258 A JACOBITE EXILE

As the Swedish army advanced they were joined by the
Duke of Holstein, and, in spite of the efforts of a consid-
erable body of the enemy under Prince Wisniowiski, pro-
gressed steadily, crossed the river Memel, and when near
Grodno, were met by an embassy sent by the diet, to en-
deavour 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 Augus-
tus, 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 contribu-
tion of 20,000 crowns imposed upon it, in addition to food
for the army while it remained there. Plundering, how-
ever, was strictly forbidden, and as the king issued a proc-
lamation 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 follow-
ing day, which was the anniversary of the victory on the
Dwina the previous year.

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