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THese Tidings coming to Astrachan, was the occasion of no small murmurings and Jealousies among the Townsmen, none know∣ing
who was friend and who was Enemy, or in whom they might rely on, or repose any trust; insomuch that many discontented persons began to make Factions and breath Rebellion, though not so openly as that the Government could take advantage to suppress it. The VVaywod Prosorofski considering that the Commonalty were very much incensed, and that some mutinous Enterprize was a hatching, he assembles the Lords and Council of Astrachan, to consult with their Judgments what was best to be done in those imminent Dangers and Juncture of Affairs, and what course they should take to sedate those Animosities and Heats, which ill-affected persons indeavoured to raise and foment among the Towns-men and Plebeïans; as also what manner of Defence to use against the approaching Enemy. As to the former they concluded, that there was no better way to remedy it, than to conduct themselves warily in the latter, and first obstruct the growing Power of the Rebells, which Perils being removed it might not then be doubted but that the Commons would be the better and sooner pacified. Upon this Resolution several worthy Gentlemen presented their Service to go as private Soldiers upon that sudden and urging Expedition, not daring any more to put the lest Confi∣dence in the Strelitzers.
On the 10 of April 1670 the Bojar Petrofski dispatched 800 Horse under the Conduct of Col. Levonti Bogdanof, whereof 400 were Russians, the rest Nagayans, to furnish the City Stariza, (lying about 80 German miles from Astrachan) with Ammunition and necessary Provision, and to strengthen that Place with those Men, which lies upon the River Don or Tanais, where the Cosacks have their Residence. This River was of old supposed to run into the VVolga, as some Geo∣graphers have been pleased to write, but later experience has fairly contradicted that opinion, for their Boats which are no more than trunks of trees hollowed, they are fain to drag and trail a days Journey over Land before they find the VVolga, at the nearest distance those Rivers ly to each other, where when they are come they ty heavy Balks on each side to keep them above Water, and to give them a due ballance and poize in their floating.
On the 28 came an Express to Astrachan from Col. Bogdanof, with news that the Cosacks had already taken in Stariza, and had killed 1200 Moscovian Strelitzers, who were but newly come thither before the
Siege, this Relation was given the Collonel by a Captive Cosack. The VVaywod also got intelligence how that the Field-Tartars were in great discord among themselves, and that their Factions were so far advan∣ced, that they were become open Hostility, and their Power wasted by intestine strife; upon which Collonel Bogdanof was marched on to Czornojar, which is an Imperial Town, about 50 German miles from Astra∣chan. The said Captive Cosack was so tortured on the Rack, that the most hard-hearted Russians then present had compassion of him, yet nothing could be forced from him but what he made voluntary con∣fession of, before he came to the Rack.
By this time the Emperour had got full intelligence of the Tumult of the Cosacks, and of Radzins purpose, together with his barbarous massacres already committed upon his Subjects, and that he continual∣ly depopulated his Countrey, he gave order to levy new Forces, in place of the Old, which were to be sent upon this Expedition, as also as many Stroegs as could on a sudden be put in Equippage, for which end the Deputies of the Towns upon the Wolga did their utmost to com∣plete a Fleet of 40 Sail. Upon each Stroeg was only one great Gun, but other Ammunition as much as was necessary for so many men as the Stroegh was capable or fit to carry. Aboard the said Fleet were 2600 Russian Strelitzers, and 500 voluntiers of Astratay under the Conduct of Simeum Ivanowitz Elbof a Kneez, who was for the time being made Commander in chief. These men were of the Regiment of Ivan Rusinski a Polander, but baptized a Russian Proselyte, whose Lieutenant was one James VVonderham, a Scottish Gentleman. The other Commanders were Capt. Paul Rudolph a German. Capt. Robert Heut an Englishman, and Nicholas Schaack who was our Lieu∣tenant, being made a Captain by the Russians. Besides two other German Lieutenants and two Ensigns of that Nation, who were also Russian Proselytes. The rest were Moscovians and Polonians.
On the 25 of May being Whitsunday, the Fleet left Astrachan, and the Cosack who was tortured almost to death hang'd up in their sight. In the mean while the Citizens and Commons began to buzz and murmure against the Deputy and the Officers, and grew so bold that they reviled him when he rode through the Town, he not daring to suppress them for fear of a greater irruption of that rebellious Fire, which lay still unsmothered, till he understood the success of Simeum
Ivanowitz, whose happy arrival the Deputy and all peaceably minded persons earnestly longed for: the City being now in a very weak condition and low, since the Levying of those that were sent out with Simeum Ivanowitz, and consequently the Mobile the bolder. But on the 4 of Iune, by a Gentleman who had made his Escape, they had notice of the Affairs of Tzornojar, that on the same day that the Knees Elboof made his appearance the Town was taken in, and that the Governour and Officers were all massacred and their Bodies thrown into the River: and further, what was more deplorable, the Privat Soldatesque of Knees Elboof had murthered all their Officers in the Fleet, declared themselves for the Cosacks, and surrendred all the Shipping into the Hands of Stenko Radzin the grand Belweather, or Ringleader of the Rebells; altho immediately before their coming at Tzornojar they had unanimously sworn, to live and dy with their Leaders. The Report of these things, altho the Governour indea∣vored to smother as much as was possible, gave the Rabble greater Occasion to mutiny than they had before; yea, so far they were induced, that they publicly reproached the Superiority that they durst not look out of their doors, or windows, much less walk the streets to consult together of means to remedy the distemper of affairs, to defend themselves against the Hostility abroad, and to suppress intestin Jarrs at home, for it was no rare thing now to see the Rabble assemble togethers in heaps, and before the Doors of the Magistrates to cry out with infamous and bitter Railings, Now, now, the times begin to alter, it will be our turn next to Lord it, you villains come out and show your selves to the VVorld, &c.
The Governour in the mean while lost no courage on his part, and the Gentry and Officers still continued under hopes of Assistance from the Field Army, and new succour and Recruits from Moscou. The Deputy therefore caused all the Ordnance to be visited and laden by the German Gunners, and gave orders to furnish themselves with necessary Ammunition. However we could very well remark, that were the Officers never so sedulous, they were never able both to defend themselves from such a Power without, and be secure for Mutiny within, of which many Reasons were given to the VVaywode, and he as often forewarned by divers prudent Persons. The VVaywod Prosorofski would willingly have had us in the Town-service, but being
we were taken on for the Ships use, we judged it best to stay where we were, the more for that we knew the Cosacks were more severe against Forreign Auxiliaries, than the Moscovians if once made Captives.
In the mean while we heard continual News of the approaching of the Cosacks, to attacque Astrachan, which had it's inward state been in all things conformable to the Muniments of that Town, they needed not fear 100000 undisciplin'd men as are the Cosacks, for to say no∣thing of the Ramparts and Fortifications of the Walls, there lay about four hundred and sixty great brass Guns in the Battlements, be∣sides, those of the Cittadel. Every day we expected new troubles, and commotions, insomuch that we thought it not fit to stay there any longer, lest we should be massacred in the Uproar, but no one of us durst speak their minds, or be the first mover of such means to save our lives, for that it might seem to stink too much of Rebellion, nor could we know how it might be resented. However it came so far that Captain Butler began also to dread some ill might befall us if we did not consult our Safety betimes; he therefore upon a time called us all together, and uttered his mind in these, or the like words. Gentlemen, I doubt not but that you a••e all sensible of the present dan∣ger which hangs over our Heads, and that there is not much hope left to hazard our Persons any longer here, the Sum of what I have to say is briefly to advise and request of you all to pack up what you have into the Shallop, and that we forthwith betake our selves to the Persian Coast, and take what GOD in in his bountifull Providence is pleased to allott us. He ordered us further to get all in a readiness to be aboard before the Gates were shut, for that he was not resolved to wait one quarter of an hour for any Person: in the mean while we made a quick dispatch, and in a moment had got our best Goods aboard, and all what we thought worth our while to bring along. Our Captain advised us not to take 2 of our Company with us, Brak and Trappen, because they had wives and children, and consequently would both be a cumber for us, and uneasiness for them∣selves on so dangerous a Voyage: but I having compassion with my neighbour Brak, I made him come aboard with his Wife and Child; but Trappen was not willing to leave Astrachan, unless he had been better furnished with Money than he was, or something else in lieu thereof. We were 15 Men, besides a Woman and a Child in the
Shallop where we still waited for the Captain and two other Persons whose Goods we had with us in the Boat. After a long expectation we saw no Captain come, it growing late in the Evening, and our Men impatient of delay would needs thrust off from the Wall, but Lambert Helt the Master restrained us all he could, saying, That it was what we could not answer, &c. Thus we staid waiting till the Gates were to, still expecting their coming, but midnight already come and no tidings of them we began to be in a hundred Fears: some were of Opinion that the Captain was gone in a Knote or some other small Vessel with the other two Gentlemen that were with him, or that he was taken and secured: others were jealous that the Wife of Trappe•• had betray'd us. Thus in great fear we lay all the time, not know∣ing what course to take, well knowing that if the Russes had understood our Purpose, it would have cost us our lives, nor had we dared to stay so long had not our Shallop lay on the other side of the Ship from the Town-ward, and therefore out of sight: Nor could we be easily induced to beleeve that they would mistrust our venturing our lives in the Sea with such a Boat. Thus we resolved by the grace of GOD to thwart the Caspian Meer and so for the Persian Coast, and rather trust to the divine Providence of Heaven, than confide in the uncertain Mercies of unreasonable Men.
Stariza taken in by the Cosacks.
MAY. 1670.
JUNE. 1670.