retire to their own Habitation yet are paid as duely as if they were in actual service and meet not again till there be an Army on foot enjoying in the mean time divers Privileges and Exemptions which the other later kings of Persia have granted them The Meheter that is the Lord Chamberlain or chief Gentleman of the Chamber named Schaneser was a Gcorgian born of Father and Mother Christians He had been carried away in his infancy and sold to the Court of Persia where they had made him an Eunuch so that he needed not be Circumcis'd to receive the Character of the Persian Religion He had been a Page attending in his Chamber to Schach-Abas and was much in favour with Schach-Sefi upon this account that being alwayes near the king's person in all both Publick and Private Assemblies nay even within the Seraglio he had the king's Ear and knew how to comply with his humour and make his advantage of the opportunities he had to speak to him by which means he obtain'd those favours of him which another could not have ask'd The Wakenhuis that is the Secretary of State and of the King's Revenue who having forty Clarks under him perpetually employ'd issues out all the orders and dispatches which are sent into the Provinces and takes an account of all that 's receiv'd towards the charge of the King's house was called Myrsa Masum He was a Peasant's Son of the Village of Dermen in the Mountain of Elwend near Caswin where there are among others two Villages to wit Dermen and Saru whence come the best Pen-men of any in the Kingdom in regard there 's not an Inhabitant but puts his Children to writing as soon as they are able to hold a Pen and keep them so constantly employ'd therein that even in the fields and as they keep their flocks they pass away their time in that Exercise Aliculi-Chan who had the charge of Diwan-beki that is President of the Councel for the administration of Justice was the Son of a Christian of Georgia He had been taken during the War which Schach-Abas had in those parts and sold at Ispahan where he had serv'd as a Lacquey which had also been the condition of his two Brothers Rustam-Chan Governour of Tauris and Isa-Chan Iusbaschi who were made Eunuchs as he was himself The functions of his charge consisted principally in presiding at the judgement of Criminal causes joyntly with the Seder and the Kasi and the other Ecclesiastical and Secular Judges whom they call Schehra and Oef under the Portal of the King's Palace at the place named Diwan-Chane and to be personally present at the Executions of Malefactors The Kularagasi that is Captain of the Kulam or Slaves who are sold to the King to serve in the Wars upon any order they receive to that purpose was called Siausbeki and had been one of Schach-Abas's Footmen Of these Kulams there are about eight thousand and are permitted to live at their own Habitations as the Kurtzi are and have the same pay but they enjoy not the same Privileges or Exemptions having nothing of that kind which is not common to them with the king's other Subjects The Eischikagasi-baschi or Lord high Steward who hath the over-sight of forty Stewards that serve under him called Mortusaculi-Chan was the Son of a heard-man or one of those people whom the Persians call Turk who have no setled Habitation but remove their Tents and Huts to those places where they think to find the best Grass for their Cattel I said these Eischikagasi were a kind of Stewards of whom there are at all times four or five at the Court who stand at the door of the king's Appartment and serve by half-years under their Baschi or Chief who carries the staff they call Dâ—kenâ—k and stands before the king when he eats in publick on dayes of Ceremonies He is also one of the two who take Ambassadors under the Arms when they are brought to audience We have already related how Mortasaculi-Chan succeeded in this charge Vgurlu-Chan whose head Schach-Sefi had caus'd to be cut off Imanculi Sulthan whom the king of Persia sent upon an Embassy to the Duke of Holstein our Master had the quality of Eischakagasi Schahe Wardi who was Iesaul Scebet or Master of the Ceremonies was the Governour of Derbent's Son but his Grand-father was a Peasant of the Province of Serab The Iesaul Scebet carries also a staff and his principal function consists in placing strangers at the king's Table and at publick assemblies The Nasir or Controller of the king's house whom they also give the quality of Kerek jerak because he executes the function of a Purveyer whose name was Samambek was the Son of one of the ordinary Inhabitants of Kaschan The Tuschmal who hath the over-sight of all the Officers belonging to the king's kitchin was called Seinel-bek and was the Son of Seinel-Chan whom the king kill'd with his own hands in the presence of his Mother The Dawatter that is the Secretary of the Closet whose name was Vgurlu-bek was the Son of Emirkune-Chan He had in that charge succeeded Hassan-beg who was kill'd by the king's order because he had been at Supper with Talub-Chan as we related before The word Dawatter is deriv'd from Dawat which signifies an Ink-horn in as much as the principal function of this charge consists in carrying the Ink-horn and presenting that part thereof where the Ink is to the king when he is to sign any thing For the king himself carries the Seal about his Neck and Seals or Signs himself by pressing the Seal upon the Paper after he had put it into the Ink. Aly-baly-bek who was Myra-chur-baschi that is chief of the Gentlemen of the Horse or Master of the Horse of Persia was a Senkene by birth and his Father was a Drover who traded altogether in Oxen. The Mirischikar or Grand Faulconer whose name was Chosrow Sulthan was a Christian an Armenian born one notwithstanding his Religion very much in the king's favour Karachan-bek who had the charge of Sekbahn-baschi that is Overseer of those who kept the Dogs for Hunting or chief Hunts-man as I may call him was also a Sen-kene and the son of a Shepheard The Iesalkor hath two functions to wit that of Grand-Marshal of the Lodgings and that of Judge of the king's houshold He marches before the king as well in the Citie as in the Country with a staff in his hand to make way He hath under him several other Iasauls who are as it were Harbingers and sometimes is employ'd in the securing of persons guilty of Treason and such as are imprison'd by the king's express order The other Officers belonging to the Court are The Suffretzi that is the Carver The Abdar who serves the king with water to drink and keeps it in a Jarr seal'd up to prevent any body 's putting of poyson into it The
the Cautoc that is the chief Standard-bearer the Pochin or receiver of the Kings Revenue the Pochinsy or Lord-keeper of the Great-Seal and the Autzat who is the chief Judge of the City Under this last there are three Lieutenants whereof one is called Hutay another Tzi◠and the third Toutoy who sit in Judgment once a week at their own houses and appoint Commissioners who have their setled quarters consisting each of a thousand 〈◊〉 This is particularly observable that the Commissioner hath no Authority in the street where he lives lest he should be byassed in his Judgment by any 〈…〉 on of neighbour-hood whence it also comes that no man is made Vice-roy 〈…〉 Judge in his own Country but he is sent to remote Provinces where he hath no relations The Officers are changed every three years and from the day of their departure from Court or the place of their ordinary Habitation the King defrayes all their Charges leaving it to their choice whether they will take their allowance in provision or mony While they continue in their employment they are lodg'd and treated at the Kings charge and there are lodg'd neer the Judges in the same house the Clerks Door-keepers and all the other Officers belonging to their charge who are also maintain'd and paid by the King that they may take no bribes or gratifications from the parties They are so circumspect in all their proceedings that there is no Judge but so strictly examines all particulars as not to fear any reproach of neglect Debtours are treated with so great rigour that such as are not able to satisfie their Creditors had rather be sold to them then endure the cruel fustigations in the middest whereof some who are of a more delicate Constitution many times expire The course taken for the discovery of Crimes and to prevent several other disorders is admirable The Judges coming to the place of their residence cause a List to be taken of all the houses within their jurisdiction and having distributed them into Decads they set a bill on every tenth house injoyning the Inhabitants to discover such of their Decad as they know hath committed any crimes upon pain of being responsible for the same themselves as also to give notice of such of their Decad as remove from their houses or intend any great journey that they may be oblig'd to pay their debts before they leave the quarter They have no mercy on Criminals yet is there not any person Executed till the crime be made so apparent that the criminal can alledge nothing for himself They endeavour to get out the truth by fair means and never order any to be tortured but upon very great presumptions but then they do it cruelly They put their fingers between two sticks two fingers broad and better through the ends whereof they draw a strong pack-thred which they bind so hard that they break the bones and make the nailes come off Another torture they have is to put the feet between two boards much after the same manner as in some parts of Europe they put the Leggs into boots full of hot oyle save that there the feet are tormented and here the leggs Every great City hath several Prisons which are very strictly kept but have belonging to them Courts Gardens Ponds and Walks for the divertisement of such as are detained there for slight offences They have also drinking-houses for the convenience of the Prisoners and Shops wherein are sold such things as the Prisoners make in order to their better subsistance The Sentence of death is not executed till the King hath confirmed it nay even that had it is done with so many Ceremonies that unless the heynousness of the Crime cry for Vengeance very loud there are more Condemn'd persons languish in the Prisons then die by the hand of the Executioner For there is no Execution but in presence of the chief Judge of the Province or Visitor who being come to the place calls for the Indictments of such as stand condemned to die and examine them and thereupon either confirms or repeals the sentence of the ordinary Judge Of those whose Sentence is confirm'd he takes fifty of the greatest offenders and orders the Goaler to prepare them for their execution Yet are they not brought out of the Prison till they are once more examined and if they can alledge any receivable excuse they are shut up again and then they discharge the great Guns to shew that they are going to Execution But before they are brought to the place of punishment they are examined once more and the Judge presses them to think of themselves and to find out some pretence that might oblige him to defer it If they have nothing to alledge he orders so many Guns to be fired as there are persons to be executed Being come to the place of execution they are set upon heaps of Ashes where they have somewhat given them to eat and then begins the last examination but if that over they have no excuse the Guns are discharged the third time and the execution is compleated Their punishments are to hang up to empale to burn but this last is only for such as are guilty of high Treason They have a particular punishment for Thieves For as they detest Theft above all Crimes so is its punishment attended with more infamy then the others They lay the Malefactor upon his belly with his hands ti'd behind him and in that posture two executioners beat him with all their might upon the calf of the Leg with great Canes moystned in water which is so painful a chastisement that most of the wretches die under their hands The Judges are present at these executions but that they may not be moved to compassion which the Condemned would never be the better for they spend their time in gaming and drinking and stop their ears against their cries But that Governours and Judges may not abuse their power they are obliged not only to give an account of their actions at the expiration of their Commissions before Judges appointed for that purpose whom they call Chenes but also the King sends into the Provinces a Visitor whom they call Leaches He goes into the Province incognito takes an exact and secret information of the Actions of the Officers and having gone round the Province comes up near the Metropolis of it towards the time that all the Officers of the Province meet there which is once a month he sends to the Viceroy and the Assembly to open the Gate to him that he may come and acquaint them with the King's pleasure This message discovers his quality and yet when he goes into the Assembly he hath his Commission carried open before him and assoon as it is read the Viceroy comes out of his place and the other Judges out of their seats and do reverence to the Visitor who having taken the Viceroys place commends those
fidelity he one day took occasion to speak to the Great Duke of him and thence to celebrate so highly the beauty of those Gentlewomen that it rais'd in him a desire to see them The Great Duke sent for them under pretence of a Visit to the Princesses his Sisters and having seen them he was so taken with the Beauty of the Elder that he immediately sent one to tell Miloslauskie that he would honour him with Alliance and marry one of his Daughters The Gentleman receiv'd the message with much respect and return'd his humble thanks to the Great Duke for the favour he was pleas'd to do him Soon after they carried rich Presents to the intended Bride and a good sum of money to the Father who with others of the Kinred could not without that supply have appear'd at the Marriage of his Daughter They were married on Shrove-Sunday in the year 1647. but without any noise lest the consequences of that Solemnity might be frustrated by Charms Eight days after Morosou was married to Miloslauskie's second Daughter and so became Brother-in-Law to the Great Duke Ilia Danilouits Miloslauskie was no sooner advanc'd to this new-greatness but he would have all the World to take notice of it He pull'd down a Wooden house that had been given him in the Castle near the Great Duke's Palace and built a Sumptuous one of Stone in it's place He cast off by degrees the old Officers of the house and brought in his own Kindred and Creatures who being no less necessitous than the chief of their family let slip no opportunity of advantaging themselves Among others he made one Leponti Steppanouits Plesseou Chief Judge of the Citie of Moscou in that Jurisdiction which they call Semskoi Duor No Concussion no Extortion but this man would undertake He thought it not enough to receive Presents but would reduce both parties to the utmost extremities He suborn'd false Witnesses whose employment was to bring in charges against those who were rich enough to redeem themselves out of his persecutions imprisoning and oppressing them till they purchas'd their Liberties with the ruine of their Estates and of these instruments of his Tyranny one was called Peter Tichonuits Trochaniotou his Brother-in-law This Peter was one of those whom in Muscovy they call Ocolnits out of which number are chosen the Bojares and he had the management of the Puskarse Pricas that is to say was Overseer of the Armourers Canoniers and all the Mechanicks belonging to the Arsenal who were very much oppress'd by him For instead of paying them monethly as they are wont to do in Muscovy where all that are in the Great Duke's service are so punctually pay'd that if they come not the first day of the moneth for their money it is sent home to them he on the contrary kept them several moneths without it forc'd them to compound and to give acquittances for the whole sum though they received but some part Besides Trading was obstructed Monopolies granted and no Employment could be had but by dearly purchasing the Favorite Morosou's good pleasure One got a Patent prohibiting the further use of the ordinary Ells purposely to oblige the people to buy Iron ones with the Great Duke's mark upon them but instead of selling them at 8. or 10 d. a piece as they were worth they could not be had under a Crown by which means was rais'd a vast sum of money by reason of the necessity there was of having them all over the Kingdom Another found out the invention of raising the Poude that is 40. pound of Salt to thirty pence which before cost but twenty But instead of making advantage of it they found at the year's end that the dearness of the Salt had so hindred the sale of it that the Great Dukes revenue was not only very much diminish'd but abundance of fish was lost for want of sufficient salting so that had it not been their design rather to oppress the people than to promote the Great Duke's service they would soon have put down that new imposition The Inhabitants of Moscou who had liv'd very quietly under the late Great Duke's reign could not but discover their resentment of these pressures They had their assemblies about the Churches at the hours when their Devotions brought them thither and resolv'd at last to Petition the Great Duke And in regard no one person either would or durst undertake the delivery of a Petition to him they appointed a day to give it him themselves as he should come out of the Castle to go to his devotions or divertisements Their main spleen was against Leponti Steppanouits Plesscou to desire that his place might be supply'd by some person of honour of whom they might expect more Justice They had their Petition ready and sought two or three times an opportunity to present it to the Prince but the Bojares who attend him in those Ceremonies took it from them and making only a report of it as they had been instructed by Morosou the Petition was not answered nor the people reliev'd This happen'd so often that the people at last resolv'd to take some other course and to make their complaints by word of mouth upon the first opportunity that should offer it self The 6. of Iuly 1648. they took their advantage of a Procession which the Great Duke made to a Monastery in the Citie called Stertenskie The people were got together in the Market-place before the Castle to see him pass by as they were wont but at his return they broke through those that attended the Great Duke came up to him laid hold of his bridle stay'd him and entreated him to hear the complaints they had to make to him concerning the injustices and violences committed by Plesseou desiring there might be put into his place some person of integrity who should better supply so important a charge The Great Duke though a little startled at their procedure still kept his countenance and seem'd not a little troubled at the grievances of his good Subjects promised that he would examine how the matter stood and that they should receive satisfaction The people desir'd no more and were going away well satisfy'd with that answer when some Bojares friends of Plesscou would needs give the people abusive language thrust some of their horses and struck others with their whips whereat being incens'd they so pelted their Lordships with stones that they were forc'd to make all speed they could to the Castle whither the people pursued them so vigorously that all the Guard could do was only to stop them till the others were gotten into the Great Duke's Chamber This resistance of the Strelits rather inflamed than abated the people's fury who threatned to force the Prince's Lodgings and take away all they found there if Plesseou were not immediately put into their hands Morosou came out into a Balcony and endeavoured to appease the people exhorting them in the name of his Czaarick Majesty to go
spend the whole night in Prayers Towards the dawning of the day they come down and go to the City of Meca where their Hetzas or High-Priest makes a Procession conducting through the chief streets a Camel which is appointed for the Sacrifice The Hair of this Camel is a very precious Relick among them whence it comes that the Pilgrims throng to get as near as they can to the Beast and to snatch off some of his Hair which they fasten to their arms as a very sacred thing The Hetzas after he hath walk'd the Beast sufficiently leads him to the Meydan that is the great Market-place and puts him into the hands of the Baily or Judge of the City whom they call Daroga who attended by some other Officers kills him with an Axe giving him many blows in the Head Neck and Breast As soon as the Camel is dead all the Pilgrims endeavour to get a piece of him and throng with such earnestness and so confusedly with Knives in their hands that these Devotions are never concluded but there are many Pilgrims kill'd and hurt who are afterwards allow'd a place in their Martyrologies After all these Ceremonies they go in Procession about the Mosquey they kiss a Stone which was left after the finishing of the Structure and they take of the Water which passes through a Golden Chanel over the Mosquey and carry it away as a Relick with a little piece of a certain Blackish Wood of which â—ooth-picks are commonly made When the Pilgrims are return'd from their Pilgrimage they are called Hatzi and they are as it were Nazarites dedicated to God in as much as it is unlawful for them to drink Wine ever after From this Pilgrimage and the Sacrifice perform'd at Meca we shall take occasion to insert here what the Persians and Turks relate of that of Abraham as Mahomet hath dress'd up the story falsifying the truth of it in all its circumstances They say in the first place that Abraham was the son of Azar who was Graver to Nimroth King of Egypt and that he married Sara who was so beautifull a Woman that the King having cast his eye on her Abraham grew jealous and carried her away into Arabia but finding that she bore no Children he there bought a Slave named Hagar whom he carnally knew and by her had Ismael Hagar being near her time and not able any longer to endure the ill treatment she receiv'd from Sara resolv'd to run away Abraham coming to hear of her discontent and fearing she might make away the Child especially if she came to be deliver'd without the assistance of some other Women follow'd her and found her already deliver'd of a Son who dancing with his little feet upon the ground had â—ade way for a Spring to break forth But the water of the Spring came forth in such abundance as also with such violence that Hagar could make no use of it to quench her thirst which was then very great Abraham coming to the place commanded the Spring to glide more gently and to suffer that water might be drawn out of it to drink and having thereupon stay'd the course of it with a little Bank of Sand he took of it to make Hagar and her child drink The said Spring is to this day called Semsem from Abraham's making use of that word to stay it After this Sara pray'd to God with such earnestness that he gave her her son Isaac Some time after Ismael's birth the Angel Gabriel appear'd to Abraham and told him that God commanded him to build a house upon the River which Ismael had given the rise to in answer whereto Abraham representing that it was impossible for him to build any great structure in the midst of a Desart where there was nothing but Sand the Angel reply'd that he should not be troubled at that and that God would provide Accordingly Abraham was no sooner come to the place appointed him by the Angel but Mount Arafat forc'd out of its quarries a great number of stones which roll'd down from the top of the Mountain to the side of the little River where he built a house which hath since been converted to a Mosquey and is the same where the Pilgrims of Meca do their Devotions The Structure being finish'd there happened to be one single stone remaining which began to speak and to complain that it had been so unfortunate as not to be employ'd in that Edifice But Abraham told it that it should so much the rather be comforted in as much as it should one day be in greater Veneration than all the rest put together and that all the faithfull who came to that place should kiss it This is the stone we spoke of before These people say it was heretofore all white and that the reason of its being now black is that it hath been constantly kiss'd through so many ages Some years after the same Angel Gabriel appeared again to Abraham who was grown a very rich and powerful man and told him that God intended to make the highest tryal that could be of his affection and gratitude and that he would have him in acknowledgement of so many favours to sacrifize his son to him Abraham immediately consented and being return'd home bid Hagar call up her son and put on his best Cloaths that he might be the better look'd on at the Wedding to which he intended to carry him They departed the next day betimes in the morning and took their way towards Mount Arafat Abraham carrying along with him a good sharp knife and some Cords But as soon as they were gone Sceithan that is to say the Devil represented himself to Hagar in the shape of a man reporach'd her with the easiness wherewith she had consented that her son Ismael should go from her and told her that what Abraham had related to her concerning the Wedding to which he was to bring him was pure forgery and that he was carrying him streight to the Shambles Hagar ask'd him why Abraham would use her so since he had alwayes express'd a great tenderness to her son The Devil made answer that God had commanded it should be so whereto Hagar reply'd that since it was God's good pleasure to make that disposal of him it was but fit she should comply therewith Whereupon the Devil pressing harder upon her and treating her as an unnatural Mother endeavouring by those aggravations to bring her into rebellion against God she pelted him away with stones The Devil's endeavour proving unsuccessfull that way and too weak to overcome the obstinacy of a woman he apply'd himself to Abraham reviv'd in him the tendernesses and affection of a Father represented to him the horrour of the murther he was going to commit and remonstrated to him the little likelyhood there was that God should be the Author of so barbarous and abominable an action But Abraham who was acquainted with the subtilty and artifices of that wicked spirit sent him
continue them and proceed to Articles and agree upon the Dower which in these Countries the Friends of the Bridegroom and not those of the Bride are to give The Dower is to be either in Money which the young man sends to his Mistriss some few dayes before the Marriage as a recompence to the Father and Mother for their Care in the Education of their Daughter or he promises her by the contract of Marriage a certain sum of Money or such a quantity of Silk or Stuffs to be paid in Case of Divorce These contracts are pass'd in the presence of the Kasi or the Molla who signs them That done they name on both sides certain persons to be as it were Agents who in the name of the betroathed parties go to the Kasi or Ecclesiastical Judge if it be in the City or if in a Village to the Molla who is empower'd by the Kasi to that purpose and who being satisfy'd that all is done with the consents of the Kinred on both sides as also of the parties contracted Marries them by the said Agents in the name of God of Mahomet and of Aly delivering them a Certificate of the Marriage This Ceremony is for the most part performed in private the Kasi or Molla taking along with him the two Agents into a private room or haply into the fields to some place where no people come out of a fear that some trick might be put upon the new Married couple or some Witch-craft used upon the Bridegroom Whence it comes that when the Marriage is celebated in publick before the Kasi as it often happens the Persians it seems having the superstition to do actions of this consequence according to their Observance of certain Constellations which they think fortunate or unfortunate to them that the Judge may not be frustrated in the execution of his Duty they oblige all that are present to stretch out their hands that they may not be able to do any thing of Witchcraft under their Garments The Persian whom we brought along with us to Holstein told us that when he was Married one of his Wife's Kinred cut a little piece of blew Galoom-lace off his Garment wherewith he made his enchantments which made him impotent for above two years and a half till such time as having heard of a Sorcerer that liv'd at Serab who had the secret to dissolve those Charms he went to him about it This pretended Sorcerer or Magician who was lame in both hands and feet seeing him coming towards him told him he knew what was the occasion of his discontent and that he should be eas'd of it as soon as he had taken a Nail out of a hole of a certain Wall which he told him of which when he had done he could perform the duty of a Married man as well as any other Strabo affirms that heretofore the Persians observed the Vernal Equinox as the fittest time for their Marriages but now they are absolutely indifferent as to the Season and a man may be Married on any day save only in the Moneth of Ramesan which is their Lent and during the ten dayes of the Aschur when the Ceremonies performed in remembrance of the interment of Hossein employ their Devotions inasmuch as during that time they allow not of any Divertisement at all The Wedding day being appointed the young man sends the day before to his intended Wife Pendants Bracelets and other Ornaments suitably to their qualities as also some Dishes of Meat to entertain the Relations and Friends who are to bring the young Woman to him but neither of them both are present at the Dinner In the Evening towards Night the Bride is conducted on Horse-back or upon a Mule or Camel cover'd with a Veil of Crimson Taffata which falls down below her Knees accompany'd by her Kinred and Musick to the Bridegroom's house As soon as they are come to the House they carry the Bride with her Maids into one Chamber and the Bridegroom with his Friends into another and Supper is brought up Which ended she is led to the Chamber where she is to lye where the Bridegroom comes to her and then is it that he hath the first sight of her The Bridegroom who find his Bride broken up to his hands may lawfully cut off her Nose and Ears and turn her away but Persons of quality for the most part think it affront enough to the Bride who is no Maid to send her and her friends immediately packing away But if he really finds her a Maid he sends the tokens of it by an antient Woman to her Friends and then they continue their entertainments for three dayes together After the first engagement the Bridegroom gets up from his Wife and goes to his Friends among whom he spends some hours in Merriment Persons of any Learning who come to these Entertainments instead of Drinking divert themselves with their Books which to that end they bring along with them and spend the time in discourses of Morality or speculative Philosophy which they do also at those other assemblies which they many times appoint for that purpose Their Poets are never wanting at these Feasts and contribute very much to the Divertisements thereof especially the next day after the Wedding and the day after Among other things there is brought in a great wooden Dish full of Fruit in the midst whereof there is a Tree having on every branch Fruit and dri'd Conserves and if any one of the Company can take ought thence so as that the Bridegroom perceives him not his slight is recompens'd with a Present which the Bridegroom is oblig'd to make him but if he be surpriz'd therein he must make good what he should have taken a hundred fold They have also this custom that if any one of the Company is not there the next day precisely at the hour appointed for Dinner he is laid upon a Ladder set against the Wall with his Head downwards and Whipp'd on the soles of his Feet with a Handkercher roll'd about till he redeems himself They have also Dancing but the Men Dance by themselves in one room and the VVomen by themselves in another room into which the Musick comes not but stand at the Door The next day after the Wedding the Bridegroom washes himself in the Winter time in Baths which are very ordinary in those parts and in the Summer in the River or next Brook but the Bride baths her self in the House In the Evening they set before every one of the Persons invited upon a Handkercher of Flower'd Cotton-Cloath two spoonfulls of Chinne which is the Drugg wherewith they Colour their Nails and Hands That done the Guests make their Presents If they have taken a little more Wine than they can well bear as it often happens they take up their Lodging at the House where they Supp'd in regard the Watch which is kept very strictly there in the Night suffer not any to go in the Streets
Couteval or Kings Lieutenant hath given him by way of Present about 15. pence for every Wagoâ— and it is lawful for all Forreigners to buy and sell and trade in all sorts of Merchandises those only excepted which are prohibited as Gun-powder Lead and Salt-Peter which may not be transported without the Governours permission but that it is no hard matter to obtain making but a slender acknowledgment of his favour therein The City of Amadabat comprehends within its territory twenty five great Towns and two thousand nine hundred ninety and eight Villages so as that the revenue thereof amounts to above six millions of Crowns whereof the Governour hath the disposal and therewith maintains the Souldiers whom he is oblig'd to keep for the Kings service especially against Robbers upon the high-wayes though many times he protects them and divides the booty with them The Couteval who is as it were the King Lieutenant commands under the Sulthan and mannages the political Government nay meddles also with the administration of Justice joyntly with the Kasi or ordinary Judge The Mogul hath there also several other Officers who are as it were Controllers and Supervisors of those we last named The dayes following I spent in seeing the Sepulchres which are about the City and among others particularly that which is in the Village of Zirkees about a League and a half from Amadabat 'T is the work of a King of Guzuratta built by him to the memory of a Kasi who had been his Praeceptor and is grown very famous upon the account of many pretended Miracles done by him after his death The whole Structure wherein there are four hundred and forty great pillars thirty foot high is of Marble as also the floor of it and serves for a Sepulchre to three other Kings who would needs be buried there with their Families At the entrance of this sumptuous Monument there is a large Tanke or Cistern full of water and enclos'd with a wall which hath several windows all about it The Mahumetans of those parts go on Pilgrimage thither and in this Village of Zirkees is made the best Indico in all the Country About a League thence there is a spacious Garden with a fair House within it which the Mogul Chon Chimauw built in memory of a Victory gained by him in that place over Sulthan Mahomed Begeran last King of Guzuratta upon which he united that Kingdom to his Crown as we shall express hereafter About a League and a half from the City we were shewn a Sepulchre which they call Betti-Chuit that is to say thy daughters shame discovered There lies interr'd in it a rich Merchant a Moor named Hajam Majom who falling in love with his own Daughter and desirous to shew some pretence for his incest went to an Ecclesiastical Judge and told him in general terms That he had in his youth taken the pleasure to plant a Garden and to dress and order it with great care so that now it brought forth such excellent fruits that his neighbours were extreamly desirous thereof that he was every day importuned to communicate unto them but that he could not yet be perswaded to part therewith and that it was his design to make use of them himself if the Judge would grant him in writing a Licence to do it The Kasi who was not able to dive into the wicked intentions of this unfortunate man made answer That there was no difficulty in all this and so immediately declar'd as much in writing Hajom shewed it his Daughter and finding nevertheless that neither his own authority nor the general permission of the Judge would make her consent to his brutal enjoyments he ravished her She complain'd to her Mother who made so much noise about it that the King Mahomet Begeran coming to hear thereof ordered him to lose his head Not far from Amadabat begin to appear the dreadful Mountains of Marva which reach above 70. Leagues towards Agra and above a hundred towards Ouyen and are so inaccessible that the Castle of Gurchitto where lives Rana one of the principal Radias of those parts is accounted impregnable in so much that the Kings of Pettan and the Mogul himself found much ado to reduce it The Indians who are Pagans have still a great Veneration for that Prince who they say was so powerful as that he could in a short time bring 120000. Horse into the Field In the Mountain which lies between Amadabat and Trappe there lives another Radia who is not subject to the Mogul by reason the Woods and Deserts secure him against that Prince who with all his power is not able to force him out of the places he is possess'd of no more then he is the Radia of Ider who is his Vassal but many times refuses to obey his Orders One of the noblest Gardens about the City is that of Schach-bag in that part of the Suburbs which is called Begampour It is the King Garden very spacious encompass'd with a high Wall and hath within it a very fair House the Ditches whereof are full of water and the appartments richly furnish'd I went thence along a Stone-bridge which is four hundred paces in length to another Garden called Niccinabag that is to say the Jewel and they say it was planted by a beautiful and rich young Lady The Garden is not very great no more then the House within it but both very advantageously seated in a place high enough to discover all the adjacent Champion and upon the avenues of the Bridge to make the noblest prospect that ever I saw The Rain which falls in the Winter time supplyes a great Fish-poud or Pool in the middle of the Garden but in Summer they make use of certain Engines wherewith many Oxen put together draw up the water out of Wells which are so deep that they are never dry A man can seldom go to this Garden but he shall find some young Women bathing themselves they will not persuit the Indians should see them but suffered us to come in and speak to them There are so many other Gardens about Amadabat and the whole City is so full of Trees that a man may say it makes all but one Garden for as he comes to the City he sees such abundance of them that he may well think he is going into a Forrest Among other things I took particular notice of the High-way which they call Bascaban and leads to a Village six Leagues distant from the City It is so straight that it should seem they took a great pleasure in planting the Trees about it whereof there is a double row on both sides upon a straight line They are Cocos-Trees which at all times refresh Travellers with their shade but this road comes nothing near that which goes from Agra to Barampour which makes but one continued Ally for a hundred and fifty Germans Leagues together All these Teees lodge and feed an incredible
of the Court is seated on the River Menam which makes an Island entirely taken up by that City having on the River-side a strong sufficient wall for about two Leagues in compass and the Suburbs on both sides the River as well built and adorn'd with Temples and Palaces as the Town it self Here are divers very fair Streets with Channels regularly cut but withall there are some which are neither large nor fair though the River crosses the Town in so many places that there is scarce a house but may be gone to by boat The Houses here as generally all over the Indies are but of ordinary building and for the most part covered with Tiles There are within the Town above three hundred fair Mosqueys or Chappels with gilt Steeples or Pyramides which at a distance yield a glorious prospect with abundance of Pagodes of all sorts of Metals The Palace which is as it were a City of it self within the other hath its Towers and Pyramides gilt so as the City of India may be said to be as beautiful as large and as populous as any City in India nevertheless I will not affirm what Fernando Mendez Pinto writes that it contains within its Circuit four hundred thousand Families whereof three quarters are Siamezes but thus much I can add that the City hath this advantage that it is impregnable for being of it self strong enough to indure any Siege for many moneths it hath an infallible relief which never fails at six moneths end by reason that the River overflowing no Line can withstand it nor no Camp can be so strong but must dislodge The King of Siam that now reigns and who amongst his other Titles takes that of Precau Salcu that is Sacred Member of God holds the Crown from his Ancestors who have possessed it for many Ages and next to the Mogul this Prince can reckon more Kings of his Family then any Prince of the Indies He is absolute Monarch in his Dominions solely disposing with an Independant Authority of all Affairs of his Kingdom He makes War and Peace imposes Taxes on his Subjects creates Magistrates sets value on Money and makes Laws and Statutes without the consent or advice either of States or Lords He allows them to consider of such Affairs as come to their knowledge and to offer him their Advice by way of Remonstrance but he reserves to himself the Power to approve or reject what he pleases These Noble men are called Mandorins and are there as the Privy Council a quality the King bestows on whom he pleases as he doth of all other Honours in the Kingdom without regard either to birth or merit because his Subjects are his Slaves and the King is Master of all they possess even their very lives whereof he hath power to dispose to his service and advantage 'T is true that in this as in deposing the Mandorins from their Dignities and reducing them to the rank of their fellow Subjects he observes some appearance of Equity by following in some measure the Laws of the Kingdom but being above the Law he explicates and executes it as he pleases The Prince is exceeding magnificent in his Apparel and Train but his State appears in nothing more then his manner of living For the people who seldom see him have a peculiar Veneration for his Person nor do the Grandees and Officers scarce ever come into his presence When he gives Audience he sits most gloriously habited on a Throne of Gold with a Crown on his head and at his feet the Officers and Gentlemen of the Houshold on their knees and not far from him a Guard of three hundred Souldiers No one speaks to him but on the knee and they who come for audience present themselves in this sort their hands being lifted above their head and making to him ever and anon most low reverences The continual inclinations that are made him and the Titles given him must likewise be accompanied with oblieging speeches and attributions beyond what either greatness or goodness can deserve His Answers are receiv'd as Oracles and his Orders executed without delay or dispute He hath in every Province of his Kingdom his Palaces and Gardens when he removes his Houshold he hath with him a number of Elephants loaden with Tents to be pitched when he comes to places fit to rest in He hath but one Wife to whom they give the Title of Queen but he hath an infinite number of Concubines which are chosen for him out of the fairest Virgins of the Kingdom He feeds very high but drinks only Water because the Laws both Civil and Ecclesiastical prohibit the use of Wine to Persons of Quality when he pleases to recreate himself upon the River he goes in a splendid gilt Barge under a Canopy of Brocadoe attended by some of his Domesticks and a Guard of three or four hundred in seven or eight other Barges which have each of them fourscore or a hundred Slaves to row The Noblemen who follow and are sometimes to the number of a thousand or twelve hundred have each their several Barge The like is done when the King goes from his Palace into the City Then he sits in a Chair of Gold born on the shoulders of ten or twelve Waiters having marching before him many Elephants and Horses richly harnessed in this sort marching with a slately and grave pace while the people prostrate themselves to him and render him the same honours they might do to God himself He appears particularly in his greatest Magnificence on a certain day in October designed for this Ceremony On this day he appears both in the City and upon the River to make a procession to one of his chiefest Mosquees whither he goes to sacrifice and to do his Devotions for the prosperity of the State In the head of this procession march about two hundred Elephants each of them carrying three arm'd Men then comes the Musick consisting of Hoboyes Tabours and Cimbals next come about a thousand Men compleatly arm'd divided into several Companies that have their Colours and Banners Next to these follow many Noble men on horseback and amongst them some with Crowns of Gold upon their Heads with a Train of fourscore or a hundred persons on foot Betwixt these Noble men and the Life-guard march two hundred Souldiers Iaponeses all very well cloath'd and go immediately before the Horses and Elephants which are for the Kings particular use their harness made with Buckles and Studs of Gold set with Diamonds and other precious Stones The Servants who bear the Fruits and other things for the Sacrifice march before certain Grandees of the Kingdom whereof one bears the Kings Standard the other the Scepter of Justice These walk on foot immediately before the King who sits mounted on an Elephant in a Chair of Gold The Prince his Son or some other Prince of the Bloud follows next after him and then comes the Queen and the Kings
other Women on Elephants but not to be seen as being in certain wooden Closets gilt The rest of the Houshold and six hundred of the Guard come in the Rear which by this means consists of fifteen or sixteen thousand persons As to their Procession upon the River they observe the order following First in the head of this Fleet march about two hundred Noble men each in his several Barge where they sit in a gilt Cabin and each Barge row'd by three or fourscore Slaves Then follow four Barges assign'd for the Musick and next follow about fifty Barks of State each having fourscore or fourscore and ten Rowers and after these come ten other gilt Barges in one of which the King is seated in a Throne of Gold attended by divers Noble men all upon their knees before him and amongst them one of the chiefest Mandorins who bears his Standard The Prince follows after him in another Barge and after him comes the Queen and the Concubines And lastly in a great number of other Barges the houshold Servants and the Guards so as that this Procession consists of twenty five or thirty thousand persons who come either to see the magnificence of the Ceremony or to adore their Prince Since the thirds of all real Estates fall to the King we may well suppose his Revenue to be very great but this advantage comes not near the profits accrewing to him by the Commerce which by Factours he holds with Strangers for his Rice Copper Lead and Salt-peter He hath in his Country good store of Gold and the Customs he hath of all Merchandizes both coming in and going out bring considerable sums besides the Presents which Governours of Provinces are obliged to make him every year A great profit likewise he raises by Commerce with ready Money into China and along the Coast of Coromandel which yields him yearly two thousand Cattys of Silver advantage He hath throughout his Kingdom abundance of Officers for managing of his Revenue and receiving his Moneys which as Mendez Pinto sayes amounts annually to twelve Millions of Duccats but principally in the City of India whither they repair from all other parts once a year to make their accounts The greatest charge the King is at next his Houshold is in building places and Mosquees rewarding Services and maintaining his Guards the rest comes into the Treasury which by this means swells almost to infinity Most Cities have their particular Jurisdictions and Judges for Administration of Justice to take an account whereof there is a Council appointed in the City of India consisting of a President and twelve Councellors who give a definitive Sentence and decide all differences brought before them by way of appeal 't is nevertheless allowed them sometimes to prevent these Sentences by a Review before the Privy Councel but this happens not frequently by reason the Charges are so great very few will undertake it They plead by Councellors and Atturneys both by word and writing but in presence of both parties who are to enter a Summary of the Plea in the Recorders Register But besides Counsellors and Atturneys you have here the Pettifogger who is inseparable so as Suits sometimes last whole Ages here as well as in other places In Criminal matters they have an extraordinary and summary way but much after the same form and manner used in France First They inform then imprison then examine the Parties are brought face to face and where evidence falls short they are put to the Rack upon pregnant presumptions The Steward records the whole and makes report to the Judges who upon the criminal Confession or Deposition of Witnesses give Judgment and cause the Sentence to be executed immediately without appeal save that they never put any to death without the Kings express Order in whose power it lyes to confirm the Sentence or pardon the Party as he pleaseth Their punishments are severe rather cruel The slightest Crime is punished with pecuniary Fines Banishment or Transportation For Theft they suffer amputation of Hands or Feet or are condemned to perpetual slavery The ordinary punishments of these Countries are unknown there but condemned persons are cast alive into boyling Oyle according to the atrocity of the Crime but alwayes with Confiscation of Goods for the benefit of the King and the Judges In want of sufficient Testimony they make use of certain extraordinary wayes for Conviction or Justification of the Criminal which they do by consent of all parties with the Judges permission who allows them to maintain what they say by Water by Fire or by boyling Oyl When they submit to the Tryal of Water the Accuser and the accused party are both let down along a great Pole which is planted in the River and he that stayes longest under water gains the day as he that patiently holds his Hand longest in boyling Oyl Others who chuse the tryal of Fire are to go five or six steps very slowly in a great Fire and that betwixt two Men who lean as hard as they can upon their shoulders But the way they hold most infallible for their justification is to swallow a Pill of Rice over which their Priests have pronounced some words of malediction which he that swallows without spitting is so clearly justified that his friends attend him in triumph to his habitation The Kings Armies consist chiefly of his Subjects for though besides five or six hundred Iaponeses who bear the reputation of Valour throughout the Indies he hires sometimes both Rasboutes and Malayes the number is notwithstanding so small that 't is inconsiderable The King now reigning had taken so great an aversion for the Iaponeses on suspition they had a design upon his person that he put some to death and expell'd the rest Yet since that he hath given way for their return to their ancient trust but as I said they exceed not the number of five or six hundred His Subjects are obliged to go to the Wars at their own charges so that according as occasion requires he calls out the hundredth the fiftieth the twentieth the tenth and sometimes the fifth man besides those the Noble men at their own charges bring along with them a sufficient Guard of their persons By this means he raises at a small charge a most puissant Army wherein there shall be sometimes three or four thousand Elephants though he seldom raise an Army of above fifty or threescore thousand men His Infantry are well enough disciplined but very ill armed only Bows and Arrows Swords Pikes and Bucklers without Fire-armes Nor are their Horse better appointed as being but poorly mounted so as his chiefest strength consists in his Elephants which are train'd to the work and carry each three arm'd men but many which are brought out with the Army are employed about the Baggage Great Artillery they have but manage them ignorantly Their Naval Forces are in as ill condition as their Land consisting in
embroydered Curtains Before and behind they were made like the Front of a House as was also the Door at which they went in which was made behind at the back The Wheels were of Iron and the Coach was varnished all over with black so that the Wheels might be seen turning as it were in a Looking-glass The Roofs of them which were built Arch-wise had drawn thereon the Dayro's Arms within a great Circle of Gold The Pillars as also the inside of the Coach was inriched with Figures of beaten Gold and Mother of Pearl and all the extremities were garnished with Gold Two great black Bufflers covered with a Net-work of Crimson Silk drew each of them and they were guided by four Halberteers clad in white Every Coach was valued at seventy thousand Tayls which amount to twenty thousand pounds Sterling These Coaches had also their Foot-guard and many Pages marching on both sides of them Twenty three of the chiefest Servants belonging to these Ladies were carried next to them in so many black Norrimones adorned with Brass plate having each of them marching before him a Halbertier who carried an Umbrello on each side two Pages and behind them sixty eight Gentlement of the Dayro's clad and armed as those we mentioned before These march'd two a breast and were followed by a great number of Pages Halberteers and Slaves After them there were carried Two gilt Stools with Plates of Gold at the extremities A great Fire-work A great and very rich Sea-Compass Two great Golden Candlesticks Two Pillars of Ebony Three Cabinets of Ebony garnished with Gold plates Four other Cabinets bigger and richer then the three precedent Two great Gold Basins carv'd A pair of Pantofles varnish'd After these there followed in two Coaches of the same making as the three first the Emperour and his Ward having before them a hundred and sixty Gentlemen armed with two Cymitars and a Nanganet serving for a particular Guard about their Majesties persons These Guards they call Sambreys and they are chosen out of the most valiant and most active persons in the Kingdom Immediately before the Coaches there march'd four Men with Umbrelloes four others with great Iron Rods to make way two light Horses magnificently cover'd and with very rich Trappings accompanied each of them by eight Men arm'd with Bows and Arrows and two great Pikes The Emperours Brethren followed next on Horse-back accompanied by all the Princes and Lords of Iapan who were also on Horse-back all armed and sumptuously clad 164. in number The Chiefest of these Lords were Owaruy Camny Samma the Emperours Brother Quiney Deymangon samma another Brother of the Emperour Mittot Chonango samma a third Brother of the Emperour Massummenamoet Nocammi samma a fourth Brother of the Emperours Matsendairo Thoy quese Nocammi samma Lord of Canga Matsendairo Moutsnocammy samma Satsumadonne that is Lord of Satsuma Matsendairo Iondonne Mansendairo Symouts quedonne Matsendairo Quonenoch Wacchoo and Turoganâ— Deynangono Cammy samma These march'd all in a File having each of them a long train of Pages Lacqueys Halâ—erteers Guards and Slaves The other Lords among whom were Ouwaydonne and Woutadonne the ehiefest of the Emperous Councel march'd two a breast he of the greater quality taking the left hand which among them is accounted the more honourable After them march'd four hundred of the Guards of the body and in the same order in white Liveries Next them in six fair Coaches came the Dayro's Concubines but these Coaches were not so large as the former and were drawn each of them by a single Buffer Then followed sixty eight Gentlemen on Horse-back attended by a great number of Lacqueys and Slaves The Dayro's Secretary accompaied by thirty seven Gentlemen on Horse-back follow'd next in a Coach and immediately preceded forty six Lords of the Dayro's House who were carried in Norimonnes whereof fifteen were of Ebony beautified with Ivory thirteen varnished with black and gilt and the other eighteen were only varnished with black There were carried after them fourty six Umbrelloes suitable to their Norimonnes Then followed the Dayro's Musick which consisted of fifty four Gentlemen very odly but very richly clad who plaid on their Instruments which were only Tabours Timbrels Copper Basins Bells and that kind of Lute we spoke of before which was not heard by reason of the confused noise of the rest Yet was this distracted kind of Musick delightful to the Dayro who immediately followed it He was sate in a little wooden Structure made like a Sedan but much larger as being about seven or eight foot high and as many Diameter having windows on all sides with embroidered Curtains The Roof of that little Structure was arch'd and had in the midst upon a great Button a Cock of massie Gold with his Wings spread in a Field Azure with several Stars of beaten Gold about the Sun and Moon which appeared there with a lustre coming near the natural This Machine was carried by fifty Gentlemen of the Dayro's retinue all clad in white with Bonnets on their Heads Fourty other Gentlemen went before it and represented the Guard for the Dayro's person These were clad after a particular fashion much like that of the ancient Romans carrying each of them a gilt Nouganet The Captain of the Guard marched alone on Horse-back behind the Dayro's Chair armed with a Target stuck through with several Arrows and had carried after him fourty Umbrelloes for the Guards Next were carried thirteen varnish'd Chests and in the close of the Procession came four hundred Souldiers clad in white who marched six a breast and by that means hinder the crowds of people to interrupt that Order This Ceremony took up the whole day so that night coming on upon us at the place where we were we thought it not safe to venture home at so unseasonable a time by reason of the many Robberies Murthers and other Violences committed in the Streets during the disorder which proved so great that the next morning there were found a great number of dead persons some whereof had been kill'd and robb'd and others had been smother'd in the throng The Dayro staid three dayes at the Emperours Palace who during that time waited on him in person with his Brethren and had the charge of his Table for that time defray'd by Sugadonne chief Judge of the City of Meaco Ivocamosamma Cobâ—ritot homy Samma Macamora Mockiemon samma and Mannosa Frâ—yemon samma There were brought to his Table at every meal a hundred and fourteen dishes of meat Ouwaydonne the President of the Emperours Councel Ivemondonne one of the Counsellors of State Farimadonne Quiniem Ondonne Sioyserodonne and Chirotadonne provided for the Table of the Dayro's three chiefest Wives The Emperours Present to him were Two hundred Marks of Gold A hundred Garments of Watte of the best Two great Silver Pots full of Honey Five Catties of the Wood of Calambae Two hundred pieces of Crimson