with another of the Precopian Tartars. And the history of the wars of the Cossacks against Poland.
London, by T.N. for Hobart Kemp, at the sign of the Ship in the upper walk of the New Exchange, 1672
The Cossacks in the lower Dineper region had been under the relaxed rule of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth until they broke away in the mid 17th-century. The rebellion was led by Bohdan Khmelnytsky who became Hetman of the Zaporozhian Host. He decided to switch allegiances of the Sich and signed a treaty with Russia in 1654.
Chevalier recounts tales of Cossack raids along the the Black Sea with five or six thousand men who are able to row across to Turkey in the space of forty hours. Their courage, ingenuity, diligence and horsemanship was much admired by the author who describes them as, 'unwearied, bold and brave, but very great drunkards; perfidious and treacherous'.
First edition in English; 8vo, [12], 195, [1] pp., woodcut initials and headpieces, worming towards foot, heavier at start with loss of a few letters of text, ink name to head of title, contemporary sheep, a few small wormholes, extremities a little rubbed.
Atabey 237n.; Wing C3800.
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