letters and messengers to the king, imploring him to recognize his plea; but when he found that all his efforts were of no avail, incensed at the indignity offered him, he told the king that he should resent such infamous conduct, and that he himself would one day live to repent it. Then betaking himself to his home in anger, he dispatched a confidential servant to the Prince of Muscovy, with letters and instructions. He wrote, that if the king would promise him a safe and independent livelihood, granted him in writing and under his oath, that it should be to the prince's honour and profit, and that he would go over to him with the fortresses which he possessed in Lithuania, and all the other places which he had taken either by force or surrender. The Prince of Muscovy knowing the valour and skill of the man, was overjoyed at receiving this message, and promised that he would do all which Michael demanded of him, and gave the letters and the oath which he desired.
When every thing had been done by the Prince of Muscovy according to agreement, Michael, burning with revenge against Ivan Saversinski, who was staying at that time in his villa near Grodno (in which I afterwards spent a night), fell upon him with all his forces, and, to prevent his escape, set a guard of soldiers round his house, and sent in a Mahomedan assassin, who attacked him while asleep in his bed, and cut his head off. This done, he advanced with his army against the fortress of Miensko, and strove to take it either by force or surrender. Frustrated in his attempt on Miensko, he laid siege to other fortified towns; but learning that the forces of the king were advancing against him, and that they were far superior to his own, he gave up the siege of these fortresses, and betook himself to Moscow, where he was honourably received by the prince, who was well aware that there was no man in Lithuania equal to him. The prince entertained the hope, that by his counsels, operations, and industry, he might be able to gain possession of the whole of Lithuania;
