to the Throne seems to them so reasonable and of so great benefit that they never cease to laugh at the Great Mogul and the Grand Signior who have a long time omitted it For they say That Aurengzebe might have prevented the Revolts of his Children and Mahomet the Fourth his Deposition by his Mutinous Troops if the first had kept his Children close during his Life time and the last put out his Brother's Eyes as soon as he came to the Throne The Dispensers of the Mahometan Religion taking place at the Persian Court Mahometan Priests I shall take notice of 'em before the Officers of the Crown over whom they have always precedency in the Council Publick Feasts and Audiences which the King gives to Embassadors and Missionaries The greatest Priest in Persia is call'd Sadre Cassa Of the Sadre Cassa that is the Chief or Arch-Bishop He is Super Intendant over all the Spiritualities of the Empire but his business is only to govern the King's Conscience and Order the Court and City of Ispahan according to the Rules of the Alcoran He deputes the second Bishop of whom I shall speak by and by for the rest of the Kingdom He is the first Minister of State and has his Seat at the foot of the Sofa and Right-hand of the King These Priests are so much reverenc'd in Persia that Kings have taken their Daughters for their Wives And the last Sadre Marry'd the King's Sister but nevertheless his Dignity could not secure him from having his Children Strangled that were Males for this barbarous Custom is so undistinguishably practis'd that if the King's Sisters or Nieces should omit to call the Eunuch's of the Haram at the time of their Lying-in to strangle the Child if it were Male they would inevitably merit Death by their neglect and seldom any such Offenders have been known to obtain Mercy This Law seems to have been newly made for there was no such in use at the time of the famous Cha-Abbas who was Contemporary with Henry the Fourth They give to the Sadre the Title of Narab which is as much as to say Vice-Roy of the King and Mahomet And there is none but him the Sadre Elman Alek and the Etmadaulet on whom this Honour is bestow'd This Sadre has his Deputies in all Capital Cities of Provinces His Jurisdiction which are call'd Modarrés and are not much unlike to our Bishops The Governours cannot give a decisive Judgment without their Approbations which they call Felfa These Deputies Heads of Mosques Principals of Colleges Presidents of the Circumcisions Curates that Marry and Divorce by Bills of Repudiation In short all that have any Employments which relate to the Law of Mahomet take their Orders and Measures from this Sadre and which procures him a vast Revenue for here as every where else Preferments are Bought and Sold. The second Person in Spirituals is nam'd Sadre Elman Alek Of the Sadre Elman Alek he is properly as Coadjutor or Assistant to the Sadre Cassa He does throughout the whole Realm what the Chief Bishop does only in the King's Court and Precincts of Ispahan He is moreover a Lateral Judge with the Divan Begui who can give no Sentence without his consent inasmuch as all the difference that I could take notice of between these two Bishops was only that one is Supream Head of the Law His Functions and the other his Deputy and Head of the Civil Tribunal He is Assistant to the Divan Begui to see that he does Justice according to the Rules of the Alcoran and what we would call the Cannon-Law which has been explained to them long fince by the Imans whom the Persians as Apes of us Christians worship to the number of Twelve as we do our Twelve Apostles This Bishop has also a Power to Try and Condemn Criminals which shews That he is not only an Ecclesiastical but Civil Judge The Divan Begui pronounces Sentence according to his Decisions This Bishop as Vicar General in all the Courts of Justice of the Kingdom has the Title of Naib Sedaret and he has the same Power over the Governours as he had over the Divan Begui He has his place below the Sofa on the Left-hand of the King The third Bishop of Persia is call'd Akond or rather Chiek Alislam Of the Alislam which is as much as to say Wise by Experience or The Venerable Old Men of the Law of Mahomet This Judge is properly the first Lieutenant Civil who takes Cognizance of the Affairs of Minors Widdows Contracts and other Civil Matters The King gives him Fifty Thousand Livres Annual Pension that he may have no occasion to be Corrupted by taking Bribes This is the Judge that dispatches most business His Substitutes He is Chief of the Law-Colleges and constantly reads upon it his Subaltern Officers every Wednesday and Saturday He has also his Substitutes in all the Courts of Justice of the Realm who together with those that belong to the Second Sadre draw up all Contracts and Agreements He has his place at the foot of the Sofa next to the Great Sadre The fourth Bishop is the Kazi The fourth Bishop is also second Lieutenant Civil who is the second Lieutenant Civil He takes Cognizance of the same Causes does the same business and enjoys equal Prerogatives with the former He has like him his Seat below the Sofa next the second Sadre But not one of those may appear at the time of Publick Feasts because then the King drinks Wine The Kazi has two Substitutes in every Tribunal their business is to determine small differences in Coffee-Houses and the Governour always requires their Assistance to consult about matters of Importance Over and above these four Bishops The Great Almoner the King has a kind of Great Almoner call'd Piche Nahmaz He reads Prayers in the King's House performs Circumcisions Marriages Burials and all other Functions of Religion in presence of the four Chief Bishops He is as it were the Universal Divine of the whole Empire for he disputes and marshals all Conferences in Religion This Lord Almoner is of the King's Council and enjoys near as great Prerogatives as any of the other Bishops There are Six Great Ministers of State in Persia Six Ministers of State which are call'd Rohna Doulets that is to say the Pillars and Supports of the Empire The First is the Grand Vizier The Etmadaulet call'd Etmadaulet that is the Prop of Power He is the Great Chancellour of the Kingdom President of the Council and Superintendant of the Customs He takes care of all foreign Affairs and Commerce with other Nations No Pensions or Gratifications are paid without his Orders and in short he is even as the Vice-Roy of Persia He Authorizes the King's Mandates by endorsing 'em with these Words Bende derga Ali il Alia Etmadaulet that is By the Port is meant the Court. I that am the Prop of Power and
to return it by a courteous inclining of his Head and which he always does smiling He has a masculine and agreeable Voice a great deal of sweetness in his manner of speaking and his Shape and Person are enclin'd to the Tallest He has often given sufficient proofs of his great strength of Body His Strength and 't is said there is no body able to contend with him at Wrestling Princes are sometimes accustom'd to this Exercise to make 'em the more Vigorous and Robust He easily draws a Bow that another would not be able to bend His Address He manages a Scymiter with a great deal of Address And in short there is not one Noble-Man of all his Court that can in the least come near him for any other Exercises He is of a very bountiful soft and sober Nature His Nature He has so great an abhorrence of Blood-shed that he scarce cares for allowing the commonest Executions but nevertheless he is inexorable to Traytors who never obtain his Mercy tho' they were of his own Blood He loves his Subjects extreamly He often goes Incognito amongst 'em His love for his Subjects to see if he can hear of any of their Wants and to inform himself also of any Exactions made upon 'em by his Officers He has been many times seen disguised like a Country-Man buying of bread the better to surprize the Leutenant of the Policies and as often appear'd in such like Equipage to discover the making Money current which he had cry'd down by his Edict He loves the Christians His great Love to Christians and will not suffer 'em to be distmb'd in the exercise of their Religion He disapproves of those violent means of making 'em Mahometans and he easily consents to their returning to Christianity where they complain they have been forc'd to quit it He made it sufficiently appear not many Years since An Example of his kindness to them That he did not approve of the prevailing upon the Miseries of Christians to engage 'em to the Mahometan Religion For those Armenians of the Country of Lingen who were transplanted thither by Cha Abbas having agreed to pay the King a certain Summ every Year for their Tribute and duty as Christians and not being able thro' their Poverty to raise it for many Years the Grand Visier the better to get it assigned 'em the payment of the Militia These poor wretches not finding themselves in a condition to satisfie so rigorous a Demand and foreseeing it impossible to avoid the Insults and cruel Bastinades of the Soldiers and being altogether unprovided of Missionaries to assist 'em in so pressing a necessity immediately went together in Crowds to the Etmadaulet humbly intreating him that they might be admitted Mahometans This Wise Minister demanded of 'em what obliged 'em to change their Religion they answered It was their Poverty and Inability to pay the King their Annual Duties The Etmadaulet went immediately to give His Majesty an account who causing 'em to appear before him and whose tender Heart being mov'd by their deplorable condition instantly remitted their Debts and received 'em into favour He also forbad the receiving their offer to turn Mahometans And thus we may see by what surprising means Heaven touch'd with the Misery of those that belong'd to him and having only a mind to make 'em asham'd of their Cowardliness excited in a Mahometan Prince a Zeal for the true Religion whilst it was almost obliterated in their Hearts He never exacts Tribute of the Armenians or other Christians when they come to Trade in his Kingdom altho' the Grand Signior makes the Persian Christians pay severely whenever they pass thro' Turky to Traffick in Europe in a manner that one may very well affirm with Justice that whereas in Turky the Christian Professors groan under a cruel and intolerable Slavery in Persia if the Will of the Prince be but observed they enjoy an undisturb'd and serene Liberty The King grants the Missionaries the free exercise of their Religion His kindness to the Missionaries and a power to establish it where they please And moreover the last Mission recommended to him by the Most Christian King has obtained an exemption from all Taxes and Quit rents where-ever they come Likewise His good will to the French Merchants this Generous Monarch has not shew'd a greater kindness for the French Missionaries than to the French Merchants For Monsieur Mont Ferré the French Consul at Bandar Abassi for the East India Company having been continually molested by the Great Douanier for a very considerable Summ at last beg'd a discharge of the King for near Eleven Years which was fully granted him and other favours he afterwards received from the Chief Minister Upon the first report at this Court His Commands to receive the French Vessels kindly in the Gulf. in February 1693. that the four French Vessels were bound for this Kingdom the King immediately commanded all the Governours of the Persian Gulf to receive them with Honour and to furnish them gratis with whatever Necessaries they should require This King Solyman He calls himself Son of a Saint and a Prophet after the Example of his Ancestors down from Chiek Sephi takes upon him the quality of the Son of Isman which is as much as to say the Son of a Saint because they believe themselves lineally descended from Mortus Ali Son in Law and Cousin-Germain to Mahomet The Persians also pretend that this Mortus Ali was left absolute Heir by Mahomet to his Grandeur and seign'd Prophetick Spirit in opposition to Omar to whom the Turks attribute these Prerogatives and it is upon this account that these two Nations live in such irreconcilable Hatred to one another By means of this quality of the Son of a Prophet the King arrogates to himself to be Head of their Religion and to establish this the better the Persians are of Opinion that he can neither be Damn'd or Judg'd whatever Crimes he commits They are not offended at his neglecting to observe the Ramazan or in drinking Wine because they believe he can never Sin and therefore neither subject to Laws or Customs being the Son of a Saint and legal deseendant of a Prophet I shall say nothing of the Princes of the Blood Of the Princes of the Blood because in Persia they make too miserable a Figure to be taken notice of The Kings Sons never see the Light but in the closest part of the Haram and whence they never come out whil'st the King lives There is none of 'em but he that is to succeed can have the liberty to see him after he 's dead and for the most part as soon as they are seated upon the Throne they deprive their Brothers of the use of their sight Their sad Fate by passing slowly a red-hot Iron before their Eyes This so barbarous a Custom which they make use of to hinder their Brothers from aspiring
in Europe Manner of putting to the Torture 1. Ordinary and 2. Extraordinary Ordinary by way of Bastinadoes which are always given in full Assembly and which cause no ordinary Terrour of their Tribunals There are many kinds of Extraordinary which consist also of Bastinadoes but after a manner much more Merciless and Sensible For they slash the bottom of the Heels with Razors put Salt into their bleeding Wounds and then make use of the Battoon which you must needs think is no common Torture Also they sometimes tear off the Nails from their Feet with Pincers Sometimes they bind the Criminals to four Stakes by the Hands and Feet and apply red-hot Irons to the most fleshy parts and sometimes they quite tear out the Flesh with Pincers If these poor wretches confess the Crimes of which they are accused then they desist from Tortures and proceed to Sentence Afterwards they deliver the condemn'd to the Parties concern'd The Criminal deliver'd to the Accuser to be dispos'd of at their pleasure But if they do not confess the Accusers must pay the Person Tortur'd SMart-money which is allow'd 'em according to their Quality 'T is Remarkable that they do not proceed against Murtherers till the Party interess'd requires it So that a Child whose Father has been kill'd is at liberty to revenge or compound for his Blood without any Check from the Court of Justice When the Party interess'd will not Compound and that he has prov'd the Murther the Sadre determines the Punishment and returns the Criminal to the Parties power to take Blood for Blood The Party interess'd has none of the Goods Confiscated the Court seizes upon all whence it comes to pass that Executions are seldom practis'd when the Criminal has any Money to Compound Their Laws are very severe against Crimes of Uncleanness Rigorous Laws against Impurities Women that abuse their Husbands Beds are thrown from the top of the Minarées or Mosque-Steeples When a Woman is accus'd of this Crime of Uncleanness they first shave her Head and daub her Face and then mount her upon an Ass with her Face towards the Tail which the Hang-man leads thro' the Streets crying before her Woe be to Women who have no care of their Honour The Laws of the Imans are so very rigorous A Story of a Brother that kill'd his Sister taken in this Crime that they allow Fathers and Mothers to Stab their Daughters if they take 'em in this Crime I saw an Example of this kind at the Lieutenant's of the Governour of Hamadan A Mother having surpriz'd her Daughter in this Act not being able to vent her Anger upon him who had dishonour'd her made her Daughter the Victim of her Indignation who had not time to escape For this passionate Woman calling her Son to her commanded him to kill his Sister upon the spot who as hastily obeying he had so little remorse after this Parricide that he could not content himself with Stabbing her but immediately cut off her Head and carry'd it home in Triumph His Neighbours came to the Lieutenant's to accuse him as a Parricide He was seized and his Mother followed him to the Hall where I heard all the Circumstances The Lieutenant ask'd him why he had kill'd his only Sister He answered He had done well and that he deserved a Reward rather than a Punishment for in having Stabb'd an Unchast Sister he had reveng'd the Honour of his Religion which she had defil'd and wash'd away a blot which her Crime had cast upon his Family And then turning to his Mother he gave her a thousand Benedictions for having inspir'd him with so noble a design Whereupon he was bid to withdraw and his Mother commanded to stand forth Where she being ask'd her reason for what she did she presently justify'd her self and commended the generous Action of her Son The end of this Tragedy was very surprizing for the Lieutenant being then at Dinner gave the Mother Melons and other Fruit from his Table and after having exalted her Inhumanity as an Heroick Action he gave her Son an Habit for being the Executioner This surpriz'd me very much and quite took away my stomach to my Meat Which the Lieutenant perceiving ask'd me if we did not Judge so in Europe I told him no. And not daring to explain my self farther and to tell him we did not use to reward Parricides I was fain to content my self with only offering my Opinion That this Mother ought first to have had recourse to his Court for Justice against her Daughter and not to take so much upon her without Orders He answered that that was true but that he was oblig'd to determine so according to the Laws of Mahomet which made me have a secret pity for the Persians that are so much blinded by their Alcoran and who are otherwise the most Knowing Polish'd Politick and Rational of all the East They punish severely all Children that abuse their Fathers and Mothers Punishment of Children for abusing Fathers or Mothers For if any one be convicted of such a Crime they immediately cut out his Tongue and if they strike 'em they cut off their Arms. The King deputes oftentimes the Divan Begui as great a Lord as he is The Judges and greatest Lords assist at Executions to assist at Executions or at least he must send one of the greatest Lords of the Court in his Room A poor Armenian Catholick being found in the Road where the King was to pass with his Ladies he was seiz'd and condemn'd to have his Head cut off Whereupon the Kouler Agassi who is the chief Favourite and one of the Four great Officers of State was commanded to assist at his Execution and to offer him Mercy if he would renounce Christianity and become Mahometan But the Christian refusing his Offers kept firm to his Faith And perceiving this Favourite delay'd his Death with hopes he would comply broke out into these words Martyrdom of a Christian Do not expect that I can be so base to forsake my Saviour Jesus Christ who is the Truth itself to follow the Belief of an Impostor whereupon his desires were immediately accomplish'd and his Faith recompens'd for his Head was struck off in a trice and thrown to the Dogs I was his Confessor and at my earnest intreaty his Body was taken from the Dogs and buried in the Franks Church yard The Persians have not set Punishments for every Crime Divers Punishments They make use of a Gibbet after a very cruel manner for they fasten the Patient by the Throat with an Iron Hook and there let him hang till he perish They have another sort of Punishment yet more cruel than the former and that is They bind the Criminal upon a Camel's Back and then open his Belly as a Butcher does a Sheep and thus they lead him about the Streets with his Guts hanging out and who will live sometimes Two or Three Days in this
Court 117 Enemies irreconcilable to the King of Persia 3. The Name they give him ibid. Envoys how receiv'd in Persia 50 Esteem of the Persians for Jesus Christ 178 Etmadaulet Grand Vizier and Chancellor of Persia 17. His Salary Perquisits and Maintenance 18. His Six Deputies or Viziers ibid. They are like the Intendants of the Revenue 20. His Secretaries ibid. Eunuchs their Authority in Persia 104. They enjoy the Chief Offices of the Kingdom ibid. c. They have the Management of all in the King's House 105. What they are and whence they come ib. Executions the Judges and Great Lords assist at ' em 135 Exercises of young Persian Lords 34 Example of the Goodness of the King of Persia towards Christians 7 Expressions of the Persians to acknowledge the Spiritual Power of their King 98 F. Fast See Ramazan Feasts Publick of the King of Persia with the manner how the Guests are served at 'em 41. Their Magnificence 42. Their Plenty ibid. Pusileers of the King of Persia 73 G. Guards of the King of Persia 72 Georgians their Advantages and Prerogatives in the Persian Court and wherefore 128 Government Politick of Persia 77 Governments Establish'd Order in 'em 106 Guests of the King of Persia who they are 50 H. Habits of the Persian Lords 46. Of the Persian Ladies 63. A Powder they make use of and wherefore 64 Hakim Bachi the King's Physician he is personally responsible for the King's Life 25 Hall of Audience of the King of Persia 40. Other Halls of Audience 41 Hamadan a Capital City in Persia 78 Hazar-Pecha what it is 48 Hazar-Dgerib what 57 Heads brought to the King of Persia the first day of the Year 104 Horses of the King richly Harnassed 44 Hunting of the King of Persia with his Ladies 59. Of the Lords 65 I. Jealousie of the Persians in respect of their Wives 37 Indians more Effeminate than the Mogul's Subjects 117 Infantry the King of Persia has none 75 Intendants Particular of the Revenue 71 Intelligences c. of the Kans to hinder the People from complaining to the King 107 Judges of Persia cannot all condemn to death 137. Disorder thereupon ibid. Julpha Suburbs of Ispahan 56 Justice how administred in Persia 129. The Tribunals ibid. The Chief Justice c. ibid. Those that can condemn to death 130 K. Kalenter who he is 19 Kalmoukes and the Lezguis what sort of Tartars 125 Kans or Governours of Persia 29 Kans Begueler-Begui's of Provinces 31 Those of Towns c. ibid. Kaurs Ysaouls what they are 73 Kazi Fourth Pontiff or second Lieutenant Civil 116 His Deputies ibid. The King of Persia 2. His Titles and Qualities ibid. Very Affable to Strangers 5. His Name Age and Character ibid. His Strength 6. His Address and Nature ibid. His great love for his Subjects 7. His Kindness and goodness to Christians ibid. His Good-will towards the Missionaries and French Merchants 9. He calls himself Son of a Saint and a Prophet 10. He exacts no Tribute from the Armenians and other Christians that Trade in his Kingdom 9. His Absolute Authority 77. The Origin and cause of it 97. He is Supream Head of his Religion ibid. His Subjects believe him Infallible ibid. His Commands always very much respected 98. His scorn of the Mogul 's Troops 116. His taking the Air and other Diversions 52. His Politicks against the Usbeg-Tartars ibid. Kodafa who he is 28 Kortchi-Bachi who and his Salary what 20 Koulam Vizier who 26 Kouler Agasi Captain of the Troops of Slaves 21 Kouls what they are 72 Kzel-Baches what 47 Kzel Baches who Their Merit superior to the Indians 118 L. Laurestan a Kingdom of the Elamites 157 Its chief City ibid. Lending no encouragement for it in Persia 138 c. Lords of Persia 32 M. Manner of Mounting the Guard in the King's Court 73 Masched a strong Town in Persia 124 Magnificence of Publick Feasts of the King of Persia 41 Mahomet and his false Miracles 174 Master Great of the King's Houshold 24 Manufactures of Persia what is there made 116 March or Cavalcade of the King of Persia 57 March of the Lords after the King when he goes a Hunting with his Ladies 65 Mariam Kanum the King's Aunt Her Amours and Intrigues with the Constable 89. Her Discourse with the King and what follow'd 90 Martyrdom of a Christian 135 Maxim to incline Mahometans to the Truth 168 Media a Province 169 Megdeles Rou's what they are 33 Meheurdar Keeper of the Seals with his Deputies 25 c. Mehmoudar Bachi what is his Office 27 Meidan what it is 33 c. Meats Persian 43 Minarreés what 37 Minarreés or Tower built with Bones and Horns of Beasts taken in one Hunting 67 Ministers of State 17 Mirachor-Bachi who 26 Mir-Chekar Bachi who ibid. Modesty of the Persians whilst they are Eating 49 Manners and Customs of the Persians different from the Mahometans 181 Moullahs what they are and their Employments 37 Mouadgen-Bachi chief Astrologer 24 Modarés Deputies of the Sadre 14 Money Persian become bad and how 115 What makes it so scarce in Persia 116 Mosques of Persia 35. Their Description ibid. They have no Altars 149 Moucheruff who he is 26 Moustofi Elmam Alek who 19 Moustofi Cassa who ibid. Musick Persian 39 N. Nacoda what it signifies 76 Naib Sedarets what they are in Persia Navab Alié the Queen-Mother 62 Navigation why the Persians don 't love it 76 Nazir who he is 24 O. Observations on the Persians ancient manner of Expressing themselves 99 Omara's who they are 33 Opinion of the Persians concerning their Kings 10 c. Orders of the King of Persia for the favourable Reception of the four Vessels of the French Company ibid. Orders barbarous to Strangle Children 13 Order of the Sophi's in Persia 27. It s Institution 28. Their Duty and Head ib. They are at present in Disgrace 29 Ouriguerd a Town in Persia Its Situation 156. Odious manner of exacting an Oath from a Christian 141 P. Palace of the King of Persia 33. It s Description ibid. Its Situation ibid c. and Riches of the Place 124 c. Petitions they are not presented easily to the King 107. The several Difficulties 108 Other but Chargeable ways to present Petitions 111 Persians they are more Warlike better Disciplin'd and Stronger than the Indians 117. Their good Intelligence with the Tartars against the Muscovites 125. Their Politicks towards the Grand Signior 126. And with other Neighbouring Princes 127. Their Belief 145 c. What they Reject 147 Piche-Nahmaz Great Almoner 16 Pilgrimage of the Persians Its Origin Politicks of the Persians towards their Neighbours 118 Precaution of the Persians to prevent Surprize on the Frontiers ibid. Priests of the Mahometan Religion 12 Privileges granted to Merchants Invaded by the Viziers which is the reason of the little Commerce now into Persia 113 c. Prayers of the Persians 150 Of the Princes of the Blood and King's Sons 11. Their sad Fate ibid. What is
Affair as much Attention as it deserves They deliberate maturely and are never very hasty to decide Their Qualities They have this Maxim amongst 'em That Time does more than an Army And That To know how to Temporize is to be able to Conquer without running any risque The Hollanders in 1686 were very sensible of the Advantage the Persians drew from this Maxim Their Cunning For having several times complain'd that they furnish'd 'em with bad Silk out of the King's Magazine and whence they were obliged to take 300 Charges every Year not being able to obtain the Justice they desir'd they at length sent Four Ships into the Persian Gulf who cannonaded Bandar-Abassi and possess'd themselves of the Isle of Quixme near Ormus The Persians who had no power to oppose 'em by Sea were forc'd to give 'em good Words and perswaded 'em to send an Agent to Court to whom they would not fail to give satisfaction Upon which the Hollanders dispatch'd away immediately Van Heuvle for that purpose who came thither with a great Retinue but who was suffer'd to stay Three Years without ever being ask'd the occasion of his coming At length the Dutch man weary with presenting so many Petitions and receiving no Answers determin'd to deliver up the Island which they had been at so prodigious an Expence to keep and without reckoning the farther Charges he was at to obtain leave to be gone Which when he had procur'd he was dismiss'd with this Reprimand That it did not suit with the Quality of Merchants to demand Justice of a King by Cannonading Also nothing has been more judicious than those Answers they gave to the Envoys from Germany Poland Judicious Answers and Muscovy when they came to propose to 'em to enter into a League with their Masters against the Grand Signior The Arch Bishop D'Abaranel a German who brought a Letter from the Emperor to the King of Persia very earnestly sollicited this Prince to enter into a League with his Master and represented to him many Advantages he might obtain by it To which the Etmadaulet answer'd That the King ought not to shew greater hast for this League than the Emperor and his Allies had discover'd Inclinations for that which his Master propos'd to 'em by his Ambassadors at his coming to the Crown And as for the hopes of Advantages by this League the King knew none more prevailing than to keep his Word given to the Grand Signior and to live in Peace with him The Arch-Bishop Reply'd That the Turks had but too often broke their Words with the King of Persia and that they never made so many Scruples to violate the Faith of Treaties To which he was answer'd That it did not consist with the glory of the King of Persia to be worse than his Word And that the Grand Signior might be as false as he pleas'd for he should take no care to imitate him The Polish Ambassador represented That there was a very favourable Opportunity for the King of Persia to recover from the Turks the Cities of Balsora Bagdat and Erzerom But he was answer'd That those places were not more important to the Persians than Caminiec was to the Poles and that when they could take one they would take the other The Envoy of Muscovy shew'd how great a Confusion the Grand Signior was in and how easie a matter it was to Ruine him Let him be humbled a God's Name says the Etmadaulet but let him not be ruin'd He is a potent Neighbour 't is true and one that often incommodes us but we should be less able to endure a Prince of another Religion And moreover it is not for our Interest that he should be too much weakned because his Kingdom serves for a Barricado to defend us on the Christians side And upon their last Importunities at their Audience of Leave the Etmadaulet told 'em That it was dangerous to open too large an Hole in an Hive for fear of being expos'd to the Bees Stings Giving 'em to understand that Persia was at quiet whilst the Grand Signior his most formidable Enemy was busied in resisting the Christians But if they should join with them in League against him the Usbeg Tartars and the Mogul would pour in in Shoals to defend him being of the same Sect Who tho' their Forces may be as weak as Bees in respect of those of Persia yet their great Numbers would not fail to plague 'em continually without their ever being able to be deliver'd by the Christians by reason of their great distance Secrets are kept so nicely in the Council Secrets nicely observ'd that it has been observ'd a Father has not discover'd to his Son the Measures he knew were taken against his Life The Condemnation of Persons out of favour is not known before their Heads are seen brought in a Charger to the King's Table All the Heads that have been cut off in one Year are presented to the King the first day of the ensuing a sad spectacle this and one would think very little suiting with the solemn Joy of a Feast Whatever discussions are made of Affairs of State in this Council Authority of the Eunuchs yet they are never decided there They treat only of Means and the Application is reserv'd to the Privy-Council which is compos'd of the principal Eunuchs In this Council are determin'd the most important Affairs of State The chief Minister and the other Lords know nothing of what is transacted there These Eunuchs are Men of Wit and the King always relies upon their fidelity The Governour of the Princes is an Eunuch They enjoy the Chief Offices Their Tutors are Eunuchs The Affairs of the Kingdom are in the hands of an Eunuch and 't is an Eunuch alone that chuses which of the King's Sons shall succeed him after his death and who gives him notice accordingly and immediately places him upon the Throne In fine they are all Eunuchs who have the management of any thing in the King's House The Royal Treasure is confided in an Eunuch as well as the Royal Wardrobe with all other Rareties which are presented to the King And they have this reason for their Trust That these Eunuchs being bought Children out of the Indies and who know neither Country Father or Mother nor have any Families to raise they will be the likelier to be more Faithful and Honest Besides these gainful Offices are bestowed upon them because the King is their Heir and whatever they heap up is sure to come again into his Treasury The King does nothing in the Council of his Revenue without the knowledge of this Eunuch who is the keeper of it The Etmadaulet and the King's Secretary gives him every Month an account of the Charges and Royal Who takes the Accounts Bounties within the Kingdom Also of all other Summs they have out of the Treasury The Nazir likewise or Great Master of the Houshold passes his Accounts with him and
which are allow'd or controll'd at his Pleasure The Kingdom of Persia is so very large A good Pulicy that the most distant Kans might very well disturb the State if they were allow'd to be altogether Masters of their Soldiers But this probable disorder has been prevented by placing in every Province a Vizier or Overseer which does the same thing in Persia as the Intendant in France except that they are not allow'd to pronounce Justice as they do but are only Assistants to the Kans who are always the proper Judges in their own Provinces These Viziers raise the Soldiers Pay upon the Demesns that the Kans might not have the power to engage 'em to a Revolt They have also care that the Peasants to avoid the hard Usages of the Kans and other Officers do not forsake their Labour The Kalentar or Provost of the Merchants has also authority to prevent the abusing of Merchants and other Tradesmen And the Deputies of the Sadre Chiek Alislam and the Kazi are as so many Spies to observe the Proceedings of the Kan and who can scarce do any thing without their Privity These are good Orders but ill observ'd for if the Kan have but cunning enough to manage the People he may do what he pleases without any Check or Restraint Tho' the People have the justest cause imaginable Petitions when presented yet they find it often very difficult to make their Complaints for they can never present any Petition to the King but when he goes on Horse-back and then the Kans have always so much Interest at Court as to prevent their Approaching him Sometimes they make the Great Astrologer their Friend who pretends to consult the Stars and that it is not a lucky Hour for his Majesty to receive Petitions in How prevented And sometimes the Great Marshal who goes just before the King and commands his Servants to keep the Suppliants off with tough Cudgels Morever the King always does the honour of Discoursing with him upon the way to some one of his Ministers who if he be engag'd will discourse of quite another thing than what is expos'd in the Petition And in a Word there is nothing easier than to corrupt the King's Footmen who always run to receive the Petitions and who can very well suppress some of them by the way Nevertheless Hazara to oppress his Subjects it is no common hazard to oppress any of this King's Subjects for he has so great a love for them that he severely punishes those Governours that do but offend 'em but yet he is not always rightly inform'd of their conduct The Lords of his Councel are all provided of some Government whose Lieutenants are also subject to the same hazards with their Governours and therefore these employ their Interests as strenuously for them as themselves for fear their Extortions being discover'd might prove a prejudice to their Grandeur and great Expences at Court which are altogether supply'd by these means So that providing there be no falling out between the Governours their Oppressions and Injustice can never be known A difference arising between the Chief Minister and the Constable in 1685 was the cause of a Brother of the latter's ruine For the Constable who ow'd his own Rise to this Minister insinuated himself so much farther into his Favour that he obtain'd the Government of Sembran for his Brother Mahmed Reza Kan But this new Governour who might have been one of the greatest Men in Persia had he had so much Goodness and Honesty as Wit began to exercise so many Inhumanities and Oppressions in that Province that the People came to Court in Crowds for redress They carried their Accusations first to the Chief Minister who sending for the Constable acquainted him with the many Complaints were made against his Brother and desir'd him to use means to prevent the like for the future for fear of the ill Consequences that would certainly ensue if they should come to the King's Ear. So great a kindness as this from a Person that had a power of distributing Justice himself one would have thought might have prevail'd upon this Constable but the favour he imagin'd he was in with the King over balanc'd all other Considerations and therefore blinded with Ambition he gave him such an Answer as was the utter ruine of his Brother and in a great measure of himself For he told this Minister That it was not so great a wonder if his Brother who was a young Man had ruin'd a Province when he that was so consummated a Politician had done the like for all Persia This Constable forgot all the while he ow'd his Preferment to this Man and who had as great a power to suppress his Pride as he had had to advance it In short the Etmadaulet inform'd the King of all and this Governour of Sembran was immediately degraded and his Estate confiscated to the People's use to make 'em amends for their loss He was forthwith sent to Hispahan and there laid in Irons He also receiv'd so many blows on the Feet as made his Nails jump off from 'em and he never had escap'd a shameful death if the Constable who was also out of favour upon this occasion had not found out some means to appease the angry Etmadaulet and moreover disburs'd Twenty Thousand Crowns to make the People full satisfaction He saved his Brother's Head by these means but he was never able to re-establish him in any Employ or the King's favour who would never so much as look upon him ever afterwards The People may also present Petitions against the Kans by way of the Etmadaulet or Divan-Begui Petitions presented how but these ways are full as chargeable and often of as great difficulty as the former For if the Kans Complained against are Friends either to one or other of these great Lords or if they be Persons of a better Reputation than ordinary they will be sure to have these Petitions secretly sent ' em And if not so the Suppliant must enter into a Recognizance to the King conformable to the importance of the matter to be instantly paid if he has falsly accus'd the Kan The Etmadaulet and Divan-Begui affix their Seals to this Recognizance and then it must be enter'd in Five several Registers where there are great Duties to be paid After that the Suppliant carries it to the Divan-Begui who grants out a Commission to some Lord of that Province to examine into the Affair and then he allows the Suppliant a Messenger of the Palace to do Execution and levy the Recognizance Afterwards he carries it to the Chancery where the Keeper of the Seals sends him into the Haram to get the King's Seal apply'd Then the Suppliant departs with his Messenger whose Charges he is oblig'd to defray 'till he has made good what he pretended 'T is easie to guess after this with what Impunity the Kans are suffer'd to Tyrannize over the People when they