diligent in their Employments and not be idle and others were Commanded to prevent the Soldiers or any Enemy from oppressing the Inhabitants In this place it will not be amiss to subjoin the several Dynasties of the Kings of Persia that have had the Government of this renowned Empire wherein by way of Entrance we will note That when this Countrey was first peopled the several Tribes were under the Command of their own Princes among which was Chedorlaomer who was overthrown by Abraham as holy Writ mentions By this means their Princes were scarce known till the time of Perses who wrested the same from Sardanapalus the Assyrian Monarch and first laid the Foundation of this great Empire in whose Race it continu'd six Descents in this Order The first Dynastie Anno Mundi 3590 1. PEerses the Conqueror of Sardanapalus who Reigned Anno Mundi 3059. succeeded by his Son 2. Achaemenes from whom his Successors were termed Achaemenides and his Subjects Achaemenii as Propertius witnesses where he writes Non tot Achaemeniis armantur Susa sagittis where by Achaemeniae sagittae he means Persian Arrow he left the Royal Seat to 3. Cambyses by Herodotus sometimes call'd Darius 4. Cyrus the Ancestor of Darius Histaspis as we will shew anon 5. Cambyses the Second the Son of Cyrus 6. Cyrus surnam'd the Great Son of Cambyses and Mandane the Daughter of Astyages King of Media who overthrew the Babylonian Monarchy and translated it to the Medes and Persians Of his strange preservation from his Grandfathers cruelty Education amongst Rusticks acting the King among his Playfellows with several other remarks we have at large in Herodotus and Justine His first Expedition was against his Grandfather Astyages whom having vanquish'd he march'd against rich Craesus of Lydia whom he overthrew took and made one of his Council then fell upon the Greeks of Ionia afterwards set upon Babylon as we said before and lastly going against the Sâ—ythians was by Tomyris slain as most Histories agree Institut Cyr. lib. 8. yet Xenophon gives him a peaceable departure in his Bed with an excellent Farewel to those about him His Successor was his Son 7. Cambyses the Third 3423 Herodot lib. 3. who overthrew the Egyptians with their King Psamniticus the Son of Amasis His deriding and wounding Apis their God This was he that overturned the whole Learning and Religion of the Egyptians and open'd the unviolated Conservatories of their long preserved Princes then becoming Mummies worshipp'd in the likeness of a Calf and the flaying of Sisamnis an unjust Judge and hanging his Skin over the Tribunal to be a warning to his Son Othanes whom he put in his Place to do better are Passages worth the taking notice of His Death came by a wound in the Thigh from his own Sword falling out of the Scabbard as he was taking Horse to go against the Magi who had rebell'd against him He dying without issue the seven Counsellors of State or Magi resolv'd to chuse one from amongst themselves and by that consent and the timely neighing of his Horse at Sun-rising the Scepter was obtain'd by 8. Darius Histaspis descended from Cyrus the fourth King of Persia He Marry'd Atossa Cyrus's Daughter for the strengthning of his Title recover'd Babylon by the Stratagem of Zopyrus over-ran a great part of Asia and assail'd the Greeks who by their General Miltiades totally routed him at the Battel of Marathon Herod lib. 6. Justin lib. 2. registred as Plutarch saith by almost three hundred Historians which Loss while he study'd to repair the Quarrel of his Sons about the Succession broke his Heart and the youngest Son carry'd it viz. 9. Xerxes the Grandchild of Cyrus by his Daughter Atossa This was that Emperor whose Queen was Vasthi who made that great Feast mention'd in the Book of Hester He went to revenge his Fathers Quarrel upon Greece with an Army of seventeen hundred thousand Men Sir Waâ—â—er Rawlegh but was so terrifi'd by several Defeats that he return'd towards his Countrey over Hellespont in a Cock-Boat This was he that pretended to put a Bridle upon the Sea and at last was slain in his Bed by Artabanus his Uncle leaving to succeed him the Son he had by Queen Hester nam'd 10. Artaxerxes surnam'd Longimanus His entrance was good doing Justice on his Uncle for the Death of his Father and Brother His Generosity likewise is much commended to that great Captain Themistocles who was forc'd by his ungrateful Citizens to cast himself upon such an Enemy Though he was more favorable to the Jews in regard of his Mother yet such strong opposition was made by the Faction against them that the building of the Temple was by his Decree prohibited After him follow'd 11 Darius Nothus Son-in-law to Longimanus by Marrying his Daughter Parysitades In his time Amyrteus the Egyptian rebell'd and deliver'd his Countrey-men from the Persian Servitude He is noted in Scripture for setting forward the building of the Temple Ezra 6. which by his Father had been interrupted By his Wife Parysitades he had two Sons of which the elder 12 Artaxerxes Mnemon so call'd for his great Memory succeeded He slew in Battel his Brothee Cyrus surnam'd the Younger who affecting the Empire had made War upon him and call'd in the Greeks to his aid whose memorable Retreat back to their own Countrey is describ'd by Xenophon a principal Commander in this Expedition Lib. 7. de expedit Cyr. Justin lib. 10. This Mnemon is said by Plutarch to have had a hundred and sixty Sons by Concubines onely three in Matrimony of which Darius was Executed for Rebellion with fifty more of his Brethren whom he had drawn into the Conspiracy This breaks the Father's Heart his youngest Son 13. Ochus takes Place He recover'd Egypt by his Generals Mentor and Bagoas and subdu'd Assyria Cyprus and some part of India But his Tyranny growing intolerable he was slain by Bagoas who set up in his Throne 14. Arses one of his Sons otherwise Arsames who was in a short time sent after his Father by the same Hand and was succeeded by 15. Darius the Third surnam'd Codomannus Cousin-german to Arses who being set upon by Alexander the Great and vanquish'd in three pitch'd Battels viz. at Granwick Issus and Arbela was the last of this Race of Persian Kings After this the Name of the Persians was almost forgotten how it was reviv'd you may read in Herodian in these words After Darius had lost his Kingdom to Alexander and the Victor himself was dead also the more potent Captains shared Asia amongst them till at length Arsaces of the Parthian Nobility perswaded the People of the East and amongst them the Persians to cast off the Grecian Yoke To which purpose he took upon him the Title of King and became the Head of the Arsacidan Family of Parthia who successively held the Crown in this following Order The second Dynastie Anno Mundi 3718 3741 1.
she clear'd from all those of whom she had any suspicion either by Marrying of them to some of the Kings Nobles or some other means At the Court she made likewise great alterations by putting all the old Officers out of their Places and new ones in their stead who were her Favorites and Relations When the King declar'd her Queen he call'd her Nurmahal that is Light of the Court She had a Brother nam'd Alaf Chan who by the King's favor was grown very powerful Sultan Chosrou Selim's Son Marry'd one of her Daughters and Sultan Scebriar another both which she had by her first Husband for she had no Children by Schach Selim. Several Opinions concerning Selim's Issue Robert Covert tells us That this Selim had five Sons the first whereof was call'd Paheschau Sehelbam which signifies The next Heir to the Crown who being blind was kept as a Prisoner the second was Sultan Naubrea appointed to succeed his Father the third Sultan Lawle the fourth Sultan Lill and the fifth and youngest Sultan Caiwone Hawkins calls these five Sons Sultan Cusseru Sultan Peruis Sultan Chorem Sultan Shairer and Sultan Bath Della Valle calls the eldest Sultan Chosrou the second Sultan Peruis the third Sultan Chorrom to whom his Father gave the Sirname of Schiah Gihon that is King of the World after his return from the War which he had succesfully maintain'd in Decan and the youngest Sultan Scheriar Chosrou rebelling against his Father is defeated Sultan Chosrou the eldest Son a very hopeful Prince and a great Friend to the Christians having been setled in a peculiar Lordship rebell'd against his Father Schiah Selim in the Year 1606. under pretence that the Kingdom belong'd justly to him because King Ecbar his Grandfather had on his Death-bed given his Realm to him as being his Grandchild who was then born and had excluded Selim his Father and onely Son to Ecbar Wherefore he took up Arms against him to obtain that from his Father which his Grandfather had in his last Will and Testament given to him But Chosrou being defeated and overcome in the Battel was forc'd to lay down his Arms and surrender himself up to his Father who with mild Words blam'd him for his rashness and ask'd him why he would take this preposterous course since the Crown on necessity would fall to him and that he was onely the Preserver of it whilst he liv'd Yet he caus'd all the Commanders which had serv'd Chosrou in this War to be put to miserable deaths and their Bodies to be laid in the way where Chosrou was to pass and trampled over them as a Victor over his Enemies Nor ended the business so for Chosrou was bereav'd of his Liberty not being permitted to converse with the People as before but was committed though after an Honorable manner to the Custody of several Noblemen his Father likewise causing his Eye-lids to be sew'd up that so he might bereave him of his Sight without putting out his Eyes and at once deprive him of the means to make any further trouble in the Kingdom But after the expiration of some days Selim causing his Eyes to be open'd again prevented Chosrou from being always blind yet though he beheld the Light of the Sun again he enjoy'd not his Liberty but was kept a close Prisoner for the space of two Years not being allow'd according to the King's Command to have above one Man to wait upon him Mean while Nurmahal the King's Consort us'd her endeavors to perswade Chosrou to marry her Daughter before she bestow'd her in Marriage to his Brother Sultan Scheriar for she certainly believ'd that Chosrou should succeed Selim after his death But Chosrou could never be brought to consent either out of love to another or because he dislik'd Nurmahal's Daughter although being a Prisoner he was upon condition to marry her promis'd his Liberty But she whom he really affected and who lov'd him no less The mutual Constancy of Chosrou and his Lover obtain'd of his Father King Selim to serve her Lover in Prison where she behav'd her self very nobly towards him always perswading him to marry Nurmahal's Daughter telling him she would be very well satisfi'd to serve him as a Slave provided she might but see him at liberty and setled in a Condition according as his Birth requir'd But he not minding her Perswasions contentedly spent his time with her in Prison two whole years after which his Fathers anger being somewhat appeas'd he was restor'd to his Liberty though under the charge of several Guards the King 's great Confidents But by his refusal to marry his Step-mothers Daughter he incurr'd her hatred and displeasure and forc'd her contrary to her first resolutions to give her in Marriage to his Brother Scheriar Of Sultan Peruis the second Son who had his Residence in the Kingdom of Bengala near the Mouth of the River Ganges and Govern'd by the Title of Vice-Roy no further mention is made At the same time the third Son Sultan Chorrom rebell'd against his Father with intention to make himself Master of the Kingdom of Surrat Wherefore Schiah Selim sent one of his Chief Chans call'd Ajat Chan to Agra to convey his Treasure from thence before Sultan Chorrom came thither This Chorrom was Governor of that part of Decan which he had conquer'd for the Mogol his Father and the occasion of this Rebellion was as followeth The occasion of Chorrom's Rebellion Chorrom by his own subtil Contrivance and Conduct and by the high esteem of his Father-in-Law Ajat Chan and his Sister Nurmahal had so wrought with the King that the Prisoner Sultan Chosrou was committed into his Custody but with Commands to use him well and take special care of him Which being effected Chorrom would neither go to his Territory nor march into the Field with an Army though his Father requested him unless he might carry Sultan Chosrou along with him under pretence that it would not be convenient for him to depart from the Court and leave Chosrou his great Enemy there No sooner was Chosrou deliver'd up to him but he immediately went from thence and kept him two Years in an honorable manner But at last Chorrom who had no other design but by his Brothers death to secure himself of the Kingdom practic'd all the time since his coming from his Father's Court as some affirm to poyson him in order to which he charg'd all those that waited upon and guarded him to force him to eat the poyson'd Meat whether he would or no or else destroy him after another manner which they accordingly attempted several times but Chosrou having notice thereof would not eat any of the Meat that was brought to him by them expresly telling them that it was poysond The Keepers seeing no way to perform their Masters Command by Poyson fell all upon him with drawn Swords and after long resistance strangled him with a Bowe-string Some affirm That Sultan Chorrom kill'd Chosrou
in publick with his own Hand but however it hapned Chosrou died an untimely and violent death and left a young Son call'd Sultan Bulachi Chorrom rebells against his Father Schach Selim inform'd hereof and exceedingly enrag'd against Sultan Chorrom sent for him to Court to give satisfaction for the Murder which he had committed But Chorrom not regarding his Father's Command rais'd all his Forces to fight against him and not only forc'd his own Subjects to take up Arms but also the Inhabitants of other Towns which were not under his Jurisdiction as those of Cambaya and other Places and having gotten an indifferent Army accompanied by some petty Indian Princes he march'd to Agra which he plunder'd and ruin'd a second time his Soldiers committing greater Outrages and Cruelties than before perhaps in revenge of the loss which they sustain'd in Storming of the Castle in vain with the loss of many of their Men by reason of the valiant resistance of the Besieg'd Anno 1624. Chorrom being defeated fled with some of his Men to the Dominions of Cub Schiah where Selim not prosecuting him any further permitted him to live in quiet He also defeated the Governor of Cambaya and put another of his Favorites in his stead Some relate the death of Ecbar and that which hapned concerning the Inheritance of the Kingdom by his eldest Son Selim thus Another Relation of Ecbar's death and Selim's Reign Ecbar having subdu'd many Indian Princes which Govern'd Indostan and taken from them the Kingdoms of Candahor Cabul Cassamier Chassenie Benazard Guzuratte Sinda or Tata Ganhees Barampour Baror Bengala Orixa Oda Malouw Agra Deli and reduc'd them to Provincial Governments he undertook the conquering of Decan Mean while Selim whom Ecbar had made General over another Army to subdue Radzia Rana and Mardout rebelling with all his Forces declar'd himself against the King his Father with whom he made Peace again a little before his death For when Ecbar had concluded to poyson one Myrza Gazia and had caus'd two Pills to be prepar'd the one of which was onely for purging of himself and the other which was of Poyson intended to be given to the said Prince Myrza he mistaking in the choice of them took that himself which he had prepar'd for his Adversary At last growing sensible of his mistake and lying on his Death-bed he set his Tulbant on the Head of Selim and also gave him the Sword of Homayon Ecbar's Father and Selim's Grandfather declaring him thereby his Successor Yet nevertheless the Chiefest of the Nobility divided themselves into Factions and Parties after his death which was in the sixtieth Year of his Reign the one chusing the Side of Sultan Corsorronne eldest Son to Selim under pretence that Ecbar had declar'd him his Successor but this Party not long after better considering with themselves the danger they incurr'd suddenly strook up a Peace Yet they forc'd Selim a second time to take up Arms though with the like ill success on their part for their Forces were all destroy'd and Corsorronne himself taken Prisoner and carried to the Castle of Lahor on an Elephant the Boughs being lopp'd off the Trees on the Way as he pass'd that so he might the better see the dismembred Bodies and Heads of those that were of his Party and laid there on purpose to make the Tragedy appear the more terrible to him and him the more sensible of his Father's displeasure Not long after those of the same Party as Myrza Fetulha Myrza Charrief Son to Ethamandaulet whom Sir Thomas Roe calls Etima Doulet Myrza Mouradin and Myrza Ziafferbek contriv'd a Plot against King Selim intending to surprise him in the Mountains of Cabul through which he was to pass and to proclaim Sultan Corsorronne in his stead But they losing their opportunity the King soon after was inform'd thereof and caus'd all the Conspirators to be put to death except Ethamandaulet who bought his Life for two thousand Lek Ropias The King likewise concluded upon advice of Myrza Ombrawe his Son to bereave Sultan Corsorronne of his Sight with the Juyce of an Herb call'd Aok but that onely put out one of his Eyes A short time after this Ethamandaulet with his Daughter Mermetzia Widow to Cheer-affghan were carried to Agra to pay the foremention'd promis'd Sum of Money whither being come Mermetzia went often to see Sultane Rockia Mother to King Selim at one of which Visits the King meeting her in his Seraglio whither Rockia had brought her with her Daughter of five or six years of Age he lifting up her Vail and looking in her Face said That he would be glad to be the Father of such a Daughter and also declar'd his Affection to her Shortly after he sent a Messenger to her Father Ethamandaulet to request his Daughter in Marriage to which her Father consenting he married her with the usual Ceremonies and chang'd her Name of Mermetzia into that of Nourziam Begem that is Light of the World or as Sir Thomas Roe and Della Valle affirm she was nam'd Nurmahal or Nourmahal that is Light of the Court or Seraglio Sultan Chorrom also caus'd his * Chosrou or Corsorronne for they seem to be the same beforemention'd eldest Brother who was committed to his charge to be murder'd judging thereby as he suppos'd to have secur'd himself of the Realm and being impatient to stay any longer plotted with Afaschan whose Daughter he had married to rob the Mogol of his Treasure In which Enterprise failing he proclaim'd War against his Father which he prosecuted to his dying day In the interim Nurmahal sent Sultan Scheriar her Son to Lahor to settle him in the Throne and endeavor'd to get the Militia to side with him But Afaschan whose aim was to place the Crown on Chorrom's Head inform'd him of this Alteration whilst he to keep the Army under his Command advised Bolak otherwise call'd Bulachi Son to Sultan Corsorronne to proclaim himself King by the assistance of the Chiefest Officers which were of his Party in the Army and gave the Guards to his Sister But Scheriar being defeated before Chorrom's coming thither and taken was with Sultan Bolak and many other Princes of the Blood-Royal bereav'd both of Sight and Life Mean while King Selim died Anno 1627. being the last Pretender of the Successors of Tamerlane for the rest which out of ambition aspir'd to Govern after him were wholly cut off This Selim had no Lands in Tartary except those which lay beyond the Mount Gerauny Chorrom succeeds Selim. After the death of Selim Chorrom coming to the Crown was call'd Schach Bedin Mahomet and took upon him the Title of Chagehan or Schach Jehan otherwise Schach Geaan that is King of the World He repos'd great confidence in Afaschan and out of the Respect he bore him pardon'd his Sister Normahal He was a comely Person pretty tall full Fac'd and of a sallow Complexion He was a Mahumetan as also some of his
then consults with the Father and Mother about naming of the Child which as soon as they have agreed upon the Mother in presence of the whole Company gives the Child its Name without any other Ceremony which done the Mother and Father taking the Child follow the Daroo to the Eggaree or Temple where the Priest takes clear Water which he stirs in the Bark of a certain Tree growing near Yesd in Persia call'd Holma on which it is affirm'd the Sun never makes any shadow and at last taking up a handful of the said Water sprinkles the Child therewith and prays to God that he would cleanse the Child from his Fathers and Mothers Uncleanness which said he leaves the Infant with the Parents When the Child is attain'd to the seventh year of its Age and judg'd fit to be receiv'd and made a Member of their Church the Parents carry it to the Temple to be instructed where the Daroo teaches the Youth several Prayers and instructs him in his Religion The Child being perfect herein repeats all the Prayers which he hath learn'd over a Fire with a Cloth ty'd about his Head which covers his Mouth and Nostrils so to prevent the Breath which comes out of his unclean Body from blowing upon and thereby defiling the holy Fire After performance of these Prayers the Daroo gives the Child Water to drink and the Rind of a Pomegranate to chew thereby to cleanse it from its inward uncleanness Then they wash his Body with clean Water and put him on a Shuddero or Cotton Coat which reaches down to his Ancles and also give him a Girdle made of Camels Hair by them call'd Cushee which the Youth must never leave off After all this the Daroo says this Prayer following God grant that you may be a faithful Maintainer all your Life of the Persian Religion of which your Habit is a Efficient Badge and never believe any other Law but that which Zertoost brought with him from Heaven Moreover that you may always remain constant in the worshipping of the Fire neither eat the Meat of others nor drink out of their Cups but undefil'd preserve the Ceremonies and Customs of the Persians This done the Youth passes for a real Persian and one of their Sect. They have five different kinds of Marriage among them which have each their proper Name Their Marriages The first call'd Shausan is a Marriage of the Son of one Man to the Daughter of another during their Minority which the Parents manage among themselves without the knowledge of their Children This sort of Marrying is highly esteem'd amongst them affirming That those who are thus Marry'd shall undoubtedly go directly to Paradise The second sort of Marrying call'd Chockerson is when a Widow Marries a second Husband The third nam'd Codesherahassan is when a Woman makes choice of a Man her self The fourth nam'd Ectsan is when a Youth or Maid dies after having been Betrothed before the consummation of the Marriage for in such Cases they have a Custom to give another Youth or Maid in Marriage to the Deceased because they account Marriage to be a great means to make Men happy in the other World Persons of Quality commonly Marry after this manner because with their Money they purchase such as will undertake such a Marriage as is before mentioned The fifth nam'd Ceterson is when a Father having no Sons but having a Daughter Married who hath Sons takes one of them to be his real Son and gives him in Marriage as his own Child for they esteem a Man most miserable who hath no Children to bestow in Marriage Their Burying Places Their Burying-places are built round a good heighth from the Ground pretty broad and pav'd with Free-stone In the midst of them is a deep Well into which drop the Bones of the Deceased the Bodies both of Men and Women being hung round the Wall in the open Air. These Burying-places are of two sorts and stand some distance from each other the one is appointed for those that have lived piously and honestly and the other for those that have liv'd viciously and wickedly and those that have committed Crimes and were punish'd for them whilst they liv'd When any Person amongst them lies upon his Death-bed they send for a Herbood or Priest who whispers this following Prayer in the dying Person 's Ear viz. O Lord thou hast commanded us not to sin yet nevertheless this Person hath sinned thou hast comanded us to do good yet this Person hath done ill thou hast commanded us to worship thee yet this Person hath neglected it but nevertheless good Lord pardon his Crimes and offences Their Funeral Solemnities As soon as the Breath is departed out of the Body the Priest keeps ten Foot distance from the same and commands the Nicesselars or Bearers to carry it away on an Iron Bier for by virtue of their Law they may not touch any dead Corps with Wood because it is a Material with which they keep in the Fire which they worship Moreover those that accompany the Corps are forbid to speak because the Grave according to their Opinion must be a Place of Rest and Quietness Coming to the place where the Defunct is to be buried the Bearers set down the Corps whilst the Priests who stand at some distance from thence speak the following words When this our Brother liv'd he was conjoin'd of four Elements now he is dead let each Element take his own the Earth the Earth the Water the Water the Air the Air and the Fire the Fire Next they implore Sertau and Asud whose Offices are to wait on Lucifer and some other Daemons that they would prevent all evil Spirits from doing the Deceased any harm when he shall go to cleanse himself by their celestial Fire for the Soul as they believe remains ranging up and down the Earth three days after during which time Jupiter they say would torment the same if it did not flie to the sacred Fire to avoid his punishments After this the Soul being try'd is according to her behaviour either condemn'd to go to Hell or convey'd to Heaven As this Opinion is firmly rooted in them so they forget not to meet every Morning Noon and Evening during the space of three days to implore God to shew Mercy to the Soul of the Deceased and to pardon the Sins which he hath committed in his Life-time After the expiration of the three days when the Soul hath received her sentence then the Relations make a great Feast on the fourth day and so end their Mourning One Twist tells us That they take the Sick from his Bed and laying him on the Ground or a Bed of Sand let him die there and about thirty or forty days after the Burying of the Dead they carry the said Bed of Sand and strew the same on his Grave But Herbert saith That they wrap up their deceas'd Bodies in a perfum'd Cloth and that the Relations which
speak three sorts of Languages viz. the Arabian Persian and the peculiar Language of the Country which differs from that of the other Provinces The Inhabitants of Decan Cuncan and Golconda speak the Persian Tongue which at the Princes Courts is as common as their own Language They Betroth their Children at seven or eight Years of Age and Marry them at twelve They keep a continu'd Feast for fourteen days before the Wedding concluding each day with the sound of Drums and Trumpets On the Wedding-day all the Relations walk seven times about a Fire made for that purpose after which they hold the Marriage confirm'd The Bride brings nothing to her Husband save onely her Person and a few Jewels of an inconsiderable value They always burn the Bodies of the Deceased and if a Married Man dies the Widow is oblig'd either to cast her self into the Fire with the Corps of her dead Husband or to live the rest of her days in infamy and disgrace The King of Cuncan is in the Country Language entituled Adelcan that is The true Governor or Adel Scach that is Real Lord or Lord of Justice and by the Portuguese corruptly Dialcam or Hialcam by the Netherlanders Adelchia by others Cadum Schach or Schach Gean He is also call'd Sabay that is Lord. Dotexara call'd that King from whom the Portuguese took Goa Sabyb Adelcan that is Ruler and King of Justice and not Sabay dalcan as we read in History According to Della Valle the King's Title besides his own Name is Adil Sciah or Idal Sciah which as some render it signifies A Just King for Adil in the Arabian signifies Just But others maintain that Adil or Idal which is an Indian Word signifies A Key and therefore must be call'd King of Keys perhaps from the Office which formerly belong'd to this Prince viz. The keeping of the Keys which lock'd up the Books that containd the Accounts of the Treasures of the Mighty Kings of Bisnagar and Sceherbeder unto whom this King and several other petty Princes were subject as we have already related The King keeps a splendid Court and when he rides abroad is attended by all his Nobility and a great number of Horse and Foot besides many Elephants and Camels and the sound of many Instruments The Kings eldest Son always succeeds his Father in the Government and maintains his Sisters till they are Married King Adel Schiah who deceas'd Anno 2586. Great-grandfather to the King Idelxa took Goa twice from the Portuguese but seeing at last that his Forces were not any longer able to oppose them he entred into a League with them on this Condition That the Portuguese should keep in possession the City and Island of Goa and the adjacent Provinces viz. Salsette on the South-side of Goa with sixty seven Villages the Country of Bardes with twelve Villages and the bordering Country of Tisvary with thirty Villages Provided that the King of Visiapour's Subjects should peaceably and quietly Trade into all Parts of India and on condition that the Portuguese should not buy any Pepper in any other Place but in Goa upon Forfeiture of their Ships and Goods But these Articles were broke several times by the Kings of Visiapour yet the Portuguese Vice-Roy residing in Goa as often reconcil'd the Difference by sending Ambassadors with great Presents to them The Father of this present King maintain'd great Wars against the Portuguese Anno 1654. he sent a Letter to the Governor of Batavia the Lord John Maetzuiker desiring him to send a Fleet of twenty six Sail of Ships to Goa to help him drive the Portuguese from thence and afterwards surrender the same to his Army The Letter by reason of its unusual Stile will not be amiss to be inserted here The Contents thereof are as follow THE Good Firman which are sent to the Person of Honor and Strength besides Valiant Famous and sought after by the Grandees as the most Eminent Person of your Country is John Maetzuiker Chief Vice-Roy of the Hollanders in India who by Friendship and Goodness of the Kings is very much favoured Makes known to your Excellency That the Person of Honor Greatness and Happiness Moelan Abdulakiem who sits in the King's Presence hath made known to me that you are a Person of a good Nature and candid Reality and inclin'd to shew service to this House which I gladly understood Send therefore according to Abdulakiem 's Request a Fleet of twenty six Sail well Mann'd with valiant Soldiers and provided with Guns and Ammunition or at least as many Ships as you can procure to fight against the Portuguese at Goa which Place you must endeavor to clear of those People and after the Conquest thereof deliver Goa to our Army This done you shall always remain in our Favor and 't will redown to your Honor and Glory And whatever Abdulakiem shall write to you concerning it freely credit the same and do that which this Firman here requests Given in the Year after Mahomet 's Birth 1064. the second of the Month Sillekada According to our Stile On the thirteenth of August Anno 1654. The King likewise wrote another Letter to the same purpose to a Dutch Merchant call'd Leonard Johnson to whom also Abdulakiem wrote the following Letter THE Person whose Strength and Conduct is esteem'd of amongst the Great Ones is Learned Johnson a Dutch Merchant whose Prudence must continue for ever How long hath your Excellence maintain'd the War of Ceilon with the Expence of much Powder and Shot and the loss of many valiant Soldiers which yet remains still unconquer'd because the Portuguese have always fresh Aid come to them Now to take Goa and to banish the Portuguese out of his sight the King hath made me Commander of his Army with which I am already come to the Borders of Salseet And since you were formerly enclin'd when a good Firman or Letter was sent to you from the King to assist him against his Enemies your good Intentions to serve his Majesty were made known to the King who thereupon order'd two Firmans to be sent away viz. One to the Person of Honor Eminent of Great Command and Respected amongst the Nobility of your Country John Maetzuiker Vice-Roy for the Hollanders in the Indies And the other to your Excellency Wherein is mention'd That your Ships being well furnish'd with Victuals and Ammunition should come hither according to my Directions And therefore I desire you will send your Fleet with all the expedition you can well provided with all things to the Bay of Goa And when we have obtain'd the Victory and routed the Portuguese we shall consequently in few days be also Masters of Ceilon after which your Valour shall be renown'd in the King's House you ever continue in his Favor and your Trade shall flourish in these Countries If in case you cannot resolve to this Proposal then consider what Charge you may be at in this War and what Loss you think you may
viz. Kiriseck der deheni Abubeker Omar Hanife bat That is A Dogs T in Abubeker 's Teeth which to the Turks seems so great an abomination that it makes them exceeding inveterate against the Persians Another ground of difference Della Valle tells us that the greatest differences between the Persians and other Mahumetans proceeded from this occasion viz. When Mahomet in his last Expedition with his Army between Medina and Mecha riding upon a Camel before all his Followers taking Aaly by the Hand commanded him to get up behind him saying to his People Those that have had me for their Veli shall also have Aaly my adopted Son The word Veli in the Arabick hath two significations and may be taken either for the Chief or Head of a Church or for a Friend or Favorite Aaly and his Successors believ'd the first signification and ever since maintain'd that Mahomet by this Saying chose Aaly to succeed him as well in the Government of Spiritual as Temporal Affairs and that by the Power of this Declaration Aaly and his Successors ought for ever to be the Governors of Mahomet's Race but after Mahomet's Death a Will was brought forth wherein Abubeker Mahomet's Father-in-Law for Mahomets last Wife Aisne was Abubeker's Daughter was nam'd Heir and Califa or spiritual and worldly Successor which Will was made by the Practice of Aisne or as the Persians say forg'd by her but the Turks and Arabians say that Mahomet himself chang'd his opinion because Aaly was too yong and unexperienc'd whereas Abubeker was aged and a man of prudence and good conduct so that they conclude that Mahomet by the foremention'd discourse never intended to make Aaly his Heir or Successor but onely to make known to him that they should shew the like respect arid honor to Aaly as they had done to him And in truth they do little less for they reverence Aaly as a great Saint and account him the chief Head of their Religion nay for the true Calif or Successor of Mahomet though not the first immediately after him as the Persians relate but the fourth in order viz. after Abubeker Omar and Odsman A great Feast in Honor of Aaly The Persians celebrate yearly that Day of the Moneth on which Mahomet chose his adopted Son Aaly to be his Successor as a great Feast and call it the Sheep roasted Now in regard the Persians promote Aaly to that Dignity and ascribe divine Vertues and Powers to him they judg'd it fit that his Successors which were undoubtedly inspir'd with the like Graces ought to have more Honor shew'd them than other Common-people and therefore they visit their Tombs and pray at them with great devotion and make rich Offerings to them They also give Aaly the Name of Mortoza which is a name of Holiness or at least hath some such signification Moreover His Offspring the Persians say that Aaly had the mark of Mahomet's Seal-Ring on his back He had two Sons call'd Hassan and Hossein from whom sprang Seinel Abedin Mahumet Bagur Tzafer Saduck Musai Casum Risa Mahumet Taggi Alli Naggi Hossein Askerri and Mehedi which ly all bury'd viz. Hassan Seinel Abedin Mahumet Bagur Mahumet Taggi Alii Naggi in Medina Tzafer Saduk in Babylon Maer Hossein Musai Casum and Hossein Askerri in Kelbula or Cufa But Mahedi they say never dy'd but went into a Cave near Cufa before which he left his Shoes which when they shall be turn'd with the Heels towards the Hole as already they are half way he will put them on again and coming forth convert the people to the Alcoran The Persians call all these twelve Imams that is Maintainers of their Religion and are at this day with Schich Sofi accounted Holy-men and offerings made at their Shrines especially by those that travel to Mecha and Medina They also keep several Feasts in honor of these Saints but especially Aaly and Hossein Their Saints which the Turks do but laugh at but on the contrary reverence Abubeker Omar and Odsman Nor is Hanifa the Explainer of the Alcoran in less esteem among them but by the Persians accounted a Seducer and false Expositor adding that he was Tzafer Saduks Boy and held up the Water with which the Saints wash'd themselves that he went into Turky and with the foremention'd Water gave sight to many blind people and other Miracles that made him so highly esteem'd amongst them Hanifa dig'd up and his Tomb destroy'd When Schach Tamas conquer'd Babylon he caus'd this Hanifa who lay bury'd there in a stately Tomb to be digg'd up and turn'd the Masar or Chappel into a Stable and of the Grave it self he made a Jakes The Persian Legends The Persians believe many strange Fables mention'd by their Writers viz. That Aaly's Horse Duldul proceeded from a Stone That the Angel Gabriel bringing him his Two-edg'd Sword Dhulfacar he perform'd great Miracles with the same that he kill'd a Seven-headed Dragon and drunk with the Angels in Heaven That Sultan Mahmed Chodabende hunting near Cufa digg'd a Chest out of a Hill on which was written Herein lies Adam Noah and Aaly bury'd and at the same time he built the City Netzef and made Aaly's Tomb there with other such like stuff But besides this they ascribe something of a divine Power to Aaly and to that purpose relate many of his Miracles viz. that being in his Infancy in the Village Sahedam in Kilan he went to Scheich Sahad a holy man and observing the people to weed the till'd Lands he commanded the Weeds to wither of themselves which accordingly they did Scheich Sahad observing it said Not so my Son for though you know this Art yet you must not practise the same lest you should make the People lazy and unwilling to work Sofi who judg'd this Reason very rational entred into his Service and staying seven years with him learn'd much Wisdom and from thence the Village was enfranchis'd with great priviledges and so remains to this day This Sect greatly spred According to Texeira this Sect or Doctrine spread it self a vast way in the time of Sultan Xeque Juneyd who liv'd in the Reign of King Joonxa Son to Cara Issuf which Juneyd being daily visited by many Persons Joonxa began to suspect him and commanded him not to admit so much company Hereupon Juneyd left Ardebil and went to Ozun Acembeck otherwise call'd Usum-Cassan Lord of Diarbeck or Mesopotamia who gave him his Sister Cadijacatum to Wife who was after Mother of Xeque Ayder Juneyd thus grown Eminent over-ran many Countreys with his Army and in all the places where he came he made those he took Prisoners imbrace his Religion After this Scach Haider Son to Juneyd marry'd Hasan Beig Usun who bare him a Son and call'd him Ismael who was Sir-nam'd Sofi because he promis'd to live a holy Life and being come to be absolute Master of Persia he establish'd this Sect of Aaly and commanded all his new Subjects
his Successors have us'd that Title and though there are a great number of Sophies through all Persia yet we must know they are all Ecclesiasticks The right Name which the Persians give to their King is Schach or Sa after the Italian pronunciation which signifies King or Patxa which others write Padischa that is The supream Schach or King of Kings They also call him Sahib that is Lord or Governor Some also affirm that the Kings are likewise nam'd Choda or Chodohon which in the Persian Tongue signifies God but that is onely a mistake for Choda or Chodabende as the Sir-name of Schach-Abbas's Father the natural signification of the word is one that is oblig'd to God At the Persian Court are many which bear the Title of King as Chan and Sultan have the significations of King the one in the Turkish and the other in the Persian Tongue which proceeds from hence because the chief Princes of Persia to make themselves the more eminent will have Subjects that are styl'd Kings though in truth they are but Vice-Roys Mirza its signification Mizza or Mirza is in the Arabick properly a Title of Honor and signifies Prince or more peculiarly A Prince of the Blood according to which signification the eldest Son who is Heir apparent to the Crown bears no other Name being generally call'd Sultan Mirza i.e. Prince of the Realm Persons of Quality generally bear two Names besides a third which is a Title of Honor which last is commonly put behind as Assa Chan Beid that is Isa or Jesus Chan Lord which is quite contrary to the Christians who always place their Title before their Name How the Turks style the Persian Kings The Turkish Emperor in his Letters to the King of Persia doth not style him Schach but Schach Ogli that is A holy Mans or Prophets Son The King to be distinguish'd from other Persons wears a red Turbant differing in fashion from others with twelve Ribbons instituted by Schach Ismael in commemoration of the twelve Sons of Aaly from whom he boasted his Extract This Turbant which some call Tage or Tache is as much with them as a Crown with us Minadoi tells us that the first Calif or Mustaed Dini puts the said Turbant on the King's Head at his Coronation or taking upon him the Government The King also wears his Turbant after another manner than other People for that which they wear before he wears behind which none in all Persia dares do but himself upon pain of Death The Kingdom descends by Inheritance This Kingdom is Hereditary and the King 's eldest Son always succeeds him in the Throne So long as there be any Heirs of the lawful Wife they Inherit but for want of such those that are begotten on the Chassees or Concubines and for defect of such it devolves upon the deceased King's nearest Relations These as also those that boast themselves to be deriv'd from the old Sefi are call'd Schach Elwend or Schachavends that is Successor of Schach and have great Priviledges in the Countrey yet for the most part live very sparingly The Houses in which the King's Children are born they make priviledg'd places and if it be from the Court and in any remote place the House is immediately inclos'd with a Wall The Kings Arms. In ancient times the Kings of Persia bore a Crescent proper for their Coat of Arms as the Greeks the Sun but now it is quite contrary for the Persians bear a Sun and the Turks which possess Greece a Half-Moon But Schach Sefi bore in his Great Seal which was about the bigness of a Half-Crown nothing but this Inscription I Schach Sefi am a zealous Servant of the onely God and about the edges was Engraven Aaly they may say of you what they please I am always your Friend who before this Seal doth not account himself Dust and Earth though he be an Angel may he be turn'd to Dust and Ashes His Coronation The Coronation is celebrated in Ispahan though formerly at Cafa or Cufa near Bagdad but remov'd from thence by reason of the too near neighborhood of the Turks the manner of it is as followeth On a Table an Ell high they lay as many rich Carpets as there have been Kings of that Dignity since the beginning of Schach Ismael Sefi upon these they set their new King to whom the chief Chans carry the Crown which he kisses three times in the Name of GOD Mahomet and Aaly and then rubbing his Forehead with the same his Chamberlain whom they call Lele sets it upon his Head at which they all cry God save the King God grant him to Reign from one to a thousand years then kissing his Feet they bring him great Presents and spend the day in Mirth and Jollity Minadoy tells us that the chief Calif sets the Turbant or Tage on the King's Head at his entring into the Throne but they take no Oaths nor have any Restrictions laid upon them Their Burying-place The Kings and those of the Royal Family are generally bury'd at Ardebil and lie interr'd round about Schach Sefi's Tomb. When the King appears at any publick Meeting he is generally accompany'd besides twelve Courtiers with the Seder Minatzim and Hakim The Hakim is his Physician and tells him what Meat is wholsom and what unwholsom The Minatzim is his Astrologer who acquaints him with all the good and bad Hours wherein he is to undertake any great Design and is herein credited like an Oracle the King undertaking nothing without his Advice The Seder is the chief of the Clergy and is as the Muffi amongst the Turks elected by the King and Casi being generally a Learned Man well skill'd in the Alcoran and must be ready to give his Opinion on all such things as are demanded of him because according to his Judgment they pass Sentence Some Decrees are also Pass'd by the Seder himself who Sealing them with his own Signet sends the same to die King who writes under him This is the Opinion of the Seder which We confirm under which he puts his Great Seal The Causes of Citizens are Judg'd by other Lawyers who are call'd Orf and are under the chief Judge Diwanbeki who is no less experienc'd in the Mahumetan Tenents than the Seder Their Juridical Courts The Days on which they keep their Courts of Judicature are Mondays and Thursdays on which they meet at Ispahan near the King's Palace in a publick arch'd place where they hear and determine Causes and if any thing chance to come before them which they judge to be of too great consequence for them to decide then they order it to be heard before the King The Punishments of Offenders All Offenders or Criminals are punish'd with extream severity the manner whereof is several and many times invented by the Judges according to the nature of the Crimes but the most asual are to cut off their Noses Hands and Feet ripping
Cashan Theheran Hamadan Meschet and Kirman pay great Tributes to the King Della Valle affirms that in Ispahan and several other eminent Cities there are no Chans because they are Royal Cities and the King many times keeps his Court there On the Feast of Neuruz all annual Officers are chosen especially the Darago's the chiefest whereof enter upon their Employments in great State with the sound of many Instruments How they reverence the Kings The King 's Vice-Roys whither Sultans or Chans of what Degree soever when coming out of any remote Province to make their appearance before the King or when they take leave or are to return to their own Countreys they kneel on both Knees before the King and kiss his Feet and in testimony of Honor squeeze the same against their Foreheads which they do three several times This Ceremony they perform divers times as they walk about the King which they commonly do three times one after another thereby to manifest that those who perform this Ceremony make themselves Sureties against all Misfortunes whatsoever that may befall the King It is also a Custom amongst them to make a Circle with their Hands about the Heads of those whom they would shew Honor to and wish that all future Misfortunes and such as have already hapned unto them may fall on themselves This Action is accounted by them a sign of a perfect and faithful Friendship Thus much of the modern State and manner of Government in Persia now it will be necessary to give you a short Account after what manner it was Govern'd in former times THe King of Persia anciently styl'd himself The Great King especially at that time when they had conquer'd the Greeks But Suidas tells us that these Monarchs were not satisfi'd with this Title but assum'd to themselves the Title of The King of Kings as appears by the Inscription on Cyrus's Tomb. Their order of Succession The Sons of these Kings succeeded them which was also observ'd amongst the Parthians when they had made themselves Masters of this Realm and when the Persians were afterwards restor'd they still maintain'd the same Custom The eldest Son according to the Laws of Nature Inherited before the younger but if he was born before his Father came to the Crown then he that was first born after his being King succeeded him in the Throne They never gave the Crown to a one-ey'd squint-ey'd or deformed Person as appears by the squinting Son of Cahade or Robad who notwithstanding he was a valiant Man yet for the Blemish in his Sight was disinherited But when the Persian Monarchy began to decay this Custom was laid aside and the Crown became elective but the Nobility who had Voices therein still reserv'd it for those who were of Royal Extract Natural Sons succeeded not their Fathers in the Throne so long as there remain'd any that were legitimate yet notwithstanding the illegitimate Darius was chosen before Isogee lawful Son to Artaxerxes When the King at any time went out of his Dominions he was oblig'd to nominate a Deputy to Govern during his absence Ceremonies at Installing the King The Kings were by the Priests of their Countrey with great Ceremony Inaugurated after this manner viz. They were led into a Temple of a warlike Goddess where they pull'd off their Clothes and put on those which Cyrus us'd to wear when he was but a private Person which done they are a few Figs chew'd a little Turpentine and drank a draught of sower Milk They incircled the Heads of these new Kings with a Crown or Mitre and a Cydaris which was made of Purple and ty'd with a blue Ribbon mix'd with white King Sapor instead of a Crown wore a Cap made like a Rams Head beset with Precious Stones They also wore a Tiara or Turbant like those which the Magistrates of the several Provinces wore but with this distinction that those of the Kings stood upright and the other bended behind The Honor of putting the Crown on the Kings Head belong'd to a peculiar Person call'd Surene who was the second Nobleman in the Kingdom The Habit or Robes of the King The Kings of Persia also wore a long Vest hanging below their Ancles which was embroider'd with several Representations of Birds Beasts and the like and beset with Gold and Precious Jems They likewise wore a Coat with Sleeves call'd Candis differing from those of the other Persians both in colour being Purple and value moreover the Subjects durst not approach any Man without hiding their Hands in their Sleeves but the Kings held them out The Kings Habit as Xenophon says was also half purple and half white which none else might wear They likewise wore long Hair Pendants a Girdle and long Stockings like the other Persians They were honor'd like Gods for those that approach'd them bow'd not onely their Heads and Bodies but fell flat on their Faces with their Hands upon their Backs in which posture they lay as long as they suppos'd him to be in sight which was also perform'd by Strangers who were not permitted to see the King unless they promis'd to worship him after the Persian manner for otherwise they were forc'd to let him know their Business by Proxy or else in Writing which when he perus'd he return'd his Answer without being seen Those that Saluted the King wish'd him Everlasting Life and perpetual Government but he seldom appear'd to his People who were not permitted to set a Foot into the Royal Palace without his Majesty's leave but his Noblemen waited without at the Door to receive his Commands His Throne was of massie Gold which none durst touch and if at any time the King went abroad they strew'd the Streets and Ways which he was to pass with Flowers and every where burnt Perfumes They likewise kept the Kings Birth-day every year with making of Offerings and other great testimonies of joy and whence dy'd the whole Kingdom Mourn'd for five days together during which time all Courts of Judicature were shut up Their Câ—urts very unâ—â—â—taiâ— but magnificent These great Princes had no setled place of Residence but spent the Winter in Babylon the Lent at Susa and the Summer at Ecbataue besides which they had several other Royal Palaces as at Pasargades and Persepolis but when the Parthians were Masters of Persia Chusistan was the chief Seat of the Realm Their Royal Palaces were very stately and magnificent having many great Officers attendant insomuch that Apuleius call'd them The Houses of Gold They would never eat of any other Bread but what was brought out of the Province of Aeolia Their Diâ—â— and of all things the Kingdom afforded the First-fruits were sent to the King also their Salt Armoniack was brought to them out of Egypt They drank of the Wine Chaliboonien brought from Assyria and no other Water but what was taken out of the Stream Choaspes which glides by Susa The Inhabitants of those Places through
which they travell'd always Entertain'd them at a Banquet on which they spent above twenty or thirty Talents They generally Din'd alone but sometimes their Wives and Children were permitted to sit with them at their Table as also the Kings Mother and Brothers If the King invited any to eat with him they sat with a Curtain drawn between them in such a manner that the King could see them and not be seen again King Cyrus as Xenophon observ'd plac'd those in whom he repos'd greatest confidence on his left and others on his right side because they say the left side lies more open to those that design to do Mischief than the right But these Entertainments were without freedom because the Guests were forc'd to cat with bowing Heads and cast-down Eyes The Kings never appear'd on foot to the People but always came out of the Palaces either in a Coach or else on Horseback Their care in visiting their Provinces They were wont to visit their several Provinces or else to send faithful Lieutenants to such Places where they could not go themselves to give order to all Husbandmen to let no Ground lie waste that the Merchants should promote their Traffick and Handicraftsmen be diligent in following their Employments that so they might be the better able to pay them their Tribute They also kept several Noblemen call'd Megistanes who always waited at their Doors to receive their Commands besides the Surene or Magistrate who set the Crown on the Kings Head and several who constantly attended to receive Ambassadors or all such as had Business with the King into whose Presence they could not be permitted without them Great numbers of Eunuchs were also kept at the Kings Court who attended on the Queens and Concubines The Kings Secretaries The Kings likewise kept their Secretaries who going into the Wars with them writ down all the Passages thereof as also the Edicts or Letters Patents which were given to the Governors the beginning whereof were to this effect The King saith thus Moreover when he writ to his Commanders he wish'd them Peace as also they to him His Letters were not onely written in one Language but in the several Languages of those People whom they Govern'd There were also some whose Office it was to tell the King the hour of the day and many other such like Officers amongst whom were some call'd The Eyes and Ears of the King Those Kings that liv'd lasciviously endeavor'd to die without pain by means of a Poyson which they kept onely for themselves and their Mothers This Poyson was made of the Dung of a small Indian Bird call'd Dicodre a piece whereof about the bigness of a Barley-corn being put into their Liquor caus'd them to die an easie and also a sudden Death They had stately Tombs at Persepolis Their Tombs Pasargades and Ecbatane on all which were Motto's and Inscriptions Engraven Education of their Sons The Kings Sons were highly reverenc'd and taught in the seventh year of their Age to Hunt and Ride the great Horse The eldest who was to succeed in the Throne was in his fourteenth year committed to the Charge of four Tutors who amongst the Persians were accounted the most wise just sober and valiant Men in their Dominions the first taught him Wisdom and the Rules of Government the second admonished him to affect Truth the third to curb the Desires of the Flesh and the fourth to fear nothing The Reward of approved Counsel If it hapned that any Man undertook to give the King Advice or Counsel in Business of great consequence he was plac'd on a square Cushion of Gold which he was permitted to carry away with him if his Advice was approv'd of but if not he was whipt about the Court. One of the Gentlemen of the Bed-Chamber wak'd the King every Morning and desir'd him to rise and mind the Concerns of the Kingdom which the God Merosomasdes had given to him They themselves judg'd and determin'd Causes pass'd the Sentence of Death on Criminals whom they kept some time in Prison before they were Executed They never condemn'd any Man for one single Crime but enquir'd what the general course of his Life had been and if they found that he had done more good than bad Deeds they releas'd him but if otherwise he was punish'd They also chose their Judges out of the most experienc'd Men in the Persian Law who enjoy'd their Places during their Lives What their Law prohibited Their Laws forbad Stealing Burglary to use violence to any and to rebell against their Princes Malefactors were committed to Prison with silver Shackles and golden Handbolts In the latâ—er time of the Persian Monarchy they had a Prison call'd Lethe into which were onely put Criminals that were condemn'd to die The Punishment of Nobles If any of their Nobility had committed a a Crime they de-oculated them but others were punish'd after another manner They cut not their Heads off with an Ax but a Rasor Sometimes they cut off the Head and right Hand of a Malefactor and nail'd them on a Cross others they burnt flay'd alive or ston'd to death Such as have many Children highly rewarded The King gave Gifts to all those that increas'd their Families by many Children and Registred the Names of those that at any time had done them good Service that when time and opportunity serv'd they might be requited nay they permitted them to sit by them kiss'd them and gave them a Silk Coat made after the fashion of the Medes and gave them leave to wear a Chain of Gold about their Necks and golden Armlets also a golden Simiter which is the greatest Mark of Honor amongst the Persians and as highly reverenc'd as the Star and Garter by us besides golden Reyns for their Horses They also gave them the Revenue of some Towns and the Command of an Army but the greatest of all his Royal Gifts was a golden Slipper The Division of the Countrey The whole Kingdom was divided into Satrapia's Counties or Lordships though Writers differ in the number of them for as some affirm Darius divided the same first into 360 Lordships over which three more principal Satrapae were plac'd Others write that Darius had onely a hundred and twelve Satrapia's or Lordships whose Governors were forc'd to give an Account of their Government to the first three Some also make more and others less But after the Parthians had made themselves Masters of Persia they divided the whole Realm into twenty Satrapia's several of them being Govern'd by one Person These Lordships were given to the Kings Sons and the King often in his Will gave all the Cities thereof to his youngest Son The Office of these Governors was to Command the Inhabitants protect their Goods gather in the Revenues and advise the King of all Transactions Besides these Governors of Countreys there were others who order'd Husbandmen Tradesmen and other People to be
ARsaces the first Parthian King of Persia 2. Mithridates or Arsaces the Second invaded by Antiochus the Great but with little effect 3. Pampatius 4. Phraartes Son of Pampatius 5. Mithridates the Second Brother of Phraartes He conquer'd the Medes and very much enlarged his Dominion 6. Phraartes the Second 7. Artabanus Uncle to Phraartes the Second 8. Pacorus Son of Artabanus 9. Mithridates the Third the Brother of Pacorus 10. Horodes Brother of Mithridates whom he kill'd and took the Crown This was he that fought with and vanquish'd M. Crassus the great Roman Consul but brought under by Ventidius one of the Lieutenants of Mark Anthony and at last slain by his Son 11. Phraartes the Third who after a long War submitted himself and Kingdom to Augustus Caesar restoring the Ensigns and freeing the Captives taken at the Defeat of Crassus He was kill'd by his Son 12. Phraartes the Fourth who succeeded him 13. Horodes the Second Son of Phraartes the Fourth slain in a Tumult 14. Vonon took his Place but was depos'd by 15. Tiridates with whom the People being displeas'd for his submission to the Roman Power one Artabanus a Stranger to the Blood of the Arsacidae taking advantage thereof kill'd Tiridates seiz'd the Kingdom and became the Head of another Parthian Family of which we find upon Record the Names of twelve Kings as follows The third Dynastie 1. ARtabanus 2. Bardanes 3. Goteres 4. Vonones 5. Vologeses 6. Artabanus the Second 7. Pacorus 8. Chosroes who lost Armenia and Mesopotamia to the Emperor Trajan 9. Parmaspates 10. Vologeses the Second 11. Vologeses the Third 12. Artabanus the Third This was the last King of this new Parthian Race from whom the Diadem was once more translated to the natural Persians by Artaxerxes a Nobleman who became the Head of the next Race The fourth Dynastie of natural Persian Kings Anno Christi 228 1. ARtaxerxes the first Raiser of the Family 2. Sapores who took Prisoner the Emperor Valerianus 3. Ormisdates 4. Vararanes the First 5. Vararanes the Second 6. Vararanes the Third 7. Narses He discomfited Galerius and ruin'd his Army but was afterwards defeated by him 8. Misdates 9. Sapor the Second a great and puissant Prince but a Persecuter of the Christians 10. Artaxerxes the Second 11. Sapor the Third 12. Vararanes the Fourth 13. Isdigertes a great Favorite of the Emperor Arcadius 14. Vararanes the Fifth 15. Vararanes the Sixth 16. Peroses 17. Valens 18. Cabades depos'd a Friend to the Christians 19. Lambases 20. Cabades restor'd 21. Chosroes the Great a constant Enemy of the Romans 22. Hormisda 23. Chosroes the Second a great Enemy to the Emperor Heraclius from whom he took Mesopotamia Assyria and the Holy-Land which when the Emperor recover'd in despight he caus'd all the Christians to turn Nestorians 24. Siroes the First 25. Adhesir 26. Sarbatus 27. Barnarius 28. Hormisda the Second and the last of this Dynastie who being first weakned by Civil Dissentions was at last vanquish'd by Haumar a Saracen Calif who held it for a while These Arabians or Saracens carry'd it so absolutely that the Persians were forc'd to deny their Names but their Deputies quarrelling amongst themselves one Tangrolipix of the Turkish Race Founded a new Dynastie The fifth Dynastie being of the Turkish Line Anno Ghristi 1030 1. TAngrolipix the first Raiser of this House 2. Axan the Son of Tangrolipix He dispossess'd the Christians of a great part of Asia Minor 3. Balak Sultan of Persia in the beginning of the Wars in the Holy-Land 4. Cassanes the last of this Race being absolutely conquer'd by the Cham of Tartary An. 1202. The sixth Dynastie being Tartarian Kings of Persia Anno Christi 1260 1. THe Cham of Tartary having utterly extinguish'd the whole Family of the Galif of Bagdet in the Year 1260 made Haalon or Vlah Kukkan King of Persia and the first of that Line and was succeeded by his Son 2. Habkakaihon the Son of Haalon 3. Nikador-Oglan the Brother of Habkakaihon a Mahumetan 4. Argon Khon the eldest Son of Habkakaihon 5. Gemotakhon Brother of Argon 6. Badukhon Uncle to the last 7. Gazun the Son of Argon Khon who made Casbin his Imperial Seat 8. Aliapta who remov'd the Court to Tauris and built Sultania a City of Media 9. Abusaid the Son of Aliapta and the last of this House After his Death there was nothing but confusion every neighboring Prince seizing into his own hands what he could lay hold of till at last the Armenians got the Diadem and began the seventh Dynastie The seventh Dynastie Anno Christi 1472 1. Ussan Cassanes Son of Tracheton a poor Armenian Prince began this Dynastie by a Victory obtain'd against Zeuzes one of the most powerful Rulers of Persia and having held the Crown some years left it to his second Son 2. Jacub who beat the Mamaluckes out of Mesopotamia and Assyria but was at last poyson'd by his Wife 3. Julaver a Kinsman of Jacubs kill'd by 4. Baisinger a Prince of the Blood that liv'd in Adultery with Jacub's Wife 5. Rustan set upon by Aider or Schach Aider of the Sophian Race which now began to appear in great Eminence and Power 6. Alamat the last King of this House Fought with the beforemention'd Aider and slew him but his Son Ismael Sofi taking up the Quarrel and having overcome and slain Alamat and his Son Elwan he was Crown'd King or Shaugh of Persia and became Head of the present Royal Family in that Dominion The eighth Dynastie being of the Sophian Race Anno Christi 1505 1. Ismael Sofi the Founder of this Family had great Wars with the Turks especially with Selimus the First 2. Tamas the Son of Ismael overcome in some Fields by Solyman the Magnificent who tore from him divers great Countreys having been part of his Dominions 3. Aider the second Son of Tamas by the Imprisonment of his Brother seiz'd the Kingdom but was quickly depriv'd of it and made away by his own Sister Periancona 4. Ismael the Second eldest Son of Tamas Reigned two years at the end of which he was murther'd by the same Periancona his Sister 5. Mahomet Chodabend being advanc'd to the Throne immediately caus'd her to be Beheaded Before he was well setled Amurath the Third took from him a great part of Armenia Media and Georgia 6. Abas commonly call'd Schach Abbas second Son of Chodabende having murther'd his elder Brother stept into the Throne and undertaking with great resolution the War against the Turks regain'd the greatest part of what his Predecessor had lost and withal made a large addition of the Kingdoms of Ormus Heri Candahor and Hircania 7. Soffye the Nephew of Abas by his Son Myrza succeeded his Uncle at the age of fifteen years but after his coming to age very fortunately maintain'd the War against the Turks The Countrey of Georgia Extent of Georgia THis Countrey comprehends all that Land which the Ancients nam'd Colchos
King of Bisnagar and the Northern by the King of Sceherberder Those that afterwards came to be the Chief Princes thereof were formerly but mean Officers who took the Dominion of their Supreme Lords upon them and dividing the Countrey amongst themselves Govern'd as Absolute Princes over their several Territories not owning any Person to be above them Amongst all these Princes the Chiefest were the Kings of Decan Golconda and Telengone who lay nearest to the Mogol's Countrey possess'd large Territories and were able to bring great Armies into the Field Adil Schiach a King of Golconda having an Army of a hundred thousand Men. The King of Persia was generally in a League with all the three and they often corresponded by Ambassadors and Presents and were always in Amity one with another which Leagues they maintain'd onely to be the better able to resist the Mogol whose Power they dreaded exceedingly The signification of Chan. These three Princes were formerly call'd Nizam Chan Adil Chan and Cutb Chan for Chan among the Turks hath the same signification with Meleck or Malack which signifies King in the Arabick after the same manner as Schach among the Persians And in regard these three Languages are very common amongst the Moors therefore they use these Words without distinction But it seems that the then reigning Princes have since laid aside the Names of Meleck and Chan and taken upon them that of Schach that is King which they like best as being newer and better agreeing with their Authority wherefore they have lately been call'd Nizam Schach Cutb Schach and Adil Schach But at last all these peculiar Princes and Kings besides many other Governors in India were one after another reduc'd under the Mogol's Jurisdiction The Extract and Descent of the Mogol Kings The Great Mogol from whom descended THe present Great Mogol and his Predecessors boast their Descent from Tamerlane or rather from one of his Nephews or Grand-children But after what manner this hapned deserves to be declar'd here at large When the Mogols whose greatest or most powerful part were by a peculiar Name call'd Giagatynse or Zagatayse Tataas or Tartars dwelling South-east beyond the Mountain Imaus had brought all the other Tartars or Scythians for so they were anciently call'd especially the Eastem by the Conduct of the General Amochtan Chan under subjection he having setled his Dominion took upon him the Title of Chingiz or Tzingiz and was the first that had the Sirname of Great Chan which was about the Year of our Lord 1214. This Tzingiz Chan drawing out his Army consisting of four hundred thousand Horse after a peculiar manner viz. into Parties of eleven thousand one hundred and ten in each Company the one part he order'd to march towards the East and the other towards the West where falling upon China Machina and Catay he conquer'd the powerful King of the Chorasmians Gelalodan Another Expedition After this Anno 1224. he made another Expedition to Catay though with the loss of many of his Men three Years after which he dying was succeeded by his third Son Ocotay Chan or Octay Cahon who by Abraham Zacuth is call'd The King of the Catayans He being setled in his Dominions by Laws Arms and Conquest also died and was succeeded by his Son Gayung Chan who likewise Reigning but a short time was with the consent of the Princes and Supreme Governors succeeded by Mango Chan who being Nephew to Tzingiz Chan was chosen Emperor Anno 1255 he sent his Brother Hulako Chan with an Army beyond the River Oxus to Assyria to compleat the Conquest whereof he took Bagdad or Babylon and destroy'd all the Inhabitants thereof in the space of seven days and here fell Mustasem the thirty fifth Calif or Emperor of the Abbasidas After the death of Mango Chan his youngest Brother Coblai Chan was Crown'd in his stead After the expiration of four years Prince Hulako Chan eldest Brother to Mango Chan also dying left his Son Abgai Chan to Govern the Western parts of his Dominions being Media and Assyria Next Coblai Chan Temur Chan Nephew to Coblai and youngest Son to Mango Chan succeeded in the Throne All these six Chans or Princes Govern'd over Cathay and China besides a great many other Countreys The eleventh was Buzengir Chan or Bugancan the original or first Parent of the Mogol Kings and Father to the famous Temur Chan by some call'd Teimurlang and Tamerlane that is Teimur the Decrepit or Maimed This Tamerlane the thirteenth in order from Chingiz Chan who dy'd on the Mogol's Borders at a Place call'd Anzar Anno 1403 had four Sons viz. John Guyr who being the eldest dy'd a year before his Father and left two Sons the one call'd Mahumed Sultan and the other Pyr Mahumed the last of whom succeeded Tamerlane in the Kingdoms of Oaznehem and India and being afterwards slain by Pyr Aly left a Son call'd Abusaid The second Son of Tamerlane nam'd Hamar Xeque being Governor of Persia was in his Father's time kill'd in a Wood belonging to Chormatu now call'd Cormawata in Orestan The third nam'd Mirunxa succeeded his Father in Governing of the Countreys of Hierack Aderbajon and the Lands extending to Damas he was slain by Cara Issuf Anno 1401. or as others say Anno 1407. This Mirunxa had two Sons viz. Homar Lord of Bagdad was taken by his Brother but at last getting his Liberty he conquer'd him and became King of Tabris or Tebris Not long after which he was defeated by Cara Issuf in the Year 1407. and forc'd to flie first to Corman and afterwards to Siston from whence coming the next year with a great Army he was kill'd The fourth Son to Tamerlane being Myrza Xarack always accompanying his Father succeeded him in the Throne Abusaid succeeding his Father Pyr Mahumed Son to John Guyr conquer'd Myrza Adulla King of Maurenahar of whose Kingdom he became Master in the Year 1452. After the death of Abusaid his Son Myrza Sultan Hamed became King of Maurenahar and having Reign'd twenty eight years dy'd Anno 1495. Myrzah Babor Nephew to Hamed inheriting the Kingdom of Maurenahar was driven thence by Xaybeck Chan King of Usbeck in the Year 1500. and forc'd to flie to Garnehem and from thence into India where he setled himself and after a Reign of thirty eight years dy'd An. 1532. leaving two Sons Hamayon Myrza and Camoran who were both created Kings after his Death This Myrza Babor is by some as Peruschi call'd Baburxa who drove the Patanes from Indostan of which they had made themselves Masters and forc'd them to flie to the Isles before the Bay of Bengala After Babor's Death Hamayon Myrza obtaining the best and richest Kingdom of India kept a Vice-Roy call'd Xyrcan who mutinying maintain'd War against him and forc'd him to desert his Kingdom and flie to Persia where King Schach Tamas Son to Ismael Reigning at that time lent him twelve thousand choice Soldiers under the Command of Byrancam who
restor'd Hamayon to his Kingdom and slew the Rebel Xyrcan A Tartarian Prince settles in India and becomes Founder of the Royal Family there Della Valle writes That a Nephew of one of the Tartarian Princes after Tamerlane had distributed his vast Dominions amongst his Children and Grandchildren travell'd over the Mountain Imaus or Taurus to seek his Fortunes in India at a Prince's Court who possess'd a great part of the Countrey where by means of the chiefest Persons in the Kingdom and many good Services done for the State he so insinuated himself that he got firm footing in the Countrey insomuch that in process of time and several vicissitudes one of his Successors attain'd to the Throne and was made the Founder of the Royal House which Reigns at present and of which Schach Selim who Reign'd about the Year 1620 was the Fourth The Successor of Hamayon Myrza was his Son Gelaladin Eckbar or Ackbar or Akebar otherwise Achabar that is Great or Most powerful Peruschi calls him Mahomet Zelabdin He was born in a Territory call'd Chaquata which lies Northward between the Tartars and Persians and borders Southward upon India SCHACH SELIM Ecbars Death and Character This Eckbar dy'd on the twenty seventh day of October Anno 1605. in the sixty third year of his Age He was belov'd by all his Subjects fear'd by his Nobles and courteous to all he deported himself with equal moderation to Strangers and to the Natives whether Christians Mahumetans or Heathens which oblig'd all Parties to him and rendred them devoted to his Service He Pray'd to God constantly every Morning and Evening Noon and Midnight abhorr'd Cruelties insomuch that by virtue of a Law made by him none were to die unless Sentence had been pronounc'd against them three times and easily pardon'd Criminals if they could but make any reasonable Excuse Mean Presents he receiv'd with as great kindness as those of biggest value regarding onely the good will of the Presenter He fed sparingly eating Flesh not above three or four times in a year the rest of the time his Diet being Rice Milk and Preserves He gave Audience to his Subjects and others twice a day out of a Window He could neither Write nor Read yet nevertheless understood very well all the Affairs of his Realm for the News that his Deputies writ him from all Places he caus'd to be read to him as also several Books He made strict enquiry of Strangers concerning the Power of their Princes and manner of Traffick He order'd a silver Bell to be hung at a Chain of fifteen yards long to the end that all those who could not obtain Justice from his Officers should come and complain to him thereof giving him notice of their being there by pulling the Bell which he no sooner heard but immediately came forth and saw that they had Right done them He had three Sons and two Daughters the eldest who succeeded him in his Throne was Scieco to which as a Title of Honor was added Gio which in the Countrey Language signifies Soul so that Scieco-Gio signifies The Soul or Person of Scieco The second was call'd Pahari by Jarrick Sultan Morad and by Peruschi Sultan Horad who being deliver'd to some Jesuits to be instructed by them in the Romish Religion was slain in the Wars of Decan The third was call'd Dan or Daniel Texeira calls the eldest Xequa Patxa the second Pary Patxa who dy'd of some Distemper Anno 1602 and the third Sabelxa Patxa But the eldest is by Purchas Della Valle and others generally call'd Selim. Scieco Gio succeeds his Father by the Name of Schach Selim. When Scach Selim was born his Father nam'd him Sceichu for Eckbar who till that time had no Male issue believ'd that he had obtain'd him from God by the Prayers of one Schach a Man accounted very holy and religious But his Father about the twelfth or thirteenth year of his Age changing his first Name according to the Custom of the Countrey call'd him Schach Selim which in the Arabick signifies A Peaceable King supposing this Name to agree best with his Temper and Disposition On the the eighth day after Eckbar's Death Selim in the beginning of his Reign to gain the favor and good opinion of the Mahumetans whom he had promis'd to defend their Laws caus'd their Temples to be cleans'd and took upon him the Name of Nurdin Mahumed Jahanair or according to Della Valle Nura Eddin Muchamed Gihon Ghir that is The Light of the Belief of Mahomet and Conqueror of the World because he publickly declar'd to be a Mahumetan notwithstanding in his heart he neither esteem'd Mahomet nor his Laws nor did he regard any Religion yet he kept the Name of Schach Selim by which he was call'd amongst the common People This Scach Selim amongst all his Women had one who was acknowledg'd as a Queen and being honor'd above all the Ladies of his Court bore a great sway nothing being done in the Kingdom but by her Conduct and Power She was a native Indian but of Persian Blood viz. Daughter to a Persian who deserting his native Countrey came into India to serve the Great Mogol as many Persians do who for the many good Services which he had done him made him a Chan and Vice-Roy of a Province A Persian Lady gains to be made Queen by her resolute Carriage This Queen was first Marry'd to another Persian Nobleman who was also in the Mogol's Service after whose Death by some means or other she came acquainted with Schach Selim who falling in love with her desir'd her to go into his Haram or Seraglio amongst his other Concubines which she modestly refusing said That she had once been the Wife of one who in all Places had given proofs of his Valor being never daunted by any of his Enemies Moreover that she was the Daughter of such a Father as accounted Honor the greatest Good wherefore she could never be brought to forget her self so much as to be guilty of any unchaste Action neither would her Birth and Quality permit her to be put into the King 's Haram and us'd as a common Slavess but if the King had so great an Affection for her as to make her his lawful Consort she should never be wanting in the Duty which she ow'd to the King but at all times be subject and ready to obey his Commands This her bold Answer so incens'd the King that it wanted very little but he had forc'd her to Marry one of those Persons call'd Halalchor who are those that without scruple eat of all sorts of Meat and are the most despicable and scorn'd People of all India yet nevertheless she remain'd so firm and constant that she resolv'd rather to die than change her Mind The King more and more overcome by her Beauty at last consulted to Marry her as his lawful Wife and caus'd her to be acknowledg'd as Queen and chief of all the King 's Haram which
Predecessors though as others say not rigid in maintaining the Laws which are prescrib'd them The Issue of Schach Jehan Schach Jehan had four Sons and two Daughters the eldest Son was call'd Dara that is Darius or according to Bernier Darachacour the second Sultan Sujas that is A Prudent Prince the third Aurengzebe which is The Ornament of the Throne and the fourth or last Morad Backche that is Perfect Desire Others call'd Darachacour Darasja Sujas chasausa Aurengzebe Orang Oranchzef Moradbackcha and Moradbeg all which he made Vice-Roys or Governors of divers of his best Provinces or Kingdoms viz. Oranchzef Commanded in Decan Sultan Chasausa in Bengala Moradbeck in Zurratte but he always kept Darasja by him as being Heir apparent to the Crown and his Successor Two years before viz. Anno 1654. Schach Jehan at his return from Asmeer fell exceeding sick insomuch that his Recovery was very doubtful and a rumor that he was dead spread through the whole Realm from whence there arose a great Difference between these Brothers who all aiming at the Crown maintain'd a Civil War for five years but at last Oranchzef after the Decease of of his Father who dy'd in Prison and also the Death of his three Brothers made himself Master of the Realm The Character of his Children The eldest Daughter of Schach Jehan was named Begum Saheb that is My Lady Princess and the youngest Raichenara Begum that is Illustrious Princess or Light of Princesses which kind of Names are very frequently given to the Princes and Princesses of this Countrey because all the Lands belonging to the King there are no Dukedoms Earldoms nor Lordships from whence the Nobles can derive their Names and Titles they having nothing but Rewards for their good Services either in Lands or ready Money which the Mogol gives them and increases decreases or takes away when he pleases wherefore the Omrahs or Omars have no other but such kind of Names as these viz. Raz Andazekan Safe Chekenkan Bark Andazekan and Dianetchan or Danechmendkan or Fazelkan which signifie Striker of Thunder Confounder of the Rich Vomiter of Lightning Faithful Knowing Perfect Lord and the like Darasja the eldest Son wanted not good Parts for he was courteous in Conversation subtil very civil and exceeding bountiful yet so self-conceited that he believ'd himself able to do all things and could not imagine that any one was capable of giving him Advice He often scoffed at those that had given him Council so that his best Friends durst not adventure to discover to him the secret Intentions of his Brothers He also on a small occasion would rail curse and threaten the greatest Omrahs or Lords in his Passion which soon ceas'd And although he was a Mahumetan and manifested the same in his publick Devotion yet he privately profess'd himself a Heathen amongst the Heathens and a Christian amongst Christians He constantly kept some Pendelt or Heathen Teachers by him who receiv'd great Rewards and perswaded him into an Opinion contrary to the Religion of the Countrey He also hearkned some time since to the Instructions of a Jesuit call'd Buze and took great liking to his Doctrine and yet some affirm that he was of no Religion at all and that that which he did was onely out of curiosity or for his pleasure or rather out of subtilty to make himself belov'd by the Christians of which he had great numbers in his Army and especially to gain the Rajas or Heathen Lords Tributary to this Realm that when occasion should require he might get them to side with him but let it be how it will it did not much tend to his advantage as shall appear in the following Relation for the Pretence which Orangzef made use of to cut off his Head was because he was turn'd Caffer which is properly an Unbeliever or one without Religion Sultan Sujas or Chasausa was almost of the same Temper and Disposition but more subtil and reserv'd and withal very politick in contriving of Plots for the management whereof he got many Friends by making Presents to the chief Omrahs and eminent Rajas yet still at times of recess was so exceedingly inclin'd to the Sports of Venus that keeping many Concubines he spent whole Nights and Days in their company Singing Drinking and Dancing with them He profess'd himself of the Persian Belief although Schach Jehan and all his Brothers were of the Turks Opinion which he did for this reason because the most eminent Persons at the Mogol's Court and those which have the greatest Employments being for the most part Persians as also their Children he hop'd by this means to gain their Affections to be of his Party Oranchzef had not that generous Spirit nor affable Deportment as Darasja but seem'd to be of a more profound reach well knowing all his People and chose those that would certainly stick to him in time of need He was very reserv'd subtil and a great Dissembler insomuch that he pretended himself a long time to be a Fakier or Derwis that is a poor Monk who hath deny'd all the Glories of the World and seemingly disown'd any Interest in the Crown and that he desir'd to spend his days in Prayers and Devotion whil'st he was still plotting at the Court especially when he was made Vice-Roy of Decan and carry'd his whole Designs with so much secrecy that no Person could take any notice thereof He also insinuated himself exceedingly into his Father Schach Jehan's favor who notwithstanding the great inclination he had towards Darasja could not hide his affection to Oranchzef which bred such Jealousies in Darasja that he us'd often to say to his Friends Of all my Brothers I fear none but this Nemaz that is This great Dissembler Moradbeck the youngest of all was none of the most subtil thinking on nothing but how to recreate himself either in Drinking Hunting and Arching yet nevertheless he had some good Parts and accounted it a great Vertue to keep nothing secret He was indeed a Prince of a noble Temper which had it been accompany'd with a little more reservedness and prudent Conduct he would certainly have been preferr'd before his Brother and made King of Indostan as shall appear hereafter SCHAH IEHAAN The Mogol's youngest Daughter Raichenara Begum was never accounted so beautiful nor ingenious as Begum Saheb but delighted as much in lasciviousness She always sided with Oranchzef and declar'd her self an Enemy to her Sister and Darasja which made her not to be so well belov'd nor had she so much Interest to dispatch Businesses like her Sister yet nevertheless being in the Seraglio and holding Correspondence with many Intelligencers she was not negligent in discovering many Secrets to Oranchzef Schach Jehan a little before these Troubles seeing himself charg'd with these four Princes all grown up and Marry'd and observing that each of them pretended to the Crown and carrying themselves as Enemies one to another sought privately to compass their Designs was exceedingly perplex'd
but wrote to all the Omrahs making sure every day one or other of them whilst Chah-kestcan his Uncle a great Enemy to Darasja by reason of an Affront which he had receiv'd from him did the same for him on his part setting all People and raising Parties against him In the mean time Oranchzef practis'd his subtilty for whatsoever he acted treated of and promis'd was not as he pretended professing that he design'd himself to live a Fakier upon his own account but for Moradbeck by whose Command he did all things he being the Person design'd to be King Darasja's sad Case Mean while the unfortunate Darasja went in despair to Agra where he durst not visit his Father remembring the words which he spake to him at his departure viz. That he should never think to see him if he lost the Battel Yet Schach Jehan sent secretly a trusty Eunuch to comfort him and assure him of his affections and also to declare to him his trouble for his misfortune and to demonstrate to him that the case was not yet desperate considering that there was a good Army with Soliman Chekouh his Son and that he should go to Deli where he would find a thousand Horse in the Royal Stables and that the Governor of the Fortress had order to furnish him with Money and Elephants Moreover That he should be as little absent as he could and write often to his Father And lastly That he should find out a way to chastise and punish Oranchzef It is said that when the Eunuch brought this News from his Father Darasja was in such a sollitary and despairing humor that he did not give the Eunuch one word in answer nor send any Messenger to his Father but after having sent several times to his Sister Begum Saheb he went privately at midnight with his Wife Daughter and youngest Son Sepechekouh to Deli in the company of not above two or three hundred Persons Thus leaving him a while on his Journey to Deli we will stay a little at Agra to consider the dexterity and craft wherewith Oranchzef proceeded to manage Affairs How Oranchzef manag'd his Affairs after the Battel He well knew that Darasja and those of his Party had yet some hopes in the Victorious Army of Soliman Chekouh and therefore he endeavor'd to bereave him thereof or at least to make the same useless to him To this end he wrote divers Letters to the Raja Jesseingue and to Delilcan the Prime Commanders of Soliman Chekouh's Army telling them That there was no more hopes to be built on Darasja and his Party That he had lost the Battel his whole Army having abandon'd him and submitted themselves to him and that he being fled alone to Deli could not possibly escape his Hands he having laid wait in all Places to seise on him As to what concern'd Schach Jehan he told them That he was in a desperate condition and beyond any hopes of recovery That they should take great care what they did and if they were People of understanding and desirous to share in his Fortune and to be his Friends they should seize on Soliman Chekouh and bring him to him Jesseingue found himself sufficiently perplex'd in what he had to do exceedingly fearing Schach Jehan and more to lay Hands on a Royal Person well knowing that at one time or other some mischief might befal him even from Oranchzef himself Besides he knew that Soliman Chekouh had too much Courage to suffer himself to be taken after that manner and that he would rather die in defending himself Wherefore having consulted with Delilcan his great Friend and after they had renew'd their Oaths of Mutual Fidelity he went directly to the Tent of Soliman Chekouh who with great impatience expected him he having also heard the News of his Father's being defeated and had already sent for him several times He then made the Prince a free discovery of all things shew'd him the Letter of Oranchzef told him what course was best for him to take represented to him the danger he was in adding That there was no reason he should repose any confidence in Delilcan or in Daoudcan or any of the rest of his Army but that as soon as was possible he should flie to the Mountains of Serenaguer which would be the best Expedient he could take for the Raja of that Countrey being in unaccessible Places and not knowing Oranchzef would undoubtedly receive him with much freedom and from thence he might from time to time see how things would go and always be ready to return again when he pleas'd But the young Prince immediately apprehended by this Discourse that henceforth there was no great confidence to be put in Jesseingue and that there was no safety there for his Person because he knew Delilcan to be of his Party so that he saw there was a necessity of making use of Jesseingue's Counsel Whereupon commanding his Baggage to be pack'd up he immediately march'd towards the Mountains Some of his most affectionate Friends as a good number of Mansebdars Saieds and others went along to attend him whilst the rest of the Army altogether astonish'd remain'd with Jesseingue But that which was very mean and a base and sordid act of such eminent Persons was that Jesseingue and Delilcan sent a Party after him to rob him of his Baggage and also among other things an Elephant laden with golden Ropias which caus'd great disorder amongst those small Troops that follow'd him occasioning many to desert him and return to the Army and to compleat his misfortune the Countrey People also set upon his Men pillaging and destroying several of them Yet nevertheless he got to the Mountains with his Wife and Children where the Raja of Serenaguer receiv'd him with all the Honour and Civility he could desire assuring him also that he was as much in safety as the King of that Countrey and that he would protect and assist him with all his Forces Mean while Affairs were carried after the following manner at Agra Oranchzef comes to Agra Three or four days after the Battel at Samonguer Oranchzef and Moradbeck came directly to the Gates of the City Agra into a Garden about two Miles from the Castle whither Oranchzef sent a trusty Eunuch with Salutations to his Father and a thousand Protestations of his Affection and Submission and that he was exceeding sorry for what had pass'd and for having been forc'd by reason of the Ambition and evil Designs of Darasja to proceed to all these extremities moreover that he rejoyc'd extremely to hear that he began to find himself better and that he was come thither for no other end than to receive his Commands Schach Jehan was not wanting to express much satisfaction to the Eunuch as to the Proceedings of Oranchzef and receiv'd the Submissions of his Son with all possible appearances of Joy though he very well saw that matters had been carried too far and sufficiently knew the reserv'd and
the night before he receiv'd this News from the Governor of Amadabad he did me the Honor to make me come into the Caravansera where he was out of fear to be set upon that night by the Coullys and I was a thing incredible in Hindostan where all Noblemen are so exceeding jealous so near to this Princes Consort that the Cords of the Canates or little Houses for they had not so much as a Tent were fastned to the Wheels of my Chariot I relate this Circumstance by the by onely to shew the Extremity Darasja was reduc'd to When the Women heard the foremention'd sad News That they could not get into the City which was about the break of day they broke forth into strange Cries and Lamentations and all things were in an inexpressible confusion every one looking upon his Neighbor and none knowing what to do or what would become of them Soon after Darasja coming forth strangely terrified first spoke to one and then to another even to the meanest NURMAHAL Soldier But seeing them all amaz'd and ready to abandon him what Counsel can he take Whether can he go He must fly instantly but whether he knew not And you may judge of the extremity he was in by this small accident I shall here relate viz. Of three great Oxen which drew my Chariot one died the day before another in the night and the third was not able to go for during the small time I was with him we march'd night and day the Heat and Dust being intolerable so that to my good Fortune he left me behind not being able to get either Oxen Horses or Camels for me I saw him march away with Tears in his Eyes accompanied with four or five hundred Cavaliers at the most and with two Elephants which were said to be laden with Treasure with intention to go to Tatabacor seeing he could do no better though it seem'd almost if not altogether impossible in respect of the few Men which he had left and the vast Sandy Desarts for the most part without Water which he was to cross in the heat of Summer which destroy'd many of those that follow'd him especially several of his Women who perish'd either of drought the unwholesom Waters tiresom Ways ill Food or by the Coullys beforemention'd Yet nevertheless with much pains he reach'd the Countrey of the Raja Catche though it had been happier for him to have died also in his March thither Darasja betray'd by the Raja Gatche This Raja at first gave him a very good Reception even so far as to promise him assistance with all his Forces provided he would give his Daughter in Marriage to his Son But Jesseingue inform'd thereof soon prevail'd with this Raja as he had done with Jessomseingue so that Darasja observing the kindness of this Barbarian to cool on a sudden and that consequently his Person was in danger there he betook himself to the pursuit of his Expedition to Tatabacar Whilst Darasja proceeded forward in his Journey the War continu'd still in Bengala and much longer than was expected Sultan Chasausa using his whole endeavor to conquer Emir Jemla Yet this troubled not Oranchzef so much because he knew it was a great way between Bengala and Agra and being sufficiently assur'd of the Fidelity and Valor of Emir Jemla but that which disquieted him was to see Soliman Chekouh almost at his Gates for it is not above eight days Journey from Agra to the Mountains and being perpetually allarm'd by the Rumors which were spread That he was coming out of the Mountains with the Raja And indeed it was very difficult to draw him from thence but he compass'd his Design after this manner He made the Raja Jesseingue write divers Letters to the Raja of Serenaguer promising him very great things if he would surrender Soliman Chekouh to him and threatned to proclaim War against him if he refus'd to comply with his desire But the Raja reply'd That he would rather lose his Estate than do so unworthy an action Whereupon Oranchzef seeing his resolution march'd with his Army directly to the Foot of the Mountains where by an infinite number of Workmen he cut a Passage through the Rocks But the Raja laugh'd at his vain Attempt and indeed he had no cause to fear though Oranchzef cut never so long the Mountains being inaccessible for an Army and the Rocks able to withstand all the Powers of the Indostans which forc'd Oranchzef to return without effecting any thing The Siege of Tatabacar Mean while Darasja approaching the Fortress of Tatabacar and being come within two or three days Journey of the same receiv'd Advice That Mirbaba after having Besieg'd the Place a considerable time had at length reduc'd it to the utmost extremity insomuch that a Pound of Rice or Flesh was sold for a Crown and all other Provisions accordingly Nevertheless the Governor holding out made divers Sallies which extremely incommoded the Enemy and express'd all possible Prudence Courage and Fidelity deriding the Proposals of Mirbaba and all the Menaces and Promises of Oranchzef And when he heard that Darasja was not far off he redoubled his Liberalities and knew so well to gain the Hearts of all his Soldiers and to encourage them to fight bravely that there was not one but what resolv'd to Sally out upon the Enemy and to hazard all to raise the Siege and force Darasja's Entrance Mean while he sent Spies into Mirbaba's Camp to assure the Soldiers that they had seen Darasja approach with great Resolution and considerable Forces which struck such a fear amongst the Soldiers that had Darasja come at that instant as it was expected the Enemies Army had on sight of him undoubtedly Disbanded and a great part thereof gone over to him But he was still too unfortunate to atchieve any thing for his own advantage wherefore considering with himself that it was impossible for him to raise the Siege with such a handful of Men as he had he resolv'd to cross the River Indus and get into Persia which could not have been done without great trouble by reason of the Desarts and want of Water which is in those Parts besides those Countreys are Govern'd by Petty Rajas and Patans who acknowledge neither the Persian nor Mogol for their Superior But his Consort disswaded him from that Resolution for this weak Reason viz. That if he went into Persia he must be contented to see his Wife and Daughter Slaves to the King of Persia which was a thing no ways befitting the Grandeur of his Family and that he ought rather to die than undergo that Infamy Darasja being in this perplexity at last remember'd that not far from thence resided a Powerful Patan call'd Gimcan whose Life he had formerly twice sav'd when Schach Jehan had commanded he should be cast under the Feet of an Elephant for having rebell'd divers times against him Therefore he resolv'd to go to him hoping that he would give him sufficient
Moreover when they had all things granted them wanting nothing but to put in execution those Commandments which God had laid upon them Bremaw began seriously to consider with himself after what manner he might behave himself most honourably in the Employment that God had put him upon when on a sudden he felt a strange alteration in his Body accompanied with a general Pain through all his Parts such as that with a Woman in her Travel foretelling some strange and wonderful Event his Body was in an instant swell'd after a strange manner and his Intrails grew sensibly bigger than before At last his Body open'd in two Places viz. on his Right and Left Side out of which came two Twins the one a Male the other a Female both of their full growth Bremaw having receiv'd Strength again instructed them in things concerning Religion and call'd the Man Manow and the Woman Ceteroupa who after they had worshipp'd God thank'd Bremaw that brought them into the VVorld and having receiv'd his Blessing they travell'd towards the East setling on a Mountain call'd Munderpurvool to the end that those which they should beget might spread themselves East West North and South No sooner were they come to the foremention'd Mountain but Ceteroupa was deliver'd of three Sons and three Daughters whereof the eldest Son was call'd Priauretta the second Outanapautha the third Scomeraut the eldest Daughter was nam'd Kammah the second Sooneretaw and the third Sumboo As soon as they came to Age they were sent to several Places Priauretta and Kammah to the West to a Mountain call'd Segund Otanapautha and Soonurettaw to the North to the Mountain Ripola Someraut and Sumboo to the South to the Mountain Supars all which Countries they made very populous By this means Bremaw was the first Father of all the Inhabitants of the Earth whilst Wistney took care for all necessary things for the preservation of humane Creatures which Bremaw had made by affording them all the Blessings that make Men happy in this Life till at last Ruddery sent Sickness Death and a Curse among the Children of Men who by their wicked Lives had justly merited God's Vengeance This was the manner of Government which God us'd for the restoring of the World and all humane Creatures which were to inhabit in the second Age. Furthermore God according to the Relation of the Benjans taught Men to serve him after this manner When God saw that there could be no Order nor lawful Government in those Places where his Worship and Service was not Establish'd he resolv'd to make Laws for the preventing of Man's committing those Crimes which were the destruction of the first Age In order whereunto he descended upon the Mountain Meropurbatee to which Place he call'd Bremaw to whom he appear'd in his Glory through a dark and thick Cloud telling him That he was necessitated to destroy the first Age by reason Men would not obey his Commands which were contain'd in the Book he had given to Brammon At the same time God gave Bremaw another Book and commanded him to teach all things that were contain'd therein Bremaw to Execute his Office publish'd God's Commandments to all People on the Earth The Benjans call this Book Shaster that is The Book of Written Words which contains three Treatises or Parts the first whereof contains their Fundamental Laws with an Explanation of each Commandment The second treats of the Ceremonial Law and teaches them the Ceremonies which are to be observ'd in their Religion The third Treatise distinguishes all Men into certain Families or Tribes and comprehends the Commandments of each Tribe in particular which is all that is contain'd in the Book Shaster out of which we will here set down the chief Heads thereof The first Treatise in which is describ'd the Fundamental Laws which Bremaw taught contain'd the following eight 1. Thou shalt not kill any Creature that hath Life in it for thou art one of the Creatures and so is that thou art endu'd with a Soul as that is therefore thou shalt not take away the Life of any thing whatsoever it be which belongs to me 2. Thou shalt make a Contract with the five Senses First with thy Eyes that they may not see any thing that is ill Secondly with your Ears that they may not hearken to any bad thing Thirdly with your Tongue not to express any ill words Fourthly with your Pallat that you taste nothing unclean as Wine or the Flesh of living Creatures Lastly with your Hands that they may not touch any thing to defile them 3. Thou shalt exactly observe and keep all the Days and Times appointed for Devotion as likewise Cleansing with Worshipping and Praying which thou must perform with an upright and zealous Heart 4. Thou shalt not give any false Testimonies or speak Lies by means of which thou mightest defraud thy Brother and enrich thy self by fraudulent means when thou Tradest with him 5. Thou shalt be merciful to the Poor according to thy Power and assist them in their Necessities with Meat Wood and other things they may stand in need of for their support 6. Thou shalt not oppress the Poor and serve thy self with that Power which is given thee to destroy thy Brother unjustly 7. Thou shalt keep certain Feasts and Holidays without pampering thy Body and feeding thy self with Laciviousness but on the contrary spend certain Days in Fasting and in stead of Sleeping over much Watch often to be the better prepar'd for Praying and for the performance of all other Holy Offices 8. Thou shalt not take any thing from thy Brother whatever it be wherewith thou art entrusted but content thy self with what he shall give thee for thy Reward remembring thou hast no Right to that which belongs to another These eight Commandments are prescrib'd to all the four Tribes in general but besides them they have two more which are particular to each Tribe First Bramines and Schuddery that is the Priests and Merchants are strictly oblig'd to observe their Religious Commandments and have near Relation one to another in Matters of Religion as there is between those of Kuttery and Wyse that is the Magistrates and Handicrafts They ascribe to the Bramines which are the Priests the first and second Commandments because they place the chief of their Religion in these two things first to prevent the killing of living Creatures and next to abstain from all forbidden things as eating of Flesh drinking of Wine and the like which the Kutteries and Benjans are also strictly to observe They attribute particularly the third and fourth Commandments to Schuddery as being very suitable to his Office because it may possess the People with Devotion and prevent those fraudulent Practises which are common among Traders To Kuttery they prescribe being the Governors or Magistrates the fifth and sixth Commandments because they admonish the People of Love and Compassion to the Poor well knowing that Oppression is a common Sin among those that
especially near Sandaye where the Fruit call'd Mangas and Sugar-canes grow in such abundance that they give them to their Horses in stead of Hay Sheep are here in incredible numbers whose Wooll being like the Spanish is by the Inhabitants us'd to make Cloth The Woods abound with Elephants Lions Tygers Apes and other Beasts There are Inns in most Places where Horses Camels and other Beasts are set up and fed at the Expence of the Publick without any Charge to the Traveller In the City of Gorra are kept four Publick Schools The Bulloits were formerly a deceitful and cruel People At this day they retain that barbarous Custom of burning the Women alive after their Husbands decease but if any Woman refuse thus brutishly to sacrifice her self they then cause her Hair to be cut off and clothe her in Black and she is ever after accounted so ignominious and dishonorable that not the meanest Person will vouchsafe to assist or visit her In Sandaye is great store of Wooll and Cotton with abundance of Swords Lances and o her Weapons Many Merchants have likewise recourse to this City as Benjans Mesulipatans and great Caravans come to Barrandon where are sold all sorts of Arms Hats made of Wooll and Elephants Teeth The Province of the Hendowns or Hindous THE Country of the Hendowns or Hindous hath on the one side the Kingdom of Agra or Indostan where it is separated by the River Paddar which also divides the Country Zurratte and discharges it self into the Persian Gulph On the North it conterminates with the Kingdom of Multan or as others affirm they Inhabit the Northern Parts of Asmeer and those Parts that lye next to Multan They are also spread through all Surratte and are employ'd as Soldiers to Garrison Towns and Fortresses they being stout and undaunted People and not inferior to the Raspoutes and Patannes The Metropolis according to Daviti is Hendowne which bears the same Denomination with the whole Country The next Town is Rimala and the great City Mearta then follows Towri and about twenty two Leagues from thence the City Geissemer seated in a very delightful Place The Country yields plenty of Corn Cotton Fodder for Beasts and abounds with Sheep and Fowls The Inhabitants are generally great Robbers They dress and eat their Meat in a round spot of Ground into which while they are about preparing and eating their Food they suffer no other Person to come The Women from their Infancy wear little Silver Copper and Iron Chains about their Legs and Pendants in their Ears in which they make holes as big as they may easily thrust their Fingers through and Armlets from their Wrists up to their Elbows In Mearta are weekly kept seven Markets where they drive a great Trade in Indico Callico and Woollen Cloth as also at Gasmeer Moreover the Hindous though abstracted from Heathens eat all sorts of Meats both Flesh and Fish except that of an Ox or Cow When they pray they strip themselves stark naked and maintain a Doctrine different from the Benjans The Province of Sanbat or Sanbal and Bakar THE Province of Sanbat or Sanbal or Sanbe borders on the North at Bakar on the West at that of Agra and is separated on the South by the River Jemni from the Province of Narvar Some as Herbert call this Province Doab that is Between the Waters or Streams for Ab in the Persian Tongue signifies Water and Do Between It lies triangular and is encompass'd by the Streams Ganges and Jemni which make the Country very fruitful and 't was anciently mighty Populous The Metropolie is also call'd Sanbat In this Province twenty five Leagues from the City Agra near the Place where the Jemni falls into the Ganges lies a stately Palace now call'd Helabassa but formerly Praye and founded by the Rajas of that Place in testimony of their Subjection to Ecbar when they submitted themselves to his Jurisdiction The most remarkable thing near this Palace is a large and dark Valley wherein are kept as precious Relicks some Images which the Inhabitants affirm to be of Adam Eve Seth Enoch Methusalem and others which as they relate liv'd in this Place Great Companies of Benjans come daily hither from all Parts to bless themselves here and purifie or wash themselves from all their Sins in the River Ganges which they account Holy They shave off all their Hair and ease themselves thereof as an unclean and unnecessary Burden and promise to themselves great Benefits by the loss thereof The Palace is surrounded with a treble Wall whereof the first is of square Red Stones the second of White and comprehends an Obelisk of seventy two Foot high erected by Alexander the Great The King spent above twelve hundred thousand Ropias to build this Palace of which the Kings of Patan have often endeavor'd to make themselves Masters because of the conveniency of the Rivers which are so near it There is also a Sanctified Tree which the Kings of Patan have endeavor'd to root out but could never attain to it Near Helabas is a magnificent Tomb which King Sanghir built in honour to his first Wife the Raja Maminseng's Daughter who poyson'd her self when she heard of her Son Sultan Gosrou's Insurrection The Territory of Bakar borders on the West at the Stream Ganges on the South at Sanbal on the West at Nagrakat and hath Bikaneer or Bikameer for its Metropolis The Province of Nagrakat THE Province of Nagrakat or Nakercut borders Westward at that of Bakar and at the Stream Ganges It is a Mountainous Country and the utmost to the Northward of the Mogol's Jurisdictions The Metropolis call'd also Nagrakat is adorn'd with a splendid Chappel for the Cieling and Floor is In-lay'd with Plates of Silver in divers Forms which are continually kept scoured It was built in honour of an Idol they call Matta which is erected in this Chappel whither the Indians repair to their Devotion and out of Zeal often cut a piece of their Tongues off as an Offering to the Idol In this Province is another eminent Holy place built on a Rock and call'd Jallamakee where from the cold Springs which run out from between the Rocks are daily seen to arise Flashes of Fire to which the Idolaters kneel down and worship The Provinces of Siba Kakares and Gor. THE Province of Siba lieth to the Northward of Nagrakat and is divided by the River Ganges from North to South The Metropolis call'd Hardware is seated near the Ganges which gliding thereabouts through great Rocks soon after makes a large River The most eminent Rock through which the Ganges takes its Course hath according to the supposition of the superstitious Heathens the form or shape of a Cows Head and they come hither daily in great numbers to wash themselves for they ascribe a certain Divine Power to the Water especially of the Ganges The Territory of Kakares lieth Northward beyond that of Siba and being separated from Tartary by the Caucasian Mountains