1656 No sooner had the Thirty Years' War ended than a new one began - "all against all." Russia sends troops into Polish territory and at the same time fights Sweden. The Elector of Brandenburg, a vassal of the Polish crown, strives to come under the patronage of the Swedish king Charles and insists that his relative, Duke of Courland Jacob Kettler, do the same. But Kettler is negotiating citizenship with Russia. Cardinal Mazarin of France sends two scouts to Courland, disguised as Beguine nuns. Their task is to captivate Duke Jacob and convey to him the cardinal’s secret message. And Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich sends a delegation to the Duke, including clerk of the Ambassadorial Prikaz Arseny Shumilov, with the task: to prepare negotiations on the lease of Courland seaports...