authority of rule and gouernement measuring the state of this realme as it was when these warres began we say that for the North part beginning at the very vttermost East of the sea of Baccu and coasting all that Sea and then entring into Seruan and Georgia euen vnto Mengrelli and so a little lower vnto Chars lying in the champaine country vnder the mountains of Periardi called Chielder where also is erected a Castell called Childerum for defence of the borders you haue the description of all that the Persians possesse on that syde From thence drawing a lyne by the East and rolling the same ouer the Lake Actamar and ouer Coy in the champeine of Caldaran then carrying the same lyne towardes the South to the Citty of Salmas and a little higher towards Seresul euen to the channell of Euphrates there is comprehended all the West parte of this kingdome From the channell of the sayde riuer where the Bassora lyeth coasting all along that syde of the sea euen vntill the mountaines Techisnandan and more towardes the East to the kingdome of Candahar there making an end of that compasse all the South parte of this present Empire is figured The East whereof is included betweene the borders of Corassan and of the Tartarian Iesselbas euen from the Citty of Samarcante on the east parte of the Casptan Sea otherwise called the sea of Baccu The compasse appeareth to bee very great and of importance comprehending in it many prouinces not onely famous in our tymes but also much more glorious in the daies of those Auncients for that in the West is included with the countrey of Georgia parte of Turcomania and of Cussestan in the North Seruania the countrey of Gheilan and Massandran in the East Candahar Corassan and Heri and in the South all the kingdome of Fars the cheefe Citty whereof is Siras with Caramania the Desert In the very middle and Centre of this Circle are the Territories of Casbin Cassan and Hispahan So that in the beginning of this warre the King of Persia ruled ouer all these prouinces Georgia sometyme called Iberia Seruania otherwise called Atropatia Tauris with the territories belonging vnto it called in times past Media the Great Gheilan or Gely Masandran or Hircania more inward Parthia Aria Candahar or Peripaniso Farsi or Persia and parte of Cussestan in old tyme called Assyria All these prouinces in times past subdued by the Macedonians the Graecians and Barbarians wasted by so many mutations and States and outrages of Armyes haue also lost their auncient names and according to the seuerall languages therein vsed haue had dyuers and sondry appellations which as a man may probably coniecture are in truth those that are last named Of all which prouinces Anania Pius the second of happy memory Negro the Venetian some other late Geographers haue beene so bould as to wryte many thinges rather fabulous then true after the example and imitation of those that are so greatly reprehended by Strabo and Thucydides therefore avoyding the danger of lying and laying also a side for this time the History of thinges Naturall Miraculous and Poeticall for of Poeticall matters especially the particular Geography of Danaeus reporteth we will onely speake of such thinges as will serue our turne for the better knowledge of the State and condition of this kingdome Tamas had vnder him and so he left the kingdome to Ismahel in whose time and by whose meanes these warres were raised threescore and tenne Gouernementes all bearing the Titles of Sultans Chan so that in his whole Empire he had seauentie Citties of such state and condition as they deserued to haue a Gouernour of the same dignitie that the Bassa is with the Turkes as shall be declared in the exposition of Names Now what they were it would be a very hard matter precisely to know yet some of them we haue learned and the principall thereof peraduenture were Sumachi Sechi Eres Seruan Derbent Caracach Ardouil Tauris Reiuan Genge Hispahan Masandran Gheilan Heri Cassam Siras Starabat Chilmisnar Candahar Iesed Sapanec Sultania Bargo Cum Coran Seua Casbin and others all which haue Iurisdiction ouer many Villages and Townes from whence there are leauied many men of warre Hispahan onely hath in her gouernement twelue Sultanes Casbin three Sultanes the king Heri three also and Abas Mirize Candahar three and Rustan Mirize Of all these places to make an exquisite description Geographicall to tell the Mountaines the Riuers the Champaines the Distances the Situations the Altitudes of the Pole and such other particularities it would not be an enterprise fit for our handling except we would insert many lies therein as a nomber of writers haue heeretofore done therefore seeing neither the battels of the Turke haue entred into those partes nor any thing happened in them that requireth any great diligēce of discourse Let that little bee sufficient which wee haue already touched in this History by occasion of Abas Mirize and of the Turcomanni and returning to Georgia to Seruan and to Media the Great with a peece of Armenia we will vse our best diligence euen as neede shall require and our informations will serue vs. Georgia then is that prouince which in auncient tyme was called Iberia which on the West is bounded vpon Colchis at this day called Mengrellia on the East vpon Media Atropatia at this day called as we said afore Seruan on the North vpon Albania now called Zuiria and on the South vpon Armenia the Greater now called Turcomania whereof it doth also possesse a parte so that Iberia and part of Armenia is comprehended vnder this name of Georgia It is for the most part full of hills woods rockes and ruynes and hath abundance of silkes fruites wilde beastes and Faulcons It is watred with many famous riuers and so was euen in the tyme of Strabo but principally with the riuer Cirus whose gulfe openeth in that country and is ioyned with Araxis The riuer Araxis springeth out of the hill Taurus in that parte where Periardo is situate on the syde of the hill Abo and so running by East euen to the confynes of Seruan windeth it selfe towardes the west by the North where it is ioined with Cirus and then passeth to Artaxata a cittie of the Armenians right against a place which is very famous in this warre called Reiuan and so watring Armenia and coursing all along the playne of Araxis which peraduenture is the champaine called Caldarana dischargeth it selfe into the Caspian Sea at this day called the sea of Corazun and of Baccu on the one syde by south leauing Armenia and on the other syde by North leauing Seruania whose cheefe Citty is Eres which is so famous in this booke as in fit place it shalbe shewed It is a riuer very deepe and large but yet at this present it contayneth not those meruails that Herodotus reporteth of it as also it is very hard to
Beyran Bassa ran out himselfe to meet Hossain Bey and shewed him the way to escape as afore And vpon this rising of the Turks the Georgiani retired themselues with their gotten pray and so the rest had leasure to withdraw themselues together into more sure safe places The next morning the Campe remoued and in the euening came to a castell called Ghiurchala where it stayed a whole day to make prouision of victuaile which was attempted by sending many of their slaues abroade into the fieldes conducted by the men of the said castell In the meane while there arriued certain embassadors from one that was then called the nephew of Simon signifying to Mustaffa that if it would stand with his good pleasure their lord would come to salute him to offer himselfe vnto him as his vassaile whereof Mustaffa was very glad and declaring vnto them that his comming should be very acceptable vnto him he sent them backe againe with presentes and curteous wordes But although hee was expected all that day yet made he not his apparance indeed all those that were sent out into the fieldes for reliefe were miserably hacked in peeces to the great griefe of Mustaffa thinking himselfe too much abused by those fained embassadors who in truth proued to bee cunning and craftie spyes rather then embassadors From this place the army departed with great hunger ouer diuers vneasy hilles and rough places of the Georgianj where they were faine oftentimes to rest themselues at last came to the confynes of the widdowes territory vpō the feast day of the Turkes Ramadan In the entrance whereof they must needes passe through a narrow strait betweene certain mountaines where the riuer crankleth it selfe with a thousand tourninges and windinges about the low valley A very difficult place and indeed so narrowe that no more then one man alone could passe through it Betweene this straite and a very thicke and hilly wood they lodged vpon the banks of the said riuer and from thence the next morning they remoued and trauelledouer very steep mountaines and wooddy Forrestes ouer ice and snow more harde then marble-pauemente and ouer other hanging rockes in such miserable sorte that many camelles mules and horses aswell for cariage as for saddle fell downe headlong into the whirle-pittes of the riuer to their vtter spoyle Through this ruinous cragges and dyuers other miseryes they iournyed all the next day and after that another day also as miserable and dammageable to the Army as the former but at last being shrewdly spoiled and ill handled by hunger foyled and slaughtered by their enemies afflicted with the harde season and situation of the place they arriued within the territories that lay vnder Altunchala the widdowes Pallace where they had all manner of desyred reliefe for all the miseries that they had endured since their departure from Chiurchala vntill this place being the space of sixe daies which ordinarily if it had beene a common trauelled way would haue beene performed in one onely daies iourney The Widdow with her elder sonne Alessandro came downe from the Castel and went to the pauillion of Mustaffa offering him dyuers presentes and promising vnto him all faithfull obedience Mustaffa receaued her curteously and declared vnto her the good entertaynement that he gaue to her yonger sonne Manucchiar that went with him to Siruan who being there present shewed euident token thereof to his mother Mustaffa dissembling for the present tyme his priuie displeasure that hee bare the widdows son Alessandro embraced him courteously and praied her that she would bee pleased to leaue him also there with him for that it should turne to both their contentmentes signifying furder vnto her that he would send both her sonnes to Constantinople to Amurath with letters of credence for their yeelded obedience for their fauour shewed to his army in giuing them so secure passage and so many helpes lastly for their good deserts the rather that by the said Sultan they might be honourably entertained and enriched with honours dignities The Widdow although her mynd was herewithall sore troubled perplexed yet outwardly in her countenance shewed her selfe to be pleased and seemed curteously to yeeld what she was of necessity constrained to grant aswell because Mustaffa had one of her sonnes already in possession as also for that her selfe her whole state were now in his power as it were at his deuotion therefore leauing both her sonnes behind her she returned to her Castell Mustaffa after hee had stayed in that place with his army two whole dayes without feeling the want of any thing departed thence towarde Chars and so did all the rest who hauing now no feare of the enemie as being in a sure and frendly countrey deuided themselues into seuerall companyes by fiues by twenties by fiftyes in a troupe as euery man thought it best and conuenyent The first day they lodged at Clisca in the widdowes countrey where they wanted no manner of necessaries but had most plentifull aboundance of all thinges From thence they tooke their next lodging vnder certain rough mountaines by which they trauelled two whole dayes through many difficulties where some of them also dyed for cold Then they came to Messeardachan sometimes belonging to the Georgianj but now to the Turkes so to Biucardacan belonging also to the Turkes where they kept the feast of Ramadan which till now they could not celebrate And from thence to Olti a Castell also of the Turkes where the Sangiacco that gouerneth those quarters is resident a countrey very fertile in all thinges well situated and very conuenient for these and greater passages From Olti by the way of Neneruan in two daies they arryued at Hassanchalasi a Castell likewyse of the Turks called also Passin and from thence afterward they came to Erzirum with the great reioicing of the whole army which was there presently discharged by Mustaffa without any numbring or mustring at all and so they returned all home into their owne countries But Mustaffa setled himselfe in Erzirum dispatching Poastes with letters of plentifull aduertysementes to the king touching all thinges that had passed but yet in such sort that he magnifyed his owne exploites without measure and among diuers other newes that were scarce true which he wrote one was That Teflis which hee had taken was in greatnes beauty equal vnto Damasco besydes the situation that was exceeding strong He certifyed him also of the battelles that he had with the Persians the obedience that he receaued of the Georgiani the Siruanians the stirres and insurrections of the people of Constantinople of Greece the Fortresse built at Eres the garrisons of souldiers left in that Citty with Caitas Bassa and in Sumachia with Osman Bassa the offers of the Alexandrians and in briefe whatsoeuer els had passed whatsoeuer he had taken from the enemy Neither
with resolute mindes to sacke it and to enrich their owne priuate estate with the spoiles and pillage of that welthie Citty And now were they come to the guarded gates where contrary to their expectation they found a terrible rescue and were enforced to ioyne a hard and mortall medley wherein the walles the entrance yea all the ground thereabout was bathed with blood as it were paued with weapons and carcases And yet for all that though the Persians stood firme stout at the arriuall of this insolent and seruile troupe at the last they were constrained to yeeld the entrance being ouercome by the multitude of them that flowed in vpon them lyke a floud and retiring thēselues into the cittie which was now astonied amased on euery side they fortified themselues in their houses vnder the grounde and in the corners and winding tourninges of the streetes from whence by their arrowes some few Arcubuscs they did great scath to the Turkes that entred Howbet the Persians were not able to kill destroy so many of their enimy people but that at the last they were too mighty for them and wrought many grieuous mischiefes and calamities in the wofull Citty And so a great nomber of this rascall people which remayned aliue returned to the Turkish Campe enriched with booties and slaues leading away with them both virgins and children and shewing too manifest tokens of the poore oppressed Citty wherein the miserable wemen impotent soules embracing and strayning their domesticall doores and kissing their natiue soyle with prayers with mourninges with complaints bewayled their present misery and feared also worse more deadly euents Osman who was now made acquainted with these calamities and with this particular misaduenture caused proclamation to be published that no man should be so hardy as to molest the Taurisians those I meane which were naturally there borne and in the meane time he himselfe went round about the saide Citty viewing thoroughly the situation of it and surueighing the place wherein he might both incampe himselfe safely and also with the better foundation and greater security erect a Castell or Forte of defence of that conquered countrey Tauris is seated at the roote of the hill Orontes which standeth as it were ouer it vpon the North side distant from the shore of the sea of Bachu eight dayes iourney or thereaboutes It hath Persia vppon the Southside which leauing the Caspian mountains on the West reacheth out to Great Media and therefore the Citty is subiect to windes cold and full of snow but of a very holesome ayre It aboundeth in all manner of thinges necessary for mans life It is enriched aswell by the perpetuall concourse of merchandises that are brought thether from the countryes of the Leuant to be conueighed into Soria and into the countries of Europe as also of those that come thither out of the Westerne partes to be distributed ouer all the East It is verie populous so that it feedeth almost two hundred thousand persons but yet open to the furie of euery Armie without strength of walles and without bulwarkes It hath a great number of houses vnder the ground The buyldinges after the fashion of those that are buylt in the East are of burnt clay rather low then high It hath Springs Gardens and running waters And for all things it caried the name as also of their Kings residence Tamas was the man that remoued his seat from this Citie and translated it to Casbin but still for all that both before and sithence although it hath bene molested by the inroades and spoyles of the Turkish Emperours yet it hath alwayes maintayned it selfe in great estimation and renowme Now of this Citty Osman did diligently view the situation and at the last caused his Pauilions to be pitched vpon the side that looketh towardes the South commanding that all the rest of this Souldiers should do the like that all the Workemen and Ditchers should repaire thether to beginne the building of a Castell On the same side of Tauris there was a garden all flourishing beautyfull replenished with a thousand sundry kindes of graftes trees and sweete-smelling plantes among which the Lilly the Hyacinth the Gillyflower the Rose the Violet the Flower gentle and a thousand other odoriferous flowers did yeeld a most pleasaunt and delectable sight both to the Inhabitantes and to Straungers There were a thousand Fountaines and a thousand brookes among them all as the Father of them all a prettie Riuer which with his milde course and delight some noyse deuided the Garden from the ground of Tauris and one onely bridge for those to passe ouer it which for pleasure repayred out of Tauris to recreate themselues in the shadowes and walkes of those greenes whose beauty was so great being also made famous by reason of antiquity that it was also called by the countrey Inhabitantes Sechis-Genet which in our language is as much to say as Eight Paradises This was in times past the standing house of their kinges whiles they kept their residence in this Citty and after they had withdrawne themselues from thence and translated their seate to Casbin it became the habitation and place of aboade for the Gouernours of Tauris and namely Emir-Chan kept altogether there whiles hee had the gouernement of it These gardens and places Osman did choose to builde his Castle in whereof hee gaue the modell himselfe and commaunded that all the whole circuite of those Greenes should bee enuyroned with walles and trenches digged round about them to conveigh the water from the foresayd Riuer And so the fabricke was begunne with the greatest care that possibly might be the foundation of the embattelled walles layd the ditche digged foureteene foote broade and a mans heigth in depth and in the space of sixe and thirty dayes wholy finished and brought to an ende The first day of building the Visier fell sicke of a feuer with a bloudy flixe as it was told me in Constantinople by one of the Phisitions that was alwayes assistant at the cure which infirmity peraduenture was the cause of the slownesse in building and of many other losses that afterwardes happened as shall be declared vnto you In the saide space also of sixe and thirty dayes there was distributed vppon the walles great store of Artillery and within the Forte there were built diuers bathes lodginges and such other housing necessary for Turkish vses Whiles this Fabricke was in hande there wanted not sondry Accidentes and straunge newes to fill the eares and mindes of all men which it shalbe necessarie to report in order as they fell out Fiue daies after the buylding of the Fort was begon there came newes into the Turkish campe that within the Citie of Tauris in a certain baine there were eight Iannizzaries and diuerse Spaoglanj seen strangled wherof the Zaini Spahini and Iannizzaries being certified went presently before
Some think that his brother Abas Mirize of Heri who had before conspired to cause him to bee betrayed into the handes of the Turkish Generall had now by force of money and giftes perswaded the wicked Eunuch thereunto Others deeme that his owne Father being become verie desirous to see Abas setled in the kingdome did procure his death which notwithstanding in mine opinion hath no poynt of probability Diuers others do reason the matter diuerslie But wee not onelie are not able to affirme the certen trueth of this accident but also haue scarse any heart to testifie to the world that thus or thus in trueth his death was procured For we are not minded to set downe any discourse for a trueth in such matters as haue happened in these warres since wee returned and haue remayned in Italy to the ende that wee woulde not diminish that credite and good opinion which we know our Readers haue iustly giuen to all thinges hetherto written by vs as vnto things that wee were most desirous to vnderstand for certenties by such good meanes as we haue already named in our Epistle to the Readers And we in the meane time wil expect that some other Writer will pursue these aduentures in such sort as shall seeme best vnto him For touching our selues being wearie of the many diuersities which wee daylie heare by aduertisementes out of the East countrey we haue had no hart at all to describe what hath happened therein in the yeare fourscore and seuenth But by the fauour of the Readers here we haue thought good to make a full point A Letter to the VVorshipful SIGNOR MARIO CORRADO Wherein is prooued that Tauris is not Terua as Iouius writeth nor Tigranoama as Negro taketh it nor Tigranâ—certa as others doe thinke but Ecbathana as Ortelius and Anania doe iudge WOrshipfull Sir I haue alwayes made that reckoning of your Worships counsels and aduises which your vertue deserueth and especially touching those matters whereof it pleased you to aduertise mee at such time as I was resident in this Citie and so kindlie entertained therein with all curteous and bountifull entertainment For whatsoeuer I could possiblie obserue in the Historie of the Warres betweene the Turkes and Persians both concerning words and also concerning matters I haue endeuoured by all meanes to reduce vnto that note which you deliuered vnto mee and haue not fayled asmuch as my skill could reach to put in execution all your good preceptes and aduertisementes Only there remayneth in this historie one thing which as yet is not throughlie iustified and that is mine opinion touching the Citie of Tauris which your Worship by reason of your douhting thereof made mee suspect at the first but afterwards it pleased you to allow and confirme to be the best and soundest And although I haue freely and boldly set downe that Tauris is not Terua as Iouius writeth but Ecbathana as manie others both before and after Iouius do take it and although I find manie reasons wherby I haue bene perswaded so freely to auow it Notwithstanding when I considered that this was a matter of great importance in this Historie to entrreat of the true finding out and acknowledgment of a Cittie for the conquest whereof almost all these troubles of warres were principally raised to the end that all things might the more plainlie appeare I resolued to publish these my reasons and particularly to send theÌ„ to your W. not only because you first encouraged me with liuely arguments to approue this particularity being of it self a very important matter yea the more importaÌ„t in regard of the authority of such men as are of the contrarie opinion but also because you were a great helper vnto me with your owne priuate study to furnish mee with so goodly a number of reasons for the same By twelue arguments therfore me thinks I may certainely and demonstratiuely reason that Tauris cannot be the Terua of Ptolomey but ought indeed to be called the ancient Ecbathana My first reason is because Strabo teacheth vs that the Poole Mantian or Martian or Margian call it as yee will that which is now tearmed the Poole Actamar is situate in the confines of great Armenia and stretcheth euen as far as the coÌ„fines of Media Atropatia And in the twelfth book of his Geographie it is manifestlie seene that there is either verie little or no quantitie of countrie or people at all betweene the Mantian Poole and Media the greater The same may be collected out of Ptolomie who as it seemeth doth place the forenamed Poole rather in the entrance of Media the greater than in the latter end of great Armenia Out of this certaine trueth I gather this foundation The Martian Poole is in the confines of the Medes and of the Armenians and therefore it must needes followe that if Tauris should be Terua it must either be in the West or in the. West Southwest or in the West Northwest or els in the verie Northwest of the saide Poole for in the South or in the North I doo not beleeue that any man doth place it and if hee should so doe hee should commit an errour not onely worthy of correction but also of chastisement But if Tauris bee Ecbathana it must either bee in the East or in the East Southeast or in the Southeast or in the East Northeast or els in the very Northeast For much lesse will any man be so bolde as to place it in the South or in the North of the saide Poole and whosoeuer shoulde so place it hee shoulde commit a double errour Terua indeede according to Iouius and according to that which the discription of Ptolomey doeth inferre is as a man may say in the verie center and middest of great Armenia and consequentlie it muste bee in the West or West Southwest or West Northwest of the said pool Wherevpon if Tauris should be Terua then should Tauris haue the very selfe same situation But both sence and reason yea Iouius himselfe all other doo with one accorde confesse that Tauris is in the East of the forenamed Poole and by a good quantitie of grounde distant from it And therefore it remaineth that Tauris is not Terua but Ecbathana being a good way distant in the East of the saide poole a man may conclude that the verie situation and auncient ruines of Ecbathana haue yeelded matter and stuffe to this new Tauris And somuch the more likely because all the Marchantes and souldiers that vse the viage from Van to Tauris and from Tauris to Van being a place situate as it were on the easterne banks of the Martian poole doo vniformly testifie that in their trauelling from Van to Tauris they haue their faces looking towards the East and in their returne from Tauris to Van they haue their faces turned towardes the West and that they passe through certaine vallies between certain mountaines which peraduenture may be the toppes of the Caspian mountaine The
side doo they not call one part of the great Media by the name of Armeni because many Armenians do at this day dwell dispersed here and there in diuers villages of that country But vnder the word Rumeli which in our language signifieth Greece how many places doo the Turkes entertertaine which are quite out of Greece And with their Natolia and Câ—ramania doo they not likewise confound as it were murder so many prouinces that it seemeth a matter impossible to find out their ancient names what man is hee then that if hee had many other meanes and many other reasons to proue the truth for the certaine acknowledgement of sundrye places would reporte himselfe wholly and absolutely to the relation of that people This is as much as I thought sufficient to aunswere the reasons of Iouius to confirme mine owne opinion All which notwithstanding I doo refer to your worshippes iudgement who as a most gentle person and a speciall frend to the truth will make that accoumpt of my reasons as they deserue Which that you will doo I humbly beseeche you and so hartely recommend my selfe vnto you From Rouigo the 17. of August 1587. Your worships most affectionate seruitor Iohn-Thomas Minadoi A Table conteyning the declaration of the Names and wordes vsed in this Historie aswell Auncient as Barbarous Wherein the letter A. signifieth the Auncient B. the Barbarous P. the Persian and T. the Turkish name or word A. ACca and Acri B. a Sea-coast Citie in Soria Ptolomaida A. according to Ortelius and Anania Adena and Adana B. a Citie in the confines of Cilicia Adana and it may be Nicopolis A. Aga B. a Capitayne or Chiefe of his companie Aggia-Chala B. the Castell Deregrine or the Castell of Strangers Aggiami Look for Cheselbas and the Persians Aleppo B. and Halep B. look for Halip Alger B. by Iouius is thought to be Iulia Cesarea A. and by Castaldo and others to be the Citie of Cirtha in Africa Altun-Chala T. the golden Castell or Castell of gold A place in the confines of great Armenia and Georgia Amadan B. a Citie of the Persians in Parthia Aman B. a Citie in Soria watred with the riuer Orontes Apamea A. Amasia B. Castaldo thinketh it to be Cappadocia A. and others take it to be in auncient times called Amasia A. Andera or Andara a Towne in Drusia where most exquisite Silkes are made Andrinopoli B. a principall Citie in Thracia Adrianopolis A. Angori B. a Citie in Cappadocia which is a Region in Asia the lesser and by Bellonius thought to be Encyra and Ancyra A. in the peregrination of Sainct Paul Antachie B. a Citie in Soria now decayed but yet worth the sight both in respect of the situation and walles thereof as also for the Riuer that runneth by it Antiochia A. Arasse B. a Riuer that watreth the South part of great Armenia almost diuideth it from Georgia Araxis A. Achlar and Ares T. Arbella B. a Citie in Assyria according to Strabo and Q. Curtius and by the error of some thought to be Taruis Arcipelago B. but in old time called Mare Egaeum A. a part of the Sea Mediterraneum that seperateth Europe from Asia Ardachan B. a Citie of the Turkes in great Armenia Ardouil P. a Citie in Media the first Seat of the Persian Sect wherein Giunet Sederdin and other their successors that were authors of the Persian superstition did reside and reigne Arz T. a Supplication a Request or an Information At-Maidan B. the high Street or chiefe Market place in Constantinople B. BAgdat B. Laonicus calleth it Bogdatis and the Italians call it Baldacco in old time Babylon A. Balbech B. a Citie in Palaestina which Bellonius taketh to be Caesarea Philippi A. and so is it accompted in the peregrination of Sainct Paul Balsara and as Frederico writeth it Bassora B. a Citie in the channell of Euphrates called by Castaldo and others Teredon A. Bassa T. a Capitaine a Gouernour a chiefe Lord. Beglerbey T. a great Lord. Bestan P. a Citie in Hircania Bey or Beg or Bech T. a chiefe man or a Lord. Bir which some call Birta B. a Citie vpon Euphrates in the confines of Soria Bruz B. a Hill in Armenia the creast of the Periardj Mountaines Brusia and Bursa B. in old time the chiefe Palace of Bithynia and called in the old time Prusia A. But Ortelius vnaduisedly thinketh that Bursa and Brusia is not a Citie but a whole Region And herein also is Castaldo deceiued if our owne sense haue not shewed vnto vs one Citie in steed of another or if we be not deceiued in deed in the verie names of them C. CAddi T. a Iudge Cafe B. a place within two dayes iourney of Babylon where Aly and his children are buried Caffa B. Anania vset h no other name although in deed Caffa now was in old time called Theodosia A. Cahaca B. a Towne so called situate betweene Casbin and Tauris Cairo B. a huge Citie in Aegypt neere whereunto are the famous Pyramides whereby a man may easily iudge that there was the most renowmed citie of Memphis Ortelius thinketh that it is Babylon but Ortelius himself setteth downe another Babylon in another table of his and placeth it in Assiria So that he maketh two Cities of one name Whereof notwithstanding it is no time now to dispute Caissar B. a place in Cilicia of no great reckoning and without any note of antiquitie Calaus T. a Guide Caldaran B. the name of certain famous Champeynes Perhaps they may be the same Champeynes which Strabo called the Champeynes of Araxis Calife P. a Priest or Prelate Canac B. a Riuer that diuideth a part of Atropatia from Armenia Candahar P. a certaine Kingdome In old time Peripaniso A. Capigi T. a gentleman Vsher. Capigi-Bassi T. the chiefe gentleman Vsher. Capigi-Larchecaiasi T. the Lieutenant or chiefe Lord of the gentlemen Vshers Caracach P. a Territorie of the Persians in Media Carachala T. the black Castell it is in Armenia but it belongeth to the Georgians Caraemit T. the black Citie It is now the Metropoliticall Citie of the Mesopotamians Iouius and others call it Amida A. Caramania and Caraman B. the black Region It is commonly deemed to be Cilicia A. Casbin and Casuin P. we may well interpret it The place of punishment And it is the Citie whether the palace of the Persian Empire was translated by Tamas and called Casbin because those that for their punishment had deserued banishment were at the first banished thither It is yet in Media the great a little more South then Tauris So that a man may verie well think it to be Arsacia A. in Strabo Casenda T. the common Treasure Look Hasna Cassachi T. Robbers by the high way Cassan B. a Citie in Parthia verie famous and rich Ortelius and the rest make no mention of it Cassangic B. a place belonging to Maxut-Chan in Armenia Cecchino or Zecchino a Venetian Duckate Chala and Chalasi B. a Towne or a
Castell Chan P. and also vsed in Tartaria and is the same that the Turkes call a Bassa Chars B. peraduenture it is that which Ptolomie calleth Corsa A. Checaia T. a Deputie or Agent Cheiserie B. we think it to be Caesarea in Palaestina A. a litle from Ioppa Ptolomie saieth it is Caesarea wherof Strabo maketh mention It hath many notes of antiquitie Cheselbas B. a Red-Capp It is a title giuen to the Persians who are also called the Soffians the Cheselbas the Persians and the Aggiami Look Persians Chianichie B. a place neere to Ragusa verie famous because it was the natiue Countrie of Ebrain Bassa sonne in law to Amurath Chiaus T. a Nuntio or an Embassadour Chielder-Giol B. the Lake of Chielder for Giol signifieth a lake and it may be thought without any error to be the Poole of Euphrates A. Chielder Monte B. the hilles of Periardo Chielebi B. a Gentleman Chiulfal B a Towne in Armenia yet inhabited at this day by the Georgians Chiuri-Chala B. a new Territorie in Georgia that is to say inhabited of old by the Georgians but yet comprehended vnder Armenia Clisca a Territorie in Armenia and in old time possessed by the Georgians though now in the handes of the Turkes Codabanda P. Blind or weak of sight Hodabanda signifieth the selfe same thing but other writers erroniously pronounce it Hodabende Coran B. a Citie in Parthia Corfu a late word a famous Island called in old time Corcyra A. and according to Ortelius Corfinio A. Coy B. a Citie in the borders of Armenia and Media betweene Van and Tauris Culbat B. a Citie in Parthia Cur B. a Citie in Parthia Curchi-Bassi P. Captain of the Curchi who are the souldiers that are appointed for the guard of the Persian Kings Court Curdi B. a people which many think to be the Parthians A. But we cannot possiblie thinke them to be so wherein we agree with Castaldo Curzolari B. in old time called the Echinades A. which are certain Rockes verie famous by reason of the victorie by Sea obtayned by the most happie and fortunate League of the Chatholikes against the Turkish fleet Cussestan B. a part of Assyria D. DAgmat B. a Citie in the confines of Parthia and of Media the great Damasco A. a Citie in Soria Look Sciam Deftardar T. a Treasourer or Chamberlein Demir-Capi T. the Iron-Gates Demir-Capi is also called Derbent It is a Citie sometimes called Alessandria A. neere to the Hircanian Sea It is called Derbent because it is in figure narrow and long and Demir-Capi because there were the Iron-gates that were sometimes the entrance into Scythia Demotica B. a Citie in Thracia famous in regard of the banishment of Sinan-Bassa into that place wherof mention is made in the Historie Lib. 5. Derbent B. a Citie called Demir-Capi Derbent signifieth streit or narrow Diarbech B. the Countrie of Mesopotamia Diuano B. a place of audience or a Counsaile-house It is sometimes taken for the audience it selfe and sometimes for the Counsaile it selfe Don B. the Riuer sometimes called Tanais A. in Sarmatia Dreuis and Deruis B. a Religious person an Heremite E. EDel B. sometimes called Volga A. a famous Riuer in Sarmatia within Europe Emir B. a common name among the Arabians and the Drusians vsed for a Prince a Duke a chief Noble man Eres B. a Citie in Atropatia Erzirum B. we think it to be Simbra in Ptolomie Essahul P. a troupe of Souldiers beionging to the Guard of the Persian King F. FAchi B. a Master of Ceremonies a Master of Religion Famagosta B. a new word corrupted from the vulgar Greeke which calleth it Famausta in old time it was Salamina in Cyprus A. Farssi P. the Region of Persia. G. GAngiara B. a sharpe crooked dagger Gaza A. a Citie in the confines of Iudea and in the way that leadeth towards Pelusium A. Genge B. a Citie of the Persians in Armenia the greater Gheilan B. a Citie in the Region of Gilan which Castaldo calleth Geli Giamen B. a Prouince in Asia where Arabia Felice is situated Gianizaro B. a degree of Turkish Souldiers so called Giauat B. a Citie of Atropatia in the confines of Media the greater Gien B. a Citie of the Parthians Giol T. a lake or a poole Giurgi-Chala T. the Georgian-Castell now possessed by the Turkes It is in the confines of Georgia and Armenia Godz B. the Citie of Ierusalem Gogna and Conia B. a Citie so called and in old time Iconium A. the chiefe Citie of the Lycaonians Goletta B. a famous Island Gori and Gorides B. a Territorie in Georgia Grin B. a Territorie inhabited by the Georgians situated on the hither side of Araxis Gurgistan and Georgia B. the Region that contayneth all the auncient Iberia and part also of Armenia the great The inhabitants of the Countrey do call all that Territorie Gurgistan which is inhabited by the Georgians In which point Negro Anania and Pius secundus are not well aduised because they think that Georgia is onely Iberia Guuergi-Chalasi B. a Castell situate in the middest of a little lake towards Tauris H. HAlip an Arabian word and signifieth Milke It is a verie famous Citie in Soria which Iouius calleth Alapia Bellonius calleth it Hierapolis and Qillanoua being in a notorious error for this point calleth it Antiochia For Antiochia is two dayes iourney distant from Aleppo more toward the Sea as we our selues haue seen with our eyes Hasna T. It signifieth Treasure Store Money collected aswell for publike as for priuate vses although properly it is onely taken for the publike Treasure or for the Kinges monyes Hassan-Chalasi T. The Castell of Hassan It is also called by the Turkes Passin It is a new erected thing betweene Erzirum and Chars situate vpon the bankes of the riuer Euphrates Heri B. a Citie in Aria Hispahan B. a Citie sometimes in Parthia I. IEsselbas B. a greene-Cap A certain people betweene the Bactrians and the Sogdians so called because they did weare Greene-Capps on their heads Imammadulasis B. a Citie in Parthia Imbrahur-Bassi T. Master of the Kings horse Isnic B. a Citie in old times called Nicea A. in Bithynia neere to the Moore Ascania A. Istigelu and Sagialu B. a Renowmed familie both at Casbin and also ouer all the kingdome of Persia. L. LAke-Actamar in old time called the Moore or marish Martiana or Margiana or Mantiana A. and according to Strabo it is in Armenia the greater Lake of Esseecchia in old time called the Marish Lychnitis A. in Georgia Lake of Isnic in old time the Marish Ascania A. in Bithynia Lake Tospite or Toeti it is in great Armenia Lizza B. a Citie by the Sea-coast in Soria called in old time Laodicea A. Lori B. a Fortresse in Armenia sometimes belonging to the Georgians but now possessed by the Turkes M. MAcadems B. a word vsed among the Drusiani for a Deputie an Agent or a chief Factor For an Emir or Lord in Drusia Look the 7. Booke Macuco B. a Measure
hatred as it were agaynst a whetstone in the yeare 1577. the abouenamed Mustaffa was elected Generall of the Turkish Campe prouision was made ready for him and authority giuen him to prepare whatsoeuer was needefull So messages were sent and commandement giuen ouer all the countreyes heareafter named that all the Bassaes Sangiacchi Agaes Spahini Gianissaries and souldiers of all sortes that were bound by their perpetuall annuitees to go to warre should take their iourney in the beginning of the spring to the Citty of Erzirum which if it be any of the old citties it is very likely to be Simbra mentioned by Ptolomee there to bee ready for the charge that should be enioyned them by their new Generall who hauing his dispatch from Constantinople passing to Chalcedon which Herodotus in respect of the founders errour calleth Blynde and now is named Scutari through the countryes of Amasia and of Siuas the one being the natiue soyle of Strabo and the other in old tyme called Sebastopolis hee arriued in Erzirum in the very beginning of Sommer and there stayed till such tyme as all his people corne artillery and other necessarye prouision were gathered together and at last departed for Struan hauing first taken an vniuersall and diligent surueigh of all his Army whereby distinguishing the sound strong from the sicke feeble the armed from the vnarmed the couragious from the cowards weighing in equall ballance his owne forces hee might assuredly know what to looke for at their handes Then he deuided his troupes and first in order were mustred the people of Mesopotamia to the nomber of xij thousand their Captayne being well checked by the Generall for bringing so few this yeare all of them for the most parte Archers not of any great courage and accustomed to the vse of the Scimitarre The second were the Assyrians and Babilonians watered with Euphrates Tigris coming from the very confines of Balsara in old tyme called Teredon in nomber no more then xiiij thousand horsemen yet all armed with sword and darte after the manner of their neighbours the Mesopotamians The third in order were the Sorians a people more riche in apparell then stout in armour rather alluring their enemies with the goodly shew of their spoiles then terrible to them being ij thousand in nomber all of them being very cunning to vault and turne themselues round about in fighting Then were mustred the men of Siuas of Amasia of Maras of Bursia of Angori and other places comprehended vnder the name of Natolia where in tymes past were the Magnesians the Bithynians the Phrygians those of Pontus Lydia to the nomber of x. thousand hardy people and well armed but for the most part archers on horsbacke There came next after them those of Iury and Palestina vpon swift coursers continuall darters archers more ready for flight and spoyle then for fight and foyle poore in apparrel and vertue to the nomber of one thousande The Cilicians succeeded them now inhabiting Caramania to the nomber of iiij thousand armed with Scimitarre battell axe and bow a harde and rough nation giuen to spoyle and robbery Then followed the glory and hope of all the Campe the people of Grecia souldiers full of franke courage armed with arcubush and sworde mounted vpon good and valiant horses to the nomber of 10000. And after them the familiar faithfull garde of the Generall iij. thousand Gianissaries of Constantinople with arcubush on the shoulder and sword by the syde Vnder the standard of Beyran Bassa were lykewise mustred the people of the Citty and iurisdiction of Erzirum leuied out of those places where in tymes past the Cappadoces bordering vpon the Armenians did inhabite to the nomber of iiij thousand souldiers accustomed to braules and battelles and first in the field to meete their enemies armed with sword and arcubush dartes or Indian Canes and yet all of them on horsebacke Euery troupe had their seuerall Captaynes who notwithstanding were changed at the Generalles pleasure whose names seruing to no purpose we will quite leaue out the rather to auoyde the tediousnes of the reader being not acquaynted with barbarous tearmes These were then the squadrons of such souldiers as were stipendiaries to the Turkish king to the nomber of whom those which went as voluntarie aduenturers were little inferior yet better armed peraduenture and more hardy to fight so that there were found in this surueigh about a hundred and ten thousand horsemen Neither was there any stirred out of Arabia Felix out of AEgipt out of Hungarie out of Africa or out of other places remore or situate vpon the sea coastes as also those Prouinces that had sent the squadrons afore mentioned were not leaft destitute of their ordinary guards and garnisons no nor without a great multitude of idle persons yea Damasco which in old tyme carried the name and pryce for matters of warre kept backe their band of Gianissaries being Arcubusiers to take their ease at home vnder the standerds of their owne captaines Mustaffa brought with him fiue hundred peeces of small Shotte aswell for safety of his army as also for seruice in defending such fortresses and castelles as he should be enforced to erect in the new-conquered countries He had also of the king many loades of money for his souldiers pay with furder order and direction to vse the chamber of Aleppo and of other Citties if he should stand in neede He caused likewyse to be brought from the prouinces aforenamed by imposition of Tenthes for graine and taskes for cariage of camells which they call Nosul and Auaris an exceeding great quantity of corne which he made to bee transported in Gallies by the great sea in tymes past called Pontus Euxinus to the hauen of Trapezuntia or Trabizonda vnder the generall conduct of Aly-Vcchiali that for the ease of the army it might so be conueighed from Trabizonda to Erzirum being but onely foure dayes iourney distant from thence He had also gathered together a great nomber of Pioners and Myners and to be short hauing taken order for all thinges that he thought might be necessary for the warre he departed in comely manner seemely aâ—ray from Erzirum and in the end of eyght dayes arriued at the ruines of Chars where among good pasture and abundance of come frute and waâ—â—â— herested himselfe And being surprised with an excessiue raine which falling in great quantity made newe pooles and brookes and being mixed with stormes and tempesturous winds rent his tents asunder wrought great harme both to men cattell he was compelled to stay in that place three whole dayes together not without some inconuenience by meanes whereof many fell sicke were constrayned to abandon the army From Chars he departed with al his people that were not hindred with sicknes and tooke vp his lodging
the false Prophet deceased openly made challenge thereunto At whose first demaund it seemed that Abubacher was some what willing to haue yeelded making a shew that he would do it to gratify such persons as sued for Aly being a man more worthy for his neerenesse in bloud for his agility in body for his valour in Armes rather then for that hee was resolued to surrender to another the honor that Mahamet had graunted to him But afterwardes hauing secretely vnderstood the mindes of some that were more mighty then his aduersaries who counsailed him in any case not to spoyle himselfe of the honor which he had obtayned he began openly to resist Aly and to vse not onely reasons but force also against him so that he established himself in the said Succession Which Aly for that he would not disturbe the new-deuised sect did brooke better then it was thought hee could although at last in recompence of this his tolleration being forsaken of all his freendes and fautors hee and hys wife Fattime were also spoyled of all the substaunce that was left vnto them by his Vncle Abubacher vouching for a reason of this his cruelty That the enheritance of riches belongeth vnto him to whome the Charge of the Law and of Wisedome belongeth and That he being adiudged lawfull heire of the Wisedome ought also to inherite the riches Leauing it as it were for an Ordinaunce to the people That a Prophet cannot separate his substance from his dignities and knowledge but whosoeuer is left heire of a mans wisedome is also to be taken for the heire of a mans wealth Wherevpon diuers wise men of that age tooke occasion to write bookes and therein disputed whether a Prophet might haue authority to make one and the selfe same person the heire of his learning and of hys riches Howbeit this Aly liued so long that he saw the death of his predecessors Abubacher Omar and Ottoman and after their decease he himselfe also succeeded in the Dignity which till then they had vsurped vpon him For conseruation whereof he was compelled to make battell with Maui Lord of Damafco ouer whome with great glory he gayned the victory and so euer after to his immortall praise and commendation hee exercised that Office At the last he died also leauing behind him the report of a magnanimous variant and iust Prince and was buried with two of his Sonnes Hassan and Ossain in Cafe a place with in two dayes iourney neere vnto Babylon among whose Successors was allwayes thoroughly obserued whatsoeuer Mahamet had commaunded to be obserued for a Law And although the East was diuided into diuers and sondry States and Gouernementes of many persons yet notwithstanding the superstition of Mahamet was with all conformity mainetained by them all neither was there heard either of any schisme or insurrection or waighty dissention among that people but for all the inequalitie of those countries and dominions this opinion continued equall and vniforme At what time euen on a sudden beyond all expectation there arose a superstition in the mindes of certaine Mahometanes which in few yeares being sowen and scattred ouer all Asia did breed a great contention and warre among those nations that beeing before vnited together by Mahometes deuise seemed to be more then frendes and in league one with an other Of this nouelty one Sexchiuni or more distinctly to expresse his name one Siec Giunet was the author who vnder the name of Sofi and of Siec that is to say of a wiseman an author of Religion or rather vnder the pretence of holynesse began to persuade the people being by nature inconstant superstitious That those three first Successors of Mahamet were vniust and vnlawfull vsurpers of the dignitie That modest iust Ali onely ought to be named the lawfull Successor That he alone ought to be called-vpon in their prayers for helpe and that by all possible meanes all honors should be yeelded and rendred to him and taken from those three first as from persons that were vndoubtedly damned and altogether reprobate With many argumentes did Giunet approoue his Inuention at last persuaded many therevnto that beganne very readily to follow him as the head and founder of so new a verity Whereupon by the appointment of this new master they did all with one conformitie vse this forme of Prayer Cursed be Abubacher Omar and Ottoman and God be fauourable to Aly and well pleased with him From the time of this inuention forwardes the Sepulcher of Aly and hys sonnes in Cafe grew in great credite and the followers of this new superstition began euery yeare to visite it in all respectes euen after the same sort that the Turkes do visite the Sepulchre of the three first Successors Yea the very kinges of Persia themselues vsed to be crowned and girte with their sword in Cafe neere vnto Babylon as it is sayde before where euer after their great Calife was woont to keepe his residence as being the mā that represented Aly and occupied the chiefe roome of their filthy and damnable Priesthood Vppon this occasion it is not amisse to aduertise the Reader how false that rumor hath bene and is whereby it is noysed abroad that the kinges of Persia perfourmed these ceremonies in Babylon The cause of which falshood was for that Case lying neere vnto Babilon and being a very little place as resembling rather a village then a towne or a Citty the people reported that all these thinges were doone in Babilon that famous Citty no otherwise then as Strabo writeth to haue happened about the ouerthrow that Darius had when he lost the Empyre Which ouerthrow although it was at a little village called Gaugamela that is to say the Cammelles house yet the wryters and people do say that it was at Arbella a notable Citty neere to the said place called Gaugamela Whereupon it is not much from the purpose to note also how greatly they are deceaued that thinke Arbella to be that which is now called Tauris whereas Strabo doth playnely say that Arbella lyeth in the Countrey of Babilon which is Assyria and it is very manifest that Tauris is in the Countrey of Media By this briefe narration it appeereth that Paulus Giouius hath erred where he writeth that the superstition of the Persians did begin in Persia at the very same tyme that the heresy of Luther was sowen in Germany and where he maketh one Arduelle who was also called Aidere to be the author of the Persian Faction whereas he is notably deceaued both in respect of the tyme and also of the person of the tyme for that it sprang vp before the publication of Luthers religion and of the person lykewise for that Arduelle was not the first inuentor thereof as hee saith but Giunet Siec called also the Sofi as shalbe declared a little after The Turkes in the meane tyme by reason of this new deuysed nouelty
their fleete on the great sea into the Channell of the riuer Fasis by the coast of the Albanians leading Abdilcherai the Tartarian into Seruan and by these two straites carrying all their Army as in fit places it shall be set downe As ye walke towardes the North on this syde of the lake Essecchia which perhaps is the marish called Lychnitis there standeth the Cittie Basacchiuc with certaine other Townes and Citties for a long time subiect to Basacchiuc being a Lord of that name Who was allwaies more rusticall and vnciuill then all the rest as one that dwelt far out of the ordinarie waies by which the Turkish Armie made their iourney and by that meanes neuer endured the like troubles and inconueniences that others did so that in all these stirres and hurly-burlies among his neighbours withdrawing himselfe into these fortes made and framed by nature he sat as it were in a watch-tower to behold the accidents of this doubtfull warre Which rest certainely he had not so quietly enioyed if the Tartarians had not fayled in their promises made to Amurat whose breach of promise did in deede frustrate and thwaâ—t many important enterprises and singular conquestes that Ofman the Bassa had plotted in those quarters Now the Sonne of Leuent called by the inhabitantes there Schender and by vs Alessandro surnamed the Great and brother of 〈◊〉 hath his state betweene Reiuan Siruan wide of Tomanis and though it be accounted among the Georgian States yet is it situate rather in Armenia the Greater in the borders of Atropaiia then in Iâ—eria This man in steed of armes hath continually vsed prayers and presentes and as he that more then all the rest lay open to the passage through Siruan and dwelt neere to Reiuan and Teflis he was likewyse subiect to the Persian fury yet for all that he handled the matter so well with the Turkes on the other syde that by his rich and liberall gifts in steed of armes and wepons euen in the greatest heates of this warre he kept himselfe equally vntouched and free from the violence both of his foes and frends His cheefe pallace is Zaghen fruitfull of silkes he hath also Grin and diuers other villages townes he surpasseth at this day all the rest of his neighbour Georgians in riches money enloyeth withall greater tranquilitie and quiet then they all He was in tymes past greatest affected to the Crowne of Persia but since the tyme that Tamas sought by vniust and vnlawfull meanes to depryue him of his state and in his rowme to substitute his brother Ixis who being become a Persian and hauing giuen himselfe to Tamas and to Satan like a wicked wretch gaped after it aboue all thinges in the world he then began to repose small confidence in the Persian succours and resoluing with himselfe to remaine a Neuter he followed the campes of the conquerours and fauoured the Ensignes and name of those that were mightiest And in this case standeth the state of Georgia at this day But the countrey of Siruan which on the West is ioyned with this Prouince whereof wee will make but a briefe discourse hath also on the North syde the Albanians and a little beyond them some wandring and vagabound Tartarians called Pericorschi betweene Caueasus the riuer Volga whereupon it may be that the Tartarians are comprehended vnder the name of the Volcenses on the East it hath the lake if with Polycletes we may so terme it or rather as other call it the sea of Corazan on the South syde Armenia and more toward the South and southeast Media the greater The Metropoliticall citty of Siruan is Sumachia situate betweene Derbent and Eres and as Derbent lyeth in the way for the Scythians so doth Eres make way for the Armenians and Medes to enter into the country that is subiect to the said Citty All Atropatia was subiect to the Persian King and was obedient to him being induced thereunto first by Aydere and afterward by Ismahel Sofi sauing onely that it seemed the people of Derbent did ordinarily loue rather the fame and renowne of the Turkes then the gouernement of their natiue Prince sticking also to the auncient religion which Aidere shooke and Ismahel subuerted The whole countrey is fruitefull and watred with Araxis and Cirus and other riuers that are famous euen in antique writers and principally Eres which yeelded in tymes past great store of those fine white silkes commonly tearmed by the marchantes Mamodean silkes whereof at this day there is not to be found no not a very small quantity by reason of the monstrous ruines and ouerthrowes that haue happened in those countreys The king of Persia maintained in Derbent and Eres after the naturall Lord was driuen out of them by Ismahel certaine gouernours with the tytle of Sultans and in the Citty of Sumachia one onely Gouernour with the tytle of Chan who ruled both ouer Sechi also ouer the other Citties that were subiect to that iurisdiction But Derbent as we haue already written eueÌ„ as it was the last citty on that side which was subdued by the Sofi made more resistance then all the rest in receauing the superstition of the Sofiti or Cheselbas insomuch that Aidere left his carcase vnder her walles euen so though at the last it was ouercome yet did it alwayes remaine most affectionate to the first faith opinion that it held when the law of Mahomet had not yet tasted of the Schisme of the Sofians howbeit it could neuer fynd opportunity to receaue the Turkish captaines into her and so vtterly shake-of all obedience to the Cheselbas Betweene Seruan and Tauris is situate the countrey of Caracach fertile and rich in corne and cattell very commodious for the feeding of Beastes in situation not greatly subiect to windes by reason that it lyeth rather alow then aloft but yet pleasant and temperate and it seemeth that this countrey on that side bordereth vpon the Atropatians and the Medians where the Cittie of Tauris standeth euen at the rootes of the mountaine Orontes which according to Straboes opinion is a portion of Taurus Of this Cittie we haue sufficiently spoken in this History much more largely in the Letter which in manner of an Appendix wee haue added in the end of this worke for the more manifest declaration of our opinion touching the recognition of this place the reading wherof may peraduenture more distinctly expresse the Geography of these countries And now taking this Cittie of Tauris for the middell or as it were the Center in a circle wee will also vse it for an obiect in all the considerations which very briefly wee shall heere ser downe All those that come from Van or from the Lake of Vastan and make their voyage towardes Media doo arriue at Tauris trauelling alwaies by East or by East by North being nyne dayes iourney or thereabouts and leauing Coy
did he faile to propound to Amurath his opinion what hee thought conuenient to be attempted the next yeare for the strengthning of those places that he had already conquered and for preparing the way to newe enterpryses And principally he put him in mind of a fortify cation to be made at Chars a place very fit for any passage to Georgia or Armenia by situation fruitefull and commodious both for men and cattell And withall he sente vnto the said king the widdowes two sonnes Manucchiar Alessandro signifying that they would bee alwaies ready to performe whatsoeuer it should please him to command them and that he had receaued in their country all good entertainemente and frendly welcome not omitting for all that to declare his opinion that Manucchiar was a meeter manne for the gouernement then Alessandro for that Manucchiar had shewed greater valour was more willing and ready to serue him then his brother and the rather because it was a generall opinion that Alessandro had his hand in those treasons and mischeefes which happened to the victuailers and to the Sorians in Georgia Greatly did the king commend the diligence and vertue of Mustaffa and pleased himselfe highly with this conceit that of these pretty beginnings there might growe mighty conquestes and singular successes to the enlargement of his Empyre and hoped that by this meanes hee should bee able to suâ—passe the glory of his predecessors and the more his thoughtes were occupyed about these warres the lesse did he trouble himselfe with thinking how to annoy Europe with his forces But now it is high time to returne to the narration of the accidentes that happened in Siruan where we told you Caitas Bassa was leaft at Eres and Osman Bassa at Sumachia with expresse order that Osman should call the Tartarians to his aide the Tartarians I say that hauing leaft the Fennes of Meotis and the vnmountable shores of the Blacke Sea passed ouer the rockes vpon Colchis surueighed the frosen cragges of Caucasus were now arriued in the confynes of Siruan and there staied attending the commandemente of the Turkes to inuyte them to spoile and victory Among the Tartarian Precopenses there was one Abdilcherai a Capitaine of great valour and fame a yong man of comely countenaunce and well sett of person who according to the faithfull promise of Tatar-Chan surnamed Mahamet geuen to Amurath brought with him about thirty thousand souldiers his subiectes with a full resolution to attempt whatsoeuer any Turkish captaine should command him in the name of Amurath And therefore Osman called him and inuited him to succour the forces of his king and to furder these beginnings of his glory these his conquestes or rather these magnificall and famous termes of victory Hee aduised him withall that assoone as he had arriued in the countrey of Siruan before he passed any furder he should send aduertisementes of his arriuall there by two or three seuerall letters dispatched by two or three seuerall messengers for the more security to the end that he might be againe enformed what course he should take to make his coming more profitable and more glorious All which was not onely throughly vnderstood but also most diligently put in execution by Abdilcherai and therefore hauing entred the Iron gates where Derbent standeth which by the Turkes at this day is called Demircapi and signifyeth The Gates of Iron and from thence passing on into the country of Siruan there he staied and gaue aduertisement thereof to Osman as he was appointed Now in the meane time that Mustaffa hauing subdued Sumachia and Eres was departed out of the confynes of Siruaa Ares-Chan who after was gouernour of Sumachia and other Gouernours of that region of whom we made mention before hearing the newes of the departure of the Turkish Generall were determined to returne to their forsaken country to find some meanes whereby they might in parte at the least reuenge the great iniuries wherewith Ares-Chan was most greeuously offended and damnifyed and so with victorie eyther of spoile or of slaughter vpon Osman Bassa to gaine honour commendation with the Persian king by the publike shame and confusion of his enemyes For in deed great was his anger and wrath when hee beheld his owne Citty remaine for a pray to the enemy and was not hable by any outwarde acte to shew any signe of his greefe And so hauing passed vnder Sumaohia not far from which place he had put to the sworde som fewe victuailers of Osmans that more boldly then wisely had issued out of the citty and being with all his people encamped in certaine freshe fieldes a little on this syde of the said Sumachia I knowe not how but he was so well fauoured by good fortune that he surprysed certaine spies or messengers sent from Abdilcherai who first went to carry the news to Osman of the arriuall of the Tartarian Captaine and according to the order taken betweene them to knowe his pleasure what should be put in execution These Tartarians were brought before Ares-Chan who after much torture disclosed the letters that they carried which the Persian captaine read and considering the great nomber of the Tartarians that were come for the letters made mention of thirtie thousand he was vtterly resolued not to stay any longer in those quarters but presently raysed his Campe retired towards Canac meaning from thence to certify the Persian king of all these nouelties and vpon the bankes of the saide riuer to encampe himselfe attending an answere from his said king But Abdilcherai who had now sent out his second his third spies caused Osman Bassa by som other means to vnderstand of his arriuall who then very wel perceaued that the suddaine and vnlooked-for departure of Ares-Chan could not be vpoÌ„ any other occasioÌ„ but vpon knowledge of the coming of so great an hoast but when he saw that the first spies neuer came which Abdilcherai accused in his second letters he was more then assured thereof Howbeit the Tartarian captaine was called to Sumachia where sitting in consultation with Osman they fell to agreement that Abdilcherai should passe Canac and so onwardeeuen vnto Genge the countrey of Emanguli-Chan to destroy and wast his fields his townes and his Citties bringing away with him men cattell and corne and enriching his arriuall by all the most terrible strange meanes he could The Barbarian captaine longed to see the time that he might staine his dartes and sworde in the blood of his enemies entrailes and to charge himselfe with the expected pray and therefore presently departed and with poasting iourneyes passed ouer Canac where Ares-Chan was as yet encamped and assaulting him in furious manner without allowing him any time of defence lyke a rauening and deuouring flame discomfited all his hoast and taking him aliue sent him to Sumachia to the garrisons of Osman who forthwith caused him to bee hanged
persons departeth in the latter ende of August from Erzirum Mustaffa the Georgian ioy neth with Mahamet at Archelech The Georgians and the Persians send to defie the Turkes and to bid them to battell Mahamet the Bassa refuseth the Battell The Turkes passe ouer the riuer and are assaulted by their enemies and shamefullie discomsited The Turkes being so discomfited retire themselues to Teflis Mahamet the Bassa maketh a publike oration to his souldiers at Teflis Mahamet leauieth a taske among his souldiers and so departeth A disorder in the departure among the Curdi At Altunchala a counterfeit Counsel-house called to betray Mustaffa who woundeth the Lieutenant of Mahamet the Bassa of Caraemit and Mamet himselfe Amurah being angry at these misfortunes reproueth the Bassas of his court for their improuidence and follie and particularlie findeth himselfe grieued with Sinan who maketh a proud and an arrogant answer to the king Whereupon he is banished from the Court and Sciaus the Bassa sonne in law to the King is chosen chiefe Visier in the roome of Sinan THE FIFTH BOOKE SInan remayned at Chars eight dayes during which time hee surueighed againe all his souldiers al his corn theÌ„ set himself on his way towards Tomanis with resolution there to build a Fort as I told you before He passed by Archelech and left behind him Peruana Giol Triala and in the end arriued at Tomanis where a litle before he came thither was arriued also the Capigilarchechaiasi from the Court bringing with him the seal and the writ wherby the king had named him to be chiefe Visier For which good newes all the Bassas in the army shewed great signes of reioycing At Tomanis he consulted with al his chief Bassas touching his designment for the Fort that was to be made and euery one of them deliuered diuers Models of it but none of them all could be put in execution by reason of the raine which fel so largely so aboundantly and so continually that the souldiers had neither leasure nor meanes to employ themselues in that work and especially because Sinan did greatly fear that the enemy taking the oportunity of this rain of the strait and of the building might peraduenture assault the armie and finding it out of order in ill plight might greatlie endommage it This raine continued falling for the space of eight daies in all which time neither did beame of the Sun break out nor the skie cleare Howbeit waxing at the last somewhat lightsome Sinan determined to remooue from thence and to cary onwards his succours to Teflis Assoone as the Army was raised and presently after they had passed the strait of Tomanis Talogli the Aga or Captaine of the Ianizzaries of Damasco and Homar the Sangiacco or Lord of Saffetto who had alwaies hetherto kept company together in the Army because they were neighbors whiles they dwelt at Saffetto and Damasco had now also determined to go togither to seeke their fortune For they had receiued priuie intelligence that hard by a little out of the way there was good store of corne and cattel and thereupon they resolued to fetch in that booty And so gathering together a company of souldiers to the nuÌ„ber of two thousand who were all very desirous of some refreshing because they were insome necessity for corne they went out for this pray But Simon-Chan who hauing aduertised the Persians of the departure of Sinan from Chars and ioyned himself vnto them had withdrawne himselfe to follow the Army a far off and had diuided his souldiers into such places where there was either corne or water or any such like thing that might allure the Turkes to scatter themselues from the Campe Assoon as he was aware of them that they had carelesly run out to lay hold on this desired booty being accompanied with his owne people a fewe other Persians he fel vpon theÌ„ hewed theÌ„ al to peeces scarle leauing the Aga of the Ianizzaries any leasure to fly who being ayded by the swiftnes of his horse or whether hee were in the front marching before al the rest I know not put himselfe to flight and so scaped with his life In so much as the Sangiacco aboue named and all the rest were there slaine and in brief there escaped nor one but only the foresaid Aga. Sinan pursued on his iourney in the space of two daies came to Teflis where presently he gathered together all the chief of his Army calling also into the Diuano the Capilarcheâ—aâ—asi he began to take order that euery man vpon his oath should depose the truth touching the greatnes of that cuntry And all this was but onely to make it euidently appeare that the information which Mustaffa had giuen to the king that Teflis was a citie lik to Damasco was vtterly vntrue for that Teflis was but a small peece of ground containing but a few houses and few inhabitants in them and not only vnequal to Damasco but also vnworthy in any sort to be compared vnto it for that it did far surpasse Teflis in all things aswel for riches and bignes as for multitude of people At the same time also he distributed his treasure and the suecors which he brought among the souldiers of the sort comforting them with good speeches with lustie liuely promises of great matters And foramuch as all the souldiers there made great complaints against the Bassa that was their Captain in the fortresse Sinan caused an information or as the Turks cal it a Teflis to be framed against him hauing found him guilty that he had conuerted the souldiers pay to his own vse he condemned him in restitution thereof and discharging him immediatly froÌ„ his office he did substitute in his place Giusuf Bey one of the Georgian Lordes who for the ancient enmity between him and Simon had yeelded him self to the Turks was by them so welcommed that Sinan trusted him with the oustody of that fort which with so many dangers had bene maintained and defended till that day When this was done Sinan departed froÌ„ thence with al his army while he was vpon his departure ther arriued Embassadors from Leuentogli lord of Zaghen of whom we haue oftentimes made mentioÌ„ before who wer very wel welcom to Sinan especially for that aswel by their relation as also by the testimony of the souldiers of Teflis theÌ„selues he had bin certified how much good Leuentogli had done vnto theÌ„ by sending to the fort vittails money whatsoeuer els he had that might be commodious for them in that their continual necessity Which in trueth was so great that it was an occasion of spreaidng abroad a general fame whereby it was reported that the said Fort was yeelded by the Turks to the Georgiani yea and the rumor of it passed euen into Italy But it was all false For notwithstanding so great penurie of all things and so great a
embraced as his Sonne the other he auaunted out of his presence and punishing him as an impious person hee caused his heade to bee cutte from his Carcase In this manner the ambitious Visier as though hee had voluntarily gone to his owne death tourned all these angers and tumultes against himselfe and with his owne destruction pacified the dissentions and hatredes that were fostered in the two Princes mindes And Emirhamze when hee had nowe discouered the wickednesse of his Father in Lawe tooke it also in verie good parte that hee was depriued both of his state and life And so the two brethren beeing reconcyled together and the Sonne to the Father after that Abas Mirize had agayne promised his wished obedience which hee afterwarde willinglie performed Kinge Mahamet returned with the Prince towardes Casbin where by reason of sodayne and vnexpected newes hee had nowe along time beene looked for and desired Amurath through the roughe speeches and vnluckie prognostications of Sinan was more and more settled in his purpose to continue this Warre hopinge that hee woulde cause all the threatteninge of Sinan to bee but vaine and to reape so much the more glorie by his happie successe in such an enterprise as it should fall out contrarie to the common opinion of all men And thereupon began to bethinke himselfe whome he might choose for his Generall and to him not onelie to commit such a charge but also to communicate all his deuises Till that time Osman Bassa was appoynted bee the man but Amurath thinking that Osman might prooue more seruiceable in Siruan and thereby the better assure and establish the conquest of that Region durste not so soone remoue him from thence Among the Bassaes of the Court there was one Ferat a man of ripe yeares but yet fierce of courage tough in opinion in counsell as hardie as might beseeeme his age ready for all sodeine and strange aduentures but aboue all a vassall most deuoted to the King and happely he had performed some good office why he was the rather now called forth by Amurath to this seruice Of this man at the last hee was resolued to make choyce to bee the Captaine of his Armie And therefore hee called him to him and communicated with him all his priuie dessignements and secrete deuises necessarie for this warre encouraging him to take paynes to fight battels to obtayne victories and to doe all thinges else agreeable to so worthie an enterprise Verie willingly did Ferat accept of this newe Office and thought himselfe to bee highly fauoured by the King and so disposed himselfe to performe the same so farre as he coulde employ his strength his wit and his diligence therein and thereupon made him a large promise that hee woulde put in execution whatsoeuer shoulde be offered vnto him either by occasion or by his Royall commaundement Which although the King should not haue vrged any further but onely to assure the passage to Teflis and all Georgia and principally to destroye the countrie of Mustaffa the Georgian who had so audaciouslie iniured the Lieutenant of Amurath and set his whole Armie in confusion yet beeing certified by Maxut-Chan the Rebell of Persia and being aduertised by his subiecte Bassaes that remained neere to Tauris howe King Mahamet was departed or atleast was vpon the poynt of departing to Heri to trie his Sonnes minde hee chaunged his purpose and deliberating the matter with himselfe hee commaunded Ferat to employ all his Force and diligence to erect a Fabrike at Reiuan a place belonging to Tocomac and to assure the passage that leadeth from Chars to Raiuan For so they shoulde be reuenged of manie treacheries and dammages which they had receyued by Tocomac and the way to the Citie of Tauris shoulde bee made open to the great glory of Amurath Hee aduised Ferat also that although hee knew verie well it were his duetie to chastize Mustaffa the Georgian for his rash attempt against Mahamet Bassa being then his Generall yet he thought it better that hee should dissemble and conceale his ill opinion of him and if it might bee possible to worke so as hee might conueigh the treasure and succours to Teflis For by this meanes the passage beeing made safe and secure without anye moe Fortresses or Fabrikes all Georgia woulde bee subdued and the next yeare they might attempt the enterprise of Tauris Verie highlie did Ferat commende the deuises of Amurath and shewed himselfe readie for anie attempt And nowe was the time come wherein it behooued them to set on foote these their important dessignements and therefore in the beginning of the yeare 1583. commaundedements were sent out of all the Cities of the Empire which were wont to make their appearance at these wars that vpon fresh summons they should be readie to returne against the Persians and to put in execution that which should be enioyned theÌ„ by their new captain the Fame whereof flew as far as to Tripoli in Soria to Damasco to Aleppo to all Iurie to Palestina to Mesopotamia to Babylonia to Balsara to Siuas to Maras to all Bithynia to Cappadocia to Cilicia to Armenia and to all the Sangiacchi and Curdi of them yea and beyond Constantinople to the borders of Hungarie and of Greece and to bee briefe to all their subiecte Regions that were wont to come to this Warre All which sent their Captaynes and Souldiers accordingly all readie and willing to performe the pleasure of their Lorde And so at the last Generall Ferat departing from Constantinople and passing to Chalcedon by the way of Amasia and of Siuas hee came to Erzirum where hee tooke a veiw of all his Souldiers all his Pioners his Buylders his Treasure his prouision of Corne his Munitions of Warre and leading with him the ordinarie Number of Artillarie hee gathered altogether vnder his Standerd Afterwardes in due time hee remooued from Erzirum and in the space of eight dayes arryued at Chars in which his iourney hee vsed the seruice of the rebell Maxut-Chan as his Guide who in the Turkish language is called a Calaus and from Chars hee sette himselfe on his waye towardes Reiuan Three dayes before hee came to Reiuan of certayne ruines of an olde and sleepe Castle which the Turkes called Aggia-Chalasi hee erected a newe Fortresse and left in it a Garrison of fower hundred Souldiers together with a Sangiaccho and certaine peeces of Ordinance and then went to Reiuan This Countrey lyeth neere to a Mountaine whose toppe reaching aboue the clouldes seemeth to touch the heauens and is continually charged with snowe and yâ—e At the foote of this heigh and starke mountayne there lie fayre fieldes abounding with Corne and Cattell and watered with diuers brookes that falling downe from a lofte discharged themselues into Araxis It is distant from Tauris eight or nine dayes iourney betweene which two places are situate Nassiuan Chiulfall Marant and Soffian all enriched with goodly
And in the end when it was plainely perceiued that neither Religion nor Loue nor Iustice nor Reason could remooue his coueteous minde from his vsuall cruelties and rapine a great number of such as were moste vexed and molested by this newe Tyrant beganne daily in close and quiet manner to goe to Constantinople make humble petitions to the king that hee would bee pleased to displace so cruell and vniust a wretch as thought it lawfull for him to drinke vp the bloude of their poore families without any cause or offence at all Neither were these complaintes made once or twice by one or two alone but oftentimes and by manie seuerall persons soe that generally in the Courte there was no talke of anie thing else but onely of the villanies and mischiefes that were reported of the Eunuch At the last Amurath seeing that these publike exclamations wente dailie so farre that it was nowe a shame for him to let them goe any further withoute due punishment hee resolued with himselfe to call him to the Courte and hauing sent vnto him certaine Capigi and Chiaus hee admonished him sondrie times to returne home But the Eunuch whome it highlie grieued to forsake so fitte an occasion of enriching himselfe did still delaye his returne and beganne to alledge newe-coyned excuses for his longer stay Which when Amurath vnderstoode thinking rather that he was mocked thereby peraduenture also entering into some suspition of some publike alteration in those quarters with a newe deuise hee determined to prouide for so greate a disorder and by punishing the mischieuous nature of the coueteous Eunuch in some parte at the leaste to satisfie the people that were in a mutinie and to pacifie their pittifull exclamations and complaintes There satte at that time amonge the chiefe Bassaes of the Courte one Ebrain by Nation a Sclauonian and of a place called Chianichie a shorte daies iourney distante from Ragusa a yoonge man of the age of two and thirtie yeares or thereaboutes of verie faire conditions and of reasonable iudgement vpon whome Amurath him self had heretofore determined to bestow his own daughter for his wife and to make him his sonne in law Whereof before this time there had beene diuers treaties and speeches And therefore nowe beeing minded to remooue the Eunuch from his Office and to satisfie the Citie and hauing no other person to whom he thought hee might better committe that truste and beeing also willing withall to minister occasion to his saide sonne in lawe to make monie and enriche himselfe hee was resolued to send him as General Syndic and soueraigne Iudge into Aegypt giuing him in particular charge that hee shoulde remember howe wickedlie his predecessor had dealt before him so that all the whole Territories of that huge and large Citie were come vp euen vnto the Court to exclaime againste his Tyrannie and coueteousnesse And so this newe Bassa tooke his iourney towardes Aegypt although there ranne before him a greate rumor of his comming and of the greate authoritie wherewith hee was sente At which reporte as the Aegyptians rested contente and ioyfull so the Eunuch waxed verie sad and sorrowfull and did verilie perswade himselfe that this alteration coulde not but engender some strange issue effect against him Which opiniō did so much the more deeply settle it self in his mind for that he did not knowe one trustie person in all Aegypt of whom hee might hope for any helpe and protection in case that Ebrain Bassa shoulde driue him to any streighte Whereupon aduising with himselfe to prouide better for his owne affaiers and safety of his life hee was resolued not to stay for the arriuall of the Visier but departing out of Aegypt with great care and circumspection he trauelled towardes Constantinople in hope to appease the kings wrath or at leaste by the mediation of bribes and by the intercession of the Queene to finde him of a more mild and placable disposition then hee should finde Ebrain who without doubt would not haue spared any extremitie or cruelty to bereaue him both of his goods also of his life Thus the craftie Eunuch departed from Aegypt and put himselfe on his iourny towardes Constantinople vsing greate diligence and care that hee might not meete with Ebrain who beeing alreadie certified by many Aegyptians of the escape of Hassan gaue speedye aduertisement thereof to Amurath at Constantinople to the ende hee mighte take suche order as was conuenient Amurath hearing this and hearing withall that hee kept not the highway that leadeth ordinarilye from Memphis into Thracia feared leaste hee might flie to straunge Princes and particularly suspected that beeing arriued in Soria he would passe into Persia to the Soffian king and so worke him double and treble dommage as one that had already gathered a huge treasure and hauing liued in the Court knew the most secret affaires therof learned althe priuy deuises and fashions of the Serraglio Wherupon with all diligence hee dispatched his Imbrahur Bassi whome wee may call the Maister of his horse with fortye of his Capigi all Gentlemen vshers and Officers of the most secret and neerest rowmes about him with charge and commandement that if hee met with him he should bring him aliue to the Court vsing all the assistaunce and aide of his people that might bee requisit and for that purpose deliuered vnto him very effectual large letters written after the best manner that is vsed in the Court The kings Messenger with his appointed traine departed and without any extraordinarie enquiry after the Eunuch hee founde him in Soria encamped in the plains of the Apameans neere to the citie now called Aman but in times past Apamea the Principall Citie of that Countreye where the Riuer Orontes with his pleasaunt course watereth the greene and beautifull hilles and from thence running along to the Walles of Antiochia dischargeth it selfe afterwardes into the Siriac Sea neere vnto Seleucia Pieria which nowe they call Soldin Assoone as the Eunuch vnderstood of the comming of the Imbrahur he gaue order vnto his gard of slaues which in great number with speares and Arcubuses did ordinarilie keepe his pauilion that they should not grant entertainement into his Tent to any other but onely to the Imbrahur himselfe in all rigorous manner to keepe the rest of the Capigi from comming in This order was giuen in verie good time For assoone as the Kings Officer had discouered the Tentes of the fugitiue Bassa in all haste hee ranne towardes the same and seeking out the greatest among them wente presently thither to enter into it with all his followers But the slaues beeing in Armour opposed themselues against them and permitting the Imbrahur to passe into the pauilion entertained the rest of his traine without The Imbrahur read vnto him the commaundement which hee had from the king to bring him to the Court and instantly moued him that without any
true which Aristotle writeth That amonge certaine brute beastes there is a kinde of respecte obserued in bloude coupling themselues together by these prophane and filthie Mariages they liue more beastlie then the verie brute creatures And as by their prophet and their factions they woulde needes bee separated from the Turkish sect so in Dominion and gouernement they haue soughte by all meanes to bee different from them for notwithstanding al the chaunges and troubles of the Turkish Tyrantes yet haue they alwaies beene subiect to their owne Naturall Princes which by aunciente descent had the rule ouer them and woulde neuer admitte any Captaine or Gouernour of the Ottomans to bee within the Countreyes which they possessed They are a people verie warrelike stoute obstinate bolde vndaunted and religious obseruers of their lawe although indeed some of their chiefe Rulers to saue their liues haue beene enforced to followe the pleasure of those that were mightier then themselues by reason of their dissention with their neighbours In battaile they vse especially the Arcubuse and the Scimitarre and yet some of them at this daie doo serue with Launces and Dartes They are apparrelled like the Easterne people with a Turbante on their heade and breeches they neuer weare but in steede thereof they couer those partes with their Coate which reacheth downe to their knees in length by buttening it vppe before They are also accustomed to grosse and Mountaine Meates They inhabite all the Countrey that is inuironed within the confines of Ioppa aboue Caesarea in Palestina and within the Riuers of Orontes and Iordane stretching it selfe euen to the playne of Damasco neere to the hilles that compasse it aboute vpon the coast of Mounte Libanus They were all in times paste good friendes and confederate together in loue and concorde so that they were in those daies greately esteemed but nowe beeing sette in a confusion throughe greedinesse and couetuousnesse they are deuided amonge them selues and one of them contrarie and enemie to the other but especially and principally at this daie there are fiue chiefe Captaines or Heades of them which they call Emir One of them is named Ebneman whome the Turkes call Manogli Another Serafadin the thirde Mahamet Ebnemansur the Turkes call him Mansurogli the forth Ebnefrec by the Turks tearmed Feracogli by the Moors surnamed Acra which we may interpret Scuruy or Scald and the fift Ali Ebne-Carfus by the Turks called Ali-Carfusogly Vnder these who indeede carry the title and auctority of an Emir that is to say King or Chiefe there are diuers others whome the Drusians themselues call Macademi that are either Deputies to the Emirs or els their Factors or Agentes or both amonge whome in this alteration of matters which wee intende to write of Gomeda and Mendel were two verie famous persons who kept their residence the one in Baruti and the other in Tripoli for Mansurogli and called themselues Emirs rather for flatterie then of any duetie for that they were indeede no other but the Macademi of the saide Emir-Mahamet Ebnemansur Ebneman he inhabited the Mountains fields that are contained vnder the Iurisdictions of Caesarea of Ptolemaida of Tyrus and of Sidonia the inhabitants at this day call those places Cheiserie Acca Sur Seidâ— all of them as farre as I coulde see when I trauelled in Pilgrimage to the holye sepulchre of Christ beeing desolate Countreyes and vtterlie destroyed and hath his residence for the most parte vppon the hill in Andera Hee is verie mightye in men and Armour and since the time that by treacherie and treason his Father was murthered by Mustaffa then Bassa of Damasco he hath beene a deadly Enemy to the Turkish name Ebnemansur enioyeth al the Territorie contained with in Baruto and Anafe and keepeth his residence vpon the hill in Gazir Hee beeing driuen thereunto through the controuersies that hee had with Ebnesuip sometimes the Emino or Customer of the Kay at Tripoli and with Ebneman aforenamed yeelded himselfe as a pray to the Turkes and was made the Sangiacco of Laodicea called Lizza hauing also the charge of the Custome house of Tripoli committed vnto him where afterwardes Gomeda remained for him But at the reasonable and honourable requestes of Giouanni Michaele sent as Consul by the Senate of Venice into Soria and by me in this Historie oftentimes but not worthelie enough mentioned for I was the meanes and practiser for the saide Consul though vnworthie I were for such businesse the said office was taken from him whiles he was prisoner in Constantinople in the yeere 1586. Serafadin keepeth his state betweene Ebneman Ebnemansur beeing in good league and confederate with the first and at mortall enimitie with the second Hee is the weakest of all the rest in forces and reuenues Ebnefrec inhabiteth that parte of Libanus that is towardes the East and runneth downe euen to the foote of Libanus ioyning vpon the plaines of Bacca Of which plaines together with the Citty called by the inhabitantes there Balbech and by some thought to be Caesarea Philippi Emir Aly Ebnecarfus was euer the Lorde and owner who also in this chaunge of Fortune bought the Title of a Bassa and would needes submitte himselfe wholly to the seruice of the Turkes And heere along runneth the vale that is so famous amonge the Phisitians and Poetes betweene Lib anus and Anti-Libanus where also are to be seene the Lakes of Orontes and of Iordan called Ior and Dan. Ebnefrec Ebnecarfus and Ebnemansur were alwaies great friends but now especially at the comming of Ebrain Bassa they shewed themselues more straitly confederated together Serafadin and Manogli were euer opposite against them so that the one side procuring the ouerthrowe and mischiefe of the other they haue vtterlye loste their strength and haue no meanes left them to defend themselues from the Ottoman forces Nowe assoone as the newes came among them that Ebrain the Visier beeing departed from Cair woulde come into Soria to subdue the Drusians the three confederats aboue named of purpose to turne all the mischiefe vpon Ebneman and Serafadin their enemies resolued to goe and meet with the Bassa to shewe themselues subiect and deuoted to king Amurath to carrie with them large and liberall bribes and by accusing Serafadin and Ebneman of infidelitie of disobedience of rebellion to entreat their vtter destruction and ouerthrowe And so hauing packed vp together greate store of money cloth of silke cloth of Woollen and cloth of Gold with many loades of other silkes and things of exceeding value euery of the three beeing accompanied one with some twoo thousand and another with some three thousand put themselues on their iourny towardes Ebrain and met him at Ierusalem where hee was already arriued This their comming Ebrain Bassa tooke in woonderfull good parte and verye courteously accepted those rich and great presentes which they brought him and perceiuing such offers of their fidelitie and obedience
would not follow the warres of Ebrain the Visier should bee the keeper and gouernour of the said Forte And the rather to encourage him that he would take the charge vppon him he gaue him freely for the space of three whole yeares not onely the office and authority but also the rentes and reuenues of the Bassa of Caraemit in the place of him whose head we told you lately the Persian Prince had cut of and withall honoured him with the title of the Bassa of the Court where hauing finished his three yeares office of Caraemit he was to go sit among the soueraigne seates in the order and ranke of the Visiers The Eunuch seeing so faire and so nigh a way for him to mount to those high honours readily obeyed his pleasure and presently dispatching his Lieutenaunt whom the Turkes call Checaia for Caraemit to the gouernement of those countries in his absence with a hundred of his owne subiectes hee setled himselfe in the said Fort and afterwardes besides his said subiectes there were deliuered vnto him twelue thousand souldiers some voluntaries and some stipendiaries furnished with all necessarie prouision and sufficient for the warre till the new spring And when the custody of this Fortresse was thus ordered and safely prouided for the Visier departed according to his promisse made to the souldiers of Grecia and Constantinople the same morning which was the fourescore and seuenth day after his departure from Erzirum hee went to a place called Sancazan seuen miles distant from Tauris with an entent in this his returne to take another course then he tooke when he came to that Citty They were now vpon the point of their encamping as the maner is in a confused disorder hurley-burley when those that were hindermost in the armie heard the neighing of horses and the noise of drommes and trumpettes which when all the whole Campe vnderstoode by the report of the first hearers vnto them that were formost they ranne all headlong and disordered as they were to the rescue on that side where the report was that the noise of horses and warlike instrumentes was heard But while the Turks were thus intentiuely busied on that side to expect the arriuall of their enemies on the other side without any signe or token of battell was the Persian Prince ready vpon them with eight twenty thousande persons in his company who hauing discouered the Camelles the horses the Mules other cariages wherevpon their booties their spoiles and their riches were loaden which they had taken in Tauris besides their corne and much of their prouision for victuaile necessarie for the sustenaunce of the armie had turned vpon them with a prouident and safe conuoy had taken for a praye eighteene thousand of the Cammelles and Mules well loaden with the said booties and other victuailes The Prince sent away presently sixe thousand of his souldiers for the safegard of the cariages that they might lead them away in safety and he himselfe with his two and twenty thousand Persians entred into the Turkishe Army who now to withstand his assault had conuerted their anger and fiercenes against him It was a gallant thing a terrible withall to see what a mortall battell and what singular prowesse was shewed presently euen in the forefront of the army For in a moment you might haue seene the Tentes and Pauillions turned vp side downe and their encamping lodgings replenished with carcases blood and victorious death ranging in euerie corner The Turkes themselues through vnwonted astonishment became more attentiue beholders of this affray then their enemies were and to this day with great meruaile doo recounte the vertue and valour of the Persians who although they were so few in nomber and intermingled among so populous an army of warlick people yet it seemed that they couched their speares brandished their swords ouer them as though it had thundred lightned vpon them and were in deed rather like fatall ministers then humaine executioners of so generall a slaughter But these mischeefes being already foreseene and too much feared by the trusty guard of the Ianizzaries all of them doubting greatly least the Persians would forcibly inuade the very lodginges of the Visier it was commanded not by himself for he was now at the last gasp but by him who at that time had authority to command in his name that without any delay the artillary should be vnbarred by that means the valorous conflict of these fierce souldiers was vnequally parted For the Artillary wrought perchance greatter harme among the Turkes themselues then it did among the Persians For the medley and mingling of the two nations which fought together being all in a confusion and a hurley-burley the artillary entring among them without any exception or distinction of persons ouerthrewe both frendes and foes At the first thondering noise whereof the Prince was most ready swift to flie all that were with him followed presently after him so that the Turks which remained behind were moreshrewdly afflicted then the Persians were who by flying away could not feele any dammage but the Turkes must first bee well payed for their labour The Graecians the Constantinopolitanes and those that were of Natolia pursued these fugitiues making a shewe as though they would gladly haue ouertaken the stollen carriages and recouered them againe but they being already arriued in safety and the night come vpon them they feared to proceede any further then they might easily returne with the safegarde of their liues And therefore the Persians though greatly wearied and weakened thus saued themselues and the Turks also retourned into their Tentes wholly dismaied and discomfited leauing too manifest a token of the sondrie calamities which hapned in these broiles and the maruellous ouerthrowe of their whole armie So that there is no man but confesseth that in the battell of Sancazan there were slaine twentie thousand of the Ottoman souldiers and that in this enterprise of Tauris there died by this time threescore thousande Turkes with that small losse of the Persian forces which we haue before described Among the rest in the same place died also the Visier Osman Generall of the late dreadfull but now desolate Armie not by wouuds as some write nor by any such like means but being vtterly consumed by the mortall vncurable disease of an Ague and a Flix as wee haue told you before and doo now againe testifie vnto you by the certain and vndoubted report of those faithull Phisitians which were about him whose death notwithstandinge was kept secreate from the whole Armie and euery man thought verily that it was but onely the continuance of his sicknes because the charriottes wherein he lay were still kept close and in his name Cicala Bassa for so he had appointed by his will gaue out aunsweres and commandementes to all the Armie But although it was thus concealed from the Turkes
yet was it disclosed to the Persians by the meanes of three youngmen who in the life of Osman had the charge of his precious stones of his iewels and of his gold and now hauing gathered together the best the cheefest and the fairest of them and also the goodliest and the fairest horses that the Visier had were fled to the King of Persia and reuealed vnto him the death of the Generall The comming of these youngmen was most acceptable both to the king also to the prince aswell for the iewels gold as also for the aduertisement of Osmans death who reasoned among themselues that it was not possible for so great cowardise and so dishonorable a kind of fighting and ordering of an Army to proceede from the vertue and valour of Osman of whome they had had too manifest a triall and experience in times past and therefore they were thereby encouraged to put in practise some new and strange kindes of exploytes and by attempting the vtter ouerthrow of the Turkish remnant to giue them an honorable Farewell And therevppon the Persian Prince hauing gotten together fourteene thousand men went to follow the Turkes who had now raised their Campe and were remoued to pitch their Tentes neere to a certain streame of salt-water not farre from Sancazan where also the said Prince caused certain fewe Tentes to be pitched about fower or fiue miles distant from the Turkish Campe the foresaid brooke running in the middest betweene the two Enemies armies Now it was the purpose of the Sofian Prince to haue assayled the Turks in the morning whiles they were loading their cariages hoping in that confusion to haue wrought them some notable mischiefe but the Turkes had caught a certain spye of his who reuealed all vnto them And therefore they did neither arise so earely in the morning ás their maner was nor load their stuffe vntill such time as they were all armed and on hors-back trusting by that means to rebate and to quaile their enemies assaults The Persians were greatly discontented when they saw this warie and vnvsuall maner of the Turkes raysing of their Tentes and perceaued that some inkling had been giuen them of the purpose which they had intended And yet considering that if they should loose this occasion they could not haue any other good oportunitie to annoy them vntill the next Spring they vtterly resolued to venture the assault and hauing obserued that the Rankes of their Artillarie were on the right side of the Armie they began to enter in the sight of euery man vpon the left hand But the Turkes made a wing presently on that side and so vncouered and vnbarred their Artillarie against the assaylants to their great losse and danger Howbeit they were so nymble and quick to shrowde themselues vnder their Enemies armie to auoid this mischieuous tempest that being now come verie neere to the Turkish Squadrons they must needes send out people to encounter them and ioyne present battel with them They were purposed before assoone as they saw the Turkes begin to stirre to haue brought them towards their side into a verie filthy and deepe Moore which being then drie yet breathed fourth a most stinking and foggie ayre neyther was it doubted of or feared by any but onely by those that were acquainted withall and borne there aboutes and so verie boldly they went towards that place entycing their enemies to follow after them But the Rebell Maxut-Chan and with him that other Traitor Daut-Chan who had knowledge of this treacherie as being well acquainted with those places perceaued the policie of the Enemie and particularlie gaue notice thereof to Cicala Bassa who presently caused a great compassing wing to be made commaunding them to set vpon the Persians and to giue them a continuall charge The commaundement of the Captaine was put in execution and so their fore-front opened it selfe wyth verie large and spacious Cornets vpon the Prince who no sooner saw this kind of order but by and by he perceaued that his intended Stratageme was discouered Whereupon without any stay he began to retyre and called all his people after him But they could not be so readie and quick to flye but that three thousand of them remayned behind all miserably styfled and ouer-trodden in the myre with verie little dammage or losse of the Turkes And this onely battell among the fiue that were fought vnder Tauris and in those quarters was it that was lesse hurtfull to the Ottomans then to the Persians The Prince returned to the pauilions of the King his father and told him the whole action how it had fallen out together wyth the departure of the Enemie And so the Turkes came to Salmas where the death of their Visier was published From Salmas they went afterwardes to Van where they took a surueigh of their Armie found wanting therin about fower score and fiue thousand persons and some say more At Van all the souldiers were dismissed into their owne countries and Cicala gaue notice to the King at Constantinople of all that had happened I my self also was in Constantinople at the same time when the postes arryued that brought word of these great aduentures First was published the death of Osman for whom there were many signes of verie great sorrow and together with his death were blazed the blouddie and mortall actions that were performed so that it seemed all the whole Citie was greatly discomforted and diuerse times in those few dayes by sundry persons in many places and particularly in the house of Mahamet Bey one of the San-Giacchi of Cairo my verie great friend I heard much rayling vpon the King many curses of this warre and infolent maledictions of these many mischiefes Then was dispersed the great fame of the new Fortresse erected in Tauris of the sacking of that Citie and of all the losse that hapned therein And lastly there was a general Edict published in the Kings name that through all the Cities of his Empire they should make solemne feastes shew other expresse tokens of mirth and reioysing which the Turkes call Zine And therupon all the Artificers in Constantinople with diuerse goodly and sumptuous shewes with musicall instruments and bountifull banketting performed the Kings royall commaundements There was also woord sent to the Embassadours of Hungarie of Fraunce of Venice and of other countries that they should doo the like But they all aunswered with one accord that it was neuer the custome of Embassadours to make anie signe of reioysing but onely when the King himself in person returned from the like victories In the mean time great consultation was at Van how they might attempt to send succours to Teflis in Georgia whereof there was a rumour spread abroad that it was yelded to the Georgians which in deed was a lye as at an other time the like report was also And while they were thus in
of Mustaffa Cadige the wife of Mahamet Sergio a fugitiue of Christendome The suttlenes of Mahamet to cause himselfe to be held a Saint Certaine Iniunctions geâ—en by Mahamet as it were for a law A prayer inuented by Mahamet common both to the Persians and to the Turks and to all those that professe Mahamet Mahamet was priest Prince Mahames is married to 8. other concubines The death of Mahamet Abubacher left successor to Mahamet Aly driuen out by Abubacher and spoiled of all his substance Bookes written by those first wise men Aly succeedeth in the dignity of Mahamet Aly dyeth leaueth behind him a good report Two sonnes of Aly burieâ— in Cafe The author of the Persian superstition The new praier of the Persians The sepulchre of Aly held in great reuerence The errour of P. Giouius The errour of many The Persians called Cheselbas The name of Sofi renewed in Ismahel The auncient Sofiti subdued by Alexander the great The succession of the Persian Kings The errour of P. Giouius The names of the Successors in the kingdome of Persia The changes of the Persian state The North parte of the Persian kingdome The West The South The East The prouinces of the Persian kingdome The Citties of the kingdome of Persia The prouinâ—c of Georgia The riuer Araxis The riuer Cirus The riuer Canac Sahamal the Georgian and his state The mountaine Brus. Giusuf the Georgian and his state The widdow of Georgia and her state Lauassap the Georgian and his state Simon and Dauid The history of the two breethren Simon and Dauid Dauid denyeth Christ becometh a Persian An aduertisment not to trust the promises helps of the Barbarians The promises of the Barbarians deceauable The places subiect to Lauassap Vallies and narrow cuttes in the mountaines of Tomanis Woodes and old darke Forrestes * Cerri trees lyke Poplers carrying mast fit for hogges Hard passages Strabo maketh mention of the passages into Georgia Pompeius Canidius vsed these straites The Turkes sought to occupy all the 4. entrances into Georgia Basacchiuc the Georgian and his state Breach of promise in the TartariaÌ„s dammageable to the Turke Leuentogli the Georgian and his State The Citties of Leuentogli The countrey of Siruan Polycletes callesh the Caspian sea by the name of a lake Sumachia Derbent Eres Atropatiâ— is fruitefull Eres made Mamodean Silkes Sechi a citty of Siruan Caracach The mountaine Orontes The mountaine Taurus The voiage from Van 〈◊〉 Taurus The viage from Reiuan to Tauris Nassiuan Chiulfall Siruan Salmas Siras Casbin Cassan. Hispahan Heri Corazan Ieselbas Lakes in Armenia the Great The Lake Martiano or Actamar The Lake Arasseno or Tospite The Caldaran Champaines The cheefe Priest of Casbin called Mustaed-Dini The Califes The Sultans The Deftardari The Mordari The Gaddi The order of the Persian dignities The kings Curchi The kinges Esahul The state of the men of warre in Persia. Amet-Chan Amet-Chan imprisoned by Tamas enlarged by Mahamet Rustan Mirize Emir-Miran Ebrain-Chan Abas Mirize Cussestan Turcomania Seruan The forces of the Persian kingdome whose seruice may be vsed The weapons of the Persian souldiers The Persian horses very good * Duckates The Persians valorous and noble souldiers The Persians giuen to noueltie The impiety of the sonnes of Artaxerxes the Persian king The reason why the Persians do not use Artillary or Canons The order o their battell The right wing The least wing The body of the battell The Rere-ward The Vaunt-Guarde The ReueÌ„ues of the kingdome of Persia in the daies of king Tamas The practise of the Persian Turkish kings in enhaunsing and abasing the value of their moneis The reuenues of Persia at this day Certain lands assigned for the payment of the Persian souldiers The greatest reuenues com out of Tauris Cassan and Hispahan The expenses of the Persian kingdome Fortes that haue neede of ordinary Garrisons The occasions of the declination of the Persian kingdome An aduertisement to the reader A notable raine The Turkish army remoueth towards Teflis The Lake called Chielder-Giol The Turkes at Archichelec A surueigh of the army 40000 persons wanting in the Turkish Army The Turkes at the lake called Peruana Giol The Turkes at Triala The praises of those Christian forces that tooke the holy Citty The praise of Torquato Tasso Giurgi Chala possessed by the Turkes The ambush of the Georgiani Mustaffa at Teflis Mustaffa fortifieth the walles of Teflis Mustaffa cheerefully entertaineth the embassa dors Leuentogli to Mustaffa Mustaffa receaueth Leuentogli and promiseth to passe through his territories at his returne Mustaffa and his host at the riuer Canac The subiectes of Sechi come to offer themselues to the captaine The hunger of the Turkish Army The Persian spyes taken The intelligence that the spyes gaue for vittaile Mustaffa lycenceth euery man that would go for corne and other necessaries Ten thousand seruile persons go for victuaile The Persian Captaines take counsell how to annoy the Turkes The stratageme of the Persians The ten thousand victuailers shame by the Persians Mustaffa runneth with all his hoast to succour the victuailers The order of Mustaffa his battaile The Persians repent their long aboade Great thoughtes that troubled the Persians The Persians resolue to abandon the fight and to flye Difficulties in taking their flight The Persian Capitaines saue themselues by passing the tiues The Persians drowned in the Riuer The Persians in fight shew great signes of valour Conquerours doo but little regard their promises being geuen to spoile The Demye Island made the perpetual graue of a couragious warlike people The losse of the Turkes in this battell The Persians withdraw themselues to their seuerall gouernementes Mustaffa commandeth all his hoast to passe ouer the Riuer Canac The souldiers in a tumult threaten Generall Mustaffa The answere of Mustaffa to his soldiers Lib. 4. Mustaffa first of all wadeth ouer the deep Riuer Canac Nighti was the occasion that more then half the hoast went not ouer 8000. Turkes drowned in wading ouer the riuer of Canac A meruelous kind of Foord The calamities of the Turkish hoast The Turkes refreshed with victuaile other commodities The Turkes at Eres in Siruan Eres abandened by the Persians Samir-Chan Ares Chan Persian Gouernours withdraw themselues into the mountaines The entry of the Turkes into Eres not disturbed by the enemy nor enriched by spoile and victory Mustaffa remaineth in Eres 22. daies Eres fortifyed fenced by Mustaffa Mustaffa appointeth Osman bassa to keepe Sumachia Derbent Osman Bassa frendly entâ—tayned at Sumachia The Alexandrians yeeld themselues to the Turkes Mustaffa departeth from Eres A bridge built vpon Canac to passe ouer Sahamal yeeldeth himselfe to Mustaffa Mustaffa by night looseth his way Mustaffa in the countrey of Leuent The embassadors of Leuentogli with reliefe presentes receaued by Generall Mustaffa Mustaffa at Teflis The famine of the souldâ—ers left in the Castle of Teflis Mustaffa releeueth them with meate money and wordes Great snowes breed many annoiances to the
know that Alexandria vpon the Caspian Sea is now termed by the Turkes Schenderia as it shold bee called by the auncient name but because it is longe and straite it came to be called Derbent and because it hath Iron Gates Demir-Capi Likewise for Casbin or as the Persians terme it Casuin let it bee which of the auncient Citties you will haue it to be it is notoriously knowen that it was so called because it was at the first a place whereintoo they were wont to banish or confine such persons as for their offences and misdemeanours had deserued that chastisement Which for that it was a place of punishment it was called by the Persians Casuin Casbin which in the Persian language signifieth Chastisement The like I might say of the city of Aleppo by the Moors called Halip which in our tongue signifieth Milke for the same Arabians do say that it was so called for the aboundaunce of milke which in the time of the Patriarches was yeelded by the heardes and flockes of cattell in those champaines But because I haue not that certaine testimony hereof which I haue of mine other examples I will not make account to build any foundation therevpon And therefore next after those thinges that I haue already noted I will set down also what I haue obserued touching the riuer that entreth into the sea betweene Beryto and Tripoli Which riuer because it runneth neere vnto a Church which was sometimes dedicated to Sainte Iacob is by the inhabitantes there called Mar Iacut which is to say the Riuer of Iacob Likewise the riuer Orontes which is nombred amonge the famous Riuers of Soria whose bankes I haue viewed euen from his springing head to his maine channell which is neere to Seleucia Pieria hath among the Arabians and the Turks quite lost his ancient name And because it is very swift in his course hath many turninges and windings so that those which swim in it are oftentimes drowned therein as though the poore riuer had in that respect the nature of a murderer therefore the Turkes and the Moores haue geuen it a name that signifieth expresly a murderer or traitor And to the end that the truth hereof may likewise be knowen in mountains also I will not conceale that which cometh to my memory touching the mountain Bacras which is also called Beilun This is a mountain lying in the ranke of the mountains that deuideth Soria from Cilicia which how it was termed by auncient writers I leaue to other men to iudge But by the Inhabitants there it hath been alwaies is at this day called Bacras for none other reason or cause but for that it is so ragged so eaten as it were and in some partes euen in the grassie plottes of it so bald and so bare that it resembleth the head of one that is scuruie which by the Turkes is called Bacras and by the Moores Beilun for so do the Moors also call that mountaine Hereby then it doth manifestly appeere that it is no sound argument which is drawen from the likenes or similitude that auncient names haue with the names of later times For all places haue not reserued retained among the diuersity of sundry languages their auncient denominations and so it seemeth to mee that this first argument remayneth sufficiently confuted As also the second which hauing no good and sound roote may easily bee ouerthrowne Vtterly false is that foundation which the followers of Iouius do vse in that place where they say that the riuer Tigris passeth from the one side of the Mantian Lake vnto the other side thereof For it woorketh not that effect which they speake of in the Mantian Marish but in the Marish that by Strabo is called Tospite and Topiti and Arassena I will not here alleadge the testimonies of later liuers as namely of Cicala himselfe the Bassa of Van nor of a thousand and a thousand marchantes and souldiers but onely the testimony of Strabo whose authority cannot be refuted as a lyer Hee in the eleuenth booke of his Geography thus writeth Armenia hath also great Lakes One is the Mantian Lake that is to say Blacke and Greene like the Sea Water as they say it is the greatest Lake next to Mwotis It arriueth euen vnto Atropatia and hath diuers salt-springes The other is the Arassen Lake called likewise Topiti for so it should be read and not Toeti as some translate it This hath Nitrum in it and teareth renteth a mans apparell and for that cause the water of it is not good to drinke The riuer Tigris departing from the mountaine neere vnto Nifates passeth through this Lake without mingling of it selfe with the water thereof by reason of his swiftnes whereof it hath taken his name for the Medians call an arrow Tigris It hath fishes of many and diuers kindes whereas the fishes of the lakes are but of one kinde onely Neere to the vtmost corner or Gulfe of the Lake this riuer falling into a great deep and running for a great space vnder the ground riseth againe neere to Colonitis and from thence courseth towards Opis and the walles of Semiramis leauing the Cordiaeâ—ns on the right hand All this did Strabo write by the authoritie of Eratosthenes in his sixteenth booke where he saith also most plainely that the saide Riuer Tigris doth not passe through the Mantian Marish but through the Topiti But no maruell it is that Iouius hath conceaued this errour coÌ„sidering how greatly hee is also deceaued when he will needs call Siras Ciropolis when likewise he saith that in Cassan there is trafficke for silkes and that this Cittie standeth in Sultania betweene the South and the West and lastly when hee putteth no distinction or difference betweene the Zogdiani the Bactrini the Ariani the Margiani the Aracosi but maketh them all one And therefore leauing these considerations it shall be sufficient for me to answere to their last argument which is drawen from the report of the Armenians who say that Tauris is situated in Armenia the great A reason in verie truth verie daungerous verie slipperie and verie deceitfull And it seemeth to me to bee altogether like to the reason of those who going about to proue that the AmomuÌ„ of Dioscorides is none other thing but the Pes Columbinus that is to say the Pigeon Foot of Mount Libanon do vse the common word of the Sorians which call that Plant Hamana being in very deed nothing els but a kind of Pigeon foot And in troth what assured credit may bee reposed in those Armenians and in such kinde of people as are vtterlie vnskilfull in Geographie who neuer read any authour that had taught them the proper Termes of those prouinces Doo wee not see what a confusion and mingle-mangle they make of the same regions Doo they not precisely call one part of great Armenia by the name of Gurgistan onely because many Georgians inhabite there And likewise on the other