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COXE’S TRAVELS IN RUSSIA. 627
who might be difpofed to engage in his fupport. By the affitance of his two patrons,
Wiefnovitfki and the Palatine of Sendomir, Demetrius entered Ruflia in the month of
Auguft, 1604, at the head of 4000 Poles; and being foon joinea by many Ruffians, par-
ticularly by the Coflacs of the Don, advanced almoit without oppofition to Novogorod
Severfkoi, and routed in December an army of 40,000 men; but was not long after.
wards defeated with great flaughter, by Prince Vafiili Shuifki General of Boris Godunof.
Hight thoufand of his followers were either killed or taken prifoners, and all his artillery
and colours fell into the hands of the enemy ;_ his horfe was wounded under him, and
he himfelf efcaped with difficulty. .-
This overthrow occafioned the defection of the Polifh troops; and Demetrius him-
felf, difmayed with his lofs, would have retreated precipitately into Poland, had he not
been diffuaded by the importunities of his Ruffian adherents; many of whom believed
him to be the true Demetrius, and all dreaded the vengeance of Boris Godunof, Over-
come by their entreaties he continued his march, and notwith{tanding 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 of
the higheft 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 proclaimed
that Demetrius had efcaped from his aflaffins, and claimed allegiance as their rightful fo-
vereign, This infurrection was immediately quelled; but although Boris Godunof in-
fli€ted the fevereft punifhment upon his adherents, though the Patriarch publifhed a ban
of excommunication again{t him and his party, and though Vafiili Shuifki affirmed that
he had himfelf examined the body of the deceafed Prince at Uglitz ; yet an univerfal
belief fpread through all ranks, that the pretender to the throne was the real fon of
Ivan Vaiflilievitch II.
The fudden death of Boris Godunof enfured the fuccefs of Demetrius. Feodor Bo-
rifovitch, declared fucceflor to his father by the Patriarch and nobles who were prefent
at Mofcow, was-deferted by the principal Generals of the Ruffian army, and by many
perfons of diftinCtion. His troops at this inaufpicious juncture were fuddenly attacked
and defeated; and thofe who efcaped were perfuaded to {wear fealty to his rival, who,
ftrengthened by this acceflion, advanced by hafty marches towards the capital without
the leaft oppofition ; the highways were lined with people; the towns opened their
gates with every demonftration of joy, while Demetrius fupported the prepoffeffion of
the Ruffians in favour of his birth by the affability of his demeanour, and the graceful-
nefs of his perfon. Having publifhed a manifefto to the inhabitants of Mofcow, with
offers of clemency and favour on their return to their duty, they rofe in arms, ftormed
the place, ftrangled Feodor Borifovitch, and recognifed the title of Demetrius. On
the 30th of June the new Tzar entered Mofcow in triumph, and took poffeflion of the
throne with univerfal approbation. His pretenfions to the crown, as real fon of Ivan
Vaflilievitch, were confirmed by the public teftimony of Maria Feodorofna, whom Boris
Godunof had-imprifoned ina diftant monaflery, and whom Demetrius, at his acceflion
releafed from her confinement. Upon her approach to Mofcow, on the 8th of July, he
rode to meet her at the head of a numerous proceflion, and at the firft appearance of her
carriage, alighted from his horfe, and ran to embrace her. The tendernefs and affec-
tion which both parties difplayed on this interefting occafion drew tears from the fpeéta-
tors; and the {trong expreflions of tranfport with which the Tzarina openly acknow-
ledged him for her fon, feemed to confirm the reality of his imperial lineage. Soon
after this interview he was crowned with the ufual pomp, and feemed firmly feated upon
the throne, in the poffeflion of which he would probably have maintained himfelf by a
see conformity
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