В публикуемом письме важно не то, как и что происходило на самом деле, а сколь большое впечатление производили события Крестьянской войны на обитателей столицы, в данном случае на иностранцев. Косвенно такой вывод следует из описания грандиозных масштабов и ожесточенности битвы, в которой, по мысли автора, решалась судьба короны. Но в письме нет недостатка и в прямых свидетельствах пережитых иностранцами тревог за свою жизнь и достояние, находящееся в Москве. Уже первые строки письма красноречиво говорят об этом: «Долгое время мы здесь ежедневно пребывали в страхе», в ожидании того, что «с минуты на минуту нас бесчеловечно лишат жизни». Впрочем, не только иностранцы испытывали страх перед надвигающейся катастрофой: мысленному взору верных подданных великого государя представлялось лишь неизбежное падение величия этой державы. Тем более благоприятный для правительства исход сражения представляется автору почти чудом, ниспосланным провидением. Весьма показательна и сентенция, которой завершено письмо, — выражение автором пожелания своему королю, народу и стране никогда не знать подобных потрясений. Таким образом, оценивая источник в целом, следует подчеркнуть, что перед нами документ, свидетельствующий об огромных масштабах Крестьянской войны, несшей реальную угрозу правительству Алексея Михайловича.

Текст публикуется по изданию 1671 г. без изменений. В русском тексте слова, не поддающиеся переводу, сохранены в том виде, как они даны в оригинале.

The Narrative

Most worthy Employer,

Sir,

The daily Fears we have long here entertain'd, rendred our lives the next event (in Reasons expectation) to have been inhumanely torn from us, and, with us, your and the rest of the worthy Employers Estates to have been ransacked, and swallowed up. Which Cares now to distrust unprevented, were great impietie: Providence hath so protected us, and Ensured yours, that, were not Miracles ceased, this sudden turning our Weeping into excess of Joy, might be esteemed so wonderful.

Nor were those timerous motives the jealousies of us Strangers alone: for, few days antedate of these, the increased power of the Rebel Radzin spread so vastly in Campaigne before this Town and Metropolis of this Country, that the great Dukes best subjects had not else before the eyes of their imagination, but the inevitable extirpation of this Empires Grandeur; until, by a very late Result, at the Congrawize or Council in Moscow, twas resolved the General Dolerucko should give them Battel. Which resolution, in its first birth, was favour'd by the Czar's quiet pass by the Rebels, to joyn with the General; which the Rebels might with ease have prevented; whereby they must have lain at so incommunicable a distance, that they could not have afforded a timely assistance one to other.

But, being thus happily joyn'd, on the 13 of the Kalends of February 16 70/71, upon the great Plain of Wariaschal, some five caitans or miles from Moscow; which goodly Plain of the world is Croned on each side with stately cloud-breaking Hills, the foot of each beautified with a plenteous River; this Plain holding their distance six miles one from other, so enduring it self in a level Valley from Moscow sixty miles to Wrackoza, where her fruit-affording streams, like sisters in Bounties love, twist themselves into the Ambonine Ocean, welcome (from their long travel in circulation run) into their first mothers womb again.

Here Madam Nature likewise, desirous to take her children home, had provided this fair and so large a Tomb, whilst on her aged hoary head, and dewie face, by Nine that morn, the Imperial Forces were on Wariaschal's (other days pleasant, now bloudy) Valley drawn up; whose strength, in two Bodies managed, whole and compleat, consisted of more then Eighteen thousand Horse, commanded by known valiant Conductors, and Infantry of the double-numbred force, led by Commanders of like unquestionable gallantry; with so great Ammunition-stores, as might some days employ their braving mindes; an Artillery-Train of 28 Field-Cannon, 18 Demy, 26 whole Culverin; with Saich, Partridge, and Murderes, on Carriage, above 40.

Thus equipped or fitted, drew down their Bodies, the Right by the General Dolerucko, the other by the Czar commanded; Faced the Enemy, whose more numerous Body by 20000 Horse and Infantry, in their own thoughts securely advance, in like Bodies, the Right led by the grand RebelStepan Radzin, the other by the great strengthner of this unhappie Feud, the PatriarchDemainzone, backed by a forcible Train of Artillery.

By Ten a clock, in horrid peals of shot, were so neer approached the Right Wings, (the one by Authority, the other by Numbers doubtless emboldned) that the Horse of the Rebels, by desperate Charge, and continued hours fresh assault, cause the General Dolerucko give retreat: but his true Reserve, and the Imperial Guard, with the Artillery well plyed, so galled his Plumes for some time; such a populous Wing, and on pursuit, was never heard of to be better pluckt whilst then. TheCzar, not being out of action, and seeing the whole Diadem at stake, left the sharp Dispute he was engaged in with Demainzone, and fell into the Rere of the pursuant the Rebel Radzin, with so powerful management, as shook his mounted body, and over ran his Infantry to all wonder. The Patriarch mistaken in the suddenness of his wheeling, expecting he intended by the change of ground into his Flank, wheeled to the contrary to provide for his reception: and the Army spreading so fully the Plain, ere he could well recover his rash motion; the Rebel Radzin, unassisted, had neither ground for handsome retreat, nor safety in flight; but indeed (with unheard-of resolution) forced (like the son of Despair) his pass between the buryings of the Czar'sInfantry, into his first ground again, and joyned with the Patriarch, commanding some retreat, to compleat his battered Companies. In this Onset were lost five of the Great Dukes Colours, three of Horse, and two of Foot; and thirteen of the Rebels, with the return of unpitied shattered Files.

Then the truly-gallant-spirited Moscovian Generals foreseeing the Rally of the Rebels might yet be managed with more then equal figures, took the advantage to cut off the cyphers, thereby to lessen the sum; drew their whole Body upon their Rere with great success in slaughter, till the Rebel Radzin again faced their Front, and by renewed fury continued battel from twelve a clock till three with such vicissitude of fate, Sir, it cannot here be expressed; but unquestionably the dispute was so hot, that these Armies came to change blows, some Regiments intermixt rudely one amongst another. And then believe so prodigious a Rebellion was never so quasht in less then seven hours: for by four a clock in the afternoon, the General Dolerucko had the clear possession of the plain for four miles pursuit on the Rebels ground: and then night drew on her sable veil, under which covert the left scattered Rebel-troops, unarmed, hid their despairing heads; which the Generals next days pursuit for sixteen miles found, and totally discomfited, with the jloreat of Victory, the taking of the Head-rebel Radzin, whose to-be-considered punishment will be in lingering Torments, to the example of all Rebels and their Coadjutors in this part, and I hope of the whole world. The slain of the Dukes Army were more then 7000, of whom the Major-General is the onely great eminent person, of whom in the next you shall have particular: on the Rebels party more then 16000, with 24000 onleads to this Irruption taken prisoners, with above three hundred Carriages and Artillery.