CRACKOW, a city of Poland, situated in a palatine of the same name, and by some accounted the capital of the whole kingdom. It stands at the conflux of the rivers Vistula and Redawa, in E. Long. 20. 16. N. Lat. 50. 8. It is very populous, and the largest and best built town in Poland. The inhabitants had the liberty of purchasing estates, and a voice in choosing the king, while Poland subsisted as an independent state. But the city is now much declined from what it was formerly, and its trade is become inconsiderable; yet it is full of gentry, and a wealthy clergy. The number of the religious houses in the town and suburbs is very great. Here is a castle of such an immense size as to resemble a town in its appearance. It contains the palace, the cathedral, and some other churches and houses; and is defended by walls, towers, and bastions. This was also the place of the king's coronation and burial, and in the cathedral were kept the regalia. The bishop of Cracow is the first in the kingdom, duke of Saveria, and very often a cardinal. His revenues are larger than those of his metropolitan the archbishop of Gnesa, and are computed to amount to 40,000 dollars per annum. The cathedral is dedicated
cated to St Stanislaus, who was formerly bishop of this see; and was murdered by Boleffius II. at the altar, because he took the liberty to admonish and reprove him; for which reason the king and nobles walked in procession to his shrine the day before the coronation, with a view to expiate the crime, and often made very costly offerings. Masses are said in this church day and night without intermission.