to the Throne seems to them so reasonable and of so great benefit that they never cease to laugh at the Great Mogul and the Grand Signior who have a long time omitted it For they say That Aurengzebe might have prevented the Revolts of his Children and Mahomet the Fourth his Deposition by his Mutinous Troops if the first had kept his Children close during his Life time and the last put out his Brother's Eyes as soon as he came to the Throne The Dispensers of the Mahometan Religion taking place at the Persian Court Mahometan Priests I shall take notice of 'em before the Officers of the Crown over whom they have always precedency in the Council Publick Feasts and Audiences which the King gives to Embassadors and Missionaries The greatest Priest in Persia is call'd Sadre Cassa Of the Sadre Cassa that is the Chief or Arch-Bishop He is Super Intendant over all the Spiritualities of the Empire but his business is only to govern the King's Conscience and Order the Court and City of Ispahan according to the Rules of the Alcoran He deputes the second Bishop of whom I shall speak by and by for the rest of the Kingdom He is the first Minister of State and has his Seat at the foot of the Sofa and Right-hand of the King These Priests are so much reverenc'd in Persia that Kings have taken their Daughters for their Wives And the last Sadre Marry'd the King's Sister but nevertheless his Dignity could not secure him from having his Children Strangled that were Males for this barbarous Custom is so undistinguishably practis'd that if the King's Sisters or Nieces should omit to call the Eunuch's of the Haram at the time of their Lying-in to strangle the Child if it were Male they would inevitably merit Death by their neglect and seldom any such Offenders have been known to obtain Mercy This Law seems to have been newly made for there was no such in use at the time of the famous Cha-Abbas who was Contemporary with Henry the Fourth They give to the Sadre the Title of Narab which is as much as to say Vice-Roy of the King and Mahomet And there is none but him the Sadre Elman Alek and the Etmadaulet on whom this Honour is bestow'd This Sadre has his Deputies in all Capital Cities of Provinces His Jurisdiction which are call'd Modarrés and are not much unlike to our Bishops The Governours cannot give a decisive Judgment without their Approbations which they call Felfa These Deputies Heads of Mosques Principals of Colleges Presidents of the Circumcisions Curates that Marry and Divorce by Bills of Repudiation In short all that have any Employments which relate to the Law of Mahomet take their Orders and Measures from this Sadre and which procures him a vast Revenue for here as every where else Preferments are Bought and Sold. The second Person in Spirituals is nam'd Sadre Elman Alek Of the Sadre Elman Alek he is properly as Coadjutor or Assistant to the Sadre Cassa He does throughout the whole Realm what the Chief Bishop does only in the King's Court and Precincts of Ispahan He is moreover a Lateral Judge with the Divan Begui who can give no Sentence without his consent inasmuch as all the difference that I could take notice of between these two Bishops was only that one is Supream Head of the Law His Functions and the other his Deputy and Head of the Civil Tribunal He is Assistant to the Divan Begui to see that he does Justice according to the Rules of the Alcoran and what we would call the Cannon-Law which has been explained to them long fince by the Imans whom the Persians as Apes of us Christians worship to the number of Twelve as we do our Twelve Apostles This Bishop has also a Power to Try and Condemn Criminals which shews That he is not only an Ecclesiastical but Civil Judge The Divan Begui pronounces Sentence according to his Decisions This Bishop as Vicar General in all the Courts of Justice of the Kingdom has the Title of Naib Sedaret and he has the same Power over the Governours as he had over the Divan Begui He has his place below the Sofa on the Left-hand of the King The third Bishop of Persia is call'd Akond or rather Chiek Alislam Of the Alislam which is as much as to say Wise by Experience or The Venerable Old Men of the Law of Mahomet This Judge is properly the first Lieutenant Civil who takes Cognizance of the Affairs of Minors Widdows Contracts and other Civil Matters The King gives him Fifty Thousand Livres Annual Pension that he may have no occasion to be Corrupted by taking Bribes This is the Judge that dispatches most business His Substitutes He is Chief of the Law-Colleges and constantly reads upon it his Subaltern Officers every Wednesday and Saturday He has also his Substitutes in all the Courts of Justice of the Realm who together with those that belong to the Second Sadre draw up all Contracts and Agreements He has his place at the foot of the Sofa next to the Great Sadre The fourth Bishop is the Kazi The fourth Bishop is also second Lieutenant Civil who is the second Lieutenant Civil He takes Cognizance of the same Causes does the same business and enjoys equal Prerogatives with the former He has like him his Seat below the Sofa next the second Sadre But not one of those may appear at the time of Publick Feasts because then the King drinks Wine The Kazi has two Substitutes in every Tribunal their business is to determine small differences in Coffee-Houses and the Governour always requires their Assistance to consult about matters of Importance Over and above these four Bishops The Great Almoner the King has a kind of Great Almoner call'd Piche Nahmaz He reads Prayers in the King's House performs Circumcisions Marriages Burials and all other Functions of Religion in presence of the four Chief Bishops He is as it were the Universal Divine of the whole Empire for he disputes and marshals all Conferences in Religion This Lord Almoner is of the King's Council and enjoys near as great Prerogatives as any of the other Bishops There are Six Great Ministers of State in Persia Six Ministers of State which are call'd Rohna Doulets that is to say the Pillars and Supports of the Empire The First is the Grand Vizier The Etmadaulet call'd Etmadaulet that is the Prop of Power He is the Great Chancellour of the Kingdom President of the Council and Superintendant of the Customs He takes care of all foreign Affairs and Commerce with other Nations No Pensions or Gratifications are paid without his Orders and in short he is even as the Vice-Roy of Persia He Authorizes the King's Mandates by endorsing 'em with these Words Bende derga Ali il Alia Etmadaulet that is By the Port is meant the Court. I that am the Prop of Power and
the Priests pronounce 'em damn'd because having no more Eyes they cannot view the Sun The Funerals of these last are most lamented They have Saints which they worship Saints and how become so and they say that the way to become such is to work to purifie the Elements to till the Ground to cultivate the Gardens to purge the Water of Infects and to keep the Fire alight These are their daily Employments By the Principles of their Religion they are oblig'd to leave in their Wills a certain Summ to rid the Ponds of such a number of Frogs Toads Serpents and other Insects They also leave something for People to carry away the Carrion which the Mahometans let stink in the Streets To purifie the Air and to preserve the Towns from Contagion is a very pious Action amongst them Their most Venerable Saint was Zorouster a famous Astrologer who first taught Astronomy to the ancient Persian Magi and perhaps that 't is from him that they learn'd to worship the Sun But the Gavres nevertheless will tell you that they do not worship this Planet but only one God but Histories say the contrary we know that Armenia has been honour'd with a great many Martyrs that chose rather to die than adore the Sun How to reconcile this with the Gavres Profession I cannot well tell but I am apt to believe these People are asham'd to own their Idolatry Their Chief Feast is call'd Nau-Rous that is a New Day for 't is always the First Day of the Year They begin this Feast the very same minute the Sun enters into Aries it lasts Eight Days all which they spend in Dancing Sports and Jovialty in Honour of the Sun The modern Persians also retain this Feast The Gavres seem to me to differ less from the Christians than the modern Persians for their Manners are much purer they are brought up and nourish'd in the Bosom of Poverty and have a good Disposition to the Gospel if they could be but made more attentive FINIS ERRATA Page 112. line 13. for will read would p. 40. l. 7. for First r. Vpper p. 21. l. 15. for Quer-Koule r. Kouler A TABLE Of the most Remarkable CONTENTS A AB-Couran a large River in Persia 55 Address of the Persian Ladies 61. Their Employments in the Haram 62. Their Number ibid. A Koud or Chiek Alislam third Pontiff of Persia and Chief Lieutenant-Civil 15. His Substitutes 16 Alcoran what Book it is 146. The Persians and other Mahometans have each a different Interpretation of it ibid. Its Law not just 138. It is the sole Rule of the Belief of the Persians 146. Its Whimsies and Absurdities ibid. The People follow it exactly The Men of Letters only explain it 155. Men of good sense take but little notice of its Illusions ibid. Alla Kapi what it is 39 Amazons who are those that descended from 'em 125. The Characters of both the Men and Women 126 Ambassadours and Envoys in Persia how they are receiv'd 50. Their Stipend and Maintenance 51. How much the King values 'em ibid. How he behaves himself towards 'em during their stay ibid. Armies Naval the King of Persia has none 76 Artillery he also has little or none and wherefore 75 Asses belonging to the King of Persia richly accoutred 44 Answers judicious to the Envoys of Germany Poland and Muscovy 101 An Answer by way of Parable by the Etmadaulet 103 B. Beasts in Parade before the Hall of Audience at the time of the King's Feasts 43 Belief how different between the Persians and Mahometans Books of the Persians corrupted by Mahomet 146 Bridge upon the River Zendroud 56. It s description ibid. Bullodges and Agwanes what People they are and wherefore the Persians fear to be surpriz'd by 'em 118. What the Persians do to engage 'em to their Interests 119 C. Cassa the King's Wife 62 Cha Abbas what he did 177 67 120 Cha Hegber Third Son to the Mogul a Refugee in Persia 119. His Rebellion against his Father 120. A Stratagem of his Father 's that avoided his Designs ibid. Chamber of Great Days they have no such in Persia and the ill Consequences thereof 112 Chiek Sephi Restorer of the Persian Monarchy 97 Children that abuse their Fathers and Mothers how they are punish'd 135 Circumcision of the Persians 152 Climate its diversity in Persia 66 Colonies of Armenian Christians corrupted but how easily recover'd 119 Commerce the Kans and Viziers are not just in observing the Treaties and Privileges the King grants to Merchants which ruins Trade 113. Complaints of the Dutch on this account 114. They have had great Trade for silk with the Dutch and why it is decreas'd 113. Whence it happens that foreign Merchants do not much care to Trade there 115 Constable who was the cause of the Misfortune of a Governour falsly accus'd 80. His Treachery 83. His Malice incens'd the King 86. A Sultan discovers his Treason 87. How much he was in the King's Favour at that time 88. His Character ibid. His Wit ibid. He raises himself Enemies 89. Other Intrigues of his discover'd to the King ib. His tragical End 94 95. His Head carried to his Mistress by the King's Orders 96 Council of State of the King of Persia Qualities and Qualifications of them that compose it 99. Their manner of transacting Affairs Secrets there nicely observ'd 104 Court of Persia its Magnificence by the great number of Officers 33 Course of the King of Persia its description 53. Another Course 54. It s River ibid. A Courtesan victorious Commanding the King's Army 117 Courtiers easier to be converted than the Vulgar 156 Custom Houses and Customs see Douannes Custom House Officers on the Roads 70 D. Derviches or Abdals Religious Men in Persia 153 Derogat of the Deftar 19 Dgez Haitchis what they are near the King of Persia 102 Difference between the Chief Minister and the Constable and what was the Consequence 108 c. Discourse of the Etmadaulet to the King in favour of the Constable condemn'd to death 93 c. Disgrace of a Governour falsly accus'd 78. Afterwards found innocent 79 Divan Begui who he is 22 Doctrine of Jesus Christ very contrary to that of Mahomet 171 Douannes or Custom-Houses of Persia 69. Customs on Tobacco how much they amount to ibid. c. Drinking the Great Men drink Wine to excess at their Feasts 47. Why the King commands to do it 48 Dispute about the use of Wine and Polygamy condemn'd upon the Death and Crucifixion of Jesus Christ 157 c. And a Parable thereupon 160. About the Holy Scriptures 161 c. About the Divinity of Christ ibid. c. Daughters Prostitutes the Authority of their Parents and Relations to punish 'em as they please 132. A Story of one surpriz'd and stabb'd by her Brother in the act ibid. E. Eating the manner of the Persians 48 Echick Agasi Bachi who he is 23. His Office ibid. Emissaries of the King of Persia in the Mogul 's
for out of the Demesns and confiscated Estates By this we may judge what prodigious Army the King of Persia is able to have on foot upon any extraordinary Occasion He has little or no Infantry because they could not support the Fatigues of Desarts and Mountains which Persia is all over full of No Infantry or Artillery and wherefore And they make use of little or no Artillery for the same reason for they have no need of it to defend their Towns which have neither Walls nor Fortifications and therefore must trust wholy to their Bodies Also none of the Castles on the Frontiers could ever be able to resist The Fusiliers I spoke of before are never on Foot but when they guard the King at home for when they accompany him to the Wars they are always mounted The Persian Battles are never regular Their manner of fighting They throw themselves upon their Enemy in round Bodies They shoot their Arrows and then retire but it is dangerous to pursue 'em for they are very dextrous at levelling behind them Their Stratagems tho' they are flying upon full speed They are subtle and know when to engage an Enemy where they can divert the Water and so make 'em perish with Thirst They are also very cunning at flying to Ambuscades where they can cut their Enemy to pieces Their Horses are extraordinary for they can clime those places where a Footman would be scarce able to pass The King of Persia has no Forces by Sea No Forces by Sea and he only reserves to himself a Soveraignty over the Gulf of Ormus the Arabian and Caspian Seas His Subjects don't love Navigation for they have it in so great abhorrence that they call those Nacoda's that is Atheists who expose their Lives upon so inconstant in Element This no doubt extreamly pleases the Armenians who have all the Commerce by Sea of this Kingdom 'T is a great Advantage to a Soveraign to have so numerous an Army at his command but much greater to have it in the power of his Treasury to augment it as far as he pleases His Treasure which his Father left him has been very much encreas'd since his coming to the Crown for I believe above Twenty Years there has never a Day past but there has come into his Exchequer 50000 Livres Present Treasury augmented This is enough without doubt to govern his Kingdom quietly and to augment it if he pleases by new Conquests And nothing that I know of hinders him to put 'em in Execution but his singular Goodness For his Power is absolute over his Subjects who are all almost Slaves his Ministers are Skilfull and Active his Counsellors great Politicians and well advis'd and his Soldiers valiant I believe there is not in all the World a more absolute Despotick Government than that of Persia Autho ity of the King of Persia For the King is so entirely such that he need never Register his Commands to have 'em executed but disposes of the Lives and Estates of his Subjects without ever acquainting his Privy-Council I 'll give you one Example in the Person of Abdel Kassamkan Governour of the City of Hamadan Metropolis of a Province in the Kingdom of Media This Lord having obtain'd this Government by his Merit and of which he had given sufficient proofs in the charge of Divan Begui which he had executed Nine Years incurr'd the King's displeasure upon a false Accusation of an Arabian Merchant employ'd by his Enemies to that purpose The King immediately dispatched an Ysaoul or Messenger to command him to Court This Fellow coming to the Governour 's Palace whilst he was doing Justice without any Ceremony immediately crowded into the Chamber of Audience and insolently march'd up to the Kan's Seat when forbidding him to stir he arrogantly acquainted him that he had displeas'd the King The Kan who had all his Officers about him and more than Four Hundred Soldiers in an adjoyning Court reply'd only I am the King's Slave I reverence his Orders Put in execution what you are commanded When at the same time taking his Girdle from his Waste he presented it to the Messenger who snatching it from him instantly bound his Hands behind his Back Then the Kan throwing his Turban upon the Ground offer'd him also his Head But the Messenger told him that his Orders extended only to the seizing of his Person and Goods Which Order having given to the Vizier or King's Lieutenant to read he immediately enter'd his Haram seiz'd upon whatever he found and drove out his Women after a very shameful manner thus his House being pillaged and all his Goods confiscated he was led bound to Court after the rudest and most ignominious manner imaginable He remain'd there Nine Years as a private Person without either Equipage or Retinue and without ever daring to appear before his Prince But at length Fortune began to change in his favour He is cleared by the Ruine of his Enemy and the Constable who was the cause of his Misfortune fell himself into a deeper Disgrace whose tragical Circumstances are but too remarkable not to relate This Constable's name was Sarou Kan Tragical end of the Constable who over and above the charge of this Office had also the superintendency of Money and of the Governments of the Provinces of Hamadan Cazran First Accusation and Sambran The first blow that made him stagger was given by the Kan of Kermoncha Son of the last Etmadaulet who complain'd to the King that the Lieutenant of the Constable at Hamadan sacrific'd to the particular Prejudice his Master always had towards his Father the Lives and justest Interests of all the Lords of his Race who were very numerous in that Province And the better to support his Accusation he produc'd the Proceedings of the Massacre of the principal of his Family word for word The Constable presently began to justifie himself in denying the Fact but the King having referr'd the Examination of the Matter to the Great Master of his Houshould told the Constable That if he were convicted His and his Lieutenant's Head alone should not suffice to revenge so much Innocent Blood The Second Blow was upon account of the Money he had Superintendance over Second Accusation for he was accused of great Misdemeanors in that Office and of having put the whole Kingdom into disorder The King for this began to reprehend him with a great deal of heat Whereupon he had the Impudence to retort and tell his Majesty He knew not what sort of King he was to believe so easily the Malice and Calumnies of his Enemies This so nettled our Monarch that the Death of this Lord had undoubtedly ensued his Displeasure had not the Etmadaulet fell on his Knees and immediately beg'd his Life Lastly Occasion of his Ruine The sudden return of Abdulla Sultan Son to the Kan of Merva from the Country of the Usbeg Tartars where he was Prisoner