nt, 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 king issued a proclamation declaring that he was no enemy of
the Polish Republic, but simply of their king, the inhabitants
were, on the whole, well satisfied with the conduct of the
invaders.

A halt was made here for some time, and a bridge was thrown across
the Vistula, while the army rested after the long and fatiguing
marches it had made. A fresh attempt was made to arrest the advance
of the Swedes, and the Cardinal Primate, himself, met the king; but
nothing came of the negotiations, and the army entered Warsaw. Here
they were warmly received, and great entertainments were given to
the king.

Towards the end of June, they again advanced to meet the force that
Augustus had gathered, and on the 6th of July the Swedes arrived
within a few miles of Clissow. The next day some reinforcements
arrived, and the king decided to give battle on the following day,
which was the anniversary of the victory on the Dwina, the previous
year.

His army was twelve thousand strong, while that of Augustus was
nearly double that strength, and was very strongly posted, his camp
being surrounded by morasses, although situated on rising ground
which commanded the whole of the country round it. The bogs in the
front were found to be so impassable, that the Swedes were forced
to make a circuit to the left, where the ground was firmer. This
movement obliged the enemy also