and easie to bee graunted to require that thing of Amurath which age and riches had denyed him that is to say that hee woulde driue his Brother out of the kingdome and to substitute him in his place And thus wente the good young man to the courte where hauing bestowed a fewe small presentes he did not sticke to shew himselfe to bee a suiter for the nowme of his Brother who hauing had intelligence before of his going to Constantinople had presentlye written to his Embassadours there that they should not regarde any expences they should not omit any duety or intreatie they should not forget any Art or diligence to retain him stil established in his possessed dig nitye to procure his foolish audatious Brother to be clapt vp in some place where he might not disturb him in his kingdom And so whiles the one labored with the power of his toung and by meanes thereof conioyned with the other ornamentes of his mind hoped to haue become his Brothers superiour the Agentes of the other did not cease to imploy also the force of their guiftes and Stratagems and in the end it fell out that neither learning nor beauty of person nor good reporte coulde preuaile somuch for the one as rich presentes and crafty deceites legitimated by gold could doe for the other notwithstanding a number of filthy vices that were in him And what is it that money cannot doe amonge couetous people at this day if it bee bestowed in measure and in time and distributed in fitte occasions The young man was committed prisoner sent by safe watch to Gogna sometimes called Iconium a City of Licaonia and his Brother stil confirmed in his possessed kingdome With great patience did the vnhappy young man remaine at Gogna apparelled like an Eremit and in that his captiuity liued a life altogether conformable to his miserye and as al men iustified it vnto me at my passage through that Cytye when I went to Constantinople by his continuall and treacherous execrations and a kinde of externall innocencye hee made shewe that hee was voide of all hope or ambitious desire to be brought to a kingdome thought the matter was nowe no longer to bee foreslowed but that it was verie expediente to attempt the famous enterprize of Tauris and by erecting a Forte in that Citie to raise a terrour ouer al Persia and a glorirous renowme of their mightie conquestes amonge the Nations of Europe For it was alreadie well knowen what the Georgians were able to doo the people wherof had already partly of their owne voluntary motion and partly enforced by necessity feare yeelded their dutiful obediēce although Mustaffa had rebelled returned to his former libertie natiue Religion yet he might peraduenture by this time repent himselfe thereof neither was there any cause at all to feare the treacheries of one that beeing without any traine to followe him and of himselfe verie poore woulde rather seeke to saue himselfe in his obscure and base villages and to keep his pittifull holdes within the mountaines neither could bee able to endure the sounde of their victors much lesse bee so hardie as to assault the victoreis So that all thinges now were open neither was there any feare of any noueltie arising but that the iourney to Tauris might resolutely bee performed for the accomplishment wherof hee thought that either the same Armie or at the most a verie little greater would suffize so that it were of the choisest souldiers By reason of one of the letters which Sciaus Bassa had written to the Cuman Tartar and was founde I know not howe Amurath had depriued the saide Sciaus from the office of the chiefe Visier and banished him from the Courte so that hee liued afterwardes about Calcedone vpon the borders of Asia towardes Constantinople in a certaine Serraglio or close Palace that yee had there builte for his owne pleasure and recreation And in the rowme of this his son in law he had appointed Osman to bee chiefe Visier in the ranke of the Bassaes of the Court and not contented to haue committed so great a trust vnto him hee nominated him also the Generall and Soueraigne Captaine in the enterprise of Tauris Such power and force hath vertue that euen from the verie skomme of the rascall sorte and out of the rustical route of Mountaine Peasauntes which notwithstanding cannot bee truely iustified of this Osman it doth oftentimes in this variable worlde drawe diuerse men into Princes Courtes and aduaunce them to the highest dignities This Osmans father was a Circassian borne who in the common losse and conquest of his countrey was one of those that to escape the slaughtering sworde of Selim submitted themselues to the Turkish yoke and afterwardes fighting in defense thereof hee ouercame the Aethtopians and thereby obtained immortall renowme Of these his vertues hee lefte the saide Osman his heire who beeing broughte vppe in aboundance of all thinges and trayned vp in the Arte of warrefare became verie couragious and skilfull therein and at last from a priuate Souldier was called to the highest dignities of so greate an Empyre and from thence to the chiefest place of authoritie in the Armie of the Easte and to bee shorte was at one instante created a Counseller and Generall of Ottoman Greate was the ioye that Osman conceiued hereat and greate was the desire that hee had to make himselfe woorthie of so honourable fauours and the greater confidence that hee perceiued Amarath had reposed in him the more eagerly was he spurred on to doe any thing possible whereby hee might shewe himselfe to haue deserued the same And therefore aduising with himselfe that forasmuch as there must bee a greater Armie nowe Leuied then there was in the former years so sent into very far Countreyes it was also necessarie for him the sooner to send out his aduertisementes into all his subiect Prouinces and he himselfe by his owne example to prouoke the other Captaines and Souldiers therunto he determined euen in winter thought it were as yet somewhat troublesome to passe to Chalcedon and from thence to Angori to Amasia to Siuas and in those territories to driue out the time vntill hee might vnderstand that all his souldiers which were summoned were gathered together But because vpon this his great speed it might fal out peraduenture that his enemies also woulde beginne to prepare a greater number of Souldiers if they should vnderstande for certaine that Osman had appointed all these preparations for Tauris he thought it a better pollicie for so it pleased Amurath also to spreade a rumour abroade that they must goe for Nassiuan whither Ferat Bassa had giuen out speech that he should haue gone the last yeere before to the end that the Persians beeing so beguiled shoulde not regard the gathering of so mighty an Armye as they woulde haue done if they should haue heard of their
of Mustaffa Cadige the wife of Mahamet Sergio a fugitiue of Christendome The suttlenes of Mahamet to cause himselfe to be held a Saint Certaine Iniunctions geâ—en by Mahamet as it were for a law A prayer inuented by Mahamet common both to the Persians and to the Turks and to all those that professe Mahamet Mahamet was priest Prince Mahames is married to 8. other concubines The death of Mahamet Abubacher left successor to Mahamet Aly driuen out by Abubacher and spoiled of all his substance Bookes written by those first wise men Aly succeedeth in the dignity of Mahamet Aly dyeth leaueth behind him a good report Two sonnes of Aly burieâ— in Cafe The author of the Persian superstition The new praier of the Persians The sepulchre of Aly held in great reuerence The errour of P. Giouius The errour of many The Persians called Cheselbas The name of Sofi renewed in Ismahel The auncient Sofiti subdued by Alexander the great The succession of the Persian Kings The errour of P. Giouius The names of the Successors in the kingdome of Persia The changes of the Persian state The North parte of the Persian kingdome The West The South The East The prouinces of the Persian kingdome The Citties of the kingdome of Persia The prouinâ—c of Georgia The riuer Araxis The riuer Cirus The riuer Canac Sahamal the Georgian and his state The mountaine Brus. Giusuf the Georgian and his state The widdow of Georgia and her state Lauassap the Georgian and his state Simon and Dauid The history of the two breethren Simon and Dauid Dauid denyeth Christ becometh a Persian An aduertisment not to trust the promises helps of the Barbarians The promises of the Barbarians deceauable The places subiect to Lauassap Vallies and narrow cuttes in the mountaines of Tomanis Woodes and old darke Forrestes * Cerri trees lyke Poplers carrying mast fit for hogges Hard passages Strabo maketh mention of the passages into Georgia Pompeius Canidius vsed these straites The Turkes sought to occupy all the 4. entrances into Georgia Basacchiuc the Georgian and his state Breach of promise in the TartariaÌ„s dammageable to the Turke Leuentogli the Georgian and his State The Citties of Leuentogli The countrey of Siruan Polycletes callesh the Caspian sea by the name of a lake Sumachia Derbent Eres Atropatiâ— is fruitefull Eres made Mamodean Silkes Sechi a citty of Siruan Caracach The mountaine Orontes The mountaine Taurus The voiage from Van 〈◊〉 Taurus The viage from Reiuan to Tauris Nassiuan Chiulfall Siruan Salmas Siras Casbin Cassan. Hispahan Heri Corazan Ieselbas Lakes in Armenia the Great The Lake Martiano or Actamar The Lake Arasseno or Tospite The Caldaran Champaines The cheefe Priest of Casbin called Mustaed-Dini The Califes The Sultans The Deftardari The Mordari The Gaddi The order of the Persian dignities The kings Curchi The kinges Esahul The state of the men of warre in Persia. Amet-Chan Amet-Chan imprisoned by Tamas enlarged by Mahamet Rustan Mirize Emir-Miran Ebrain-Chan Abas Mirize Cussestan Turcomania Seruan The forces of the Persian kingdome whose seruice may be vsed The weapons of the Persian souldiers The Persian horses very good * Duckates The Persians valorous and noble souldiers The Persians giuen to noueltie The impiety of the sonnes of Artaxerxes the Persian king The reason why the Persians do not use Artillary or Canons The order o their battell The right wing The least wing The body of the battell The Rere-ward The Vaunt-Guarde The ReueÌ„ues of the kingdome of Persia in the daies of king Tamas The practise of the Persian Turkish kings in enhaunsing and abasing the value of their moneis The reuenues of Persia at this day Certain lands assigned for the payment of the Persian souldiers The greatest reuenues com out of Tauris Cassan and Hispahan The expenses of the Persian kingdome Fortes that haue neede of ordinary Garrisons The occasions of the declination of the Persian kingdome An aduertisement to the reader A notable raine The Turkish army remoueth towards Teflis The Lake called Chielder-Giol The Turkes at Archichelec A surueigh of the army 40000 persons wanting in the Turkish Army The Turkes at the lake called Peruana Giol The Turkes at Triala The praises of those Christian forces that tooke the holy Citty The praise of Torquato Tasso Giurgi Chala possessed by the Turkes The ambush of the Georgiani Mustaffa at Teflis Mustaffa fortifieth the walles of Teflis Mustaffa cheerefully entertaineth the embassa dors Leuentogli to Mustaffa Mustaffa receaueth Leuentogli and promiseth to passe through his territories at his returne Mustaffa and his host at the riuer Canac The subiectes of Sechi come to offer themselues to the captaine The hunger of the Turkish Army The Persian spyes taken The intelligence that the spyes gaue for vittaile Mustaffa lycenceth euery man that would go for corne and other necessaries Ten thousand seruile persons go for victuaile The Persian Captaines take counsell how to annoy the Turkes The stratageme of the Persians The ten thousand victuailers shame by the Persians Mustaffa runneth with all his hoast to succour the victuailers The order of Mustaffa his battaile The Persians repent their long aboade Great thoughtes that troubled the Persians The Persians resolue to abandon the fight and to flye Difficulties in taking their flight The Persian Capitaines saue themselues by passing the tiues The Persians drowned in the Riuer The Persians in fight shew great signes of valour Conquerours doo but little regard their promises being geuen to spoile The Demye Island made the perpetual graue of a couragious warlike people The losse of the Turkes in this battell The Persians withdraw themselues to their seuerall gouernementes Mustaffa commandeth all his hoast to passe ouer the Riuer Canac The souldiers in a tumult threaten Generall Mustaffa The answere of Mustaffa to his soldiers Lib. 4. Mustaffa first of all wadeth ouer the deep Riuer Canac Nighti was the occasion that more then half the hoast went not ouer 8000. Turkes drowned in wading ouer the riuer of Canac A meruelous kind of Foord The calamities of the Turkish hoast The Turkes refreshed with victuaile other commodities The Turkes at Eres in Siruan Eres abandened by the Persians Samir-Chan Ares Chan Persian Gouernours withdraw themselues into the mountaines The entry of the Turkes into Eres not disturbed by the enemy nor enriched by spoile and victory Mustaffa remaineth in Eres 22. daies Eres fortifyed fenced by Mustaffa Mustaffa appointeth Osman bassa to keepe Sumachia Derbent Osman Bassa frendly entâ—tayned at Sumachia The Alexandrians yeeld themselues to the Turkes Mustaffa departeth from Eres A bridge built vpon Canac to passe ouer Sahamal yeeldeth himselfe to Mustaffa Mustaffa by night looseth his way Mustaffa in the countrey of Leuent The embassadors of Leuentogli with reliefe presentes receaued by Generall Mustaffa Mustaffa at Teflis The famine of the souldâ—ers left in the Castle of Teflis Mustaffa releeueth them with meate money and wordes Great snowes breed many annoiances to the
will bee encouraged to take vp armes against the Barbarians vnder whose gouernement so many famous and potent nations are already reduced A losse to say the trueth very great and not to be thought-of without shedding of teares that whereas a people so renowmed for their Nobilitie glorious in all ages for wisedome and science did in times past gouerne so many nations as though they were Lordes of the whole world Now being either driuen from their proper Colonies from their owne houses from their domesticall confines they goe wandring vp and downe poore needy of other mens helpe Orels being brought into a most vile kind of seruitude some serue as sclaues some yeeld obedience to the enimies of Christ in such sorte that euen in Greece it selfe the very name of Greece is quite extinguished and al because it was departed from the bosome of the Catholike Church But let not this my history take his beginning at these quarrels and complaintes which peraduenture to some mens humors would seeme the more vnpleasant in that they would proue more necessary to be set downe in this respect And therefore my conceit is rather that in mentioning such thinges as are neerer to our remembrance I should beginne at the death of olde Tamas the most famous king of Persia and withall discourse vpon the state and condition of that kingdome whilest it remained in the successors of the said Tamas videlicet Ismahel and Mahamet his sonnes for that by this very briefe narration euery man shall manifestly see the true occasions of this warre and so we shall auoide the inserting of any superfluous replication in the contexture of this our history I say then that Tamas after the warres which he valorously waged with Soliman the first of that name and the eleuenth Emperour of the Turkes at such time as the said Tamas did driue Soliman out of Tauris being of old called Ecbathana the very same wherein Herodotus writeth that the kings richesses treasures were then kept not Terua as P. Giouius would haue it a Citty which the same Turkish Emperour had sacked and hauing concluded a peace wherein it was agreed that the Castell Cheiseri by the Turkes called Chars by Ptolomee as a man may resonably coniecture Corso being in this great change reduced by Soliman into a fort should be razed he withdrew himselfe to the gouernment of his own kingdome Vnder whome the Persian Empire flourished in sacred redoubted lawes the people demeaned themselues after the best manner they could abundance of collections came plentifully in the Rentes of his chambers increased wonderfully Armes Artes Sciences did happely prosper and were highly esteemed neither was there any more feare that Soliman would renew the warres as one that had altogether bent his thoughtes another way When as after a few yeares wherein both Soliman and his sonne Selim which after him had enioyed that damned foelicity of his Empire departed out of this lyfe Tamas also himself died in the yeare 1576 the xj day of May hauing left behind him eleuen children one called Mahamet the eldest who passed his life a while in Heri in times past called Aria and afterwardes in Siras of old called Persepolis by the appointment of his father being nowe waxen proud for his issue of many sonnes Another named Ismahel his second sonne who for the fiercenesse of his courage was banished into a Castell called by the Persians Cahaca situate betweene Casbin otherwise called Arsacia Tauris The third who had to name Aidere was kept in the custody of Zalchan Piry Mahamet Acta Hussain and other of his kinsfolkes by occasion of the mother of the said Aidere all being cheefe Capitaines in the coast of Istigelù Other eight children there were partly by the same mother partly by other women whose names were Mamut Solimano Mustaffa Emanguli Alichan Amet Abrahin Ismahel the yonger This Tamas before he dyed did solemnely appoynt by his will that his sonne Ismahel the elder should bee set in the kingdome who although because he was yonger then Mahamet could not bee his lawfull successor yet did he yeeld great hope of his most excellent wit and singular vertues insomuch that he seemed to promise euery man an happy gouernment sufficient habilitie to defend himselfe against his enemies were they neuer so fierce and warlike Ismahel after that he was confined by his father Tamas into the eastel of Cahaca had euer sought to shew himselfe superior to his brother in the Arte milirarie and although he gaue himselfe by secret industrie to learne the preceptes of the Turkish law a thing which if it had beene publikely knowen would alone haue beene enough to haue barred him from succession of the kingdome yet had he alwayes endeuored himselfe to be an open enemy to the Turkes and thereupon with his often inuasions which was the cause of his imprisonment whiles the peace held betweene Tamas and Soliman he was so bould as now then contrary to his fathers commandement to assault the Territorie of Erzirum and beyond all honestie to spoile the townes castelles of that region withhis sodaine incursions By meanes whereof he made shew of his great valour to all people but principally to his father Tamas who although in outward shew he seemed greatly to mislike those his youthful heates yet was he dayly confirmed in the opinion that he carried of him to name him his successor thinking verily that of soe great a dignity he would proue himselfe either altogether or at lest more worthy then his brother Mahamet Which Mahamet to speake the truth aswel for the disease of his eyes whereby for his surname he was called Codabanda as also for the manner of his life altogether giuen to that ease which is proper to such as are studious and quietly mynded neuer shewed himselfe sufficient to sway the burden of the Empire and to brydle the fiercenesse of his enemies yea and he protested himselfe that hee did vtterly abhorre so great a weight and those so many cares as are wont to follow so ample and soe many-partied a kingdome And yet for all that did not Mahamet remaine altogether depryued of all the whole fauour of his father forsomuch as Abas Mirize the middlemost of his sonnes was confirmed in the Citty of Heri where he was before borne and honored with the tytle of the Visier of that remote and abundant Cuntry yea and Tamas himselfe had established Emir Hamze the eldest of Mahamets sonnes in some great dignitie if death though some what tardee yet not altogether vnlooked for had not by preuenting him bereaued him of his lyfe and taken from them all hope of greater matters King Tamas then being thus dead the said Ismahel was called by the Sultans for the execution of his fathers will to Casbin that he might as he ought be saluted proclaymed king But while the Postes whome the Turkes call
thinking themselues to be of a sound and sincere opinion did alwayes call themselues Sunni that is to say men of a good faith and on the other syde they called the Persians Rafadi that is to say men of a false faith and going-astray onely because they forsooke those first successors of Mahamet Abubacher Omar Ottoman whom they belieue to bee the lawfull heyres of that cheefe dignity And in this sort began the Persian superstition and not as some thinke from the dyuers interpretations of the Alcoran much lesse from the execution of the law of Aly. For as touching the Aleoran they doo all expound it after one and the selfe same manner and as for Aly hee neuer framed any lawe but onely confirmed that which he found already ordayned by Mahamet their onely law-maker Besydes that the Turkes doo reuerence Aly together with the other three Abubacher Omar Ottoman as him that was also a successor to Mahamet But the Persians although indeed they worship Aly yet for all that they doo not onely not reuerence the other three but curse them hate them as impious and damned persons Afterwardes the Persians were called Cheselbas of a certaine red marke which they carried on their heades by an ordinance that was instituted for the same by Arduelle who was esteemed a very holy man Which name was confirmed afterwardes in the succession of Ismahel who renued the name of Sofi being first vsurped by Giunet for his inuention of the superstition that was spread abroad by him and so continuing the said name of Sofi euen vntill our age among the people of Asia who by the forces of Alexander were in old tyme subdued with a nomber of other nations that were famous in those dayes if Quintus Curtius may be beleeued for the value of their iewelles for the beauty of their bodies and for the excellency of their dogges Of this name Sofi and Sofiti many particularities we could rehearse if we were not afraide to depart from our matter now in hand and therefore differring them till some other occasions it shal be sufficient to repeat with diligence to note that the first man which merited this name was Giunet who because hee found out this notable sect obtayned the name not onely of Siec but also of Sofi although in deed he had not gotten the name of Saha and that because he gaue his mynd rather to matters of learning and studye then to matters of Armes gouernment After whose example there succeeded three other who were content to be called by the name of Siec but not of Sofi vntill that after thē there succeded Ismahel who contemning the name of Siec was called Saha that is to say King did in such sort enlarge the boundes of his kingdome that in respect of his greatnes men will hardely beleeue at this day the intollerable oppressions which those Prouinces in truth haue suffered and endured And herein is Paulus Giouius found to haue erred also where he writeth that this Ismahel was the first of all the Persian kinges that merited the name of Sofi which indeed he did rather renewe in his owne person hauing receaued the same from Giunet the first authour of the damnable superstition who first tooke that Tytle vpon him This Persian superstition was first brought in by Siec Giunet the Sofi afterward maintayned by Siec Sederdin and after him by Siec Giunet the seconde then by Siec Aider called by Giouius Arduelle and at last so encreased emenlarged by Ismahel the Saha and Sofi that vnder his gouernment Persia seemed to enuy the glory of Cyrus Darius After the death of Ismahel it descended to Tamas who reygned with lesse felicity then his father did being many a time and often greatly damnifyed by Soliman and after Tamas succeeded Aidere the second who raigned but for certaine dayes and houres as the Historie setteth it downe and then followed Ismahel who troubled all the Citties of his kingdom with manifold hurley-burlies last of all the king that now is being more vnfortunate and vnhappy then all the rest And euen as Giunet founder of this sect being a man that was esteemed to be wise and holy did renew the name of Sofiti which for many ages past had beene extinguished in Asia and in other his successors Sederdin Giunet the second Aidere Sisopi who were contented onely with the bare name of Siec so was it agayne reuyued in the sprouting glory of Ismahel who did so largely dilate the confines of his kingdome that it seemed he had as it were founded it anew and yet afterwardes it was suppressed againe in his successors Tamas Aidere Ismahel Mahamet who leauinge the names of Sofiti and Siec retayned onely the Tytle of Saha In this sort began encreased and declined the kingdome of the Persians who were followers of the diuision and superstition of the false law of Mahamet What the occasions were why in so shorte a space so famous and redoubted a kingdome began to declyne it shalbe declared hereafter for that it is now tyme to proceed in the narration of more important matters beginning at the Geographicall description of the kingdome it selfe wherein it shall behoue the reader to walke with good circumspection because the confynes thereof are set downe neyther so ample and large as they were in the tyme of Ismahel nor lesse then they were at such tyme as these warres were moued For Ismahel had in such sorte enlarged the limits of his Empire by his new deuised superstition that hee had not onely stretched them on the East beyond Aria and on the South vpon the red sea in the Golfe of Persia but on the West also he had made the Georgiani tributaries subdued the Armenians the Mesopotamians the Babilonians the Assyrians and threatned that he would Lorde it euen to the confynes of Europe But this so notable felicity of his continued no long time because both he himselfe was dispossessed by those that were mightier then he was and after his death Tamas was so straitly shut vp euen into the innermost places of his kingdome that it were but a small matter for wryters to describe the compasse and quantity of that which was left For being depryued of Bithynia of Mesopotamia of Armenia and of Assyria the poore Persians had much adoo to retaine the people of Georgia and Atropatia at their commandement and deuotion but auoyding the outrages and incursions of the Turkes they were inforced to transport their Regall seat to Casbin to forsake Tauris the auncient Pallace not onely of these princes but also of all the other kings of those prouinces And therefore setting asyde the first felicity and large compasse of this kingdome the memory whereof can serue to no other purpose then to bewayle so great a decay and to teach vs that we ought not to put too much confidence in wordly riches nor wax proud in the great
Merent and Soffian And this was the way that Osman Bassa and Ferat Bassa kept when they went with their Army to this citty and which Angiolello also held when he was in Persia as is manifest to be read in Ramusius Besydes this way there is also another comming from Reiuan from whence as ye trauell by a direct line as it were by East leauing Nassiuan and Chiulfall you shall arriue at Tauris within the space of nyne or tenne daies iourney of an ordinarie carriers pace and therefore Ferat Bassa the first time that he was generall attempted this way beginning at Reiuan which he made a Fortresse Aboue Nassiuan Chiulfall is Seruan and the countrey of Caracach which I know not whether it be true or no they say the Turke goeth about to strengthen with fortes and to subdue as he hath begun From Tauris towards the south by west standeth Salmas and on the south Siras in Persia and on the South by east Casbin distant from Tauris about eight or nyne dayes iourney as saith Barbaro and Angiolello with certaine other cities amoÌ„g wherof there is sufficient mention made by vs in the history therefore we will not stand here to repeat them More towardes the East is Cassan and further beyond is Hispahan foure and twenty dayes iourney distant from Tauris Then followeth Heri and Corazan the Ieselbas who were so troublesome to Ismahel that by their meanes he was ouercome and put to flight by Selim. In Armenia the Great there are dyuers Lakes whereof the greatest according to Strabo his opinion is the lake Martiano called by the inhabitantes there Actamar and by vs the sea of Vastan Next to this is the Lake Arasseno called Tospite Toeti which breaketh and teareth apparrell asunder as Strabo wryteth and through this riuer doth Tigris runne with such violence and swiftnes that it doth not mingle his waters with the lake Aboue the lake of Actamar are the champaines of Caldaran famous for the battelles betweene Selim Ismahel But not to stand long in repeating such thinges as are written by vs and others vpon other occasions it shall bee well to descend to those particulars which as they haue not beene hitherto precisely described by any man that I know so may they bring vnto vs more certaine knowledge of this Empyre There is resident in Casbin their prophane Priest called Mustaed-Dini that is to say the chiefe of the law who is as the Mufti among the Turkes and in the other subiect Citties are certaine peculiar Heades obedient to this cheefe Priest who notwithstanding are not chosen or displaced at his pleasure as our Bishops and prelates are by our most holy Pope the true Viccar of God and pastor of the holy Catholike Church but by the King himselfe who as we haue said before should be not onely a king but also a Priest euen as Aly and Mahamet were Howbeit for avoyding of greater trouble he graunteth that fauour and putteth ouer that burden from himselfe vnto others to whose iudgementes hee also referreth himselfe whensoeuer there is any consultation or treatie touching their law and obstinate religion Vnder the Mustaed-Dini are the Califes and these are they that execute their dayly seruice in their Moschees or Temples The chiefe of these Califes is he that putteth the Home vpon the kinges head when he is first in thronized A ceremonie now perfourmed in Casbin because the Turkes for bad it to be perfourmed in Cafe neere vnto Babylon where also in times past as we haue sayd before the Persian kinges were wont to girde themselues with their sword Those three Sultanes that remaine at Casbin for the generall gouernement of the whole Empire haue their seuerall distinct charges One hath the care of matters of warre ouer all the kingdome and the other two gather vp all the reuenues and keepe a diligent reckoning thereof which two may be rather called Treasurers then any thing els such as the Turkes call Deftardar Next vnto them there are at Casbin two great Chauncellours whome the Persians call Mordar whose office is to write all the orders Commaundementes and letters concerning the gouernement of the kingdome one of them keepeth the Seale and the other the penne There is also in Casbin the magistracie of Iudges exercised by two persons whome the Turkes call Caddi and wherof in Constantinople there are wont to bee three as also the nomber of Sultanes there is greater then in Casbin And these two Iudges do make aunsweare and giue sentence in matters of controuersy and ciuill quarrels For as touching criminall causes they haue no further authoritie but onely to frame examinations of witnesses to make declaration thereof which they call Sigil and this Sigil they deliuer vp into the handes of the Sultane that is gouernour of the cittie or of the Empire he causeth execution to be done according to custome And euen as the chiefe cittie is thus ordered so likewise all the other Citties haue the selfe same magistrates but yet all at the kings disposition appointment for in them also besides the Chan or Sultan besides the Mustaed Dini and the Calife there are the Caddi the Mâ—rdari and the Desiardari which exercise the same authoritie within their priuate gouernementes as the others doâ— ouer the whole state This is then the order of the States of the kingdome First the Saha then the Mirize and Mirize the Chan and Sultan the Mordar the Defâ—ardar the Caddi the Mustaed-Dini and the Calife The king keepeth also for the gard of his Palace-gate certaine orders of souldiours whereof the most noble and greatest in nomber are those that the Persians call Curchi which are as it were the Kinges gentlemen being six thousand all of them diuided vnder seueral captaines which Captaines also doo yeeld obedience to their generall Captaine called Curchi Bassa a person alwaies of great authority The other next vnto this is the order of the Esahul to the nomber of seuen hundred distinguished also vnder particular Captaines after the manner of the Curchi and the captaine of those captaines is called Esahul Bassi. There want not diuers other seruices besydes these which doo not deserue in this place to be nombred And this is the state of Persia. But as concerning the state of their warres and warfare it cannot bee precysely and particularly descrybed neither in respect of their forces nor of their weapons nor of the manner of their fight and yet will wee set downe that little which we know for certaine The souldiers of this kingdome would in truth be very many and terrible if al those places which we haue comprised within the coÌ„passe therof as they are accompted so they were indeed obedient to this crowne and if also all those fables could be verified of it that are dyuersly reported by dyuers wryters of so many horsemen so many footemen But
saide Emirhamze with the consent of the king his father but yet not content with that great honor he ceased not continually with ambitious deuices to seek out meanes how he might make the Persian estate free from all other Seignuries bring it to that passe as it might wholly remaine to his son vndeuided entire from the participation of his brethren And therfore little regarding the perilles that might happen from the Turks and blinded with the desire of his own greatnesse he went about to turn the King against Abas Mirize either to take him commit him to prison or at least to leaue him void of all authority to command And the better to perswade the king therunto being a man very credulous nothing considerate but putting more confidence in him than in any other he began to discourse that Abas Mirize his sonne had not greatly respected him in diuers occasions declaring vnto him that sundry times hee had very rashly scorned his commandements and because he would not shewe himself obedient inferiour vnto him he wold not send so much as one souldier towards this war against the Turks and in fine he had caused himselfe not onely to bee called king of Heri but he had also giuen it out that he meant to claime the succession in the kingdome And that therefore it was necessarie to feele the mind of the young youth and to establish the tranquility and quiet of the Empire to the end that if these stirres against the Turks went forwards Abas Mirize should not be so hardy as in the greatest heat of war to raise sudden tumults to make himselfe Lord of that which by right appertained to Emirhamze Of these complaints he gaue the king diuers euident prooffs which both in respect of the loue that he bare to Emirhamze and also of the faith that he gaue to his Visier caried a greate sway with him in his mind especially they being accompanied with the crafty packing of the said Visier who as hee was very cunning in such practises of himselfe so did hee make them much more effectuall with the effeminate king by the means of diuers Ladies other occasions that were familiar and vsual with him But the most euident prooffe of all was this that the saide Visier enformed the king that whereas both by letters and commandements he had summoned the gouernours of Sasuar Coran other places subiect to the iurisdiction of Heri to come to Casbin and so to passe with Emirhamze to Siruan yet neuer a one of them wold stir a foot answering that they were enioyned so to do by Abas Mirize their lord This euidence was the most principal occasion why euery thing that Mirize Salmas alleaged was beleeued by the King why he did continually bethink himself how he might find opportunity to represse the boldnes of his disobedient son And yet notwithstanding al these difficulties being otherwise perswaded by his most loyal and faithful Sultans he did not fayl to temper these his internal motions to tame these vnruly affectioÌ„s of his mind remaining resolute in his important cogitations against the Turks to prepare such prouision which should be sufficient to inhibit their passage to Tauris if they had had any purpose so to do Vpon which resolution arresting himself he neuer ceased til he had furnished all those prouisions whereof a litle hereafter we will make mention for that it is verie conuenient first to prosecute the history of those things that were reported of Mustaffa He being returned as we told you to Erzirum after so many external stirres troubles was surprised by certain more intrinsecal domestical quarrels at home for manie grieuous complaints were there made of him to Amurath whereupon the said king was induced to take froÌ„ him the charge of the Generalship to cal him to the court to giue account of his actions Neither did this thing happen vnto him without iust cause for that he had before raised a great discontentmeÌ„t in the mind of Amurath by sending so much people to the succours of Teflis whereby hee coniectured that the affaires of Georgia were not in such security as Mustaffa had already informed him they were Moreouer hee had also greatly displeased al the souldiers of his army who thought themselues to be much deceiued by him for that now this second year with so much adoo he had gathered together such a number oâ—armed men and made so greate prouision with such a charge and expences to their Lorde and with such a trouble of al the whole empire and yet had not any worthy or notable enterprise to performe wherby either the glorie of Amurath might receiue increase among his enemies or the souldiers themselues might be contented with some good bootie or for any other action of importance Whereupon they were all in an vprore accused him of improuidence and prodigality in that he had no regard of the wealth and subiects of his king With these accusations did they the more odiously taxe and reprooue Mustaffa for that in the space of two years wherein they had followed his wars they neuer receuedfroÌ„ him any smal sign of curtesie no not so much as the smallest reward but alwaies like a tyraÌ„t he did reserue to his own vse althose presents and tokens of gratification which by order from the king were due to all the souldiers to encourage them that they might the more lustily coÌ„tinuein this war These and such other complaints that were made of Mustaffa although they were of some moment yet woulde the king neuer haue construed them so hardly against him as for the same he wold haue bin induced to depriue him of his place and without all doubt they had bene vtterly cancelled by reason of the great fauours which Amurath did beare vnto him it the enuie which Sinan Bassa did carie towards him being now exasperated by ancient and inveterate hatred had not ministred strength force to all these accusations set as it were an edge vpon Amurath to do what he did This Sinan was a most ancient enemy to Mustaffa and thought himself to be his match in al things For if Mustaffa had broght the Iland of Cyprus into the power of the Turks within the space of so many moneths Sinan had also in very few dayes subdued La Goletta in Africa And if Mustaffa were a man of great courage and reuerend for his yeares Sinan would be his equall both in the one and the other yea and Sinan would not sticke to think himselfe to be his better which indeed was supposed to be the originall of these bitter indignations for that in the enterprise of Giamen where Arabia Felix is Sinan himselfe did an exployt which Mustaffa neither durst nor was able nor yet knew how to put in execution and Sinan alone caried away the glory and entire honour of that famous victorie and important conquest And
Castell Chan P. and also vsed in Tartaria and is the same that the Turkes call a Bassa Chars B. peraduenture it is that which Ptolomie calleth Corsa A. Checaia T. a Deputie or Agent Cheiserie B. we think it to be Caesarea in Palaestina A. a litle from Ioppa Ptolomie saieth it is Caesarea wherof Strabo maketh mention It hath many notes of antiquitie Cheselbas B. a Red-Capp It is a title giuen to the Persians who are also called the Soffians the Cheselbas the Persians and the Aggiami Look Persians Chianichie B. a place neere to Ragusa verie famous because it was the natiue Countrie of Ebrain Bassa sonne in law to Amurath Chiaus T. a Nuntio or an Embassadour Chielder-Giol B. the Lake of Chielder for Giol signifieth a lake and it may be thought without any error to be the Poole of Euphrates A. Chielder Monte B. the hilles of Periardo Chielebi B. a Gentleman Chiulfal B a Towne in Armenia yet inhabited at this day by the Georgians Chiuri-Chala B. a new Territorie in Georgia that is to say inhabited of old by the Georgians but yet comprehended vnder Armenia Clisca a Territorie in Armenia and in old time possessed by the Georgians though now in the handes of the Turkes Codabanda P. Blind or weak of sight Hodabanda signifieth the selfe same thing but other writers erroniously pronounce it Hodabende Coran B. a Citie in Parthia Corfu a late word a famous Island called in old time Corcyra A. and according to Ortelius Corfinio A. Coy B. a Citie in the borders of Armenia and Media betweene Van and Tauris Culbat B. a Citie in Parthia Cur B. a Citie in Parthia Curchi-Bassi P. Captain of the Curchi who are the souldiers that are appointed for the guard of the Persian Kings Court Curdi B. a people which many think to be the Parthians A. But we cannot possiblie thinke them to be so wherein we agree with Castaldo Curzolari B. in old time called the Echinades A. which are certain Rockes verie famous by reason of the victorie by Sea obtayned by the most happie and fortunate League of the Chatholikes against the Turkish fleet Cussestan B. a part of Assyria D. DAgmat B. a Citie in the confines of Parthia and of Media the great Damasco A. a Citie in Soria Look Sciam Deftardar T. a Treasourer or Chamberlein Demir-Capi T. the Iron-Gates Demir-Capi is also called Derbent It is a Citie sometimes called Alessandria A. neere to the Hircanian Sea It is called Derbent because it is in figure narrow and long and Demir-Capi because there were the Iron-gates that were sometimes the entrance into Scythia Demotica B. a Citie in Thracia famous in regard of the banishment of Sinan-Bassa into that place wherof mention is made in the Historie Lib. 5. Derbent B. a Citie called Demir-Capi Derbent signifieth streit or narrow Diarbech B. the Countrie of Mesopotamia Diuano B. a place of audience or a Counsaile-house It is sometimes taken for the audience it selfe and sometimes for the Counsaile it selfe Don B. the Riuer sometimes called Tanais A. in Sarmatia Dreuis and Deruis B. a Religious person an Heremite E. EDel B. sometimes called Volga A. a famous Riuer in Sarmatia within Europe Emir B. a common name among the Arabians and the Drusians vsed for a Prince a Duke a chief Noble man Eres B. a Citie in Atropatia Erzirum B. we think it to be Simbra in Ptolomie Essahul P. a troupe of Souldiers beionging to the Guard of the Persian King F. FAchi B. a Master of Ceremonies a Master of Religion Famagosta B. a new word corrupted from the vulgar Greeke which calleth it Famausta in old time it was Salamina in Cyprus A. Farssi P. the Region of Persia. G. GAngiara B. a sharpe crooked dagger Gaza A. a Citie in the confines of Iudea and in the way that leadeth towards Pelusium A. Genge B. a Citie of the Persians in Armenia the greater Gheilan B. a Citie in the Region of Gilan which Castaldo calleth Geli Giamen B. a Prouince in Asia where Arabia Felice is situated Gianizaro B. a degree of Turkish Souldiers so called Giauat B. a Citie of Atropatia in the confines of Media the greater Gien B. a Citie of the Parthians Giol T. a lake or a poole Giurgi-Chala T. the Georgian-Castell now possessed by the Turkes It is in the confines of Georgia and Armenia Godz B. the Citie of Ierusalem Gogna and Conia B. a Citie so called and in old time Iconium A. the chiefe Citie of the Lycaonians Goletta B. a famous Island Gori and Gorides B. a Territorie in Georgia Grin B. a Territorie inhabited by the Georgians situated on the hither side of Araxis Gurgistan and Georgia B. the Region that contayneth all the auncient Iberia and part also of Armenia the great The inhabitants of the Countrey do call all that Territorie Gurgistan which is inhabited by the Georgians In which point Negro Anania and Pius secundus are not well aduised because they think that Georgia is onely Iberia Guuergi-Chalasi B. a Castell situate in the middest of a little lake towards Tauris H. HAlip an Arabian word and signifieth Milke It is a verie famous Citie in Soria which Iouius calleth Alapia Bellonius calleth it Hierapolis and Qillanoua being in a notorious error for this point calleth it Antiochia For Antiochia is two dayes iourney distant from Aleppo more toward the Sea as we our selues haue seen with our eyes Hasna T. It signifieth Treasure Store Money collected aswell for publike as for priuate vses although properly it is onely taken for the publike Treasure or for the Kinges monyes Hassan-Chalasi T. The Castell of Hassan It is also called by the Turkes Passin It is a new erected thing betweene Erzirum and Chars situate vpon the bankes of the riuer Euphrates Heri B. a Citie in Aria Hispahan B. a Citie sometimes in Parthia I. IEsselbas B. a greene-Cap A certain people betweene the Bactrians and the Sogdians so called because they did weare Greene-Capps on their heads Imammadulasis B. a Citie in Parthia Imbrahur-Bassi T. Master of the Kings horse Isnic B. a Citie in old times called Nicea A. in Bithynia neere to the Moore Ascania A. Istigelu and Sagialu B. a Renowmed familie both at Casbin and also ouer all the kingdome of Persia. L. LAke-Actamar in old time called the Moore or marish Martiana or Margiana or Mantiana A. and according to Strabo it is in Armenia the greater Lake of Esseecchia in old time called the Marish Lychnitis A. in Georgia Lake of Isnic in old time the Marish Ascania A. in Bithynia Lake Tospite or Toeti it is in great Armenia Lizza B. a Citie by the Sea-coast in Soria called in old time Laodicea A. Lori B. a Fortresse in Armenia sometimes belonging to the Georgians but now possessed by the Turkes M. MAcadems B. a word vsed among the Drusiani for a Deputie an Agent or a chief Factor For an Emir or Lord in Drusia Look the 7. Booke Macuco B. a Measure
in Soria wherewith they measure Corne. It is a little bigger then the bushell of Padua that is fower bushels and a halfe Venetian measure Malan B. a Citie in Parthia Mar delle Zabacche B. in old time called Palus Moeotica A. the Fennes of Moeotis Mar di Bachu B. in tymes passed Mare Caspium and Mare Hircanum A. It is also at this day called the Sea of Corazum Mar Maggiore the great Sea And Mar Nero the black Sea sometimes called Pontus Euxinus A. Mar Morto the dead Sea sometimes called the Lake Asphaltitis A. Marant B. a Citie neere to Armenia in the confines of the Medians or rather within Media Maras B. a Citie in Cilicia called by Bellonius and Ortelius Maronia A. Marmara B. a Citie vpon the Sea-coast of Thracia Masandran B. a Citie in Hircania Massiat B. a Citie in Parthia Masul T. a man cassiered or depriued of his Office in English Iack out of office Mecca B. a Citie in Arabia Foelix where some think Mahamet was borne and where he is also buried Mengrellia B. sometimes the Region of Colchos A. famous for the golden Fleece Meschita B. the place where the Barbarians do meete together to say their prophane prayers in English a Temple or a Church Miana B. a Citie situate in the borders of Media the greater of Persia and of Parthia It is peraduenture so called by the Riuer that is neer vnto it whose name is Miana Miriza and Mirize P. the title of a Prince in Persia. The Kings chiefe Lieutenant Moldauia a Region in Dacia Mordar P. a Chaunceller The Turks call him Tescheregi Mucaren the first moneth of the Turkish yeare much agreeing with our Ianuary Mufti T. the chiefe Priest Mustaed-Dini P. the same which the Turkes call Mufti The chiefe Priest N. NAplos B. in old time called Napoli A. in Samaria peraduenture it was in time past Nephthalim A. Nassiuan B. a Citie in Media the greater or els in the confines of Media and Armenia Some think it to be Nasuana and others take it to be Artaxata A. Natolia in the opinion of Bellonius comprehendeth all the Regions of Phrygia Galatia Bithynia Pontus Lydia Caria Paphlagonia Lycia Magnesia Cappadocia and Comagena Neneruan B. a place in Armenia bordering vpon Georgia Nisabul B. a Citie in Aria Nisaur B. a Citie in the confines of Parthia and Hircania Nosul T. a Taxe or collection of Corne. O. OLti T. a place belonging to the Turkes betwene Erzirum and Ardachan P. PAngiazar B. a Citie bordering vpon Hircania and Media the greater Passin Look Hassan-Chalasi Persiani The Persians They are also called Aggiami Cheselbas Sofiani Persiani of the Prouince of Persia Aggiami of the Region Azemia or Aggiamia Cheselbas of the Redd-marke which these people weare in their Turbantes and Soffians of the Sofi who is their chiefe Gouernour Peruana-Giol T. the lake of Sclaues It is in Armenia Phasis A. a Citie in Colchis called yet at this day Phasis and Fas. Porta a Gate but principally in this Historie it is taken for the Court of the Turkish Sultan because all his Counsailors and chiefe Gouernours of his kingdome do vse to sit in the Gate of the Emperours Court to heare and dispatch causes aswell priuate as publike Portugall in old time called Lusitania A. R. RAfadi B. a man of a false Religion of a false faith Rama a Towne in Palaestina which Castaldo calleth Lidda Peraduenture it was that Rama A. which mourned and wept for the great slaughter of the holie Innocents Math. 2. Ramadan T. one of the solemne feastes of the Turkes It is also the proper name of a man and the name of a Moone For as we haue twelue Monethes with their seuerall proper names so haue the Turkes their xij Moones with their seuerall proper names also Reiuan B. a Citie in Armenia It may be it is Terua in Ptolomie But I do not altogether agree with him in that point S. SAffetto B. a Citie in Galilie inhabited by the Iewes Saha or Shah P. the great King or Sofi of Persia. Saitan-Chalasi B. the Castell of Satan or the Deuils Castell in the confines of Armenia and Georgia Salmas B. a Citie betwixt Tauris and Van but Southward to them both Sancazan B. a place neer to Tauris famous in this Historie aswell in respect of some battells there foughten as also of the death of Generall Osman who died there Sangiacco B. a Lord or a kind of Captaine Sardar T. Captaine of the Iannizzaries Captaine of the Armie and properly the Generall Saru B. a Citie in Media the greater Sasuar B. a Citie in Parthia Sciam B. the Citie of Damasco Look Damasco Scutar and Scutari B. sometimes called Chalcedon A. a Citie in Asia right ouer against Constantinople Some do erroniously call it Chrysopolis A. Sechi B. a Citie in Atropatia bordering vpon Georgia Seida and Seit B. in old time called Sidonia A. a Citie on the Sea cost in Drusia Sembran B. a Citie in Parthia Semitarra B. a Scimitarre a long crooked Sword A Faulchon Ser B. a Riuer sometimes called Cirus A. that watreth the South part of Georgia Sessa Look Tocca and Turbante Siec B. an old wise Religious learned and prudent man A man of good and holie life Siliurea a Citie in Thracia called Sâ—lymbria Which the Persian calleth Selimbria and Nicolo Nicolio Seliurie Sinibra or Simbra In Ptolomie A. It is now called Erzirum fower daies iourney distant from Trabisonda Siras B. some call it Persepolis A. and some Ciropolis A. It is the chiefe palace of the Region of Persia. Siruan and Siruania B. sometimes called Media Atropatia The Hebrewes called it Madian A. Siuas B. in old time Sebastapolis A. a Citie in Natolia Soffi and Sofito P. an auncient word signifying a wise man learned and skilfull in Magike Naturall It is growen to be the common name of the Emperour of Persia. Soffian B. a place neer vnto Tauris It may be perhaps the auncient Soffia Soldin B. a Citie vpon the Sea-coast of Soria destroyed long ago It was called in old time Seleucia Pieria A. within fiue miles whereof the Riuer Orontes dischargeth it self into the Sea But Castaldo in his description of Asia doeth not describe it in deed as it standeth Soria B. in times past the Region of Syria A. Spahini T. a companie of Turkish Souldiers so called Spaoglani B. a companie of foote-men inferiour in degree to the Iannizzaries Stambul by the Turkes and Arabians so called in steed of Constantinople Subassi B. The Lieutenant or Captaine of a Garrison or Guard Sultania a Citie in great Media Sultano or Sultan B. a Captain A great Lord It is verie often vsed for the Emperour of Turkie as Sultan Amurath the great Turk Amurath Sumachi and Sumachia B. the chiefe Palace of Atropatia Sunni B. a man of sound faith and sincere opinion in matter of Religion Sur B. a Citie vpon the Sea-coast of Soria in old time called Tyrus A. T. TArtari
Volacchi ran with these great aduerty sementes to Ismahel there arose a stirre within the Citty of Casbin or rather within the pallace of the king where remayned at that tyme Periaconcona a woman in yeares elder then all those her brethren the sonnes of Tamas who was niece to Sahamal the Georgian on her mothers side being sister to Sahamal wife to the said Tamas of whom also was borne the yong Mustaffa being one of the eyght sons aboue named She hauing the care committed to her and other Sultan Councellers of estate to see the last will and testament of the dead king put in execution was by sondry deuises dyuersly attempted that the place might not be preserued for Ismahel but vnlawfully yeelded to Aidere who whiles Tamas was sorest aflicted with his sicknes boldly entring into the chamber where he lay had adorned his forehead with his fathers Crowne and in the sight of his old and weake parent with an action more rash then became his honestie shewed himselfe desirous of this ambitiouse succession And besides this errour for the which he was presently sharpely rebuked after the death of Tamas he with drew himselfe to his sister most instantly beseeching soe desyred a dignitie at her handes with whome as also with the rest of the Counsellors of estate he had vsed so many prayers fauours that the enheritaunce could not be any longer kept from him but by the helpe of some secret deceit His sister durst not be so bould as to moue any important mittigatioÌ„ of these matters before the Counsellors neither would her hart suffer her to set forward any action that might be preiudicial to her brother Aidere neither could she tell how to permit so great an iniury to be done to Ismahel who was chosen by his father into the succession And therefore in this perplexity she sought meanes to satisfy the ambitiouse youth being present the right and reasons of Ismahel being absent the honour of her dead fathers will and testament and the proffit of the kingdome For hauing consulted with all the Sultans she resolued to yeeld that Aidere being inuested in his regall apparell and setled in the great gallerie should attend the acclamation of the people and be publikely installed as though he were elected king And euen thus did this vnwise bould youth suffer himselfe to be led by the blind desires of gluttonous glory who being set in his maiestie perswaded himselfe that he should now see his frendes and foes obedient vnto him and himselfe reuerenced of all men as king of the Empire But to these designementes so hasty and so prosperous the successes that sprong from the subtilty of those Counsellors and his dissembling Sister were nothing conformable for that by their aduise she tooke order for the gates of the Pallace to be presently locked leauing at euery passage asure guarde and permitting that one narrow wicket onely should remayne open and safely warded with a company of most faithfull and valorouse Captaines wholly deuoted to Tamas Ismahel who had strait charge also giuen them to suffer euery man to enter in sauing onely the followers and keepers of Aidere In this sort did she thinke to entertaine the young man vntill such time as the nominated king should arriue from Cahaca and so put in execution what he thought best for the honour of himselfe for the custodye of the kingdome which fell to him by inheritance and for the generall quiet of all Persia. Thus then sate the young man Aidere replenished with vnwonted ioyes receauing honour from al the people of Casbin sauing onely from his frendes and keepers By meanes whereof perceauing now the prohibition of them and the great stirre of Zalchan his chiefest fauorite who discouering the prepensed deceit and crying vpon king Aidere threatned the lady the Sultans all the rest that waited vpon this fained succession which was indeed ordayned but for a scorne despight of him he acknowledged this publicke derision and secretly together with all his misfortune he abandoned his fresh-begun honors and of a king as he presumed to be he had the grace to make himselfe a fugitiue and being become all fearefull and sorrowfull with all the force he could he withdrew himselfe closely among certayne women of the pallace hoping so to find some way to escape with his lyfe In the meane tyme so greatly encreased the cryes and threatnings of the frendly company of Istigelu and now all of them had prepared themselues for some dangerous pernitious attempt against Persia that the counsellors with consent of the lady were enforced to take order that to bereaue these tumultuous and seditious people of all their hope and courage Aidere should be depriued of his lyfe And so Sahamal the Georgian vncle to the young man after long search made for him at last found him hidden among the weomen and without any stay taking his head by the lockes cut it quite from his carcase and in the place where Zalchan with the rest of vnfortunate Aidere his fauorites stoode crying and threatning among the greatest medley thickest presse of the proude conspirators he flong the head all blouddy as it were breathing for heate crying out vnto them Behould there your king enioy him at your pleasure At this sudden and horrible spectacle euery man burned in rage and anger neither did there want for the present time many a rash head that meditated most cruel reueng turbulent stirres Yet in the end when they perceiued that the neere succession of Ismahel was ineuitable and the death of Aidere that followed irreuocable euery one betooke himselfe to his owne priuate affayres at last deuyded themselues one from another and seuerally departing from the pallace some saued themselues here and some there leauinge those courtes and lodginges all in quyet In the meane tyme was Tamas buried acording to their prophane rites and Ismahel the successor arriued from Cahaca who without any stirre at all was embraced by his sister saluted by the Sultans and reuerenced of all men as the lawfull heire of so great an Empire But he assoone as he began to sway the regall scepter and sawe himselfe superior to all men in liberty authority without any pitty at all swaruing therein from the Persian custome and imitating the Turkish maner caused the heades of all his eyght yonger breethren to be cut off and with all vsed such fâ—nder diligence that not onely all those which were neere vnto them in bloud or affinity were bereaued of their liues but also all the fauourites of the late slaine Aidere were vnhappely destroyed in that publike slaughter so that the streetes of Casbin were defyled with bloud and all the Citty resounded with mourninges complaints Which vnexpected cruelty being altogether vnworthy of so worthy-a-thought king did in such sort encrease that opinion of great successes which all the Persians had
conceaued of the person of Ismahel that there was not a man to be found which changed not his former hopes into new fears bitterly sorrowing for the calling of such a Lord to rule ouer them did not hate this new fiercenes of his mind bewayle so vntymely miserable a massacre But much greater and farre more lamentable did these miseries growe assoone as certayne speeches were published and spred of the king That hee would change the religion if we may so call it assoone as he commanded openly that whosoeuer desyred to liue vnder his standard loued to obey his lawes should detest the superstitious worships of Aly the foolish and false prophet of the Persians according to the impious custome of the Ottomans obserue and mayntaine the impure and wicked rytes of Abubac Osman and others that were reuerenced honoured by the Turkes with a profane worship So that by this great nouelty quite contrary to the late publike and famous actes of Ismahel and altogether repugnant to their hope whereby they expected glorious matters from him to the generall benefite of Persia the myndes of all men were so afflicted that the country neuer felt greater trouble nor euer indured a more dangerous vncouth a change by meanes whereof by force of this publike Edict of the new king whether he did it because he was in loue with this wicked worship and had learned this abomination rather then any other as we sayd before or whether he did it to reuoke his neighboures the Mesopotamians the Babilonians and Assyrians vnder his banners many of his prophane priestes many of the Gouernors of his frendly and subiect Citties being too much inflamed with the former superstition were dryuen into exile many put in prison some had their eyes pluckt out among whome was the Califfe of Casbin and not a few others in sondry sortes depriued of their liues yea many Ladyes ioyned in bloud with Ismahel himselfe dyuers others of his kinsfolkes to whom neither sex nor age nor innocency could be a sufficient defence did endure sondry tormentes and strange calamities In this so great an innouation and among these tumultes there went abrode with all an vniuersall rumor not onely among the Citties of Persia but in the regions of the Turkes also Fame the publisher of euill rather then of good newer arriuing euen to the Citty of Constantinople that with all these disorders Ismahel sought to put in order a great number of such soldiers as fauoured this new proclaimed vanity passing with them to the citty of Babylon now called Bagdat there to the imitation of Soliman would receaue the Crowne of the Empire at the hand of him that who soeuer he was he should find to be the successor of their great Califfe and in the cheefest place among theyr vncleane priestes In this dyuers variety of matters and in so great nouelty of euentes beyond all common expectatiō whiles there encreased rather feares of newe motions then ensued hopes of auncient quyetnesse by the helpe of the aforenamed Lady Periaconcona who as the kinges greatest fauorite suruiued all the rest he was sodainely bereaued of his lyfe whether it were that this his death happened by occasion of certaine amorous practises of Ismahel himselfe or whether his sister had cuningly conueighed poyson into some electuary prepared for him or as some more probably do affirme that his sayd sister hauing priuately conspyred with Calil-chan Emir-chan Piry Mahamet Curchi Bassi being al at that time captaines of great accompt as it were Presidentes of the kingdome had brought them in apparelled in womens weedes gowns that they strangled him at such time as Ismahel had priuately withdrawen himselfe among his paramoures Howsoeuer it was sufficient it is that by the helpe of the saide Periaconcona the 24. day of Nouember being S. Katherins euen in the yeare of our saluation 1577. this king being generally tearmed by his people a seditious man a contemner of the lawe was suddenly taken out of this world to the exceeding ioy of all those Nations that by his death thought they should remaine freede from great and manifold troubles Ismahel being thus dead the Lady began presently to parlee with al those Sultans that were the ministers of this fraudulent death told them that as they had giuen aduise for the greater benefit of all Persia that Ismahel should be depryued both of his kingdome lyfe and that as yet it was not knowen who should worthely succeed in that Crowne which now remayned in their handes forasmuch as the king that dead is hath left no issue behind him so it touched them verye neere to take vpon them the protection thereof and preseruing the maiestie of the Scepter the liberties of the people and the peace of the subiect Citties strongly to defend and deepely to settle the safety of that nation which onely possesseth the true orders of the elect disciples of crafty and wicked Mahamet There were at that tyme many gouernours and Capitaines assembled in Casbin and euery one of them had withdrawen himselfe thether for the accomplishment of his owne priuate designementes these gaping after the mutations of the world Emir-Chan he burned in ambitious desires and hoped by the meanes of a match to be concluded with a sister of Periaconcona who was already greatly inclyning to him that he should be exalted to the soueraigne degree of all Persia. Mirize Salinas cheefe among the Sultans of that court he hoped on the other syde to aduance into the estate eyther Mahamet brother to the dead king or els Hamze the eldest son of the sayde Mahamet Codabanda and by bestowing vpon him his daughter to be his wyfe as afterwarde hee did so to encrease the glory of his house Others there were that hoped they should be able to draw Abas out of Heri and to create him king of the Empyre There was also one of the Tutors of the infant Tamas who waited likewise for some oportunity to settle Tamas in the kingdom and so by meanes of his greatnes to exalt himselfe to the soueraigne Tytle of cheefe captaine among his fellowes Neither did there want a nomber of others that secretly watched to vsurpe any occasion that might be presented vnto them How be it in this so great variety of thoughts the Sultans aunswered the Lady with one consent and promised her in most liberall termes all the protection that their forces could afforde or their wepons procure and yet did euery one of them both in action and worde clerkly dissemble their seuerall imaginations where unto they myrid was as proue and deady as their harte was cunning to conceale them closely And in this sort were ended those great noueltyes which arose I know not vppon what occasion were brought in by this ambitious king In the meane space which was one yeare seuen monthes and six dayes of king Ismahels raigne Amurat
strong places fortifyed with munition and instrumentes of death And if there were any difficultie at all therein there were but two onely that seemed to be of any weight one was the great distance and rough passage of those places through which they were to leade their horses their Cammells their artillery and their men euery man knowing that the Country of Georgia is compassed rounde about with verie roughe mountaines and thick woods where the enemy vseth all good oportunity to lay ambushes and to worke treason against such as passe that way another difficulty was money Sinan Bassa among the rest offering to their considerations that if a man would conquere a new countrey it was necessary for the mayntenaunce of the conquest to erect Castelles and Fortresses which being leaft to the defence of valiant souldiers would require large stipends without which euery souldyer willingly forsaketh his charge Sauing these two difficulties which notwithstanding were not greatly debated but in answere thereof as much spoken by the king himselfe as was thought sufficient euery man thought the conquest of the kingdome of the Cheselbas to bee the playnest easyest promised to themselues vndoubted victory of it But aboue all other Mustaffa Bassa he that reduced the Ile of Cyprus vnder the Ottoman power infamous for the cruell barbarous vniust death of Marcantonio Bragadino the stoute and valorous Captayne of Famagosta whose name shall neuer dye in the tongues and myndes of all ages hee I say with exceeding audacitie set out great hopes of glorious conquestes not concealing the vertues of the Latines the perilles passed in the wars of the said Islande and particularly in the expugnation of the Citty preferring the armes forces and valour of the Latines before the valour forces and armes of the Georgiani and the Persians and in breefe assuring more certayne hope of this warre in Asia then of any other that could possibly be raised in Europe And in this sort were the first discourses and originalles of these motions in the East begun and practised whereby all men may see that neither zeale of religion nor any iniury receaued from the Persian Kinges but onely the ambitious desyre of Amurat to subdue a kingdome both in his owne conceyte and also by other mens relation ill gouerned by an effeminate and sottish king and through ciuill dissention brought into great danger was the first prouocation of making this warre and thereby may all Catholikes learne that there is nothing more pernitions to the Christian Common wealth then ciuill discord When they had thus concluded vpon this resolution to make warre in Persia there arose new consultations touching the manner thereof and vpon what coast they should begin their iourney that so they might expect the more honorable successe which poynt Amurat did greatly vrge protesting before al his Visiers that he would not enter into a warre vnlesse he were in great hope to beare away the promised victory Many were the propositions and opinions of the Visiers and many questions did the king propound whereunto hee himselfe did readily answere On the one side some thought that it wold be very conuenient to send the Army to Babilon and from thence to Syras in old tyme called Persepolis famous for the praye that Alexander tooke there as Q. Curtius wryteth and by that way to attempt the conquest of all Persia. Others were of a contrary mind did giue aduice that the Army should bee sent by direct course to Tauris there to erect strong fortresses and to take possession of all the country subiect round about It is reported also that some there were that thought it better to send two seuerall Armyes from both the places aboue mentioned that so bringing the enemy into a straite they might inforce him to retire and to yeeld vnto them whatsoeuer they should demand But Amurat durst not repose such confidence in his owne forces as to thinke that with his battells deuided so weakened he should be able to ouercome that enemy who had alwaies fought most valiantly agaynst the monstrous and couragious Armyes of his forefathers not without some feare also of the auncyent vertue of the Persian people whereof Fame hath euer resounded an immortall and glorious report Neyther did he make slender accompt of the Georgiani the most antique tributaries and confederates of the Persians by whose onely assaultes his Army could not but suffer many inconueniences and sundry trauelles forsomuch as if they should assaile his battels behind or on both sides the Persians should set vpon his forefront though they were many in number and fenced with artillery yet being ill planted and in such difficulty as they could not vse their Artillery it would be a very easy matter to defeate them And therefore he did firmely resolue with himselfe to send one onely Army and with vnited forces to seeke the ouerthrow of his enemy And thus preferring his strong hope to conquere the countrey of Siruan in Georgia and the chiefe Citties of Media the Great before the difficultie of making warre vpon the coast of Siras reposing great confidence in the notable helpe that was promised him by the Cumani in Tartaria called Precopenfes he confirmed his counsellors the Bassaes in the same opinion and withall discouered a matter which to all of them but especially to Sinan seemed most strange namely that he was determined not to go in person with his Army about this enterpryse but was minded to send one of his worthiest Captaines in his steed The respectes that held Amurat from going himselfe with the Armye were many but principally the Falling sicknesse wherewith hee was troubled the zeale hee did beare to the kingdome fearing greatly and that not without good cause least his sonne being in fauour with the people might peraduenture vntimely be aduaunced before him and the danger that he suspected at the handes of the Christian Potentates While they were thus in parlee about this expedition and Sinan Mustaffa and some other Visiers made meanes to bee sent as Vicegerentes and soueraigne ministers of their Lordes designement he dispatched away sondry postes and light-horsemen with order to the Bassaes Gouernours of Van of Babilan of Erzirum in the borders of Cappadocia Armenia the greatter that they should by often inroades spoyle the townes and castelles of the Cheselbas and euery way doo them what harme they could Which was presently put in execution by them all and specially by the aboue named Vstref Bassa of Van who besydes the burning of dyuerse townes brought many a soule into slauery and in the countryes aswell Tributary as subiecte to the Persians made many incursions and wrought much annoyance Through these and other lyke iniuries theyr myndes were greatly incensed with anger and theyr wrathfull hartes filled with a most ardent desyre of reuenge and whiles with shame enough they romed vp and downe dayly sharpening their
that had passed and stayed waiting till the fight was at hottest and the medley at the thickest that so the flight of his enemies might breed the greater disorder seeing at length that his people could no longer endure the fury of their enemies rage euen as though it had lightned and thondred and as though the earth had beene shaken with such cries and exclamations as the Turkes vse in their assaults for the more terror of the enemy exciting his army he ran as it were headlong vpon his aduersaries and with greater cruelty renued the terrible battell The Persians did couragiously sustaine this vnexpected fearefull assault and seeing the night now very neere approching rather then they would suffer the disgrace of a shamefull and ignominious discomfiture with vnexplicable signes of valour in that little tyme of day-light that was leaft them they continued their manifold slaughters vntill at last being fauoured with the darkenes of the night they resolued to withdraw themselues with as little losse as possibly they might Mustaffa neither could nor durst any longer pursue them but was constrayned by night to returne to his pauiglions The Persians for their partes did with all diligence dispatch men in post to the King being at Casbin aduertysing him aswell of the successe of the battell as also of the greatnes of the Turkish army and likewise what they were determined to do that they might annoy it By the Turkes also there were presented to Mustaffa who had already sent away Postes to Amurat fiue thousand heades which by their colour countenaunce and beardes be wrayed themselues to bee Persians and 3000. Persians aliue Mustaffa did greatly reioyce at the victory and to make it seeme the greater seeking by all meanes to conceale his owne losses and mynding to make the issue more dreadfull that so he might rayse a greater terrour by the fame that should thereof arriue to the enemy he caused the heads of those three thousand that were brought before him aliue to bee presently cut from their shoulders and vsing a most straunge Arte to breede terrour in the Persian he gaue order that of those heades there should be framed a bulwarke in those fields for a most horrible and vncouth spectacle The same day that Mustaffa the Turkish Capitayne employed himselfe about this barbarous cruell worke there came vnto him certaine messengers frō Manucchiar the yonger son of the Georgian widdow called Dedesmit who being brought into his pauigliō told him that with his good fauour and licence Manucchiar their Lord and maister came to salute him to offer himselfe vnto him as his obedient and deuored seruant At which newes Mustaffa redoubling his ioy gaue commandement that all the Bassaes Capitaines of the hoast with all solemne pompe with trumpettes drommes peales of Artillery and with all other signes of magnificall and ioyfull entertainement should go forth to meet the said Manucchiar and to accompany him to his presence which they did accordingly and encountring him with all signes of honour conducted him with an infinite traine to the great pauiglion of Mustaffa who also caused him to bee saluted againe with an other peale of ordinance and Arquebuseshot and with a second reply of trumpets and drummes Manucchiar dismounted from his horse and although against his will he beheald the strange and vncouth pile of heades all pale and filthy to looke on and indeed imagined what the matter meant all which Mustaffa himselfe discoursed at large vnto him from poynt to poynt notwithstanding before all other thinges hauing done his due reuerence to the said Mustaffa and according to his degree placed himselfe next to his syde after he had presented him with such giftes as his countrey yeelded hee gaue him to vnderstand That for the honour and estimation which he bare to the Turkish valour he was alwaies deuoted to the house of the Ottomans and as he had oftentymes desyred to spend his goodes and lyfe in their seruice so at this present being moued by his auncient desyre allured by the strange fame of this victorious and wonderfull army and stirred vp by a particular fantasy to learne the paynefull and harde preceptes of Arte Military vnder such a Captayne being a maister of other captaynes hee offred him all deuotion and seruice more then euer he had done heretofore and himselfe hauing nothing in the world more deere vnto him consecrated his owne lyfe to his commandementes desyring that the same might be emploied in the conflictes of warre vnder his banners among warriers and souldiers of same and renowne therefore he besought him that hee would accept of him in the name of Amurat whose obedient vassal he vowed himselfe to remaine for euer Mustaffa did gratiously receaue all this discourse of Manucchiar and hauing shewed him againe the pyle of heades together with his battelles armour and prouision of war told him That as all these forces are the gift of god who alwaies fauoured the righteous counselles of the Ottoman kinges an impudent speech too bould vnbrydeled in such sort that they lord it ouer all the world euen to the astonishment of all that liue in the world at this day so had he for his parte chosen the better parte in comming now to yeelde himselfe to submit his obedience to his king although it had beene good if he had do one it before And as concerning the desyre which hee had to bee his companion fellow in these warlicke affayres he did very frendly accept of his comming promised him all good entertainment and assured safety And so in exchange of the presentes which he brought him hee apparelled him in cloth of gold honored him with a battell-axe and target wrought with gold ammell neuer permitted him to go from his pauiglion without a traine of his slaues But to the end that from thinges vnknowen and principles not vnderstood the course of my history proceed no furder for that in certaine strange and important successes the readers will be desirous to know the seuerall nations scituations Citties riuers mountaines counties Dukedomes kingdomes and prouinces it shall not be amisse in a distinct booke by it selfe to declare what these enemies are against whome the Turkes make warre and to describe what and how great forces they haue what kingdome they possesse what prouinces are subiect vnto thē their worship or religion their kind of gouernment their wepons their manner of fight their forme of battell their reuenues their expenses and to be short whatsoeuer els shall bee necessarie to bee knowen and so with greater perspicuity to proceed in the continuation of our interrupted history The end of the first booke The Second Booke The Argument The birth of Mahamet and his proceedinges The Testament and Death of Mahamet The Originall of the Persian and Turkish Sectes The errors of Iouius and others touching the Originall of the Name of
authority of rule and gouernement measuring the state of this realme as it was when these warres began we say that for the North part beginning at the very vttermost East of the sea of Baccu and coasting all that Sea and then entring into Seruan and Georgia euen vnto Mengrelli and so a little lower vnto Chars lying in the champaine country vnder the mountains of Periardi called Chielder where also is erected a Castell called Childerum for defence of the borders you haue the description of all that the Persians possesse on that syde From thence drawing a lyne by the East and rolling the same ouer the Lake Actamar and ouer Coy in the champeine of Caldaran then carrying the same lyne towardes the South to the Citty of Salmas and a little higher towards Seresul euen to the channell of Euphrates there is comprehended all the West parte of this kingdome From the channell of the sayde riuer where the Bassora lyeth coasting all along that syde of the sea euen vntill the mountaines Techisnandan and more towardes the East to the kingdome of Candahar there making an end of that compasse all the South parte of this present Empire is figured The East whereof is included betweene the borders of Corassan and of the Tartarian Iesselbas euen from the Citty of Samarcante on the east parte of the Casptan Sea otherwise called the sea of Baccu The compasse appeareth to bee very great and of importance comprehending in it many prouinces not onely famous in our tymes but also much more glorious in the daies of those Auncients for that in the West is included with the countrey of Georgia parte of Turcomania and of Cussestan in the North Seruania the countrey of Gheilan and Massandran in the East Candahar Corassan and Heri and in the South all the kingdome of Fars the cheefe Citty whereof is Siras with Caramania the Desert In the very middle and Centre of this Circle are the Territories of Casbin Cassan and Hispahan So that in the beginning of this warre the King of Persia ruled ouer all these prouinces Georgia sometyme called Iberia Seruania otherwise called Atropatia Tauris with the territories belonging vnto it called in times past Media the Great Gheilan or Gely Masandran or Hircania more inward Parthia Aria Candahar or Peripaniso Farsi or Persia and parte of Cussestan in old tyme called Assyria All these prouinces in times past subdued by the Macedonians the Graecians and Barbarians wasted by so many mutations and States and outrages of Armyes haue also lost their auncient names and according to the seuerall languages therein vsed haue had dyuers and sondry appellations which as a man may probably coniecture are in truth those that are last named Of all which prouinces Anania Pius the second of happy memory Negro the Venetian some other late Geographers haue beene so bould as to wryte many thinges rather fabulous then true after the example and imitation of those that are so greatly reprehended by Strabo and Thucydides therefore avoyding the danger of lying and laying also a side for this time the History of thinges Naturall Miraculous and Poeticall for of Poeticall matters especially the particular Geography of Danaeus reporteth we will onely speake of such thinges as will serue our turne for the better knowledge of the State and condition of this kingdome Tamas had vnder him and so he left the kingdome to Ismahel in whose time and by whose meanes these warres were raised threescore and tenne Gouernementes all bearing the Titles of Sultans Chan so that in his whole Empire he had seauentie Citties of such state and condition as they deserued to haue a Gouernour of the same dignitie that the Bassa is with the Turkes as shall be declared in the exposition of Names Now what they were it would be a very hard matter precisely to know yet some of them we haue learned and the principall thereof peraduenture were Sumachi Sechi Eres Seruan Derbent Caracach Ardouil Tauris Reiuan Genge Hispahan Masandran Gheilan Heri Cassam Siras Starabat Chilmisnar Candahar Iesed Sapanec Sultania Bargo Cum Coran Seua Casbin and others all which haue Iurisdiction ouer many Villages and Townes from whence there are leauied many men of warre Hispahan onely hath in her gouernement twelue Sultanes Casbin three Sultanes the king Heri three also and Abas Mirize Candahar three and Rustan Mirize Of all these places to make an exquisite description Geographicall to tell the Mountaines the Riuers the Champaines the Distances the Situations the Altitudes of the Pole and such other particularities it would not be an enterprise fit for our handling except we would insert many lies therein as a nomber of writers haue heeretofore done therefore seeing neither the battels of the Turke haue entred into those partes nor any thing happened in them that requireth any great diligēce of discourse Let that little bee sufficient which wee haue already touched in this History by occasion of Abas Mirize and of the Turcomanni and returning to Georgia to Seruan and to Media the Great with a peece of Armenia we will vse our best diligence euen as neede shall require and our informations will serue vs. Georgia then is that prouince which in auncient tyme was called Iberia which on the West is bounded vpon Colchis at this day called Mengrellia on the East vpon Media Atropatia at this day called as we said afore Seruan on the North vpon Albania now called Zuiria and on the South vpon Armenia the Greater now called Turcomania whereof it doth also possesse a parte so that Iberia and part of Armenia is comprehended vnder this name of Georgia It is for the most part full of hills woods rockes and ruynes and hath abundance of silkes fruites wilde beastes and Faulcons It is watred with many famous riuers and so was euen in the tyme of Strabo but principally with the riuer Cirus whose gulfe openeth in that country and is ioyned with Araxis The riuer Araxis springeth out of the hill Taurus in that parte where Periardo is situate on the syde of the hill Abo and so running by East euen to the confynes of Seruan windeth it selfe towardes the west by the North where it is ioined with Cirus and then passeth to Artaxata a cittie of the Armenians right against a place which is very famous in this warre called Reiuan and so watring Armenia and coursing all along the playne of Araxis which peraduenture is the champaine called Caldarana dischargeth it selfe into the Caspian Sea at this day called the sea of Corazun and of Baccu on the one syde by south leauing Armenia and on the other syde by North leauing Seruania whose cheefe Citty is Eres which is so famous in this booke as in fit place it shalbe shewed It is a riuer very deepe and large but yet at this present it contayneth not those meruails that Herodotus reporteth of it as also it is very hard to
for somuch as not onely the Tributaries but also the very naturall subiects doo not send in their ordinary and due aydes and succours hereupon it springeth that in all their occasions their forces prooue so weake and their Armies of a very small nomber Of the discordes and diuisions in Georgia which haue now bene tried by long experience to haue bene no lesse hurtful to them selues then to the Persians we haue already spoken asmuch as may suffice and now we will speake of some others beginning with Amet-Chan who hath a long time been Lord of Gheilan This man although he were of hability to haue yeelded singular aide to this crowne it being the generall opinion of all men that he could gather together xx thousand horse yet could hee neuer be induced to serue in warre but rather enioying a base and infamous lyfe he is become both vyle to himselfe and vnprofitable and hatefull euen to his neighbours kinsfolkes For which cause king Tamas when hee was free from the Turkish warres employed all his forces against him and followed him so hardly that in the end hee tooke him prisoner so kept him till he dyed which was for the space of xv yeares But assoone as the now king Mahamet was inthronized in his kingdome being carried away with a vaine and foolish pittie hee deliuered him out of prison hoping lyke an vnwyse man as he was that this most couetous and suspicious wretch would haue proued curteous and kynd towardes him which was a thing quyte contrary to his nature and disposition And behold neither thoseuerity of Tamas nor the lenity of Codabanda could euer perswade him to change his mynd for in the greatest daungers of this present warre hee could neuer tynde in his hart to apply himselfe to the performance of any noble acte that was not only worthy of his great forces but also especially required by the present necessities The like treacherie shewed Rustan Mirize the king of Candahar and sonne to a brother of king Tamas who neither for neerenesse of bloud nor for common honour nor for the estimation and reputation of his owne superstition could euer be wrought to pitty the calamities of Persian and yet the kingdome of Candahar was very well hable to gather about xxv thousand horse Neither may his excuses auaile him that he alleadged touching the far distance of his countrey For if distaunce of place was no hinderaunce to the enimie to bring his Armies euen to Tauris to annoy the Persians Lesse reason had Rustan Mirize to withdraw his ready forces frō defending his frends the iourney from Constantinople to Tauris beeing no shorter then it is thither from Candahar Like vnto these was and still is Emir-Miran the Lord of Iest a hard man and very obstinate in coueteousnesse who doth not onely not send any voluntarie aide but also refuseth to pay those tributes which by couenant composition he is bound to send And yet is he able to yeeld foure or fiue thousand horse of great valour in warre The Lord of Lar also called Ebrain-Chan famous for his mightinesse although in times past hee hath alwayes helped the common forces with his priuate succours yet at this day he vtterly denieth both the one and the other and threateneth rather to suppresse all Estates then to aduaunce and encrease any that belong to this crowne But aboue al the rest me thinketh that Abas Mirize this kinges sonne is most impious and wicked who not onely would neuer fauour his fathers enterprises against the cruell enimies of the common libertie but also hath sought by all meanes possible to driue both his brethren and his father out of the State and to enter himselfe into the succession and gouernement of this diuided and troubled kingdome So that vnder his Iurisdiction there are idlely fed eighteene thousand horse which would prooue very stout and strong in warre if they wanted not discipline In Cussestan those Arabians that were wont to be ready for any seruice to the Persian kinges haue yeelded thēselues to the Turkes and often times worke great annoyances to the Persians by their suddaine incursions But within the very bowels of the kingdome the Turcoman nation that would haue beene a great strength to these forces if they would haue ioyned with them Behold how it hath not failed to procure many ouerthrowes to this kingdome a great parte whereof we haue described in the fourth booke of this history The kingdome of Seruan also is in such sort spoyled and decayed that the cities of Sumachia Eres Sechi Derbent and others out of which there was wont to bee leuied a good reasonable nomber of people as also Reiuan Teflis and other countries of Georgia and Armenia are not able to yeeld any succours in the time of warre so that the Crowne of Persia beeing depriued of such and so many helpes is at this day constrayned to wage warre with very slender forces which very briefly shall be heere set downe Out of Hispahan and the territorie thereof to reckon their Stipendiaries to the vttermost they leauie eight thousand souldiers on horseback out of Bargo two thousand out of Cassan foure thousand out of Seua one thousand out of Sultania one thousand out of Casbin twelue thousand out of Ardouil one thousand out of Siras eight thousand out of Tauris foure thousand out of Cum and Cuohiue-Tauris two thousand out of Genge the rest of Georgia foure thousand Besides these they may hire others when their occasions do so require and they haue alwaies volūtary souldiers that in som good nomber so that the greatest Armie that they can possibly gather will hardly amount to threescore thousand horse alwayes prouided that euery cittie aforenamed do send in their Stipendiarie Souldiers according to their duety Whereas if all the other Capitaines that are noted aboue to be obstinate and rebellious would agree and concurre in one vnitie they might make an hoast of an hundred thirty or an hundred and forty thousand persons or thereaboutes Their Souldiers are armed for the most parte with Scimitarre Launce and Darte but specially the Scimitarre is most familiar vnto them and all the Persians do make a singular profession and vse of it although there want not among them some that can handle the Arcubuse also the exercise whereof hath of late yeares growen more familiar and vsuall then it was in the time of Ismahel and in the first yeares of the raigne of king Tamas For their owne defence they are armed with good Corselets and strong helmets many of them able to keepe out an Arcubuseshot much more to daunt the force of a Darte Some of their horses also are armed with very good Armour most finely and soundly tempered And these their horses are of a singular vertue equall with those of the old time which as Strobe writeth were accustomed to be fed and brought vp in Armenia for
and to the Esahul aforenamed Among all the reuenues that are gathered out of the Citties subiect to Casbin the greatest were alwaies payed out of Tauris Cassan Hispahan all Citties of great traffike where the marchandise of Europe all Asia doo arriue And these are the reuenues of this Crowne The expenses briefely are these The threescore and ten Sultanes that serue in the gouernement of the subiect Citties are payed in ready money out of the Chamber of Casbin with a stipend of three thousand foure thousand or fiue thousand Cecchins a peece The two thousand Curchi that remaine to be paide for their attendance who haue no landes assigned to them for their pay as the foure thousand abouenamed haue doe also receiue their ordinary wages out of the kinges Chamber from a hundred threescore to two hundred Cecchins a man From thence also are defraied the stipends for the magistracyes of the Iudges not onely of Casbin but of all the whole empire all the Treasurers likewise Wherof some haue a thousand some fiue hundred and some a thousand and fiue hundred Cecchins yearely The Garnisons of certayne Fortes as of Elegie neere to Nassiuan Guuergi-Chalassi Cahaca-Calassi and such like consisting some of a thousand and fiue hundred persons some of a thousand and some of fiue hundred are payed with these Reuenewes and euery Souldier of them receiues for his pay fiue Cecchins a moneth little more or lesse I do not heere reckon the expenses that go out for the pay of other base Offices of his household of the Queene of the Prince of his Children of the Temples called their Moschees of the buildinges of the gardens and such like and so I leaue you to make an accompt how much remaineth ouer and aboue for the king to put vp in his purse yearely And now hauing respect to the order of those thinges which I propounded to my selfe to treate-of there resteth nothing els but onely briefely to consider the occasions whereby it is come to passe that a kingdom so meruelously encreased is so suddenly decreased and decaied And we think the principall occasions therof were three The first because the enemy did in very short space waxe verie strong and mightie by the great conquestes that he made both by sea and by land by meanes whereof it fell out that those calamities and assaultes wherewith Persia was at sondry tymes dyuersly afflicted and trauelled did alwaies proue very grieuous and mortall vnto it The second because the empyre of Persia had no fenced citties that were able to hold out or maintaine themselues and if there were any as Van was one it was because they knew not how to fynd the meanes either to maintayne or to recouer themselues And who knoweth not that the country lying open without any resistance not onely the huge forces of the Turke but also farre lesse forces had beene able to worke these mischeefes yea and farre greater then these are The third is the conquest of all Artes that the Turke hath made in the winning and subduing of so many christian citties which are replenished with al kind of diligent study arte By which conquests the Turke hath not onely learned to vse his wonted and natiue weapons after a more mortall and deadly manner but also hath inuented new to the great astonishment teâ—rour of his enemy who hath not onely neglected to make vse of forraine instructions and to learne the true meanes to encrease his owne forces but as it were contemning all other mens wittes hath thought himselfe alone able to teach and instruct others And this is that haultinesse and ambitious conceite of the Persian who in this present misery of his owne vaunteth braggeth of great matters though all the world can see nothing but most vnhappy euentes in all his warres The fourth is the concord and celerity of the Turke whereby he hath attempted whatsoeuer he would and hath obtayned whatsoeuer he attempted yea and oftentimes before the Persians could take their Armour he hath taken their countryes The fifte which is the roote and fosterer of all the rest hath alwayes beene the discord and dissention in the kingdom of Persia and the keeping aliue of so many brethren or nephewes of the king at once and not onely the keping of them aliue but also the maintaining of them in authority in gouernement and in maiesty For hereby it came to passe that all counselles and execution of counsailes were diuided Armies weakened Captaines minds suspended and inclyning to dyuers parties to be briefe there followed a meere confusion of all thinges It is in deed a barbarous and inhumaine thing for one brother to dye his crowne Scepter with the bloud of another and oftentymes of so many of his breethren and out of all doubt it is a very harde and cruell position that a man shall not be able to rule without the making away of his deerest frendes But yet on the other syde it cannot bee but too much negligence and lenity to permit that breethren and children being of speciall ambition waxen ouer proude in their owne conceytes by reason of their princely gouernementes and authorities should stirre-vp armes one against another and in the meane while scarce leaue any meanes for the poore king to scape with his life who being by his owne bloud made euen as it were a rebell to the honour and quyet of the kingdome must needes reduce his empire into a most vnhappy state Both these kyndes of gouernementes are in extremities and therefore infected with vice and barbarisme and not to be exercised by any man And although Cornelius Tacitus saith that Great enterpryses which are recompensed with the proffit and safety of the Commonwealth may haue some iniquity or vnlawfulnesse in them notwithstanding euery Christian prince ought by all meanes to auoide them and to establish the quyetnesse of his kingdome neither with too great cruelty nor with excessiue lenity in which two poyntes all the Barbarian kinges doo ordniarily offend I had heere made an end of this booke had there not beene brought vnto me certaine bookes some written in French and some in the Latin tongue some with the tytle of commentaries and some of an History vnder the names of dyuers Authours more Poeticall then Historicall as faras I can gather in which bookes hauing found many wantes aswell concerning matters of the Persian and Turkish opinions about their lying religion as also touching the recognition of certaine auncient citties the tymes wherein things haue happened the actions themselues the voyages of the armies and many other particularities I thought it my dutye to admonishe all those that after this our age shall happen to reade those bookes and this history that they walke verye circumspectly in reading such writings And especially let them take great heed that they doo not belieue these things following namely That the Turkes follow Aly and the Persians follow Omar and
the two Georgian Brethren the Widdowes sonnes who as we told you before were sent by Mustaffa to Amurath expected the end why they were come to the Court. As touching Alessandro he perswaded himselfe that no wrong should euer be done vnto him to whom by the course of his age the gouernment of his kingdom belonged or rather who alreadie was put in possession thereof by his Mother and besides that was in a great hope that some means should be deuised how he myght be established confirmed therin after a more sure and safe maner and that Manucchiar his brother should be honoured with some other Office worthy the magnificence of Amurath Wherein although he had some litle kind of doubt that troubled him yet did he euer carie a constant resolution that he would not in any case chaunge his Religion nor staine hys conscience wyth so fowle and infamous a blot On the other side Manucchiar the yonger Brother who the last yeare had followed the Campe of Mustaffa and had shewed some good tokens of manhood with an expresse kind of Militarie vertue that he might the rather enter into the gouernment of his Mothers State induced therunto by the flattering desire of Rule was vtterly resolued with himselfe to do any thing so that he might not liue as a priuate souldier but rather to take from his brother his birthright and enheritance and with the vtter losse of his countrie-Religion wherein he was borne to purchase a vyle and base kingdome yea and rather then he would liue inferiour in dignitie to his brother he would make himselfe the slaue of Amurath and the Deuill Neither is their opinion false peraduenture that thinke this agreement and conspiracie to haue beene secretelie contriued betweene him and Mustaffa vtterlie to disgrace and ouerthrow his Brother Hereupon they were both examined which of them would be content to submit hymselfe to the Religion of Mahamet whereunto Manucchiar aunswered that hee would so doo and beeing become the vassall of so great an Emperour would desire no other thing but to manage his owne State in his seruice and vnder his protection Whereas on the other side Alessandro although he should be depriued of his State which alreadie hee had begun to gouerne yet would he not consent to the vyle and infamous chaunge of his Religion but remayning constant in his former fayth he onely desired that as a priuate souldier and bereaued of that inheritance whereof Nature and God had caused him to bee borne the lawfull successour he might not be denyed at the least to goe and lyue in his owne natiue Countrie and so to be buried neere vnto the Ashes of his predecessors promising withall at all times all obedience to Amurath and loue to his brother The Turkish king willed Manucchiar therein to do as he himselfe thought good For that for his owne part he did greatlie feare least Alessandro by some treacherie myght depriue him of his lyfe and so succeeding in his former place might make that State more rebellious then euer it was before Howbeit for somuch as Manucchiar consented vnto it he was also to content himselfe withall and to commit the custodie of that State to such care as Manucchiar should take for the preseruation of himselfe Heereupon Manucchiar was circumcised and had the name of Mustaffa gyuen him wyth the title of Bassa and Gouernour of Altunchala and of all his Mothers and Brothers Countries for the which there were great signes of ioy ouer all the Serraglio and hee beeing thus created a Turke had his Brother Alessandro committed vnto him and they both returned into their owne Region But in Prrsia in the pallace of Casbin many consultations were had in this meane time For Emanguli Chan gouernour of Genge perceiuing himselfe to be in great daunger of loosing his beloued and honorable gouernment by means of the late sacke and spoyle of his Cittie made by the Tartarian and taking occasion of those plottes that were dayly in contriuing to sende people into the confines of Siruan to the ende that Osman Fassa shoulde not intend his new works and withal if it were possible shuld be hunted out of Demir Capi and out of all that prouince he purposed with himselfe to make an offer to King Mahamet that he should bind himselfe vpon paine of his head to defend Siruan and not suffer Osman to attempt any newe buildings or further conquestes in that Region and therein wrought so much with the King that his request was not denyed him Whereuppon the charge of the gouernment of Genge guarding the Prouince of Siruan from the forces of Osman was frankly committed vnto him Neither were his offers extended any further For the Persian King knew wel ynough that if the Tartarians or the Generall Mustaffa should come thither hee should stand in need of greater prouision and stronger defences And therefore he gaue order to Emir-Chan gouernour of Tauris to Tocomac Gouernour of Reiuan to Serap-Chan gouernor of Massiuan and to diuers other Captaines that were neerest that at euery instance and request of Emanguli-Chan they should be ready if need so required with their power to resist eyther the Tartarians or the Turkes when they should enter into the countrey of Siruan Neither did Emanguli forget to solicit the sonne of Sahamal who succeeded in the Lordship of Brus that he would ioyne himselfe with him and they two together woulde take occasion to reuenge the grieuous losses that they had receiued of the Turkish army and especially to chastise Osman Bassa as hee deserued for the death of Sahamal his father Howbeit the saide sonne would not by any meanes endaunger himselfe neither durst in any wise shewe himselfe an open enemie and persecutor of the Turkes but was content to beare the losse of his father in such sort as he thought most behoouefull for the preseruation of his owne estate And this was the prouision that was made for the securitie of that Prouince concerning which euerie man almost was of opinion that Mustaffa should not returne thither againe but they knew well that hee shoulde chieflie be employed about the strengthening and assuring of the conquestes of Georgia and therefore there was no further prouision made there But the King turned all his counsels and cogitations to send people towards Teflis for he knew of a certentie that either all the Turkish Armie or els some great bande of it shoulde come to bring succours thither or els it must needes come to passe that the Fort should fall againe into the hands of the Georgiani About this matter was the King verie busie and intentiue when as Simon the Georgian who was sometimes imprisoned at Cahaca of whome we made mention before and being throughlie enformed of all thinges that had happened thought with himselfe that hereby he might take opportunitie to obtaine at the Kinges hand such helpe as hee had long desired and purchase those honours
that he had long expected For hee deemed it a verie likelie and reasonable matter for the King to desire and wish with all his heart that hee carrying the name of a famous Captaine throughly acquainted with al the aduantages that might be taken in Georgia to the great losse and anoyance of the Turks would offer himself to go into that prouince and there gathering his souldiers together with a soueraigne authoritie ouer all that people to defend those cities that were yet vntouched far better than his brother Dant could doe and in another maner a sort than he also could to trouble and offend the Turks which must needes come that way to succour Teflis Neither did hee protract the time long after he was entred into this cogitation but with conuenient speed dispatched his supplication to the King wherin he declared his request reproouing his brother for his cowardise flight promised to perfourme greate matters himselfe This Simon in the time that he remained prisoner at Cahaca entred strait familiarity with Ismahel late son to King Tamas deceased who as we told you before was sent thither by his father to be safelie kept in this mutual familiarity there passed such enterchangeble offices of loue betweene them that as Ismahel shewed himselfe louing and affectionate to the conditions of Simon so much did Simon for his part shew himself dutiful deuoted to the vertues magnanimity of Ismahel wherby there arose an extraordinary loue of the one towards the other which coÌ„tinued in such sort that Simon I know not by what sophistry deluded or by what flattery enticed was perswaded by the Persian prince to forsake his religion and to follow that barbarous superstition What might be the reasons that were able to change the mind of Simon being before so constant and so wel instructed in the Greek-Christian faith for the maintaining wherof he had chosen to liue depriued of his libertie and estate it can not bee so precisely declared but it seemeth there were three principall and powerfull respectes that wrought this vnexpected noueltie in him Namely the perpetuall imprisonment which he knew hee could not auoyd as long as he continued of that mind the friendship of Ismahel friendship I say that oftentimes changeth mens natures much more their opinions and thirdly the great honours that Prince Ismahel did dayly promise him whensoeuer it should happen that hee were named King While they were thus mutually affected one towards another it happened that King Tamas died and Ismahel being accompanied from Cahaca to Casbin was with meruellous pompe saluted King of all his father dominions Among all the rest whome the King full dearely beloued hee could not forget but preserue in memorie the vertue and fame of Simon who was already according to the Kings pleasure circumcised and made a Mahometan yea and in such sort did he remember him that hee was most desirous to bestowe greater honours and rewardes vpon him than he himselfe could request But sudden and vnexpected death lighting vpon before he was aware of it was the occasion why Simon remained without any aduancement and yet so greatlie contented as his recouered libertie could breed contentment in him Notwithstanding among the many varieties of his thoughts did Simon long time wander being after the death of Ismahel shreudlie destracted in his mind coursing and discoursing with himself whether it were better for him either to remaine still in Casbin and to stay the comming of the new King or els to resolue vpon departure and so to returne to his forsaken faith and wasted Citties But in the end after many consultations hee concluded that it should bee more safe and commendable considering the state of his affaires to stay for the new King and vnder his protection and fauour to find some means that he might berestored to the dignity and rule that was vsurped vpon him rather than to flie away alone and hauing no stay to leane vppon to seeke for quarrels and contentions with his brother yea and peraduenture to purchase himselfe a bitter death And therefore he did willingly maintaine himselfe in Casbin looking and hoping that the chaunge of his schisme for so it is rather to be accounted than a religion his imprisonment endured his libertie recouered his fame of great valour his present necessitie his deuotion and obedience to the king manifestlie declared should deserue at the new kings hands some honour and reward or at least if it would please him to commit any charge of the warre in Georgia to his care a constant and assured protection of him And therefore when Mahamet was now established in his kingdome and was certified of the losse of Teflis Simon besought him of lawfull leaue to returne vnder his protection into his own ill-defended countrey offering himselfe withall to venture vpon any perill or trauell whatsoeuer and promising that he would neuer either feare any great enterprise or auoyd any base exployt so that he might know he might do good seruice to Mahamet With great satisfaction did the King consent to the requests of Simon and named him the Chan of all that kingdome which hee possessed before by the name of a Christian and with all diligence was he sent with Aliculâ—-Chan into Georgia for the endammaging of the Turkish Armie and defence of his neighbour Citties And to them both were deliuered certaine peeces of Artillerie that were taken at the rocke or Castle of Eres when Caitas Bassa was slaine as in the booke next going before we haue told you and besides the Artillerie there were assigned vnto them fiue thousande Horsmen that were leauied out of the Citties bordering vpon the one and the other Media Simon afterwardes comming to Georgia where hee was greatlie welcommed and honoured pressed about three thousande Souldiers out of all those countries both of his owne and of his neighbours signifying vnto them all though with a false and impious excuse that he was now become a Persian not because he preferred the faith and lawe of Mahamet before Christian Religion but onely because he might bee deliuered of his imprisonment and imploy his forces in the seruice of our Sauiour and onely Prophete Christ Iesus and so by that meanes also maintaine his owne estate And in this order were the affayres of Georgia assured and strengthened after the best maner that might be But now was the new season of the spring in beginning and euery man prepared himselfe to the discontinued trauels of the warres begun And nowe were there met together in Erzirum out of all the woonted prouinces all the souldiers withal were gathered together all the Engines all the Moneys al the prouision of corne Barley and Rise and all other things necessarie for the sustenaunce of Cattel Souldiers Aegypt also had sent thither her squadronst whereof notwithstanding little more than the one halfe arriued at Erzirum partlie by reason of
vnhappye fortune beeing more and more sollicited by the Visier hee attempted to vnderstande if hee coulde the minde of his Sonne and if it might bee possible to gette him into his handes But the Citie of Heri was well fenced as we haue said and therefore it must needes require the spending of many daies before it could be obtained which Abas-Mirize knowing full well thought it good in the meane time to write diuers letters to his Father and his Brother wherein hee besought them that they would make knowen vnto him the occasions of this their stirre For if desire of rule had mooued them to desire the depriuation of him beeing their Sonne and Brother from the honour which hee lawfully possessed and which his Father himselfe had procured for him they ought to abandon that imagination and not to seeke the disturbance of their peace for that hee was alwaies to spende his wealth and his bloude together with his estate in their seruice and acknowledged his Father to bee his good Father and King who rather then hee shoulde pursue this resolution shoulde bee encouraged to encrease his Dominion ouer his neighbours the Indians and Bactriaus which woulde bee more honourable and profitable for that Empire and much more commodious for all Persia And if they were not induced heereunto for this cause but by a desire to reuenge some trespasse that hee had committed in preiudice either of the Crowne of Persia or his Fathers honour hee was most readie to submit himselfe to any amendes and with all reason to yelde vnto them the kingdome yea the worlde and euen his owne life also the rather to satisfie their mindes with a more full contentation With twise and thrise reading ouer were these affectionate and reuerent letters considered and digested and at last both the Brother and the father perceyuing in theÌ„ such liberalitie of wordes and beeing ouer come with pittie or if not with pittie yet with great admiration and contentment they determined to put the matter in practise and moderating their wicked desires of bloud ruine and death to attempt the reducing of the young mans minde to some good passe Wherevpon they wrote backe vnto him That no greedie desire to vsurpe his gouernement An affection that was onely raysed in the gâ—uttâ—noâ—â— minde of prophane Salmas had induced them to make so great a voyage to trouble so much the people and to shed such aboundaunce of bloud For rather then they would depriue him of that gouernement they would bee readie to bestowe vpon him newe benefites and honours of greater esteeme But onely his disobedience and impudenciâ— in that hee caused himselfe to bee called the King of all Persia and woulde not sende somuch as one Captayne to ayde them against the Turkes these were the causes why they proceeded to these great inconueniences because they thought it their duetie to roote vp such wicked and obstinate desires out of their kingdome and in Persia to preserue an vniuersall obedience and common tranquiliâ—ie among their subiectes The youngman when hee vnderstood the accusations that were laied against him was greatly comforted hoped to make it manifest before al men how the king his brother were misinformed in these particularities therfore incontinently did write back againe vnto them That if they would inuiolably promise not to put to death nor doe any outrage to any his embassadors he would sendvn to theÌ„ such euident matter so cleere informatioÌ„ touching those his accusations as they should not onely plainly perceiue there was neuer any such kind of thought in him but also that he had alwaies desired laboured the coÌ„trarie peraduenture he should open vnto theÌ„ such a matter as in respect of other men and not of himselfe would cause their comming to proue profitable and commodious to all the kingdome of Persia. Whereupon they both promised all good entertainment and were now become very desirous to vnderstand what those straunge nouelties should be and so when they had yeelded their consent and with solemne oath had offered to receiue the said embassadours with all friendly curtesie and regarde Abas sent vnto them two of his chiefe counsellours men of good accompt and reuerence both for their yeares and wisedome with commaundement That they should declare how all these stirres did arise from none other man but onelie from the Visier Mirize-Salmas who as he had alreadie laboured this daungerous plot against Abas-Mirize the kings own son so if this his designment should bee brought to passe he would not sticke to doe the like against the King himselfe to satisfie the greedy and ambitious desire which hee had to place his Sonne in lawe Emir-hamze in the soueraigne seate and himselfe to bee the man that as Lieutenant to the King shoulde commaunde the whole Empire Which notwithstanding they were to reueale without any blame or accusation of Emir-Hamze and to make it knowen to his old father that neuer any such conceits or affections were kindled in the Prince but that he was also vnwares induced thereunto by the crafte and suttlety of malignant Salmas The two Embassadours came accordingly and after many speeches in the ende swearing according to their custome by the Creator that spread out the Aire that founded the earth vppon the deepes that adorned the heauen with starres that powred abroade the water that made the fire and briefely of nothing brought foorth all thinges swearing by the heade of their vaine Master Aly and by the false religion of their impious Prophet Mahamet swearing by their children by their wiues by their own souls That such peruers thoughts neuer entred into the head of Abas-Mirize They alledged many testimonies and euident proofes that most loyally and faithfully in all due time aswell when hee was aduanced to the soueraigne degree of a king as also in his battels against the Turkes his Sonne had alwaies caused deuout prayers and supplications to bee made to God for his prosperitye neither euer desired to heare any other but happie and fortunate successe of him They brought with them a thousande and a thousand Precepts and Royall Letters which the younge man had caused to be written as occasions required to the Gouernours that were his Subiectes for the gouernement of the state wherein hee neuer named himselfe the King of Persia but onelye your King and Gouernour of Heri They prayed the King also that hee woulde cause a diligent processe which the Turkes call a Teftis to be framed against his Sonne and if there shoulde bee founde in him any signe or shadowe of so wicked a suspicion that then hee woulde take from him his estate and libertie For they woulde remaine as hostages for him But when all this shoulde be done and Abas-Mirize shoulde bee founde altogether free from these vniust and impious calumniations then falling euen to the earth and kissing it they besought him and coniured him that hee woulde not leaue
were in Siruania hauing also appointed verie good orders in the same and an assured establishment of all those Countries and places which Mustaffa first had subdued and hee himselfe afterward had mainteined and kept vnder the obedience of Amurath Hee had also made good prouision for the naughtie and dangerous passages through which hee was to iourney by chosing out fower thousand souldiers which hee had tried in diuers battels and brought vp as a man may say vnder his owne custody and militarie discipline by meanes of whose valour hee was in good hope he might passe safely through the treacheries of the Albanians and the populous Squadrons aswell of the Tartarians as of the Mengrellians so that hee perswaded himselfe to bee safe and sure from all daunger and feare And to bee short hee was not troubled with any other care as those which were neerest of counsel with him had told me a thousand times but onely the exceding desire wherein hee liued that he might be able to reuenge the wrong which the Cuman Tartar had doone to Amurath and to him by failing in his promises that he had made vnto them and omitting to sende any more souldiers into Media for these appointed enterprises Thus departed he from Derbent or Demircapi as we may call it and coasting along the rockes of Caucasus Caucasus I say that in all seasons of the yeare is all white and hoarie with continuall snowes Leauing on his left hand Media Iberia and Colchis and on his right hand the two famous riuers of Tanais and Volga euen as his entrance into the first shores of the Euxine sea hee was by the abouenamed twelue thousand Tartarians being apparrelled like the Cassachi or Theeues that kept by the high waies sodenly assailed and fought withall But like a huge rocke lying open to tempestes and waues standing fast vnmooueable in it selfe resisteth the thundrings and rushings of the vaste and fearefull billowes so stoode Osman sounde and firme and couragiouslie sustained this treacherous assaulte neither was there anie in all his bande that to auoide this vnexpected onset resolued to fly vpon it but al of them turning their bold countenances against the rebellious multitude of those Traiterous Squadrons endured the shock of the Assailants who as indeede it is their custome in the beginning to vse great force but afterwardes lightly to languish and withdrawe themselues finding so stoute a resistaunce in those fewe which they thought with their onely lookes and shoutinges to haue put to flight became verie sorrowfull and fowlye discontented Howbeit forsomuch as they were the Assailants themselues they could not resolue to flie and shamefully to abandon their dueties in pursuing so vnequal a battaile Whereunto the Souldiers of Osman were alreadye in such sort inflamed and he himselfe also so enkindled that with a verie small losse of his owne and in a verye shorte space of time hee sawe the great discomfiture of them Whereby taking fresh force as it were at this conflicte and sweetned in the taste of victorie and bloud they were also encouraged and reuiued that the battaile was not abandoned by them vntill partely by taking a number of the Tartarians as prisoners partely hewing others in peeces and partely driuing a many of them to shamefull flight they had obtained a most happy victory and found themselues not onely free from this deepe danger but also Conquerors and Reuengers of an iniurie so fraudulently contriued against them By the Prisoners that were taken in sundry sortes and by meanes of diuers tormentes which he put them too he was informed that for the feare which their king had cōceiued least when he came to constantinople he would procure his destruction from Amurath he was come downe with this Army to seeke his death Assoone as Osman had receiued certaine intelligence of this treason of the Tartar hauing caused a perfect processe to bee made of it together with the dispositions of the saide Tartariaen prisoners he sent the same by the shortest safest and easiest wayes that hee coulde deuise to Amurath at Constantinople Which processe accompanied also with his Letters wherein he gaue aduertisement of the treacheries most vniustly contriued against him and of the battaile that ensued thereupon prouoking and inflaming him to reuenge so grieuous an iniurie and so wicked a rebellion Amurath hauing receiued these reportes according as the necessitie of the matter required secretely and resolutly tooke order that certaine Galleyes should bee sente to the hauen of Caffa to fetch Osman Bassa and with all that there shoulde bee conueighed thither a brother of the saide Tartar commaunding Osman by Letters that he should put to death the Cuman Traitor and substitute this his Brother in his place to the ende hee might serue for an example to all men that such wicked and mischieuous offences doe neuer passe without due punishment But that wee may the better vnderstand why this Cuman Brother was at this time so readye for this businesse it shal be wel in briefe to set down some of the particulars that may open the light of this truth Among other potēt Princes that cowardly basely yeelding to the Ottoman power doe lead a very vile troublesome life vnder them the Kings of the Cuman Tartarians called Precopensi did also submit themselues and gouerned those peoples that were subiecte vnto them according to the wicked and damnable pleasures of the Ottomans whom they serued Amonge the rest of these Cuman Kings this present King who beeing wholly deuoted vnto them was placed in this kingdome besides the slaughter of his parents had himselfe also indured diuers sundry afflictiōs so that he greatly feared to be remoued from that gouernement and committed to prison And therfore this his brother who as we told you was now so ready for this action as one that for the constitution of his bodie and for the guiftes of his minde beeing adorned with the knowledge of Astrologye and Philosophie was better esteemed by the Subiects then his brother nowe raining was for that by reason of his excessiue tributes and besides his tributs of his Ordinarie bribes that he often bestowed at the Court he was become most odious to his Subiects from whome he sucked those Reuenues and presents this his brother I say beeing rauished with the conceite of himselfe and perswaded by the comfortable woordes of his best friendes resolued to passe to Constantinople and although hee were younger in yeares and naked and bare of money and wealth whereby he might haue obtained that which hee hoped for ouer his Brother yet trusting vpon the common voice and reporte of the people from whome hee had carried with him verie earnest supplications and intercessions to the Ottoman king and also relying greatly vpon his owne eloquence and other vertues whereby he thought he was able to purchase the fauour of the king hee imagined it to be a reasonable suit
side doo they not call one part of the great Media by the name of Armeni because many Armenians do at this day dwell dispersed here and there in diuers villages of that country But vnder the word Rumeli which in our language signifieth Greece how many places doo the Turkes entertertaine which are quite out of Greece And with their Natolia and Câ—ramania doo they not likewise confound as it were murder so many prouinces that it seemeth a matter impossible to find out their ancient names what man is hee then that if hee had many other meanes and many other reasons to proue the truth for the certaine acknowledgement of sundrye places would reporte himselfe wholly and absolutely to the relation of that people This is as much as I thought sufficient to aunswere the reasons of Iouius to confirme mine owne opinion All which notwithstanding I doo refer to your worshippes iudgement who as a most gentle person and a speciall frend to the truth will make that accoumpt of my reasons as they deserue Which that you will doo I humbly beseeche you and so hartely recommend my selfe vnto you From Rouigo the 17. of August 1587. Your worships most affectionate seruitor Iohn-Thomas Minadoi A Table conteyning the declaration of the Names and wordes vsed in this Historie aswell Auncient as Barbarous Wherein the letter A. signifieth the Auncient B. the Barbarous P. the Persian and T. the Turkish name or word A. ACca and Acri B. a Sea-coast Citie in Soria Ptolomaida A. according to Ortelius and Anania Adena and Adana B. a Citie in the confines of Cilicia Adana and it may be Nicopolis A. Aga B. a Capitayne or Chiefe of his companie Aggia-Chala B. the Castell Deregrine or the Castell of Strangers Aggiami Look for Cheselbas and the Persians Aleppo B. and Halep B. look for Halip Alger B. by Iouius is thought to be Iulia Cesarea A. and by Castaldo and others to be the Citie of Cirtha in Africa Altun-Chala T. the golden Castell or Castell of gold A place in the confines of great Armenia and Georgia Amadan B. a Citie of the Persians in Parthia Aman B. a Citie in Soria watred with the riuer Orontes Apamea A. Amasia B. Castaldo thinketh it to be Cappadocia A. and others take it to be in auncient times called Amasia A. Andera or Andara a Towne in Drusia where most exquisite Silkes are made Andrinopoli B. a principall Citie in Thracia Adrianopolis A. Angori B. a Citie in Cappadocia which is a Region in Asia the lesser and by Bellonius thought to be Encyra and Ancyra A. in the peregrination of Sainct Paul Antachie B. a Citie in Soria now decayed but yet worth the sight both in respect of the situation and walles thereof as also for the Riuer that runneth by it Antiochia A. Arasse B. a Riuer that watreth the South part of great Armenia almost diuideth it from Georgia Araxis A. Achlar and Ares T. Arbella B. a Citie in Assyria according to Strabo and Q. Curtius and by the error of some thought to be Taruis Arcipelago B. but in old time called Mare Egaeum A. a part of the Sea Mediterraneum that seperateth Europe from Asia Ardachan B. a Citie of the Turkes in great Armenia Ardouil P. a Citie in Media the first Seat of the Persian Sect wherein Giunet Sederdin and other their successors that were authors of the Persian superstition did reside and reigne Arz T. a Supplication a Request or an Information At-Maidan B. the high Street or chiefe Market place in Constantinople B. BAgdat B. Laonicus calleth it Bogdatis and the Italians call it Baldacco in old time Babylon A. Balbech B. a Citie in Palaestina which Bellonius taketh to be Caesarea Philippi A. and so is it accompted in the peregrination of Sainct Paul Balsara and as Frederico writeth it Bassora B. a Citie in the channell of Euphrates called by Castaldo and others Teredon A. Bassa T. a Capitaine a Gouernour a chiefe Lord. Beglerbey T. a great Lord. Bestan P. a Citie in Hircania Bey or Beg or Bech T. a chiefe man or a Lord. Bir which some call Birta B. a Citie vpon Euphrates in the confines of Soria Bruz B. a Hill in Armenia the creast of the Periardj Mountaines Brusia and Bursa B. in old time the chiefe Palace of Bithynia and called in the old time Prusia A. But Ortelius vnaduisedly thinketh that Bursa and Brusia is not a Citie but a whole Region And herein also is Castaldo deceiued if our owne sense haue not shewed vnto vs one Citie in steed of another or if we be not deceiued in deed in the verie names of them C. CAddi T. a Iudge Cafe B. a place within two dayes iourney of Babylon where Aly and his children are buried Caffa B. Anania vset h no other name although in deed Caffa now was in old time called Theodosia A. Cahaca B. a Towne so called situate betweene Casbin and Tauris Cairo B. a huge Citie in Aegypt neere whereunto are the famous Pyramides whereby a man may easily iudge that there was the most renowmed citie of Memphis Ortelius thinketh that it is Babylon but Ortelius himself setteth downe another Babylon in another table of his and placeth it in Assiria So that he maketh two Cities of one name Whereof notwithstanding it is no time now to dispute Caissar B. a place in Cilicia of no great reckoning and without any note of antiquitie Calaus T. a Guide Caldaran B. the name of certain famous Champeynes Perhaps they may be the same Champeynes which Strabo called the Champeynes of Araxis Calife P. a Priest or Prelate Canac B. a Riuer that diuideth a part of Atropatia from Armenia Candahar P. a certaine Kingdome In old time Peripaniso A. Capigi T. a gentleman Vsher. Capigi-Bassi T. the chiefe gentleman Vsher. Capigi-Larchecaiasi T. the Lieutenant or chiefe Lord of the gentlemen Vshers Caracach P. a Territorie of the Persians in Media Carachala T. the black Castell it is in Armenia but it belongeth to the Georgians Caraemit T. the black Citie It is now the Metropoliticall Citie of the Mesopotamians Iouius and others call it Amida A. Caramania and Caraman B. the black Region It is commonly deemed to be Cilicia A. Casbin and Casuin P. we may well interpret it The place of punishment And it is the Citie whether the palace of the Persian Empire was translated by Tamas and called Casbin because those that for their punishment had deserued banishment were at the first banished thither It is yet in Media the great a little more South then Tauris So that a man may verie well think it to be Arsacia A. in Strabo Casenda T. the common Treasure Look Hasna Cassachi T. Robbers by the high way Cassan B. a Citie in Parthia verie famous and rich Ortelius and the rest make no mention of it Cassangic B. a place belonging to Maxut-Chan in Armenia Cecchino or Zecchino a Venetian Duckate Chala and Chalasi B. a Towne or a