his Father and his Friends hee now liues by the benefit of his Maiesties fauour FINIS ⧠SIR ANTHONY Sherley his Aduentures and Voyage into Persia. MAnkind doeth vniustly and without cause complaine of the state and condition of his life for that it is fraile subiect to infirmities of a short continuance and gouerned rather by Fortune then by Uertue But if we shall consider what excellent sparks of ornament there are yet left in Mans nature notwithstanding the soyle of some which by the corruption of Adam is vniuersally centracted vnto all and that we would but descend into our mindes to see what matter of worth there is or might be lodged there both for the life Actiue and Contemplatiue we should not find Mankinde so wholly depraued in his degenerate nature but that we may obserue some signes and tokens yet left in him of the notable light and resplendant beautie of his first creation which by the two principall parts whereon the mind consisteth viz. Vnderstanding and Will and the faculties belonging vnto them may easily be made mauinifest what notable memorials both of their studies and trauels haue beene recorded to the world and worthy to bee continued to all ages vntill the end of time and the beginning of eternitie by the naturall instinct and industrious labours of the mind to checke and controll the dull and sluggish conditions of such men as in their home-bred affections consume their time in base humor and the delights of idle pleasure And when I thinke vpon the circumstance of the subiect I am to intreat of I am drawne into an admiration that Sir Anthony Sherley hauing so slender beginnings should neuerthelesse continue that state coūtenance and reckoning as hee hath done euer since his departure out of England euen in the Courts of the greatest Princes in and out of Christendome so farre exceeding Stukeley that I am afraid to bee taxed of an impartiall and rash iudgement but to intimate a comparison between them there being so great difference both in the manner of their trauels the nature of their imployments and the ende of their intendements The one hauing his desire vpon a luxurious and libidiuous life The other hauing principally before him the proiect of honour which not in treacherous designes as Stukeley attempted in the behalfe of the Pope against his Countrie he hath impaired or crazed But contrariwise hath so inlarged and enhaunsed the same that his fame and renowne is knowne and made glorious to the world by his honourable plots and imployments against the enemie of Christendome which according to the instructions I haue receiued I will briefly relate vnto you After Sir Anthony his departure out of England he landed in a short time at Vlishing where beeing honorably entertained feasted by the Lord Sidney Lord Gouernor of the Garrison hee held on his iourney towards the Hague as well to visit his Excellencie as to receiue his passe for his better conuoy through the Countrey From thence he past along by many parts of Germanie as Franckford Noremberge and so to Augusta and from thence passed the Alpes and within 10. dayes after came to Venice hauing a purpose from thence to take his course to Ferrara in aydance of the Duke against the Pope But the matter being before compounded and agreed betwéene them that iourney was stayed He continued for the space of 10 weekes in Venice where the Duke gaue him Princely entertainment sending a mightie and Courtly banquet vnto him of al sorts of Italian delicates but being soone tyred with the pleasures of Venice in May following hauing with others compounded for one Italian shippe in one and twentie dayes he landed in an Island called Zane In which time hee was much distressed for want of victuals certaine Italians being in the shippe vsing them vnkindly of whome they could not get any for loue or money Howbeit some Persians that were likewise in the shippe releeued them and did very kindly supplie their wants There fell also a iarre betwéen the English and the Italians about the baffeling of one of their Countrey for wordes of Contumely spoken against the late Quéenes Maiestie which iu the end was pacified to the disgrace of the Italians and the honour of the English At Zane he stayed 10. dayes was driuen to take Sea in a little old open boate in which he passed with danger into the Isle of Candie where he stay 12. dayes and was honourably intreated of the Gouernour of that Isle it being vnder the Venetiā State From thence he passed into the Isle of Ciprus which is part of the Turkes Dominions Here the Italians that before had iarred with them in the shippe being landed before them in the Island and bearing in mind their old grudge had so incensed the Inhabitants of Ciprus against Sir Anthony and his company by telling them that they were Pirates and Rouers wayting onely for prey aud spoyle that Sir Anthony and his company were no sooner lāded but they were stayed by the Turkes and threatned to be sent prisoners to Constantinople but this storme was with a little money soone ouerblowne From Ciprus hee purposed to passe into the holy Land and had hyred a little boate of some tenne tunne for that passage but contrary windes droue him vpon Trypoly passing the famous riuer of Orontes where they were driuen to endure many villanies and approbrious speeches by the Turkes that dwelt vpon the borders of that Riuer From hence he sent to Antioch to hire certaine Ianissaries to safeconduit him to Aleppo being 6. dayes iourney At Aleppo he was much honoured and respected by the English Consull and other Marchants there resident Sir Anthony stayed at Aleppo 6. weekes after which hauing receiued the Bashaws passe which is gouernour of that place together with the Consuls and Vicconsuls for their safeconduit through the heart of Turkes Countrie hee prosecuted his iournie through the heart of Turkie which he found to bee much vnanswerable for the strength and populausnes to the report and opinion that the world conceiues of it From Aleppo he came to a towne called Birrah by which runnes the famous riuer of Euphrates that parteth the two Countries of Mesopotamia and Syria From hence after 7. or 8. dayes tarriance hee sailed in the company of certaine Turkish Marchchants along Euphrates by the space of 2. or 3. twentie dayes and were stayed by the King of Arabs his Court and abiding being at that time vpon the Riuer side in Tents Before whome Sir Anthony and his company being brought after they had kist his hands he demanded what they were Answere being made they were English Marchants and come to trafficke in those parts the King was very desirous to see their Marchandize which they not daring to contradict hee borrowed without any specialtie thirtie yardes of the richest cloth of siluer to be payed ad Calendas Graecas From thence hee iournied to Babylon where by the Bashaw all his goodes were
stayd and arrested to bee sold at his rate they were constrayned to take halfe that they were worth for payment Hee also extorted a great deale of plate from Sir Anthony made of pure Emerald which hee pretended to send as a present to the Persian King Hauing stayed a monteh or more in Babylon hee receiued Letters from Aleppo wherein hee was councelled to make what hast hee could from thence for that their were letters shortly to come to Babylon by which the Bashaw had a strict commaund to make stay of him and all his company whereupon sit Anthony made what hast he could out of Babylon being both wearie of his entertainment there throughly weakned with this newes and so passed through the waste Countrey of the Medes in company of a Carauan which is a great many Camels together and men to driue them not much vnlike to our English Carriars Within sixe dayes after they entred the Consines of Persia. Of Sir Anthony Sherleys entertainment in Persia and of his imployments to many Christian Princes to ioyne in League against the Turke TO set downe the whole proces of Sir Anthony his voiages and trauels both by Sea and Land with his variable fortunes in them from the time of his departure out of England till his comming into Persia and the manner of his receiuing and vsage in seuerall Courts of many forraine Princes were a Subiect of it selfe fit for a large volume which happely my selfe or some other more worthy vpon better intelligence of the occurrents thereof may hereafter publish to the world as a matter worthy of memoriall I will now relate his comming into Persia his honorable entertainment there and high imployments in those partes according to the notes instructions I haue receiued Sir Anthony after his long and wearie iourneis at last entered y e King of Persia his Countrey hauing his brother Robert Sherly in his company who still continued with him in all his trauels a kind and naturall partaker of all his fortunes He found his entertainment good the climate healthfully the soyle fruitfull and full of pleasure the people ciuill and very gentle farre differing from the nature of the Turkes whose Countrey hee had already passed Insomuch that hee wondred with himselfe that being so little difference as there is betweene them in climate there should be so great diuersitie in condition The borderers vnderstanding that his comming was to their King attended him with the more regard and obseruance and still as he past sent past before to the principall Officers of their townes and citties to giue notice of his comming where he wanted not any thing that was worthy of acceptance both for himselfe and his traine When he came neere Casbin their Capital city in those parts he sent word to the principall Gouernor to giue him to vnderstand what he was and that hee was come to see the King hearing of his worth Whereupon the Gouernour prepared one of the Kings horses for him richly furnished and appointed many gentleman of the best reckoning to entertaine him But Sir Anthony not desirous of any solemne entertainment beeing in his trauelling apparell his carriage yet behinde and vnfurnished of shewe stole by night at vnawares into the citie Howbeit the Gouernor the next morning accompanied with diuers of the chiefe Gentlemen of the Kings house with certaine Officers also of the Citie came to his lodging where after many Courtly salutations according to the custome of the Countrey hee told him he was welcom and that his presence would be very gratious and acceptable to the King in whose absence hee should not want those things which either his owne worth deserued or the citie could affoard for his pleasure or prouision and that hee would speedily direct Posts vnto the King who was then in Person in the warres of the Tartarians his borderers to inform his Maiestie of his comming and that in the meane time he would rest and solace himselfe in the Citie Sir Anthony gaue him thanks and after some complement between them they parted for the cime each from other The next day a post was dispatched to the King to giue him notice that a Christian a man of some account and reckoning very well accompanied vnderstanding of his great fame and power was come from farre to see him and to doe him honour The King sent word backe that he should be well intreated vntill his owne returne In which meane time the Gouernor of the citie and the Kings Steward did many times feast Sir Anthony his company bringing them to the Kings Palace gate to doe that homage that all Strangers vse to doe viz. To kisse the entrance of his Palace 3. times Not many daies after the King made his returne towards Casbin and approching neere vnto the citie sent to the Gouernor giuing him commandement that hee should furnish Sir Anthony his company with horses the next day to meete him on his way beeing then not farre from the cittie Which beeing performed accordingly Sir Anthony set forward towards the King in this manner His whole company past not the number of xxvi their apparell beeing rich and differing from the Persians made a faire and delightfull shewe Sir Anthony himselfe in cloath of gold and his brother Robert in cloth of siluer both their vpper and vnder coates some Gentlemen of his traine hauing their vpper ceats of cloth of siluer their nether coates of silke The chiefe of his seruants in silke vnder coats the vpper crimson veluet the rest in a faire kind of stuffe all their vpper coats beeing watched Damaske The King came forward in princely and triumphant manner in honor of a late obtained victory against the Tartars hauing a thousand of their heads aduanced vpon Pikes and carried before him according to the custome of the countrey Sir Anthony beeing brought in presence of the King dismounted his horse obseruing the manner of the countrey and comming towards the King bowed downe his body to kisse his foote which the King perceiuing did preuent for in an vnusuall manner he suddainly put his hand betweene his mouth and his foote and so in a princely fauour gaue him his hand to kisse The rest of his company according to the custome performed that dutie The King hauing welcomed Sir Anthony caused him againe to be mounted and so holding their way towards the city Sir Anthony riding next vnto the King many signes and tokens of fauour and acceptāce were all the way shewed vnto him Hauing entered the citie and the state and solemnity of the triumph beeing that time to be performed according to the custome in honour of the late succesull victorie the King commaunded one of his greatest men to accompany Sir Anthony and to conuey him and his company to the principall place of the city there to behold the solemne manner of the triumph Which done and the King repaired to his Palace he caused Sir Anthony to bee brought before him
principall stocke whereon his state relied with a heauy heart repaired to Sir Anthony vnto whom complaining of his miserable estate by this accident besought his fauor that it would please him to extend the credite of his place for the recouery of this great somme which being lost he knew wel would be the vndoing both of himselfe his wife children protesting that in lieu thereof he should coÌ„mand what part of it it pleased him and that hee should euer hold himselfe so much bound vnto him as that he would thence forwards still acknowledge him to be the principall vpholder of his state and fortunes Sir Anthony being moued with pity of the MarchaÌ„ts mischance so charmed the watchfull kéepers of this Treasure that to his great honor coÌ„mendation without improprating any part thereof to his owne vse hee soon returned back this great summe into the MarchaÌ„ts possession who like Iason with his coÌ„panions did merrily saile homewards with this golden fléece Shortly after Sir Anthony with all his Nauy weighed anker and with a presperous gale of winde soone lost the sight of Spaine Portugall and we must now for want of further intelligence leave him vpon the Leuant Seas to that hopefull happy fortune that attends this honorable Enterprise Of Master Robert Sherleys imployment in the warres of the Persian against the Turke after Sir Anthony his departure Of his Victories and his Marriage with the King of Persia his cousin Germaine MAster Robert Sherley after his brothers departure was made Generall and possessed the chiefest place in the King of Persia his warres against the Turke wherein hee so valiantly bestirred himselfe that the Persians gaue him a crowne of Lawrell for the victorie for being armed and made ready for fight taking a Pollaxe in his hand he himselfe gaue first such an honorable attempt and so amazed and repulsed the enemies that his souldiers imitating his courage put all the foes to the edge of the sword onely reseruing aliue some thirtie of the chiefe Commanders among them whom hee led in triumph to the King hauing taken them prisoners and forthwith dispatched a messenger to the Turke with letters to this effect That for the redemption and liberty of one that he kept prisoner meaning Sir Thomas his brother who was then vndischarged hee should command the liues of those thirtie haue themsafely without danger or ransome deliuered vnto him But enuie that hangs vpon the sword point of the Turke did so stirre vp the mind to reuenge that he was so farre from entertaining this proffer as hee did not onely make refusall thereof and bid him doe his worst with his prisoners but he also returned wordes of defiance and menared that the sunne should not twice step from the bed of Aurora but he would waken him with such an Allarum as should strike his whole company into wonder and amazement This might haue daunted the mind of Robert Sherley knowing his men to bee weake and weary and ouertoyled in the late battel and victory to be so suddenly called againe vnto Armes considering the strength of his enemie and that the Turke had alwaies three hundred thousand men in readines but that honor the chiefest marke he aimed at in all his actions abandoned Feare and Timiditie for he no sooner receiued the daring threats of the Turke and the deniall of his gentle offer but he presently cut off the heads of those 30. Commanders and according to the custome of Persia caused them to bee carried in triumph about the Market place on the top of his Souldiers Pikes and swore in great choller that that day should prooue dismall vnto his enemie for either he was resolued to returne Conqueror or to leaue his carkasse in the field And thereupon set his Souldiers in array and imbattailed them with all speed who comming within view might coniecture by computation their enemies to bee ten to one which much affrighted the mindes of his men but hee perceiuing it began to giue them encouragement on this manner Master Robert Sherley his Oration to his Souldiers I Need not worthy Gentlemen and souldiers of Persia seeke to encourage you with a long discourse lest putting oyle in the flame I should adde spurs to a frée horse your former valiant resolution manifested as well in this last as in many other battailes assure me that were the enemies multitude greater yet our quarrell good and honourable and our mindes armed with true valour in despight of Fortune wee shall as hitherto we haue done returne in Triumph and victorie And for that it toucheth mine honor I will be the first man in the battaile and the last man in the field vnlesse death giue an honorable quittance to my life Let mee be this day a mirror of your Magnanimitie let my actions be your presidents presse but as farre as your Generall and courage Gentlemen the victorie is ours with that catching a strong staffe pulling down his beâ—er and putting spurres to his horse he furiously rushed vpon the Enemie his souldiers following with such a desperate resolution that the Turkes were amazed at his valour for he ran without stoppe through the troops and like alyon massacred whom he met which the Enemie perceiuing what a great slaughter hee had made amongst them many of them fled many laid down their weapons and yielded the rest hee put all to the sword without partialitie or sauour Out of this his second ouerthrow of the Turkes hee againe reserues aliue some threescore of the chiefest of them and sends the like proffer to the Turke for redemption of his brother the Kings Letters not then come for his enlargement But the Turke enraged that Fortune had thwarted his high hopes with such contrary euents vtterly refused to subscribe to his request but bad him still continue to doe his worst for he intended not to depart with his prisoner Vpon which reply Ma. Robert Sherley as he did the first so put he the last to the sword in remembrance and reuenge of the crueltie done to sir Thomas whose miseries in the time of intercourse betweene the Turke and his brother were much more aggravated and made so great as the truth vpon report will hardly be beleeued In these warres against the Turkes this yonger brother purchased such honour and estimation as the cousin Germaine to the King of Persia beeing the widowe of a Duke in that countrey entred into such liking of his worthinesse as shee resolued with Andromache to rest her whole estate vpon his prowesse saying Tu dominus Tu vir Tu mihi frater cris The which affection of hers was likewise on his part answered with equall proportion so that after their priuate interchanging of faith and troth their seuerall desires were made ioyntly happy in the honorable ende of marriage Cuius virtus valde efficax est ad concordiam faciendam quae adeò Deo placet sicut discordia multum ei displicet Whose vertue is of great force to make peace and concord with which God is as much pleased as he is displeased with discord The King himselfe also was so well pleased with this match that for many daies together he solemnized the marriage It is reported that Ma. Robert Sherley since his marriage with the Kings cousin Germaine hath had isiue by her two children both Christened in that Countrey in the Christian faith the King himselfe beeing a witnesse to one of them in Baptisme He labours the King very much to christianisme to which it is said he lends such attentiue eare that he doubteth not but by Gods assistance and his good perswasions he may in time bee brought to become a Christian. To strengthen which hope Robert Sherley hath already erected there a church called after his own name in which he hath diuine seruice as duely read as here it is on this side the seas Hee hath also obtained of the King a number of young infants of that country to be brought vp in a house appointed for that purpose that altogether estranged kept from hearing or speaking their owne Language may in time learne our English Speech and come at length to Christian knowledge being brought vp educated among Christians Howsoeuer the effect answere the intent his purpose is most honourable and religious deserues such worthy commendations that what Princes soeuer lend furtheraÌ„ce to his godly procéedings I may say with the Euangelist Merces corum copiosa est in coelis Their reward is very great in Heauen where they shall enioy the aboundant fulnes of all felicitie FINIS