Treason as is generally believed by his next Brother Abbas who had formerly but in vain conspired to have betraid him to the Turkish General Turk Hist. Herbert c. ANNOTATIONS UPON THE FIFTH ACT. 1 IF we cannot recover him give out he is baptiz'd and so incapable 'T is no new way in India ASAPH did it Duke Asaph chief Favorite and Brother in Law to Shaw Selyn or Jangheer the Mogul he having married for his laâ— wife Normal Asaphs Sister and his Son Sultan Curroon who afterwards because by that name he was proclaimed Traytor by his Father changed his name to Shaw Iehan or King Iohn having married Asaphs Daughter he sent his Powers to set the Crown upon his Son in Law Curroons head but the old Mogul Selym made the Nobles swear not to accept Curroon because he muâ—dered his elder Brother but Bloche the young son and lawfull heir of that murdered Prince Selym being dead not without suspition of poyson given him by Asaph Blockee is set up The Queen Normal pretends for her Son Seriare youngest Son to Selym Her brother Asaph for his Son in Law Curroon and two Sons of the old Kings elder Brothers Morad or Amurath for themselves The other two young Princes Asaph found meanes to murder outright but these two last by circumstance causing them against their wills by some Portugals to be baptized into the faith of Christ so making them utterly uncapable of the Crown or Kingdom for the Alcoran forbids a Christian to wear a Crown where Mahomet is worshipped though afterwards for his further security he destroy'd them at Lahore and without further difficulty set up his Son in Law Curroon Herbert 2 The Injury c. See the eighth note upon the 3d. Act. 3 ABBA'S Thirty Kingdoms King Abbas his title over 30. Kingdoms runs thus The most high most mighty most invincible Emperor Abbas King of Persia Farthia Media Bactria Chorazon Candahor Heri of the Ouzbeg Tartar Hircania Draconia Evergeta Parmenia Hydaspia Sogdiana Aria Paropaniza Drawginna Arachosia Mergiana Carmania as far as stately Indus Ormus Larr Arabia Sufiana Chaldea Mesopotamia Georgia Armenia Sarcâ—hia and Van. Lord of the imperious Mountains of Ararat Taurâ—s Caucasus and Periardo commander of all Creatures from the Sea of Chorazen to the Gulfe of Persia. Of true descent from Mortys-dly Prince of the four Rivers Euphrates Tygris Araxis and Indis Governour of all Sultans Emperor of Mussulmen Bud of Honour Mirrour of Vertue and Rose of delight Though the Râ—â—der may know that among these he claims some Kingdoms which he enjoyes not as the Turk and others of his neighbours do sone others of these in his Possâ—ssion An usuall thing with all Princes Herbert Lodovic De Wellen de Reg. Pers. c. 4 Delights as far fetch 't as dear bought It was an antien nicitie among the Persian Monarchs still continued that nâ— wine could please their palate but the Chalydonian in Syria â—or no bread but what grew at Assos in Phrygia no salt but what was brought from Aegypt though Ormus nearer hand by much afforded much better nor no water but that of the River Copaâ—paes the same which Pliny calls Euleus and Daniel cap. â— Vlai it waters Shushan now called Valdack in Susiana and at length imbowells her selfe into the Persian Gulfe not far from Balsâ—ra one stream of it runs 'twixt Shiras and old Persaepolis over which there is a well-built bridge called Fullychawn Herbert c. 5 The antient death of Boats Mithridates vainly boasting in his drink that it was he that had slain Cyrus whom indeed he wounded in his rebellious competition with his elder Brother Artaxerxes the second surnamed Mnemon of great Memory for the Crown of Persia was accused to the King who was desirous of the honour to have it believed that it was hee himself that slew him wherefore esteeming himself touched in his credit by Mithridates his report he condemned him to the antient death of boats usuall among the Persians for hainous offendors the manner this They took two boats made of purpose so even that the one exceeded not the other neither in length nor in breadth then laid they the offendor in one of them upon his back and covered him with the other then did they fasten both boats together so that the Malefactors feet hands and head came out at holes made purposely for him the rest of his body being all hidden within They gave him meat as much as he would eat which if he refused they forced him to take by thrusting aules into his eyes having eaten they gave him to drink honey mingled with milk which they did not onely pour into his mouth but also all his face over turning him full against the Sun to tempt the flies and waspes to his face and of his excrements in the bottom of the boat engendred worms that fed upon his body so that being dead they found his flesh consum'd with them even to the entrals Seaventeen daies together did Mithridates languish in these torments and then died for his folly in not contenting himself with ornaments and gifts which the King had given him for wounding of his rebellious Brother but he must rob him of the honour of his death which he knew he most desired so procuâ—ing his own Crimine laesae Majestatis Plutarch in vit Artaxerx 6 Beat her brains out i th' antient way ordain'd for poysoners c. Parysatis the mother of Ataxarxes King of Persia took a grudge against his wife because she thought she exaspented him too much against his Rebellious Brother Cyrus insomâ—ch as in her revengfull mind she plotted the death of her daughâ—er in Law the beautious Statira the wicked determination was executed by poyson by the help saith Dinon of Gigis one of the women of her Chamber The King was so favourable to hiâ— Mother as he onely confined her according to her own Petition to Babylon swearing that whilst she lived he would never see Babylon but Gigis he condemned to suffer the paines of Death ordained by the Persians for poysoners in this manner They lay the head of the Malefactor upon a large plain stone and with another stone they presse and strike it so long til they have dashed the brains out so died Gigis Plutarch in vit Artax 7 Then burn her limbs with Cats dung This may seem a ridiculous kind of Punishment but 't is very antient and frequent all over Asia sometimes but by favour it is performed with Dogs dung So Mr. Herbert tells us that when it was told King Abbas that Nogdibeg his quondam Embassadour into England had poisoned himself wilfully for four daies feeding onely upon Opium not daring to see his Master or justifie himself against his adversary Sir Robert Sherley then on his journey to the Court to purge his honour before the King of the staines which the aspersions of Nogdibeg had thrown upon him the King said it was well he had poysoned himself for had he come to Court his body should have been cut in 365. pieces and burnt in the open market place with dogs dung but for the greater terror and shame its usually performed with cats dung the Cat being the baser beast as only used to destroy vermine 8 Let me suck thy last breath 9 When thy hand shall close mine aged eyes Theâ—e two concluding notes I put together because they reâ—ate to customes about the same subject viz. the parting office of friends to friends observed by the antient Romanes and others and still retained by the Persians and Grecians when any one was dying the next of the Kin used to receiue the last gaspe of breath from the sick person into his mouth as it were by kissing hiâ— to shew thereby how unwillingly and with what regret tâ—ey parted with their friend and closed his eyes being deceased Virgil makes Anna say of her Sister Dido newly dead Vulnera lymphis Aâ—luam extremus si quis super halitus errat ore legam Aen. 4. Some water I the wound may bath And if yet wanders any of her breath My lipps shall gather it And Ovid makes Penelope wishing that her Son Telemachus might outlive her self and his Father write thus to her husband Di ' precor hoc jubeant vt euntibus ordine fatis Ille meos oculos comprimat ille tuos Aepist 1. This may Heaven grant whilst fate in order goes That his hand mine eyes and thine too may close Statius hath both the customes together Sociosque amplectitur artus Herentemque animam non tristis in ora mariti Transtulit charae pressit sua lumina dextra Stat. Silv. l. 5. She him imbrac't delivering in glad wise Between his lips her cleaving soul and dies With his dear 〈◊〉 closing her sinking eyes FINIS Errata PAg 13. l. 14. for any r. and. p. 24. l. 24. for whose r. who p. 47. l. 14. for Son r. Sun p. 67. l. 3. dele not l 30. for for r. fore p. 93. l. 24. for do r to p. 97. l. 29. for mind r. mine p. 98. l. 9. r. besprinkled p. 112. l. 1. dele good p. 119. l. 23. after me add as p. 123. l. 31. for pleasant r. peasant p. 137. l. 2. add not p. 144 l. ult r. in p. 152. read in the beginning these two lines And fear is contrary to noble Courage The passive valour is the greatest still pag. 99.100.101 102 103 104. (*) Five hundred years (*) Haeliopolis in Aegypt
perpetuall snow to quench my fires And slake my parch'd soul with continuall Ice Iff. Dear Madam get him in Nym. O that I could Mâ—r. Or might I still thirst TANâ—ALUS with thee So I might alwaies bath in thy cool River For O I burn I burn the dog-star rules me And feeds his raging fires on all my joynts Nym. Wilt in to rest Mir. 'T is dog-daies every where And Affrâ—ck Here ye BELIDES here powre On me kind sisters your perpetuall â—ialls There is an impious nation that is said To stuffe with human flesh their greedy womb O they expect me and are now devouring My roasted Liver all my members broile And ready be â—HYESTES for thy Table Nym. Page try to lift him up softly O softly Mâ—r. O I am stifled in hot glowing brasse I low shut up in dire PERILLUS Bull. Away Dragons you scald me with He struggles your breath Nym. Stay yet Mâ—r. Nought see I'fore mine eyes but flames And towring Pyramids of eternall fire What food can serve such flames alas what mines Of Bitumen and Sulphur have I in me That thus my loyns consume without a pile Iff. Alas this talking heightens his distemper Nym. It does come try to bear him quickly in Once well he will forgive it Mir. I melt I melt Ah! mine own selfe am mine own funerall fire FLORADELLA MAHOMET-ALLYBEG BUngling Puppies could not twitch hard enough When once they 'd got him down What will you do now Step on or back or alter the whole maâ—hin Of the contrivement Mah. On my fair These little difficulties indear great actions To noble minds they are weak soules fall or stumble At rubs cast in their way to â—ry their sâ—â—ength The peace I know by this time is patcht up And the bold factious Troops disbanded all The Town anon will swarm with idle Souldiers That will like fish lie basking in the Sun And die when all the water their element Is let out from them I 'me for ELCHEE first Flo. I for OLYMPA and EARINA Mah. Presse hard For liberall lones of money plate or Jewells Or any of their fine superfluities They 'l help t' augment the heap Possesse them strongly That I intend to rescue the brave Prince And SOFFIE Flo. You 've instructed me enough Mah. Keep hid the Serpent Lure with the Dove No Treason is like that goes mas'kd like love CHORUS WHat is it Heavens you suffer here As if that vices malice were unbounded All vertues Laws inverted are And the just be by the unjust confounded 'T is punishable to speak reason Now reason and loyaltie are out of fashion And Tyranny and Treason Have all the vogue in this besotted Nation He that our great Palladium was No lesse our strength and bulwark then our glory A pray to rampant malice lies Whose fall almost the doers selves makes sorry His innocent issue suffer too Not laid so close up as a priz'd treasure But to shew what their rage can do And that reason ruleth not their acts but pleasure His noble friends that whilst they wore I' th field his purple could deaths selfe have daunted Men that a crime then death fear more Suffer for crimes wherewith they 'r unacquainted Some to strickt bounds confined are Some to remote all judg'd without due tryall The cause fond jealousie and fear Strange state that fears such subjects as are loyall Whilst they that mean the rape o' th state Swim in smooth oyle and wallow in all riot Intit'ling their black deeds to fate And put bad men in armes to keep good quiet O whither doth the precipice Of evill hurry men of base condition Made drunken with unjust successe They all the world grasp in their vast ambition Seest thou not JOVE rebellions scope ' Lesse thy quick vengeance stopps their sudden rising They 'l like their elder brothers hope To depose thee too and dare heavens surprising Hear O JOVE hear their blasphemies How all their wickednesse on thee they father Cheating the world with pious lies Saying their rules from thy instinct they gather Dost thou not hear it boldly said JOVE bids us break all antient laws a sunder At the dire speech ASTRAE fled Or hearing it why sleeps so long thy Thunder Was it not worth one bolt to save Him who the world thy truest copy deem'd Whom all good men in reverence have Who thy laws highly as we his esteem'd Whom wilt not tempt when these they see The great prosperitie of evill secures Away from down-trod right to flee When wrong with the fair bait successe allures So would it be but that there are A wiser few that know on high there fitteth O' th world an upright Governour And every thing is best that he permitteth We know a punishment it be To evill to prosper nor shall long endure The wicked's false prosperitie Though justice slowly moves she striketh sure Act IIII. ABBAS BELTAZAR COme BELTAZAR how have you us'd your power Bel. May 't please your Majestie a mutuall league Offensive and defensive we could not Obtain but upon tearmes too low for us The â—urk is yet too high and stands upon Rendition of those Townes you hold of his Which would disfurnish you of many men Fit for your other wars so'a Truce is all We 've made but so long 't may be call'd a peace 'T is for three years Abb. ' These truces yet in war Are only like the well daies in an Ague Short intervalls of health that flatter us Into debauch and make the next fit worse Nor should we suffer a disorder follow To save a war because that war 's not sav'd But only put off to our disadvantage But how took our stout Captains their casheering Bel. full heavily and mutter'd mutiny EMANGOLY here at the Town was met With your arrest and seisure of his places Which he seem'd to put off with no more trouble Then he would do his Armes after a march Or a hard charge to take a nap of sleep Abb. Cunning dissembler How took ELCHEE His banishment from Court Bel. As a school-boy That has plaid treuant and hears his Master's angry Abb. There 's hopes of him but th' other is quite lost ABBAS FATYMA BELTAZAR WHat 's that my FATYMA Fat 'T is a petition From a poor subject wrong'd by a great Lord. Too strong for him to struggle with at Law Nor has he wherewithall to pay for justice Bel. The case holds in himselfe and his aside brave Son Abb. Our justice FATYMA shall be given not sold. T was wisely done who ere he be to send it â—y thy hand sweet of all the deerest to me T is granted Fat Heaven will pay the early mercy Abb. Take you the scrowle BELTAZAR and see right done ABBAS FATYMA BUt child thou shew'st thy selfe as unconcern'd At all the pleasures of the Court and seemst A discontent Fat Alas Sir how can I Relish these toyes when my poor Father pines And raves mewd up in Prison Is the daughter Fit for a Court and
they do to its particular inhabitants for Plutarch reports In vit Pomp. That Pompey going to invade Hyrcania as far as Mare Caspium he was compelled to turne back againe into Armenia the lesse for the infinite numbers of deadly venemous Serpents which he met with being come within three dayes Journey of it These Woods yet befriend them against winter colds and shade them from the parching sun both which in â—heir seasons are there extream and besides hurtfull creatures they are plentifully stored with Apes for European Merchandise and Antilopes and Red and fallow Deere for food The â—rime Cities of this Kingdom are Farrabant Asharaffe Perisâ—â—w Omoall Barsrushdea and Derbent most watered by the Rivers Araxis Connack Osbel Cyre Rha and Cheisell who from the deserts of Larr and together with the 70. mouthed Volga from Muscovia empty themselves into the Caspian Sea These Rivers abound with fish and are furnished with little Canoes or Boats made of one Tree capable to receive eight men in fair weather In the River of Farrabant which bears a stream of 40. paces over are some long deep prams sowed together with hemp and cord but unpitcht or calk't in these the Muscovian Merchants sail down Volga over the Caspian Sea to Farrabant to traffique for raw silkes which they transport to Mosco and through Russia These ships ordinarily come thither in March and return in July This Country being both pleasant and rich viz. a fine Plain abounding with Corn chiefly Rice Barley and Ric Wine Honey and â—ll sorts of fruits and being an usefull passage into Tartarie and Turcomania allured Abbas of Persia to attempt it who had the fortune to win it To hold it the better he oft afforded it his presence residing much at Farrabant where hee built a sumptuous Palace and Asharaff where Master Herbert tells you he was when he received Sir Dodmore Cotton Embassadour from our King Charles and in his absence there resides the Vice-roy The people speak the Language of Persia their apparell is like the Irish trooses their heads have a high woollen Cap furred with their owne sheeps skinns They are affable and delight in Noveltie being much civilized as say the Persians since they called Abbas their Conqueror and had the honour to afford him a Mother and a Wife which though not the least shall bee the last praise of Hyrcania which I will here remember that it produced the Grandmother and Mother of MIRZA 7 The Grand Signior The Great Turk so called in the same sense as we call the Great Mogor the Great Japan the Great Duke of Muscovie the Great Cham the Great Duke of Tuscany c. 8 The Gelden Duke King Abbas his Vice-roy for Hyrcania whom I call Elchee liking a Boy whose Father was poor and under his command against the boyes wiâ—â— his Parents knowledge and the Law of Nature made him Sodomite which crying sin though licensed by their Alcoraâ— yet force is not to be used and therefore are Ganymeds 〈◊〉 each great City tollerated The Father of this wronge Child prostrates himself before the King and acquaints hiâ— with that villany The King seeing sorâ—ow and truth in thâ— Peasants look demanded of the Duke who then was sittinâ— there how true it was his countenance bewrayed him Thâ— King having at that instant a knife in his hand gave it to thâ— poor Father and bad him Eunuchize him The Duke durâ— not startle or intercede the Law of the Persian never alters the poor man executed as was enjoyned him The King yeâ— continued to the Duke his jurisdiction His Seraglio onelâ— lost most by it Herbert p. 99. 9 There I 've disarm'd a Foe and the most potenâ— too in the whole Empire This foe of Ally-Beg's was the above mentioned Duke Emangoly the greatest subject in Persia hiâ— Father and Grand-father were Dukes before him a Genealogie of that Antiquity as many Sultans and Dukes in India and Persia cannot equall it they know so little that way Hee was one of the Kings four great Dukes each of which hath under him 12. Sultans each Sultan 5000. Gouzel-Bashaws no worse warriers then the Janizaries His Titles without ostentation were these Emangoly Chawn Lord of Persia which they call Farsee Great Duke of Shiras Sultan of Larr and the Mountains of Jaaroon Lord of Ormus Ruler of Carmania Mergiana Susiana Gedrozia Aria and Sigestan Prince of the Gulph of Arabia Great Beglerbegg or Lord of Lords Commander of twelve Sultans Flowre of Courtesie second in Glory Protector of Mussullmen Nutmeg oâ— Comfort and Rose of delight He was very martiall and fortunate he subdued all Larr Ormus and unto Jasques for his Soveraign of which in the 18. and 19. notes upon the 4th Act He got footing in Arabia for himself in this manner Two Arabian Princes contending for Soveraignty he that was vanquished demanded succour from this Duke who entertained him and with 20000. Horse fought and kill'd his Adversary and became Lord of both their Tertitories The relieved Prince thanks him and desires to return home Emangoly refused could he with any honesty leave him that had so succour'd him The Prince must stay and in fine becomes his Son in Law and Father at once for he wedded the Dukes Daughter and the Duke his Signiory and kept him Prisoner the usuall fruit of Auxiliary or mercenary forces When he hunts the Tygre Lion Bores and such like which he did once in four years hee set 20000. men to rouze them and when they were herded together on some Mountain he impaled it with a huge toil of wire cords and wood a toil and burden for 600. Camels and so commanded them Answerable to his State was his Estate his plate and Jewells were valued at 300000. pounds He had 300 women in his Seraglio called there Haram at Shira His Revenues according to the Merchants computation were 400000. Tomaynes a year a Toman is 3. l. 6. s. So Herbert which of our money comes to 1328000. l. a year a Revenue equall to some European Kings not superfluous here to be â—emembred because it shews the greatnesse of Subjects in those parts 10 MORATS Horse-tail standard The Turkes royall Standand born by the Janizaries is no other then a horse-tail tied to the end of the staff So Sandys which though seeming rude and answerable to their Originall doth smell much of Antiquities Coloured Horse-hairs being a most antient Ornament for Crests Homer sticketh the like in the Helmet of the gallantly aâ—med though not so spirited Paris being to fight the great deciding Combate with Menelaus for Helena 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Then on his head his well wrought Helm he set Plum'd with Horse-tail that horribly did threat Hear how this passage sounds in French rendred by the great Poitique and much admired Abbot of Saint Cheron Salel Et puis couurit sa teste D'vn riche armet ayant vne grand ' oreste Faite du poil qu'on voit
ruine Base ALLYBEG and impious FLORADELLA And all the rest of their dire Complices This day fell sacrifices to thy wrath SOFFIE is found too and doth here attend thee Mâ—r. Turn then your love to him to him requite My wrongs and from him too expect my duty Now shall I die with much a lighter heart Since I have liv'd to hear those Traytors fall Nym. O this I ever hop'd for from heavens Justice And grieve the more that thou despairedst of it Mir. I come sweet FATYMA-Father farewell Use SOFFIE like a Son Abb. O that Heaven would Let me excuse thee Mir. SOFFIE Farewel Obey thy Grandfire as thou wouldst do me Forget my wrongs and eschew Tyranny Sof Ah! that I could forget sense and turn stone Mir. Adieu sweet Spouse Nym. O! Mir. From thee I hardliest go But thy grief will not suffer thee I know To be long from me Nym. O my wretched ears Do you heare this and will you ever hear Any thing after it O woefull eyes Why at this wailfull sight drop you not out Or frighted recoile deep into you holes O stubborn heart can't all this shiver thee Am I turn'd Rock too Mâ—r. Friends adieu make ore To my young Son the love to me you bore Ema O that I could not hear Met. Or I could help Mir. Yet love my memory Bel. O Grief Alk. O Anger That griefe is all we can Mir. Thou DORIDO Art to attend me to the shades below Pag. Yes my dear Lord. Iff. O that he 'd gone before Mâ—r. I shall again live and on some sad Stage Be mourn'd Great wrongs reach further then one Age. O O. Dâ—es Abb. He 's gone he 's gone break heart and follow Omnes O Heavens Nym. Stay winged spirit stay and take Me with thee at least 8 let me suck thy last breath Bel. Madam forbear you will infect your self Nym. O Gods what have been my deserts to be Thus punished or if such be my deserts Why am I yet not punish'd more with death Yet that were to give end unto my woes To joyne me with him were to make me happy That happiness I shortly will obtain In spight of fate if not from thy kind hand O ATROPOS from mine own grief at least Mean while lie soft O loved Corps and thou Adored soul if love to earthly creatures Remain in death think of me in thy shade And oft Petition Fate to send me to thee Sof Unhappy DORIDO how hast thou wrong'd All Ages Alk. And shalt still be curs'd by all Pag. Is 't not too late to say forgive pass'd errors I hâ—st to follow him to his shade I 'l there Wait on him too and try to be more happy They that behold the Sun must see his shaddow And who remembers my brave Lord must cast A thought on me and may they say thus of me I was his faithfull servant waited still On him in life and death good state and ill So used to obey his each command I did it though it to his hurt did tend If any fault of mine be known to time Service mistaken was my onely crime O O. Dyes Iff. He dyes Ema Would 't were our greatest losse Abb. Our losse alasse is above words to ease And we must more then mourn it Do thou see METHICULI all rites of pomp and sorrow Perform'd to that brave body This vile trunk Of DORIDO'S for giving his Lord poyson We will have burnt upon his Tomb. Met. Sad office Nym. Ah sadder sight that 't were Methiculi and Alkahem carry out the Princes body and the Servants the Pages my last Abb. SOFFIE Thou now art our and the Empire 's hope EMANGOLY be thou his Governour And breed him such as you intend to serve Ema My care shall labour to requite the honour Sof And mine t' improve your honour by my profit Abb. Daughter your losses we can ne'r requite Yet as we can let us attempt amends But that must come from you look ore your wishes And be the Mistress of your own desires Nym. ' Las sir what is there left for me to wish But a short term of wretched life mean while Some humble Country seat shall be my Cell Free from the trouble of all tongues and eyes I being unworthy either waiting their Kind deaths cold hand to lead me to my Lord. Abb. If that be your desire you must enjoy it But we could wish we could deserve you still Nym. Wilt thou partake of my retirement IFFIDA Iff. Madam it would seem hard to me to spend My years which my youth promise will be many In solitude I 'm an ill comforter And then my fortunes arâ— before me too Nym. Be happy in them Ema Poor ingratitude Nym. Farewell great sir if ever you remember You had a daughter-in-Daughter-in-law deserv'd your love Pay it to my poor Son at least forget not You had a Son that did deserve it well Abb. To him we 'l pay the love we ow'd his Father Adieu sweet Princesse BELTAZAR attend her Nym. I thank your Grace Farewell my dearest Boy But that thou still wilt dwell in my best thoughts I would I could forget I ere was happy Be thou so ever Sof Madam if you please not To stay still with us you 'l I hope admit Me in your solitude to do my duty Nym. Things of more weight will take thee up be happy And so shall I when sighs have spent this breath A mortalls happinesse begins in death Abb. Comâ— SOFFIE and leaâ—n to be a Prince But 9 when thy hand shall close mine aged eyes And on thy head my Diadem shall shine Learn by my harms to eschew Tyranny It was thy dying Fathers Legacy And shall be mine too and I leave thee more In that then in my splendid wreath of Oare For cruell Acts in them their torment have Guilt on our souls blots on our names they leave THE END ANNOTATIONS READER IF by perusing the former pages thou deservest that name Thou hast in them perhaps met with divers historicall matters which unexplained may defraud thee of the content I wish thee therefore I here offer thee a Key for every Lock ANNOTATIONS which if thou shalt find usefull I am glad I inserted them if superfluous they cost thee nothing for they are so few theâ— have not swell'd the Play to a much greater rate I will not trouble thee with tedious digressions upon the Poetick Names and â—â—gments strew'd up and down the Poem those if thou beest Learned thou knowst already if not a Dictionary may inform thee and spare my paines I only touch and that lightly upon such historicall concernments and customary rites of the Persians essentiall to our Scene as every Scholar is not bound to know for to such chiefly I wrote this Tragedy ANNOTATIONS UPON THE FIRST ACT. 1. THE Murder of our Sire This King Abbas being a younger Son was onely King of Heri near Tartaria by birth but aiming at the Persian Empire he to make his way to it privily
20. foot in compasse in height about 60 It was erected upon this occasion when Abbas was proclaimed King the Spawhawnians would not admit him but charged him with the death of Mahomet his Father and the murther of Emir-hamze the Prince his elder Brother This netled Abbas who stoutly swoâ—e for this Rebellion he would chastise them bravely and cut off 40000. of their heads to raise a Pillar of terrour and admiration as a ready Sacrifice unto Mahomet At length he Conquers and ransacks the City kills 1000. of them and miâ—dfull of his oath gives order to behead 40000. A lamentable cry is raised but to small purpose the vow of the Persians never alters nor could he be disswaded till the Mufti or sacred Messenger assures him Mahomet by revelation told him his oath might be dispensed with so 40000. were beheaded no matter what at length he consented whereupon ensued a massacre of all sorts of beasts of whose heads this barbarous Columne was reared higher then any Mosque in that City though now grown ruinous Herbert p. 89. c. 11 The Buzzarr In our language the Market place Hâ—rbert p. 147. 12. Your great Ancestors from MORTYS ALLY the present King of Persia will have himself of true discent from Mortys-alâ—y or Haly an honor he conceives so great as he puts it among his titles This Ally was Cosin to Mahomet the Persian Prophet to whom he gave in marriage his daughter Fatyma born of his first wife and made him his heir and head of his superstition by the title of Caliph but after his death Abubacer Father of Aissa Mahomets 2d wife taking ill the preferment of Ally by the aid of Omar and Ottomar Mahomets kinsmen whose desires were in hope of succession by reason of the old mans years and for kindreds sake rather to see Abubacer then Haly Caliph resisted Haly and set up himself after him Omar and Ottomar succeeded Omar was slain by a slave Ottomar in a private Quarrell after them Haly reigned against him arose Mavius who accusing him as accessary to the death of Ottamar caused him to be slain near Cafe a City some two daies journey from Babylon where he lies buried and there in his honour the Persian Kings have ever since used to be consecrated the place is called Massadell or the house of Haly. Ossan or Hussan his Son was pâ—oclaimed but resisted by Mavius and by him poisoned about the year 657. He had twelve Sons eleven whereof were murdered with him and with him lay buried at Cafe or Massad the twelfth Son escaped from whom the now King derives his pedegee his name was Mahomet Mahadin alias Musa or Prince Cherisim The Persians so highly honour Mortys-ally as still they place him in their devotions with Mahomet and sware by his name their usuall oaths being by Serrey Mortys Ally the head of Mortys-Ally or Serrey Shaw by the Kings head and putting one finger upon their eye and then you may beleeve them if you list they honour no less his son Hussan whose death they yearly celebrate with many ceremonies nine severall daies in great multitudes in the streets altogether crying out Hussan Hussan so long and so fiercely till they have spent their voices on the ninth day they find him whom they imagine lost in a Forrest or one in his place and then in a tumult crying out Hussan Hussan with drums fifes and all sorts of loud Musick they bring him to the Mosque where after some adoration and thanks giving their Orgie end Most believe that Hocem or Mahomet Mahadin is not dead but strongly expect his return to convert the world wherefore their Prophet Mahomet also having promised them his second glorious coming after 1000. year which they seriouysl late looking for and seeing themselves gulled by such credulity began to stagger till the Mufti assured them the figures were mistaken and that upon better view of the Originall he found 2000. when he would not fail to visit them till the first thousand years end the King of Persia ever kept in the Mosque of Massadella a horse ready sadled richly camparison'd and well attended which with one of his daughtrs he reserved for Mahomet the Prophet or for Mahadin his Nephew first come first sarved The lineal descent of this King of Persia from Mortys Ally superfluous and tedious here to insert as also of the difference in religion between the Persian and Turk raised by his family An. 1375. or at least by Syet Guynet who pretended to be so read at large in Mr. Herberts Travells and Mr. Sandies his Relation 13 14 CYRVS and DARIVS The Alpha and Omega of the Persian Monarchy when it was the second and greatest in the world and stretched from East to West from India to Ethiopia if it can be that any is not yet acquainted with the memory of these two mâ—ghty Princes they may soon be so by the means of Quintus Curtius and Iustine They were both the most fortunate and unfortunate the one overcome by Thomyris Queen of Scythia the othor by great Alexander The two examples they wâ—re of the fragility of mundane gâ—eatnesse wheâ—eof the last that led an Army of 1000000. fighting men against Alexander professed it his mishap at his death that hee had not werewith to requite Polystratus for a draught of cold water but was forced to leave it to his noble Enemy to do And the first that possessed so large a Dominion and had 200000. men to attend his fall was content with this modest Epitaph over his narrow doâ—mitory O man whatsoever thou art and whencesoever thou comest for I know thou shalt come I am Cyrus that conquered the Empire of Persia I pray thee envie me not for this little earth that covereth my body Words powerfull enough to pierce even the heart of Alexander considering the instability of worldly things as witnesseth Plutarch in vit Alex. 15 Would ope MAHOMETS shrine Mahomet the Saracen Law giver died in his 63. year his great Clymacterick giving his seduced sect a promise of his Resurrection the third day after till when they kept him unburied and as Anthonius writes 30. daies after the reckoning till smelling he was a lier the air being infected with the monstrous stink of his carkass by Abubecher or Ebbubecher his Father in law he was purified entombâ—d and laid in a new Sepulcher at Medina Talnby some two daies journey from Mecha to which place is daily resort by such of his sect as have zeal to Pilgrimage and those not onely are ever after accounted Syets or holy men and cannot lie from that time forward but their Camels and apparell also are of such esteem that they never after do them service in vile carriages or servile occasions The lay people are not permitted to approach much lesse to look into his Monument But the vulgar Tradition that he hangs in an Iron Chest attracted to the roof of a Mosque by a loadstone there placed I find approved of