Son had incurred the Penalty of Death, fubmitting for the reft the Decifion to our arbitrary Power, and to our Clemency: Which faid Sentence was notified to him by our Order. And while we were debating in our Mind between the natural Motions of paternal Clemency on one Side, and the Regard we ought to pay to the Preservation and the future Security of our Kingdoms on the other, and fo ponderating ftill upon what Refolution to take in an Affair of fo great Difficulty and Importance, it pleased the Almighty God, by his particular Will, and by his juft Judgment, and by his Mercy, to deliver us out of that Embarrassment, and to fave our Family and Kingdom from the Shame and from the Dangers, by abridging Yefterday the Life of our faid Son Alexis, after an Illnefs which he fell into as foon as he had heard the Sentence of Death pronounced against him. That Illness appeared at first like an Apoplexy; but he afterwards recovered his Senfes, and received the Holy Sacraments as a Chriftian; and having defired to fee us, we went to him immediately, with all our Counsellors and Senators; and then he acknowledged and fincerely confeffed all his faid Faults and Crimes committed against us, with Tears, and with all the Marks of a true Peninent, and begged our Pardon, which according to Christian and Paternal Duty we granted him: After which, on the 7th of July at Six in the Evening, he furrendered his Soul to God. Although this be a great Affliction to us, we nevertheless judge it has happened by the particular Providence of God, for the Good and Repofe of our Kingdoms; so that

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His Funeral.

7

it is with a Chriftian Duty and Submission we receive this Affliction from the Hand of God, &c."

On the 9th of July the Corps of the Czarewitz, being laid into a Coffin covered with black Velvet, and a Pall of rich gold Tiffue fpread over it, was carried from the Fortress, attended by the Great Chancellor, and feveral Perfons of the first Rank, to the Church of the Holy Trinity, where it was laid in State. Four Officers of the Guards were in waiting near the Body, and gave Leave to a vast Number of People, who crowded in, to kifs the Hands of the Deceased. On the 10th of July the Corps continued to lie in State, and the Preparations for the Funeral being finifhed, it was on the 11th in the Evening carried from the Church of the Holy Trinity back to the Fortress, where it was depofited in the new burying Vault of the Czarish Family, and put next to the Coffin of the Prince's late Confort. The Czar, the Czarina, and the Chiefs of the Nobility of the Court, followed in Proceffion. The Czar, as well as the rest of the Mourners, carried each a small Wax Taper lighted in their Hands; but they wore no MourningCloaks, and the Ladies were only dreffed in black Silks. Thofe who affifted at the Funeral, relate that the Czar was bathed in Tears during the Proceffion and the Service at Church, where the Prieft had chofe for the Text of his Funeral Sermon the Words of David: O my Son Abfalom, my Son, my Son Abfalom.

Various Reports were spread concerning the Death of the Czarewitz, very many not be lieving that he died a natural Death. Some reported,

ported, that he was obliged to take a poifoned Draught in his Prison, and others went fo far as to charge his Czarish Majesty with the Cruelty of whipping him to Death with his own Hands; but fure the great Caution with which he proceeded against him, and the many Inftances he gave of his paternal Affection towards him, and his Willingness to excufe and reclaim him, are fufficient to fhew the Improbability of his treating him with fuch Inhumanity, notwithstanding he had confpired against his Life; and, what was dearer to him, his Country; that Country, for the Sake of which he had often hazarded his Life, and for the Improvement of which he had taken more. Pains, and undertaken more wonderful Defigns, than were hardly ever conceived by any Prince in the World before him.

The Czar thought it not improper to endeavour to filence any injurious Reports concerning this Event, and accordingly, complained at the Court of Vienna of the Imperial Refident at Petersburgh, for having wrote falfe Advices relating to the Differences in his Family, and the pretended Revolt of his Troops in Mecklenbourg, and defired the Emperor, that the Refident might be recalled: He made Inftance, at the fame Time, by his Minister at Vienna, that the Letter wrote by the late Czarewitz to his Imperial Majefty, wherein he complains of his Father, and calls him Tyrant, might be communicated; but this was declined by the Imperial Court.

His Czarish Majefty likewife, having received Information that the Sieur de Bie, the Refident of the States General at his Court, VOL. III.

I

had

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had given wrong Advices of the Affairs of Mufcovy, he caufed that Minifter to be examined, and his Papers feized. The Proceedings in which Affair are fully fet forth in the following Memorial, presented on this Occafion to the States.

T

HE Ambaffador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of his Czarish Majefty, has Orders to let your High Mightineffes know that his Czarish Majefty has been a long Time informed from good Hands, that your Resident, the Sieur de Bie, during all the Time he has been at the Court of his Majefty, has always fent, not only to his Masters, but more especially to his Friends, and particular Correfpondents, News of the flendereft Foundation, and made up of Reports extremely prejudicial to the Reputation and Interest of his Majefty: It would be in fome Manner tolerable, if the Reports he fent, and the prejudicial News he wrote, had been true; but they were either entirely falfe, or capable, by a falfe Application, to turn to the Prejudice of the Affairs of his Majefty, and to the Encouragement of his Enemies; as alfo tending to the Diminution of that good Harmony that has hitherto fubfifted between the Czar and their High Mightineffes.

Among other Things, he often makes mention in his Letters, of the great Difpofition the Subjects of his Czarish Majefty are in to revolt against him; a Sort of News which is too important not to be fearched into the Bottom.

Some Copies of his Letters, and lately fome of his Original Letters, have fallen into the Hands of his Majefty, filled with thefe Sorts

of

of Falfhoods, which are of the greatest Importance.

The Circumstances which he alledges, would make it believed, that Things are upon the Point of a general Revolt against his Czarish Majefty. The faid Refident reprefents as if he was in Fear of perifhing there, and that out of that Fear he defires to be recalled.

In other Letters, he makes mention of having received fuch Advice from fome of his Friends. This is an Affair of the greatest Confequence.

His Majesty ought neceffarily to judge, that the Refident has Advice of fome Machinations. of a Revolt, or at least a Communication thereupon with fome or other; and for Fear that when the Affair comes to be discovered, he fhall be queftioned upon it, he has defired his Recal; which is what may be inferred from his Letters.

His Czarish Majefty therefore efteeming that the faid Refident, by his fufpicious Conduct, and by the Communications which he has had, according to all Appearance, with his Majefty's feditious Subjects, is deprived of Privileges due to his publick Character, and that he has himself deprived himself thereof; confidering farther, that in Cafe of a Rebellion, all Delays are dangerous, his Majefty has found himfelf obliged to take Measures, and to order his Minifters to call to them the faid Refident, and to declare to him by Word of Mouth all that is abovefaid, to let him know all his evil and fufpicious Conduct, and to demand of him what Ground he had for the Circumftances that are found in his Letters.

In the mean time a Search was caufed to be

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