coxe’s travels in Russia . 627

who might be difpofed to engage in his fupport. By the affidance of his two patrons,Wiefnovitfki and the Palatine of Sendomir, Demetrius entered Ruffia in the month ofAuguft, 1604, at the head of 4000 Poles; and being foon joined by many Ruffians, par-ticularly by the Coffacs of the Don, advanced almofl without oppofition to NovogorodSeverfkoi, and routed in December an army of 40,000 men ; but was not long after-wards defeated with great daughter, by Prince Vaffili Shuilki General of Boris Godunof.Eight thoufand of his followers were either killed or taken prifoners, and all his artilleryand colours fell into the hands of the enemy ; his horfe was wounded under him andhe himfelf el'caped with difficulty. ’

This overthrow occafioned the defeftion of the Poliffi troops; and Demetrius him-felf, difmayed with his Iofs, would have retreated precipitately into Poland , had he notbeen difiuaded by the importunities of his Ruffian adherents; many of whom believedhim to be the true Demetrius, and all dreaded the vengeance of Boris Godunof. Over-come by their entreaties he continued his march, and notwithdanding his late difcomfi-ture, was foon at the head of a numerous army of Ruffians, who flocked to his ftand-ard from all quarters. Not only the populace, ever prone to credulity, but even men ofthe highed birth and quality, gave credit to his pretenfions ; not only the diftant pro-vinces fupported his caufe; but the people rofe even at Mofcow, and publicly proclaimedthat Demetrius had el'caped from hisaffaffins, and claimed allegiance as their rightful fo-vereign. This infurrettion was immediately quelled ; but although Boris Godunof in-flidfed the fevered punilhment upon his adherents, though the Patriarch publiflied a banof excommunication againft him and his party, and though Vaffili Shuilki affirmed thathe had himfelf examined the body of the deceafed Prince at Uglitz ; yet an univerfalbelief fpread through all ranks, that the pretender to the throne was the real fon ofIvan Vaffilievitch II.

The fudden death of Boris Godunof enfured the fuccefs of Demetrius. Feodor Bo-rifovitch, declared fucceffor to his father by the Patriarch and nobles who were prefentat Mofcow, was deferted by the principal Generals of the Ruffian army, and by manyperfons of diftin&ion Iiis troops at this inaufpicious juncture were fuddenly attackedand defeated; and thofe who efcaped were perfuaded to fwear fealty to his rival whoftrengthened by this acceffion, advanced by hafty marches towards the capital withoutthe lead oppofition ; the highways were lined with people ; the towns opened theirgates with every demonftration of joy, while Demetrius fupported the prepoffeffion ofthe Ruffians in favour of his birth by the affability of his demeanour, and the graceful-nefs of his perfon. Having publilhed a manifefto to the inhabitants of Mofcow, withoffers of clemency and favour on their return to their duty, they rofe in arms domedthe place, drangled Feodor Borifovitch, and recognifed the title of Demetrius. Onthe 30th of June the new Tzar entered Mofcow in triumph, and took poffeffion of thethrone with univerfal approbation. His pretenfions to the crown, as real fon of IvanVaffilievitch, were confirmed by the public tedimony of Maria Feodorofna, whom BorisGodunof had imprifoned in a didant monadery, and whom Demetrius, at his acceffionreleafed from her confinement. Upon her approach to Mofcow, on the 8th of July herode to meet her at the head of a numerous proceffion, and at the fird appearance of hercarriage, alighted from his horfe, and ran to embrace her. The tendernefs and affec-tion which both parties difplayed on this intereding occafion drew tears from the fpecta-tors ; and the drong expreffions of tranfport with which the Tzarina openly acknow-ledged him for her fon, feemed to confirm the reality of his imperial lineage. Soonafter this interview he was crowned with the ufual pomp, and feemed firmly feated uponthe throne, in the poffeflion of which he would probably have maintained himfelf by a

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