Page 251 - A Jacobite Exile

was evident that, until the Saxons had been decisively defeated, political
action would be useless, and that, therefore, for the present he could either

remain at headquarters, or rejoin his regiment. Charlie at once chose the
latter alternative.

"Very well, Captain Carstairs, you can rejoin when you like, but remember
I may claim your services again. You see, now that you have acquired a

knowledge of Polish, your value for this sort of work is largely increased."

As soon as the frost had broken, the Swedish army commenced its advance.
Skirmishes frequently took place, but Augustus had, as yet, no army with
which he could meet them in the field, and he summoned a diet at Warsaw,

in hopes of persuading the Poles to decide upon calling out the whole
national force.

In this he failed altogether. The citizens, led by the foreign traders, were
already openly opposed to him, and their attitude so encouraged his

opponents in the diet, that many of these rose and openly denounced the
government, and the conduct of the king, that had brought the country into

its present difficulties.

As the Swedish army advanced, they were joined by the Duke of Holstein,

and, in spite of the efforts of a considerable body of the enemy, under
Prince Wisniowiski, progressed steadily, crossed the river Memel, and,

when near Grodno, were met by an embassy sent by the diet, to endeavour
to persuade Charles not to advance further.

An interview took place between the king, the Poles, and his ministers, the
conversation on both sides being in Latin. But as the ambassadors had no

definite plans to propose, and their leaders were wholly devoted to
Augustus, the king refused to allow his advance to be arrested, and
continued his march. When near Praga they crossed the plain where Charles

Gustavus, King of Sweden, had defeated the Polish army in a great battle,
that had lasted for three days. The city was occupied, and a contribution of

20,000 crowns imposed upon it, in addition to food for the army while it
remained there. Plundering, however, was strictly forbidden, and, as the