The article provides a textological analysis of the famous Cossack Chronicle of Samoylo Velichko, including its original and the only remaining copy. the structure of the chronicle is clarified, it is proved that it began with the description of the Khotyn war of P. Sahaidachny, and not with the Khmelnytsky uprising, as it was traditionally considered. The article contains a study of the sources of the chronicle, and also the beginning of the chronicle, which was believed to be lost, is introduced.