which carried us to the Cap de Demesnes in Courland where we cast Anchor and staid all night The next day 13. the wind West we weighed Anchor doubled the Cape enter'd into the Bay and came the 14. before the Fort of Dunemunde so called because situated at the mouth of the River Dune where that River enters the Baltick Sea within two leagues of Riga And forasmuch as the thick mist hindred those of the Fort from seeing us we caus'd the Trumpets to sound to oblige them to send us a Pilot without whose assistance we should hardly have got into the Haven Those who had the oversight of the Customes came immediately to search our Ship but finding no Merchants goods in it for which they might challenge ought they return'd back and sent us a Pilot who conducted us that night as far as before the City of Riga The Ambassadours being got ashore at the entrance of the City found a coach which the Governour had sent to meet them but in regard they were not far from their Inn they would make no use of it and so kept on their way afoot The 21 th the Magistrate sent his Presents to the Ambassadors viz. an Ox some Sheep some Poultry Hares Patridges and other Fowl Wheaten and Ry-Bread and half a Tun of Rhenish Wine The 24 th The Ambassadors entertained at Dinner Andrew Erichzon the Governour of the City as also the Magistrate the principal Minister who amongst the Lutherans is look'd upon as a Bishop and some Officers of the Garrison During our abode in this City which was almost five weeks in expectation the Fens of those parts should be frozen up and the snow cover the Way which we were to Travel in Sledges we augmented our retinue with some necessary persons for that great journey and we had the leisure to learn the condition of the City whereof we shall here give a short description Clytraeus in his History of Saxony p. 19. says That the City of Riga was built by Albert the third Bp. of Livonia in the Year 1196. but Alnoul Abbot of Lubeck an Author of the same time as living under Otho IV. says in the continuation of the Chronicle of Helmold 1. 7. c. 9. that it was built in the year 1189. by Bertold Abbot of Locken in the County of Shauenbourg in the Diocese of Minden of the Order of White-Friers successor to Menard in the Bishoprick of Livonia the seat whereof he setled at Riga In the Year 1215. it was rais'd to an Archbishoprick and made Metropolitane of all Livonia Prussia and Curland The Knights of the Espadon and afterwards the Master of the Teutonick Order in Prussia have many times divided the administration of Justice and the Soveraignty in that place with the Archbishop till that in consequence of the Reformation of Religion both lost the Authority they had in this City It was forc'd afterwards to have recourse to the Crown of Poland whose it became by a voluntary rendition made in the year 1561. occasion'd by the War with the Muscovite Since that Charles Duke of Sudermania having usurp'd the Crown of Sueden from Sigismond his Nephew who had been called to that of Poland thought it not enough to fortify himself in the possession of what he had usurped but conceiving he might turn into an Offensive War that which even in the Defensive was criminal he enter'd Livonia in the Year 1605. where he besieg'd the City of Riga He was forc'd to raise the siege as also to do the like in the year 1609. but Gustavus Adolphus was so fortunate as to take it in the year 1621. Ever since that time the Suedes have been in possession of it though without any Title thereto the Treaty agreed on between the two Crowns in the year 1635. allowing them the possession of it no longer than till the Peace which was to be made between the two Kings should restore it to it 's lawful Prince or bestow it on him who was possess'd of it The Suedes discover how unwilling they would be to restore it by the care they took when we were upon our Travels to carry on the Fortifications thereof They consist on the land side of six regular Bastions with their Half-moons and their Counterscarps Palisadoed It 's situation is very pleasant in a spacions Valley upon the River of Dune which in that place is a large quarter of a League broad It is very populous and very considerable because of its Commerce as well with the English and Hollanders and the Hansiatick Towns in Summer time while the Baltick Sea is Navigable as with the Muscovites when the frost and snow can bear Sledges The Traffick of it is so great that it hath almost as many Shops as Houses All Provisions are very cheap because there is such an abundance of all that an Ox may be bought for three Crowns a Hog for one and Fowl and Venison proportionably all the Country Peasants thereabouts having the liberty to Hunt though they have not any other Since the last reduction of it they have no other Religion there than the Protestant the Magistrate and Inhabitants being all Lutherans and so zealous in their way that they no less hate those of the Reformation than they do the Catholicks and Muscovites There is no Inhabitant almost but understands the Highdutch the Sclavonian and Curland Language but the Magistrate in his publick Acts makes use only of the Highdutch The same is used by the Ministers in their Sermons unless it be that for the meaner sort of people who understand not the Highdutch well there are Sermons made in the Sclavonian and Curland Language in two several Churches Decem. 14. we dispatch'd away 35 Sledges with part of our Train and Baggage and the next day the Ambassadors follow'd by the way of Derpt The 18th we came to Wolmar a small Town distant from Riga 18 leagues and so ruin'd by the Muscovites and Polanders that the Inhabitants to avoid the injuries of the weather have been forc'd to make little buildings of wood upon the ruines of better foundations The Governour came to meet us and entertain'd us kindly The 20th we got six leagues farther to the Castle of Ermes belonging to Colonel De la Barre who treated us most magnificently The 21th we got four leagues to the Castle of Halmet where we saw a young Elk which was higher than a Horse brought to us while we sate at Table The 22th we got four leagues further to the Castle of Ringen and the 23th we reach'd Derpt or Torpat This City is within 6 leagues of the Castle of Ringuen upon the River Eimbec between the Lakes of Worzero and Peipis in the heart of Livonia Its buildings are very antient but extremely ruin'd by the War The Muscovites who call it Iuriogored were possess'd of it till the year 1230. in which the Master of the
very antient and yet it cannot be certainly affirm'd whether it was built by the Dukes of Pomerania or by the Danes since it seems to have its name from the later It was a long time possess'd by the Dukes of Pomerania and afterwards by the Kings of Poland and by the Masters of the Teutonick Order in Prussia In the year 1454 it redeem'd it self out of subjection to the Order and made a voluntary rendition of it self to Casimir King of Poland It is situated in Cassuba upon the Vistula and Rodauna which they say is the Eridanus of the Antients because in that place there is found much yellow amber and near the Moslava which falls into the Vistula a quarter of a league below the City But the River is so shallow there that great Ships cannot come up to the City Towards the West it hath several mounts of sand which they were forc'd to bring within the fortifications because they commanded the city though Canon cannot be discharg'd to any great purpose when they shoot point-blank downwards and that there would not have been space enough between the mount and the ditch to put forces in order and to give an assault Towards the South and North it hath a pleasant Plain and on the East the River It is well built but the streets not over-clean The publick Structures are magnificent and those of private persons very commodious and handsome On the other side of the Moslava lies part of the Suburbs called Schotland or Scotland as large as a pretty little City but it depends not on the City of Dantsig but on the Bishop of Cujavia It hath its seat and suffrage in the Diets of Poland even in those which are called for the election of the King 'T is one of the four Cities which have the superintendency of all the Teutonick Association or Hanseatick Towns and hath so many other Privileges that though it contributes to Poland and gives the King half the duties raised there yet does it in a manner enjoy an absolute freedome There is so great a Commerce of Wheat in this City that it is thought there are sold every year above seven hundred and thirty thousand Tuns whereof two make a Last The Magistracy consists of fourteen Senators and four Burgomasters whereto are to be added the Governour appointed by the King of Poland some Escheuins or Sheriffs for civil and criminal causes and a hundred Counsellors for affairs of importance Criminal causes are finally judged without admitting any appeal as also Civil not exceeding a thousand Livers It makes Statutes and imposes taxes upon the Inhabitants according to the exigencies of publick Affairs without staying for any superiour Permission and regulates the exercise of those Religions that are permitted by the Laws of the Empire March 16. We left Dantsig and came the 25 to Stetin the chief City of Pomerania is at 53 deg 27. min. latitude and 38 d. 45. m. longitude seated in a very pleasant place upon the descent of a Hill The River Oder divides it self there into four branches whereof that which runs by the City keeps its name the others taking those of Parnits and the greater and lesser Kegelitz and straggles so as that to come to the City from Dam-side a man must pass over six bridges which put together are in length 996 German ells and 24 foot broad and are all joyn'd by a noble Causey well paved and having in the middle a Royal Fort. The structures of it are beautiful and it is excellently well fortify'd especially since the Suedes became Masters of it Iohn Frederick Duke of Pomerania in the year 1575. laid the first foundations of the sumptuous Palace which is there built after the Italian Architecture with very noble appartements where before these last Warrs there were worth the seeing a noble Library a Magazine of Arms many rarities and the rich Wardrop and Plate of the Dukes of Pomerania 'T is one of the Hanseatick Towns and enjoyes many great Privileges among others that of obliging strangers to disburthen in the City all the Merchandises which pass through it what nature soever they are of as also that the Gentlemen thereabouts cannot build any Castle or strong place any way within three Leagues from it nay that the Dukes of Pomerania themselves cannot build any Fort upon the Oder or the Suine or upon the Frishaf between that and the Sea But this advantage is lost by it's coming into the hands of the Suedes Mar. 29. being Easter-day we came to Rostock a City seated on the River Warne in the Dutchy of Meklâ—nbourg where heretofore lived the people called the Varini Pribisâ—i II. the son of Niclot last Prince of the Obotrites incompass'd it with a wall in the year 1160. and made it a City out of the ruins of that of Kessin which Henry le Lyon Duke of Saxony had destroy'd It s Port is not commodious in regard Vessels of burthen are forc'd to unload at Warnemunde two Leagues below the City at the mouth of the River The City is handsome enough having three great Market-places 27 streets 14 little gates and four great gates It s University is one of the most antient in all Germany and was founded by Iohn and Albert Cousin-Germans Dukes of Mecklenbourg who together with the Magistrate opened it in the year 1419. Among its Professors are many very great Persons of whom one was Albert Crantz Rector of it in the year 1482. This City having been taken by the Imperialists in the year 1629. with all the rest of the Dutchy of Mecklenbourg the late King of Sueden Gustavus Adolphus besieg'd it in the year 1631. and took it the 16. of Octob. the same year The 30. of March we left Rostock and came the same day to Wismar seven Leagues Those who say this City was built by Wismar King of the Vandals about the year 340. tell a fabulous story whereof the vanity is so much the more visible in that it is certain that it was no City till Henry of Ierusalem Duke of Mecklenbourg made it such by the privileges he bestow'd on it in the year 1266. It is near as big as Rostock and its Port which no doubt is one of the best upon the Baltick Sea brings it very great Traffick It s situation being amidst Fenns and upon the Sea is very advantageous and its Citadel fortify'd with five regular Bastions makes it one of the most considerable places in all Germany Adolphus Frederick Duke of Mecklenbourg and General Todt took it Ian. 10. 1632. from Colonel Gramma who had the command of it for the D. of Fridland ever since which time the Suedes have kept it as one of the most precious Jewels of their Crown The last of March we came to the Castle of Schonberg belonging to the Duke of Mecklenbourg where some friends of our Comrade Iohn Albert de Mandelslo received us and treated us very nobly For my part I am
that one Bushel of Wheat sown yeelds 25. or 30. The River Clesma which passes by it falls into the River Occa near the City of Murom The Great Dukes had chosen it for the most convenient place for their residence till Prince Danilou Michaelouits translated the Emperial Seat to Moscou The Province of Smolensko hath on the East the Province of Muscovy on the North Siberia on the South Lithavie and towards the West Livonia The Metropolis of the Province Smolensko is seated upon the River Nieper which they say is the same the Antients called Boristhenes though that of Berezine comes nearer to that name The other eminent Cities of it are Prohobus upon the Nieper Wesma upon a River of the same name and Mosaysko The City of Smolensko hath on the side of the River a Cittadel fortify'd with great Chains and good Ditches with a good Counterscarp well palisadoed The Muscovites took this City from the Poles in the year 15â—4 Sigismond King of Poland Recover'd it again in the year 1611. and the late Great Duke Michael Federouits besieg'd it in the year 1633. but was forc'd to raise the siege as we shall have occasion to relate anon The Great Duke that now is took it by composition in the year 1654. and is still possess'd of it The Province of Rhesan lies between the Rivers Don and Occa having on the West Muscovy from which it is divided by the River Aka This is the most fruitful Province of all Muscovy and produces abundance of Wheat Hony Fish and all sorts of Venizon and Fowl Besides the chief City which is upon the River Occa it hath also those of Corsira and Tulla upon the River of that name Permie is one of the greatest Provinces of all Muscovy and distant from Moscou 250. or 300. German leagues towards the East and North. It s chief City whence it hath its name lies upon the River of Vischora which falls into Kam 15. leagues thence The Inhabitants of this Province have a Language and Characters peculiar to themselves They eat Herbs instead of bread and instead of Tribute send the Great Duke Horses and Furrs Its neighbours Eastward are the Tartars of Tumen The Baron of Herberstein sayes that the Province of Iugarie is that whence the Hongrians came who now live in the Country that lies upon the Dannow The Province of Wiathka is 150. German leagues distant from the City of Moscou towards the East beyond the River Kam The River of Wiathka gives it the name which falls into Kam which falls into Wolga 12. leagues below Casan The Country is woody and barren and much subject to the incursions of the Tartars Czeremisses who were the Masters of it till Basili Great Duke of Muscovy united it to his Crown The Principality of Bielsk derives the name from Biela its chief City as does the Province of Rschouie from that of the City of Rschewa and that of Tuere from the City of that name The City and Dutchy of Plescou was govern'd by its own Princes till the Great Duke Iohn Basilouits re-united both to his Crown in the year 1509. The Muscovites call it Pskow from the Lake upon which the chief City is seated and out of which rises the River of the same name that passes through the City Siberia is of great extent and had a long time it s own Princes who paid Tribute to the Kings of Poland upon the accompt of Lithuania on which they had some dependence They revolted from Casimer son of Iagellon King of Poland and became subject to the Great Duke of Muscovy The Czaar Basili ejected the Duke of Siberie and united the Province to his Crown The chief City is Novogorod but to distinguish it from others of the same name it is called Novogorod Siebersky that is Novogorod or the New City of Siberie It s other eminent Cities are Starodub Petivola Czernigou and Bransko The Dutchies of Iarostaf Rosthou and Susdal were a long time enjoy'd by the younger Brothers of Muscovy till Iohn Basilouits re-united them to the Crown in the year 1565. The Province of Dwina is the greatest and more Northern of all Muscovy and was heretofore subject to the Duke of Novogorod The River of Dwina falls into the white Sea near Archangel It is not long since that this Province which is a hundred leagues in length had but one City in it of the same name seated in the midst of it but now that the Muscovites have Translated into those parts the Trade which the English Dutch and Hanseatick Towns were wont to bring to Narva it is become one of the most considerable Provinces of all Muscovy The greatest place of Commerce is called Archangel from the Archangel St. Michael and situated at the mouth of the Dwina where it makes the Island of Podesemski The City is not very great but of great Trading by reason of the many Ships that come every year which bring thither the Muscovian Merchants especially those strangers that live at Moscou with the commodities of the Country to truck for those that are brought thither The Great Duke makes great advantages of it but the Impositions he laies upon all Merchandlses are so great that it is not unlikely Strangers will in time return to Narva where the King of Sueden takes but two in the hundred and to which navigation is not so dangerous In the Gulf which the Sea makes near the mouth of Dwina are three Islands called Solofka Anger and Coloua There was heretofore in the former of these the Sepulchre of a Muscovian Saint but 3. or 4. years since the Great Duke caused the Body to be translated thence to Moscou Some report that the Great Dukes Predecessors of him that now reigns had hidden a great Treasure there as being a place inaccessible by reason of its high and steepy Rocks The Province of Vstiugha is next to that of Dwina but more Southerly and was also subject to the Duke of Novogorod The chief City of the same name is so called from the word Vst which signifies the mouth of a River as the Latine word Ostium and Iugh because it was seated at the place where the River of Iugh falls into Suchana from which it is now half a league distant Its Inhabitants eat no Bread but are content with Fish and Venison dry'd in the Sun Thence are brought the fairest black-Foxes skins Vologda seated in the Province of the same name is the only City in all Muscovy that hath a stone wall about it being the place whither the Great Duke in time of War was wont to send some part of his Treasures It sometime belonged to the Duke of Novogorod but is now together with the Province re-united to Muscovy The River of Vologda whence it takes its name falls with the Dwina into the white Sea The Dutchy of Bielejezoro is also one
correct their errour who affirm that the Province of Rhesan lies West-ward from Moscou since they themselves confess it is between the Rivers of Don and Occa which are not towards the West from Moscou but towards the East so that Rhesan must be placed in the Map South-ward from the City of Moscou The same day we pass'd in sight of several Monasteries and Villages as that of Seloy neer Rhesan on the left hand and 7. werstes thence Kystrus as also on the other side 3. werstes thence the Monastery of Oblozitza and 2. werstes thence Lippono-Issado at 2. thence Muratou at 1. thence Kallionino and 2. thence Schilko Near the first Village we found a Carkass floating on the water which in all likelihood the Cosaques had cast into the River many dayes before in as much as it was so Sun-burnt that it was become black In the afternoon we got four leagues The 6. we made two as far as the Monastery of Tericho on the left hand thence two more to Tinersko Slowoda on the right hand and afterwards 8. werstes to Swintzus and thence 2. werstes to Kopanowo where we found another dead Carcass But the Cosaques and the fugitive Slaves who retire into those parts do there commit so many Villanies that the Muscovites to whom those accidents are ordinary thought it nothing strange Iuly 7. betimes in the morning we left on the right hand an Island called Dobrinin Ostrow 30. werstes or 6. leagues from the last Village and afterwards Seloy Rubets at 7. werstes thence and at 7. more thence on the same side Kurman About 6. werstes thence we had on the left hand the River Gusreca and several other Villages and on the right hand Molcowa at 8. werstes Gabiloska at two and Babino at three Thence we made three werstes and came at night to Cassinogorod This City lies on the right side of the River Occa in the Principality of Cassinou in Tartary and there it was we first met with any Mahometans Not far from the City in an old stone Castle which had sometime been a Fort lived a young Prince of that Country whose name was Res Ketzi with his Mother and Grand-father who some years before had put himself into the protection of the Great Duke of Muscovy We were told that the Great Duke would have press'd him to receive Baptism upon some hopes given him that he should have married his Daughter but the young Prince who was but 12. years of age sent him word that being not come to years so as to make choice of any Religion he could not take a resolution of that importance The Ambassadors sent two Gentlemen of their retinue to give him a visit and presented him with a pound of Tobacco and a bottle of Aqua-vitae He took it very kindly and made it his excuse that he could not entertain the Ambassadors at his house left the neighbouring Weywodes should conceive any jealousy at his entertaining of Strangers without their permission He therefore only sent some of his Servants to us whom our Interpreter could hardly make a shift to understand they being all Tartars He sent us a present of two sheep a Barrel of Hydromel another of Beer and a third of Aqua-vitae with some pieces of Ice Cream and fresh Butter which the Prince's mother had her self taken the pains to beat The night following and the next day being the 9. we saw as we pass'd several Villages Monasteries and Taverns most of them very pleasantly seated amidst the woods among others on the right hand Potsink Tartasko three werstes from Cassinogorod and at seven werstes thence Seloy Pettiowo Then a Tavern or Caback at eight werstes and Brooth at five werstes one from another upon the left hand and then on the right hand the River of Moksche at eight werstes then on the left hand another Tavern at two werstes thence Sateowa at 13 werstes the Monastery of Adrianou Pustino at 13 more Iâ—katma This last is a great Village containing about 300 houses and belongs to the Bojar Foedor Iuanouits Sheremetou And thence we got 20 werstes to the Forest of Rusbonor The 9. we got ten werstes to the Church of Worskressenia commonly called Woskressenskimehl upon the left hand and thence five werstes to a great Village named Lechi belonging to Knez Boris Michaelouits Lycou on the same side and thence about ten werstes to Pretziste Resenskou on the right hand and at last to the City of Moruma on the left hand Before we got to the City we discover'd on the other side of the River a company of Crim Tartars who presently got into the woods whence they discharg'd their Fowling pieces at us which we answer'd with Muskers and so forc'd them to keep off They were seen afterwards below the City whence we imagin'd they would have set upon us the night following whereupon we lay under the Isle of of Zuchtsko Ostrou and set a strong Guard but we heard no more of them The City of Moruma is the chiefest of the Tartars of Mordwa and is inhabited by Muscovites and Tartars but subject to the Great Duke VVe sent our Interpreter to the Market to buy some provisions necessary for the continuation of our Voyage The 10. we passed by the Town of Prewospalo belonging to Knez Iuan Borissowits Circaski one of the Great Dukes Privy Councel and left on both hands several little Villages and the River of Morsna Reka on the right hand and at eight werstes thence that of Clesna which comes from Wladimer All along from that place the shore on the right hand rises by little and little to such an extraordinary height that looking on it from the water it seems to be one continued mountain for above a hundred German leagues along the River Wolga Insomuch that even in that season as also in the greatest heat of Summer those parts are not without Ice and Snow though all elsewhere the Country is plain fertile and fit for Tillage reaching above a hundred leagues towards the South-west and on the other side it lies very low barren and moorish Iuly 11. having pass'd by the pleasant Villages of Isbuilets Troitska Slowoda the Monastery of Dudina and Nofimki we got at night before the great and Noble City of Nise or Nisenovogorod where we found the ship called the Frederick which we had ordered to be built by our Captain Michael Cordes whereof we spoke in the beginning of our Relation It was not quite finish'd by reason the Muscovian Carpenters whom the Captain had employ'd about her had not answer'd his expectation yet was it so far on that the Ambassadors lodg'd in it and so forbore going into the City It was built of Deal being 120 foot long and 40 broad having three Masts and so flat-bottom'd that it took but seven foot water It had many Chambers and Closets for the convenience of the Ambassadors the Officers and Gentlemen of
and Araxis and reduc'd into his power the Citie of Scamachie after a siege of seven weeks together with the whole Province of Schirun which he left under the Command of Dsulfakar-Chan his Brother-in-law The Inhabitants of Derbent hearing what success Schach-Abas had had against the Turks kill'd their Turkish Garrison and submitted to the King of Persia. Then he entred the Province of Kilan and reduc'd to obedience those people who fell off from the King 's of Persia in the time of Schach-Tamas He ordered to be made neer Lankeran where a great Fen in a manner cover'd that whole Province and made the entrance into it very difficult a way or Bank of Sand and setled Chans in several places of the Province to wit Baindurc-Chan at Astara Mortusa Kuli-Chan at Kesker Heider-Chan at Turkabun a Visir at Rescht Adam Sulthan in Mesanderan and Hosslein-Chan at Astarabad It was Schach-Abas his intention to sit still with these Conquests but the quiet he had after them was so little that he had hardly the time to have his Soveraignty acknowledg'd For being at Ispahan about a year after this War intelligence was brought him that the Turk was coming into Persia with an Army of five hundred thousand men whereupon he got together all the Forces he could and appointed them their Rendezvous at Tabris and ordered all the Inhabitants of the Frontiers to retire with their Cattel into Cities and Wall'd Towns to destroy all in the Fields that the Enemy might make no advantage thereof in order to his subsistence The Turk having advanc'd and encamp'd neer Tabris the King of Persia caus'd it to be publish'd through his Army that such as were willing to serve as Volunteers should list themselves apart and that for every Turks head they brought him he would pay fifty Crowns About five thousand Persians listed themselves upon that accompt so that not a day pass'd but some heads were brought in and at his rising every morning a good number was presented to him Nay one Soldier named Bairam Tekel brought him one morning five together and by that means gain'd the favour of Schach-Abas who rais'd him to the Dignity of Chan. At the end of three moneths Tzakal Ogli who commanded the Turkish Army sent a kind of Challenge to Schach-Abas telling him that if he had as much confidence in God and the Justice of his cause as he would have the VVorld believe he should not be afraid of accepting a general Engagement which he thereby profer'd him Abas was content and having divided the ground the Sun and the VVind with his Enemy gave him battel It lasted all that day and the night following the Turks who had lost many of their men retreated The next day word was brought to the Camp that the Turks were retreated but Abas who fear'd it might be a stratageme of theirs stood on his Guard for three dayes keeping the Army upon continual duty and not so much as going himself into his Tent during that time till that the Scouts having at last brought him word that the Enemy was effectually retreated towards the Frontiers he advanc'd to the Mountain of Sehend where he Encamped and there it was that Mahumed Chan Kasak Schaheruch-Chan Esschar and Iischan Kurtzibaschi were cut to pieces for having given the king poyson who immediately taking an Antidore receiv'd no hurt thereby Two years after this War the Turk made another invasion into Persia with an Army of three hundred thousand men and besieged the Fortress of Iruan in the Province of the same name but he was forc'd to raise the siege and to retreat About two years after that Murat Bascha General of the Turkish Army besieg'd and took Tabris and kept it four moneths within which time there happen'd five set battels between those two Nations with little advantage to the Persians And yet at last Schach-Abas defeated the Turks and recover'd the Citie out of their hands Being after this expedition return'd to Ardebil he there caus'd to be kill'd Dsulfakar Chan of Scamachie in the manner we have related before and put into his Government Iusuf-Chan an Armenian by birth and by condition a Slave who had a long time serv'd him as on ordinary Foot-man After this Persia enjoy'd a Peace of twenty years together at the end whereof the Turks entred it again with a powerfull Army under the Command of Chalil Basscha with whom joyned also several parties of the Tartars of Crim and Precop Schach-Abas sent against them Kartzschuckai-Chan the most Valiant and most Fortunate of all his Captains who wearied them out and forc'd them to retreat after several Engagements or Skirmishes rather wherein he took Prisoners two Tartar-Princes Omersbeg and Schahinkerai-Chan and the Bashaws of Egypt Aleppo Erserum and Wan The King instead of treating them ill presented each of them with a Garment and an excellent Horse and sent them back without paying any Ransom Afterwards Schach-Abas went into Georgia where he staid nine moneths During his aboad there Tameras-Chan the Son of Simon had the confidence to enter with an Army into the Province of Seggen in the midst of Georgia and to give battel to Schach-Abas but he was forc'd to retreat with great loss While he was in those parts he pay'd his Army twelve Musters together and hearing that his Soldiers spent most of their money in Tobacco he forbad the use of it with such severity that he caus'd their Noses and Lips to be cut off who were found to have taken of it contrary to the Prohibitions and having understood that a Merchant who knew not that the king had forbidden the use of Tobacco and brought several Bags of it into the Army in hopes to make a greater advantage thereof among the Soldiers he order'd him to be set on a heap of Fagots with all his Tobacco about him which being set on fire he and his Commodity were reduc'd to smoke and ashes After this was it that Schach-Abas went into Kilan where he put to death his eldest Son as we shall relate anon Schach-Abas had three lawfull Wives and four or five hundred Concubines By his three Wives he had so many Sons to wit Sefi Myrsa Chodabende Myrsa and Imanculi Myrsa He ordered the two younger to have their eyes put out with fire and confin'd them in the Fortress of Alamuth under a very strict Guard The eldest Son was born of a Christian Slave of Georgia This Prince having cast his Eye on a very handsom young Maid of Circassia whom a Merchant of Scamachie had presented to Schach-Abas fell in Love with her and intreated his Father to permit he should marry her The king who dearly lov'd that Prince by reason of the great complyance he had for him consented thereto and ordered her to be brought up in the Seraglio near the Mother of Sefi Myrsa who had by her Sain Myrsa since king of Persia under the name of Schach-Sefi The Over-severe or rather Cruel and Tyrannical
in but it was very late ere the rest reach'd it nay some got not thither till after midnight some not till the next morning The Camels which being so heavily loaden where not able to get up so narrow and slippery a way as is that of the Mountain came not till eight dayes after The Chan had assign'd us the same Quarters we had had at our former passage that way so that we were all lodg'd at the houses of the same Armeniaus our antient Landlords They receiv'd us very kindly and as to the Ambassadors the Chan sent them a Supper from his own Kitchin For my own particular I had several Presents sent me from my friends and Tutors as Maheb Aly the Molla Imanculi and Chalil who sent me several dishes of Apples and Grapes and came to see me the next day to examine how I had improv'd my self in their Language Feb. 22. The Chan and Calenter came in person to see the Ambassadors and invited them and their retinue to a Supper In the evening the Chan sent horses to bring them to the Palace He treated us magnificently and entertain'd us with very civil discourses and such as were the more obliging in that we afterwards found the effects of them during our aboad at Scamachie where we continu'd five weeks during which we had the divertisement of several hunting matches and were treated a great Feasts which the Chan made from time to time purposely for us Alexi Savinowits Ambassador of Muscovy made a great and sumptuous entertainment on the first of March in commemoration of the birth of the Great Duke his Master The 3. 6. and 10. the Chan treated us at his own Palace to celebrate their Naurus or Newyear Chalip the Minatzim or Astrologer belonging to the Chan sent me for my new-years-gift a fat Lamb. March 14. Areb-Chan receiv'd an assurance of the continuance of the King's favour towards him according to the custome by the Present of a new Garment in as much as when the Chans and Governours have made their ordinary Presents the King sends an express to them to assure them either of his favour or displeasure whereof the Ceremony is this The King's Envoy or Express being come within three or four leagues of the City sends a Messenger to give the Governour notice of it and to let him know he brings him good news The Governour who many times is not sure to return again takes his leave of the City as if he were not to come thither any more and goes a league out of the City to meet the Envoy accompany'd by all his friends As soon as the Envoy sees the Governour coming he makes a halt and the Governour alights and puts off his Sword Garment and Turbant and in that posture approches the Envoy who hath in a Box cover'd with some rich Tapistry a Letter of grace with a new Garment or else an order to bring the Governour 's head If the Kings favour be confirm'd to him he receives from the Envoy the new Garment which he kisses at the collar touches with his fore head and then puts it on If the Envoy hath an order to bring away the Governour 's head he presently hath it cut off puts it into the Box and immediately returns There are diverse examples of these executions in the time of Schach-Abas as also in that of Schach-Sefi The former caus'd to be executed after this manner Ahmad Chan of Hemedan Kaban Chan of Orumi and Baisunkur Sulthan Governour of Magasburt and the later put to death by an Envoy Iarali Sulthan of Maku and Moral Sulthan of Bajesid But this last caus'd them to be strangled and afterwards to be flead and order'd their skins fill'd with Hay to be set in the high-way because they had over-easily deliver'd up those places wherewith he had entrusted them Areb-Chan intreated the Ambassadors to be present at an action which he knew could not be otherwise than advantageous to him in so much that he had got a large dose of drink ere he went out of the City He was mounted on an excellent Roan horse without any Arms causing to be led before him several other gallant horses with rich trappings and having about his person fifteen of his Guard with their Carabins and a retinue of about four hundred men besides the Ambassadors and the Calenter who accompany'd him with their Domesticks He march'd in this order as far as the King's Garden without the City halting several times to make the Company drink and causing several young Lads to dance in the mean time His two Sons whereof the elder was but 20. years of age and the younger 18. both very handsome well shap'd persons follow'd him with most of the Inhabitants of the City and certain men on horse-back who were cover'd with Lynxes-skins and the furres of Buchar-Sheep and carried on the tops of long Poles certain Turks Heads fill'd with Hay and the Colours which Areb had taken from them He alighted before the Garden and found the King's Envoy at the entrance of it attended by three Servants and holding the Box in his hand The Chan being come within ten or twelve paces of the Envoy he very cheerfully put off his Garment and Turbant but perceiving the Envoy stood a while without saying ought to him he began to be a little startled and out of countenance till the Envoy said to him Ai Areb-Chan whereto Areb answer'd Nediersen what saiest thou The Envoy continu'd Schach Sefi ne chales kunderdiwe rakem Schach Sefi dnsti sen that is Schach Sefi sends thee a Garment and a Letter of Favour thou art certainly belov'd of the King Whereto the Chan reply'd very couragiously Scahung dowletti berkarar olsumwe birkuni minkun olsun men seahung birkari kulim that is May the King's Wealth continue for ever and may every day of his be as a thousand I am one of the King 's old Servants He thereupon took the Garment with very great submission It was of Sea-green Satin The Envoy help'd him to put it on with a Rochet of cloath of Gold a Girdle and Turbant The Envoy had for his pains a Present of certain Tumains Then the Casi or Judge made a Prayer for the King's health which ended the Chan's Steward cry'd out Schach dowetine Kasiler kuweline Chan saglukine alla dielim that is We pray for the prosperity of the King the success of his Soldiers and the health of the Chan whereto all the people answer'd Alla Alla Alla. These Ceremonies ended the Trumpets sounded and the Tymbrels were play'd on and and the Chan return'd to the City causing to be carried before him the Turks heads and Colours which at his coming thence had march'd after him The Chan invited the Ambassadors to Dinner but he himself had drunk so liberally that he was forc'd to rise from Table and the Company soon after withdrew The 22. being Maundy Thursday the Armenians performed the Ceremony of the washing
through the Village of Berouly which lies in a Valley between the Mountains of Balagatta Two Leagues thence you come to the Village of Werserée three Leagues thence to that of Outor and six Leagues and a half further to that of Berapour half a League thence to that of Matoura and a League thence to that of Calingra About five hundred paces from Calingra you come to the Village of Kangir and ere you get much further to a Hamlet which hath no other name then that of Bary which is given to all those places that have no particular name About a League thence is the Village of Worry and half a League further that of Attrowad near which upon an eminent place there is a very magnificent Pagode of the Countrey or Mosquey which may be seen at a very great distance About two Leagues and a half from this Pagode you turn upon the left hand and go through the Village of Badaraly to Kerwes which is also two Leagues and a half from Badaraly From Kerwes to Skeokory are accounted two Leagues and from Skeokory to a very sumptuous Benjane Pagode five Leagues From this Pagode may be discovered at a great distance the Castle of Mirsis two leagues thence upon the left hand and you go thence to Rajebag which is about a league distant from the said Pagode Rajebag is a very great City and drives a great trade in Pepper which the Inhabitants transport to Bisnager and elsewhere It is part of the Dowry of the Queen of Visepour who hath there a Governour under her About a League from Rajebag you come to a very noble Well about two Leagues thence you cross the River Cugny and about half a League further you come to the City of Gotteuy You leave it on the left hand yet go through one Gate of it to pass through the Villages of Goetesi and Omgar which are but about five hundred paces thence and about half a League further you come to the great River Corstena which runs through the whole Kingdom of Decam as far as Masulypatan About a League and a half from the River you go through the Village of Eynatour and not far thence through that of Katerna and thence to those of Tangly and Erary and so to the River Agery which is distant thence about a League and a half About three Leagues further you come to the City of Atteny which is so considerable as to be a common Market to all the adjacent Country whence are daily brought to it abundance of all sorts of provisions About four Leagues thence you come to the Village of Bardgie and at three and a half further pass through the Village of Agger which is within three Leagues of the City of Talsengbe which is distant from that of Homoware three other Leagues and thence there are as many to the City of Ticota which is within six Leagues of Visapour Before you come to the chief City you pass through the Villages of Nouraspour and Sirrapour which are in a manner its Suburbs and whereof the former was heretofore the ordinary residence of the King Ibrahim Schach who reign'd at the beginning of this last Age but now it is wholly ruin'd and the Materials of its Palace and great Houses are convey'd thence for the carrying on of those which are building at Visiapour The City of Visiapour is of such largeness that it is above five Leagues in compass The Walls which are very high are of Free-stone encompass'd with a great Ditch and several Fortifications mounted with above a thousand great Pieces of all sorts Iron and Brass The Kings Palace is in the midst of the City from which it is divided by a double Wall and two Ditches being above 3500. paces in compass He who commanded there in the time of Sulthan Mamedh Idelshach the Son of Ibrahim was called Nammouth-chan by Countrey an Italian born at Rome His command extended also over the City and the 5000. men who kept Garrison therein besides the 2000. who were the constant Garrison of the Castle The City hath five distinct Suburbs where the principal Merchants have their habitations and particularly in that of Schanpour where live most of the Jewellers The other Suburbs are called Gurapour Ibrahimpour Alapour and Bomnenaly The Inhabitants are Decanins that is of the Kingdom of Decam or Benjans Moguls and Ientives of whom an account hath been given before To go from Visiapour to Dabul you return the same way as far as the City of Atteny whence you go to the Village of Agelle which is two Leagues distant from it and thence to the City of Arecq which is six Leagues and a half from Agelle From Arecq to the City of Berce are three Leagues and thence to Mirsie three Leagues This City which is called also Mirdsi and Mirisgie is large but not very populous having on the North-side a Castle so well fortifi'd that the Mogul who sometime besieg'd it with all the Forces of his Kingdom was forc'd to raise the Siege In this place are also to be seen the Tombs of two Kings of Delly who were enterr'd there above five hundred years since The Inhabitants of the City as also those of the Country thereabouts have a great veneration for that place From Mirdsi to the Village of Epour are two Leagues and thence to the City of Graeen three It is not easily decided whether it be one City or two inasmuch as it is divided only by the great River Corsena the distance between both parts being about 800. paces and there are so many houses on either side of the River that they may be taken for two considerable Cities though one be much less then the other From the River to the Village of Toncq are counted two Leagues and a half thence to that of Astava one and thence to the City of Asta two Leagues Between this last Village and the City there is a Hamlet which is called Barry â— but it is to be observ'd that this name is given to all those places which have not any in particular as we said before The City of Asta is very considerable for its trading and hath a noble Market where may be had all sorts of provisions The Mogul who sometime came as far as this place with his Army hath left behind him sufficient marks of the devastation which attends the marches of such numerous Armies Having left Asta you come to the great City of Ballouwa which is distant from it three Leagues and three more thence to those Oâ—ren and Isselampour which lye distant one from the other not above a Cannon-shot You leave the former on the right hand and the other which hath a strong Castle and its particular Governour on the left Two Leagues from Isselampour lies the Village of Taffet and three thence that of Cassegam whence there are above two Leagues
natural Portuguez the greatest part are Mestizes or Malâ—yans The City is so commodiously scituate for Commerce with China and the Moluques whereof the Portuguez having experience to hinder other Nations from footing there gave out that the Air was unwholsome that it was not inhabitable especially for Forraigners while they notwithstanding continued there and followed their business They are possessed of no more then the City and Suburbs and five Leagues off upon the same River the Town of Nostra Senhora de Guadalupe for about half a League thence live the Manancambos Subjects to the King of Iahor but that would not have hindred the Portuguez from making it one of the most considerable places of the Indies if the Hollanders did not disturb their Commerce and find work for the King of Spain's Armies in that part of the Universe At the request of the King of Iahor in the year 1606. they came down into Malacca and besieg'd the chief City upon promise they should be possest of it but the aid that King brought them was so inconsiderable that they were constrain'd to raise the Siege yet not till they had so ruin'd the place that it could never since be repaired six thousand lives being lost in the Siege On the other side since the Hollanders got such strong hold in Ceylon and Iava the Portuguez trade with China and the Moluques is quite lost by reason they are no more Masters of that Sea But what more and more ruines the City is the avatice of the Governours who will not accept of that Government but on condition to inrich themselves two hundred thousand Crowns in three years to raise which sum they are forc'd to oppress the Inhabitants as well as Strangers which oppressions will in time so ruine the Commerce of this place that for the future the Portuguez must make no great account of it The Kingdom of Patana is not so great as that of Iahor but without comparison more populous for some that have dealt there for the Hollanders and have staid there a sufficient time affirm they have seen Records that assert the King of Patana can raise an Army of an hundred and fourscore thousand men True it is the Patanans are bad Souldiers and very improper for war but we speak of the number not the quality and say that the City of Patanan the Metropolis of the Kingdom can alone set forth at least ten thousand that is the Malayans four thousand the Chineses three and the Siameses as many The City of Patana stands upon the Sea-side but the Haven is two thousand paces thence The Houses are of Timber or Canes and well and handsomly built The Kings Palace is surrounded with a Pallisado and the Mosquey is made of Brick As to the Inhabitants they may be said rather brown then Olive-coloured of body well proportioned but they are haughty and proud yet this rather in their Comportment then Conversation wherein they are very affable for the Queen her self admitted the Hollanders to come into her Bark with her Noble men and excused it that the severity their Sex observe neither permitted her to see them more often nor to admit them to her Retirement to which she was oblieged since here Widowhood The Chineses and Siameses who have lived any time there are ingenious and understand Navigation but the Malayans meddle only with Husbandry and Fishing living miserably and drinking nothing but Water They have no liking to Wine and for Arac and Aquavitae they have an aversion but Women they love and prefer that pleasure before all others wherefore there is not a Man who besides four or five lawful Wives hath not as many Concubines Simple â—ornication they allow of and hold it no sin but Adultery they punish severely This is a Crime unpardonable and for which the Father or Son or one of the nearest Relations is obliged to be Executioner the manner of death being left to the person guilty yet is this Crime so common that they would dispeople the Country should they punish all that are guilty of it Their wealth consists in Land and Slaves whom they feed with nothing but Rice and a little Fish yet make great profit out of their labour Only the Chineses and the Mestizes betake themselves to any Trade or apply themselves to Traffick which they chiefly have in Siam Burdelon Lugor Cambodia Cochinchina Macasser Grece Pahan Iambi Iohor Bantam Bandar Malfin Suchidanar and other places upon the same Coast or Countrey where they carry all sorts of China Commodities Purcelane Skins Pots Kettles and other Iron Utensils as likewise Flesh powder'd and smoak'd Fish dry and salted Cloath which they have from the Hollanders and Chineses From their Neighbours they fetch Timber to build withall Rottang that is Cordage of Cocoe Oyle of the same Fruits dry'd and preserv'd Skins of Neat Buffles Goats Pepper and particularly a Drug they call Saroyboura These are only Swallow-nests which they find on Rocks by the Sea-side and are of such esteem in China that they sell them for three or four Crowns the pound There are two sorts of them the white which are much in request and are sold for six seven or eight Campans the China Catti but the grey are not so dear and not worth three or four Campans the Catti which amounts not to above eleven Sols or a Mamide of Cambaya Though the Country lye not far from the Equinoctial yet is the Air good and wholsom though the heats are exceeding great Summer begins there in February and lasts to the end of October there falls continual Rains during November December and Ianuary with a North-west wind They Till the Earth with Oxen and Buffles and sow nothing but Rice of which they get great abundance They have for every moneth several Fruits and Hens that lay twice a day by reason whereof the Country abounds in all sorts of provisions for the belly as Rice Oxen Goats Geese Ducks Hens Capons Peacocks Deer Hares Coneys Fowl and Venison and specially in Fruits whereof they have above a hundred several sorts as Durians Mangosthans Annas Lanciats Ramboutammas Pissans Oranges and Lemmons and above all Lemmons gibol called in France China Oranges bought there five or six hundred for a Campan Mamplans Batians and Centals c. whereof more hereafter The Inhabitants breed no Swine but the Forrests are so full of wild ones that they are forc'd to hunt them to prevent the destruction of their Rice which being taken they bury them in the ground as being Mahumetans and eat none themselves nor suffer others In the Forrest likewise there are abundance of Tygers and Apes which are no less pernicious to the Fields then the wild Swine are but the wild Elephants of which there are likewise great numbers are very harmless They are taken by hunting turning a tame Elephant amongst them with whom they presently fight and while they are in the fury they tye their hinder feet
Great Duke again presented him to kiss it a Golden Cross of about a foot length beset with Diamonds He also touch'd his forehead and temples with it whereupon they all went into the Church where they concluded the service The Greeks that came along with the Turkish Ambassador went in also by a priviledge particular to them of all Christians whom the Muscovites suffer not to enter their Churches but they permit the Greeks as such as profess the same Religion with them Octob. 8. we had our third private Audience with the Suedish Ambassadors and were above two hours in conference with the Great Duke's Ministers The 12. the Great Duke went on Pilgrimage to a Church half a league from the City He rode alone on horseback with a whip in his hand and was follow'd by above 1000. horse The Knez and Bojares who attended him march'd ten a-breast which made a noble show and express'd the greatness of the Prince The Great Dutchess with the young Prince and Princess followed them in a large Chariot all of Joyners work cover'd with Scarlet the curtains of yellow Taffata drawn by sixteen white horses After the Dutchess's the Court-Ladies were carried in 22. other Chariots of wood painted green covered with Scarlet the curtains drawn close so that those within could not be seen I had the happiness the wind having blown those of the Great Dutchess a little on one side to have a glimps of her and I thought her very handsome and very richly clad On both sides march'd above a hundred Strelits having white tlaves in their hands to keep off the people who were thronging to bless their Princess for whom the Muscovites have a particular respect and devotion The 23. we had with the Suedish Ambassadors our fourth private Audience wherein we concluded our Negotiation The 28. the Suedish had their last publick Audience in order to their departure returning from which they caus'd the Answer to their Letters to be carried by two Gentlemen The 7. and 10. of November they departed from Mosco in three troops some taking the way of Livonia others that of Sueden Nov. 19. we had our fifth and last private Audience at which it was told us that his Czaarick Majesty having taken our propositions into serious consideration had at last resolv'd to gratifie his Highness the Duke of Holstein as his Friend Uncle and Ally as to what he had desir'd of him and to grant him what he had deny'd many other Princes and Potentates of Europe to wit a passage through Muscovy to go into Persia and that his Ambassadors might go thither but with this proviso that they should first return back to Holstein and bring him the ratification of the present Treaty Having so happily though with much difficulty perfected our negotiation we thought it not amiss to divert our selves for some days among our friends as we did at the Christening of a Child of the Residents of Sueden at a feast which Dr. Wendelin made at the marriage of a Kinsman of his and at the magnificent entertainment which David Ruts one of the chiefest Dutch Merchants there gave us at his own house The 22. The Muscovites made a solemn Procession to a Church near the ordinary place where the Ambassadors are entertain'd at which the Great Duke and the Patriarch were present There was a passage made with Deal-boards from the Castle to the Church along which came first several pedling Merchants who sold wax Candles after them some that swept the passage and kept it clean The Procession was thus First went a man carrying an Ewer and a Napkin Three men carrying Banners like Cornet's Colours half Red half White Sixty one Priests in their Copes Four Cherubins carried upon long poles A man carrying a Lantern at the top of a long pole Forty Priests Eight Priests carrying a great Cross fasten'd in a great piece of timber double-cross'd A hundred Priests and Monks carrying every one a painted Image A great Image cover'd carried by two men Forty Priests A great Image adorn'd with abundance of precious Stones carried by three men Another lesser Image Four Priests singing Another Image A Cross of Diamonds in a Basin Two men carrying each a lighted Taper The Patriarch in Pontificalibus very richly clad under a blew Canopy and led by the Arms by two Men having behind and on one side of him about fifty Priests and Monks The Great Duke under a red Canopy supported by two Lords of his Counsel and attended by his Knez and Bojares The Great Duke's Chair of State of red Velvet carried by two men The Great Duke's Horse His S'edge drawn by two white Horses This Procession was occasion'd upon the finding of an Image of our Lady 's in a certain place where since there is a Church built December 12. We saw a Cavalcade of seventy two Crim-Tartars who all took the quality of Ambassadors and were going to have Audience which the Great Duke gave them and whereat he had the patience to endure them for the space of three hours Being come into the Hall of Audience some sate on the ground others lay along and there was given every one a Gobelet of Hydromel to the two Chief of the Embassy Garments of Brocado to others of Scarlet and to the most inconsiderable among them Cloaths of some more common Stuff with some Furrs and Caps of Martins-skins which they had upon their other cloaths as they return'd from Audience 'T is a Nation absolutely barbarous and dreadful to look on Though they are at a great distance from Muscon towards the South yet they do the Great Duke abundance of mischief by their incursions and the robberies they incessantly commit upon his Subjects The Czaar Faedor Iuanouits the present Great Duke's Father endeavour'd to prevent their incursions by causing the Woods to be cut down and by means of a Causway and a Moat which he had caus'd to be drawn a hundred leagues together to hinder their entrance into his Country but they never rested till they had pull'd down one and fill'd the other so that to keep them at home the Great Duke is oblig'd from time to time to suffer these Embassies the design whereof is only to get Presents whereof the expence would not trouble the Great Duke if they would keep the Barbarians quiet but they continue in peace but till they perceive they can make any advantage by the breach of it The 16. we had Audience in order to our departure to which we were conducted with the same Pomp and Ceremonies as to the first save that by reason of the Ice and Snow which hinder great Lords to make use of horses they sent us two sumptuous Sledges whereof one was lin'd with a Crimson water'd Satin the other with Damask of the same colour There were within them some white Bears-skins and over head rich Turkie Tapistry to serve for a covering The Buckles of the Harness were cover'd of
The Great Duke sent us for the solemnity of the enterment a Pristaf and 15. white Horses out of his own Stables The 9. We had our second private Audience The 10. being Palm-Sunday the Muscovites had a noble Procession to represent our Saviour's entrance into Ierusalem and that we might the more conveniently see it having express'd our desires to that purpose the Great Duke sent the Ambassadors their ordinary Horses and fifteen others for their retinue He order'd also to be kept for us a place near the Castle-Gate whence they drove out the people which had throng'd in to the number of 10000. The Persian Ambassadors were plac'd behind us in the little Theatre we have spoken of before The Great Duke having been at service in our Lady's Church came out of the Castle with the Patriarch in very good order First came a very large Chariot made of boards nail'd together but low drawing after it a Tree on which hung abundance of Apples Figs and Grapes In it were four little Boys with surplisses who sung the Hosanna Then follow'd many Priests in their surplisses and copes carrying Crosses Banners and Images upon long Poles some of them sung others cast Incense among the people Next came the Goses or Duke's Merchants after them the Diaken Clerks Secretaries Knez and Boâ—ares having most of them Palms in their hands and went immediately before the Great Duke who was most richly clad with a Crown upon his head supported by the two principal Counsellors of State Knez Iuan Borisowits Cyrcaski and Knez Alexey Michaelouits Won and led himself by the bridle the Patriarch's Horse which was cover'd with Cloath and made to represent an Asse The Patriarch who rid on him had on his head a round white Satin Cap beset with rich Pearls and about it a very rich Crown He had in his right hand a Cross of Diamonds wherewith he bless'd the people who receiv'd his benediction with great submission bowing their heads and incessantly making the sign of the Cross. About and behind him were Metropolitans Bishops and other Priests whereof some carried Books others Censers About fifty little Boys most clad in red put off their Casacks and scatter'd them along the way others had pieces of Cloath about an Ell-square of all colours which they laid on the ground for the Great Duke and Patriarch to pass over The Great Duke being come over against us made a halt and sent his principal Interpreter Iohn Helmes to ask after our health and went not on till our answer was brought him This done he went into the Church where he stay'd about half an hour In his return he stopp'd again at the same place to give the Ambassadors notice that he would send them a Dinner from his own Table which yet was not done but instead thereof our ordinary allowance was doubled The honour the Great Duke did the Patriarch in leading his horse is worth to him 400 Crowns which the Patriarch is oblig'd to give him Upon Pain-Sunday the same Ceremonies were observ'd all over Muscovy the Metropolitanes and Bishops representing the person of the Patriarch the Weiwodes or Governours that of the Great Duke April 17. was their Easter-day 'T is the greatest of all their Festivals and they celebrate it with abundance of Ceremonies and great rejoycings as well in remembrance of our Saviour's Resurrection as that it puts a period to their Lent The streets were all full of a sort of Merchants who sold Eggs of all sorts of colours which the Muscovites send by way of Present one to another for a fortnight together after Easter during which time when they meet they kiss each other and their salutation is in these words Christos wos Chrest that is Christ is risen whereto the other answers Wostin wos Chrest that is He is risen indeed No person what condition sex or other quality soever he be of dares refuse these kisses or the Eggs that are presented to him The Great Duke himself hath Presented some to the principal Counsellors and Lords of his Court He is wont also on Easter-day betimes in the morning to visit the Prisoners before he goes to Church and to order every one to have an Egg given him and some sheep-skin for bestow'd on them exhorting them to rejoyce since Christ dy'd for their sins and was now truly risen again That done he causes the Prison-doors to be shut again and goes to his Devotions Their greatest rejoycings consist in Feasts and good Cheer but especially in debauches in common drinking-houses which are full of all sorts of persons Men and Women Ecclesiastick and Laicks who get so drunk that the streets are pav'd with Drunkards The present Patriarch hath prohibited them and order'd that on Easter-day no drinking places should be open but he is not much obey'd April 29. The Ambassador Brugman desir'd and had a private audience of the Bojares to which he went alone without his Collegue and but few persons about him It was given him in the Exchequer and lasted above two hours what he treated about we could never learn till afterward by the charge put in against him at our return home May 6. The Ambassadors had together their third conference with the Bojares the 17. the fourth and the 27. the fifth and last private audience May 30. The Great Duke permitted the young Prince's Governour to go a-hawking and to invite to that Divertisement the Gentlemen of our retinue He sent us Horses and carried us two Leagues from the City into most pleasant Meadow grounds Having sported two or three hours we were treated with a Collation under a Tent pitch'd there for that end The treatment was ordinary Strong-water Hydromel Ginger-bread and preserv'd Cherries Iune 1. The Muscovites celebrated with great solemnities the birth-day of their young Prince Knez Iuan Michaelouits Our ordinary allowance of Provisions was doubled The 3. The Ambassador Brugman had a second private conference with the Bojares Iune 14. being Whitsun-eve the Great Duke gave publick audience to all the Ambassadors then in Mosco in order to their departure That of Persia went first to audience he was a Cupzâ—n or Merchant as he came back he had on his other Cloaths according to the Persian custom a Garment of Crimson-Satin lined with the best kind of Sables which the Great Duke had Presented him with After him went the Greeks Armenians and Tartars who in their return caus'd their Letters and the Presents they had receiv'd to be carried before them The 12. Arrived there our Controller who had stay'd at Dantzick to look after the finishing of some Presents which we were to carry into Persia. The Great Duke was gone on a Pilgrimage out of the City and the Chancellor durst not permit the Controller to enter in without his Majesties express order which occasion'd his staying three dayes in the Suburbs The 15. The Great Duke and Dutchess return'd to Moscou The Duke was attended by
and will maintain it to the utmost extremity Of this we have an example at Notebourg where two men made their capitulation in the year 1579. The Poles who had besieg'd the Castle of Suikols set it a fire as they were giving the assault yet the Muscovites made good the breach and maintain'd it even when the fire reach'd their Cloaths At the siege of the Abbey of Padis in Livonia they held out till they became so weakned for want of Provisions that they were not able to keep Guard nor to meet the Suedes at the Gate They are not indeed so fortunate in the field and very seldom gain'd any battel against the Poles or Suedes their Neighbours who have alwayes almost had the better of them so that it prov'd a harder matter to pursue them than to avoid their blows But certain it is withall that these misfortunes happen to them through the want of experience and conduct in their Generals rather than of courage in their Soldiers For as to the disgrace the Muscovites receiv'd at the Siege of Smolensko in the year 1633. it is to be ascribed to the Generals perfidiousness who paid his Master for his imprudence in putting the command of his Army into the hands of a Stranger He was a Polander named Herman Schein who to curry favour with the Duke had been so low-spirited as to receive re-baptization The Army he commanded consisted of above a hundred thousand men among whom were above 6000. Germans and several Muscovian Regiments exercised according to the German discipline and commanded by strange Officers French Germans and Scots three hundred pieces of Cannon and all other things requisite to carry on the Siege against that place which the Poles had taken some time before from the Muscovites The reduction of it had been so much the easier â—n that the City is compass'd but with one simple wall without ditch or any kind of fortification Whence it came that the Germans who had made a reasonable breach in it propos'd to have it carried at the first assault But the General oppos'd it saying That he would never suffer it should be reproach'd to the Prince his Master that he had rais'd so vast an Army to besiege a place which a handful of Germans would have taken in so few dayes and then presently to disband it The Colonels that were Strangers on the other side considering that the Great Duke's reputation would suffer by that Siege and the Army it self be destroy'd if it were not employ'd resolv'd to give the assault and were in a manner Masters of the breach when the General commanding the great Guns to be discharg'd at them they were forc'd to retreat They complain'd of that procedure so far as to make some discoveries of their distrust of his fidelity but he sent them word that if they kept not within the respect due to their General he should find a way to chastise them and that he would treat them as Muscovites So that not daring to make any further attempt the Army continu'd there some time without doing any thing and gave the King of Poland time enough to get together a small body of 5000. men who possess'd themselves of all the avenues by which the Muscovites receiv'd their provisions so as that within a few dayes their Army was more straightly besieg'd than the City it self It had been easy for the Muscovian General to prevent the Poles from taking up those posts but he gave them the leasure so to fortify themselves in them that it had been impossible for him to force them in their quarters even if he had attempted it The Muscovian Army being reduc'd to this extremity the General to hinder it from starving was forc'd to capitulate with the Poles to come in with the whole Army at mercy and with all that Noble Artillery to leave hostages for the ransome of all the Officers and Soldiers which the Great Duke was oblig'd to pay The General was so impudent as to return to Moscou and shew himself at Court where he had friends enough to protect him notwithstanding the charges put in against him by the Officers and Soldiers but the people express'd themselves so mov'd at his treachery that to prevent an insurrection which threatned both City and State they were forc'd to execute him publickly in the market-place Most of the great Ones had a finger in his Treason but lest he might accuse any they perswaded him that he should not be startled at those proceedings that it was only by way of pageant to give the people some satisfaction and that before execution his pardon would be brought him Which he the more easily credited for that his changing Religion had gain'd him the affection and favour of the Patriarch But he had no sooner layd his head upon the block ere a sign was made to the Executioner to strike it off The same day was executed also his Son who had some command under his Father at the Siege of Smolensko He was brought into the open place before the Castle where he was stripp'd stark naked and whipp'd to death All the rest of his kindred were banish'd into Siberia This execution happened in Iune 1634. The Muscovites spend not much in house-keeping nor the Bojares as well as those of a lower condition It is not above thirty years that their Lords and chiefest Merchants have built their houses of stone for before they were no better lodg'd than the meaner sort in very poor wooden buildings Their houshold-stuff are suitable to their Lodgings and commonly consist only in three or four pots and as many wooden or earthen dishes Some have pewter but very few and unless it be some few drinking cups and gobelets there is not any of silver They know not what scowring means in so much that the Great Duke's plate looks little better than the Tavern-pots which are made clean but once a year The better sort hang their rooms but with mat and to set them out yet a little better they have only two or three Images wretchedly painted They have few feather-beds but are content with mattresses nay with chaff or straw and if not that to be had they lye upon their cloaths which in Summer they lay upon a bench or table in the Winter upon their stoves which are flat as in Livonia In this Country it is that Master and Mistress Men and Maids are shuffled all together into the same room nay in some places in the Country I have seen the Poultry and the Pigs had ordinarily the same Lodging with the Masters of the house They are not acquainted with our delicate meats and sawces Their ordinary food is coarse Meal Turneps Coleworth and Cowcumbers both fresh and pickled Their great delicacy is Salt-fish which being not well salted infects the places near it so that you may smell their Fish-market at a great distance They cannot want Beef and Mutton there being good pastures all over
longer endure the Treaty of the Rye because it would in likelyhood starve the Country With this intention they sent three Deputies to Moscou to wit a Merchant a Cosaque and a Strelits with Order to know whether this Treaty was made and put in execution with the Great Duke's consent In the mean time without expecting the return of their Deputies they ransack'd Amilianou's house and tortur'd his Wife to make her confess where her husband who had made his escape had laid up his money The Weywode came in hope to prevent the disorder but he was forc'd out of the City and the neighbouring Nobility invited to come in and joyn with them against Monopolies and Patentees These three venerable Deputies were no sooner come to Novogorod but the Weywode caus'd them to be put into Irons and in that posture sent them to Moscou whether came at the same time the Weywode of Plescou and the Merchant Amilianou Intelligence was brought that those of Plescou had robb'd and abus'd a Suedish Merchant whereupon the Great Duke sent back the Weywode and with him a Bojar to endeavour the further prevention of these disorders Those of Plescou who at first would not receive them at length opened their Gates but it was to put the Weywode in prison and to affront the Bojare who had the imprudence at so unseasonable a time to treat them with so much severity that the people fell upon him with Cudgels and pursu'd him to a Monastery where he was so beaten that he was given over for a dead man However the Great Duke pursu'd the execution of the Treaty made with Sueden and paid money instead of the Rye sending along with the Suedish Commissary a good Convoy of Strelits who were to bring him to the Frontiers of Sueden He gave order at the same time to Iuan Nikitouits Gavensky to assemble the Nobility of the neighbouring Provinces and the foot-Regiments of Colonel Kormichel and Col. Hamilton which made up above 4000 men and to besiege the City of Plescou The Inhabitants as first pretended to stand out but their courage and strength soon fail'd them so that they were forc'd to make an accommodation at the cost of the Authors of the Sedition who were put to death or sent into Siberia These disorders have occasion'd a great change in the Affairs and Government of Muscovy For though Miloslauski and Morosou have much credit and the Patriarch himself a very great Authority about the Prince yet have the other Knez and Bojares a great hand in publick Affairs and execute their charges every one according to his Birth and Employment There are commonly some 30 Bojares about the Court though in Zuski's time there were numbred 70. In the year 1654. when the War of Smolensko was resolv'd on there were present at the deliberations of that important affair twenty nine Bojares who names were these Boris Iuanouits Morosou the Czaar ' s Fanourite Boris Nikit a Iuanouits Romanou the Czaar ' s Great Uncle Iuan Basilouits Morosou Knez Iuan Andreouits Galizin Knez Nikita Iuanouits Odouski Knez Iacob Kudenieteuits Tzerkaski Knez Alexei Nikitouits Trubetskoi Gleeb Iuanouits Morosou Wasili Petrowits Tzemeretou Knez Boris Alexandrouits Reppenin Michael Michelouits Soltikou Basili Iuanouits Stresnou Knez Vasili Simonouits Posorouski Knez Fâ—dor Simonouits Kurakin Knez Iurgi Petrouits Buynessou Rostouski Iuan Iuanouits Solikou Knez Iurgi Alexeouits Dolgoruski Gregory Basilouits Puskin Knez Foedor Federouits Volchanski Laurenti Demetriouits Soltikou Ilia Danilouits Miloslauski the Great Duke's Father-in-Law Basili Basilouits Butterlin Knez Michael Petrouits Pronski Knez Iuan Nikitouits Gavenski Knez Foedor Iurgiouits Chworosting Basili Borissouits Tzemeretou Nikita Alexouits Susin The Ocolnits or Lords out of whose number the Bojares are chosen areâ— The Ocolnitza Knez Andre Federouits Litwinou Masalskoi Knez Iuan Federouits Chilkou Mikifor Sergeouits Zabackin Knez Demetri Petrouits Lewou Knez Basili Petrouits Lewou Knez Simon Petrouits Lewou Knez Iuan Iuanouits Romadanouski Knez Steppan Gabrielouits Puskin Knez Simon Romanouits Bosarskie Bogdan Mattheouits Chytrou Peter Petrouits Gowowin Iuan Andreouits Miloslauski Knez Iuan Iuanouits Labano Rostouski Knez Demetri Alexeouits Dalgaruski Simon Lukianouits Stresnou Michael Alexeouits Artischo Precossi Federouits Sochouin Knez Boris Iuanouits Troikurou Alexei Demetriouits Collitziou Wasili Alexandriouits Zioglockou Iuan Basilouits Alferiou The persons of greatest quality next the Bojares and the Ocolnits are those whom they call Dumeny Duorainy and Simbojarski that is to say sons of Bojars and they are six in number to wit Iuan Offonassouits Gabrienou Fedor Cusmits Iellissariou Bogdan Fedrowits Narbickou Sdan Basilouits Conderou Basili Federouits Ianou Ossonassei Ossipouits Prontzissou The Chancellour and Secretaries of State are Almas Iuanouits Chancellour Simon Iuanouits Saborouski Lariouton Demetriouits Prontzissou These are the names of the Lords who at this day have the principal charges and govern the whole Kingdom of Muscovy as well in the Councel of State as for private affairs as we shall see anon The chiefest Dignity of the Kingdom was heretofore that of Sunderstreuoi Coinische that is Lord high Steward of Muscovy but this charge was suppress'd when Zuski who had it was called to the Crown The next which is now the chiefest is that of Duoretskoy or Great Master who hath the over-sight and direction of all the great Duke's houshold After him comes the Orusnitschei who hath the over-sight of the Arms and Horses which are for the Great Duke's peculiar service as also of the Harnesses and other Ornaments which are used at Entrances and publick Ceremonies These three Officers precede all the other Bojares Ocolnits Dumeni-Diaki and the Secretaries of State who in their turns precede the Postilnizei or him who makes the Great Duke's bed the Comnutnoy Klutziom that is the Chamberlain the Craftzey or Carver the Stolniki or Gentlemen Sewers the Strapsi or Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber and the Duoraini or ordinary Gentlemen The Silzi or Pages the Diaki or Secretaries and the Boddiotzei or the Commissaries or Clerks who are the last in Dignity and Function All the Knez and Bojares who have Estates are oblig'd to set out their Lands and to give their personal attendance at Moscou where they are oblig'd to be every day at Court and to smite their foreheads in the Great Duke's presence who looks on this attendance of theirs as an argument of their fidelity and an assurance of his Estate being in quiet which might soon be disturb'd by the authority these Great men might assume in the Provinces were they permitted to make their aboad there Their Houses or Palaces are great and magnificent and they make great ostentation as well in their expences at their houses as in cloaths and retinue when they go abroad When they ride they have at the bow of their Saddle a little Timbrel a foot Diameter which they ever and anon touch with the handle of their Whip to make their way through the throngs which are frequent in the Markets and Streets
The Knez who have no employment at Court and have not the means to make any great appearance there retire into the Countrey where their manner of life is not much different from that of Peasants They make very great accompt of the antient Nobility not only of that of their own Countrey but also of others which they very particularly inquire into but above all are very curious in informing themselves of the extraction of those that are sent Ambassadors in Muscovy They never match but with those of an equal rank with themselves The Bojares are not only seen at publick Ceremonies and Audiences but effectively participate of the management of publick affairs and the decision of Law-sutes wherein they assume the quality of Presidents The Councels for State-affairs are ordinarily held in the night time and the Counsellors meet at one in the morning and are together till nine or ten We shall speak of the particular employment of the Bojares when we have first given a short accompt of the Great Dukes revenue who having an Estate of a very vast extent consisting of a great number of Provinces must needs be very rich and very powerfull as well in respect of his Demesn as the advantages accrewing from the Traffick made by his Factors and the Taxes Duties and Impositions paid by his Subjects In times of peace the Impositions are not great but in the time of War the Contributions are so excessive that when the Great Duke Michael Federouits was to besiege the Citie of Smolensko in the year 1632. he oblig'd the subject to pay him the Pettina or fifth part of their Estates but the present Great Duke at the beginning of the present War contented himself with the tenth The Knez Bojares and Gentlemen pay no Taxes but are oblig'd as are also the Monasteries to raise and maintain a certain number of men horse and foot proportionably to their Revenue The Customs bring in so considerable a sum that some years the Custom-house of the Citie of Archangel it self payes in above 600000. Crowns The Crucisnouduor that is to say the Taverns where the Great Duke allows the selling of Wine Beer Hydromel and Aqua-viâ—ae pay a vast sum since he receives from three Taverns of the Citie of Novogorod above 12009. Crowns and that since this duty came to belong to the Sovereign they are above a thousand houses where the Great Duke alone hath all the advantage made by the sale of Wine and Aquavirae Sables also and other Furs bring in much because he reserves the Traffick thereof wholly to himself as also that of Cavayar and several other Commodities The Revenue of the money which he lets out to his Factors is not so certain as well in regard the Merchants profit is not alwayes the same as for that the Factors sometimes break At our being there he had put 4000 Crowns in the hands of a Merchant named Savelli who instead of improving it to his advantage squander'd it away in less than three years that he lived in Persia. The Great Duke ordered the Poslanick Alexei Sawinouits Romanitsikou who went into Persia along with us to take him and bring him back into Muscovy Coming to Scamachy we had notice of his being in the City but the Poslanick's Interpreter dying he dissembled his having any order to take him and desir'd him to be his Interpreter in that Negotiation with a design under that pretence to bring him to the Frontiers and so to carry him away The other who stood upon his Guard serv'd him indeed during the Poslanick's aboad at Ispahan but when he saw him ready for his departure into Muscovy he got into the Allacapi or Sanctuary was Circumcised put himself under the protection of Mahomet and continued in Persia. The Great Duke farms out all his Demesn but the revenue arising thence goes for the most part towards the subsistence of the Strelits whereof he is obliged constantly to maintain a very great number as well in the City of Moscou where there are above 16000. of them as upon the Frontiers insomuch that the ordinary Militia makes above 100000. men In a word if his receipts are great his expences are proportionable thereto There hardly passes a year but he is forc'd to purchase a Peace with the Tartars with great sums of Money and Presents He does not carry on his Wars at so easie a rate as they do elsewhere For taking into his service a great number of Germans and other Foreiners as well Officers as Souldiers he is forc'd to pay them extraordinarily and some times before hand The Embassies he receives stand him in no less than those he sends for he defrays all publick persons and makes them very considerable Presents The expence of his Table and the rest of his Court must needs be very great there being above a thousand Persons who have meat provided for them At Dinner and Supper there is no sounding of Trumpets as there is elsewhere but one of the Officers goes to the Kitchin and Sellar-doors and cries Godusar Kuschinung that is The Grand Seigneur would be served and immediately the meat is carried up The Great Duke sits at the midst of the Table alone if he invites the Patriarch or any other great Lord to Dine with him there is another Table set at the end of his and they are serv'd with some of the meat which had been presented to the Great Duke I say presented for as much as all making up but one Course of about fifty Dishes of meat the Gentlemen set them not down upon the Table but hold them in their hands till the Carver hath shewed them to the Prince and he made choice of what he is desirous to eat If none Dine with him he sends the Dishes he hath not medled with to some Lords in the City or to his Physicians The present Great Duke hath but one who is the same that went along with us into Persia. He is no superstitious Galenist but with very good success makes use of Chymical remedies he is grown so famous that not only the Prince but the Bojares and other great Lords about the Court employ him His salary is 124 Crowns a Month besides a Pension of six hundred Crowns per an and he hath more Wheat Barly Honey and several other Provisions than he can spend in his Family The Great Duke is never purg'd nor bled but the Physician hath a present of a hundred Crowns and a piece of Satin or Velvet or a Zimmer of Sables which is worth no less The Bojares do not give their Physicians money but a certain number of Flitches or Gammons of Bacon Sables Strong-water and other Provisions They are obliged to go every day to Court and to smite their foreheads in the Great Dukes presence or at least before those who are entrusted with the care of his Cabinet of Druggs and other Apothecary's stuff There are many Interpreters for other Languages especially for the
Sons the two younger whereof were no better in Cloaths than the most inconsiderable persons in the Country Behind them stood certain Servants on whose fore-heads and faces which they had torn with their nails might still be seen the marks of their mourning for the death of the elder brother who had been executed at Moscou On the left hand stood all in a file several Tartars who were all very aged Persons and represented the Council and Officers of the Court The Princess having answer'd our Complement ordered Seats to be brought and a little Table furnish'd with Fruits for the Collation at which our drink was Hydromel and Aquavitae We would have had the Princes to have sate down with us but they would not by any means do it alledging that it was not the Custome of the Country and that the respect they ought their Mother permitted not their sitting down in her presence The Collation being ended and the Princess and others of the Company having handled and taken particular notice of our Cloaths all over the Princess her self presented to each of us a large Cup full of a sort of Aquavitae extracted out of a Millet which we found as strong as Spirit of Wine The three Princes Presented us also with each of them a Cup and intreated us not to take it ill if they did the same honour to our Servants In the mean time there was opened behind the Princess a Chamber-door at the entrance whereof were to be seen several Ladies and amongst the rest the Princess's Daughter who was betroathed to the Sophy of Persia. She might be about sixteen years of age and was very handsome the clearness of her complexion having so much the greater lustre by reason of the extraordinary blackness of her hair These Ladies seemed to be no less desirous to see our Cloaths than those who were in the Hall thrusting one another towards the door which they immediately shut upon the least sign made to them by the Princess but they opened it again soon after to take a further view of us They call'd one of our servants to them to take the more particular notice of his Cloaths the fashion whereof they very much admir'd as also that of his Sword which they desir'd him to draw that they might see the blade of it But the Persian Envoy who every day visited the Princess coming into the Room while they were so employ'd the Chamber door was immediately shut upon them and we took leave of the Princess and the Princes her Sons and went to view the City We there met with several Women handsome young and well made having on them a kind of smocks of frocks of diverse colours who made no difficulty ever and anon to stay us till they had taken particular notice of our Cloaths Nov. 6. The Cuptzi sent us a Letter from the Governour of Derbent in answer to that which he had writ to him from Astrachan the 25 of Sept. before The contents of it was to express his joy at our arrival and to order the Cuptzi not to come away without us but to bring us along with him by Sea The 7. Our Interpreter Rustan return'd from the frontiers of Dagesthan with this news that those who had conducted the Muscovian Ambassador to the frontiers were return'd into Persia before his coming thither and that they thought it not enough to carry away the Camels and all the other Beasts fit for carriage but they had also taken along with them the pieces of Timber and Fagots without which it was impossible to get over those places where the Road was bad upon which intelligence it was immediately resolv'd that we should continue our Voyage by Sea The 8. The Princess sent the Ambassadors a present of two Sheep fifty Pullets and several other Provisions The high Chancellor of Muscovy sent us a Sheep a barrel of Beer and a-another of Hydromel In the afternoon the Prince Mussal came to give us a visit to bid us adieu There came along with him a Myrsa of Dagesthan a Brother of the Prince of Tarku's who made us believe he was come expreâ—s to conduct the Ambassadors as far as the place of his Brother's residence He was no better clad than the other Tartars having over his old cloaths a Cloak of a sort of very coarse Cloath but as to his corntenance and behaviour he express'd a fierceness beyond any of them not dissembling the trouble it was to him that we discover'd a greater respect for Mussal than for him and refusing to stand at the drinking of the Great Duke's health And when Mussal intreated him to consider the place he was in he confidently made answer that he knew not whether the Country he was then in were the Great Duke's or his own and began to pick a quarrel with him reproaching him that with all his gay Cloaths he was but a slave to the Muscovite whereas himself though but in raggs was nevertheless an absolute Prince that acknowledg'd no other superiour than God insomuch that at last not able to govern his passion he absolutely refus'd to drink the Czaar's health in any posture and went his wayes Some of his servants stole from our Minister a silver Spoon and a Knife and cut off one of the sleeves of my Doublet but they were forc'd to leave it behind them it being engag'd under some other Cloaths Prince Mussal staid with the Ambassadors and begg'd of them the pardon of the Mariner whom we had sent Prisoner to Terki The Ambassadors very freely satisfy'd his desire therein and so sent late that night the Secretary of the Embassy and another Gentleman to the Weywode to entreat him to return the Prisoner into our hands and to desire justice of him against the Muscovian Pilot who had run away from us two dayes before A good while after night a Lacquey was sent after us to press our immediate return to the Ship which was then ready to set sayl to make all the advantage they could of the Wind which for some hours had blown very fair We had dispatch'd all our business when the Lacquey came to us but notwithstanding all the expedition we could use we found the Ship under sayl but it was not long ere the Wind turning to the direct contrary point forc'd us to continue in the same place The Weywode in the mean time sent us his Present which consisted of a hundred pieces of hung Beef four tuns of Beer a puncheon of French Wine a tun of Hydromel a puncheon of Vinegar two Sheep four great Cakes of Ginger-bread and several Loafs of other bread There was bestow'd among those that brought the Present about 20. Crowns and good store of Aqua-vitae insomuch that they went their way very well satisfy'd Nov. 10. the Wind coming to South-west we set sayl at the break of day intending to take the course of the City of Derbent which is the nearest of any of
he took it back from me kiss'd it at the begginning and would have given it me to kiss also but I only kiss'd another book I had in my hand and told him that knowing well what book I had my self I made no difficulty to kiss it but not understanding what was contained in his book I should not be too forward to honour it so much He laugh'd and told me I had done very well There was among them an Arabian named Chalil who was a Minatsim or Astrologer born at Hetsa near Meca aged about 65. years He understood Astrology and read Enclid to some of his Disciples I presently knew the book by the figures in it and made him some demonstations as well as I could express my self in the Persian Language whereat the good old man was so much pleas'd that desirous on his part to shew me what he could do he took out of his bosom a little brass Astrolabe and ask'd me whether I had ever seen the like or understood the use of it Whereto having answer'd him that I understood it very well and that I had one at my Lodging he seem'd to be very desirous to see it which oblig'd me to go home to fetch it and to bring along with me the Globe which they wondred very much to see especially when they understood that I had made it my self The honest Arabian desir'd me to shew him how I could set down the Degrees so exactly in regard they have no Instruments wherewith to make their Circles and Degrees I shew'd him the invention of it and how in a short time and with little trouble he might attain thereto for which discovery he acknowledg'd himself very much oblig'd to me insomuch that ever after he let slipno occasion whereby he might assure me of his friendship expressing it as well by his frequent visits coming one day with abundance of excellent fruit and dishes of meat ready dress'd purposely to Dine with me at his own charges as by his earnest proffers of all the service that lay in his power He gave me the Longitudes and Latitudes of the chiefest Cities and places of all Asia which I compared with the observations I had my self made thereof and found them very exact The Molla or Master of the Metzid was called Maheb Aaly and was a very young but mighty good natur'd man and of an excellent humour one who did all that lay in his power to serve me doing me the greatest kindnesses he could upon all occasions especially in my study of the Arabian Tongue He brought me also acquainted with a certain friend of his named Imanculi who was an Ohnbaschi or Captain of a Troop of Horse These two came to see me every day alternately as well to teach me their Language as to learn mine Which they did with very great improvement dayly especially Imanculi who no doubt had in a short time arriv'd to the perfection of it had it not been for the envy or jealousie of some of our own which prov'd so great as to make it suspected that those poor people had some design to change their Religion so that they were forc'd to keep out of the way and for the most part to make their visits in the night Insomuch that one day to wit Febr. 11. being gone to the Metzid to take a Lesson in the Language there came thither a Persian servant to tell the Molla from the Governour that he much wondred how he durst suffer those Christians to come into their Temple that they had nothing to do there and that it was his best course to dismiss them The Molla was at first a little startled thereat but upon second thoughts considering with himself that the Persians are never forbidden the company or conversation of Christians he doubted this was some trick put upon him and having taken the servant aside he understood from him that it was not the Chan but our Interpreter who had sent him to hinder my study of the Language The next day we had such another Message sent us but we knew before both the Author and occasion of it and therefore made no accompt thereof Some time after there hapning some difference between the Ambassador Brugman and our Interpreter he acknowledg'd that it was by order from his Excellency that he had sent the said servant to hinder my learning of the Language Upon the same accompt was it that the said Ambassador ordered me to reduce Persia and Turkie into one Map that so I might be taken off the study of the Language at least as long as I should be employ'd about that teadious and troublesome piece of work Febr. 7. the Ambassadors were visited by a Monk a Roman Catholick named Ambrosio dos Anios born at Lisbon in Portugal The accompt he gave of himself was that he came from Tiflis in Georgia which lies about ten dayes journey from Scanachie where he was Prior of a Monastery of the Order of St. Augustin and that he had undertaken that journey out of no other design than upon the news he had heard that a Potent Prince of Germany had sent a solemn Embassy into Persia and that he could not imagine it should be upon any accompt so much as the advancement of Christian Religion in those parts That he had been the more willing to be at the trouble of that journey out of the hope he had that their Excellencies the Ambassadors would not take it ill that he had taken the freedom to wait on them not only to congratulate their happy arrival in Persia but also to serve them in any thing lay in his power That he had been seven and twenty years in the Kingdom and that during so long a Tract of time he had not been so negligent in inquiring into the affairs of the Countrey and the humour of the Nation as that he might not be in some measure serviceable to them in their Negotiation We knew not upon the first proposal what to imagine of the intentions of this Religious Man and therefore we thought fit to stand as it were upon our Guard till that after ten dayes conversation with him we really found him sincere in all his proceedings insomuch that we made no difficulty to trust him absolutely in all things Besides the Portuguez which was his Mother-Tongue and the Latine in which he entertrain'd the Ambassadors he understood also the Georgian the Turkish and the Persian Languages for the attaining of which last he gave me many excellent directions About this time many of our people were troubled with burning Feavers which was a consequence of their abundant drinking of Wine after the much VVater they had been forc'd to drink before The VVine of Persia is very good but strong and our people drunk so freely of it that the Ambassadors were forc'd to forbid the use thereof by a very strict order There were two and twenty of them kept their Beds at the same time but by Gods
away and to be the sooner rid of him cast also a stone at him The last attempt the Devil had to make was to represent to Ismael the horrour of death and the unnatural procedure of his Father but he found the same treatment from him as he had from the other two and had a good stone flung at his head The Father and Son being come to the top of the Mountain Abraham said to his Son Ismael My Son I cannot imagine thou knowest the occasion of our journey and the reason why I have brought thee to this place It is only this that God hath commanded me to sacrifize thee whereto Ismael made answer that since it was God's pleasure it should be so his will be done only let me entreat thee Father to grant me three things The first is that thou have a care to bind me so fast that the pains of death may not engage me to attempt any thing against thee The second is that thou whet thy knife very well and after thou hast thrust it into my throat that thou hold it very fast and shut thy eyes out of a fear the cruelty of the action dishearten thee from going through with it and so leave me to languish a long time And the third that when thou art returned home thou remember my duty to my Mother Abraham having promis'd to observe all these things and whetted his knife binds his son directs the knife to his Throat and shutting his eyes holds it as fast as he could but finding when he opened his eyes again that the knife had made no entrance he is extremely troubled and tries the edge of it upon a stone which he cuts in two He was so astonish'd thereat that he address'd himself to the Knife and asked it why having so good an edge as to cut a stone it could not as well cut his Sons Throat The knife made answer that God would not have it so Whereupon the Angel Gabriel took Abraham by the hand and said to him Hold a little God would only make tryal of thy faith Unbind thy Son and sacrifize this Hee-Goat and immediately there came into the place a Hee-Goat which Abraham offered to God for a burnt-offering They affirm that the three stones which Hagar Abraham and Ishmael cast at the Devil are yet to be seen near the High-way between Medina and Meca and that there are made thereof two great heaps of stones by the means of the Pilgrims who bring every one three stones to be cast at the Devil at the same place where these heaps are to the end he may not distract them in their Devotions We saw also the same day above five hundred Women who were going before day to the Church-yard to weep over the Graves of their Husbands and others of their kinred There were some who had somewhat to eat at the same time others had some passages of the Alchoran read to them and those of any quality had Tents pitch'd there for their reception that they might not be expos'd to the sight of all that pass'd by This kind of Devotion for the Dead is commonly performed in the time of their Orut or Lent The Ambassadors were again that day treated out of Schich-Sefi's Kitchin The meat was brought in in six great Copper Vessels tinn'd over which they call Lenkeri and the Conserves in nine great Vessels of Porcelain The next day the Chan treated them very Magnificently at a Dinner he had provided in one of his Summer-houses The 27. in the evening the Governour communicated to the Ambassadors the good news he had received from Chan Rustan General of the King of Persia's Army who had writ to him that the Ianizaries in a mutiny at Constantinople had kill'd the Grand Signior and impriâ—â—n'd the most eminent Ministers of his Courr The Persians express'd their joy thereat by the fire-works which the Governour order'd to be made as also by the Musick which ecchoed all over the City The Ambassadors did the like on their part with their great Guns causing them to be fired six times over and ordering the Trumpets to sound and the Drums to beat while from the roof of their Lodgings they could see all the fires about the City The Governour was so well pleas'd to see that the Ambassadors concern'd themselves so much in the publick joy that he sent them two flaggons of Schiras Wine with a Glass-Vessel full of Sugar-candy'd May the first we Celebrated the Birth-day of the Ambassador Crusius which was concluded at night with a Magnificent Supper to which we had invited out Mehemander Netzefbek The 4. the Ambassadors receiv'd a visit from the son of Saru-Taggi Chancellor of Persia who was come purposely from Ispahan accompany'd by some persons of quality to see the Ambassadors We entertain'd him with our Musick which he seem'd to be much taken with and treated him with a sumptuous Collation during which the great Guns were discharg'd as often as there was any great health drunk May 14. the Persians began to Celebrate a mournful Festival which they call Aschur which signifies ten in regard it lasts ten days and begins with the Moon of the moneth Maheram Of all the sorts and Sects of Mabumetans the Persians only Celebrate this Feast in memory of Hossein the youngest son of Haly whom they accompt one of their greatest Saints The Legends relate of him that he was kill'd in the War he was engag'd in against the Calif Iesied He was at first according to their story of him troubled with an extraordinary thirst in regard they had depriv'd him of all water Afterwards he had seventy two wounds which he receiv'd by Arrows and at last Senan ben anessi run him through the body with a sword and Schemr Sultzausen kill'd him out-right That this Feast lasts ten dayes proceeds hence that Hossein having left Medina to go to Kufa was for ten days together pursu'd by his Enemies who treated him as we related before During all that time the Persians go in mourning express much affliction suffer not the Rasour to come near their heads though at other times they make use of it every day live very soberly drink no Wine and content themselves with Water The whole City of Ardebil was taken up in these Ceremonies and extravagant Devotions In the day time the Children and young Lads assembled themselves in great companies up and down the streets carrying in their hands great Banners at the extremities whereof there were Snakes of Pastboard winding to and fro much like Mercury's Caduceus The Persians call them Eschder They went to the Doors of their Metzits or Mosqueys and cry'd one after another ja Hossein ja Hossein that is O Hossein In the evening especially the three last days of the Festival after Sun-set men did also meet in several places under Tents with abundance of Torches and Lanthorns having at the tops of their Poles Orenges as
his way like a Torrent yet express'd a certain respect for those things which were though out of superstition accompted sacred Near this Mosquey there is also to be seen another great Gate of free-stone between two Pillars twenty fathom high which seems to be antique and had been built at the Ceremonies of some Triumph but it begins now to decay The City hath about six thousand Inhabitants who wondred very much to hear us relate that some of those who have published their Travels into Persia would make the World believe that the cold weather forc'd them in the Winter time to forsake the City and change their Habitations For it is so far from being true that there are many places in Persia where the cold obliges the Inhabitants to change their Habitations that on the contrary it is an effect ordinarily caus'd there by the Heat True indeed it is that there are some places in that Kingdome where the cold is very incommodious by reason of the scarcity of firing as for instance near Eruan at a place called Deralekes as being seated between two Mountains and especially at the Village of Arpa But it is not so great as to oblige the Inhabitants to change their Habitations for they only quit their upper Rooms and retire into Cellars built very deep under ground not only to serve them for a place of retirement in the Winter time against the cold but also in Summer against the heat Iune 25. we left Sulthanie after we had staid there three dayes which were spent up and down the Country in getting us fresh Horses and Camels The sick persons who by reason of their weakness were not able to ride on Horse-back were dispos'd into such Chests as the Women make use of when they travel The Persians call them Ketzawhea and they are put on Camels backs like Carriers packs The Physician and my self were set upon the same Camel whereby we were put to two great inconveniences one proceeding from the violent Motion caus'd by the going of that great Beast which at every step gave us a furious jolt and the other from the insupportable stink of the Camels whereof there being but one Boy to guide eight or ten they were ty'd one to another and went all in a file insomuch that the infectious smell of all that went before came full into our Noses We departed two hours before Sun-rising and travell'd that day six Leagues through a very fertil Country all arable and pasture Lands leaving on the left hand the little Mountains called Tzikitzâ—ki where the King of Persia's best Race-Horses and Mares for breed are kept About noon we took up our Lodging at the Village of Choramdah which lies on the side of a little River having so many Trees and Gardens about it that it is not without reason that name is given it which signifies a place of Pleasure The 26. we departed thence in the night and travell'd five Leagues or better over Mountains and Valleys The 27. we departed at mid-night and having travell'd five Leagues we were got by Sun-rising near the City of Casuin or Cashan but that the Daruga who had the Command of it might have the leisure to set his affairs in order for our entrance our Mehemander carried us to a Village were we staid above two hours till such time as the Daruga came to receive us This entrance was not accompany'd with the same Ceremonies as we had seen in other places in regard the Governour having not the dignity of Chan could not express the same Magnificence Yet was it handsom enough in as much as the Daruga came attended by five or six hundred men horse and foot There came also to meet us an Indian Prince accompany'd by some Gentlemen on horse-back of his own Countrey and follow'd by a great number of Lacqueys and Pages He came in a kind of Chariot having one other person with him in it The Chariot was drawn by two white Oxen which had very short necks and a bunch between the two shoulders but they were as swift and manageable as our horses The Chariot was cover'd above and lay'd over two Wheels which instead of an Axletree turn'd upon a piece of Iron made so crook'd at the middle that it bore the weight of the whole Chariot The Charioteer sate before and guided the Oxen fasten'd to a Beam which was made fast to the Horns with a Cord drawn through their Nostrils Being come within 500. paces of the City we met with fifteen young Ladies excellently well mounted very richly clad in Cloath of Gold and Silver c. having Neck-laces of great Pearls about their necks Pendants in their ears and abundance of other Jewels Their faces were to be seen contrary to the custom of honest Women in Persia. Accordingly we soon found as well by their confident carriage as the accompt given us of them that they were some of the Eminent Curtezans about the City who came to entertain us with the Divertisement of their Musick They march'd before us and sung to the sound of certain Hawboyes and Bag-pipes that went before them making a very extravagant kind of Harmony And that we might be sure to see the City we were carried quite through it and Lodg'd on the other side thereof As we pass'd through the Meydan we saw several persons playing on Timbrels and Hawboyes who joyning with the other Musicians accompany'd us to our Quarters The people came also thither in great numbers some of them having it put into their heads that there were in the Ketzawehas some great Beauties whom we carried as â—â—â—ents to the King but when they saw sick persons with great beards coming out of them they hung down their heads and made all the haste they could away I found this City conformably to the Calculation of the Persians and Arabians at 85. degrees Longitude and at 36. degrees 15. minutes Latitude It is one of the principal Cities of the Province of Erak which is the ancient Parthia wherein is comprehended as well Sulthania as all the other Cities froth this place as far as Ispahan It was antiently called Arsacia and it is seated in a great sandy Plain having within half a dayes journey of it Westward the great Mountain of Elwend which reaches towards the South-west as far as Bagdat or Babylon The City is a farsang or good German league in compass but hath neither Walls nor any Garrison kept in it by reason it lies at so great a distance from the Frontiers Yet hath it with these disadvantages above a hundred thousand Inhabitants whereof if there were occasion for them a good part might be put into Arms. Their Language is the Persian but somewhat different from the common Dialect whence it comes that it is not so intelligible to the other Persians being much after the rate that the German Language is to the Hollanders The houses are all of Brick bak'd in the Sun according
about noon the Sun so heated the Wind it self that the hot blasts which come out of an Oven could not be hotter insomuch that we were forc'd to retire into the Caravansera where the heat was somewhat more moderate Nay the ground it self which in those parts is only Sand and Heath was so hot that a man could not go five or six steps without burning his feet About this time both the Ambassadors were very sick but their indisposition giving them altternately a little ease the weaker of the two made use of the Litter and the other rode on Horse-back The 19. we travell'd five Leagues and got in the morning before the City of Kom The Daruga receiv'd us within five or six hundred paces of the City accompany'd by fifty Gentlemen on Horse-back and certain Tumblers among whom there were some who went upon Stilts before the Ambassador Brugman whose chance it was that day to be alone on Horse-back and shew'd a thousand tricks of activity all the way to the Ambassadors Lodgings As we pass'd through the Market-place we found a great number of Timbrels Hawboyes and Fifes which made a kind of Musick after their way and their Inhabitants had water'd the streets which being not pav'd no more than those of Caswin and several other Cities of Persia the dust had otherwise troubled and annoy'd us very much The Persians place this City at 85 degrees 40 minutes Longitude and at 34 degrees 45 minuts Latitude but after I had made a more exact observation thereof I found on the 20. of Iuly precisely at noon that the Sun was 74 degrees 8 minutes above the Horizon and that the Declination taken upon the same Meridian was 18 degrees 35 minutes so that the elevation of the Pole could be but 34 degrees 17 minutes The City of Kom is very antient Prolomy calls it Guriana and heretofore it was of a great extent as may be seen by the ruins of its Walls and other buildings which are a great way without its present compass It lies in a Plain on the right hand of the Mountain of Elwend which is discover'd at a great distance by the whiteness of its Sand and by the extraordinary height of its points In this Mountain there rises from two several Springs a little River which making but one Chanel at the entrance of the City runs through some part of it and is one of the chiefest conveniences belonging thereto but about three years before our Travels that way the little River over-flowing by reason of the Snow which the precedent heat of the Spring had melted broke down and carried away above a thousand Houses There are in the Gardens whereof there is a great number as well within as without the City all sorts of excellent fruits among others a kind of Melons which they call Scammame much about the bigness of an Orenge There are upon the rind spots of several colours and they have an admirable scent but they are more lushious in taste than the other Melons which in sweetness exceed all those I ever cat any where else There are also some of these Melons at Ardebil where by reason of their scent they commonly carry them in their hands but they told us that they were brought from the Village of Alaru where there grows abundance of them The learned Golius Professor of the Oriental Languages in the University of Leyden gives a large account of them in his Arabick Lexicon pag. 1309. There is also in the same place a kind of Cowcumbers of extraordinary largeness being above two foot long and as thick as a mans Arm which they call Chunchiar that is crooked Cowcumbers as having the form of a bended Arm. These the Persians pickle with Vinegar without any Salt but the taste of them is not very pleasant especially to those that are not accustomed thereto The ground about these parts is very fit for Tillage and produces all sorts of Grain as also Cotton in abundance but the principal Trading of the Inhabitants consists in earthen Pots and Sword-blades Those blades which are made in this City are accounted the best in the whole Country and are sold sometimes at twenty Crowns a piece The Steel of which they are made comes from the City of Niris within four days journeys of Ispahan where there are found in the Mountain of Demawend very rich Mines of Iron and Steel The Pots also made in the City of Kom are very much esteem'd especially the Sâ—eans or great Pitchars as well by reason of the excellency of the workmanship as for this reason that it is conceiv'd they will keep water fresh and sweet even in the greatest heats of Summer The Inhabitants of this City are somewhat light-finger'd and apt to find any thing lies in their way We had hardly alighted but our Pistols were taken away and what was not lock'd up immediately vanish'd In this City some of our people began to be troubled with bloody fluxes occasion'd by their excessive eating of Melons and other sorts of fruits and drinking water after fruit and in the greatest heats Iuly 21. we left Kom an hour after Sun-set and travell'd that night five Leagues The next the 22. We stay'd in a great Village called Kasinabath where all the Houses of one whole street were built so as that they made altogether but one continued Vaul or kind of Cloister The 23. we got seven Leagues to the Village of Sensen where we found abundance of Provisions and fruits which the Mehemander had appointed to be brought â—nither from Karschan a place five Leagues distant thence In this Village died one of our Interpreters for the Persian Language whose name was Gregory He was by birth a Muscovite but had been Circumcised upon which score we left the body to those of his own Religion to be buried after their manner The 23. in the evening we departed thence and the night following we lost a Muscovian servant who dy'd of the bloody Flux by the way We kept the Body to have it buried at Katschan with that of another Muscovian Servant who died two hours after the former We got thither the 24. but so betimes in the morning that we were forc'd to stay above two hours before the Daruga could come to meet us in order to our reception He was accompany'd by fifty Gentlemen on Horsâ— back and had appointed to be led several excellent Horses cover'd with Lynxes skins nor was the ordinary Musick of the Countrey wanting At the entrance of the City he shew'd us two Indian Oxen very black and of great height and bulk which had Bells about their necks and Plumes of Feathers in their heads and at their Cruppers This Daruga had some time been a Foot-man to Schach-Sefi when being very young they were forc'd to hide him from his Grand-father Schach-Abbas and Schach-Sefi having no money to live upon sold the Foot-man for fifteen Tumains
is done upon the accompt of the Sanctity of the place which is so great that Schach-Abas thought himself oblig'd to banish thence all the publick VVomen Dinner being ended the Musick and the Dancers withdrew and the Ambassadors with the Chancellor made some Progress in their Negotiation and in the mean time we were carried a walking into the Garden where they treated us with Fruit and Conserves As to this Eahtemad dowlet his name was Tagge and he was about sixty years of age having one eye black the other blew a full face but yellowish or inclining to an Olive and very high colour'd whence it came that he was ordinarily called Saru Tagge He wore no beard as being an Eunuch and upon that occasion we shall here give a short account of him and his fortunes which we think may deserve insertion in this place though there are various relations thereof Some affirm that Saru Tagge being yet very young and his employment being to Copy out Writings in the City of Keintze he fell in love with a young Boy and not prevailing with him to consent to his brutality he forc'd him The Boy 's Father made his complaints to Schach-Abas then King of Persia who commanded that Saru Tagge should have his Syk so they call the privy parts with all its dependences cut off Others relate that Schach-Ahas condemn'd him to die and that Tagge coming to hear of it cut off himself those parts with a Rasour sent them to the King with this request that having himself punish'd the Members which had offended his Majesty would be pleas'd to let his head alone which had done no more harm and might one time or other be serviceable to him and that the King astonish'd at the strange resolution of the man conceiv'd an affection for him and finding him an understanding person made him Secretary in his Court of Chancery Schach-Sesi having with his own hands kill'd Taleb-Chan this man's Predecessor sent Tagge the Golden Ink-horn which is the Badge of the Dignity of Chancellor The 21. following the Chancellor invited the Ambassadors to a second entertainment by express order from the King that they might make some further progress in their Affairs They had a very long conference together after which we were treated at dinner but not with the same Magnificence as the time before The 29. the two Brothers Seferas and Elias-beg came to visit the Ambassadors who would needs have them stay Dinner Elias-beg endeavour'd all he could to be merry himself and to make others so but we easily found it was done with some violence and that his heart answer'd not his outward demeanour The reason of it we understood from his elder brother who told us that the King had a great kindness for them and did them very great favours but that it was a dangerous thing to jeast with him and that he had a very sad assurance of it in his brother who being much respected at the Courr for the freedom of his humour and his divertive conversation the King told him one day that he wanted not any thing save that he was not of the Mussulman's Religion and that he could not do him a greater pleasure than to suffer Circumcision Whereto Elias-beg reply'd smiling that that might happen one time or other intreating his Majesty not to speak any further of serious affairs but to prosecute his Divertisements There was no more said to him of it for a good while but upon occasion of the Clock-makers constancy the king sent him word that he should remember the promise he had made to be Circumcis'd He would have excus'd himself pretending what he had spoken was in jeast but those whom the king had sent to him would not be shuffled off with that answer took him and Circumcis'd him by force Elias-beg confirm'd what his elder brother had told us but with this protestation that he was nevertheless a Christian in his Soul and that he would die in the profession he had ever made of that Religion December the second Abasculi Beg our Mehemandar came and brought us the Presents from the king to wit to each of the Ambassadors a Horse with the Saddles cover'd all over with plates of Gold and the Bridles having great buckles of the same Metal Two Garments according to the Persian wearing together with the Mendils and Mianbends that is the Turbant and Girdle of Gold Brocado according to the mode of the Countrey Moreover to be divided between them both two hundred and five pieces of fifteen sorts of silk stuffs Satin Damask Darai Taffata Cotton c. and two hundred Tumains in money which amont to just three thousand three hundred and seventy Piastres or a thousand French Pistols towards the expences of their travel in their return The five principal persons of the Retinue had each of them a Satin Vestment and another of Taffata with Flowers of Gold and Silk The other Gentlemen had each of them one of Taby with Flowers of Gold but the rest of the Retinue had not any thing sent them The Ambassador Brugman seiz'd the money bestow'd some of it among those of our Company who stood in need thereof to buy things necessary for their journey and distributed the rest among some of his Armenian friends The next day Decemb. 3. the King sent to invite the Ambassadors to Dine with him once more which was to be the last Treatment we were to have at Court The Mahemandar told them it was the custom that they should have upon their own cloaths the best of those Garments which the King had sent them The Ambassadors at first made some difficulty to have that complyance but when they were told it was a custom observ'd by all Ambassadors and that no doubt the King would take it very ill at their hands if they presented themselves before him without the marks of his Liberality they at last resolv'd to do it and after their example all the rest of the Retinue We Dined in the Hall of the Divan Chane and all things were performed with the same Ceremonies as at the first time Only this happened more than ordinary that while the fruits were yet upon the Table the Chancellor ordered to pass before the King the Present which he is wont to make every year once and sometimes twice for reasons whereof we shall give some account hereafter This Present consisted in twelve excellent Horses very richly cover'd forty nine Camels loaden with Turkie Tapistry and other fine stuffs of Wool fifteen Mules a thousand Tumains or fifty thousand Livers in money forty pieces of Gold and Silver Brocado and several other stuffs and Commodities whereof there was such abundance that it took up an hour and a half ere all were pass'd by to be dispos'd into the Treasury in as much as for every Tumain there was a several person who carried it in his hand in a silken Purse of several colours
and Kermeru They have a particular inclination for Arithmetick Geometry Eloquence Poetry Natural and Moral Philosophy Astronomy Astrology Law and Medicine in regard they make some advantage of the Profession of these Sciences They have all Aristotles Philosophy in the Arabian Language and call it Dunja piala that is to say the Goblet of the World with this remark upon it that as a man Drinking out of a great Bowl moderately finds himself the better for it and taking so much of it that he is Drunk therewith he both injures his Body and disturbs the Mind so is a man to make a temperate use of the Philosophy of Aristotle and not deboysting himself observe a Mediocrity in the Study thereof Children are taught Arithmetick in the Schools with their VVriting and Reading In their accompts they commonly make use of the Indian figures but the more Learned use the Arabian Characters They joyn Eloquence and Poesy together and comprehend these two Sciences under a very few precepts which bring a man in a short time to the practick part thereof And indeed most of their Eloquent pieces which they embellish with abundance of Histories and Moral Sentences are in Verse For the excellency of their Language Pregnancy of conceit and Elegance of expressions they read the Kulusthan of Schich Saadi whom they prefer before all their other Authors It is a very Eloquent piece though in Verse full of figures and enrich'd with History and Maxims of Policy and Morality Accordingly there is not any one almost but hath this Book nay some have perus'd and studied it so much that they have it by Heart and apply the Passages Sentences and Comparisons thereof in their ordinary Discourse so pertinently that it is no small pleasure to hear them talk They are also great Lovers of History and delight much in reading the Lives and Deaths of their Prophet Aly and his Son Hossein who was kill'd in the VVar against Iesied which pieces are written in a style truly Historical and of a noble height They have also several other Histories and Chronicles Ecclesiastical and Prophane of the Lives and VVars of their Kings and some of the affairs of other forein Nations the best whereof are those of Mirchond Enweri Zami Walchi Nussegri and others The best of all their Historians is Mirchond who hath written the History of Persia in excellent good Language in several great Volumes and it is a piece so highly esteem'd that it is worth in the Country above two hundred Crowns and therefore I cannot think it can be had perfect in Europe though I know that Golius Professor of the Oriental Languages and the Mathematicks in the University of Leyden hath most of it with several other excellent Books of that Nature But there is not any man I know of that hath so much of it and makes so great advantages thereof as the incomparable Monsieur Gaulmin Counsellor of State and the Senior of the Masters of Requests who though he hath the best Library in Europe for Books of this Nature yet must it be acknowledg'd that he is so perfect a Master of all the Oriental Languages that he needs not be oblig'd for ought he can learn out of any of these Authors I do not give this accompt of their Histories that a man should give any great credit thereto especially when they speak of their Religion and Saints For in Persia as well as elsewhere they have their pious frauds and think it a kind of Piety to establish and improve the errors of their Religion by Fables and Impostures since that even in their profane Histories they take that freedom which is only allow'd Poets and Painters as may be seen particularly in the History of Alexander the Great which they have so disguis'd that it hath no Consonancy to what is written of him by Q. Curtius Plutarch and Arrianus But though it be not true yet it is Divertive enough at least to excuse if not deserve this little Digression They say then that Iscander so they call Alexander the Great was Born in Iunahn that is to say Greece that his Father's name was Betlimus and that his Mother was the Daughter of King Tzimschid who was the Son of Keikobath They say Tzimschid liv'd seven hundred years That he was the wisest of all the Kings that ever Reign'd and that he is to be acknowledg'd the Inventor of Saddles Horse-shooes Bows Painting Tents and Wine That the education of Alexander was committed to Aristotle who knew so well how to ingratiate himself with his Disciple that being extreme unwilling to be without him he oblig'd him to go along with him in his first Wars wherein he made great advantages of his advice For Alexander being as yet but fifteen years of age bethought him one day to ask Aristotle to whom all Greece belong'd whereto being answer'd by him that his Grand-father by the Mother-side had heretofore been Master of it he extremely troubled to find himself depriv'd of so great a Kingdom resolv'd upon the Reduction and Conquest of it and afterwards to wage a War against all the World To that end he went with his Tutor to Stampul or Constantinople and made proffer of his service to the King there Aristotle who was one of the most Eloquent men of his time knew so well how to recommend the excellent endowments of Alexander that the King trusted him with the conduct of an Army wherewith he Conquer'd Egypt and all the neighbouring Provinces Afterwards he conducted that Army against those of the Hebbes who still made opposition and making their advantage of their Elephants rendred all Alexander's attempts fruitless till Aristotle advis'd him to rub over with Nefte a heap of Reeds to set them a-fire and to cast them among the Elephants which were so startled at the fire that they were put into disorder whereupon the Hebbes were defeated and forc'd to submit Thence he went to Sengebat the Inhabitants whereof have great Lips and very long Teeth Their King with some of his people got into a Tower where Alexander would have besieg'd him But Aristotle told him that being Master of the City he had cut off the Root of that Tree and that it would not be long ere he saw him fall without any further trouble He took his advice and went thence to Iemen and Conquer'd all Arabia He went afterwards to Aleppo Erserum Diabek going on still along the River Tigris as far as Mosel and thence fell down into Georgia reduc'd all to his Subjection and came at last to Berde in the Province of Iran In this City there lived at that time the Widdow of a certain King named Melkchatun who hearing daily of the great wonders done by Alexander employ'd several Painters to take his Picture as also those of all the great Men of her time insomuch that Alexander going disguiz'd and in the quality of an Ambassador from Alexander to give her a Visit the made a shift
to discover him and invited him to Dine with her But instead of Meat there were brought up only great Basins full of Gold Silver and Precious Stones which she desir'd him to fall to and to make the best Cheer he could whereupon Alexander telling her that there was not any thing could satisfie his hunger she represented to him that it was for those useless trifles that he ruin'd so many Provinces and fruitfull Countries such as were able to produce what could maintain many Millions of People and shew'd him how that when he had Conquer'd all the World he must at last dye for want of Bread if he still continu'd the courses he then took and intreated him not to deprive her of her Kingdom Alexander did as she desired and they talk to this day of the great Wisdom of that Queen of whom they relate among other things that being very Rich she did not impose pecuniary Mulcts upon offenders but oblig'd them to make Graves for the Burial of the Dead and they say there are yet many of those made by her Command to be seen near Nechtzuan That thence Alexander went to Schiruam and built the City of Derbend causing it to be fortify'd on the side towards Persia and drawing a wall all along the Mountain as far as the black Sea and building Towers at a League distance one from another for Guards against the Invasion of the Tartars That afterwards he went into Persia became Master of almost all the Provinces thereof and engag'd against Darius who was then with an Army of two hundred thousand men in the Province of Kirman That Darius had the advantage in the three first Battels but was defeated in the fourth Alexander having drawn the Enemie's Army to a place where he had caus'd several pits to be made which he had covered with straw and that Darius was taken in one of them Afterwards he went into Chorasan and thence into the Indies where upon the intreaty of the Indians he caus'd to be made a Palizado of Iron against the Pigmèes which is to stand till the day of Judgment Afterwards he defeated the Vsbeques and after that he turn'd his Arms against the Hebbes who rebell'd against him That having so many Kings in his power he would needs be advis'd by Aristotle whether it were not the safest way to put them to Death But Aristotle having represented to him that some of their Children might come to revenge that cruelty he set them all at Liberty except Darius whom he poyson'd After this Alexander coming to understand that in the Mountain of Kef there was a great Cave very black and dark wherein ran the water of Immortality would needs take a Journey thither But being afraid to lose his way in the Cave and considering with himself that he had committed a great over-sight in leaving the more aged in Cities and fortify'd places and keeping about his Person only young people such as were not able to advise him he ordered to be brought to him some old Man whose counsell he might follow in the adventure he was then upon There were in the whole Army but two Brothers named Chidder and Elias who had brought their Father along with them and this good old Man bid his sons go and tell Alexander that to go through with the design he had undertaken his only way were to take a Mare that had a Colt at her heels and to Ride upon her into the Cave and leave the Colt at the entrance of it and the Mare would infalliby bring him back again to the same place without any trouble Alexander thought the advice so good that he would not take any other person with him in that Journey but those two Brothers leaving the rest of his Retinue at the entrance of the Cave He advanc'd so far that he came to a Gate so well polish'd that notwithstanding the great darkness it gave light enough to let him see there was a Bird fasten'd thereto The Bird ask'd Alexander what he would have He made answer that he look'd for the water of Immortality The Bird ask'd him what was done in the World Mischief enough replies Alexander since there is no Vice or Sin but Reigns there Whereupon the Bird getting loose and flying away the Gate opened and Alexander saw an Angel sitting with a Trumpet in his hand holding it as if he were going to put it to his Mouth Alexander ask'd him his name The Angel made answer his name was Raphael and that he only staid for a command from God to blow the Trumpet and to call the Dead to Judgment Which having said he ask'd Alexander who he was I am Alexander repli'd he and I seek the water of Immortality The Angel gave him a Stone and said to him go thy wayes and look for another stone of the same weight with this and then thou shalt find Immortality Whereupon Alexander asked how long he had to live The Angel said to him till such time as the Heavens and the Earth which encompass thee be turn'd to Iron or as others say into Gold and Silver Alexander being come out of the Cave sought a long time and not meeting with any stone just of the same weight with the other he put one into the Balance which he thought came very near it and finging but very litrle difference he added thereto a little Earth which made the Scales even it being God's Intention to shew Alexander thereby that he was not to expect Immortality till he himself were put into the Earth At last Alexander having one day a fall off his Horse in the barren ground of Kur or Ghur they laid him upon the Coat he wore over his Armour and cover'd him with his Buckler to keep off the heat of the Sun Others affirm that this Coat was Embroider'd with Gold and Silver and that his Buckler was cover'd with Plates of the same Mettal and that then he began to comprehend the Prophecy of the Angel and was satisfy'd the hour of his Death was at hand that accordingly he dyed and that his Body was carried into Greece They add to this Fable that these two Brothers Chidder and Elias drunk of the water of Immortality and that they are still living but invisible Elias upon the earth and Chidder in the Water wherein this latter hath so great power that those who are in danger of being destroy'd by water if they earnestly pray saying Ia Chidder Nebbs vowing a Sacrifice or Offering to him and firmly believing that he can relieve them shall escape the danger and save their Lives Whence it comes that if any one perish it is attributed to his Incredulity but if he escape they are of a certain perswasion that it is by the assistance of Chidder to whom those who escape Shipwrack or any other danger upon the Sea do every year upon the same day give solemn thanks and acknowledge the protection of this Saint These Ceremonies are performed in February
years after Solyman came in person into Persia where he took Tauris and besieg'd Sulthania Schach Tamas who was in the mean time at Caswin having not so much courage as to raise the Siege But as good fortune would have it it happened that during the time of the Siege in the moneth of March some few dayes before their Naurus there fell so great a Rain accompany'd by such a violent Tempest that the Snow of the adjacent Mountains dissolving and the water over-flowing all the Valleys Soliman who was incommodated thereby and fround the water of a reddish colour contracted haply from the ground through which it had pass'd was frightned thereat raised the Siege and departed the Kingdom In his retreat he destroy'd all before him but was engag'd neer Bitlis where he was absolutely defeated Schach Tamas dying the 11. of May 1576. in the 68th year of his age and the 42th of his reign left a very ill repute of himself among the Persians who speak of him with some prejudice as well in relation to his Conduct as his Courage They change him among other things that he was very careless of doing Justice to his Subjects and had committed the administration of the affairs of his kingdom to his Ministers as they are ordinarily wont to do who cannot love a people that hath no affection for them They blame him for protecting Hamajum the Son of Selim king of the Indies to whom he gave Refuge and Protection against the Persecutions of Tzelaleden Ekbet his Uncle a younger Brother of Selim's who had usurp'd the Crown and demanded him of Schach-Tamas that he might be put to death But that was a generous and just action and is not to be produc'd among the examples that are alleged of his violence and injustice especially with any parallel to the ensuing story Lavassap Prince of Armenia had two Sons Simon and David and left the former as being the Elder the Government of the Country David who had too much courage to be satified with a small Territory found means to raise an Army such as might frighten his Elder Brother who being really afraid of an insurrection desir'd the assistance of Schach Tamas who sent him four thousand Horse ordering him who had the Conduct of them if possible to take David alive and send him to him nay to Crown him in case he should comply so far as to be Circumcised but with this Proviso that he should prefer Simon if he would take the Crown upon the same terms David being taken in the first Engagement soon hearkened to the King of Persia's Proposition and promis'd to change his Religion and do homage for his Province if the King would establish him in his Brother place Simon express'd a greater constancy and would not change his Religion whereupon he was imprison'd in the Fortress of Kahak and David who after his Circumcision was called Dant-Chan was forc'd to content himself with the Government of Tiflis Simon remain'd some time a prisoner but the Reputation he had of being a good Soldier and a knowing person brought him first acquainted and afterwards very intimate with Schach Ismael the second the Son of Schach Tamas who promis'd to deliver him out of the Captivity which he was to expect should have lasted as long as he liv'd and to restore him to his Territories if he would change his Religion He did so at left in outward thew but Ismael dying soon after he was little the better for his Promises He was indeed set at liberty some time after his death but Chodabende coming to the Crown minded not much the performance of his Brother's promises and forc'd Simon to content himself with the employment he bestow'd on him in the Wars he was then engag'd in against the Turks Schach Tamas had by several Wives eleven Sons and three Daughters and among the rest Mahomet on whom upon his having shaken hands with all business by reason of the weakness of his sight and embracing a devout kind of life they bestow'd the Sirname of Chodabende that is servant of God Ismael and Eider Tamas had a particular kindness for Eider his third Son and it was his design to prefer him before the two Elder in the Government of the Kingdom and to make the more sure work he permitted him even in his life time to assume some part thereof But after his death the Lords of the Countrey sent to Mahomet to desire him to accept of the Crown which was his right by birth and upon his refusal they sent to Ismael who was by his Father's order a Prisoner in the Castle of Cahak for having upon his own accompt made incursions into the Turks Dominions though in his Soul he had an aversion for the Persian Religion and in effect made profession of the Turkish Eider who was but seventeen years of age was so impatient to get into the Throne that he had the insolence to put the Crown on his head and present himself in that posture before his Father who was then near his death and desirous to make his advantage of Ismael's absence and Mahomet's refusal made use of the interest which Periaconcona his Sister had with the Grandees to mount the Throne The Princess who had declar'd for the interest of the elder Brethren considering with her self that in their absence Eider might commit such violences as might prevent her securing of the Crown for Ismael thought it not safe openly to oppose the pretensions of the younger Brother but suffer'd him to assume the title of King and he was acknowledg'd as such all over the Palace But she had all the Avenues so well Guarded that it was impossible for Eider's friends to carry any tidings of it to the City So that the young Prince coming to distrust his Sister's carriage and apprehending it might be their design to sacrifice him to his Brother's ambition conceal'd himself among the Women till such time as Schamal a Georgian his Uncle by the Mother-side found him out and cut off his head Ismael 11. coming to the Crown in the 43. year of his age and reflecting on his long imprisonment confirm'd by his procedure the antient Proverb which sayes that the reign of a Prince who returns from Exile is ever cruel and bloudy This man began his with the executions of all the Kinred and Frinds of Eider and all those who had advis'd his Father to imprison him pursuing those whom he could not get apprehended even as far as the Frontiers of Turkey and at his first entrance discover'd the inclination he had to the Turkish Religion which he openly profess'd To find out how the Grandees of the Kingdom were affected towards him a report was spread abroad of his death but he rose up again too soon for those who had been so imprudent as to discover their aversion to his Government For he brought to execution all such as he conceiv'd any jealousie of and exercis'd so great cruelty that his
little Citie of Kurab lies within two leagues of the Caspian Sea as that of Rescht do's and is hid within its Trees They who call it Kesker give it the name of the Province wherein it lies In this place was born Schach-Sefi who reign'd at the time of our Embassy For his Mother was brought to bed in this Citie upon occasion of a journey which Schach-Abas took into Kilan wherein she follow'd him along with Sesi Mersa her Husband The house wherein he was born belong'd to a rich Merchant named Chotza Mahmud but in regard a Prince Heir to the Crown had his birth there it was converted into a Sanctuary February the first we left Kurab about ten in the morning having very fair weather save that the heat was greater than we could have wish'd Emir-Chan conducted us a league or better out of the Citie where he took leave intreating us to be carefull of his Calenter who had order to accompany us through his Government This Calenter was a young man of an excellent good nature and diverted us in our way by shooting with the Bow and shewing tricks with a half-pike at which exercise he had an admirable sleight Having travell'd two leagues we were got to the Caspian Sea-side whence we saw the Countrey which is all cover'd with Trees and Forests towards the North and South spreading it self like a Crescent a great way into the Sea on the right hand from about Mesanderan and Ferahath and on the left from about Astâ—ra We travell'd about a league along the the Caspian Sea-side and lodg'd at night upon the Torrent Nasseru in a house calld Ruasseru-kura which had but two Chambers in all so that being streightned for room most of our people were forc'd to ly abroad at the sign of the Seven-Stars The 2. we travell'd six leagues or better along the Sea coast going North-westward We cross'd over that day fourteen little Rivers or rather so many great brooks and among others those of Sehibern Dinatsar Chalessera Alarus and Nabarrus The River of Dinatsar which is about the mid-way serves for a common Frontier to the Goverments of Kesker and Astara which oblig'd the Calenter of Kesker who had accompany'd us so far to take leave and recommend us to the conduct of the Calenter of Astara who waited for us on the River side The Canton is called Kargaru The Calenter carried us out of the highway and conducted us through Corn-ground to a Village named Sengar-hasara where we lodg'd that night and found brought thither before us five wild boars which they had hunted purely upon our accompt and for our entertainment All the Forests of those parts are well stor'd with them in regard the Persians not daring to eat them are not much inclin'd to the hunting of them The 3. we departed betimes in the morning in snowy and rainy weather and continu'd our way along the Caspian Sea drawing towards East-north-east Our way lay so neer the Sea that the Horses many times went into the water up to the Girts nay some of our people fell horse and man into the water so that this prov'd one of the worst dayes journey we had especially for this that after we had travell'd seven large leagues we were forc'd to lodge that night in a wretched Village named Hove-lemur where all we could get was only a house over our heads The 4. we were upon our way again very betimes in the morning having receiv'd fresh horses We travell'd four leagues along the Sea-coast going towards the North. Then we pass'd through a Forestâ— of two leagues and in that space of ground met with two and twenty Rivers whereof the chiefest are called Lome Konab and Beskeschan The Bridges we were to pass over were so bad that many of our company fell into the water nay there were three Peasants and four horses drown'd and six more died by the way The Chan of Astara with a troop of 200. horse met us within half a league of the Village where we were to take up our quarters and accompany'd the Ambassadors to their lodgings which he had taken up for them in houses scatter'd up and down among the trees The name of the Village as also of the River which runs through it is Choskedehene The word Choskedehene signifies dry-mouth and they have given it that name for this reason that the Sea is so shallow there that the Fish cannot get into the River The Chan lives at Astara which place hath its name from the Province and is an open place without any walls as Rescht is within a quarter of a league of the Caspian Sea His name was Saru-Chan a person furnish'd with all the qualities requisite in a Governour of a Province Feb. 6. which was the last day of their Lent he made a great entertainment for the Ambassadors whereat he discover'd not only the magnificence of his disposition but also the excellency of his wit by the noble discourses that pass'd between him and the Ambassadours Among other things he gave them all the particulars of the War occasion'd by Karib-Sehach's revolt wherein he had been in person and had brought away his table-cloath which being of green Satin with Gold-flowers was laid at this entertainment That service with other he had done upon several other occasions had rais'd him so much into the King's favour that he had appointed him for the Embassy into the Indies whither he was to go the following Spring to which end he had already received his dispatches He confirm'd to us what we had been told before of the danger we might fear from the Cosaques adding thereto that it was not two years since they had plunder'd the City of Rescht and that it were not amiss we stood on our guard and had our Arms fixt The Vines in these parts are so big that they exceed a man's bulk I have said as much before though I believe some will hardly believe it but besides that all who travell'd with us are eye-witnesses of this truth I may allege to make good what I affirm the Authority of Strabo who saies the same thing of the Vines of Margiana which is part of the Province of Chorasan and adds thereto that no stock almost but yields an ordinary pail-full of Wine which is very certain and yet I have some reason to doubt of what he further affirms that the bunches there are above four foot long We saw neer Astara at the foot of the mountain of Schindan the Village of Schich-Sahadan which enjoyes an absolute exemption granted it upon the accompt of the Sepulchre of Aly's Master Febr. 7. we got seven leagues further along the Sea-side and came by a very steight passage into the Province of Lengerkunan The only way to come into it is by a Bank rais'd between the mountains and the fenns besides which there is no other passage At the end of the said bank we came to the River Serdane and
Embassadours in the quality of a Gentleman of the Chamber but also to leave them as soon as they had finished their Negotiation in Persia and to put in execution the design he had to travel farther and see other parts of Asia He was so well look'd upon in the King of Persia's Court that that Monarch press'd him to stay there for some years and to that end profferd him many great advantages and among others a Pension of five or six hundred Tumains which amount to near 10000. Crowns many of the greatest about the Court perceiving that the King had an affection for him courted his Friendship and one after another entertain'd him with continual Feasting out of a hope to engage him in the heat of Wine and by such great expressions of their kindness towards him Those who were the most importunate with him and to that end appointed several meetings whereat they gave him all the divertisements which might induce him to forget the inclinations he had towards his own Countrey were the Master of the Horse the great Faulconer and the high Steward They could not absolutely prevail with him but shook his resolution so as that he went and advised with the Prior of the Italian Carmelites a person that by the abode of twenty four years at Ispahan was perfectly acquainted with the Court of Persia. This good religious man who was called Father Tinas a person of eminent vertueâ— told him that to put him out of the perplexity he was in he would alledge unto him two instances whereby he might himself judge what fortune he was to expect in Persia. One was that he had known a French Gentleman who had so well establish'd himself in the Court that the King who had employed him in two great Embassies of great importance into Europe which he very faithfully mâ—nnaged had to oblige him to spend the rest of his dayes in Persia prevailed with him to marry a Persian Lady but allowing him the freedom to live according to his own Religion That some years afterwards this Gentleman desired leave to return into France but the King forbad him to depart the Kingdom and to prevent him from attempting it caused all he had to be seized upon That even that unkindness had not smothered in him the desire he had to return into France so that he made his escape notwithstanding that prohibition but he was killed by the way That his Lady who had received Baptism fled into the Monastery of the Carmelites where she lay concealed till she had an opportunity to disguise her self and to go to Rome whither the Pope had invited her The other Story was that another Gentleman an Italian of the house of the Gabrieli who was no less favoured at the Court then the French man growing weary of living so long among Mahumetans the professed enemies of his Religion bethought him to make a discovery to the King of some notice he had that there were about Ormus certain Mines out of which Gold might be gotten and shewed him a sample of it The King did not so absolutely credit him but that he sent along divers Lords and Gentlemen who were to observe him but coming to Gamron he made them so drunk with Sack which the Portuguese had furnished him with that he made a shift to get to the Sea-side where finding a Boat ready he made his escape to Ormus That this escape of his had so incens'd the King that it raised in Schach-Abas the first thoughts of besieging the City of Ormus which he reduced to his obedience the year following To this the good Father added that he had several other reasons to give him which might divert a Gentleman of his age and one so handsome in person from staying in so depraved a Court as that of Persia but that he conceived M. Mandelslo himself was better acquainted with it then to engage him in a discourse of that nature And indeed what he had said was enough to settle his resolution so that before they parted Mandelslo promised him to leave Ispahan with the soonest and prosecute his design of going to Babylon and thence to Jerusalem whence he made account to go to Aleppo and to return by the Mediterranean Sea into Europe But having understood that the Grand Seigneur had besieged Bagdat or Babylon he changed his resolution and took that of going to Ormus and thence to the Great Mogul's Court and so into the Indies To that end having disingaged himself from the Embassadours on the one and twentieth of December 1637. he stayed at Ispahan till the 16. of January following But in regard he himself hath taken the pains to set down the particulars of his Travels and to make a very exact relation thereof it were an injury to him not to let him speak himself He begins his relation thus MANDELSLO's TRAVELS INTO THE INDIES The First Book THe Embassadours of Holstein having left Ispahan the Metropolis of Persia I resolved to make use of the Permission which the Duke my Master had given me and having taken my leave of the Embassadours two Leagues thence I returned to the City where I stayed almost a month to put all things in order for the prosecution of my Design During which time the King ordered Imanculi Esichagasi a Native of Karabath to make himself ready for the Embassy upon which he would send him into Holstein Accordingly Ianuary 10. 1638. Imanculi sent away the baggage and the Presents that were to be made to the Duke consisting in excellent Horses and several Stuffes of Gold and Silk amounting as they were valued by the Persians to 1500. Tumains which make 20000. Crowns They about the Court who had express'd a kindness for me perceiving I was fully resolv'd to be gone procured me a particular audience in order to my departure to which I was introduced on the 12. of Ianuary by the Master of the Horse I kis'd the hem of the Kings garment who with much kindness was pleas'd to allow of my departure The dayes following I spent in taking leave of my friends and the 16. of Ianuary I left Ispahan with a retinue of three persons a Chirurgeon a Lacquey and a Groom all three Germans and one Persian servant Mr. Honywood Agent of the English at Ispahan accompany'd by several Merchants of the same Nation and some French Merchants brought me a League out of the City I travell'd that day eight Leagues to a Village called Majar where I stayd all the next day expecting a Carmelite Father who had promis'd me his company But hearing that he had left Ispahan a day before me I travell'd on the 18. and came that day to the Village of Kamscha six leagues from Majar All this way was one continued walk set with trees on both sides in a direct line with very pleasant Gardens adjoyning so that I do not think there can be a more delightful place then that Village
engraven upon a square pillar certain unknown characters which have nothing common with either the Greek Hebrew or Arabian nor indeed with any other language There are twelve lines of these characters which as to their figure are triangular Piramidal or like obelisques but so well graven and so proportionate that those who did them cannot be thought Barbarians Some believe they are Telesmes and that they contain some secrets which Time will discover Besides these there is also a great Court upon the same ground-work which is ninety paces square having on each side two gates whereof some are six others but three paces wide all built of a very well polish'd marble whereof the several pieces are eight foot in length and three in breadth In another Court there are represented in carv'd-work in marble battels triumphs and Olympick games very well done and with an exact observance of proportion Upon every gate is represented a man with a graceful countenance sitting and holding in one hand a Globe in the other a Scepter though the Kings of Persia never sate in that posture I had the curiosity to get up on high where I found the figure of a King at his devotions adoring the Sun Fire and a Serpent It is not easie to affirm whether the Architecture of this Palace be of the Ionick Dorick or Corinthian order the building is so ruin'd though there be yet as much left as would find work for a good able Painter for six months 'T is a thousand pities that no body hath yet had the curiosity to have it graven had it been only out of this motive that the barbarous people thereabouts ruine it daiâ—â— more and more and convey away the stones to carry on private buildings Aeâ—ian sayes that the Grand Cyrus was grown famous for the Palace he had built in the City of Persepolis whereof he had himself laid the foundation Darius for that built by him at Susa and Cyrus the younger for the pleasant Gardens which he had himself planted and cultivated in Lydia If this be the same place which Diodorus Siculus makes mention of it is certain that both as to greatness and magnificence it exceeded all those of that time He sayes it was encompass'd with three walls of Marble whereof the first was 16. the second 32. and the third 60. ells high with the gates and balconies of brass The work of so many years and all that wealth were destroy'd in a few hours by Alexander the great who upon the perswasion of a common Prostitute caused it to be fired as Quintus Curtius gives an account of it in his History Having view'd these Antiquities which with those of Derbent were all we met with in our Travels I prosecuted my journey the 28. of Ianuary and got that day ten Leagues to the City of Sehiras In this City I met with four Italian Carmelites who have a very handsome well built Monastery there and enjoy an absolute liberty of conscience under the jurisdiction of the King of Persia. There had also been heretofore a Monastery of Austin-Friers but they were forc'd thence with the other Portuguez when the City of Ormus was taken from them Schiras is the chief City of the Province of Fars at 29. degrees 36. minutes seated in a very pleasant place at the foot of certain Mountains upon the River Sendemer heretofore called Arâ—xes which disembogues it self into the Persian Gulf. We were told the City had been much bigger then it is now though there be in it at present above ten thousand houses which I the more easily credited in that we found all about it and half a league beyond the ruines of the gates and walls of a great City Whatever Nature supplies mankind withall not only for necessity but also for pleasure is here to be had in great abundance as Wheat Wine Oranges Lemmons Pomegranats Almonds Dates Pistachoes c. and the lovely Cypress-trees afford a pleasant shade against the excessive heats The best Wine of all Persia grows hereabouts and in such abundance that it is transported all over the Kingdom especially to the Court where the King and great Lords drink not any other 'T is more sprightly and more pleasant then Canary but in regard no person of quality but drinks of it and is willing to treat his friends with Schiras Scharab it is dear enough at Ispahan where it is sold at half a Crown a pottle The soil hereabouts is very fertile and produces abundance of Wheat and Fruit. The Sheep which are of an Ash-grey colour with an eye of white have their wooll curled or frizled and their tails are so big and so fat that they weigh 18. or 20. pound The adjacent Forrests afford abundance of Mastick which the Country people gather in dishes fastned to the Trees It is at first green but the Air in time corrupting it gives it the brown colour it is of when brought into Europe I stayed eight dayes at Schiras as well to rest my Horses as to fortifie my self against the hardship I was to expect in my future travel it being a hundred Leagues to Ormus through a Country where I should not find what I left behind me at Schiras which is doubtless the principal City of Persia for Wine and Women and affords so great enjoyments to those who can use these two things with moderation that the Persians are wont to say that if Mahomet had tasted the pleasures of Schiras he would have desired God to make him immortal there I left it the fifth of February and passed by two Caravanseras and took up my lodging at the third having travell'd that day ten Leagues through a fair even way The sixth I got seven Leagues having a very bad way but in sight of many Villages whereof the prospect was the more pleasant by reason of the Date-trees all about them The seventh I passed by one of these Caravanseras and got that day ten Leagues taking up my quarters in the little City of Scharim in the middle of a Forrest of Date-trees The five dayes following were the most troublesome of all my life For the eighth of February we got but five Leagues through the most horrid way in the world I cannot imagine how people made a shift to travel that way before Imanculi Chan of whom somewhat hath been said elsewhere who was so cruelly put to death with all his children by Schach Sefi caus'd it to be repaired with incredible expence when at this day a man cannot pass but in great danger of his life by reason of the uneven and narrow wayes between steepy mountains on the one side and dreadful precipices on the other where I very narrowly avoided a mis-fortune which happens there very often For my Horse's hoof which I was leading by the bridle being fill'd with snow he stumbled upon me forc'd me out of the way so as that had I not caught hold of a wild Almond tree which
slash'd doublet much after the fashion which was worn about 30. years since which the Governour thought so ridiculous that he could not forbear laughing at it and askt the English President in what quality that slash'd Gallant serv'd him since that according to his habit he conceiv'd he kept him for his Fool. The President made answer not without some confusion that he waited on him in his Chamber and that he had opened his Doublet in that manner to make way for the Air the better to avoid the excessive heats of the Country which the Europaeans could not well endure Whereto the Governour reply'd that that reason gave some satisfaction but what he most wondred at was that the Christians who are a wise and understanding people had not yet found out the way to make their Doublets of several shreds rather then cut and mangle whole pieces of Stuffes to put themselves into that mode This jesting with the English Merchant put him into so good an humour that he would needs devote the remainder of the day to sport and divertisement and thereupon sent for twenty Women-dancers who as soon as they were come into the room fell a singing and dancing but with an Activity and exact observation of the cadence much beyond that of our Dancers upon the Ropes They had little Hoops or Circles through which they leap'd as nimbly as if they had been so many Apes and made thousands of Postures according to the several soundings of their Musick which consisted of a Tumbeck or Timbrel a Haw-boy and several Tabours Having danc'd near two hours the Governour would needs send into the City for another band of Dancers but the Servants brought word that they were sick and could not come This excuse being not taken he sent out the same Servants with express order to bring those Prostitutes away by force but they returning the second time with the same excuse he order'd they should be cudgell'd Upon that they cast themselves at the Governours feet and acknowledged that it was indeed true they were not sick but were at a certain place where they got Money at a more delightful and easier sport then dancing and that they absolutely deny'd to come saying they knew well enough the Governour would not pay them He laught at it but immediately commanded out a party of his Guard to bring them to him and they were no sooner entred into the Hall ere he ordered their heads to bâ— struck off They beg'd their lives with horrid cries and lamentations but he would be obey'd and caus'd the execution to be done in the room before all the Company not one of the Lords then present daring to make the least intercession for those Wretches who were eight in number The Strangers were startled at the horrour of the Spectacle and inhumanity of the Action which the Governour taking notice of fell a laughing and ask'd them what they were so much startled at Assure your selves Gentlemen said he that if I should not take this course I should not be long Governour of Amadabat For should I connive once at their disobedience these Bete-Seioth or Sons of Whores would play the Masters and drive me out of the City 'T is but prudence in me to prevent their contempt of my Authority by such examples of severity as these are October 21. I left Amadabat with a Coach and one Saddle-nag in the company of a young English Merchant who by order from the President was to be my Fellow-traveller The Rasboutes make the way between Amadabath and Cambaya very dangerous which made me take for my Convoy eight Foot-souldiers arm'd with Pikes and Bucklers This kind of Souldiers do also the office of Lacqueys running just before the Horses and may be hired for a small matter for I gave them but eight Crowns for the whole journey though I had them three dayes in which time I travell'd thirteen of the Country Leagues All the English Merchants brought me half a League out of the City where I saw a sumptuous Tomb which they call Salu. I got that day to the Garden of Tschictbag made in memory of the place where the Sulthan Mahomet Begoran whom we spoke of before was defeated and is without all comparison the fairest of any in the Indies but it being dark ere I got thither I shall forbear the description of it till my return that way at which time I had the convenience of taking a particular view thereof The 22. Having travell'd seven Leagues I came to the Village of Serguntra where saw not any thing remarkable but a great Tanke or Cistern wherein rain-water is kept all the year The 23. After five Leagues travelling I came to Cambaya I din'd in sight of the City among certain Trees and in the mean time sent one of my Foot-souldiers to a Brocker that is to say one of those Benjans whom the English and Dutch make use of as Interpreters and who understand their Language together with the Portuguez which they learnt by means of the great Commerce that Nation hath had all over the Indies He immediately came in a Coach and having brought me into the City lodg'd me at a Mahumetan Merchants where I was very well accommodated which course I took because the English Factor being from home I made some difficulty to lodge at the English House As soon as I was got into the City I desir'd the Brocker to shew me what was most worth the seeing there The City of Cambaya lies 16. Leagues from Broitscâ—ia in a sandy place upon the River side which makes there a great Bay into which the River May having past by the Walls thereof disembogues it self The Haven is incommodious though at High-water there be above seven fathom water but at Low-water the Ships lye dry in the Sand and Mud that is at the bottom The City is encompass'd by a very fair Wall of Free-stone and hath twelve Gates very large houses and strait and broad streets most whereof have Gates which are shut up in the night time It is much greater then Surat as being at least ten Leagues about It hath three Basars or Market-places and four noble Tanks or Cisterns able to find the Inhabitants water all the year long The Inhabitants are for the most part Pagans Benjans or Rasboutes whereof some apply themselves to Commerce others to a military life Their greatest traffick is at Achim Diu Goa Meca and into Persia whither they carry all sorts of Stuffes of Silk and Cotton and bring back ready Money both Gold and Silver to wit Ducats Chequins and Ryals also Ruynas Dates and other Commodities of those parts After a walk of two hours my Conductor carried me out of the City and shewed me 15. or 16. publick Gardens but among the rest one into which I went on that side that was towards the Sea by a pair of stairs of Free-stone of many steps It was enclos'd with a high Wall and
forreign Commodities p. 86 The Viceroy of Goa a character of him his power revenue ibid. The Malabars Zamorin Emperour of Calicuth and Cananer p. 78 The priviledges of the Nayres the writing of the Malabars the order of succession in Calicuth Cochim described the power of the King of Cochim a great priviledge of the Bramans p. 88 The Zamorin of Calicuth sometime Emperour of the Malabars the Cape of Comory the Isle of Ceylon p. 89 When discover'd by the Portuguez the History of Fimala Derma King of Candy he murthers his Father and three Brothers declares against the Portuguez p. 9 The treason of a Portuguez Renegado p. 91 The Dutch ill treated in the Island of Ceylon the Kingdom of Candy its Inhabitants their Religion ibid. Kings tributary to the Portuguez Mines of Gold and Silveâ— p. 92 The Maldives the Coast of Coromandel the Inhabitants thereabouts Christians a story of St. Thomas p. 93 He is martyr'd at Edesa the City of Meliapour p. 94 Bengala its Inhabitants their superstition ibid. Pegu the Palace Royal the Guard p. 95 The Kings forces he makes war upon his Vncle King of Auva a just Execution but too severe a Combat betwixt two Kings the Pagodes of Pegu. ibid. The Peguans Armes they are Pagans adore the Devil their Feasts how the Kings Corps are burnt their Ecclesiasticks p. 96 A third part of all mens estates falls to the King a strange Sawce other peculiar Customs the Commodities of Pegu. p. 97 The River Menan overflows as the Nile India its houses p. 98 The King of Siam of a very ancient Family is absolute his manner of life hath but one Wife p. 99 A magnificent Procession a Procession upon the River the Revenue of the King of Siam p. 100 His Expences their Punishments manners of justification the Militia of Siam p 101 Their Arms both the Kings of Siam and Pegu pretend to Soveraignty the King of Siam a friend to the Dutch ibid. Elephant-huntingâ— the occasion of the War between the Kings of Pegu and Siam Raja Hapi King of Siam p. 102 The King of Siam a Pagan a Hierarchy Beguins a kind of religious women the belief of the Inhabitants lights in the Mosqueys Prayers for the dead p. 103 The Siameses invoke the Devil their qualities habit houses marriages education of children ibid. The traffick of the City of India the King a Merchant the money of Siam the settlement of the Dutch in Siam p. 104 The Kingdom of Cambodia the Palace-Royal the Lords of Cambodia the Portuguez keep out the Dutch p. 105 Malacca when discovered p. 106 A description of Patana its Inhabitants p. 107 The Air of Patana Mahumetans p. 108 Batusabar Metropolis of Patana its Inhabitants the Language of the Malayans the Island of Sumatra p. 109 Was sometime divided into many Kingdoms the King of Achim the City of Achim the Inhabitants p. 110 Their Religion food the mournful tree Cocoes ibid. How they make Wine their Paper Bananas what p. 111 Pepper how planted the Island of Java its Inhabitants the King of Bantam p. 112 A sulphureous Mountain the names of several Cities of those parts ibid. The Kings Palace the Guard of the City its Market-places Armourers p. 113 The City of Tuban described the Kings Palace its commerce p. 114 The Javians Mahumetans their Fasts they marry their daughters very young the ceremonies of their marriages Women of Quality are kept in restraint p. 115 The Magistrates of Bantam the Kings Councel the train and state of the Nobility the qualities of the Javians they are good Souldiers p. 116 The Javians sophisticate their Wares how they imploy their Slaves ibid. The Commerce of Forreigners there the trade of China the money of Java p. 117 The Portuguez commerce Oysters of three hundred pound weight Crocodileâ— Civet Hens the Rhinocerot Ants. p. 118. The Fruits of Java Areca Mangas Ananas Samaca described p. 119. Tamarinds Tabaxir Canes so big that Boats are made of them a fruit called Duriaons its qualities ibid. The Lantor-tree Cubebs Mangosthan Talasse Jaca wild Cinnamon Carcapuli Costus Indicus p. 120 Zerumbet Galanga Benjamin Sandal Ginger Anacardium Pala de cuebra Calamba p. 121 Lacquc other Drugs of Java the Dutch fortifie in Jacatra p. 122 They give it the name of Batavia Madura a place of no trade the Isle of Baly its scituation Inhabitants p. 123 It abounds in Rice Fowl Drugs Fish hath Gold mines the King of Baly the Island of Borneo its Metropolis the Bâ—zoar stone p. 124 The Haven the Dutch treat with the King of Sambas about the trade of Diamonds the Island Celebes its Metropolis its Inhabitants are Cannibals 125 The Isle Gilolo its Inhabitants and Fruits Amboyna its Inhabitants discovery p. 126 The Dutch take Amboyna Castle the Religion of the Inhabitants their superstitions ibid. Their circumcision marriage oaths their qualities p. 127 Banda its Inhabitants their Armes they live long p. 128 Nutmegs Mace Oyl of Nutmeg the Dutch Forts in Banda prodigious Serpents the Moluccas p. 129 Sagu How Bread made of it how Wine the Inhabitants of the Moluccas p. 130 Are partly Mahumetans a particular piece of policy the Clove trade the Portuguez seize it are dispossest thereof by the Dutch a difference between the Castilians and the Portuguez about the Moluccas grounded on a false supposition 131 Magelan finds a new passage the Isle Ternate what Cloves it affords ibid. The Clove-tree grows without planting Avicenna's errour whaâ— Cloves the Moluccas yield yearly the Mountain of Ternate but one season in the Moluccas 132 A Wood incombustible leafes turned to Butterflies Birds of Paradise the King of Bachiam the Isle of Machiam p. 133 The Philippine Islands the hunting of Crocodiles p. 134 The commerce of the Chineses and Spaniards in the Philippines the Archbishop of Manille is Viceroy a description of the said City p. 135 Whether Japan be an Island or part of the Continent the names and revenues of the great Lords of Japan p. 136 The revenue of the Ministers of State p. 141 The Emperour of Japan's policy the Lords have three names p. 142 Slaves die with their Masters their manner of ripping up their bellies their Mesquites the Cities of Japan not walled no taxes in Japan p. 143 The power of Masters over their Servants Gaming criminal all the relations of Offenders die with them a particular punishment for theft p. 144 The crimes for which all the kindred of a criminal are put to death an example of it ibid. Lying punished with death the Emperours expence Jedo Castle the Palaces of the Kings p. 145 The Emperours retinue the Dayro the Emperours magnificence p. 146 His Treasures the Emperour of Japan a Viceroy confines his Wife to a Castle p. 147 How the Emperour of Japan came to the Crown Ceremonies at the choice of a Nurse for the Dayro's Son p. 148 A revolution in Japan a Souldier of Fortune gets to be General of the Army and Soveraign is poysoned ibid. Bestows the Regency
Rock The streight of Calmer NOVEM The Isle of Gotland Tageroort Oetgensholm Hondeshuig Narga The Island of Hogland A dangerous attempt of the Ambassadors The Ambassadors come into Livonia To Reuel DECEM Reuel described The description of Livonia It s fertility Its Inhabitants The Orders of Livonian Knights The Ceremonies of marriages in Livonia They are sad Christians Their slavery Their opinion of eternal life Their Oath in Law-sutes Their Sorcery Their obstinacy The Nobility of Livonia The Government of Livonia The contâ—nuation of our Voyage FEBRU MARCH The Ambassadors leave Reuel Kunda Come to Narva 1636. Juanogorod A remarkable story of a Wolf The Ambassadors leave Narva Lilicnhagen Sarits Orlin Tzuerin Desan Mokriza Come to Novogorod A description of the City of Novogorod An example of cruelty Perun St. Anthony's Monastery The Ambassadors leave Novogorod Brunits Miedna Kressa Iaselbitza Simnagora Columna Wisna wolloka Windra Pusk Torsock Troitza Miedna Tuere Sawidowa Saulkspas Klin Beschick Zerkizouo Nicola-Darebna Their entrance into Moscou The reception of the Ambassadors Their allowance APRIL The Palm-Sunday Procession The Muscov an celebration of Easter Brugman hath a private audience MAY. JUNE The great Dutchess her Cavalcade The entrance of Ambassadors from Poland The fierceness of a Polish Ambassador The Great Duke's Pass The Ambassadors leave Moscou A description of Moscou It s building most of Wood. Catayrogod Cremelena Czaargorod Skoradom Strelitza Slauoda The number of Churches and Chapels in Moscou 1636 Muscovy described The Province of Woledimer Smolensko Rhesan Permie Jugarie Wiathka Bielks Rschouie Tuere Plescou Siberie Jarostaf Rosthou Susdal Dwina Archangel Ustiugha Vologda Bielejezoro Petzora Obdorie The source of Wolga Boristhianes Dwina The Air of Muscovy Extremely cold Very hot in Summer Fertility Muscovy more fertile than Livonia The seed-time Their harvest The fruits of Muscovy Extraordinary Melons Boranez Flowers Asparagus Venison and Fowl No Deer Furre No Carps in Muscovy Mines Samojede The difference between Samojede and Samogitia The habitations of the Samojedes Their nourishment Their cloathing The error of certain Geographers A description of Groenland Of the Inhabitants Their language Their cloathing Their ordinary exercises They are Savages The Groenlanders have no Gold nor Silver in their Countrey Are Pagans Inhabitants of Septentrional Countries swarthy * Lib. 2. c. 78. The stature of the Muscovites The Women paint Their habit Their manner of life They are ingenuous naturally Are lyars and distrustful A pleasant story Have no civility Quarrelsome Insolent in their expressions Not addicted to any study Shameless Drunkards Women given to drink Tobacco forbidden among them They are born to slavery Strangers are in no better condition there They keep many Slaves They are good Soldiers The Siege of Smolensko Their hous-keeping Their feeding Hydromel how made The expences of Persons of quality The highest act of Muscovian civility They sleep after Dinner Their stoves and bathing places The Ceremonies of their marriages The nuptial bed The Ceremonies in the Church How the Women live Their divertisement Why the Muscovites beat their wives Adultery Their superstition The Government of Muscovy The 〈◊〉 signification of the word Czaar The Czaar's Arms. The Muscovites know not what liberty is The Great Dukes absolute power Changes the Governours of Provinces every three years Tee Money of Muscovy Muscovian Ambassadours A remarkable Present An Epitâ—my of the History of Muscovy Juan Basilouits Boris Gudenou Foedor Borissouits A counterfeit Demetrius A conspiracy against the counterfeit Demetrius Demetrius kill'd Zuski made Great Duke A second counterfeit Demetrius A third Impostor Uladislaus Prince of Poland chosen Czaar of Muscovy The Muscovites discontented against the Polanders Michael Federouits chosen Great Duke A counterfeit Zuski Son of a Linnen-Draper His first preferment Cheats his fellow Officer Burns his wife and retreats into Poland Goes to Chmielniski Turns Turk Becomes a Roman Catholick Goes into Sueden To Brussels Embraces the Lutheran religion The Great Duke's Letters to the Duke of Holstein Timoska varies in his depositions Would procure his own death Is tortured And Executed The Ceremonies of the Czaar's Coronation The Great Dukes favourite An Insurrection in Moscou Plesseou put to death The principal Officers of Muscovy and their 〈◊〉 The Bojares obliged to follow the Court Their expence They esteem Nobility His Expencâ— Their administration of Iustice Their ordinary punishments The Religion of the Muscovites Their Baptism The admirable constancy of an English Gentlewoman Their Images Their Churches Their Hierarchy Their Prelates marry not How the Monks live The Habits of the Ecclesiasticks The Priests are oblig'd to marry Their Moâ—â—steries Tâ—eir â—asts Their Confession Their Communion Their manner of burial JUNE Columna Peresla Rhesan Cassinogogorod The City of Moruma The Tartars of Mordwa Nisenovogorod The Wolga Bâ—siligâ—rod Ceremiâ—â—ses The City of Sabakzar The City of Suiatski The City of Casan A Tartar Prince The Province of Casan Reduc'd by the Muscovites The Tartars Masters of the City of Moscou The Great Duke Tributary to the artar The fidelity of the Weywode of Resan Casan â—esieged by John Basilouits And takes it by storm Melons of extraordinary bigness The Course of Wolga Ice in August The River Kama The City of Tetus The River of Utka The River Ussa The superstition of the Muscovites The City of Samara The Mountain of the Cosaques SEPTEMBER The City of Soratof The King of Persia's Cuptzi The first Branch of Wolga The City of Zariza 1366. The second branch of the Wolga 1636. The City of Tzornogar The third branch of the Wolga The fourth branch of the Wolga A fifth Branch of the Wolga A sixth Branch of the Wolga The seventh Branch of the Wolga The Ambassadors come to Astrachan A description of the City of strachan A description of Nagaia The Isle of Dolgoi Salt-pits The Fruits of Nagaia Its Inhabitants Their food Their Religion A custom of Persia to make Presents to persons of quality The Cuptzi's Present 1366 The Cuptzi visits the Ambassadors The Weywodes Presents The Ambassadors visit the Tartar-Prince 1636. The incivility of the Muscovites The Cuptzi's Feasts The Tartars much given to Hawking The Treatment of another Persian Merchant Brugmansâ—â—nprudence â—â—nprudence Another Tartar-Prince visits the Ambassadors The Weywodes Present OCTOB Provisions for the continuation of the Voyage The Ambassadors leave Astrachan Simples of extraordinary bigness Snakes A Muscovian Slurr The civility of a Persian Pilot. An ominous day NOVEM Terki described The Garrison of Terki The Cuptzi's Present to the Ambassadors A mutiny in the ship An Eunuch belonging to the King of Persia visits the Ambassador Their Presents to the Weywode Their message to the Tartar-Prince The reception of the Envoys from the Ambassadors by thâ— Tartar-Princess The Collation The curiosity of the Tartar-Ladies The Tartars enclin'd to theft The Ambassadors leave Terki The Weywode's Present An Island in the Caspian Sea Mount Caucasus Mengrelia Mount Aratat A Tempest The Ambassadors disembark with part of their retinue A strange resolution in