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This excellent monarch died in 861, and was fucceeded by his fon Ziemovitus, who was of a more warlike difpofition than his father, and who firft introduced a regular discipline among the Polish troops. He was victorious in all his battles with the Germans and Hungarians; and confiderably enlarged his dominions. After his death nothing remarkable happened in Poland till the time of Mieczillaus I. who attained the ducal authority in 964. He was born blind, and continued fo for 7 years; after which he recovered his fight without ufing any medicine; a circumftance fo extraordinary, that in thofe times of ignorance and fuperftition it was accounted a miracle. In his reign the Chriftian religion was introduced into Poland; in confequence of his marriage with Deborwka, daughter to the Duke of Bohemia, who had rejected his offer, unless he would fuffer himself to be baptized. He founded the archbishoprics of Gnefna and Cracow, and many bishoprics; but allowed his dominions to be ravaged by the Ruffians. He was fucceeded by his fon Boleflaus I. the first king of Poland.

Boleflaus had conferred on Suantepolk, he pro jected nothing less than the deftruction of him and his whole army. The maffacre was already begun when Boleflaus received intelligence; and having already affembled part of his army, fell upon the traitors with fuch fury, that they were obliged to fly, and he got fafe to Poland. But in the mean time Jarillaus having affembled fresh forces, purfued the Polish army; and having come up with them juft as one half had croffed the river Borif thenes, attacked them with the utmoft fury. Bo leflaus defended himself with the greatest refolution; the Ruffians were entirely put to the rout, and a terrible carnage enfued. The victory, how. ever, though complete, was not decifive; for which reafon Boleflaus continued his retreat, with out attempting to conquer a country too exten five for him ever to keep in fubje&tion. He next led his army into Saxony, plundered the country, and fixed the boundaries of his empire at the Elbe; where he erected two iron columns, in me. mory of his conqueft. He afterwards conquered Pruffia and Pomerania; and then applied himtelf (4.) POLAND, HISTORY OF, FROM K. BOLES wholly to the enacting of wholetome laws for the LAUS I. TO BOLESLAUS II. Boleflaus I. furnamed benefit of his people. But in the midst of this Chrobry, fucceeded to the fovereignty in 999. He tranquillity Jariflaus affembled the most numeprofeffed and cherished Chriftianity, and was a rous army that had ever been heard of in Ruffia, man of great valour and prudence. The emperor with which he appeared on the frontier of PoOtho III. invefted him with the regal dignity; land. Boleflaus, though now advanced in years, which was confirmed by the pope. Upon this, marched out against his adverfaries, and met them he affected a great deal of state. It however ex- on the banks of Borifthenes, where he gained anocited the envy of the duke of Bohemia, who had ther fignal victory. Many thousand prifoners folicited the fame honour for himself, and had were taken, but Boleflaus released them upon been refufed. His jealoufy was further excited very eafy conditions. This well-timed clemency by the connection between Boleflaus and the em- produced fuch an happy effect, that the Ruffians peror, the former having married Rixa the empe- voluntarily fubmitted to his jurifdiétion, and again ror's niece. Without any provocation, therefore, became his fubjects. He died in 1025, after hahe entered Poland at the head of a numerous ar ving vaftly extended his dominions, and rendered my, committing everywhere dreadful ravages. his fubjects happy. (See BOLESLAUS I.) Bolef Boleflaus immediately marched against him, and laus was fucceeded by his fon Mieczislaus II. but the Bohemians retired with precipitation. Scar- be poffeffed none of the great qualities of his facity of provifions, and the inclemency of the feather, being indolent and debauched. In the be fon, prevented Doleflaus at that time from purfuing; but as foon as thefe obftacles were removed, he entered Bohemia at the head of a formi dable army; took Prague after a fiege of 2 years; and after over-running the whole country, took the fortrefs of Willogrod, with the duke and his fon Jaremir; put out the eyes of the former, and condemned the latter to perpetual imprifonment. From Bohemia Boleflaus marched towards Moravia; but no fooner did he arrive on the frontier than the whole province fubmitted without a blow. The civil war having taken place, on the death of Wolodimir, grand duke of Ruffia, between his 2 fons Jariflaus and Suantepolk, the latter fed to Bolehaus for affiftance; who accordingly fet out at the head of a numerous army, under pretence of doing juftice to Suantepolk. He was met on the Bog by Sariflaus at the head of an army much fuperior in number to his own, but he foon gained a complete victory over him, and obliged him to fly to Kiovia. This city was foon after taken, with a vaft treasure and thus Boleflaus became master of the greateft part of Ruflia; whereupon he reinflated Shantepolk, and com pletely routed a fecond army brought againft him by Jarislaus. In return for all thefe favours, which

ginning of his reign, the Ruffians, Bohemians, and Moravians, revolted. However, as the spirit and difcipline introduced by Boleflaus ftill remained in the Polish army, Miecziflaus found no difficulty in reducing them again to obedience: after which, devoting himfelf entirely to voluptuousnefs, he was feized with a frenzy, which put an end to his life in 1034. The bad conduct of this prince proved very detrimental to the intereft of his fon Cafimir. Instead of electing him king, they chofe Rixa his mother queen-regent. She proved tyrannical, and fo partial to her countrymen the Germans, that a rebellion enfued, and the was forced to fly to Germany, whither the had fent Boleflaus's vaft treasure. In confequence of her bad behaviour and expulfion, Cafimir was driven out of the kingdom; and a civil war taking place, many pretenders to the crown appeared at once. To the miferies occafioned by this were added thofe of foreign war both with the Bohemians and Ruffians. In the midft of thefe accumulated dif treffes, Cafimir was loudly called for, and his election to the throne refolved on. After fome fearch, he was difcovered in France, where he had affumed the monaftic habit for fubfiflence. A difpenfation being obtained, his return was ce

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The inhabitants of Kiovia now called to their affistance Suantoflaus and Uszevold, two brothers of Wiffeflaus; but these princes acting the part of mediators, procured pardon for the inhabitants from Zaflaus their natural fovereign. With the fame facility the two princes recovered all the other dominions belonging to Zaflaus, only one city venturing to stand a fiege, and that was foon reduced. But in the mean time the king of Hungary dying, a revolt enfued, and the two fons of Bela were on the point of being deprived of their paternal dominions. This Boleflaus no fooner heard than he marched directly into Hungary; where by the bare terror of his name, he re-eftablifhed tranquillity, and confirmed the princes in their kingdom. While this was doing, Zaslaus was again driven from his territories, all the conquefts formerly made were loft, and Suantoflaus and Ufzevold rendered more powerful than ever. The king, however, foon difconcerted all their measures. He ravaged the palatines of Lufac and Chelm, reduced the ftrong city of Wolyn, and tranfported the booty to Poland. The campaign was finished by a battle with Ufzevold; which proved so bloody, that though Boleflaus was victorious, his army was fo much weakened, that he could not pursue his conquefts. In winter he made numerous levies; and returning in spring to Kiovia, reduced it, after several defparate attacks. by famine: But, inftead of treating the inhabitants with cruelty, he commended their valour, and ftrictly prohibited his troops from pillaging or infulting them; diftributing provifions among them with the utmoft liberality. But this clemency was followed by a great difafter. Kioyia was the moft diffolute, as well as the richest city in the north, and the king and all his foldiers gave themselves up to the diffipations of the place. The Polish women, exafperated at hearing that their hufbands, who had been 7 years abfent, had connected themselves with the women of Kiovia, raifed their flaves to the beds of their mafters; and confpired in one general fcheme of proftitution, to be revenged of the infidelity of their husbands, excepting one fingle woman, namely, Margaret, the wife of Count Nicholas of Demboifin, who preferved her fidelity in fpite of all folicitation. Advice of this ftrange revolution was foon received at Kiovia, where it excited terrible commotions. The effect of thefe difcontents was a general desertion, and Boleflaus faw himself suddenly left almost alone in the heart of Ruffia; the fol diers having unanimously refolved to return home to take vengeance of their wives and their gallants. A dreadful kind of war now ensued. The women knew that they were to expect no mercy from their enraged husbands, and therefore perfuaded their lovers to take arms in their defence. They themfelves fought by the fide of their gallants with the utmoft fury, and fought out their hufbands in the heat of battle, in order to fecure themselves from all danger of punishment by their death. They were, however, on the point of being fubdued, whon Boleflaus arrived with the few remaining Poles, but affifted by a vaft army of Ruffians, with whom he intended to take equal vengeance on the women, their gallants, and his

lebrated with the greatest joy by all ranks; and he was crowned at Gnefna, by the primate, with uncommon folemnity. He proved a virtuous and pacific prince. He fuppreffed the banditti, reftored order, and by his marriage with the princefs Mary, filter to the duke of Ruffia, all quarrels with that nation were extinguished. The kingdon flourished during his reign; and became mare refpectable from the wisdom and stability of the adminiftration than it could have been by maby victories. After a happy reign of 16 years, he died, beloved and regretted by all his fubjects. (5.) POLAND, HISTORY of, FROM K. BOLESLAUS II. TO BOLESLAUS III'S DEATH. By the happy administration of Cafimir, the kingdom re. Covered fufficient ftrength to carry on fuccessful wars against its foreign enemies. Boleflaus II. the fe of Cafimir, an enterprifing and valiant prince, fucceeded to the throne; and foon made himself fo famous, that three unfortunate princes all took refuge at his court at once, having been expelled from their own dominions by their rebellious fubjets. Thefe were, Jacomir, fon of Briteflaus duke of Bohemia; Bela, brother to the king of Hungary; and Zaflaus duke of Kiovia, eldest fon to Jarillaus duke of Ruffia, and coufin to the king of Poland. The duke of Bohemia, dreading the confequences of Jacomir's efcape, affembled an aray, and, without any declaration of war, marched through the Hercynian forest, desolated Silefia, and laid waste the frontiers of Poland with fire and word. Boleflaus marched against him with a force greatly inferior; and, by his fuperior abities, cooped up his adversary in a wood, where be reduced him to the greateft diftrefs. In this extremity the duke fent proposals for accommodation; yet they were rejected with difdain by Boleflaus; upon which the former ordering fires be kindled in his camp, as if he defigned to continue there, removed in the night-time; and marchng through narrow defiles, was advanced several leagues before Boleflaus received advice of his retreat. The king purfued him, but in vain; fo he returned, after ravaging the frontiers of Moravia. The next year he entered Bohemia with a numeTous army; but the duke fubmitted to fuch terms as he thought proper to impofe. In thefe Jacomir was not forgotten, after which, he determined to march towards Hungary, to affift Bela. That prince and he entered Hungary by different routes, each at the head of a numerous body, defeated a vaft army, and feized the king, who foon after died of a broken heart; fo that Bela fucceeded to the throne withont farther oppofition. But after thefe victories, Boleflaus, instead of affifting Zallaus, began to think of fubjecting the whole country to himself, in right of his queen, as well as of his defcent from Jariflaus's filter. Having therefore affembled a very numerous and well difciplined army, he entered the duchy of Kiovia, oppofed by Wiffeflaus, who had ufurped the fovereignty, with a vaft multitude of forces. Boleflaus, however, continued to advance; and the Ruffian prince being intimidated by the number and good order of his enemies, deferted bis own troops and fled away privately with a Reader retinue; upon which his forces difperfed.

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own foldiers, who had deferted him. This produced a carnage more dreadful than ever. The foldiers united with their former wives and their gallants against the common enem and fought against Boleflaus and his Ruffians with the fury of lions. At last, however, the fortune of the king prevailed; the rebels were totally fubdued, and the few who escaped the fword were tortured to death, or died in prifon. To add to the calami ties of this unhappy kingdom, the fchifms which for fome time had prevailed in the church of Rome found their way into Poland alfo; and the animofity of parties became aggravated in proportion. By perverse accident the matter came at laft to be a contention for wealth and power between the king and clergy. This foon gave occafion to bloodthed; and the bishop of Cracow was massacred in the cathedral while he was perform. ing the duties of his office. This and fome other enormous crimes in a fhort time brought on the moft fignal vengeance of the clergy. Gregory VII. then pope, thundered out the moft dreadful anathemas against the king, released his fubjects from their allegiance, deprived him of the titles of fovereignty, and laid the kingdom under a general interdict, which the archbishop of Gnefna faw punctually enforced. To this terrible fentence Boleflaus in vain oppofed his authority, and tried to recal the fpirit which had formerly ren dered him fo formidable to the neighbouring ftates. Confpiracies were formed againft him, and the whole kingdom became a fcene of confufion, fo that he could no longer continue with fafety in his own dominions. He fled therefore with his fon Miecziflaus, and took refuge in Hungary: but here alfo the holy vengeance of the clergy pur fued him, nor did they cease perfecuting him till he was brought to a miferable end. Some fay that he was murdered by the clergy as he was hunting; others, that he killed himfelf in defpair; and one author tells us, that he wandered about in the woods of Hungary, lived like a favage on wild beafts, and was at last killed and devoured by dogs. The majority, however, tell us, that being driven from place to place by the clergy, he was at laft obliged to become a cook in a monaftery at Carinthia, in which mean occupation he ended his days. The deftruction of Boleflaus was not fufficient to allay the papal refentment. It extended to the whole kingdom of Poland. Miecziflaus, the fon of Boleflaus, was not fuffered to afcend the throne; and the kingdom continued under the most severe interdie, which could be removed only by the force of gold, and the most abject conceffions. Befides the tax called Peter pence, new impofitions were added of the most oppreffive nature; till at length the pontiff, having fatiated his avarice, and impoverished the country, confented that Uladislaus, the brother of the deceafed monarch, mould be raised to the fovereignty, but only with the title of duke. This prince being of a meek difpofition, with little ambition, acquiefced in the will of the pope, accepted the terms offered, and fent an embally to Rome, earnestly intreating the removal of the interdict. The request was granted; but all his endeavours to recover the regal dignity proved fruitiets; the pope having, in conjuction with the

emperor of Germany, conferred that honour of the duke of Bohemia. Ruffia took the opportu nity of the late civil disturbances to throw off the yoke; and this revolt drew after it the revolt o Pruffia, Pomerania, and other provinces. Th fmaller provinces, however, were foon reduced but the duke had no fooner returned to Poland than they again rebelled, and hid their families in impenetrable forefts. Uladiflaus marched againf them with a confiderable army; but was entirely defeated, and obliged to return back with difgrace Next year, however, he had better fortune; and having led against them a more numerous army than before, they submitted, and delivered up the ringleaders of the revolt to be punished. No fooner were the Pomeranians reduced, than civi diffenfions took place. Sbigneus, the fon of Ula diflaus by a concubine, was placed at the head of an army by the discontented nobility, to fubvert his father's government, and difpute the title ol Boleflaus, the legitimate fon of Uladiflaus, to the fucceffion. The war was terminated by the defeat and captivity of Sbigneus; who was at firft confined, but afterwards releafed, on condition that he should join his father in punishing the pa latine of Cracow. But before this could be done, the palatine effected a reconciliation with the duke; with which the young princes being dif pleased, a war took place between them and their father. At laft the palatine of Cracow was ba nifhed, and the princes fubmitted; after which, Uladiflaus, having chaftifed the Pruffians and Pomeranians, who had again revolted, died in 1103, the 9th of his age. Uladiflaus was fucceeded by his fon Boleilaus III. who divided the dominions equally betwixt his brother Sbigneus and himself. The former being dissatisfied with his fhare, raised cabals against his brother. A civil war was for fome time prevented by the good offices of the primate: but at laft Sbigneus, having ftirred up the Bohemians, Saxons, and Moravians, against his brother, made fuch formidable preparations as threatened the conqueft of all Poland. Bolef laus, being unprovided with forces to oppofe fuch a formidable power, had recourfe to the Ruffians and Hungarians; who readily embraced his caufe, in expectation of turning it to their own advan tage. The event was, that Sbigneus was entirely defeated, and might eafily have been obliged to furrender himself at difcretion, had not Boleflaus generously left him in quiet poffeffion of the duchy of Mazovia, to maintain himself fuitably to the dignity of his birth. This kindness the ungrateful Sbigneus repaid by entering into another confpiracy; but the plot being difcovered, he was feized, banished, and declared a traitor if ever he fet foot again in Poland. Even this feverity did not produce the defired effect: Sbigneus perfuaded the Pomeranians to arm in his behalf; but he was defeated, taken prifoner, and again banished. Almoft all the nobility folicited the king to put fuch an ungrateful traitor to death: however, that generous prince could not think of polluting his hands with the death of his brother, notwith ftanding all he had yet done. Nay, he even took him back to Poland, and appointed him a mai tenance fuitable to his rank: but he foon bad reafon to repent his kindnefs; for his unnatural

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brother in a fhort time began to raise fresh difturbances, in confequence of which he foon met with the death which he deferved. Boleflaus was fcarce freed from the intrigues of his brother, when he found timfelf in greater danger than ever, from the ambition of the emperor Henry IV. The emper had attacked the king of Hungary, with von Boleflaus was in close alliance, and from whom he had received affiftance when in great drefs himself. The king of Poland determined to afif his friend, and therefore made a power ful diverfion in Bohemia, where he repeatedly defeated the Imperialifts; upon which the emperor, coleding all his forces, ravaged Silefia, and even ested Poland, where he laid fiege to the ftrong town of Lubufz; but was at last obliged to abandm the enterprife, after much lofs. However, Heary was not difcouraged, but penetrated ftill farther into Poland, and was laying wafte all befare him, when the fuperior skill of Boleflaus compelled him to retire, after having almost deftroyed hamy with fatigue and famine, without once oing to action. This foon brought on a peace, which was confirmed by a marriage between Biellans and the emperor's fifter. In fhort, Baklans III, might have equalled his ancestor, Boleflaus I. in glory, had he not been impofed upon by a Hungarian, whom in 1135 he made or of Wiflica, a ftrong town on the Nida, which he betrayed to the Ruffians. Boleflaus, raged, made war upon the Ruffians, by whom be was entirely defeated. By this difgrace the dake was fo much afflicted, that he died foon after, baring reigned 36 years.

(6) POLAND, HISTORY OF, FROM K. BOLESLAUS II'S DEATH, TO BOLESLAUS IV.'S ACCES5198. Boleflaus, by his will, left his dominions equally divided among his four fons. Uladiflaus, the eldeft, had the provinces of Cracow, Sirad, Lencici, Silefia, and Pomerania. Boleflaus, the 2d fan, had the palatinates of Culm and Cujava, with the duchy of Mazovia. The palatinates of Kalefzh and Pofnania fell to Miecziflaus, the 3d fon; and to Heary, the 4th, were affigned thofe of Lublin and Sandomer. Cafimir, the youngest child, then an infant in the cradle, was forgot, and no provifios made for him. By the will of the late duke, all the brothers were obliged to own the fupremacy of Uladiflaus, who was declared duke of all Po and. The harmony of the princes was firft difturbed by the ambition of Chriftina, the wife of Uladilaus, who affembled the ftates, and made a long speech, fhowing the dangers which might arife from a partition of the ducal dominions among fo many, by promifes and threats, prerailed on the nobility to agree to the exclufion of the other princes. Uladiflaus now having got the Bobility on his fide, firft drove Boleflaus out of his territories; next, he marched against Henry, and difpoffeffed him alfo, forcing both to take refuge with Miecziflaus in Pofnania, where all the three brothers were befieged. Several of the nobility interpofed, and ufed all their influence to effect a reconciliation, but in vain. He infifted that the befieged princes fhould furrender at difcretion. Thus driven to defpair, the brothers fallied out, and attacked the duke's army with fuch impetu duty, that they obtained a complete victory, and

took all his baggage and valuable effects. The brothers improved their victory, and laid fiege to Cracow. The Ruffians, who had affifted Uladislaus at firft, now entirely abandoned him, and evacuated Poland, which obliged him to fhut himfelf up in Cracow; but, finding the inhabitants little disposed to ftand a fiege, he retired into Germany to folicit affiftance from his wife's friends. This they refufed, while in the mean time the city of Cracow furrendered; the unfortunate Uladiflaus was formally depofed, and his brother Boleflaus raised to the fupreme authority.

(7.)POLAND, HISTORY OF, FROM K.BOLESLAUS IV'S ACCESSION TO THAT OF CASIMIR II. BOleflaus IV. began his administration with an act of generofity to his brother Uladislaus, to whom he gave the duchy of Silefia, which thus was feparated from Poland, and has never fince been reannexed to it. This had no other effect upon Uladiflaus than the putting him in a condition to raise fresh disturbances; for he now perfuaded the emperor Conrade to invade Poland; but Boleflaus fo häraffed and fatigued his army by perpetual marches, ambufcades, and fkirmishes, that he was obliged in a fhort time to return to his own country; and for fome years Poland enjoyed a profound tranquillity. During this interval Henry entered on a crufade, by which he procured extraordinary fame, but loft álmoft all his army. Soon after the return of Henry, Poland was invaded by the emperor Frederic Barbaroffa, who was perfuaded to this by the folicitations of Uladislaus and his wife Chriftina. The number of the Imperialifts was fo great, that Boleslaus and his brothers did not think proper to oppofe them in the field; they contented themfelves with cutting off the convoys, placing ambuscades, haraffing them on their march, and keeping them in perpetual alarms by falfe attacks and fkirmishes. With this view the three brothers divided their forces, defolated the country before the enemy, and burnt all the towns and cities which were in no condition to ftand a fiege. Thus the emperor, advancing into the heart of a defolated country, where he could not fubfift, was at laft reduced to fuch a fituation that he could neither go forward nor retreat, and was obliged to folicit a conference with Boleflaus. The latter was too prudent to irritate him by an unfeafonable haughtiness, and therefore went to the German camp, attended only by his brothers and a flight guard. This inftance of con fidence was fo agreeable to the emperor, that a treaty was foon agreed upon, which was confirmed by a marriage between Adelaide, niece to the emperor, and Miecziflaus duke of Pofnania. Boleflaus having thus happily escaped from fo great a danger, took it into his head to attempt the conqueft of Pruffia, for no other reafon but because the inhabitants were heathens. Having unexpectedly invaded the country with a very numerous army, he fucceeded in his enterprife; great numbers of infidels were converted, and many churches fet up: but no fooner was Boleflaus gone, than the inhabitants returned to their old religion. Upon this Boleflaus again came againft them with a formidable power; but, being betrayed by fomne Pruffians whom he had taken into his fervice, and raifed to pofts of honour, his army was led into

defiles,

defiles, and almoft entirely cut off; duke Henry was killed, and Bo'eflaus and Miecziflaus escaped with great difficulty. This misfortune was followed by another. The children of Uladiflaus laid claim to all the Polish dominions which had been poffeffed by their father, most of which had been bestowed upon young Cafimir. They were fupported by a great number of difcontented Poles, and a confiderable body of German auxiliaries. Boleflaus, unable to withstand his enemies by force, had recourfe to negociation. An affembly of the states was held, before which the duke fo fully refuted the claims of the children of Uladiflaus, that it was almost unanimously voted that they had kindled an unjust war; and to take away every pretence for renewing the civil difcords of Poland, they were a fecond time invefted with the duchy of Silesia, which put an end to all difputes. After this, Boleflaus applied himself to promote, by all means, the happiness of his fubjects, till his death, which happened in 1174. On the death of Boleflaus, the ftates raifed his brother Miecziflaus to the ducal throne, on account of the great opinion they had of him. But the moment that Mieczilaus ceafed to be a fubject, he became a tyrant, and a flave to almost every vice; in confequence of which, he was depofed, and his brother Cafimir elected in his stead.

(8.) POLAND, HISTORY OF, FROM K. CASIMIR II.'S ACCESSION TO HIS DEATH. Cafimir was a prince of the greatest justice and benevolence, and fet himself about fecuring peace and tranquillity in all his dominions. He redreffed grievances, fuppreffed exorbitant impofts, and affembled a general diet, in which it was propofed to rescue the peasants from the tyranny of the nobility; an affair of fuch confequence, that the duke could not enter upon it by his own authority, even though fupported by the clergy. Yet it proved lefs difficult than had been imagined, to persuade the nobility to relinquish certain privileges extremely detrimental to natural right. They were inflenced by the example of their virtuous fovereign, and immediately granted all that he required; and, to fecure this declaration in favour of the pealants, the archbishop of Gnefna thundered out anathemas against those who should endeavour to regain the unjust privileges which they had now renounced; and, to give a ftiil greater weight to this decifion, the acts of the diet were tranfmitted to Rome, where they were confirmed by the pope. But though the nobility in general confented to have their power fomewhat retrenched, it proved matter of difcontent to fome, who for this reafon immediately became the partifans of the depofed Miecziflaus. This unfortunate prince was now reduced to fuch indigence, that he wrote an account of his fituation to his brother Cafimir; which fo much affected him, that in an affembly of the diet he proposed to refign the fovereignty in favour of his brother. To this the ftates replied in the most peremptory manner: they defired bim never more to mention the subject to them, left they fhould be under the neceflity of depoting him and excluding his brother, who, they were determined, fhould never more have the dominion of Poland. Cafimir, however, was fo much concerned at the account of his brother's misfortunes,

that he tried every method to relieve him, and even connived at the arts practifed by fom difcontented noblemen to restore him. By very fingular generofity, he facilitated the reduc tion of Gnefna and Lower Poland, where Mie cziflaus might have lived in peace and fplendor had not his heart been fo corrupted that it could not be fubdued by kindness. The confequenc was, that he used all his art to wreft from hi brother the whole of his dominions, and actually conquered the provinces of Mazovia and Cujava but of thefe he was foon dispossessed, and only fome places in Lower Poland were left him After this he made another attempt, on occa fion of a report that Cafimir had been poifone in an expedition into Ruffia. He furprised the city of Cracow but the city refused to for render, and his hopes were entirely blafted by the return of Cafimir himself: who, with ar unparalleled generofity and magnanimity, afked peace of his brother whom he had vanquilher and had in a manner at his mercy. The lat action of this amiable prince was the conquest o Ruffia, which he effected rather by the reputation of his wifdom and generofity than by the forc of his arms. Those barbarians voluntarily fub mitted to a prince fo famed for his benevolence justice, and humanity. Soon after his return, b died at Cracow, lamented as the best prince in every respect who had ever filled the throne o Poland.

(9.) POLAND, HISTORY OF, FROM CASIMIR THE GREAT'S DEATH TO ITS INVASION BY THE TARTARS. Cafimir left one fon, named Lechus an infant; and the states dreading the confequen ces of a long minority, hefitated at appointing him fovereign, confidering how many competi tors he muft neceffarily have, and how dubiou it must be whether he might be fit for the fove reignty after he had obtained it. At laft, however, Lechus was nominated, chiefly through the m terest he had obtained on account of the reputa tion of his father's virtues. The confequence of his nomination was what might have been expected. Mieczillaus formed an alliance again him with the dukes of Opelen, Pomerania, and Breflau; and having raised all the men in Lower Poland fit to bear arms, took the road to Cracow with a very numerous army. A bloody battle was fought on the banks of the river Mozgarva; in which both fides were so much weakened, that they were forced to retire to repair their forces. Miecziflaus was firft ready for action, and there fore had the advantage: however, he thought proper to employ artifice rather than force; and therefore, having attempted in vain to corrupt the guardians of Lechus, he entered into a treaty with the duchefs-dowager his mother. To her he reprefented the miferies which would enjue from her refufal of the conditions he propoled. He ftipulated to adopt Lechus and Conrade, her fons, for his own; to furrender the province of Cujava for their prefent fupport; and to declare them heirs to all his dominions. The principal nobility oppofed this accommodation, but it was accepted by the duchefs; and Miecziflaus was once more put in poffeffion of the capital, after having taken a folemn oath to execute punctualiy

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