and birth would have admitted the slightest suspicion? A. D. Immediately after the death of Demetrius, the nobles and senators at Moscow 1606. proceed to the election of a new sovereign; and their suffrages being equally divided between Zuski and John Galitzin, one of the assembly observed: "These lords are of equal merit; and we have done our duty; but in order to decide this matter, let us consult the people, that no person need blame our conduct." This advice was approved and followed; and the suffrages of the people determined the election in favour of Zuski. If the remembrance of Demetrius caused him no remorse, at least a shadow of that prince disturbed his repose: for the name of shadow may be properly given to a kind of phantom of the late czar, which never made its appearance. Two noblemen who were discontented with the government of their country, without exhibiting him to view, published that he still existed. They raised an army, combated and defeated Zuski, but were in their turn defeated, 'made prisoners, and put to death. To this shade succeeded a real being, who has been called a third Demetrius. He was a schoolmaster at Socola, a small town in Polish Russia, and pretended that, notwithstanding the fracture of his thigh, in consequence of his leap from the window, he had been carried off in the midst of the confusion by some faithful subjects, and transported to that remote place, where he had undertaken the instruction of children, for the sake of gaining a livelihood. If the Poles Poles were deceived on this occasion, it was because they were willing to be so; for this new Demetrius was far from exhibiting the same symptoms of characteristic truths as the first, The only points that favoured a resemblance, were the countenance of this impostor, a coincidence of age, and a large stock of effrontery. But the Poles, whose interest it was to excite disturbances which might divide and distress the Russians, gave every assistance in their power to this pretender. The impostor, therefore, soon found himself at the head of an army of sixty thousand Poles, and eight thousand Zaporog Cossacs; with which he attacked the czar's forces, and defeated them with great slaughter. The victor, whose numbers were daily increased by multitudes of disaffected Russians, pursued the vanquished to the gates of Moscow, and laid siege to the city. Zuski, finding it difficult to extricate himself from the impending danger, released the palatine of Sandomir and his daughter, on condition of their employing their interest in engaging the king of Poland to withdraw his forces, and desist from aiding the pretender Demetrius. No sooner, however, were they at liberty, than they determined to embrace so favourable an opportunity of revenging themselves on Zuski. Accordingly, having repaired to the camp of the Poles, the widow of the first Demetrius appeared with a splendid retinue, acknowledged the impostor as her husband, and treated him with great kindness and respect. He received her with all imaginable pomp, and with demonstration of unfeigned joy. This public testimony in his favour, induced great numbers to to join him, who had hitherto doubted his legitimacy, and almost all Russia declared for the impostor. But the widow of the first Demetrius neither acted sincerely, nor cordially, for she did not preserve for him either the friendship or the assistance of the Poles. These, having aided the impostor merely for the sake of obtaining from the emperor Zuski certain objects which they had in view, changed sides, and assisted the czar in expelling the schoolmaster. He fled into Tartary, where he was afterwards assassinated. The Russians, weary of Zuski and his government, imputed to him the series of misfortunes by which they had been afflicted during his reign; and as those calamities, among which are principally to be reckoned the horrors of war, arose chiefly from the Poles, the Russians thought they might more easily repair their past losses, and prevent any future injuries, by choosing an emperor from that nation. Zuski was, therefore, deposed, shaven, and immured in a convent, where he died of chagrin, or of poison voluntarily taken. A. D. 1610. The crown was offered to Uladislaus, the son of Sigismund, king of Poland, who, instead of presenting himself to receive it, sent before him an army of Poles, that committed every species of disorder. At lengh, the continued delays of Uladislaus, the insolence and licentiousness of the Poles, and the impatience of the Russians, who saw no end of their miseries, excited the people to discontent and insurrection. They loudly complained of the outrages they had received from the Poles, who ought to have protected and defended them; and the Polanders, Polanders, apprehending a general revolt, forbade the inhabitants to assemble or bear arms. Incensed at this prohibition, an universal insurrection took place in Moscow; and the Poles finding themselves unable successfully to oppose the Russians, set fire to the city, and the conflagration consumed one hundred and eighty thousand houses. During the pretended reign of Uladislaus, which continued only three years, another Demetrius made his appearance, who, being betrayed by his adherents, was taken and put to death. The election of Uladislaus being rendered of no effect by his never appearing to accept the crown, the Russians proceeded to the choice of a new sovereign. They were, however, greatly divided in opinion, several wishing for a foreign prince, as less susceptible of predilection in favour of any particular family; while others, jealous of the national glory, insisted on having a native of the country to rule over them. After many persons had been named and rejected, one of the electors proposed Michael Theodorowitz Romanow, son of Philaretus, that relative to whom Theodore on his death-bed had granted his sceptre, and whom Boris, after he obtained possession of the throne, had separated from his wife and confined in a convent. He had been carried a prisoner into Poland, but, having taken orders, was decorated with the title of bishop. This proposal was greatly approved by many, especially by the people, who thought him possessed of qualities, which were necessary for preserving the tranquillity of the state. He was temperate, pious, and prudent; and, though only seventeen years of age, the Russian nobles who who knew him, represented hiin to the others as capable of restoring the empire to its pristine splendour and greatness. The assembly, however, not willing to decide absolutely in his favour, till they were better acquainted with his character, deputed two of their number to wait upon his mother, and to desire she would send her son to Moscow. That affectionate parent was no sooner informed of the purport of the message, than she wept and lamented for her son, who, she imagined, was demanded of her only to undergo the same fate, which the last czars had suffered. Being encouraged, however, by the remonstrances of her friends, she suffered him to depart. Michael obtained the approbation of the assembly; for, though some of the electors considered his youth as an objec tion, the majority exclaimed, "The Almighty, who has chosen him, will also assist and protect him." CHAP. IV. From the Accession of the now reigning Family of Romanow, to the Extinction of the male Race of that Lineage. TH HE commencement of the reign of A. D. Michael Theodorowitz equaled the 1613. most sanguine expectations of his friends, and exhibited strong marks of prudence and ability. His disposition was mild and engaging; he delighted in the arts of peace, and was determined, if possible, to efface the remembrance of the |
