Page:Notes upon Russia (volume 2, 1851).djvu/116

for that night beforehand, for that he would not be able to allow them much fire the following night. On the following day, therefore, the Tartars would continue their journey, and when night came, seeing no flame or smoke, would suppose that the enemy had either retreated or dispersed themselves, and would then let their horses loose upon the pasture, take their meal, and go to sleep. Constantine would then make his onset at break of day, and thus overwhelm them with a terrific slaughter. The Knes Michael Linzki, who had gone into Germany while yet a youth, and had demeaned himself valiantly under Albert, Duke of Saxony, in his war with Friesland, and had gained himself great renown amongst all ranks of soldiers, returned to his own country imbued with the manners of the Germans, among whom he had grown up, and had high rank and authority given to him at the court of the King Alexander; so much so, indeed, that the king took his advice and decision in every question of difficulty. It happened, however, that he fell into a quarrel with Ivan Saversinski, palatine of Troca, on account of the king, but the quarrel being at length arranged, everything remained quiet between them during the life of the king; but after the king's death, the hatred which had been buried in the mind of Ivan, on account of having been deprived of his palatinate through his antagonist's influence, again awoke. The consequence was, that the latter, with his accomplices and friends, was charged with treason to King Sigismund, who had succeeded Alexander, was slandered by certain of his rivals, and declared to be a traitor to his country. The Knes Michael, smarting under such an injury, often appealed to the king, and demanded that the cause should be equitably judged between himself and Saversinski, declaring that he would then be able to clear himself from so heavy a charge; but finding that the king would not listen to his petition, he went over to Hungary to Vladislav, the king's brother. Thence he sent both