Rustan-Can having reconquer'd Georgia built the Fortress of Gery as is reported He restor'd Peace and good order to the Country and Govern'd with an exemplary mildness and Justice He Marry'd the Sister of Levan Dadian Prince of Mingrelia though she were a Christian and Marry'd already Her Husband being Prince of Guriel whom Levan had depriv'd both of his Principality and his Eyes for being in a Conspiracy against him and taking his Wife away from him Marry'd her to Rustan-Can neither the Ecclesiasticks of Mingrelia nor Georgia opposing that Monstrous Conjunction if I may presume to call it so The Name of this Princess was Mary of whom we have already spoken in our Recital of the last Revolutions of Imiretta She is now the Wife of Shanavas-Can Governor of Georgia Rustan-Can Dy'd in the Year 1640. and his Body was carry'd to Com where it was enterr'd At what time Taimuras's Kinsman was Governor and Grand Provost of Ispahan Him Rustan-Can having no Children adopted and sent him to the Court beseeching the King to look upon him as his Son and to ratifie the Adoption His Majesty approv'd his Choice caus'd the Young Prince to be Circumciz'd and bestow'd upon him the Government of the City and this is he who is at Present Viceroy of Georgia being Fourscore Years of Age yet very Strong and Lusty So soon as Rustan-Can was Dead the Princess Mary his Wife had private Intelligence that upon the advantageous reports of her Beauty that had been made to the King of Persia he had commanded her to be sent to Court Thereupon she was adviz'd to fly into Mingrelia or to hide her self But she took a quite contrary course for being well assur'd that there was no place within the Empire of Persia where the King would not discover her she went and lockt her self up for Three Days together in the Fortress of Tefflis which was indeed to deliver her self up to the Mercy of him that sought her All which time she shew'd her self every Day to the Commander's Wives and then sending for him to her Apartiment she told him that upon the credit of his Wives that had seen her he might write to the King that she was no such Amiable Beauty to be so ardently desir'd that she was far gone in Years and besides that she was a little misshapen and therefore that she conjur'd his Majesty to let her end her Days in her own Country At the same time she sent the King a Magnificent Present of Gold and Silver and Four Young Damsels of an Extraordinary Beauty And so soon as she had sent her present she retir'd from the World not suffering her self to be seen by any Body she betook her self wholly to her Devotions giving great Alms to the Poor to the end they might Pray to GOD for her Souls Health But at the end of Three Months there came an order from the King for Shanavas-Can to Marry her Who was over joy'd at the receipt of the Order for Mary was Rich so that he Marry'd her though he had then another Wife of his own and he has a very great Value for her by reason of her great Estate Her first Husband the Prince of Guriel is still alive residing in Georgia but very Old and very Decrepit Nevertheless the Princess was so kind to send him one of her Damsels to comfort him for his loss of her and she allows him wherewithal to maintain himself but at a very sorry rate However she seems still to have some kind of Affection for him insomuch that being upon the Frontiers of Imiretta some Years since she sent for him and kept him with her eight Days At which when Shanavas-Can seem'd to be Jealous the Princess fell a laughing at him and ask'd Whether he were not asham'd to be Jealous of a poor old blind miserable Creature and altogether as impotent as himself The greatest part of the Georgian Lords are outwardly Mahometans some professing that Religion to obtain Preferment at Court and Pensions of State Others that they may have the Honour to Marry their Daughters to the King and sometimes meerly to get 'em in to wait upon the Kings Wives For which the usual Recompence is a Pension or an Imployment As a forerunner to which the Mahometan Religion is always first of all embrac'd The Pension is according to the Quality of the Persons but most commonly not above Two Thousand Crowns Upon which account there fell out a very lamentable Accident while I staid at Tefflis A Georgian Lord had giv'n the King to understand that he had a Niece of an extraordinary Beauty His Majesty commanded her to be brought to his Palace And who should be so wicked and base as to carry the Order and serve it but the Lord himself Thereupon he came to his Sister who was a Widow and told her That the King of Persia had a desire to Marry her Daughter and that therefore she must perswade her to give her consent Thereupon the Mother having made known to the Young Virgin the force that was upon her she was almost at her Wits end For she had rather have had a Young Lord that was her Neighbor by a Person whom she was extreamly belov'd Thereupon they took a Resolution to make him a Sharer in their Misfortune and to that purpose sent him the News by one of their Domestick Servants Away comes the Lord Post and arriving at Midnight found the Mother and the Daughter with mutual Tears and a condolling Grief bewailing their hard Fortune Presently the Lord threw himself at their Feet and told 'em That for his part he fear'd nothing so much as the loss of his Mistress and that all the Anger of the King of Persia was nothing to him in respect of such a fatal Calamity That there was but one way for him to disingage himself out of this Noose which was to be Marry'd immediately and the next Day to tell her Perfidious Uncle That the Lady by him demanded was no Virgin This was agreed upon and the Mother being retir'd the Marriage was Consummated in a Trice But the Uncle discovering the Plot gave notice of it to the King At which the King was so enrag'd that he gave Order to send for the Mother the Daughter and the Husband who thereupon hid themselves and skulk'd up and down for some Months But at length finding themselves too hotly pursu'd beyond all likelyhood of escaping they fled to Akalzikè the Basha of which place has tak'n 'em into his Protection The fear which they have in Georgia of Accidents of the like Nature obliges those that have handsom Daughters to Marry 'em as soon as they can and sometimes in their Infancy The poor People Marry theirs betimes and sometimes in the very Cradle To the end the Lords whose Vassals they are should not take 'em away by force either to sell 'em or make 'em their Concubines For certain it is they have a very great respect for Marry'd Persons
the Father a Pension to that value or near it during his Life I say when a Family is low in the World For as for the Grandees they count it a great happiness to have a Kinswoman in the Kings house where she may be useful to him in his advancement and do him a thousand good Offices near his Majesties Person Nevertheless the Young Prince had forborn Wine all the last year by reason of an Inflammation in his Throat occasion'd by his hard drinking with which his Father also had formerly been troubl'd for the same cause Which was the Reason that the Kourouk or Prohibition of Wine was renew'd to the end there might be no more sold For it is the Custom of the Grandees in Asia when they have an Intention to abandon Wine they send Orders to throw away all that they have and to knock out the heads of the Vessels to the end that if they should have a desire to drink it again they might not have an opportunity to satisfie themselves not looking upon themselves to be Masters of their Passions But notwithstanding all this Abstinence of the Young Prince his Distempers nothing abated His pale and wan Colour and his Stomach loathing all manner of Food were certain Symptomes of his disorder'd Body His Chief Physician knew not what to think he had essay'd in vain all the secrets of his Art which was no small affliction to him in regard his life depended upon the Kings Or if his life were spar'd yet he was sure to lose his Estate and his Liberty as happen'd to the two Chief Physicians of Habas II. and as it happens to all those that attend the Asiatick Sovereigns when they die under their care The Astrologers also began to whisper one another in the Ear and tell their Confidents as a great secret that the King would never recover that they could not find in his Horoscope that he had above six years to live after his Coronation of which he had already surviv'd a third part and that he should languish out the two others in perpetual misery The Queen Mother press'd by her natural affection and blinded by the transports of her Passion forbore to lay the fault upon her Sons distemper but quarrell'd with the Physician asking him how it came to pass her Son was sick accus'd him of Treason or Ignorance believing that since he was her Son's Physician he was oblig'd to cure him This made the Physician at his Wits end so that all his Receipts failing him he bethought himself of one that was peculiarly his own Invention and which few Physicians would ever have found out as not being to be met with neither in Galen nor Hippocrates What does he then do but out of an extraordinary fetch of his Wit he begins to lay the fault upon the Stars and the Munshi-Zumes or Kings Astrologers crying out that they were altogether in the wrong That if the King lay in a languishing condition and could not recover his health it was because they had fail'd to observe the happy hour or the Aspect of a Fortunate Constellation at the Time of his Coronation Which Fable was back'd by all the friends which the Physician had at Court and besides that by one of the Kings Astrologers himself call'd Mirza Mougiim For this person either out of Emulation or for what other reason I know not bearing a private grudge to the Prince of the Astrologers whose business it was to observe the favourable Conjunction for the Coronation of the young Prince and perceiving so fit an opportunity to discredit the Chief of the Astrologers and advance his own Reputation fail'd not to lay hold of it He therefore made it out or at least seem'd to make it plain by long disputes full of Astrological Reasons in all the chief Assemblies of the chief Courtiers that the Moment design'd for the Coronation of the King signifi'd nothing and afterwards by Arguments as strong as the first he labour'd to prove that the defect of the Kings health proceeded from his Coronation which had been solemniz'd under an Inauspicious Aspect The first that gave credit to his idle stories were the Mother and the Son and the Women that were suffer'd to be near his Majesty were of the same opinion likewise that it was the fault of the Star-Gazer who had not taken notice that the Aspect was not favourable at that time The Eunuchs also were drawn into the same belief and the Courtiers who are still ready to comply with the most extravagant Proposals to please their Master declar'd no less In short the Physician got the day and by this Chimera sav'd his Credit and his Estate 'T was in vain for the Astrologer by the most convincing Arguments he could alledge to maintain the contrary No body gave ear to him so that he was constrain'd for fear of running himself into farther danger not only to hold his peace but at length to applaud the Sentence pronouncd against him Therefore there was nothing now to be done but to repair a pretended defect and to seek out proper remedies for the mistake nor could they find any other Expedient but to proceed to a second Coronation of the King as if he had never been Crown'd before It was resolv'd also at the same time that his Majesty should quit the name of Sephiè as carrying in it somewhat I know not what of unfortunate and that he should make choice of another They gave his Majesty therefore to understand that the beginning of his Grandfathers Reign had been accompani'd with the same accidents as his own That there was a great scarcity of Provision in Ispahan that the Turks had declar'd War against him and that he had never enjoy'd a perfect health These two things being thus resolv'd the next thing was to pitch upon the day Upon this Point there was a long deliberation and many Contests about it The Astrologers were consulted and at length after many Consultations and serious Enquiries they agreed that the happy Hour which was to be attended by so many fortunate Events would be toward the time of the year that the Sun enter'd the Ram which accordding to our account was Tuesday the twentieth of March about nine in the Morning At for this second Coronation in regard it vari'd little or nothing from the former it will be needless to make a second description of it All the difference was that this second Coronation was solemniz'd in the great Hall call'd Tshehel Setoon or the Hall with forty Pillars Which is that Magnificent Apartment the most stately in all the Royal Palace by us describ'd with all possible exactness in our description of Ispahan There the whole Court met at the time prefix'd by the Astrologers with all the Pomp that such a glorious Ceremony requir'd All the Grandees of the Court who had the priviledge of sitting before the King plac'd themselves upon the Right hand The two Pontiffs the most eminent Interpreters of
their Penitents that confefs the taking of another Bodies Goods to bring the Goods to Them and not to restore 'em to the Right Owners so that Restitution is never made There are several Bishops in Georgia an Archbishop and a Patriarch whom they call Catholicos Whose preferments when Vacant are supply'd by the Prince though a Mahometan who generally prefers his kindred and Relations so that the Present Patriarch is his Brother As for the Churches in Georgia they are something more cleanly kept then those in Mingrelia And in the Cities you shall see some that are very decent though they are altogether as nasty in the Country The Georgians as all the other Christians that surround 'em to the North and West have a strange humour to build all their Churches upon high Mountains in remote and almost inaccessible Places Where they view 'em and bow to 'em at the distance of three or four Leagues but seldom or never go into 'em and we may boldly assert that the most part of 'em are hardly open'd once in Ten Years They erect 'em and then leave 'em to the Injuries of the Weather and for the Birds and Fowls of the Air to build their Nests in I could never find out the Reason of this Extravagance the Answers of all Persons of whom I enquir'd being altogether as extravagant 'T is the Custom The Georgians however are fully perswaded that whatever Sins they have committed they shall obtain Pardon by building a little Church Though for my part I am apt to believe they build 'em in such remote and inaccessible Places to avoid the Charges of Adorning and Repairing of ' em And now I come to the Relations and Histories of the Conquest of Georgia by the Persians which are so numerous that I should have been silent in this particular if those Authors had agreed among themselves or if I had found they had been rightly inform'd Briefly therefore here is that which I have met with in the Stories of Persia themselves Ishmael the Great whom our Historians have Sirnam'd the Sophy after he had subdu'd the Countries that lie to the West of the Caspian Sea of Media and part of Armenia and that he had expell'd the Turks out of all these Places made War also upon the Georgians though they had sent him numerous Succors at the beginning of his Reign The event of which War was successful to him as having reduc'd 'em to pay him Tribute and give him Hostages Now Georgia as well as the Kingdoms of Kaket and Carthuel had several Petty Kings call'd Eristares Feudataries and always at Wars one with another Which was the Reason or at least the Means that most contributed to the Ruine of the Georgians They pay'd their Tribute during all the Reign of Ishmael and his Successor Tahmas who was a Prince of great Courage and fortunate in War During his Reign Lnarzab rul'd in that part of Georgia which is call'd Carthuel and is as I have said the Eastern Georgia and borders upon Persia Eastward This King lest two Sons behind him between whom he divided his Kingdom Simon the Eldest and David the Younger But being both ill satisfi'd with their Division they made War one upon another and in those Wars both desir'd Tahmas to assist ' em The Younger Brother was beforehand with Simon To whom Tahmas return'd for answer That he would put him in possession of all his Fathers Dominions if he would turn Mahometan David accepted the Condition embrac'd the Mahometan Religion and went and surrender'd himself to the Persian Army which was already enter'd his Dominions to the Number of Thirty Thousand Horse upon which he was presently sent to Tahmas who lay then at Casbin So soon as he had got the Georgian Prince in his Clutches he wrote to Simon to the same effect as he had written to his Brother that is to say That he should quit his Religion and come to him if he intended to enjoy the Kingdom of his Ancestors Simon finding the Persian Army pressing too severely upon him surrender'd his Person but would not abjure his Religion But Tahmas being now Master of both the Princes and of the Country of Georgia sent the Eldest Brother Pris'ner to the Castle of Genghè near the Caspian Sea and made the other Governour of Georgia changing his Name from David to Daoud-Can which denoted him to be of the Mahometan Profession Which done he took an Oath of Fidelity from all the chief Georgian Lords and carry'd away their Childern and David's also as Hostages into Persia After the Death of Tahmas the Georgians shook off the Persian Yoak as did also the most part of the Provinces of Persia and they were at Liberty during the Reign of Ishmael the Second which did not last above two Years and during the first four Years of Mahomet Kodabendè that is The Servant of GOD who sent an Army into Georgia to reduce 'em to Obedience Daoud Can fled upon the Approach of the Army At what time his Brother Simon a Pris'ner as I have already declar'd near the Caspian Sea laying hold of the Opportunity to re-enter into his Dominions became a Mahometan and was made Can of Tefflis under the Name of Simon-Can During the Reign of Mahomet Kodabendè dy'd Alexander King of Kaket leaving Three Sons and Two Daughters Of which David was the Eldest a Prince whose Courage and Misfortunes have render'd him renown'd over all the World under the Name of Taimuras Can which the Persians gave him At the time of his Fathers Death he remain'd in Hostage at the Court of Persia whither he was carry'd by King Tahmas as has been said He was bred up with Abas the Great being almost of the same Age with great Magnificence and exact Care where he had inbib'd the Customs and Manners of the Persians certainly much better then those of the Georgians So soon as his Father was Dead his Mother a Beautiful and Prudent Princess by the Georgians call'd Ketavana but Mariana in the Histories of Persia wrote a Letter to Kodabendè to this effect Sir My Husband is Dead I beseech yee to send me my Son Taimuras to Reign in his stead and withal I send you his Brother for Hostage in his Room Thereupon Taimuras was sent back after he had tak'n the Oath of a Tributary and a Vassal At the beginning of the Reign of Abas the Great Simon King of Carthuel already mention'd ended this Life leaving the Kingdom to Luarzab his Son then a Child under the Tuition of his Prime Minister a Person of great parts but of a mean Extraction call'd by the Georgians Mehrou and by the Persians Morad who was also Governor of Tefflis and Govern'd the Kingdom almost with an absolute Authority This Mehrou had a handsome Daughter with whom Luarzab was passionately in Love and by whom he was as passionately belov'd Nor could the Father by any means that he could use prevent the two Lovers from seeing one another
discovered more at large of the Persian Names and Titles This Illustrious Infant as I have been informed by several of the Great Eunuchs who sometimes Attended upon him while He was with his Father in the Province of Mazendaran where I was also a little before his Majesties Decease was a Prince whose Blooming Virtues promised something more than Ordinary For notwithstanding the tenderness of his Corporeal Organs the Strength of his Soul appeared in all his Actions discovering such signs of Nobleness and Generosity as plainly presaged that one day he would be a Glorious Prince Now whether these Signal Endowments had begot in Habas a greater Affection for him than for his other Son Or whether he were swaid by the most usual Inclinations of Nature which generally infuse into Parents most Tenderness for their Younger Children he would needs have this Younger Son of his to accompany him in his journey Tho others believed that it was rather to gratifie his Mother with whose Beauty the King was extremely enamoured so that contrary to custom he made her a Partaker with him in his Royal Bed tho two and twenty years of Age and carried her along with him where ever he took his Progress And in this last Progress wherein she accompanied the King she had the satisfaction to enjoy the Company of her beloved Son to whom the King assigned for Tutor and Guardian a Noble Eunuch called Aga-Mubarik or the Blessed Lord. Thus this Young Prince hapning to be in this House of Pleasure or of Sorrow rather seeing here it was that his Father expired was at hand to have Received the Diadem which the Grandees of the Assembly might have presented him had the Conspiracy of the Two chief Physicians taken effect Nor was it their fault that it did not For they managed their part with all the Prudence imaginable And perhaps they might have laid their Plot before the Kings Death which by the Rules of their Art they might easily foresee Not that they thought their Lives so much in danger till they had notice of the Dying Kings last words but only to serve themselves in their Estates and Employments To this purpose they went to the Prime Minister and under pretence of Informing him of the Kings Death and the Nature of the two last Medicins which they had prescribed him they fell into discourse of more Important Affairs and talking of the Election they put him in mind how much it concerned him and all the Grandees of the Council to take care of themselves that the King some Minutes before he Died had made loud Complaints of being poysoned by his chief Ministers but that he left a Son that would devour their very hearts that these his last words and Complaints could not be concealed from his Successour So that if they gave the Crown to the Eldest who besides that he was of the Age to take the Government into his own hands and was of a haughty and cruel Disposition and therefore would not stick to make use of this pretence to rid himself of all his chief Ministers and Nobility to render himself by that means more absolute and make room for other New Creatures of his own more especially when he came to consider how unkind his Father had been to him for the two years last past which he would certainly attribute to the bad Counsel of his chief Favourites Upon this they concluded that since he could not chuse but see that the Eldest Son would never have any kindness for the present Grandees that it would be a great piece of Imprudence to advance him to that Dignity which would empower him to do all the Mischief that came into his Mind and therefore at such a juncture of time their safest way would be to confer the Election upon the Youngest Hamzeh-Mirzah a Prince of great hopes and from whom the Grandeur of the Persian Empire might expect a long Continuance for the Future and they at present have no reason to fear the Disturbance of a sweet and calm Repose or the loss of their Authority under a Prince that would not be capable of the Government in fourteen or fifteen Years These Arguments thus delivered by the two Lords first to the Prime Minister and then to the Second wrought upon the Minds of Both as effectually as they could desire Both the One and the Other were convinced and agreed to advance the Younger Son in prejudice of the Eldest Their infallible Ruin hovered before their Eyes if the Eldest came to the Crown as one that seeing himself from a Captive become an absolute Sovereign would soon be transported by his Youth and Pride and the pleasure of unlimited Controul to change the Face of Affairs and to take such Resolutions as Humour and Capricio should inspire into him And who knows cried they to themselves how far he may attempt upon our lives But above all the Rumour of the Kings being poysoned was that which put them all upon the Rack For tho they might be all very Innocent yet the pretence was so Plausible that the very Terror of the Accusation represented the continual fears of Death to their Eyes as dreadful as if they were under present Torment should the Successour to the Empire give Credit to the Rumour whereas if they Elected the youngest they should still keep their high Stations of Honour and Dignity have leisure and opportunity to advance their Families and raise Creatures of their own Ruling all the while almost with an absolute Dominion one of the greatest Empires of the World But now that I may not seem to contradict my self by speaking frequently of the Kings being poysoned when I have already at the beginning of this Discourse attributed his Death to another Cause I must beg of the Reader to make a small Digression which I suppose will not prove unpleasing upon the several suspicions which his Death begot in the various minds of those that enquired more curiously into the nature of his Disease Most true it is then that the most certain cause was that which I have already set down that is to say the Foul disease attended with a Cancer which seizing the Gristle that forms the Conveyances of smelling preyed not only outwardly upon the Nose but inwardly upon the Palate and then falling upon the Uvula stopped up the passages of Respiration But they who imagined themselves to be more quick-sighted and to understand the bottom of things much better would still be whispering the Curious in the Ear and I my self have been one of those to whom it has been told for a great Secret that several of the chief Officers of the outward Court and some of the Eunuchs also of the inward Court or Womens Apartment had for some time before agreed among themselves to rid themselves of this Great Monarch and to that purpose had made choice of Poyson as the most secure way and less apt to be discovered And that which instigated them to this
Lieutenant of the King of the World according to the true Law is Safiè We have in another Place explained these Inscriptions more exactly and literally On the other side was this Persian Distich Zibad Destiè shae Abas sanie Safiè zad Zikkeh saheh Karaniè That is After Habas the Second was in Corporeal Being Or thus After Habas the Second quitted his Corporeal Being Safiè Master of the World coined this Money Which is as much as to say He was declared King in regard that in those Countries as well as here none but Sovereigns can coin Money Underneath were these words Zarby sefahaan hazar haftad ou Heft Coined at Ispahan the year of the Hegirah 1077. It was almost near Midnight before the Ceremony ended At what time the King rose up in his Royal Habiliments which he did not put off till he was retired into his particular Apartment in the Womens Palace All the while there was to be observed a great alteration in the Countenance of the Young Prince He looked with a Countenance all in disorder like a Person that was not well in his Senses And indeed what other could be expected from a Person that had been all along mued up under a close confinement and had never seen the World Besides that by a secret Fatality of the ill humour of his Father he had been shut up in a more rigorous Imprisonment than ever was practised before toward the Kings Children Could he observe a certain Posture of Majesty that should have performed all things after a surprizing manner who had never been instructed before Much less was he able to make any Reflections upon himself Add to this that the Young Prince passed of a sudden from one Extremity to another He heard himself called Master of the World He that but a little before was in condition little inferiour to that of a Slave True it is that he wanted for no Conveniences in his Captivity which was accompanied with all the Pleasures grateful to the Senses but those Pleasures became Torments when sowered with the continual fears of Death or deprivation of his Eyes that continually threatned him And this was that which made him he could not tell what to do For what may we say of that last assault that attacked his very Soul How many dismal Apparitions did the dreadful Cries and frantick Lamentations of his Mother and his Wives and others of the same Sex present to his Mind His Soul to speak after the Persian manner was like a Sea which being agitated by a furious Tempest expresses its disorder by the roaring of the Waves and shews the disturbance it was in after the Storm is over and tho a pleasing Calm succeed The Grand Dutchess for that Title is given to the Mother of the New King from the very moment of her Sons being Crowned was not in a worse condition They had told her the very first words which the General of the Musquetteers had uttered throwing himself at her Sons Feet they brought her the news every Minute of what passed But Fear and Grief had so possessed her Imagination that there was no entrance for any other Passion It was above a quarter of an hour before she would so much as listen to the welcome news which they brought her she refused obstinately to believe And tho she had such forcible reasons to rejoyce she still continued weeping and lamenting according to the humour of her Sex that are willing to dwell upon sorrowful Objects and wilfully refuse to put away those Idea's from their Minds However at length so many Eunuchs came to tell her the news of the Death of her Husband and the Election of her Son for whose Coronation they were preparing that she began to lend an Ear and to surcease her fears Nevertheless her Soul continued still in suspence between Joy and Grief For as the good Fortune of her Son and his Exaltation afforded her a happy occasion of Gladness so the mournful death of her Husband recalled her Tears So that those two Passions equally prevailing in her heart kept the ballance so even that her joys and sorrows hung in an equal Poise But at length Custom and good Manners turn'd the Scales So that for a while she relapsed into her first Commotions she rent her Garments calling upon the Soul of the Deceased expostulating with him as if he had been present what reason he had to quit the World and leave her in that forlorn condition with other moans and lamentations of the same nature However she gave over when she understood that the King her Son was returning to her Thereupon after she had performed the usual Ceremonies of Purification which the Law ordains she changed her Habit as did the Princess the New Monarchs Wife with the rest of the Ladies of Quality that belonged to the Court to receive the King who till then had lived among them as a Prisoner So soon as they had notice that the New King was entered into their Palace they went all to meet him The Great Dutchess was the first that paid her duty to him upon her Knees bowing her Head three times to the ground which done his Wife and his Concubines did the same and then the rest of the Persons belonging to the Place whose Quality and Employments priviledged them for that Honour I could not learn what was done more the rest of the Night for I have already informed you how difficult it is to be informed of the Transactions in those secret Habitations that seem to be Regions of another World There are none but Women that can approach within a League of it or some Black Eunuchs with whom a Man may as well converse with so many Dragons that can discover those secrets and you may as well tear out their hearts as a syllable upon that Text. You must use a great deal of Art to make them speak just as we tame Serpents in the Indies till they make them hiss and dance when they please In the mean time the noise of the Nakara resounded from the Terraces of the Royal Palace And in regard it continued longer than ordinary which is generally not above three Quarters of an Hour it gave an occasion to those that were wakened with the din to wonder what was the matter But in regard it was then Midnight and an unseasonable time to stir out of the House there were very few unless they were such as lived near the Royal Palace that would so far gratifie their Curiosity as to enquire the Reason The rest contented themselves till next Morning at what time they understood that Saphiè the Second was seated upon the Throne as Successour to his Father Habas deceased I leave the Reader to conjecture how every body was surprised For my part I apprehended something so strange upon the novelty of the Accident that I thought my self in a dream That they could conceal the Death of so great and Potent a Prince so long
and in a word so many impious and barbarous Crimes do they not strike a Terrour to your Soul Can you ever hope for Paradise Or do you believe there is any Hell Who I reply'd the Knight Not at all I am a Lutheran I believe not a tittle of any such thing Thus you may see the Natural Disposition of Pyrates Concerning whom I will add this one Particular more While we staid for a Wind in the Port of Micona there arriv'd in that Haven two First-Rate Venetian Men of War They enter'd in the Night-time The Admiral coming to an Anchor fir'd several Squibs from his Main-Top-Mast This is call'd Giving the Rocquet from the Italian word Rocquetta which signifies a Squib And this is done to give Notice to the Christian Corsairs or Rovers if any should happ'n to be in Port to weigh and be gone before Day Two were there at that present time They set Sail early the next Morning and came to an Anchor behind a Promontory not above a League from the Port. The Admiral was a Nobleman of Venice to whom I gave a Visit and desiring to know the reason of his firing the Rocquets he told me he had Orders so to do for that the Republick being engag'd to the Grand Signior by the Treaty at Candy to clear the Archipelago of all the Christian Rovers and to take as many of 'em as they could yet in regard of the several good Services which the Rovers had done the Republick in the last War he took that course to satisfie the Port without acting to the prejudice of the Rovers And this was the reason that the Ships of the Republick were oblig'd always to make themselves known in the Archipelago to the end the Christian Pyrates might keep at a distance from 'em and not approach within ken that so they might be said not to have had any sight of ' em In the Day-time added he we are known by our Colours but in the Night when we enter any Port we let off these Rocquets and sometimes also we send certain Officers ashore to discover whether there be any Christian Rovers in Port and so give 'em Notice to be gone I arriv'd at Smyrna the seventh of March 1672 after being four Months at Sea In which tedious Voyage we endur'd much Cold and many a boystrous Storm We were in want of Victuals nor could we have made this Voyage with more Danger or more Hardship I shall not trouble my self to make any Description of Smyrna where I found nothing worthy Remark or in any other part of the Archipelago more than what is to be found in the Relations of Spon and other Travellers Men of Learning and Exactness who have been there since my time I shall therefore content my self with recounting some Particulars relating to Commerce and History of which they have not spoken The English drive a great Trade at Smyrna and over all the Levant This Trade is driv'n by a Royal Company setled at London which is Govern'd after a most prudent manner and therefore cannot fail of success It has stood almost these hundred Years being first Confirm'd towards the middle of Queen Elizabeth's Raign A Raign famous for having among other Things giv'n Life to several Trading Companies particularly those of Hamborough Russia Greenland the East-Indies and Turkie all which remain to this Day Trade was then in its Infancy and there is no greater Mark of the Ignorance of those Times in reference to Countries though but a little remote then the Association which those Merchants made for they joyn'd several together in one Body for mutual Conduct and Assistance That Company which relates to the Turkish Trade is of a particular sort For it is not a Society where every one puts in a Sum for one General and United Stock It is a Body which has nothing in Common but a peculiar Grant and Priviledge to Trade into the Levant It assumes to it self the Name of The Regulated Company None are admitted into it but Sons of Merchants or such as have serv'd an Apprenticeship to the Trade which in England is for Seven Years They give to be admitted into the Society about an Hundred and Twenty Crowns if under the Age of Twenty Five Years and double if above that Age. The Company never commits to any one single Person their Power nor the sole Management of their Affairs but manage their Business among themselves by the Plurality of Voices So that who has sufficient to drive a Trade that will bear an Imposition of Eight Crowns has as good a Vote as he that Trades for an Hundred Thousand This Assembly thus Democratical sends out Ships Levies Taxes upon all their Commodities presents the Ambassador whom the King sends to the Port Elects two Consuls the one for Smyrna the other for Aleppo and prevents the sending of Goods which are not thought proper for the Levant It consists at present of about Three Hundred Merchants besides that they bring up in Turkie a great number of young Persons well descended who learn the Trade upon the Place it self This Trade amounts to about Five or Six Hundred Thousand Pounds yearly and consists in Cloaths made in England and Silver which they carry as well out of England as out of Spain France and Italy In exchange of which they bring back Wool Cotton-Yarn Galls Raw Silk and Wov'n together with some other Commodities of less value Now the Company finding that Malice which Interest begets among Persons of the same Profession would in time be the Ruine of their Society by Enhancing or Loring the price of Goods on purpose to under-sell one another and that the same Malice causes the Merchants to be at variance with the Consuls the Consuls with the Ambassador which is the reason that many times where Expences are requisite an unseasonable Stinginess in the Ambassador causes great Impositions and Fines and other severe Vexations to the Nation The Company I say foreseeing these Mischiefs have prudently provided a Remedy to prevent ' em For the English Cloth of which they send into Turkie about Twenty Thousand Pieces yearly and the chiefest part of the rest of their Merchandize is sent to the Factors with a Bill or Invoice of the Price at what they are bound to sell together with another Bill of the Price certain for those Goods which they give order to be bought and by that means it never happens that the Merchants receive any Damage in the Prospect or Design of their Profit For the prevention of these and other disorders the Company gives a Pension to the English Ambassador who resides at the Port to the Consuls and all their Principal Officers as the Minister the Chancellor the Secretary the Interpreters the Janisaries and others Which Officers have no Power to Levy any Taxes or Sums of Money upon the Merchandize whether under the pretence of Duties or Presents or any other extraordinary Expences But when any thing of that Nature
but which most People were assur'd was begot by Levan But this Young Prince whose Name was Vomeki did not Reign long For the Vice-Roy of that part of Georgia which is under the Dominion of Persia dispoil'd him of his Principality and reinvested in it Levan's Lawful Heir after he had invaded Mingrelia and the Territories of Imiretta Which Invasion being an Accident that happens to be genuinely apposite to this Recital I shall only give a short accompt of the occasion The Deceas'd King of Imiretta who was call'd Alexander and who dy'd in the Year 1658. had Two Wives the First was the Daughter of the Prince of Guriel call'd Tamar whom he divorc'd for her Adulteries after he had had a Son and a Daughter by her The Son who was call'd Bacrat Mirza Reigns at this present King of Imiretta The Daughter is Princess of Mingrelia the same that I have giv'n ye such an accompt of that would have both Robb'd and Marry'd me to her Friend The Second Wife which Alexander Marry'd was call'd Darejan a Young Princess and Daughter of the Great and Famous Taymur Razkan last Soveraign King of Georgia He had no Children by her and left her a Widow after he had been Marry'd to her four Years They talk Wonders of her Beauty and her alluring Graces So soon as his Son-in-Law Bacrat came to the Throne she wou'd have had him to Marry her Bacrat was not then above Fifteen Years of Age so that the Charms of her Beauty could not make those deep Impressions upon his Heart as being so young that the Evil Customs of his Country had not yet corrupted him VVhich was the Reason that he abhorr'd the Proposal and return'd disdainful Answers to her Courtship Darejan therefore finding she could not support her self upon the Throne immediately advanc'd to his Bed a young Person of Twelve Years of Age her Kinswoman call'd Sistan Darejan the Daughter of Daitona the Brother of Taymur Razkan whom Bacrat Marry'd at Fifteen Years of Age as has been already said So that Darejan assur'd her self of the Soveraign Power and of keeping the King and Queen continually under her Guardianship But Bacrat as young as he was perceiv'd his Mother-in-Laws Design and one Day gave her apparent Testimonies of his Disgust Upon which Darejan to satisfie Bacrat assur'd him that she would forbear to take any Authority upon her Who being a good-natur'd well-meaning Prince easily believ'd Darejan and restor'd her to his former Confidence not dreaming of the Treason that she was meditating against him To that purpose she feign'd her self sick and sent for the King to come to her who went accordingly with a great deal of Frankness and VVillingness at what time certain People that she had posted in her Chamber seiz'd and bound him Presently she order'd him to be conveigh'd to the Fortress of Cotatis the Principal City of the Country the Governour of which place was her own Creature Soon after she came thither her self sent for all the Grandees whom she had gain'd to her Party and of whom she was assur'd and with them consulted for five Days together what to do with the King Some advis'd her to put him to Death others to pull out his Eyes which latter advice she follow'd and so the Prince was depriv'd of his sight VVhich happen'd Eight Months after the Marriage of that poor Prince which they said moreover he had not fully then consummated Among the rest of the Lords that were of Darejan's Party there was one with whom she was passionately in love whose Name was Vactangle Him she Marry'd and caus'd him to be Crown'd King in the Fortress Which highly incens'd the rest of the Lords who thought themselves all affronted by his Advancement Thereupon they fell oft from siding with Darejan joyn'd themselves with the contrary Party took Arms and call'd to their Assistance the Princes of Guriel and Mingrelia offering the Kingdom to which of the two should first come to their Aid Vomeki Dadian was the first that appear'd in the Field with all the Forces of his Country and soon reduc'd under his Subjection all that part which held for Darejan except the Fort of Cotatis However he laid Siege to that also but for want of Artillery he could do little good against the Besieged only that he kept 'em from stirring forth out of their Walls and it would have cost him a long time before he could have brought 'em to a surrender had it not been for the Politick Contrivance of a Lord of the Country whose Name was Ottia Chekaizè who brought that to pass by his Wit which they could not do with all their Force He went to the Fortress full of a feign'd Despair occasion'd by the Prince of Mingrelia he made Darejan believe that he was reduc'd to that extremity that he knew not where to find a more secure Sanctuary that he came to throw himself at her Feet to beg her Pardon and desire her Protection against that Prince Darejan fell into the Snare She believ'd whatever Ottia said and that his extraordinary Zeal for her Interests was true She admitted him into her Council soon after encreas'd by the Bishop of Tifflis and the Catholicos of Georgia whom the Viceroy of that Country had sent her fearing lest they in whom she most confided should betray her But this same Runagate deceiv'd 'em both as quick-sighted as they were He told Darejan in their hearing That considering the Condition of her Affairs there was no other way to expel the Prince of Mingrelia to regain what he had won and to Reign securely but to have recourse to the Turk That her best way was to send her Husband to Constantinople for Assistance and the Confirmation of his Coronation That the Kingdom of Imiretta was Tributary to the Port and that the Grand Signior had both Right and Power sufficient to restore the Country to Peace and fix him in the Throne Darejan was Charm'd by this Advice and while he that gave it offer'd to assist in the Management of it and to Conduct Vactangle to Constantinople she threw her self at his Feet not having Words enough to express that Acknowledgment which she had in her Heart Vactangle took only two Men along with him to the end he might Travel with the more Security and Privacy Thus being soon ready the cunning Ottia Chikaizè his Guide caus'd him to set forth out of the Fortress about Twilight and carrying him through By-ways to bring him the more insensibly to the Besiegers brought him in less then an Hour into their Camp The Prince of Mingrelia caus'd his Eyes forthwith to be pull'd out and sent that Night to Darejan to let her know that he had her Husband Pris'ner and that he had put out his Eyes This News surpriz'd her so that her Courage and Resolution quite fail'd her and in a short time after she surrender'd the Fortress which was plunder'd from Top to Bottom Insomuch that it was certainly
admitted into their Plot one of Kotzia's Gentlemen promising him withal the Grand Master's Daughter in Marriage and to prevail with the Turkish Basha that he should have all his Master Kotzia's Land if he would but undertake to kill him and perform it effectually Which Conditions the perfidious Villain accepted and one Night Assassinated his Master at what time a certain Purge that he had tak'n wrought upon his Body This bold Stroak discover'd the Conspiracy caus'd all the Grandees of Imiretta to stand to their Arms hasten'd the Basha of Akalzikè's March and put the King into an extraordinary Trouble and Consternation Presently he gave advice of what had happen'd to his Father the Viceroy of Georgia Who sent him Instructions and Counsellors and assur'd him he would come in a little time with an Army to his Assistance But the Basha of Akalzikè would not stay for his coming for he fell into Imiretta with that swiftness that the young Prince had much ado to escape his Avant-Couriers and to save himself He went to his Father where in a few days Intelligence was brought him that the Basha of Akalzikè had put a Garison into the Fortress of Cotatis the Capital City of Imiretta and that he was Master of the whole Country Upon which the Viceroy of Georgia turn'd back not daring to act any thing against the Turks without the King of Persia's Orders As for the Orders which the Basha had receiv'd from the Grand Signior the purport of 'em was That since the People of Imiretta and Mingrelia made use of their Liberty only to destroy one another he should take from 'em all the Strong Places he could The Basha had kept his Instructions very secret and having by a Stratagem got admittance into the Castle of Cotatis he made himself Master of it and furnish'd it with a good Garison Afterwards he sent for all the Nobility and Gentry of the Country and made 'em swear Fealty to the new King which he gave 'em who was the Son of the Prince of Guriel at that time a Berre or Monk of the Order of St. Basil but he quitted his Monastical Habit and was Crown'd King While the Basha was thus disposing of the Petty Kingdom of Imiretta the Prince of Mingrelia came to waite upon him with the offer of his Head and Tender of his Subjection to the Signior's Commands That he was and would still continue a Tributary to the Court and that the Prince of Georgia in establishing him had done no more then restor'd him the Patrimony of his Ancestors which appertain'd to him of Right The Basha was appeas'd by his Submission and by the great Presents which he brought along with him So that he confirm'd him in his Principality and then return'd to Akalzike carrying along with him the Wretched Darejan and the Queen of Imiretta whom the Unfortunate Archilus had not time to get into his possession This happen'd in the Year 1659. at what time the Turkish Basha had no sooner turned his Back but the Grandees of Imiretta out of their natural Treachery and Inconstancy refus'd to obey their new King Thereupon they sent Commissioners to the Viceroy of Georgia with their Complaints against him and conjur'd him to send 'em back Bacrat as Blind as he was The Georgian Prince was afraid that this demand was no more then only an Artifice of their Treachery and therefore to ascertain himself of the Truth he made Answer That if the Grandees of Imiretta were really as they said they were incens'd against their new Master and resolv'd to dethrone him that they should pull out his Eyes and that then when he was assur'd they had done it he would send away Bacrat Which Conditions were accepted and punctually perform'd both on one side and t' other The Grandees of Imiretta pull'd out their Kings Eyes and sent him back to the Prince of Guriel his Brother and the Viceroy of Georgia sent 'em Bacrat after he had affianc'd him to one of his Nieces Sister to her whom he had given to the Prince of Mingrelia This latter was very Young and Bacrat was Blind so that their principal Officers Govern'd and thence it came to pass that the Prime Ministers of Mingrelia and Imiretta had continual Quarrels one with another wherein they engag'd their Masters and oblig'd 'em to make War one upon another In which Contest the Mingrelian was Vanquish'd and taken Prisoner with his Wife whom the Viceroy of Georgia had sent him not above two Months before and a report was afterwards spread abroad that he had not consummated the Marriage She is very fair and very well shap'd and tho I have seen many handsome Women in her Country I never beheld a more charming Creature She is most surely guilty of all the Passions that a Lovers Breast can feel For such are the Glances of her passionately Tender and Languishing Eyes that she never looks but to command Love and inspire hope In a word the Air of her Countenance and all her discourses are irresistable Allurements So that Bishop Janatelle who is one of the greatest Lords in all Imiretta was taken with her at first sight Who being very Rich ply'd her with Presents and gain'd her so entirely that now she sticks close to him and that so publickly as if they were Man and Wife And indeed the cunning which this Priest made use of to retain this lovely Pris'ner still in Imiretta was more then usual and a very pleasant Contrivance For he made the King his Master the poor Blind Bacrat in Love with her by means of the dayly Encomiums of her Beauty which he continually peal'd in his Ears and when he had kindl'd his Flame he lay'd before him a kind of necessity of Marrying her Your Majesty said he has lost your Wife as being carry'd away by the Basha of Akalzike so that GOD knows what is become of her The Viceroy of Georgia 's Niece to whom you are affianc'd is an Infant so that it will be a long time before you can be Marry'd to her And therefore your Majesty will do well to espouse the Princess of Mingrelia nor can you any where Marry another that has more Beauty or more Wit And thus the King being over-rul'd follow'd his Counsel never considering that he acted more for the Interest of his Advizer then his own And as for the Princess she was glad of the Bargain 'T is well known that the Prince of Mingrelia lov'd her entirely and that he would never consent to surrender her to the King of Imiretta And therefore an Expedient was found out to take her away under the pretence of Justice which was this The King of Imiretta had her Sister with him being at that time a Widow and it was propos'd to her to make her Princess of Mingrelia in stead of her that was so already provided she could but allure the Prince and so order it as that he should be surpriz'd in her Bed She being the
Sister of a King Young Cunning and Handsom with little or no trouble easily debauch'd a Young Simple and Captive Prince So that being both taken in Bed together the Prince was forc'd to Marry her immediately and at the same time the King of Imiretta espous'd the Princess of Mingrelia These two Marriages thus accomplish'd the Mingrelian had his Liberty and was restor'd to his Country after he had sworn upon all the Images never to repudiate his new Spouse nor to Marry any other so long as she liv'd But so soon as he was return'd into his Country desire of Revenge transporting him he Challeng'd alike both the Turk and the Persian He sent his Ambassadors to the Viceroy of Georgia and the Basha of Akalzikè Complaining of the Invasion which the King of Imiretta had made into his Country and of his taking from him his Wife The Basha was at that time highly provok'd against the People of Imiretta for their Treachery Rebellion and Cruelty to the King which he had appointed for their Soveraign The Prince of Guriel also Brother to that Unfortunate Prince loudly demanded Justice And the Cruel Darejan inflam'd his Revenge with all her might and urg'd him to extend it to the utmost Rigour that such detestable Inhumanities deserv'd Now she was lovely as I have already said and her Beauty strangely reinforc'd her Arguments Insomuch that the Basha promis'd to restore her to the Throne of Imiretta together with her Husband if she could get him out of Georgia where he was a Pris'ner in the Custody of the Archbishop of Gori from whence the wily Darejan found a way to have him stoll'n and brought to Akalzikè So soon as he was arriv'd the Basha took 'em both along with him in his March to Imiretta where he sackt and ruin'd after a most terrible manner all before him Whereupon the King and Queen fled to a Fortress call'd Ratchia seated in an inaccessible part of the Mountains After that the Basha restor'd Darejan and her Husband to the Throne and caus'd all the Grandees and all the People to swear Fealty to him and so taking Hostages he return'd with a great Number of Slaves but little other Booty in regard it had been no less then the third time in five Years that that poor Country had been pillag'd plunder'd and ransack'd by the Persians and their other Neighbours As for the wicked Darejan she was destin'd to be ruin'd by her excess of Confidence One of her great Lords having lull'd her into a besotted Credulity had plung'd her as I have already related into one of the most miserable Conditions that could befal a Woman of her Quality and now another by the same means brought her to the most Tragick end in the World This was the most perfidious Traytor and Murderer of the Prime Minister Cotzia who was also call'd by the same Name For the Murder he had committed had rais'd him to great Preferment Now this Person never came near the Basha to pay him his Homage because he had been of the Faction contrary to Darejan and was therefore afraid of being sacrific'd However he wrote to the Princess as soon as the Turks were retreated and sent her word that Bacrat and they by whom the Prince still suffer'd himself to be Govern'd had put upon him so many ingrateful Slights and Affronts that he would be their vow'd Enemy as long as he liv'd That if she would engage to restore him to the Basha's Favour and to all his Lands that had been Confiscated and to invest him in the Estate of the High Steward of Bacrat's Houshold he would deliver into her Hands both Bacrat and his Wife All which she promis'd to perform and then the Traytor came and submitted himself to her At what time the Princess was so over-hasty that nothing would serve her but she would presently bestow upon him all the Marks of Favour and Reconciliation Friendship and Confidence which are most usual in that Country between Men and Women She adopted him therefore and gave him the end of her Nipple to suck Which is a Custom not only in Mingrelia Georgia and Imiretta but also in other the Neighbouring Countries to adopt in that manner such Persons as they cannot unite to themselves by Alliance The Traytor having this Pledge of Darejan's Faith wrote to Bacrat to come with all his Party and he would deliver both her and her Husband into their Hands either alive or dead Now the same Day that Bacrat was to appear the perfidious Cotzia kept his Bed pretended himself sick and sent to Darejan to vouchsafe him the Honour of a Visit for that he had secret Intelligence to impart of that Importance that he would not communicate to any but her self Thus wheedl'd away she went attended only by some of her Women but as she was sitting by the Traytor 's Bed certain Fellows hid in the Room fell upon her and seiz'd her Person her Women in vain endeavouring to protect her Yet there was one who took the Princess in her Arms and run her up into a Corner of the Room where she stuck by her till the Murderers stabb'd 'em both With that Cotzia rose and went with his Gang where Darejan's Husband lodg'd a poor blind Man uncapable of making any Resistance Him therefore they seiz'd and Cotzia order'd him to be bound and kept till Bacrat came Who was no sooner arriv'd but he demanded the Pris'ner and hearing him approach Traytor said he thou wert the Occasion of putting out my Eyes and I will tear out thy Heart And so saying he order'd himself to be carry'd near the Pris'ner and then groping for his Breast he gave him several Stabs with his Dagger His Followers compleated the Murther by ripping open his Breast and gave the poor Captive's Heart into the Hands of the bloody sightless Prince who for above an Hour held it in his Clutches grasping and tearing it with an unheard-of Transport of Fury These Barbarous Tragedies happen'd in the Year 1667. from which time till the Year 1672 there fell out a Hunderd more in the same Countries altogether as Infamous and Inhumane and therefore I pass 'em over in silence as being Stories rather frightful then pleasing to the Ear. I shall only add thus much that the Traytor Cotzia was himself also Treacherously slain and in a short time after the Assassins themselves were also kill'd at the Battel of Chicaris which is a great Village within sight of Scander a Fortress of Imiretta where the Forces of that Country and the Prince of Mingrelia met By which we may find there is a Visible Providence in the Modern Histories of these Impious People upon whom Heav'n still inflicted such severe and speedy Justice while the Murderers are always Assassinated and with those Circumstances which plainly demonstrate that God had a Hand in it and made the one his Instruments to punish the other In the Year 1672 the Basha of Akalzike perceiving there was no
sensible of the approach of the Persian Army would have prepar'd for his defence But he discover'd that a part of the Grandees of his Kingdom were inclin'd to Surrender Thereupon he sent his Mother to Abas She was a Princess that had betak'n her self to a Religious Life so soon as her Misfortune had made her a Widow Not that they make any Vows or quit their usual Habitations but only put on the Religious Habit who in those Countries make profession of a Religious Life as I have already observ'd in my Relation of the Mingrelian Religion which is the same with that of the Georgians Mariana or Ketavana therefore for she was call'd by both these Names wore the Habit of a Religious Person to the end she might have an excuse to Live more retir'd and uninterrupted in her Devotions She set forward with a Numerous Train and Magnificent Presents and made so much hast that she found Abas still at Ispahan VVhere being arriv'd she threw her self at the Kings Feet and besought Pardon for her Son which she did with all the Submission that she thought might avail to appease the Kings wrath This Princess was at that time well advanc'd in Years yet was she still a Lovely Lady so that Abas became enamour'd of her or at least feign'd to be so the first day he saw her thereupon he courted her to turn Mahumetan that he might be in a Condition to Marry her But the Princess more Wedded to her Chastity and Religion and perhaps not enduring the strict Confinement of the Persian Queens refus'd the Kings Offers with a Vertue and Constancy unmoveable which was to be admir'd in a Georgian Abas incens'd at her Denial or at least laying hold of it for a pretence for it was thought he never intended to Marry Ketavana but out of design to revenge himself upon Taimuras sent the Princess Pris'ner to a certain House at a remote distance and caus'd her two Childern which Taimuras sent in Hostage to be made Eunuchs and to turn Mahumetans and then set forward for Georgia Ketavana remain'd in Prison several Years and was afterwards remanded to Shiras where she suffer'd a most cruel Martyrdom in the Year 1624. a good while after Abas had Conquer'd Georgia For then it was that he wrote to Iman-Kooli-Kan Governour of that City to force Ketavana to turn Mahumetan whatever it cost him and to make use of Torments if Promises Threats and Blows would not prevail Iman-Kooli-Kan shew'd his Orders to the Princess in hopes that that would take effect but it signifi'd nothing Nor were all their Torments more prevalent upon a Soul so truly Heroick and Devour She underwent the Pain of Drubbing suffer'd the Torments of Shackles and Fire and dy'd at length upon the Burning Coals after she had endur'd for the sake of JESUS CHRIST a Martyrdom of Eight Years so much the more cruel because it was chang'd and renew'd every day Her Body was thrown upon the Common Lay-Stall of the City From whence the Austin Fryers took it away by Night embalm'd it put it in a Coffin and sent it privately to Taimuras by one of their own Society But to return to the Georgian War Abas being enter'd into the Country of Georgia with his Army guided by Mehrou and reinforc'd with a great Number of Georgians every day Hopes and Promises inveagling some and fear or desire of Revenge attracting others Luarzab resolv'd however to fight it out hoping so to shut up the Persians in the Woods that he might easily there defeat ' em And indeed Abas at one time gave himself over for lost and thought he had been betray'd For being advanc'd with his Army Five and Twenty Leagues into the Country Luarzab divided his Forces into two parts and shut up the Passages by felling an infinite Number of Wood so that the Persian Army could neither advance nor retreat Abas was in a strange Consternation so that Mehrou fearing the loss of his Head as a Traytor Vpon my Life Sir said he I will bring ye out of these Streights in three Days And he was as good as his word For he open'd a Cross-way through the Wood by means of his Infantry and leaving the Camp which was block'd up by the Georgians took only the Cavalry along with him Nevertheless Abas would lead 'em himself and having pass'd the Wood fell into the Kingdom of Kaket committing great Cruelty and Spoil insomuch that he commanded all the Trees that breed the Silkworms to be destroy'd on purpose to ruine past recovery a Country that chiefly subsists by making of Silk When these Mournful Tidings were brought to Luarzab he gave himself over for lost and fled into Mingrelia On the other side Abas who knew his Conquests were not secure so long as the Georgian Kings were at Liberty wrote to Luarzab in these Terms What Reason urges you to flie T is Taimuras that I seek that Ingrateful and Perfidious Rebel Come and surrender your self to me and I will confirm you in the Possession of the Georgian Kingdom but if you fail to yield your self I will entirely ruine it and lay it desert Thereupon Luarzab in tender pity of his People surrender'd himself to Abas The King receiv'd him in most friendly manner and with a Thousand Caresses replac'd him upon the Throne with all the Pomp and Solemnity imaginable which was done the better to deceive the Georgians and to make himself Master of the Country without striking a Stroak He also made him several costly Presents and among the rest he gave him a Heron-Tuft of Precious Stones which he commanded him always to wear especially when he came into his Presence This is an Ensign of Royalty said he and it is my pleasure you should always wear it upon your Head that People may know yee to be King Now the same Day that Abas was to set forward for Tefflis said he to Luarzab I shall make a halt six Leagues from this place and send away the rest of the Army will not you bear me Company thither This was a Snare with fair words to draw the poor Georgian King from his Capital City and he was as easily deluded to go along with him in regard he mistrusted not the least fowl play In the mean while Abas commanded one of his Guards a noted Pick-Pocket and one of the most dextrous i' the World at his Profession to steal Luarzab's Heron-Tuft from him Which was done and then Luarzab coming into the King's Presence Luarzab said the King what 's become of your Heron-Tuft Did not I recommend it to yee to wear always as an Ensign of Royalty Sir said Luarzab I am robb'd of it which has almost put me besides my Wits I have caus'd it to be hunted for every where that I could imagine but can hear no Tidings of it How said the King in a great Fury the King of Georgia robb'd in my Camp Bid 'em bid the Provost-Marshal the Captain of the Watch and
the President of the Council of Justice come to me And this was the second Artifice made use of to seize the Unfortunate Luarzab without striking a Stroak Presently therefore he was laid hold on but Abas durst not put him to death for fear of a Revolt in Georgia He sent him therefore into Masanderan or Hyrcania hoping that the bad Air of the Country would kill him but seeing that would not do he remov'd him to Shiras and at length took the following occasion to put him to death The Grand Duke of Moscovy had been a long time sollicited by the Georgian Princes to intercede in his behalf to Abas Who was therefore at the Charge of a Costly Embassie meerly for that purpose Thereupon Abas who was a Person of a quick Wit and never idle gave order to the Governour of Shamaki a City upon the Caspian Sea where the Ambassadors of Moscovy first enter into Persia to try what he could do to discover whether the Ambassador came only upon Luarzab's account or no and whether the Moscovite did take his part to that degree that there was any likelyhood of a Rupture To which the Governour sent word That the Ambassador came only to serve Luarzab that he was a very great Lord and that his Instructions were very positive for a punctual Answer Upon which Abas who was resolv'd not to release the Georgian Prince nor yet could refuse him his Liberty at the request of the Duke of Muscovy wrote to the Governour of Shiras to rid Luarzab out of the World so that his Death might seem only to have happen'd by accident Which was accomplish'd to his desire and the News was brought to Abas two Days before the Arrival of the Moscovite Ambassador Abas made the Courier tell his Tale in publick at what time he seem'd to be strangely troubl'd and surpriz'd Good GOD said he this is Vnfortunate News indeed How came he by his Death Sir answer'd the Courier he went a Fishing and as he was casting his Net fell into the Pond and there stifl'd himself I 'll make an Example of his Guards reply'd the King for taking no more care of him Soon after the Russian Ambassador had his Audience at what time after the Banquet was over and that they had drank pretty hard the King sending for him near to his own Person Well said he Mr. Ambassador and what is 't the King of the Russes my Brother desires of me Thereupon the Ambassador began to unfold his Commission and declare the Purport of his Embassie but when he had once let slip Luarzab's Name I believe reply'd the King you have heard of the Misfortune that has befallen that Young Prince I am extreamly griev'd for him I wish to GOD he had not been dead for I should have done with all my Heart whatever your Master could desire in his behalf Thereupon the Brother of Luarzab was made Governour of Georgia in his Room being turn'd Mahumetan before that and call'd by a Persian Title joyn'd to his Georgian Bacrat-Mirzah or the Royal Prince Abas also left an Army in Georgia to oppose Taimuras Who at first continu'd the War with such Succours as he obtain'd from the Turks and Christian Princes joyning upon the Caspian Sea into whose Territories he was retir'd for Sanctuary But seeing those Petty Assistances did him no good he went to the Turk and implor'd Aid of the Turk Which he obtain'd and a great Army of Turks was sent into Georgia who defeated the Persian Forces and re-established Taimuras in the Kingdom of Caket But he enjoy'd it not long for so soon as the Turks were retreated Abas return'd into Georgia and chang'd the whole Face of Affairs He built Fortresses which he fill'd with Natural Persians He carry'd away above Four and Twenty Thousand Families of which he plac'd the greatest part in Masander or Hyrcania Media Armenia and the Province of Persia removing into their Rooms both Persians and Armenians He also intermix'd Mildness with his Severities to try how far that would avail to keep the People in order He likewise made an Agreement with the Georgians which he confirm'd by Oath for himself and his Successors That their Country should be free from Taxes that there should be no Alteration of their Religion That he would not pull down their Churches neither would he erect any Moschees That their Viceroy should be always a Georgian of the Race of their Kings but a Mahometan Of whose Sons he that would change his Religion should be Governour and great Provost of Ispahan till he succeeded his Father Abas dy'd in the Year 1628. And so soon as Taimuras had Intelligence of his Death he re-enter'd Georgia and caus'd the Georgians to Rebel who slew their Viceroy and all the Persians that oppos'd 'em he made himself Master of all the strong Forts except Tefflis but could not keep ' em For Sefy succeeding his Grand-Father Abas sent in the Year 1631. a powerful Army against him under the Command of Rustan Can a Georgian the Son of Simon Can that same Viceroy whom the Georgians had slain He was Grand Provost of Ispahan at Abas's decease and call'd Cosrou Mirza King Sefy therefore who knew him to be a Person of great Valour and deem'd him highly provok'd made him General of his Army and Viceroy of Georgia in his Fathers Room He defeated the Georgians in several Encounters won back all Carthuel and part of the Kingdom of Caket and pursu'd Taimuras who was forc'd to betake himself into two strong places in Mount Caucasus In which inaccessible Fastnesses this Prince no less Valiant then Unfortunate held out for some Years though rather like a Fugitive that fought for his Life than a Prince that defended his Crown But receiving no assistance neither from the Turks nor Christians he went to sollicit the Moscovite but failing there likewise he retir'd into Imiretta of which his Sister was Queen with a Resolution there to end his Life not finding any hopes of recovering the Inheritance of his Ancestors There Shanavas-Can took him Prisoner when he Conquer'd that Petty Kingdom of Imiretta and setle'd his Son therein For Taimuras had always such a passion to Dye in his own Country that he would not make his escape into Turkey which he might easily have done and besides he consider'd that being Old the Turks would not have that respect for him as he might expect from the Persians Shanavas-Can carry'd him to Tefflis and wrote Word to the King that the Famous Taimuras-Can was in his Hands The King sent for him to his Court Where being very aged his Travels and Troubles of mind threw him into a desperate sickness The King lodg'd him in one of his Palaces with a great deal of magnificence and order'd his Physitians to look to him with great care Notwithstanding all which he dy'd in the Year 1659. His Body was carry'd into Georgia and Bury'd with all the Pomp and State which is usual in that Country
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
Province of Mazenderan Which Province is call'd Tabar Estaan in all the Publick Acts in the Exchequer and Chancery but in common Discourse they call it Mazanderoon Tabar Estaan signifies a place of Wedges to denote that the Country is full of Wood for that where there is great plenty of VVood great store of VVedges are requir'd to cleave it 19. The Impression of the Seal which is at the bottom of the Date in the Translation is not only upon the back of the Patent but at the bottom likewise This is the Seal of the Prime Minister who is call'd Mahomet Mehdy The Persians never put their Qualities in their Seals nor any Title by which they may be known There is only their own Name their Fathers Name which serves in stead of a Sirname according to the fashion of the Hebrews and the Name of their Family when it has the Honour to be descended from Mahomet by his Daughter Fatima For the Mahometans acknowledge no other Nobility then to be the Original Branches of that Progeny I had also joyn'd to the King of Persia's Patent a Note of Recommendation from the High Steward of his Houshold which I was desirous the Viceroy should see as being assur'd that it would work more effectually then the Patent it self VVhich prov'd to be true insomuch that I understood afterwards that it was to that Note to which I was beholding for all the good Offices and Honours which I receiv'd at Tefflis which was as follows THe Commissioners of Governments the Farmers Royal Officers of Cities Receivers of Toll and Provosts of the High-Way will have the 1 Honour to know That M. Chardin and M. Raisin French Merchants the Flowre of Merchants having brought to the most High and Sublime Court Rarities and Curiosities set with Precious Stones worthy the 2 Wardrobe of the 3 Slaves of the 4 Distributer of Temporal Goods they are Commanded to fetch others and have express Order to cause to be made in their Country several Pieces of Workmanship for the Service of his Slaves to that purpose they are Honour'd with a Patent under the 5 Sacred Seal and that is the Reason they are forc'd to Travel Where-ever they come therefore it is absolutely requisite that they have Respect shewn 'em and that all Reasonable Assistance that shall be necessary be afforded ' em Care also must be taken that they be not molested or put to Trouble nor must any Persons whatever signifie in any manner whatsoever that they expect or desire any Duties from ' em For if it comes to the Ears of the Slaves of the Lord of Human Kind that they have claim'd any thing of 'em bad will be the Fruit of such an Information Written in the Month of Shaval the Ennobl'd 1076. of the Holy Flight To which be Honour and Glory In the Margent there was The Intention of this is to give all those whom it may concern to understand That the Bearers hereof are to be Treated and Respected according to the Tenour of the Patent to which all the World pays Homage The words of the Seal signifie Maxud the Son of Caleb the Delight of the Creatures 1. It is in the Persian They are Honour'd by that which they give 'em to understand For so the Grandees of Persia write to the Inferiour Officers especially when those Officers have their dependance upon ' em This they do to maintain the difference which their Authority and Imployment puts between 'em and that there may not be any confusion by their manner of Communication one with another 2 The Word which I have Translated Wardrobe is Sercar Which signifies properly Chief of the Workmanship and also a Magazine For the King and the Grandees of Persia keep in their Houses Manufactures of all sorts of Trades and Arts. They call those places Carconè or Work-Houses They are like the Gallery of the Grand Duke of Florence or the Galleries in the Louvre in France They maintain therein a great number of excellent Masters who have there a Pension and their Dyet as long as they Live and they find 'em Materials for their Work And they make 'em Presents or advance their pay upon every Curious Piece which they finish 3. 'T is out of Pride and Vainglory that they express themselves in these Terms Worthy the Wardrobe of the Slaves of the King As much as to say that the Kings Wardrobe is so full of rare and pretious Jewels that no body can bring any thing that is fit to be put therein And therefore Persian Eloquence makes very much use of this Circumlocution of Language upon all occasions So speaking of an Ambassador that has pay'd his Obeysance to the King they say That he has kiss'd the Feet of the Slaves of the King In like manner when they would say that the King has perform'd any great Action they say The Slaves of the Prince have perform'd such a great Action Forms of Speech that sufficiently discover the Vanity of the Eastern People I take 'em to be drawn from the Alcoran which the Mahometans affirm to be the source of true Eloquence There you shall meet with many such like Expressions As for Example speaking of the Works of GOD they call 'em The Works of the Angels The Angels Created the Heavens and the Earth VVhich say the Mahometans more clearly expresses the Power of GOD. For if the Angels have so much Power as to Create VVorlds how great must be his Power whose only Servants and Ministers they are In short all the Orientals are perfect Slaves their Soveraigns having a right to command their Lives and Fortunes their VVives and Childern But they are so far from being terrifi'd with their condition that they Glory in it The Grandees themselves count it an Honour to be call'd Slaves and Sha-Couli or Coolom-Sha which signifies the Kings Slaves is as Honourable a Title in Persia as that of Marquess in France 4. Valineamet which I have Translated Distributer of Temporal Goods is a compound Word Vali signifies a Soveraign and absolute Lieutenant who has the same Power in the place where he is settl'd as he that Rules the Empire The Persians also frequently call their King Vali-Iron to let yee understand that he is in Persia which they call Iron the true Successor Vicar and Lieutenant of Ali to whom GOD gave the Dominion of the VVorld after the Death of Mahomet Neamet is deriv'd from Inara which signifies a Present Favour Temporal Grace or Bountiful conferring of a Benefit So that by the VVord Vali-Neamet which is the most usual Title which the Persians give their King speaking to his Majesty they mean That he is GODS Lieutenant in the World to distribute in his behalf all the Benefits and Blessings of Fortune to Men and as it were the Conduit-Pipe through which Heaven Conveys it's Blessings to the Earth 5. It is in the Persian Moubarec-Nishan It has been said that the Subscription wherein are VVritten the Twelve Names of the
these Kings Slaves in the Court of Persia is almost the same with that of Gentlemen-Ushers who are Childern of good Quality employ'd very young in Duty as well for the Profit which they get by it as to give 'em a fair Opportunity to make their way to Preferment at Court There are some Persons who send their Sons to these Imployments at the Age of Five Years To whom the King assigns Exhibitions according to the Quality of their Family or the Service which it does the King for that serves in stead of other Recompence to the Parents The usual Exhibition is Twenty Tomans a Year and their Diet which Twenty Tomans make about Seventy Pounds Sterling And the Diet taken in Money amounts to about Forty Pounds But these Exhibitions are frequently enlarg'd proportionably either to the Service which they do the King or to the Kindness which the King has for their Persons For which reason they are very diligent at Court and are employ'd in the Execution of all Orders of Importance They are sent with the Kings Presents to the Governors and out of their Number are taken several to supply the Vacancies of Officers Orders that require Expedition are carry'd Post Which Couriers are call'd Tshapars a word that comes from a Turkish word that signifies Galloping whence that other word Tsapgon which signifies a Courier These Tshapars make great haste though they do not always meet with Horses when they have occasion for 'em For there are no setl'd Stages in all the East In Persia the Kings and Governors Couriers take Horses where-ever they find 'em nay they have Authority to dismount Travellers upon the High-way besides the Magistrates of the Places through which they pass are oblig'd to furnish ' em However this is a very mischievous Custom for such as have neither the Strength nor the Courage to resist are constrain'd to give Money to these Couriers or to alight and suffer their Horses to be rid away with and then to run after 'em if they intend to have 'em again Nevertheless they dare not meddle with Persons of Quality nor the Kings Officers nor Strangers that are going to the Court for fear of being call'd to Question Usually therefore they take up Horses in the Villages through which they pass which they must not make use of however above one Days Journey for which reason they generally send a Runner along with 'em to bring the Horses back These Couriers are easily known by their Habit For they wear a Cloak ty'd behind 'em and a little Cloak-bag which runs through the Pommel and is fasten'd to the Saddle-Bow They carry a Poniard a Sword and a Quiver by their Sides and a Cudgel in their Hands Their Bows hang about their Shoulders besides all which they have a Scarf that comes twice about their Necks which is brought down Cross-wise upon their Backs and Breasts and ty'd to their Girdle When they are descry'd at a distance they who are afraid of being dismounted flee out of the way and hide themselves or compound for Money or else offer 'em their Horses These Couriers ride generally two and two and if they be Persons of Quality 't is the more difficult to get rid of 'em for they will take no Composition and upon the least Resistance they either up with their Battoons or out with their Swords well knowing they shall be upheld in what they do which is a Violence that other Couriers dare not offer One of the Principal Extraordinary Expences which the Grandees are constrained to be at is when the King sends 'em his Orders or Presents by a Coolom-Sha or by any other Person of Quality for he must Cloath him upon his Arrival and at his Departure he must make him a Present answerable to his Imployment and the Reputation that he bears besides that he must be well Feasted and Entertained all the time of his stay This Coolom-Sha that I speak of cost the Governor of Erivan as I was inform'd Four Hunderd Tomans which amount to Fourteen Hunderd Pounds besides Lodging and Diet. Many times the King himself Taxes the Present which is to be giv'n to the Person whom he sends but then the Person is oblig'd to pay it presently down as a Debt and to bestow in Gifts and Largesses many times double the Present in short they treat their Messengers according to their Birth their Merit and their Credit at Court This they diligently observe so that when they understand that a Messenger or his Relations have free Access to the King then they are more free in their Entertainment to the end he may make an Advantageous Report of his Usage and the Civility shewn him I remember to this purpose in the Year 1669 when the King conferr'd upon the Son of the Prime Minister the Command of Colonel of the Musketeers his Majesty sent the Dispatches and Habit by his Goldsmiths to reward 'em for some Jewels which they had made to his liking and that he Tax'd the Present which the Colonel was to give 'em at Three Hunderd Tomans Thereupon four of the chief Goldsmiths carry'd the Dispatches and the Habit who instead of Three Hunderd receiv'd 400 Tomans which make Fourteen Hundred Pounds and a Present besides in Stuffs I stay'd three Hours at the Wedding and took my leave after Dinner The Feast was kept in a low Dining-Room rais'd about two Foot opening into a Court which was Rail'd about like a Tilt-Yard where several Wrestlers and Gladiators divertis'd the Company while the Governor spent his time in looking on and discoursing sometimes with the Kings Messengers sometimes with the Company and sometimes talking with my self about the news of Europe There were but nine Persons at the Feast among whom the Bridegroom and his God-father were sumptuously habited their Turbants being garnish'd with Heron-Tuffs set with precious Stones The Master of the Houshold his other Brothers and his Sons standing upon their Feet at the lower end of the Room with several of the Governours Officers Every one of the Guests were serv'd at their first coming with a Voider of Sweat-Meats Dry and Wet upon small Porcelaine Plates the Voiders themselves being of Wood Painted and Gilt so that nothing could be seen more Neat. Matrimony in Persia is very expensive frequently to the Ruin of those that engage in it So that only Persons of Estates will venture upon it as for the meaner sort they are contented with a Concubine or a Slave The Mahometans that follow the Tenents of Ali take their Wives after three manners either by way of Purchase by way of Hire or by Marriage All which three ways they hold to be Lawful Their Religion allows and teaches 'em this Liberty and the Civil Law acknowledges the Childern Born in any of these three sorts of Wedlock to be equally Legitimate So that if a Man have a Son by his Slave before his Marry'd Wife brings him one the Son of the Slave is acknowledg'd for the Eldest and
since at this City and is now going in all hast to the Palace which is the a Refuge of the Universe You must of necessity fully and exactly b inform your self of his designs and what Petitions he has to make to the most High Court and when you rightly understand ' em see that you use your best Endeavour that they may be favourably answer'd We shall be very desirous to know what Effect and Success our Recommendation shall have and after what Manner this Hlustrious Friend shall be receiv'd and entertain'd We also desire you to send us the good Tydings of his Health We pray to God that he may have the favour and the happiness to be well receiv'd of our Great King To whom I wish that c all the World may pay Homage and that he may prosper in all his Undertakings The Eternal God grant ye long life a The Persian word which I have translated the Refuge of the World is Alempenha Alem signifies the whole entire World or Universal Nature Penha a Retreat a Haven a Place of Security and to which a Man may have recourse b In the Original it is that they inform themselves For the Eastern People addressing themselves to Persons of Quality to denote the Person make use of the Third Person Plural and when they mean themselves speak in the Third Person Singular Which is also the Proper Idiom of the Holy Language c In the Persian it is That all Souls may serve his Name his Name Repetition is a Figure very frequent in the Oriental Languages and questionless borrow'd from the Sacred Language Of which there are a Thousand Examples in the Original Bibles as in the 68. Psalm v. 13. They are fled they are fled That is They are absolutely fled And Psalm 8. 7. v5 The man the man That is the Perfect Man Afterwards I went and took leave of the Principal Lords of the Court and among the Rest of the General of the Mint This Lord who was call'd Mahamed Shefi perswaded me to go to Ispahan by the way of Ardevil assuring me that I should not fail to sell in that City Thereupon I promis'd him so to do and took along with me a Letter of Recommendation to the Governor of that City who was his near Kinsman Which I thus Translated into French GOD Thrice High and Potent Lord Glorious Majesty worthy to be call'd Celestial Elect of the Governors Deputy Lieutenants and Happy Men Fountain of Grace Honour and Civility Exemplar of Purity Model of Generosity and Manificence Heart Sincere Real and Faithful Protector of his Intimate Friends and Kindred My most Excellent Lord and Master I beseech the most High God to preserve your Health and prolong your Life Having paid you my due Respects and Homage These are to let you understand Great Sir whose Wit is Clear and Glistering like the Sun That Mr. Chardin the Flower of European Merchants intending to go through Casbin to the Magnificent Palace which is the Refuge of the Universe I who am your Real Friend perswaded him out of a desire to serve you to go through the Sacred Ardevil He carries with him certain Commodities of an Extraordinary value which he will shew in the presence of your thrice a Noble Person I am certain you will buy if you meet with any thing that is worth your having and I am assur'd your Highness will command your People to take care of this Noble Stranger I am preparing to go for Tifflis with God's Assistance toward the end of the next Month Zilhage If I can serve your Excellency in that Country you will do me a great Honour to let me know it I beseech ye to believe that a richer Present cannot be made me then to bring me Tydings of your good Health God through his favour preserve your Illustrious Person till the Day of Judgement I am the true Friend of the Thrice High and Thrice Illustrious Lords Geonbec Hiaiabec and Mahamed-bec I am apt to believe for my own Repose the Continuation of their Health The Seal contain'd a Verse or Sentence of which this was the Meaning I have wholly left my Destiny to God I Mahamed Shefi his Creature Upon the outside of the Letter at one Corner was written in a small Character God preserve the happy Condition of my Friend While I stay'd at the Camp there arriv'd a Courier from the King who brought his Majesties Answer touching the Patriarch's Business And I understood at the Governours that the Contents were That the Chief Ministers were of Opinion that the Treasure at Ecsmiazin should be sold with all the Ornaments and all the Wealth belonging to the Church and Convent and that the Money that was made of it should go to the payment of the Patriarch's Debts And that this Resolution had been taken except Opposition had been made by the Armenians by representing that all that Money would nothing near satisfie the Patriarch's Concerns and that if they took away from Ecsmiazin its Treasure and its Ornaments they would ruine a place that drew a world of Company into Persia and which yearly paid a very great Rent occasion'd by the Devotion and Concourse of the Eastern Christians That upon that the King had decreed That the Money should be levy'd in Armenia upon all the Christian Villages to satisfie the Customer of Constantinople whom there was a necessity to see paid The Patriarch was over-joy'd at the News and made a Present to him that brought it but it displeas'd all the honest People in the City who were vex'd to the Souls to see the Prelate so insensible of the Violence they were going to offer to thousands of Poor Christians to pay for the Expences of his irregular Ambition The 8. an hour before day I parted from Erivan and travell'd four Leagues over the little Hills and through Valleys the Country which I cross'd being full of Villages In one of which that was a very fair and large one I lodg'd call'd by the name of Daivin The 9. we travell'd five Leagues through a Country that was very level and fertile That which they call the Mountain of Noah lying upon the Right Hand We directed our Course South-West and lay at a Village call'd Kainer The 10. we continu'd the same Road and travell'd eight Leagues Upon the left hand after we got half the way we left a great Town call'd Sederec Which is as it were the Capital of the Province of Armenia call'd Charour The Sultan of which Province resides in that Town That Night we had but a very bad Lodging in an old ruin'd Inn near to a Village call'd Nouratchin The 11. We travell'd four Leagues upon the same Road and through a very fair Country but not so level nor smooth as being stony and full of little Hills We also ferry'd over a River call'd Harpasony that waters all the Neighbouring Lands It separates the Government of that part of Armenia of which Erivan is the Capital from that
more easie to the Pursuers But if this were so observable that which I am going to say is no less remarkable which is That they assur'd me that in the parts adjoyning to Tauris there grow no less then threescore sorts of Grapes Not far from the City in the neighbouring Parts are to be seen great Quarries of white Marble of which there is a sort that is transparent The People of the Country affirm it to be the water of a Mineral Fountain congeal'd and hardne'd by degrees and indeed there are not far from it two considerable Mines the one of Gold and the other of Salt But there has been no working in the Gold Mine for this long time because they always found that the Profit never defray'd the Expences of the Labour There are also several mineral Waters Of which the most frequented are those of Baringe half a League from Tauris and those of Seid-Kent another Village which is six Leagues from the City These Waters are sulphureous but there are others that are cold others boyling hot I do not know whether there be any City in the World concerning the Original and first Name of which there is a greater Dispute among Modern Authors We shall produce the Opinion of the most celebrated only it will not be amiss in the first place to take notice that the Persians call the City Tebris and that when we call it Tauris as the People of Europe generally do it is only in compliance with the common Custom and to the end I may be the better understood Teixera Olearius and some other Authors maintain that Tauris is that City which Ptolomy in the fifth Table of Asia calls Gabris the G. being put in the stead of T. an Alteration frequent in the Greek Language as they assert Leonclavius Jovius and Aython will have it to be that City which the same Ancient Geographer calls Terva instead of Tevra by a transposition of the Letters of the word But Terva being plac'd in Armenia and it being certain that Tauris is seated in Media those two Names can never be appropriated to the same City So that without doubt the Resemblance of the word deceiv'd those Authors Tebris is a Persian word and was given to the City in the year 165. of the Hegyra as we shall declare more at large And therefore in regard it was several years ago since Ptolomy wrote we must believe that Terva and Gabris are both very different from Tauris Niger asserts it to be Tigranoama other Authors take it to be Tigranocerta Some there are of Opinion that it is the Susa of Media so famous in Scripture tho others believe it to be the City which in the Book of Esdras is call'd Acmatha or Amatha Some place it in Assyria as Ptolomy and his Interpreter Others in Armenia as Niger Cedrenus Aython and Jovius Marcus Paulus Venetus places it in the Country of the Parthians Calchondylas removes it a little farther that is to say into the Province of which Persepolis was formerly the Metropolis In short there is a strange Confusion in the Variety of Opinions upon this Subject But the most rational in my Opinion is that of Molets who has translated and commented upon Ptolomy of Ananias Ortelius Golnits Teixera de la Vall Atlas and almost all the modern Geographers that Tauris is the Ancient and Celebrated Ecbatana so frequently mention'd in Holy Writ and in the Ancient Sories of Asia Minadoi an Italian Author if I am not deceiv'd has set forth a Treatise to prove it However give me leave to add this that there are no Remainders to be seen at Tauris either of the Magnificent Palace of Ecbatana where the Monarchs of Asia kept their Courts in Summer nor of that of Daniel which was afterwards the Mausoleum for the Kings of Media of which Josephus speaks in his tenth Book and which he assures us stood entire in his time If then these stately and magnificent Palaces were standing not above sixteen Ages ago in the Place where Tauris now stands the very Ruins themselves are now not to found For among all those that are to be seen within the Circuit of that City there are none but what are of Earth Brick or Flint which were not Materials anciently made use of in Media for the building of sumptuous Palaces The Persian Historians unanimously agree the Time when the Foundations of Tauris were laid to be in the year 165. of the Hegyra but they do not concur in other particulars Some ascribe the Foundation of it to the Wife of Haron-Reshid Califf of Bagdad call'd Zebd-el-Caton which signifies the Flower of Ladies They report that she being desperately sick a Median Physitian cur'd her in a short time For which the Princess not knowing what Reward to give him bid him make choice of his Recompence where upon the Physitian desir'd that she would build a City in his Country to the Honor of his Memory Which after she had perform'd with great Care and Diligence he call'd the City Tebris as a Memorial that it ow'd its Original to Physick For that Teb signifies Physic and Ris is the Participle of Ricten to power forth scatter abroad or give a Largess This is what some relate to which there are others that tell a Story not much unlike For they say that Halacoucan General to Haron Reshid having been two years sick of a Tertian Ague of which he never expected to be cur'd was strangely deliver'd from his Distemper by an Herb which he found in the same place where Tauris now stands And that to perpetuate the Memory of such a fortunate Cure he built this City and call'd it Tebrift the Ague is gone For Teb signifies also an Ague and rift comes from the Verb Reften to go away But that afterwards either by Corruption or because it runs smoother upon the Tongue it was call'd Tebris instead of Tebrift Mirzathaer one of the most Learned Persons of Quality that are in Persia the Son of Mirza Ibrahim Treasurer of the Province gave me another Reason of the Etymology that is to say that at the Time when this City was built the Air was extremely wholesom and preservative against Agues Which extraordinary Quality drew a world of People to it and that therefore it was call'd Tebris as if man should say the Expeller of Agues The same Lord also further assur'd me that there are in the Kings Treasury at Ispahan certain Medals with the Inscription of that Zebd-el-Caton which were found at Marant a city near to Tauris with a great number of others both of Gold and Silver being the Coyns of the Ancient Kings of Media And that he had observ'd others with Greek Figures and Inscriptions wherein he remembred the word Dakianous And then he ask'd me if I knew who that Dakianous was To which I answer'd that I did not understand the name but that it might be very probably the Name of Darius In the 69. year after the
Airy And the Persians speaking of their deceased Kings usually make use of the words Krel-coldachion that is to say whose nest is in Heaven b It is in the Persian that I would send to the Service Which is a Phrase in the Persian Language to send a Man to the service of a great Personage signifying to recommend him so earnestly that the other should take that care of his Business as if he were his Domestic servant c The Persians instead of saying to have the Honour use the word to be ennobl'd d We have already spok'n of this Rhetorical Figure whereby the Persians mean the Lord himself when they say the Slaves of the Lord. The 18. I took my leave of the Deputy Governor and Mirzathaer being at that time both together and both the one and the other offer'd me the savour of a Guide for which I return'd 'em my humble thanks and told 'em withall that if they thought it requisite for my security that I desir'd they would be so kind as to let me have a Guide They answered that the King's Passports which I had were a sufficient Convoy in regard that upon shewing 'em I might command as many men as I pleas'd when or where ever I should have occasion that I was in a Country where there was no danger and that the offer which they made me was only to shew how ready they were to assist me in my Journey So that being also inform'd by several Persons of Quality at the same time that I had no need of any company I only requested Mirzathaer to grant me a Passport to the Officers of the Toll from Himself that I might not be always troubled to pull out the King 's Which he caus'd to be forth with dispatch'd in the most civil terms that could be as may appear by the following translation GOD. This Day being the second day of the Month Sefer the victorious in the year 1084 Monsieur Chardin Merchant the Flower of Merchants and of Europeans sets forward for the Court He carrys along with him a wonderful quantity of Costly Jewels and other Rareties worthy the Lord of the World which he had Order to buy in his own Country and to bring to the feet of the Throne which is the true Seat of a Gods Vicar We therefore give notice to all Inferior Officers Regents Kings Lieutenants Judges both Civil and Criminal Provosts of Cities and High wayes Receivers of Duties and Tools to the end they may know that this Person is a Person of High Quality and that in pursuance of an Order which he has in his Hand that they are to furnish him where ever he goes with all things requisite and give him all reasonable succour and assistance which he shall demand and take care that he arrive not only without any misfortune or disgust but also with all satisfastion and Honour at the Palace of the most High They are likewise to take care they give him no occasion to perceive in any manner whatever that they have any pretence to exact any Duties or Tolls from him and they shall be certain to give an account and be answerable as well for his Person and for what he carrys as for the least disgusts and provocations they shall offer him The Seal was fix'd to the Margin the Inscription of which was a Passage out of the Alcoran signifying My confession of Faith is in the name of God who is my Refuge and of Mahumed the Apostle of God a The word which I have translated Vicar is Calife and properly signifies a Successor Nor had the first successors of Mahomet any other Title and now because the People that follow'd his Laws always believ'd that God had establish'd him Universal King and Prophet had created him his Vicar and Lieutenant and had giv'n him a Right to govern all the World both in Spirituals and Temporals his Successors have constantly retain'd these pompous Titles and made people believe that they belong to 'em by right of Succession Now in regard the Race of the Kings of Persia that have reign'd for these 250. years pretend to derive their descent from Ali Mahomets successor and Son in Law they attribute to themselves all his vain both Qualities and Prerogatives which is the reason the Persians give to their Kings that Epithet of God's Vicar The 20 Mirzathaer sent me one of his Domestics to know of me whether I intended to set forward the next day with my own Servants and withal to advise me to stay for more Company that there was danger in going alone especially being a stranger and having such a great Charge about me because now the Season was come that the Curds Sara-neshin and Turcomans and other Shepherds that live in the Fields in Tents and who are most part great Thieves quit the Plains by reason of the great Heat of the Sun and with their Herds and their Houses retire to the Mountains for Shade and Pasture True it is that I resolv'd to have set forward the next day but reflecting upon this good Advice I thought it not worth my while to run so great a hazard for the gaining of eight or ten days time I had also a kind of Surmise the Lord was unwilling to run himself into any premunire and thereby seem'd to intimate that since he had caution'd me he would not be answerable for any misfortune that should befall me And besides some other fears possess'd my mind which ma deme put off my Journey The 26. he sent me word that the Brother of the Provost of Merchants would set out in two days that he was a very honest Gentleman and that if I pleas'd to have his Company he would cordially recommend me to his Acquaintance I returned him a thousand Thanks for his Care and Affection and told him withal that he could not do me a greater Kindness then to put me into such safe hands And in the Evening I understood that he had bin to the full as good as his word And I was the more glad of his diligent care because it rid me of the trouble of those Reflections I had made upon what he sent me but two days before The 28. I set forward from Tauris with the Provost of Merchants Brother He was one of the Kings Slaves of whom we have spoken already attended by ten Servants with fourteen Horses We travel'd through a lovely and even Country between Mountains directing our Course Southward We lodg'd at Vaspinge a great Borough consisting of Six hundred Houses water'd with a great number of pleasant Rivulet's that with their winding Streams enfertiliz'd the neighbouring parts on every side It is surrounded with Gardens and groves of Poplers and Tylets which they plant to serve 'em for building their Houses The 29. we travell'd five leagues crossing over a little Hill at first but afterwards over Plains that were wonderful pleasant fertil and cover'd with Villages that where we lodg'd being call'd Agi-agach These Plains
Mount Taurus describ'd 166 Theatins their coming into Mingrelia 119. Their little progress in the Country 120. How they baptize in that Country ibid. They sing and play before the Governor of Tifflis at a Wedding 229 Tifflis describ'd 208 c. Toll-gatherers in Persia how regulated 372 Trade of the English at Smyrna 4. Hollanders Trade at Smyrna 7. French trade ibid Tshapars or Persian Curriers 257 Transubstantiation the Mingrelians Opinion of it p. 101 Travelling the manner of it in Persia 384 Turks easily cheated 9 Turkman a Village of Persia 372 V. VActangle married by Darejan and crown'd King of Imiretta 137. He is betrayed and looses his Eyes 137 138. Carryed Prisoner into Georgia 140 Venetians maintain a Consul at Smyrna 11 The Virgins Castle 374 Viaticum Bread how us'd and esteem'd among the Mingrelians p. 101 Vomeki set up by Darejan dispoil'd of his Principality 136 Vomeki King of Imiretta murder'd 140 W. WIne in Persia the best 380 Witzosky Polish Agent at the Port. 48 c. Women in Georgia not confin'd 226 Z. ZErigan a City in Parthia 374 Zetou-lou a River FINIS THE CORONATION OF SOLYMAN III. THE PRESENT King of Persia By Sir JOHN CHARDIN The CORONATION of SOLYMAN The Third of that Name And the Two hundred thirty fourth King of Persia SUch was the End of Habas the second of Glorious Memory that his Death may well be look'd upon to have been a Judgment of Heaven upon that Potent Empire which he all along so prudently governed and as a Misfortune that at the same time befel several Millions of People that were under his Dominion The Persians never speak of him but they give him all the Encomiums of a Magnanimous Prince whose Courage and good Conduct had already contributed in an extraordinary manner to the Re-establishment of their Country and who had questionless restored it to its ancient Splendor and to a perfect Prosperity had his Life been of a longer continuance In a word they had great reason to promise themselves that he would have rendred both the one and the other Diuturnal as well as Universal in regard his Heroic Vertues had Crowned him with Victory before he had arrived to the Age of nineteen Years by the Conquest of the City and whole Province of Kaud-dar bordering upon the utmost Confines of the whole Kingdom and that too from an Enemy no less Powerful than the Indian Monarch and afterwards when he defended it against the whole Force of the same Prince Mustered together in one Body to regain it The same Virtues they were that made him formidable to his Potent Neighbours the Duke of Muscovy the Monarch of the Tartars and the Puissant King of India himself Who being discouraged by the Ill success of his first Enterprize of which we have already given an account would never venture any more to molest him The same transcendent Virtues in a Brest so truly Royal even at the very time that Death surprized him spur'd him on to extend his Dominions towards the North and East And the Preparations which he had made for that purpose gave the whole World occasion to fear that his Design would infallibly succeed The Christians who had the happiness to live under his Subjection to this day lament in private his Decease not only as a King but as a Parent For his Justice and his Goodness would never suffer any violence to be offered them or that they should be disturbed for their Religion which they had free Liberty to exercise during his Reign as being a Person in whom those Royal Virtues were stedfast and unalterable which always prevented the Fury of the Cruel and Impious Mahometans from molesting the Peace and Tranquillity of their Lives or Estates And hence it is that Strangers still and ever will bewail his loss and bear in Remembrance his more than ordinary Endowments as He that by by his Affability and Liberality invited them continually to his Court and Cities under his Obedience and employed a great part of the Tribute which he drew from his Subjects in the purchase of their costly Merchandise which they brought along with them paying both generously and punctually what they in reason demanded Toward the Conclusion of that account which we have given of the Life of this Great Prince we have shewn that the cause of his Death was that same nauseous Distemper which good Manners will not permit to be named and of which the Pollution is yet more unseemly and which notwithstanding all the Endeavours of Art to conceal it displays it self in the Faces of the Diseased and publishes with Ignominy their frequent Converse with lewd Women We have also told you that his Death happened in one of his Houses of Pleasure seated in the Province of Teber Estoon two Leagues from Damagaan according to the Persian Geographers lying in 78. Degrees and 15. Minutes of Longitude and 37. degrees 20. Minutes of Latitude twelve days Journey from the Capital City of the Empire and nine days Journey from the Caspian Sea And this house of Pleasure inviting several of the Country People to settle round about it was the Reason that at length it grew to be a considerable Village to which the Persians gave the Name of Cosroe-Abaad or the Habitation of Cosroes who was a Prince formerly Governour of the Province where this Village is situated and the same that built this Palace of Pleasure in the Reign of Sefi the first Grandfather to the present King But not long after this Cosroes falling into Disgrace the King confiscated his House and all his Estate after he had put the Governour himself to Death of which I shall say no more at present as being a Subject not proper for this Place We have also in the same Relation set down the Time of this Prince's unfortunate Decease which happened upon the 26. of the Moon which they call Rabeia el Atier de l'Egere 1077. or according to the Christian Account upon the 25. of September 1666. about four a clock in the Morning at what time the first glimpse of Daylight-Dawn began to appear Eternal darkness closing the Eyes of that Great Monarch at the very Moment that Day began to give Light to his Subjects in their several Callings We have also farther related how that an Hour before the Principal Eunuchs observing in the Prince's Eyes the Signs of Approaching Death thought it fit to put out of the Room all the Women that were with him for fear lest at the moment of his last Gasp the Transports of their Grief and their loud Outcries might discover a Secret which it was so necessary at that time to conceal To that purpose they perswaded them that the King was asleep and desired them therefore to retire for fear of disturbing his Repose This had been prudently done if the persons that seemed to be so wise had had sufficient Resolution and Courage themselves But at the Fatal Moment they could not themselves forbear
rid themselves therefore from these Fears they resolved between themselves to throw the Election upon the Youngest of all Habas's Sons who being as yet but an Infant would in all likelihood continue a long time under the Tuition of his Mother and his Ministers from whom they could not expect to suffer any thing that was Fatal or Dreadful And here we must observe that Habas the second left behind him two Sons or at least I never heard that he left any more Nor is it known whether he left any Daughters or no. For what is done in the Womens Apartment is a Mystery concealed even from the Grandees and Prime Ministers Or if they know any thing it is meerly upon the account of some particular Relation or dependence which the Secret has to some peculiar Affair which of necessity must be imparted to their Knowledg For my part I have spared neither for pains nor cost to sift out the Truth But I could never discover any more only that they believed he never left any Daughter behind him that lived A man may walk a Hundred days one after another by the House where the Women are and yet know no more what is done there than at the farther end of Tartary Now of these two Sons of Habas the Eldest who was called Sofie-Mirza was then entring into his one and twentieth Year being Born in the year of the Egire 1057. for the superstition of the Persians will not let us know the Month or the Day Their Addiction to Astrology is such that they carefully conceal the Moments of their Prince's Birth to prevent the Casting their Nativities where they might meet perhaps with something which they should be unwilling to know His Father begot him at Eighteen years of Age enamoured of a Circassian Slave or Cherkes in the Persian Language whose extraordinary Beauty and rare Endowments so won the Affection of that Monarch that she was the first of all his Women that he chose for a Wife For which reason during her Husbands Life she was called Nekaat Kanum or the Lawful Dutchess tho there were also other Women which were his Lawful Wives according to the Law and Custom of that Country This Eldest Son according to Custom was bred up in the Womens Palace and committed to the Care of certain Eunuchs under the Eye of his Mother and his Nurse who was a Lady of great Quality and the Wife of Mustaufie-Elmemalek which according to the force of the Persian words signifies a Watcher over Kingdoms There he was bred up with all the Tenderness and Pomp that his High Birth required and enjoyed all the Liberty that could be allowed to a Person of his Quality which was to go up and down over all that spacious Palace where he pleased himself for to go further into the Mens Apartments is by no means permitted those young Princes When he arrived at the Age of seventeen Years an Accident befel him that rendered his Confinement much more close For it happened that an Eunuch brought him some Peices of Cloth of Tissue at what time the Prince being of a haughty Temper and not thinking them Rich enough rejected them with very scornful and slighting Language nor was he better pleased when it was told him that the Peices were sent him by the Order of the King his Father Which being carried back and perhaps aggravated to the jealous Monarch his Majesty believing that the overmuch Liberty which was allowed the young Prince did but serve to heighten his Arrogance and augment his natural Pride confined him to the remotest Part of all the Palace Some persons were of opinion that he would have caused his Eyes to have been put out But when they found that the Walls of the Place to which he was confined were ordered to be raised the more Intelligent Sort believed that the King would not proceed to that Extremity of Rigour for that he would not have been so careful to prevent the Escape of one that was Blind whose Misfortune would have been sufficient to render him incapable to attempt any Enterprize of that nature However when the King was setting forward for Mazendaran in the year 1665. according to our Computation his Actions were such that even the Grandees and most Politick Courtiers began to suspect that he had then determined the Dreadful Execution For he was not gone above Eight Leagues from Ispahan when he turned back again of a sudden toward the City with a very small Retinue without imparting his Design to any one of all his Favourites but when he arrived all that he did was to enter unexpected into the Womens Apartment where after he had staid about two hours he came forth again very Pensive and Melancholy Of which the Courtiers not being able to conjecture any other apparent Cause attributed it to some Fatal Resolution which the King had taken against the Prince his Son Tho as it appeared afterwards they were all deceived in their judgments and that there was another Motive that put him upon this swift and sudden return For as to what concerned this Young Prince his Father was satisfied with his close Confinement in a Quarter of the Apartment remote from the rest in the Company of his Mother and such Ladies as the King had appointed to attend her without stinting her any Number commiting him also to the farther care of the Great Eunuch Aga-Nazir or the Perspicacious Lord to observe his Action and to prevent him from attempting any dangerous Enterprize This Word Nazir most usually signifies some Superintendant or General Overfeer And therefore the Person last mentioned besides that he had the Tuition of the Prince was Entrusted also with the Government of the Womens Palace and to overlook the Management of all Affairs of the Royal Houshold in Jepahan an Employment which gave him great Credit and caused him to be respected both in the Court and City In both which Places he was highly esteemed till the Death of his Master being as it were the Lieutenant and next to the Grand Superintendant of the Kingdom who is likewise stil'd the Nazir As for the Younger Son he was about Eight Years of Age when his Father Died being Born in the year of the Egira 1069. of an Iberian Lady or Gurgi as the Persians call them to whom they gave the Title of Nour-Nissa-Kanum which Signifies word for word Dutchess the Light of Women the Young Prince himself being called by the Name of Hamzeh Mirza Tho I never could find or learn the true Signification of this word Hamzeh I must confess in the Persian Language it answers to the word Apostroph in our Tongue but in that sence I do not apprehend how it can signifie a Proper Name Nevertheless a Proper Name it is whether it signifies something or nothing and that must suffice As for the Title of Mirzah it is as much as to say the Son of a Prince as we have observed in another Place where we have
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
love of Justice prevailed over all other Temptations that could affect his Soul so that it was not without a noble Indignation that he heard the Proposal of the first Minister to prefer the Younger before the Elder Brother which augmented so much the more by how much he found the Lords of the Council so readily inclined to a Condescension Thereupon he took a Resolution worthy that Ancient and Constant Fidelity which the Eunuchs have already gloried in He thought it his Duty to prevent such a disorder and confusion as much as in him lay and that tho he had no right to speak in that Assembly yet that it was lawful for him for once to violate a Custom which was no more than a bare Ceremony to the end he might reduce into the right way those that went about to break that Love which Nature seemed to have established and which Religion favoured Nevertheless he staid till every one had spoken in their turns as well in respect to the Lords so much his superiors as for that he still was in hopes that some one of better judgment or at least of better Principles should deliver his Opinion more justly and according to Law and deliver him out of that perplexity wherein such a troublesom Accident would engage him But when he saw that they had all with one Consent concluded to Elect the Younger Brother to the prejudice of the Eldest under pretences which how specious soever they seemed to be were only the persuasions of Interest and upon Conjectures too weak at the bottom to gain credit in such an important Affair with a fearless yet respectful behaviour he thus began The Proposal Princes and Lords of Lords which you have made to exclude from the Crown Sephie the Eldest Son of Habas the Second to whom it appertains by Law and to advance in his room Hamzeh-Mirza is an affront to Justice and the Laws of the Elect Messiah too visible to believe you have suffered your selves to be swayed to such a design any otherwise than by some dazling Appearances as have surprized your Judgments For I dare be confident that not one among you all does think the Motives that have been alledged sufficient No the Pretence which you have borrowed for the Election of Hamzeh-Mirza is not rational The true Reason that prevails in your Minds if I may be so bold to tell you tho you know it as well as my self is your desire to govern Persia for many years to come and at your own pleasure It is therefore that you would elect an Infant under whose Minority you may be able with permission to exercise an absolute Authority For what is alledged of the Eldest Prince that without doubt he is either deprived of his Life or of his Sight can be look'd upon only as a delusion For had it been so should I have heard nothing of it I that ever since the Kings departure from the Capital City have always been exactly acquainted with whatever passed in the Womens Palace I that have always been a constant Attendant in it and more than that have had the Government of the Young Prince If the Eunuch who was sent Post sometime since to Ispahan had private Orders to the ruine of Sephie-Mirza out of a design to render him incapable of the Succession should I have discovered nothing Or would not the deceased King have made some alterations in the condition of his second Son for whom he had designed the Imperial Throne after his death Would he not have enlarged his Revenue and augmented the Splendour of his Court Would he have concealed it from me and the Light of Women the Lady Mother of the Young Prince Or if he had concealed it from me would it not have been more easie for me than for you to have discovered something since I have always lived in the Inner Palace and that I knew every thing that passed there under the greatest Secresie whereas you are so far from entring into it that you can only look upon the outside of it In a word there is nothing in all that which you pretend to fear Sephie-Mirza lives and sees my life for yours God is my caution and if it be not so here is my head You cannot therefore without great Injustice or rather foul Treason forget the Eldest and sacrifice him to your own Passions and the Interests of his Younger Brother Rather let the Younger Brother be sacrificed to Him and the Interests of the Kingdom Do you not foresee how you are going about to throw the Kingdom into a dismal Confusion and fill it with Division Think you the rest of the Grandees will suffer themselves to be accounted Persons without Law and approve your Votes Think you the People will take your Crimes upon their shoulders and endure the Younger Brother sitting upon the Throne of the Faithful whom you could not place there till you had trampled under foot the most Sacred Duties with which Religion inspires us On the other side all the World will rise against you to take part with the Lawful Heir or if that should not come to pass you will be laden with Curses and looked upon as the Authors of a most Execrable Assassination You will blush for shame all your Lives and live with perpetual torment in your breasts Hamzeh-Mirza also himself for whom you have prostituted your Consciences will not he reward you for it one day He will look upon you as Dogs that advanced him to his Honour only for the Hounds fees and as such who in hopes to fatten your selves during his Minority forsook God the Law the Prophet the Book the Explanation Right Reason and Justice I am sure his Judgments will pursue you and that the least punishment you can expect will be to be sent naked into some Desert there to thank God for only saving your Lives There he stopt of a sudden with some disturbance in his Countenance but immediately proceeds with a sudden Exclamation Hamzeh Mirza cried he Hamzeh Mirza to what an extremity do you reduce him Would you my Lords that I should go and strangle him with my own hands and that I should bring him dead into your presence I have the power he is under my charge By that means I shall be able to prevent you from making an ill Choice You shall then be constrained to carry the Crown to the Eldest and then I leave you to consider how he will receive it at your hands when he shall find that nothing could reduce you to your Allegiance but such a fatal extremity With this threatning Language he concluded his Speech leaving the Lords of the Assembly so surprized that if a Mountain had fallen at their feet as they say in Persia they could not have been more astonished They could not divine the reason that should induce the Eunuch to such a determined Resolution He was neither instigated by Hatred Fear nor Hope Not by Hatred because they knew he tenderly
understanding the Aga Nazir was come forth to understand what he desired the other desired him to go immediately to Sephie-Mirza and to let him know that the Messenger of the most Sublime Command and of the most Potent Order staid at the Door and had something to communicate to him of the highest Importance and which was for his Advantage And therefore that he would be pleased to come forth and speak with him Which words the White Eunuch delivered to the Black Eunuch in such a Tone and with such a Countenance as discovered nothing either of Sadness or Joy from whence he could make any Conjectures either of bad or good Fortune For considering the secrecy of the Affair he came about it behoved him to affect a kind of Indifferency So that the Black Eunuch reported back the Message to the Young Prince as he had received it who at that time was with the Princess his Mother I shall rather chuse to give the Reader leave to imagin what was the Astonishment that seized those two Royal Persons at the suddenness of the News and whence they had reason to gather a thousand suspicions and jealousies than go about to express it in words We learnt afterwards that for some time they stood like Statues in a profound silence which was first interrupted by a loud shriek of the Princess and afterwards by these words which brake forth through the midst of her sighs while she embraced the Prince Ah my dear Son there 's an end of thy Life And indeed she could not look for any other thing for him than Death or some other Misfortune little less terrible She much less dreamt that it was to advance him to the Throne For in two Years that she had taken leave of her Husband then healthy and vigorous in the Flower of his Age not exceeding thirty six Years she had never heard of his being sick much less could she believe him dead Therefore when she heard that a Noble Messenger of the High Order was come to speak with the Prince what could she think but that this Order came from Habas the Second and that his Command was either to put to death or pluck out her Sons Eyes and that if they pressed him so earnestly to come forth it was only to understand and suffer the Execution of that Order All Appearances confirmed this sad Suspicion The severity of the Monarch was known to her as well as the disgust which he had taken against his Eldest Son of which he had given such publick proofs by the strict Captivity to which he had confined him But she that most perplexed her and augmented her mistrusts was the Lady-Mother of Hamzeh-Mirza Questionless said she that wicked Woman it is who by her Caresses and alluring Charms has over-ruled the King to deprive my Son of the Crown to set it upon hers Thereupon she began to redouble her Shrieks and Lamentations in such a manner that the whole Palace rang with her Complaints All the Ladies surprized to hear the first of the Kings Legitimate Wives in such an Agony ran presently to condole her sorrows and to intermix their Tears and Complaints with hers And indeed they had reason especially the Confidents of the Young Prince who had an extraordinary Passion for his Interests Friendship in others produced the same Effects believing bloudy Executioners were come to ravish from their Arms a Friendly Prince in his tender Years So that it is said that the Women raised such a general Compassion that even the Black Eunuch who was present tho they are a sort of People endued with savage and remorseless Souls could not refrain from dropping some few tears and quitting that Indifferency to which his Trust and Duty obliged him The General of the Musquetteers and the Nazir Eunuch at the same time heard the Womens Lamentations and believing it proceeded from the mistake of the Mother of the Ladies that belonged to the Prince sent a second Black Enunch to assure the Princess that the Messenger who waited for the Prince her Son at the Gate had brought him happy tydings and desired only to give him notice of a more Exalted Fortune Which they both confirmed by an Oath most solemn among the Persians by the Head of the Great Agrea by whom they mean Haty whom they believe to be the real Successour to Mahomet But all those Oaths and Protestations did nothing avail but only to augment the Mistrusts of the afflicted Mother She redoubled her Lamentations more loudly than before She hugged her beloved Son in her Arms and in the Transports of her sorrow called down a Thousand Imprecations upon the deceased King her Husband calling him Barbarian Infidel Impious and the Fatal cause of all her Tears Wherein she said Truth tho he were but a very Innocent Cause Sometimes she turned toward the Lordly Messenger whom she reproached with the scurrilous Terms of Dog and Messenger of Death sometimes toward the Eunuchs that were present whom she upbraided for Traytors All the while the Young Prince stood immovable for as is said he uttered not one word nor did he shew in his Countenance any sign of sorrow It is very probable that it was so extreme as to overwhelm him in such a sort that he had neither Life nor Motion While Nature that could not find sufficient signs to express her dreadful pains stood as it were entranced not knowing what side to take Therefore the Young Prince shed not a Tear because the occasion which he had to weep was so great In that manner he stood in the midst of the Lamentations of the Women who detained him and drew him to their knees as if they had resolved to defend him and prevent those that came to carry him away from approaching his Person This Scene had lasted above three quarters of an Hour for other Black Eunuchs that were sent one after another with Oaths and new Imprecations to assure them that the General brought Orders only that were highly to the Princes advantage could gain nothing upon the belief of the Mother and the other Women so that the Nazir resolved to go himself in person to try what he could do to undeceive her But so soon as he appeared before the Mother and with terrible Oaths endeavoured to assure her that there was no danger the Princess still holding her Son closely embraced in her Arms cried out And Thou Dog art thou also a Messenger of Death like the rest The disconsolate Princess was not to be comforted for the more Messengers they sent the more Oaths they swore the less credit she gave to their Imprecations She looked upon them all as Artifices to surprize her and to induce her to consent that her Son should go forth where Death waited his coming But at length some of the Principal Young Ladies suffered themselves to be over-ruled by the persuasions of the Aga and the horrible Imprecations which he called down upon his head that there was
which some Europeans in Ispahan valued one single Diamond in the middle at eighteen and the rest at four and twenty thousand pound sterling If the Royal Diadem had any more than one Heron-Tuft of that Value or if that Ruby were upon it which by the express Command of the deceased King the Eunuch that had the charge of the Treasury shewed me at Mazanderan which be of an Oval form weighed as the said Eunuch told me a hundred and sixty Caratts the Chains or Strings with the Sword and Dagger being proportionable in value the three Pieces might well amount to a hundred thousand Tomans But notwithstanding all this to tell you my opinion sincerely I could never judge them to be worth above three parts of the money These three Pieces were laid near the Stool and covered with a rich Toilet Presently his Majesty appeared coming out of the Bath and arrayed himself in his usual Habit tho more sumptuous than he was wont to wear after that being entered into the Room of State he sate down in the Place that was prepared for him and at the same time they who were appointed to assist at the Coronation ascended the Talaar and ranged themselves in this Order Upon the Right side of his Majesty at a little distance behind him stood the Aga-Nazir Eunuch who at that Ceremony performed the Office of High Chamberlain carrying to that purpose at his Girdle a little Box of Gold glittering with Precious Stones wherein were a good Number of Handkerchiefs and Perfumes for his Majesties service when he had a mind to make use of them A little behind him appeared six Georgian Children from fifteen to sixteen years of Age who had been made Eunuchs extremely beautiful as are most of the young Children of that Country They were so placed as to make a half Circle about the King standing upright without so much as stirring their hands which they held across upon their Breasts being sumptuously habited in Linnen whose ground was Silver heightned with Gold in the same Order and as far behind the Children as they stood behind the King appeared a great number of old black Eunuchs every one holding a long Musquet in his hand of which the Stock was garnished with Gold and Precious Stones Upon the Left hand of the King which is esteemed the most Honourable among the Persians sate first the Commissioner that represented Dlahammed-Mehdi the Prime Minister Next to him the second Commissioner that represented Gemchid-Kaan General of a Body of the Army Next to him the Person that supplied the Place of Mazsoud-Bek Superintendant General of the Kings Demeans In the fourth Seat the Person Commissioned by Mirza-sedreel-din Principal Secretary of the Empire Hemireh-Hamzeh-Mirzah-Daroga Grand Provost of Ispahan and its Dependencies took the fifth place And Mirza-Refiè esteemed one of the most Learned among the Persians took the next Upon his Majesties Right Hand in the second Place for the first was left void in honour of Boadaak-Sultan General of the Musquetteers who was present but standing upright near the Prince sate the Person deputed by Mahammed-Kouli-Kaan Lord Chief Justice Below him two Places were left void for the chief Astrologer and his Colleague who were retired to observe the Lucky Hour The fifth Place was filled by the most learned and wittiest person that was in all that great Kingdom by the judgment of all men being the Brother of the Prime Minister and great Uncle to the new Monarch by his Wife His name was Mirza-Hali-Riza and his Title Cheik-el-Islaam or Ancient of the Law For by the word Islaam which properly signifies the Reverence which we pay to the divine Commands by the submission of our Mind and Will they mean Religion which they call the Law by way of Excellence For at this day as formerly among the Hebrews all their Politicks depend upon Religion and it is the Ancient of the Law who holds the Ballance of Affairs in his Hand which cannot be determined without his Approbation In the sixth Place sate Mirza-Moumen-Vazier or Receiver General for his Majesty in Ispahan and its Dependencies I could never hear of any other Grandees but these that sate True it is that the Halls on both sides were full of Officers that stood some to authorize the Solemnity of the Coronation some to be ready to execute the King's Commands as they should receive them from the General of the Musquetteers who for that day supplied the Place of Lord High Steward of the Houshold carrying in his hand as a Badge of his Office a large Truncheon of Gold all set with Precious Stones and a round Ball at one End and standing at the left hand of the King from whom he received Orders or to say better to whom he gave directions For the new King who had never seen any such sight before neither did nor said any thing but what was dictated to him About ten a clock at night the Chief of the Astrologers and his Companion having been long observing the Position of the Stars and Conjunctions of the Planets returned at length to give notice that the Fortunate Hour for the Coronation of the King would be within twenty Minutes Thereupon his Majesty ordered the General as he had been taught before to lead them both to their Places In the mean time he whispered with the General who gave him Instructions how to behave himself upon all the several changes of the Solemnity which the young Prince failed not to follow exactly for fear of committing any Irregularity for want of experience in an Action of so publick and weighty a Concernment When the twenty Minutes were almost expired the Grand Astrologer having winked upon the General to let him know that he might proceed he told the King who thereupon immediately according to his Instructions rose up and then all the rest rose up likewise At what time the General threw himself at his Majesties Feet bowing to the very Ground then rising upon his Knees he drew out of the Bosom of his Garment the Bag wherein was the Letter which the Assembly had sent to the New Monarch Presently he opened the Bag took out the Letter kissed it laid it to his Forehead presented it to his Majesty and then rose up The Prince having received it returned it to him again and commanded him to break it open and read it which he did aloud very distinctly and leisurely to the end that all who were present at the Ceremony might hear the Contents and understand that the Grandees of the Kingdom had unanimously elected the present Prince for King of Persia that they acknowledged him for such and were ready to attest it if there were occasion When he had done reading the King commanded him to send for the Ancient of the Law which he did at what time the Lord Ancient approaching his Majesty threw himself at his Feet and after the usual Prostrations he rose up again took the Letter out of the Generals hand to
acknowledge and authorize it to verifie the Seals and attest that it was real For that acknowledgment belongs to him as Chief of the Law and in all spiritual matters Having taken the Letter and laid it on his head out of respect he read it and looked upon the Seals and then returning just before the King he fell upon his Knees and made three bows to the ground by that humble posture declaring his approbation of the Letter and that the advancement of the Prince to the Empire was legal While the Spiritual Judge was thus employed the General desired to know the Kings Resolution whether he would be Crowned by his own name or assume any other before his Coronation Who made answer that tho he altered his Condition he would not change his Name but retain that of Sephiè which was given him in his Infancy The General returned the Kings pleasure to the Ancient of the Law who was risen from the Kings Feet where he had left the Letter At the same instant therefore the two Lords the Ancient of the Law upon his Right and the General upon his Left conducted the Prince to the Chair of Gold so often mentioned before placed in the middle of the Hall and then the Ancient of the Law besought him to take his Place Which he did according to the Rules of the Law wherein he had been instructed with his face toward the Kaabba or Oratory of Mecca Then the Ancient of the Law seating himself upon his Heels which is the Posture used by the Mahumetans when they pray to God or when they are in the presence of any Persons of high Dignity some few paces distant from his Majesty discovered the Diadem the Sword and Dagger and then said a Prayer to God which he began with a short Confession of their Faith and concluded with a Benediction upon the Royal Ornaments appointed for the Ceremony of the Coronation The Prayer lasted not above a quarter of an Hour at what time rising up he took the Sword and girded it on upon his Majesties Left side and hung the Dagger upon his Right Then having made a sign to the General to take off the Bonnet from the Kings head he put on the Taagh or Diadem uttering at the same instant certain Verses of the Alcoran proper for the purpose which he did before when he girt on the Sword and Dagger This done he ended and gave place to Mirza-Refia the great and learned Doctor already mentioned who presented himself to perform the Kotbè which word in the Original signifies a Prayer But by this Prayer is meant a Prayer in form of a Harangue and perhaps they might give it the name of an Oration By an ancient Custom time out of mind these Prayers were always to be divided into four Heads to last half an hour and to contain always the same Form Only the Orator had the liberty to alter the Terms and the Stile and to give a new flight to his thoughts The first Head is called Hamde-Koda or the Praise of God because the Orator here speaks of nothing else But of the Thanks which we always ought to render him for his Graces and Favours since there is not that moment wherein we do not continually receive some new mark of his Kindness That his Blessings being like the Sources of great Rivers that flow without ceasing and never stop their Course for which reason the blessings of God are called by the Divines Flowing Blessings our Thanks therefore ought to be continual and always running That whatever his Supreme Majesty exposes to the Eyes of Men whether it were in times past or now at this present bears the Characters and imprints the Seals of his affection toward us and testifies that whatever he acts without himself he does it all for the greatest good of Mankind in regard that Infinite Being is the best of all that do best These are their Expressions and very near the sense of the first Head which lasts some half a quarter of an hour The second Head is called Nead Berpegamberhou ve douasde Imaam The Praise Remembrance and Acknowledgment of the Prophet and of the twelve Descendants and Lieutenants And therefore it contains nothing more than the Acclamations and Benedictions which they give to persons which their superstition has rendred Venerable among them That you are the Fourteenth whom God has chosen pure and unblemished That he has made them successively Lords of all Mortals That the Faith is not entire if together with the Confession of the Divinity we do not likewise acknowledge the sending of these Fourteen to be lawful upon whom the Heavenly Lights are shed down to give light to wandring souls and to shew to all the way of Truth Therefore we are obliged to glorifie them to celebrate their Praises to wish for their perpetual Welfare and Peace and to their Family on Earth all manner of prosperity that their names may be exalted above all Created Beings That Curses may be heaped upon their Enemies And that all the Men in the Universe may be lead away and become dust at their Door With several other Wishes of the same nature which I have rendered as much word for word as is possible The third Head is that Royalty is of divine Institution Seltemet ez Hokkam Koda that is that Royalty is of Divine Institution Upon which they observe That since God created the World he has always governed his People by Prophets and in their stead by Kings whom he has established their Successours That Kings are the Zel-Alla or the shadow of God which is that which we call the Image of God But the word Image is such an Expression as they abhor as Idolatrous a Term which they dare not make use of believing at the same time that they likened God to any Image they supposed him at the same time to be Corporeal They added withal That as at all times we are obliged to serve God and to obey him not only by the light and understanding which Heaven has infused into us at our Birth but by the Revelations which we have had from his Prophets who have declared unto us his Will we are in the same manner and by the same Revelation bound to obey Kings as being the Valiè or Sovereign Lieutenants of God Gaanit-chin sitting in his place on Earth and that we ought to submit to their Commands without examining whether they be just or no. In regard that in submitting to their Commands we submit at the same time to the Holy Books in all things tho they seem contrary to our Reason and Understanding by which we shewed blind obedience which God exacts from men sometimes trying our readiness to submit to him by Commands that seem unjust to render out submission more acceptable and of greater value The fourth and last Point is Douhaa-Preray padchaè A Prayer for the King Which contains a great number of Supplications for the long life of the
to see himself prevented and therefore he was no less importunate to have his and therefore to the end he might be admitted to kiss the Kings Feet he took the same way and method which the Dutch Embassadour had done for indeed there was no other way and had therefore the same success For two days after being accompanied with his Second in the Factory about Nine of the Clock in the Morning he was introduced by the General of the Musquetteers to make his Obeysance to the King his Interpreter and his Collegue coming behind him After the usual Ceremonies he presented the Prince with two hundred half Guineys according to the self-interested Custom of the East where the Kings stiling themselves Gods Lieutenants forbid all People to appear in their Presence without an Offering Presently he sate down by the Command of the Prince and by his Interpreter and in the behalf of the English Nation and Company wished him a long and flourishing Reign Afterwards he made a short rehearsal of the great Services which the English Nation had done the Kings of Persia his Ancestors of Immortal memory For which reason those Triumphant Monarchs had always favoured the English Nation more than any other Nation of Europe of which he was assured his Majesty was well informed for which reason he hoped that his Majesty would continue the same favours to the English Nation and grant them a Confirmation of all the Treaties and Priviledges which had been granted formerly to the English To which the King returned the same answer which he had done to the Dutch Envoy Mr. Agent is my Guest and all the English Nation are most dear to me Whatever my Predecessours of Glorious Memory have granted to your Company I shall also confirm And if you have any thing farther to request of Me for the advantage of your Nation you may confidently propose it and it shall be decreed if reasonable To which the Agent and his Second returned their humble Thanks as well for their Master as themselves beseeching his Majesty to accept of their Services To which his Majesty condescended with a Nod of his Head which was also a sign of his taking Leave which they also took making their Obeysances after their own manner Now in regard they were beholden to the General of the Musquetteers for this favourable Audience in regard the King did nothing without his Advice therefore they sent their Interpreter in the Evening to give him thanks for the favour he had procured them in acknowledgment whereof they made him a Present of a Rich Jewel and thirty Ducats of Gold The same day the Meehmandar-Bachi or Chief of those that attend upon the Kings Guests or Strangers of Quality who is as it were a Grand Master of the Ceremonies came to wait upon the King dispatched from the Grandees of the Kingdom to give his Majesty notice that they came forward making easie Journeys with the Body of the deceased King and the whole Body of the Court in his time That to prevent the People from suspecting any thing of Fatal they had given out that the King was with his Wives and would not therefore shew himself that nevertheless the Rumour of his Death began to fly abroad which however could not now be much prejudicial seeing that his Majesty had taken the Government of the Kingdom into his own hands that as yet they preserved all things in the same condition they were in before and expected with submission what Orders his Majesty would be pleased to send for their future proceeding Together with this Deputy there came an Eunuch also sent by Hamzeh-Mirza the Kings Brother to salute his Majesty in the name of the young Prince to throw himself at his Feet to beg his favour and to supplicate him by all that was Sacred in the Mahumetan Law not to put out his Eyes That he would be pleased to shut up him as close as he thought fit that he would take from him whatever he pleased but that for the Law of God he would leave him his sight that he might not be incapable of applying himself to his Studies wherein he resolved to spend his whole Life The King kept the Eunuch with himself reserving the answer to the young Prince's request till he should be brought to Court But he returned an Answer the same day to the Letter which the Master of the Ceremonies brought which was composed in the form of a Command and contained the following Instructions 1. That the King approved what had been done from the Fatal Moment of the King his Fathers death 2. That they should make all the hast they could to him without disturbing the Order of Affairs leaving all things in the same condition wherein they were 3. That they should take care to cause the Body of his deceased Father of high and Immortal Memory whose place is in Paradise to be carried to the City of Kom under the charge of Mirzah-Maassoum and that at the same time they should send away three other Coffins like that wherein they had put the King under as good a Convoy one to Metched another to Ardevil and the third to Kachan For the better understanding the reason of which Command the Reader is to know that the Persians are strangely superstitious about the Burial of their Kings For fearing lest by some Magical Art any Enchantments should be practised upon their Bodies to the prejudice of their Children they conceal as much as in them lies the real Place of Interment To this end they send to several Places several Coffins of Lead with others of Wood which they call Taboat and bury all alike with the same Magnificence In this manner they delude the Curiosity of the People who cannot discern by the outside in which of the Coffins the real body should be Not but it might be discovered by such as would put themselves to the expence and trouble of doing it And thus it shall be related in the Life of Habas the Great that twelve of these Coffins were conveyed to twelve of the principal Mosques not for the sake of their Riches but of the Person which they enclosed and yet no body knew in which of the twelve the Kings Body was laid tho the common Belief is that it was deposited at Ardevil It is also said in the Life of Sefiè I. That there were three Coffins carried to three several Places as if there had been a Triple Production from one Body tho it were a thing almost certainly known that the Coffin where the Body was laid was carried to this same City of Kom and to the same Place where the deceased King commanded the Body of his deceased Father to be carried It is a very beautiful City and for its Antiquity gives way to none of the rest as being thought to be the Guriana of the Ancients It is seated in the Province of Arak-agem or Parthia upon the Frontiers of Media She prides her self as one
together as old as he was suffer'd horrible totrure stedfast in his resolutions not to make any discovery His Estate being confiscated amounted to twenty five thousand Tomans which make about four hundred thousand Crowns In the mean time at Ispahan there was nothing but publick Rejoycing Feasting Horse-racing with other Sports and Pastimes of the same nature And when day was shut in an infinite number of Lights which they call in that Country Chiragan were hung out all along the Streets round about the Houses and in the great Squares after a most pompous manner insomuch that the night it self might truly be call'd an Artificial day The Young King no less greedily tasted all the pleasures and delight which the full swinge of Liberty unknown what it meant till then gave him opportunity to enjoy Every day he walk'd abroad with his Wives into the parts adjoyning to the City commanding the Kourouk through all the Villages and Towns adjoyning Kourouk signifies a Prohibition to all Men and Boys above seven years of Age upon forfeiture of Life to be seen in any place where the Kings Wives were to pass if he were in their Company All the ways are hung on both sides with such stuff of which they make their Tents to prevent the Women from being seen And notice is given to all the Men to retire home at such an Hour besides that the Guards at two Leagues distance round about were ready to prevent any one from coming near the Places so canvast in Such is their fear lest the Wives should be seen by the Men. For they never hinder the Women from seeing as much as they please It is said that during the five Months from the Coronation of the King till the year 1078. of the Hegira which answers the Spring of our 1667. the King commanded no less then sixty two Kourouks going abroad with his Wives every time and visiting the Places round about Ispahan especially Gioulfa a Town belonging to the Armenians separated from the City only by a River over which he made several large and magnificent Bridges Which shews what power the Women had over the Young Prince that they could cause him to make so many Prohibitions for their sakes only that they might have the pleasure of hunting and walking and breathing in a more sweet and spacious Air then that of their Confinement While the Young King deni'd nothing to his Wives nor his Pleasures he neither refus'd any thing to his Favourites nor to those that begg'd any thing of him insomuch that many persons that were laid aside were taken again into Favour So that the beginning of the New Prince's Reign was like a year of Jubilee that sets open the Prison Doors They that had never so few friends at Court might easily be admitted provided none of the Grandees oppos'd their entrance Mirza-Rezi or the submissive Prince was one of those persons out of favour and Prisoners of whom we have made mention The deceased King had confin'd him to his Palace and had confiscated all his Estate to the value of twelve thousand pounds yearly revenue and this because that although he was blind he would assume to himself the disposal and management of a Legacy of six thousand Crowns a year which one of his Ancestors had left to the Mosquees For the Testator having order'd in his Will that this Revenue should be at the disposal of him that was in the Family to manage it the person to whom the Administration belong'd being dead this blind Lord thought no person more capable then himself and because he was very potent and of the Bloud Royal by the Mothers side who was the Daughter of Habas the Great which was also the reason that they put out his Eyes he resolv'd to get this Administration by force under pretence that he was going out of the World and concern'd himself only about Ecclesiastical Affairs and besides had more wit then all his Family But his Kindred coming to Habas II. and informing him that Mirza-Rezi having had his Eyes put out by the Command of the deceased King his Father on purpose to render him incapable of the Affairs of this World nevertheless went about by force and contrary to Law to meddle in Civil matters The Monarch hearing this grew impatient at his arrogance and after he had given some signs of admiration that a blind man should think himself capable to manage such a a design sent to confiscate all his Estate and commanded him to keep himself confin'd to one single Quarter of his Palace But Sefiè the Second upon his coming to the Crown restor'd him to his favour and return'd him all his Estate without the least diminution But the most considerable who in these Halcyon days of the King 's early Government were releas'd out of Prison and admitted to return to Court was Hali-Kouli-Kaan who had been a Prisoner at Kasbin and who with a boldness altogether surprizing having made his escape from his Guards came and threw himself at the King's Feet The story was this So soon as he understood the News of Habas's decease he conceiv'd great hopes of recovering his Liberty To which purpose he consider'd with himself by what means he might make his escape and get to Ispahan He was resolv'd to beg the King's favour himself believing that not any of the Grandees at Court ow'd him so much kindness as to speak in his behalf only one friend he had and that was the General of the Slaves He not forgetful of the ancient and strict Friendship that had been between them ventur'd three or four times in that privacy which the King allow'd him to represent to his Majesty the misfortune of Hali-Kouli-Kaan but when he saw thatt the Prince return'd him no Answer he sent to the Lord an account of the state of Affairs and advis'd him to come in person and throw himself at the King's Feet for that considering the mildness and sweetness of the new Conjuncture he could run no great Risco These Letters confirm'd Hali-Kouli-Kaan so much the more in the Resolution he had taken because he found himself supported beyond his expectation Thereupon he wrote back to the General of the Slaves return'd him thanks for his kindness toward him besought him to continue it and to take care that he might have Horses laid to be ready at such places and times And when all things were ready he desir'd leave of the Captain of the Guard to let him go a hunting This being a favour which the Captain had granted him several times before he did not then deny him Thereupon he rode forth attended only with four of his most intimate Confidents well mounted and well arm'd Being got into the field he still beat toward Ispahan pretending to hunt but little minding whether he put up any Game or no. But at length having drawn off his Guards a good way from the Town and finding their Horses tir'd toward the close of the Evening
which they did but to no purpose For quite contrary to his expectation the insolent Multitude perceiving nothing but fire and smoke were the more confirm'd in their Opinion that the Grand Provost was only come there to shew himself in discharge of his Office and that he did not desire they should part in good earnest In the mean time two Horsemen came from the King to see if the Tumult were appeas'd at what time the Provost gall'd to the heart that they should observe the little Authority he had over the Rabble who had put him to a Retreat with their Stones commanded about twenty of his Soldiers to fire with Bullets Of which Volley there was not a shot that miss'd So that Nine of the Multitude were kill'd upon the place and others were dangerously wounded The rest finding now that the Provost was not in jest fled with all the hast they could leaving their dead and wounded behind When word was carri'd to the King what had happen'd some of the Grand Provosts private Enemies which the great Lords are never without and who unfortunately for him were then at his Majesties elbow laying hold of the opportunity How comes it to pass Sir said they that a private Person and a Slave dares thus abuse the Inhabitants of your Capital City Has he nothing to do but thus to destroy your truly Loyal Subjects Cannot a Grand Provost prevent these disorders 'T is not well done to make such a slaughter of innocent and disarmed people This will cause a contempt of the Authority which your Majesty has over your Subjects and to lose the Respect and Reverence which they ought to bear your Majesty over all your Empire when they find such terrible extremities used under pretence of keeping 'em to obedience Upon this the King who of himself was already troubl'd at the Accident was far more incens'd by these exasperations Wherefore he immediately dismiss'd the Lord from his employment and sent him Prisoner to a House from whence he was releas'd some few days after at the earnest suit of the Queen Mother and some other persons that were concern'd at his Misfortune For indeed he was a man of courage eminent for his vertue and one that shew'd in all his Actions the Nobility of his Extraction for he was descended from the Bloud Royal of Georgia the last Sovereign Prince of that Country being his Grandfather whose name was Hemirè-Hamzeh-Mirza We shall speak more of him in the Progress of his Story fortune calling him again upon the Stage to act a part of more importance and of greater Authority The charge of Grand Provost was again suppli'd the next day and conferr'd upon a very worthy person the Son of Mir-Kassem-bek or Lord Prince Robust This same Mir-Kassem-bek had been Grand Provost before the last that was so lately put out and in the time of Habas II. by the craft of the Prime Minister had his Head cut off in the Royal Piazza of Ispahan His Son who was call'd Kelk-Hali-Bek or the Lord the Dogg of Haly during the little time that he enjoy'd this Employment most worthily behav'd himself in it and we must needs say that rais'd his Father made himself eminent again by driving out all the Thieves Pick-pockets and Rabble which infected that great City This happen'd at the latter end of the Year 1077. according to the Mahumetan account which answers to the beginning of our Year 1667. For their Year 1078. began with the Vernal Equinox which his Majesty made a great day of publick rejoycing according to the Custom of the Persians But this Year that began with so much rejoycing and with such lucky Omens was not so fortunate however in the Conclusion Scarcity War and Epidemick distempers afflicted the most part of the Provinces during the whole course of it The Court was turmoyl'd with several disorders which cost some persons many a troublesom Hour And through the negligence and remissness of the Sovereign the Grandees erected so many petty Tyrannies which trampl'd under foot and pillag'd the poor people as they pleas'd themselves So that there was not any person but was sensible of the miseries which ill Government occasions when the Prince only minds his pleasures and to content his Passions and the great ones following his example give themselves the liberty to follow the swinge of their own Arbitrary Wills The first thing remarkable at the beginning of the Year was the death of Mahammed-Kouli-Kaan-Divan-Beki or Lord Chief Justice He neither lay long sick nor was it long before his Place was suppli'd being conferr'd upon him that was Mirraab or Prince of the Waters or Steward of the Waters For in regard that water is very scarce in that Country this same Overseer of the Waters is a very considerable Employment However it was not thought that he would be the Person made choice of to succeed the Chief Justice but rather that he who had formerly executed the Place and had been banish'd by the deceased King to Metshed for his ill Government would be restor'd to the Kings favour and to his former Post Nor was the Conjuncture without great Probability in regard that Hali-Kouli-Kaan General of all the Kings Forces was then very powerful and that the other was his Nephew the Son of Rustan-Kaan his Brother However he was deceiv'd and the General quite contrary to his Expectation hinder'd all people to sollicite in his behalf out of the care he took of his own Reputation which he had sulli'd in a high degree had he been instrumental to restore a Person that was hated by all the world besides that his private enmity against him prevail'd beyond all the Considerations of Bloud and Consanguinity For which the Christians had reason to bless God because there was no man more their enrag'd and bitter Enemy then he And it was well for 'em during the time he held his Employment that Habas was not a young man and that he undertook their Protection For it is reported of him that when any Christian was Cited before his Tribunal by any Mahumetan he presently condemn'd him before he heard him and that he was wont to say It was Crime enough for an Armenian to have a suit with a Mahumetan for him to cause his head to be broken Why should he not suffer the Injuries that are done him Dog as he is that does not know that the Christian Religion is inferiour to the Mahumetan In the mean time the King held on his debaucheries every day at the same rate But his health did not keep at the same stay while he grew every day worse then other For the young Prince having plundg'd himself into the excesses of Wine and Women it was impossible he should hold out without some alteration So that during the whole course of this Year he was always ill what Physick soever his Physicians could prescribe him for he took little care of himself If he sometimes refrain'd Wine by their advice it was
divulging a secret that would have been the ruine of his own and his Uncle's Family At length the General of the Slaves asham'd of having put off the young Lord so many times and now being run to the end of his Rope as one that had no more Excuses to make he resolv'd to break off at once with the Vazier that he might deliver himself from his importunate Sollicitor To this purpose one Evening at the time that he was ready to go to his Prayers and from thence to Court for 't is the Custom of the Mahumetans to say their Prayers in Publick perceiving the young Lord at a distance advancing toward him he took that opportunity when there was a great number of People and several persons of Quality to hear him at what time as soon as the young Lord came near him fetching a deep sigh and lifting up his Eyes and Arms to Heaven Good God said he what shall I do with this man he pursues me every where like a Criminal he will not give me time to say my Prayers he haunts me going into my Haram among my Women I find him at my heels whereever I go prithee Friend what wouldst have me do to satisfie thee Am I King of Persia to create thy Uncle Prime Minister of State Prethee go to his Majesty the business does not lie in my Power You may easily judge what a Thunder Clap this was to the young Lord he would not for ten times the Sum that he had provok'd those Expressions from a man so ill principl'd he repented with all his heart that he had press'd him so close but 't was too late for Ibrahim's Plot was thereby discover'd and all the Court that knew him rightly believ'd 't would cost his Ambition sauce as indeed it fell out By a Quirk of the same nature the General of the Slaves had already formerly hook'd out of the Nazir or Lord Treasurer's Pocket three hundred Tomans which make a thousand pound at the time that the Court return'd to Ispahan To which purpose the cunning Fox went to him at his house all in a heat and after he had drawn him aside Sir said he I come to assure you that your Head which the practice of your Enemies had endanger'd is now secure The King at first began to listen to their Calumnies so that had not I interpos'd for your safety the King was resolv'd neither to have sent you the Habit nor the Patent Royal. The General of the Musquetteers was he that did you the most prejudice which caus'd a Quarrel between us I suppose you will acknowledge the kindness we have done you The same Prank he plaid Mirza Moumen that is Lord without Blot the Nazir or Superintendant of the Stables who was drawn in by him for about nine thousand pounds by making him believe that he had protected him against Potent Accusers who sought to bring him under his Majesties displeasure But that was not all for that he was resolv'd to imploy his Credit with his Master as to raise him from being Treasurer of the Stables to be Treasurer of the Kings Demeans in the room of Mac-Soud-Bec who undeservedly enjoy'd the Employment and whose head already totter'd upon his shoulders for that the King was resolv'd that none of those should live who had oppos'd his Advancement to the Throne Upon his Departure also that he might leave some marks behind him of his malicious Cunning he resolv'd to set the King 's two Chief Eunuchs who are petty Kings in the Palace together by the ears to the mutual perdition of each other that is the Mehther or Lord Chamberlain and the Aga Moubarek or Overseer of the Queen Mothers Houshold To that purpose he went to the High Chamberlain to tell him as a secret of great Importance and which the Friendship he had for him oblig'd him to reveal that Aga Moubarek took all opportunities to slander and accuse him to the King but that his wickedness fell upon his own head for that he had often heard his Majesty say that he could no longer endure the Backbiting Tongue and Malignity of that person that he was resolv'd to have put him to death and had done it already had it not been for some remainder of kindness he has for him for the service he did him at his Fathers death stopt his displeasure At the same time he went to Aga Moubarek and told him also the very same Story of the Chamberlains Inveteracy against him So that the two Eunuchs foster'd for some time a secret and implacable hatred one against the other both expecting when the effects of the Princes Anger would break out to the ruine of his Enemy according as the General of the Slaves had fed their hopes But the time being elaps'd and nothing hapning of what they were made believe they began to doubt the truth of what he had inform'd ' em And therefore knowing the Author of the Story to be a great forger of Lies they resolv'd to find out the truth The Mehther or High Chamberlain was the first that discover'd it For being saluted one day with the usual Complements the Great Chamberlain coldly repli'd There 's a Tongue that coldly salutes my Ears but stabs me to the heart and then drawing him aside What unkindness said he have I done you that you should go about to procure my death by rendring me odious to the Prince as you do every day all my comfort is you will not be so successful in your enterprize as you think for Aga Moubarek finding thereby a Gate opened for discovery 'T is not for you said he but for me to complain For is it not you that have been continually pealing in the Kings Ears such and such stories concerning me which had been enough to have taken away my life had his Majesty given credit to your Tales but thanks be to God they were not believ'd The two Eunuchs were so strangely surpriz'd to find themselves upbraided with the same unkindnesses that they began to compare their accusations of each other with which they were charg'd and that Examination at last discover'd that it was but a Romance tho a pernicious Romance which the General of the Slaves had compos'd to set those two Lords together by the Ears and to make his advantage of their quarrelling Nevertheless seeing the dark contrivance had not succeeded altogether they dissembl'd their resentment at present and said nothing resolving to wait for an opportunity of Revenge which they vow'd should never escape 'em whenever it offer'd it self These Eunuchs are very ready at these kind of dark Contrivances there being no people in the World that know how to carry on a private Revenge by close and covert means and then give fire to the Mine of a sudden so well as they do nor did they fail to pay this crafty Deceiver in his own Coin For it is thought that they were the persons who mainly contributed to his disgrace and death
one of the dregs of the People For being a man that was very Covetous and yet one that his misfortunes had rendred extremely fearful they who had any thing to receive of him and to whom he had made over Assignations upon his Farm could find no better way to make him bleed then to abuse and affront him And I was inform'd by some persons who were able to tell me that upon some disorder at Court how to raise money the Divan Beki or Chief Justice gave the King to understand in a Memorial which he presented him that if his Majesty would but deliver up into his power Mirza Ibrahim and Mirza Sadek his Brother he would lose his head if he did not raise him a Sum of six hundred thousand Tomans which are two Millions and a half Sterlin It happen'd that at the same time when this Memorial was deliver'd this unfortunate Lord was in the Hall where his Majesty sate who thereupon caus'd the Memorial to be read aloud It may be easily judg'd in what a taking he was but without answering a word he patiently endur'd the punishment of his rash Ambition and want of Conduct In a word he was a lost man and his misery had encreas'd to its full height had not the conjuncture of the Earthquake furnish'd him with an opportunity to beg leave to retire So that in some measure his good fortune proceeded from an event which at another time might have prov'd most prejudicial to him Yet as I have already said most prudent persons believe that he has only delay'd his evil Destiny for some years that his ruin is infallible and that upon the least want of money he will still be the Prey in the eyes of the Hungry Courtiers The year 1668. according to our account and 1079. according to the Mahumetan Computation began with great Rejoycing the Prince imagining that the rest of the year would be no less happy then the beginning But it fell not out answerable to his expectations nor that of the Grandees of the Kingdom as well as those of meaner Condition who had any insight into Affairs tho to outward appearance they attended at the Festivals with a chearful countenance yet their hearts were not so light for they found the condition of the Empire grew every day worse and worse that the Enemy was in the Bowels of several Provinces while others were laid desolate by Earthquakes little Money in the Kingdom a scarcity still continu'd at Ispahan where tho there was no want of any thing yet every thing was sold at an excessive rate The Exchequer moreover was exhausted while the new Prince in eighteen Months had drain'd all the Treasures of the Empire Which happen'd through his Profusion on the one side either by reason of the prodigious Expences that he delighted in or through the excessive Presents which frequently and many times without any Reason at all he heap'd upon his Favourites And on the other side through the little care that was taken of the management of his Revenues For indeed he had not made the third part of what his Father was wont to make of 'em as having without considering the consequences fill'd up all the vacant Employments both in the Court and in the Countrys Whereas his Father never supply'd those Vacancies unless he was thereto compell'd by necessity to the end he might have the Money himself which was due to his Officers But the young Monarch little experienc'd in Government imagin'd that the Coffers which he found full would never be empty Nor durst any body be so bold as to tell him 't was much more easie to empty then to fill ' em But at length when they found him wondring that Money was not plentiful with him as it had been they were constrain'd to let him understand the reason The Dutchess his Mother for whom he had an extraordinary respect and who might be said to be more then his Governess spoke with more freedom to him then any other person and made him condescend to let her act in the publick management of Affairs Thereupon she took upon her the Government of the Empire and to shew her first Master-piece of Policy she reduc'd the Monarch her Son from one extremity to another Insomuch that whereas he was so extremely liberal before that he was always and upon all occasions giving afterwards he became covetous even to pitiful sordidness and was so far from being bountiful that he hardly rewarded those that did him extraordinary services So that it might be said of him that he was like some Torrents that overflow the Meadows to day and the next leave 'em quite dry All these disorders oblig'd the Persians to look backward and to wish for the days of the deceased Kings Reign And they were taken with the Answer which the late General of the Armies when he liv'd in such splendour and high favour at Court made the King For one day the Prince and he being private together Hali-Kouli-Kaan said the King to him Dost thou not know who they were that rejoyc'd at the death of the King my Father If I knew who the Dogs were I would cause their guts to be ripp'd up To whom the Lord with his usual boldness said Your Majesty will do well to take care what you do lest you begin with your self and me For I know none but our selves to whom his Death could be acceptable by which of Prisoners that we were we became Kings of Persia Nor had the King his Health this year any better then the year before His Distemper still perplex'd him tho his fits were always alike some quickly off others more tedious Sometimes he lay whole Weeks together languishing in his Haram whence he never stirr'd out at his usual times but a little now and then in the Evening to shew himself Sometimes he took the Air a Horseback with a Handkerchief ty'd three or four times about his neck which in Persia is the certain sign of a sick Person However all this while he forbore nothing of his debaucheries and always carri'd his Women along with him his most usual Walks being upon Giulfa side a Town belonging to the Armenians out of which he pick'd all the handsom Virgins to fill his Palace It is said the first time that he caus'd the young Virgins under twelve and above ten years of Age to be thus cull d out of twenty that were carri'd to the Palace there was but one that shew'd the least joy in her Countenance for her good fortune and she was detain'd the rest who fell a weeping either because they were thought too Innocent or else believ'd to be too cunning were restor'd to their Parents But to the Father of her that was detain'd the Sum of Eight Tomans or thirty Guinees Pension was presently order'd For it is the Custom of that Court when the King makes choice of any Virgin out of a Family that is not very well in the World he assigns