereft : in the mean time the Danes and Svvcdes Were weakening each other, and his own troops v/ere maintained in the territories of the Allies. All thefe particulars were theconjedures of that Baro/t time, tho* no-body at prelent knew how far they Gortzs were true. But they were undoubtcdiy the real fcheme. fennments of his Czarifh >dajcfty ; and he found in the King of Sweden a greater difpofition to fa- vour them than he liad at fnif cxpe^i^.v-^-.^^'--^^3 B0ok Vlh Pe TE it I. C:::ar of Miifcovy. 279 was highly pleafed ; and the Czar came into it, q'j^^ Qzar The Ruffian troops were fen.t to winter in Meek- comes into lenburg, iaftead ofpaiTaig over into Schonen ; and the Czar went thither hiirife If, on pretence ofad- juiHng fome difputejs between the Duke and his nohiiity, but in reality, fays M. de Voltaire, to gain a principality in the Empire, for whichi he hoped to make a bargain with the Duke. Whatever was the Czar's intention,the German Allies were greatly alarmed. They dreaded fo potent a neighbour >who might have it in his power" to become Emperor, and opprefs all the other fo- vcreigns of Germany. The Czar negotuited with them by way of amufement, and at the fame time waited to fee whatGortz vv^ouid do, whofe projev5l v/eat on the better thro' the refentment of the Allies. He propofedit to cardinaj Alberpiii, thi?n a; the^ head of aff»iirs in Spain, who wa^ charmed with the projedt of fetting up the preten- der in England, but could as yet do little tow.irds effcifling it. The ready genius of Gortz contrivefl Honv to he the means, by fending to the pirates at Madagaf- executed car, who^ rejeded by aU other nations, had al- f^jjith re- ready offered themfelves, with 60 fhips, Jind ^ fpefl to vaii treafure, to the King of Sweden. The King England^ ccnfented to receive them and their v/ealth at Gottenburg, provided they would make the de- fcent in Scotland. At the fame timp the fircngth of the difaffe^^led v/as founded in Great Britain. They afked only io,QOO men, and promifed to do the reft themfelves. They advanced confider- ahle fums, which Gortz received in Holland, (where he was arrived, after having been privately in France) and negouated with it the purchafe of ftiips and ammunition. In a v/ord. King George was to be depofed from the throne of Great Bri-» tain, the Duke of Orleans from the regency of France, and the Turks were to fall upon the Em- peror. Count Gillenburg, the Swedifli ambafTador ia London, became an agent with the enemies of B b 2 ' tb*l ; 28o The H ISTO }{Y of Book VIL that King he was lent to addrefs. The chevalier de Folavd, a fbidier of fortune, carried on the V, . project in France, and the branches of it were tnRrU ird ^^'^ ^'^^ main point, withoitt which nothing could ^ ' be done, was to fettle peaqe with the Czar, fiaroii Oilernian, chief minifter in RnlTia, as Goitz was inf Sweden, was more catuious than to come halti- jy into this fclieme ; arid as the two Princes had hitherto left k all to their ferrarts, the affair by this means was feme what retarded, Jull at this crifis the Czar himfeif, having made the tour of iianiburg, Hanover, and Wolfenbuttcl, came to Holland, ifi his way to France. Gortz procured two conferences with him at the HartieV ^and did more in thefe with his INtajed'y, than he could have done in fix months with his minifler. At the fame tirne he talked only of peace, and of re- garding the King of Great Britain as arbiter of the . North. His defigns feemcd impenetrable, and he hoped they would be difcovered ocly in the exe- cution. ' ■ Gcrtz's 'X'Vse Duke of Orleans Iiad fpiesin all tHi'courts ^reject ds' of Europe, and in every corner of the kingdom tt^^ied hy he oQverned. By the help of thefe he got kcow- the D, cf ledge of the Swediih minilter's plot, and communi- Qrlea/.'s, cated it to the King of Great Britain, who imme- diately ordered Count Giilenburg to be feized in J.ondon, and prevailed en the Dutch to da the fame by Goitz. But tho' the King was jufliiiable in arreiiing an enemy, who had violated the Jaw of nations, the Dutch were rot exccftd by the reft of Europe, becaufe nothing v>'as dcligned againd. them, and they had itivaded the freedom of am- bafladors, merely out of complaifmce to an ally. The letters that paifed between Gortz and (Giilen- burg were printed in England, and the confpiracy war. too plain, to be in the leaftUifputcdv * As Book VIL Peter I. Czar of Mufcovy. 281 * As the Czar was not named, but only hinted 7"^^ Czar at in thefe papers, h^ wrote a long letter to the excufes King of Great Britain, which was communicated himji:lf by his refident We(relowf]<:i, withproteflations of friendQiip. This is an artifice often pra(5i:ifed by //^ Princes to each other, and ufually taken in,pu- blick for fatisfaQlon, tho' perhaps, it isjiifl: there- verfe. The King neither believed the Czar, nor had the Czar yet done with the King. His Riiiuan Majefty, tho' he had little new to learn, or to in- q^^^ troduce among his fa bjedls, had dill the cariofity p^^/^^ to fee France, a country where i;he fclences have %een carried as far.,andthe pleaCiires offoe^ety far- ther than any where elfc. Germany, T2ngland, and Holland had formerly feen, and France no v/ fa v/, the uncommon fpec^acle of an Emperor travelling for inlfruction. But his rough outljde,.the effedt of his education and temper, was all the commoa people ever beheld, while the Icgiflator and- die g rear man efcaped their obfervation. I fhallnot give a journal of all that, pafled dur- ing his abode in France. It is fjfficient to fay tha,t he frequently viflted the regent and the young King, and was vifited by them; that he faw ail that was curious in Paris, and tlie circumjacent places, where the utmofl care was taken to make his entertainment ftill agreeable. IM. de Fontenclle takes nodce, that he was pjr :icularly charmed with the perfon of the King, tho' then but an infant ; that he often walked with him in the apartments of the Louvre, leading him by the hand, and de- fending him from the preffure of the mob, with as much tendernefs and care as if he had been his governor. On the 19th of June 17 17, he honoured the ^^{/i^s the academy of fcienccs with his prefence. All their cs.cadvinyof new experiments, and. curious machines, were fclc7K'ei» proiuced on this occafion, and his Majeity expref- % V , fed . * M. de Voltaire, uiid M. ds Fontv^icUc, ^. 2$2 The B I S T O R Y of BddkVIL fed great ratisfa(?lion with them. It may be obfcrv- cd here, to prevent a digreffion elfcwhere, that after his return to Mufcovy, he ordered Mr. Aref- kine his chief phyficlan to write to the Abbe Bignon, andfignify his deiire of being admitted a member of the fociety. The academy fent, with the no- tice of admifiion, a letter of acknowledgment for the honour done them ; to which his Majcffy re- turned an tmfwer with his own hand : and from tliis time the fociety tranfmittfd him every year a voJume of their tranfadions, which belonged -to him as a member, which he always received from his brethren in the moi\ courteous manner. The fciences, • fays the eloquent fecretajy of that acade- my, in favour of v/hich he debafed himfelf to the rank of a private man, ought, in return, to raife him among the Augufius's and Charlem?.gnes,who alfo condefcended to become familiar with them. His propo' But the Gzar had fomething to do at Paris, be- faltothe ficies feeing the academies, the public HbrarieSj D,ofOr- the cabinets of the curious, and the royal pa- ^lea?is* laces. In purfuance of the plan that had been concertedjhe made a propoHil to the regentjwhich, tho' it Vv^as apparently for theinterefl: of France as ,weil as his own, was hov/ever rejeded, and intel- ligence of it given to King George. It was to make peace with Sweden ; to take from tlie Danes their power in the Baldck ; to v/eaken England by a civil war \ to fct up Staniflaus againft Auguftus, and to bring into Mufcovy all the commerce of the North. The Duke did juft the reverfe of all this, snd made a treaty with England and the Emperor. ^11 the Czar could attain of liim,was to interpofe for the enlargement of the two Swedifli rainilkrs, Vv'hich was granted in Augufl ; and at the faiBC time the Englifh refident at Stockholm, who had been imprifoned by way of reprifal;, was alfo fet The Z>. of at liberty. €rmo?id AlbertonijVv'ho was mafler of the whole fclieme^ f.'nt to the and yei^y defirous tg eflablilh his religion in Eng- Czar, Book VII. Pe TE R I. Czar ^Mufc6vy. land, fcntthe Duke of Ormond dut of Spam, to Mittaw m Courland, with fall conlmiffion to treut of a marriage between'the pretender and the Frki- cefs Anna Pctrowna, the Czar's daughter. Barbn Gortzhad longinrendcd this lady for the Duke of Holftein,wha afterwards married her,and this cfofs ftep of the two politicians almoft defeated their whole fcheme . G ort z oppofed the Duke of Or- mond's negotiation, and got him fent back to Spain without fatisfad:ion. But the Duke left behind him one Jernegan, his confident, a nrtan of fthfe and fpirit, to manage matters privately ; which he did a long time at Peterfoiirgh, going out c«ily o' nights, and converfing with the Czar's minifters in the habit either of a peafant or a Tartar. As the Czar, in his return from Paris, was to '^fi^^^haffy repafs thro' Amflerdam, where he left the Czarina; /^^^-^ his Britannic Majefty fent thither admiral Norris l^^^d to the and Mr. Whitworth to compliment him, and to ^"^^^ • • reium thanks for his having declared that he would withdraw his forces out of the empire. This de- claration the Czar had made at Paris, upon the prelling inftances of the regent, who had been ap- plied to for that purpofe by the northern Allies. The Britifh minirters were alfo to refume a treaty of commerce between England and Ruffia, if the Czar had been that way inclined": bat the high terms he inlifted on, (no left than the fending 15 men of war againft Sweden, to a(5t under Ruffian admirals), rendered the proportion ineffe<5lual. The Czar likewife ordered his forces to Avith- draw out of Poland, upon the application of the King and the republick. They were fent thither to procure a peace between the ftill -contending parties^ but now, as ever before, became a pre- text for continuing their difputes. His Czarifh Majefty, in his way home, was fplendidly entertained at Berlin ; and proceeding y from thence to Dantzick, he found a new treaty . ■ ^ ^had \ :^84 ^^'^ HISTORY of. Book Vlf. A treaty been juft concluded between his minillers and ivith the Dantzickers, which put an end to their long Datitzick' ^^^^^^^ difputes. The citizens were to forbear ^^^^ ail correfpondence with Sweden ; to iit out three fngates againfi; the enemy • to pay 140,000 dollar^ in fpecie, and to receive the Ruilian vefFcls in their port : and the Czar was to withdraw his troops out of the territories of Dantzick, and fully ,dif« charge the city from all demands. The Czar When his Majefly arrived at Peteriburgh,on the znniires 1 7^1i September 1 7 17, he found many things to into the redrefs, efpeciaily with regard to the adminidra- ?nal-ad?m- t^^"* * The fenate met every day, to enquire in- 7ilflration ^'^ the. ground of the people's complaints, and his /vV ab- ^l^j^^y always prefent by 4 o'clock in the fence, morning. But as fome things appeared to be of a deeper dye than > was at firft expeded, nn extraor- dinary Qourt of juftice was ellablifhed, divided into feparate. committees, who were to examine the feveral caufes laid before them. This court made up of military officers, andit was ufual, dur- ing the felTions of the committees, to fee the head of a noble family appear before a Lieutenant as his judge. Wolchinfki, governor of Archangel, was J., , fhot to death, upon full conridion of his crimes. Money was at this time very fcarce in Rullia, '«^^^" which was partly occafioned by the long war,, and partly by the many great works the Czar had been carrying on, which, tho' at this day they are very advantageous, were in their infancy not fuf- ■ ficient to defray the expence of them. To reme- dy this,his Majefty prohibited the wearing of gold ;ind filver lace, difcharged many ufelefs mecha- nicks, reduced others to half pay, and fet on foot feveral other methods. But at the fame time that he reduced the number of unnece/Tary workmen, who v/ere but an almoft infaUible co /ecjuence of the ?ienv re latiofis * Pief-rit (late of RuOla, Vol. 1. 13ook Vir; PEtER' f. Czdr of ^Mcmj. the great encouragement had given, his ^la- jcily granted a privilege for many years to a new nianufaclory of (ilks, and raifed the duties on fo- reign goods of the fame kind. He made a 'great many other ufeful ^egulatioVis, and in pavtieular ap- pointed feveral Councils for the adminiilration of public aitaifs, like thofe which the regent had efta- bliilied in "France. ■ Tho' the fchenle concerted by Gortz was (lill bringing to perfe<5tion, (as much of it as was not h prevented by the difcovery at London) yet a file w ^^^f'- of friendOiip continued between the monarchs of Great Biitain and Ruflia. M. Weber, refident from . the former as Ele^^lor of Hanover, waited upon the Czar, to return him thanks for what he had written to King George by admiral Norris^ and to affurehim of the King's good difpofitions to live in amity. • But M. Weber at the fame time hint- ing his mafter's uneafinefj at the conferences the Cstar had' held in Holland with baron Gortz, the RulHaii minillers denied that any fuch interviews had been, tho' foon after they ^vere obliged to own the trudi. • In the mean time meafures were ta- ken for bringing about the treaty between Sweden and Raffia, which however was not at this tims concluded. The King ofSv/eden was killed be- fore F rederickrnal, v/hile matters were yet in fuf- pence ; and baron Gortz, who had a long time been mortally hated by every Swede but the King alone, was executed immediately after. It will be very proper, at this period, to take a Jittle reipite from foreign affairs, and turn to fe- veral other effeds of the Czar's mighty genius, which, dio' they did not appear all at once, but were accomplifhed fome before and fome after the time we are upon, v;ili make a juiler figure thrown here together, than featte red chronologi- cally thro' different parts, of thia hi[lory,and interr jpcrfed with the more turbulent bufinefs of war. ^ To ?86 rheHISrOJ^r o/ Book VII. The Czar * extend the power of a flate as far as.pof- nudies the Cble,it isneceflaiy that the fovercign fliould iludy geography country, not as a politician merely, but as a of his Em- geographer and philofopher; that he (liould be pi re, perfcdly acquainted with all its natural advantages^ and have the addrefs to turn them to the beftac- count. The Czar was, iudefatigablc in the acqui- fition of this knowledge, and the puifuit of this art. He did not rely upon minifters, who are feldom ovcr-careful. of the publiek welfare : he would truft only to his own eyes, and made no- thing of a journey of 3 or 400 leagues, to be informed ia his proper perfon. He frequently made thcfe excurfions with a, retinue of only 3 ot 4 attendants, and with fueh an intrepidity, as, was alone capable to fecure him from danger. By this means he got fo perfe6dy acquainted with the map ©f his vaft empire, that he eafily projeifted, with-* out hazard, of being deceived, all the advantage^ that might be drawn cither from its iituatjon in gc? neral, or from what e:ver was. particular to the re-? fpcdlve provinces. As. all the Meridians meet under the pole in a ficgie point^the Englifh and Chine fe, for ej^ample, y^oxAd become neighbours in the North, provided their kingdoms extended far enough that, way^ . Thus the very nortKera fituatia>n of the Ruflii^. Empire, joined to its vafl extent, occaCons that by its meridional Hues it touches the N-Qrihern. part^. of many great countries, which towards the foutj(j| are very diflant from each other. It is contigu- ous to a great part of Europe, and to all Alia. U bas befides very large rivers, wlidch fall, into diffe- rent feas ; as the Dwina into the White Sea^, j| part of the Ocean ; the Dou into the Black Sea, ^ part of the Mediterraneaa ; the Wolga into the Cafpian, which borders on Great Tartary andPerfii*, The Czar obferved that thefe rivers, which had hi- tbertQ. * Elogc, &c. M. dc Fontenelle, p. ^5. Book Vlt. Peter I, Czar ^Mufcovy. 287 therto been almoit ufelefs, might unite in his dottii- T'/f^ pji^ nions nations the fartheft divided, if he only made makes of a communication between them, either by means /^/j- kno-vj*^ of th€ fmall rivers which faJl into them, or by dig- /^^^ . ging of canals from one to the other. He ente- red on this prodigious undertaking, had the dif- ferent elevations of the country every where calcu- lated, chofe himfelf the places where the canals ought to be 'funk, and regulated the number of flaices. The jun6iion of the riverVolkona, which runs in- i/?, In th^ to the lake Ladoga near Pete rsburgh, with the Wol- jun^mi of ga, was finiihed in his life-time, and by means rivers, of it there is a pafTage by water acrofs all Ruflia, from the gulf of Finland to the Galpian-fea, a dif- tance of more th^n 800 leagues. The Czar fent to the academy of Sciences the plan of this w^onder- ful communication, in which he had himfelf been principal erigineer. He did not, like other Princes, look upon die being an academician as a mere hono- rary title, but was willing to contribute his proper quota of experiments and operations. He completed another canal between the Don and the Wolga : but the itftoranori of Afoph to the Turks, by the trea- ty of ^ruth, ri^hderedthat canal ufelefs in the latter part of his reign. There were' great hopes of feeing it fiouiifii again about two years ago, when Afoph v/as retake rj from the Muflulmen ; had not ano- ther treaty, concluded by the mediation of a French minifler, mod furprifingly obliged the prefent Em- prefs to a frefli reltoration, after all the fuccefs that had attended her arms. I mentioned in the geographical part, that the dominions of RufTia extend eafl: above 1500 leagues, to the very frontiers of China, and the feas of Japan. The ?vTufcovite caravans, which went to China for the Me of tratlick, employed '^^^y* . • a whole year in their voyage. This was a grie- J'^'^^^J^^^^g vance well worth the co«fideration of fuch a go.^ ^^^^J^^^^'^^y uius as the Czar Peter, who knew this tedious jour- ^ ^^^ravam. 288 The H IS TORT of ^ Book VIT. . ney might be inadc both fhorter and ea/ier, either by the communication of rivers, or by other pub- lic works, or by making of treaties with certain Tartarian Princes, who Could grant thetn apafTage tjjiro' their countries : - in Ihort, the labour of a year might be reduced to 4 months ; and, accord* ing to this defign, ah commerce fliould have its center at Petersbui;jh, wliich.woiild then become the emporium of the uniy^rfe. That city to which Jie had given both being and name, was to hin3 wliat AicAandna h^d been to Alexander its founder: and as Alexandria was fo happiiyfitaat- ed, that it changed the face of commerce in thofc days, and became for trade what Tyre had beci^ before : fo Petersburgh bids fair to change the courfc of bufmefs in the prcicnt age, and become one of the principal feats of merchandife in the whole world. Tnai- The Czar carried his views yet a great deal far- tj??ipii?igto '^^^^y^' He wanted to know what his htuation was difcozcr a vrith regard to America ; whether that vaft ccmti- Northerfi ncnt joined to Tartary, or whether tlie Northern pafjage. ocean gave a pafTage thither, which Vv'ould open him a way to the new world. It reflets no dif- honour on the attempt, that it was not cqiralJy fuc- cefsful vrith his other undcrtakings,and that of two vefTels which he fent to make this yet impollible difcovery, one was (topped in its pafTage by tlie ice, and the other in all probability was lod, hav- ing never fnce been heard of. The very year be- fore his death he ordered a fkilful fea-caprain to build two others for the fame enterprize ; but the e- vent frill made it appear, that in order to accomplifh fuch an arduous task, the fame greatnefs of mind which he p ofTefTed fhould be commumcated tothofe he employed. Somediing of the fame nature has been very lately undertaken, and tho' the Korth- • ^ cm paflage to America be ilill unknown, a difcovery has been made offeveral fertile iflands, where never EuropeaB Book VII. V£TERl,Czar v/ MuCcovy. 2 European had been. before, and thcfe too well ia- habited by a civilized people. There were in Mufcovy a great many mines, cither totally unknown, or, what was more Ihame- ful, unimproved, thro' the antient indolence of the populace, and the general difcouragement of their governors. Thefe coald not poilibly cfcape the attention of the Czar Peter, which took in every thing throughout his dominions. He procured work- ^j, . men flvilled in metals from foreign parts, particular- ' ^/^ ly from Germany, and raifed thefe hidden treafures to their (landard value. Gold dufl: w^as brought him from the banks of the Cafpian Sea, and tlic farthefl part of Siberia ; and 16 ounces of ihis lat- ter produced 14 ounces of. pure gold. Iron, more necelTary than gold iifelf, became in his days common in Mufcovy, and with it all the arta. which cither prepare or employ it. In fpeaking of the gold duft on the Cafpian Sea, p . ^ I muft not omit the unfortunate expedition of ^ ' Prince Alexander Bekewitz, w hich happened in the ^ very year we are now upon. So long ago as the ^^'V^'^ year 17 15, the Czar had received intelligence ^^j^.^^. ^"-^^ that a great dcJ of gold was difcovered at the mouth of the river Dauria, which falls into that fea, and had fent thither this Bekewitz, a Piince of the CircafTian Tartar s, and captiiin of his Ma- jeily's guard, accompanied by Mr. Kiuher, a man fldlful in mine affairs, to clear t]:ie country of tlie vagrant Tartars, and fet up the neceliliry woi ks^ They had made one journey thither with great hopes of fiiccefs ; having difcovered, befides a great quantity of gold dull: and lilver oar, fome curious pieces of antiquity. But the Prince being fent thither again, at the head of 3000 men, in order to take poiTelTion of the river, and to fe- cui^ it by two forts on the Cafpian Sea, he was drawn into a fnare by the natives of Scliirvan,- had all his troops cut in pieces, and was himfelf inhu- manly malTacred at the Kam's tent. The Czar C c was -9^ Tne HISTORY of Book VII . was prevented from taking immediate veni^eancc for this outrage , b}^ a domeflic affair of yet greater importance ; an enquiry into the crimes of his cldeftlon, Alexis Petrowitz, who, during his father's abfence, had made his efcape out of the kingdom. I have poflponed the relation of this affair to the prefent period, when the Prince was brought back to Mofcow, and the following mani- fdlo publiilied by his Majefty, which, vith what comes after, will entirely vindicate his feverity to this rebellious fon. The Czars T]J"Ete R I. by the grace of God, Czar and Em- vianifefo i peror of Ruffia, &c. relating to notorious to the greatefl: part of our faithful tke cri7?ies f^'ibjefts, and chiefly to thofe who live in the places of his fon, refidence, or who are in our fervice, with how much care we have caufed our eldeit fon Alexis to be educated, having given him, from his infancy, tutors to teach him the Ruflian and foreign lan- guages, and others to inffrucl him in all arts and fciences, in order not only to bring him up in oirr orthodox fairh of the Greek confcllion, but alfo in the knowledge of political and military affairs, i:nd of the conlHtution of foreign countries, their cu^loms and languages, th;it through the reading of hiflory and other books, he might acquire the qu d'^cations worthy of a fucceffor to our throne of Great Raffia. Neverthelefs we have feen v ith grief, that all our attention and care for the in- llr j(ft on of our fon proved ineffeifrual, feeing he always fu er\'cd from his hlial obedience, Ihev. ing no application for what w^as becoming a worthy fuccciTcr, and High ting the precepts of the maflers wc had appointed for him; but on the contrary frequenting difordcrly perfons, from whom he could learn nothing good. AVe hi.ve not nealecled often to endeavour to bring him back to his duty, fometimes by gentle means, fometimes by reprimand, fometimes by 1 pater- Book VII. Peter I. Czar of Mufcovy. paternal corre(Slions. have more than once taken him along with us into our army, to caufe him to be inrtrudted in the art of war, as one of the chief fciences for the defence of his country ; taking care to keep him off from any dangerous occafion, out of regard to the fuccefiion, tho' we expofcd ourown perfon to thofe perils. We have at other times left him at Mofcow, patting into his hands a fort of regency in the empire, in or- der to form him in the art of government. We have afterwards fent him into foreign countries, in hopes, that feeing in his travels governments fo well regulated, this would excite in him an in- clination to apply himfeif to do well. But all our care has been fruitlcfs, and, like the feed of the doctrine, fallen upon a rock : for he has not only refufed to follow that which is good, but even is come to hate it. He only and continually con- verfed with diforderly peifons, whofc morals were abominable. As we were refolved to endeavour bv all ima- ginable means to reclaim him, and infpire him with an inclination to converfe with perfons of virtue and honour, we exhorted him to chufe a confort among the princefies of the chief foreign houfes, as is ufual in other countries, and hath been pradifed by fome of ©ur anceflors, the Czars of Mufcovy ; and we left him at full liberty to make a choice. Pie declared his inclination for the Prin- cefs, grand-daughter to the Duke of Wolfenbiu- tei then reigning, fifter-in-law to the Emperor of the Romans now reigning, and coufin to the King of Great Britain ; and having defired us to procure him that alliance, and permit him to marry that Princefs, we readily confented thereunto, with- out any regard to the great expence which was. occafioned by that marriage. But after its con- fummation, we found ourfelves difappointed of the hope we had, that the change of the condition of our fon would produce a change in his bad in- C c 2 clinatijus^ 292 , The HISTORY of BookVir. dinations, but found quite the reverfc of what was expected : for notwithftanding His fpoufe was, as far as we have been able to obferve, a wifcj fp rightly PririCcfs, and of a vrriuou§ conduct, he Hved with her in the gr-eateH: difunion, while fie redoubled his a"ffeiSiion for lewd people, bringing thereby a difgrace upon our houfe before the fo- reign princes, to whom that Princefs was related, which drew upon us many reproaches. Thefe ad- vices and exhortadons proved iricfFectual : on the contrary, he violated at iailthe conjugal fluth, and gave his affecHon to a proititute of the mod fcrvile condition, living publickly in that crime with her, to the great contempt of his lawful fpoufe, who foon after died of ficknefs ; and it was believed that her grief, occalioned by the life of her huf- band, hallened the end of her days. When we faw bis rcfolution to perfevere in his vicious courfe, we declared to him at the fu- neral of his confort, that if he did not for the fu- ture conform hijnielf to our will, and apply him- felf to things becoming a prince, we would de- prive him of the fuccelFion, wkhout any regard to his being our only fon (our fecond fon not then being born); becaufe we would rather chufe for , our fttcceiTar a frranger Vv^orthy thereof, than ait unworthy fon : that we could not leave our em- pire to fuch a facceiTor, who would ruin what the father hath, by God's afliftance, edabliihed, and tarnirli the glory of the Ruflian nation, for the acquiring of which we had ficiificed our eafe and our Iveakh, willingiy expofing our o^w life on feveral occafions : befides, that the fear cf God's judgmen't would not permit us to leave the government of fach vaU: territories in the hands of ©ne whofe infuflicieney and unworthinefs we are not ignorant of. In fhort, we exhorted him, in the moil preilmg terms, to behave himfelf with difcretion, and gave him time to repent and retura tx) his duty. Book VII. Fe te r T. Czar oflAxSomj:^ His ayifwer to thefe remonftrances was, rfiathc acknowjedged himfelf guilty in all thefe points ; tut alledging the v/eaknels of his genius, which did, not permit him to apply himfelf to. the func- tions recommended to him, he owned himfelf un- eapable of our fuccelHon^ defiring us to difchargc him from the fame. Neverthelefs, we continued to- exhort him with paternal affedion, and joining menaces to our ex- hortations, we forgot nothing to bring him back to the right way ; and tlie operadons of war hav- ing obliged us to. repair to Denniark,we left him at Peter/burgh, to gi\re him time to return to his. duty. And afterwards, upon the repeated ad- vices we received of the continuation of his difor- derly life, we fent him orders to come to us at Copenhagen, to ipake the campaign, that he might thereby the better form himfelf. But forgettirrg the fear and coranci.iindments of God,, who enjoirjs; obedience even to private parents, and much more: to thofe who are at the fame time fovereigiis, cur paternal cares had no other return than an un- heard-of ingratitude. For, infcead of coming to- m as he was ordered, he witlidrew, taking alb og with hira great funis of money, and his intamcus concubiiie, with whom he continu of our fucceliion' alledging,. diat even his life was not fcife if he continued with ns, and defii ing the Emperor not only to give him refiige,, but iilfo to proted him againll us by force of arms^ • The Emperor, tho.' informed of his exce(res',. and how he had Hved with his confort, Grter-ia- !av/ to his Imperial Majeft'y,. thought fit, upm his prefliog iiiflances, to appoint a place where ha. might refide i .andhe deflrcd farther, that Ii^e might; C e 3. be The H ISrO RT of Bo(*:Vrn be fo private there, that we might not coiiic to the knowledge of it. Mean while bis loag flay having made us fear, that fome inisfortune had befallen him, we fent f^erfons ieveral ways to get intelligence of him ; and after a great deal of trouble, we were at la(i informed by the captain of our guard, Alexander RomanzoiF, that he was privately kept in an im- perial fortrefs at Tyrol : whereupon we wrote a letter with our own hand to the EmperoT, to dc- iire that he might be fent b^ick to u&. But not- wdthftanding the Emperor's acquainting him with our demands, and exhorting him to return to us, Srnd fubmit to our will; yet he alledged, v/ith ^ great many calumnies againd us, that he ought not to be delivered into our hands ; as if we had been a tyrant, from whom he had nothing to ex^- f Cvt but death. In fliort, he pcrfuadcd his Impe- nali Majciiy, inf^ead of fending him back a.t that time to us, to remove him' to Naples in Italy, and keep him there feeretly in the caftle, under a bor- J owed name. Nevertlielefs , we had notice fi'om our faid captain of the place where he was, and thereupon dvipatclicd to '^he Emperor our privy councillor peter Toll loi^ and the captain of our guard af')re- laid, with a mofl: prelling letter, reprefenting how mjud: it would be to detain our fon, contrary to ail lavv's divine and human ; according to which private parents, and: vvith much more reafon thofe who are invefted with fovercign authority , have an unlimited power over their children, indepen- dently of any other judge: and we fet forth, on one tide,, the j.u(t and affectionate manner v/itb i^kieh v/e had always u fed our fon; and on the © Peter L Czar of Mufcovy. 295^ \vitz Alexis Petrowitz, and had appointed his fc" cond fon the Prince royal Peter Petro witz to fuc- ceed him ; they owned the legality of this his Ma- jefiy s decree, acknowledged the fiiid Peter Petro* witz to be the undoubted fuccefTor to the crown, engaged to ftand by him with their lives againfl: any that {hould d#^.re to oppofe him, and never to adhere to Prince Alexis Petrowitz, or afliH: him in the recovery of the faid fucceffion. Then the company repaired to the cathedral, where the Czar, in a long fpeech, fet forth his fon's undu- tiful behaviour : after v/hich, the clergy fwoie and fabfcribed the oath abovementioned. The faid oath was afterwards adminilbed to all the public officers, and other inhabitants of Mofcow, who were not prefent at the folemnity ; and or- ders were fent for doing the like all over the Ruf- fian Empire, and in his Majefty's armies abroad^ The Prince was kept under confinement, and no body admitted to him but the lieur Tolftoi, and flich others as were appointed by the Czar. The Grand inquifition proceeded with great di- ligence. There were two different procelTes, one of which related to the Czarewitz^ and the other to the late Czarina, and Major-General Gleboff the former was fixrniflied at Peterfburgh, and the latter at Mofcow. The concourfe of people at Muf- cow was extraordinary on this occafion. The whole court was there, with the greater part of the ge- nerals and fuperior officers, and the chief of the clergy and nobility of all Ruffia. But v^hat moft dtferved every one's attention, was to hear the Czar himfelf, contrary to the cuftom of his pre- deceffiors, make fpeeches to the clergy and great The Czar^i men in the hall, reprefenting to them and the abilities people, with his natural eloquence (in which 2lc- and true ' complirnment, as well as that of exprefling him-^rtwM'^. feif in writing, he had no equal among his fub- jecls) the danger to which his government hi-d been cxpofed, -and the horror of the crime of high 300 The HISrORYof Book VII. high trcafon. On thefe folemnities the Czar ap- peared in his ufual drefs, being naturally an enemy to all pageantry, and afFec^ling a plain habit and, fmall retinue. Even at the time we are fpeak- ing of, in the midll of the dirturbances of his own family, he had never above 2 or 3 fervanis at- tending his iled, in which, by night, as well as day, Jie was carried up and down the city. P e rfonsin- ^he fenator Samarin w^as acquitted ; as was alfo volved in Count Peter Matuewitz Apraxin, fenatorj and for- the hiqui' rnerly governor of Aftracan. But the Prince Waf- fition. fih Wolodiniirowitz Dolgoruki, Lieutenant-Ge- neral, was ordered to be continued under clofe confinement. The other principal perfons involved in this grand inquifition, befides the Czarewitz and Kikin, were the former Czarina, Ottokefa Federowna, of the family of Lopuchin ; her fa- ther confefTor ; Maria Alexewna, the Czar's fifter by the half blood ; the Czarewitz of Siberia ; the boyarStepan Gleboff; Doffifei bifhop ofRofloif; and the treafurer of the mondlery of Sufdal : of whom the boyar Gleboff, the bifhop DolKfei, Ki- kin, the treafurer of the monaflery of Sufdal, and another Ruffian, were executed in the public mar- ket-place of the city of Mofcow, on the 26th of March. Gleboff was empaled alive, and the 0- ' thers broke on the wheel. The corple of the bifliop was burnt ; but his head, V\^ith thofe of Kikin, and the other Ruffians, w^ereputon high poles, on the 4 corners of a fquare wall ere61ed for that pur- pofe, and the empaled corpfe of Gleboff placed in the middle. Backlanofsky, the Czar's page, and fome nuns, had their fentence mitigated, bur fuf- fered fevere corporal puniihmcnts. This Backla^ nofsky had been the fpy of Kikin, even in the Czar's clofet. TheCzare- Afrofmi, the Czarev/itz's miftrefs, w^as fet at nvitz's 7nif- liberty, not only in confideration of the open con- trsf's fet at feffions (lie had made, but alfo becaufe, by her liberty, perfuafions, flic had much contriibiited to the Cza- rewitz s Book VII. Peter T, Czar \irz, puhliOitd by his Majcdy's order. f Ti is letter was \Aritten i8 d^jys lefcie the birth, of ^ the Czarevvrtz^ Peter Pet row itz. Book VII. Peter. I. Gzar of IMufcovy. his own unfitnefs for government, and exprefTed a delire^to take on him . a monaffic life. Thefe letters, as publilhed by order, are interfperfed with memoirs^ felating to his condad at the fame time ; • After which follow the feveral heads of examina- tion,' writteb by his Majefty,, and prefented to the Czare wit z, 'with that Prince's anfwer to every ar- ticle, and feveral addkional confellions, drawn from him one after another, as evidence againfUiim ap- peared ; by which it was manifeft, that he had en- deavoured to conceal the mort material particulars : alfo th^ difpofitions of the feveral witneffcs a- gainfl him, among whom was his own miftrefs A- froMni, with whom he was confronted ; proving the feveral crimes charged upon him by his Majeil:y, and deteding divers cincuniilances that were not before known, which confirmed the hypocrify and prevarication, as well as guilt of the Czarev/itz, wko 'hiaifeif confeiled in iiis lafl: anf^'cr, that he had cr'miinal deJignSy ik}hich he 7?ieant to execute y e* ven duri?jg his father^ s Ufe-tijney ifoccajion offered. feat as the refledioas upon theie pieces, which were afterwards read in their order, contain a re- prefcntation of what was mod confiderable in the whole procefs, P (hall content myfelf with inferr- ing them, and proceed to the judgment of the court. ** ^ j ^ H K better- to comprehend the care his Refie^ions X Czarifh Majeftyhas taken to bring back f}-,^r^ the Gzarewitz into the right wa}', that he iTiight^;^^^^.^ engage him to become worthy of the facceffion; and to let the publick fee how the Gzarewitz, on the other hand, has broke through all his Father's meafures,^ by tte oppofition he has made to them ; \Ve fhall fet the matter in iiftill greater light, though it may be amply deduded from the feveral pieces;' 'rrs notorious, by 'the firfl: manifefto which wa? publifhed upon the arrival of the Gzarewitz at Mof- eow, and by the letters his Maje% wrote to him, D d 2 with Ths H ISTO RY of. ^ook VII. With what reiterated folicltations his Majefty, his father, exhorted him to make himfelf capable and deierving of the fucceilion; and yet.notwithftanding, the Gzarewitz always flie wed himfelf refraftory^ In his reply to the letter which his Czarian Ma- jclly had written tp him, he did not tell him^thj^ reafons why he woufd not take pains, as his, Fsy t Uer dedred, to make himfelf capable of the 'lticr ceffion: he only deceived him with falfe patjis^ by which he engaged himfelf to a rennnciatioi) of the crown, and Which hq afterwards pof pinly broke, but aipired tQ, th^, faccelKon :by practices . . . ' His Czarilh Majefty, who faw into the,naijghty iiKlinations of his fon, again exhorted him, by o- ther letters, to form himfelf for the government \ and reprefented to him, to intimidate and engage him. to a compliance with his will, that if this y/as abfolutely impoilible for hiir, he ftiould tli^o embrace a monartic ftate. He plainly faw that the Gzarewitz's renunciation of the face ellion was no more than an amufement, and ahogether void pf lincerity, as afterwards appeared plainly by .the confequence : for he was lb far from giving a clear aid pofitive anfvver to his Czarilh Majefty's let- ter^, who exhorted him to a detennioation, that he h:id ftili recourfe to fubterfuges, and anfwered ■ only in a vague and undetermined manner, by oaths and intreaties,. that he nxight be allowed inir mediately to retire into a convent ; whiql^ ^^^^ withftanding, v/ere altogether fraudulent^ For which reafon his Majefty advifed him, up- on his departure from Petersburgh into foreign fQuntries, not to enter fo loon mto a cpnveiit, t^- c^^ufe the engagement was difficult fpr a ypung rnaa to obferve, ai;d gavp. him ,ftijl Cxj ;montl^5 time to confider of it; at the cn^ -^^f /^hich Ji^ was to Write to his Majefty what part he would take. He ufed him thus, in hopes that he might change his opiiJiQP, and^ bj better condui^:^ ' con- Book ViE Peter I. Czar of^ Mufcovy. conform to the will of his father, and make him- felf defcrving of the fucceffioii, by a ferious appli" cation to his duty. ^ The Czarewitz, not caring taanfwer any thing ^t that time upon this fubjecfl to his father, pre7 tended'to be fick v 'bnt his Majeliy was fcarcegone from him, before he went to an entertainment with Michael VoinoQ. The fix months paiTed^and the Czarewitz took no notice of the choice he was to make. His Majefly, who faw his deceit, wrote to him again from Copenhagen, to repeat his ex- hortations concerning the fucceffion ; and ordered him to ' come to him that he might learn the bufi- nefs of war: but tbatif he defired to retire into a convent, he- hequir-ed that he would make choice of his monafte^y, fix the time of his retirement, and write word l^ack to his IMajefly, who would neither prefcribe the time, nor affign the place ^ It evidently appears by his Majeity's three kttersV that he earneilly wifhed'he" would make himftlf capable of the fucceliion : that he had no incliniV- tion to force him to- become a monk ; but^ on the "contrary^ was deiirous to diffuade him from it, and Idfthis choice to his own free determination. The Czarewitz feemtngly made choice of a convent of his own proper motion. However, all his pro- mifesvwhich werecontirmedby fonirtny oaths, v/ere fou^d^deceitful. For it has aftualiy appeared, thai the Czarewitz airned at the facceffion, of which his Majefly had not only deprived him, but alfo> forced him, by 'his powerful exhortations, to pretend to it, by labouring to make himfelf worthy of it. Bat, in contempt of all this, the Czarewitz made his efcape, and took refuge with the Emperor, derrianding his afEilance and prote(5^ion, to aid hira even with an armed hand \ and he has faid that the Emperor had afTuredhim by theCount deSchon^ born, vice-chancellor, that he would proaire him the Rufnan crown, ' not . only by good ofiices> but alfo. by force of arms; infomuch that the Dd 3 Gzare- The BTSTO Rr tf "^ Bdbk vir. Czarewitz not only hoped for his father's deatb Avith exprelEons of joy, but alfa fought it; and when he was told there was a rebellion raifed ia •the country, he declared his fatisfa(Stion at th& news, and was refolved to join the rebels, if they had called \mn wktth^ hia father was Hring ox :dead. • ^r** it:;''--- ■:;n:>r; iz-Anh.--. ' , ...]. ? One might comicl: him from his owa confeflioi^^ That when he wrote in his anfwer,, which he gave 10 his father, that his^ iniirmity was fo great that he did not defire the fucceilion, he told them ama- jpifeft fallhood. He took phyiick only to appear ijck, if mention was made: of any journey he did TiOt eare to take, as his father defired ; when in :^eality he was perfectly well. Infojaiuch that we .may judg-e by aiithefe crrcumftauces, that he aimed at the fucceffion, not in the manneK his &* .^lier was dejlrous to leave it him, namdy in the jruper order, but after his owa niarmer^: by farcign afEftaaces, or the foices of rebefey even •wliiHi: hi-s father was ahve*. Tho' the, Czarewitz had faid da liis laft confef- i5on, that his not having owned lais; lettec from Naples, to the metropolitan of Kiom, was to? be imputed to his forgetfulnefs ; this alfo has been i,Qi;?id to be abfoluU-ly falfe. For fmce he has re- j^embered the particulars in nmtters of far Icfs eon- fequence, which were the fubjed: of his difcourfe widi feverali people feme years ago, as appears, by, his; examiiiatioa, how could- he have forgot tliis gij;cimiii:ance of having wrote to the arehbiihop^ which is a point of far greater importance ? Thereappears in this excufe of forgetRilnefs not ©nly a dired faifliood, but alfo a very malicious dii|)ofition for when Afrofmi had maintained to Bis fiice that he had writ to the archbifhop from tibe fortrefs, and. had fcaled the letter in her pre- fei^ce,, he had a mind to conceal the bufinefsj.by ^.e pretence of a plan; of t^e attack of Belgrade, ^biyih,Q ftKit b^fe.aled to the-ffcxr^ of the Xice.-^- Jb^k ¥11. FitT Et T. Czar h/^ Mufcovy . §<^ J vViceroyj of Naples : however,, he afterwards own^ that it was not the plan, but the letter to the Archbifhop of Kiovia, which he had fealed. The cxcufe he alio made, of having forgot to o wn in his firft: confelfion, what concerns the Gzarewna Mary Alexiewna,. Dubrofski, and Ebarlakof, who \i^re acquainted with his efcape, was alfo a falf- hood, as appears from his having afterwards de- clared he had compallion upon the Gzarewna. It aifo appears by the report of the refident Wefe- iowfki at Vienna, that the ImperiaHfb did not force the -C zare wit z to write letters, ta the fenate and the ■orchbifhops. : o His Czarian Majefty, in his letters to the Cza- rewitz at Naples, proniifed him only his gracioos jxirdon for his efcape, if he would return to himv He not only pardoned him: upon his return, but alfo extended his flivour fo far, as to promife him a general forgivenefs for ali he had committed, if he would make a fincere confeilion. of all he bad done, and difcover his accomplices without any ' referve ; declaring to him at the fame tin>e, that if he kept back any thing, or concepled any per- fon who. was an accomplice in this ajffkir, his par- doo fhould be null and void. Yet we have clear- ly feenin what manner the Gzarewitz, contemning the paternal clemency and pardon he had obtain- ed, concealed a great number of perfons, letters, and fa<5ls, as alfo his pernicious defigns of joining the rebels, and entering into their devices. 'Ti^ therefore evident, that he has not only had no real intention of difcoveiing all his crimes, and, mak- ing an^ends by a fincere repentance, but that he < hasalfp difguifed, and concealed what had pafled, that he might be able to refume again his defigns for the future, and renew what hitherto, he h^s^^ sot been able tO' effect:. *' As they were reading the matters above related,, '^^i^ ^^^^'^^ tare-^ hJs Majefty agaia verbally examined the Czare-*^^^^ z?"^^,^ 3P8 The. H I S T 0 R Y df Book VH, witz tpuching the crimes that were proved in : thofe pieces, and how every thing had pafled; and, after a great many quefHons upon the points of moft importance, of which his Maje{!y fhewed him the proofs for his convidion, the CzarewitZi con- feiTed before the whole afTembly, that hq was guilty of all that, was found in the writings which, had been related. . ^ ^ The audience being ended, his Majefty caufed an ordinance to be iflued out to the archbifliops and fecular ftates, commanding them to fearch the holy fcriptures, and the civil and military laws, relating to the prefent cafe, and pronounce fen- tence againil the Czarewitz in conformity thereto : authorifing them alfo to examine him, if they found it convenient, upon any point whatfoe'ver ; to make him appear before them, and ppt fuch queftions to him as flaould be necelTary^ The three following remarkable interrogatories^ given to, hin). by Count Tolftoi, from under his Majelly's own. hand, with the Prince's anfwer, ought not to be omitted. Iiterro a ^ my fon in the afternoon, and put nterroga down in writing die anfwers he fliall eive' fives from ^ \y c u • a- ike C-^ar rollowmg queltions : :e za j What is the reafon why he has not obeyed ^ ' me, and. refiafed to do what I required of hiiii;' or apply hinifelf to any bufinefs, contrary to th(g( pra(5lice of the ; world, befides the fin and fhame ajttending upon it ? r i f . 11. Whence it is that he has been fo litde afraid of me, and has not apprehended the confequences of his difobedience ? III. Why did he defire to have th^fuccellion 6- therwife than by obedience, as I have formerly aflc^ ed him myfelf ? — ^And examine him upon every thing elfe, that bears any reladon to this affair. " Thefe Book YIJ^ Peter. I. Czar cf Mukovy, Thcfe queftions, and the anfwers that follow^; were dated June 22. 1. ^nr^'M d^'I^ Ignorant, that to be ' X difobddient , as I was to my father, Anfvjersof \t^as oppofite to the practice of mankind, and was the Czarc* yfo both a fin and a fhame; yet this arofe from jiiy having been brought up in my infancy with a| governefs and her maids, from whom I learn- ed nothing but amufements , and diverfions , and bigotry, to which I had naturally an inclination. The perfons to whom I was intruded, after I was removed from my governefs, gave rae no better inflrudions, particularly Nicepliorus Vafeniki, A- lexis Bafili, and the Narafkins. My father being careful of my education, and defirous I fhould apply myfelf to what became the fon of the Czar, ordered me to learn the Gemian tongue, and other fciences ; which I waa very much averfe to. I applied mylelf to them in a very negligent manner, and only to pafs away the time, without having an inclination to learn any thing. And as my father, who was then frequently with the army, was at a diftance from pie, he ordered Prince Menzikoff to have an eye upon me. WhilO; I was with him, I was oblig- ed to apply ; but a3 foon as I was out of his fight, the Nara&ns and Vafenflci, obferving my incli- nation was only bent to bigotry and idlenefs, to keep company with priefts and monks, and diidL with them, they not , only diverted rae from bu A finefs, but took a pleafure in doing, as I did. As they had been ab(|Ut rae , ftjom ray infancy, \ was. ^Gcuftomed to , obferve their direcflions, to fear then), and comglx with the.^ and thus by,degrees they alienate^ ray; a^e^lions from piy father, by diverting me witli pleafures of this nature ; fo that by little and little, I had not on- ^y tlie military ^airsj^ ^ad other a^^io^is of my ftthcr 310 The H ISTO RY of ^ookVli father in horror, but alfo his perfon itfclf, w^hich has always made me wifh to be at a dillancc from him. When I found myfclf cntrufted at Mofcow with the government of the empire, finding I was at full liberty and mafter of tnyfelf, inllead of con; fidering that my father had put it into my hands to train me up, and form me for the fuccellion af- ter him, if I would make myfelf capable of it ; I gave myfelf up ftill to the pleafures I was addi(5ted to, wdth the priefts and monks, and otl)cr people of that temper. Alexander Kikin, when he Was with me, conllantly took a great deal of pains to confirm me in this diforderly way of life. My father having compallion on me, and defir- ing to make me worthy of the (bite to which I was called, fent me into foreign countries ; but as I was already grown to man*s eftate, I made no al- teration in my way of living. It is true indeed, my travels were in Tome refpeds ufeful to me, but were infui'Hcient to erafe the vicious habits which had taken fueh deep root in" me. II. It was this naughty dilpofition v^dilch prer vented my being apprehenfive of my father's cor- reclion for my difobedience : I freely owned it ; for tho' I was really afraid of him,, yet it was not with a filial fear; I only fought for means to get from him^ and w^s no ways concerned to do his wi3J, .6f which I here give you a plain , in- fhnce; \ ■ " ^ AX'hen I came back to Peter fburgh, to my fa- ther from abroad, he received me in a very gra- cious manner: amongfi: other things, he aflced- me whether 1 had not forgot wh^t I ha^d learned y and I told him. No, He ordet'ed me to bring iri my draughts ; a-nd .fearing that he Avould m'aka me defign in his prefence, as i' khew nothing of the matter, rftudied how to hurt my hand, fd that it fhould be impolTible for me to do any thing at all : I chai'ged a piftol with ball,^ and taking it Book VII. Peter I. Czar ^Mufcovy. ii> rny left*hand, let it off againfl the palm of my right, with a defign to have fhot through it. The ball miffed my hand, but the powder burnt it faf- ficiently to wound it. As the ball entered the wall of my clofet, it itiaiy be fedh there ftill. My father obfening my hand to be wounded, afked me how it came. I told him an evafive flory, and kept the truth to myfeif. By this means you may fee that I was afraid of my father, but not with ^filial fear. ■ nr. A-s to my having defired the fuccefiion, o- therwife than by obedience, all the world may eaGly guefs at the reafon: for when I was once out of the good way, and was refolved to imitate my father in nothing, I fought to obtain the fuc- ceffion by any the mofl: wrongful method v I w^is even defirous to come at it by a foreign afliftance, and if *I had got it, and the Emperor would have put in execution what he promifed me, of procur- ing for me the crown of Ruilia, even with an arm- ed force, I fhouid have fpared nothing to have ob- tained it. For inftance, if the Emperor had de- manded Ruffian troops in exchange for his fervice, againfl any of his enemies, or large fums of money, J (houM have done whatever he pleafed, and ^i- ven great prefents to his minifters and generals o- ver and above. L would have entertained at my own expence the auxiliary troops he fhould have lent me, to put me in poffeflion of the crown of Ruffia; ^nd, in a word, have thought nothing too much to have obtained my defire. Thefe anAvers, with a great number of new cvidehces, and the opinions of the clergy, fup- ported by audiorities out of the Old and New Tef- tament, the conftitutions of the empire, and the military laws, being laid before the perfons appoint- ed by his Czarian Majefty, the court affembled in the hall on the 24th of June to give judgment; a^id after having heard all that has been faid, read, and 3 12 The H IStO RT of Book VII. and related, and made mature reiledlions upon it, with one unanimous confcntj they pronounced and S 72t 7ice ^^^^^^^ fentence of death upon the Prince to be ^ ' ed ^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^'y^ their own pronounce )^^^^^ . ^j,^^ (-^j^^ ^-j^^ expreiling the great re- agatnjthmi pugp^^^^^ j^ad to this ungrateful office, and fubmltting their fentence to his Majefty's clemen- cy. Tliis being done, a new ceffion was held on the 6th of July in the morning, and the Czare- witz brought out of the fortrefs znto court, under guard, where he was obliged to repeat the confef- fion of his crimes, and to hear his condemn a don read to him; after whicli he was fent back inta cuflody. As w^ have the authority of a public minifter, then on the fpot,^ for what pafled the next day, it. would be an injury to the Czar not to infert it. * Early in the morning, July yth, news was brought ThePr'mce to his Majefly, that the pafTions of his mind, and takeii ilL terrors of death, had thrown the Czarewitz in- to an apoplectic fit. Another meffenger about noon brought advice, that tlie Prince was in great danger of his life; and a third, that being part hopes, he could not out-live the evening ; and that he longed to fee his father. Then the Czar, at- tended by the principal perfons of his court, went to fee his dying fbn, who, at the fight of his father, burfl into tears, and, with his hands folded, declar- ed, *' That he had grievoufly and heinoufly offend- ed the Majedy of God Almighty, and gf the Czar ; that he hoped not to recover of this indifpofidon, and even if he fiiould, yet he was unworthy of life : therefore he begged his Majcfty, for God's fake, only to take from him the curfe he had laid upon him at Mofcow ; to forgive him all his heavy crimes ; to impart to him his paternal blef- fing ; and to caufe prayers to be put up for his foul. During thefe moving words, the Czar and the whole company almoft melted away in tears. His * Prefent ftatc of P^ulTia. Vol. I, Book VII. PjETER I. Czar of Mufcovy. His Majefty returned a pathetic anfwer, reprefent- td to him in a few words all his offences, and then ^ave him his forgivenefs and bleliing. After which they parted, with abundance of tears and Limentations on both fides. At ^ in th€ evening came a fourth meffenger, to acquaint his Majefty, that the Czarewitz was extrertiely defirous once more to fee his father. The Czar at firft was unwilling to comply ; but was at I aft perfuaded by the company, who re- prefenred how hard it would be to deny that com- fort to afon, who, being on the point of death, might probably be tortured by the flings of a guilty confcience. But when his Majefty had juft Dks ftepped into his (loop to go over to the fortrefs, a ffth me/Ten oer broui^ht an account, that the Pr. was already expired. The very next day, his Czarifh Majefhy caufed a circular letter to be fent to his minifters abroad, in order to prevent the falfe reports which might be fpread about this tragical event. After recit- ing the circumi1:ances of it, to the fame effed: as -above, his Majefty concludes'^ " That although thi? ftroke was a great affli^ion to him, he never- thelefs judged it had happened by the particular providence of God, for the good and repofe of his kingdoms ; fo that it was with a Chriftian duty and fubmilFion he receiv ed this afnicTtion from the hand of God. [ * On the 9th of July, the corpfe being laid in- to a coffin covered with biack velvet, and a pall of gold tiilue fpread over it, was carried from the fortrefs to the church of the Holy Trinity, where it was laid in ftatc. Four officers of the guards were in waiting, who gave leave to a vaft num- ber of people to kifs the hands of the deceafed. The preparations being finifnedjOn the i ith in the evening, the corpfe was carried back to the for- trefs, where it was depofited in the new burying- E e vault t Prefent ftatc of Rufiia, Vol. I, 5 14 The H ISTO RY of Book VIT. vault of the Czarifh family, next to the coffin of the Prince's late confort. The Czar, the Cza- rina, the chiefs of the nobility and of the cour- tiers, followed in proceffion. The Czar, and the reft of the mourners, carried each a fmall wax taper lighted in their hands ; but they wore no mourning-clokes, and the ladies w^ere only dref- fed in black hlks. The Czar was bathed in tears during the proceffion, and the fervice at church, where the prieft had chofe for the text of his fu- neral fermon the words of David : 0 my [on Ab^ defended Undoubtedly more credit ought to be given to n.'Hth * ^^^^^ relation, than to any of the various reports' 7^7- which were raifcd about the death of the young vara tolus ^ . i i t t- i ^ -r ^ r Prince ; as,that he w^as obliged to taK:e a pouonous draught; that the Czar whipped him to death with his own hands ; and other fabks equally improbable. The many original pieces which his Majcily publifhcd concerning the hiflory of this unfortunate fon, the frank and generous affurance, with whicli he lays his own condud before the im- partial world, are inconteftable proofs that he had nothing to reproach himfelf within this remarkable event. The noble a<5ts of clemency he hadfliewn to perfons infinitely iefs dear, • and the great pains he had evidently taken to reclaim this unworthy heir, cannot but convince us that it was a neceffa- ry piece of feverity when he gave him up to be tried as a criminal, and at the fame time pre- sent our believing he could be cruel to a child, , a- • gaind whom he w^as unwilling to be ftriclly juil. And fo much as this being manifed, it can certainly be no impeachment of the character of a legiflator, that he preferred the intereft of an Empire, for which he had fo often hazarded his life, for which he had laboured in cefTantly near 30 years, to the frifety of a fon who had confpired to dethrone him,; and to difconcci t the whole fyftem he had fo long been forming. There Book VII. Pe TE R t. Czav of Mufcovy. ^ 1 5 There were not wanting however, even amoi^ Co77iplahis the miniders of foreign powers, thofe v/ho wrote offalje re- falfc accounts of this affair, and other occurrences p.^^.^^ 7}iad^ at the RuHian court. The Imperial and Dutch re- ^ fidents, on this occafion, fell under his Majedy's j^ah\ tiifpleafure. He wrote to Vienna to have the firft recalled ; and had the other feized and examined. To juftify which proceeding, he fer.t a memorial to their High Mightinefles, who anfwered it by a- nother very fabmiffively drawn up, wherein they acknowledged the fault of their minifler. Thefe injurious reports being fHfled, his MajeHy proceed^ ed in the inquifition againd fuch as were accom- plices in the crimes of the Czarev/itz,and found the lift of confpirators every day encreafe. Perfbns of both fexes, and of every age and degree, were involved in the horrid dciign of deitroying their monarch and father,who faw that clemency would here have been mifplaced. Some he pimifUed with death, others with the knout and Batoags, and not a few banifhed into Siberia. Prince Dolhoruki v/as fent an exile to Cafan, dripped of every thing but the clothes on his back ; and the divorced Czarina,, mother of the late Czarewitz, with Princeis Mary Alexewna his Majefly's half lider, were both clofely confined. About this time General Ren- child was fent home, in exchange for the two Rudian generals Gollov/in and Trubelkoi. The iird had been in Ruff^a ever fince the battle of Pul- towa, acid the others in Sweden much longer, hav- ing been taken at the batde of Narva* E e 2 THE i'17^^^^ ^^-^iT^ /ft^ THE H IS TORY OF TETER the GRE A% Emperor o^RUSSIA. BOOK VIII. Ccntalnlng the remainder of the Czar 'Pet ei-'^s reign y 'ivith an account of his chara&er. DifcGvery T TPON the execution of baron Gortr, men- ofGortz's' tioned in the preccedingbook,the plans con- pian^ certed between him and M.Ofterman were found among his papers. The negotiations had gone fuccefsfully on, and the congrcfs, which had been trMnsferred from Abo to theifle of Aland, was jufl: dravvuig to an end, and wanted only the final ■appobiition of the King of Sweden to its proceed- ings. •^Sook VIII. P?t TE R I; Czar of ^NTufcovy ; g t ? ^ higs. Baron Gortz was upon the road to procure- this, when he was unexpededly feized, informed that by his mafter's death all his projeds were at an end, and territories. His^ Britannic Majefty was alfo to payr 300,000 crowns annually to^ Sweden, daring the- continuance of the war, and- even to procui-e by- force refritution ofwhatjthe Czar had conquer- ed, and^ of the eilates of the Duke of HoUtein* which the King of Denmark had ufur|X!d.,. M. Overman, .during tiie winter, had beenfcnt: for from Aland to receive new inilrudions :. but: V/hen he returned thither again in the fpri1ig,it v/as,. more to menace than negotiate with the Sv/cdes,, siS me H I STO RT of Bodk virr. aTid to declare, that unlefs in two months time They accepted the conditions propofed, they muft cxpei5t a vilit from 40,000 plenipotentiaries. Sv/e- den no doubt muft have complied,had it not been for th^ alliances above mentioned : but fhe made another figure than flie had lately done, when the Lord Carteret appearedat Stockholm, in the cha- Sir John- raster of ambaltador from the King of Great Bri- Norris ap-- taio, and Sir John Norris in t he road of Copenha- pears in gen, with a Iquadron of Engliflj men of war. It theBakkk did not at all pleaie the Czar, that this admiral, Tvhom he had been informed a few months be- fore was coming to him as a public miniiler, fliould have the influence of a ftrong fleet to fup- port his negotiations. This charader had been - dcfigned for Sir John in the preceding winter, when the refident JefFeries had orders to take his ex- celiency with him from Copenhagen: but when Mr>, J'effe' Jciferies c^mc thither, he found that Sir John ries at- Pe-- |-et^^j]-ned witk his fleet for England, and was terspur^h, obliged to proceed to Petersburgl.i alone,where he arrived in the middle of January. He had feveral audiences of the Czar and his minifters, in which lie complained of the good reception the Jacobites found at the Ruffian court, and that his Czari/h iviajefly had endeavoured to divert the regent oF France from figning the quadruple alliance. The left of Mr. JefFeries's commiifi(j»n was to make compliments and propofitions, and to concert plans of operation againft Sweden ; which, on the one j^iirt, however fincerely agreed to at firft, were ne- ver intended" to be put in execution, after the death of King Charles. It was on the 3d of July 17 19, that Sir JoJmi Korris appeared again in the Road of Copenhagen,^ where he received a letter from the Czar, requir- ing him to fend in writing the reafons of his com- ing tQ 'the j>ahick. The admiral returned a T,ery njild anfwer, defiring that he would fend- to ^ic kkig his ipafter^.to be fatisficd of his good in- tQntions^. Book Vni. Peter I. CzarofM\\kovy. ^13? tentioJis. But this was fo far from convincing the The Czar Czar of the continuance of the King af Gvn^t^n- J'ees hh7/fe!f tain*sfirtendfcip,that it plaii:ily fliewed him' he was aba?ido?icJ^ abandoned by his Allies, stnd thofe very Aliks gone over to the enemy. The King of Poland himfelf had entered into a treaty with the Empe- ror and the King of Great Britain ; which occafion- ed the Czar to write htm a warm expoflulatory letter, and difperfe it among the members of the republic: and this ufage fo exafperated Auguf- tus, that he anfwered it with fevere reproaches, which feemed to foretel a rupture between Ruffia and Poland. The Czar^ who had before refolved to make a defcent on Sweden, now haftened to put \X in exe- cution, before fhe could receive any fuccour from Pubajhef her Allies. He publifhed a manifeflo from on a 7?iantfef- board his fleet, to declare the motives of this to ; 'which expedition, and vindicate his own condud by the ^ of throwing the blame of it on the Queen of Sweden. S'wedeJi Her Swedifh Majefly anfwered by a counter-ma- attfweru nifeflo, wherein flie recriminates upon the Czar, and argues the unreafonablenefs of thofe conditi- ons on which he had offered peace ; exhorting her fubjeds not to receive falfe imprelTions from this writing of her avowed enemy, but bravely to imitate their anceftors in defence of their country. The Czar's pen was indeed to be dreadedjas well as his fword ; and the Queen of Sweden was not the only monarch who was apprehenfjve of the imprellions it might make on their fubje<5ts, and who complained of the artifice with which he employed it. The defcent is made, and in fuch an effecflual ^^^^ de- manner, that the Swedes are unable to oppofe the fi^^^t c7i torrent of deftrudion that overwhelms them. The Snveden^. Prince of Heffe, with his litde army, flies about from place to place ; but the Ruffians neither wait his coming up, nor flop their devaftations for • fear of bis eflorts. They land in parties every where,. me ff IS TO R Y of Book VIH.. tvh€re,de(lroy ail that comes in their way ; and the beft towns, the fineft feats, and the richeH: mines of Sweden lie near the fea coaft, they could do their bufineis, and embark again for other places, before it was poffible for the Swediih forces to interrupt them, tho' they even lay within a few leagues. The Gazettes of that time give the particulars of this dreadful invafion, which I fhall not here copy : but according to the general ac- ^unt pubhflied at Peterfburgh, by the Czar's or- der, it appears that admiral Apraxin,for his part,, burnt and dcftroycd 6 good towns, 1 1 cafHes or palaces of brick, 109 of wood, belonging to no- blemen, 826 villages or hamlets, 3 mills, 10 ma- gazines, 2 mines oi copper, and 5 of iron. Ge- neral Lefly, who commanded anodier grand party, reduced toaihes 2 towns, 21 cafHes or noblemen's houfes, 5:35 villages or hamlets, 40 mills, 16 magazines, and 9 iron mines, to fave one of which the Swedes had offered 300,000 rix-dollars. It muft be obferved that in Sweden there are few large towns, the people being difperfcd. in fmall villages ovef the face of the country ;. which is the reafon that in thefe lifts the number of the latter is fo great, in proportion to that of the former. The Ruffians, from one mine that they deftroy- ed, carried 1 3,000 ton of line iron on board their gallies :. and as a great part of the wealth of Swe-- den confifts in this metal, the more completely to ruin that unhappy kingdom, the invaders threw into the fea all of it that they could not bring a- vWay, which was no lefs than 80,000 bars. The mines and mills they utterly deftroyed wherever they came, wiih the corn and forage, and killed all the cattle and horfes which they could neither expend nor carry off. In. a word, the Czar was refolved to reduce the Swedes to fuch extremity, that they fliould accept of the cdhditions he tJiought proper to impofe : but that intrepid na- ' ' tioa fiook VIII. Peter L Czar oflslnko^y, 323 tion began to imbibe new courage at the appear- ance that was made in their favour, and when M. Uis propo- Oi^erman, after thefe d^vaftations, came to offer j^fi^j^^ them propofitions again upon the foot of baron jj>^^^^ Goi tz*s plan, they not only rejeded them with fcorn, but broke up the conferences at Aland, and the minifters on both fides returned home. Sir John Norri% who had hitherto Iain qitiet in the road of Copenhagen, while the Swedes in vain, expected him to make a diverfion in thek favour ; perceiving how hardly they were now prefTed, failed away for the ports of Sweden, in order, as was imagined, to meet the Ruffians. Thefe latter however did not think proper to wait the jundion of the Englifh and Swedifh fleets, which undoubt- j'/,^ edly would have been an over-match for theirs, treat of hti but prudently retired to their own harbours eight ^^^^^ days before Sir John's arrival. But fear is a mo- tive that muft never be afcribed to great nionarchs^ and tho' the Czar's condu<5l in this retreat was CO more than a necelfary prudential ficp, fo jeafous was he left it fhould be interpreted to his disadvan- tage, that he caufed a writing to be publifhed oti this occafioD, intided, A true relation of the re^ turn of the Ruffian fleet to Revel and Cronfiot, publiflied to confute the falfe reports of thofe th^ envy the glory of his Czarifli Majefty's arms." It contained a journal of the motions of the fleet for fome time before, and afTerted that the feafon of the year was the only cauie of its. retreat ; tho' few could be induced to believe that Sir John Korris would have advanced into thofe Northern feaS) with ^n Englifh fleet, at a time when the. (cverity of the weather obliged the Rufiians to. leetire. .... It was irap^ffible all this While, 'there could be any good underflanding between the Courts of London and Petersburgh. Mr. Berkeiy, fon of the Lord Berkeiy of Stratton,had been difpatched with letters from Lord Carteret at Stockholm, while the 322 The H ISTO RY of }3pok VIIL Ruflian plenipotentiaries were yet at die iflc of A- land, offering his Britani\ie Majefty's mediation be- tween the C2:ar and the Queen ofSwedeniBut when he arrived therc,tlie plenipotentiaries would neither grant him a paiTport to Petersburgh, nor undertake to fend his letters to the Czar ; General Bruce ex- cufing himfelf upon the contents of thofe letters, which he faid were not agreeable to the ties fubfift- ing between their Gzarian and Britannic Majefties. Upon this Mellieurs jefferies and AVeber were or- V dered to retire to Dan tzick and tl>e Czar, in re- Whe En- turn/eized the perfons and effeds of all the Englifh glijjj mer- merchants in his dominions, threatning to confif- cha?itsfeiZ' cate the latter, in cafe the King of Great Britain ed in made war upon him, which he was informed .Ad- Mufcovy, miral Norris had commiiEon to do, in conjundlioa with Sweden. At the fame time, the Ruffian refi- dent at London, M. Weffelowski, prefented a very bold memorial to King George, which charged him with breach of treaties and violation of frieftdlliip. This v/as anf A^ered by fecretary Stanhope, and the chancery of Hanover, refpedtively and thefe an- The Kuf^ fwers were a fiiort ti«ne after replied to by M. jtan reji- Beftuchef, who fucceeded WelTelowski at London, aentjent -j^ affronting manner, that he was ordered home from depart the Kingdom. London. j poftpone the tranfacftions at Petersburgh, during die Czar's ilay there in the winter, till we have entirely done with this tedious war. His Czarian Majefty begun early in 17 20 to prepare ^ifof a new campaign,, and refolved alone to pufh the operations againft Sweden, afTided by an .Englifh fleet, favoured by the Kings of PrulEa and ^Leen of Denmark, and. ready to make peace with Poland* S^veden Ulrica Eicanora, fifler of the late King Charles refigns her xn. the mean while refigned h^r crOwn to, her crorojn to husband, the Prince of Heffe-CaifeU and King her hui' George engaged the regent of France, with whom bafid, he was in firi(ft alliance, to pay certain large fuh- lidies that were due to the Swedes, of which Book VIII. Peter I. Czar of Mufc0v7. 52^ 600,000 crowns were remitted at once. All thefe dilpoiitions looked litde favourable to the Czar, who now faw that if he obtained an advantageous peace, he mud extort it by force. He reinforced his army in Finland, augmented his fleet, and made all poflible hade to enter on adion. It was pleafant to fee, that while hodilities were vigoroufly carry- ing on between the two nations, the King of Swe- den fentto notify his accelTion to the Czar, and the Czar very affedlionately complimented the King- upon the news ; each monarch doing all in his power to entertain the envoy of the Fi ince he was at war with. But M. Roman zoff, who was fent to Stockholm on this occafion, could obtain no- thing but gracious words : For the Sv/edifh court wouid neither confent to an armiftice, nor a cartel for the exchange of prifoners (both which M. Rorrianzoft had commitlion to offer) unlefs preli- minaries for a peace were at the fame time fettled. Admiral As foon as the feafon of the year would permit, Nor r is a- admiral Norris arrived again in the Sound, with^^/;; in the orders anew to offer his maker's mediation, and to Baltkk, fupport it with his fleet. But the Czar, whochofe rather to treat of peace diredly with Sweden,wou}d however admit of no mediator but the Emperor of Germany. He was perluadcd the Brinfli admiral would not a(fl: oflenfivcly, as there was no open rupture between the courts of London, and Petcrf- Lurgli; and therefore not only proceeded with draw- ing together his army in Finland, to the number of 80,000 men, but at the fame time got ready his fleet at Cionflot and Revel. He did not venture it out however dunng tlie whole feafon, and the only ac- tion it performed was the taking of t wo Swedifli fri- ^/^^^ Czar gates,. and running two others a-ground. This ad- ^aijis an vantag-e was owing to the rafhnefs of tlie Swedifli ^advantage vice-admirai,who,ignorant of the Ruflians ftrength, at fea» ventured to attack them on the coafi:, and were re- pulfed with the lofs of 400 men, 150 pieces of can- iion,and thefc veffcls. Yet the Czar, very political*- 324 Advances made to- wards a The H ISrORT f Book Vim ly, to keep up the reputation of his marine, made thisvidlory the fubjedl of a triumph, had medals {Iruckonthe occadon, and gave prefents to Prince <^aliiezin the admiral, and the other officers and fol- diers who had fignalized their valour. Thefe de^ luding cavalcades, in M.de Voltaire's opinion, aug- mented the people's veneration for his perfon, and perhaps made him appear greater in their eyes than all the real good he had done them. In the mean time it could not but be a fenhble mortification to his Majefty jthat he durfi: not attempt any thing farther ; and Sir John Norris, though he adted nothing really, "did Sweden great fervice, by keeping the Czar from •action. The Ruilian Sect, though the wonder of the v/orld for the time it had been raifing, was yet infuHicient to appear before a Britifli fquadron. fiis Majeity's land forces were more fuccefsful ; ; they burnt the new town of Uma in Lapland, de- fboyed tvv^o gentlemen's feats, 41 villages, 17 mills, and 1 8 3 magazines, without fuffering the leaft lofs. Though M.Romanzoif eife^fted nothing himfelf, it appeared at the beginning of the year 1721, that his voyage to Stockholrn had not been ufclcfs. He made Count Horn, Prefident of the Swedifh chancery, fo fenlible of the Czar's pacific difpofition, that the cartel, which had been rcfufcd, was foon after granted to Prince Miferfki, who imme- diately fuccQcdedRomanzoff, His Czarifh MajcRy, in tlie midft of his conqucll:s,could be under no other peceffity to fue for peace, than what paternal af- fedipn for his fubje<51s, drained and waded by 20 years hoflilities, laid upon him; and thefranknefs with which he propofed it, in this advantageous fitu- ation, convinced the Swediih miniflry of his fincc- rity . WhenPrince Mifer{]<:i returned to Petersburgh, M.Oahlman, a Swedifh adjutant-general, followed him thither, and propofed an armilKce for a whole year : but the Czar, as he had prepared for the next campaign, would not confent to a fufpenfion of arms for fo long a time, left it fhould be only a fnare Book VIII, Peter I. Czar ^Mufcovy. 325 fnare of the enemy, in order to recover (Irength ; yet he gave M. Dahlman to underdand, that he would accept the mediation of France, which M* Campredon, the French minifter at Stockholm, had in fome meafure offered. This was immediately complied with, and M. Campredon went to Pe- terfburgh, to hear his Majefty's propoiitions, which were the fame he had before fent by M. Oilerman to Stockholm, and communicated to the King of Great Britain. The Swedes confented to treat on the conditions they had before refufed, atid A congrcfs Nieufladt, a little town in Finland, was named for the place of congrefs. The plenipotentiaries fooa repaired thither, but not time enough to prevent the Ruffian troops from making fome frelli progrcfs upon the coafts of Sweden, where General Lefly burnt iix new gallics, and 27 other ve/Tels' de- ftroyed a magazine of arms, a manufadlory of niufkets, two iron forges, and thirteen mills ; be- fjdes laying wade four towns, 509 hamlets, 98 pa- rifhes, and 334 barns. But as thefe hoftilities were immediately ftopped, as foon as the fufpen- iion of arms was agreed on by the plenipotentia- ries, the alarm they gave the SwediHi court tended only to forward the negotiations , which indeed was all the Czar defired. The King of Sweden haviflg been brought to confent to the cefTiOn of Livonia, Efthotiia, Ingria, Peace C9n> part of Carelia, and the territory of WybOrg ; the eluded, ifles of Oefel, Dragoe, Maen, &c. the Czar agreed to reftore part of Finland ; to pay two millions of rixdoUars to his SwedilTi Majcdy ; to permit the Swedes to buy 50,000 rubles-worth of corn every year at Riga, Revel, and Wyburg, and to tranfport it without paying^ of duty; except when a bad harveft, or other folid reafons fliould hinder it ; and to allow the fame liberties, ci\'il and religious, to the new provinces, that they had enjoyed under former governments. Ail conlifcations , except tliofe already efclieated, wei-s to be reftored, and * Ff all 3^6 The fflSTORYof Book Vlir all prifoners releafed without ranfei , provided they paid their debts. Thofe who were willing to do homa||e to the Czar, were pemiitted to do fo, without being incapacitated from ferving elie- where: the reft had three years allowed todifpofe of their eftates, and were obliged to pay off all mortgages. — Thus did the Czar Peter, when all his allies had deferred him, procure a peace upon his own terms, without permitting the King of Great Briuin, as Eledlor of Hanover, to be in- cluded in the treaty, though the Swedes had en- deavoured to get his name inferted. Tl:e Czars "^^^ profufion with which his Majefty celcbrat- joy and ge- ^'^^ publication of this peace, as well by his neroftty on minifters at foreign courts as in the cities of his that occa- ^^^P^^^j fufficiently expreffed the pleafure it gave jlr^jj^ him. He loaded the plenipotentiaries on both fides with prefects and favours, and fent immediate or- ders to fet the Swedifh captives every where at li- l>crty ; but with this intimation, that if they were willing to enter into his fervice, he would give them the fame rank they had borne in the troops of their countiy, upon public declaration that it was their own choice, Thofe general officers of whoic bravery he had been witnefs, he recom- mended to the favour of their fovereign. Rear- Admiral J^'Jirenchild. in particular, whom the Czar at his departure had prefented with his pidureiet in diamonds, was upon this recommendation pre- ferred to the degree of admiral. liii lenity As to the inhabitant s of Livonia, his Majefty did to the Li- more for them than was ftipulated in the treaty; and not only gave the Calvinifts among them the free exercife of their religion, v/hich they could never obtain under the Swedes, but rcflored to the whole pro\ince all tliofe privileges that had been ufurped during the two late reigns. Other ordi- L-ana^s that he m: de in dieir favour, fufficiently convirxcd them cf the lenity of his government. Ai:d for all ihofc pf his iintient liibjcfls, who were either Book VIII. Peteh I. Czar ^Mtifcovy. 527 either in prifon op on board the gallics, he paffed an a6t of indemnity, that they too might partake in jhe general joy, and bids God lor rcftoring public tranquillity. The 2 2d of Odober, 1721, was ordered fo4* a day of general tiiankfgiving throughout the empire. J general Two days before a refolution was taken in the fe- thankfgiv-^ hate, after deliberation with the clergy, " to thank ing. Iijis Majelly for his paternal care and pains in the government of his people, efpecially during die hA war, and to intreat him to accept the titles o^^ Peier the Great, Father of his country, and E/jiperor of all Ruffla, " When this propolition was made to him, he feemed for fome time in fufpcnfe, and even defired to be excufed from receiving that honour • but at length hefabmitted to their repeated felici- tation, and'on the day of thankfgiving, after the treaty of peace was read, the Archbilhop of Pief- kow made an oration upon hfs Majcfty's exploits, declaring him worthy of "tliofe tides. Then tlic great Chancellor GoKofskin, at the head of the fe- nate, addreiTed his xvlajeiry in afhort fpeech, which conferred them on him, and fet forth the reafcns of this proceeding. The whole fenate then repeated thrice, Long live Peter the Great, Father of his ^ country, and Emperor of all Ruff la. This was fol- lowed by a general falvo of all die cannon,, and tlie ^ "^j^ ^ loud acclamations of the people. The conduits in niented ^Mtth the ftreets ran with wines: the night concluded , with illuminations and fireworks, and thefe rcjok- ^ ings continued for 1 5 days. Having beheld peace thus re-inftated in the: North, by the great wifdom of his Czaril'h Ma^ jefly, I return to fome tranfad:ions during the lafi two years, that, for the reafon before given, were hitherto omitted. There had been feveral other- executions, at the end of the year 1 718, befides^ thofe we have mentioned, of ptrfons concerned 'm, the late Czarewitz's treafon. After which his Ma- jelly eftablilhed another high tribunal, cood^inCT oF F f 2. A C077jeC' ture o?i thru fhb' n. 328 . The H ISTO RT of Book Vlir. military officers, to enquire into the faults of thofe concerned in the civil adminirtration. The Princes Menzikoff and Dolhoruki, Admiral Apraxin, his brother the fenator, and many others, were found \ g^j^^y before it of feveral heinous crin]es : but the itnes fevc- only punifhment they fuffered, was thcbebg fe- ral great verely mulaed in their puj-fcs. The reafon his Ma- jefty gave for this lenity, was tl^e confideration of their former fer^ices. But it was thought by mariy^ tliat the court was iniTituted only to draw from thefe favourites a part of what they had extorted frornthe pecple,in the exercife of their refpedtive authorities* J^^^ • "Vs hat gave fome colour to this fuppofition, was the Cz ar's behaviour to Prince M enzikoff, who, though always found guilty in inquifitions of this nature (of which there were ievcral during his M?Je%'3 reign) was conflantly re-eltablifhed in his fornner honours ; and therefore was looked upon Ofuy a 3 a tool on thefe occafions, to colour this arbitrary way of le- vying money on the nobility and chief officers. By this means, it was faid, the Czar avoided the cdiuni ef oppreffing his fubjeds, to raife thofc imnienf^ treafures that were neceflary for carrying on his vaft projCi^ls, and even made the commonalty admire their Sovereign, while they hated his ininiH-ers ; tliougli at the fame time he only punifhed them for extortions himfelf connived at, and let them flill go on to drain the people, that he might fqueeze them, like fponges, when the exigencies of ftate called for what they had anaafied. Whether thfs fuggeftion xvas w ell founded, or how far fuch a meafure might be juflifiable in an abfolute monarch, to make him belo.\'ed by the mofl perverfe nation in the univerfe, I will not pretend to determine : but certainly we muft allow it, if true, to be a moft refined ftroke of policy. Tho' methinks the bodily puniffiments, fuch a'^ the knout and hataogs, which were often made ufe of on thefe convidions, and which Men- zikoff himfelf did not always efcape, are a pretty ftrong argument for the contrary opinion. la Book VIII. Pi TE R L Czar of Mufcovy. 329 In the Winter of 17 19 the Czar banifhed the JJisM^je- jefuits from his dominions, whither they had Jfyl^anijhcs troduced themfelves by a recommendation from the jefidls^ Emperor. His Majefty faw that the maxims of thefe fathers, which tend to undermine afi civil governments, and alienate the minds of people from their princes, in order to fix them on other objeds, were incompatible with his defiga of mak- ing a brave people, that fhould have no human dc- pendance but on their own natural fovereign. And at the fame time, in imitation of other great Ic- giflators, he inftituled public diverfions, to weaa his fubjec51s of their fuperditious inclinations > which had given but too much handle to the ar- tifice of thofe fpiritual itinerants. He caufed af- ^^^.^ ^ , > femblies to be opened at Peterfburgh, and drew ^ r^j^i^i;^,^ up regulations to be obferved in them, Vv^hich-^ were printed in the Ruffian language. Every great man at court was to hold one of theie at lecifl every Winter, and feparate rooms Vv^ere provided for the ladies, and thofe who were v/illing to fpend the e» vening in converfvdon, while in others there was dancing, or playing at cards and chefs, in which lafl" game the Ruffians were great proficients. Plays and operas were aifo introduced ; but as the Czar himfeif had no great reliili for them, they made but little progrefs during his reign. Poland was ftill fo embarraffed* that It Is difii- i -r cult, in rew words, to mention the affairs of tiiat kingdom. The quarrels of the nobility, either among themfelves, with their own King, or fomc foreign potentate, is the chief charaderifHc of their boafted liberty. They had for a long time been uneafy with the Czar, on account of the tj'oops which he kept quartered iimong them, or continually marched thro' their territories. Prince Dolhoruki^ who had been feverd years with theirr as his Majeily's ambafiudor, v/as hitherto unabfc ta give them fatisfadion. Auguflus himfeif, as he had ro,v nc-boiy to fecT, had long beeiik& refpeclful F f 3. ■ ♦ tha^ » J JO • Tne HIST OR Y of Book Vtn.. than formerly to his Czarifh Majefty, either out of difregard to an old friend, from whom he ex- pend no farther fervices, or to ingratiate him- felf the more with the republic. The coldnefs was become mutual between the two monarchs, and i^uguflus was rather inclined to enter into the alliance with the Swedes, who had depofed him, than obferve his engagements with the Czar his rciiorer ; as the latter, for his part, had once thought of undoing what he had done, and re- pfhcing Staniflaus on the throne from which he had; driven him. While confidence was thus wanting on^ both fides, the Palatine of Mazovia came ambafla- dor from the Diet to his Czarian Majefty, to de- mand fatisfatftion for the damages done by iht marches of his troops, and to declare in cafe of re- Cufal, that the nobility were ready to get on horie-- back, to take revenge for the injuries they had re-, ceived. The Czar %vas neither willing to break with: the Republic, nor to relinquifh the pretenfions he bad open it, and therefore anfwered the ambaffa- dor by other demands, and promifes to examine in- to the grcunds of what he complained of. Thus the- negotiations were (liJl fpun out ; Prince Doihoruki was continued,, a,nd the Palatine of Mazovia went home as- he came ; but not without being loaded U'ith civilities, and expreffing his admiration at the wonders of his Maieiiy's reign, his miagnilicent, buildings, numerous arrnies, powerful fleets, and political inditutions ; all \vhicii he promifed to re- count in his own country. EeU^ihe- -^^^ ^'^^ l^^^g Great Britain had taken part Eyi^lif]:> ^- ^^^^^ Sweden, the Czar apprehended the Britifh mi-. *min ft their ^^'^1 would oppofe all the ftcps towards an accom- tliinijjry. modation : for this reafon his Majcfly, who well; \' ' knev/ the temper and conftitution of the Engl ifli,, endeavoured to fet, the p^eople of that nation againft tlieir rulers, as if thefe latter were only in the irl- tereft of Hanover. ]^y publifhing an ordinance in; favour of the Britidv merchants; be kept the mi-. BbokVill. Peter 1. C^jkr unvrjs oged only i6ycars. His royal Flighnefs furvived -'^hie* l^^^i- eleven years, and died at the age of 39. This 'As!^. of betrothing his daughter was the lail publick folemnity at which the Czar Peter af- iifted, and we are now come to the period of that life which did fo mnch hon6ur to the human fpecies., ^he Cz^r?r ^^s. M ajefly had. been iirll feized with the frran- fcizedKvitb S^^'^y ^'^^^ ^^^^ the year 1723, for whidi, ^'the Si ran- ^"^^ ^''-^^^'^ recourfe to the ufe of mineral waters. His. gnry, difeafe however was more powerful than thefe ^ remedies, v/hich, though they gave him fome fliort intervals of relief, could not prevent its returning with more fury tlian ever; fo that about the middle of January, 1725, he was obliged to be confined to his chamber. The agony of his pain was fo violent in making water, that he ' ilemed unable to exprefsit, and only vented him- ielfin hc^ivy groans. A whole week he conti- nued in torture, before it "was thooght convenient to break an abfcefs, which was difcovered in the i)eck of his bladder. When this was done, the plen-. tiful difcharge of matter gave him iome eafe for rjie prefent. But all hopes of recovery foon after vanifhcd, and. nothing but grief was, feen * See the account puHiHied' By the aix:hbifllop ofNo-». Book" Vm. Pe te k X. Czar (/ MufGOvy . feen or heard throughout the whole palace. To this extremity, while, as himfelf expreficd it, h. *was convinced ^jjhat a mifcrahle creature ?norial 7nan is^ he iffued out an a6t of Grace, which e'x- tended even to malefadlors condemned for treafon. On the 27th of January he fainted away, whea all who were prefent thought him expired. The alarm was iriftantly "given. All the fenators and * great officers, with crowds of the people, came rufliing into the apartment, and with tears be- dewed the hand of their monarch, who unexpecl- edly recovering from his fit, with fome difficulty pronounced the word hereafter. This accident gave him an opportunity of feeing hov/ dearly he was beloved, by the fincere lamentations that were uttered upon the fuppofition of his having expired. After this he continued 1 5 hours in the agonies of death, all which time, in proportion to his ftrength, he filled up with acls of devodon. At laif, on the 28th of January, at 4 o'clock in the morning, with all the fortitude of a hero, and the. piety of a Chriftian, he gave up the ghod, having He dles» a iittle before received the facrament* f He lived 52 years, 7 months, and 8 days ; a. very fliort time for the many great things he performed. He left behind him three daughters, by the Em- prefs Catharine ; Anne, Dutchefs of Hollfein ; E- ]izabeth,who is ftill living ; and Natalia, who dying the 1 5th of March following, was buried withher father on the 21ft of the fame month. The fu- neral obfequies were extraordinary magnificent, for the account of wliich wx refer to the journals of the time. Such pofthumoug honours could add; nothing to the character of Peter, and may be in-- difcriminately bellowed upon the tyrant and the legiflator. During his lafl: illnefs, he gave orders that the^ o ath 5 Vv'hich h ad been forme rly admioillred in behalf " of the Emprefs, faouldbe renewed. Notwirhftand--. ij)g which there waarfome debate in council after his. death,, 1^ The n I STO RY of Book VIII. death, whether they fhoiild acknowledge her for facce/Tor, and whether her coronation conferred any right : but this was inflantly over, and a de- claration drawn up, in the name of the fenators, clergy, and general-officers, that the moft auguft The Em- Catharine had fucceeded, and to her all allegi- prejs Cci' ance was due. 'Fliis, together with an oath on the tharine occafion, was printed, and fent to all parts of the fucceeds. empire ; and every one fubfaibed it with the ut- moft alacrity. The great merit of this lady Suf- ficiently juftified the Czar's palHon for her during life, and the donation he had made her at his death.. She had an underftanding capabie of enter- ing into all his views, a refokition and intrepidity, for puting them in execution, almoft equal to his own, and a moft beneficent temper, ready to re- . . drcfs every grievance. A vieiu Of ^1^^. beginning of this hiftory, before we en- tnetrnper' ^^^.^j q^^^^ Peter's reign, we took a furvey of %L ^ Ruffia then v/as. We have already feen, lijhmejits, {q^^ meafure, what he had now made it. Auguftus boafted concerning Rome, that he had found a city of brick, but left one of marble. How much more the legiflator of Ru/Iia had to boaft of, we ftiall fee by looking over only fome of his principal eftablifhments. The anny. A body of infantry of 100,000 men, as fins troops, as hardy and well difciplined as any in Europe, with a great part of the officers native Ruffians. The want of horfcs in Ruffia, prevent- ed his having a cavalry equally good. T}:e fleet, ^ powerful fleet ^ confifting of 40 ffiips of the line, and 200 gailies. One of the largeft of thefe ffiips, mounting 90 guns, he built himfelf, in con- j;un(5lion with Mufcovi^e workmen. This great veffiil was launched in 1718, amidft the acclama- tions of the people, with a pomp that was worthy of the principal carpenter. A great? * Vide. Fontencll? Eloge, 5cc. $tahlenberg*s Lilla^^ look VIII. Peter I. Czar An excellent form of government in all the ^^g^^^^^^" great cities,which were before as dangerous to pafs oj t thro' in the night,as the mod unfrequented woods. ^^^^^^^ Higk-roads were alfo made, as in other nations. ^ . An academy of fciences and belles-lettres, upon Acaderma the model of that at Paris, and almoll under the fame regulations. Another for the marine and navigation, to which all the noble families in RulTia were obliged to feud fome of their chii-: dren. - • Colleges at Mofcow, Petersburgh, and Kiow, College a?7d for the languciges, the polite fciences, and ^^^^^ fchools. mathemaricks. Like wife fchools in all the towns and little villages, where the children of peafants learned to read and write, which the very gentry could hardly do before, A college of phyGcians, and a fine public dif- College of penfatory at Mofcow, which fupplied with remedies phyjlciam all the great cities, and the army, ' Till his xtign/i^-d difpen- there never was in Mofcow either phyfician or a-j^^^O'* pothecary, but only for the Czar's perfon. Public Icdures in anatomy, a fcience whok Leclures m name was till then unknown : for the purpofe oi anatomy. which his Majelly had bought M. Ruifch's excel- lent cabinet, of itfelf a perpetual ledure, confiding of diffedions the mofl curious and inllruflive. An obfervatory, where the aftronoraers v/ere -^J^^^^^W not wholly employed in the ftudy of the heavens, cf^diiatitr-- but had for their obje61: all the curiofities of na- ^/'^{/^^O'* tural hillory, which has enabled them already to oblige the world with a great variety of phyfical refearches. A garden of plants, under the direction of able ^hj-^ botanifls, who were making colledions not only o^'''^'^^'^*' from all the known parts of Europe, but from the. moft ?4<5 The H ISrO RY of Book VIII, mofl uokiiawn ti ads of Europe and Afia, as well . as from FerHa, and China itlelf. , ..^ s * Frintmg' Printing-houfes, in wliich he changed the an- bcujes, ^-gj^^ barbarous characters, that could hardly be decyphered, on account of the frequent abbrevi- ations- Books, v/hich before liis tij-ne, were ;nore / fcarce in RuPxia than any foreign commodity, are now to be fcen there in great plenty. 7 . . ■ Interpreters, not only for aU die living Ian-' interpret \ ^, , r ^ • ^ i"^ ttn S^^S'S Europe, but for Latin, Greek, the Turkifh, the Calmuck, the Mogul, and the Chincfe tongues. A moil noble inflance of the vair ex- tent of the Ruilian Empire, and pofEbly aprtfige that it .will yet be greater. A hhrary. j-^y^ library, compofed of three very large on^s, ' which bought in Engknd, Holilein, and Germany. Trade ^ A iiouriiliiniT trade, for the encoura^rement of U'hich he built new cities^caufed canals to be cut,, and made roids thro' places before impalTab'e, aU at incredible Lbour and expence. Mwes, Medicinal watefs, baths, and mines j which had Manufac" been hitherio unknown in his country, he laid^ tcries^ ps mentioned the obligations he had laid on his people, he told them, that he had forgot to re- form one of the mod: important points of all, the adminiftration of juiHcc, The tedious and ex- penfive method of proceeding in law-faits, which he wholly attributed to the chicanery of the lawyers, feemed to him inconfiftcnt with moral equity. He would therefore have a fummary way of determining caufes, by proofs in writing and Hving-witneflcs, without the embarrafs of artful pleadings, which only tend to difguifc the truth. Judgment, by this means, might alw;iys be given in a few hours ; and if the fcntence v/as thought unjufl:, the party might appeal to the fenate, and from that to the fovereign. This was the fchcme he propofedj and the parties prefent approving it, he immediately ifl'ued out an order for putting it ia execution. He lived but eleven days longer, but had the pleafure to hear, that all caufes then de- pending in the capital courts, were determined be- fore he clofed his eyes. It was no wonder, after all this, that we faw medals ftruck to his honour after his death, in. which he licid the appellation of Peter the Great. BookVIIL Peter I. generous to his faithful and loyal fervants , of ^ * H h which ^50 Severity. Contempt of magni' And efe- The HIS TO R Y of Book VITI. which the Princes MenzikofF, Cantemir, and praxin, the generals Renne, Baur, Bruce, Weidc, the Minifters of State, Jagufinflvi, Ofterman, and Schaffiroff, were moft remarkable inftances : all of %^'hom, from mean extradlion, were advanced to ^bme of the chief offices of the Empire. But then his feverity was equally flridl to the treacherous and difloyal ; as appeared in the iliftance of his fon, and many others recorded in this hiftory. Even 'Schaffiroff, the moft able of all his minifters, who had long ferved him as vice-chancellor, was con- demned to death in 1723, upon convidion of fe- veral crimes ; but had his fentence commuted for banifiiment. If the ruin of this minifter, as fome pretend, was more owing to the intngues of Prince Menzikoff, than to any real mifdemeanour, we can only fay, that the Prince, at that time, found the art to deceive his nlafter, a thing that was very dangerous to attempt. Pomp and equipage, the gay trappings of ma- jefty, were things the Czar Peter difdained. He loaded Prince Menzikoff with thefe, that the magni- ficence of the favourite might teftify the grandeur of the mafter, who refervcd to himfelf c>nly the toils of a fovereign. So litde did he confider his oWli perfon, that he wasfeen at all the fires, which are very frequent in Mufcovy. Ke inftituted an order of firemen like thofe in London, and made one of them himfelf. To (hew an example in time of danger, he has mounted the tops of houfes in flames ; afid what we flioiild admire here in an inferior magiftrate, was in r>Iufcovy performed by the Emperor. We ought not to regulate our judgment of this Monarch's adions, by comparing them with the delicate and effeminate manners of the French, I had aliTioft faid our own, nation. Few of our mi- litary gentlemen, who make fo pretty a figure at a review or ball, would be proud either of the fa- tigue or reputation of fuch vigorous exercifes. We muft not v/ondcr, if a Prince of this charaaer, ■''''^^ ' when vBookyill. Phter I. Cmr ^Mufcory, 551 when viewed by a modern man of tafte, was char^ ged with being rough and unpoliflied. It was the fault of his nation indeed to be fo ; but to cha^^e this fault on a Prince who had poliflied that whole nation, feems however a little incongruous. Heknewperfeflly how to diftinguiilinicrit, and to honour it when fo.und ; which is the only means ^^^^^-/^ to call forth and encr eafe it, ' Not content with giv- ing of prefents and penfions, which were favours ^ indifpepfably necefTary in the purfuit of his dcfigns ; he found other rneans, of a more obliging nature, tjo fhew . hijs, refped: for the perfons of valuable men, and foi^ie times gave tefhmonies of it even after thdr death. ; He^^made a magnificent funeral for Df, Arefldne, - his firll: phyucian, af which he affiled himfeii^ with a lighted torch in his hand^ according to the cuflora of the Greek church. He did the faaie h<>aaur -;to. two Engli/limen ^ . the one was Mr. Paddon, Rear- Admiral of his fleet, and die other his interpreter of the languages. He con- ferred a title of honour, and a confiderable pen- lion on the famous Mr. Leibnitz, whom he had CQofulted upon forne of his grand projcds, and who would have been fully contented having given his advice to fo great a Monarch, The name of the Czar will augment the lift ^ ^ jjijajy^rks the few fovereigns v^^ho have been authors, he hav- ing compofed/ome treadfes of maritime affairs. He often amufed himfelf in the art of turning, and fent fomef of his performances to the Emperor of China. Others of them he gave to M. Onzenibrai, whofe cabinet he thought worthy of fuch a curiofity, as the handy-work of a monarch. , In the diverfions which he took with his court, Biverjions according to the relation of iyl., Wqber and others, idiere appeared fome remairl^ of the antient Muf- Govites. We have t\Vo pr- three accounts of mock marriages,. one^: of M. SotolFj a man who had been fuccelfively in the oppofite charadters of his Majef- ty's tutor and fool, which makes a very grotefque H h 2 %iire The H ISrO Rr of BookVITI, figmt as (imply related. But the truth appears To be, that his aim in one was to ridicule -fbme of the antient cuftoms of his people, and in another to expofe the character of the patrtiireh, which he had wifely aboliflied. His confecration of the Little Grandjire^ the ikiff which firft gave him an idea of fhipping, was equally inftrudive and magnili- tent, and performed on the fame priDclples as his triumphal entries. It is impoilibfe to pafs a judg- ment on the alliens of great men, unlcfs we know the motive from which they af^; and we fliould never fuppofe that to be extravagant, of which we hare no certain idea. Whatever was the Czar's tafte in plcafui^s, it was fuHicient that thofe he ufed could relax his mind ; and perhaps he had no= time to reftnc on an article which he the leaft of all regarded. Arts of this kind come faft enough of themfclves ; they need not be employed in the foundation of an empire. No man that rightly knows the Czar, fays M/ Weber (who wrote in his life-time) can queftioa his being the moft judicious minifter, the moft experienced general officer and foldier, of his ^* whole empire ; the moft learned of all the Ruf- fian divines and philofophers, well verfed ii> *^ liiftory and mechanieks, an able fliipwright, and ftill a better failor. " Can hiftory produce another monarch, of whom half fo much was ever jiiflly written ? " Detached and fingle attributes of virtues, fays a *' writer of our own country, which met " full and perfe(51 in the Ruffian Monarch's cha- " racier, have eternized the memory of antient heroes, and fwelled hiftory with their praifes. The invention of new arts, the eftablifliment ** of new laws, the adornment or enrichment of their country, the reduci^ig barbarifin into civil fociety, the encouragement of learning, the * The Plain Dealer. VqL II. Book VIII. Pete r: I. Czar ^Mufcovy. " the punifliment of opprelEon, the deliverance ♦* of their own country, or the conqaefts of o- " thers ; each of thefe, feparately, has been thought fufficient, in all ages, to make and imr- ** mortalize a hero. What name then fhail the ** grateful world invent and beftow, to diftinguilk the pofTeffor of more than all thefe virtues united?" It would be an injury, as another * expreffes it, to name him with any one of antiquity. Who, but himfelf, ever left a throne, to leard to fit it with more grace ? who ever thought " himfelf mean in abfolute power, till he had learned to ufe it \ others may, in a metaphori- cal or philofophic ^{eofe, be faid to command " themfelves, but this Emperor was alfo literally under his own command. How generous and " how good v/as his entering his own name, as a ** private man, in the army he raifed, that none in it might expe(5(: to out-run the ffcps v/ith wdiich " he himfelf advanced? by fuch meafures this godlike Prince learned to conquer, learned to " ufe his conquefts. How terrible has he appeared in battle, how gentle in victory !'* I fball make but one quotation more, and with that conclude. It is from ]\Ir. Hill, author of that excellent poem in his praife, entitled, The North- em Star : " We, who had tlie honoar to live co- " temporaries with this egregious fpirit, were ** deadened in our fenfe of his true greatnefs, hj tfie nearnefs and fcuniliarity with v/hkhwe ob- ferved it: but when pofterity, from the dif- ** taiT-je of defcending ages, (hall look up towards ** the records of the prefent generation, and en- quire in vain for the names of fbme prouder ** princes, who reigned v/ith him ; his memory, and the fplendor of his never -to^be-forgotten^ - Hh 3- glory^ * Steele,, in the S^eOator^ mH ISTO RY, <&c. BookVlIL *^ glory, fliall caft a brightnefs oyer his Mxd^ and *'* millions not yet to be born, till a thoufand years after his death, fhall remain ignorant of "»* what pafled in the days of their grand-fathers, •* while they fhall be more learned and enlighten- ed than we are in the charadler, the purpofes, the atflions, and the virtues of this illuftrious dignilier of human nature. " I N D E X« A- AFROSINI, 272, 300. Alberoni, Cardinal, 279, 282. Alexis Michaelowitz, Czar, 11. Altena burnt, 251. Alt-Ranftadt, peace of, 162. Anne, Queen, her letter to the Czar, 219, Sec. Apraxin, general, 158, 256, 266, 328, Archangel, city of, 25. Arnfeldt, General, 257. Afoph, city of, 72, 73, 7^, 76, 77* Aftracan, Kingdom and city, 37. Auguftus King of Poland, 86, 104, 125,131, 133, i35» i53> i5<^> i57ji6o, 161, 198,207,248, Subftance of his manifeO-os, 205, &c. 244. B ^aida, province of, 42. Bazil Ivanowitz, Czar, 3. Bafiliowitz, fee John* Bafiligorod, city of, 32. Batturin taken, 186. Baur, General, 18 1» Beards, Ruffian, retrenched, 108. Bekewitz, Prince Alexander, 289. Berkely, Mr. 321. Beftuchef, M. 322. Biela-Ozero, Dutchy and city, 27. Bieiki, Dutchy and city, 35, Boris Galliczin, Czar Peter's governor, 50, 58. Boris Godenow, Czar, 3. Brancovan, hofpodar of Walachia, 238. Bruce, General, 266. Bulgaria, Kingdom of, 38. G Califlia, battle of, i6u Cam- INDEX. Campredon, M. 325. Catitemir, hofpodar of Moldavia, 2383 24 J» Carelia, province of, 123. Cafan, Kingdom and city, 39. Caipian Sea, chart of, 336. Catharine Erb-Magden, her ftory, 140, Sec. Lov- ed by the Czar, 142. and much governs him, 143. Saves him and his army at the Pruth, 2 4 1. Delivered of a fon, 273. Declar'd fuc- ceflbr to the Czar, 337* Crown'd, 339. De- clar'd Emprefs, 344. Catharine, St. order of, infHtuted, 265. Charles XIL his character, 1 1 6. reduces the Danes> ' 127. beats the Ruffians at Narva, 128. beats the Saxons, 132. his infatuation, 136, 144,25 3 > laborious marches, 1 5 9, 1 7 1 , 1 74. enters Saxo- ny, 160. depofes Auguftus, ib. &c. Cruelty to. Patkul, i62,<6'c, leaves Saxony, 170. in danger^ 172, 177. threatens the Czar, 173. wins abat-' tie, I75.'in diftrefs, 170, 188, 189. laysfiegetq Pultowa, 190. attacks the Czar, 192. defeat- ed, 193. efcapes into Turkey, 198. Remains of his army defeated, 211. Intrigues at the Porte. 233, 247. difappointed at the river Pruth^ 343. returns home^ 262 ► has new eaemieSj. 268. killed, 285. Clergy, Ruffian , • 9* Columna, ciiy of, ^o* Condora, province of, 27. Council of State in Rullia, 15... Courts of Juftice, 1 5. Couvanfki, prefident of the Strelitzes, 45, 48* Crim-Tartars, account of, 53, 94>95. Cronflot built, 148. Czar, his arms, 13. Authority, ib. 22, Forces^ 15. Alliances, 17. See Peter, Czarewitz, x4.1exis, bom, 66. his mother repudi- , ated, ib. married, 24^. has a fon born, 271. his Prince£ dies, ib. &c. Account of his crimes mA trial, 290 — 312. Death and funeral, 313* Czarapa- I N D E X. Czarapata, bank of, 177. CzeremetofF, Prince, 7^, 74, 136, 137, 1 J ^, 1 74., CzeremifTes, country of, 29. Czcrnikow, Dutchy and city, 36. D Demetrius, 4. the firft counterfeit, 5. the fecond, 8* Denmark, King of, why he broke with the S wedes, 124. his various fuccefles, &c. 127, 207> 23i> 232,. 250, 254, 274, 276. Doihoraki, Prince, in Poland, 166. Don, river, gi, Dorpt, defcribed, 121. taken, 199. Dwina, province of, 25. ^ £ Ehrenchild, Rear-Admiral, 259, 260. Elbing taken, 226. Embaflies, two odd ones, 269. Embeck river, battle there, 137. Efthonia, province of, 1 20. F. Fravenftad, battle of, 159. G Gadebufh, battle of, 250. Galiiczin, Prince, his hiftory, 5 x — -5 7 . See Boris* — Another, 195:, 257. Gemarthoff, battle of, 155, Goltz, General, 188. Gordon, General, 75, loi. Gortz, baron, his fcheme, 277,316. How to ber executed on England, 279, deteded,28o, 3l6> Gottorp^ globe of, 267. Governors, Ruffian, 104. Great Britain, King of, 208, 317. H Habits, Ruffian, reformed, 107, Hollowzin, batde of, 175. Holftein, Duke of, his hiftory, 340. Betrothed to the Czar's daughter, 341. IJa. I N D El X; .1 Jaroflaw, Dutchy and city 32^ JefFeries, Mr. 318. Igor, Sovereign of Ruffiia, 2. Ingria, province of, 122. Inquifition, .grand, 26^, 284. RelatiB^ta the Cza- rewitz, 289. Perfons involved in it.: 300. John: Alexiowicz, Gzar \vkh Peter, 46. Married^ 48. Death and charadtcr, 65. John Bafiliowitz I: 3. ibid, Juhorski, province, 127 « . K Kalmuck Tartars, 39. Kam of Grim Tartary, 2.^3, 237. Kargapol, province, 26. Kafikermeen, befieged, 72. taken,: 74. Kexliolm, Province aiid tawn of, 123, takei^. 2^1. ■ - ..... .j, , .. - Kiow, city of, 37. Palatine of, 233. Kropotock, General, 210. Lapland Ruffian, 25. Learning forbid in Ruflia, 14 , Le Fort, M. his remarkable hiilory, 5*9— ^3 • more of his charadler,. and actions, 6% 68, 84. made firft ambafFador in. the Czar's travels^ 85. enters Amfterdam, 90. his deatli and funeral, 114. -Ui^^ ifiobic > Leawenhanpt, General,. 1 55^ 179^ r*^^ 2? Luland, province of, 122. ' Livonia defcribed,. 118, &c.. the Czar's clairti> thereon, 119. Lezno, batde of, 180, Sec* Loppia, province of, 42. Lucomoria, province of^ 42. Marienberg taken, 140. MafTacre in Mofcow, 46, MattueofT, M. de, arreted in London, 213, &c» Mazzeppa, the hettman, 53, 55, 185,186, 187. Meek- .INDEX. Mecklenburgh, Duke of, 207. MenzikofF, Alexander, his origin and rife, 68, 69, 70. Adions; 186, 1.92, 196, 250,265,278, 328. •Myderfield, General, 161. Michael Fedrowitz Romanow, ele^Sled Gzar,. ' lo. Miloflaulldj'a traitor, 48, 83. Miferfld, Prince, 324. 'Mittaw furprifed, 155. •Mniz^ck, George, palatine of Sendomir, 6. Morduates, country of, 29. Mofcow, city of, 30. Mufcovy, the name, 2. See Ruflian Proper, 30* Mufcovites, their charader, 17, 23. Religion, 18. ceremonies, 19. fafts, ib. Eafter, 20; Saints, ib. funerals, 21. Marriages, ib. 107. Sul^ec- tion, 22. Inftances of their (hipidity, m. Myr-Maghmud , his hiilory, 333, &c. N Nara/ldns, "their miniftry; 58, 59. Narva defcribed, 121. invefted, 126. battle of, 128. taken, 148. Neutrality, treaty of, 226. Neuftadt, peace of, 325. Kogai Tartars, 38. Norris, Sir John, 275, 283, 285, 318, 321, 323. Koftitz, Major General, 226. Notteburg, city of, 123. Novogrod,Great, Dutch*/ and city, 26. Li:tle, 3?« Nyflot taken, 258. O Obdora, province, 28. Orleans, Duke of, 280, 282. Ormond, Dukeof, 283. Otrophia,' the counterfeit, Demetrius, 5, P Parapet, rolling, 75. Patkul, count, his hifl-ory, 120, T58, 162, 8cc. patriarch of Mufcovy, 181, 182. Percwoloczna/furrenderthere, 196. Per- INDEX. Perniia, province and city, 28. Pernaw, city of, 120 taken ,231. . JPerfian ambaffadors, 252, 337. Perfia, affairs of, 3 3 3 . — 338. Peter Alexidwitz, born, 44. proclaimed Czar, ib. ^ retires to the Troitski monaflery, 477 His bad education, 48. Antipathy to- water, 49. cured, 50. Married, 5:4. begins to govern, ib. Confpii> ed againft, 45, 55:, 81, 15.8, reconciled to his brother, 57. takes notice of M. Lc Foit. 61. Enters under hini, 63. forms a new corps offol- diers, ib. 64. conceives the idea of a marine, ^5' 7i> 79* appears before Afoph, 72* repulfed, 73. Befieges it again, 75;. takes it. 76. Beats the Turkiih fleet, ib. refolves to travel, 79. enters Mofcow in triumph, 80. Obliges his fubje^ls to build fhips, ib. and the young nobility to travel, 8 1 . Succefsful againU: the Tartars, 84. Affronted at Riga, 86. promifes to fupport Auguftus, 86» entertained by the ele(5tor of Brandenburgh, 87. Goes to Dantzick and Berlin, 88. to Holland, 89 Applies, himfelf to fhip-building, 9 1 . invited to England by King William, 92. Sends over workmen to Mofcow, 93. Hears of a victory 0- ver the Tartars, 94. comes to England, 95. Ef- teems the marquis of Caermarthen, 96. Refides atDeptford, ib. Manner of fpcnding his time, 97. Shewn a mock engagement, ib. Takes feveral Englifh aw^ay with him, 98. Called home by an infarre6lion, 99. Begins his reformation. 103. in his revenue, 105. in the habits of the people, 107. retrenches their beards, 108. reftrains the Patriarch, ib. abolifheshis authority, 109. lef- fens the boyars retinue, 1 10, reforms the Ruf- fian year, 112, regulates the army and Navy, 113, inftitutes the order of St. Andrew, 115. enters on a war with Sweden, 104. 116, &c. motives of it^ 117, &c. hears of the defeat of his army at Narva, 130. makes new prepara- tions, 131. Has an interview with the King of Fo- INDEX. Poland, lb. 134, 140. Sends troops into LiVo- nia and Lithuania, 133. his fuccefles, 136. in- vites people into his dominions, 139. falls in love with Catharine Erb-Magden, 142. once jealous of her, 144. builds Petersburgh, 145-, Sec. fends an array into Poland, 152. enters it himfelf, 514. made a colonel in his own army, 157. Goes to Mufcovy, 158. Writes on the abdication of Aiiguftus 164, 165, 166, 167. Obtains ofRcers of the Emperor, 169. With- draws into Lithuania, 170. Goes to Mofcow, 171. retreats before the K. of Sweden, 173. Wins the battle of Lezno, 180, &c. appears before Pultowa, 191. Beats the K. of Sweden, 193. notifies his vidlory, 198. his moderation, 202 . offers peace after vi(5lory, 203. but oblig- ed to take other meafures, 204. arrives at Lub- lin, 208. Meets Auguftus at Thorn, 209. and the K. of Prullia at Marienwerder, 210. Enters B/Iofcow in triumph, 212. Why he led the Swedifh prifoners in the proceiTion, ib. Writes to Queen Anne about the affront put upon his ambaffador, 2 J4,&c. anfwer to the Queen's let- ter, 225. Rife of his war with the Turks, 233. prepares for it, 234. his declaration, 235. Marches to Moldavia, 238. fjccefsful at fiHt, 239. fights the Turks at the river Pruth, 240. concludes a peace, 2^2. refufed a feat in the college of tlie empire, 246. has new broils with the Ttirks, 246, 248 . publickly married to Ca- tharine, 249. Takes Frederickftadt, 254. re- turns home, 25-5. Makes a defcent in Finland, and takes Abo, 256. Fits out a great fleet, 25 8. gains a victory at fca, 259. for which he tri- umphs, 260, and is made a vice-admiral, ib. Speech to the old Ruffians, 263. orders the women to travel, 264. inilitutes the order of St. Catharine, 265. inquires into the crimes of his miniil:ry,ib. Mediates between Auguftus and his kingdom, 271. goes into Germany, 273. I i Has I N D E X. Has an intervrew with two Kings, 274. at Co- pcnhagen,ib. founds the coafi: of Denmark and Sweden, 275. Commands the fleets of four na- \ions,ib. lays afide the defign on Schonen,ib. and why, 276. Treats the King of Sweden with re- fpecl, 277. Comes into the fcheme of baron (jortz, 2 79.excufes himfelf concerning it, 281. rirrives in Holland, 280. Goes fo Paris, 281. Vifitsthe academy of fciences, ib. His propofal 10 the D. of Orleans, 282. returns home, 283. piakes new regulations, 284. fludies the geo- graphy of his Empire, 286. Theufe he makes of this knowledge, 287, 288. employs miners, 289. his manifedo, letters, &c. relating to his fon,290. Sec. Part of his chara6ler,299. defend- ed with regard tohisfon,3 14. complains of falfe reports concerning that affair, 315. fees himfelf abandoned, 319, publifiies a manifefto, ibid makes a dpfcent on Sweden, ib. His fleet re- treats, 3 2 1 . His propoiitions for peace reje^-ed, ib, Seizes the Englifh merchants, 322. His re- fident fent home, ib. gains an advantage atfea, 323. Makes advances towards a peace, 324. €oncIudes it, 325. celebrates it, 326. compli- mented with new titles, 327. Fines feveral great men, 328. baniflies the jefuits, 329. fets lip alTcmblies, ib. embarrafled with Poland, ib, fets the Englifli againfl their miniftry, 330. Gets his Imperial tide acknowledged, 331. Makes nevv regulations, ib. Enters Mofcow in triumph, 3,32. impofes an oath regarding the fucceflion, ib. complains of outrages from the Allies of Perfia, 334. prepares for war, ib. which alarm.s the Turks,ib. conquers Da^heftan and Schirvan, 335. Takes a new chart of the Cafpian Sea, 336, which he fends to the academy in Fraiice, ib. makes u treaty withSchah Thamas,337. ap- points a fiiccefibr by will, 3 39. who proves to be his confort, ibid. Crowns her, ibid. Gives his uaaghtcr to theD. of HoWein, 342. Seized with a flrangury INDEX. a ftrangury 42. Dies, 343 . View of his many eftablifhnients, 344. Defcription of his perfon, 349. Chara6ter, ib. Peter Alexiowitz, 11. born, 271. Peter Petrowitz, born, 273. Petersburgh, building and defcription of, 145, &c. 266. PHug, General^ 183. Piper, Count, his fate, 225. Plefcow, datchy and city, 26. Poland, forces of, 134. Affairs of, ib. 152, 154, 165, 166, 167, 169. 328. Poniatowfld, Count, 233,241,243. PrufTia, King of, 210. 267, 274, 317. Pruth, battle of, 240. peace of, 242. Pulkona, battle of, 256. Pultowa, fiege of, 190, battle of, 192, &c. Re- flexions on it, 200. a great advantage from it, 224. R Renchiid, General, 159, 194, 203, 212. Repnin, Prince, 175. Rcfchow, dutchy and city, 34. Rctufari, ifland of, 145, 148, 149. Revel defcribed, 121. taken, 231. Reza, Datchy and city, 3 1 . Riga defcribed, 12. taken, 229. Rivers, junflion of, 23. RomanzoffjM. 323, 324. Roftow, dutchy and city, 24. RuiHa, the name, 2. ConRitution of, 13. Forces of, 15. Extent, 24. in Europe, ib. Climate of, 42. Produ6t, 43. Advantageous fituation, 286- Ruffians. See Mufcovites, S Samoeldes, Tartars, 41. Schaffirof, vice-chancellor, 242. Schein, General, 94. Schlippenbach, General, 136, 192. Severia, dutchy and city, 36, Schullemburg, General, 159, Siberia, kingdom of, 40. Sicklcr's confpiracy, 8 1 , &c. Skiboiarcks, Ruffian foldiers; 16. Smo" •V. ■ I N * D E X. SmoIenfliO, dutchy and city, 35. Staniflaus, 1365 170, 171. Steinbock, General, 250 254. . Stralfund befieged, 245. taken, 268. Sweden, fee Charles. Queen of, 309,322. Sophia, Princefs, her intrigues, 45, 56. Authority, 48. fhutup in a monaftery, 57. Strelitzes, Ruffian foldiers, 16. rebel, 45. fubmit, 47. rebel again, 99. beat, 1 01. extirpated, 102. Suatiflaus, fovereign of Ruffia, 2. Suifld, Bafil, Czar, 8. Sufdal, dutchy and city, 33. Tartars, often in broils with the Ruffians, 270. Tartary, Mufcovite, 37. Thekelavitau, his confpiracy, 55. Theodore I. Czar, 3. II. 12. Tingoefes, Tartars, 42. Tobolfld, city of, 40. Tonningen taken, 254. Travelling forbid in Ruffia, 14. commanded. Si. Turks, affairs of the, 72—76, 233 — 242. 246* 248. 334» 336, 337. 338. Tweer, dutchy and city, 34. U Veronitz, city of, 31, 114. Viatka, province and city, 29. Uladiflaus, ele6led Czar, 9. Ulbeck Tartars, embaffy from, 264. UfUoug, province and city, 28. W Weber, M. 285. WefTelowfld M. 322. Whitworth ; Mr, his extraordinary embaffy, 2 1 7. Wiburg, city of, 123. befieged, 168. taken,228. Wifmar taken, 268. Wolfenbuttel, Princefs of, 245, 271, &c. Wolga, the ri^er, 35. Wolodimer, fovereign of Ruffia, — 2. dutchy and city of, 32. Wologda, province and city, 26. "^V'orotin, dutchy of, 30.