perswaded he returned with all expedition to the king who assuring himselfe the more by the denial of the former related accusations instantly commanded his guard of twelue thousand Courtchies to be in a readinesse with which and a thousand of the Xa-Hammagaes he vsed such celerity that he preuented the newes of his comming and was sooner arriued at Ferrats house then he had almost opinion that his messenger had beene returned yet although amazed with his owne guiltinesse and the kings sudden comming he made shift to make great shew of the indisposition which hee had so long counterfeited The king as soone as he came vnto him said that hee had taken a great iourney to visit him in his sicknesse and to bring him the cure thereof and hauing commanded all out of the Chamber but themselues onely alone as the king himselfe told me he vsed such like speeches vnto him Father I do acknowledge that first from God then from you these fortunes which now I haue haue receiued their being And I know that as a man I may both erre in my merit to God and in my well deseruing of your seruice But my intention I can assure you is most perfect in both the time of my establishment in my estate hath beene so small that I could scarce vse it sufficiently to performe my generall duty towards my people ouer whom by Gods permission I am appoynted much lesse to prouide for euery particular satisfaction as I mind and will doe which you principally as a Father to me both in your yeares and my election should haue borne withal But since some ill spirit hath had power to mis-leade your wisedome so far as to make you forget your great vertue you shall once receiue wholesome counsell from me as I haue done often from you And because that all counsels as well in publicke as priuate deliberations require a reposed spirit free and pure from wrath feare all perturbation or perticular interest for a troubled mind is more apt to erre then to aduse iustly and hath more need of proper medicines for it selfe then it hath properly in it selfe to apply any comfort to others and is fitter to receiue then to giue counsell from which as from a great and violent current are caried all those errours and disorders which are brought vpon rash deliberations the which haue euer long repentances and disasters as the perpetuall memories of their hauing bene and are most of all detestably blameable when such an imprudency is accompanied with that infinite damage as to thinke of alteration in a state which cannot proceede without in-iustice seeleratenesse bloud and a thousand mischiefes an act in it selfe wonderfull difficult wonderfull wicked and proceeding from an incomparable vile quality But hee that can restraine himselfe from being transported by vntemperate apetites and can dominate his passions and giue a iust rule to himselfe to his cupidities and desires doth euer giue the best time to all deliberations by mittigating heat and fury and so altereth all counsell from that nature which it receiueth from an vnquiet and troubled mind Which if you had done you would not haue entred into a thought onely of so dangerous an action against your selfe nor so dishonourable as to haue machinated the ruine and trouble of your owne King Friend Country which though it be palesated it is but to my selfe only who rather desire to chastice you as a friend with good admonition then by rigour Therfore though it be euer incident to all men to haue this great defect to feare chiefely nearest dangers and to esteeme much lesse then they ought of the future Yet bee you most assured that the perill which you might feare from my person is much lesse then that which you had throwne your selfe into if you had or should prosecute your enterprizes From my person you shall neuer except by great constraint from your selfe looke for any thing of other condition then a true Princely loue and a Royall regard of your seruices In the other course you called against my will vpon your selfe the rigor of Iustice and fury of the sword which in the warre consumeth all alike And because in that aduersity which a mans minde bringeth vpon himselfe the feares and terrours are euer greater then the euils which concurre with them be you of good comfort without the feeling onely of any such conditioned thing and call strength from your minde to your body that you may endure to go with me to Hisphaan where you shall haue cause to digest all these melancholies Ferrat neither excused nor confessed but indifferently answered the king as sory to haue giuen cause of offence and infinitely reioycing as hee seemed that the king had so royally pacified himselfe with him and not daring to refuse to go with the king desired him to vse some few daies in the visiting of the Countrey in which time hee hoped that God and the comfort of his presence would raise him from his infirmity The king certainly as I before said was by all necessity in the world either forced to execute him or to recōcile him perfectly vnto him for any midle course had but made him desperate and aggrauated all sort of perill which he might haue feared from him his seruices already done his valour and vertue were of great moment to perswade the king to the easier way being ioyned to his owne excellent mind which I haue seene the rarest proofes of that may bee brought forth by Prince or man liuing But Ferrat Can who knew that true iustice neuer weigheth offences and deserts but seuerally and without intermingling them together rewardeth the one and chasticeth the other and that benefites are more easier forgotten then iniuries feeling the weight of his offence and measuring the kings heart by his owne gaue the wickednesse of his minde power ouer his vertue And though hee seemed altered to all good intentions yet his heart was still swollen with that poyson which shortly brought him to destruction The king hauing staid some eight or ten dayes in the Countrey was sooner hastened thence then hee thought by the newes of the Queenes death who was deceased by a sudden and violent sicknesse after his departure so that with great speede taking Ferrat with him and leauing Lieu-tenant in the Countrey for Ferrat Mahomet Shefia he returned to Hisphaan where after some dayes spent in sorrow for his great losse hee sent to Alexander the other Can of the Georgians to demand his daughter by that meanes to binde againe that league which might haue beene dissolued by the death of the other Queene In that Embassage went Xa-Tamas Coolibeague who returned with the Lady within few moneths In the meane time the brother to that king of Corasan who had so royally and carefully brought vp the king of Persia when he fled from the wrath of his father rebelled against his brother slue him and all his children but onely one whose tutors fled with
Iudges Aduocates and his Maiesties Councell appointed for the good of the Prouince hauing euer taken those direct waies which were fit for his Maiesty and benefite of the Prouince if the Gouernour in his particular acts had taken counsels with his particular appetites and executed them according to the same neither he nor any of the Councel were blameable neuer hauing heard a voice onely to that effect which those men also who were a great number falling downe vpon their faces confessed to the King and that their long silence had giuen the Gouernour the more boldnesse to vse the vtermost of extortion and tyrannous exaction vpon them The Gouernour denied some maintained other to bee done vpon iust causes but all so confusedly and with so vnstable a fashion of proceeding as hee bewrayed his owne guiltinesse notwithstanding the king stayed his iudgement either of him or the causes vntill another day of hearing In the meane time hee appoynted Marganobeague Bastan-Aga and one Maxausebeague which is as it were Treasurer of his house to take some secret wayes to finde the true carriage of the Gouernour during the whole time of his function Which they did with great vprightnesse and dexterity And hauing related what they had approuedly found there were so many and so great causes brought against him I meane of wresting of Money bribery monopolizing and such things as more could not bee imagined which had beene small matters in a Princes state whose fauours and graces are priuiledged aboue the common good of the people and who change by their owne conniuence their Royall estate to a tyranny of fauourites and a few Counsellors who concurring in the spoyle of the people concurre also in so cruell a suppression of their iust cryes that their lifting vp their voyces for Iustice is as great a sinne as almost a perfect Rebellion and the same Iustice which should protect them against inique oppression inflicteth seuere chastisement onely for presuming to palesate such oppressions A miserable calamitie for the poore flocke where the Sheepheards heareth the wooll and the Brambles rent the flesh But this King whom wee call barbarous though from his example wee may learne many great and good things knowing that the true care of a Prince must bee euer the publique good and the capablenesse of his ruling would bee iudged by his true Iustice and election of his Ministers and distribution of his fauour vpon the worthiest which also should make a worthy vse of it The next day that hee sate in iudgement hee called the Gouernour then hauing told him that hee which had liued with him in the time of his greatest calamity must needes bee so well acquainted with the inwardnesse of his disposition that all the world would imagine as Princes euer are examples of good or euill to their subiects so they are most to those which are neereliest conuersant with them And according to that opinion hee had giuen him his authority for the great fauour and confidence hee reposed in him that hee knew well the errour which they had both committed the one not making a true iudgement of the others disposition That the transgression of Lawes and Orders in any State was the first naturall corruption which grew in it to prouide for which good Princes did both watchfully industriate themselues and dispersed part of the care which grew too great for themselues to the trust they had in the vertue of their Ministers who should euer as the very greatest and truest causes beware of those courses of Iustice which should bee of least terrour and procure themselues and their Princes most hatred which was to pill the subiects goods a thing of no example but to euill and of infinite odiousnesse especially when there was no iust cause why any sort of punishment should bee inflicted And because these acts of so great a Minister as hee was both for the place hee held of authority and fauour with him might giue the world cause to suspect his owne inclination the which since no former example could make him knowe hee would now shew the world and teach him that the wickednesse of Princes and great Men are worse in the example thâ—n in the fault since by the euill custome of the world to follow them they generate great corruptions by the imitation of others And because in a man of his place there could bee no more wicked acts then hee had committed nor in a Prince nothing more proportionable with his place nor fitter for his security then the chastisement of such wicked acts And if hee should pardon so great extortions and scelerate wronges as hee had inflicted vpon the poore people committed to his charge besides that hee should verifie the worst suspicions men might haue of him he should by so ill a president trouble the mindes of his whole state cast many good men and their goods into ruine multiply the like or worse scandals oppressing the causes of Iustice and so draw into the world without shame or feare all sort of excesses this should bee his iudgement That all his Goods and Lands should bee sold for the satisfaction of those men whom hee had spoyled And if any thing wanted since the King by giuing him that Authority was partly the cause of those excesses hee condemned himselfe to pay the residue out of his Treasury That if any thing aduanced it should be giuen to his Children with a grieuous Edict that no succour should bee ministred vnto himselfe For that since Death was a concluder of his offence shame and the memory of it hee should not dye but goe during his life with a great yoke like a Hoggesyoke about his necke haue his Nose and Eares cut off and haue no charitable releefe from any but what hee gained with his owne hands that he might feele in himselfe the misery which poore men haue to get and what a sinne it is to rent from them by violent extortion the birth of their sweat and labour This Iudgement strooke a mighty amazement into all the great men present and gaue an infinite ioy and comfort to the people The Turkes Embassadour which was there after he had stood silent a great while as a man halfe distracted sware publikely that hee saw before his eyes his maisters ruine being impossible that such fortune and vertue as the king was accompanied with could receiue any obstacle That night hee made Marganobeagus Gouernour of Casbin beeing well admonished by that great example of his duty Constantino a braue yong Gentleman being a Christian of Georgia hee called Mirza and gaue him the gouernement of Hisphaan and mee also hee called Mirza telling mee that hee would prouide condignely for mee And because hee had an vrgent occasion to goe post to Cassan I should receiue his pleasure by Marganobeague who brought mee the next morning a thousand Tomanas which is sixteene thousand Duckets of our Money fortie horses all furnished two with exceeding rich
fauour or benefite Therefore since being too secure doth but giue way to danger and the knowledge of the worst is the best meanes to preuent all that may be ill let not your desires of promouing this great and good businesse blind you from foreseeing all sorts of preoccupations which we both haue taâ—ed of and you alone may perchance find greater but not beholding too fixed and stedfastly what the King in equitie and the truth of the cause should doe penetrate into the soule of the actioÌ„ the stability or mutablenesse of his nature his ordinarie or forced inclinations Finally into his present humours or â—uture likely pretences and then present him with those reasons which your best iudgement shall haue prouided for him in fit time and with a wel vnderstanding dexteritie The factioÌ„s of the Court you must make your selfe learned in and beare your selfe wisely and vprightly betweene both you hauing no streÌ„gth to adde power to any of both but any of those hauing power to subuert you so that by shewing to vnderstaÌ„d those that are against you you shall but make them your more apparant enemies and by depending absolutely vpoÌ„ the other procure no assured strength to our selfe but a demonstration without effect whensoeuer they shal ioyn together for their owne interesses which often happeneth betweene factions in Courts you shal be left a pray to those which hate you whose reuenge shal be certaine the others faith nothing The corruptions of all Courts giuing a licence to great men to serue their turnes vpon lesser in all thinges and more then for that to regard them in nothing Besides the ordinarie dispositions of such is to winke at our priuate friends mischiefe and as you must not declare your selfe soly for the one nor wholy against the other so you must not couertly beare them both in hand that you are theirs such artifice being of the poorest and weakest condition nothing being able to be hid from the spying eyes in Court and such an illusion once perceiued is so farre without remedie as euery man will hate you and no man trust you You must then beare your selfe equally to all keeping all friends and making no enemies depending vpon no man but your owne vertue and worthinesse and his affection which in the perfection of his owne royall minde is onely to be preserued by honest wayes In cases of your businesse you shall need vse no such diligence as frame partialities factions being alreadie made and animated and armed watching with the verie strength of their desires to aduance their Honours by the good or ill successe of it You must bee constant against rumors and beware to bee noted a willing bearer of such reports as may either touch any in Honour or otherwise to be taken for an offence and may giue your selfe cause of suspition for any of those bring extrinsicke danger or intrinsicke errours from both which you must liue free and vnattained You shall heare many speake sometimes through their owne imperfections sometime to proue yours and sometimes to please as they thinke the companie but you must know that all hearts are not of one complexion and you shall hazard euer to Card ill that play to please one by displeasing another since benefits euer bee more easily forgotten then iniures and though the respect of common friendship and almost societiere quire otherwise yet such wrongs are without meanes of reuenge and good turnes are without memorie of recompence You must auoide inconstancie and the very appearance of lightnesse as a dangerous downefall for where it is there is neither vnderstanding or iudgment to discerne the actions of others nor grauitie to measure that which properly belongeth to your selfe besides the world by taking notice of your infirmitie will alwayes feare volubilitie in all your actions Finally though I am most assured vertue hath so great power in your minde and your owne vnderstanding so full of all good thinges that you may be an example to my precepts Yet I will say this not as needing but in the necessitie of my loue which desireth more then it doubteth of Giue your selfe deare Brother to learne of the best fashion your selfe to the most worthie examples which you haue seene aspire to nothing for vanitie or ostentation neglect no good thing for feare and mingle equally awfulnesse to offend and diligence to proceed worthily in all your actions And you shall haue fauour from the King loue from the best hatred from none securitie from all honour from the effects which will proceed from your doings and God will blesse you with his mercie directing your wayes to his glorie to good ends and so to good example among these misbeleeuers with whoÌ„ for a time it is your fortune to liue and to raise from this place a long lasting glorie and reputation to your selfe and name for euer And this was all my exceeding sorrow could force it selfe to vtter and the King returning also whom my Brother must follow interrupted the course of any longer discourse of mine or his answer But when I came to Casbin though I knew his mind both by nature and learning as plentifully furnished as a Gentleman might be who had hopefull conditions in himselfe and all the additions which the tender care of friendes and his owne diligently well-spent time could giue him Yet vnderstanding well in how dangerous a sea his young years were to nauigate and that no addition of prouidence could be superfluous firmely to support his owne securitie and the maine end of our great businesse hauing compiled as well as the shortnesse of the time of my abiding in that place would suffer me and as much as I could bring to any sort of fashioÌ„ out of so imperfect a mould as that of my little vnderstanding these remnants of the chiefe properties of aâ—l estates to giue him the better light how clearly to see into that wherin he was and to helpe the way of his businesse according to the motiues which it was like he might receiue by the commaundement of some of our Princes from hence desiring him with all to remember that Court carriages were riddles which though seene could not bee resolued without exceeding patience and well iudging experience And that by no meanes hee should flie from his owne vertue to make his foundation vpon the Kings fauor Princes euer hauing this imperfection almost inseparable to their greatnesse to be infinite voluble and as their minds are large so they easily ouerlooke their first fauours which they purposed and can as hardly loue truly as acknowledge a benefite their disposition being to be easily glutted with the present and hope better of the future especially hauing no other necessity in the constaÌ„t carrying of their affections then their owne satisfactions And these other trifles which I lent him I did wish him to ouerlooke as grounds only for his spirit to discourse more largely vpon desiring by them to point vnto him that exercise which the cause that wee were entred in made not onely fittest for his minde to vse but most necessarie our fortune hauing then giuen into our management the good or ill of diuers states according to the successe of our employment And since there is a certaine iudgement of the euent of things according to the perfect or imperfect disposition of the body by which those things are to be effected his iudgement would bee the better to discourse and discerne what the proceeding of this businesse was like to be by vnderstanding the principal elements by which the body of all estates are compacted and then by dilating with himselfe the good or defectiue mixture in euery particular state which hee knew by his owne experience and others relation Those Elements which giue both matter and being to those huge bodies were Counsell Force and Reputation The Forme were the Lawes which Aristotle calleth Mens sine appetitu The Organ by which this worke and the whole body moueth to his end is the Prince and his Ministers But because the time I had was so short as I could but briefly speake of all these I did conclude them in the Discourse which I gaue him of these three maine foundations Counsell Force and Reputation FINIS A 〈…〉 â—he course of 〈◊〉 s Turkes â—ouernment happy dâ—lirance from â—ger A hard distresse â—â—â—ard diâ—esse â—â—strange preâ—â—ence â—â—strange and â—â—traordinary â—â—ndnesse of a â—â—orentine The means which K. Abâ— setled the quâ— et of Persia. â—he kings graâ—â—us speech Ferrat The Kings Triumphant entry into Cabin after his victory â—ir Anthony herleis first â—utation and â—eech to the â—ing The Kings anâ—were Sir Anthony Sherâ—â—is present to the King of Perâ— A memoâ— punishmâ— extortioâ— The King of Persiacs iudgement vpon aâ— Extortioner Sir Anthony â—â—ade a Mirza The rich present sent him by the King â—ir Antâ—ony â—herâ—â—es perâ—wasiue to the 〈◊〉 to â—â—ke warre â—gainst the 〈◊〉 The Vsciveâ— diâ—swaâ—ue 〈◊〉 position 〈◊〉 Persian â—â—nerall his â—â—swere to the 〈…〉 s disswaâ—e The great Chamberlaiâ— speech The Kings censure conciuâ— on oâ—â—he comultation Thâ— Kings 〈…〉 the câ—nsultaâ— tion The Persian Vâ—â—câ—â—rs complement with Sir Anthony Sâ—eâ—â—â—y The proud message deliuered by the Turks Embassador to the King of Peâ—siâ— The King of 〈◊〉 his answer to the Turkâ— Embaâ—â—ador The King of Persia agreeth to the perswasion of Sir Anthony Sherley Sir Anthony Sheâ—ly câ—â—firmeth the King in hiâ— purposâ— of sending to the Pâ—inâ—es of Christâ—nâ—â—m â— King of 〈◊〉 Reâ—â—â—on to emâ—y Sir Aâ—â—â—â—ny Sâ—â—lâ—y as Embassaâ—â—r Sâ—r A 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the â—n 〈◊〉 〈…〉 â—he Persian â—agnifiâ—ence their soâ—mne feasts Two great fortunes which befell the king during his feast 1. The submission of the Tartars to his Crowne 2. The rich present with the allâ—â—nâ—e of the great Mogâ—r offâ—â—ed to the Pâ—â—sâ—â—â— The comming of two Friers to insinuate with Sir Anthon Sherlâ—y The enterprise of â—ur Aâ—tiâ—â—â— Slâ—â—â—â— oâ—ertâ—â—o vne by his owne Instâ—â—ment The causeâ— for whiâ—â— the Kâ—ng of â—â—â—sâ—a detaâ—ned Sir Robert Sâ—â—rley The abâ—se wiâ—h the tâ—ue and â—roper vâ—e oâ— studies Sâ—r Anton Sherleys comâ—â—ndation of his brothe Sir Robert Sâ—erley Sir Robert Sâ—erleys answere to the King of Persia. Sir Anthonie Sheâ—leyâ— instructions and aduice to his brother Sir Robert Sheâ—ley when he left him in Persia. The bond of Nature and â—â—oud Negotiation with Princes Factions of the Court. Factions Rumors Speeches Inconstancie
your wisedome and the execution to his great prouidence and your Maiesties infinite vertue And laughing vpon me sonne said he haue I not said true of your mind When he had ended I beseeched his Maiestie to vouchsafe to heare me once more which he said was needlesse the day faâ—e spent therefore since euery man had already spoken their opinion he would also say somewhat of his owne and referre the farther deliberation of things vntill an other time The proposition which Mirzâ— Antonio saith he made vnto me is questâ—onlesse in iâ—selfe such an one as I must not only thanke him for propounding it by which it hath receiued life but I must also prouide for the execution of it that the life which it haâ—h may be vsed to good purpose The force of the Turke consisteth in cauallerie infantery gallies artillery munitions money And the cause why they proceeded not in their warre against this state in my fathers time was not eyther the death of Osman Bassa nor their diuersion into Hungary but that ancient art by the which they euer carried their warres which hath beene alwaies to offend and preuent an enemie to vse exceeding celeriâ—ie in all their enterprises to haue their forces in perpetuall readinesse not to attempt two enterprises at one time and if it were possible not to be troubled with theÌ„ at one time not to spend the benefit of time and their men treasure vpon matters of small importance and not to continue a waâ—re long with any to auoid by such a meanes the informing by practise any Prince or his people in the exercise of armes Which if it haue otherwise hapned in Hungary it proceedeth rather from the obstination of the Princes Christian then from any part of his owne desire I said the king want footmen artillery and money which I must make readie the Turks neuer hauing aduantage vpoÌ„ my people through thâ—ir vaiour but onely by that defect Gallies I haue none therefore since they must be necessary for some purpose of which the warres may bring forth the occasion and perhaps also of necessitie and I can only hope for them of the Portugeses it will be an ill counsell to offend them in any point and then afterward vpon a new treatie to relie vpon them in so great a case and in which my necessitie may also concurre For the Turks present state and the iudgement of his future it is a thing facile to make and hard to erre in since by the ordinarie course of the working causes of mutations of states when a gouernment doth proceed from suffering the first abuses to confirme them in the most part of the state a few intelligent instruments are not sufficient to beare the weight of the disorders and to correct them being the nature of men when they flie from one extreeme to runn headâ—ong without any mediocritie into another by which the Turks extreeme obedience is become a direct despisablenesse of his person and authority And this Princes incapacity must be in this point the ruine of their state diffusing the like infection into the members for such as is the Prince such are his greater ministers such are his people Then whether I giue my selfe time or no time for what belongeth vnto him that may perhaps be all one since his being as he is or worse sheweth facilitie enough for the well proceeding of any enterprise fundamentally designed against him Yet many times generall rules faile in particular subiects and a new Prince may can reforme those disorders but the time in truth which my owne wants force me to take and not these arguments which are no other then arguments shall shew that I am not defectiue in those points in which he is But that which I begin shal haue the extract of it from sound counsell and the ending from as perfect vertue if I or my people haue it For the flame of our warre once breaking forth beleeue it will not be so facily extinguished both because great Princes difficilly speak of peace while they feele themselues able to make warres and the diuersity of our religion will striue with a more mortall rancor then contraries Therefore I must strengthen my selfe by all possible waies to beare the furie of it which must be done by the inabling and augmentation of my forces changing the orders of my owne militia to such as are properest for the enemy which I propound to my selfe establishing the gouernment of my countrie in such a sort that the generall abundance may without the feeling of a heauie exaction replenish my treasures cause plentifull prouisions of artillerie armes and munitions and adde to these internal powers of my owne those of the Princes eyther by protection or league of which the first sort I meane I haue alreadie the Georgians being all vnder my protection but it is a weake helpe I being bound by that condition to defend them vpon my charge and they vnable to assist me except vpon the same also And though it be true that they bring me a fashion of reputation yet is it such a reputation as hath no essentiall point of foundation but onely serueth me by ignorance of the quality in which they are vnto me rather then in the substance and strength Leagues are vsually of more appearance then effect and of more splendor in the beginning then of profit or durablenesse in the end so many accidents causing disunion suspition or some other ill quality amongst confederates yet when a league is made for preseruation against the common perill rising from a potent enemie and when diuers bodies are moued to one end and with one consent and not one bodie with diuers consents and euerie one of these hauing particular respect to a diuers end and when if there be any thing acquisited the distribution of the members of that bodie is such vpon whom the acqueit is to be made that there is no possible pretendence from one to the others getting I doe not see but that such a league must bring substantiall reputation and generall commoditie that wil not be subiected to any common accident of dissolution For the Tartars which I haue as subiected if I were Oliuer Di-Chan Haâ—denheaguâ— â—r Basâ—an-Agâ— I could thinke of few better meanes to assure my selfe of their rebellions then those which they haue propouÌ„dâ—d except one addition of suffering them to enioy their ancient order lawes and their particular course of iustice But as I am borne with a mindâ— of another constitution I can secure them better by giuing them to their owne naturall Prince and him to them For to whose father I was â—o much bound that through the royalty of his disposition I hold my life had the beginning of what I am I can do little for the son no gratefull act at all for the memory of the father if I cannot giue him a kingdom which is the least part of what I am To conclude as
the state of that Noble Realme Notwithstanding the present power I meane resident in that Iland which is the instrument of that great tyranny is so small that if the little remnant of people which is left there had courage or if they haue courage had also armes or if the Princes Christian had but a compassionate eye turned vpon the miserable calamity of a place so neere them rent from the Church of God by the vsurpation of Gods and the worlds great enemy and maintained more by the terrour which his name hath stroke into some truely into others no more but that they are contented hee should bee thought terrible for the better progresse of their owne more vniust designes I do not see in that small iudgement which my experience hath giuen mee but the redemption of that place and people were most facile being but foure thousand Turkes in the whole Iland and the glory would bee immortall to the Actor besides the profite which must needs follow from so great an acquist and the preseruing of it would also bee of no expence nor hazard the peoples affection binding it selfe to their redeemer besides a necessity to keepe them vnited vnto him by the meanes of so abhorred a neighbour from whom their vindication into liberty must bee maintained by their owne constancy and his extreme weakenesse by sea warranting all tranquility from feare of a powrefull inuasion by which the Conquerour might be put in the least hazard But God who in his great iudgement weigheth mans sinnes and appointeth forth of his treasury of wrath scourges for their iniquities perhaps hath not fully satisfied his causefull indignation yet with the suffering of that people and therefore blindeth the eies of the good vnderstanding of all his great instruments whom hee hath raised in the world to glorifie his name to administer iustice and to lighten the burthen of the oppressed that they should not see the calamites of that Country nor that their cries should come into their eares by which their generous hearts should be moued to condigne compassion nor that their iudgements should be free to see their owne particular honour and profite So God vseth to show man that hee is a bubble raised onely by his breath mouing by the same and falling by the same according to the will of his great prouidence to which we in the pride of our nature yeeld not the true attribution due vnto it yet the powerfull working of it is such that with the confusion of our foolish pride it proueth it selfe an eternall wisedome which will giue lawes to the world and the bridle to all people and guideth onely the hearts of Princes From Paphos we went to the Salinâ—s in a litle hired barke where wee found the morizell in which wee came to Zant. The Portingal and his complices presently went on shore to the Subbassa of the place for so is called the gouernour there and told him diuers Pirats who had lost their Ships were come into the harbour in a small Boate amongst whom were some boies and youths worth much money besides I know not what iewels and treasure wee had amongst vs with the which he would giue him a good present also if hee would send some of his Souldiers and take vs. At this Oration of his were present certaine Armenian passengers who had knowne vs in the ship which moued with the enormity of so vile an act that Christians should sell and betray Christians to Turkes and that vpon no cause of offence which they were witnesses of wee should be persecuted with such a kind of inhumane cruelty with all speed possible hired a Boate themselues for Alexandretta came with it vnto vs prouided in it victuals for vs and the Maisters themselues to loose no time and beseeched vs with teares in their eies to flye from thence with all speed possible relating vnto vs the scelerattreason conspired against vs and our imminent perill Wherefore we instantly changed into that Boate and perceiuing a Fregat a farre off rowing towards vs for hast left most of our things behind vs and yet could not make so much speed but that the Ianizaries which were in the Fregat and chased vs bestowed some shot vpon vs and had peraduenture ouertaken vs if the night had not ended their chasing vs and our dangers This Boate in which wee were was an ordinary passenger betweene Ciprus and Alexandretta a small way of onely a night and a halfe sayling and halfe a daies sayling So that by reason the Maister was vnlike to mistake his way much lesse so iust contrary as hee did towards two houres in the night we met another passage-Boate put off from Famagusta holding the course which wee intended The night was faire with the shining of the moone and star-light yet by reason of the difference in sayling wee first lost sight of that Boate then by our different course the Maister of ours insteed of Alexandretta going for Tripoly which certainely was a great worke of God to preserue vs. The other Boate at breake of the day being taken at the entrance of the port of Alexandretta by certaine Turkish Pirates who put all to the sword that were in it and hearing of vs we had rowed so far into the Riuer Orontes before they could recouer vs that they durst no further prosecute that prey There we found a goodly Country repleat euen naturally with all the blessings the earth can giue to man for the most part vncultiuated here and there as it were sprinkled with miserable Inhabitors which in their fashion shewed the necessity they had to liue rather then any pleasure in their liuing From thence wee sent our Interpretor to Antiochia to prouide vs horses to bring vs thither which hee returned within two daies after and with them wee proceeded thither full of great care how we should escape from thence The Turke hauing giuen certaine scales to trade in out of which as it was vnlawfull for any to conuerse so it must needs be an vneuitable perill for so great a company when the same great Prouidence which at first defended vs from the former hazards gaue vs the good hap to meete with two Ianizaries Hungarish-runnagates who vnderstanding that we were Christians compelled against our dispositions into that place our intention to be a visitation of Ierusalem and with all our feare of some great preiudice by our being arriued out of the distinguished places for all Christians hauing told vs first that they themselues had beene Christians and though they had for reasons best knowne to themselues altered that condition yet they wished well to those which still were so and especially to all of those parts and afterwards cheerefully comforting vs inuited vs to lodge in their house securing vs by a number of protestations from all dangers which as they courteously offered so if I may giue so faire a terme to such a people they honourably performed For being by the Cady of Antiochia
and speake of my Ianizaries rare disposition vnto me who did not onely performe their promise in defending me in Antiochia but deliuered me safely from them into our English Consuls hands in Aleppo from whom and from all the Merchants there abiding I receiued such an entertainment with so carefull so kinde and so honourable a respect as I must needs say they were the onely Gentlemen or the most benigne Gentlemen that euer I met withall For my company being so great that it was no light burthen vnto them besides gaue an occasion to the Turkes condition of getting to make quarrels for that end so that they were not onely at expence by defraying me and mine but at more by preseruing vs from oppression amongst them I had not beene fully one moneth expecting a commodity of passage by carrauan into Persia but that the Morizell arriued who presently had the aduice of my being at Aleppo And though that Hugo de Potso threatned as much as an ill mind and great purse could make him hope to preuaile against me by and questionlesse had raised some great trouble against me if he had come safe to Aleppo Yet euer the first prouidence which saued me before determined so well also for me then that foure miles from Aleppo he dyed By which meanes I was preserued from perill and those honest Merchants my friends from great trouble Neither do I speake of these strange escapings with a vaine ostentation of pride as though I would haue the world iudge more of my person then of a most ordiry fellow but onely to example to other how much it pleaseth God to fauour good intentions that those which put themselues into the worlds dangers may euer arme themselues with them as the onely preseruatiue against all sort of Inconueniences For though in the corruption of our nature generally and weakenesse of our faith wee cannot possibly hope to be defended by such a strong working hand as God vseth for the safety of his Saints yet no question good intentions haue such a sympathy with Gods owne disposition that he will both assist them which haue them for their better incouragement and for others example being one of the chiefe means by which he instructeth the world After 6 weeks staying in Aleppo a wearisome time to my selfe being drawne from thence continually by the instigation of my desire which longed for the accomplishment of the end that I proposed to my selfe and as chargeable a time for my friends which would needs make me a burthensome guest vnto them the Tafterdall which is the Treasurer and the great Cady which is as it were the Lord chiefe Iustice of Babylon arriued at Aleppo from thence to go by the riuer of Euphrates to the place of their regiment With those as diuers others went so did I also for the more security of my voyage their company being euer defended besides with the respect of their persons with a good company of Ianizaries to Birr which is the place of imbarkment Diuers of our Merchants brought me and left me not vntill I was boated Thirty dayes we were going vpon the riuer to Babylon resting euery night by the shore side In all which way we found few townes onely Racha Ana Derrit and otherwise as little habitation except here and there a small village and one of better reputation which is the landing place thirty miles from Babylon called Phalugium To tell wonders of things I saw strange to vs that are borne in these parts is for a Traueller of another profession then I am who had my end to see and make vse of the best things not to feed my selfe and the world with such trifles as either by their strangenesse might haue a suspition of vntruth or by their lightnesse adde to the rest of my imperfections the vanity or smallnesse of my iudgement But because I was desirous to certifie my selfe truly of the estate of the Turke in those parts through which I passed vnderstanding where wee lodged one night that the Campe of Aborisci King of those Arabies which inhabite the desert of Messopotamia was a mile off I hazarded my selfe in that curiosity to go into it and saw a poore King with a ten or twelue thousand beggerly subiects liuing in tents of blacke haire-cloth yet so well gouerned that though our clothes were much better then theirs and their want might haue made them apt ynough to haue borrowed them of vs we passed notwithstanding through them all in such peace as we could not haue done being strangers amongst ciueller bred people That day as it happened was the day of Iustice amongst them which was pretty and warlike Certaine chiefe Officers of the Kings mounting onâ— horse-backe armed after their maner with their staues targets bowes and arrows and so giuing iudgment of all cases which the people brought before them The King gaue vs good words without any kinde of barbarous wondring or other distastfull fashion But when wee returned to our boat wee found the maister of his house maister of our boat with a sort of his Arabs and in conclusion we were forced to send his maister three verstes of cloth of gold for beholding his person This is that King of the Arabs which I said before was a Saniake of the Turkes and for that place held of the Turke Ana and Dirr two Townes vpon the riuer As soone as we came to Babylon hauing put the stocke which I had all into Iewels and Merchandize to carry the fashion of a Merchant at the Dogâ—na which is the Custome-house all whatsoeuer was stayed for the Bassa and as I perceiued not so much for any great vse which hee meant to make of those things as for the suspition which he had of me and mine extraordinary company bearing much cause thereof with it and because I gaue out I had more goods coming with the carrauan by land to bind me not to start from thence In the meane time by very necessity hauing left me nothing in the world what extreme affliction I was in by that means for the present and in what iust cause of feare for the future euery man may easily iudge I had my brother with mee a yong Gentleman whose affection to me had onely led him to that disaster and the working of his owne vertue desiring in the beginning of his best yeares to inable himselfe to those things which his good minde raised his thoughts vnto I had also fiue and twenty other Gentlemen for the most part the rest such as had serued me long onely carried with their loues to mee into the couse of my fortune I had no meanes to giue them sustenance to liue and lesse hope to vnwrap them from the horrible snare into which I had brought them being farre from all friends and further from counsell not vnderstanding the language of the people into whose hands I was falne much lesse their proceedings onely thus much I knew they were Turkes
inhumane in their natures and adicted to get by all meanes iust and vniust But I will leaue my selfe a little in that great straight and speake of Babylon not to the intent to tell stories either of the huge ruines of the first Towne or the splendor of this second but because nothing doth impresse any thing in mans nature more then example to shew the truth of Gods word whose vengeance threatned by his Prophets are truely succeeded in all those parts which were once so swolne with the pride of the greatnesse of their state which they possessed with their felicity their magnificencie and their riches that as they were the heads of the world by their power and by their excellency so were they by that opinion in themselues blowne vp to a conceipt of eternity As though any earthly foundation let it be grounded neuer so firmely vpon councell vpon force and reputation could possibly be perpetuall Niniuy that which God himselfe calleth that great Citty hath not one stone standing which may giue the memory of the being of a Towne one English mile from it is a place called Mosul a small thing rather to bee a witnesse of the others mightinesse and Gods iudgement then of any fashion of Magnificency in it selfe All the ground on which Babylon was spred is left now desolate nothing standing in that Peninsula betweene the Euphrates and the Tigris but onely part and that a small part of the great Tower which God hath suffred to stand if man may speake so confidently of his great impenetrable Counsels for an eternall testimony of his great worke in the confusion of mans pride and that Arke of Nebuchadnezar for as perpetuall a memory of his great idolatry and condigne punishment nothing else shewing the figure of any thing which hath bene either of ornament or of greatnesse or of place inhabited So truely doth God iudge the huge sinnes of the world and maintaineth so iustly the credit of his Messengers that though they speak great things they neuer speake vaine things The Towne which is now called Bagdat and is on the other side of Tigris towards Persia onely a small suburbe in the Peninsula but remoued from any stirpe of the first to which men passe ordinarily by a bridge of Boates which euery night is dissolued for feare either of the Arabs or some storme vpon the Riuer which might carry away the Boates when there were no helpe ready The buildings are after the Morisco fashion low without stories and the Castle where the Bassa is resident is a great vaste place without beauty or strength either by Art or Nature the people some-what more abstinent from offending Christians then in other parts through the necessity of the trade of Ormus vpon which standeth both the perticular and publique wealth of that State Victuals are most aboundant and excellent good of all sorts and very cheape which was a mighty blessing for Mee which had nothing but a generall wardrope of cloaths not in our Coffers but vpon our backes which wee were forced to make mony of by peece-meale according to the falling of the lot and our necessity and with that liued and if feeding-well had bene all which wee had cause to care for we also liued well But after one month was past and time fastned euery mans eies more firmely vpon vs One day a Florentine Merchant whom I had onely knowne in the way betweene Aleppo and Babylon by a riding acquaintance came vnto mee and after a little other discourse told me that there was a great muttering amongst diuers great men there what I was and what my designes might bee that hee found me to bee dangerously spied after and wished me to haue regard if not to my selfe yet to so many which he did imagine were impawned in that misfortune by my meanes And though it were true that hee came vpon the motion of an honest pious and charitable heart yet I was so fearefull of an Italian Merchant that I did rather imagine him to be the spy then lightly to haue bene an instrument of his preuention Therefore agreeing with him in the complement onely I answered determinately in the rest that I knew no iust cause of perill therefore I feared none and if there were any curious eies vpon me because of the number of my company the Carauan comming they should see good vse made of them all and vntill that time I would haue patience with their looking and speaking Him I thanked for his kindnesse and offered my selfe largely vnto him as though I had least suspected him though in truth I did most and most vniustly For two daies after hee returned to me againe and as a man moued in his very soule with anguish told mee that within ten daies the Carauan of Aleppo would arriue in the meane time beseeched mee not to couer my selfe longer from him who did truely wish me well not so much for my person which hee could know little but because his conceipt was that I would not haue hazarded my selfe in such a iourney but for some great end which he did beleeue well of and besides in charity to a Christian and so many Christians with me saying that there was a Carauan of Persian Pilgrimes arriued two daies since from Mecca without the Towne who were forced to take that way though the longest by reason of the Plague which raigned very exceedingly in those places by which they should haue passed He was not ignorant of my wants for which hee also had prouided and taking me by the hand beseeched me againe to beleeue him and to go presently with him to the carrauan which I did not being able to answere through admiration of so generous a part in him and an amazement with a thousand diuers thoughts spred vpon me When I came there he brought me to a Vittorin of whom he had already hired Horses Camels and Moiles for me and I found a Tent pitched by his seruants and then opening his gowne hee deliuered me a bag of Chakins with these very words The God of heauen blesse you and your whole company and your enterprise which I will no further desire to know then in my hope which perswadeth mee that it is good My selfe am going to China whence if I returne I shall little need the repayment of this courtesy which I haue done you with a most free heart if I die by the way I shall lesse neede it But if it please God so to direct both our safeties with good prouidence that we may meete againe I assure my selfe that you will remember mee to bee your friend which is enough for all that I can say to a man of your sort And almost without giuing me leasure to yeeld him condigne thanks if any thankes could be condigne for so great and so noble a benefite he departed from me And as I heard afterward from him by letters from Ormus hee receiued much trouble after my departure
we among theÌ„ This Tarras looked vpon the place where after we had ben a litle beheld some of the Court exercising theÌ„selues at giuoco-di-canna that great troupe was suddenly vanished so without all sort of rumor that it bred infinite wonder in me coÌ„sidering how much tumulte we made in these parts in the disposing of a far lesse coÌ„pany Whilst we sate there the King called me againe vnto him when I had confirmed in more words the very same I had before said vnto him TheÌ„ said he you must haue the proofe of time to shew you either the errors or the truth of these rumours since you can make no iudgement of what you haue yet seene which is but the person of a man and this emineÌ„ce which God hath giuen me for any thing you know may be more through my fortune theÌ„ my vertue But since your pains trauel hath had no other aspect but to know me we must haue a more intrinsicke acquaintance to perfect that knowledge how you wil indure the fashions of my couÌ„try you can iudge best your selfe which are maister of your owne humor This I will assure you of you shal want no respect froÌ„ my people nor honor from my selfe therwith bid me fare-wel for that present comitting me my coÌ„pany to Bastan-Aga to be conducted to my lodging Next morning I sent the King a present of sixe paire of Pendants of exceeding faire Emerauldes and meruailous artificially cut and two other Iewels of Topasses excellent well cut also one cup of three peeces set together with gold inameled the other a Salte and a very faire Ewer of Christall couered with a kind of cutworke of siluer and gilt the shape of a Dragon all which I had of that Noble Florentine which his Maiesty accepted very graciously and that night I was with my brother inuited by him to a banquet where there was onely Byraicke Myrza and Sultan Alye with Xa-Tamas-Coolibeague his cheife Minion there he had diuers discourses with mee not of our apparell building beauty of our woemen or such vanities but of our proceeding in our warres of our vsuall Armes of the commodity and discommodity of Fortresses of the vse of Artillary and of the orders of our gouernement in which though my vnskilfulnesse were such that I knew my errours were greater then my iudgement yet I had that felicity of a good time that I gaue him good satisfaction as it seemed For in my discourse hauing mentioned the hauing of certaine Models of Fortification in some bookes at my lodging which were onely left me in the spoile which was made of me at Babylon Next day after dinner he came thither with all the principallest of the Court where hee spent at least three howers in perusing them and not vnproperly speaking of the reasons of those things himselfe Next night hee sent for mee againe into a place which they call Bazar like our Burze the shops and the roofe of which were so full of lights that it seemed all of a fire There was a litle Scaffold made where he sate and as euery man presented him with diuers sorts of friuts so hee parted them some to one some to another and there hee continued some foure howers in which time hee tooke mee aside with my Interpreter and asked mee very sadly whether I would content my selfe to stay with him not for euer for that were too a great wrong to my friends who should loose mee from their comfort being diuided so farre from them for my owne fortune hee would not speake of but onely thus much since I had told him I was a subiect to a Prince he knew that then my fortune also must depend vpon the will and fauour of that Prince and hee assured himselfe that he was as able and more desirous to do me good then any therefore if I would resolue to giue him that litle satisfaction he should perswade himselfe the more confidently that the cause of my comming was such as I told him the loue of his person and nothing else I answered him I could say no more â—o his Maiesty then I had already done that a report onely of his excellent vertues had brought mee thither that a better experience had bound me so fast to him and them that as he was Maister of my minde so hee should bee of my person and time which were both subiect to his command For those things of fortune they were the least things that I regarded as his Maiesty well saw by my great expence thither onely to satisfie my sight but as I knew my selfe infinitely honoured by his Maiestie vouchsafing to serue himselfe of mee so that was to me aboue all other fortunes and satisfactions His Maiesty seemed wonderfully well content with my answere and that night began to shew me extra-ordinary publicke fauour and so continued all the time of his being in Casbin daily increasing by some or other great demonstration Sixe weekes hee stayed there giuing his accustomed audience to the people In which time I saw the notablest example of true vnpartiall royall iustice that I thinke any Prince in the world could produce The Gouerner of Casbin was appointed to that administration in the maine seruice of the Kings state when the Rebels were first suppressed A man exceedingly and perticularly fauored of the King he taking the adantage of the time which being troubled gaue him liuely colour to make great profite vpon the people and confident in the Kings fauour abused both the one and the other by extreme extortions thinking because of his owne greatnesse and the Countries offence against the King the memory of which euery man would feare to receiue that what he did by violence and force should by as great power of terrour remaine vnknowne but some to whoÌ„ he had offered so much that they thought no extremity could happen them of a worse conditioÌ„ made desperate through that hazard to put vp lamentable supplications to the King who hauing read them as his fashion is commanded the parties to-speake freely with this caution that they should beware that they charged nothing falsely for as he would not that any minister of his shold abuse his authority by any vniust burthen vpon the worst of the people so hee would also prouide by seuere example that none should presume to impose false accusations vpon any whom he had thought worthy to carry authority vnder him Notwithstanding those poore men did not onely mainetaine their accusations but brought forth diuers witnesses and others perceiuing so iust a course held by his Maiesty emboldned by it laid before him also in their humble sort their owne oppressions suffered by the like violence Vpon which hee commanded Marganobeague to be sent for who was the Maister of his house in Casbin demanding of him whether he had heard of those things he answered no being priuate acts of the Gouernour publicke causes which were brought before the President
will vouchsafe to make vse of him If he do it as a stranger he hath no hope but in the merit of his owne vertue which must be discerned and rewarded by his maiesty if he serue as a Prince of his Maiesty as now by his great magnificency hee beareth the title and place the same vertue must euer confirme and aduance his fauour and the same king must iudge and reward it And this I haue said in a double duty first to maintaine the act of his Maiesties great iudgment which cannot mistake it selfe in the distribution worthily of his fauors then in that of hospitality to answere iustly for a Gentleman come to our home where wee are all bound to defend him from wrong especially bearing about him so great a priuiledge as a true affection to our king But now to speake of the proposition the Viseirs obiections against it as I do thinke them worthy of so wise a man yet because particular factions doe sometimes blinde men both in councelling and deliberating So questionlesse his great iudgement hath beene much clouded with some of those which haue made him erre directly in the iudgement of some things and to misconceiue of the maine purpose generally of the proposition For no mans intention is to be iudged to stretch beyond possibility So that whatsoeuer was propounded to his Maiesty as necessary honourable and profitable for him and his state included withall that well-vnderstanding intention that it would please his maiesty to prouide in the firmnesse of his wisedome and councell condignely for it if he want treasure to gather it if he want munition Artilery to make quantity of both which must indeed require a time for the act not the resolution vpon the act Without which his Maiesty as he shal haue no great cause himselfe his Ministers will be lesse diligent in the expedition of all such prouisions of which to say the truth that huge masse of money is of least importance his Maiesty beeing able to make in the time of this Turkes distraction and if his whole power were also vnited a sufficient Army of his Timarri and such as hee already payeth vpon the Frontier to proceede with any great designe against him For admit hee should vpon the mouing of the Kings Armies come to any foule conditions of peace in Hungary as it is vnlike that hee will yet there must bee so much time betweene the proposition and concluding of the peace and remouing of his Army thence and transporting it hither that any great thing will bee first effected before any obstacle will appeare against it But in reason hee should rather endure any vnreasonable losse this way then the least there For besides that his principall parts are altogether disposed on that side in so much that the danger of Hungary doth extend it selfe to Constantinople Wee are euen of the selfe same or little different religion so that the warres cannot proceed with a mortall hatred and desire of extirpation which beareth with it so much the lesse danger and as it is the more facile to be satisfied so easier and lesse perillous conditions will euer end it That Tauris Tistis Vannes are strong places I do not denie it but withal I know that the strength of no place can maintain it selfe against the power furie and the ordinarie miseries brought by the wars without a certaine succour which I cannot see how they can be confident of The Tartars you say are newly conquered and will rebell with such a great opportunitie surely I take that opportunitie the onely direct meanes to answere them nothing breeding discontentments to a dangerous breaking forth so much as idlenesse and the continuall sight of that which they take to be their oppression Therefore his Maiestie hauing an Armie of thirty thousand men there and from thence drawing forth thirtie thousand Tartars of the best able for the warres the Prouince must be most assured the meanes and chiefe actors of innouation being in his Maiesties Armie and their wiues children and parents in pawne with their countrey for their true seruing his Maiestie in his warres which he did think so necessarie for the King to vndertake that he made no difference betweene putting his state in extreme perill and the not vndertaking of them counselling his Maiestie to doe in that point as all wise Princes vse to doe not onely to haue regard to the present euils but to the future and to repaire them with all industrious prouidence because that by seeing them and preuenting them a farre off the remedie might be applied with great facilitie and good effect but by expecting them vntill they beare downe all by their great waight with them their cure will be taken vsed out of time the sicknesse being growne to incurable tearmes as the Physitions say of the Hecticke seauer which in his first entrance into the bodie is easie to be cured and hard to be knowne but through the continuance of time with the rancor of the disease by not hauing known it applied remedie in the beginning it changeth the first order and groweth it selfe facile to be knowne and impossible to be remedied so doth it occurre in matters of state for fore-seeing with wise prouidence the euils which rise toward it there is no difficultie in auoiding them but when from either neglect or ignorance of preuenting them they palisate themselues to euery mans vnderstanding there is no more remedie familiar with our reason securely auailable against them Which maketh me bee bold to say that since the inconueniences which his Maiestie must suffer by the Turke are so apparant he must resolue and strengthen his minde and meanes to remoue them and not to giue them greater power to follow him by auoyding a warre since you may know that the warre cannot be absolutely taken away but deferred only with the enemies aduantage Neyther will I euer be aduised by that which is alwaies in the mouth of the wise men of these daies which is to enioy the benefit of time but will say and euer thinke that Euery Prince and euery man should make vse of his owne vertue and wisdom seeing time driuing euery thing before it doth ordinarily produce as often good as ill ill as good And why it should at any time diminish the reputation of his Maiesties greatnesse to inuite the Princes Christian to so honourable and great an action I cannot discern when it is one of the greatest foundations of a Princes reputation to raise himselfe to the greatest enterprises in which his iudgement may not be mistaken in the possibilitie of effecting them And since it is necessary for his Maiestie to combine himselfe with them for his owne strength and reputation if eyther he attempt the Turke or be attempted by him why should it not bee more honourable and more facile for him for the accomplishment of his ends to speake vnto them in their necessitie if there be any of eyther
nor Damasco should receiue the commoditie of any of those Carauans of Merchants which vsually came to them from Baâ—sarah by which the Turke should loose euery yeare two millions of Entrata For the Portugeses if his Maiestie would please to iudge indifferently it was as likely that they would mislike his too great increase as the Turke and so much the more as they were lesse able to resist him then the Turke was Larr and Nicolow ioyned together whereof by taking the one he did more assure any mouing of theirs against him and if they ment him well they could not bee offended at the neerenesse of his neighbourhood And ingaging the other in some actions against the Turke as to robbe spoyle and hinder the trafficke of the Arabian gulfe and such like should by such an act make him desperate of the Turke and so ioyne him through his owne necessitie surely to him and though he were otherwise of no great importance yet by his bordering vpon the sea his mens expertnes of the sea he was to be made in that point very profitable hereafter and a good instrument for the present and euery small addition of force or meanes gathereth reputation to all great actions when the time were fit that they should appeare partials to to his Maiestie And for sending an Ambassador to the Princes Christian he thought it first against his dignitie to offer himself vnto them who in their need of him through their pride neglected once to speake vnto or with his Maiestie Then in the wel carrying of his other purposes which would be palesated by so maine a cause of suspition Therefore that his Maiestie must eyther determine to breake presently with the Turk not which he could or else to giue him no apparant suspition of any such inclination or carriage of things by which he should winne time to make his owne prouisions with good foundation and keepe the Turke vnfurnished euer nourishing him with so wise artifice that he might be secured from any opinion of such mouing the time nor nothing else promising felicity to his actions so much as the wise vsing of the time and of those things which were offered him What the king replied I know not hauing receiued this opinion of Courtchi Bassa from the king himselfe who by that and other eternall contrary counsels was so much distracted in his owne resolution as a prince that desireth to doe great things and them also well determines not sodainly vpon faire hopes but carrieth his hopes to perfection by the working of his wisedome so that many daies after when I would begin to enter into a new discourse of those deliberations hee would presently turne himselfe to speake of other matters In this fashion more then one moneth passed in which I had no comfort of my desire but onely that which Xa-Thamas Colibeague Oliuer Di Chan gaue me and the kings exceeding fauour which rather increased then decreased towards me In this time as though all the strength of that ill spirit who euer raiseth the vttermost of his skill and power to preuent all good purposes had conspired to ouerthrow the well proceeding of this good businesse There came newes to the Court that Mahomet-Aga Generall of the Ianizaries of Bagdat was entred into the kings Confines as Ambassador from the Turke with a rich present and maruellous honourable traine And that those of Ormus had stayed by force sixteene slaues which were sent by the great Mogore to the king with nine other which Oliuer Di-Chan had bought in those parts and the Marchants for their more security had sent them with those of the kings This raised the courages of those which opposed themselues to the maine businesse alienated mightily the hearts of Oliuer Di-Chan and Xa-Tamas Colibeague from all and exasperated the king himselfe so much against them that his ordinarie speech was no other but that hee would shortly learne them to haue a respect vnto him which did so exceedingly fill my very soule with perplexitie and anxietie that I fell into a very dangerous sicknesse in which the king neuer failed daily to visit me himselfe and finding that the recordation of those things did aggrauate both the griefe of my minde and vnquiet of my bodie he forbad that any in my presence should speake more of it but onely comfort me with all sort of discourse of recreation with so royall and so gracious a regard that he shewed apparantly enough that few accidents could dispose his minde from any reasonable contentment which he might giue me In the meane time Mahomet-Aga arriued at the Court whom the king sent his Viseire and Courtchibassa to meete accompanied with a thousand horse of the principall of the Court and of the Citie These no question gaue him large instructions and as large hopes which if he had guided also rightly he might haue done his Master great seruice and himselfe infinite honour but through his owne too hastie greedinesse assurance and desire he preuented himselfe whilest he striued first beyond that which was indifferently good then beyond that which was better and at the last beyond all reasonable and I thinke his owne hopes For first being proudly confident vpon the greatnes of his Master then vpon the difficultie of the king of Persians present estate to be moued to offend so potent a neighbour then vpon so great and strong a faction in the Court besides hauing heard by them that the kings mind was altered from those of Ormus and that Oliuer Chan also was then likewise alienated from his first censure through the particular wrong done vnto himselfe or else that he changed the inclination of his minde according to the corrupt condition of all Courts in which the loue of obsequiousnesse to the Prince and fitting themselues to their appetites by that meanes to strengthen their owne emulations is more power-able then the feare to do ill and the working of their owne consciences or else that in all things there is a certaine reuolution and as there are mouings of times so there are also vartations in our minds and fashions Making himselfe strong in his assurance vpon these foundations c vpon the weaknes of his opposition which was left much infeebled by the distraction of Oliuer Di-Chan he left the right way of mouing by degrees so great a businesse to carrie it euen without agitation or danger And as though with knowing the circumstances he had attained the end he ouerthrew his Masters intention his owne honour and almost lost his life if the kings infinite clemency had not eyther despâ—sed or pittied his error Neyther doe I set downe these thinges with so particular a care for my owne sake to make eyther my worke the greater or to make an ostentation of any thing which was not but because in all discourses which I haue seene giuen forth for the worlds better vnderstanding of those things which one man hath compiled out of the largenes of his
had minds fit for such imployment qualities also fit for such minds I was vrged to take that fellow the king content to let him go But would bestow on him no more then 50. Tomans for the whole expense which he called also cast away Him I left to bring the appointed present after me and the letters to the particular Princes which were then readie at my departure not sealed and the present not throughly prouided my selfe desiring to free my selfe from the Court where euery occasion was receiued by those which were contrarie to the enterprise to hinder it After I had taken my leaue of the king the morning before my departure he came to finde me againe at my house and after a little other speech he said vnto me that my absence from him would exceedingly griue him his affection to me being true and his hopes of me many If he had beene furnished of any sit to haue vndergone the mannagement of this affaire he would neuer haue enioyned me to so much trauaile and so many perils but that I knew his Court to be ignorant of the language and properties of â—ur parts and since he was prouoked by me to send thiâ—her he knew that I would be contented with my labour to keepe him and his from all sorts of scorne That my brother was young and therefore the more to be tendered and not euery day to be exposed to new labours his loue to vs both made him carefull in that point but more particularly his infinite desire of my returne which hee thought would be more assured by so deare a pawne And by daily relation which I should receiue of his royall vsage I should also be daily inuited to returne howsoeuer If I met with such fortunes as would be worthy to make me stay from him or such accidents as had power to hinder me by their necessitie the company of my brother should giue him great satisfaction in my absence And if the worst should happen vnto me he did desire euer to haue a subiect so neare vnto me vpon whom he might make a declaration vnto the world both of what qualitie his owne minde was and of what condition his true and royall affection towards me was Before I could answere this infinite fauourable and and gracious speech of his my Brother whose mind euer disposed him to the best things hauing by his owne nature and excellent spirit which in his younger yeares he bettered with higher studies not as many who vnder a magnificent title loue slouthfull idlenesse but vsing them in their true propertie to confirme our ordinarie weaknesse against the tempests of fortune and to learne by the goodly precepts of wise men that which the frailtie of mans constitution blindeth from our sight and to esteeme onely good that which is honest and euill those things which do participate with viciousnesse And though hee might arâ—ogate as mâ—ch to the Nobiâ—itie of his bloud as the best borne Gentleman may yet euer making estimation of that and other such qualified ornaments as were without the minde neither to be accounâ—ed amongst the speciall good or ill things which a man should truly behold in himselfe he hath and doth contend more with himself to be worthie of the best titles then to be esteemed by those he hath contemning equally riches and superfluitie and pouertie which groweth by a mans owne vice being stedfast and iust in good things and constant against all feare and if he bee guided by the height of his minde to striue with more feruour then warinesse for glorie and reputation the best iudging sort of the world know that the couetousnes of that point of eternitie is the last appetite which the wisest men dispoile themselues of Neyther am I induced to celebrate so much the memorie of so many vertues as I know in him because he is my brother but absolutely am led vnto it without fauour or ambition by the perswasion onely of a good conscience for the sole merite and reward of the same That minde I say of his euer counselled by such thoughts apprehending that his staying with the king might be of wonderfull effect to keepe his minde constant in the resolution which hee had taken and gessing at many occasions which might happen in my absence the well vsing of which might confirme him more some also if they were not tempered might coole his resolutions which he knew to be taken rather to satisfie me and with an intent to see the successe of the proceeding of things then a more constant determination answered the king presently thus That our two soules were so vnitely conioyned that our willes were diuided in nothing our affections to his Maiestie and our desires to serue him were the same and such as they could not be separated from his commandements And though the promise of fauours from him which could command did bring euer with it the force of necessitie yet we both were so cleare in the iudgemeÌ„t of the royall disposition of his Maiestie that he would neither absolutely will nor seeme to desire of vs any thing but that which should bee honourable for his authoritie and conuenient for our obedience to bee done by vs. The parting of both our bodies from his presence was nothing in respect of our best parts which euer should attend his Maiestie with vowes and profers and wishes which were worthy to proceede from his true seruants and friends And as worthy of his infinite vertues But because hee did desire to haue one of vs which was himself to remaine with him he would doe it and giue his Maiestie so much greater occasion to loue vs both by that effect of vertue which he should proue in him tempering the necessitie of his passion for his Maiesties satisfaction better purposes which time such occasions as must needs be brought forth should shew his Maiestie Neyther did he incline at all to doe this for any feeling which he would haue in that point of his Maiesties munificences promised but onely for the sensiblenesse of doing well which hee thought and knew he should do by obeying his Maiestie in that commaunding request Hee did confesse notwithstanding that the world could not lay vpon him a greater aduersitie then to be separated from me yet he would neuer bee so broken with any fortune though it should rise from other causes as to loose the least title of the dignitie of his minde His yeares were but few but neyther gray heires nor wrinckles should with so wise an vnderstanding iudgement as his Maiesties giue more authoritie to any then the good fruites proceeding from an honest and vertuous spending of the time which a man hath passed hee did desire no more fauour with his Maiestie for his staying then his other merits should bee worthie of yet because hee was left alone without other comfort then what his owne heart gaue him hee would bee confident that his Maiestie would not