Cossacks For which reason the King demanded that his Highness would publickly renounce the Protection which he had publickly allow'd To the end that the Cossacks being terrifi'd by such a Desertion might be compell'd to submit the sooner to the Polish Prince without Fighting and he by that means regain the Possession of the Ukraine which is his particular Demeasns and the Patrimony of his Ancestors During the Raign of King Casimir M. Ratzieuskie was sent to demand the Ratification of the Treaty of Coctchin which was observ'd between Poland and Turkey and some other Things To which the Port made answer That they would Ratifie the Treaty purely and barely without mentioning the Cossacks But M. Ratzieuskie dy'd at Adrianople before he could conclude his Negotiation Whose Imployment of Agent his Secretary M. Witzosky by the Order of the King that succeeded Casimir was appointed to supply and receiv'd Instructions to represent to the Port That seeing the Ukraine was the particular Estate of the Prince who then Raign'd he had a double Reason to claim the Repossession of it To which the Port return'd for answer That they would not hinder his Majesty of Poland from regaining the Possession and that he might do what he pleas'd with the Cossacks but in regard the Signior's Honour was concern'd he could not op'nly disavow the Protection which he had openly granted But M. Witzoski being a Person of a violent hasty Humour would not accept of that Expedient nor of any other which the Turks propos'd But loudly protested in a full Divan That though the King the Senat and the Republick should agree to accept a single Ratification he would prevent 'em from doing it by the Power which he had as a Gentleman of Poland But when the King and the Senat understood that the Grand Signior was turning his Preparations against them and that most assuredly the next Spring they should have him at their Gates they were both surpriz'd and confounded Nor did the Agent himself know what to do being deceiv'd by the Rumours that were spread abroad of the Revolt of the Arabians and Sacking of Mecca as also for that through the Assurances which M. de Nointel had giv'n him that his Most Christian Majesty would send a Fleet of Fifty Ships into the Archipelago he had always writt'n to the Republick to hold fast their own and not to relinquish the least Tittle of their Demands in regard that infallibly the Grand Signior would suddainly have his Hands full on every side And indeed Poland was very desirous at that time not to have diverted his Highness from his Asiatick Designs For which reason they sent an Interpreter to the Port. Who arriv'd the 23 of May with a Train of eight Men six weeks after the departure of the Agent and had a Lodging assign'd him and Twenty Shillings a day for his Expences The Letters which he brought were from the Great Chancellor superscrib'd to the Grand Vizier purporting That Poland was very much surpriz'd to understand that the Grand Signior was preparing for a War against them that they knew not the Reason nor had they giv'n him any Occasion That if the Port would Ratifie the Treaty of Coctchin the King was ready to do it and would send an Ambassador Extraordinary for that purpose But that if the Grand Signior persisted in his Design of making War his Majesty was ready to defend himself protesting withal that the Polanders were not the Violators of the Peace The Interpreter was dispatch'd and sent back again in eight days with Letters to this effect That Poland might send an Ambassador Extraordinary and that he should be welcom But in the mean time the Signior's Army and the Grand Vizier at the Head of it continu'd their March toward Silistria In the Negotiation of the Signor Quirini there was nothing particularly observable Only he had peculiar Instructions to press the release of such Pris'ners as had been tak'n in the War of Candy but after great Pains and vast Expences he could obtain no more then an Exchange of Eight and Twenty of the Principal for as many of the Turks Which Exchange was made at Castello Tornese in the Morea As for the rest of the Pris'ners to the Number of a Thousand or thereabouts the Grand Vizier told the Procurator of Venice That the Ottoman Galleys were destitute of Slaves and therefore to release a Thousand at one Clap would weak'n 'em too much especially at a time when they had so much need of Rowers to carry Men and Ammunition through the Black-Sea for supply of their Army in Poland However he promis'd that when the Campaigne was at an end he would order Two Hunderd and Fifty to be releas'd and so the like Number every year till they were all at Liberty The Venetians are at that vast Expence at the Port that it may be truly said they buy whatever they obtain and that at a dear rate too There is no Person of Credit either in the Court or the Divan to whom they do not make considerable Presents every year For the Republick that has no Neighbor to be afraid of but the Turk spares for no Cost to be at peace with him They pay him Tribute out of several Islands in the Archipelago as Zant and Cerigo They connive at his Humours his Affronts his Tyranny and all to prevent Quarrels and Wars that arise every day between Potent Neighbors as much as may be done by the Prudence of their Conduct and the same Republick sends for her Ambassadors to Constantinople the Ancientest and most Experienc'd of her Senators The Procurators also of Venice are usually such as have been Ambassadors in all the Courts of Christendom and which have been employ'd in Treaties of Peace and War and all other Negotiations Persons in a word that understand all the Politicks of all the Princes of the World and the Slights of the most Crafty Ministers of State in the Art of concealing their own and discovering the Thoughts of others These Procurators are fully Commission'd to expend and give whatever they deem requisite Generally they reside three years at Constantinople during which time they pick up above an Hunderd Thousand Crowns or at least it is in their power so to do for the Republick never calls 'em to Accompt And this they do for two Reasons the first is to balance by their Gains the Trouble and Hardship of an Embassie to Constantinople which arise from the Danger and Toil of Travailing and from the ill Humour and Contempt of the Turks And secondly to recompence those Procurators who have wasted their Estates in European Ambassies I have heard M. Quirini affirm at several times that I have had the Honour to visit him That the Turkish Policy did very much surpass that of the Europeans That it was not confin'd within Maxims and Rules but consisted altogether in Sense and Judgment as being grounded altogether upon Reason and never acting but according to Reason Which
he told me thus much that he was offended to see the Superiour Divertise the Company at a Festival with the same Hymns which he pretended were appointed for the Service of GOD in the Church Father Raphael also added That he took it very ill that the Viceroy had us'd his Authority so far to oblige the Superiour to play upon the Lute and sing at every turn to please his Humour only that their Security depended so much upon his Favour that they durst not deny him any thing About Midnight therefore as I told yee we left 'em after we had tak'n leave of the Prince with all due Reverence Nevertheless before he would let me go he ask'd me how his Kinsman the King of Spain did and drank his Health in a Bowl set with Pretious Stones and would needs have both the Capuchins and my self pledge the Health in the same Cup. Though I know not whether he did it out of Vain-glory or to honour the Superiour whom he knew to be a Subject of his most Catholick Majesty The 17th reflecting upon the Title of King of Spain which the Prince had assum'd to himself and finding that it was not incoherent with what several Authors alledge that the Spaniard Originally came out of Iberia I ask'd the Capuchins How the Prince claim'd Affinity with the King of Spain They answer'd That Clement the VIII having written to Taymuras and in his Letters call'd him Kinsman to Philip the Second and the Iberians and Spaniards Brothers his Successors ever since retain'd that Imaginary Kindred And upon that occasion they told me several Stories of the Pride and Vain-glory of the Georgians and of the Viceroy in particular and shew'd me the Copy of a Letter which he wrote about two Years since to the King of Poland Of which I have inserted the Translation in this Journal as being an Authentick Piece and proper to shew that the pride of the Georgians is not a little Extravagant and because the Crowd of Vain-glorious Titles with which it is stuff'd discovers plainly that the Fastern Nations beyond all compare surpass all others in the World in Vanity PRaise Glory and Adoration are to be given to GOD most Omnipotent who has Created and Preserves all Things who was neither Produc'd nor Engender'd Exempt from all Evils Ineffable Merciful to all as well the Dead as the Living who Commands with absolute Power both Great and Mean and Governs 'em with Clemency The most High the most Puissant Prince the King of the Georgians Lictimenians Litians Mesiulctians Shevians Sheviultians Suans Ossi Bualtians Circassians Tuscians Psianetians Tidisiceans Jalibusians the People both on this side and beyond the High Mountains and of all the places there inhabited Lord of the three Grand Tribes the Georgian term is Eristava Eris signifiing People and Tava Chieftain or Prince and of the Holy Seat of Schette Capital City of all the Provinces which God through his favour has given us in Heritage King of Iberia and Mucrania Sabatian Trialet Taschire Sometta Chianchia and Schianvanda and of several other Kingdoms which he possesses with settl'd and absolute Authority and over which he has full Power who is descended from Jesse David Solomon and who by the Grace and Power of GOD is loaden with Prosperity the Vanquisher of Vanquishers the Invincible King of Kings the most High Lord Shanavas-Can To you John Casimir who are laden with Honour and can replenish Men with it who are Famous in Peace and well edifi'd in Virtue who by the Mercy and Power of GOD are August Happy Born under a favourable Constellation most great in Magnificence who are always a doer of Good Who for your rare merit are most worthy of a Throne and a Crown most Potent Soveraign Victor over Victors Victorious over Enemies Celebrated Exterminator of Rebels Prince born a Christian and bred up in the Christian Religion Renown'd for feats of Arms Hereditary King of Poland Gothia Vandalia Lithuania Russia Prussia Livonia Mazovia Samotia Chiovia Ciarnacovia and several other Kingdoms and Provinces most Serene Lord whose renown is expanded over all and Reaches to the Sun To you I say Great King of Poland without Compare profound in Wisdom and all manner of Knowledge and Most Illustrious through all those just Elogies which are given you for having understood all the most noble Languages We salute yee withal our Affection and with as much ardour as the Obligation of our Hearty good will desires it we wish you perfect Content long Peace and multipli'd Prosperities We render infinite Thanks to God for having learnt the Estate of your Health by Letters brought us from the most Illustrious and most Excellent Lord John Lesezunshi Count of Lersno Great Chancellor in your Kingdom and Lieutenant General in upper Poland We humbly beseech his Divine Goodness that we may understand from time to time the continuance of your Health in its perfection that you tast without Molestation the Fruits of a Happy Peace and that you enjoy a perfect Felicity Your good Servant Burgibug-Danbec Officer of your Kingdom a Gentleman no less Illustrious for his Fidelity then Nobility is come hither in Quality of an Envoy from your Royal Majesty to renew the Peace and Ratifie the Friendship and good Correspondence between the happy King Sultan Soliman whose Grandeur is advanc'd to the Heavens and Establish'd over all the Earth a Prince most High Supream Incomparable Infinite in Power accustom'd to make himself by force ador'd by his most formidable Enemies who enriches the Universe no less then the Sea and who is worthy more Praises then it is possible for Men to give him Monarch of Persia Media Parthia Hircania the Persian Golph and the Islands therein contain'd Caramania Aracosia Margiana and other Innumerable Principalities and Lordships Your Agent has pass'd through our Territories without having suffer'd the least Inconvenience or receiv'd the least Molestation He has now taken his leave to depart by the Assistance of God toward your Royal Majesty I beseech you through the hearty good will and Friendship which we mutually bear one to the other that this good Subject and my Domestick may be as welcom to your self as he had been to your Predecessor At the Royal Palace of Tefflis March 26. 1671. of the Birth of Jesus Messia The Twentieth I desir'd the Prefect or Superiour of the Theatins and Father Raphael to return Thanks to the Prince for the Favours and Honours he had done me and to pray him that I might have an Officer to conduct me to Irivan the chief City of Armenia the Greater To which the Prince satisfi'd with the Complement and no less ready to grant me my request Commanded the Capuchins to tell me That he had a great Kindness for the Europeans and would have wish'd I could have stay'd longer at Tefflis to the end he might have made it more clear to me what he profess'd but that he would not presume neither had he any desire to stop me
the Bodies of St. Andrew and St. Matthew were found there and that the Scull of the Evangelist is still preserv'd in the Church belonging to the Monastery When I came to Erivan I alighted at the House of an Armenian of my Acquaintance whose Name was Azarias He was a Person extreamly persecuted by those of his own Nation because he had been at Rome to turn Roman Catholick and Disciple to the Colledge for the Propagation of the Faith and for endeavouring to settle the Capuchins at Erivan I found him indispos'd and in Bed However he rose to give Notice of my Arrival fearing to come into trouble if he deferr'd it till the next Morning To which purpose he went to Court but could not see the Governor who was retir'd into the Apartment of the Princess his Wife Nevertheless an Eunuch did his Message The Eighth the Governor sent a Person to give me a Visit and to tell me I was Welcom Whereupon Mr. Azarias undertook to go in my behalf and return him my humble Thanks and withal to let him know who I was Upon which the Governor shew'd an earnest desire to see me as soon as I could and some part of the Jewels I had brought along with me Afterwards he ask'd how many Servants I had and order'd Mr. Azarias to inform him whether I had rather Lodge in the Fortress or in the Inn which he had built and to bring him word speedily For my part I made choice of the Inn as well for the Security of the Place as for that a Man shall never there want Company because of the great resort of Merchants thither besides that Travellers alighted there every day Thereupon the Governor order'd me one of the best Apartments The Ninth I went thither betimes in the Morning and spent all that day in setling my self in my Lodging About Noon one of the Governors Officers brought me an Order from the Steward to send for from the Office Bread Wine Meat Trouts Fruit Rice Butter Wood and other Necessary Provisions as much as would suffice six Persons The Quantity of every thing is regulated never augmented nor abated but the Proportion allow'd for one Person is so large that two may well be satisfy'd with it The 10th the Governor sent so earnestly for me to come to him and bring him part of my Jewels that I could no longer defer it I found him in a very large Cabinet or Study very Decent and very Light There was also with him the Head Surveyor of all the Mints of Persia who at that time was come to Erivan and four other Lords He receiv'd me with an Extraordinary Civility three times told me I was welcome and set before me Sweet Meats and Aqua Vitae of Moscovy Presently I presented him with the Kings Patent and that of the Grand Master already mention'd Of both which he made great accompt and spent an Hour in Enquiries after European News as well concerning the late Wars and the present Estate of Christendom as about Arts and Sciences and what new Discoveries had been made therein Another Hour he spent in considering and viewing the Pretious Stones and Jewels which I shew'd him He gave me to understand that among the Persian Poets Emraulds of the old Rock were call'd Emraulds of Egypt of which they believ'd there had been a Mine in Egypt which was now lost and at length after he had lay'd by what he lik'd himself and what he thought would please the Princess his Wife he stay'd me to dine with him Dinner being ended he honour'd me the other half Hour with his Company and then dismiss'd me commanding an Officer in my hearing to go to the Caravanserai and charge the Inn-Keeper to be careful as well for my security as to give me all Content And he was moreover so kind as to tell the Officer farther that he made him my Memander who is as it were a Gentleman-Waiter and such as are appointed to attend upon all Persons of Quality to take care of their Persons and the same Evening he sent me besides a Present of Moscovy Aqua Vitae This Governor bears the Title of Becler-Beg or Lord of Lords For so they call the Deputy Lieutenants of large Governments to distinguish 'em from those meaner Governours whom they call Can's He has also the Title of Serdar or General of the Army So that he is one of the Principal Lords of Persia and one of the most Judicious and most refin'd Politicians in the Kingdom He is call'd by the Name of Sephi-Couli-Can or the Duke the Slave of Sephi He enjoy'd one of the most Noble Governments of the Empire in the Reign of the Deceas'd King but through some Intreague among the Women he fell into disgrace three Years before the Death of that Prince The Wife which he has Marry'd is of the Blood Royal by the Mothers side And this Princess it was who at the beginning of the present Kings Reign restor'd her Husband to his Majesties Favour from whom in a little time he obtain'd the Government of Erivan the most considerable in the Kingdom and which yields him the fairest Revenue no less then Two and Thirty Thousand Tomans a Year which are above a Hundred and Twelve Thousand Pounds Sterling The Fines Presents and indirect ways to enrich himself are worth him Fifty Thousand Pounds more And doubtless this Lord is the most wealthy and most Fortunate of all the Kingdom The King loves him the Court has a Veneration for him and his two Sons are the Kings only Favourites the People under his Government Love and respect him because of his Popularity his doing Justice and for that he is not so oppressive and given to extortion as others So that he deserves the good Fortune he enjoys for besides these good Qualities he is Learned and a great Lover of Arts and Sciences The 11th this Lord sent to invite me to the Nuptials of his Stewards Brother where he was I found him pleasant and in a very good Humour For he had receiv'd at the opening of the Gate an order from the King by a Coolom-Sha who came from Ispahan in Thirteen Days This Order related to an affair of great Importance For several Sultans who are Lords of Countrys and Governours of strong Holds having refus'd to obey his Orders and having made great complaints against him to the King and his Ministers He on the other side had justifi'd his own Rights and Prerogatives upon which his Majesty had given Sentence in his behalf and had sent him an order to Command Obedience Which Order the Coolom-Sha was to see Executed and to cause Satisfaction to be giv'n to the Governour Coolom-Sha signifies the Kings Slave Not but that they who bear this Title are as free as other the Kings Natural Subjects but they take it as a Mark of their perfect Devotion to their Soveraign as being that to which they were bred up altogether in their Infancy For the Imployment of
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
Grandees pay thee there is nothing that I should take thee for less than the King of Persia By the name of God does it become thee to run a rambling over these Mountains with a Covey of Women and at the same time cause the Lords of thy Kingdom to have their bones broken with ignominious Bastinadoes The King heard this Reprimand without seeming to be any way disturb'd only in a careless manner order'd an addition of Bastinadoes to be given him besides those of which he already complain'd Upon which Generous and Couragious as he was losing all manner of Patience he draws his Sword and throwing himself at the Kings feet Let 'em said he Bastinado me again here is my Sword to punish my self your Majesty may do with me what you please and put me to what Torments you think fit but if a Person of my Quality must be subject to Bastinadoes what must a poor Kest-Bash expect for so they call the Souldiers that compose the Persian Militia The Monarch pleased with this generous Repartee would neither Sentence him to Death as he deserv'd by the Laws of the Kingdom nor to the Cudgel but only Banish'd him to Casbin But he was joyfully surpris'd when he receiv'd the Patent for a Government which not only restor'd him to his Liberty but at the same time conferr'd upon him one of the most important employments in the Kingdom I confess I know not what may be thought of such Politicks as these as hunt in Jails for men of Merit to advance the disoblig'd by long Imprisonment to the most considerable places of Trust in the Kingdom and to commit to his care a Province and strong Hold which on that side the Country may be said to be the Key of the Kingdom Of necessity the King must be strangely assur'd of the fidelity of his Subjects For there is no question to be made but that if a Governor of Kandaar will call in the Indian and sell him that Place but that he may have several Millions of Money for his Service and have what advancement he pleases himself in that Empire as is apparent by one Example in the time of Sephi I. During these Revolutions in the Court of Persia four Commissioners arriv'd from the Muscovite Cosaques who but two Months before had made a most furious Inrode into Persia on that side where Hyrcania lies upon the Shore of the Caspian Sea But before we speak of the Invasion it will be necessary to tell the Reason In the year 1664. according to our account there arriv'd at Ispahan a famous Embassie from Muscovie wherein two Embassadors were concern'd with a Train of about eight hundred Men and the Presents which they made the King were valu'd by appraisment at five thousand Tomans or seventeen thousand five hundred pounds Sterling They consisted of two Coaches enrich'd with most sumptuous Embroideries Flanders Horses and Beasts of their own Country as black Foxes white Bears and Doynes But the chiefest wealth of the Present lay in the prodigious quantity of Sables which the Persians call Samur These Embassadors as it was believ'd came only to Traffick and to have permission by vertue of their Title of Embassadors to import and export what Goods they pleas'd without paying Custom And indeed 't was thought that they sold in Sables only at Ispahan as many as came to 280000 l. Ster by which you may judge of the rest Nevertheless the King of Persia entertain'd 'em very civilly at first and allow'd 'em their expences which was tax'd at ten Tomans or 35 l. Sterling per day which they rather chose to take in Money than in Victuals to the end they might lay up the best part To which purpose they liv'd most wretchedly and in the Magnificent Palace which the King had assign'd 'em they laid their tails among the Costly Moveables wherewith it was furnish'd like so many Dogs For which reason the Persians look'd upon the Moscovites as the most paltry narrow-soul'd and infamous among all the Christians and in derision call 'em the Yusbeks of Europe thereby expressing the small esteem they have of 'em for the Yusbeks are the most abject People of all the East The King therefore disdaining the Infamy of these Ambassadors and seeing that indeed they were sent by their Master for no other reason then to Traffick to sell their Furs and other Commodities and to carry away Stuffs Leather and other such like Merchandizes out of Persia but especially Mony abus'd 'em at length and made little account of ' em One of 'em dy'd and the other return'd home with his tatter'd Train without any honour shewn him or hardly any answer given him The Grand Duke highly resented this Affront but dissembl'd his Choler for the present in regard he durst not meddle with Habas but understanding at the beginning of the Year 1665. that he was dead and that the Scepter of Persia was fall'n into the Hands of a Young Prince he resolv'd to take his revenge tho he were unwilling to enter into open and declar'd Hostility and therefore that he might strike and not be seen he incites and encourages the Cossacks next adjoyning to the black Sea orders 'em to march along the Lake Moeotis and so to fall into Persia upon Hircania side with this Caution that they should take care how they mention'd him or acknowledg'd that they had any Correspondence with him but only that they had undertaken the Enterprize upon their own Heads which is no more than what was reported and believ'd at the Court of Persia The Cossacks were easily persuaded and therefore embarking to the number of six thousand in forty large Barques such as use the Caspian Sea which are long and broad Vessels but shallow built to avoid the Rocks that lie two or three foot under water and in each Barque carrying two Pieces of Cannon they cast Anchor first near Ereck a small City upon the Borders of Guilan or Hircania where they landed to the number of four thousand and finding the Place without Soldiers and the Inhabitants no way prepar'd for defence they pillage and plunder it and after a great slaughter of both Sexes retreat in great hast with all their Booty to their Vessels that lay out at Sea as far as they could for fear of being discover'd Moreover for the more crafty management of their Game they sent four of their chief Heads in the Nature of Embassadours with Letters of Credence to the Court and the Governour of Shamaky order'd his People to convey 'em to Ispahan where they arriv'd soon after the news of their Irruption They were civilly entertain'd a Lodging was assign'd 'em and their Expences defray'd as is usual for other Embassadours Soon after they demanded Audience of the King but that was deni'd 'em because they were not of sufficient Quality to claim that Honour However it was concluded that the Prime Minister should grant 'em Audience which they accepted There they set forth