with vain hopes while he accepted presents from each, a course of conduct which became very apparent at the time that I was treating with the prince of Muscovy, in the name of the Emperor Maximilian, upon the subject of concluding a treaty of peace with the king of Poland. For as the prince of Muscovy could not be induced to enter upon equitable terms of peace, the king of Poland gained over the king of Precop by a bribe to attack Moscow with an army on one side, while he on the other should make an onset on the Russian territory in the direction of Opotzka. By this contrivance the king of Poland hoped to be able to compel the prince of Muscovy to reasonable terms of peace. The prince of Muscovy perceiving this, on his part sent ambassadors to negotiate with the Tartar prince, for the purpose of persuading him to turn his forces against Lithuania, which he stated to be entirely off its guard and unprotected by garrisons. The Tartar, consulting only his own advantage, followed his advice. As his power thus increased by the quarrels of these princes, and as he was occupied solely with the restless desire of increasing his own domain, his ambition enlarged itself in proportion, and having gained the alliance of Mamai, prince of Nahaica, he marched from Taurida with an army in the month of January, A.D. 1524, and attacked the king of Astrachan; and as the latter deserted the city and took to flight in great trepidation, he besieged and took it, and remained housed within the walls as conqueror.
Meantime Agis, one of the princes of Nahaica, rebuked his brother Mamai for having lent the aid of his forces to so powerful a neighbour; he at the same time warned him to keep a suspicious eye upon the daily increasing power of King Machmetgerei, for that it was possible from, his intractable disposition that he might turn his arms both against himself and his brother, and not only expel both from the kingdom, but perhaps slay them or reduce them to slavery. Mamai, under the influence of these suggestions, sent a mes-
