Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Pages ...
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
742 COXE’S TRAVELS IN RUSSIA.
that Grifka had perfonated Demetrius. As a proof that they were two diftin& perfons,
he informs us, that Boris Godunof fent repeated expreffes to his guards on the fron-
tiers, to prevent all travellers from quitting the country, even fhould they be provided
with paflports ; for two traitors were endeavouring to efcape into Poland. Margaret
adds, Grifka was thirty-five years of age, and Demetrius fcarcely twenty four; Grifka
accompanied the new Tzar to Mofcow, and was feen by many in that city, being a per-
fon well known, and having a brother who poffeffed an eftate near Galitz; he was
notorious before his flight into Poland for drunkennefs, and on account of his mifcon-
duét, was banifhed by Demetrius to Yaroflaf. Margaret, moreover, was informed by
an Englifh merchant of Yaroflaf, well aequainted with Grifka, that the monk, on re-
ceiving the news of the Tzar’s death, and even after the election of Vaflili Shuifki, fo-
lemnly protefted that he, Demetrius, was the real fon of Ivan Vaflilievitch ; and that he
himfelf was Grifka Otrepief, who had condutted the Prince into Poland. Soon afters
wards Grifka was conveyed to Mofcow by order of Vaflili Shuifki, and difappeared.
(Margaret, 152 to L574) RS
If this narrative is authentic, even according to the confeflion of Muller, it com-
pletely refutes the reprefentation of the oppofite party. In what manner then does
this ingenious author attempt to difcredit the pofitive teftimony of Margaret? * But
how,” fays he, “* can we imagine, that any one could ever hold two perfons to be the
fame individual, at a time when the contrary could be eafily proved?” The contrary
indeed could be eafily proved during the reign of Demetrius, when Grifka was at
Mofcow or at Yaroflaf, and at a time when few Ruffians doubted the fact; but the
affertion was not fo eafily refuted when Grifka difappeared, and when no perfon durft
contradict the manifefto of Vaffili Shuifki. ‘* Let us fuppofe,”” adds Mr. Mulier, ** that
the oppofite party, in defiance of all truth, firft invented fo groundlefs a fable ; let us
fuppofe that Grifka was immediately banifhed, as foon as the enemies of Demetrius made
the latter pafs for that monk; how does it happen that no writer befide Margaret *, has
taken notice of fo remarkable a circumftance?”’ It is generally allowed that one good
evidence ought to outweigh a crowd of prejudiced witnefles ; fo that if Margaret’s cre-
dibility is fuperior to that of his opponents, we muft affent to the truth of his account..
And who are the writers whole authority is preferred to that of Margaret? ‘The native
hiftorians, who wrote after the acceflion of Vaflil Shuifki ; but their teftimony cannot
be admitted in this cafe; for could any Ruffian venture to contradic the manifefto of
méme certain que ce temoin ait exifté? Si les affaffins furent trompés, n’ait-il pas pu ’étre lui méme, et
prendre pour le Tzarévitch un enfant du méme age! Ne convient-on-pas que Boris, &c, Mais Chouifki,
mais Clechnin furent envoyés a Ouglitch par Boris; ils virent et reconnurent le corps du ‘[zarévitch et lui
rendirent les honneurs funebres. Eh! fait-on ce qu’ont vu ces deux émiffaires de Boris, ce qu’ils lui ont
rapporté en fecret? Le corps méme qu’ils examinerent, defiguré par des bleffures, et garde long-temps:
fans étre embaumé, devrait étre meconnaiffable. On ignore abfolument ce qu’ils ont découvert, et ce qu’ils
ent penfé. S’ils ont débité a leur retour une fable concertée entr’eux et le miniftre, ils n’ont pu dans le
fuite faire connaitre la verité, fans avouer qu’ils avoient été des fourbes vendus a un [célerat,” &c. Vol. iii.
p- 227-—Ina word, the belief that a child was fubftituted in the place of Demetrius, though liable to
many objections, is yet attended with much fewer difficulties, than the notion that the Tzar who reigned
under the name of Demetrius was an impoftor.
* Margaret, however, does not itand fingle in fuppofing Grifka, and him who paffed for Demetrius, to
be diftinét perfons. For among others, Conrad Buffau, who was prefent at Mofcow during the troubles,
afferts, that Demetrius was the natural fon of Stephen Bathori, King of Poland, which is {ufficient to thow
that the report prevailed at the time that the Tzar and Grifka were different perfons, S, R. G. vol. v.
Pp. 191.
12 the
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
