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
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
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
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
sometymes called Palus Mantiana sent him most perfect information of all these stirres in Persia discoursing vnto him of the death of Ismahel the consultations of the Sultans the treacheries death of Periaconcona the broyles betweene the king and the Sultans the nature of the new king being diseased in his eyes little esteemed by his subiectes besotted in his affections towades his three sonnes at whose handes he foresaw notwithstanding that hee should receaue many iniuries and troubles the facility to ouer-rule the cheefe Gouernours of the Georgiani and the people of Atropatia otherwyse called Seruan which were euill affected towardes the new king and to be briefe whatsoeuer had in truth succeeded in Persia and might inflame the mynd of Ottoman to conuert his forces agaynst an enemy of small counsell and much cnofusion adding thereunto that neuer was there greater opportunity to ouercome that kyng then now was offered and that in any case hee should not let slip such an occasion as the Ottoman kings neuer had before to obtayne so certayne and so famous victoryes with so great glory and felicity in these enterpryses Amurat whose eares had along time beene filled with those stirres that Ismahel had raysed and whose cogitations were wholly bent to marke what wold be the issues thereof liued with a mynd altogether inflamed with an vnmeasurable desire of the newes and assoone as to his owne naturall inclynation and to other mens reportes there was added also this information of Vstres who peraduenture had that charge particularly enioined him he setled himselfe more deepely in his former conceytes vz to proue his forces in subduing a king of an ancient time dissenting and estraunged from the lawe of Mahamet a contemner of his maiesty and to be short his onely corriuall and odious competitor in all the East and therewithall began to call to his remembarnce how Selim father to his grandfather and Soliman his grandsyre would haue taken this enterprise to hart recording priuately to himselfe how they being captains of most mighty armies went themselues in person fought with the Persian kings sacked and tooke many of their Citties and reduced their bordering enemyes into very strait termes But no one thing did more enflame the Turkish Emperour then did so rare an occasion which he thought was now offered vnto him to haue for his enemy a king not well practysed in feats of war besotted confounded in affection conceyttowardes his children and weakened through the dissention of his subiectes he measured and weighed his owne forces he considered the peace which his people had enioyed from the taking of Goletta euen vntill this tyme he collected the infinite number of his vassalles aswell horsemen as footemen he surueighed the rentes of his customes his meanes to fynd money his engynes of war wherein he did far surpasse the Persians the citties of his enemy layde all open and without any defence of fyre or by such lyke instruments of death and in breefe when he had called to mind whatsoeuer he durst attempt and promisse to himselfe he did more and more resolue with himselfe to take the occasion that was now offered him to begin this warre For the compassing of which his purpose he was greatly fauoured by the present state of Christendome at that tyme being wholly in league amity with him and the peace yet continuing that the Emperour had made with him and the rather because he was verily perswaded that he should not haue any disturbance by the Catholike king who no doubt would graunt him a truce by reason of his warres in Flanders wherewith hee perceiued hee was shrewdly occupied which truce afterward ensued by occasion of the kingdome of Portugall The State of Venice also obseruing that faith and promise which with publike capitulations they had faithfully established in concluding a peace after that singular victory which they had obtayned neere to the Islandes Echinades against the Turkish Fleete And to be shorte the Turke assured himselfe that he should not any way suffer any annoiance or impedimenr by any prince of Europe In this generall tranquillity common peace with the Potentates of Christendome did Amurat with more security and bouldnes discourse with him selfe about the broaching of this warre in Persia and at last not fynding any thing contrary to his designementes he resohied to haue a treaty with those chief Bassaes called Visiers that vse to sit at the Court gate to take sound aduise with those that had the vniuersall gouernement of the whole Empyre in their handes whether it were better vpon this present occasion to begin the prepensed warre or if they thought this oportunity not to be so fit then to lay it aside to conuert their forces and counselles against the common wealth of Christendome So impiously and so barbarously is this Empyre managed that whensoeuer there is any treaty to attempt any enterpryse for the aduauncing thereof it is lawfull to violate any truce and to breake promisse whereupon although this warre could not bee moued eyther agaynst the Persians or agaynst the Princes Catholike without breach of theyr promised sayth altogether counterfetting and pretending capitulations of peace leagues oathes that ought to be inuiolable yet in the manifold consultations that passed among these Visiers there was not a man found that had any consideration or made any accompt of that defect but euery one of them as their manner is in all thinges preferring violence before reason thought it conuenient to set forward the wicked desyre of their Lord without any godly or honest respect at all And among the rest Mahamet the Visier being cheefest in authority experience and yeares of gouernement was of aduice that it would proue a more easy and lesse dangerous attempt to warre with the Persians then with the christian princes aswel for that the ciuil dissentions lately sprong vp in the kingdome of Persia and the condition of the new successor of the Persian Empyre in his gouerment and warre promised all fortunate victory as also for that to wage battell agaynst the Christian Princes was not to make that Prince onely his enemie against whom he should fight whose forces notwithstanding bee what Prince soeuer he may bee haue euer beene most terrible some by sea some by land but it was to bid battell to all the Potentates of Christendome at once those potentates I say that not many yeares before had discomfited a fleete of 300. Gallies mo awhile after that had put to flight another fleet either as great as it or not much inferior peraduenture was still able to performe whatsoeuer they desyred In these consultations other like discourses in the end they al agreed that it would be much better to make war in Asia against dartes agaynst swordes agaynst Citties eyther lying open or slenderly fenced then in Europe agaynst lightninges and fyres against bowes and arrowes agaynst deuouring flames agaynst
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 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
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
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
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
their kings vse Swift in course fierce in battell long breathed and very docible When they are vnsâ—dled gentle and milde but when they are armed warlike hardie and manageable euen at the pleasure of the Ryder so that it is no meruaile if one of them haue bene sold for a thousand or a thousand three hundred Cocchini Those that follow attend the exercises of warre are for the most part men of noble meâ— and therevpon it coÌ„meth that they are more hardy and valiant to foyle then to flie And beeing compared with the Turkish people who for the most part are very â—ascalles of vile race ready to fly and to rauine they are by good right very worthie to be highly esteemed The Persians are great deceiuers full of craftie Stratagemes vnconstant and breakers of their word a vice that seemeth to haue beene alwaies proper to the Barbarians Neuer content with any mans gouernement and louers of nouelties wherein Persia was alwaies noted particularly specially to haue offended For testimony whereof we may vouch those ancient poysoninges and wicked treacheries which were plotted not onely by Subiectes against their kinges but also by children against their naturall father which name as Iustinus writeth was in so small estimation with those fiftie sonnes of Artaxerxes that with one consent they all conspired vpon a most wicked pretence to murther their father without that any one of them either in regard of his Fatherly Maiestie or reuerence to his age or naturall pietie did attempt to prohibite so great an iniquitie An Acte as it seemeth very well marked by the Sofian kings who as we may read of Vngher Mahamut and others and as it is written in this Historie the Children with the Father the Father with the Children and the Children one with an other haue learned it by course and dayly doe practise it to destroy one another and so weakening their owne forces do make themselues spectacles of infamy to all the world The people of Persia are afrayde of Artillery beyond measure and yet sometimes they haue not beene afraide with suddaine assaultes to assaile their enimies trenches lodginges in their Campes And although they be so timorous and fearefull of that Engine and know of what moment it is in a battell yet haue they not hetherto receiued the vse thereof being rather obstinate in their blind ambitious conceite that it is a sinne and shame to exercise so cruell a weapon against mankinde then ignorant how to make it or destitute of matter to cast it The manner of ordering their battell is after the fashion of a horne or of the Moone as a man may call it and in open battell their Squadrons are ordered on this sort In the right horne or wing by auncient custome were placed those troupes that were guyded by the captaynes of Istigelu which is now called the Traytors lyne by reason of Zalchan and the rest that were so ready resolute in the conspiracy which was made in the fauour of Aidere whereof we haue already written in this history In the left cornet or wing were placed the people that were led by the captaines Zambeluzes who vaunt of their auncient discent from Damasco and from the Tacaluzes a nation neuer greatly esteemed for any valour or knowledge that they had in warfare In the body of the battel was appointed the kings guard who was alwaies accustomed to be present at warre with his Armies although this king partly by reason of the infirmity of his eies and partly for the dissentions in his kingdome durst not venture to goe in person but in his steed sent Prince Amze a valorous good warrier In the middest of the battell also about the King went the people of Ausares which are pressed out of Persia all of them accounted very warrelike and more valiant then all the rest Neyther would it bee greatly amisse to thinke that from hence were those troupes fetched in tymes past which Xerxes was wont to terme by that proude tytle Immortall the immortall souldiers The Rere-ward was kept by those that descended from Calirchan which were neuer as yet depryued of that honour for the good desertes that Calirchan shewed to Ismahel when he strained himselfe to passe with a mighty Army euen into Cafe to performe the Regall Ceremonies at his Coronation and yet for all that neuer stirred the ordinary guarde of Casbin The people of Caribdiler and Chiaperis made-vp the Vaunt-Guarde accompted also to be men of good sort and very warlike because they haue alwaies shewed themselues ready in any occasions or troubles of warre and performed their partes very valiantly And this was the manner of ordering their battelles in late tymes Touching the reuenues of this kingdome the common opinion is that in the dayes of Kinge Tamas the crowne did yearely receaue into the Chamber of Casbin foure or fiue millions of gold which afterward he caused to be worth eight millions by a sudden enhaunsing of the value of his coyne geuing in commandment by most seuere Edictes that ouer all his Empyre for a certayne space all the money that he had receaued should bee taken and accompted for asmuch more as it was worth and accordingly made pay to his souldiers and Sultans all other that were in his pay Which example meethinkes was well followed by Amurat the now-king of the Turkes who receauing at the Citty of Cairo the Cechino of gold for xliii Maidini he put it out againe in Constantinople to pay his Capigi and Ianissaries withall lxxxv Maidini commanding that it should be of that value ouer all the Citty and countryes subiect vnto it But in the dayes of this king of Persia the reuenues of this crowne are thought to be so much diminished that it is the opinion of all men they amount to little more then two millions in all Neither is there to be found in him that industry prouidence which was in Tamas and though it were yet peraduenture it would not be regarded by his subiects it seemeth that the occasion of this decay is the losse of so many countries as Soliman conquered and particularly Mesopotamia and Assyria besydes Erzirum and the Tributes that are denyed by the people of Georgia and by other nations of this kingdome Next after this kinde of reuenue which is payed in ready money and collected into the Chamber of Casbin from among the Citties that are subiect vnto it although all the countrey that was possessed by these kinges were not appoynted by diuision to the payment of a certayne nomber of souldiers as the Turke vseth to doo in those Countries that he subdueth yet is there a great sort of towns and villages which are very Feudataries to the croune of Persia are so many that they supply a part of the pay that is due to the horsemen aboue mentioned to foure thousande of the Curchi of Casbin
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
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
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
fayled fully to perfourme his duty in so waighty a businesse he gaue large words to Sinan and made him beleeue that he had order and authority from Mahamat his Lord to conclude what hee thought best and most conuenient for the matter of peace And so the Embassador departed with a safe companie from Sinas and keeping on the way of Caisar leauing both Conia and Angori he arriued at Isnic in old time called Nicea a city situate neere vnto the Moore anciently called Asâ—dnia and from thence came to Scutar passing ouer that litle gulfe which ioyneth those two seas together and so was conducted to Constantinople In the meane time the Persian King withdrew himselfe out of Casbin and vpon the rumour of the Turkish nouelries meant also himself to giue out a noyse of some important matters which he likewise intended Whereupon by his Royall commandement he called all the Chans Gouernouts of his Subiect Cities together with all their military foâ—cus to Tauris and he himself with the Prince Emirhamze passed into Sultania and hauing there visited certaine of his Ancestors sepulchers hee went to Zanga from thence to Miana and then leauing Giurgi Chalassi on his left hand and Ardouâ—l on his right hand he came to the place called Turcoman from whence afterwards in foure dayes space hee arriued at Tauris There he assembled together all his people which came running in most obediently at his commandement and there also had many consultations what he were best to do For as yet he did not assuredly know what Sinan meant to attempt and therefore beganne to cast in his head diuers doubts but all vncertaine and as it were in the dark but yet in the end among a thousand ambiguities hee resolued with himselfe to send souldiers into Georgia towards the coaste of Teflis where it was of necessitie that succours should be sent to those of the Fort and withall determined also himselfe to goe foorth with all his Armie from Tauris to Caracach a place very commodious and neere to guarde both Tauris and Siruan being situate euen in the middest betweene the one and the other and there to expect theremouing of Sinan whose ambitious nature the king knowing did think it would fall out that to surmount Mustaffa in glorie he would haue enterprised to run euen vpon Tauris and to attempt some strange matter in those quarters And so resting in this determination hee caused sufficient prouision to be made of corne and of al other things needfull for the nourishment of cattell and men Among all the rest that followed the kings Armie a good company of the Turcoman Nation came vnto him also this yeare so that the Persian hoast was verie great and sufficient and able to attempt any famous enterprise But when it came to the poynt that he shuld send some of his Captaines into Georgia he meant not to make choyce of any other for that purpose but only of those which by reason of their experience in those cuntries and neare neighbourhood to the Georgiani both could and by dutie were bound the rather to aide their neighbours and endommage their enemies And yet he made choice of Tocomac and the rest that hetherto in this warre had fought those battels which before wee haue described and comaunded them that gathering their people together they should depart into Georgia and there ioyning themselues with Simon they shoulde worke the greatest annoyance to the Turkish armie that possible they could not fayling continually to aduertise him of their successes and of the Turkes purposes of whom if they shoulde learne either by the report of spies or by any other means that they would passe to Tauris they shuld not sayle to pursue them to the end they might ioyne together with him and so encounter their enemies Armie All these Captaines were most resolute men and most perfect in all militarie exercises and being warned by the captiuity of Alyculi-Chan they walked much more circumspectly with the greater aduisement but yet ful of a thousand desires to atteÌ„pt some great matter They led with them about ten thousand persons which being ioyned with the people of Georgia amouunted to the number of thirteene thousand who presently assoone as they vnderstood of Sinans arriuall at Erzirum put themselues on their way towards Teflis And to the end the Turkes should not heare any newes of them they kept that way which as yet was not discouered by the enemies sauing only by the Tartarian spoylers and robbers and that was the way of Genge which is situate in a certaine Champayne wherein there are neither Cities nor townes but such as were either their friendes or their subiectes or their confederates neither are ther either any trecherous or rebellious people between it and Tauris And thus the Persians being arriued at Genge sent word thereof to Simon giuing him withal to vnderstande that as soon as he perceaueth the Turkes to be remooued from Chars he must sende them a watch word for that they were ready to performe great matters in his behalfe keeping on the way of Grin they wold come and ioyn theÌ„selues with him and so being vnited together they wold cause the Turks to feel the disturbances and annoyances which were prepared for them But nowe was the Persian Embassador incountred and receaued in Constantinople with al due kind of honour and after certain dayes brought into do his embassage wherin as I vnderstood by many credible persons whiles I was in Constantinople afterward it was confirmed in by Aleppo the said Embassadors son when rebelling against his king and entertained by the Turke he was placed in the gouernment of the said City of Aleppo among other things whereupon he did most eloquently discourse with the king hee framed his speech in such sort that it was sufficient to disswade and withdraw him from this war deliuering vnto him all those reasons that might haue relation thereunto and telling him that his King Mahamet who had but lately succeeded with great glorie in the happie kingdome of Persia was alwayes greatlie grieued at these troubles of the wars which if he thought hee coulde pacifie with the shedding of his blood and the spending of his life he would not haue spared either the one or the other and would also most willinglie haue tryed all the remedies for it that possibly he could For he did at the first consider with himselfe howe contrarie it was to the mercifull nature of their common Prophete Mahamet to nourish contention much more to cause the publike spilling of the blood of his nations Secondly he did manifestly perceiue how inconuenient a thing it was that warre should succeed so suddenly vpon a peace which was so royally and with so many sworre Capitulations concluded betweene Tamas and Soliman after which peace Armes should neuer haue bene raised but vpon some great quarrell and offence that should be offered
meete with the king his enemy In the meane whole 〈◊〉 it is reported by many aswel Persias as Turks â—â—e dispatched certen Vâ—â—achi or posts to the Persian king being at 〈◊〉 to intreat him that he wuld send ouer some Ambassador for a peac thinking with himself as some doe conicture by these meanes he should remoue out of the Kings mind his resolution to come assaile him if any such meaning hee had The proclamation was put in execution according to his appointment and hauing sent away the saide cariages heauy burdens towards Ardachan he himselfe with certaine loads of corne vittels so many onely as were sufficient for the voiage descended into the open large plaines of Chielder where presently he mustred al his people that caried weapons and gaue notice that before he would settle himself towards Tauris he meant to make â—â—iall of the readines nimblenes of al his army to set forth such a shew as though they ioyned battel with their enemies which presently the next morning without any further delay he put in execution accordingly For first he set forward fiue hundred peeces of final artiliery placing theÌ„ in good order after the manner of a large trench after this shot three rows of Ianizzaries behind them he tooke vp his own place Then followed al the army which he parted into two great wide wings which after the fashion of a moone coÌ„passed about a great deale of ground entermingling also heere and there some footemen with his horsemen some harcubuses among his darts lances Behind al the armie were placed al the cariages which were requisit for the vrgent necessity of vittaile and behind the cariages went the Arrie rewarde conducted by two Bassaes with viii thousandmen The army being thus ordered and disposed hee sent out some fewe Turkes to shewe themselues vpon the top of certaine hilles and as though they had bin enemies that came to seize vpon his army he presently caused al his artillery to be discharged and commaunded euery man to bâ—irmish to bestir himselfe after the same manner and altogether with the same kinde of behauiour as if their enemie were present before them And so the tempest of the Harguebuzes being ouer passed the launces or Indian canes discharged the exceeding thicke storme of arrowes ceased there did shine round about on all sides such a brightnes of swords helmets and brest-plates yeelding forth great lightnings as it were fierie beames that it enkindled the mindes of them all to battel and then againe the drums trumpets made such a noise the Ensignes creasts liueries and deuises were so turned and tossed the aire so replenished with seuerall colours of blewe and yellowe to be briefe there was such a medly of al things as though it had been the turmoile of a very battel indeed After a while he caused the retrait to bee sounded and then setting all his army in order againe there was such another like shewe commaunded the second time and after that the third also which indeede was performed rather with the scorne and derision of all his souldiers who thought it to be as it were but children play then that any commendation did indeed arise thereby to ambitious Sinan When these counterfeit shewes of war were finished yet did he not got forwards towards Tauris as he had apointed but remained eight daies in those plains of Chielder at which time there ariued out of Persia Aider the Aga as Ambassador from the King who was entertained by the general with great ioy Diuerse and sundry things did this Embassador propounde which were likewise propounded by Maxut-Chan but the conclusion of alwas that the king of Persia would voluntarily relinquish Chars and Teflis and remaine as hee did before in amitie with Amâ—rath and therefore hee desâ—ied Sinan that he would not faile to conclude of a peace because he himselfe had commandemeÌ„t to returne back into Persia Sinan promised to deale with Amurath for this peace if king Mahamet would send a new embassador to Constantinople Vpon which coÌ„clusion the said Aider returned into Persia being accompanied with sure guids ariued at 〈◊〉 before this king to whoÌ„ he declared what things he had seene what promises he had receiued of Sinan and withal exhorted the king to send a new embassador to the Turkish Court causing him first to enter couenants with Sinan as he had promised for so it would bee an easie matter to procure a good and speedie resolution After this when the publike rumor was found to be false that was spread abroad of the comming of the Persian king Sinan in steed of going to Tauris resolued to goe to Chars so to returne into his confederate Countries At Chars he remained a whole month in very meere and absolute idlenes with the generall maruaile murmur of his souldiers who indeed were astonished when they perceiued they were come out not to fight not to passe into their enemies Countrie not to make any conquest by war but to be Idle and to play to the great dammage expenses of their Kings Reuenues and the disturbance of his whole kingdome At the last he departed from Chars for that it was now winter the frosts and shows â—ound about theÌ„ wrought his souldiers vnaccustomed miseries In Hassa-Chalassi they celebrated their most solemne feasts and afterwarde with all his Army hee withdrew himselfe to Erzirum from whence he did presently â—â—â—misse euery man to goe and winter in his own Country and he himselfe remained still in the said Citie From this place he sent diligent information aswel at the departure of the Capigilarohecaiasi as also by certaine Volacehi dispatched away by post of the succours that he left at Teflis of the losses that he receiued by his enemies of all that wherein he had found Mustaffa an arrant her of the coÌ„ming of the Persian embassador of the promise made vnto him touching a newe embassador and to be short of al his whole actions And besides all these Narrations he aduertised the king that the enterprize of Persia was a very hard long and difficult matter such a one as there needed another kind of preparation then as yet was appointed for it that if Amunath did desire to subdue ouercome Persia it was then very necessary that he should speake with him at large discourse vpon many particularities which neither might he commit to paper neither coulde they bee declared by pen without exceeding great tediousnes in this point he did write very much shewed himselfe to be very petemptorie And again besids these first Velacahi he dispatched also new messeÌ„gers to be very instaÌ„t importunate with Amurath for his returne to Constantinople continually telling him that it was not possible for him to signifie by writing what he purposed to report vnto him by word of
great stirs that were raised in the years 1580. 1581. and a good parte of 1582. wherein also followed the election of a newe generall who notwithstanding went not forward in his troublesome busines vntil the beginning of the yeare 1583. as in the next booke we wil declare vnto you The ende of the fift Booke The Sixt Booke The Argument The Persian King resolueth to ride to Heri against his sonne Abas Emir-Chan promiseth the King to defend his Territories from the Turks The Gouernour of Sasuar beheaded The King attempteth to get his Sonne Abas into his handes Abas writeth to his Father and the Tenor of his Letters The two Persian Princes reconcile themselues one to the other Salmas accused and beheaded The Persian King and the Prince his Sonne returne to Casbin Ferat chosen Generall of the Turkish Armie Ferat repaireth Aggia Chalasi and Reiuan Tocomac seeketh meanes to bee reuenged of the iniuries of the Turkes Ferat returneth to Chars and causeth a Sangiacco of the Curdi to be beheaded Manucchiar the Georgian beheadeth the Messengers and Gentlemen-vshers of Amurath and deuideth the Treasure betweene himselfe and his cosin Simon Hassan goeth to succour Teflis Ferat is at Erzirum and dismisseth his Armie The Persian King is affraide of newe stirres and commeth to Tauris with a great Armie Generall Ferat gathereth a newe Armie at Chars he goeth to Lory he passeth to the streites of Tomanis and cutâ—eth down the woods Daut Chan yeeldeth himselfe to the Turkes Simon goeth to assault Resuan the Bassa he hath his horse slaine vnder him and is strangelie deliuered from extreame daunger Tomanis deâ—ended by Hassan A great dearth in the army of Ferat Ferat is threatened by his Souldiers Ferat goeth to Clisca and meaneth to fortifie it Resuan is hardly entreated by the Souldiers who also threaten their General againe The Generalls life is saued by Amurath the Bassa of Caramania A most confused tumult in the Armie and Ferat the Generall is enforced shamefully to yeeld to his Souldiers and returneth to Erzirum The Originall occasion and manner of the escape of Alyculi-Chan The Persian king dismisseth all his Souldiers that he had gathered together Emir-Chan is imprisoned and hauing his eies put out by the kings appoinment he dieth miserablie in prison New displeasures arise among the Turcomannes for the death of Emir-Chan Amurath conceiueth great hope of the valour of Osman the Bassa Sciaus writeth to the Tartarian of the comming of Osman to Constantinople Osman with foure thousand souldiers putteth himselfe in the way to Constantinople Osman is assaulted by the Tartarians but Osman ouer commeth them Osman putteth the Tartarian king to death and appointeth his brother to be his successor Osman departeth from Caffa by Gallies and arriueth at Constantinople Osman is chosen chiefe Visier in the rowme of Sciaus and Generall in the rowme of Ferat Osman departeth from Constantinople and goeth to Erzirum Osman gathereth a greater armie then all those that haue beene hitherto gathered in these warres besides the Souldiers of Egypt and Damasco who did not goe with Osman The sixt Booke AFter that these victorious Warriers loaden with spoiles and diuerse of their Enemies ensignes were with great ioy receiued at home in Persia at the last to the greater comfort of the Persians the discord also that fell out between Mahamet Bassa Mustaffa the Georgian was declared vnto theÌ„ whereat they did no lesse reioyce then they did before fortheir obtayned victories And euerie man thought with himselfe that this newes might greatly further the matter of peace or at least if that came not to the wished ende yet it might hinder the Turkes from passing to anie place that was neere vnto them might also keepe them occupied is Teflis had hitherto done in such places as are farre distant from their Royall Cities Which coniecture of theirs might verie well be grounded vpon a reasonable foundation aswell because the iniurie was verie great that Mustaffa had done to Mahamet the Generall of the Turkish Campe as also for that the Territories of the saide Mustaffa were no lesse replenished with places most fit for treacheries and ambushes then the Territories of Sinion In these and such like good hopes remayned the Persians when by the way of Georgia there came tydinges to them that Sinan was displaced from his Office of Generalshippe and therefore the Turkes must of necessitie send foorth some newe Captaine if they were minded still to continue this warre With great griefe of minde did the Persians receiue this aduertisement knowingful well howe much Sinan was inclined to peace how deadly he hated the continuance of these long and troublesome contentions But much more greiuous was it vnto them when they vnderstoode withall how their treaties of peace were all in vayne and howe besides those indignities that so dishonestlie were offered to the Persian Nation at Constantinople their Embassador was also at the last sent prisoner to Erzirum And yet notwithstanding all these sorie newes the Persians chaunged not their former hopes but verilie perswaded themselues that these discords the outrages committed vpon the Turkes by Manucchiar might happelie hinder their enterprise which this yeare they minded to attempt to the great preiudise of Nassiuan and Tauris For they imagined that seeing their newe Generall must needes be sent as farre as from Constantinople the new yere could not serue their turne to any other purpoce but onely to succour Teflis and to reuenge the shame receyued by the outragious furie of Manucchiar In which poynt they discoursed also with themselues that euen in that respect Manucchiar and Simon would make a league together aswell because they were neighbors in Territorie and were likely both of them to run one and the selfe same course of fortune as also yea so much the rather because Manucchiar hauing taken to wife a sister of Simons they could dono lesse in these innouations but ioyne themselues together one of them be a protector and defender of the other and so vniting their forces together they shuld be able to annoy al such as should be sent to conueigh new succors to Teflis Vpon these occasions the Persian King perceyuing that he could not haue a fitter oportunitie to employe himselfe against Abas Mirize his some determined with himselfe to leaue the matters of this side of his kingdome in their present state and to march towards Heri whereunto hee was earnestly solicited by his elder son Emirhamze Mirize but principally by Mirize Salmas his Visier whom his said son in lawe did likewise dayly animate to this resolution and could not well brooke that anie other thing shoulde bee in speech but onely this And therefore seeing there was no other remedie but that the king must needs satisfie the request of these mightte entercessers and also establish all thinges in as good securitie as possibly hee might besides the great confidence and trust which
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
the matter thus imperfect to the preiudice of his bloude but returning to his counsellor he would likewise take information vppon what minde or consideration it was well knowen that he had aduised the King to take vpon him this vnorderly and daungerous viage For without doubt hee shoulde finde nothing in him but malignant ambitious and wicked affections and such as euen deserued that with his bloud there should be reuenged all the bloud of those which till that houre had beene brought to their vnworthie and vndeserued death And forasmuch as there remained one onely difficulty to be cancelled cleared wherof the Visier had informed the king touching a commaundement that was giuen by Abas-Mirize to the gouernors that were vnder him as namely to the gouernour of Sasuar and of other places that they should not goe to the warre against the Turkes they confessed in trueth that such an order was taken indeede but not to that vniust and slanderous end as it was related to the king by the Visier but onely in respect of the warres that were reported to be begun in those quarters by the Tartarian Iesselbas who by diuers into ades hauing robbed the Cities the Townes and the Fieldes of Heri had put such a feare in younge Abas-Mirize and all his Counsellours that they durste not emptye their Cities of their guardes and forces and thereupon as they should finde it true if they woulde enquire thereof the saide Gouernours were commanded that they should not goe to the war against the Turks but that they should expect further direction whereof they shoulde haue notice if they should be called for And that all this was signified by writing to the Visier himselfe but that hee of a malignant minde had concealed the same onely to try if in these common troubles hee coulde bring it to passe that Abas-Mirize and the king might bee bereaued of their liues and Emir-hamze succeed in their place and so hee himselfe remaine the Super-intendent of his sonne in law and Moderator of rather the Tyrant of that happie and famous kingdome Which they saide they made knowen vnto him not because they thought Emir-hamze to bee acquainted with so treacheious a traine for they knewe very well how greatly in imitation of his Fathers pietie hee hated dissension among kinsefolkes shedding of bloude but onely because it was throughlye discouered to bee the most vnlawful and vnreasonable desire of the wicked traitor Mirize-Salmas Verie graue and strange cogitations did these auncient Orators raise in the mindes of the two Princes and Mahamet the Father beeing by nature credulous and inconstant beyond measure began to make great construction of their speeches and deepely to consider of their so earnest and important requestes whose offers also seemed vnto him so vpright and equall that he could not choose but accept thereof And therefore calling vnto him the Gouernours the Captaines the Iudges and Treasurers of all the Cities that were subiecte to Heri hee demaunded of them how and in what sorte they esteemed of Abas-Mirize and how in what degree of honour he desired to be esteemed of them And of them all he receiued an vniforme aunswere that they helde him for their Lord as the Lieutenant to the king of Cas-bin and that he himselfe did alwais desire so to be taken thoughtof And euerie of them brought in diuers Letters Precepts and Orders wherein hee neuer caused himselfe to bee honoured with any other title but onely your king of Heri Hee demaunded further whether those tumults of warres were indeede attempted by the Tartarian Iesselbas or no whereof hee receiued also a large and solemne information that so it was to the greate detriment of all those territories And thus the king was throughly persuaded of the innocencie of his son who before was noted vnto him by his Visier to bee an obstinate rebell Vpon which occasion onely although hee might iustly haue put his Visier to death as one that had beene the cause of the slaughters that happened and of the bloud of so many valorous Captaines that was shed so iniuriouslie yet because he would be better informed of the trueth of the accusations laid againste him by the Embassadours of Heri the rather to ridd himselfe from so important and so iust a feare and because he doubted also peraduenture least there had beene some conspiracie plotted against him betwene the Visier and Emir-hamze hee resolued to make a curious and diligent inquisition thereof And therefore first of all in great secrecie calling vnto him Emir-hamze and demaunding of him by all faire meanes howe and wherefore hee had aduised and procured this iourney against Abas-Mirize Son to himselfe Brother to him whereas indeede he had founde him innocent of al those crimes that were layde to his charge he receaued aunswere from the Prince that hee had no other certeyntie of the pretended ill behauiour of his brother but onely that which proceeded from the greate credite that hee alwayes bare towardes his Father in Lawe Mirize Salmas to whome as to a Visier and as to his Father in Lawe and as to a Protectour of the Kingdome and finally as to a person that had beene tryed in a thousande matters to bee true and trustie hee had alwayes yeelded assured credence in all such matters as daylye were in speech betweene them Insomuch that hee discharged the whole Tempest of all these mischiefes vppon the Visier Touching whome the King made diligent inquisition aswell among those of the Courte as of the Armie and thereby founde verye straunge and vnexpected Nouelties For there was not a man almost that did not accuse him for a seditious man for a Cruell man for an vniust man and for a Tyrant and to bee briefe that did not make him guiltie of very haynous crimes and in particular for the accusation layd against him by the Embassadours of Heri they all declared that in trueth hee was alwayes made acquaynted with the true occasions which did restrayne the Gouernours subiecte to Abas Mirize from going to the Warre against the Turkes but that hee most malioiously had concealed the same of purpose onely to hatch such a straunge and dangerous stirre in hope to aduance his owne estate by the destruction of others And so at last Mirize Salmas was detected for guiltie rewarded with that punishment which he desired vniustly to conuert vpō others For the King who had nowe founde such impietie in him as besides that hee had caused manie Sultans of accompt to bee vniustly and vnworthely put to death he also went about to procure that the Father shoulde defyle himselfe with the bloude of his owne Sonne a thing so odious both to the King himselfe and all his kingdome as euer anie cruell Action coulde possiblie bee the King I saye coulde not suffer this impietie but acknowledging a fresh the innocencie of the one and the guylte of the other the one hee deliuered and
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
the gathering together of their new men they discouered new difficulties For then they perceaued manifestly that to hire souldiers either from Heri or from Gheilan it was denied them by Abas and Amet-Chan and that the Turcoman nation which might haue been the readiest and neerest at such a neede for the late death of Emir-Chan and for the succession of Aliculi were growen very contumacious so that neither the King nor the Prince nor the presidents and gouernours of the kingdome could tell on which side to tourne them At the last foreseeing the safegarde of the Common wealth they determined to draw the Turcomani to a reconciliation hoping that if they should promise them any honest satisfaction for the wrong wherewith they challenged themselues greeued for the death of their captaine they would become more tractable to do them seruice in their common necessities And therefore the king sent letters to the heades captaines of those nations principally to Mahamet-Chan and to Calife the Sultan wherein declaring plainely vnto them the perill of his honour and the libertie of that whole kingdom he shewed vnto them that all his hope of ridding Persia from that yoke and setting free all those people which in all ages heretofore had beene so faithfull and frendly vnto them was reposed onely in their aide and assistance and that their onelie Armes was hable not onely to mainetaine but also to encrease the renown of valour in the Persian nation which estate as in yeares forepassed it wrought enuie and terrour euen in the farthest and most remote peoples of all Asia so at this present if it bee not succoured and releeued standeth in termes to become a most miserable spectacle to all the world And that therefore forgetting all thinges that are past as being doone not to worke any shame or scorne to their nation but onely for zeale and loue to the kingdome they wold demand such satisfaction as they would require for hee would bee ready to agree to any iust request they should make With these and perhaps with more affectionate and passionate letters were the wrothfull Turcomani inticed to the reuenge of the iniuries which they had receaued by the Ottoman forces To which Letters they were not a whit slacke in framing an aunswere but readily wrote back that they would come vnto hym and put in execution whatsoeuer for the common necessitie he should command Now they had already craftely concluded among themselues that they wold not suffer any other to sit in the ranke of their Captaines in the rowme of Emir-Chan lately deceased but onely the young Tamas the Kinges thirde sonne Which conclusion they had plotted to themselues with a resolute mind to cause him to bee accepted for King at Casbin in dispight of the king himselfe and of the Prince Hamze nothing regarding that by this action farre greater seditions would arise in Persia then euerwere yet heard of but onely being wholly bent to reuenge the sole death of one onely Emir-Chan So vile and so base an account did they make of the honour of their naturall King and of their auncient religion that before such matters of so great respect and importance very audaciously I will not say temerariously they preferred their owne priuate reuenge and chose rather to become most bloody and cruell against those to whome they were allied in religion in blood and in countrie then against their common enemies With this malitious and fraudulent reasolution to the nomber of tenne thousand vnder the conduct of two Captaines Mahamet and Calife they went to the king in all reuerence and offred all readinesse to bee employed in the enterpryse whereunto they were called The old credulous king not suspecting any mischeefe plotted by these rebelles was greatly comforted at their comming And although by some of his Sultanes that had felt some inkling of this conspiracie he was aduised to deale circumspectlie and warilie with them and especially not to trust them with any secret or to let any matter of importance to be in their defence yet did he thinke euerie hour to be a thousand till he had made them satisfaction hoping thereby that if they had conceaued any mischeefe in their mindes they wold lay it aside and being pacified by his amiable and courteous entertainement yeeld themselues in very truth faithfull and obedient vnto him And therevpon being more constant then hee was in this his imagination whiles hee bestowed good wordes and giftes among them at the last hee demanded of them what Captaine they wold nomiâ—ate in the rowme of Emir-Chan promising vnto them and peraduenture as some say with an oath that whomsoeuer they desired if possibly it might be they stould be satisfied Herevntoo the dissembling Mahamet-Chan made answeare that their desire was principally to doo him pleasure and seruice of whose bounty and good inclination they did so well hope as that he wold not appoint any person but such a one as should be valourous noble and deere and acceptable vnto them The King stayed not from giuing them presently to vnderstand that so hee had determined to doo and frankly declared vnto them that finding Tamas his thirde sonne to bee without any charge and being desirous to geeue them a Captaine that might please them to the end they might rest more assured of the good will which hee bare vnto them and haue a good ostage in pawne thereof hee had made choise of his childe Tamas to be the successour of Emir-Chan and that if it so pleased them they might accept of him and with one accord endeauour themselues to conquer those odious walles of the Forte which with so great ignominy and reproach of all the Persian Nation was there erected by the Turkes As soone as Mahamet-Chan heard the resolution of the king who beesides all expectation offered thus to gratify them and voluntarily of himselfe without any suspicion at all yeelded them the meanes whereby they might put in execution the worke which they had maliciously contriued against the peace and liberty of the kingdome hee became more ioconde then he was wont to be and outwardly shewed himselfe readie for whatsoeuer the King would commaund him and yeelded also in the names of all the rest large promises of fidelity and obedience so that the matter might be perfourmed for which he had now giuen his word The king who longed to see the houre wherein this assault should be begunne as a matter no lesse desired by euery man then necessary for all the more he was aduised and counselled by his Sultans and the Prince not to deliuer his sonne Tamas into their handes and the lesse they feared that the king would haue committed such an errour but rather beleeued verily that the king would haue made the conspiracy which they had reuealed vnto him to bee capitall and matter of treason in the Turcomanni the more resolute and vnwise hee was and therevppon very secretely and as it were by stealth aswell
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
Turks The Turkes dispersed by cold weather The Georgiansly in wait for the Turks Hossain Bey the authours frend Fruitfull Gâ—ambulat that saw 86. children aliue at once that were his heires Hossain Bey assaulted by the Georgians greatly discomfited Hala Bey the authours frend Hossain Bey escapeth to the tentes of Beyran Bassa The nephewe of Simon veeldeth himselfe faynedly to Mustaffa Hunger among the Turkes The straite of the mountaines of Georgia watred by Araxis Misery of the Turkes Their misery continued The Turkes releeued at Altunchala The widdow and her sonne Alessandro come to Mustaffa The Widdow leaueth both her sonnes in Mustaffaes handes The Turkes at Clisca Some dye for cold The Turkes at Olti The Turkes at Hassanchalasi The Turkes in their returne at Erzirum The army discharged by Mustaffa to winter themselues Mustaffa magnifyeth his owne exploites to Amurath A fortification to be at Chars The widdows sonne sent to K. Amurath Caitas Bassa at Eres and Osman Bassa at Sumachia in garrison 1 The TartaiaÌ„s neere vnto Siruan attending the commandement of the Turks Abdilcherai the Tartarian Captaine a faire young man and of noble bloud Osman calleth Abdilcherai and aduâ— seth him what to doo The Tartarians at Demircapi Ares-Chan the Persian other captatus seeke to annoy the Turkes The spyes or messengers of the Tartan ans taken by the encamped Persians The TartariaÌ„ spyes disclose their letters to Ares-Chan Ares-Chan retireth to Canac searing the comming of the Tartarians The Tartarians at Sumachia in consultation with Osman All the Persian army of Ares-Chan discomfited by the Tartarians Ares-Chan himselfe hanged Genge sacked The Tartarians encamped in certaine fieldes on the hether side of Canac fall to sleepe Emirhamze the Persian Kinges eldest sonne at Siruan Begum the Persian Prin ces mother followeth him in his Army to Siruan The Persian Prince suddenly arriued at Eres Caitas Bassa assaulted by the Persian Prince A bloody battell Caitas Bassa all his people slaine Eres recouered by the Persians Begum left at Eres The Persian prince disconereth the encamped Tartarians The Tartarians destroyed Abdilcherai taken aliue by the Persian Prince The Persian Prince vnder Sumachia threateneth Osman Osman answereth the threates of the Prince Osman determineth to slie seâ—reathe by a coueâ—t way ouer the mountains Osman flying from Sumachia seapeth to Demircapi The Persian Prince punnisheth the inhabitantes of Sumachia with diuers kindes of tortures deathes The Persian Prince deliberateth whether he should returne home or go forward to Derbent The people of Sechi Eres punnished Abdilcherai prisoner in Casbin well entertained Abdilcherai the prisoner enamored beloued of Queene Begum The report of the loose life of Begum the Persian kings wife The deep consideration of Mahamet the Persian King The Kinges purpose doth not please the Sultans of Casbin Abdilcherai slaine in the Serraglio of Casbin by the Sultans Vpon these murders there arose many calamities in Persia. Osman practiseth frendship with Sahamal the Georgian Osman marrieth a daughter of Sahamals Sahamal beheaded by the appointment of Osman at Demir-Capi The country of Sahamal wasted by Osmans people The Persian king bewayleth the deatls of old Sahamal Ali-Vcchiali buildeth a Castell in Colchis The conside rations of Amurath Mustaffa sendeth outcommaundement for a new Armie Alessandro Manucchiar aâ— Constanâ—â— nople Manucchiar consenteth to chaunge his Religion Alessandro remayneth constant in Christian Religion Manucchiar circumcised and named Mustaffa The offer of Emanguli-Chan Emanguli inviteth the son of Sahamal the Georgian to ioinc with him The Persian king mindeth to send men towards Teflis in Georgia Simon the Georgian Simon maketh a request to the Persian King The familiarity between Ismahel and Simon Simon induced to change his religion and the reasons why The powe of friendship The diuers cogitations of Simon Simon named by the Persian king the Chan of all his kingdome Artillarie appointed for Simon Alicull Chan. Simon presseth souldiers in Georgia Simons excuse why he changed his faith The meeting together of a new armie at Erzirum Aegypt sendeth souldiers whereof scarse the one half came to Erzirum Pestilent sick nesses in Soâ—â—a This Army equal with the first Mustaffa at Chars The soudiers in a tumult against the General In the space of 23. dayes Chars fensed Snowes at Chars in August The consultations of generall Mustaffa touching Teflis Hassan Bassa of Damasco chosen Generall for the succouring of Teflis with 20000. souldiers Resuan Bassa Captain of certain Aduenturers 40000. Duckats caried to Teflis Allculs-chan and Simon A noy some famiâ—â—n Teflis The warinesse of Hassan The battell wherin there was a great slaughter of the Turks The Turkissâ— stratageme The Georgians assault again the Turkish Armie Aliculi-Chan taken aliue Hassan victoriouslie arriued at Teflis A great famine in the sieged city of Teflis Hassan returneth from Teflis The entrie of the strait fenced with Artislarie Hassan seeketh to auoid the great danger of the strait Hassan promiseth to set Aliculi-Chan the Persian at libertie Hassan breaketh his promise Angry Simon destroyeth the taile of Hassans army Abondant snowes Hassan come to Chars Aliculi-Chan imprisoned at Erzirum Amurath honoreth Hassan Abas Mirize suspected of rebellion against his father by Mirize Salmas the chief Sultan of Casbin Mirize Salmas hauing ma le the PersiaÌ„ prince his son in law aduanced his estate The Persian king verie credulous inconsiderate Obiections against Abas Mirize The Persian king effeminate Mustaffa discharged of his Generalship and called home to Constantinople The occasion of the depriuation of Mustaffa from his Generalship A comparison of Sinan Bassa and Mustaffa two ancien aduersaries Sinan accuseth Mustaffa Mustaffa his two Treasurers brought to the Court. Ladies mÌ„ighty mediators with Amurath A detestation of the Turkish gouernment The death of Mahamet the principall Vice-Roy The occasions and maner of the strange death of Vic-Reoy Mahamet A custome â— the Barbaririans Mustaffa not thought worthy of the roome of the chief Visier Sinan chosen the chief Visier Mustaffa and his two Treasurers quit Sinan chosen General The purposes of Generall Sinan The Persian king resolueth to send Embassadors to Constantinople Maxut-Chan dispatched as Embassador Maxut-chan to Sinan Conditions of peace offered by the Persian king The speach of the Embassador to Sinan Sinan receiueth the Embassador AdmenitioÌ„s of Sinan to Maxut-chan the Embassador Maxut-chan fearerh that he shal not conclude any thing Maxut-chan the Embassador come to Constantinople The Persian king stirreth and maketh famous preparations The Persian King at Tauris The assembly of the Persian souldiers The consultations of the Persian king Prouision of necessaries The TurcomaÌ„ Nation followeth the Armie of the Persian King Tocomac eelected to go with an army into Georgia 3â—000 Persiand Georgians The situation of the citie of â—enge The Persians at Genge aduertise Simon what he should do The Persian Embassador brought before King Amurath The speech of the Embassador The order which Amurath gaue touching the
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