170 POLAND. obliged to assist him against his uncle Charles, A. D. 1620. Unfortunate as were the last years of this prince's reign, he certainly possessed a virtuous mind, and considerable abilities both for the field His reputation, however, was and the cabinet. diminished by his loss of the crown of Sweden and of the imperial diadem of Russia; and it must be confessed that an obstinate adherence to his pretensions and prejudices led him into irretrievable errors, which proved fatal to the tranquillity of his country. Uladislaus, the son of Sigismund by a first was considered as presumptive heir to the wife, crown of Poland, though the constitution required that an assembly of the states should determine the succession. ever, John Casimir, howwas supposed to entertain hopes of being The queen his raised to the sovereign dignity. made some mother, who was second wife to Sigismund, nerosity of her son destroyed the measures of this ambitious princess: Casimir despised the at the head of the nobility, who declared for attempts in his favour; but the ge idea of supplanting a brother, and put himself Uladislaus. Uladislaus. The states, therefore, be A. D. ing unanimous in favour of that prince, 1632. he was declared king of Poland, and crowned accordingly. Uladislaus VII. was scarcely established on the throne before an occasion demanded the utmost exertion of his abilities. The Russians, expecting to profit by the unsettled state of the Polish government, made an irruption into Poland, and desolated the territories through which they passed. The king advanced against the enemy with an inferior number of troops, and attacked their lines. The battle was A. D. obstinate; but the Russians were at 1634. length driven into a narrow defile, where they were obliged to submit to the terms imposed by the conqueror. Uladislaus also obtained a signal victory over the Turks, who had attacked his dominions. In order to punish a chief of the Cossacs, named Kymielniski, for improper behaviour, the Polish governor surrounded bis house, which he set on fire. The wife and infant son of Kymielniski perished in the flames; but himself escaped, excited his nation to arms, and ravaged Poland with the fury of a man thirsting for revenge, and exasperated by his wrongs. The whole kingdom was reduced to consternation by those barbarians, when Uladislaus sickened of a malignant fever, of which he died. A. D. 1648. He was succeeded by John Casimir, who had been educated among the Jesuits, had taken their habit, and pronounced his vows. To absolve him from these, the pope made him a cardinal. It is also suspected that his father Sigismund had been a Je Q 2 suit; 172 POLAND. suit; and the same opinion is entertained of his brother Uladislaus: at least it is known that the Jesuits possessed great authority, and had occasioned much disturbance, during the last reign. The hatred which the nobility bore to the whole society, fell heavy on a prince, who had once been a member of the community of Jesus. He was, however, elected king of Poland. sacs. John Casimir was no sooner established on the throne, than he expressed his disapprobation of the measures pursued with regard to the CosTo the nobility, who urged him to take the field in person, he replied that negociation was preferable to war; that the Poles were the first aggressors; that they ought not to have set fire to Kymielniski's house; and that it was their duty to make reparation for the injury. The nobles, therefore, resolved to act without his consent, and marched an army into the Ukraine, where they were defeated by the Cossacs with great slaughter. Casimir concluded a treaty with this people, and promised to renew the tribute to their chief, which had been abolished during the last reign. The Cossacs, however, violating this agreement, ed them, and compelled them the king attackthem to sue for peace. A. D. 1653. The Russians, taking advantage of the present confusion, invaded Poland with a numerous army; and, as if the republic had not been sufficiently embarrassed, Charles Gustavus, who had long harboured ambitious designs against this country, determined to assist in completing her misfortunes. The Swedish 1657. Swedish monarch was joined by a great A. D. number of Cossacs, and discontented nobles, who resented the lenity of the Polish sovereign. The Swedes, however, were at length compelled to evacuate Poland, and to retire into their own territories. But the tranquillity of the country, was again soon disturbed by the animosity which existed between the king and the nobles, who determined to decide their differences by the sword. Forces were raised on both sides; and Casimir, unable to bring the people back to their duty, collected a sum of money, which he transmitted to France, whither he went to enjoy that peaceful life which his own country had refused him. CHAP. III. From the Resignation of John Casimir, to the Accession of Stanislaus Augustus Poniatowski, the, last King of Poland. HE resignation of Casimir involved A. D. THE the nation in fresh scenes of discord 1669. and confusion. It was not without reason considered as an abdication of the sovereignty; and the nobles, therefore, assembled for a new election. But as they had not all participated in the dissatisfaction given to Casimir, they separated into factions, drew their swords upon each other, and threatened not only the freedom of suffrage, but the destruction of the republic. At length, however, a calm succeeded, and the assembly proceeded to canvass the merits of the several candidates, who were all foreigners. Q 3 The foreigners. The foremost on the list was the son of the czar of Russia, who had been educated after the Polish fashion, spoke the language, and had adopted the manners and usages of the country. The most powerful argument, however, in his favour, was an army of eighty thousand men, which was stationed on the frontiers to await the decisions of the diet. czar also promised that his son should embrace the catholic religion; that he should publicly renounce all claim to the crown of Russia; that Kiow, and all the places conquered from Poland, should be restored; that four millions should be paid into the treasury of the republic; and that he would furnish an army of forty thousand men, to prevent the other candidates from disturbing the peace of the kingdom. These proposals were considered as advantageous, but they were accompanied with menaces which rendered them disagreeable, and excited the resentment of the whole Polish nation. As the Poles, however, were not able to oppose and resist so numerous and powerful an army as the czar had stationed on the frontiers of the kingdom, they considered it as more safe and prudent to act with caution, and to give no unnecessary umbrage to the court of Russia. Wishing, therefore, to gain time for their purpose, they found means for not declaring immediately in favour of the Russian prince, and amused the czar with specious appearances. The other candidates were the dukes of Lorraine, of Neuburg, and of Condé. The friends of the last were considered as the most numerous and powerful, and it was thought that the diet would determine in his favour. But many nobles being accused |