dinary Zeal for the Czar of Muscovy; and, 1698 on the other Side, the Country-man of Oft W Frife drank the Health of the Hoft in difguife, faying, That he was not ignorant of his inviolable Affection for the Emperor of Germany. After which his Imperial Majefty made a Present of the Glafs to the Country-man of Oft Frife, defiring him to preserve it carefully in Memory of the Healths drank in fuch good Company. Upon the 29th of July the Grand Embaffy had their publick Audience; to which they were conducted in a very magnificent Manner, and were treated very fplendidly at the Emperor's Expence. Whilft the Czar was thus on his Travels, conciliating to himself the Affections of the greatest Powers of Europe; making Obfervations, and learning Arts for the Improvement of his Country, Intelligence coming frequently to Moscow, that he was extremely pleafed with what he met with in foreign Countries, especially in England; that he was fending a great Number of Officers, Artificers, and all Sorts of Strangers among them; and that he intended to make great Alterations in his own Affairs, as foon as he came home; the difcontented Party, who were in the Interest of the Princefs Sophia, took a Handle from thence to infufe ftrong Jealoufies into the Minds of the People, which were greatly fomented by the Priefts, that his Majefty would fubvert their holy Religion; and, by bringing Foreigners among them, defigned to opprefshis natural Subjects, and quite change the antient Establishment both in. Church and 1698 State; upon which a Conspiracy was formed to declare the Throne vacant, by his Abfence, to fet his Sifter free from her Confinement, and place her thereon in his Stead. Another Confpiracy. The Strelitzes knew very well that they had loft the Czar's Favour, and about ten thousand of these, fent into Winter Quarters on the Confines of Lithuania, about five hundred Miles from Mofcow, had agreed to join the Confpirators, and the better to colour their Defign, they were to make some Complaint concerning their Pay, and march away directly; but the Regency, appointed by the Czar at his Departure, hearing of their Motion, fent at first several Perfons to endeavour to pacify them by fair means, who offered them not only all their present Pay and Arrears, but fix Months Pay Advance, and used all means to prevail with them to return and join the other Forces, who were very foon, the Time of the Campaign drawing near, to form an Army against the Turks: But they would liften to no Propofals, they faid, till they had been at Mofcow, to fee their Friends, from whom they had been fo long banished, and would likewife inform themselves what was become of the Czar, not knowing whether he was dead or alive. Upon hearing an Account of this ill Succefs of the Deputies, fent by the Regency, the whole City was in a great Confternation, many Perfons of Condition left Mofcow, and retired into the Country, dreading what might happen upon the Approach of these Troops, and the Revolt of others, and having feen the terrible Havock and Devastati on on that was made by these very Strelitzes in 1698 their Rebellion, but a few Years before; to prevent any Infurrection, and put a Stop. to the Dangers that were threatned, General Gordon was ordered to march against the Mutineers, with his Army; which had been many Times in Action with him, and which confifted of old Soldiers for the most Part, and foreign Officers. They came up with the Rebels about forty Miles from Moscow, near the Jerufalem Monaftery, from whence the General fent fome Noblemen, who came out with him as Voluntiers, and feveral Officers, to offer them honourable Satisfaction, if they would return to their Duty; but they very obftinately perfifted in their firft Refolution of coming to Moscow, to know, as they pretended, whether the Czar was living or dead; and declared, that if his General lead his Army against them, although it was double their Number, they would oppofe him at all Hazards. General Gordon, receiving this Answer, ordered fome Cannon to be fired over their Heads, to frighten them, and fummoned : them to furrender; but the Shot doing no Execution, the Priests took this Advantage to confirm them in their Refolution, and de clared, that it was a Miracle, and that the Shot had no Power to hurt them, who were going to fight for the Honour of God, and in Defence of their holy Religion. Thus, puffed up with the true Spirit of. Enthusiasm, the Rebels gave a great Shout, and ran furiously upon the General's Army; whereupon a very fharp Engagement enfued, that lafted near two Hours. The Rebels now found, too late, 1698 late, that Miracles were ceased, and having ww two or three thousand Men killed on the Spot, furrendered themselves Prisoners. The General hanged up every tenth Man, after the manner of the Roman Decimation, when the Battle was over, and brought the reft Prifoners to Mofcow, where feveral of the Ringleaders, being examined on the Pine, confeffed their Crimes, and discovered the principal Perfons concerned with them: They owned, that they were to release the Princess Sophia, and put the Government into her Hands, to whom they thought of Right it belonged. The Czar Account of When the firft Account of this Rebellion receives an came to the Czar, he was at the Court of theRebellion Vienna, where the Emperor, with whom he was in Alliance, had entertained him moft magnificently, as is before related; and from thence he was preparing to go to Venice, in which State, as well as at Rome, great Preparations were making for his Reception; but this News made him alter his Refolution, and fet out directly for Mofcow, by the Way of Poland, where he had a fhort Interview with King Auguftus, and it was thought he concerted Meafures with that Prince, at this Time, for the War that was soon after declared with Sweden, there being a Treaty of Peace then on Foot with the Turks, by the Mediation of King William. Returns to The Czar fet forward with a Train of thirty Perfons, among whom were General Le Fort, and Count Gollowin, but the Diack Wofrifeftyn was left at Vienna, being to affift, as Plenipotentiary, at the Congrefs of Carlowitz. His Majefty proceeded with so much Expedition Expedition and Secrecy, that he arrived at Mofcow, to the great Joy of his faithful Friends and Subjects, and to the Terror and Confufion of his Enemies, before it was known in that City that he was on his Journey: The very next Day after his Arrival, he ordered very handsome Rewards to be given to those Soldiers who had been ftedfaft in their Loyalty, and fought faithfully in his Service; he likewife ordered the principal Agents and Contrivers of the Rebellion to be brought before him; and having fully examined them himself, before his Boyars, they were all fentenced to Death. Among the Confpirators were Prince Colorin and General Romanodofkowski, with feveral Ladies of Quality, and many Priests of the firft Rank, who had been great Incendiaries among the People, under Pretence of defending the Purity of their Faith and Doctrines. A great Number of the Confpirators were beheaded, fome broke upon the Wheel, and others buried alive; above two thousand of the Strelitzes were executed, fome had their Heads taken off in the Market Place, and others hanged upon Gallowfes erected for that Purpose, at the Gates of all the Walls that encompass the City. Those who were beheaded were laid in Ranks upon the Ground with their Heads by them, where they were left, as thofe hanging at the Gates were, all the Winter, and then taken away to prevent the Air's being infected by them. Other Gibbets were fet up in the publick Roads leading to Moscow, at about two Miles diftance, upon which a great Number of the other Rebels were hanged, and large Monu ments 1698 |