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
such Fathers who have perform'd any important Service for the good of his Kingdom He gives them Pains of Gold every one worth six hundred Livres and Bars of Silver amounting each to forty six Livres The same day he also releases all Prisoners both Criminal and Debtors provided the crime do not deserve death and that the debt do not exceed two Bars of Silver Also every year the three last days of the last Month the 40 Mandarins who are the chief Councellors of State take the Oaths of all the Lords and Officers of the Court and of their Wives causing them to swear to be faithful to the King and if they know of any thing that concerns the King's person or his Kingdom to discover it All Governours of Provinces give the same Oaths to the Lords and Gentlemen under their Jurisdictions and the Governours of Cities to the Citizens and other Inhabitants They that discover any Treason never fail of any reward only with this distinction in reference to the quality of the Persons that reveal it For as for the Mandarins and Gentlemen the King rewards them according to his own pleasure But as for the meaner sort whether Men or Women they are ennobl'd and gratifi'd with a reward of 50 Pains of Gold and 500 Bars of Silver which in all amounts to 53000 Livres But they esteem their Nobility far beyond their Money At certain times of the year there is a Muster of the Youth of the several Provinces and all those who are found not to be either of the Nobility or not to have learnt any Trade are presently enroll'd for the Service of the King who every five years make choice of such as he intends for his Guard and sends them to the Frontier Garrisons There are some who endeavour to get off by Money but if they be discover'd both the Officers and the Soldier are punish'd without redemption For they hang a little Bell about his Neck Fetter his Arms and in that posture send him to the Constable who presently orders his Head to be struck off But in regard the Tunquineses are very averse from seeing any Blood shed the Kindred or Friends of the condemn'd Person intercede that he may be hang'd believing that death to be most honourable which is not defil'd with Blood-shed wherein they seem to be of the Opinion of the Turks CHAP. XIII Of the Ceremonies observ'd when the Kings of Tunquin are advanc'd to the Throne BEfore we speak of the Enthroning the Kings of Tunquin and of the Ceremonies that attend it it behoves us to relate the manner of their setting out of the Palace when they go at any time to take their pleasure The King is seated upon a most magnificent Palanquin carry'd by eight Men where he may be beheld by all the People the Lords and Officers of the Court attending him on foot provided he do not go out of the City for when he goes into the Country he rides upon an Elephant and the Lords follow him on Horse-back When the Queen Mother or his first Wife go abroad they are likewise carry'd upon a close Palanquin with Lattice-Windows to the end they may see and not be seen and behind the Palanquin follow the Maids of Honour on foot The Mandarins and great Princes solemnize their Birth-days every year with great Feasting Pastimes Comedies and Fire-works and all their Friends and Kindred fail not to attend them to honour the Solemnities In the year 1645 the eldest Son of the King who was by his Father appointed for his Successor upon one of his Birth-days shew'd the Court all the divertizements he could imagin and the King who had a great affection for him sent him a thousand Pains of Gold and five hundred Bars of Silver to the value of 120000 Livres At which time large Alms are distributed especially to poor Widows and Prisoners When the King dies and leaves several Sons they set up him whom when alive he chose for his Successor The third day after the Decease of the King the Constable with all the Military Mandarins the Lords of the Council and all the Governours of Provinces repair to the Prince's Appartment where they present him with a Chinese Habit after which having mounted him upon an Elephant they bring him into one of the great Courts of his Palace which is all covered with Cloth of Gold and Silver as with a Tent. There it is that being placed upon a Throne magnificently enrich'd all the Mandarins prostrate themselves upon the Earth with their Heads downward in which posture having lain for some time they rise and closing their Hands together with their Arms and Eyes lifted up to Heaven they swear to the new King to be faithful to him till death This first Ceremony being over the new King to shew himself liberal upon his first coming to the Crown causes four Panes of Gold and six Bars of Silver to be given to every one But to distinguish the Constable from the rest he gives him twenty Panes of Gold and forty Bars of Silver and to the President of the Council or Chancellour ten of Gold and twenty of Silver These Presents being thus made several Pieces of Artillery are fired round the Palace accompanied with several Volleys of small Shot there being then in Arms above 30000 Horse and Foot and then the King is set upon a magnificent Palanquin and the Constable and chief of the Council ride before upon lovely Horses Sixteen of the principal Officers of the Court carry the King viz. eight Military Mandarins and eight of the Council And in this manner they set forward to the Apartment of the deceased King from whence all the Lords retire for two hours except the Eunuchs and then it is that the Princesses Ladies of the Court and chief Wives of the Mandarins come to kiss the King's Hand and congratulate his Advancement to the Throne Which done all the Lords return again to a noble Feast after the manner of the Countrey ready prepar'd Their Viands are not so delicate nor so deliciously dress'd as ours neither have they so much variety 'T is true they have those Birds-nests already mention'd which they mix in the most part of their Dishes which gives the Meat a tast of almost all sorts of Spices Of all the Meats which they eat Colts Flesh is in most esteem and Dogs Flesh neither of which agree with our Palates The Festival is concluded with Comedies and Fireworks which la allst the night The next day the 30000 Men that gave their Volleys of small Shot the day before are drawn up in good order in a Field next and all the principal Officers of War Colonels Captains and Lieutenants leave the Frontiers to be at the same place Then the King mounted upon his Palanquin and carried by sixteen of his principal Officers the Constable and grand Squire riding before and attended by several other Commanders on foot with several Mummers that play and dance before the
for to serve him in the places where he is to go I have observed in passing through the Estates of the Raja or Prince of Velouche which border on the Easterly parts of the Kingdom of Visapour that the Wives suffer themselves to be buried Alive near their deceased Husbands instead of being burned as they practise in other Provinces of the Indies A. Here you see the Prospect of the City of Bodlego B. The Galley where the King's Corps is C. Two Galleys do carry the Lords who go to be buried Alive with the King That which is grated about is full of Ladies who likewise offer themselves to be interred Alive with him D. Other Galleys wherein are the Treasures which are to be buried with the Corps Place this next to The Order in the March of the Funeral Pomp c. spread with Violet-colour'd Calicut which is the King's Colour But in regard the King and all the Court march afoot both going and coming they make it seventeen days Journey At every quarter of a Leagues end are set up Huts where is ready prepar'd Water to drink and Fire to light their Tobacco After the Pomp is over and that the King is returned home the Cloth is taken up and given to the Bonzes As to the order of their March it is thus The two men that go formost of all are the two Ushers of the Door of the King's Chamber who go repeating aloud the Name of the deceased King carrying each of them a Mace of Arms the bole whereof is full of artificial Fireworks The twelve that follow are the twelve chief Officers of the Galley which draw the Tomb whereon the King's Name is written Then follows the grand Squire on Horseback attended by two others Next appear twelve led Horses which are led two by two six of which have their Bridles enrich'd with thin Plates of Gold and their Saddles embroydered The other six with Bridles of Gold and Housses embroidered and fring'd about with a Gold and Silver Fringe every Horse being led by two men Next to them follow twelve Elephants four which carry each of them a man carrying a Standard four others which carry each of them a Tower with six men apiece some with Musquets others with Fire Lances the four last carry each of them a kind of a Cage of which one is made with Glass Windows before and upon each side the other like a kind of a Lattice and the other with four kinds of Ruffs and these are the King's Elephants which he rode upon when he went to the Wars Behind them follow eight Horses every one of them led by a Captain of the Guard who draw the Herse The new King and his Brothers if he have any or the Princes of the Bloud follow the Herse clad in Robes of White Satten which is their Mourning Colour Lastly follow two Chariots each one drawn by eight Horses and carrying two Coffers wherein are the Panes of Gold Bars of Silver rich Tissues and Habits which are to be buried with the Body of the deceased King The Funerals of the Tunquineses AS fer the ordinary Funerals of the Tunquineses they are more or less pompous according to the Quality of the Persons At their Enterments they use great store of artificial Fire-works which are the Companions as well of their Sorrow as their Joy They set upon the Tomb of the deceased good store of Victuals and Comfitures out of a belief that the dead are the better for them For their Priests keep them in that blind Error for their own advantage and so well order their business that there is nothing left by morning The same thing is practised by the Chineses at Batavia where they have a place without the Town to bury their dead which puts me in mind of this Story Every evening the Guard is relieved as well in the City as in the Fortress At the same time also they put forth eight Souldiers and a Corporal at each Gate of the City who go the Rounds about the Walls of the City and as far as within Canon-shot of the Walls being fearful of being surprised by the King of Mataran or Bontam their Capital Enemies Now because the Chineses burying place lay in the Walk of these Souldiers when they saw the Provant upon one of the Tombs took it away to their Guard and there feasted themselves The Chinese Priests that usually came about midnight to take away the Victuals finding themselves several times bereaved of their Expectations and suspecting the Souldiers belonging to the Holland Garrison first complained to the General and Council but that not taking effect they resolved to poison both the Meat and the Drink to prevent the like Fraud for the future This took so good effect that afterwards many of the Dutch Souldiers being poisoned deterr'd the rest from any more such Licorish Attempts CHAP. XV. Of the Religion and Superstition of the Tunquineses THe Tunquineses as to matters of Religion are divided into three Sects The first takes its original from an ancient Philosopher called Confutius whose Memory is very famous over all China and the neighbouring Countries Their Doctrine asserts that Man is compos'd of two parts the one fine and subtil the other material and gross and that when Man dies the subtiler part goes into the Air and the grosser part stays in the Earth This Sect maintains the use of Sacrifices and adores the seven Planets But among all their Gods and Idols they have four in particular veneration the Names of these Gods are Rauma Betolo Ramonu and Brama They have a Goddess also whose Name is Satisbana which is she whom the Women adore but for the King and the Mandarins especially the more studious sort they adore the Heavens The second Sect had for its Founder a certain Hermite called Chacabout and is followed by the most part of the meaner people He has taught them the Transmigration of Souls and has enjoyn'd his Followers to observe 10 Commandments The first is That they shall not kill 2. That they shall not steal 3. That they shall not defile their Bodies 4. That they shall not lye 5. That they shall not be unfaithful in their words 6. That they shall restrain their inordinate Desires 7. That they shall do injury to no man 8. That they shall not be great Talkers 9. That they shall not give way to their Anger 10. That they shall labour to their utmost to get Knowledge As for them that design to live a Religious Life they must renounce the Delights of this Life be charitable to the poor overcome their Passions and give themselves up to Meditation He taught moreover that after this Life there were ten distinct places of Joy and Torment and that the Contemners of this Law should feel Torments proportionable to their Offences without any end of their Torments That they that endeavour'd to fulfill his Law and had fail'd in any point they should wander in divers Bodies for
of Canton in a small Peninsula adjoyning to a larger Island and built upon a kind of a Promontory on three sides environ'd with the Sea which no Ship can come neer by reason of the Flats unless it be on that side next the Port which is defended by a strong Fortress This City drew from the only Fair of Quanchiu 1300 Chests of Silks of all sorts every Chest containing 150 pieces and 2500 Lingots of Gold not reckoning the raw Silks the Gold Wire and other Merchandizes whence it may be easily judg'd what advantage the Portugueses made of it and wherefore the President desir'd so much to expell them from thence But his Designs were disappointed not only by the revolution in Portugal but also by the loss which the Hollanders sustain'd of the Island of Formosae which the Chineses took from them following the advice of a French Souldier whom the Governour of Tayovan had refus'd to dismiss after his time was out For the better understanding this accident you must know that the Hollanders being setl'd in Japon and having excluded all other Nations from thence except the Chineses whom the Emperour permitted to return after that the Massacre committed by the Japonners in a City of China of which they had a desire to make themselves Masters had caus'd a Cessation of the Commerce between the two Kingdoms and constrain'd the Emperour of China to set a price upon the Heads of the Japonners Nevertheless the Hollanders did all they could to make a new Rupture between the people or else themselves to seize upon some place that lay proper to ruin the Trade of the Chineses to Japon To this purpose not daring to attempt upon the Portugueses they over-ran the Seas which environ'd the neighbouring Islands and took the Vessels of the Chineses which were bound for Macao exercising strange Cruelties upon the people that had escap'd into those Islands after the irruption of the Tartars into China Coxinga the Son of Chinchilunge that famous Pirate who sav'd the remainders of that ruin'd Empire then commanded those people and was become formidable to the Tartars themselves Who to revenge himself upon the Dutch Pirates undertook the Siege of Tayovan where they usually retir'd and by gaining that place drave them wholly out of Formosa This is a large Island plac'd at the poynt of the Phillippines stretching out in length from North to South and to the West lying opposite to the Provinces of Fockien and Quantung The Chineses call it Talieukieu Since which time 't is very probable that the Spaniards gave it the name of Formosa from its beauty and fertility They being the first people of Europe that discover'd it and inhabited it and upon one of its Promontories to the North built the Fort of Kiling The natural Inhabitants live almost all in the Woods and Mountains where they maintain themselves by hunting the Hart and wild Boar whose dry'd Flesh Skins and Horns they sell to the Sangleys who in exchange bring them other necessaries The little Island of Tayovan lent its Name to the little Fort which the English built over against the great Island it was very convenient for the Hollanders who made great advantage of the Cattel Hides and Horns both of Harts and Bufalo's which they carry'd from thence and sold to the Chineses and Japonners who make great use thereof in several of their Trades and Manufactures But the chiefest advantage which the Hollanders made of this Island consisted in this that it lay in the middle way between Batavia and Japon and serv'd as a place of security for their Ships in bad Seasons and to take in refreshments There also they laded off several of the Goods of the Chineses which they took by way of Piracy from the Chineses or which were brought them by the Sangleys who are the Original Merchants of the Chineses setled at the Philippines but who drive the greatest Trade of that Country independent from the Spaniards Coxinga though an Idolater and a Pirate banish'd out of his Country and provok'd by the Hollanders had so much humanity as to send to the General at Batavia to send away Vessels to fetch away his Men and deliver'd them all without suffering them to receive the least injury He had his Friends and Favourers in the Emperour of Japon's Court as being a declar'd Enemy to the Tartars whose neer Neighbourhood the Japonners cannot endure For so quick a Conquest of so many Lands and Provinces in seven years as it were only upon sight of the Enemy had very much alarum'd them He by his Friends acquainted the Emperour of the acts of Hostility committed by the Hollanders against the Chinese Merchants Adding moreover that they had made private propositions to league themselves with the common Enemy and that it was one of the Nations of the North born for the desolation of other Countries and to invade the Peace of Empires That they had setled themselves in the Islands of the East only by treachery and violence That for some years since they had made it their business to cruise the Seas between China and Japon on purpose to make themselves absolute Masters of the Trade and that if he did not take a speedy course they would do the same mischief in his Dominions which the Tartars had done in China The President had much ado to divert the Storm for the most potent Lords at Court although his Pensioners and Friends began to open their Eyes and in some measure took Coxinga's part saying That the Chineses were unfortunate enough in being laid wast by the Tartars without being persecuted and afflicted by the Hollanders That seeing that after they had been expell'd their Country they had nothing left but their Boats and some few Rocks for their places of refuge it was a piece of inhumanity to disturb them in their last Sanctuaries and to deprive them of their liberty of the Sea and their Commerce with Japon from whence those miserable Exiles had their chiefest support The Bonzes the Merchants the vulgar People all took the Chineses part Thereupon the Emperour sent for the Dutch President and told him I understand said he that thy Company abuses my Protection and that their Vessels instead of being contented with the Trade which I have permitted them presume to play the Pyrates upon the Chineses and to trouble the Seas adjoyning to my Empire If I hear any more of these complaints I will cause thee and all thy Nation to be Crucifi'd I know not how the President appeas'd the Emperour's fury this I know in general that the Hollanders made a secret alliance with the Tartars against Coxinga Him the Inhabitants of Fockien call'd to their assistance having rais'd an Army of 200000 Men whereupon he went to aid them with a very powerful Navy After several Skirmishes the Tartars and Chineses came to a pitch'd Field where the Captain of the Tartars having plac'd the best part of his Cavalry in Ambush order'd
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