come all their Books in regard the persons that attend upon this Prince apply themselves only to their Studies It is reported that they learnt all these things by their frequent Commerce with the Chineses and that they are also originally descended from them And in truth the greatest Province of the Island of Niphon is call'd Quanto according to the name of the Sea-Coast part of China where lies the greatest Traffick between the Japonners and Chineses Moreover if there be any credit to be given to the Chinese Histories they say it was but a small part of their vast-Empire which extended it self from North to South 56 Degrees of Latitude from the Frozen Sea to the Equinoctial Line being bounded to the West by the Caspian Sea and extending Eastward over all the Southern America to New Spain Father Thomas Barr a Portuguese has often told me when I was at Agra a capital City of the Great Mogul where the Jesuits have a very fair House that this and several other young Lords improv'd themselves so far in six or seven years that they were as Learned as their Masters themselves and that they were more zealous in converting those of their Nation Now the Jesuits at that time had no House for the Instruction of Youth and Proselytes and therefore they desir'd this young Lord to lend them one of his Thereupon he having four very fair ones with great Revenues belonging to them gave that which was nearest to the City to his Converters A while after the youngest of his Sons fell sick and was carried to this House for the Air 's sake where he recover'd by the care of the Fathers and the Prayers of the Christians but his Father did not long enjoy the pleasure of so great a Cure which seem'd almost miraculous for he dy'd at what time both his Sons and the Christians stood most in need of his protection The two eldest who were with the Emperour understanding the the Death of their Father came to take possession of their Inheritance and demanded of the Jesuits the House which their Father had given them for in Japon no Parent can alienate the Estate of his Children nay when they come to such an Age he is oblig'd to put them in possession of their Estates reserving only such a proportion to himself The Jesuits loth to part with so fair a convenience would not quit their hold though it were for their own quiet and to engage the whole Family to stand by them in their time of trouble This refusal provok'd the two Brethren and this quarrel between them and the Jesuits happen'd at the same time that the Dutch President was labouring to bring about his designs He hâ—d notice of this dispute and as he was a great Impostor he made 〈◊〉 his business to enflame the two Brothers not only against the Jesuits but against the Portugals in general giving them a Copy of the Letter which he had fram'd as is before-mention'd These two Lords who were Favourites of the Emperour joyning Interest of State to their particular Interest made their complaints at Court with extraordinary aggravations urging that there was no security for the Estates of particular Men for the quiet of the Empire nor the Life of the Prince unless not only all the Portugals but also all the Natives of Japon who had suck'd their Errors were exterminated out of the Island To make good the reasons of their Exasperation they shew'd the Emperour a Copy of the Letter and put him into such a fright as well for his Person as the Empire that he would admit of no justification on the other side Some of his Lords who were Friends to the Portugals besought him to examin the truth of what was alledg'd before he proceeded to utmost extremities against a whole Nation and against his own Subjects But he was inexorable and presently gave private Orders to certain Commissioners to go through all the Provinces of the Empire and to banish not only the Portugals but also all the Christian Natives Now in regard they had their private confederates as well in the Court as in other places they had intelligence in all parts of the cruel resolution tak'n against them though none were more zealous and faithful to them then the two Lords of Ximo Francis and Charles Thereupon the Christians met together to consult for their own safety and their common preservation and seeing all attempts to justifie themselves prove ineffectual they resolv'd to stand upon their guards and to dye in the defence of their Innocency and Religion The two Lords put themselves at the head of the Christians Army the elder of which had been a Souldier and understood the Art of War the younger kept up their Spirits and Courages by his continual Exhortations The Emperour's Commissioners understanding that the Christians were thus embody'd gave him speedy notice thereof but said nothing either of the number of their Forces or of their designs The Jesuits and Austin Fryars at Goa told me that the Army of the Christians consisted of above 40000 Men besides those recruits that came up to them before and after the Battel was fought The Emperour not beleiving that the Army was so numerous sent against them at first not above 25 or 30000 Men under the Command of the youngest of the two Lords of Ximo that liv'd at Court But those Troops were no sooner upon their March but he rais'd new Forces and sent another Army after them consisting of 40000 Men commanded by the young Lord to whom the Dutch President had shew'd the Letter first of all The Christians having intelligence of the approach of these two Armies prepar'd to receive them choosing an advantagious place to intrench themselves The first Army soon appear'd in sight of the Christians who lay so encamp'd that the Imperialists could discover no more than one part of them However before the Engagement the youngest of the Christian Brothers advis'd his other Brother to send to the General of the Emperour's Army who was their Brother likewise to desire Peace and to beseech him to intercede for them to the Emperour and to assure him that they were ready to lay down their Arms and throw themselves at his Feet and to justifie their Innocency To this purpose a Letter was fram'd and sent to the General but the Messenger that carry'd it was nail'd to a Cross in sight of the whole Army of the Christians and at the same time the Enemy came on with great fury to assail them The Fight lasted almost three hours with equal advantage the Captain of the Imperialists seeking every where for his Brothers while they strove to avoid him The Christians who knew that all their safety consisted in their Victory and that there was otherwise no hope of pardon fought with so much valour that the Imperialists were forc'd to give ground Their General was slain upon the place and at length the whole Army of the Idolaters was cut
the use of Batavia But happy for him General Vanderlin's Lady falling into a hard Labour before the time of Execution and desiring his Pardon at such a solemn Juncture easily obtain'd it seasonably recovering him from the Misfortunes of Folly and Necessity A RELATION OF JAPON AND Of the Cause of the Persecution of the Christians in those ISLANDS THE Modern Geographers have made Descriptions of Japon by means of such conjectures as they have drawn from the Relations of certain Merchants who have traded in those Countries But in regard there are very few Merchants who are skilful in Geography as being such who only mind the profit and advantage of their Voyages those Descriptions have prov'd very uncertain As to the knowledge of the Ancients in reference to this part of the World it is no less imperfect and it is but only by conjecture to this day that we believe the Abadii of Ptolomy to be that Island which is now call'd Niphon That which I could learn of most certainty was by the Relation of several persons who have Travell'd these parts that the Empire of Japon is at present compos'd of several Islands of which some perhaps may not be absolute Islands but rather Peninsula's and particularly those that make a part of the Land of Yesso the Inhabitants whereof are Vassals and Tributaries to Japon Nevertheless a Holland Pilot who has been industrious to discover whether the whole Country it self were an Island or a Continent adjoyning to that vast Tract of Land call'd Corea unknown to this day in those parts where it extends it self behind China to the bottom of Tartarie Niulhan saith that it is separated from Japon by a narrow Sea which at this day is call'd The Streights of Sanguar Through all the Islands of Japon where formerly were accompted to have been 66 Kingdoms there are three remarkable for their largeness of which that of largest extent is called Niphon the next Ximo and the third Xicock The Japonners accompt it a Journey of twenty seven days from the Province of Quanto to the Country of Yesso and they say farther that this Country of Yesso in those parts which are remote from the Sea is so full of inaccessible Mountains that those Japonners who have attempted a discovery by Land could never accomplish their design being discourag'd by the length of the Journey and the difficulties and badness of the ways The Island of Niphon is four times as big as the other two and there is also a Mountain therein that vomits up Flames of Fire like Mount Etna in Sicily formerly it was distinguish'd into thirty five Kingdoms but at this day it is only divided into five parts the names whereof are Jamasoit Jetsen Jetsesen Quanto and Ochio lying all in order as you travel from West to East These five parts are again divided into several Provinces The Island of Ximo or Saycock is situated to the South-West of Niphon being about 160 Leagues in circuit The Island of Xicock is seated by the South of Niphon being about 120 Leagues in compass The other Islands that lye round about are not so considerable for in those Seas lye several Islands scatter'd up and down as in the Archipelago between the Morea and the Coasts of Asia the less As to the rest I refer the Reader to the Map annexed believing it to be very true as having been made upon the places themselves The Emperour at present keeps his Court in the City of Yeddo in regard the Air is there more temperate and the Heats not so violent but when he has a Son that is arriv'd to the Age of fifteen years he sends him to Surunga there to reside till the death of his Father makes him way to the Throne Since Yeddo has been made choice of for the Seat of the Empire it has so greatly enlarg'd it self from day to day that it is at present three Leagues in length and three in breadth very populous and the Houses standing very close together When the Emperour rides through the City or that there is any publick shew to be seen it is impossible to get by the crowd of the people though the Women are not permitted to be of the number The Emperours Palace is cover'd with Plates of Gold to which the Palaces of the Lords are every way correspondent in Magnificence so that afar off the City affords the richest and most magnificent Prospect that was ever beheld Though it be not so beautiful within by reason that the ordinary Houses are built only of Wood. The Great Dairy keeps his residence at Meaco which is also a very large City containing above a hundred thousand Houses it was formerly the capital Seat of the Empire at what time the Dairy's were laid aside So soon as he is Crown'd by the Bonzes who are the Priests and Lawyers he is then no more to expose himself to the light of the Moon nor to shave his Head or cut his Nails The Natives report that the Empire of Japon was formerly govern'd by a Prince call'd Dairy who had acquir'd so high a reputation for Holiness that his Subjects ador'd him as a God and that to increase the awe and reverence of the people he suffer'd his Hair and Nails to grow affirming that it it was a piece of Sacriledge to make use either of Razor or Sizzars The Princes that succeeded him though they had only the name of Kings have still preserv'd the same custom believing that it becomes not their Grandeur to appear in view of the Moon as being Sons of the Sun If he have a Daughter that is ripe for Marriage the Emperour is oblig'd to Marry her and she it is that bears the Title of Empress though she should happen to have no Children which is contrary to the Maxims of all the Eastern Monarchs who give the Title of Queen and Sultaness only to her among all the rest of their Wives that is first brought to Bed of a Male Successor to the Crown At the end of every seven years the Emperour sends one of the chief Princes of his Court to the Dairy with a Basket full of Earth and to tell him that all the Lands which the Emperour commands are at the Dairy's Devotion and indeed the Empire belongs to him by right of Succession though at present he enjoys only the Title and very large Revenues which render him highly considerable in the Empire The Japonners are Idolaters and adore the Sun but though they have a great number of Temples and different Idols yet they are not over obstinate in their Devotion only the Emperour is very severe against all other Religions They never stir out of their Native Country to travel unless it be to China and the Land of Yesso and within these few years the Emperour has prohibited his people under extream penalties from having any Commerce with Foreigners the Chineses and Hollanders excepted He had receiv'd Ambassadours at several times from several Princes but
liberality that by their converse he not only learnt the Language but by vertue of their good Character the Emperour would often send for him and ask him several Questions concerning our Europe in reference to the Qualities of the Countries the Manners of the People the several Forms of Government the Extent of the several Kingdoms their Riches Strength and War-like Discipline of all which the Admiral gave him so handsome an Accompt that the Prince took great delight in his Discourse And at length he had gain'd so much the favour and confidence of the Emperour that he utterly laid aside all the ill thoughts which he had of him and condemn'd to Death as a false Witness and a Traducer the Japonese that had accus'd him After so fortunate an escape the Admiral thought it but common prudence to make a fair retreat in the Grandeur of his Reputation and thereupon he took leave of the Emperour who loaded him with Honours and Presents The Courtiers were also sorry for his departure so that some of them accompany'd him back and took order for his entertainment which was very magnificent all the way to Nangisaqui where he took Shipping a few days after and return'd to Batavia All the People throng'd to the Port to see him when he Landed He told them in few words the success of his Voyage Some applauded his ingenuity and courage others extoll'd the Service which he had done the Company and Nation The Council receiv'd him also with thanks and praises and gave him all the Gold and Plate which he had brought back A while after he departed for Amsterdam where he was no sooner arriv'd but he presented a Petition to the States General against the East-India Company for sending him back to Japon and for reparation of the violence and injury done him The business was long in debate but at last the Company was condemn'd to pay him great damages and Interest for the same But to return to the President He began now to be weary of being confin'd to one Factory though he made up his Pack well enough where he was But his Ambition carry'd him farther and he thought he had done Service enough to be advanc'd to a higher Dignity Neither was his presence so necessary at Japon where he had settl'd the Dutch Trade in as good a condition as it could well be And in truth the Hollanders had then almost the whole Trade of the East-Indies They had taken from the English Formosa Amboyna and â—ooleron and by that means engross'd all the Trade of Cloves Mace and Nutmegs They had taken Baton by surprize The Inhabitants of the Celebes Ternate and Tidor were become their Vassals and the King of Macassar having made an Alliance with them had expell'd the Portugueses out of his Dominions By means of their Factories in Sumatra they had got all the Pepper Trade of the Western Coast of that Island into their hands besides several other advantages which they had in several other places where they had encroach'd upon the Portugals Spaniards and the English themselves The East-India Company at that time entertain'd 140 Ships part Men of War and part Merchant-men provided with great Guns Ammunition and Provision of all sorts and in these Ships above 6000 Men part Souldiers part Mariners Batavia was the Soul of their Conquests made upon the Ruins of the Portugueses which had they lain all together would have made a large Empire and by which they might have grown infinitely rich had not the expences of their Navies and Souldiers eaten out the gains of their vast Trade One of their wisest Generals told me frequently We have said he but too many Fortresses we need no more then the Cape of Good Hope and Batavia Factories well settl'd good Ships and honest Men to serve us For in short their Officers pillage unmercifully and cause the Commerce and Dominion of their Country men to be detested by the Indians through their Covetousness and Cruelty I know my self that in the year 1664 the Expences of the Hollanders in the East-Indies amounted communibus annis to twelve Millions a year not to reckon Shipwracks decay of Ships and wast of Goods and yet their Cargo's for Asia and Europe have not amounted to above ten Millions and sometimes the Cargo's are so mean that the Receits do not answer the Expences Nevertheless their perseverance and courage were worthy of admiration For what could be more to be admir'd then to see that a small number of Merchants assembled at first upon the single score of Trade should afterwards presume to make War in Regions so far distant assail so many Princes and Nations plant so many Colonies besiege so many Cities and Forts and lastly set forth so many Navies at such prodigious Expences that it would put many potent Soveraigns to a plunge to do as they did This was the Estate of the Holland East-India Company at what time the President the principal Subject of this Relation was recall'd from Japon to Batavia there to take upon him the Office of Chief Director He carry'd thither great store of Wealth and built several magnificent Houses in the City His Authority also was very large but he exercis'd it according to his usual custom and was hated by all the Officers of the Company and the Citizens themselves He thought himself secure of the Employment of General but he was deceiv'd in his hopes upon which he took pet and return'd for Amsterdam where he liv'd quietly for some years At length his turbulent and ambitious Spirit put him upon new Designs to revenge the injury which he thought he had receiv'd To which purpose he return'd to the Indies His undertaking was not so prosperous for those that employ'd him and who merited to have been better serv'd He pillag'd couzen'd and caus'd several disorders in their affairs and at length returning home again perish'd in the River of Lisbon with his Money and Jewels as hath been already related The End of the First Part. A RELATION OF What pass'd in the Negotiation of the DEPUTIES Which were sent to PERSIA and the INDIES As well on the behalf of the KING as of the FRENCH COMPANY for the settling of Trade IN the Relation which I have undertaken I shall make a faithful Report of things in such manner as I saw them transacted by the Deputies sent to Persia and the Indies as well on the behalf of the King as of the French Company for the settlement of Trade The Thirteenth of July 1665. the Sieur Lalin Gentleman in Extraordinary to the King and the Sieur de la Boulaye a Gentleman of Anjou with the Sieurs Beber Mariage and du Pont Deputies of the new French Company for the settling of Trade in Persia and the Indies arriv'd at Ispahan and took up their Lodgings at Zulpha being the Suburbs of the same City where also at that time liv'd the Sieur L'Estoile a French Merchant Lalin and Boulaye without saying any
thing to the Deputies deliver'd to L'Estoile the Letters which Monsieur de Lyonne had written to him the Inscription whereof was thus To Mr. L'Estoile first Valet du Chambre to the King of Persia or in his absence to Mr. Logis his Son in Law Which was not a little to be admir'd at by the Franks who had sojourn'd any time in that Country to find that Monsier Boulaye who had been before in Persia and should have better understood the Custom of the Court should be no better able to instruct a Secretary of State then to let him give L'Estoile the Title of Valet du Chambre to the King of Persia who has none to serve him in his Chamber but Eunuchs and never suffers a Christian to touch his Habits for fear of being defil'd The purport of the Letters was to admonish L'Estoile to support assist and protect the Deputies in the Business upon which the Company had sent them and in case of losses by the way to furnish them with such necessaries as they should want The King of Persia was then three days journey from Ispahan for which reason a Messenger was dispatch'd with a Letter to the Nazar or Grand Master of the House and another to the Mirzateker or his Lieutenant to know whether his Majesty would command them to wait on him there or whether they should expect his return to Ispahan In the mean while the Deputies could not agree amongst themselves For the three Merchants Beber Mariage and du Pont affirm'd that the two Gentlemen were only interested by the by in this Negotiation and that having no right to take cognizance of the Affairs of the Company they ought not to trouble themselves any farther then the King's Letters directed them in the affairs of the Company That the Effect of the King's Letters was no more then that two Gentlemen desirous to see the Court of Persia were joyn'd with the Deputies of the Company and therefore it belong'd to them only to treat with the Ministers of the King of Persia That the Gentlemen had no more to do then to deliver the King of France's Letter to the Persian King and to desire a nomination of Commissioners to treat with the Deputies This contest which all the Franks in vain endeavour'd to compose came at length to the Nazar's Ears who was strangely surpriz'd at it having then a design to procure an Order from the King to remove out of Ispahan and the Suburbs all the Christians of what opinion soever and place them over against Zulpha However the Deputies rais'd new objections and difficulties every day which Father Raphael of Mans Superiour of the Order of Capuchins in Persia employ'd all his credit and industry to accommodate He wrote them out several forms of a Letter which they were to send to the Nazar but those that pleas'd the one Party did not like the other At length Father Raphael weary of scribling and altering amending and correcting and all to no purpose told them seriously they did ill to act in such a manner and to insist upon idle formalities that the Persian Style wherein they ought to write to the Nazar ought to be concise and plain without superfluities or impertinencies and lastly that all their contentions did but redound to the disadvantage of the Company whose Interests they pretended to manage After several contests Father Raphael at last finish'd the Letter to the content of both Parties which was transcrib'd into the Persian Language with another to the Mirzateker and both were dispatch'd away The Nazar having read it presently inform'd the King of the French Companies design and of the arrival of the Deputies His Majesty commanded him to let them know that they were welcome and that in a short time he would return to Ispahan and give them Audience Some few dayes after the Court return'd to Ispahan and while the King stopp'd at one of his Houses near the Gates of the City the Nazar sent for Father Raphael to know of him who the French Deputies were and who had sent them into Persia to which the Father gave him the best satisfaction he could For the Nazar wonder'd that they were come into the Kingdom and sent as they said from such a potent Prince and yet that the Governours of Erivan and Tauris should know nothing of their passage through those Cities The Athemadoulet also was in the same Astonishment and it gave them reason to suspect both the Quality of their Persons and the Reality of their Commission For either they were ignorant of the custom of the Country or else they did ill to travel incognito like ordinary Tradesmen and Persons of mean condition But Father Raphael having assur'd them that they were sent by the King of France to settle a Company of Trade and that he had Letters of Advice thereof out of Europe the Nazar bid Father Raphael tell the Deputies they should be in a readiness for that the King would give them Audience in a few days But the former misunderstanding still continuing between the Gentlemen and Deputies Father Raphael fearing some mischievous consequence of it in the presence of the King or that they should make some dispute for priority the Father represented to the Nazar that whereas the Deptuies were of two Orders the one of Gentlemen and the other of Merchants therefore to take away all suspition of jealousie it would do well that His Majesty would be pleas'd when he admitted them to their Audience to permit the Gentlemen their seats on the one side and the Merchants on the other Which the Nazar approv'd and the King allow'd of the same day The 27 th of September the King being at his Palace of Scader-Abbas upon the bank of the River between the Bridge of Zulpha and the Bridge of Schiras caus'd a preparation of Artificial Fire-works to be made which came to above 2000 l. and early in the Morning caus'd notice to be given that he intended that day to give audience to the King of France's Deputies Father Raphael also had Order to be ready with the Deputies to the end the Mehemender or Master of the Ceremonies might not be oblig'd to wait Accordingly that very day the Mehemender came to L'Estoile's House and from thence conducted the Deputies with all their Train and the rest of the Franks then resident in those parts all mounted on Horse-back with a march so slow and grave and for the advantage of the sight so far about that it was almost Night before they arriv'd at Scader-Abbas at what time the Mehemender enter'd the Palace alone leaving the Merchants at the Door In the mean while the Merchants believing that Father Raphael did not favour them so much as the Gentlemen cry'd out aloud that they would have an Interpreter also for themselves or else would go no farther Father Raphael who acted only by the Nazar's Order and for the advantage of the French Nation told them that whither they went
whom he was to treat in point of Trade To which the Athemadoulet reply'd that he had no Commission from the King to meddle with those Deputies but only to entertain the Begzade that brought the King's Letter which he had already done Thereupon the Father desir'd him he would be pleas'd to speak to the King to nominate Commissioners to treat with them which the Athemadoulet promis'd to do That day in the evening a Messenger was sent to Father Raphael to acquaint him that the King had appointed the Nazar to treat with the Deputies the next day and to know their demands Of which the Father gave the Deputies quick intelligence The next day being the First of September Father Raphael fail'd not to be with the Deputies very early in the Morning to bring them to the Nazar but he was very much surpriz'd to see that they would not go altogether but still loo'k with an evil Eye one upon another and continued their former differences To the end therefore that he might set things to rights he went to the Nazar and told him that he thought it would be the best way for the Merchants Deputies to come first because that they were the Persons with whom he was chiefly to Treat The Nazar answer'd that the King understood that they were all five in the same Commission joyntly To which when the Father answer'd the second time that it would be the best way to do as he had propos'd The Nazar with a Surly Countenance why What 's the matter now said he to the Father Are not you French-men asham'd to be thus at odds one with another and to give all the World nay the very Foot-boys occasion to discourse of your Divisions What would they have us think of them and their Commission Are they so little afraid of offending the King Or is their King more indulgent then the King of Persia who would never pardon such faults in his Subjects To this rebuke the Father made no reply Only he desir'd the Nazar that he might have two Horse-men to attend the Deputies at Zulpha telling the Nazar not a word of his design to bring the Merchants an Hour sooner then the Gentlemen This fell out to the Fathers desire For the Father sent one of the Horse-men to Zulpha to the Gentlemen with order to drink with them and not to be over hasty but to bring them fair and softly along with him with the other he made hast to the Merchant Deputies and causing them to double their pace they got betimes to the Nazar's House where they were civilly receiv'd Dupont presented the Nazar with the Deputies Commission translated into the Persian Language after which they fell into a discourse which lasted above three quartes of an Hour concerning the Customs Tolls and Quality of the Merchants and the justness of the French in their Dealing They had just finish'd their Discourse of Trade when the Nazar was advertiz'd that the three Gentlemen were arriv'd who thereupon desir'd Father Raphael to go and receive them The Father went and waited upon them in neatly chiding them for having stay'd so long and making the Nazar wait Well said he now you are together go into that Cabinet and write down your demands and the Articles of your Commission The Merchant Deputies which had now discours'd with the Nazar what they had to say were well enough content to enter into a General Conference with the Gentlemen Then calling for Pen Ink and Paper they made a draught of their Demands the chief of which were three Years Immunity from Customs and Tolls to begin from the time of the arrival of our Ships and that after that they should enjoy all the Priviledges and Favours granted to other Nations They also desir'd precedence above all other Nations when they should be call'd to Court as they suggested that they had at the Court of the Grand Signior And lastly they requir'd a House for those that belong'd to the Company to live in the City These demands were dictated word for word by Father Raphael to the Nazars Secretary in the Name of all the five Gentlemen and because the Nazar's Secretary knew not how to pronounce them the Father undertook to write them in the Persian Character which being done and the writing read in the hearing of the Deputies the Nazar took the Paper to present to the King Thus after a fair Banquet accompany'd with Music both Vocal and Instrumental the Deputies were dismiss'd by the Nazar who bid them rely upon his care for that he would do them all the Favour that lay in his pow'r and give them his Majesties Answer in a short time The Deputies very well satisfy'd with the Nazar's reception sent him afterwards a Present which was a Shame both to the Nation and the Company that pretended to such great and high things and endeavour'd to six and opinion of their Wealth and Grandeur among Strangers For they sent him only a Tin Cup Enamel'd and eight little Cases of Perspectives or Looking-Glasses the whole not amounting to above 40 Crowns They also made much such another Present but meaner to the Mirzateker consisting of about a Dozen Pair of Gilt Scissars for Women We must speak the Truth For they were not a little saught at for their ridiculous Presents which were the Scorn and Contempt of those that receiv'd them when the Deputies were gone To Father Raphael they presented a Purse with 40 Tomans or Six Hundred Crowns in it believing that he would never accept of it and indeed he refus'd it with scorn not a little angry with them that they should have such mean thoughts of him as to believe him Mercenary Two days after the Nazar gave notice to the Father that the King had granted the French their Demands and had order'd every one of them a Calaat or a Vest-Royal and in respect of Superiority a Horse for Monsieur Lalin That the Kings Answer and the Grant were both ready for the Directors of the Company according to their desire The King was then onward upon a journey to Mazandran three days Travel from Ispahan at one of his Palaces call'd Tajabat A Pleasant Situation in the mid'st of a great Valley shaded with Trees and full of Villages The Ninth of October came a Letter from the Nazar to Father Raphael signifying the King's Pleasure that both he and the Deputies should repair to Tajabat with all speed Thereupon the Father and they made such hast that in less than three days they got to Tajabat where the Nazar order'd them to lye in the House of an Armenian Renegado The King sent them immediately eight or ten bottles of Wine with four Gold Dishes full of lovely Fruits and Tapistries for their Dining Room But these Presents occasion'd new Quarrels For there being two Factions and both living apart there was a great dispute who should have this present Father Raphael having done all that possible he could to reconcile the