THE HISTORY OF THE WARRES BETVVEENE THE TVRKES AND THE PERSIANS Written in Italian by Iohn-Thomas Minadoi and translated into English by ABRAHAM HARTVVELL Containing the description of all such matters as pertaine to the Religion to the Forces to the Gouernement and to the Countries of the kingdome of the Persians Together with the Argument of euery Booke a new Geographicall Mappe of all those Territories A Table contayning a declaration aswell of diuerse new and Barbarous Names and Termes vsed in this History as also how they were called in auncient times And last of all a Letter of the Authors wherein is discoursed what Cittie it was in the old time which is now called Tauris and is so often mentioned in this History Imprinted at London by Iohn Wolfe 1595. Faultes escaped in the printing Folio Line Reade 16 13 make his comming 76 24 to pay his Capigi Ianissaries withal for lxxxv Maidini 97 28 Mustaffa with all his troupes 133 24 gouernour of Nassiuan 147 7 ranne all headlong and as it were 167 14 confirmed in Aleppo by the 207 21 brought into Teflis with so great quiet 217 6 towardes Heri 233 20 Cicala Bassa 239 27 that all the Chans  30 being with all  31 accompanied by all his said Army 303 31 farre to pleasure him 327 18 dant and fertile To the most Gracious and Reuerend Father in God IOHN by the prouidence of God Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Primate and Metropolitane of all England and one of the Lords of her Maiesties most honorable Priuie Councell MOst Reuerend and my singular good Lorde May it please your Grace with honorable fauour to accept of this paper-Present which by starts I haue drawne out of Italian into English Sondry reasons there were that at the first about three yeares agoe moued me to begin the translation thereof but because they are such as concerne matter of estate where withall I list not to meddle for feare of burning my fingers I thought it good rather to conceale them then in printe to publish them The onely occasion that caused mee after so long time hauing layed it aside to take it vp againe and finish the same was the graue iudgement of S r. Moile Finche a right worshipfull knight in Kent who this last Sommer beeing with you at your Maner of Beakesbourne vpon speech then had about the great preparations of the Turke agaynst Christendome and the huge victories that he had atchieued vpon his enemies that sought to weaken him did verie highly commende this booke and the Author thereof whose eloquence although my english pen cannot possibly reache and expresse yet is it trulie and faithfully doone in as plaine and significant Termes as I could whereuntoo I was once minded to haue added certain aduertisementes and collections as well out of the old auncient writers both sacred and prophane that haue written of the most stately magnificent Empire of the Medes and Persians in times past as also out of Leunclaius others that haue lately written of the moderne and present estate thereof which hath scarse a shaddow of the antique gouernement wherewith it was then ruled gouerned But that matter grew to be so long that I gaue ouer my purpose therein least the volume should haue waxen too great I was also minded to haue inserted into this Treatise a certaine Prophesie touching the Catastrophe of the Turkish kingdom which Antonius Torquatus of Ferrara did deliuer to Matthias king of Hungary in the yeare of our Lord 1480. De Regnorum Europae Mutationibus But because he doth peremptorily set downe that the Turkes shall fall into the handes of the Christians about the yeares 1594. 1595. and that the house of the Ottomans shall vtterly decay in their thirteenth or fourteenth king and that it shall not exceede that nomber nor passe the yeare of our Lord 1596 He shall pardon me if I do not beleeue him nor commend his credit to future posterity For with great griefe it must bee vttered wee see all thinges go so quite contrarie to this prognosticon and the power of the Turkes growe so huge and infinite and their enemies so diuided and weakened that vnlesse God come downe as it were out of an Engine to protect the Gospell of his Sonne Iesus Christ and the Professors thereof I feare greatly that the halfe Moone which now ruleth raigneth almost ouer all the East wil grow to the full and breede such an Inundation as will vtterly drowne al Christendome in the West God for his mercies sake rebate her Hornes with the glorious shine of his brightest Sonne The houres that I haue employed in writing this translation were stollen from your Graces grauer businesses whereon I should haue attended And therfore no man can by any right chalenge the same from you nor I in duetie offer it to any other but to your Grace whose wholy I am and must be of whom I may truely and iustly say as Oedipus saith in Sophocles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Lord God long maintaine your Grace in all honor and health vnder the most blessed gouernement of our most happy renowmed Queen ELIZABETH for the continuance of the peace of this Church of England and comfort of all those that are bound to honor and loue you At Lambehith this New-yeares-day 1595. Your Graces most humble Seruant at commaundement Abraham Hartwell The Authors Epistle to the Reader ALthough Strabo doo write that the writinges touching matters of Persia had alwaies but small credit euen vntill his time and therefore it may seeme likely that I who haue taken vpon me to wryte such thinges as haue happened in those cuâ—â—ries within the space of nyne yeares ought greatly to feare lest these my writinges should haue the very same successe that they had yet I haue thought it necessary to aduertise the reader that for that respect I did not surcease or refuse to publish this my history though indeed for dyuers other wantes and defectes it may seeme peraduenture not soe worthy to appeere before the learned persons of this present age But rather euen for the selfe same cause it may rest assured that without manifest wrong iniury it caÌ„not be despised or discredited For if those former Historiographers if algates they were euer worthy of that name haue deserued that little credit should be yelded vnto them this default was imputed vnto them not for any despite or reproch but in iustice and in reason because as Strabo himselfe saith they louing more to delight then to profit inserted many fictions many fables in the truth purity of the History And so the things that happened in deed being mingled and confused with such as were cogged and fained they that read them could not be so truly enformed of those aduentures and actions as they desyred and peraduenture as they had great neede at that time to be instructed in But I haue written this history with a full and sound
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
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
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
that eueninge vnder certayne mountanes now called Chielder being in myne opinion the hilles of Periardo and because he was aduertised that the Persians were in the field to make battell with him being now passed beyond their own borders which were so set out by Soliman in the peace concluded with Tamas as before we haue said doubting least peraduenture they might encounter him where he little looked for them he thought it best for the more security of his hoast to pitch his Tentes in such a place as he might well discouer them and yet not be assaulted at vnawares And therefore he planted himselfe in the plaine and gaue order that Beyran the Bassa of Erzirum should take possession of a certaine hill that was on the right hand Dreuis the Bassa of Caraemit should keepe another hill that stood on the left hand and with them Osman Bassa Mahamet Bassa Mutassade Bassa being aduenturers with many others aswell of the kinges stipendiaries as voluntary men should like wyse pitch their Tentes vpon the same hilles in such sorte as they making as it were two Cornettes or winges to the campe might discouer the comming of euery man and he himselfe being shadowed with the two hilles might be perceaued of no man But whiles all these thinges with such military preparations were made ready by Amurat the new king of Persia who was yet scarce setled in his kingdome being stirred vp by the same of these motions resolued with himselfe to send men against the Turkes for defence of his state and was content for the tyme to dissemble his conceaued and hatred which he bare to some of the Captaines of Persia and of Georgia to make some apparant shew that he was reconciled with them for that without them he could not promisse himselfe any forme of an army or defence and for all the hurley-burley wherwith his kingdome was troubled for all the disorders whereintoo both the Sultans people were fallen yet he wrought so throughly that all the Captaines of accompt tooke vpon them the protection of his honour kingdome And so Tocomac a Sultan the Chan and gouernour of Reiuan being elected generall of this expedition a souldier very famous and well knowen to the Turkes for the many embassades wherein he serued often tymes to Selim and Amurat and in Persia deemed to be a man of singular vertue he gaue him in charge that gathering together the greatest nomber of men he could out of Atropatia out of Media the greater and other places neere to the Turkes he should seeke all the meanes he was able to stop their passage into Georgia Media Atropatia And thereupon Edictes and preceptes were sent out to all the citties of the kingdome and principally to Amadan to Genge to Taiuris to Nassiuan to Marant to Ardeuil to Soffian to Carachach to Turcomania to Giaunt to many other places on this syde and beyond Casbin that all the Chans Sultans and souldiers whatsoeuer should come ready prest to follow the commandementes of their new Generall Many there came that were obedient to the kinges proclamation but many there were that would not stirre a foote for their obstinacy in the broiles begun and for the suspition which they had of vnlooked-for mischeefes wherefore the king remayned greatly discontented and much greeued at this first disobedience of his subiectes and cleerely perceaued how much better it had beene for him to haue liued in peace and amity with Amurat how be it to make the best of the matter he was inforced to take this defence vpon him as also for the satisfaction of the subiectes of Georgia which desyred the same with earnest request by certain embassadors sent particularly from Daut-Chan for that purpose to salue his owne honour and the succession of Emir Hamze his eldest sonne And therefore with those fewe which for the loue of iustice were met together in those partes being not aboue twenty thousande Tocomac was dispatched about his busines hoping that the enemyes army wherein he heard say the king in person was not might be such as with these his smal forces it were not impossible for him to oppresse them in some narrow straites where the multitude commonly vseth rather to be in confusion perplexity then ready and able to helpe one another These xx thousand were all horsemen armed with Scimitarre and bow with some Arcubuses among and which is wont to stand this nation in great steed they were furnished with very syne and well tempeted Armour but specially couragious they were and resolute and made more hardy by the vertue and valour of their Captayne And therefore with all their prouision necessary for victuall and fight keeping the way of Tauris and Genge they came to the turning of Chars where they were aduertysed that their enemyes army was passed They were now arriued within a daies iourney neere to Chielder when they were resolued to send quicke and faithfull spies 〈◊〉 might bring them certayne newes of the 〈◊〉 condition and nomber of the Turkish souldiers who 〈◊〉 thether euen at the very tyme that the Turkes were encamping themselues betweene the two hilles whereupon the two Bassaes Beyran and Dreuis with their people had already pitched their Tentes The Persian spyes discouered the Turkish hoast aloft and perswaded themselues that there were not any other battell then those which they saw vpon the two high hills whereof with all the speede they could they returned news to Tocomac who at ease had followed these his spies a farre off When Tocomac vnderstoode theyr information agreeing with his former conceit which he brought from Casbin of the nomber of his enemyes peraduenture also perswading himselfe that if a greater army were to come out of the borders the same might now bee at Chars and these onely troupes sent before to discouer the cuntrey he became very bould foole-hardy through too much desyre of glorie and determined with himselfe to go and assault them and hauing discouered his enemyes tentes he was throughly confirmed in his former opinion and the spyes relation and with so much the more confidence went forward to assayle them But Beyran and Dreuis who quickly from the hill had perceaued the Persians comming in the plaine against them although they knew them to be full of courage yet reposing great confidence in their fellow battell which did not shew it selfe with all speed mounted vpon their horses and ranne to meet them and in the foresaid plaines vnder Chielder within one houre after noone they ioined a most bloudy battell wherein there were slayne at last seuen Turkish Sangiacchi with a very great nomber of souldiers both stipendiaries voluntary without any apparant losse at all among the Persians who closing themselues together in great heat and all bee-bloudied in the battel did prosecute their happy and fortunate victory But Generall Mustaffa who perceyued all
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
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
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
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
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
in all such points as were necessarie for the brideling of such an Armie Him therefore he chose to be Captaine for the conducting of his succours to Tauris and to him hee graunted the ordinarie authoritie to manage at his pleasure such affayres of the Empire as concerned this his iorurney Vppon this resolution generall preceptes were sent out to all Citties within the Kingdome and to the Bassas the Sangiacchi and other Gouernours and Officers thereof with speciall commandement that all their souldiers together with their taxes tenthes munitions victualles Armour Artificers and to bee short all their necessarie furniture and prouision should be readie and in order vpon the firste warning that should bee sent vnto them at the next Spring And direction was geuen to Ali-Vcchiali the Captaine of the sea that hee should arme fourteene Gallies for conduct of the Ianizzaries to Trebisonda and such other garrisons as were to bee transported to Erzirum and from thence to bee employed where the Generall should commaund Great prouision of money was made and in Soria besides the ordinarie somme that is bestowed vpon the yearely pay of Souldiers in Reiuan in Erzirum in Aggiachalasi in Lory in Tomanis in Teflis and in Chars which swallowe vp all the reuenue of that Countrey and also of the Cittie of Tripoli and amounteth to the summe of sixe hundred thousande Duckatets there was taken vp in prest of priuate Merchantes in the Cittie of Aleppo onely the summe of three score thousand Cecchini to bee repayed vnto them with the firste moneyes that should bee teceiued by the Officers of the Custome houses A matter that mooued an extraordinarie grudging among the people for that it seemed a verie strange and intollerable exaction to euerie man besides so manie grieuances and impositions laid vpon them for corne for carriages for Pioners and for workmen to endure this burthen also of lending their money without any hope of restitution thereof Yea and in deed euery man did greatly woonder how they were thus ill aduised by this meanes to make it knowne to the Christian Princes what scarsitie and want of money they had The Generall had also with him foure hundred peeces of Artillery and did besides so worke the matter that Maxut-Chan who was now appointed the Bassa of Aleppo vvas graunted vnto him to bee the guide of his Armie and that Cicala the Bassa of Van beeing scarse his good friend was remooued from thence and sent as Bassa to Babylon And thus hee departed from Constantinople in the moneth of Aprill and by the way of Chalcedon passing ouer the Sea into Asia hee came to Siuas in trueth something later than hee should haue done by reason of the greate plague which at that time did generally afflict and grieuouslie vexe the Citie of Constantinople besides manie other occasions and executions that hindered his iorney Neuer was there so greate a number of Souldiers sent out of Grece and Hungarie as was this yeare And yet had he gathered them altogether and mustered them before hee departed from Siuas where hee stayed so long that it was nowe the latter ende of the moneth of Iulie before hee went thence Neither was it the plague onely that caused this his stay for the most parte of the Turkes make no more dayntie to auoyde the plague then wee vse to eschewe any gentle disease but another greate cause of it was the exceeding dearth of victuals in Erzirum where there was neither graine nor corne sufficient for the necessitie of their Cattell and men which dearth was also so great in Aleppo that a Venice-bushel of wheat was fold for a dozen Checchini At the latter ende of those dayes wherein Ferat made his abode in Siuas and was nowe readie to departe from thence there came vnto him certaine postes sente from Giaffer the Bassa of Tauris by whome hee was aduertised how the Persian Prince was hourelie expected with a populous Armie following him and that if hee should foreslowe to send succours and to preuent the comming of the Prince and so giue him time and leasure to assaulte the Fortresse hee was in exceeding greate feare least the Prince might surprise the same Vpon this aduertisement Ferat presentlie remooued and hastened his iourney in such sorte that hee was in Erzirum about the beginning of August where hee was scarslie arriued but suddenlie being prouoked thereunto by the reporte of the Princes comming which was daylie more and more confirmed hee set himselfe towardes Van. To which place all the Souldiers of Aleppo of Tripoli of Damasco of Iurie and of Palestina were alreadie gone by the way of Caraemit for so they were commaunded to do because they might auoyde the Cittie of Erzirum from whence by reason of the great dearth Hassan the Bassa gonernour thereof was remooued and coulde not keepe residence there but withdrewe himselfe to Chars where hee lay at greater ease and lesse charges Ferat therefore made haste to Van where hauing gathered all his Souldiers together and made a reuision and newe surueigh of all his Armie hee departed thence and being presentlie come into the open and large Champaynes hee marshalled them in such sorte as though hee shoulde haue bene prepared to fight the Battell Wherein hee did imitate olde Sinan the Bassa vvho although hee reaped small commendations for these his fained battels whereof he made shew in the Champeynes of Chielder yet notwithstanding hee shewed greate cunning and experience in matter of warre for that hee woulde bee assured of the Arte and discipline of his Souldiers without which manie Armies in numbers infinite and in Armes terrible haue bene defeated by few squadrons in number far fewer and in Armes lesse fearfull though in matter of Warre and skill in fighting more cunning and experienced And therefore for the Vaunt-garde of his Armie hee appointed the Bassa of Mesopotamia with all his souldiers a people watered on the one side with Tigris and on the other side with Euphrates partlie infected with the fearfulnesse of the Arabians and partly endued with the constancie of the Armenians And of these to the number of twelue thousande In the Rereward hee set the Bassa of Damasco Captaine of a Nation more famous than valiant to the number of eight thousand in which reckoning were all the people of Soria of Palaestina and of Iudaea watered with Iordan and Orontes In the bodie of the battell he placed himselfe with the souldiers of Grecia of Peloponnesus and of Bithynia to the number of eighteene thousande In the right Cornet there were marshalled the Bassaes of Cilicia of Pontus and of Cappadocia and of all those places that are comprised vnder the name of Caramania and Natolia with all those peoples that are dwelling vpon the coast of Pontus Euxinus vpon Sangario and vppon Maeander to the number of twelue thousande In the left Cornet the Bassas of Maras of
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
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