Jerusalem when he foretold the Miseries he saw would fall upon her Also those he shed upon the Tomb of Lazarus The Mortal Affliction his Soul was seiz'd with in the Garden of Olives at the sight of the Torments he was a-going to suffer The Prayer he made to his Father three times to remove the bitter Cup far from him The Humble Circumstances of his Passion And lastly His Ignominious Death It was a Glorious and Triumphing Jesus Christ that they ought to have preach'd and not one that could be humbled and ty'd to a Cross The Zeal you see us have my Lord to maintain that Christ dy'd on the Cross should be a Motive to encline you to believe us For else why could not we agree with you that it was Judas was Crucify'd in his place and spare our selves the shame of Adoring a God fix'd to a Gibbet But 't is this shame alone which is the cause of our Glory We Preach Jesus Christ Crucify'd which is a subject of Scandal to the Jews and to you a Motive of Mockery and Laughter The Curiosity the Persians have about Religion gives the Missionaries a great advantage over ' em To Convert 'em to Christianity there is need of a great deal of Candour and even Temper and little or no Passion or over-hot Zeal They will never believe a Man inspir'd with the Spirit of God who is govern'd by Rage and Passion Also as they have themselves a great deal of Flegm too brisk a Method would not have its end To make 'em sensible of the Contradictions and Absurdities of the Alcoran has prov'd to me of great use Also as they have the Bible and some of the Fathers amongst 'em we might advise 'em to read ' em They find out themselves how different those Histories are from the Fables of Mahomet left 'em in his Alcoran This Reading has been a means God has made use of to induce many of the Greatest Men about 'em to be led to the true knowledge of him and his Son From Laurestan I took my Journey towards Hamadan a City of Media and Capital of a Province of the same Name and chief Residence of a Begueler-Begui 'T is situate at the foot of Mount Alvand which the Persians call Sultan Alvand that is to say Queen of the Mountains because it is the most Fertile and one of the highest in all Persia It is a branch of Mount Taurus which leaves it at the Town of Zengan and runs even to the Persian Gulf. The famous Avicen liv'd a great while upon this Mountain to make his Observation upon Simples with which it is all cover'd over Hamadan has 35 degrees and 12 Minutes of Polar Elevation It is a very Ancient City as may be judg'd by the ruins of a new Magnificent Temple there and of which there remains nothing at present but a very high Dome built with Bricks and Painted like Porcelane upon which appear some few Hebrew Characters Under this Dome there is a Chappel 18 foot square where are the Tombs of Hester and Mordecai Upon these Tombs are rais'd two stately Mausoleums made of a very hard Wood and Engraven with the Story of Hester in Hebrew Characters Upon Hester's Tomb is writ The Great Queen HESTER and on Mordecai's These Mausoleums have been plac'd here by Ardachir or Arsaces But there is no Date to distinguish which of the Arsaces is meant The Mausoleum of Mordecai is on the right hand It has 7 foot in length and heighth upon 3 of breadth That of Hester is on the left built after the same fashion only it is a foot higher than that of Mordecai The Jews keep there a great number of Lamps which burn Night and Day They Pray here only on their great Days Our House was not far from this Temple We were establish'd there in 1684. I brought the King of Persia's Patents thither obtain'd by our King's Recommendation and which confirm our Establishment One day making a Visit about our Affairs to a Persian Lord call'd Reza-Kouli-Begue a Dervich a Man of very good Sence an excellent Philosopher and one that was very well read in the Holy Scriptures He of a sudden turn'd all the discourse upon Religion He began by giving great commendation to the Christian Faith and said That he thought it every where very conformable to Reason unless in that place where it teaches that Jesus Christ is GOD. 'T is true reply'd I we do acknowledge his Divinity that Point is the Foundation of our Religion But what amazes me is That you should have the same thing in your Alcoran and yet not believe it For under correction what signifies Rouh Allah which is the word that Mahomet gives to Jesus Christ This Arabian word Arguments with a Persian Lord to prove Christ's Divinity says he for I have thoroughly study'd that Language signifies the Spirit or Soul of God This Spirit or Soul of God then said I is it distinct from God or the same thing with him It cannot be distinct from him without doubt says he Then reply'd I Jesus Christ must be God For what is the same thing with God is God He seem'd touch'd with this conclusion but I extreamly commended his being so Ingenuous as to give me the true sense of the word Rouh Allah I have not met with said I in other Mahometans the like sincerity they have always given this word a different sense to elude the consequence I have drawn from it We all reply'd Reza Kouli-Begue acknowledge Jesus Christ for a Divine Person and we have for him a very great respect when you Christians do but slight and vilifie our Holy Prophet Mahomet You respect Jesus Christ said I because you every where meet with a Saint in his Character that moves you but shew me throughout all Mahomet's Life the least shadow of such Characters You respect Jesus Christ because you own him for a Prophet sent by God to Man and you acknowledge him such by evident Proofs of his Holiness which you are not able to resist But is there any one that can give us such an Idea of Mahomet What has been his Conduct What Doctrine has he taught Men By what Miracles has he prov'd that he was sent from God What Prophets have foretold his Mission or his Conduct I shall not insist Sir upon any shameful Circumstances of his Life because I 'm well assur'd that you your self do secretly detest 'em in your heart His Conduct No Sir I have too good an opinion of you to say any thing of that It is not from his Conduct I 'm sure that you believe him a Prophet His Alcoran where he has dar'd to publish his own Uncleannesses in all Ages will rise up in Judgment against him And had you never so many Miracles to boast in his behalf his Infamous Life alone would be enough to cancel 'em all and no Man of good sense would suffer himself to be gain'd to his Party But now I
and dart 'em with Arrows when they have done and which they level with wonderful dexterity They follow the King with Hawks upon their Fists and which they slip when he commands 'em and ride full-speed when they see 'em mount and when they have a mind to re-call 'em they beat a sort of little Drum which they carry on the Pommels of their Saddles with the ends of their Bridles But if they strike any Game they come immediately and show it to the King If they be Cranes they have kill'd the King pulls out the Feathers and divides 'em amongst 'em and of which they make Feather Caps The Great Lords also put 'em upon their Turbans when the King permits them to Hunt with him The close encloistering of these Ladies in the Haram would be insupportable Their Exercises in the Haram if they did not altogether banish Idleness and take care to sweeten their Solitude with diverting Exercises they are there taught to Ride to draw the Bow to fire the Fusil to course the Deer and in fine to Paint Dance Sing and play upon all sorts of Musick They also there learn Poetry History and the Mathematicks In short every thing that may become 'em to render their Retreat the more agreeable A Persian Lady The Womens Apparel in Persia The Womens Habits does not at all differ from the Mens but it is always richer and more splendid They wear no Turban but their Foreheads are covered with an Head-band of three Fingers breadth cover'd with enamel'd Gold and set with Rubies Diamonds and Pearls and the Border that hangs from it is of Gold Crowns of Venice which make a very agreeable Fringe Their Hair hangs behind all wreathed in Tresses their Heads are wrapp'd in Caps embroider'd with Gold and encompass'd with a fine brocarded Scarf part of which flows behind even down to their Girdles They wear Pearl Necklaces about their Necks they gird themselves with Girdles four Fingers broad which are all over cover'd with Gold Plate this Gold is engrav'd or emboss'd and many times set with precious Stones Their Under-garments are of Brocard with Gold or Silver Grounds and their Upper a sort of Justacorps very rich and furr'd with Martins Skins These have Sleeves in the Winter but none in the Summer They never wear Stockings because their Breeches come down streight even to their Ancles In the Winter they put on a sort of very rich Shooes embroider'd which they use only as Men doe Slippers They have a sort of Red Pouder with which they paint the Palms of their Hands the Soles of their Feet and the Ends of their Nails also they black their Eyes with Tuty Blew Gray and Ash-colour'd Eyes have no esteem with them the Black only are priz'd The Men also paint their Beards black The King having eight Years since receiv'd the Son of the Great Mogul Smart Raillery the Mogul 's Son with a great deal of Honour at his Court he one day ask'd him What he thought of his Lords and other Officers To which this Prince reply'd That he thought they had every one a very good Mien but he was amaz'd to see not one old Man amongst ' em Which Reflection the King took so great notice of that he forbad all his Courtiers from that time to paint their Beards so that the Audience following this Prince was as much surpriz'd with the many Gray-beards as he was before with the Black Whilst the King thus takes his Diversion in Hunting with his Ladies Hunting The Lordt the Lords of the Court take theirs also amongst themselves but they must be sure they do not come within the King's view He permits them sometimes to Hunt with him and 't is then he is wont to chase the great Beasts He oftentimes slips his Dogs at Hares Coneys Deers Leopards Wolves and Boars but then what they take is always their own Fees Venison and other Flesh of that kind which the Persians love very heartily seems to them defil'd when it has once touch'd a Dogs Jaws and 't is a Maxim of their Religion Not to eat any thing that has been torn by any Beasts because they then cannot know whether the Bloud was shed on the South-side or not which is a Condition absolutely necessary to render it lawful in their Opinions Persian Superstition Also they would be very scrupulous how they tasted any Fowl that had not been wounded on that side which they esteem so sacred and sanctified because of the Sepulchre of Mahomet which is towards the South This King draws a Bow and shoots a Gun with a great deal of address what he kills is in so great Veneration that he cannot oblige his Officers more than to present 'em part Tower of Bones and Hornes Cha Abbas took so great a number of Beasts in one Hunting he had with his Lords Tower of Heads c that he built with 'em a Trophy of new Invention He caus'd their Bones to be gather'd together and rais'd a Minares or Tower in the middle of Ispahan the Structure whereof was no less agreeable than absolutely new it is made only of Stags Horns and Carkasses and Bones of other Animals but which are plac'd together with a great deal of order and exactness It is round and resembles a Pyramid of Columns rais'd one above another because it is divided by Capitols that seem also Pedestals to the other Columns The binding about of these Capitols is with Thigh Bones whose Joinings together look very well The Balcony and top of this Pillar are of the tallest Staggs Horns the bodies of the Columns are compos'd of the smallest Bones and Horns Its symetry is every-where kept so exactly that Strangers whose Curiosity leads 'em to this Tower know not which to admire most whether the Niceness of the Structure or the Industry of the Workmen whose Art has been so much the more wonderful as they have known how to compose so noble a Piece of Architecture out of such foreign and strange Materials One may very well say The King's Revenue that all Persia is in the King's Demesns for if the Lords possess great Estates it is but look'd upon as the King's Bounty and who can take them again when they fall into disgrace nay the Children of his most faithful Servants do not inherit unless he pleases There is no other extraordinary Revenue in Persia but Land-Taxes and Aids These Taxes are only upon Land The Taxes the King has about Fifteen pence of our Money out of every Acre which if Persia were as France is would amount to a great many Millions but that Country is every-where fill'd with Mountains and Desarts and there are no Lands of any value but only those that can be over flow'd for the Winter which is very short being gone there falls no more Rain in Persia Christian Tribute The Christian Tribute is not like these Land-Taxes for they pay so much an Head viz.
1691. where presenting himself before the King he was surpriz'd to see him alive He receiv'd him very favourably and the Audience lasted from Noon till Night He spent all that time to unriddle to the King the Treason and Intrigues of the Constable and the Governour of Herat with the Tartarian Prince Discovers the Intrigue This Constable was a Man of all the World that knew best how to manage Condition of the Constable at Court his Tongue the King lov'd him so extreamly well that he past by those things in him that would have been capital Crimes in others He was so well setled in his Prince's Favour that he easily parry'd all the Thrusts were offer'd at him upon the account of the Money-Misdemeanour and his Cruelty against those of the Family of the late Etmadaulet and moreover upon this unexpected arrival of the Sultan he was greater in favour than ever 'T is true His Character he had all the necessary Charms requir'd in a Courtier to make himself belov'd by his Prince His Air was Noble and Manners seemingly obliging his Shape tall and well-proportion'd in short he was the finest Lord of all the Court His Wit But the Beauties of his Wit far excell'd those of his Body his Discourse was always engaging eloquent insinuating and genteel and he could write in Verse or Prose as polite as any body He knew how to manage his Talents so well that he was look'd upon to be the most prudent discreet Lord of all the Court But nevertheless the King made him sometimes drink to hear him censure and rally the rest of the Courtiers and it was then that he could say or do any thing yet ne'er a one of 'em all was in a Condition high enough to revenge himself He was at this pitch of Favour when the Sultan came to Court yet however he was suddenly forc'd to yield to a strange Turn of Affairs His Enemies His secret Enemies that he had at Court were for the most part the Eunuchs whom he had not the discretion to spare in his Railleries insomuch that they were not only contented to support his Accusations against him but took also occasion to discover to the King another Intrigue of his which alone was sufficient to ruin him Mariam Kanum the King's Aunt remaining a Widow some time after the Sadre her Husband's death she at last fell in love with the Constable who it seems had not Prudence enough to prevent the Miseries that Intrigues with Princesses of the Blood bring a Man into for he yielded to her Passion and they some time deceived the Vigilance of the Eunuchs about her But the Jealousie of his Wives encreasing by his frequent absence they at last discover'd the whole Plot and gave immediate notice to the Eunuchs who not daring to discover it to the King because of the Constable's being so great a Favourite they were now resolv'd not to lose so plausible an occasion but declar'd the whole matter The King The King's Cunning. who has always been reputed very cunning was resolv'd to retain his Resentments till he had heard from the Princess's own Mouth whether she had any love for the Constable and to that purpose caus'd her immediately to be call'd into his Apartment where after a great deal of Discourse he at last acquainted her with the great Respect and Esteem he had for her and therefore was resolv'd speedily to re-marry her Whereupon he began to propose to her many of his Favourites but she shew'd for 'em all an equal Dislike till at last coming to the Constable he told her he should have propos'd him before but that he thought he was too much in years for her Embraces Whereupon she not being able to conceal her Love immediately told the King that his Age was best suitable with hers and moreover began to run on in such a long harangue in his Commendations that the King had no more reason to doubt of the truth of what had been told him Wherefore dismissing her he made her believe he would speedily bestow her upon the Constable and so bid her retire whilst he dispos'd of all things for the Nuptials She being infinitely surpriz'd and pleas'd kiss'd his Feet and so departed So sawcy an Attempt upon the Royal Bloud and the Treason discover'd by the Sultan were more than was necessary to ruin the Constable But nevertheless the King calling in his Eunuchs again they did not cease to augment the Disturbance of his Mind by telling him That the Intrigues the Constable had with his Aunt might in time amount to dethroning him And That they thought they had reason to believe he design'd to place the Crown on his Majesty's eldest Son 's Head who was Two and twenty Years old I know no more of the Particulars of this Conspiracy but that the young Prince was not suffer'd to live to succeed his Father The King being extreamly incens'd with these Relations dispatch'd away Three Couriers immediately to Herat with express Orders to bring him the Head of the Governour but Death had prevented their Design for he died three Days before Next the King commanded the Constable's Son to be arrested at Sembran and the Lieutenants of Kazran and Hamadan All these Orders were secretly executed by the Eunuchs without either the knowledge of the Etmadaulet of Council And all the Lords were extreamly surpriz'd when they receiv'd Orders at midnight to come to the Palace The Etmadaulet the Constable the Divan Begui and the Superintendant of the Slaves appear'd the first before the King being the Four Principal Officers of the Crown when the King not so much as affording one favourable Look to the Constable gave him presently a surprizing Prospect of his Misfortunes which was augmented the more when he saw the Guards reinforc'd with Two hundred Eunuchs in Arms about the King's Person Nevertheless he endeavour'd to conceal his Concern and took his ordinary Place next to the Etmadaulet to whom the King had given Wine and to two other Lords but took no notice of the Constable which the Superintendant of the Slaves being the King 's great Favourite observing express'd the Effects of Wonder in his Looks and which gave the King occasion to direct his Discourse to him in these Words You seem surpriz'd says he that I take no greater notice of this Traytor but that you may know I can do all things in due time I command you instantly to rise and to go cut off his Head This Lord being frighted with so strange a Command immediately cast himself at the King's Feet but instead of obtaining Mercy for his Friend he got only the Privilege of being a Companion in his Condemnation For the King being nettled with his Disobedience rigorously commanded the Divan Begui to out off both their Heads But the Etmadaulet a little intercepting fell on his Knees and with his ordinary Eloquence having represented to his Majesty That the Constable might well be
Court 117 Enemies irreconcilable to the King of Persia 3. The Name they give him ibid. Envoys how receiv'd in Persia 50 Esteem of the Persians for Jesus Christ 178 Etmadaulet Grand Vizier and Chancellor of Persia 17. His Salary Perquisits and Maintenance 18. His Six Deputies or Viziers ibid. They are like the Intendants of the Revenue 20. His Secretaries ibid. Eunuchs their Authority in Persia 104. They enjoy the Chief Offices of the Kingdom ibid. c. They have the Management of all in the King's House 105. What they are and whence they come ib. Executions the Judges and Great Lords assist at ' em 135 Exercises of young Persian Lords 34 Example of the Goodness of the King of Persia towards Christians 7 Expressions of the Persians to acknowledge the Spiritual Power of their King 98 F. Fast See Ramazan Feasts Publick of the King of Persia with the manner how the Guests are served at 'em 41. Their Magnificence 42. Their Plenty ibid. Pusileers of the King of Persia 73 G. Guards of the King of Persia 72 Georgians their Advantages and Prerogatives in the Persian Court and wherefore 128 Government Politick of Persia 77 Governments Establish'd Order in 'em 106 Guests of the King of Persia who they are 50 H. Habits of the Persian Lords 46. Of the Persian Ladies 63. A Powder they make use of and wherefore 64 Hakim Bachi the King's Physician he is personally responsible for the King's Life 25 Hall of Audience of the King of Persia 40. Other Halls of Audience 41 Hamadan a Capital City in Persia 78 Hazar-Pecha what it is 48 Hazar-Dgerib what 57 Heads brought to the King of Persia the first day of the Year 104 Horses of the King richly Harnassed 44 Hunting of the King of Persia with his Ladies 59. Of the Lords 65 I. Jealousie of the Persians in respect of their Wives 37 Indians more Effeminate than the Mogul's Subjects 117 Infantry the King of Persia has none 75 Intendants Particular of the Revenue 71 Intelligences c. of the Kans to hinder the People from complaining to the King 107 Judges of Persia cannot all condemn to death 137. Disorder thereupon ibid. Julpha Suburbs of Ispahan 56 Justice how administred in Persia 129. The Tribunals ibid. The Chief Justice c. ibid. Those that can condemn to death 130 K. Kalenter who he is 19 Kalmoukes and the Lezguis what sort of Tartars 125 Kans or Governours of Persia 29 Kans Begueler-Begui's of Provinces 31 Those of Towns c. ibid. Kaurs Ysaouls what they are 73 Kazi Fourth Pontiff or second Lieutenant Civil 116 His Deputies ibid. The King of Persia 2. His Titles and Qualities ibid. Very Affable to Strangers 5. His Name Age and Character ibid. His Strength 6. His Address and Nature ibid. His great love for his Subjects 7. His Kindness and goodness to Christians ibid. His Good-will towards the Missionaries and French Merchants 9. He calls himself Son of a Saint and a Prophet 10. He exacts no Tribute from the Armenians and other Christians that Trade in his Kingdom 9. His Absolute Authority 77. The Origin and cause of it 97. He is Supream Head of his Religion ibid. His Subjects believe him Infallible ibid. His Commands always very much respected 98. His scorn of the Mogul 's Troops 116. His taking the Air and other Diversions 52. His Politicks against the Usbeg-Tartars ibid. Kodafa who he is 28 Kortchi-Bachi who and his Salary what 20 Koulam Vizier who 26 Kouler Agasi Captain of the Troops of Slaves 21 Kouls what they are 72 Kzel-Baches what 47 Kzel Baches who Their Merit superior to the Indians 118 L. Laurestan a Kingdom of the Elamites 157 Its chief City ibid. Lending no encouragement for it in Persia 138 c. Lords of Persia 32 M. Manner of Mounting the Guard in the King's Court 73 Masched a strong Town in Persia 124 Magnificence of Publick Feasts of the King of Persia 41 Mahomet and his false Miracles 174 Master Great of the King's Houshold 24 Manufactures of Persia what is there made 116 March or Cavalcade of the King of Persia 57 March of the Lords after the King when he goes a Hunting with his Ladies 65 Mariam Kanum the King's Aunt Her Amours and Intrigues with the Constable 89. Her Discourse with the King and what follow'd 90 Martyrdom of a Christian 135 Maxim to incline Mahometans to the Truth 168 Media a Province 169 Megdeles Rou's what they are 33 Meheurdar Keeper of the Seals with his Deputies 25 c. Mehmoudar Bachi what is his Office 27 Meidan what it is 33 c. Meats Persian 43 Minarreés what 37 Minarreés or Tower built with Bones and Horns of Beasts taken in one Hunting 67 Ministers of State 17 Mirachor-Bachi who 26 Mir-Chekar Bachi who ibid. Modesty of the Persians whilst they are Eating 49 Manners and Customs of the Persians different from the Mahometans 181 Moullahs what they are and their Employments 37 Mouadgen-Bachi chief Astrologer 24 Modarés Deputies of the Sadre 14 Money Persian become bad and how 115 What makes it so scarce in Persia 116 Mosques of Persia 35. Their Description ibid. They have no Altars 149 Moucheruff who he is 26 Moustofi Elmam Alek who 19 Moustofi Cassa who ibid. Musick Persian 39 N. Nacoda what it signifies 76 Naib Sedarets what they are in Persia Navab Alié the Queen-Mother 62 Navigation why the Persians don 't love it 76 Nazir who he is 24 O. Observations on the Persians ancient manner of Expressing themselves 99 Omara's who they are 33 Opinion of the Persians concerning their Kings 10 c. Orders of the King of Persia for the favourable Reception of the four Vessels of the French Company ibid. Orders barbarous to Strangle Children 13 Order of the Sophi's in Persia 27. It s Institution 28. Their Duty and Head ib. They are at present in Disgrace 29 Ouriguerd a Town in Persia Its Situation 156. Odious manner of exacting an Oath from a Christian 141 P. Palace of the King of Persia 33. It s Description ibid. Its Situation ibid c. and Riches of the Place 124 c. Petitions they are not presented easily to the King 107. The several Difficulties 108 Other but Chargeable ways to present Petitions 111 Persians they are more Warlike better Disciplin'd and Stronger than the Indians 117. Their good Intelligence with the Tartars against the Muscovites 125. Their Politicks towards the Grand Signior 126. And with other Neighbouring Princes 127. Their Belief 145 c. What they Reject 147 Piche-Nahmaz Great Almoner 16 Pilgrimage of the Persians Its Origin Politicks of the Persians towards their Neighbours 118 Precaution of the Persians to prevent Surprize on the Frontiers ibid. Priests of the Mahometan Religion 12 Privileges granted to Merchants Invaded by the Viziers which is the reason of the little Commerce now into Persia 113 c. Prayers of the Persians 150 Of the Princes of the Blood and King's Sons 11. Their sad Fate ibid. What is