161 Arrival

As I traveled with Galina, her daughter and Katarzyna, I was forced to spend this journey in a carriage, I often complained about horse riding, especially over long distances, but the carriages were not better... and after leaving Podolia, the roads made the situation even worse, but luckily we managed to get to Gdańsk.

Jerzy Ossolinski was not supposed to come to Gdańsk until three days, if nothing prevented him, of course, so I decided to meet with Graf Ferber and offer him a new joint business. Gdańsk was a large commercial port, visited by many wealthy merchants, therefore it was the perfect place to open a casino... I had prepared projects and rules of games, such as poker, blackjack, roulette. Graf Ferber would only have to find a suitable location and train employees... regarding possible legal problems, I was Hetman, and Graf Ferber was the mayor of Gdańsk from 1632, so it wasn't much of a worry.

The second person I decided to meet was Jan Heweliusz, with whom I had only exchanged correspondence so far, I was going to order from him a set of telescopes, periscopes and other tools for observing the stars and ask for help in designing an astronomical observatory.

Jerzy Ossolinski arrived in Gdańsk at the appointed time, and Jurata was already waiting in the port... Even though I had abandoned my political ambitions, as a history buff, it was one of the best times for me to see old London... before the 1665 epidemic would kill 100,000 people, and a year later the Great London Fire would destroy more than 13,000 buildings... and before the civil war of 1642, after which Oliver Cromwell would come to power. It was definitely an interesting time for the people of the Kingdom of England.

The journey itself was not very interesting, I spent my time mainly in the company of Galina and Catherine telling them various sea stories, Slavic, Greek and other myths, especially those related to gods of sea. My second favorite pastime was, teasing Saddat... despite that the waters of the Baltic Sea are rather calm, he did not take this sea journey well, which was a reason for many jokes... relating to vomiting.

Despite not always favorable weather, we managed to reach our destination after a week... the first thing that could be felt in the air was the smell... the overwhelming smell of dirt, people, animals, smoke and things better not to think about. I always complained about Warsaw, but London was much worse in this regard. I gave orders to Rotmistrz Czarniecki that, after mooring, he would ensure that the horses were unloaded and set up the hussars in parade formation, and at that time, together with Ossolinski, we were to wait for the arrival of representatives of the English royal court... Galina and her daughter, Katarzyna and Wroński were to wait on the ship until the carriages arrived.

"Remember that you promised to behave with dignity?" (Jerzy Ossolinski)

"Stop whining like an old woman... if I knew you would complain like that, I would stay in Jazłowiec." (MC)

"The king cares about this alliance, I don't know if we can sign it, but even if not, we don't need more enemies." (Jerzy Ossolinski)

"And I do not care about the king, but I do not intend to disturb him in his inept political endeavors... the Kingdom of England gains nothing from an alliance with us." (MC)

"Perhaps, but if we don't try, we won't know for sure." (Jerzy Ossolinski)

I shook my head in resignation, sometimes talking to him felt like talking to the wall... I liked Jerzy, he had a great sense of humor, he was sociable... he drank a bit too much, but it was something that many Poles practiced... I understood his respect for the position of king, unfortunately, at present on the throne there was someone who did not deserve respect. Ossolinski also always belonged to the peace faction, at least in relation to the Cossack rebellions, he did not want to spill his brotherly blood, which sooner or later would make us stand on the opposite sides.

When the unloading of our luggage and horses was coming to an end, a royal messenger arrived at the port, informing us that he would take us to Hampton Court, which would be our place of stay for the duration of our diplomatic mission.

It was a big surprise for the messenger to see so many hussars in full gear. One hundred large horses, on them a hundred soldiers in ornate armor with the skins of wolves, tigers, leopards on their backs and the legendary wings... one cannot forget about five-meter lances with two-meter banners attached to them. He began to inquire about the reasons for such a large number of soldiers, but Ossolinski explained that it was for my personal protection and that in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the law prohibits Hetman from traveling without an army accompanying him... which was a lie.

I gave a sign to Rotmistrs Czarniecki... after a while I heard his loud voice.

"Mount the horses, parade formation." (Rotmistrz Czarniecki)

I got on my horse too, looked at my army and started to laugh... compared to them I looked like a beggar.

"We're not at the funeral, sing, let all London know who's here." (MC)

A few seconds later I heard the first words of the song I taught them, all I had to do was change the word uhlan to hussar.

"There's no such village, there is no such cottage, Where married women wouldn't love an hussar.

Hey, hey, the hussars, simply lovely kids, Many a girl will follow you (x2)

Many a girl, many a widow

When sees an husar, for love is ready.

Hey, hey, the hussars, simply lovely kids, Many a girl will follow you (x2)

While grandma was dying, still she was asking: If in the heavens will be the hussars?

Hey, hey, the hussars, simply lovely kids, Many a girl will follow you (x2)"