first the Protector was very obstinate being importuned and hauing a hope of the gaine of 40. thousand Chickeno's which were proffered made him a little to relent and so hee commanded to stay his Execution Thus Sir Thomas brought from the place of death and presently carryed to another place little better it being a prison called the seuē Towers where he was put into a miserable darke dungeon and extreame cold There he continued till one of the clocke in the afternoone the next day at which time the Embassador hauing vnderstood of the misery of that place sent one of hismen to the Gaoler to intreat him that hee might bee remoued to some better place whereupon hee was had out of the dungeon and put together with his two men into a little shed but two yardes square built against a wall hauing neither cloathes bed fire nor any good meat In this state hee continued foureteene dayes in extreame cold weather of frost and snow during which time one of his men perished and died euen of very cold and he himselfe was so benummed in all his limbes as he feared he should neuer againe haue the vse of them In this poore estate hee continued till the beginning of Aprill 1604 at which time there were Letters sent from the Kings Maiestie to the great Turke and money from his Father for before that time hee had receiued no newes out of England But whether by negligence or some ill accident the letters were lost Notwithstāding by reason of his money he was admitted to buy a Chamber and to hire a Seruant to attend vpon him being stil a prisoner and hauing a watchful guard about him Thus he continued till the Christmas following In which time his father hauing vnderstanding of his great miserie sustayned together with the losse of his Maiesties former Letters and his Sonnes present case as it stood became againe an humble suiter to the King in his Sonnes behalfe and eftsoones obtained his Maiesties gratious letters to the great Turke for his deliuery howbeit those letters did not worke his release for hee was still continued in prison But by meanes of them he had not torture nor torment inflicted vpon him as before but continued a prisoner till the middle of Nouember 1605. It which time his Maiesty of his Princely grace and fauour directed new Letters to the Turke of greater force then before by veriue of which and God assisting he was deliuered vpon friday the sixt of December in the yeare aforesaid which was in this manner The Protector Bashaw that day came in person to the prison and causing him to be brought forth deliuered him together with his man into the hands of the Lord Embassador with these wordes Hee is your Prisoner till the morning Thus being deliuered but not absolutely freed the Lord Embassador receiued him promising to send him the next morning to the Duana which is the name they giue to their principall Court because the Bashaw tould him the Emperour held him to be his lawfull prisoner that he had forfeited his life vnto him Howbeit to gratifie the Ma. of England hee was pleased to giue him as a present to his King and therefore hee should be deliuered to his Ma. officers in open Court The next day following beeing Saturday he was brought into the Duana there was no great doubt or question made of his deliuery onely the Testados who is as we tearme him the L. Treasurer cast forth a word about the Kings Letters aduising the Bashaw to consider what he did in the deliuery of him for that hee seemed to be a great man The Cadiliscar that is as it were the chiefe Iudge in deciding mens causes answered hee knew that well enough and it was so generall vnderstood for so great Kings quoth he as is the Maiestie of England vse not to write for meane men and that their Emperour had freely giuen him to the King of great Britaine and therefore willed him to holde his peace but his man ran a daugerous fortune that day for diuers great men of the court stood much against him affirming the Bashaw had no reason to deliuer him because he was neither mentioned in his Maiesties Letters nor in the Emperours graunt But the Bashaw hauing vnder hand the pronuse of a great summe of money after a speech made and some solemnitie vsed deliuered both Howbeit the Monday following beeing the 16. of December remembring himselfe began to finde his error and to bee afraid that hee had runne into danger for releasing of his man and thereupon presently sent to the Lord Embassadour that hee would send both Sir Thomas his man to him againe The L. Embassadour went to the Bashaw himselfe refusing to send either of them backe and with much adoe perswaded the Bashaw for though he found no danger in Sir Thomas yet hee teared much the Bashaw had a purpose to stay his man and Sir Thomas was very loath to haue his man returned againe to his miserable kennell The Turke is very strickt and prccise in punishing faults in his Officers for that very Euening the Bashaw was depriued of his place for ro other cause but deliuering of his man without Commission Thus ended the tedious trouble and miserie of Sir Thomas Sherley in his imprisonment which beginning in the Island where he was first taken the 15. of Ianuarie in the yeare 1602. was afterwards continued in Nigro Ponte and at last ended in Constantinople vpon a friday the 6. of December 1605. So that the whole time of his imprisonment was 3. yeares sauing a fewe daies And here is to bee noted what a stampe and impression of duty and regard the countenance of a Kings Letter makes in the hearts of subiects though in places farre remote For the Embassadour that before that time did but faintly assist him in all his attēpts and intreaties and was many times afraid to speake in his behalfe and often refused to trouble himselfe in this businesse vpon the receit of his Maiesties Letters stood so stoutly by him that he flatly refused to send Sir Thomas or his man backe notwithstanding the strickt command of the Visior Bashaw who in his place was a man of principall authoritie in the countrey Sir Thomas staied in Constantinople a free man from the time of his deliuerie which was the 6. of December vntill the 15. of Februarie following 1605. during which time hee tooke pleasure to solace himselfe there where before he had endured so much sorrow and miserie taking a view and surucy of the seat and scituation of the Citie obseruing their lawes customs and ceremonies beholding their Courts Synagogues and Temples with other things not vnworthy a strangers obseruation And vpon the 15. of February hee departed from Constantinople in a Ragousian Ship called the Maria de la Rosaria and landed at Callipoly the 19. of the same moneth from thēce to Naples and so at last to England where beeing ioyfully receiued of
together with many of the Nobilitie and with his traine and attendance hee was brought with solemne obseruant state and regard into the citie of Prague where beeing royally entertained in the Emperours Court and hauing deliuered the purport and tenor of his Embassie found al things answerable to his worth and the weight of his affaires His lodging together with the Persian was prouided in a faire house not farre from the Court they were serued all in plate parcel gilt but in diuers manner according to the seuerall customs of their Countreys Hee lay in Prague at least halfe a yeare in all which time hee found nothing but Reuels Feastings and other pleasures of Court Whensoeuer he went abroad he had allowed him by the Emperours appointment a faire coach drawne with 6. horses the Persian had the like but still Sir Anthony had the chiefest place and regard which was the onely cause of the often iarres and breaches that was between them for the Persian beeing haughtie and ambitions would many times in his pride and insulting humor as well opēly in wordes and behauiours as closely vnder hand with plots and deuises attempt many things to bring Sir Anthony into disgrace which still was reuealed and in the end reuenged euen by his owne Prince in his owne country as you shall afterwards heare to Sir Anthonyes honor and the Persians shame and confusion But to returne hauing taken his leaue of the Emperour in all reuerend and solemne manner he came from thence to Norremberge where by his welcom and costly entertainment the citizens shewed what account estimation they helde of him where also besides many stately banquets and rich presents they bare all his charges for foure dates and at his departure they presented two cups of gold the one to Sir Anthony the other to the Persian Howbeit the lining of Sir Anthony his cup was better then the outside for it was stuft full of gold Hauing taken his leaue at Norremberge he came to Augusta where he was well entertained from thence to Minikin where also the Duke of Bauier gaue him great entertainment From Minikin he cam to Insbrooke where stands the stately house of Austria from thence to Trent and so to Rome in all which places hee still found his entertainment beyond expectation At Rome the Persian and hee fell againe at oddes about superioritie where Sir Anthony plainly told him that he had many times borne with his prowde and insolent behauiours more then stood with his own honor and naturall condition onely for the furtherance of the negotiations they had in hand which since saith he you haue done what lies in your power to crosse obseruing rather your own ambitious humor then the nature and qualitie of our imployments I will giue you to vnderstand that from henceforth I will take a more strickt note and vse a more peremptory controlement both of your words gestures and actions and you shall learne to know I am your superiour and that I doe nothing that becomes me not both in the worthinesse of mine owne person and in the vertue and authoritie of my commission The Persian beeing thus gauled hauing neither a mind to suffer nor a heart to rauenge in a sullen maner departed from Sir Antho. tooke his iourney towards Persia plotting and deuising by the way all means he could to article against Sir Anthony letting nothing slip either from his owne mischieuous conceit or the false and malicious suggestions and informatiōs of his followers to bring Sir Anthony into contempt with his King But as many a man digges a pit for others and fals into it himselfe so this vnhappy Persian supposing he had carried the poyson of Sir Anthonies disgrace brought in his heart the haue of his owne vndoing for being come to Court and hauing deliuered before the Persian King in the presence of Ma. Robert Sherley the whole processe of their trauels hee did in a particular manner and with an enuious and a malicious tongue preferre his suborned and suggested accusations against Sir Anthony which Robert Sherley hearing with countenance and wordes both befitting himself and his wronged brother humbly besought the King that there might be an indifferent hearing of this matter and himselfe admitted to pleade his brothers cause which being graunted he did so trip confound the Persian in his informations that being found guilty in the breach of his Commission and that hee had demeaned himselfe in these great affaires with actes and behauiours derogatorie to the honour of his King and daungerous to the effecting of so great a businesse his accusations also against Sir Anthony sauouring of malice and not of truth he was finally doomed by the king to haue his hands cut off and his tongue cut out in the presence of M. Robert Sherley who being demaunded what he would haue more done vnto him in the reuenge of his brothers wrong he answered that he tooke no delight in his torment and that which was already done was more then he was willing or consenting to and that now he would 〈◊〉 in the behalfe of the miserable Persian for that he supposed there could not bée in his case a greater pleasure done vnto him thē to haue his head follow the fortune of his tongue and hands Thus ended at one time both the pride and life of this vnhappy Persian Of Sir Anthony Sherleyes Voyage and Trauels into Spaine vvith his entertainement there MAn in regard of his mind and body being compared to Heauen and Earth is said to bee a little world the one subiect to corruption the other to immortalitie Gold and siluer therefore which Saint Bernard calleth Terra rubra alba are not said to bee the riches of the mind but vertue is her diuine substance by the power whereof shee doth extinguish that immoderate fire of sence and appetite wherwith mans Nature is dangerously inflamed drawing it to bee gouerned by the qualified and temperate rule of reason and in the excellencie of her owne account being caried aloft with her celestiall wings her obiect being drawn another way she either beholds not or doth not esteeme the riches pleasures and profits of the world or whatsoeuer the base delights and erronious desires of men holds to bee precious From hence it comes that hauing the bodies gouernment and vertue to be her owne guide she doth so rule and order it in al her proiects and intendments that she suffers it to commit nothing vncomely or vnworthy her direction but with a mutuall sympathy and agréement they passe the whole progresse of this life shewing themselues in all their desires and designes to bereligious temperate iust honorable and worthy the image of their Creator They are not seruilely tyed to any place or countrey nor lulled with the delight of idlenesse and home-bred pleasures but as wel to enrich the intellectuall part with knowledge and experience as also to exercise the body with the practises of labour and grace the
be worser handled then hitherto he had beene since the first time of his imprisonment Whereupon the next morning at breake of day hee was remooued to a worser place and both his feete put into the Stockes a great yron chaine about his necke both his hands tied before him and his body stretcht out all along with a great sharpe stone laied vnder the raines of his backe so that it was impossible for him to stirre beeing also vexed continually with lyee which was not the least torment hee endured so that hee often wished that the sentence of his death had beene pronounced did willingly frame his thoughts and order his minde to entertaine with patience the destinie of such a doome for this miserie toucht him so neere that he was content to relinquish all hope and desire of life and to meditate on nothing but of death He continued in this estate from Saturday the 23 of August 1603. vntill the Tuesday following in which time hee was suffered to rise but 4. times in 24. houres That Twesday about nine of the clocke he was brought againe into the presence of the Bashaw as he fate in opē Court where he renued his olde demaunde of filtie thousand Chickeno's All Christian Embassadours haue in the Bashawes Court continually two Interpreters to haue a care and regard of such causes and occurrents as may concerne their Country This day the English Embassador had none there belike to avoyde the unportunities that Sir Thomas in this his Tragicke state might haue vsed But to return to the Bashaw his demand Sir Thomas answered him that hee found little constancy in his wordes that if his life might make satisfaction that was in his power and more iust and honourable it were for him to take it then to prolong it still with torment for his own part hee would promise no more because hee could performe no more To be briefe he told him hee might haue his life but neuer his demaund The Bashaw neuer replied but presently commanded his head should bee stricken off But though he was rash in the doome he did deliberate in the deede for Sir Thomas was carried backe into prison where though hee found rather an increase then any mittigation of his former torments yet was his life still preserued by the miraculous power of Almightie God The Continuation of Sir Thomas Sherleys miserie in his imprisonment in Constantinople SIr Thomas beeing thus returned into prison and his old torments renuing hauing small hope of life and lesse expectation of release euery houre awayting the execution of his doome a certaine Iewe dwelling in the Citie vnderstanding his imprisonment and his vild manner of handling and that he was also a Gentleman of account and estimation in his Country in pittie and compassion of his estate found the meanes to come and speake with him in prison where after a few salutations the Iew reasoned with him in this manner As you are a stranger both by your birth and language to this Nation so you also seeme to bee strange and ignorant of their Natures Conditions I haue heard of your long imprisonment and though I know not the cause yet I grieue much at the manner of your handling You shall doe well in this rather to follow my counsell that haue a little experience of their customes then wilfully to cast your selfe away by ignorance Be ruled by me and make promise of this great summe of money to the Bashawe but take a long time for the paiment It can bee no way preiudiciall to you if you way your owne state and his case aright for if your King hold his amitie with the Turke and that the league bee continued whereof there is yet no doubt you may before the prefixt day taken for the payment by the benefit of your King bee freed without ransome If that faile and a farre lesse summe be brought in the meane time and that he findes there is small hope of more they will rather accept that though it be little then hazard your life and so loose all And I will also giue you a further comfort which though it proceedes but from mine owne opinion without particular intelligence of any such matter for in this blindfolded state of Turkie men may obserue howbeit knowe nothing but to obey This Bashaw this great aduersarie of yours that now hath your life in pursuite is like ere long to loose his owne for the nature and qualitie of his place will not hold an officer long Sir Thomas hauing a Woolfe by the eare wherein there was danger either to hold or let goe doubting whether he were best follow the counsell of a Iewe or trust the cruelty of a Turke yet hauing well wayed his wordes wherein he could finde nothing that sauoured of deceipt hee thought it best to follow his aduice And so holding that determination he found means shortly to send vnto the Bashaw to whom he promised fourtie thousand Chickeno's conditionally to haue reasonable day for the paiment and in the meane time to be vsed like a Gentleman to bee kept in a house by himselfe and not to bee troubled with all manner of Rascals to haue allowed him two hundred Aspers a day for his diet which is tenne shillings sterling and a seruant to waite vpon him The Bashaw was glad to receiue this proffer and promised him more then he demanded that he should haue a good house and a faire garden that he should haue two hundred Aspers a day allowed him and two seruants at his choyce either men or women to attend vpon him and that for his money he should haue good meate wine because quoth the Bashaw I wil haue you contented Though Sir Thomas was glad of this proffer yet was there an occasion ministred very soone after to dislike it for the next day the English Embassadour wrote vnto him that hee was as sorry for his error as for his imprisonment and that hee intangled himselfe into an intricate laborinth out of the which he could not winde himselfe without payment of the money He therefore aduised him to reuoke his promise and by no meanes to accept the Bashawes proffer for if he did he was either tied to his worde or his life to the Turkes disposing and to comfort him withall hee told him that within tenne daies hee would procure his release get him home to his owne house and become his Baile Whereupon Sir Thomas trusting the Embassadours promise refused the Bashawes proffer and so was carried backe into his olde prison where with great miserie and distresse hee lay long after About Michaelmas after this Visior Bashawe his great Aduersarie was hangd according to the Iewes Prophecie which gaue him cause to entertaine a newe hope of his Deliuerie for presently vpon the death of the Bashawe hee wrote agame to the Embassadour requesting him that now he would remember him or neuer for nowe was the time if it pleased him to extend his eredit in
who beeing by the Kings appointment and his brother placed neere vnto him sitting vpon his Throne where he discoursed vnto the Sophi of Persia his countrey the state power Maiestie of his Prince the religion and conditions of the people the manner of gouernment with the nature and discipline of their warres then he descended to particularize the cause and the seuerall occurrents of his Trauels Lastly he declared the speciall matter and occasion that drew him into Persia namely the fame and renowne that he heard of his Actes and Gouernment and the inueterate hatred hee bare vnto the Turkes The King was highly pleased with his discourse and al this while hauing well obserued his speech gesture and countenance hee held him in his conceipt to bee of very honourable reckoning which after Princely thankes giuen and many graces and fauours showne hee made manifest for he tooke Sir Anthony by the hand leade him into other inward Chambers where beeing that night royally feasted hee was after Supper by many principall Gentlemen of the Court conuayed and attended to his lodging which in a farre more sumptuous manner then before was newly prouided for him Not many daies after the Persian King sent him a rich and costly present by his Steward to demonstrate his loue and the account and estimation he had of him Of the Manners Conditions and Customes of the Persians OUr English nation within these fewe yeares by reason of their trauels wherein I suppose they are at this day second to no countrey haue such knowledge and experience of all people of their customs and conditions that it is an easie matter to controll a writer that discourseth only vppon report except he be truly and directly instructed but so farre as I haue read heard by the testimony of such persons as knowe somwhat haue little cause to say more then they know I will be bolde for the better vnderstanding of those that are ignorant in some sort to relate the Manners Conditions of the Persians as not impertinent to this present purpose For their deuotion it is much after the Turkish ceremonies their Priests somewhat differing in their Orders and habit their Temples and religious places much after their building and fashion The Persian praieth to Mahomet and Mortus Ally The Turkes both to them and three others that were Mahomets seruants against which three the Persian still inueighs and is an enemie Their conceit of Christ is that hee was a great Prophet a most holy and religious man beloued of God mighty both in deed and word but no way to bee compared to Mahomet for Mahomet say they was that most excellent and final Prophet through whose grace vertue and power all things concerning the Resurrection and saluation are made full and perfect Further being onely gouerned by Naturall and Carnal knowledge and wanting the illumination of Gods heauenly and powerfull Spirit to lighten the vnderstanding part of the Soule with the inward apprehension of the excellent misteries of faith and mans redemption they affirme that because God had neuer no wife nor neuer knew woman it was therefore impossible that Christ could be his sonne So hard a matter it is for naturall reason to comprehend the misteries of Faith And therefore as Pallengenius saith in his Zodiake Succumbat ratio fidei et Captiua quiescat But to leaue their religion to themselues and their conuersion to his diuine power that hath their hearts in his disposing let vs speake a little of the commodities that their Country affords They haue great plentie of silkes of all colours great store of spices drugs pearles and pretious stones Carpets they make of diuers kindes in which workes they are excellent Their principal marchandise among themselues is to buy and sell men and women in their markets They are a people for the most part vnlearned ignorant in all kind of liberall Sciences yet are they good warriours polliticke and valiant obseruing order and discipline they haue heretofore beene held a people fierce and vnciuill little better then the Turkes But of late they are growne very courteous and respectiue vnto strangers by whose conuersation they haue much bettred their manners conditions Certaine Townes and Prouinces belonging to the Persian bordering vpon the Turkes were lost by this Kings predecessors which he hopeth to recouer being now better able then euer they were or he himselfe hath beene in times past for he hath lately taken in certaine other Townes vpon the frontiers of the Turke that will much aduantage him whensoeuer he begins to warre For the vndertaking whereof Sir Anthony ceased not during the time he lay in the Cittie by all importune meanes and forcible reasons to animate and incense the Persian alleaging how easie a matter it were for him by his meanes being a Christian to ioyne many of the Christian Princes his borderers in League and friendship with him draw them to the assistance of these wars both with supplies in his owne Countrey and also with powerfull inuasions in many other places of the Turkes dominions farre remote that hee being thus driuen to sunder his forces into many partes his armie should bee the weaker against Persia hee himselfe being the head of this League and combination would be the surer guarded He further alleaged how honourable and easie it would be for him not onely to recouer those his Townes and Prouinces which now the Turke holds in his possession But be also able in short time to winne vpon him euen in his owne Countrey and that no time could bee fitter then now for that of late hauing obtained a great victory against the Tartars hee had no cause to feare them they being so weakned with their ouerthrowe that it was an easie matter for his garrisons being manned to keepe them from all incursions or other Acts of hostilitie The Persian being tickled with this deuise and proiect of Sir Anthonies set the Lordes a worke in councell and consultation of this ouerture whilst he himself in wordes and opinion gaue his approbation hauing now nothing in his conceipt and phantasie but plots draughts and stratagems concerning this warre and there was not a day past ouer his head but hee would send for Sir Anthony and his brother to conferre with him about these matters sometimes at midnight into his bedde chamber at last the King and his Councell fully concluded and resolued to further these dessignes and negotiations in what they might and by a speciall direction from the King and a generall consent of all Sir Anthony was made choise of as a man most fit for these imployments not onely for that he was a Christian and so might the rather induce the friends of his religion to the vndertaking of this worthie enterprize but also that he had such an assured trust confidence in his wisedome and resolution that hee thought nothing could miscarry wherein he was imployed So the managing of that was committed to