By thus overriding privileges of the Ukraine, Peter had aroused the resentment of both Cossack and non-Cossack inhabitants. Both classes felt themselves subjected for the first time to the same treatment as the despised moujik population of Great Russia — the serfs of the great administrative class favored by Peter's "reforms." Mazeppa as hetman of the Cossacks of the Ukraine had for many years been accorded nearly all the honours of an independent prince. Secure in Peter's favour, which he had enjoyed ever since the siege of Azov, he had looked forward in his old age to the easy enjoyment of this lucrative post. He now saw himself forced to take sides in a quarrel the probable outcome of which would only rivet more tightly the yoke of Russian im-
114perialism on the inhabitants of the Cossack provinces. In the crisis now confronting him he took refuge in a time-honoured ruse. Although a half century of warlike service had till now seemed to weigh but lightly upon the veteran hetman, at Peter's summons he seemed suddenly overtaken by all the ills of deferred old age. For weeks at a time he remained in bed invisible to his followers, or else, propped in a great chair, supported by numerous cushions, he only received the Cossack officers to accept their condolences and to issue orders in the feeble voice of a valetudinarian. In expiation of past sins he commenced the construction of a great church, and to his former boon companions, expressed the edifying sentiment that "his thoughts were wholly withdrawn to the affairs of another Hfe."
Nevertheless, in careful fulfillment of his duties as hetman he appeared to make every effort to furnish the Tsar with the levies of troops required. These were placed under the command of a Cossack colonel named Apostol. Although all these measures were taken in Mazeppa's name and he appeared zealously preparing to oppose the invasion of the Swedes, it seems equally certain, that at the same time constant negotiations were carried on with the emissaries of Charles. Offers of freedom and autonomy for the Ukraine were freely made by the Swedish monarch: Mazeppa's place was assured as the head of an independent state guaranteed by the armies of Charles. At last the hetman consented to enter into open revolt against the Tsar. In order to act with more certainty he suddenly quitted his role of an invalid and placed himself at the head of the Cossack armies. Appearing to yield to the urgent appeals of the Russian generals, he ordered all his polki to cross the Polish frontier.*
Charles does not appear to have rated very high the military ability of the troops recruited among the Cossacks and peasant-proprietors of Little Russia. He was anxious, however, to secure a base for supplies for his own armies and guides for the vast unmapped country of the Ukraine, where he intended to develop his campaign. Perhaps the weakest feature of Charles' plans was his dangerous confidence in the ability of his veterans to overthrow almost any number of Russian troops which could be brought against him. But as the Cossack polki were only needed as auxiharies, Mazeppa was instructed to maintain his fellow countrjuien in a state of "discontent" — a none too difficult task!! — without definitely engaging himself until the last moment.
The hetman's position was, however, soon com-
* Norberg's "History of Charles XII." Nothing in the history of the time is more confusing than the numbers given with respect to the troops engaged during this campaign. Even Norberg, although an eye-witness of the events he describes, cannot be wholly relied upon.
plicated by the constant reports which his rivals forwarded to the capital in order to convince the Tsar of his disloyalty. At first Peter was deaf to all such rumours, believing that Mazeppa in his old age would never betray a confidence he had done so much to deserve. As a fresh proof of his belief in the hetman's loyalty the Tsar sent back to the Ukraine bound in heavy chains, the principal agents of the malcontents who had undertaken the long journey to Moscow in order to denounce their chief. Thus perished two of the hetma'nfs oldest comrades in arms, I ska, a colonel of the Cossacks of Poltava, devoted to the cause of Russia, and Koutchebey, chief of one of the most important families of the Ukraine. These chieftains who had been the first to discern Mazeppa's intended treachery, would have been spared by the hetman if they would join his side, but scorning to save their lives at such a cost, both were now put to a shameful death with heavy blows from a poleaxe before the assembled polk and their own fellow townsmen.*