Kings & rulers > History of Charles XII, King of Sweden

SDOJC I. ■CHABLES Xlf. ’ 21
where every one is a theologian; and Peter, who al*
ways carried justice to the extreme of cruelty, caused
some of these wretched creatures, who were called
Vosko-jesuits, to be committed to the flames.
The Czar, in his vast dominions, had many other
subjects who were not Christians. The Tartars, in¬
habiting the western coasts of the Caspian sea and
the Palus Mseotis, were Mahometans; the Siberians,
the Ostiacks, and the Samoides, who ly towards the
Frozen sea,; were savages, some of them were idolaters,
and others had not the least knowledge of a God; and
yet the Swedes who were sent prisoners among them,
were better pleased with their manners than with
those of the ancient Muscovites.
Peter Alexiowitz had received an education that
tended still more to increase the barbarity of this part
of the world. His natural disposition led him to
caress strangers before he knew what advantages he
might derive from their acquaintance. Le Fort, as
hath been already observed, was the first instrument
he employed to change the face of affairs in Muscovy.
His mighty genius, which a barbarous education had
hitherto checked, but not destroyed, broke forth all
of a sudden. He resolved to be a man, to command
men, and to create a new nation. Many princes be¬
fore him had renounced crowns, wearied out with the
intolerable load of public affairs; but no man had ever
divested himself of the royal character in order to
learn the art of governing better: this was a stretch
of heroism which was reserved for Peter the Great
?ilone.
He left Muscovy in 1698, having reigned as yet
but two years, and went to Holland, disguised under
a common name, as if he had been a menial servant
of that same Mr, le Fort whom he sent in quality of