rid themselves therefore from these Fears they resolved between themselves to throw the Election upon the Youngest of all Habas's Sons who being as yet but an Infant would in all likelihood continue a long time under the Tuition of his Mother and his Ministers from whom they could not expect to suffer any thing that was Fatal or Dreadful And here we must observe that Habas the second left behind him two Sons or at least I never heard that he left any more Nor is it known whether he left any Daughters or no. For what is done in the Womens Apartment is a Mystery concealed even from the Grandees and Prime Ministers Or if they know any thing it is meerly upon the account of some particular Relation or dependence which the Secret has to some peculiar Affair which of necessity must be imparted to their Knowledg For my part I have spared neither for pains nor cost to sift out the Truth But I could never discover any more only that they believed he never left any Daughter behind him that lived A man may walk a Hundred days one after another by the House where the Women are and yet know no more what is done there than at the farther end of Tartary Now of these two Sons of Habas the Eldest who was called Sofie-Mirza was then entring into his one and twentieth Year being Born in the year of the Egire 1057. for the superstition of the Persians will not let us know the Month or the Day Their Addiction to Astrology is such that they carefully conceal the Moments of their Prince's Birth to prevent the Casting their Nativities where they might meet perhaps with something which they should be unwilling to know His Father begot him at Eighteen years of Age enamoured of a Circassian Slave or Cherkes in the Persian Language whose extraordinary Beauty and rare Endowments so won the Affection of that Monarch that she was the first of all his Women that he chose for a Wife For which reason during her Husbands Life she was called Nekaat Kanum or the Lawful Dutchess tho there were also other Women which were his Lawful Wives according to the Law and Custom of that Country This Eldest Son according to Custom was bred up in the Womens Palace and committed to the Care of certain Eunuchs under the Eye of his Mother and his Nurse who was a Lady of great Quality and the Wife of Mustaufie-Elmemalek which according to the force of the Persian words signifies a Watcher over Kingdoms There he was bred up with all the Tenderness and Pomp that his High Birth required and enjoyed all the Liberty that could be allowed to a Person of his Quality which was to go up and down over all that spacious Palace where he pleased himself for to go further into the Mens Apartments is by no means permitted those young Princes When he arrived at the Age of seventeen Years an Accident befel him that rendered his Confinement much more close For it happened that an Eunuch brought him some Peices of Cloth of Tissue at what time the Prince being of a haughty Temper and not thinking them Rich enough rejected them with very scornful and slighting Language nor was he better pleased when it was told him that the Peices were sent him by the Order of the King his Father Which being carried back and perhaps aggravated to the jealous Monarch his Majesty believing that the overmuch Liberty which was allowed the young Prince did but serve to heighten his Arrogance and augment his natural Pride confined him to the remotest Part of all the Palace Some persons were of opinion that he would have caused his Eyes to have been put out But when they found that the Walls of the Place to which he was confined were ordered to be raised the more Intelligent Sort believed that the King would not proceed to that Extremity of Rigour for that he would not have been so careful to prevent the Escape of one that was Blind whose Misfortune would have been sufficient to render him incapable to attempt any Enterprize of that nature However when the King was setting forward for Mazendaran in the year 1665. according to our Computation his Actions were such that even the Grandees and most Politick Courtiers began to suspect that he had then determined the Dreadful Execution For he was not gone above Eight Leagues from Ispahan when he turned back again of a sudden toward the City with a very small Retinue without imparting his Design to any one of all his Favourites but when he arrived all that he did was to enter unexpected into the Womens Apartment where after he had staid about two hours he came forth again very Pensive and Melancholy Of which the Courtiers not being able to conjecture any other apparent Cause attributed it to some Fatal Resolution which the King had taken against the Prince his Son Tho as it appeared afterwards they were all deceived in their judgments and that there was another Motive that put him upon this swift and sudden return For as to what concerned this Young Prince his Father was satisfied with his close Confinement in a Quarter of the Apartment remote from the rest in the Company of his Mother and such Ladies as the King had appointed to attend her without stinting her any Number commiting him also to the farther care of the Great Eunuch Aga-Nazir or the Perspicacious Lord to observe his Action and to prevent him from attempting any dangerous Enterprize This Word Nazir most usually signifies some Superintendant or General Overfeer And therefore the Person last mentioned besides that he had the Tuition of the Prince was Entrusted also with the Government of the Womens Palace and to overlook the Management of all Affairs of the Royal Houshold in Jepahan an Employment which gave him great Credit and caused him to be respected both in the Court and City In both which Places he was highly esteemed till the Death of his Master being as it were the Lieutenant and next to the Grand Superintendant of the Kingdom who is likewise stil'd the Nazir As for the Younger Son he was about Eight Years of Age when his Father Died being Born in the year of the Egira 1069. of an Iberian Lady or Gurgi as the Persians call them to whom they gave the Title of Nour-Nissa-Kanum which Signifies word for word Dutchess the Light of Women the Young Prince himself being called by the Name of Hamzeh Mirza Tho I never could find or learn the true Signification of this word Hamzeh I must confess in the Persian Language it answers to the word Apostroph in our Tongue but in that sence I do not apprehend how it can signifie a Proper Name Nevertheless a Proper Name it is whether it signifies something or nothing and that must suffice As for the Title of Mirzah it is as much as to say the Son of a Prince as we have observed in another Place where we have
as belonging to himself Which was done with the greatest ease in the World For he presently sent his Interpreter to the Officer of the Custom-House to let him know that he had two Chests aboard a Flemish Vessel that arriv'd the day before which belong'd to him and therefore desir'd they might be deliver'd Custom-free Accordingly the Officer gave such Order that the Interpreter went aboard the Dutch Vessel unladed the two Chests and sent 'em to the Ambassador's House who did me Kindnesses to send 'em to my Lodging the next day For all Ambassadors Residents and Envoys that reside at the Port have the Priviledge to Import and Export whatever they please provided they undertake to own the Goods as belonging to themselves nor does the Officer of the Customs dare to take any Cognisance of it Which is a Civility and Generosity of the Turks not to be parallell'd in Europe When I arriv'd at Constantinople M. de Nointel was preparing to attend the Grand Signior at Adrianople in order to the Renovation of the Articles It was an Affair of great Importance and which had made a great Noise in the World as having hung in suspence for Seven Years together and for that the Turks still stood upon their Terms and haughtily slighted the Ambassador notwithstanding that they were then entring into a doubtfull War against Poland And now I shall give ye an accompt of the Original of the Differences that were at that time grown to a great Height between France and Turkie At the beginning of the Raign of Mahomet the IV. the present Emperor of the Turks who ascended the Imperial Throne at Seven Years of Age in the Year 1648. the Government was solely in the Hands of Women and Eunuchs who fill'd all the Chief Places of Honour and Trust with such Persons as they pleas'd themselves And the Turks acknowledge that the Ottoman Court was never so corrupt nor in such a strange Confusion as at that Time You should see almost every Month a new Grand Vizier who after he had been some few days in his Office was not only discharg'd from his High Imployment but many times depriv'd of his Life Now it is the Custom in Turkie that upon the Advancement of any Grand Vizier all Persons of Quality go to kiss his Hands and carry him some considerable Present More particularly all Ambassadors are oblig'd to that Ceremony But M. de la Haye the Father then Ambassador of France at the Port observing the frequent Changes of Grand Viziers at that time concluded that there would be no Reformation of this evil Management during the Emperor's Minority and that all his Visits and Presents to the New Vizier were but so many Visits and Presents lost So that he resolv'd to sit still Quietly and to spare his Compliments and the charge of his Presents It happen'd in a short while after that Cuperly Mahomet Pacha receiv'd the Seals of the Empire that is to say was advanc'd to the High Dignity of Prime Vizier But the Ambassador still believ'd that his Fortune would be no better then that of his Predecessors and that he had but a very short Raign but he was deciev'd for it so fell out that this Grand Vizier upheld himself in his Office till his Death which happen'd in the Year 1662. So soon as he was advanc'd every one pay'd him their Visits and made him their accustom'd Presents and among the Rest all the Forraign Ministers except the French Ambassador To which as they say he was adviz'd and several times most earnestly press'd but his good Husbandry for the Nation was such that he would not be over-rul'd However at length percieving that Cuperly fix'd himself at Court upon the Ruine of several of the Grandees and that according to all outward Appearances he was like to continue Grand Vizier at length he made him both his Visit and his Presents But then the Vizier hainously offended at his Remissness and the little value he had testifi'd for his Person before had laid a design to be reveng'd not only upon him but upon all the French Nation And this in truth was the Source and Original of that Misunderstanding between France and Turkie as well during that whole time the Grand Vizier liv'd which was Twelve Years as also during the Prime Ministry of his Son that succeeded him So that the severity of the Port toward the Three last Ambassadors of France M. de la Haye the Father M. de la Haye the Son and Monsieur Nointel and the several Impositions that were laid upon the French for Twenty Years together are to be Originally attributed to a particular and Personal Enmity notwithstanding all the Reasons afterwards pretended of which the Principal and justest were the Enterprize of Gigery and the Succors giv'n to the Emperor and the Venetians Nor was the Vizier long before he found an Opportunity to Thunder forth his Resentments Such a one as he could not have wish'd for a better to advance his mischievous Design For then was the War very hot in Candy and France had secretly assisted the Venetians at the beginning of the War Nay more it is said that M. de la Haye had Instructions to hold a private Correspondence with the Venetians and to give 'em Intelligence of the Turkish Designs Now it happen'd in the Year 1659. that a French-Man who went by the Name of Vertamont and who had a very considerable Imployment in the Venetian Army desir'd leave of the Captain General to go and see Constantinople Presently the General gave him a Pass and charg'd him with a great Packet of Letters for the French Ambassador But the French Man who had no other design then to turn Turk apply'd himself to the Caimacan of Constantinople and told him That he had quitted the Camp of the Christians as being resolv'd to adjure their Religion and embrace Mahumatism and more that he had a Packet of great Importance to deliver into the Hands of the Grand Vizier Upon which the Caimacan order'd him forthwith to be convey'd to Adrianople where the Court then lay Nor was this perfidious Renegade contented only to renounce his Faith but discover'd to the Grand Vizier the secret Correspondence between the Ambassador of France and the Venetians and farther told him That the Packet of Letters which he had deliver'd into his Hands would convince him clearly of the Truth of what he said The Grand Vizier had a jealousie of this secret Correspondence before but being now in a manner assur'd in his suspitions through the Discoveries of the Renegade it may be readily conjectur'd to what a degree his passion transported him against the Ambassador of France incens'd as he was already and boyling with revenge especially being naturally inhuman and bloody However at this time he put a curb upon himself and shew'd more reserv'dness and moderation then could be expected from him M. de la Haye who well understood Vertamont's Design and what his Errand
sort of Policy having neither Art nor Principles was as it were unapproachable insomuch that he seriously acknowledg'd That the Conduct of a Vizier was to him an Abyss of which he could not Fadom the Judgment the Foresight the Perspicacy the Secrecy the Cunning with all its Windings and Labyrinths He assur'd me That if had a Son he would send him to no other School then to the Ottoman Court where he could not too highly admire the Vizier who without speaking writing or so much as moving himself Govern'd one of the most Potent Empires of the World and had extended the Limits of it in several places During my stay at Adrianople I had the Honour several times to converse with this Venetian Ambassador and because that then our most general discourse was concerning the War of Candy I learnt from him and several other Eminent Personages of the Court divers Particulars worthy Observation of which I shall here set down the most Memorable One of the Principal Performances which the Law of Mahomet enjoyns is the Pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina There is nothing that can legally dispence with it but an extream Poverty and it further lays a strict Injunction upon those whom either Sickness or Imployment or other Occasions will not permit to go in Person to make their Pilgrimage by Proxy that is to send to those Places of Devotion a Person on purpose to perform all those Duties which he himself ought to have done could he have gone thither himself The Ottoman Emperors are very punctual in the Discharge of this Duty as well for themselves as for their whole Families They send every year Considerable Presents to those Cities of which they esteem it a High Honour to call themselves the Lords and Protectors and these Presents are sent sometimes by Land and sometimes by Sea In the year 1644. they were put aboard a great Gallion which was to carry 'em to Cairo Several Eunuchs and Women of the Serraglio were embark'd in the same Vessel together with the Signior's Delegates and a great Number of Passengers and Souldiers This Vessel putting to Sea from Constantinople with several other Vessels under her Convoy was set upon not far from Rhodes by the Galleys of Malta and after a fierce Engagement taken Nevertheless the Galleys could not carry her off to Malta by reason that she leak'd in several places as having receiv'd several Shot in the Fight so that they were forc'd to carry her into a Port of the Island of Candy Where they stopp'd her Leaks the best they could and took all the care imaginable to have carry'd her Home but all to no purpose for she sunk by the way However the Cargo which they unladed into their Galleys was valu'd at a Million of Money The News of the taking this Gallion put the Grand Signior into a Rage insomuch that he threaten'd to exterminate all the Christians that were in Constantinople as well Ambassadors and Foreign Ministers as others And he thus menac'd all sorts of Nations because said he the Galleys of Malta were Mann'd with Christians and Souldiers from all parts of Christendom M. Soranzo the Venetian Ambassador at the Ottoman Court presently address'd himself to the Ministers of the Divan For he was in great hopes to divert the Storm from falling upon his Head and to appease the Grand Signior by giving him to understand that there was not any one Subject of the Republick who was a Knight of Malta The Ambassadors of England and Holland made the same Remonstrances So that in all probability the Tempest was like to fall upon M. de la Haye the Father then Ambassador of France And questionless he had severely felt the Barbarousness of the Turks and the Fury of the Grand Signior if Givan Capigi Bachi the Grand Vizier had not Warded off the Blow Who being a Person of great Wit of singular Worth and Illustrious for his Descent in Turkey as being descended from a Family famous for Six Grand Viziers took upon him to secure the Ambassador of France the French and all the Christians that were at Constantinople except the Venetians He gave his Highness to understand that the Venetians were the most guilty for having permitted the Galleys of Malta to bring in the Gallion into their Harbours and not securing it By which means he turn'd all the Signior's Wrath upon Candy who thereupon determin'd to make that the Seat of his War But this Resolution of his was privately carry'd and the better to conceal his Design he display'd his intended Revenge only against Malta To which purpose he proclaim'd open War against that little Island and order'd all his Forces to be in a readiness by the end of March 1645. The Ambassador of Venice spar'd neither Industry nor Presents to penetrate the Truth of this Design whether it were real or only a Trick to cover some Enterprize against the Republick On the other side the Ambassador of France assur'd him that it was only a dissembl'd Pretence and that the true Design was upon Candy But he gave no heed to his Intelligence suffering himself to be deluded by the Assurances which the Grand Vizier gave him from time to time to the contrary But toward the end of April the Ottoman Fleet consisting of Fourscore Ships and as many Galleys under the Command of Issouf Captain Basha putting to Sea from Constantinople Landed in Candy and in Ten Days took Canea They who were acquainted with that same General affirm'd him to be a great Commander and that he would have Conquer'd the Island in a small time had he not been depriv'd of his Life and the Conduct of the War For the Grand Signior being put i' th' Head that Issouf had Vast Treasures and that he could Conquer the rest of Candy without his Assistance caus'd him to be strangl'd at Constantinople some few days after his return However his Highness had not only a great loss by his Death but miss'd of the Treasures which he expected In the following Years he sent other Armies into Candy under different Generals and for the Success which they had it is too well known to speak more of it in this place For it was neither to the Strength of the Island nor the Weakness of the Turks that we are to ascribe the length of that War which lasted Four and Twenty Years but to the strange Revolutions that happen'd in the Ottoman Court almost at the beginning of that Enterprize and to the Wars of Transylvania and Hungary that lasted till the Year 1665. But the Prince who undertook the Conquest of Candy was Ibrahim then about Two and Thirty Years of Age who was advanc'd to the Empire Four Years before contrary to his own and the Expectation of all the World For he had been kept in a close Imprisonment during the Raign of Osman and Murat his Brothers the latter of which after he had caus'd his two younger Brothers to be strangl'd when he saw himself
their Penitents that confefs the taking of another Bodies Goods to bring the Goods to Them and not to restore 'em to the Right Owners so that Restitution is never made There are several Bishops in Georgia an Archbishop and a Patriarch whom they call Catholicos Whose preferments when Vacant are supply'd by the Prince though a Mahometan who generally prefers his kindred and Relations so that the Present Patriarch is his Brother As for the Churches in Georgia they are something more cleanly kept then those in Mingrelia And in the Cities you shall see some that are very decent though they are altogether as nasty in the Country The Georgians as all the other Christians that surround 'em to the North and West have a strange humour to build all their Churches upon high Mountains in remote and almost inaccessible Places Where they view 'em and bow to 'em at the distance of three or four Leagues but seldom or never go into 'em and we may boldly assert that the most part of 'em are hardly open'd once in Ten Years They erect 'em and then leave 'em to the Injuries of the Weather and for the Birds and Fowls of the Air to build their Nests in I could never find out the Reason of this Extravagance the Answers of all Persons of whom I enquir'd being altogether as extravagant 'T is the Custom The Georgians however are fully perswaded that whatever Sins they have committed they shall obtain Pardon by building a little Church Though for my part I am apt to believe they build 'em in such remote and inaccessible Places to avoid the Charges of Adorning and Repairing of ' em And now I come to the Relations and Histories of the Conquest of Georgia by the Persians which are so numerous that I should have been silent in this particular if those Authors had agreed among themselves or if I had found they had been rightly inform'd Briefly therefore here is that which I have met with in the Stories of Persia themselves Ishmael the Great whom our Historians have Sirnam'd the Sophy after he had subdu'd the Countries that lie to the West of the Caspian Sea of Media and part of Armenia and that he had expell'd the Turks out of all these Places made War also upon the Georgians though they had sent him numerous Succors at the beginning of his Reign The event of which War was successful to him as having reduc'd 'em to pay him Tribute and give him Hostages Now Georgia as well as the Kingdoms of Kaket and Carthuel had several Petty Kings call'd Eristares Feudataries and always at Wars one with another Which was the Reason or at least the Means that most contributed to the Ruine of the Georgians They pay'd their Tribute during all the Reign of Ishmael and his Successor Tahmas who was a Prince of great Courage and fortunate in War During his Reign Lnarzab rul'd in that part of Georgia which is call'd Carthuel and is as I have said the Eastern Georgia and borders upon Persia Eastward This King lest two Sons behind him between whom he divided his Kingdom Simon the Eldest and David the Younger But being both ill satisfi'd with their Division they made War one upon another and in those Wars both desir'd Tahmas to assist ' em The Younger Brother was beforehand with Simon To whom Tahmas return'd for answer That he would put him in possession of all his Fathers Dominions if he would turn Mahometan David accepted the Condition embrac'd the Mahometan Religion and went and surrender'd himself to the Persian Army which was already enter'd his Dominions to the Number of Thirty Thousand Horse upon which he was presently sent to Tahmas who lay then at Casbin So soon as he had got the Georgian Prince in his Clutches he wrote to Simon to the same effect as he had written to his Brother that is to say That he should quit his Religion and come to him if he intended to enjoy the Kingdom of his Ancestors Simon finding the Persian Army pressing too severely upon him surrender'd his Person but would not abjure his Religion But Tahmas being now Master of both the Princes and of the Country of Georgia sent the Eldest Brother Pris'ner to the Castle of Genghè near the Caspian Sea and made the other Governour of Georgia changing his Name from David to Daoud-Can which denoted him to be of the Mahometan Profession Which done he took an Oath of Fidelity from all the chief Georgian Lords and carry'd away their Childern and David's also as Hostages into Persia After the Death of Tahmas the Georgians shook off the Persian Yoak as did also the most part of the Provinces of Persia and they were at Liberty during the Reign of Ishmael the Second which did not last above two Years and during the first four Years of Mahomet Kodabendè that is The Servant of GOD who sent an Army into Georgia to reduce 'em to Obedience Daoud Can fled upon the Approach of the Army At what time his Brother Simon a Pris'ner as I have already declar'd near the Caspian Sea laying hold of the Opportunity to re-enter into his Dominions became a Mahometan and was made Can of Tefflis under the Name of Simon-Can During the Reign of Mahomet Kodabendè dy'd Alexander King of Kaket leaving Three Sons and Two Daughters Of which David was the Eldest a Prince whose Courage and Misfortunes have render'd him renown'd over all the World under the Name of Taimuras Can which the Persians gave him At the time of his Fathers Death he remain'd in Hostage at the Court of Persia whither he was carry'd by King Tahmas as has been said He was bred up with Abas the Great being almost of the same Age with great Magnificence and exact Care where he had inbib'd the Customs and Manners of the Persians certainly much better then those of the Georgians So soon as his Father was Dead his Mother a Beautiful and Prudent Princess by the Georgians call'd Ketavana but Mariana in the Histories of Persia wrote a Letter to Kodabendè to this effect Sir My Husband is Dead I beseech yee to send me my Son Taimuras to Reign in his stead and withal I send you his Brother for Hostage in his Room Thereupon Taimuras was sent back after he had tak'n the Oath of a Tributary and a Vassal At the beginning of the Reign of Abas the Great Simon King of Carthuel already mention'd ended this Life leaving the Kingdom to Luarzab his Son then a Child under the Tuition of his Prime Minister a Person of great parts but of a mean Extraction call'd by the Georgians Mehrou and by the Persians Morad who was also Governor of Tefflis and Govern'd the Kingdom almost with an absolute Authority This Mehrou had a handsome Daughter with whom Luarzab was passionately in Love and by whom he was as passionately belov'd Nor could the Father by any means that he could use prevent the two Lovers from seeing one another
the President of the Council of Justice come to me And this was the second Artifice made use of to seize the Unfortunate Luarzab without striking a Stroak Presently therefore he was laid hold on but Abas durst not put him to death for fear of a Revolt in Georgia He sent him therefore into Masanderan or Hyrcania hoping that the bad Air of the Country would kill him but seeing that would not do he remov'd him to Shiras and at length took the following occasion to put him to death The Grand Duke of Moscovy had been a long time sollicited by the Georgian Princes to intercede in his behalf to Abas Who was therefore at the Charge of a Costly Embassie meerly for that purpose Thereupon Abas who was a Person of a quick Wit and never idle gave order to the Governour of Shamaki a City upon the Caspian Sea where the Ambassadors of Moscovy first enter into Persia to try what he could do to discover whether the Ambassador came only upon Luarzab's account or no and whether the Moscovite did take his part to that degree that there was any likelyhood of a Rupture To which the Governour sent word That the Ambassador came only to serve Luarzab that he was a very great Lord and that his Instructions were very positive for a punctual Answer Upon which Abas who was resolv'd not to release the Georgian Prince nor yet could refuse him his Liberty at the request of the Duke of Muscovy wrote to the Governour of Shiras to rid Luarzab out of the World so that his Death might seem only to have happen'd by accident Which was accomplish'd to his desire and the News was brought to Abas two Days before the Arrival of the Moscovite Ambassador Abas made the Courier tell his Tale in publick at what time he seem'd to be strangely troubl'd and surpriz'd Good GOD said he this is Vnfortunate News indeed How came he by his Death Sir answer'd the Courier he went a Fishing and as he was casting his Net fell into the Pond and there stifl'd himself I 'll make an Example of his Guards reply'd the King for taking no more care of him Soon after the Russian Ambassador had his Audience at what time after the Banquet was over and that they had drank pretty hard the King sending for him near to his own Person Well said he Mr. Ambassador and what is 't the King of the Russes my Brother desires of me Thereupon the Ambassador began to unfold his Commission and declare the Purport of his Embassie but when he had once let slip Luarzab's Name I believe reply'd the King you have heard of the Misfortune that has befallen that Young Prince I am extreamly griev'd for him I wish to GOD he had not been dead for I should have done with all my Heart whatever your Master could desire in his behalf Thereupon the Brother of Luarzab was made Governour of Georgia in his Room being turn'd Mahumetan before that and call'd by a Persian Title joyn'd to his Georgian Bacrat-Mirzah or the Royal Prince Abas also left an Army in Georgia to oppose Taimuras Who at first continu'd the War with such Succours as he obtain'd from the Turks and Christian Princes joyning upon the Caspian Sea into whose Territories he was retir'd for Sanctuary But seeing those Petty Assistances did him no good he went to the Turk and implor'd Aid of the Turk Which he obtain'd and a great Army of Turks was sent into Georgia who defeated the Persian Forces and re-established Taimuras in the Kingdom of Caket But he enjoy'd it not long for so soon as the Turks were retreated Abas return'd into Georgia and chang'd the whole Face of Affairs He built Fortresses which he fill'd with Natural Persians He carry'd away above Four and Twenty Thousand Families of which he plac'd the greatest part in Masander or Hyrcania Media Armenia and the Province of Persia removing into their Rooms both Persians and Armenians He also intermix'd Mildness with his Severities to try how far that would avail to keep the People in order He likewise made an Agreement with the Georgians which he confirm'd by Oath for himself and his Successors That their Country should be free from Taxes that there should be no Alteration of their Religion That he would not pull down their Churches neither would he erect any Moschees That their Viceroy should be always a Georgian of the Race of their Kings but a Mahometan Of whose Sons he that would change his Religion should be Governour and great Provost of Ispahan till he succeeded his Father Abas dy'd in the Year 1628. And so soon as Taimuras had Intelligence of his Death he re-enter'd Georgia and caus'd the Georgians to Rebel who slew their Viceroy and all the Persians that oppos'd 'em he made himself Master of all the strong Forts except Tefflis but could not keep ' em For Sefy succeeding his Grand-Father Abas sent in the Year 1631. a powerful Army against him under the Command of Rustan Can a Georgian the Son of Simon Can that same Viceroy whom the Georgians had slain He was Grand Provost of Ispahan at Abas's decease and call'd Cosrou Mirza King Sefy therefore who knew him to be a Person of great Valour and deem'd him highly provok'd made him General of his Army and Viceroy of Georgia in his Fathers Room He defeated the Georgians in several Encounters won back all Carthuel and part of the Kingdom of Caket and pursu'd Taimuras who was forc'd to betake himself into two strong places in Mount Caucasus In which inaccessible Fastnesses this Prince no less Valiant then Unfortunate held out for some Years though rather like a Fugitive that fought for his Life than a Prince that defended his Crown But receiving no assistance neither from the Turks nor Christians he went to sollicit the Moscovite but failing there likewise he retir'd into Imiretta of which his Sister was Queen with a Resolution there to end his Life not finding any hopes of recovering the Inheritance of his Ancestors There Shanavas-Can took him Prisoner when he Conquer'd that Petty Kingdom of Imiretta and setle'd his Son therein For Taimuras had always such a passion to Dye in his own Country that he would not make his escape into Turkey which he might easily have done and besides he consider'd that being Old the Turks would not have that respect for him as he might expect from the Persians Shanavas-Can carry'd him to Tefflis and wrote Word to the King that the Famous Taimuras-Can was in his Hands The King sent for him to his Court Where being very aged his Travels and Troubles of mind threw him into a desperate sickness The King lodg'd him in one of his Palaces with a great deal of magnificence and order'd his Physitians to look to him with great care Notwithstanding all which he dy'd in the Year 1659. His Body was carry'd into Georgia and Bury'd with all the Pomp and State which is usual in that Country
understanding the Aga Nazir was come forth to understand what he desired the other desired him to go immediately to Sephie-Mirza and to let him know that the Messenger of the most Sublime Command and of the most Potent Order staid at the Door and had something to communicate to him of the highest Importance and which was for his Advantage And therefore that he would be pleased to come forth and speak with him Which words the White Eunuch delivered to the Black Eunuch in such a Tone and with such a Countenance as discovered nothing either of Sadness or Joy from whence he could make any Conjectures either of bad or good Fortune For considering the secrecy of the Affair he came about it behoved him to affect a kind of Indifferency So that the Black Eunuch reported back the Message to the Young Prince as he had received it who at that time was with the Princess his Mother I shall rather chuse to give the Reader leave to imagin what was the Astonishment that seized those two Royal Persons at the suddenness of the News and whence they had reason to gather a thousand suspicions and jealousies than go about to express it in words We learnt afterwards that for some time they stood like Statues in a profound silence which was first interrupted by a loud shriek of the Princess and afterwards by these words which brake forth through the midst of her sighs while she embraced the Prince Ah my dear Son there 's an end of thy Life And indeed she could not look for any other thing for him than Death or some other Misfortune little less terrible She much less dreamt that it was to advance him to the Throne For in two Years that she had taken leave of her Husband then healthy and vigorous in the Flower of his Age not exceeding thirty six Years she had never heard of his being sick much less could she believe him dead Therefore when she heard that a Noble Messenger of the High Order was come to speak with the Prince what could she think but that this Order came from Habas the Second and that his Command was either to put to death or pluck out her Sons Eyes and that if they pressed him so earnestly to come forth it was only to understand and suffer the Execution of that Order All Appearances confirmed this sad Suspicion The severity of the Monarch was known to her as well as the disgust which he had taken against his Eldest Son of which he had given such publick proofs by the strict Captivity to which he had confined him But she that most perplexed her and augmented her mistrusts was the Lady-Mother of Hamzeh-Mirza Questionless said she that wicked Woman it is who by her Caresses and alluring Charms has over-ruled the King to deprive my Son of the Crown to set it upon hers Thereupon she began to redouble her Shrieks and Lamentations in such a manner that the whole Palace rang with her Complaints All the Ladies surprized to hear the first of the Kings Legitimate Wives in such an Agony ran presently to condole her sorrows and to intermix their Tears and Complaints with hers And indeed they had reason especially the Confidents of the Young Prince who had an extraordinary Passion for his Interests Friendship in others produced the same Effects believing bloudy Executioners were come to ravish from their Arms a Friendly Prince in his tender Years So that it is said that the Women raised such a general Compassion that even the Black Eunuch who was present tho they are a sort of People endued with savage and remorseless Souls could not refrain from dropping some few tears and quitting that Indifferency to which his Trust and Duty obliged him The General of the Musquetteers and the Nazir Eunuch at the same time heard the Womens Lamentations and believing it proceeded from the mistake of the Mother of the Ladies that belonged to the Prince sent a second Black Enunch to assure the Princess that the Messenger who waited for the Prince her Son at the Gate had brought him happy tydings and desired only to give him notice of a more Exalted Fortune Which they both confirmed by an Oath most solemn among the Persians by the Head of the Great Agrea by whom they mean Haty whom they believe to be the real Successour to Mahomet But all those Oaths and Protestations did nothing avail but only to augment the Mistrusts of the afflicted Mother She redoubled her Lamentations more loudly than before She hugged her beloved Son in her Arms and in the Transports of her sorrow called down a Thousand Imprecations upon the deceased King her Husband calling him Barbarian Infidel Impious and the Fatal cause of all her Tears Wherein she said Truth tho he were but a very Innocent Cause Sometimes she turned toward the Lordly Messenger whom she reproached with the scurrilous Terms of Dog and Messenger of Death sometimes toward the Eunuchs that were present whom she upbraided for Traytors All the while the Young Prince stood immovable for as is said he uttered not one word nor did he shew in his Countenance any sign of sorrow It is very probable that it was so extreme as to overwhelm him in such a sort that he had neither Life nor Motion While Nature that could not find sufficient signs to express her dreadful pains stood as it were entranced not knowing what side to take Therefore the Young Prince shed not a Tear because the occasion which he had to weep was so great In that manner he stood in the midst of the Lamentations of the Women who detained him and drew him to their knees as if they had resolved to defend him and prevent those that came to carry him away from approaching his Person This Scene had lasted above three quarters of an Hour for other Black Eunuchs that were sent one after another with Oaths and new Imprecations to assure them that the General brought Orders only that were highly to the Princes advantage could gain nothing upon the belief of the Mother and the other Women so that the Nazir resolved to go himself in person to try what he could do to undeceive her But so soon as he appeared before the Mother and with terrible Oaths endeavoured to assure her that there was no danger the Princess still holding her Son closely embraced in her Arms cried out And Thou Dog art thou also a Messenger of Death like the rest The disconsolate Princess was not to be comforted for the more Messengers they sent the more Oaths they swore the less credit she gave to their Imprecations She looked upon them all as Artifices to surprize her and to induce her to consent that her Son should go forth where Death waited his coming But at length some of the Principal Young Ladies suffered themselves to be over-ruled by the persuasions of the Aga and the horrible Imprecations which he called down upon his head that there was
present Monarch of the Persians for his Health for the establishment of his Throne and the increase of his Conquests That since this illustrious Branch of the Imaanic Race is according to the true Law become the Lieutenant of the Monarch of all the Earth and lawful Lord of the World that therefore his Dominions may extend from the one to the other Pole That his Majesty may always appear surrounded with glory like the Sun That his Word may have a constraining Power That all his Wishes and Desires may be accomplished and that all things may succeed in a more glorious manner than ever in favour of King SEPHIE Which last word the Orator pronounced in a louder Tone than he had pronounced all the rest to the end that all the Throng might hear him distinctly And here it is to be observed that he rose on purpose at the end of his Oration in regard that till then during all the Ceremony that Name had not been uttered before But at the same Instant that they heard the Name of SEPHIE pronounced all the whole Assembly strove which should send forth loudest acclamations of joy by repeating the usual Intch-Alla or God grant it which every one repeated five or six times After which the Cheik-el-Islaam or Ancient of the Law was the first that fell upon his Knees before the King and bowing his Forhead three times to his Majesties Feet pronounced a second Benediction in few words which he concluded with zealous wishes of Prosperity and that he might so Reign as to extend the Frontiers of his Dominion and render his Subjects happy He made three Bows more at the Conclusion of his Harangue which he uttered with a great deal of Eloquence as they assured me tho he had had no time to prepare himself as having been hurried half asleep out of his Bed to assist at the Solemnity After him all the Grandees according to their Dignity and the rest who were of any Quality came and paid their respects to the Monarch with the three customary Prostrations This done his Majesty rose from his Seat of Gold and returned to his former Place as did all the rest where they sate before For during the Ceremony they all stood there being none that sate but the King In this manner was Sephiè the Second Crown'd his Grandfather being the first of that Name among all the Persian Monarchs True it is that the first Founder of this Race was of the same Name but he is not numbred among the Persian Kings because he was never put into the Catalogue His Modesty would not suffer him to accept the Title For as the Historians tell us he always look'd upon the Throne to be an Illustrious Torment which under the vain appearances of happiness concealed continual pain and trouble This name of Sephiè has several significations which amount to the same sense and meaning for sometimes it signifies a Friend sometimes elected sometimes pure or purified Which I have said turn all to the same sense for Friends are but persons selected from others and purified which is the most usual signification and is not much remote from the other two As for example when the Persians call as they often do the first man Adam Safiè Alla we may translate it the Man the Friend or the Elect or the Purified of God Which three Epithites agree very well in their signification For the friends of God are his Elect Nor can they be his Elect before he hath purified them And therefore it is according as the word is placed that sometimes it signifies one thing sometimes another As here for example speaking of the New King of the Persians I should rather chuse to translate Chae Safiè the King Elect than the King purified True it is that they who would have Safiè to signifie purified depend upon the Etymology For that the Root from whence Safiè is derived is Saf which properly signifies Purity But let this suffice fot playing the Grammarian The subject of my discourse will not permit me to stop any longer upon these Trifles but only to observe by the way that it was from the word Safiè that the Greeks borrowed the word Sophos It will be more to the purpose to observe the mistake of our Writers upon the word Safiè For they would have all the Kings of Persia to be called Sophies I cannot but laugh when I find in their Writings the Grand Sophy the Sophy of Persia and the Sovereign Sophy For the Kings of Persia are neither called Sophies in general nor in particular Could the Kings of Persia read our European Characters and should see upon the Letters that are written to them from some parts of Europe the Title which is given them of Sophy questionless they would spit upon them and take it for an affront Therefore I would have those that speak when occasion offers of Persia or whether they be the Ministers of Princes to be careful how they commit this mistake in their Dispatches to that Court or whether they be those Writers who profess to give a faithful Relation of a Country where they profess themselves to have been and pretend to tell us what they have seen with their Eyes yet vent a thousand Lies and Stories and over-confidently impose upon their Readers I say I would have such persons content themselves with only giving us the false names of things but that the things themselves should be really true Nevertheless I find that in those things they make very gross mistakes and therefore lest people may think I decry others to gain the more credit to my own Relations and to free my self from the lash of the Proverb That two of a Trade can never agree I shall for proof of what I assert bring an Example relating to this very Story it self which I shall not take out of any Book of Travels for it is not my Intention hereto attack any one of them but from the Audir of Address wherein there is a relation of the Death of the late King of Persia and of the Coronation of the present King fol. 523. I cannot conclude without imparting to you the news which we have received from the Court of Persia by Letters from Legorn the fifth of this Month. They tell us by an Express dispatched from Ispahan to the English Merchants residing in Legorn that the Sophie after a debauch of drinking fell sick at Khur in his return from Casbin and died four days after That after his Death was known in the City of Ispahan his Eldest Son about twenty years of Age was Proclaimed by the Principal Minister and other Officers by the name of Grandfather Sha-Sophy That the next day the Governour of Ispahan and the chief Lords of the Court who accompanied the Body of the deceased King being arrived and having paid their Homage to the Prince he shewed himself in publick to his Subjects who testified their joy by their loud Acclamations and that
Prince the highest in Dignity come and offer their Heads and submit themselves to the stroke of Death without daring to presume to ask the reason why In this manner no body appeared either pensive or glad no body discovered the least sign of discontent Not but that I believe there were several who concealed their sorrows for fear of offending the New King They considered that Habas the Second of whose death they had so lately heard was fit to govern that he was kind and gentle to his Subjects that he was feared abroad but kept all things in peace and tranquillity at home That he was a lover of Justice and took care that his Officers did not abuse their Authority and oppress the People nevertheless that a secret Providence had cut him off in the midst of so fair a Race and in the flower of his Age when he had strength of judgment to design and force of body to execute That on the contrary the Young Prince who was now ascended to the Throne had never seen any thing and was as it were but an Apprentice not only in the Act of Government but in all other things So that they were likely to suffer long through the tenderness of his Age as they had experienced before in the Reigns of his Predecessors upon the same grounds But they who most laid to heart the mournful death of the deceased King were the Christians That Prince had always shewed himself kind and favourable to their Religion shewing them extraordinary Civilities and rebuking the Ministers of the Law and Interpreters of the Alcoran when they sought to exasperate him against the Professors of our Religion Which he did more than once as we do relate in his Life insomuch as the Armenians would say one among another that he was more a Christian than a Mahometan Not but that he was very much devoted to his own Religion even as much as the most zealous of his Predecessors only he thought that the violence of Princes toward the Liberty of mens Consciences was a thing neither Acceptable to God nor conformable to Reason That he was not to cease being a Man because he was a Mahometan That if Providence had exalted him to a Throne it was that he should carry himself like a King and not like a Tyrant and that there was nothing more Barbarous nor Tyrannical than such a Conduct as not only violated the Law of Nations but of Nature also which desire that men should live in Society one with another so far from being at Enmity that they should be mutual Assistances one to another Lastly that God alone was the Lord of the Conscience and Master of the Will That for his part he had nothing to do but with the outward Government of the Kingdom and for that reason it became him to do Justice to all his Subjects of whatsoever Religion since they were all Members of his Kingdom He persisted so constantly in this judgment and opinion that notwithstanding all the endeavours of the Doctors of the Mahometan Superstition to incense him against the Christians they could never vanquish his Resolution He looked upon them as People whose false zeal rendred them incapable of Right Reason or as Persons byassed by Interest who under the specious pretence of Religion would make themselves great among the Multitude or else make use of the credit which they had already to make Parties and Factions in the Kingdom and disturb the Government And therefore he always took delight to lessen and contemn such sort of people This clearly appeared when he prevented the Creation of a new Sadre or Mahometan Pontiff or Metropolitan of the whole Empire inspects into all the Ecclesiastical Revenues which are managed by inferiour Officers under his Authority and by his Orders for the word Sadre signifies the Breast of the Law Habas the Second also had severely persecuted the Cheik-el-Islaam or Ancient of the Law who is another Petty Sovereign in spiritual Affairs For it is his business to take cognizance of and to resolve all Cases of Conscience in Matters of Religion as we have already observed The King had like to have condemned him to death upon an Information that some of the Interpreters should whisper one among another that it would be the best way to advance to the Throne one of the Sons of the Ancient of the Law who would be more zealous for their Religion than the present Monarch and he had certainly put his design in execution had not the Ancient of the Law prevented him by offering to his displeasure both his own and the Head of all his Children that attended him That spectacle appeased his wrath believing that person innocent whom he saw so lowly humbled before him He had also thrown out of favour his Pichnaamaz or Chaplain and Confessor for no other reason but because he continually declaimed against the Christians The Prime Minister of State that governed during the Minority of Habas was no less averse to the Christians than any of the rest as being a zealous Mahumetan and therefore he continually incensed his Master against them and would have had the King have given command that they should carry a Mark like the Jews to distinguish them from Mahumetans but the King continually denied him and it is reported that the disgust which he took against him for that very thing contributed not a little to his Fall After these great Examples of his Lenity the Prince being now become more absolute not only suffered the Christians to enjoy the free exercise of their Religion but also granted the same freedom to the Jews notwithstanding all the secret and publick opposition which the Mulla or Religious People could make Nay it hapned that the King took an occasion to depress all that Race of Hypocrites For being so transported as they were to talk of deposing him as an Infidel who kept too much Society with the Profane the secret hatred which he bare them from that time forward gave him a plausible pretence to shew his resent and that I may use the Persian Phrase to break their Teeth that is to say to prevent their Biting As to the Armenians who were his Subjects and professed the Christian Religion he was wont to tell the Grandees of the Kingdom that it would be a vile Injustice for People that laboured for the good of the Kingdom by their Industry and Commerce to be excluded from the enjoyments of Peace and that Plenty of which they were the principal Instruments Therefore it was not without just cause that the Christians mourned in their hearts for the loss of so good a Prince their misfortune seemed to be without remedy in regard the New Monarch whom they saw exalted in his room was but a young Man from whom they could not promise to themselves any thing of assurance and tho he should be favourably enclined and preserve the same kindness for them as his Predecessour he could not in regard
one of the dregs of the People For being a man that was very Covetous and yet one that his misfortunes had rendred extremely fearful they who had any thing to receive of him and to whom he had made over Assignations upon his Farm could find no better way to make him bleed then to abuse and affront him And I was inform'd by some persons who were able to tell me that upon some disorder at Court how to raise money the Divan Beki or Chief Justice gave the King to understand in a Memorial which he presented him that if his Majesty would but deliver up into his power Mirza Ibrahim and Mirza Sadek his Brother he would lose his head if he did not raise him a Sum of six hundred thousand Tomans which are two Millions and a half Sterlin It happen'd that at the same time when this Memorial was deliver'd this unfortunate Lord was in the Hall where his Majesty sate who thereupon caus'd the Memorial to be read aloud It may be easily judg'd in what a taking he was but without answering a word he patiently endur'd the punishment of his rash Ambition and want of Conduct In a word he was a lost man and his misery had encreas'd to its full height had not the conjuncture of the Earthquake furnish'd him with an opportunity to beg leave to retire So that in some measure his good fortune proceeded from an event which at another time might have prov'd most prejudicial to him Yet as I have already said most prudent persons believe that he has only delay'd his evil Destiny for some years that his ruin is infallible and that upon the least want of money he will still be the Prey in the eyes of the Hungry Courtiers The year 1668. according to our account and 1079. according to the Mahumetan Computation began with great Rejoycing the Prince imagining that the rest of the year would be no less happy then the beginning But it fell not out answerable to his expectations nor that of the Grandees of the Kingdom as well as those of meaner Condition who had any insight into Affairs tho to outward appearance they attended at the Festivals with a chearful countenance yet their hearts were not so light for they found the condition of the Empire grew every day worse and worse that the Enemy was in the Bowels of several Provinces while others were laid desolate by Earthquakes little Money in the Kingdom a scarcity still continu'd at Ispahan where tho there was no want of any thing yet every thing was sold at an excessive rate The Exchequer moreover was exhausted while the new Prince in eighteen Months had drain'd all the Treasures of the Empire Which happen'd through his Profusion on the one side either by reason of the prodigious Expences that he delighted in or through the excessive Presents which frequently and many times without any Reason at all he heap'd upon his Favourites And on the other side through the little care that was taken of the management of his Revenues For indeed he had not made the third part of what his Father was wont to make of 'em as having without considering the consequences fill'd up all the vacant Employments both in the Court and in the Countrys Whereas his Father never supply'd those Vacancies unless he was thereto compell'd by necessity to the end he might have the Money himself which was due to his Officers But the young Monarch little experienc'd in Government imagin'd that the Coffers which he found full would never be empty Nor durst any body be so bold as to tell him 't was much more easie to empty then to fill ' em But at length when they found him wondring that Money was not plentiful with him as it had been they were constrain'd to let him understand the reason The Dutchess his Mother for whom he had an extraordinary respect and who might be said to be more then his Governess spoke with more freedom to him then any other person and made him condescend to let her act in the publick management of Affairs Thereupon she took upon her the Government of the Empire and to shew her first Master-piece of Policy she reduc'd the Monarch her Son from one extremity to another Insomuch that whereas he was so extremely liberal before that he was always and upon all occasions giving afterwards he became covetous even to pitiful sordidness and was so far from being bountiful that he hardly rewarded those that did him extraordinary services So that it might be said of him that he was like some Torrents that overflow the Meadows to day and the next leave 'em quite dry All these disorders oblig'd the Persians to look backward and to wish for the days of the deceased Kings Reign And they were taken with the Answer which the late General of the Armies when he liv'd in such splendour and high favour at Court made the King For one day the Prince and he being private together Hali-Kouli-Kaan said the King to him Dost thou not know who they were that rejoyc'd at the death of the King my Father If I knew who the Dogs were I would cause their guts to be ripp'd up To whom the Lord with his usual boldness said Your Majesty will do well to take care what you do lest you begin with your self and me For I know none but our selves to whom his Death could be acceptable by which of Prisoners that we were we became Kings of Persia Nor had the King his Health this year any better then the year before His Distemper still perplex'd him tho his fits were always alike some quickly off others more tedious Sometimes he lay whole Weeks together languishing in his Haram whence he never stirr'd out at his usual times but a little now and then in the Evening to shew himself Sometimes he took the Air a Horseback with a Handkerchief ty'd three or four times about his neck which in Persia is the certain sign of a sick Person However all this while he forbore nothing of his debaucheries and always carri'd his Women along with him his most usual Walks being upon Giulfa side a Town belonging to the Armenians out of which he pick'd all the handsom Virgins to fill his Palace It is said the first time that he caus'd the young Virgins under twelve and above ten years of Age to be thus cull d out of twenty that were carri'd to the Palace there was but one that shew'd the least joy in her Countenance for her good fortune and she was detain'd the rest who fell a weeping either because they were thought too Innocent or else believ'd to be too cunning were restor'd to their Parents But to the Father of her that was detain'd the Sum of Eight Tomans or thirty Guinees Pension was presently order'd For it is the Custom of that Court when the King makes choice of any Virgin out of a Family that is not very well in the World he assigns
is the same with Sadoc among the Hebrews He was Brother to Mirza-Ibraim already mention'd and worse then he Vazier or Farmer-Royal of Fars or the ancient Persia The Complaints of Shiras at length threw him out of this Employment The People had for several years with hearty prayers to Heaven implor'd his Ruin but could never obtain it they clamour'd against his Robberies and Violences whole crouds of Petitioners throng'd to Court with complaints against him but his Presents and his specious Letters frustrated all their Attempts Nay one of the principal Occasions of the Dutch Embassie in the year 1666. was to complain of his Vexations and the stop which he gave to their Trade All the World thought that such a blow as that would have fetch'd his Head from his Shoulders but he fended it off by the help of a Sister which he had in the Womens Palace So that he was discharg'd with only a severe Reprimand which was sent him in a Patent of which the Dutch themselves were the Messengers At length this very year so many fresh complaints came against him that he could find no more Evasions neither would his pretences avail any longer though he ply'd the Court still to the value of about thirty thousand pound which they took but spar'd him never a whit the more He was expell'd from his Employment and all his Goods Confiscated It was believ'd at Court that his Estate would have amounted to several hundred thousand pounds but they were amaz'd when they found that the Account rose to no more then 80200 l. Sterling in Gold and Silver which he had at home in his Coffers six thousand four hundred pound in Goods Moveables Horses Stuffs Merchandize and such other like Furniture which was not for ordinary use In his Treasurers Coffers was found seven thousand pound in Silver Money and eight hundred seventy five pound in Duckats of Gold This crafty Lord long foresaw what then befel him and therefore he had convey'd away his Jewels and what he had of most costly value and the greatest part of his ready Money and had only left those Sums at home to dazle the Eye and make the Court believe it was his whole Estate But no body could imagine it and his Majesty sent into all Places belonging to his Jurisdiction an express Order to make diligent search for all Goods and Money or whatever else might be thought to belong to the Offender and put forth a Proclamation for all to discover what they knew The same was done at Ispahan but notwithstanding all that extraordinary diligence there was no more discover'd then about sixty thousand Crowns besides Goods that were not moveable The King left him all the Furniture of his Palace nor did he meddle with his Wardrobe nor with any thing that belong'd to his Women nor with any thing that was for common use in his Offices and Stables Beside he gave him liberty to enjoy a yearly Revenue of four thousand pound Sterling to maintain him shut up in a Palace a little way distant from Shiras whence he was not to stir himself but might receive the Visits of his Friends His Children also were at the same time put out of Favour and lost their Employments After his Fall the King would not confer his Place upon any Lord as being one of the most gainful Employments in Persia but sent to a certain Persian Lord of an ancient Family who resided at Shiras whose name was Sefie-Kouli-Sultaan a short Commission under the Title of Governor pro tempore of the Province till he should think fit to supply the Place other ways We have told ye how the greatest part of those that fell into disgrace in the Reign of Habas II. return'd from their Exile and were restor'd to favor at the beginning of the new Reign In the number of these was Mirza Hadi one of the most Learned Lords of Persia able to instruct whoever would be desirous to know whatever is of choicest Secrecy in that Empire whether as to the Situation of Places as to History or Politicks and therefore it was that I endeavour'd to benefit by his friendship and discourse The Chief Minister to the deceas'd King made out the Process against him and had confin'd him to his Palace in Ispahan whence he never stirr'd till after the death of that Monarch And in regard he often frequented the Court and was in great Reputation there he was advanc'd to the Employment of Farmer-Royal of Kirmaan or Caramania There was also living in Ispahan some three years since an ancient Indian Princess who was there detain'd a Prisoner She was Sister to the last King of Decan and was call'd by the name of Saheb-Koud-shek that is to say in the Persian of the Indies the Little Lady to denote a second Princess that has another above her This Lady was retir'd to Vijapour and toward the end of her days was desirous to make a Pilgrimage to Mecca carrying along with her an immense Treasure In pursuance of this Pilgrimage she passed through Persia But Habas II. for reasons that never were yet well understood having her in his Power would not permit her to go any farther nor to return out of his Dominions tho she offer'd several times considerable Presents to obtain that favour The new Prince and that year the New Soleimaan did not shew himself so insensible of the Ladies Presents as his Father had done but condescended to what she desir'd and receiv'd from her a Treasure of Jewels of an inestimable value For she took her time one day that the King pass'd by the House where she had been lodg'd and went forth her self with her Presents and her Petition She had also prepar'd a sumptuous Banquet to be made ready in the Court that belong'd to the House and caus'd the Street to be spread with Cloth of Gold for the King to ride over and as he rode along her Officers came and threw under his Horses feet whole handfuls of money both Gold and Silver to the value of two thousand Crowns Which is a piece of Pomp and Grandeur practis'd in Persia when any one would honour the Prince after a more splendid and obliging manner Toward the end of the year 1668. arriv'd in Persia a new Mission of Italian Capuchins sent by the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith for Georgia They were six attended by two Lay Brothers their Superiour being call'd Father Steven d' Ameria They also brought a Letter from the Pope to the King of Persia of which I took a Copy in these words To the most Illustrious and most Potent King of the Persians CLEMENT IX Pope ILlustrious and most Potent King we wish you Health and the Light of Divine Grace Such is the Charity of the Roman Pontiff whom God the Sovereign Creator of all men has bestow'd upon 'em that he does not believe there is any Society upon Earth estrang'd from himself or his most tender cares On the