bo o k p la c a b le re fen tm e r it o f th e -q ue en, w h o , e v e n w h e n ihe
w_5i_yfound it impracticable to fecure the election o f her favourite
fon Alexander, or to compafs any of her other defigns, both
in fecret and openly fet herfelf in oppofition to the pretenfions
of James. When the diet of convocation afiembled at <War-
faw, the queen Gammoned a meeting of fenators and nuntios
in her apartment, whom ihe addreffed; in regard to her fon
with all the virulence which inveterate fury could infpire,
and all the affeCted candour towards-the Poles which :the
moft confummate hypocrify could fuggeft*. “ Although
I am not by birth a Pole, I am one byinclination,rand am
“ more attached to this nation than to my own family.
“ Reflect maturely whom you will nominate your king in
“ the place of my much-regretted huiband, and 1 fincerely
“ recommend to you not to elect one of my children. I too
fit well know all their difpofitionsq and particularly caution
“ you not to raife to the throne the eldeft prince James.
« His iinconfiderate raihnefs will involve the kingdom in
« fpeedy and inevitable ruin.” The biihop of Plotiko,
-though her creature, difgufted atthefe appearances of unnatural
rancour, importuned her to defift; but ihe exclaimed
with greater violence : “ Do not-interrupt me ; 1 will never
“ retraCt what 1 have faid, as I prefer the fafety of the re-
fj public to my own interefts and the fplendour of my fa-
“ mily. I . again exhort the Poles to eleCt any candidate in
“ preference to one of my children.” This virulent oppa-
fition to the views of her eldeft fon was but too fuccefsful:
he was rejedled by a great majority, and the choice of the
nation fell upon Auguftus elector of Saxony.
* Zaluik III. p. 102.
The
The fequel.of the hiftory of Sobieiki’s family,- now re- ciMp.
duced to a private ftation, will be comprifed in a ihort com -, v ,
pafs. After the defeat of Auguftus II. at the battle of Cliflow,
Charles XII. determined to give a new king to Poland ; and
his veneration for the memory of John Sobieiki induced him
to offer that dignity to his eldeft fon. In confequence of this
refolution, Auguftus was declared by the primate unworthy
to reign ; and a diet of eledtion was convened at Warfaw.
James was then at Breilaw, impatiently expedting his nomination
to the throne fo worthily filled by his father, and from
which he had been deprived by the unprecedented malice
of a mother. But the ufual Angularity of his ill-fortune ftill
purfued him : as he was hunting with his brother Con-
ftantine, a fmall detachment of Saxon horfemen furprized
and carried him off; a n d , inftead of receiving a crown, he was
confined in the caftle of Pleiflenburgh near Leipfic. Con-
ftantine * might have efcaped; but, from an impulfe of fraternal
affedlion, voluntarily accompanied his brother into
confinement, and adminiftered confolation under this grievous
reverfe of fortune. This event happened on the 28 th
of February, 1704.
In the month of September, 1706, the two brothers were
removed to the fortrefs of Konigftein, as to a place of ftill
greater fecurity; but in December of the fame year fortunately
obtained their enlargement, upon the requeft of
Charles XII. at the conclufion of the celebrated treaty with
Auguftus II. in which the latter was compelled to abdicate
the throne of Poland. This abdication, however, did not
revive the pretenfions of James to the crown, the election
having fallen, during his confinement, upon Staniilaus Let-
Vol. I.
* Lengnich, Hift. Pol. p. 342,
C c zinfki.