rise to the practice, the Russian ambassador was imprisoned, as a prelude to a declaration of war against his master.

The czar was not of a complexion tamely to suffer such an injury: and his power seemed to render submission unnecessary. As soon as informed of the haughty insult, he ordered his forces in Poland to march towards Moldavia; withdrew his troops from Livonia, and made every preparation for war, and for opening with vigour the campaign on the frontiers of Turkey, Nor were the Turks negligent in taking measures for opposing, and even humbling him. The khan of Crim Tartary was ordered to hold himself in readiness with forty thousand men, and the troops of the porte were collected from all quarters.

Gained over, by presents and promises, to the interests of the king of Sweden, the khan at first obtained leave to appoint the general rendezvous of the Turkish forces near Bender, and even under the eye of Charles, in order more effectually to convince him, that the war was undertaken solely on his account. But Baltagi Mahomet, the grand vizier, who lay under no such obligations, did not choose to flatter a foreign prince so highly at the expense of truth. He was sensible, that the jealousy of the sultan at the neighbourhood of so powerful a prince as Peter; at his fortifying Azoph; and at the number of his ships on the Black Sea and the Palus Mæotis, were the real causes of the war against Russia. He therefore changed the place of rendezvous. The army of the porte was ordered to assemble in the extensive and fertile plains of Adrianople, where the Turks usually muster their forces when they are going to make war upon the Christians. There the troops that arrive from Asia and Africa, are commonly allowed to repose themselves for a few weeks, and to recruit their strength before they enter upon action. But Baltagi, in order to anticipate the preparations of the czar, began his march towards the Danube, within three days after reviewing his forces.

Peter had already taken the field at the head of a formidable army, which he mustered on the frontiers of Poland, and planned his route through Moldavia and Walachia; the country of the ancient Daci, but now inhabited by Greek Christians, who are tributary to the grand seignior. Moldavia was at this time governed by Demetrius Cantemir; a prince of Grecian extraction, and who united in his character the accomplishments of the ancient Greeks, the use of arms, and the knowledge of letters. This prince fondly imagined that the conqueror of Charles XII. would easily triumph over the grand vizier Baltagi, who had never made a campaign, and who had chosen for his kiaia, or lieutenant-general, the superintendent of the customs at Constantinople. He accordingly resolved to join the czar, and made no doubt but all his subjects would readily follow his example, as the Greek patriarch encouraged him in his revolt. Having concluded a secret treaty with prince Cantemir, and received him into his army, Peter thus encouraged, advanced farther into the country. He passed the Niester, and reached at length the northern banks of the Pruth, near Jassi, the capital of Moldavia.(1)

But the Russian monarch, by confiding in the promises of the Moldavian prince, soon found himself in as perilous a situation, on the banks of the Pruth, as that of his rival, the king of Sweden, at Pultowa, in consequence of relying on the friendship of Mazeppa. The Moldavians, happy under the Turkish government, which is seldom fatal to any but the grandees, and affects great lenity towards its tributary provinces, refused to follow the standard of Cantemir, or to supply the Russians with provisions. Meanwhile, the grand vizier, having passed the Pruth, advanced against the czar with an army of two hundred and fifty thousand men, and in a manner encompassed the enemy. He formed an intrenched camp before them, the river Pruth running behind him; and forty thousand Tartars were continually harassing them on the right and left.

As soon as Poniatowski, who was in the Ottoman camp, saw an engage

(1) Voltaire's Hist. Russian Emp part ii chap. i. Hist. Charles XII. liv. v.

ment was become inevitable, he sent an express to the king of Sweden; who, although he had refused to join the Turkish army, because he was not permitted to command it, immediately left Bender, anticipating the pleasure of beholding the ruin of the czar. In order to avoid that ruin, Peter decamped under favour of the night; but his design being discovered, the Turks attacked his rear by break of day, and threw his army into some confusion. The Russians, however, having rallied behind their baggage wagons, made so strong and regular fire upon the enemy, that it was judged impracticable to dislodge them, after two terrible attacks, in which the Turks lost a great number of men. In order to avoid the hazard of a third attempt, the grand vizier determined to reduce the czar and his exhausted army by famine. This was the most prudent measure he could have adopted. The Russians were not only destitute of forage and provisions, but even of the means of quenching their thirst. Notwithstanding their vicinity to the river Pruth, they were in great want of water; a body of Turks, on the opposite bank, guarding, by a continual discharge of artillery, that precious necessary of life. In this desperate extremity, when the loss of his army seemed the least evil that could befall him, the czar, on the approach of night, retired to his tent, in violent agitation of mind; giving positive orders that no person whatsoever should be admitted to disturb his privacy-to behold his exquisite distress, or shake a great resolution he had taken of attempting, next morning, to force his way through the enemy with fixed bayonets. The czarina Catharine, a Livonian captive of low condition, whom he had raised to the throne, and who accompanied him in this expedition, boldly exposing her person to every danger, thought proper to break through these orders, She ventured, for once, to disobey; but not from a womanish weakness. Catharine's mind alone rode out that storm of despair, in which the prospect of unavoidable death or slavery had sunk the whole camp. Entering the melancholy abode of her husband, and throwing herself at his feet, she entreated the czar to permit her to offer, in his name, proposals of peace to the grand vizier. Peter, after some hesitation, consented. He signed a letter which she presented to him; and the czarina having made choice of an officer on whose fidelity and talents she could depend, accompanied her suit with a prest, according to the custom of the East.

66

"Let the czar send to me his prime minister!" said Baltagi, with the haughty air of a conqueror, “and I shall then consider what is to be done." The vice-chancellor Shaffiroff immediately repaired to the Turkish camp, and a negotiation took place. The grand vizier at first demanded, that Peter, with his whole army, should surrender prisoners of war. The vicechancellor replied, that the Russians would perish to a man, sooner than submit to such dishonourable conditions; that his master's resolution was already taken: he was determined to open a passage with the point of the bayonet. Baltagi, though little skilled in military affairs, was sensible of the danger of driving to despair a body of thirty-five thousand brave and disciplined troops, headed by a gallant prince. He granted a suspension of arms for six hours. And before the expiration of that term, it was agreed by the Russian minister, That the czar should restore the city of Azoph, destroy the harbour of Tangarok, and demolish the forts built on the Palus Mæotis or sea of Zebach; withdraw his troops from Poland, give no farther disturbance to the Cossacks, and permit the Swedish monarch to return into his own kingdom.(1)

On these conditions, Peter was allowed to retire with his army. The Turks supplied him with provisions; so that he had plenty of every thing in his camp, only two hours after signing the treaty. He did not, however, a moment delay his retreat, aware of the danger of intervening accidents. And just as he was marching off, with drums beating and colours flying, the king of Sweden arrived impatient for the fight, and happy in the thought of having his enemy in his power. Poniatowski met him with a dejected coun

(1) Voltaire's Hist. Russian Emp. part ii. chap. 1. Hist. Charles XII. liv. v

tenance, and informed him of the peace. Inflamed with resentment, Charles flew to the tent of the grand vizier, and keenly reproached him with the treaty he had concluded. “I have a right,” said Baltagi, with a calm aspect, "to make either peace or war. And our law commands us to grant peace to our enemies, when they implore our clemency." "And does it command you," subjoined Charles, in a haughty tone, “to stay the operations of war, by an unmeaning treaty, when you might impose the law of the conqueror? Did not fortune afford you an opportunity of leading the czar in chains to Constantinople?" The grand vizier, thus pressed, replied, with an imperious frown, "And who would have governed his empire in his absence? It is not proper that all crowned heads should leave their dominions!" Charles made answer only by a sarcastic smile. Swelling with indignation, he threw himself upon a sofa, and darting on all around him a look of disdain, he stretched out his leg, and entangling his spur in Baltagi's robe, purposely tore it. The grand vizier took no notice of this splenetic insult, which he seemed to consider as an accident; and the king of Sweden, farther mortified by that magnanimous neglect, sprung up, mounted his horse, and returned with a sorrowful heart to Bender. (1)

Baltagi Mahomet, however, was soon made sensible of his error, in not paying more attention to the claims of Charles XII. For although the grand seignior was so well pleased with the treaty concluded with the czar, when the news first reached Constantinople, that he ordered public rejoicings to be held for a whole week, Poniatowski and the other agents of Charles soon found means to persuade him, that his interests had been betrayed. The grand vizier was disgraced. But the minister who succeeded Baltagi in that high office was yet less disposed to favour the views of the king of Sweden. His liberal allowance of five hundred crowns a day, besides a profusion of every thing necessary for his table, was withdrawn, in consequence of his intrigues. All his attempts to kindle a new war between the Turks and Russians proved ineffectual; and the divan, wearied out with his perpetual importunities, came to a resolution to send him back, not with a numerous army, as a king whose cause the sultan meant to abet, but as a troublesome fugitive whom he wanted to dismiss, attended by a sufficient guard.

To that purport Achmet III. sent Charles a letter; in which, after styling him the most powerful among the kings who worship Jesus, brilliant in majesty, and a lover of honour and glory, he very positively requires his departure. "Though we had proposed," says the sultan, "to march our victorious army once more against the czar, we have found reason to change our resolution. In order to avoid the just resentment which we had expressed at his delaying to execute the treaty concluded on the banks of the Pruth, and afterward renewed at our sublime porte, that prince has surrendered into our hands the castle and city of Azoph; and endeavoured, through the mediation of the ambassadors of England and Holland, our ancient allies, to cultivate a lasting peace with us. We have therefore granted his request, and delivered to his plenipotentiaries, who remain with us as hostages, our imperial ratification, having first received his from their hands. You must, therefore, prepare to set out, under the protection of Providence, and with an honourable guard, on purpose to return to your own dominions, taking care to pass through those of Poland in a peaceable manner."(2)

Alt ough this letter is sufficiently explicit, it did not extinguish the hopes of the king of Sweden. He still flattered himself that he should be able to involve the porte in a new war with Russia: and he had almost accomplished his aim. He discovered that the czar had not yet withdrawn his troops from Poland. He made the sultan acquainted with that circumstance. The grand vizier was disgraced, for neglecting to enforce the execution of so material an article in the late treaty; and the Russian ambassador was again committed to the castle of the seven towers. This storm, however, was soon dissipated. The czar's plenipotentiaries, who had not yet left the porte, (1) Hist. Charles XII. liv. v. Voltaire had all these particulars from Poniatowski, who was present at this interview. (2) Voltaire, Hist. Ch. XII. liv. vi.

engaged that their master should withdraw his troops from Poland. The treaty of peace was renewed; and the king of Sweden was given to understand that he must immediately prepare for his departure.

When the order of the porte was communicated to Charles, by the bashaw of Bender, he replied, that he could not set out on his journey until he had received money to pay his debts. The bashaw asked, how much would be necessary. The king, at a venture, said a thousand purses. The bashaw acquainted the porte with this request; and the sultan, instead of a thousand, granted twelve hundred purses. "Our imperial munificence," says he, in a letter to the bashaw, "hath granted a thousand purses to the king of Sweden, which shall be sent to Bender, under the care and conduct of the most illustrious Mehemet bashaw, to remain in your custody until the departure of the Swedish monarch; and then be given him, together with two hundred purses more, as a mark of our imperial liberality, above what he demands."

Notwithstanding the strictness of these orders, Grothusen, the king of Sweden's secretary, found means to get the money from the bashaw before the departure of his master, under pretence of making the necessary preparations for his journey; and a few days after, in order to procure farther delay, Charles demanded another thousand purses. Confounded at this request, the bashaw stood for a moment speechless, and was observed to drop a tear. "I shall lose my head," said he, "for having obliged your majesty!" and took his leave with a sorrowful countenance. He wrote, how. ever, to the porte in his own vindication; protesting that he did not deliver the twelve hundred purses, but upon a solemn promise from the king of Sweden's minister, that his master would instantly depart.

The bashaw's excuse was sustained. The displeasure of Achmet fell wholly upon Charles. Having convoked an extraordinary divan, he spoke to the following purport, his eyes flashing with indiguation: “I hardly ever knew the king of Sweden, except by his defeat at Pultowa, and the request he made to me for an asylum in my dominions. I have not, I believe, any need of his assistance, or any cause to love or to fear him. Nevertheless, without being influenced by any other motive than the hospitality of a Mussulman, directed by my natural generosity, which sheds the dew of beneficence upon the great as well as the small, upon strangers as well as my own subjects, I have received, protected, and maintained himself, his ministers, officers, and soldiers, according to the dignity of a king; and for the space of three years and a half, have never withheld my hand from loading him with favours. I have granted him a considerable guard to conduct him back to his own kingdom. He asked a thousand purses to pay some debts, though I defray all his expenses: instead of a thousand, I granted him twelve hundred purses; and having received these, he yet refuses to depart, until he shall obtain a thousand more, and a stronger guard, although that already appointed is fully sufficient. I therefore ask you, whether it will be a breach of the laws of hospitality to send away this prince? and whether foreign powers can reasonably tax me with cruelty and injustice, if I should be under the necessity of using force to compel him to depart."(1)

All the members of the divan answered, that such a conduct would be consistent with the strictest rules of justice. An order to that effect was accordingly sent to the bashaw of Bender, who immediately waited upon the king of Sweden, and made him acquainted with it. "Obey your master, if you dare!" said Charles, " and leave my presence instantly." The bashaw did not need this insult to animate him to his duty. He coolly prepared to execute the commands of his sovereign; and Charles, in spite of the earnest entreaties of his friends and servants, resolved, with three hundred Swedes, to oppose an army of Turks and Tartars, having ordered regular intrenchments to be thrown up for that purpose. After some hesitation, occasioned by the uncommon nature of the service, the word of command was given. The Turks marched up to the Swedish fortifications, the Tartars being

(1) Voltaire, Hist. Charles XII. liv. vi.

already waiting for them, and the cannon began to play. The little camp was instantly forced, and the whole three hundred Swedes made prisoners. Charles, who was then on horseback, between the camp and his house, took refuge in the latter, attended by a few general officers and domestics. With these, he fired from the windows upon the Turks and Tartars; killed about two hundred of them, and bravely maintained his post, till the house was all in flames, and one-half of the room fell in. In this extremity, a sentinel, named Rosen, had the presence of mind to observe, that the chancery house, which was only about fifty yards distant, had a stone roof, and was proof against fire; that they ought to sally forth, take possession of that house, and defend themselves to the last extremity. "There is a true Swede!" cried Charles, rushing out like a madman at the head of a few desperadoes. The Turks at first recoiled, from respect to the person of the king; but suddenly recollecting their orders, they surrounded the Swedes, and Charles was made prisoner, together with all his attendants. Being in boots, as usual, he entangled himself with his spurs, and fell. A number of janizaries sprung upon him. He threw his sword up into the air, to save himself the mortification of surrendering it: and some of the janizaries taking hold of his legs, and others of his arms, he was carried in that manner to the bashaw's quarters.(1)

The bashaw gave Charles his own apartments, and ordered him to be served as a king, but not without taking the precaution to plant a guard of janizaries at the chamber door. Next day he was conducted towards Adrianople, as a prisoner, in a chariot covered with scarlet. On his way, he was informed by the baron Fabricius, ambassador from the duke of Holstein, that he was not the only Christian monarch that was a prisoner in the hands of the Turks; that his friend Stanislaus, having come to share his fortunes, had been taken into custody, and was only a few miles distant, under a guard of soldiers, who were conducting him to Bender. "Run to him, my dear Fabricius!" cried Charles," desire him never to make peace with Augustus, and assure him that our affairs will soon take a more flattering turn." Fabricius hastened to execute his commission, attended by a janizary; having first obtained leave from the bashaw, who in person commanded the guard.

So entirely was the king of Sweden wedded to his own opinions, that although abandoned by all the world, stripped of great part of his dominions, a fugitive among the Turks, whose liberality he had abused, and now led captive, without knowing whither he was to be carried, he still reckoned on the favours of fortune, and hoped the Ottoman court would send him home at the head of a hundred thousand men!-This idea continued to occupy him during the whole time of his confinement. He was at first committed to the castle of Demirtash, in the neighbourhood of Adrianople; but afterward allowed to reside at Demotica, a little town about six leagues distant from that city, and near the famous river Hebrus, now called Merizza. There he renewed his intrigues; and a French adventurer, counterfeiting madness, had the boldness to present, in his name, a memorial to the grand seignior. In that memorial the imaginary wrongs of Charles were set forth in the strongest terms, and the ministers of the porte accused of extorting from the sultan an order, in direct violation of the laws of nations, as well as of the hospitality of a Mussulman-an order in itself utterly unworthy of a great emperor, to attack, with twenty thousand men, a sovereign who had none but his domestics to defend him, and who relied upon the sacred word of the sublime Achmet.

In consequence of this intrigue, as was supposed, a sudden change took place in the seraglio. The mufti was deposed; the khan of Tartary, who depends upon the grand seignior, was banished to Rhodes, and the bashaw of Bender confined in one of the islands of the Archipelago. One vizier was disgraced, and another strangled. But these changes in the ministry of the porte produced none in the condition of the king of Sweden, who still remained a prisoner at Demotica; and, lest the Turks should not pay him

(1) Voltaire, Hist. Charles XII. liv. vi.