part and so to linke himselfe the stronglier with them by such a bond then in his owne necessitie in which condition there is a great question whether he shall be heard Lastly how strange a conclusion you haue made I will desire you to behold with better consideration You will not haue the King to make warre with the Turke to auoid expence of money and munition where the best parts and most plentifull of both countries are confining which would giue abundance and cheaper liuing to an Armie but you will haue him go to Larre to Ormus sterile countries farre remoued where the charges onely of supplying victuals to an Armie would be of more cost then all other munition and expence of the Armie besides And besides there is no danger of the King of Spain who hath euer held a fashion of maintaining himselfe rather then encreasing Besides the nature of his force is of a contrarie qualitie to giue vs feare of his too great inlargement hauing neither abundance of horse nor men but only gallies which assure his forts with which also he is sufficiently contented And how wearying out a warre to his Maiesties treasure and men that must be where he must fight but at the enemies pleasure and aduantage the strength of his enemie standing vpon the Sea in which the King hath no sort of shew of power he submitted to his Maiesties wisest consideration besides the infinite danger by the nature of the lying of the state of the Turkes and the King of Spaines and the essentiall of their potenties were of such a condition that whatsoeuer was diminished from his Maiesties or the King of Spaines was an absolute addition to the Turke who by that aduantage of the weakening each others forces should haue a more facile entrie vpon any one or both of them And that it was wel proued by his Maiesties predecessors that there was not a more maine vpholder of the beginning and foundation of their state nor manner of preseruing it which was all they could doe then that league which vnited both their forces euer against the common enemie And now that God and the great vertue of his Maiestie had so augmented the limits of his dominion that he had power ioyned with true iustice and necessitie to recouer those vsurped Prouinces which the Turke held from him In which action nothing could more secure him then first an assured relatiue friendship betweene the Princes Christian and him generally and particularly the forces of the King of Spaynes by Sea in those parts it should be a strange Counsell to perswade his Maiestie to make warre with him whom he had euer profited by and to offend all in offending him and voluntarily to inâ—ble the Turke in whatsoeuer hee would vndertake against him which must needs be by all reason iudgement his enemy Which made him beseech his Maiestie to continue that so commodious friendship vnto him and to strengthen himselfe with new to fomentate those rebellions which were no rumours one of those that were in Armes being Moombaregue a Prince tributarie to his Maiesty the others though no men of great qualitie yet of great happinesse in their proceedings and to prouide for all things necessary for so great an enterprise for which though the Vicesire were otherwise perswaded nothing did more facilitate the iudgement of his good successe then the Prince of the Turkes owne incapacitie Nothing hauing euer beene proued more certaine then that the Ministers of any Prince do euer symbolize with their Masters vertues or vices and that men of extraordinary vertue with them haue euer little power or little time suspition being the best preseruer of their defects which euer aymeth at those who haue more vertue then themselues as fearing them most A discourse proued true by the miserable end of all those named and by many examples which he would leaue vnrehearsed as things that neuer bare more credit then the faith of the hearer gaue them And so left off humbly beseeching his Maiesty to pardon his boldnes and freenes which were euer the birth of true zealous deuotioÌ„ he had onely expressed what he thought his Maiesty might please to resolue of that hee thought honourable secure and profitable for his state and person The causes of his danger from the Turke he spake not of first touched by me and apparant to all The king then commaÌ„ded Baslan-Aga to speake freely also what he thought who after a reuerence vnto him hauing repeated the arguments past commended them all as it is his fashion apparantly to offend no bodie but what he doth in that qualitie is secretly and then as though he meant no such matter diuiding what he would speak into two points the warre and my person he proceeded thus This proposition by the wisedome of his Maiesty resting doubtful so that none of vs by knowing which way his owne disposition inclineth haue any sort of constraint either by fearing to oppose our opinions against what his will intended or by a desire to raise our iudgements into a better conceit of fâ—uour by making them to symbolize with his giueth vs so great libertie of deliberation that if we speake not well to the purpose at least we shall speake truly what we thinke I say then that all warres are eyther made vpon the Confines of the States which moue them or farre from the Confines of the maker of them by penetrating further into the maine bodie of him vpon whom they are made And it is not possible for any to vse great Armes or small a long time which haue not a fountaine of great reuenewes from at home and a foundation of great plentie in the field For as without sinewes the members of this compact of our bodie cannot moue and if they doe shew a stirring onely for a testimonie of their life which may be in them yet that mouing is vnperfect both in vigour and continuance So Armes neyther can be gathered neyther can they be appropriated to necessarie dessignes nor maintained vnited in any enterprize without a Riuer of money which may refresh them in conuenient time and make swimme after them munitions victualles and other necessarie prouisions both for the sustenance of euery particular bodie and importing to the good purpose and effect of the mannagement of their Armes And because the reuenewes of iust and good Princes as the faculties of the subiects from whom they are deriued are limited and drawing without measure for one yeare or two huge quantities of money out of their estates their countries will remaine poore and exhausted of gold and siluer From whence proceedeth that warres of such a condition as cannot be ended neere at hand but draw through the necessitie of perfecting them well when they are once begun the Prince and the Armie a farre off neyther can be vndertaken nor continued but by Princes who haue infinite treasures acumulated through long times prouidence or neuer-ending mines for other sort of ordinarie
Dominion some wars daily grow in amongst them euen to the extirpation of a whole Nation As wee found freshly when wee passed by one of those Princes called Hiderbeague all whose people were deuored by the sword or carried away captiue by Cobatbeague and himselfe remained onely with some twenty soules in certaine poore Holdes in a Rocke The precise summe which I receiued of the Florentine I set not downe to preuent the scandales of diuers who measuring euery mans mind by the straightnesse of theirs will beleeue no act which doth not symbolize with themselues but so much it was that being thirty daies vpon the way to the Confines then fifteene from the Confines to Casbine where wee attended one month the Kings arriuall it was not onely sufficient to giue vs aboundant meanes for that time but to cloth vs all in rich apparell fit to present our selues before the presence of any Prince and to spend extraordinarily in giftes by which wee insinuated farre into the fauour of those which had the authority of that Prouince during our abode and expectation of the Kings comming In which time wee were well vsed more by the opinion which they had that the King would take satisfaction by vs then by their owne humors being an ill people in themselues and onely good by the example of their King and their exceeding obedience vnto him The Gouernour visited me once Marganabeague maister of the Kings house whom I had won vnto me by presents came oftentimes to see me besides as it seemed being more inwardly acquainted with the Kings inclination fitted himselfe more to that then others did which knew it lesse And now that Iam in Persia speak of the kings absence since he is both one of the mightiest Princes that are and one of the excelleÌ„test for the true vertues of a Prince that is or hath bin and hauing come to this greatnesse though by right yet through the circumstances of the time the occasions which then were solely his owne worthinesse vertue made way to his right besides the fashion of his gouernmeÌ„t differing so much from that which we call barbarousnesse that it may iustly serue for as great an Idea for a Principality as Platoes Common-wealth did for a Gouernment of that sort I hold it not amisse to speake amply first of his person the nature of his people the distribution of his gouernment the administration of his iustice the condition of the bordering Princes the causes of those warres in which he was then occupied that by the true expression of those this discourse may passe with a more liuely and more sensible feeling His person then is such as a well-vnderstanding Nature would fit for the end proposed for his being excellently well shaped of a most well proportioned stature strong and actiue his colour somewhat inclined to a man-like blacknesse is also more blacke by the sunnes burning his furniture of his mind infinitly royall wise valiant liberall temperate mercifull and an exceeding louer of Iustice embracing royally others vertues as farre from pride and vanity as from all vnprincely signes or acts knowing his power iustly what it is and the like acknowledgement will also haue from others without any gentilitious adoration but with those respects which are fit for the maiesty of a Prince which foundeth it selfe vpon the power of his state general loue and awfull terror His fortunes determining to make proofe of his vertue draue him in his first yeares into many dangerous extremities which he ouercomming by his vertue hath made great vse of both in the excellent increase of his particular vnderstanding and generall tranquility strength of his countrey propagation of his Empire For the lawes and customes or both of that kingdome being such that though the king haue a large increase of Issue the first borne only ruleth to auoyd all kind of cause of ciuill dissention the rest are not inhumanly murthered according to the vse of the Turkish gouernment but made blind with burning basons haue otherwise all sort of contentment and regard fit for Princes children Xa-Tamas King of Persia dying without Issue Xa Codabent his brother was called blinde to the kingdome who had Issue Sultan Hamzire Mirza the eldest who succeeded him and this present King called Abas In the fathers time Sinan Basâ—a began the enterprise of Persia which the Turkes euer reserue in their times of peace with the Christians to keepe their souldiary in action and their armes from rusting Before he could attempt any important action hee was called to the port and aduanced to be principall Viseire and Mustapha Bassa was appointed his successor whose industry and valour was accoÌ„panied with good fortune in a short space taking Vannes and Tiphelis two strong fortresses importing much for the entrance of Scieruan which he with the like felicity conquered Notwithstanding Synan taking aduantage of some sinister accident happened him by ouer-sight which is euer most incident to those which sway all things with a happy course of fortune and being his enemy bearing his suppositions also against him by the strength of his authority caused him to be re-called in the faire course of his victory and being within some few dayes trauell of Constantinople whether the cause grew from the pride of his heart which despised to liue after such an iniury receiued from his enemy whose fortune being so great gaue him neither meanes nor hope of reuenge or else for feare of death disgrace together at the Port he poisoned himselfe Into whose place was aduanced Osman Bassa a great Souldier borne of that Mamaluckes bloud who had been last Sultan of Egypt in great estimation with the generalty of the Turkes and as much with the Prince himselfe not only through his owne valour which in truth did merit it but by his mothers fauour who was great with the Prince and with the Sultana his mother He instantly acquitted all disorders growne either by the death or negligence of Mustapba and intending vtterly to subdue all Persia and to extinguish the reigne of the Sophies iudging that the shortest way was to begin with the best parts went presently against Tauris and though he were long impeached from taking of it both by the resolute valour of the Defendants which was all the obstacle in the place the walles being only of mud without art or strength and by continual attempts of the king of Persia sometimes in person though he saw nothing but most by his eldest son to succour it Finally after many victories and sometimes losses his fortune concurring with his obstinate resolution he got the place in which he had no sooner established a meet garrison and an order of gouernment in the countrey about it which followed the fortune of the place but hauing all his care fixed vpon his designe for the through accomplishment of his prosperous begun victory he also died as it is said poysoned by Cicala Whiles the mother cried
dispositions And as they are all made a prey to the greatest so euery one according to his power doth deale with the lesser like a forrest of wilde beasts liuing all vpon rapine without any sence of humanity more then an appearance This violent humour in them hath brought disobedience Couetousnesse and Luxury dissoluing the bonds of all respect our willes euer carrying vs from our selues from all awfulnesse and all Lawes when they are ouer-maistered by those two mighty enemies to perticular men much more then to generall states So that the Princes commandement is no more esteemed in any part farre remoued from his owne presence then it fitteth with the honour and profite of him to whom it commeth From whence haue growne so many and so dangerous rebellions so huge wasts in Countries and caused through all those parts those Ianizaries which were appointed for the safety of the prouinces and had their first priuiledges not onely for a reward to their vertues but to binde them by such rewardes to answere the Princes confidence in them to obey no authority which calleth them to other warres but by combining themselues in a strength together to tyrannize the Countries committed to their charges in such a sort that they are not onely Princes as it were ouer the people but do also terrific the greater Ministers And though this be a great weakenesse in the very Basis of so huge an estate which can by no meanes be held together but by such an vnite compaction as may iustly and euer moue by the heads intentions lest it should sway this way or that way and so either breake or bend by his owne great weight or bruise it selfe which in so ouer-growne a body must come to dangerous vlcers where no care is taken for the curing of the parts Yet it doth not onely shew that Gods iudgement hath determined it a short time of continuance by that one great signe but by many other as their negligence of the maintaining of a strenth by Sea which did as it were knit together many great parts of it farre diuided and gaue an essentiall strength in force and reputation to his whole state His want of necessary prouision for the warres in all those parts not speaking of those for peace sithence the ruine of the Prouinces for the most part and the misery of those poore flocke of people which doe liue in the parts inhabited are onely the meanes to giue him peace Yet the negligence of the Princes Christian will not make vse of these extreame defects of his to amplifie their Dominions to eternize their Honours and that which is the greatest to glorifie God which hath made them Princes onely to execute his iudgements none of which now can bee more iustly inflicted vpon any then vpon that great blasphemer against his Holy one and tyrant of the world giue peace to their inique passions which giue cause to the very earth to sigh to all good hearts to groane and kindle Gods indignation against them and their people and turne first their aspects to that which they owe to God and then to the true ambition of a Prince to doe great and iust things which with their honour might also bring profite to their present estates and are of such a condition that the effecting of them is vtterly without danger or difficulty seeing with the very sight of a compleat Armie his Souldiary in those parts would be terrified through their inability to resist and the people who cannot change possible to worse fortune would all follow those Ensignes which their extremity doth already force them to wish for And let all iudgement giue themselues but a small time of truce with other passions and wee shall see not onely what shame it is to the very Name of Christianity to suffer that great Sepulcher of our Redemption to bee possessed to our eternall ignominy by his professed enemies who vouchsafed to giue his deerest bloud to buy vs from perdition Religion is that which euer moueth the blindest hearts of men to the most resolute enterprises and an awfull loue hath euer beene the strongest band to binde men to their Princes to their Countrey and to common society Romulus when his people fled before the Sabines so that the victory shewed it selfe vndoubtedly on their side and ouerthrow on his the very remembring them of leauing Iupiter and the rest of the Gods in the Capitoll to the possession of their enemies was sufficient to turne that desperate fortune And when the French had sacked and burnt a great part of Rome the same awfull reuerence to their Gods and loue to their Countrey could binde them rather to re-build their ruinated Citty then to go to Vejes a Towne ready and magnificently builded But we can leaue in the Turkes possession not onely the Countrey of our Sauiour which should be deerer vnto vs then our owne for his great name sake but this the Sepulcher of his precious bloud which he gaue freely an oblation to giue vs by that sacrifice that which is aboue all eternall life without compunction of loue or Religion So much are our hearts hardened against the appearing mercies of God which hath made him for a great a weake enemy to giue vs corage by such an vnhoped fore-signe to produce that supreme act of our duties Where are those generous spirits of the fore-passed Princes and men which against all humane reason to reuenge iniuries and wrongs done to the holy name of God thrust themselues into most dangerous enterprises onely trusting in the true worthinesse of their cause which they iudged God would miraculously prosper being vndertaken with so good and true hearts for him The successes of which also we may reade to haue beene most prosperous God striuing in mercy with mans intentions And though it be true that the dayes of Visions and such apparant Miracles are finished yet let vs not by too great precisenesse mistake the things which indeed are but take this for a great miracle in regard of our manifold sinnes which deserue all bitter vengeance and no good that God yet hath pleased whilst we deuoure one another in this poore small flocke of Gods Church and by our cruelly resoluing to our ciuill destruction do open the breach for the common enemy to enlarge his power and greatnesse by his onely breath to shake him with such infection that his ouerthrow is most facille if we will vse the time pointed vnto vs by his mercifull finger which also may turne vnto vs as heauy a iudgement if we do not with the best councell and most desirous affection of our hearts and soules embrace the beames of his compassion But since Princes hearts are in the hands of God and he turneth them either for their own chastisements or for those of the people to a certaine secret point of direction from the which they cannot diuert as those which are too great iudgements for me to penetrate into I will leaue them
with commandement to tell their Maisters that as the poore men were not culpable which obeyed their Princes authority by whom they were sent against him and for that innocency hee had giuen them their liues so that hee would not bee long from seeking his reuenge vpon their Maisters which had more iustly deserued it by his neuer prouoking them to any offence And when hee came with his Army thither hee would proue by those mens acknowledgement vnto him whether they could discerne by the benefites they had already recieued of him in the gift of their liues which they had forfeited vnto him by bearing Armes with Rebels against him what better hopes they might conceiue of him if they would dispose themselues to deserue good of him In this meane time the same of this great successe flew to both the Armies about the Mountaines of Hamadan which as it comforted the Kings with exceeding ioyfulnesse so it entred into the others with such a terror that they presently vanished euery man retyring to his best knowne safe-gard that part of the warre ending with the blast onely of the fortune of the other with little expence of time labour and bloud which being vnderstood by the King hee raised Oliuer-Dibeague to the title of a Can and sent him with those forces which hee had to Hamadan to settle the Country in a good forme of gouernement and to ease it from the oppression of the other dispersed troupes Zulpher hee also called Can and sent him to Ardoutle which frontireth vpon Tauris with an Army consisting of twenty and foure thousand men in shew to quiet the Countrey but indeed to preuent any moouing of the Turkes And because hee knew that as his state stood then weake raised as it were freshly from a deadly sickenesse it was not fitte for him at that time to bind himselfe to wrastle with such an enemy by taking knowledge of his ill disposition towards him hee dispatched Embassadours to Constantinople to Tauris and to the Bassa of Babylon to congratulate with them as with his friendes for the felicity of his fortune and to strengthen himselfe by alliance also the more firmely against the proceeding of any thing which the Turke might designe against him either then or in future time he required the daughter of Simon Can one of the Princes of the Georgians to wife which was with as ready an affection performed as demanded Whiles that Lady was comming from her father the King vnderstanding that the Cans sonne of Hisphaean held yet strong the Castle and whether he gaue it out to amaze his Army which now beganne to looke for satisfaction for the great trauels and dangers which they had passed or whether hee had heard so indeed true it is that hee gaue out that the most part of the treasure of the former Kings of Persia was by the consent of the Rebels for security kept together in that Castle to receiue the which and to chastice that Rebell the King marched thither with a part onely of his Army leauing the rest at Casbin which was Frontier to Gheylan against which his purpose carried him Without much trouble hee expugned the Fort at Hisphâ—â—an being a large circumference onely of Mud-wals some what thicke with Towers and certaine ill battlements and suppressed that Rebell but Treasure hee found none for the indignation whereof hee made the world beleeue he dismantled the Castle His owne necessity to content the Army and his Armies necessity to aske contentment drew him suddenly back from thence to Casbin where he had not stayed many daies for daily satisfaction with hope hauing no reall meanes but that the Queene arriued honourably accompanied with 2000 horse and Byraicke Myrza her brother The Marriage was soone dispatched those countries vsing few ceremonies in such cases and God blessed them both so happily that within the tearme of lesse then one yeare shee brought him a gallant yong Prince who is now liuing called Sophir Mirza The King vnwilling to oppresse his countrey and desiring to reuenge himselfe vpon the kings of Gheylan and Mazandran to enlarge his Empire and to content his Souldiers hauing a flourishing Army both in men and the reputation of his present victory resolued all vnder one to increase his stare honour himselfe ease his countrey and satisfie his Souldiers with the enemies spoyles Gheylan is a country cut off from Persia with great mountaines hard to passe full of woods which Persia wanteth being here and there onely sprinkled with hils and very penurious of fuell onely their gardens giue them wood to burne and those hils which are some fagots of Pistachios of which they are well replenished betweene those hils there are certaine breaches rather then vallies which in the spring when the snow dissolueth and the great aboundance of raine falleth are full of torrents the Caspian sea includeth this Countrey on the East betweene which and the hils is a continuing valley so abounding in Silke in Rice and in Corne and so infinitely peopled that Nature seemeth to contend with the peoples industry the one in sowing of men the other in cultiuating the land in which you shall see no peece of ground which is not fitted to one vse or other their hils also which are rockes towards Casbin are so fruitfull of herbage shadowed by the trees as they shew turned towards the sea that they are euer full of cattell which yeeldeth commodity to the countrey by furnishing diuers other parts In this then lay the difficulty most of the kings enterprize how to enter the countrey for the rest there were great reasons of his hopes the kings of those countries being amazed with these first great successes of the king of Persia their people discouraged many Princes which though they might vnite themselues against a common enemy yet their deliberations could not be so speedy as from one alone nor so firme many accidents happening which might either absolutely dis-ioyne or diuert them one from the other or cast suspition amongst them which might giue the way to a good occasion against one by which the victory against the other might be also facilitated Besides his owne Army was so much raised in courage by their last happy successes and those so animated through an opinion in themselues of that reputation which had first followed the King and the rest so desirous to wash away the ignominy of their offence by some great and good act ioyned to the hope of rich preyes that there could bee almost thought of no obstacle able to withstand their valour and willingnesse Yet before the king would enter into this action remembring that before he had better setled himselfe in his owne state that he thrust himselfe vpon a cast of fortune to seeke after the winning of others yet since hee was forced vnto it by a certaine great necessity hee resolued to take the best wayes for the securing all dangers which might rise against himselfe at home and setting his countrey
in a reposed state from so many tempests which had contrarily moued it as well as to make due and confident prouisions for his intended warres First then he called vnto him to Casbin all gouernors all administrators of Iustice whosoeuer had occupyed those functions during the vsurped rule of the Cans through all his prouinces with the kinsmen friends and children of the said Cans besides that all men of power as Mirzaes Cans Sultans and Beagues which are principall Titles of Dukes Princes and Lords should repaire thither without excuse of age sicknesse or any other pretence whatsoeuer which being done he appointed new Gouernors and Officers of all sorts he cleared all his prouinces for three yeares from paying any tribute-custome or any other ordinary or extraordinary exaction whatsoeuer His chiefe Viseire he made one Haldenbeague a wise man excellently seene in all affaires of great experience but such a one as was onely his creature without friends or power him hee commanded to passe through all his prouinces accompanied with the Xa-Hammadaga who is as it were Knight Marshall to cleare them from vagabonds robbers and seditious persons Ologonlie which had followed him in all his aduersity a man of great worthinesse he made bearer of his great Seale which is an office there liker the Lord priuy Seale then Chancellor The place of the Viseire comprehending in it the office of Chancellor and high Treasurer him he also aduanced to the dignity of a Can. Bastana an ancient approued man both for fidelity and other worthinesse he made principall Aga of his house which is as great Chamberlaine Curtchibasschie Captaine of his Guard which is a general-ship of twelue thousand shot who attend at the Port by turnes two hundred and fifty euery quarter except when the King goeth to the warres that they are all bound to be present Ferrat Can hee made his Generall Thus hauing wisely and prouidently placed through all his estates those who must be most assured to him their fortunes depending onely vpon him hauing no more strength nor authority in themselues then they receiued from him and hauing all the great ones in his Army with him or such of them as could not bee able to follow him either by their few or many yeares or sickenesse so securely left at Casbin that they could not by themselues or any other moue any innouation And moreouer hauing dispatched all those and keeping their persons with him which had any obligation to the former Cans secured by that meanes as much as the counsell of any man could secure him from perill at home hauing called Oliuer di Can from Hamadan and appoynted him a successor for that Gouernement with ten thousand new men hee set himselfe forward to his enterprize with his old Troopes and great part of his rebelled Army with no greater courage and counsell then fortune for those men which were remitted by him to Gheylan and Mazandran as those which had beene somewhat exercised in the warres hauing with some more adioined vnto them the guard of the straights from which the maine Army of the Kings was some foure leagues remoued remembring the benefite of the King better then their faith to their Princes at the very sight of the first Troopes retired themselues from the places left to their confidence in charge which aduantage being followed by Ferrat with the Alarum giuen fell so iustly vpon that Army that what with the vnexpected terror of the straights abandoning and their being surprised in disorder the Army was facily broken with the death of two of the Kings and an infinite slaughter of people which had beene much greater if the woods had not couered them from the fury of their enemies The greatest of those kings hauing escaped with much difficulty accompanied euer with the terror of the perill from which he had escaped neuer ended his flight vntill hee came into Seruane and from thence went to Constantinople to desire succour from the Turke where he yet liueth The other which remained being but one without any great difficulty or alteration of fortune was suppressed The Countrey being first spoiled and ransomed at a great rate which they might well beare by reason of their great riches which they had gathered together through a long peace and the Kings Army excellently well satisfied he dispatched instantly Embassadours to the Turke the Georgians and his old friend the King of Corassan to giue them an account of this new victory not doubting but as it would bee exceeding pleasant to some so it would bee as bitter to others and leauing Ferrat Can to gouerne the Countrey and Oliuer Dibeague as his assistant but to bee commanded by him hee returned himselfe full of glory and great victory into Persia disposing himselfe to reduce his state to that excellent forme of gouernment which now it hath First then after his arriuall in Casbin hauing heard by his Viseire the relation of Xa-Hammadaga of some who had not onely spoyled the Subiects in their substances but the country of all orders iust forme of gouernement which now it hath and giuen them by that meanes more matter of dis-vnion then vnion insomuch that they were ful of theeues of vagabonds of factions such like insolencies he iudged it fit to reduce it the more peaceable and obedient to giue it in those cases a good condition of gouernment Whereupon he presently dispatched that Xa-hammadaga a terrible and resolute person with full power and authority for the reformation of those disorders who in short time though with most terrible examples reduced all the Prouinces to a vnite tranquility with mighty reputation Whilst hee was busied in that administration the King to shew that it was necessity that counselled to giue him that excessiue authority and to preserue it from being odious to himselfe appointed in the chiefe city of euery Prouince a Gouernour elected of those of most valour to him he ioyned two Iudges of criminall and ciuill causes a Treasurer two Secretaries with an excellent president and two Aduocates generall for the causes both particular and generall of the whole Prouince Besides the particular Aduocate of euery Citty which should be resident in that Metropolis These determined all causes within themselues of those Prouinces in which they had the administration and because they should neither be burthensome to the Prouinces nor corrupted in paritializing the King paid them their stipend enioyning them vpon paine of life to take no other sort of reward And because such things and causes might fall out as by reason of the importance of them or appellations of the parties might be brought before himselfe because hee would euer know what he did and be continually informed not onely of the generall state of the Prouinces but of their particular administration hee ordained Posts once euery weeks from all parts to bring all sort of relations to the Court for which cause also hee willed that one of the two generall
Aduocates should euer be resident there who receiuing those relations presenteth them to the Viseire and hee to the King The Viseire sitteth euery morning in counsell about the generall state of all the Kings Prouinces accompanied with the Kings Councell Aduocates resident and the Secretaries of State there are all matters heard and the opinions of the Councell written by the Secretaries of State then after dinner the Councell or such a part of them as the King will admit present those papers of which the King pricketh those hee will haue proceed the rest are cancelled which being done the Councell retire them againe to the Viseirs and then determine of the particular businesse of the Kings house The King himselfe euery Wednesday sitteth in the Councell publikely accompanied with all those of his Councell and the fore-said Aduocates thither come a floud of all sorts of people rich and poore and of all Nations without distinction and speake freely to the King in their owne cases and deliuer euery one his owne seuerall Bill which the King receiueth pricketh some and reiecteth other to be better informed of The Secretaries of State presently record in the Kings Booke those which he hath pricked with all other acts then by him enacted the which booke is carried by a Gentleman of the Chamber into his Chamber where it euer remaineth and woe bee to his Viseire if after the King hath pricked Bill or Supplication it bee againe brought the second time When he goeth abroad to take the aire or to passe the time in any exercise the poorest creature in the world may giue him his Supplication which hee receiueth readeth and causeth to bee registred and one request or complaint is not ordinarily brought him twise and though these bee great waies wise waies and iust waies to tye vnto him the hearts of any people yet the nature of those is so vile in themselues that they are no more nor longer good then they are by a strong and wisely-tempered hand made so The Countrey not being inhabited by those nobly-disposed Persians of which there are but a few and those few are as they euer were But being mightily wasted by the inundation of Tamberlaine and Ismael afterward making himselfe the head of a Faction against the Ottomans and by that reason forced to re-people his Countrey to giue himselfe strength of men against so potent an Aduersary calling in Tartars Turcomans Courdines and of all scum of Nations which though they now liue in a better countrey yet haue not changed their bad natures though as I said so carefull and true Princely a regard of the King for the establishment of good and iust orders for the gouernement of this Countrey in equity generall security and tranquility had beene of sufficient ability to haue bound the hearts of people vnto him Yet knowing what his were and to leaue no meanes vnacted which might both assure them more and himselfe with them because he knew that their owne dispositions which were euill would neuer rightly iudge of the cause of many rigorous examples that had passed which by that fault in them had ingendred him hatred amongst them to purge their minds from that sickenesse and gaine them the more confidently hee determined to shew that if there were any cruell act brought forth it did not grow from himselfe but from necessity Wherfore hee displaced by little finding particular occasions daily against some or other all the whole Tymarri of his estate as though from them had growne all such disorders as had corrupted the whole gouernment sending new ones and a great part of them Gheylaners to their possessions with more limited authority and more fauourable to the people the old ones part he casherd part he distributed in Gheylan and Mazandran which he had new conquered so that by that Art the people began to rest exceeding well satisfied and himselfe the more secured those which succeeded them being bound to his fortune and those which were remoued also being disposed in the new conquered Prouinces which they were bound to maintaine in security for their owne fortunes which depended onely vpon their preseruing them for the King When all these things were done and the King began to thinke himselfe throughly established for a long time both from intrinsicke and extrinsicke dangers The Turkes forces being so occupied in the warres of Hungary that hee had no leasure to looke to his increasing the Tartarres of Corrasan his friendes by the old hospitality which hee had receiued from their King and if not his friends yet cold enemies such as would bee long resoluing before they would attempt any thing to his preiudice There fell out a new occasion to trouble both the peace of his minde and Countrey if it had not beene preuented with great dexterity celerity and fortune For Ferrat Can not regarding his benefites done to the King knowing too well his owne worthinesse and attributing vnto that the successes of all the kings fortunes and for so great causes not being able to limit his mind within any compasse of satisfaction not resting contented with the place of Generall nor Gouernment of Gheylan nor with the honour to be called the Kings Father but despising that Haldenbeague should bee Viseire and not himselfe all which had giuen the king all began to take counsell to innouate and alter things with the Bassaes of Seruan and Tauris So dangerous are too great benefites from a subiect to a Prince both for themselues and the Prince when they haue their minds only capable of merit and nothing of duty These practises of his were most dangerous for which hee did more assure himselfe to haue layd a strong foundation for the discontentment of those Timari which the King had sent into his Gouernement and so had they beene questionlesse if Oliuer di-Can through his true zeale to his Maisters seruice and perhappes a little enuy at the others greatnesse had not made him so watchfully diligent that hauing gathered his intentions by very momentuall circumstances hee gaue the King from time to time notice of them which at the first were negligently receiued and rather taken as matter of emulation then truth But when those very same aduertisements euer continued and Oliuer di Can was not at all terrified from sending of them neither by the kings neglecting them nor rebuke and that Mahomet Shefia was also secretly arriued in the Court with more particular and certaine aduice that the Bassa of Seruan had sent a great summe of money to Ferrat which was receiued on a certaine day and in a certaine place The king hereupon presently sent Xa-Tamascoolibeague his chiefe fauourite to will Ferrat Can for very important affaires for the determining of which his presence was requisite to repaire to the Court which hee excused through his indisposition which he said to bee such that he could not possibly trauell so that persisting in that deniall when Xa-Tamas Coolibeague perceiued that he would not be
him into the mountaines so escaped the present danger persecution of that tyrant Diuers other also as they had been in estimation or fauour with the old king fearing for that the violence of the present authority and others onely discontented with the alteration and the wicked meanes of it fled into Persia by whom the king hauing largely and perfectly vnderstood the state of things hauing so faire a way both to shew an infinite royall point of gratitude to that one poore posterity of the murdered king for great obligations to the father and withall to assure himselfe in future times and occasions from that certaine enemy which had euer hung like a dangerous cloud ouer his state vsually breaking into terrible tempests as it was or should bee carried against him by the breath of the Turke though he knew those Tartars so obstinate enemies to his Gouernment and Religion that if they had the most odious reasons of dis-union amongst themselues yet that they would combine against him without reposing himselfe vpon any hope to be holpen by those partialities which the refuged vnto him seemed to promise but confident onely in the iustice of the cause which he intended in his owne force vertue wisedome and fortune hee resolued to gather his Armie and to goe for those parts to which hee was besides his owne disposition mightily instigated by Ferrat Can whose feare ambition being without meanes of end gaue him assurance by the place of Generall which hee held to haue some faire opportunity giuen him to end them with the kings ruine and without his owne danger Thirty thousand men the king tooke with him for that warre twelue thousand Harquebusiers which bare long peeces halfe a foote longer then our Muskets sleightly made the bullet of the height of Caliuer which they vse well and certainely and eighteene thousand horse which may seeme a smal troop in these places where the wars are carried with innumerable multitudes But the king of Persiaes iudgement agreeth with that of the best experienced Captains that multitudes are confusers of orders deuourers of time and of those meanes which nourish the wars and are good for no other vse but to make a war soone breake off and to consume the world This Armie being chosen out from all his forces of elected good men hee carried into Corasan with wonderfull expedition had taken it vtterly vnprouided if Ferrat Cans aduertisement had not preuented his celerity who had not onely giuen notice to them but to the Bassa of Tauris of the kings purpose and his owne resolution promising them a certaine victory and the deliuery of the kings owne person A dayes iourney the king passed peaceably into the Countrey without the sight onely of an enemy himselfe with fiue thousand of the best men accompanied with diuers of the principal lest was a kinde of vauntguard to the rest which followed with Ferrat Can Zulphir Can and Oliuer di-Can which marched softly The king by that meanes was farre aduanced and being almost assured in himselfe that through the celerity of his comming he should find yet no enemy sufficiently able to resist him more confidently by the perswasion of Ferrat Can some sixe hundred horse vnder the leading of Vseph-Aga which were sent to discouer before the kings troope fell vpon fifty thousand of the enemy vpon which sight he would faine haue retired but being so farre ingaged that he could not and vnable to resist so great a force with the losse of almost all his cōpany he was beaten back to the Kings grosse who by the dust rising a farre off and the great noyse following imagining what it was indeed with a great ready courage prouided himselfe ready to fight and dispatched Messenger vpon Messenger to command Ferrat Can to aduance vnto him To the first Ferrat answered that it was but a troope of some few rascals and desired the king to march on and not trouble himselfe nor his Army and to diuers the like At the last when yong Hassan-Can came from the king and told him the kings danger and that certainely the whole force of the enemy had charged him he began to shew feare to call a Councell of the Commanders then to know what they were best to resolue of for the sauing of the Army since the king had so rashly lost himselfe Which when Oliuer di-Can heard vpbraiding him of treason called vpon all those which loued the king to follow him and putting spurs to his horse being followed by Courtchibassa most of the kings Guard many other with all possible haste speeded to the king who by this time was forced to sustaine and retire as well as he could without disorder or shew of feare But when this Troope of Oliuer di-Can was seene his men receiued new courage and the enemy which depended more vpon Ferrats treason then their owne valour began to be exceeding amazed doubting that it had bin the whole Army and that Ferrat had exchanged his treason from his Maister to them Wherefore slacking their first fury and rather standing at a gaze then fighting the king commanded Vseph-Aga to charge them throughly afresh and not to giue them time to take new courage which hee did with so good fortune that lighting vpon the vsurper of Corasan and his sonne hee slue them both with his owne handes from which grew the first maine flight of the enemy and the beginning of the victory for the king The chase was desperatly followed so that in that battell the chase were slain 30000 men with the vsurper king and his son and diuers of the principall of the country taken That night the king pitched his Tents in the place of the battell and being informed by Oliuer di-Can and the whole army which cried out with open mouth of Ferrats treason tēpering the outward shew of his indignation with a compassionat feeling of mans errours and frailty excused the constraint and necessity of the iustice which he was forced to do protesting that though for his states and owne preseruation he was at last compelled to giue his iustice place aboue the power of his loue and obligation yet what the father had rent from himselfe by the violence of his owne misdeeds his sonne should find ripened for him who should bee heire of what his father had well merited by his former seruices as he hoped he would be of his vertue praying God that his fathers vices onely might die with himselfe Which when he had said he gaue Oliuer Di-Can the Generalship of his Army and appointed him to do execution vpon Ferrat who being resolued of that iudgement which his double offence had brought vpon him attended ready in his Tent without feare to die or desire to liue and there receiued that punishment which was vnworthy of his excellent parts if hee had made that true vse of them which he should Zulpher Can his brother knowing that he had as
highly and as much offended as his brother had yet wanting the same courage to receiue the iudgement which he had to offend fled to the port of the Kings Tent and there prostrated himselfe on the ground whence being called by Oliuer Di-Can he denyed to die any where but there that the King when hee should come forth might tread vpon that bloud which had so vilely and vndeseruedly offended him which being brought to the King by a Page that wished well to Zulpher and had some good hope of the Kings nature that hee might doe the poore Prince some good after a little pause the King came forth and beholding Zulpher lying grouelling on the ground pittied him and despising withall his little valour Behold said he to those which stood by how weake a foundation reputation hath which is not erected from a mans owne vertue This man was so great yesterday that you all honored him and now lyeth despised before you all through his owne wickednesse He hath bene aduanced by me for his brothers vertues and with the death of his brother he doth shew you all that no worthinesse of his owne but that which abounded in his brother if hee could haue made good vse of it gaue him courage also to seeme capable of those honours which I bestowed on him Zulpher God forgiueth mee as great sinnes hourely which I commit against him as thy fault can be to me and since it hath pleased him that I hold so great a place by him here I will also vse the example of his infinite goodnesse for the patterne of this mercy and referre my vengeance to him and giue thee time to repent and the rather because thy abiectnesse taketh all apprehension from me of cause to doubt thee Hee neuer dareth hurt a King which feareth to die And remember that this is the first day of thy life in which thou must take more vertuous waies then thou hast hitherto walked in that I may haue honour by the mercy which I haue shewed thee and profite by thy good seruices and thy selfe maist cast away farre from thee by honest and good deedes the shamefull memory which men will haue of thy past wicked Treason This was the end of that great and foule conspiracy which gaue great hope to the Kings enemies and ending by such a prouidence was the meanes of the Kings greater and better security which could neuer haue bene perfect so long as so great a man had liued both hauing cause to feare by that giuing continuall cause to be feared Next day the King marched farther into the Countrey and so daily aduanced on without obstacle the keyes of all their Townes meeting him by the way and at the last an Embassage from the whole state with a generall submission which when hee had receiued hauing spent some time in the setling of such a gouernement as was securest for himselfe and hauing receiued the yong Rrince sonne to the first King and diuers others of the principall of the Countrey hauing left order with Xa-Endibeague whom hee left there with the best part of his Army which he increased afterwards to 30000 men to extirpate all those which were likeliest either through their obligation to the vsurper or through their owne particular interest to make innouation he returned with that yong Prince and those prisoners into Persia. The most part of this time I was at Casbin courteously vsed by Marganobeague the Maister of the Kings house and not amisse by any When the King was come within sixe miles of Casbin he stayed there some three dayes to the entent to make his entry with such an estimation of his victory as was fit for so great and happy a successe of fortune and in truth I thinke that hee did it most to declare the greatnesse of it to vs that were strangers by such a strange demonstration The night before hee entred there were 30000 men sent out of the Towne on foote with horse-mens staues vpon which were fastened vizards of so many heads All those in the morning when we were commanded to meet him the Gouernour hauing proâ—ided vs horses we found marching in battell aray towards the Towne and before the two heads of the King and his sonne foure Officers of Armes such as they vse bearing in their hands great Axes of shining Steele with long helues after those battalions followed the Xa-Hammadagacs horse-men after those a number of Gentlemen of the Kings Court after those a 100 spare-horses with as many of the Kings Pages after those the prisoners accompanied with Bastan-Aga then a great rancke of his chiefe Princes amongst whom were all the Embassadours which vsed to bee resident in his Court then followed the yong Prince of Corazan accompanied with Xa-Tamas-Coolibeague the Kings principall fauorite and then the King himselfe alone and after him some fiue hundred Courtiers of his Guard Marganobeague was with vs and making vs large passage through all those Troupes When we came to the King we alighted and kissed his Stirrop my speech was short vnto him the time being fit for no other That the fame of his Royall vertues had brought me from a farre Countrey to be a present spectator of them as I had beene a wonderer at the report of them a farre off if there were any thing of worth in mee I presented it with my selfe to his Maiesties seruice Of what I was I submitted the consideration to his Maiesties iudgement which he should make vpon the length the danger and the expence of my voyage onely to see him of whom I had receiued such magnificent and glorious relations The Kings answere vnto me was infinite affable That his Countrey whilst I should stay there should be freely commanded by mee as a Gentleman that had done him infinite honour to make such a iourney for his sake onely bid mee beware that I were not deceiued by rumors which had peraduenture made him other then I should finde him It was true that God had giuen him both power and mind to answere to the largest reports which might bee made good of him which if hee erred in the vse of hee would aske counsell of me who must needs haue much vertue in my selfe that could moue mee to vndergoe so much and so many perils to know that of another And that hee spake smiling willing me to get on horse-backe which when I had done he called Haldenbeague his Viseire and Oliuer Di-Can his Generall and commanded them to take my brother and me betwixt them and my company was disposed by Marganobeague amongst the rest of the Kings Gentlemen of his Court and in that ordâ—r the King entred Casbin and passing to the great place he alighted with the cheifest of his Princes Officers whoÌ„ he caused to bring vs with them went into a kind of banquetting house in which there were staires to ascend by into a Tarras where the King â—ate down the greatest of those Princes
and the sinewes which bind together an estate Your Maiesty hath now a certaine peace with him and that the more certaine through his necessity which assureth you of time to gather treasure and all kind of strength against him if hee should breake the faith of his truce or moue against you hereafter That it is iust honourable and profitable for your Maiesty perhaps I may agree though it bee a question whether it be iust or honourable to breake a peace without a iust occasion giuen But howsoeuer it is more wisedome for your Maiesty to find a better and more fit time which shall furnish you with all necessary prouisions for so great an enterprise And further I say if the Turkes gouernement bee corrupted giue it more time and the sicknesse will encrease Is hee incapable his yeares are too many to make him amend therefore by giuing your selfe time you loose nothing he will be incapable still But Sinan Bassa was a great name So was Mustapha and so was Osman and so hath hee many now so that his state doth neither stand nor decline with his defects as long as hee hath worthy men to maintaine it His Countries are full of rebellion These are Rumours with which wise men are neuer moued since they grow by reportes and diminish by experience And if they bee true let him consume with his owne malady and your Maiesties designes whensoeuer you shall resolue of them will passe with the more facility How dangerous a thing it is to embrace diuers and continuall action your Maiesties greatest wisedome can better tell you then I your Tartars haue but newly felt the offence of your Armes they are farre from being well tasted or at all secured with your Maiesties gouernement Beginne a warre with the Turke in which must bee ingaged the vttermost of your strength what other opinion is to be had of them but that like old enemies and freshly more then euer offended they will rebell and infest you with the greatest resolutions that extreme enemies can And againe Where is your Maiesties treasure where is your munition and where is your Artillery all which must bee had for a warre and though your fortune and the nature of the country which hath no strong places did not require them against the Tartars yet of necessity you must haue them against the Turke who hath a Fortresse in Tauris Tifflis and Vannes strong places and neuer moueth his Armies but full of Artillery which you must also haue if you meane to proceed honourably and with condigne fortune against him Moreouer for you to send and begge an Amity of the Christian Princes what a sit perswasion is it for your Maiesties greatnesse which notwithstanding if you were compelled by necessity somewhat from your selfe yet necessity would make it tollerable But for you to seeke them which haue need of you there is so litle reason that he hath sinned against your power person and state which hath propounded it Your Maiesty may in your too great benignity passe ouer your iust indignation for such acouncell but we know what it meriteth There is behinde you Lar and Ormus the one a kingdome fomentated as a bar between you and the Portugals and the other which is vsurped from a king anciently tributary to your predecessors Whilst your Maiesty maketh your selfe ready for the greater begin with the lesser enterprise Nothing will giue you more honour then that First to vindicate those places in which your religiō is oppressed and by that iustifie the more whatsoeuer you shal enterprize If this Christian can giue you these if he can giue you aboundance of all other wants if he can giue you Hostages from his Kings that they shall not in Hungary alone but in other places also fasten vpon that huge body of the Turke and that they shall neither make peace nor truce with him except your Maiesties consent concurre that nothing may be defectiue in so great an action And that your Maiesty may be secure that the weight of all shal not wholly fall vpon your selfe then your Maiesty shall haue some foundation to deliberate on Otherwise I thinke neither his perswasions to be harkened to nor himselfe to be retained who sheweth by his sudden beginning that no fauour grace nor benefits from your Maiesty can acquiet his mind from stirring you against your owne peace tranquillity and security of your state and person Oliuer di-Can answered that there was difference between a proposition which was only moued to be councelled of and a perswasion That he thought I councelled nothing much lesse perswaded but onely propounded that to the king which if it were not then fit to bee executed for reasons that I knew not in the present condition of the kings affaires yet I deserued not so bitter a censure since Princes ought to heare all and elect the best and for that elections sake to animate all to speake freely And because it hath pleased his Maiesty to giue you and me and all of vs leaue to speake as it is all our duties to say what wee thinke so our places are of such a condition that our powers are nothing in resoluing but onely in discoursing before his Maiesty those things which in the truth of our consciences wee thinke meetest for his seruice And if conuenient and necessary things be propounded by a Christian by a Iew or by the worst man liuing not onely in religion but the very disposition of his life I see no cause why you nor I nor any should reiect that which is good for the illes sake since Princes must and ought make their benefite of all men not regarding what they are but how they may serue them This Christian hath come from farre and through great dangers he faith through his affection growing from the excelling fame of his Maiesty and should not I thinke that his glory is worthy to be carried as farre as tongues of men goe And shall not I thinke also that a Merchant speaking of his vertues is not inabled beyond his spirit raised by such a subiect to shew it like it selfe not like his owne Merchandize And why should I iudge him sent by any when hee hath not assumed to himselfe the honour dignity nor priuiledges of an Embassdour in a strange Countrey where no man would neglect any thing which might aduance his quality or security But hee hath onely put himselfe vpon the Kings fauour and what hee hath proposed hath proceeded rather from a minde to merit by some good act that fauour then a demonstration of other dependance for hauing giuen himselfe to the king to serue him without limitation of time but as long as it shal please his Maiesty to serue himselfe of him hee sheweth plainely that hee hath included his hope of fortune and benefite by this or any other action within the compasse only of his Maiesties gracious benignity And seruing his Maiesty in this or any other imployment which his Maiesty
good deliberations in their many points must be grounded vpon the example of the past the experience of the present and the iudgement of the future and the Turk hath been euer heauie to my State in long pâ—ssed and late passâ—d times and is now by some accidents partly proceeding from himself partly from others in all liklihood easie to be perpetually assured which point of time that giueth so good an occasion if it be let passe may giue him power for a mind he can nor will neuer want to be vntollerable againe hereafter or if not vntolerable at the least dangerous We haue two great powers of our mindes the one a wise power of vnderstanding by which we penetrate into the knowledge of things the other a strong power of resoluing by which we execute things well vnderstood and now that we haue iudged of all we must resolue of somewhat and of that which is probabliest best Therefore our necessitie our honour and our iustice calling vs against the Turke and since wiâ—h all these concurreth so good an opportunitie he must be the maine end of which we will determine and because to prepare vs to that end amongst many other circumstances the sending to the Princes Christian hath beene intimated as one of the most necessarie we shall do well in the generall good vse which we must make of this interposition of time to doe also that For though it be true that their interesses will euer make such a proposition acceptable yet where there is a proffer of such a condition as beareth with it a kinde of Obligation as it is of mere honourable fashion for vs so it addeth grace and reputation and more strength to it or any such like purpose For neither will I relie so much vpon my owne power or fortune or the present benefite which I meane to bestow vpon these of Corasan that I will forget I haue offended them and to arme my selfe with all the best aduise I can against the sinister working of any fortune Neither will I so much preiudicate the opinion which I desire the world without vaine ostentation should hold of me my ministers as that my enterprises should not haue a way giuen them by the wisest best weighed counsell and perfect concurrence made betweene my fortune well iudging of my counsell and all proper occasions As for Mirza Antonio for so he euer called mee what he is to mee vou all must know and my estimation of him which I assâ—re my selfe to be grounded vpon a good and true iudgement since he hath beene the first and onely propounder of the manifest point of all other which doth or may concerne mee most So for that matter of sending in which there is more diuersitie of opinions about the forme of circumstance then essentiall matter of substance I will remit it to his fidelitie and true affection to me to dispose as hee shall in those two great works in a noble minde finde meetest for my honour and conuenient certainest for the effecting Yet this must I tell you and him which hath not yet beene thought of That a great Prince as I am must receiue a deniall for an iniury and I had rather not know them at all then with knowing them to be also offended by them though this I say also that he cannot be iudged to haue authoritie to command their wils therfore must be blamelesse in all except in the lightnesse of his imagination vpon which slender occasion he ought not for the credite of his own iudgement to haue formed a Counsell Before I could frame one word of reply he rose and hauing talked a little while alone with Xathmascolibeague he called my interpreter and held him some quarter of an houre in a very earnest speech which was to command him as he afterwards told me not to let me know what his Viseire had said against me but charged him to animate me to loue his people and also to confirme in all he could my affection well-hearted intention to his own seruice After he was retired the Viseire came vnto me and hauing saluted me with a goodly fashion of courtesie he began to desire me not to be offended that his being curious of his Maiesties good had stirred in him so violent a desire that through it he had mistaken me and the true aspect of my ends But as there was euer a good remedie for all knowne errors and especially for the most accelerated so there should be in his towards me all the best and carefull seruice which he might possibly doe vnto me And though I stood in need of little helpe to put forward the kings affection towardes me yet hee assured me that in all due and fit opportunities he would not be wanting to performe the vttermost part of a true friend in that oâ— any thing else which might protend my good I did make all the shew I could to beleeue him commended his zeale to his king and withall desired him to haue a constant opinion that my good intention to his seruice also might mislâ—ad my iudgement of some things but the truth of my heart neuer Therefore I desired him that if I did erre also in such a point it would please him to correct me as a father and not to oppose against the rising of my fortune as an enemie since I knew my hopes to be of small time or expectation if they must wrestle with his power and wisedome also that I knew his vertue too great to enuie a man which could not grow at all but vnder him and that I knew a good desert of my selfe towardes him in the conscience of my most affectionate respectiue disposition which would neuer faile to make very perfect demonstrations of it selfe vnto him in all worthy occasions which should eyther offer themselues or he should command And so were parted with a mutuall shew of great satisfaction which I know now of vs both had That night Couâ—chi Bassa arriued at the Court and next day as the king told me accompanied with the Viseir Bastan Aga perswaded him again not against making him readie for the war against the Turke if he should be counselled vnto it by any good aduantage or forced by the Christians peace with him but because his Maiestie was almost determined that way to vse all the best meanes first to weaken him without shewing himselfe purposely an actor in it And that was to be done by encouraging his rebels and by breaking as much as he could the trade and commerce into his dominions which subministred vnto him both the sinewes of his warre and those also which did bind the bodie of his state together That Mombarecke which held of his Maiestie the principalitie of Sustane of the Turke Giziwr and the deserts from Balsaracke to Damasco with the lest conuenence of his Maiestie would continue his Armes against the Turke and make all those passages so infestuous that neyther Bagdet
then diminish such manner of people euermore easily consenting in vnitie in warre then in peace to be commaunded or yeeld obedience And the greatest powers which are haue beene or may bee which vnited beare all before them the violence of their strength once diuided eyther by time by pâ—tâ—â—â—â— or by diuersitie of fortune which cannot bee at all times and in all places alike may bee and are subuerted The warre it selfe will open and disclose many hidden and swelling wounds which are now onely couered by ignorance and others detracting of their determination And though it be true that the Princes Christian be farre deuided and some of them incombred with particular designes amongst themselues through the passions of their priuate interests yet the Emperour who is the greatest in title and by his alliance of the most power is already ingaged against the Turke which warre hee will more or lesse prosecute according as hee shall haue more or lesse hopes And what greater almost assurance of prosperous successe can be haue then the coniunction with your Maiestie whose power and vertues hee shall know And the mouing of both your ends being the same can loose no propertie in their working by the large separation or distinction of places The Pope also who carrieth a Supreme authoritie among Princes to mooue them to those thinges which shall best preserue or augment the limits of his Church animated by your Maiesties great name and offer will assuredly vse the vttermost of the strength of his authoritie and industrie to reconcile all particular enmities and to combine all hearts to that Generall warre in which euerie particular is truly much interessed if they consider their conscience to their profession and the danger wherewith they all haue beene threatned by that great Enemies potencie diuers Princes hauing alreadie by it suffered the vttermost of ruine Neither shall your Maiestie despaire but that all may be perswaded to so honourable and pious an action being a propertie in mans nature to follow that which hath beene contrarie to their disposition to begin And if they all should not yet the Emperour Pope and King of Spaine absolutely will embrace the amitie honour the name of your Maiestie and vnite themselues in any termes of Princely alliance and your Maiestie shall haue an eternall glorie amongst all for inviting them all to so Noble Generous and Royall an action and at the least draw great intercourse of Merchants of all those parts which will giue an entrance to a kinde of sociablenesse and that will proceed to a common respect and so to a mutuall friendship which will giue the communication and knowledge of many things hidden both in the knowledge vse and profit of them for want of such an intercourse Your Maiestie also wisely desireth to take away all reputation from the Turkish Religion through your Dominions both by scandalizing it publikly punishing it in particular persons Sithence Heresie in all Religion causeth Diuiâ—ion the corrupted part becommeth a pernicious enemie to the Prince who supporteth the contrarie From it arise as from a maine turbulent Spring Treasons Conspiracies secret Conventicles and Seâ—â—tions Besides the greatest and largest way which the Turke hath into your Dominions is the faction of his Sect as Ismael your Predecessor had of that which your Majestie professeth to deuide your state from him He is an absolute and Tyrannous enemie to the Christians Your Maiesties Religion hath a charitable opinion of them and if drinking of Wine burning of their Prophets Images and such lesse apparances be in your Maiesties opinion effectuall things to estrange the peoples heartes from that Religion by a contrarie vse with those opprobries to the other a greater meanes your Maiestie may worke by in giuing libertie of Christian ReligioÌ„ so much abhorred of their part and securitie of trade goods and person to Christians by which you shall bind their Princes expresse the charitie of your Law serue your selfe in diuers thinges of them which haue been hidden vnto you both for your vtilitie strength and pleasure and more invre your people to despise the other Religion by so contrarie so apparant and so great effect Neither can they euer bee dangerous to your Maiestie their increase being alwayes to be limited by your will This also will giue your Maiestie great fame since by their meanes you shall recouer auaileable instruments both to preserue and augment your estate by as Founders of Ordinance Makers of all sortes of Armes and Munition So that though it may seeme a strange act in your Maiestie to bee contented to inlarge to Christian so new and so great a fauâ—ur yet since all great examples euer haue in them some thing oâ— an extraordinarie qualitie those are to bee made vse of that repaire by publique profit those particular disguâ—ls which priuate men may receâ—â—e of them I know that it is for the most part a fâ—â—lâ—cious ambition which imbraceth greedily new and dangerous thinges but to determine and execute fit and conuenient thinges is the proper effect of wisedome and courage Your Maiestie knoweth your present estate remembreth the courses of the times past and the excellencie of your iudgment weigheth that which may succeede hereafter No man receiueth harme but from himselfe nor your Majestie can suffer none but from that which your selfe wil determine of your selfe you are inuited to no act depending vpon fortune but such a one as shal haue his fundation vpon Councel reason and iudgment My satisfaction shall be aboue all other greatest if your Maiestie resolue of that which will bee most secure honourable and commodious for your person state and particular Subjects Well said the King you would then haue me to write to as many of the Christian Princes as are greatest amongst them who if they will apply themselues to our purpose may draw all other lesser vnto it by the example of their authoritie or at the least if they will not consent in that point wil command their Marchants to repaire to our Dominions so that we and they may haue some good friendly vse the one of the other The letters you shall appoint to be written to as many and to whom you will with priuiledge for Marchants and the secure profession of their Religion and peaceable possession of their goods and persons in as ample sort as your selfe will deuise and not onely for them but for al Christians whatsoeuer which for curiositie to see or loue to me wil take pains to come hither or for any purpose so euer being impossible their purpose can at anie time bee ill towards vs which wish them in all things so well And because you haue been the Mouer and Perswader of this businesse you also shal be the Actor of it assuring my selfe that my Honour cannot be more securely reposed many mans hands then your own both in that I iudge of your owne disposition and more in that which I know of your obligation to me besides
forget what hee owed to himselfe as a Prince nor to him as a Gentleman which had freely matched obedience with affection What my brother shall effect with the Princes Christian as it is a thing vncertaine so he nor I will promise any thing but I know he will industriate himselfe to his vttermost for your Maiesties honour and seruice and I will hope well of the end of his labours In the meane time I beseech God since the Turkes loue cannot apply it selfe by no meanes to your Maiestie that their hatreds may continue one against the other no destiny being able to vrge faster forward the greatnesse of your Dominion nor no fortune being of more validity to make an euen way vnto it then the amity of our Princes and eternall discord amongst your enemies I was almost saying that God would prosper your Maiestie in all things but certainely I trust hee will and I say so since it belongeth more rightly to his great Holinesse and to our reuerence to belieue constantly of his deeds then to know them And this great reason I haue of my confidence the greatnesse which God hath giuen your Maiesty ioined to so great and excellent vertues which questionles are appointed to some great extrordinary end Then that your Maiestie hath pleased not to deceiue your selfe in this withering peace which you haue with the Turke which is more delighting for the present then safe for the future that rest being euer false which is taken amongst inopulent and strong neighbours The Ambassador hauing shewed by his arrogancie in speaking that when there shall bee giuen a fit oportunity for doing modesty and honesty will bee onely names of times past And your iust and good proceeding in an aduersity of fortune will be esteemed such a weakenes as is farre from you and their good successe will be attributed to their valour and wisdom And thogh your Maiestie in the sublime excellency of your royall mind doe euer number fortune amongst doubtfull things and vertue amongst the certaine yet true wisdome of the world will alwayes care to strengthen the one with the other by so proper a concurreÌ„ce that your vertue shall euer haue the attendance of fortune to fill your Maiesty with good and glorious acts and the world with good and famous wordes and relations These words of his were gratiously tenderly receiued of the king after some teares on al parts the king and himselfe hauing brought me some sixe miles wee all parted they for the Court my selfe for my iourney hauing first left with my brother my heart certainely not onely for the coniunction which nature had made between vs but also for those worthy sparkes which I found in him likely to be brought to great perfection by his vertue which cannot leaue working in any which will giue them way much more in him who will make way for them And besides diuers instructions which though hee ted not yet the coÌ„mon duty of those which are bound in so neer respects as we are required not deeds of waÌ„t but abundance all benefites looâ—ing much of their splendor both in the giuer and receiuer that doe beare with them an exprobratiue terme of necessitie first I desired him to remember that his fortune safety in that place subsisted only vpon the kings fauour which in vertuous princes was euer to bee maintained by vertue That Princes â—ares and eyes were in euery place Courts being full of spies and nothing hidden from emulation which by how much more it would bee carried couertly so much more would it be dangerous against which hee could preuaile of nothing better then his owne innocency and patience the one of which would preserue him from all fault the other from perill the wisdome of men ouercomming more by working of time theÌ„ by violent passions which doe neuer remoue the ill but onely open secrete imperfections which giue power to our enemies to worke vpon and the more courage by preuailing themselues vpon errour and weaknesse But because for what belonged to the good gouernment of himselfe I knew that hee could haue no better precepts then those which his own mind would giue him I wold only desire him that neither absence nor opinioÌ„s which might rise throgh the tediousnes of long abseÌ„ce nor ill instruments might preuaile so faâ—re with him as to make any breach in his affection towardes mee our perfect vnion tending to both our preseruations and reciprocal increase of both our fortunes Time Fortune or sometimes ambition other errors might diminish change and dissolue priuate friendships but our own bloud was euer vnalterably the same though in the freenes of our natures others vsually participite of our prosperities yet none so fully as those which are bound by so deare titles of nature and our aduersities no man would euer feele but our selues neither could the Kings affection increase or be constant to any of vs both if it were not indeared by our owne example The cause of his staying with the King though his commandement and desire bare the colour of it yet essentially and truly it was to aduance the great worke of which God had laid the foundation had chosen vs for true instruments not mouing it by Emperours Kings or Princes but by so humble Agents questionlesse for the greater retribution of his glory for which wee must care as his seruants and creatures in all things but most in this as particularly directed by him to it And though it was likely that God his infinite wisdom would not faile to subminister eternally to his vnderstanding proper and conuenient meanes of proceeding for the perfection of his owne worke yet we should find that some great part of those meanes are insensibly infused into our reasons the instruction of which in good things we must euer follow as his and though that we speake and speake alwaies as men notwithstanding when it pleased God to prosper the effect of our conceptions questionlesse there is a greater power predominant then mans What we haue diuers times proiected secretly together God you see hath perfected and therefore wee may boldly say more intending to that end vpon the same confidence and assurance Wherefore when you shall either by the Kings owne motioÌ„ or others importunde occasions fal in discourse with him vpon any point of these affaires you must know that as all Princes ought to lay the foundation of all their enterprises vpon these three maine rockes the Iustice of the cause Facility of the enterprise and fruit of the victory so in negotiations with them you must neuer be so confident vpon those points especially the best of equity and iustice as vpon the true experience knowledge of the Princes disposition who either iealous to hazard or ambitious to get attendeth ordinarily to interest and profit and not to what he ought to doe neither in the vprightnesse of this honor or faith giuen or obligation of precedent