POLISH HISTORY. 79 



c Popery is the established religion, and the prince him- 

 self is obliged to profess it. The zea] of the Poles has 

 always prevailed with relation to this article, and all the 

 efforts made by the advocates for the Augsburg Confession 

 for the introduction of a Protestant prince on the throne 

 of Poland have hitherto proved ineffectual. There are, 

 however, great numbers of Christians of the Greek 

 Church, as well as Lutherans, Anabaptists, and Socinians, 

 in this kingdom, and there are even Pagans to be found 

 in the recesses of Lithuana. The people in general are 

 more superstitious than devout, and they receive what- 

 ever is transmitted to them from Rome with a blind sub- 

 mission, and without bestowing the least examination on 

 the particulars. 



' The monks improve this stupid credulity to their 

 own advantage ; they frequently interfere in affairs of 

 State, and enrich themselves by those means. The 

 Jesuits of Leopold in Russia have a cope entirely covered 

 with gold and precious stones in their treasury, but it is 

 likewise so exceeding weighty that the priest is incapable 

 of using it at mass. This ornament alone is valued at 

 50,000 crowns. 



'With respect to the manners and disposition of this 

 nation, the Poles, though they are naturally haughty and 

 imperious, are yet sufficiently qualified to return any 

 polite treatment they receive, and if a stranger only 

 tenders them the first civilities, and is sedulous to culti- 

 vate their friendship, their behavour will always corre- 

 spond with his advances, and they will be industrious to 

 render him all the good offices imaginable. 



' Magnificence is the foible of the nobility, and they 

 sacrifice all things to scenes of luxury. As they seldom 

 behold any person superior to themselves in their own 

 country, and as they treat their inferiors with an air of 

 absolute authority, they live in all the splendour of 

 princes, while fortune proves favourable to their inclina- 

 tions. Prodigality and debauch are considered as virtues 

 by a martial nobility, who are frequently precipitated into 



