perfections to which though they haue ascended gradatim yet they haue forthwith fallen into a retrograde of declination till they haue beene brought to the lowest degree which misery can allot So true is that of Seneca Nulla sors longa dolor voluptas Inuicem cedunt breuior voluptas Ima permut at breuis hora summis Nemo confidat nimium secundis Nemo desperet meliora lapsis No chance is long for griefe and eke delight By course giue place pleasure hath shorter flight An houre but shorâ— that presently doth end Doth make the lowest things aloft ascâ—nd Let none too much trust in a prosperous state Let none despaire but hope for better fâ—te For in this small discourse wee shall see how vnauoidable destruction doth alwaies attend on the succession of greatnesse and aduancement on the posterity of misery as also the sacking of many Cities the depopulating of the greatest Countries the deposing of Princes and high descended families of their liues together with their Crownes and Kingdomes and that in so short a time as neuer the like was executed in the antique world Two reasons haue moued me to set downe this Iournall The one for that I haue not yet seene any that hath made a full description of these parts as they are at this day which I hope shall be performed by my selfe who spent much time in those Countries being familiarly conuersant to helpe my knowledge herein with many Sultanes and principall Commanders in the Kingdome of Persia as also diuers Ianizaries who serued in the warres betweene the great Turke and the Persian The other is for that I doe verily perswade my selfe that this discourse will breede much delight vnto any indifferent Reader when hee shall vnderstand how mighty the forces are of the Persian King a capitall enemy of the name of Christ as also in what termes he standeth at this day with the great Turke what Kingdomes he possesseth what Prouinces are subiect vnto him his worship his religion his kinde of gouernment their weapons their manner of fight their forme of battell the reuennues and expences of that Crowne and in a word whatsoeuer else is necessary to be knowen Finally you haue here described the seueral Nations Situations Cities Riuers Mountaines and Prouinces which I haue seene and passed by It is not my purpose to write any thing of the Ilands in the Mediterranean-Sea which we sailed by and are so much renowmed in old writers viz. Maiorica and Minorica Corsica Sicilia Malta Cephalonia Zant Candia Rhodes and Cyprus howsoeuer many excellent things might be spoken of them yet seeing they are so well knowen to most of our nation I omit to write binding my selfe to a true relation of what mine eyes haue seene in more remote parts of the world not respecting the iudgement of the vulgars but contenting my selfe with the conscience of truth beside which I protest I purpose to write nothing The beginning of the trauell ANd first I will beginne at Alexandretta Alexandretta now called Scanderone is a roade in the bottom of the Mediterranean-Sea on the coast of Cilicia where our Merchants land their goods to be sent to Aleppo within eight miles of this roade is Tharsus the chiefe Citty of Cilicia and the Countrey of St. Paul the place also where King Salomon sent for great store of gold and other prouision for the building of the Temple whither the Prophet Ionas also sledde when he should haue gone to Nineuie A little from this Towne did Alexander the Great giue the ouerthrow in person to Darius in ioyning of their first battell together Lying at an Anchor in the aforesaid roade the space of two houres our Ianizaries with a sufficient guard and horses for our selues were ready to conduct vs vp to Aleppo and safe-guard vs as well aâ— they might from the dangers and euils which many times in the way doth befall passengers In our passage vp no matter of importance happened many false rumours of Theeues were diuulged by the Countrey people to affright vs but we by the assistance of God arriued in safety at Aleppo being some sixe miles before our approch to the Citty encountred by many of our English Merchants to giue vs the welcome on the Turkish shore After mutuall courtesies ended they accompanied vs into the City vnto the Consull Pallace where hauing dismounted our selues we were well entertained by Mr. Richard Colethrust worthy Consull then to our worthy English nation At whose charge and expences I abode two moneths and better all which time I fell into consideration not so much of the City as of the Prouince in which it standeth offering hereby vnto my selfe two things worthy obseruation The description of SYRIA FIrst the greatnesse of the Kingdome of Syria which confronteth East-ward on Mesopotamia South-ward on Arabia North-ward on Cylicia and Asia the lesse and West-ward on Tyre and Sydon and the bottome of the Mediterranean-Sea The other the diuision of the said Kingdome which deuideth it selfe into fiue notable Prouinces viz. Palestina Foenitia Celestria Syria and Camogena The last of which fiue is that part which runneth vp to the Riuer Euphrates and to the confines of Armenia in which standeth the great and wealthy City of Aleppo This Kingdome of Syria hath diuers Cities of importance but my purpose is to speake but of those which my Iournall leadeth me vnto and which my eyes haue seene viz. Tripolis Hamath Antioch and Aleppo The description of Tripolis TRipolis is a Towne which standeth vnder a part of Mount Lybanus two English miles distant from a certaine Port which trendeth in the forme of an halfe Moone hauing on the one side thereof fiue block-houses or small Forts wherein is very good Artillery and â—ept by an hundred Ianizaries This City is as great as Bristow and walled about the walles being of no great force The chiefest strength is a Citadell which standeth on the South side within the walles and ouer-lookes the whole Towne and is strongly kept with two hundred Ianizaries and good Artillery Through the midst of this City passeth a Riuer wherewith they water their Gardens and Mulbery trees in such sort that there grow on them abundance of silke wormes where with the Inhabitants makes great store of very white silke which is the chiefest naturall commodity in and about this place Finally this roade of Tarapolos or Trapolos commonly called Tripolis was more frequented before Scanderone was found out with all sorts of Christian Merchants as Venetians Genouis Florentines Marsilians Sicilians Raguses and English men then any other Port of the great Turks Dominions Some say that the Scale is againe translated from Scanderone thither but how true it is I leaue to the Merchants to report One inconuenience this Towne is subiect vnto for right before it toward the Sea is a banke of mouing sand which gathereth and increaseth with the Westerne winds in such sort that according to an old prophesie amongst them this banke is like
that all those Countries were theirs which lay along the Riuer from the Mountaine Taurus vnto the desart of Arabia The description of MESOPOTAMIA BEing ouer the aforesaid Riuer we arriued at Bi r and entred into the famous Prouince of Mesopotamia which North-wards bounds on a part of Armenia the Great where the Altar of Hercules stood South-ward on the desart of Arabia Eastward on Assiria and Westward on Armenia the lesse The Hebrewes were wont to call this Kingdome Aram Nearot Syria amongst the Riuers as the Iewes doe at this day The Greeks call it Mesopotamia because it lyeth betweene two great Riuers which watered Paradise Euphrates and Tygris The Turkes doe call it Diarbech This Prouince of it selfe is most fruitfull but by the Turkish warres much ruinated and wasted neuerthelesse there are some Cities of great importance The description of Bir. BI r called by Ptolomey Barsina is an ancient City but very ruinous It is very famous for the situation being built on the side of an high craggy mountaine hauing the Riuer Euphrates running close vnder the walles therof and a most delightfull valley yeelding abundance of graine and other necessary prouision But because this towne is not much esteemed by the Turks but left open to the fury of euery enemy I will be sparing to speake thereof and so passe to the rest The description of Orpha ABout two daies iourney from this vnrespected towne we came to Orpha a City of great account and estimation which many suppose to haue beene the famous City Edessa which Seleucus the next King after Alexander the Great built For hauing conquered Asia and Syria Functius reporteth that he beganne to build townes and Cities as Antioch Laodicea Seleucia Apamia Bâ—rouea Pellum and Edessa and they are not deceiued because that as yet there remaineth certaine monuments of Baldewine in Latin letters who after his brother Godfrey was possessed of Ierusalem is reported to haue taken Edessa and there raigned The aire of this City is very healthfull the Countrey fruitfull only wood excepted and therefore in steede thereof they burne the dung of Camels and other beasts dryed in the Sunne This City is built foure-square the West part standing on the side of a rocky mountayne and the East part trendeth into a spacious valley replenished with vineyards orchards and gardens the walles are very strong furnished with great store of artillery and containe in circuit three English miles and for the gallantnes of the site it was once reckoned the Metropoliticall seate of Mesopotamia howsoeuer it is now translated to Caramida or Caraemit There is in this City a fountaine full of fishes so vsed to hand that they will receiue any sustenance that shall be offered vnto them both Iewes Armenians and Turkes reported vnto vs that this fountaine was Iacobs-well and that here hee serued his Vncle Laban twise seauen yeares for faire and beautifull Rachel The gates of this City were much battered a little before our comming by Eliazgee the Scriuano and the rebels his followers The successe whereof so much tormented the haughty minde of Mahomet the Turkish Emperor as that it would scarce suffer him to thinke of any thing else For the rebell growing stronger and stronger by reason of the great numbers which he allured with the swâ—ete name of liberty hope of prey or the good entertainement by him giuen daylie more and more resorted vnto his camp had ouer-runne a great part of the Turkes Dominion in Asia the lesse and in these parts putting all to fire and sword that stoode in his way ransacking also diuers walled and fenced Cities by the way as he went this City bearing a share in that misery for being entred into the City hee drew the citizens to a composition of fifty thousand Chekens and so departed A rebellion not only dangerous to the great Turke but also very commodious and of great oportunity to the Christian commonweale and to the Persian himselfe if at that time they had taken vp armes together Memorable also is this City then called Carras for the great battell which was fought before it betweene the Romans and the Parthians when Marcus Crassus was Generall on the one side and Surena on the other side who ioyning both their armies together there was fought a most mortall and deadly battell For there might a man haue seene a miserable and lamentable sight of the ouerthrowne Romans which were so tortured and tormented with the Parthians arrowâ—s that some shewed vnto their Captains their hands fast nailed to their Targets some their feete shot through and nailed to the ground some their bodies stucâ—e full of forked arrowes and some wounded with speares and pikes in such cruell manner that the mâ—st part of tâ—â— Gâ—ntlemen of Rome slue tâ—â—mselues for Publius Crassus himselfe commanded one of his Gentlemen to kill him whose hâ—ad after was cut off by the enemy and sâ—nt to his Father for a present the Fathers fortune being no better then his Sonnes for his head was cut off as his Sons was and twenty thousand Romans of great account slaine besides a great number carried captiues into Parthia Plutarch affirmeth that the Parthians so triumphed of this victory in their feasts and plaies that they made rimes and iests of both Crassus heads At this City hauing paid our custome which is a Dollor on a summe of goods our Carauan was licenced to depart and at our ordinary houre which was three of the clocke in the afternoone we set forward towards the auncient City Amida now called Caramida or Caraemit fiue dayes iourney from Orpha trauailing sometimes ouer rough and craggy mountaines and sometimes through most delightfull plaines and vallyes amongst which there is one of note enuironed about with a pale of mountaines in such wise that there is but one entry and passage In the midst whereof wee beheld the ruines of a great Fortresse built as the Countrey people report by Aladeules a mountaine King who much annoyed Selymus the first and his army in his expedition against Ismael the Persian King This plaine is very pleasant to the eye by reason of the faire meadowes and brookes wherewith the same doth plentifully abound In this place did Aladeules build diuers houses of pleasures causing the same to be inhabited with the fairest young men and women that could be found so that when he had surprised any young man he brought him to this Fortresse and gaue vnto him a drinke which should cause him to sleepe so soundly that he should so remaine a long space as though he had beene dead Then would he cause him to be carried into this valley amongst his beautifull women and to bee cloathed in rich apparell so that awaking out of his trance hee should finde himselfe another man and as though hee came into a new world Forthwith he was entertained with all kinds of pleasures which youth and lust could desire and this continued so long as one whole
did surprise the City intreating all the inhabitants in friendly manner without doing or suffering any outrage to be done vpon them but for this their infidelity in voluntary yeelding themselues to follow the religion of the Turkes when as they were not induced thereunto by any necessity Emirhamze eldest Sonne to Mahomet Codibanda King of Persia comming with his army into Seruan did with great cruelty punish the miserable and infortunate commons of this City making their houses euen with the ground destroying both the old and new wals thereof and bringing the whole land to nought that somtimes was so desired a â—eceit of the Turks Sixe dayes iourney from this City lyeth Derbent This city hath sundry names giuen vnto it by writers Somtimes it is called Derbent because it is in figure narrow and long and sometimes Demir-Capi because there were the yron-gates that were sometimes the entrance into Scythia and sometimes Alessandria because it was first erected by Alexander the Great when hee warred against the Medes and Persians at which time also he made a wall of a wonderfull height and thicknesse which extended it selfe from this City to a City in Armenia called Testis belonging to the Georgians And though it be now razed and decayed yet the foundation remaineth and it was made to this purpose that the inhabitants of that Countrey newly conquered by Alexander should not lightly flie nor their enemies easily inuade them This City is seated vpon an high hill and builded all of free stone much after our buildings being very high and thicke neuerthelesse it neuer grew great nor famous and euen in these dayes there is no reckoning made of it and the reason is because of the situation seruing for passage only out of Tartaria into Persia and out of Persia into Tartaria receiuing those that trauell too and fro not as Merchants and men of Commerce but as passengers and trauellers and to speake in a word it is seated in a very necessary place as the case standeth by reason that it is in the ports of the Caspian Sea but not profitable vnto it selfe much like as it is in the passages of the Alpes where though the Frenchmen Switzers Dutchmen and Italians continually doe passe by them yet was there neuer found a meane City much lesse any City of state and importance About foure daies iourney from Sumachia is Sechi which also at the same time as Sumachia offred themselues to Mustapha as vassals and subiects to the Turks who all were gladly intertained of him and some of the chiefe of them apparelled in silke and gold and honored with great magnificence and in the end had all protection promised vnto them Here also standeth the Citie Ere 's most fruitfully watered with the riuer Araxis and Cyrus and hath yeelded in times past great store of those fine white silkes commmonly tearmed by the marchants Mamodaean silkes whereof at this day there is not to be found no not a very small quantitie by reason of the monstrous ruines and ouerthrowes that hath happened in these countries partly by the Armies of the great Turke and partly by the Armie of the Persians which still hath succeeded one another in their cruell incursions and bloodie inuâ—sions For after the people of Sechi and Ere 's had yeelded themselues voluntarily without any resistance vnto Mustaffa great Amurats Generall Emirhamze the Persian Prince came vpon them with his armie as vpon rebels to inflict deserued punishment In effecting of which his purpose he spared neither sexe nor age nor any condition but though the persons were vnequall yet was the punishment equall to all carrying away with him the two hundred peeces of artilerie that were left in the sort by Mustapha and presently sent them to Casbin to his father There is also in this Kingdome another Citie that bordereth vpon the Georgians called Arasse being the most chiefe and opulent Citie in the trade of Merchandise partly by the aboundant grouth of silke there nourished partly by other good necessary commodities there growing and there brought as rough and smooth galles Cotten wooll Allome besides all kinds of spices and drugs and Diamonds and Rubies and other stones brought out of the East-Indies But the principall commoditie is raw silke of all sorts so that from hence hath beene and is carried yearly fiue hundred and sometimes a thousand mules laden of silke to Aleppo in Syria From this towne we spent sixe daies trauell to Tauris passing ouer the riuer Araxis leauing Media Atropatia and entring into Media the great The description of MEDIA the Great THis countrey hath for it bounds westward Armenia the great and Assiria Southward Persia Eastward Hircania and Parthia and Northwards the Caspian Sea The land is high and spacious most part mountainous full of hils woods rockes and ruines specially towards the North parts but Southwards it aboundeth with silkes fruits wilde beasts and falcons It receiued the name from Medus Iasons sonne who being an earnest follower of his fathers vertues in honour of his mother Medea after the death of his father Iason builded the Citie Medea and established the kingdome of the Medes calling it after his owne name which in continuance of time grew to that estate that all the East was in subiection to the Empire thereof I omit to write any thing of Astyages who raigned in this countrey or of his dreame how he saw springing out of his daughters belly a vine whose branches should ouershadow all Asia meaning Cyrus that was borne of her or how Cyrus was brought vp of an heard-man and miraculously preserued from death and lastly how Cyrus was banished into Persia and after being come to mans estate ouercame Astyages his Grandfather remouing the Empire from the Medes to the Persians being all matters of antiquitie and not so pertinent to our iournall The chiefe Citie of this country is Tauris which in times past was called Ecbatana as Ortelius and Minado do witnesse howsoeuer P. Ionius very vniustly would haue it Terua and Nigro the Italian Tigranoama It was first founded by Deiocis the first king of Media who no sooner gaue out his edict for the building thereof but forthwâ—th the inhabitants with one consent did make it the chiefe Citie aboue the rest and so euer since it hath remained one of the chiefest seats both of the Median and Persian kings Memorable also is this Citie for the resiance once of the Prophet Daniel who neere vnto the same builded a most magnificent and sumptuous Castell which many yeares remained a maruailous monument the beauty wherof was so liuely and perfect that continuance of time did little deface it being very fresh and flourishing in the time of Iosephus In this Castell were all the kings of Media Persia and Parthia for many yeares together intombed But now time hath worne it out it faring with buildings as with mens bodies they waxe old and are infeebled
by yeares and loose their beautie neuerthelesse Ecbatana now called Tauris remaines in great glorie vnto this day The description of Tauris IT is seated at the foote of the hill Orontes eight daies iourney or there abouts from the Caspian Sea and is subiect to winds and full of snow yet of a verie wholesome ayte abounding with all things necessary for the sustentation of man wonderfull râ—ch as well by the perpetuall concourse of merchandizes that are brought thither from the countries of the East to be conueighed into Syria and into the countries of Europe as also of those that come thither out of the Westerne parts to be distributed ouer all the East It is very populous so that it feedeth almost two hundred thousand persons but now open to the furie of euery armie without strength of wals and without bulwarkes sauing a Castle built of late by the Turkes The buildings are of burnt clay and rather low then high On the South side of this Citie is a most beautifull and flourishing garden large and spacious replenished with sundry kinds of trees and sweete smelling plants and a thousand fountaines and brookes deriued from a prety riuer which with his pleasant streame denides the garden from the Citie and is of so great beautie that for the delicacie thereof it is by the countrey inhabitants called Sechis-Genet that is to say the eight Paradises and was in times past the standing house of the Persian Kings whilest they kept their residence in this Citie and after they withdrew their seate from thence by reason of the Turkish warres to Casbin became the habitation and place of aboad for the Persian gouernours Sundrie mutations euen of late yeares hath this Citie indured both by the great Turke and the Persian For in the yeare 1514. it was yeelded to Selymus the Turkish Tyrant who contrary to his promise exacted a great masse of money from the Citizens and carried away with him three thousand families the best artificers in that Citie especially such as were skilfull in making of armour and weapons onely to enrich and appopulate the great Citie Consâ—antinople Afterwards in the yeare 1535. it was againe spoyled by Solyman the Turkish Emperour who gaue the whole Citie for a prey vnto his souldiers who left neither house nor corner thereof vnransacked abusing the miserable Citizens with all manner of insolencie euery common souldier without controlement fitting himselfe with whatsoeuer best pleased his greedie desire or filthie lust beside the most stately and royall Pallace of King Tamas together with the most sumptuous and rich houses of the Nobilitie were by the great Turkes commandement all rased downe to the ground and the greatest part of the best Citizens and beautifull personages of all sort and condition were carried away captiues And in the yeare 1585. it was miserably spoyled by Osmun visier vnto Amurat the third who commaunded his souldiers to do the worst that possibly they could or might do to it Here a man had need of a very learned eloquent pen to set forth the fierce and cruell execution of the Turkish souldiers For in truth who is able eyther by writing or by speech sufficiently and liuely to lay open the treachery the couetousnesse the wrath the crueltie the impietie the wickednesse of these triumphing Turks And on the other side who can expresse the crying of infants the gronings of the wounded the teares of parents the prayers of old men the â—eares the griefes and to be short the miserie of the Taurisians There was nothing but slaughter pillings rauishing spoyling and murdering virgins defloured men children defiled with vnspeakable and horrible Sodomitry younglings snatcht out of their mothers armes houses laid euen with the ground and burnt riches and money carried away and to be briefe all things wasted and ruinated Neither were those outrages committed once only but the second followed worse then the first and the third vpon that worse then the second so that it was a miserie almost inexplicable to behold that Citie which was once so populous and so rich sometimes the Court and Pallace of the Crowne and the honour of the Persian Empyre now subiect to the furie and cruelty of the Turke plunged in calamitie and vtterly destroyed This is the vncertaine state of the world sometimes vp and sometimes downe sometimes conquerers and within a while after conquered For this Citie groaned not full foure and twentie yeares vnder the Turkish slauery but Abas now King of Persia reposing no lesse confidence in his owne good fortune then the valour of his souldiers marched in the yeare 1603 with his armie directly to the Citie of Tauris and that with such expedition that he was come before it before any such thing was feared much lesse prouided for stirred vp hereunto partly by the great Turke troubles at home and his warres with the Christians in Hungarie as also with the disposition of the Taurisians whose minds were then so alienated from the Turkish gouernour that vpon the approach of Abas they were all readie to forsake him Neuerthelesse the King was constrained to besiege the Citie being then kept with a strong garrison of Turkish souldiers In which siege he for battery vsed the helpe of the Canon an engine of long time by the Persian skorned as not beseeming valiant men vntill that by their owne harmes taught they are content to vse it being with the same as also with skilfull Canoniers furnished by the Portugals from Ormuz So that after sixe weekes siege this Citie was surrendred vp into the Persians hands to the great reioycing of all Persia together with the whole countrey of Seruan except a fort or two which still stands out At this Citie we paid a dolour on a summe of goods and fiue Shaughes to the keeper of the Caine wherein we lodged and set forward to the wealthy Citie of Casbin distant from Tauris ten daies iourney passing the three first daies ouer many rough and craggie mountaines full of a thousand difficulties which were the more increased by wonderfull great snowes that were fallen by meanes whereof many passengers horses and mules if our guide had not beene good had perished in one common destruction Euery night we had great flâ—kes of lightening and huge thunderclaps with gâ—eat store of raine snowes which did much annoy our whole Carauan We had no sooner left those hard passages but we were forthwith encountred by a gallant troupe of Persian horsemen who lay vp and downe the borders by the kings commaundement to murder all Turkish merchants that should passe that way vpon reuenge of the death of a Persian merchant who being richly arriued at Van a little before our comming was iniuriously depriued both of his goods and life Hereupon the gouernour of this troupe demaunded of our Carauan-Bassa who was a Chiulphalin to deliuer vp into his hands all the Turkie merchants that were in our company to which request he durst not
condescend affirming that there was none but Iewes and Christians vnder his conduct and withall bestowed on him a bountifull present of two hundred and fiftie dollors which was leuied amongst vs. By this time we came to the full borders and outmost bounds then of the great Turkes dominion so farre as the Othoman Empire on this side doth extend and so entred into the territories of the Persian King both which are deuided by the high mountaine Duzâ—m and by a pretie riuer that runneth at the foote thâ—reof This night we rested at a Persian village called Darnah much ruinated but seated in a very delightfull place both for springs of water â—nd plentie of all things For heere we bought foure hens for fiue pence a kid for ten pence and thirtie egs for two pence From Darnah we spent three daies further to Soltania a very ancient Citie trauelling by many Persian villages and finding euery man at his labour and neighbour with neighbour going from one towne to another which bred much contentment and made vs wonder at the great peace tranquilitie which the commons of Persia liue in aboue the commons of Turkie The ruines of many faire Christian Churches we beheld but not without pitie built all with great arches and high towers lauorated with gold and other rich paintings to the beautifying of the same And verily I take them to be those Churches which Cosroâ— King of Persia destroyed who being in a battell discomfited fought betweene him and Heraclius the â—mperour reaked his teene and malice on the Christian Churches throughout his dominions The description of Soltania AT Soltania we safely arriued This Citie is called by Ptolome Heraclea but by others Tigranocerta because of the wonderfull ruine of the huge buildings and was in times past one of the royall seates of the Persian Kings but it was much ruinated by the Scythian Tamerlane when with a world of people he ouerran these countries it retaineth now no shew of the ancient majestie but onely in the Churches by him spared This desolate towne is on euery side enuironed with huge mountaines whose tops are to be seene a far off alwaies couered with deep snowes called in ancient time Nyphates Caspius Coathras Zagras taking their beginning no doubt of Cancasus the father of mountaines which ioyning one to another some one way some another doe deuide most large and wide countries Before this towne lieth a very great and spacious plaine memorable for that dreadful horrible tempest which fell on Solyman the Turkish Emperour and his whole armie in the yeare 1534. For whilest he lay incamped in these plaine fields with his Army there fell downe such an horrible and cruell tempest from the mountains as the like whereof the Persians had neuer seene before at that time of the yeare being in the beginning of September and that with abundance of rain which froze so eagerly as it fel that it seemed the depth of Winter had euen then of a sodaine beene come in for such was the rage of the blustering windes â—triuing with themselues as if it had beene for victory that they swept the snow from the toppe of those high mountaines and cast it downe into the plaines in such aboundance that the Turkes lay as men buried aliue in the deepe snow most part of their tents being ouerthrowne beaten downe to the ground with the violence of the tempest and weight of the snow wherein a wonderfull number of sicke souldiers and others of the baser sort which followed the campe perished and many other were so benummed some their hands some their feete that they lost the vse of them for euer most part of their beasts which they vsed for carriage but specially their camels were frozen to death Neither was there any remedie to be found for so great mischiefes by reason of the hellish darknesse of that tempestuous night most of their fires being put out by the extremitie of the storme which did not a little terrifie the superstitious Turkes as a thing accounted of them ominous Many of the Turkes vainely thought that this horrible tempest was brought vpon them by the charmes and inchantments of the Persian Magitians whereas it was vndoubtedly by the hand of God which bringeth the proud deuises of Princes to nought The description of Casbin FRom Soltania we spent foure daies trauell to Casbin passing by many villages where we paid a Shaughee a peece to the Beg or gouernour of the village not as a custome but as a free gratâ—ity and so entred into the territories of Casbin a Citie very wealthy by reason of the Kings Pallace the great concourse of merchants which resort thither It was in ancient time called Arsacia as in Strabo but now termed Casbin which in the Persian language signifieth chastisement or a place of punishment because the kings were wont to banish or confine such persons as for their offences and misdemeanours had deserued such chastisement This Citie is seated in a goodly fertile plaine of three or foure daies iourney in length furnished with two thousand villages to serue the necessary vses thereof but euill builded for the most part all of bricks not hardened with fire but onely dried in the Sunne as are most parts of the buildings of all Persia. It is now one of the seates of the Persian Kings Empire which was translated by King Tamas this kings Grandfather from Tauris who built one goodly Seraglio for himselfe and another for his women and hath beene euer since continued by his successors though the king that now raigneth make most of his abode in Hispaan fourteene daies iourney farther towards the East There are three places in the Citie most of note viz. the Kings Pallace the Bassars and the At-Maidan The gate of the kings Pallace is built with stone of diuers colours and verie curiously ennameled with gold on the seeling within is carued the warres of the Persian Kings and the sundrie battels sought by them against the Turks and Tartars the pauements of the roomes beneath and chambers aboue are spread with most fine carpets wouen and tessuted with silke and gold all ensignes and monuments of the Persian greatnesse There is likewise in this Citie sundrie Bassars where in some you may buy Shasses and Tulipants and Indian cloth of wonderfull finenesse in others silkes of all sorts as Veâ—uets Damasks cloth of Gold and Siluer in others infinite furres as Sables and Martine out of Muscouia and Agiam furres brought from Corassan In a word euery speech hath a seuerall science or trade wherein is sold whatsoeuer is fit and necessary for the vse of man The At-Maidan is the high speech or chiefe market place in this Citie and is foure-square containing in a circuit verie neere a mile and serues as a Bursse for all sorts of Merchants to meete on and also for all others to sell whatsoeuer commodities they possesse so that in one place is selling of
the great desart countrey of the Tartars to the West part the country of the Circassians the mountaine Caucasus to the North the riuer Vâ—lga which hath seuentie mouthes or falles into the same and to the South part ioyneth the countries of Media and Parthia This Sea is fresh water in many places and in other places as salt as the maine Ocean It hath many goodly riuers falling into it as the great riuer Volga called by the Tartars Edell which runnes at the least two thousand miles in length as also out of Syberia Yaic and Yem and out of the Periardian mountains Araxiâ— Cirus Canac and diuers others too long to write of And though so many goodly riuers do discharge themselues into it yet it emptieth not it selfe except it be vnder ground into the blacke Sea by Constantinople Now by the commodious site of the Sea a very profitable trade might be planted being but seauen daies sayling from Astracan to Gheilan the gaines of which passage is as I haue credibly heard say both of Persians and Armenians fifty in the hundred euen in meere Buttanosses To further which commerce and trade Abas the Persian king hath diuers times of late sent sundry Ambassadors to the grand Duke of Moscouia among other things requesting of him that merchants might haue a safe conuoy to transport their goods downe the riuer Volga into the Caspian Sea and so to Gheilan which he promised most faithfully to performe so faâ—re as his power would extend I know the voiage will be chargeable yet the benefit will quite the charge were the passage safe and secure down the riuer and had we barks of our building but of fifty or three score tuns which might by reason of the great store of timber in those parts be easily builded The coÌ„modities to be found at Gheilan Casbin are silks of all sorts of colors both raw wrought and that in such quantity that a merchant may bâ—stow thirty or forty thousand pounds yearly as also all maner spices drugs pearls diamonds and rubies likewise carpets of diuers sorts with diuers other rich merchandizes the prices of which I think not meet to set down because of their â—ising falling as the market goes In exchange of which coÌ„modities we are to carry thither tin copper and brassel as also caâ—sies for the common pâ—ople broade cloath for the merchants better sort of people blacke cloathes for womens garments good chamlets vâ—luets died in graine with purple colours and fine reds cloath of gold and tissue veluets imbroidered with gold fine holland cloath for the king and Sultanes dags and pistols complete harnesses targets of steele shirts of male stonebowes brushes and such like The only colors of cloth which are to be sent are skarlets violets in graine fine reds blacks brown blewes London russets taunies Lion colors faire liuely greens the like I am perswaded that any honest factor residing in Casbin may vent a thousand cloathes yearly wherof the Venetians haue good experience But to leaue this noble countrey of Hircania we will againe come to Casbin a principall Citie in Media where we stayed fifteene daies From Casbin we set forwards to the great and populous Citie of Hispaan lodging euery night eyther in a Persian village or in a faire Caine built of stone where we found all kinde of prouision necessarie for our selues and beastes trauailing sixe or seauen in a company company sufficient by reason of the great peace and tranquilitie which the Persians liue in aboue the Turkes and so hauing spent sixe daies wee arriued at Com a verie ancient Citie This Citie is called by Ptolomie Guriana and was so great in times past that the inhabitants affirmed vnto vs that when it was in it first flourishing estate it was twice as bigge as Constantinople but it was much ruinated by Tamerlane and euer since hath lien in the dust without repaire Cassan carrying away the trade of merchandize from her which was once the Mistresse and Ladie thereof It is well seated for water and all other necessaries hauing a spacious riuer running by it with a stone bridge ouer the same the which we no sooner passed but wee entred into the bounds of Parthia a kingdome once famous but now so mingled with Persia that the verie name of Parthia is quite extinguished among them The description of PARTHIA THis Prouince in antique writers is much renowmed Nigro doth call it Corassan and would haue the metropoliticall Citie to be Charras vnder which he would comprehend the Zagathean Tartars but herein he is much deceiued for Corassan and the Zagathean Tartars is very nigh two moneths trauell from Hispaan which is the chiefe and principall Citie of Parthia as shall be shewed in due time and place Mercator and Minadoi doe call it Arach and Alphonsus Hadrianus Iex The bounds of this Prouince Eastward is on Aria Southward on the great desart of Caramania Westward on Media and Northward on Hircania The North part is very woody and compassed about with huge mountaines â—uery plaine is inclosed with a seuerall pale of high hils belonging to â—â—e same though the climate heere be subiect to much heate yet doth the countrie produce all sorts of delicate fruits only Oliues excepted being watered with many prettie riuers which flow from the mountaines The natiue people were at the first a most base vile and obscure people dâ—iuen out of the cold countries of Scythia at that time when the Assirians and Medes flourâ—shed and they continued so a long time after when the Persians gained the monarchy from the Medes yea and after Alexander had conquered Persia they were so rude and barbarous that no Macedonian Prince would take vpon him to be king of Parthia But in processe of time they became very valiant and great souldiers for after they serued in the warres one while vnder Eumenes another while vnder Antigonus and after vnder Selâ—ucius Nicanor and then vnder Antiochus commaunders of great account they grew so famous by their seruice that finding themselues strong enough they made head against Antiochus and reuolted from him making choyse of a king among themselues who in short time brought such renowne to the Parthians as that they enlaâ—ged their confines and augmented their territories in such mâ—nner that Parthia once despised and contemned of the Mâ—cedonians within the raigne of eight kings became sole Lady comâ—aundresse ouer all the countries from the mountaine Caucasus to thâ— riuer Emphrates subdoing Persia Media and Assiria sacking and dâ—spoyling the great and weaâ—thie Citie of Babylon in so much that their fame spread vnto Rome a Citie that could neuer abide any kingdome or countrey to flourish but it selfe These were they that gaue the great ouerthrow to rich Crassus of Rome who minding more his gold then the guiding of his armie was slaine himselfe and many thousand Romanes the Parthians with exprobration of his thirst after
money powred moulten gold into his mouth after he was dead Against these great Lucullus fought many battels and the Romanes were neuer able to bring them quite into subiection vntill Augustus Caesar raigned I omit for breuitie sake to write anything of Arsaces the first king of Parthia whom the Persians loued so aliue that they honoured him being dead surnaming alwaies after him the kings of Parthia Arsaces with no lesse honor and glory then the Caesars of Rome the Pharhoes and Ptolomees of Egypt or of Herodes the ninth king of Parthia who so much preuailed against the Romans or of Phraherts their tenth and last king who vnnaturally killed his aged father and put thirtie of his brethren to death and that the Parthians might haue no man left to to be nominated king after him commaunded his owne sonne to be put to death likewise or lastly how Augustus Caesar by his clemency iustice drew this bloody tyrant to submit himselfe and his kingdom vnto the Roman Monarchy ending that without warre which others could not do with warres commaunding more with a word then Antonius who sought it with blowes or Crassus that sought it with his death But leauing these matters of antiquity we return where we left The description of Cassan. AFter two daies trauell from Com we arriued at Cassan a principall Citie in Parthia very famous and rich howsoeuer Ortelius and others make no mention of it This Citie is seated in a goodly plaine and because it hath no mountaines neere it but within a daies iourney the heate is verie fastidious as great almost as it is in Ormuz the spring and haruest is sooner in this climate then in any other pâ—â—ts of the Persiâ—n dominions It wanteth neither fountaines springs nor gardens but aboundeth with all necessaries whatâ—oeuer consisting altogether in merchandize and the best trade of all the land is there being greatly frequented with all sorts of merchants especially out of India The people are very industrious and curious in all sciences but specially in weauing girdles and â—hashes in making Veluets Sattans Damasks very good Ozmuzenes and Persian carpets of a wonderfull finenesse in a word it is the very Magazeen and warehouse of all the Persian Cities for these stuffes Here may you buy all manner of drugs and spices and Turkasses with store of Pearle Dâ—amonds and Rubies as also all soâ—ts of silkes as well wrought as raw I am perswaded that in one yeare there is more silke brought into Cassan then is of broad cloath brought into the Citie of London This Citie is much to be commended for the ciuill and good gouernment which is there vsed An idle person is not permitted to liue among them the child that is but sixe yeare old is set to lâ—bour no ill â—ule disorder or riot is there suffered Fâ—r they haue a law among them resembling the Egyptian law which Diodorus mentioneth wherby euery person is compelled to giue his name to the Magistrates therewith declaring what kinde of life he liketh how he liueth and what art he exerciseth And if any doe tell vntruly is either well beaten on the feete or imploied in publike slauâ—ry The greatest annoyance that this Citie is infesâ—ed withall is the aboundance multitude of black Scorpions of an exceeding greatnesse which many times doe much harme if a speciall care be not had of them At this Citie Master Iohn Mildenall and my selfe parted company he trauelling to Labor in the Eâ—st Indies and my selfe setting forwards to the great Citie of Hispaan three daies trauell distant from Cassan. The description of Hispaan THis Citie as some affirme was built by Arsaces the first King of Parthia being then called Dara But whether so or no is not much mâ—teriall Sure it is that in times past it was called Ecatompolis the Citie of a hundred gates and well it may keepe that name still since the huge walles of the same containe in circuit an easie daies iourney on horse backe and is become the greatest Citie in all the Persian dominions which is so much the more magnified and made populous by reason of the kings reâ—iance therein For there is the supreme place of iustice all matters of importance haue recourse to this place all Ambassadours of Princes and Agents of Cities make their repaire thither and such as aspire and thirst after offices and preferments runne thither amaine with emulation and disdaine at others and in a word thither are brought the reuenewes that appertaine to the crowne and there are they disposed out againe By all which meanes this Citie hath wonderfully increased and appopulated it selfe within these fiue and twentie yeares Very strong is this Citie by situation compassed about with a very great wall and watered with deepe channels of running springs conueighed into it from a part of the Coronian mountaines which are as a wal inaccessible about it On the North side is erected a strong Fort or Castle being compassed about with a wall of a thousand and seauen hundred yards and in the midst thereof is built a tower or rather a strong keepe sundrie chambers and lodgings therein but stored with little Ordonance On the West side of this Citie standeth two Seraglios the one for the King the other for his women Pallaces of great state and magnificence farre exceeding all other proud buildings of this Citie the walles glister with red marble and pargeting of diuers colous yea all the Pallace is paued with checher and tesseled worke and on the same is spread carpets wrought with silke and Gold the windowes â—f Alablaster white marble and much other spotted marble the postes and wickets of massie Iuory checkred with glistering blacke â—bony so curiously wrought in winding knots as may easier stay tâ—en satisfie the eyes of the wondring beholder Neere vnto this Pallace is a garden very spacious and large all flourishiâ—g aâ—d bâ—aâ—tiâ—ull replenished with a thousand sundry kinds of grafts â—rees and sweete smelling plants among whiâ—h the â—illy the Hyacinth the Gillyflower the Rose the Violet the flower-gentle and a thousand other odoriferous flowers doe yeâ—ld a most pleasant and delightfull sigâ—t to all beholders There are a thousand fountaines and a thousand brookes among them all as the father of them all a prettie riuer which with his mild course and delightâ—ome noise doth deuide the garden from the Kings Pallace neither is this garden so straitly lookt vnto but that both the kings souldiers and Citizens may and doe at their pleasures oftentimes on horse backe repaire thither to recreate themselues in the shadowes and walkes of those greenes And as a gard for the gate of this sumptuous Pallace the king keepeth certaine orders of souldiers wherof the most noble and the greatest in number are called Churchi which are as it were the kings Pensioners being eight thousand in number all of them deuided vnder seuerall Captaines which Captaines doe yeeld obedience to the generall Captaine called Churchi-Bassa
But to leaue these two great Monarches the onely enemies to the name of Christ in field each against the other I come now to my returne from those parts The returne of the Author by the way of Persia Susiana Chaldaea Assiria and Arabia HAuing tooke my leaue of Master Robert Sherley and the rest of my country-men I left them to the mercy of the king whose bountie and goodnesse by their returne hath plentifully shewed it selfe and betooke my selfe to the protection of the Almightie to bring me in saftie againe into my owne countrey being in my returne accompanied with one Signior Belchior Dios d' Croce an Armenian Portugall or Portugall Armenian and one Christophero a Greeke who were sent with letters from the gouernour of Goa to the king of Spaine but lost afterwards their liues and letters by shipwracke in the Venetian Golfe From Hispaan we spent ten daies trauell to Siras by perswasion of some Persian merchants that were bound for Aleppo with vs trauelling through the very heart of Persia it selfe paying now and then a Shaâ—ghee a peece to certaine villages in the way no matter of importance worth the relating till we come to the Citie it selfe The description of Persia. THis country in which Siras standeth is now called the Kingdome of Farsi but in ancient time the Kingdome of Persia a kingdome of it selfe very large and pacious confining Northwards on Media Parthia Eastward on the great desart of Caramania Westward on Susiana which Strabo maketh a part of Persia and lieth betweene Babylon and Persia as shall be declared hereafter and Southward on Ormuz and the Persian golfe containing also the great kingdome of Lar whence the best Bezar stones are brought Very famous is this countrey for that it was the first place where Elam the eldest sonne of Sem dwâ—lt whereby the people of this nation were a long time called Elamits as appeareth by the prophecy of Daniel who nameth it Elam as also because it was the seate of those fiue great Persian kings mentioned in the Scriptures viz. Darius Medus Cyrus Ahâ—shuerosh Darius Longimanus alià s Artaxerxes and Artaxerxes the third which was that Darius whom Alexander the great ouercame For Darius Medus his acts and deeds were of so small esteeme and regard that they are not worth the writing But concerning Cyrus his sonne in law many excellent things are spoken of him for no king conquered so many kingdomes as he did Besides he was in grace and fauour with God for by Daniels instructions he was brought to confesse and acknowledge the God of Israel Of him did Esay prophesie an hundred yeares before his birth and his diligence was so great in ayding the Iewes afâ—er their captiuity vnto Ierusalem that he suffered them quietly to returne with wealth and treasure and commaunded all his Princes of Syria and subiects to fauour and to helpe them publishing a decree for the building vp of their temple vnto God Notwithstanding this happy and fortunate Prince was slaine by Tomyris Queene of the Massogets in Scythia who not contenting her selfe with the death of her enemy commaunded also his head to be smitten oft and throwne into a bole of mans bloud with this exprobration of his crueltie in killing her sonne Tu quidem meum vluentis in pugna victricis filium perdidisti dolo captum at ego te cruore saturaâ—n Goe now and glut thy selfe with the bloud of men which in thy life time wouldest neuer be satisfied with bloud Next vnto him raigned Ahashuerosh whom our writers call Xerxes the Chaldeans Artaxerxes the first husband to Queene Hester whose dominion did extend it selfe from India vnto Ethiopia ouer an hundred and seauen and twenty Prouinces The goodnesse of this king was fully proued at what time the Church was miserably afflicted by proud Haman and hindered by cruell Cambyses against the decree of Cyrus for he gaue full liberty and licence vnto the Iewes to build the Temple at Ierusalem Neuerthelesse towards his latter daies he was very vnfortunate in his warres being twise ouercome both at sea and land by which vnfortunate successe he that earst while was termed the Terrour of all Nations became in so generall contempt of all his subiectes that both himselfe and his sonnes were slaine by Artabanus the traitour Next vnto him succeeded Darius Longimanus This Prince was no way behind his predecessours in pietie and deuotion towards God for he would not by any meanes change their institutions concerning religious worship but with great beneficence fauoured the Iewes For in the second yeare of his raigne the Temple at Ierusalem was finished and in the seauenth yeare Esdraâ— with a number in his company returned The last King was Artaxerxes the third whom they called by the name of Darius a Prince of great industrie and noblenesse of spirit yet at last was vanquished by Alexander the great and slaine by one of his owne kinsmen ending his life together with the Persian Empyre So that now by the computation of the raigne of these kings which was one hundred fortie and seauen yeares we may easily confute that malicious tergiuersation and erroneous exposition of the Iewes of the prophecy of Daniel touching the threescore and nine weekes to the comming of the Messiah The Iewes affirme that the same prophecie doth not belong to our Sauiour Christ but that it ended the day wherein the Temple was ouerthrowne by Titus and doe interprete Christ whom Daniel prophecied should be slaine after threescore and nine weekes to be Agrippa the last of the Herodians surmising peeuishly that the Messiah liueth in the worâ—d inuisibly colouring their grosse errours therein by the false and lying Histories of some Greeks and â—atines who attribute two hundred yeares and aboue to the Empire of the Persian kings whereby some haue beene driuen to recken the beginning of those weekes after the time of Cyrus that they may end at the death of our Sauiour Christ. Which false Histories to make vp those yeares name more Persian kings then euer were as Cambyses to succeed his father Cyrus wheras he was but left by his father King in Persia in his expedition into Scythia according to the Persian custome mentioned by Herodotus which was that if the king went out of the countrey with an armie hee must appoint another king to abide in the countrey during his absence And so were Cambises and Darius Histaspis kings of Persia. And whereas some Persian kings had two or three names as Darius Xerxes and Artaxerxes they make so many kings whereas the Scriptures set downe but the fiue before named who raigned as we said but one hundred fortie and seauen yeares Whereupon it falleth out that whether you beginne to account the threescore and nine weekes from the first yeare of Cyrus who then determined the Iewes reduction and as the captiuitie grew at three times so the returne from the
captiuitie was at three times For first in the second yeare of Cyrus Zorababell with welnigh fiftie thousand Iewes returned and then laid the foundation of the Temple which was finished the second yeare of Darius Longimanus And many Iewes remaining in Babylon who for the loue of their possessions and children hauing purchased of the kings of Persia a forme of a commonwealth elected to themselues a Prince of the line of Dauid whom Origen calleth a Patriarch calling him Aechmalatarcham which signifieth the head of the outlawes And in the seauenth yeare of Darius Longimanns Esdras with a number in his company returned And lastly in the twentieth yeare of the same Darius Nehemiah with his company departed So that it falleth out that whether you beginne to account the threescore and nine weekes from the first yeare of Cyrus who then determined the Iewes reduction or from the second yeare of Darius as others will for that hee confirmed and put the same in execution or from the twentieth yeare of his raigne for that hee then made a new edict in fauour of Nehemiah and sent him intò Iewrie And not onely the tribes of Iuda Leui and Beniamin to the number of thirtie thousand but some of the other tribes to the number of tenne thousand returned also into Iewrie by the Edict of those kinges Euery way those threescore and nine weekes did ende eyther in the raigne of Augustus or Herode vnder whom Christ was borne or in the yeare of Tiberius vnder whome hee suffered Hee that would reade more of the ancient estate of Persia eyther concerning the Royall Maiestie thereof or the Religion Lawes Manners and Customes of the same or the Militarie Discipline whilest shee held the world in awe let him reade Barnabas Brissonius who hath written three bookes De Regio Persarum Principatu In the meane time wee come to describe that which wee haue seene returning where we left to Siras ancient Persepolis The description of Sieras ancient Persepolis THis Citie is situated on the banks of Bindamir a great and famous riuer which courseth through Persia and the kingdome of Lar and so emptieth it selfe into the Persian Golfe and was once the Metropoliticall seat of all the kingdome vntill of late yeares Hispaan hath gained that priuiledge from her Notwithstanding it is large spacious containing very neere ten miles in circuit and lieth iust in the road way which leads from Hispaan to Ormuz Plinie did call it caput Persiciregui for so it was during the Monarchy the head Citie of the Persian kingdome which continued famous many yeares together being stuffed with the spoyles of the whole world for Alexander when he tooke it found in the treasury fortie thousand talents of gold euery talent being sixe hundred crownes by Budaeus his computation And the same tâ—me at the request of a drunken strumpet he set this gallant Citie on fire himselfe being the first president in that wofull misery which in short time was quite burnt downe to the ground as Diodorus Siculus relateth Which vnhappy mischance Quintus Curtius on this manner bewaileth Huno exitum habuit Regiatotius Orientis vnde tot gentes ante iâ—ra petebant patria tot regum vnicus quondâ—m Gâ—aecia terror c. Such a miserable end befell to the reâ—all Citie of all the Eaâ—â— whence so many Nations did deriue their lawes and customes which was the seate of so many kings and in times past the onely terour of Greece So that in and about this towne are to be seene the ruines of many ancient monuments as two great gates thaâ— are distanâ— one from the other the space of twelue miles which shewes the circuite of this Citie as it was in the time of the Monarchy to be both large and spacious On the South side we viewed the ruines of a goodly Pallace â—â—ilded as they say by King Cyrus a Pallaâ—◠〈◊〉 â—agnified by Aelianus in his first booke de animalibus cap. 59. And on the North side the ruines of an old Castle which seemes was gyrt about with a three-fold wall â—he first wall being foure and twentie foote high adorned and beaâ—â—iâ—ied with many Tuâ—rets and spires the second was like vnto the first but twice as high â—nd the third was foure square being foure score and ten foote high All fabricated of free stone On each side were twelue gates of Brasse with brazen pales set before them very curiously wrought all which did shew the magnificence of the founder On the East side of this ruinous Castle some foure acâ—es of ground distant is a mountaine on which was erected a goodly Chappell in which most of the Persian kings in anticke time were intombed And though this Citie hath endured sundry mutations and changes yet is it not to be esteemed one of the least Cities in Persia for out of it in short time is leuied twentie thousand horsemen well armed Besides it is one of the greatest and most famous Cities of the East both for traffike of merchandize as also for most excellent armour and furniture which the armorers with wonderfull cunning doe make of yron and steele and the 〈◊〉 of certain hearbs of much more notable tempâ—r and beautie then are those which are made with vs in Europe not onely Headpâ—ecâ—s Curiaffes and complete armours but whole caparisons for horses curiously made of thinne plates of yron and steele Now by the sâ—tuation of this towne on the riâ—er Bindamir a verie profitable trade for the East Indian companie might be at Batan an hauen towne in the Persian Golâ—e which trendeâ—h in the forme of an halfe Moone hauing a little pretie Iland as a most commodious shelter in the mouth of the same whereby a shâ—p of fiue hundred â—unnes and better may ride at pleasure Very desirous is the Persian King that our shipping should come thither or to any othâ—r port in his dominions promâ—sing oftentimes times as may be iustified very probably that it should be lawfull for vs to builde and fortifie and to enioy all priuiledges in as ample manner as his owne subiectes and that if the Portugals in Ormuz should offer violence to our shipping that then hee would become their professed enemie whose league of friendship I am assured they dare not in that Iland breake standing so many waies beholding to the Persian King as they doe Besides where wee planted in Batan the King would quickly cut off the greatest trade of Merchandize eyther of raw silke or Indico from Tauris to Constantinople and turne it vnto that harbour There wee should haue a speedie vent for our broade cloath Carsies Tinne and Lead and haue in barter for the same whatsoeuer eyther the kingdome of Persia or India doth affoorde So that in mine opinion to haue Batan for a resting and refreshing harbour after our tedious sayling through the great Ocean were farre better then Bantam in Iaua or Aden or any other port in Arabia Felix places altogether of wrong
to swallow vp and ouerwhelme the Towne for euery yeare it increaseth more and more and eateth vp many Gardens and Orchards albeit they vse all pollicy to diminish the same and to make it firme ground The description of Hamath THree dayes iourney from this Towne in the mid-way to Aleppo standeth Hamath a City of great Antiquity and very famous in the Scripture for it was deliuered vp into the hands of Dauid by Toi who was King of the same It standeth on a very goodly plaine replenished abundantly with cornemand cotton-wooll but is much ruinated and falleth more and more to decay and at this day there is scarse one halfe of the wall standing which hath beene very faire and strong but because it cost many mens liues to winne it the great Turke will not haue it repaired commanding these wordes to be set ouer the Castle gate which standeth in the midst of the Towne in the Arabian tongue Cursed be the Father and the Sonne that shall lay their hands to the repairing of this place The description of Antioch NOt farre from this Towne is the famous City Antioch which in ancient time was called Epidaphane or Epiphane and of the Hebrewes Reblatha sometime the Seate of the Syrian Kings and afterwards the Metropoliticall City of Syria hauing vnder it an hundred and fifty Bishops famous for many things but amongst the rest because it was the seate of the blessed Apostle St. Peter and because it was the first place where the professors of Christian religion tooke the name of Christians This City lyeth vpon the Riuer Orontes in Scripture called Farfar about twelue miles from the Sea and was once strongly fortified both by nature on the one side by high broken Mountaines and on the other side by Art being compassed about with a double wall the vttermost whereof is of hard stone of an huge bignesse and the other of bricke with foure hundred and sixty towers on the same and an impregnable Castle at the East-end thereof whereunto was ioyning a deepe lake comming out of the great Riuer which waâ—ereth the South-side of the City But in the yeare of Grace 1187. Saladin Sultan of Aegypt dealt so cunningly with the Patriarke that by his meanes the Castle otherwise almost impregnable was for gold betrayed vnto him By meanes whereof Saladin in a short time became Lord and Master of that famous City which was hardly gained by the whole power of the Christians after eleuen moneths siege and with it fiue and twenty Cities moe that depended of the fortune thereof with all the Prouinces belonging thereunto and so now at this day the splendor and beauty thereof is altogether Eclipsed by the Turkes there resting and remaining in the midst of the ruinous walles a small village to be seene Close by the walles of this ruinous Towne runneth the Riuer Orontes which courseth through the large and spacious plaine of Antioch being numbred amongst the famous riuers of Syria whose bankes I haue viewed euen from his springing head to his maine channell which is neere to Selencia Pieria now called Soldin This riuer amongst the Turkes and Arabians hath quite lost his auncient name but because it runneth very swiftly in his course and hath many turnings and windings so that those that swimme in it are oftentimes drowned as though the poore riuer had in that respect the nature of a murderer therefore the Turkes and the Moores doe now giue it a name that expresly signifieth a murderer or traytor The description of Aleppo FRom this miserable towne we spent a dayes iourney and halfe to the rich and wealthy Citie of Aleppo which in ancient time was called Heliopolis and was that ancient Haram mentioned so often in Scripture The Moores doe call it Halip which in our tongue signifieth milke for the same Arabians doe say that it was so called for the abundance of milke which in the time of the Patriarkes was yâ—elded by the heards and flockes of cattell which fed in those champaines This Citie standeth in the Prouince of Camogena which runneth vp to Euphrates and to the confines of Armenia and is now become the third capitall citie of the Turkish Empire And well it may be so accounted since it is the greatest place of traffique for a dry towne in all those parts for hither resort Iewes Tartarians Persians Armenians Egyptians Indians many sorts of Christians all enioying freedome of conscience and bringing thither all kindes of rich merchandise the trade and trafficke of which place because it is so well known to most of our nation I omit to write of The ayre of this Citie is much pleasing and delightfull to a sound and healthfull body but very piercing and dangerous for such as haue receiued any contagion at Scanderon and therefore it is not good for any passenger to lie long at that roade but to hasten at his first arriuall so soone as he can vp farder into the Countrey This City lyeth vpon the Riuer Singa which as some report a Souldier of Grand Caire drew from Euphrates and hath a channell vnder ground which produceth many fountaines both publike and priuate yeelding no small pleasure and contentment to the inhabitants It containeth in circuit foure hils vpon one of which is raised a goodly Castle hauing a deepe ditch intrenched round about and a bridge ascending step by step with foure gates before you can passe into the Castle it selfe being guarded with a strong and sure garrison of foure or fiue hundred Ianizaries both to curbe the rebellion of the City and to keep it from forraigne inuasion The walles of this City are about three English miles in compasse and the suburbs almost as much more and round about for foure miles space are goodly Gardens Orchards and Vineyards which beare abundance of delicate fruits and of the best Wines which are notwithstanding very deare by reason of the quantity thereof that there is sold and eaten The number of people which resort to this City may easily be comprehended sith betweene the City and the suburbs in the yeare of Grace 1555. there dyed of the plague more then an hundred and twenty thousand persons in three Moneths No building of importance is here to be seen saue the Temples or Moschees and Caines all fabricated of hard quarry stone arched and vaulted with Cesternes full of water in the middest of the Courts In a word this City is one of the most famous Marts of the East the customes that are paied by our English nation the French the Venetians the huge Carauans which come from Balsara Persia Mecha are exceeding great and therefore may well obtayne the third place of the Turkish Empire Neuerthelesse it hath indured diuers changes and sundry alterations being in the yeare 1177. betrayed and taken from the Christians by Saladin Sultan of Damascus but afterwards in the yeare 1260. it was againe recouered by Haalon the Tartar who hauing receiued the Christian faith was sent
army escaped the sword of the Persians There was three great Sanzaecks slaine one taken and the other sled eight hundred Iamzaries seeing themselues forâ—aken of their Captaineâ— laid downe their Harquebusiers and other weapons and yeelded themselues vpon Delymenthes his word It might then well haue beene said of the Turks which the Poet speaâ—eth of the night wherein Troy was â—ackâ— Quis cladem illius noctis qui funere fando Explicet The slaughter of that night was such as that it is of the Turkes vntill this day accounted amongst their greatest losses and the victory so welcome to the Persians that in memoriall thereof they still keepe that day which was the thirteenth of October as one of their solemne holidayes In Bithlis wee staied two dayes and at our departure paied vnto the Gouernour of the said City a Dollâ—r on a summe of goods and so set forwards towards the great City Van three dayes iourney farther In which trauell we had a very wearisome and painefull iourney ouer high mountaines and craggy rocks the way being exceeding narrow that a beast could hardly passe with his burden without much heauing and tumultuous shouldering The which narrow passages the Turks told vs was by the commandement of Amurat the third the great Turke cut through by the maine industry of laborers for his army to passe like that incredible worke which Hanibal with vineger wrought vpon the Alpes In this place our trauell was very dangerous by reason of a brackish lake or little Sea called the lake Arctamar which was vnder the Rocke ouer which wee passed and wee inforced to ride shoaling on the side of the said Rocke that had not our Mules beene sure of footing both theâ— and we had perished with an insupportable downefall iâ—â—hat Sea Two miles from this shore in the aforesaid lake are two Ilands called the Ecmenicke Ilands inhabited only by Armenians and some Georgians which two Ilands doe bring forth and yeeld such store of cattell and plenty of rice wheate and batly that as the Island of Scycilia was called in timeâ— past Horreum P. Romani so these Ilands are at this day the gatners and store houses for all the Countrey round abouâ— Being arriued at Van our Carauan rested in the subâ—â—bs of the said City not daring to presume to enter the City by reason that the Bassae was gone to fetch in a rebell that was risen vp in those parts in whose absence the City vnder the sub-Bassae was no better gouerned then it should be On the West side of this City lyeth a pleasant and delightfull plaine wherein the Ianizaries twise a weeke doe exercise themselues after their manner in the seats of warre On the North side runneth the lake Arctamar called in antique time the Moore or Marish Martiana or Margiana or Mantiana Strabo affirmeth that it is matchable in greatnesse with the lake Mâ—otidis in the Kingdome of Sermatia so much spoken of by the Poets Out of this lake is caught yearly an innumerable quantity of fish like our Herring which being dryed in the Sunne they disperse and sell them ouer all the Countrey thereabout The description of Van. THis City is double walled with hard quarry stone and is the strongest Towne in all these parts being fortified with great store of brasse Ordonance and a strong Castle mounted on an high Rocke to command and defend the City It was once vnder the gouernement of the Persian but Solyman the Magnificent in the yeare 1549. with a puissant army did besiege the same which after ten daies siege was yeelded vnto him by the Persian Gouernour vppon condition that the Persian Souldiers there in garrison might with life and liberty depart with their weapons as Souldiers which was by Solyman granted and so the City was surrendred vp into his handes from the Persian King who neuersince could get the same into his possessions It is gouerned now by a Bassae who hath vnder him twelue thousand Timariots At this City wee stayed fiue daies paying a Dollor on a summe of goods and passed from thence to a Turkish Village called Gnusher the houses standing in two seuerall places the one row fit for the Winter and the other for the Sommer season Here wee beganne the ascent of the high mountaines of Arraret and about noone-tide we beheld Bruz the very crest of the Periardi mountaines now called Cheilder Monte the hils of Periardo These mountains so called are very famous by the rising of many notable great riuers which doe so fructiferate the country therabouts that the barbarous people call it Leprus which is to say fruitfull viz. First the Riuer Araxis which running out of a certaine Marish with many armes doth wonderfully inrich that champaine and drie Countrey This Riuer springeth out of the hill Taurus in this part where Periardo is situate on the side of the hill Abo and so runneth by East euen to the confines of Seruan and windeth it selfe towards the West and by North where it is ioyned with the Riuer Cirus and then passeth to Artaxata now called Nassiuan a City of the Armenians right against Reiuan another City and so watereth Armenia and coursing along the plaine of Araxis dischargeth it selfe into the Caspian Sea on the one side by South leauing Armenia and on the other side by North leauing the Countrey Seruania whose chiefe City is Eris This Riuer is deep and large but yet at this present it containeth not those maruels that Herodotus reporteth of it as also it is very hard to vnderstand that which Q. Curtius writeth touching the course thereof and that which Natales Comes hath left written of it in his History The Riuer Cirus likewise springeth out of Taurus and so descending into the champaines and plaines of Georgia charging it selfe and being greatly increased with other Riuers it is ioyned with Araxis and so maketh his issue also into the Caspian Sea This Riuer the inhabitants of the Countrey at this day call by the name of Ser in their owne language but the Turkes call it Chiur Out of these mountaines also springeth the Riuer Canac which maketh as it were almost an Iland a little on this side the City Ere 's and afterwards vnite it selfe in the Channell with Araxis and so runneth into the Caspian Sea Two other mountaines are of great note in this place the one is Anti-Taurus now called Mons Niger the blacke mountaine which runneth vp into Media and the other Gordaeus the tops of which mountaiâ—es are couered continually with white and hoary snowes The mountaine Gordaeus is inuironed with many other petty mountaines called the Gordaean mountaines on the tops whereof as we passed we found many ruines and huge foundations of which noâ—re son can be rendred but that which Iosephus giues saying that they which escaped the flood were so astonished and amazed that they durst not descend into the plaines and low countries but kept on the tops of those
subiect and tributary to the Scepter of Persia and contrariwise both by nature and affection great enemies to the Turke This Towne was much indangered in the warres betwixt Amurat the great Turke and Mahomet Codibanda the Persian King ready to bee swallowed vp of both One while the Bassae of Reiuan on the great Turkes behalfe made an inrode vpon them with a thousand and fiue hundred Harquebusiers whom they were faine to pacifie with a very bountifull present excusing themselues that if they had beene backward in bringing vnto him their voluntary tributes it was done for feare least they should haue fallen into the displeasure of Mahomet Codibanda their King who no doubt if heâ— should haue vnderstood any such matter would haue been ready to destroy their Countrey and depriue them of their liberty and liues The Bassae was no sooner departed with this answere and their present but forth with Aliculi-cham was sent by the Persian King with three thousand Souldiers and with this direction that if the country were subdued by the Turks he should fight against it and if it had voluntarily yeelded it selfe vnto them hee should not only recouer it but also burne it and bring away all the chiefe men of the Countrey for prisoners and slaues To auoide which danger these poore Chiulfalini were glad to present the Persian Prince with greater and more liberal gifts then they did their enemy Bassae Thus these miserable people in the midst of armes and squadrons of the enemy were constrained what with presents and what with lies notably to preserue their liberties and their liues in safety Within a dayes iourney and halfe of this Towne is the Chalderan plaines memorable for the battell fought there on the seuenth day of August in the yeare 1514. betweene the two great Emperours Ismael King of Persia and Selymus the first Emperor of the Turkes In which battell Selymus lost aboue thirty thousand men amongst whom was Cassan-Bassae his great Lieutenant in Europe seauen Sanzacks with the two Malcozzian brethren who labouring the one to rescue the other were both together staine Besides his common foot-men of whom he made least reckoning he lost most part of his Illirian Macedonian Seruian Eâ—irot Thessalonian and Thracian horse-men the vndoubted flower and strength of his army which were in that mortall battell almost all slaine and grieuously wounded And certainly had it not beene for the Turkes great Artillery Ismael with his thirty thousand horse-men had ouerthrowne Selymus with his three hundred thousand Turks But Selymus reseruing all his great Ordonance at his last refuge caused it to bee discharged by violence whereof such slaughter was made as well of his owne men as of his enemies mingled together what for dust what for smoke and thundering of the Artillery hauing on both sides almost lost the vse of sight and hearing and â—â—eir horses being so terrified with the thundering report of the great Ordonance that they were not now to be managed the battell was broken off and the victory yet doubtfull In the end Hismael had the worst and was put to flight by reason that the Persian horses had neuer beene vsed to the noise and thundering of the artillery which they could not abide to heare The Turkish stories to expresse the terrour of this day number it amongst their dismall daies terming it the only day of doome The manner of this battel is painted in the Counsell chamber at Venice and is reported that Selymus the great Turke caused it so to bee done and sent it to the Senate there At Chiulfal we staied eight dayes and passed againe the Riuer Araxis leauing the noble Kingdome of Armenia â—alled now Turcomania because of the Turcomanes a people that came out of Scythia as before wee noted who liue as sheepheards in their tents but the natiue people giue themselues to husbandry and other manuall sciences as working of Carpets and fine Chamlets Wee were no sooner ouer but wee entred into Media which by some is deuided into Media Atropatia and Media the Great The description of MEDIA ATROPATIA MEdiae Atropatia is called by the Hebrewes Madian but now it is termed Sâ—ruan or Seruania The bounds of this Kingdome Northwards are the Albanians and a little beyond them some wandering and vagabond Tartars called Pericorschi betweene Caucasus and the Riuer Volga whereupon it may be that the Tartarians are comprehended vnder the name of Volcenses Eastward the lake as Polycletes terme it or rather as other call it the Sea of Corazan viz. the Caspian Sea Southward on Armenia and more towards the South and South-cast Media the great The whole countrey is very fruitfull and watered with the Riuer Araxiâ— and Cirus and other Riuers that are famous euen in antique Writers Diuers Cities are there in this Kingdome but my purpose is to speake only of those which we saw in these parts viz. Sumachia Derbent Sechi Ere 's and Aras Sumachia is the Metropoliticall City of Sirâ—an and lyeth betweene Derbent and Ere 's where the Kings of Siruan vsed to keepe their great and sumptuous Courts chiefly inhabited by Armenians and Georgians In this City our English Merchants did traffique much and had an house giuen them by Obdowlocan in the yeare 1566. as reuerend Mr. Hackluit doth relate who then raigned there vnder the Persian King In this City wee saw the ruines of a most cruell and barbarous spectacle that is to say a turret erected with free stone and flints in the midst of which flints were placed the heads of all the Nobility and Gentry of that Countrey which fell out on this occasion This Countrey of Siruan in time past was of great renowme hauing many Cities Townes and Castles in it the Kings thereof being of great power able to wage warre with the Kings of Persia but through their diuersity in religion the Persian made a conquest of them razing downe to the ground their Cities Townes and Castles that they should not rebell and also putting to death their Nobility and Gentry and for the greater terrour of the people placed their heads in the foresaid Turrer About a mile distant from this Towne is the ruines of an old Castle once esteemed to be one of the strongest Castles in the world and was besieged by Alexander the Great a long time before hee could winne it And a little further off was a Nunnery most sumptuously builded wherein was buried as they told vs the body of Ameleke Canna the Kings Daughter who slew her selfe with a knife for that her Father would haue forced her shee professing chastity to haue marryed with a Prince of Tartary vppon which occasion the Virgins of this Countrey doe resort thither once a yeare to lament her death This City is distant from the Caspian Sea with Camels seauen dayes iourney and from Derbent sixe dayes iourney It was in the yeare 1578. yeelded vp vnto Mustaffa the Generall of the Turkish army without resistance who presently
horses mules and cammels in another place carpets garments and felts of all sorts and in another all kind of fruits as Muske-mellons Anguries Pomegranates Pistaches Adams apples Dates Grapes and Raisons dried in the Sun In this place do sit daily twelue Sheraffes that is men to buy sell Pearle Diamonds and other pretious stones and to exchange gold siluer to turne Spanish dollers to great aduantage into Persian coyne and to change the great peeces of the Persian coyne as Abbasses Larines and such like into certain brasse monies for the poore They wil also lend vpon any pawne that with as great interest as our diuellish Brokers and Scriueners take in London Finally the strength of this Citie consisteth not in walles and bulwarkes but in the souldiers that are continually maintained in and about this Citie for out of Casbin and the villages belonging vnto the same are maintained twentie thousand souldiers on horsebacke howsoeuer in this kings fathers time were leuied but twelue thousand Two places neere to this Citie are very remarkable the one is the Citie Ardouil the other Giland Ardouil is a Citie foure daies iourney from Casbin and two from Soltania A Citie of great importance where Alexander the great did keepe his Court when he inuaded Persia. It is a towne much esteemed and regarded by reason of the sepulchers of the kings of Persia which for the most part lie there intombed and so is growne a place of their superstitious deuotion as also because it was the first place which receiued the Persian sect wherein Giâ—â—â— the first Authour thereof did reside and raigne A sect or superstition very commodious to the Christian Commonwealth because it hath bred great contentions and warre among the Mahumetane nations which before were so vnited together by Mahomets deuice that they seemed to be more then friends and in league one with another The Author of this nouelty was as we said before one Giuni a man well descended among the Persians who contemning al worldly honour râ—ches pleasure as meere vanities trifles led such an austere kind of life with such coÌ„tinency contempt of the world as that the vulgar people began to haue the man in singular admiration for the opinion they had conceiuâ—d of his vpright life rare vertues The fame of thiâ— new Prophet as so he was accounted was growne so great in the Persian kingdome that the people without number resorted out of all parts of Persia vnto the Citie Ardouil to see the man And he the more to seduce the people being by nature inconstant and superstitious began to perswade them that the three first successours of Mahomet were vniust and vnlawfull vsurpers of that dignitie and that iust Aly Mahomets sonne in law onely ought to be named the lawfull successour that he alone ought to be called vpon in their prayers for helpe and that all honours should be giuen to him and taken from Abubacher Omar and Ottaman as from persons that were vndoubtedly damned Finally he taught them onely to receiue the writings of Aly as of others most authenticall to reiect Abuchacher Omar and Ottaman with their writings as most wicked accuâ—sed whoÌ„ the Turks had euer and yet do honour worship as the true successors of their Prophet Mahomet and his sincere interpreters together with the aforesaid Aly whom the Persians do only acknowledge and therefore in their prayers doe commonly say Cursed be Abubachar Omar and Ottaman and God be fauorable to Aly and well pleased with him Which their difference about the true successor of their Prophet in whom was no â—ruth hath bene and yet is one of the greatest causes of the mortall warres betweene the Turkes and the Persians and not the diuers interpretation of their law as many haue written which among the Tuâ—ks and Persians is all one This superstition was first broached as we said by Giuni afterwards maintained by Sederdin after him by Giuni the second then by Haider Erdebil afterwards by Hysmael the great Sophy it increased wonderfully that Persia seemed to enuie the glory of Cyrus and Darius After the death of Hysmael it was maintained by King Tamas his sonne who raigned with lesse felicitie being much damnified by Solyman the Turkish Emperour After Tamas succeeded Aidere the second who raigned but certaine daies and houres and then followed Hismael the brother of Aidere who troubled all the Cities of his kingdome with manifold hurly-burlies after him Mahomet surnamed Codibanda this kings father more vnfortunate then all the rest and lastly the king that now is who by his valour hath so largely dilated the confines of his kingdome that it seemeth he hath as it were founded it anew The description of HIRCANIA THe other place neere to Casbin remarkable is the countrey of Gilan in the Prouince of Hircania very famous in antique time Sundry names are giuen vnto it by the Barbarians some call it Girgia or Corca from a certaine Citie which stood in the same others Straua from a part of this kingdome others Messandra as Minadoâ— Mercator calles it Diargument and in ancient time Hircania so much spoken of by the Poets for the huge woods and fierce Tygers that abound there Westward this kingdome bounds vpon Media Eastward on Margiana Southward on Parthia and the Coronian mountaines and Northward on the Caspian Sea The North part of this kingdome is ful of thick woods shadowiâ— gâ—ones wherein grow diuers sorts of trees but specially Câ—daâ—s Beeches and Oakes a fit harbour and shelter for Tygers Pantheâ—s and Pardies which wilde beasts make the passage in those places very dangerous but neere to the Sea side it is full of pasture and very delightfull by reason of the manifold sweete springs which issue out of the mountaine neere adioyning Many principall Cities are there in this countrey as Bestan Massandran Pangiazer Bachu and Gheilan Cities of such state and condition as deserue to haue a Gouernour of the same dignitie that the Bassa is with the Turkes Concerning Bachu it is a verie ancient hauen-towne very commodious for ships to harbour in as also profitable to vent commodities by reason that Ardouil Tauris Ere 's Sumachia and Derbent ly not many daies from thence Neere vnto this towne is a verie strange and wonderfull fountaine vnder ground out of which there springeth and issueth a maruellous quantitie of blacke Oyle which serueth all the parts of Persia to burne in their houses and they vsually carrie it all ouer the countrey vpon Kine and Asses whereof you shall oftentimes meete three or foure hundred in company Gheilan and the rest stand likewise altogether in traffick Gheilan being but foure easie daies trauell from Casbin and very neere vnto the Caspian Sea A Sea that is very commodious and profitable being in length two hundred leagues and in breadth an hundred and fiftie without any issue to other Sea to the East part of this Sea ioyneth
they are said to driue there cattaile from the pasture least they should perish by Satietie And true it is that the vngy or hay which groweth in these parts is of so strong an operatiue power to fatten that they are constrained before they giue it their cattaile to flake and coole the heats thereof with water Herodotus speaketh as an eye-witnesse that the place where Euphrates runneth out into Tigris not farre from the place where Ninus is seated is a Region of al otherâ— most excellent which bringeâ—h forth corne so aboundantly that the ord nary fields in his time did returne the seed sowne in them two hundreth fold the better places three hundreth that is thrâ—e hundreth bushels for one or at the least three hundreth graines for one corne And there is nothing that better proueth the excellency of this soile then the abouÌ„dant growing of Palm-trees in these places without the care labor of man The most of which trees do beare fruit out of which the inhabitants make both meat wine hony and whatsoeuer else the life of man begetteth at nature Pliny affirmeth that such is the fertility of the grouÌ„d that they are coÌ„strained twise to mow down their corne-fields a thiâ—d time to eate them vp with sheepe adding this singularity to the soile that the second yeere the very stubble or rather falling downe of the seed againe yeeldeth them a haruest of corne without any farther labour So that by these few collections we may gather that they are farre besides the truth which haue sought Paradise either beyond our knowne world or in the middle region of the aire or nere the Moone or as far as the South-line or the North-pole beeing meere vanities imagined in mens fancies Cardinal Bellarminâ— in his coÌ„trouersiâ—s is likewise much troubled to finde out the place where Paradise should bee whether it be in the earth or in the aire yea some are so mad that they doe peremptorily set downe that the earthly Paradise after Adam was banished thence for his sin was by God lifted vp into the aire but this as His Maiesty learnedly sheweth in his Praemonition to al Christiâ—n Monarchs free Princes and states is like one of the dreames of the Turkish Alcoran sâ—eing no such miracle is mentioned in the scriptures hâ—uing no ground but from the curious fancies of some boiling braines who cannot be content sapere ad sobrietatem We conclude then that the garden of Eden was created by God in this habitable world and that in the lower part of the region of Eden called by the Iewes Aram FluuioruÌ„ Aram amongst the â—iuers and by the Greekes Mâ—sâ—potamia conteyning a part of Shinar Armenia and reteining the name of Eden in some part vnto this day as before is declared From the Island of Eden wee returned to Mosuâ— and staied there eight daies so went down the riuer Tigris to Bagdâ—t or New Babilon beeing carried not on boat as down the riuer Euphrates but vpon certaine Zatarres or rafts borne vpon goates skins blowne full of winde like bladders Which rafts they sel at Bagdat for fire carry their skins againe home vpon Asses by land to make other voiages down the said riuer This riuer is very famous because it watered Paradise whose coursing is very strang for some part of it issuing out of the Mountaines Nifates passeth through the lake Topiti in Armenia a lake which hath Nitrum in it the property whereof is to rent and teare a mans apparell with such swiftnesse that it mingles not it selfe with the water of the said lake and therevpon it is called Tigris which in the languag of the Medes signifieth an arrow Nere to the vttermost corner of this lake it falleth into a great deepe runneth for a great space vnder ground and then riseth againe neere to Colonitis and from thence courseth towards Opis and the ruins of Nineuy and so to 〈…〉 Persian gulfe The description of New Babilon now called Bagdat BY this riuer the cittie Bagdat is very aboundantly furnished with all kinde of prouision both of corne flesh fowle fish and venison of all sorts besides great store of fruit but especially of dates and that very cheape This citty by some is called new Babilon and may well be because it did rise out of the ruines of old Babilon not farre distant being nothing so great nor so faire for it conteines in circuit but three English miles and is built but of brick dryed in the sunne their houses also beeing flat roofed and lowe They haue no raine for eight moneths together nor almost any clowd in the skie night nor day Their winter is in Nouember December Ianuary and February which moueths are neuerthelesse as warme as our summer in England In a word this towne was once a place of great trade and profit by reason of the huge Carauans which were wont to come from Persia and Balsara but since the Portugalls Englishmen and Hollanders haue by their traffique into the East-Indies cut off almost all the trade of Marchandize into the gulfs of Arabia and Persia both Grand Cairo in Egipt and Bagdat in Assyria are not now of that benefit as they haue beene either to the merchant or great Turke his tributes both in Egypt and his customes in this place being much hindred thereby Memorable not withstanding is this towne for that it was the onely place where for the space of six hundreth yeares the Mahumetane Caliphes were resident and kept their sumptuous court vntill the Tartare Prince and the King of Armenia as before is declared did besiege it and in the end tooke it with the Caliph also together with an inestimable masse of treasure Which treasure when the two Princes saw they demanded of the Caliph why he would not with the same leauy and wage souldiers for his owne defence Whereunto he answered that vnto that time he thought his owne subiects had beene sufficient enough to haue resisted any forraine enemie which they vnderstanding immediatly caused all that treasure to be carried into the castle and the couetouâ— wretch set in the midst of the same forbidding that any man should giue him either meat or drink where he miserably dyed through famine in the midst of his riches After it continued vnder the Tartar and Persian gouernment vntil it was taken by Solyman the Turkish Emperor from Tamas the Persian king who after it was yeelded vnto him according to an old superstitious manner receiued at the hands of a poore Caliph the ensignes and ornaments of the kings of Assyria so this city with the great countries of Assyria and Mesopotamia somtimes famous kingdomes of themselues and lately part of the Persian kingdome fell into the hands of the great Turke in the yeare 1534 and so haue continued euer since Prouinces of the Turkish Empire It was reported vnto Rodulphus the Emperor for a certaine truth that the king of Persia had
regard whereof Mahomet did recommend them as his kind friends to his successours who euer since haue permitted the poore Armenians to liue amongst them But the true reason is for that they are very laborious in transporting merchandise from one City to another by which meanes through the customes which are paid in euery City the coffers of the Grand Signior are wonderfully inriched Vnto which doth well agree that scoffing taunt which Abbas now King of Persia did throw vpon an Armenian who being desirous to forsake his Christian faith and to embrace the wicked and filthy superstition of the Persians vppon hope of reward and preferment the King did not only rebuke his tepedity and coldnesse in his religion but sent him away with this skornefull reproofe That an Armenian now was good for nought saue as a Camel to transport merchandise from one city to another implying that howsâ—euer in antique times they had beene warlike and couragious yet now they were become Buffelloes and Pultrones altogether vnfit for martiall affaires This people haue two Patriarkes to whom they giue the name of Vniuersall the one keepeth his seate in the City of Sis in Caramania not farre from Tharsus the other in the Monastery of Ecmeazin neere vnto the City Eruan in this Countrey Vnder these two Patriarkes are eighteene Monasteries full fraight with Friers of their religion and foure and twenty Bâ—shopricks The maintenance allowed in times past vnto each of these two Patriarks was a Maidin on an house each Patriarke hauing vnder him twenty thousand housholds but now that large beneuolence the great Turke hath ceased into his owne hands as if the tythe of the Church were fitter for his vnsatiable desire then for those poore miserable and despised Church-men and therefore now they are constrained to liue on the almes of the people going continually in visitation from one City to another carrying their wiues and whole family with them The people of this nation haue retained amongst them the Christian faith as it is thought from the time of â—he Apostles but at this day it is spotted with many absurdities They hold with the Church of Rome in the vse of the Crosse affirming it to be meritorious if they make the same with two fingers as the Papists vse but idle and vaine if with one finger as the Iacobites They adorne their Churches in euery place with the signe of the Crosse but for other Images they haue none being professed enemies against the vse of them In keeping ancient reliques they are very superstitious and much deuoted to the â—lessed Virgin Mary to whom they direct their prayers They imitate the Dioscorians in eating whit-meats on Saturday which to doe on Wednesday and Friday were a deadly sin neuerthelesse they will not refraine from the eating of flesh on euery Friday betweene the feast of the Passeouer and the Ascention They abstaine fiue Sabboths in the yeare from eating flesh in remembrance of that time in which the Gentiles did sacrifice their children vnto Idols They celebrate the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary on the sixt of Aprill the Natiuity of our blessed Sauiour on the sixt of Ianuary the Purification the fourth of February and the Transfiguration the fourteenth of August The ministration of their Liturgie or seruice is performed in their natiue language that all may vnderstand but in their seruice of the Masse for the dead they are most idolatrous vsing at the solemnizing thereof to sacrifice a Lambe which they first lead round about the Church and after they haue killed it and rosted it they spread it on a faire white linnen cloath the Priest giuing to each of the Congregation a part and portion thereof For which cause they are called by some Sabbatists and Iulianists as too much addicted to the ceremonies of the Iewes and deuoted to the errours of Iulian. I haue heard some Papists boast and bragge much that both Armenians Iacobites and Greoians are vnited to the Chuâ—ch of Rome but I could neuer heare either Armenian or Grecianâ—uouch â—uouch any such matter They are vnlesse some few families so farre from yeelding obedience vnto the Sea of Rome that they assume all antiquity vnto themselues as hauing retained the Christian faith from the time of the Apostles Many Iesuites and Priests haue been sent from Rome to bring this oppressed nation vnder her gouernment but they haue little preuailed for neither will they yeeld obedience nor be brought by any perswasion to forsake their ancient and inueterate errours to become more erroneous with her Hauing well refreshed our sâ—lues amongst these villages we proceeded in our ordinary trauell but ere we had passed two miles certaine troupes of Curdies incountred our Carauan with a purpose and intent to haue robbed the same but finding themselues too weake to contend with so great company they departed vntill the next day following when againe they met with vs in a very narrow passage betweene two mountaines where they made a stay of our whole Carauan exacting a Shaughee on euery person which to purchase our peace wee willingly paied and so arriued that euening at Bithlis an ancient City but a City of much cruelty and oppression where little iustice and right is to be found to releeue distressed passengers The description of Bithlis THis City standeth in a pleasant valley by which runneth a little Riuer falling out of the mountaines Anti-Taurus it was once a Towne in the confines of the Persian Kingdome bordering vpon Mesopotamia and had a Castle kept with a garrison of Persian Souldiers before such time as Solyman the Magnificent did conquer these Countries which was in the yeare 1535. In which yeare there was a memorable battell fought betweene the two great Bassaes of Caire and Syria conducted by Vlemas the Persian Traitor and Delymenthes a right Nobleman of Persia. The two Bassaes and Vlemas were commanded by Solyman in his returne from the spoile of Tauris to follow him with eighteene thousand good Souldiers in the rereward of his army to receiue and represse the suddâ—n assaulâ—s of the Persians if neede should require But Delymenthes with fiue thousand Persian Souldiers pursued the Turkes and ouertooke them in the aforesaid valley and being furthered in this venterous designement both by the darkenesse of the night and the abundance of raine which fell at the same instant as if it had beene wished for on a sudden goâ— within the Turkes campe where the Persian Souldiers as Wolues amongst Sheepe did such speedy execution amongst the sleepy Turkes that the two great Bassaes and Vlemas had much adoe to get to horse and saue themselues by flight And such was the fury of the Persians and the greatnesse of the sudden feare increased by the darkenesse of the night that the Turkes not knowing which way to turne themselues or what to doe were slaine by thousands some sleeping some halfe waking some making themselues ready to fight and to flie few of all that great
a man alwaies of great authoâ—ity Next vnto this order is another called Esahul to the number of a thousand distinguished also vnder particular Captaines and the chiefe Captaine is called Esahul-Bassa All these are maintained by certaine townes and villages which are feudataries to the crowne of Persia and they receiue at certaine times of the kings armour horses apparrell and tents euery one as he is in place and degree with this strong garrison is the King daily attended vpon and maintaineth the Maiestie of his Court especially when he rideth in prograce And for the gouernment of this Citie there is besides the King and the Prince twelue Sultanes but three especially are appointed by the King for the generall gouernement of the whole Empire hauing their seuerall distinct charges One hath the care of all martiall affaires throughout the kingdome and the other two receiue all the reuenewes keeping a iust account thereof which two we may call Treasurers Next vnto these are the Mordari two great Chancellors whose office is to write all orders commaundements and letters concerning the gouernment of the kingdome one of them keepeth the Seale and the other the Pen. Besides these there are two Caddi that is two Iudges who make answere and giue sentence onâ—ly in matters of controuersie and ciuill quarrels but as touching criminall causes they haue no further authority then to frame examinations of witnesses and to make declaration thereof which they call the Sygil and this Sygil they deliuer vp into the hands of the Sulâ—an that is either gouernour of the Citie or else of the Empire and he causeth execution to be done according to custome And looke as Hispaan is gouerned so other Cities haue the selfe same Magistrates all being at the kings disposition and appointment Concerning the Church gouernment there is in this Citie first the chiefe of the law whom they call the Mustaed-dini a wicked and prophane Priest and in the other subiect Cities are certaine peculiar heads obedient to this chiefe Priest who are not chosen and displaced at his pleasure as the popish Bishops are by the Pope but by the king himselfe who is not onely a King but a Priest as Mahomet and Aly were But to auoid trouble the King granteth that fauour and putteth ouer that burden from himselfe vnto others to whose iudgement he also referreth himselfe whensoeuer any consultation is touching their law or prophane superstition Vnder this great Priest are Califes and these doe daily execute seruice in the Moschees or Temples The chiefe of these Califes is he that putteth the horne vpon the Kings head when he is first inthronized A ceremony once performed in Cafe neere Babylon but since Solyman the Turkish Emperor won Assiria from the Persian it hath beene sometimes performed in Casbin and sometimes in Hispaan Finally the inhabitants of this City do much resemble the ancieÌ„t Parthians in diuers things but specially in their continuall riding They ride on horseback for the most part on horsback they fight with the enemy they execute all affairs as wâ—l publike as priuat on horsebacke they go from place to place on horseback they buy and sell and on horsebacke they conferre talke with one another and the difference betweene the Gâ—ntleman and the slaue is that the slaue neuer rideth nor the Gentleman neuer goeth on foote Besides the nature of this people is arrogant seditious deceitfull and very vnquiet but that the fiercenesse of their nature is much restrained by the kings seuere gouernement To sensuality they are much inclined hauing three sorts of women as they terme them viz. honest women halfe honest women and courtezans and yet they chastice no offence with like extremity as adultery and that as well in the halfe honest woman as in the honest Last of all they are full of craftie stratagems and are breakers of their promise a vice that is very inbred in all Barbarians Not content with any mans gouernement long and louers of nouelties For testimonie whereof wee may auouch those ancient poysonings wicked treacheries which were plotted not onely by subiectes against their soueraignes but also by children against their naturall parents for the name of father were in so small estimation with those fiftie sons of Artaxerxes that with one consent they all conspired to murther him The which monstrous impietie euer since hath beene practised in this nation sometimes the father with the children sometimes the children with the father and sometimes the children with one another For instance whereof we may take Abas that now reigneth who being gouernour of Heri whilst his father raigned did not onely conspire to haue his eldest brother Emirhamze the hopefullest Prince that euer was in Persia to be betraied into the hands of the Turkish generall in the yeare 1586 but also by force of money and gifts perswaded one of his owne Eunuches to kill him who was no sooner corrupted put his treason in practice and vpon a sodaine in the night time as he slept on his pallet stroke him through his bodie with a launce and so the most resplendent and bright shining Lampe that euer was in Persia was vtterly extinguished And not content with this impietie towards his brother did shortly after condescend as the full report goeth to haue his aged father Mahomet surnamed Codibanda poysoned without either regard of his fatherly maiestie or reuerence to age or naturall pietie that so he might ascend into the kingdome Infinite also are the calamities which he hath brought since he came to the crowne on the houses of the ancient Persian Nobilitie Notwithstanding howsoeuer by the shedding of much bloud he was saluted King vpon the death of his father yet hath he so carried the matter that now he is exceedingly beloued and honoured of his subiects in so much that when they will confirme any thing by solemne oathes they will sweare by the head of Abas the king and when they wish well to any man they vsually say King Abas grant thee they desire This Prince is verie absolute both in perfection of his bodie and his minde but that he is in religion a professed Mahumatine excellently composed in the one and honourablie disposed in the other Of an indifferent stature neither to high nor to low His countenance verie sterne his eyes fierce and piercing his colour swaâ—ffy his mustachees on his vpper lip long with his beard cut close to his chinne expressing his martiall disposition and exorable nature that at the first a man would thinke to haue nothing in him but mischiefe and crueltie And yet he is of nature courteous and affable easie to be seene and spoken withall his manner is to dine openly in the company of his greatest courtiers delighting much in hawking and hunting accompanied with his nobilitie and the Ambassadors of forraine Princes He will oftentimes runne leape and proue masteries with his chiefe courtiers being
that therefore many trauellers haue bin deceiued who suppose that they haue seene a part of that tower which Nimrod builded But who can tel whether it be the one or the other It may bee that confused Chaos which we saw was the ruines of both the Temple of Bel being founded on that of Nimrod In a word their were burnt in tâ—is Temple an hundreth thousand talents of Frankincence in a yeere as Herodotus relateth This Temple did Nabuchadnezar adorne and beautifie with the spoiles of Ierusalem and of the Temple of Solomon all which vessels ornaments Cyrus re-deliuered And Xerxes after him euened this Temple with the soile which Alexander is said to haue repaired by the perswasion of the Chaldeans I denie not that it might haue been in his minde so to doe but hee enioyed but a few yeeres after the taking of Babilon and therefore could not performe any such worke But to returne where wee left To this city were the Iewes carried captiues and so thereof it was called the captiuity of Babilon A captiuity so well known to heatheÌ„ writers that they make mention of it For they expresly affirme that in the time of Ioachim King of Iuda Ieremie the Prophet was sent vnto them from God to foretell them of extreame calamity because they worshipped an Idol called Baal whervpon as they relate Ioachim commanded Ieremy to be burnt a liue But Ieremy tels them that the King of Assiria should put them to sore labor make them to digge a channel to saile out of the riuer Euphrates into the riuer Tigris wherevpon Nabuchadnezar did set forward with a mighty army spoyling Samaria winning Ierusalem and leading away King Ioachim prisoner Yea they doe set downe the very time of the captiuity viz. that it should last three score yeers and ten and that Nabuchadnezar at his returne to Babilon was stricken with madnesse and did cry out for a certaine time night and day to his subiects the Babilonians that so great a mischiefe would shortly fall vpon them that all the power of the Gods should not stay it For quoth he an halfe asse of Persia shall come make you thrals foreshewing that Cyrus should bee the man which should both build againe the Temple of Ierusalem and subdue Babilon So that now wee may iustly aske what is become of this proud city which once held the world in awe Where are her conduits the rarenesse of her bathes the hugenesse of her towers the greatnesse of her Temples the beauty of her princely palaces a number of other monuments of her kings vanities Alas time hath worne them out and we may say Miramur perijsse homines monumenta fatiscunt interitus Saxis nominibusque venit Why wonder we that men doe die Since monuments decay And towers fall and founders names Doe perish cleane away For first she was subdued by the Medes then by the Persians after by the Grecians then by the Saracens then by the Tartars after that by the Persians againe now by the Turkes So God doth appoint and God doth disapoint states and commonwealthes according to the decree of his Eternall will sinne being the only cause of his anger his anger the cause of all calamities and subuersion of Kingdomes according to that of Syrach Regnum a gente in gentem transferetur propter iâ—iustitiam Because of vnrighteous dealing and wrongs and riches gotten by deceit the Kingdom is translated from one people to another The description of Arabia FRom the ruines of old Babilon wee set forwards to Alepo traueling for the most part through the Desart Arabia This country of Arabia hath on the North Palestina and Mesopotamia on the East the golfe of Persia on the South the maine Ocean of India on the West Egipt the red-sea It is deuided into three parts the North-part whereof is the desart Arabia the South-part is called Arabia Foelix and the middle betweene both is Arabia Petrosa It is not my purpose to write any thing either of Arabia Foelix or Arabâ—a Petrosa because they lie not in the compasse of my trauell onely it shall not be amisse to insert a word or two of Mahomet and his superstition who was borne in this country and hath seduced the greatest part of the world with his abominable religion Concerning Mahomet the people of Mecha where he lieth intombed doe altogether condemne him both for his robberies and murders And himselfe in his Alcoran confesseth himselfe to be a sinner an idolator an adulterer and inclined to women aboue measure and that in such vnciuil termes a I am ashamed to repeate And concerning his Alcoran wherein hee hath inserted the precepts of his inuention there is no truth in it For first vpon paine of death it may not bee disputed vpon whereas the truth loues triall so that though the Arabians Turkes and Persians will not spare to say and that vauntingly that the doctrine of Mahomet is diuine conformable both to the old new Testament yet as good as they make it you may not examine it or call it into question as if a man should say behold you are paide in good money but you must not weigh it neither looke vpon it by day-light 2 Besides his Alcoran is pestred with a number of fables and falsities as nine hundreth vntruthes whereof two are most grosse that Abraham was the sonne of Lazarus and Mary the sister of Aaron 3. Againe it pointeth out at things sensible and corporall and not to things internall and spirituall for Mahomet most blasphemously reporteth in his prograce vp to the throne of God that hee felt the hand of God three-score and ten times colder then any yee that he saw an Angel that had a thousand heads a diamond table of a thousand miles in length and a Cocke of a wonderfull bignesse which is kept vntil the day of doome that then by the shrilnesse of his crowing the dead may be raised and further he setteth it downe that the diuell is circumcised with this leasing also that the starres are very candles hung out euery night from the firmament 4. And for his promises to all such as call vpon him faithfully are meere carnal and earthly such as I am ashamd to name being fit for none but Heliogabalus and Sardanapalus 5. His precepts are indulgent to periury giuing leaue to haue as many wiues as a man will to couple themselues not only with one of the same sex but with bruit beasts also to spoile one anothers goods and none to be accused vnder foure witnesses 6. For his miracles he wrought none at al but hee confesseth that God sent Moses with miracles and Christ his forerunner with miracles but for himselfe he was to come with fire and sword to force men to obey his law whereas the truth doth draw men of their own accords rediculous also is that which hee writeth of himselfe how when hee was a child an Angel