Translated In the Name of GOD Soveraignly-Merciful And indeed the Arabian word Rahmen which signifies Merciful is an Incommunicable Attribute of GOD and which they never make use of but in speaking of the Divine Clemency All the Mahometans believe that this Invocation conceals great Mysteries and encloses an infinite number of Vertues For they have it always in their Mouths rising sitting taking a Book or an Instrument in their Hands or a Pen. In a word they believe they shall not prosper in any thing which they undertake if they do not begin with this Invocation They assure themselves that Adam and Eve spoke it before they went about any Business It is set at the beginning of every Chapter in the Alcoran And it is evident that it is in Imitation of the usual Sayings of the Jews and Christians the one always beginning thus Our Aid be in the Name of GOD who Created Heaven and Earth and the other with these words In the Name of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost I shall speak in another place of the Seal which is fix'd to this Patent and of what is grav'd within The Figure under it is call'd Nishan that is the Signal and also the Flourish beneath the Subscription It is here drawn with a Ruler but in the Original it is made of the Tails of Letters The Secretary who is us'd to write this Subscription draws those Tails so streight and so equal that you would take 'em for Lines drawn by Rule and Compass The whole Subscription is in Colour'd Letters except the word which signifies Lord of the World and those which I have Translated Absolutely Commands which are in Letters of Gold The words Zels Ziouzoumis are ancient Turkish still in use in the Lesser Tartary They signifie properly My Words or I speak And Tamberlain being the first that made use of those words in his Patents the Kings of Persia have still retain'd the Custom The twelve Names which are in the middle of the Flourish beneath the Subscription are the Names of the twelve Pontiffs real and lawful Successors of Mahomet according to the Persian Belief 5. The Governours in Persia are distinguish'd into Great and Petty Media and Georgia for Example are great Governments Caramania and Gedrosia petty Governments Therefore they call Beglerbeg which signifies Lord of Lords the Governour of a Great Government and the Viceroy of a Petty Government they call a Kan 6. Deston Tahem-ten-ten and Feribours are the Names of the ancient Persian Heroes or if you please of the Old Giants which deriv'd their Being from the ancient Fables These are the Alcides's and the Theseus's of the Persians and as the Grecian Alcides had several Names so likewise has the Persian but the most common Name which they have alway in their Mouths is that of Rustem 7. Ardevon is the Name of an Ancient Giant or Hero who as the Persians say conquer'd all Asia and setl'd the Seat of his Empire in Persia Their Histories have not preserv'd the Memory of any of his Atchievements but their Romances feign an infinite Number which are altogether fabulous 8. In the Original it is Who unloose all sorts of Knots 9. There is no People in the World more sottishly devoted to Judicial Astrology then the Persians Of which being to speak in another place I shall say no more here but that the Persians rank all Penmen Books and Writings under Mercury whom they call Attared and hold all People born under that Planet to be endu'd with a refin'd penetrating clear-sighted and fubtil Wit 10. Caagon is the Name of an Ancient King of China Nor is there any one over the whole East whose Memory is more Venerable It seems by what they report that he was more particularly Illustrious in his Country for his Government in Peace and Administration of Justice then for his Feats of Arms. Therefore the Eastern Monarchs assume his Name to themselves as the Roman Emperors call'd themselves Caesars Moreover it has the same signification in Persia as August in English so that when the Persians would express any thing that is Great and Royal they say Caagoniè Thus I have explain'd the truth of this little Figure and I believe we shall be as little troubl'd to understand the whole Language of this Patent though Metaphor and Hyperbole are therein most furiously injur'd 11. The Term which I have Translated Flowre of Merchants signifies Exquisite Choice Elected or most Excellent The Persians use it commonly as an Epithet for all sorts and Conditions of Men Great Lords Foreign Ministers Merchants and bring it down even to Tradesmen 12. It is in the Persian Nor by Importunate Flatteries nor by Hanghty Demands 13. The word which I have Translated To Incourage signifies properly To Water 14. These words In Dignity and Virtue are not in the Patent only I have put 'em in the place of those that are which signifies the Seal of great Quality resembling the Sun 15. These words are to be referr'd to the words Absolutely Commands which are under the Flourish beneath the Subscription They are call'd here The Decree of the Lord of the World Tamberlain was the first that made use of these lofty Expressions Now the Grand Signior and the Indian Monarch make use of 'em as well as the King of Persia while every one maintains that it belongs to him only and assumes it as his most Glorious Title In the Persian Language it is Saheb-Cerani It may be also interpreted Master of the Age but the other Translation is more clear and intelligible and discovers more plainly the sottish pride that is contein'd in it 16. We shall speak more particularly in another place of the Marks by which the Persians distinguish Times and Seasons Here therefore I shall say no more then for the understanding of the Date that the Month Shavel is the tenth and that the Arabians have given Epithets to all the Months as for Example to the First the Epithet of Sacred to the Seventh that of Praise-worthy to the Ninth that of Blessed and to this here mention'd the Stile of Honourable The word Hegyra which is Translated Flight proceeds from a Verb which signifies to fly as also to retire So that the Hegyra of the Mahometans is the same thing with the Exodus of the Hebrews And without doubt Omar had that same Exodus in his Mind when he setl'd the Mahometan Epact from the time of Mahomet's departure from Mecca which was the place in Arabia where Idols and Idolatry were most in Esteem 17. In the Original it is Hamhager that is Flying together 18. As the Arabians as we have said gave Epithets to the Months the Persians also have given Epithets to the Principal Cities of their Empire Ispahan and Casbin are call'd The Seat of Monarchy Canhadar A Secure Retreat Asherif was call'd The Ennobl'd because Abas the Great built a Spacious and Sumptuous Palace and usually kept his Court there when he was in the
Villages But the Officers entrusted to raise the Money had so far out-stretch'd their Commission in the outrages and violences which they committed as to demand and levy double the sum which was impos'd All which the Patriarch well knew but conniv'd at it for the advantage he was to receive thereby And he would fain have been handling the first Money that was brought to Erivan but the Governor was so far from suffering him to meddle that he would not pay above half to the Customer of Constantinople's Trustees So that of three thousand five hundred pounds which were rais'd for his Satisfaction he would not part with above two thousand for the payment of the debts The Patriarch complain'd of this Injustice but could have no Remedy All the Governor said to him was this that if the Customer of Constantinople were pai'd in time 't was as much as he could require and that it did not belong to him to take Cognizance what was levy'd for that purpose But perhaps he could not chuse but be disturb'd with the Cryes and Curses of his own Nation for they were bitterly enrag'd against him and his Proceedings And therefore he resolv'd to appease 'em withdraw himself from the oppression of the Governor of Armenia which made him make his escape with a design to make his Complaints to the Court The Governor on the other side having notice of his flight sent away to the neighbouring Governors to stop him and he happen'd to be at Tauris when the Express arriv'd there But the Armenian Inhabitants of the City preserv'd him not so much by concealing him in any private absconding Place as by their Presents to the Grandees and for that the Injustice that was done him in his private affairs was so publickly notorious that it was no more then what was reasonable for them to let him have his Liberty to go to Ispahan for Redress The 6. Rustan-Bec Muster-Master General of the Army sent to give me notice of his being come to Town For he understood at the Governors house where he lodg'd that I was arriv'd at Tauris So that I went to visit him the same day and to renew the friendship which I had contracted with him in my first Travels He is a Personage the most eminent for his Witt and Valour of any other in the whole Kingdom He is Brother to the Governor of Candabar who was accus'd for being Accessory to the Robbing of the Indian Caravan His Father was Governor of Armenia and Abas had a great affection for this Rustan-Bec for the sake of his Learning his Courage and his Gracefull Aspect Nor was it above a year before that the King had given him a Commission to go into the Province of Azer-beyan to take a review of the Forces and Ammunitions there and now his Commission was out by which as I understood he had gotten above ten thousand pounds His Company and Discourse extreamly pleas'd me for he shew'd me several Mapps of the Province which he had newly made of which he promis'd me copies and reaching down a Plain-Sphere which had been lately printed in Europe he shew'd me several Faults in it I also supp'd with him nor would he let me go til midnight The 7. he did me the Honnor to give me a Visit and to spend all the Afternoon in my Chamber The 8 and the three days following I made it my business to fetch away such parcels of Goods from Tahmas-Bec and Mirza-thaer which they refus'd to buy after I had bargain'd with 'em for what they made choice of tho all that I sold to both came but to a thousand Crowns and that without Profit So that I had much ado to agree with 'em however I was paid when we all concluded The one pretended in abatement of my price his Fathers being a Favourite at Court the other the great Credit which his Brothers and his Unckle Mirza-Sadec being Lord High Chancellor had with the King and forc'd me to take Letters of Recommendation which they freely offer'd to compensate the Profit which I should have got by my goods For a man would hardly believe the Caresses the Flattery the engaging and familiar Behaviour which the Persians Grandees will condescend to for their own Interests how slight soever And they behave themselves with such an Appearance of Sincerity that a Traveller must very well understand the Genius of the Country and the Court to avoid being cully'd by their kindnesses The 13. I went to take my leave of Rustan-bec whose occasions call'd him to Ardevil two days after He did me the favour to permit me a long discourse upon the best way to manage my affairs at Ispahan and how to come off with most advantage and success To which purpose he gave me very good advice and Letters of Recommendation to his Kindred and for Cosrou-Can Collonell of the Musketeers who was one of the most powerful and considerable Lords at Court Of which the Translation follows word for word GOD. We send to the most illustrious Lord of the Earth and we give his most noble and generous heart to understand that Mr. Chardin a French Merchant the Flower of the Christians who had been sent into Europe by the deceased King who has now his a Habitation in Heaven to fetch from thence several costly Pieces of Jewellers work is now return'd and lately arriv'd at this Royal City of Tauris The Friendship and Confidence which we had formerly contracted together induc'd him to impart his business to me and he requested of me since the great King who sent him into Europe was flown away to the Kingdom of Spirits and become a Citizen of Paradice that I who am his Intimate Friend would b recommend him to a Person considerable for the Prudence of his Conduct and the Grandeur of his Dignity and who perfectly knew how to doe kind offices to the end he might make use of him as a Conveyance to bring him into the presence of the noble most high and most Holy King He has been also particularly inform'd by me who am your Intimate Friend of the Great and Royal Qualities which you possess and being charm'd by the Recitals which I made of 'em he discover'd to me his extream desire to have the c Honour to be recommended to the Favour of the d Slaves of your Highness I therefore who am his Real Friend recommend him to your Glorious Cares and whatever shall concern his Affairs and Interests He relyes very much upon your Royal Favour and assures himself that your Highness understanding his Business by this Letter from my self your Servant will use your endeavour that the Costly Jewels that he has brought shall come to the Blessed hands of the most noble King A Favour so generous will fill this Illustrious Christian with large hopes and all other Merchants of his Nation whom Trade and Commerce draws to this Kingdom a The word which I have translated Habitation signifies properly an Eagles
before he mounts the Horison thwart an obscure Night Principal Type of things created Instrument of the Creation of the World the highest of the Race of Adam Soul of the great Apostles and Messengers Thou art that Lord through whom one Verse in the Alcoran promises the fulfilling of our desires Thou art that Sun through whom another Verse tells the Sovereign Beauty shall be seen Light of Eyes Crown of Prophesie Idol of the Angel Gabriel Thou art in the world a world of vertue and dignity Thou art upon the Earth a Sun of Majesty and Grandeur The Sea is not rich and liberal but by the gifts of thy munificent Hands The Angel Treasurer of Heaven reapes his Harvest in the Fertil Gardens of the purity of thy Nature Moses who divided the Sea is the Porter of the Throne of thy Justice Jesus the Monarch of the Fourth Heaven keeps guard before the veil of the Throne of thy Glory That incomprehensible Painter who drew the Mole at one stroke of his Pencil koun-fikoun never made so fair a Portraiture as the globe of thy Visage From thy descent into the Cradle to the last day of thy Life the Angels who Register Words never heard thee speak a word which did not ravish God himself with Joy No man in whatsoever condition he is can resemble God so much as thou dost But if there could be an Image to represent God as he is it could be no other then thy self that Embassador whom out of his extraordinary Clemency he sent to the Earth Happy and holy is the man who believes all that God has spok'n in the Alcoran according to the sence which his Prophet has observ'd in the Book of his sentences If he should be compar'd with any other exalted Being there could not be found a more perfect exemplar then Mahomet The second Song O unexpressible man who hast no Equal but Mahomet the Elect Prophet God has assign'd upon thy Love the Dowry of the Ladies of Paradise The Primum Mobile would never dart the Ball of the Sun through the Trunk of Heaven were it not to serve the morning out of the extreme Love she has for thee What is the power of the Stars and Destiny in comparison of thine and what is the Light of the Sun compar'd with that of thy Understaning Destiny does but execute thy Commands The Sun is enlightned by the beams of thy Knowledge When the numerous Train of thy Majesty goes in its Pomp we see the Sphear bound to the hand of the Captain that guides it like a little Bell at the neck of a Mule Let not Hercules vaunt any more the Force of his Courage For who would endre a Fly to brave it upon the wings of the great Phoenix of the East Had Hercules seen the Valour of thy Arm in one Action assuredly the Bird of his Soul would have brok'n the Cage of his Body and fled for fear The immense Sea of thy merit tosses up surges above the Heavens and upon this Sea of Vertue the Tempests of Adversity cause no more disorder then Rushes in the Water If thy Glory be weigh'd in the Balance of exalted Sence the highest mountains weigh'd against it would appear no more then the Seed of Lentils In the great Career of Happiness where the Transparts of those who run the Race makes 'em like Horses that get the Bit in their Teeth and throw their Riders And causes 'em with the force of their Spurs to prick an Artery at what time the Angel of Death comes like a fatal Physitian to take 'em by the Arm of the Soul Thou shalt escape this rude Career as the Sun passes on from the East They shall carry before thee the honourable Standard of the Supreme Majesty and behind thee the Spoyls as marks of the Victory And in this Race were all the Inhabitants of the world as brave as Hercules the most undaunted of 'em all would not have the Courage to stand a moment before thee God shall create a Body of Air that shall cry with a loud voice on his behalf Victory Victory There is none so stout as Aly. There is no Sword like to Sulfagar that Hero's Sword with two Poynts The third Song Thou from whose purity the Heav'n of Unsinfulness draws its Lustre The Sun is made a Crown of Glory of the shadow of thy Umbrello Jesus the great Chymist made use of the Earth of the Portal of thy Prudence for red Sulphur of which he compos'd the Taksir and the Stone Phale by means whereof he understood all things and heal'd all men The eternal Painter painted a great many Images and brought to light a great many Ideas with a design to form thy lovely Countenance but he found none that came near thy Beauty The Faulcon of thy Umbrello having extended his wings has found the Birds of the seventh Heaven nestling under the large Feather of thy left wing Who ever has seal'd his Heart with thy Love has found that his Heart is become a Mine of precious Stones The most powerful Creature of all things admir'd upon the sixth day of the Creation that Superiority of Excellency which thou hast above all his other Creatures Upon the memorable day of thy Victory the Sweat of thy hands was to thy Enemies a profound Deluge that swallow'd 'em up like the Sea Thou Vulture of the heav'nly Constellation didst fly upon the Blood as a Dog upon the water Insipid Poet who comparest to the Sea the sweat of the hand of thy Hero Thou art astonish'd at the Thought that comes into thy Head that the Sea which resembles that Sweat is the blew Sea Who ever has lifted up the hand of Necessity toward the Portal of thy Beneficence he has it always return'd back full of what he desir'd O divine and Sacred Host who givest the Saints to drink out of the Bason of Paradise To speak something in thy Praise we must needs say that Nature is only adorn'd and enrich'd by thee A thousand and a thousand Years together the heavens considering the high Price of thy pure Essence beheld the water of the Fountain of Paradice muddy in comparison of that As well God as Mahomet has always found thy Opinion the most just The one gave thee a Sword with two poynts the other a most incomparable Virgin Had not thy perfect Being been in the Idea of the Creator Eve had been eternally a Vrgin and Adam a Batchelor The fourth Song Great Saint who art the true Mansion of God as the Prophet teaches in the Book of his Sentences Thou art also the 16 Kebleh of the World and of Religion the Soul of the World of Mahamed Thy Mouth is the Treasure of sublimest Sense thou hast placed thy Mouth upon the Fountain of understanding and knowledge which is the Mouth of Mahamed Thou art the Pontiff who art only found worthy to enter into the Sanctuary of the
Great Prophet and only Capable to stand upon the Foot-pace of Mahomet The hearts which thy victorious Sword continually leads to the true Religion are the Flowers with which the vapors of the Ocean of thy Puissance cover the Garden of Mahomet Since the Sphere of the Law has been illuminated by several Stars the Moon never appear'd so clear and bright till thou tookest upon thee the Empire of the Heaven of Mahomet The Angel Gabriel Messenger of Truth everp day kisses the Groundsil of thy Gate as being the only way that leads to the Throne of Mahomet Thy Grandeur above all human Possibility is an impossible Comparison but if any thing may compare with it it must be the Power and Authority of Mahomet O sovereign King if in the celebrating thy Praises I should study upon what once the Wise Hassan did in the time of Mahomet I should not dare to presume to praise thy Majesty since God himself has spoken thy Elogy by the Mouth of Mahomet The explication of thy Being cannot proceed from the Tongue of mortal men unless we except what has been spok'n of thee by Mahomet But it is not the same thing with the unfolding of our own wants for that is needless with thee Thou knowest what they are and thou knowest also that I am the devoted Slave of thy House and of the Family of Mahomet My soul desires to fly to thee press'd by the Obligations which I have to men do me some Favor that may deliver me from my Obligations to Men I conjure thee by the Soul of Mahomet Turn not away thy compassionate and favourable Looks from my Countenance O love of my Heart cast a tender glance upon me O heart of the Heart of Mahomet The fifth Song Minister especial elected of God for the Master of the Faithful Thou art the Soul of the Prophet of God We ought not to give thee any other name O Master of the Faithful Thy always victorious Arm has brought under the Yoak the Heads of the most haughty Hero's of the Age O Master of the Faithful The Treasures which Nature hides and those with which it covers the Universe are without Lustre and Price to what thou liberally bestowest upon us O master of the Faithful The sparkling Rubies cover themselves with Earth in the hollow of the Mine asham'd of their not being bright enough to be put into thy Treasures O master of the Faithful I will not say what was the difference between the Gentle Zephirus and the Breath of thy Mouth which refreshes the Soul and the Heart O master of the Faithful All that Jesus did with his Breath was an Emblem but afterwards this is all That was an Emblem which signifi'd what miracles were to be wrought by the words of thy mouth O master of the Faithful How can an understanding so short and confus'd as mine represent the Excellency and Price of thy Majesty O master of the Faithful The Universal Spirit with its sublime Knowledge cannot arrive at the Portal of thy wondrous Essence O master of the Faithful Were there a place more exalted then the most high Throne of God I would affirm it to be thy Place O master of the Faithful That we may give thee Praises worthy of thy self it behoves us to depaint thy wonderful Essence but for that reason alone it is impossible to praise thee according to thy Merit O Father of the Faithful Thou art all that thou deservedst to be but who can comprehend thy merit unless it be thy God O master of the Faithful We beg all as poor Beggars at the Gate of thy Beneficence and the Kings of the world are in the number of those Beggars O master of the Faithful The price of thy Favors surpasses the Capacity of human Understanding The weight of thy Majesty and thy Glory is too heavy for the shoulders of human Understanding The sixth Song Being of an unconceivable Puissance the Commands of Providence are executed by thy Orders Thou canst turn with thy hand alone the vast celestial Sphere The Sun under whose shadow and auspicious Omens Nature rowls is but a glitterimg Beam of the Clasp of thy Girdle The Eternal Fountain of which the visible Ocean is not so much as a single drop is it self but a drop to the Sea of thy Bounty Human Wit that divided the World into four parts is no more with thee then an Atome of Dust. He divides his Knowledge into ten degrees But how many degrees are requir'd to be a Canton of thy Knowledge The Superior of the College of the Creation Gabriel with all his Art and Knowledge is but a meer Scholar to thee The Verses of the Alcoran which assure men of the Favor and Mercy of God were sent from Heaven for thy sake 'T is too small a Praise of thy ineffable Power to call it the Zenith of Power since the Zenith is no more then the Nadir of the Power of thy Porter These two Stars which are the Eyes of the world are two Globes which not having been thought beautiful enough to make a part of the Structure of thy Mansion were plac'd at the Avenues The Famous Bird which is plac'd over the Roof of thy Palace raises from the Earth the nine Vaults of Heaven like a Grain of Wheat Whatever the Gulph of Predestination encloses its Wonders and its Prodigies came not to light nor were made manifest but by thy Commandment The humble Slave of thy Grandeur poor Hassen employs himself day and night every year every month in the Country of Amul to sing thy Praises Devoutly he prostrates his Face to the Earth at the Gate of thy glorious Palace He exposes to thy Eyes a sick Heart of which he implores from thee the Cure Can a man conceal his Distemper from a wholsom Remedy Certainly it is no piece of Wisdom for a man to conceal his Distemper from an infallible and sovereign Cure The seventh Song Glorious City of Nedgef since thou art become the Mansion of the Son of the Faith thy Territory is become more honourable then the Country of Zemzen and Mecca the Holy Nedgef is the true Kabeh for people that seek the Truth because the Adamant of Religion has there his Habitation Which is also the Son of pure Belief the master of the Faithful the Governor of the Kingdom of the Love of God the Chief of the Citizens of the Heavenly Babylon O destroyer of Heresie Thou art the Secretary of the Commandments of divine Inspiration the Judge of things commanded or forbidden If the Idea of thee the most noble in divine Sence were not in the world the world would be but an imperfect and senceless Figure Supreme Majesty who hast augmented the Lustre of the Supreme Throne all Creatures incessantly praise thy Name The Sun is less then an Atome in the heav'n of Assemblies where thou art honour'd And the Atomes are greater then the Sun upon those places of the Earth where thou
the Footstool to the Throne because his Authority extends over all the Porters Ushers Guards Masters of the Ceremonies and other Officers of the like nature belonging to the Court But because he performs the Office of Chief Gentleman Usher night and day in the Kings Presence he has no Seat in the publick Assemblies notwithstanding his Authority be very great and renders him more considerable than many that have right to sit Nor do I find that any other Lords than these were present at this Grand Assembly The chief Minister was the first that spoke and declared at the same time what the High Chamberlain had informed him concerning the Kings Death and which had been confirmed to him by the two chief Physicians and then proceeding he told him That he made no question but the same Information had already reached their Ears and that they were not ignorant how that their deceased Monarch was departed this Life without declaring either in writing or by word of Mouth to which of his two Sons he had bequeatched his Scepter and that therefore it was their duty to proceed to an Election with all the speed imaginable not only because it was not fit that the Prince to whom Providence had destined the Crown should remain in a Private Condition any longer but also for the security of the Kingdom which was always in jeopardy so long as it wanted a Governour since it was with Monarchies as with living Bodies that cease to live when deprived of the Head For the preventing therefore of so great a Misfortune it behoved them before they brake up to make choice of some glorious Scien of the Imamic Race to sit upon the Throne which Habas the II. had quitted for a more blessed Mansion in Heaven That that great Monarch of victorious Memory had left two Sons as he was assured that none of all the Assembly had any reason to question in the least Sephie-Mirza who was about twenty years of Age and had been left in the Palace of Grandeur under the Tuition of Aga-Nazir and Hamzeh-Mirza about seven Years of Age who was there among them at Court under the care of Aga-Mubarek present in their Assembly That of these two after they had invoked the most High God they were to choose him that the well King had in a manner deputed to be Lieutenant to the glorious Successor in Expectation By Successor in Expectation the Persians mean the last of the Imaans who according to their Religion is their hoped for Messia whose return to Earth they expect every hour Now the Prime Minister having pronounced these words with all the Demonstrations of a profound sorrow and an Aspect full of Majesty which from his Aged Countenance shot both Awe and Reverence made a sudden stop expecting that some other of the Assembly should speak and give his Advice But observing that the whole Assembly out of a particular deference and respect to his Dignity and high Place applauded his beginning and by their frequent repetitions of Bisin Allah ' or so be it in the name of God seemed desirous that he should proceed the aged Minister modestly resumed his Place and beholding the Grandees one after another told them further That considering the Necessity and the Resolution which they had taken to Elect one of those two Princes it was his Opinion That they were to the Rigorous but positive necessity to which they were reduced and which constrained them to prefer Hamzeh Mirza tho the younger and to fix him in the Throne tho to the Privation of his elder Brother The reason was because it was well known to all the World how severe Habas had been always toward him so that it was to be feared that the young Prince had been deprived of his sight Of which the Report had ran very hot ever since the deceased Monarch at his departure from Ispahan displayed such a dismal dissatisfaction in his Countenance that portended nothing but fatal and which they had more reason to believe because the King at the beginning of his sickness had sent in great hast without imparting his design to any of his Council an Eunuch with private Orders to the same City Which Orders could be no other than either to take off the Head or pluck out the Eyes of the young Prince to the end he might be uncapable of succeeding to the Crown after his death For in all other things the King never failed to communicate his Secrets to some one of his Council and particularly to the Prime Minister who was always accustomed to seal with his own Seal all such Commands and Orders to which the King affix'd his Signet which if it were so they could not Elect him without running themselves into a great Confusion if he should be already either Dead or Blind For you know said he that the sacred Laws of the Elect of God not permiting any person under that unfortunate Circumstance to be our Sovereign Monarch we should be constrained after all to apply our selves to Hamzeh Mirza And what thanks I would fain know will he then give us for our Election Will he not have reason to tax us with our want of Affection for choosing him at a force put when we knew there was no possibility for his Brother to govern Will it please him do you think to accept a Crown at our hands which we have offered to another Will he think himself beholden to us for our suffrages which we did not give him out of Kindness or Affection to his person but merely out of invincible Necessity And God grant he may stop there with being only satisfied that he ows us nothing Who knows but that he may study Revenge and whether our Coldness may not kindle in his Brest a Fire that will not be quenched without our Ruin and the destruction of our Families But this is not all that we are to consider when the Welfare of the Kingdom lies at stake particular Interests must give way Mind therefore my Lords what I have observed at the Beginning of my Discourse It behoves us to avoid the Dangers of an Interregnum which will continue long while time is wasted in Messages to and fro from hence to the Capital City But Providence hath put into our Hands Hamzeh-Mirza What remains then but to follow the Commands of Providence and forthwith to advance the Favoured of Heaven to the Sacred Throne of Prince of the World The Prime Minister having thus delivered himself gave no small occasion to the rest of the Lords to muse from whence this Opinion of his should proceed But in regard he was a Person that had always lived in high Reputation for his Integrity and for that his being striken in years and his long experience in Affairs rendered him greatly considerable they never suspected the Advice which he had given had been the Effect of self-interest more especially because there was nothing propounded but what the whole Assembly believed to be