1694

The Czar's Council had too much Pene

k_tration not to see these Advantages, and therefore, at the Inftance of the Emperor of Germany, the Poles and Venetians, Ruffia likewife declared War against the Turks and Tartars. Peter commanded feveral Galleys and Veffels to be built, and equipt on the River Veronis, which, with fome open Boats of the Coffacks who inhabit about 700 Rufs Miles, on the Tanais or Don, he employed the next The Czar be Year in befieging Azoph, fituated at the Geges Azopb. Mouth of the laft mentioned River, where it falls into the Palus Mæotis.

1695 The Year 1695 beheld the first Campaign of the two moft formidable Monarchs Mustapha II. in Europe, Peter I. Czar of Muscovy, and Muhis Charac- ftapha II. Emperor of the Turks: This laft fuc

ter.

ceeded his Uncle Achmet II. whofe Conduct difpleafing him as much as his Father's, he was refolved to take other Measures, and to know and do every Thing himself. He found both his Army and his Treasury in a very mean Condition, but he knew how, by the Severity of his Difcipline and cunning Management, to re-establish them, defigning to begin the War, as it were afresh; and refolved, notwithstanding all the Remonftrances his Ministers made against it, to march himself at the Head of an Army, he defigned for Hungary. He had nothing to fear from the Side of Poland, from whence an Envoy was just then come as far as Adrianople, to propose a separate Peace; but he was much alarmed at the News of the Preparations making by the Czar Peter against the Tartars, because this obliged them to refuse sending him the Succours which he had rely'd upon; however, notwithstanding

withstanding all the Cham could fay, he forced him to bring a Body of fix thoufand Men, for it is an indifpenfible Duty of the Cham's to be present in the Ottoman Army whenever the Sultan himself commands it.

1695

This Circumftance was very favourable to the Designs of the Czar, who in this Expedition entered himself as an Enfign only; but he had an Army of about eighty or ninety Thousand well difciplined Men, divided into two Bodies, one to attack the Town of Azoph, the other to fupport the Donzki The Siege Coffacks, and make Head against the Tar- of Azophe tars, if they fhould attempt to raise the Siege or throw any Succours into the Town ; but this the Turks were able to do by Water; and, making frequent Sallies, held out a refolute Defence for above two Months ; during which Time his Czarish Majefty was every where, faw all Things done himself, and made Remarks upon what happened; the Ruffians, whenever they fkirmished with any of the Enemy, had the better of them, and now began to play their Battery on the Place with good Succefs; but the Progrefs they had made was all render'd fruitlefs, by the Treachery of one Jacob, a Fo- Mifcarries reigner, employed in the Ruffian Artillery, by the Trea who, having been ill ufed by the Boyar he chery of an ferved under, and not receiving his Pay as he expected, nailed up the Cannon, upon the Batteries he was intrufted with, and deserting in the Night, to the Enemy, informed them of what he had done, inciting them at the fame Time to make a bold Sally, which they did accordingly, and put the Muscovites into fuch Confufion,

and

Engineer.

1695 and committed fo much Slaughter among them, that they were forced, foon after, to leave the Place for that Year, and turn the Siege into a Blockade. This fudden Change of Fortune deftroyed all Hopes of taking the City without pursuing other Measures, for which Reafon his Czarish Majefty returned to Mofcow, not doubting, but he should make his Advantage the next Year of the Errors he had obferved to be committed in this Campaign. It was at this Time, that he gave his Minifters Proofs of that great Genius, and Penetration which afterwards made all his Enterprizes eafy to him.

1696

The firft Campaign of the Czar Peter was talked of all over Europe, and the Accounts of whatever he performed himself greatly exaggerated, which gave the World an Idea of him quite different from what had been conceived of any of his Predeceffors, and began to raise those Hopes of him, which were afterwards fully accomplished; but Fame was fomewhat too speedy in her Flight, when the carried through all Parts the News of the Reduction of Azoph, which Defign mifcarried at the very Instant that it was thought fecure.

Soon after his Majefty's Return to MofThe Death cow, viz. in the Month of February 1696, of the Czar died his Brother, the Czar John Alexowitz, Jobn. of whose Infirmities I have before spoken, which rendered him incapable of concerning himself much with the Affairs of State; but his Time was chiefly spent in Acts of Devotion. He was buried at Mofcow, in rhe Church of St. Michael, where most of

the

the Dukes and Czars of Mufcovy have been depofited, with a Tomb more Magnificent than any of the reft, being adorned with a great Number of precious Stones. He left, at the Time of his Death, three Daughters, one of which, is that illuftrious Princefs, ANNE JOANNOWNA, who fways at Prefent the Imperial Scepter of Ruffia.

1696

1696 w

THE

HISTORY

OF

PETER I. CZAR of Muscovy.

BOOK III.

The CONTENTS.

The Czar takes Azoph. Builds a Fleet. Determines to travel. A Confpiracy against him; happily difcovered. His fourney to Holland and England. Another Confpiracy against him, while he is abroad. His Return to Mofcow. Punishes the Rebels. Settles his Army and Navy. Inftitutes the Order of St. Andrew. Declares War with Sweden. An Account of the Mufcovite Religion, Ceremonies, and Superftitions. The Czar reforms the Abuses in his Revenues.

T

HE Czar Peter, now fole Monarch of Ruffia, having employed feveral Venetians and others to build more Veffels at Veronis, and finding them in a proper Condition to fall down the River Don, went this Year a fecond Time against