this part of my Story since the bare Relation which I shall make in reprepresenting 'em such will justifie me perhaps in the Judgment of my Readers The most Famous Prince that ever Mingrelia had since it revolted from the King of Imiretta was Levan Dadian Uncle to him that Reigns at this present He was Valiant Generous a Person of great Wit indifferently just and more happy in his Undertakings He made War upon his Neighbours and vanquish'd 'em all and no question but he would have made an excellent Prince had he been born in a better Country But the Custom in his Country of Marrying several Wives and those near Relations was that which transported him to such Excesses as render'd him unworthy of all Encomiums He remain'd an Orphan almost as soon as he had out-liv'd his Infant Years at what time his Father dying left him to the Tuition of his Brother who was Uncle by the Fathers side to the Young Pupil and call'd by the Name of George the Soveraign Prince of Libardian a Country that extends it self a great way into Mount Caucasus This George faithfully discharg'd his Trust in the Tuition of his Nephew He bred him well and prudently Govern'd Mingrelia during his Minority Levan being Twenty Four Years of Age Espous'd the Daughter of the Prince of the Abca's by whom he had two Sons she being a Lovely Princess and a Woman of a great Wit 'T is true she was tax'd of being none of the most Faithful Wives which perhaps might be in revenge of the Foul-play which her Husband openly play'd her every Day Now among the rest of the Women with whom he fell in Love one was the VVife of George his Uncle who had been his Tutor and to whom he had been so highly oblig'd This Lady went by the Name of Darejan of a Considerable Family which was call'd Chilakè And as she was extreamly beautiful but wicked and ambitious beyond Imagination she was not only content to violate her Conjugal Fidelity and for two Years together to live in an Incestuous League with the Prince her Nephew but over-perswaded him at the end of that season to take her away by Force repudiate his own VVife and Marry her Levan was over-rul'd by her He took the Adulteress by Force from her Husbands House He Marry'd her and eight days after sent home his first Wife ignominiously without any Train back to her Father King of the Abca's after he had caus'd her Nose her Ears and her Hands to be cut off And the pretence which he took to excuse so horrid a piece of Cruelty was That she had committed Adultery with the Vizier whose Name was Papona And the better to make People believe the truth of it he caus'd this Vizier to be stopp'd into the Mouth of a Cannon at the same time that he maim'd his own VVife However all Men agreed that there was nothing of Incontinence that had been committed between her and the Vizier only that he sacrific'd his VVife and his Prime Minister to the Hatred and Jealousie of the Chilakite The Love of this wicked VVoman caus'd him to Sacrifice these Important Victims but her Ambition forc'd him to offer up two more pretious Oblations For Levan himself poyson'd his two Sons which he had had by the Princess his VVife The Chilakite perswading him to this incredible Inhumanity to the end the Children which she should have by him might Reign more securely Prince George had a great kindness for his Wife as much an Adulteress and as wicked as she was So that her being tak'n from him by force threw him into a most furious despair He perform'd the Ceremony of Mourning for her Forty Days according to the Custom of the Country as if she had been Dead after which he betook himself to Arms and fell into the Territories of the Prince his Nephew But Levan was Valiant and had good Souldiers about him so that George was constrain'd to retire into his Mountains where he died soon after for Grief and Vexation The Prince of the Abca's also went about to revenge the Affront and Injury done him in the Person of the Princess his Daughter but with as ill success He rais'd Forces began a War against the Prince of Mingrelia and tho the consequences of the War did not at all fall out to his Advantage yet would he never make Peace or Truce with him nor would he put an end to the War till he understood the Death of his Barbarous Son-in-Law There was also a Third Enemy more formidable but as unsuccessful that would not suffer Levan to be at rest This was his own Brother call'd Joseph who engag'd himself so far in the just Resentments of his Uncle George and the Prince of the Abca's that he resolv'd to revenge their Quarrel by causing the Criminal to be Murder'd To that purpose he corrupted one of his Guards an Abca by Birth to Assassinate him the Prince's Cup-Bearer being also Privy to the Conspiracy The Plot was so lay'd that Joseph should go and Dine at the Palace that the Abca Guard should stand behind him with a Lance in his Hand and that when the Prince lifted to his Mouth one of those great Beakers of Wine which the Mingrelians Drink at the end of the Meal the Cup-Bearer should make a sign to the Abca who was then to strike him through the Body with his Lance. This Plot was within a little of being put in Execution but fail'd when the stroak was ready to have been given Divine Justice resolving that Levan's Crimes should be his own Murderers and Executioners which spar'd him a long time before they accomplish'd it For the Prince perceiv'd the sign which the Cup-Bearer gave the Guard and as it were inspir'd threw himself down from the place where he stood so that the Lance never touch'd him at all However the Abca escap'd but the Cup-Bearer was seiz'd put to the Rack and dismember'd after he had confess'd what he knew of the Plot. Prince Joseph had his Eyes pull'd out and dy'd soon after leaving a Son who is now Prince of Mingrelia Levan had by his Incestuous Conjunction two Sons and one Daughter who suffer'd every one for the Iniquity of their Father being all Three Paralytick No means were unsought for their Cure but all in vain their Distemper Non-pluss'd all the Physitians in the Country the Theatins and an Eminent Greek Physitian who was sent for from Constantinople The Youngest Son and the Daughter dy'd by that time they arriv'd at the Age of Twenty Years or there-about but Alexander the Eldest Son liv'd longer was Marry'd and had a Child his Wife being the Daughter of the Prince of Guriel Which one Son he had a Year after he was Marry'd and then dy'd while his Father was yet living Levan dy'd in the Year 1657. after whose Death the Shilakite was in such high Credit as to set up in his place a Son which she had by her first Husband
but which most People were assur'd was begot by Levan But this Young Prince whose Name was Vomeki did not Reign long For the Vice-Roy of that part of Georgia which is under the Dominion of Persia dispoil'd him of his Principality and reinvested in it Levan's Lawful Heir after he had invaded Mingrelia and the Territories of Imiretta Which Invasion being an Accident that happens to be genuinely apposite to this Recital I shall only give a short accompt of the occasion The Deceas'd King of Imiretta who was call'd Alexander and who dy'd in the Year 1658. had Two Wives the First was the Daughter of the Prince of Guriel call'd Tamar whom he divorc'd for her Adulteries after he had had a Son and a Daughter by her The Son who was call'd Bacrat Mirza Reigns at this present King of Imiretta The Daughter is Princess of Mingrelia the same that I have giv'n ye such an accompt of that would have both Robb'd and Marry'd me to her Friend The Second Wife which Alexander Marry'd was call'd Darejan a Young Princess and Daughter of the Great and Famous Taymur Razkan last Soveraign King of Georgia He had no Children by her and left her a Widow after he had been Marry'd to her four Years They talk Wonders of her Beauty and her alluring Graces So soon as his Son-in-Law Bacrat came to the Throne she wou'd have had him to Marry her Bacrat was not then above Fifteen Years of Age so that the Charms of her Beauty could not make those deep Impressions upon his Heart as being so young that the Evil Customs of his Country had not yet corrupted him VVhich was the Reason that he abhorr'd the Proposal and return'd disdainful Answers to her Courtship Darejan therefore finding she could not support her self upon the Throne immediately advanc'd to his Bed a young Person of Twelve Years of Age her Kinswoman call'd Sistan Darejan the Daughter of Daitona the Brother of Taymur Razkan whom Bacrat Marry'd at Fifteen Years of Age as has been already said So that Darejan assur'd her self of the Soveraign Power and of keeping the King and Queen continually under her Guardianship But Bacrat as young as he was perceiv'd his Mother-in-Laws Design and one Day gave her apparent Testimonies of his Disgust Upon which Darejan to satisfie Bacrat assur'd him that she would forbear to take any Authority upon her Who being a good-natur'd well-meaning Prince easily believ'd Darejan and restor'd her to his former Confidence not dreaming of the Treason that she was meditating against him To that purpose she feign'd her self sick and sent for the King to come to her who went accordingly with a great deal of Frankness and VVillingness at what time certain People that she had posted in her Chamber seiz'd and bound him Presently she order'd him to be conveigh'd to the Fortress of Cotatis the Principal City of the Country the Governour of which place was her own Creature Soon after she came thither her self sent for all the Grandees whom she had gain'd to her Party and of whom she was assur'd and with them consulted for five Days together what to do with the King Some advis'd her to put him to Death others to pull out his Eyes which latter advice she follow'd and so the Prince was depriv'd of his sight VVhich happen'd Eight Months after the Marriage of that poor Prince which they said moreover he had not fully then consummated Among the rest of the Lords that were of Darejan's Party there was one with whom she was passionately in love whose Name was Vactangle Him she Marry'd and caus'd him to be Crown'd King in the Fortress Which highly incens'd the rest of the Lords who thought themselves all affronted by his Advancement Thereupon they fell oft from siding with Darejan joyn'd themselves with the contrary Party took Arms and call'd to their Assistance the Princes of Guriel and Mingrelia offering the Kingdom to which of the two should first come to their Aid Vomeki Dadian was the first that appear'd in the Field with all the Forces of his Country and soon reduc'd under his Subjection all that part which held for Darejan except the Fort of Cotatis However he laid Siege to that also but for want of Artillery he could do little good against the Besieged only that he kept 'em from stirring forth out of their Walls and it would have cost him a long time before he could have brought 'em to a surrender had it not been for the Politick Contrivance of a Lord of the Country whose Name was Ottia Chekaizè who brought that to pass by his Wit which they could not do with all their Force He went to the Fortress full of a feign'd Despair occasion'd by the Prince of Mingrelia he made Darejan believe that he was reduc'd to that extremity that he knew not where to find a more secure Sanctuary that he came to throw himself at her Feet to beg her Pardon and desire her Protection against that Prince Darejan fell into the Snare She believ'd whatever Ottia said and that his extraordinary Zeal for her Interests was true She admitted him into her Council soon after encreas'd by the Bishop of Tifflis and the Catholicos of Georgia whom the Viceroy of that Country had sent her fearing lest they in whom she most confided should betray her But this same Runagate deceiv'd 'em both as quick-sighted as they were He told Darejan in their hearing That considering the Condition of her Affairs there was no other way to expel the Prince of Mingrelia to regain what he had won and to Reign securely but to have recourse to the Turk That her best way was to send her Husband to Constantinople for Assistance and the Confirmation of his Coronation That the Kingdom of Imiretta was Tributary to the Port and that the Grand Signior had both Right and Power sufficient to restore the Country to Peace and fix him in the Throne Darejan was Charm'd by this Advice and while he that gave it offer'd to assist in the Management of it and to Conduct Vactangle to Constantinople she threw her self at his Feet not having Words enough to express that Acknowledgment which she had in her Heart Vactangle took only two Men along with him to the end he might Travel with the more Security and Privacy Thus being soon ready the cunning Ottia Chikaizè his Guide caus'd him to set forth out of the Fortress about Twilight and carrying him through By-ways to bring him the more insensibly to the Besiegers brought him in less then an Hour into their Camp The Prince of Mingrelia caus'd his Eyes forthwith to be pull'd out and sent that Night to Darejan to let her know that he had her Husband Pris'ner and that he had put out his Eyes This News surpriz'd her so that her Courage and Resolution quite fail'd her and in a short time after she surrender'd the Fortress which was plunder'd from Top to Bottom Insomuch that it was certainly
and though they are but Children they are not easily induc'd to tear 'em out of their Houses The Kingdom of Caket is at present in Subjection to the King of Persia Shanavas-Can having compleated the Conquest of it and now Archilus his Son is Viceroy who turn'd Mahometan to obtain the Imployment We have already made mention of him and of the Love which he had for Sistan-Darejan the King of Imiretta's Wife when we gave an Account of the Revolutions of that Petty Kingdom Sistan-Darejan remain'd a Pris'ner at Akalzikè where the Basha's shew'd her an extraordinary Civility Archilus had also a longing Affection for her from the time that he had lost sight of her Thereupon his Father so wrought by his Presents and Contrivances with the Basha that he releas'd her in the Year 1660. She was carry'd in Triumph to Tefflis where Archilus Marry'd her immediately and by that Match entitl'd himself to the Kingdom of Caket of which he was actual Viceroy already For the Princess his Wife was Daughter to Taimuras-Can and Sister of Heraclius the only Son whom that Unfortunate Prince left behind him capable of Succession in regard all the rest had had their Eyes put out But he and his Mother were fled into Moscovy where they say the Great Duke allows 'em a Train suitable to their Quality And here give me leave to tell yee one Passage concerning this Archilus Viceroy of Caket very much worthy to entertain your Curiosity He was affianc'd in his Youth to a Daughter of one of the most Noble Families in Georgia And the Lady fully expected to be his Wife in regard that Breach of Contract is a thing never heard of in that Country But when she heard that he had Marry'd Sistan-Darejan she sent to him to demand satisfaction for the Murder he had committed upon her Honour For so in Georgia they call the affront done to a Contract when a Man leaves the party affianc'd to Marry another At first she resolv'd to Sue him at Law for the Injustice he had done her but that way not seeming feasable by reason of the great Authority and Sway which Archilus had in the Country she put her self at the Head of Four Hunderd Men and offer'd fairly to fight her Faithless Lover But Archilus refus'd her sending her word he did not use to fight with Young Maids withal he bid her not make such a noise lest he disclos'd the Favours which Sizi a Young Lord at Court had boasted to have receiv'd from her The Young Lady enrag'd to hear her self reproach'd as well as scorn'd turn'd all her fury against Sizi She challeng'd him and because he would not meet her she lay'd her self in Ambush for him put him to flight pursu'd him and kill'd him above Twenty Men. She had also a Brother and he also undertook to quarrel Sizi The Prince and the the whole Court did all they could to reconcile 'em but seeing they did but labour in Vain the two Adversaries were permitted to determine the difference by their Swords Now it is the custom in Georgia that when the Law cannot decide or reconcile a Quarrel among Gentlemen they are permitted to try it out in a place Rayl'd in for the purpose And before the two Combatants enter the Lists they Confess themselves receive the Communion and prepare for Death This is call'd Appealing to the Tribunal of GOD for the Georgians maintain that this way of referring directly to GOD the Punishment of a Crime is both Honest and Lawful where human Justice is not able to distinguish whether the party accus'd be Guilty or whether the accuser charge him falsely At length Sizi and his Adversary being arriv'd at the place appointed they were parted by a Company of Souldiers just as they had drawn their Swords And the Young Lady Dying soon after with shame and Grief the Prince by his Authority oblig'd her Brother to be Friends with Archilus and Sizi And now before I relate what befell me at Tefflis it behoves me to make a Description of the Place though the Plate before the Leaf might suffice to give a distinct Idea of it TEFLIS TEFLIS A. The Fortress B. THe Bpps church calld Sion C. The Bastias Monasterie D. The Holy Cross. E. The Church Place of the Catholicos F. The White Work or the Queen's Church G. The New York H. Mognay Church I. Bethen Church K. The Church of the Rupture L. THe Mosquee M. The Capuchins N. The Princes Palace O. The Great Bazar P. The public Magazines Q. The Viceroy of Caket's Palace R. The Prince's Gardens S. The Prince's Piatza T. The Place for Military Exercises The Principal Monasteries that belong to the Armenians are Pacha-Vane that is the Monastery of Pacha in which Monastery the Armenian Bishop of Tefflis resides They so call it by the Report of the Armenians for that a Fugitive Basha of Turkey turning Christian caus'd it to be erected in this City Sourph-Nishon that is to speak properly the Red Sign and thence generally tak'n for the Holy Cross Bethem or Bethlehem Norachen or the New Work and Mognay Now Mognay is the Name of a Village of the Armenians near Irivan where they have for a long time kept a certain Skull which they assure yee to be St. George's hence because that part of the Skull is remov'd to this Church therefore they gave it the Name of the Place from whence they took the Relick There is not any Mosque at Tefflis though the City belongs to a Mahometan Empire and is Govern'd together with the whole Province by a Mahometan Prince The Persians have endeavour'd all they could to rebuild one there but never could accomplish their design for the People still Mutiny'd and by force of Arms beat down the Work and abus'd the Workmen And indeed the Georgian Princes were glad of these Seditions of the People though they would not countenance 'em openly For in regard they had not renounced the Christian Religion but only with their Lips and to obtain Preferment they could not heartily consent to the Establishment of Mahometism Now the Georgians are Mutinous Inconstant and Valiant as has been said They also retain a smack and sense of Liberty Then they lie near the Turks And this is that which hinders the Persian from making use of Extremities and preserves to the City of Tefflis and all Georgia a happy Liberty to retain almost all the Exteriour Marks of their Religion Upon all the Steeples of their Churches at the Top stands a Cross and they are furnish'd with several Bells which they ring Every day they sell Pork openly and in publick with the same freedom as other Vittles and Wine at the Corners of the Streets All which though the Persians are mad to see yet they know not how to help it Some few Years since they built a small Mosque in the Fortress close to the Wall that separates it from the Grand Piazza of Tefflis They built it in the Castle
131. The Authors Servant finds a great parcel of Jewels which he gave for lost 125 c. He demands Justice of the Prince 130. He is robb'd a second time by a Mingrelian 148. He resolves for Georgia 151 c. Tax'd 20 Crowns by Sabatar 152. His usage at Gony 158. His Goods arrive safe at Mingrelia 161 162 c. Advises with the Capuchins at Gory 170. His Journey from Gory to Cotalis 173 c. His dispute with one of his Servants there 178 He waits upon the King of Imiretta 180. He returns to Gori 183. His Reception by the Governor of Tifflis 224 c. By the Governor of Irivan 254 c. Azerbeyan 350. B. BAcrat Mirza King of Imiretta 136 Baptism of the Mingrelians p. 101 Basha of Akalzikè invades Imiretta dethrones one and set up another King 147 Bichni in Armenia and Monastery belonging to it 244 Black-Sea the Description of it 155 C. CAffa describ'd 68 The Kingdom of Kaket subject to the Persians 206 Carthuel a Province of Persia 188 Casbin the Description of it 378 Cashan the Description of it 411 Cassem-abad 411 Cherks a savage people 76 An Account of Christian Corsaires in the Archipelago 3. The grounds of the Candy War 53 c. The Caous a sort of Giants 371 Carashiman a fair Village in Persia 371 Casbin describ'd 378 c. Colchis the Description of it 77 c. Com the Description of it 390 Cotatis describ'd 177 Cotzia betrays Darejan 146. Slain himself by Treachery ibid Couh-Telisme a famous Mountain 389 Coolom-sha the King's Slave 257 Their Employment ibid. Cuperli Mahamet Basha made Grand Visir 15. He resents the French Embassadors slights 16. The most remarkable Passages of his Life 57 c. Cupri kent 239 D. DAdian the Title of the Prince of Mingrelia He is guilty of the Robbery committed upon the Author 131 Darejan Daughter to the last King of Georgia would have married her Son in Law 136. Her wicked Pranks to continue her self in the Dominion 137 c. She marries Vactangle one of her Lords 137 which causes a Revolt of the rest ibid. Bitray'd 138. her tragick End 145 Darejan Levans Aunt and Wife 134 She sets up her Son Vomeki 136 Deria-shirin or the Lake of Irivan describ'd 247 Dily-jan and the Country about it 240 E. EBber the Description of it 377 Echmiazin or the Monastery of the three Churches 249 Echmouil a place famous for the Pilgrimages of the Persians 387 F. FEast the order of a Nuptial Feast in Persia 226 Two Fryers Commissioners for the Holy Land their claim at the Port 39 c. Their large Offers to the Turk and the Reasons 45 G. GEnoeses maintain a Consul at Smyrna 11 George Prince of Libardian 134 his Wife is taken from him ibid. He dies for grief 135 Georgia the Description of it 186 c. the Religion of the Countrey 192 Conquer'd by Ishmael the the Great 193. The History of Georgia ibid c Revolts from the Persian and conquer'd by Rustan Kan 203 Gonie describ'd 185 Gori describ'd 188 Guriel the Description of it p 105 its tribute to the Turks 106 H. MOnsieur de la Haye French Embassador at the Port 15 16 16 19 recall'd 20 Monsieur de la Hay the Son Embassador 21 22 23 24 c recall'd 28 The best Horses in Persia where bred 370 Huns whence originally 106 I. I Miretta the Description of it 106 its Tribute to the Turks ibid The Title of the Prince 107 descended from David 108 Impositions upon the French at Constantinople 10 Ioseph the Prince of Mingrelia's Brother endeavours Levan's Assassination 135 his Eyes pull'd out 136 Irivan describ'd 245 Isgaour the Description of it 108 Julfa the Old otherwise Ariamene 347 K. KEsil-beusè a River 374 Koskeirou a famous Inn 385 Kotzia a Lord of Imiretta he procures the murder of Vomeki 140 L. A Copy of the Viceroy of Georgia's haughty Letter 230 A Letter of Recommendation from a Persian Grandee 222 another 367 Levan Dadian Prince of Imiretta the Story of him 132 c. M. MArant the Description of it 351. The place where the Ark rested not far from it 352 Marriages among the Mingrelians p 102 Matrimony in Persia 295 Media the Description of it 349 Miana a Persian Town 372 Mingrelians their opinion of Confession 102 of Ordination ibid. they understand not the Bible p. 103 Their Fasts ibid. their Opinion of the Sign of the Cross ibid. their Prayers ibid. their Sacrifices ibid they work on Sundays 104 their chief Festivals ibid their Mourning ibid their Tribute to the Turks 107 the Title of their Princes 107 descended from David 108 fearful of danger 152 Popish Missionaries slighted in Georgia 211 The Mountain where Noah's Ark rested 252 Moutshacour a large Village 416 Music not us'd in the Mahometan Religion 229 N. NAcchivan the Description of it 346 The Deputy Governor uncivil to the Author 349 Turkish Navigation 66 M. Noyntel French Embassador at the Port 28 c his Negotiation frustrated 44 O. OTta Chekaizè betrays Q. Darejan 138 Oyl Sacred call'd Myrone p. 101 P. PArthia the Air and Description of the Country 373 The Vice roy of Georgias Pass 236 The Governor of Irivan's Pass 342 Mirza-Thair's Pass 368 The King of Persia's Patent 236 The Patriarch of Armenia a Story of his Extravagance 333. ill us'd by the Governor of Irivan 365 Pervarè a Village of Persia 372 The River Phasis 156 Policy of the Turks surpasses the Europeans 51 The Plain suppos'd to be the place where Darius was murder'd 416 Pride of the Georgians and Eastern people 230 Q. SEnior Quirini Agent for the Venetians at the Port. 50 R. REy formerly a vast City in Persia 387 A great Robbery committed upon the Persian Caravan 363 Roman Catholicks in Persia 346. An Embassador from the Pope in their behalf ibid. how us'd in Georgia 350 Rustan-Can his vertues 366 S. SAbatar Owner of the Fortress where the Author secur'd himself 149 c. Sapias the Description of it 119 Sava a City of Persia describ'd 386 Scorpions where troublesome in Persia 413 Sephi-Kouli-Kan Governor of Irivan 256 Mahamed Sephi's Letter of Recommendation 343 Segs-abad 385 Mr. Sesè the French Embassador farms the Customs of Constantinople and Smyrna p. 10 Shaboni the fairest Grape in Persia 380 Shanavas Can Vice roy of Georgia 139. he is offer'd the Kingdom of Imiretta for his Son Archylus if he would expel the Mingrelians ib. He invades Imiretta 140 Shemashè 188. the place where Noah dwelt 189 Sirsham a Parthian Inn. 374 Slaves at what rate sold in Mingrelia 114 Several Persian Songs 402 Stones a wonderful Pile 371 Sophian thought the ancient Sophia of Media 352 King of Spain his health drank by the Governor of Tifflis 230 The Governor of Tifflis how akin to him ibid. Sultanie the Description of it 375 The Sun troublesome where the Snow lies all day 244 Suram in Georgia 188 T TAuris the Descriptivn of it 352 c.
rid themselves therefore from these Fears they resolved between themselves to throw the Election upon the Youngest of all Habas's Sons who being as yet but an Infant would in all likelihood continue a long time under the Tuition of his Mother and his Ministers from whom they could not expect to suffer any thing that was Fatal or Dreadful And here we must observe that Habas the second left behind him two Sons or at least I never heard that he left any more Nor is it known whether he left any Daughters or no. For what is done in the Womens Apartment is a Mystery concealed even from the Grandees and Prime Ministers Or if they know any thing it is meerly upon the account of some particular Relation or dependence which the Secret has to some peculiar Affair which of necessity must be imparted to their Knowledg For my part I have spared neither for pains nor cost to sift out the Truth But I could never discover any more only that they believed he never left any Daughter behind him that lived A man may walk a Hundred days one after another by the House where the Women are and yet know no more what is done there than at the farther end of Tartary Now of these two Sons of Habas the Eldest who was called Sofie-Mirza was then entring into his one and twentieth Year being Born in the year of the Egire 1057. for the superstition of the Persians will not let us know the Month or the Day Their Addiction to Astrology is such that they carefully conceal the Moments of their Prince's Birth to prevent the Casting their Nativities where they might meet perhaps with something which they should be unwilling to know His Father begot him at Eighteen years of Age enamoured of a Circassian Slave or Cherkes in the Persian Language whose extraordinary Beauty and rare Endowments so won the Affection of that Monarch that she was the first of all his Women that he chose for a Wife For which reason during her Husbands Life she was called Nekaat Kanum or the Lawful Dutchess tho there were also other Women which were his Lawful Wives according to the Law and Custom of that Country This Eldest Son according to Custom was bred up in the Womens Palace and committed to the Care of certain Eunuchs under the Eye of his Mother and his Nurse who was a Lady of great Quality and the Wife of Mustaufie-Elmemalek which according to the force of the Persian words signifies a Watcher over Kingdoms There he was bred up with all the Tenderness and Pomp that his High Birth required and enjoyed all the Liberty that could be allowed to a Person of his Quality which was to go up and down over all that spacious Palace where he pleased himself for to go further into the Mens Apartments is by no means permitted those young Princes When he arrived at the Age of seventeen Years an Accident befel him that rendered his Confinement much more close For it happened that an Eunuch brought him some Peices of Cloth of Tissue at what time the Prince being of a haughty Temper and not thinking them Rich enough rejected them with very scornful and slighting Language nor was he better pleased when it was told him that the Peices were sent him by the Order of the King his Father Which being carried back and perhaps aggravated to the jealous Monarch his Majesty believing that the overmuch Liberty which was allowed the young Prince did but serve to heighten his Arrogance and augment his natural Pride confined him to the remotest Part of all the Palace Some persons were of opinion that he would have caused his Eyes to have been put out But when they found that the Walls of the Place to which he was confined were ordered to be raised the more Intelligent Sort believed that the King would not proceed to that Extremity of Rigour for that he would not have been so careful to prevent the Escape of one that was Blind whose Misfortune would have been sufficient to render him incapable to attempt any Enterprize of that nature However when the King was setting forward for Mazendaran in the year 1665. according to our Computation his Actions were such that even the Grandees and most Politick Courtiers began to suspect that he had then determined the Dreadful Execution For he was not gone above Eight Leagues from Ispahan when he turned back again of a sudden toward the City with a very small Retinue without imparting his Design to any one of all his Favourites but when he arrived all that he did was to enter unexpected into the Womens Apartment where after he had staid about two hours he came forth again very Pensive and Melancholy Of which the Courtiers not being able to conjecture any other apparent Cause attributed it to some Fatal Resolution which the King had taken against the Prince his Son Tho as it appeared afterwards they were all deceived in their judgments and that there was another Motive that put him upon this swift and sudden return For as to what concerned this Young Prince his Father was satisfied with his close Confinement in a Quarter of the Apartment remote from the rest in the Company of his Mother and such Ladies as the King had appointed to attend her without stinting her any Number commiting him also to the farther care of the Great Eunuch Aga-Nazir or the Perspicacious Lord to observe his Action and to prevent him from attempting any dangerous Enterprize This Word Nazir most usually signifies some Superintendant or General Overfeer And therefore the Person last mentioned besides that he had the Tuition of the Prince was Entrusted also with the Government of the Womens Palace and to overlook the Management of all Affairs of the Royal Houshold in Jepahan an Employment which gave him great Credit and caused him to be respected both in the Court and City In both which Places he was highly esteemed till the Death of his Master being as it were the Lieutenant and next to the Grand Superintendant of the Kingdom who is likewise stil'd the Nazir As for the Younger Son he was about Eight Years of Age when his Father Died being Born in the year of the Egira 1069. of an Iberian Lady or Gurgi as the Persians call them to whom they gave the Title of Nour-Nissa-Kanum which Signifies word for word Dutchess the Light of Women the Young Prince himself being called by the Name of Hamzeh Mirza Tho I never could find or learn the true Signification of this word Hamzeh I must confess in the Persian Language it answers to the word Apostroph in our Tongue but in that sence I do not apprehend how it can signifie a Proper Name Nevertheless a Proper Name it is whether it signifies something or nothing and that must suffice As for the Title of Mirzah it is as much as to say the Son of a Prince as we have observed in another Place where we have
reported that the Prince of Mingrelia carry'd thence a very rich Booty and among the rest Twelve Wagons of Silver Plate and Moveables For as it was said the Kings of Imiretta had heap'd together such a vast Quantity of Plate that every thing within the Palace was of Massie Silver even to the Steps and Footstools Which is no difficult thing to believe in a plentiful Country and where there is a good Trade and adjoyning to Countries which were formerly very Wealthy and where it appears that Money was not then in use there being very little that is stirring at present The Prince of Mingrelia also carry'd away along with him the King and Queen of Imiretta the wicked Darejan and the unfortunate Vactangle her Husband but to the Viceroy of Georgia he generously return'd the two Prelates which he had sent to the Princess to be her Privy Counsellors The Viceroy of Georgia is call'd Shanavas Can being descended also from the last Soveraign Princess of that Country but he turn'd Mahumetan to make himself capable of enjoying the Viceroyship under the Persian He has only two Lawful Wives who are both Christians of which the one is call'd Mary the Sister of Levan Prince of Mingrelia who gave the first occasion to this Relation This Lady when she understood how the detestable Shilakite had excluded the lawful Heir in favour of a Son which she had before she was Marry'd to Levan daily importun'd the Prince her Husband to undertake her Nephews Cause and to settle him in the possession of his Principality to which he was the true and lawful Heir But the Viceroy would not act Hand over Head by force in this Affair For Mingrelia being Tributary to the Turk he durst not declare open Hostility against that Country without the knowledge and consent of the King of Persia But at length a favourable opportunity offer'd it self For so soon as the Prince of Mingrelia was enter'd into the Kingdom of Imiretta as has been already said Darejan who was near Kins-woman to the Georgian Viceroy and had been bred up in his House and Vactangle her Husband sent and offer'd the Kingdom to Archylas his Eldest Son if he would come and drive out the Mingrelian The Viceroy made this offer known to the King of Persia and assur'd him withal that he would add that Kingdom and Mingrelia to his Empire if he would but give him leave to Conquer ' em To which when his Majesty had sent him his consent he muster'd all his Forces and march'd toward Imiretta But he was no sooner enter'd the Kingdom when news was brought him that a great Georgian Lord taking the advantage of his absence was up in Arms and preparing to ransack all the Country Upon which he march'd back again with all his Forces against the Rebel defeated and put him to Death and then return'd toward Imiretta The Grandees of the Kingdom that invited him in had rais'd Four Thousand Men which was a great Army for a Country so bounded as that and this number too Augmented every Day some flocking out of fear of His Power others allur'd by the charming Fame of his Valour So that he found little or no Resistance either in Imiretta or Mingrelia Prince Vomeki retir'd amongst the Souanes into the Fortresses of Mount Caucasus inaccessible to the Cavalry So that the Georgian Prince had nothing to do but to Ransack and he carry'd away a very Rich Booty out of both Countries They report that it was there that he plunder'd the greatest part of the Gold and Silver Plate of which his House is full He settl'd in Mingrelia his Nephew Levan's Grand-Child to whom the Principality belong'd of Right and affianc'd him to one of his Nieces whom he promis'd to send him Which done he caus'd his Son Archylus to be Crown'd King of Imiretta but he knew not how to be rid of Vomeki For he was unwilling to leave him a Fugitive in the Mountains where he was retir'd fearing lest when he was gone he should come down from the Mountains and disturb the unsettled affairs of Princes hardly warm in their Thrones But a Grandee of Imiretta whose Name was Kotzia put him out of that pain For he wrore to the Souanes that the Viceroy of Georgia desir'd to rid himself absolutely of Vomeki that he would give 'em great Rewards and Immunities if they brought him his Head but if they deny'd to gratifie him in so small a Matter he threaten'd their Country with Fire and Sword The Souanes therefore readily condescended and having slain Vomeki sent his Head to the Georgian Prince Which done he retreated and carry'd along with him the two Blind Princes Bacrat and Vactangle to the end no Friend of theirs in his absence might be embolden'd to undertake any new disturbances in their Favour and left the Princesses their Wives at Cotatis Which Inhuman separations he made for the sake of his Son the King of Imiretta who became so desperately in Love with Bacrat's Wife that he resolv'd to take her from her Husband and Marry her After the departure of the Viceroy of Georgia several Grandees of Imiretta conspir'd against their new Soveraign For some had been ill us'd others could not brook the Power and high advancement of Kotzia whom Archylus's Father had appointed to be his Sons Prime Minister nor his Domineering Haughtiness and severity towards ' em Thereupon they wrote to the Basha of Akalzike that they wonderd to see him sit still with so much indifferency while the Viceroy of Georgia ravag'd a Kingdom and Principality Tributary to the Turks nay reduc'd 'em under his Subjection and carry'd away their Lawful Princes Pris'ners and set up in their Places his own Friends and Kindred That therefore they besought him to let 'em know whether it were the Port that abandon'd 'em to the Capricious Humours of the Persians or whether it were the Dread of their Forces that ty'd his Hands at a time when the Honour and Interest of the Grand Signior lay at Stake To which the Basha return'd for answer That he had sent Intelligence to the Port of the Invasion made by the Georgian Viceroy and expected Orders every Hour which when he should receive he would let 'em know what was necessary to be done Soon after he wrote word that his Orders were come and that as soon as the Forces which the Basha's of Erzerom and Carrs both Provinces of Armenia had Instructions to send him should be joyn'd with his he would deliver 'em from the Georgian Yoke That in the mean time they should get ready to joyn with him with all the Forces they could raise and that they should cause Kotzia to be murder'd for fear his Forces his Prudence and his Reputation should put a stop to the Enterprize and that by his Death the new King of Imiretta might be without any Counsellor to assist him The Chief Conspirators were the Grand Steward of the Houshold and Bishop Janatelle who also
these Kings Slaves in the Court of Persia is almost the same with that of Gentlemen-Ushers who are Childern of good Quality employ'd very young in Duty as well for the Profit which they get by it as to give 'em a fair Opportunity to make their way to Preferment at Court There are some Persons who send their Sons to these Imployments at the Age of Five Years To whom the King assigns Exhibitions according to the Quality of their Family or the Service which it does the King for that serves in stead of other Recompence to the Parents The usual Exhibition is Twenty Tomans a Year and their Diet which Twenty Tomans make about Seventy Pounds Sterling And the Diet taken in Money amounts to about Forty Pounds But these Exhibitions are frequently enlarg'd proportionably either to the Service which they do the King or to the Kindness which the King has for their Persons For which reason they are very diligent at Court and are employ'd in the Execution of all Orders of Importance They are sent with the Kings Presents to the Governors and out of their Number are taken several to supply the Vacancies of Officers Orders that require Expedition are carry'd Post Which Couriers are call'd Tshapars a word that comes from a Turkish word that signifies Galloping whence that other word Tsapgon which signifies a Courier These Tshapars make great haste though they do not always meet with Horses when they have occasion for 'em For there are no setl'd Stages in all the East In Persia the Kings and Governors Couriers take Horses where-ever they find 'em nay they have Authority to dismount Travellers upon the High-way besides the Magistrates of the Places through which they pass are oblig'd to furnish ' em However this is a very mischievous Custom for such as have neither the Strength nor the Courage to resist are constrain'd to give Money to these Couriers or to alight and suffer their Horses to be rid away with and then to run after 'em if they intend to have 'em again Nevertheless they dare not meddle with Persons of Quality nor the Kings Officers nor Strangers that are going to the Court for fear of being call'd to Question Usually therefore they take up Horses in the Villages through which they pass which they must not make use of however above one Days Journey for which reason they generally send a Runner along with 'em to bring the Horses back These Couriers are easily known by their Habit For they wear a Cloak ty'd behind 'em and a little Cloak-bag which runs through the Pommel and is fasten'd to the Saddle-Bow They carry a Poniard a Sword and a Quiver by their Sides and a Cudgel in their Hands Their Bows hang about their Shoulders besides all which they have a Scarf that comes twice about their Necks which is brought down Cross-wise upon their Backs and Breasts and ty'd to their Girdle When they are descry'd at a distance they who are afraid of being dismounted flee out of the way and hide themselves or compound for Money or else offer 'em their Horses These Couriers ride generally two and two and if they be Persons of Quality 't is the more difficult to get rid of 'em for they will take no Composition and upon the least Resistance they either up with their Battoons or out with their Swords well knowing they shall be upheld in what they do which is a Violence that other Couriers dare not offer One of the Principal Extraordinary Expences which the Grandees are constrained to be at is when the King sends 'em his Orders or Presents by a Coolom-Sha or by any other Person of Quality for he must Cloath him upon his Arrival and at his Departure he must make him a Present answerable to his Imployment and the Reputation that he bears besides that he must be well Feasted and Entertained all the time of his stay This Coolom-Sha that I speak of cost the Governor of Erivan as I was inform'd Four Hunderd Tomans which amount to Fourteen Hunderd Pounds besides Lodging and Diet. Many times the King himself Taxes the Present which is to be giv'n to the Person whom he sends but then the Person is oblig'd to pay it presently down as a Debt and to bestow in Gifts and Largesses many times double the Present in short they treat their Messengers according to their Birth their Merit and their Credit at Court This they diligently observe so that when they understand that a Messenger or his Relations have free Access to the King then they are more free in their Entertainment to the end he may make an Advantageous Report of his Usage and the Civility shewn him I remember to this purpose in the Year 1669 when the King conferr'd upon the Son of the Prime Minister the Command of Colonel of the Musketeers his Majesty sent the Dispatches and Habit by his Goldsmiths to reward 'em for some Jewels which they had made to his liking and that he Tax'd the Present which the Colonel was to give 'em at Three Hunderd Tomans Thereupon four of the chief Goldsmiths carry'd the Dispatches and the Habit who instead of Three Hunderd receiv'd 400 Tomans which make Fourteen Hundred Pounds and a Present besides in Stuffs I stay'd three Hours at the Wedding and took my leave after Dinner The Feast was kept in a low Dining-Room rais'd about two Foot opening into a Court which was Rail'd about like a Tilt-Yard where several Wrestlers and Gladiators divertis'd the Company while the Governor spent his time in looking on and discoursing sometimes with the Kings Messengers sometimes with the Company and sometimes talking with my self about the news of Europe There were but nine Persons at the Feast among whom the Bridegroom and his God-father were sumptuously habited their Turbants being garnish'd with Heron-Tuffs set with precious Stones The Master of the Houshold his other Brothers and his Sons standing upon their Feet at the lower end of the Room with several of the Governours Officers Every one of the Guests were serv'd at their first coming with a Voider of Sweat-Meats Dry and Wet upon small Porcelaine Plates the Voiders themselves being of Wood Painted and Gilt so that nothing could be seen more Neat. Matrimony in Persia is very expensive frequently to the Ruin of those that engage in it So that only Persons of Estates will venture upon it as for the meaner sort they are contented with a Concubine or a Slave The Mahometans that follow the Tenents of Ali take their Wives after three manners either by way of Purchase by way of Hire or by Marriage All which three ways they hold to be Lawful Their Religion allows and teaches 'em this Liberty and the Civil Law acknowledges the Childern Born in any of these three sorts of Wedlock to be equally Legitimate So that if a Man have a Son by his Slave before his Marry'd Wife brings him one the Son of the Slave is acknowledg'd for the Eldest and
enjoys all the Priviledges of Eldership to the Exclusion of the Son of the Lawful Wife be she a Princess and of the Blood Royal. And therefore in Persia Quality and Nobility descends only from the Father The Wives who are Slaves are call'd Canizè of whom the Law allows a Man to have as many as he can maintain Nor does the Government either Ecclesiastical or Civil take any Cognizance how they are us'd They that have put 'em to all manner of Drudgery as they please themselves being not only Masters of their Chastity but of their Lives Nor is it a dishonour in the East for a Slave to serve her Master as a Wife but rather a great Honour and the best Fortune she can arrive at for when tkey are advanc'd to their Masters Bed they have an Apartiment seperate from the Rest of the Slaves They are well Clad allow'd Servants and a Pension and if they bring Childern their Allowances are enlarg'd For then they are no more lookt upon as Slaves but as the Mothers of the Lawful Heir of the Family The hir'd Wives are call'd Moutaa from Amovad which signifies a Concubine and also a Servant of which they may take as many as they please and as long as they please for the price they agree upon At Ispahan which is the Metropolis of Persia those that are handsome and Young may be hir'd for Five and Thirty Pound a Year besides Cloaths Diet and Lodging Which sort of Marriage is a contract purely Civil At the end of the Term if both parties are agreed they may renew the Bargain and they are at Liberty to break off before the end of the Term and to put away the hir'd Wife but then they must give the whole Sum contain'd in the Contract Yet cannot the Woman so dismiss'd let out her self again nor give her self to another till Forty Days after her Dismission Which interval is call'd the Days of Purification They who understand the Ceremonial Law of Moses may easily perceive that the Mahometans borrow'd this custom from the Jews though new modell'd and alter'd after their own humour And indeed the Law both of the one and the other agrees in the point of Marriage and the Behaviour of Men toward Women The Espous'd Wives are call'd Nekaa of which the Mahometan Religion allows a Man to Marry Four Nevertheless they never Marry above one to avoid the Expence and because of the disorders that Multiplicity of Lawful Wives creates in a House For every one will Command and their mutual Jealousie keeps the House in perpetual Confusion Therefore People of Quality Marry generally into Families equal in Degree if they cannot content themselves with one Woman which is a Misfortune that never fails to befall 'em they make use of their Slaves By that means the Peace of the Family is never disquieted for the Marry'd Wife is always Lady and Mistress As to other things whether contented or no her Relations never take any notice As for hir'd Wives seldom any Body takes 'em but People of mean Condition or Strangers which they do that they may be rid of 'em when they please The lowest sort of all never make use of that Custom as not being able to pay 'em their Wages Neither do Persons of Quality in regard they scorn the Leavings of another or that another should make use of a Woman who has belong'd to them But if by chance a Person of Quality falls in love with a Woman either publick or not fit to be his Wife he hires her for Ninety-Nine Years and by that means he is sure to enjoy her as long as he lives without Marriage And they take this course especially if They are Marry'd to Women of Quality or Nobly descended because their Relations would take Themselves to be highly affronted should They bring into their Houses Women of mean Birth to be their Companions In Persia they usually-Marry by Proxy because the Women are never seen by the Men. Which Ceremony is perform'd after this manner The Kindred of both Parties meet at the House of the Party intended to be the Husband or Bridegroom Thither they send for a Churchman to make the Contract Or if the Parties are Persons of high Quality then the Cedre who is the chief Pontiff or the Sheikelislam who is the chief Civil Judge and is invited for that purpose If they are Persons of mean Degree they endeavour to get the Kazy who is the Lieutenant Civil and if they be very poor People they send for a Molla or Priest of the Law Presently the Party Affianc'd in the Company of several Women repairs to a Chamber not far from the place where the People are met where the Door stands half open but the Tapestry is let down that there is no Body to be seen Then the Proxies of both Parties rise and the Proxy for the Party Affianc'd setting himself against the Door of the Chamber and stretching out his Hand cries out aloud I N. Authoriz'd Proxy for you N. Marry yee to N. here present You shall be his perpetual Wife with such a prefix'd Dowry according as you have agreed Then the other Proxy thus answers I N. Authoriz'd Proxy for N. take thee N. in his Name for my perpetual Wife who hast been given him for such by N. his Proxy here present upon Condition of the Dowry prefix'd and agreed on by both Parties After this the Minister or whoever he be that is present to make the Contract rises and laying his Head to the Tapestry which divides the Room cries out to the Affianc'd Do you Ratifie the Promise which N. your Proxy has made in your behalf Who answers Yes Then he puts the same Question to the other Proxy makes the Contract fixes the Seal and causes the rest that are met to Seal it likewise and gives the Contract to the Proxy of the Affianc'd Virgin Which Contract is kept by the Woman for the Security of her Dowry There is no difference between this and the Ceremony of Marriages for time when they hire VVives only that the Proxies make their Promises on other Terms As thus I N. by Virtue of an Authentick Procuration receiv'd from N. give her to N. to the end he may have the use of her for such a Term and at such a Price Or thus I N. by Virtue of an Authentick Procuration from N. take in his Name N. to Wife I take her upon the Conditions agreed upon I take her upon my Soul The poor People make less stir without any Proxy For the VVoman enters Veil'd with her Parents who are also in the Room where the Men are and then says the Party himself I N. Proxy for my self take you N. for my perpetual Wife at such a certain Dowry I take ye for such upon my Soul Now the VVomen are the Match makers and as soon as the Articles are agreed upon the Husband settles the Dowry upon the clearest part of his Estate and then
Chappels upon a Line To the middlemost belongs an Entrance eighteen Foot deep every way magnificent the Portal being of the same white Marble already mention'd The Top which is also a large half Duomo is over-laid without with large square Tiles of Cheney painted with Moresco Work and within embellish'd with Gold and Azure The Door which is twelve foot high and six broad is all of transparent Marble The folding Doors are plated with Silver embellish'd with Vermillion guilt carv'd Work and polish'd which make a Mosaic altogether costly and full of Curiosity The Chappel is Octogonal cover'd with a high Duomo the lower part of which Chappel is cover'd with large Tiles of Porphiry wav'd and painted with Flowers in Gold and Colours so lively and full of Lustre that they dazle the Eye The upper part is of Moresco Work of lively and glittering Gold and Azure and the Bottom of the Duomo is all of the same This Duomo is very large and wonderfully beautiful being overlaid without like the Portal From the top of all arises a Spire with a Crescent fixt at the top the ends of which are reverse as you see in the Figure This Pinacle which is of a remarkable Bigness is comoss'd of several Bowls of several Proportions set one upon another and appears as you stand below to be about twenty foot high with the Crescent the whole of fine Gold The Persians affirm it to be all Massy which if it be true the Pinacle is worth Millions but let it be what it will 't is a noble Ornament of which the Value cannot but amount to a large Summ. In the midst of that Chappel stands the Tomb of Fatima the Daughter of Mousa Casem one of the twelve Califfs which the Persians believe to have been the lawful Successors of Mahomet after the Death of Ali his Son-in-Law It contains eight feet in length five in bredth and six in height Over-laid with Tiles of China painted alamoresca and over-spread with Cloth of Gold that hangs down to the ground on every side It is enclos'd with a Grate of Massy Silver ten foot high distant half a foot from the Tomb and at each Corner crown'd as it were with large Apples of fine Gold Which is done to the end the People should not sully the Tomb with their kissing and handling it for the Tomb is lookt upon as a sacred Piece Several breadths of Velvet hung about the inside of the Grate hide it from the view of the People so that only Favor or Money can procure a sight of it The Flooer likewise is cover'd with a Carpet of very fine Woollen over which at great Festival Times are spread others of Silk and Gold Over the Tomb about ten foot in height hang several Silver Vessels which they call Candil being a sort of Lamp of which there are some that weigh sixty Marks and are otherwise fashion'd then the Church Branches as may be seen in the Figures But they never light up any fire therein which they are not made to hold nor any sort of Liquor as not having any Bottom Upon the Grate hang several Inscriptions in Letters of Gold upon thick Velloms as large as a large sheet of Paper Which Inscriptions contain the Elegies of the Saint and her Family The Inscription upon the Front of the Entrance contains the Prayer which they all generally say that come in the Pilgrimage to the Sepulcher The Pilgrim when he enters kisses the Threshold and the Grate three times and standing upright with his Face towards the Tomb one of the Molla's that attend there day and night comes to him who causes him to say the Prayer word for word After the Prayer so said the Pilgrim again kisses the Grate and the foot of the Door then giving the Priest four or five pence more or less according to his ability he retires If he desires a Certificate of his Pilgrimage they write him one in due form the dispatch of which costs him half a Pistole or eight or nine shillings All the money which the Pilgrims and other Votaries give is put into a little iron Chest like the Trunk of a Tree that stands at the entrance into the Chappel which is open'd every Friday and what is found therein is distributed among the people that belong to the Mosque and do Duty in that consecrated place It would be too long and perhaps to irksome to insert all the Inscriptions I have mention'd and therefore I shall only give you the Translation of the two Principal Prayers which the Pilgrims are bound to say In the name of God clement and merciful I Visit my Lady and Mistress Fatima the daughter of Mousa the son of Dgafar upon whom be all Salvation and Peace eternally And out of my zeal to approach to God by her Intercession I invoke her for my self my Father and Mother and all the truly Faithful In the name of God soveraignly pitiful I wish thee Health eternal O Apostle of God I wish thee Health eternal O Elect of God I wish thee Health eternal O the best and most perfect of all men Mahamed the son of Abdalla God grant thee his Mercy his Grace and his Benedictions and to all thy Family I wish thee eternal Health O Prince of the Faithful O Lord and Chief of the true Vicars of God I wish thee eternal Health O thou that art the Truth it self I wish thee Health eternal and the Mercy and Benedictions of God ô Ali who art the true Balsom for the wounds of sin I wish the Health eternal O virgin most Pure most Just and most Immaculate glorious Fatima the daughter of Mahammed the Elect the best beloved Wife of Ali the Mother of twelve true Vicars of God of Illustrious Birth and I also wish the Mercy of God and his Benedictions to thy Mother the most precious the most pure and high-born Khadidge I wish the mercy of God and his Benedictions to Hasan and Heussein true Directors of the way of Truth Celestial Flambeaux's of the dark Night of the World Great Standards of true Piety unreproachable Testimonies of God against the World Lords of all the young Men who are in the Glory of Paradise I wish thee Eternal Health O Fatima the Daughter of Mousa Virgin Holy Vertuous Just Directirix of the Truth Pious Sanctifi'd worthy of all our Praises who Soveraignly lovest the Faithful and who art Soveragnly belov'd Virgin without blemish and exempt from all Impurity May God take his Greatest Delight in thee look upon thee as pleasing to Him and Establish thee in Paradise which is thy Eternal Habitation and Refuge I am come to seek thee O Mistress and Lady of my Soul in hopes that I may approach the most High God by this Act of Piety and of his Apostle and his Holy Children The Mercy of God be upon him and them Eternally I Abhor and I Detest my Sins of which I have made me an unhappy Burthen that sinks me to the
Earth and I do my Endeavour to break the Yoke of Hell Vouchsafe me thy Intercession O most Holy Virgin at the Day when the Good shall be separated from the Wicked Be then a propitiation in my behalf for thou art descended from a Race and Genealogy of Parents that will not suffer those that love 'em to fall into Misfortune that never refuse any thing to whoever they be that call upon 'em in Prayer who divert all evil from those that tenderly cherish 'em but whose Enemies on the other side shall never prosper O God most High the Holy Doctors of the Race of the Prophet upon all whom be eternal Mercy thy Peace and thy Salvation have truly declar'd and taught that whoever shall devoutly visit Fatima of Com shall have Paradise for his Portion I am the Man O my God who come to visit her in this manner perswaded and convinc'd as I am of her Grandeur and her Excellency and of that of her glorious Ancestors pure and clean from all Sin upon all whom be Mercy and Peace O God be favourable to Mahamed and the Family of Mahamed Render profitable to my Salvation the Visit which I make to this Holy Virgin and confirm me in the favor of her Love Suffer me not to be depriv'd of the favor of her Intercession and crown me with the Glory of Paradise as thou hast promis'd to do for that in thee is Sovereign Power I visit my Lady and Mistress Fatima the Daughter of Mousa the Son of Dgafar Peace be upon 'em and let it be wish'd 'em eternally by all the Faithful Believers whose Devotion enclines 'em to approach to God by her Intercession In the Name of God Clement and Merciful Peace be upon Adam the Elect of God Salvation be upon Noah the Prophet of God Salvation be vpon Abraham the intimate Friend of God Salvation upon Moses the mouth of God Salvation upon thee Mahomet the seal and last of the Prophets Salvation upon thee the Prince and Director of the Faithful Aly the Son of Abitaleb Vicar of the Apostles of the Lord of human Creatures Salvation upon thee Fatima the Lady of the Women of the world Salvation upon both you the Graud Children of the Prophet of Mercy and Lord of the young men that inhabit Paradise Salvation be upon thee Ali the Son of Heusein the Lord of pious Men and Joy of the Eyes of the glorifi'd Saints Salvation upon thee Dgafar the Son of Mahomed the Just Salvation upon thee Mousa the Son of Dgafar the Pure Salvation upon thee Ali the Son of Mousa whom we all agree to Salvation upon thee Mahomet the Son of Ali the tenderly cherish'd Salvation upon thee Ali the Son of Mahomet the Faithful Counseller Salvation upon thee Hasan the Son of Hali. Salvation upon thee the Light and Sun of the World the last Apostle and upon the Friend of thy Friends and upon the Vicar of thy Vicars Salvation upon thee the Daughter of the Apostle of God Salvation upon thee the Daughter of Fatima and of Khadidgeh Salvation upon thee the Daughter of the Director of the Faithful and the Friend of God Salvation upon thee the Daughter of the Race of Hassan and Heusein Salvation upon thee the Daughter of the Friend of God Salvation be to thee the Aunt of the Friend of God Salvation be to thee the Daughter of Mousa the Son of Dgafar The Mercy of God his Benedictions and his Salvation be upon ye all God grant that ye may all know one another in Paradise God grant that we may be assembled together in your Company that we may drink out of our Prophets Fountain and that you may drink out of the Cup of your Grandfather from the hand of Hali the Son of Abitaleb The Blessings of God be upon all us I pray to God that he may fill us with Gladness and Joy that he may assemble us into the company of your Grandfather Mahomet upon whom be the Mercy and Peace of God and may be never deprive us of your Knowledge for he is a most Powerful Protector I approach to God under the shadow of your Favor detesting your Enemies I make him the Offering of my self devoting my self for a victim without Ignominy or Pride and I confess with all my heart that whatever Mahomet preach'd is Truth and I submit thereto Therefore it is that we implore thy Assistance O Lord our God thy Compassion and the glory of the day of Judgment O Fatima intercede for me for thou art in high Esteem with God and thou hast power in Heaven O God I pray thee that thou wilt grant me to make a happy end nor take away from me any thing that I enjoy There is most certainly neither power nor strength but by the Favor of the most puissant and great God Hear me O God and accept my Pilgrimage through thy Liberality thy Favor thy Mercy and thy Clemency Be favourable to Mahamed and his Family and grant 'em Salvation and Peace O sovereignly-merciful Being To conclude this Fathma's Tomb was rebuilt three times Her Father carry'd her to Com by reason of the great Persecution wherewith the Califfs of Bagdat molested his Family and all those that took Aly's part and held him and his Off-spring for the true Successors of Mahomet She erected several fair Structures in that City and there at last ended her days The People believe that God carry'd her to Heaven and that there is nothing in the Temple but only a Representation of her Body â—EPULCHRE DE ABAS SECOND â—EPULCHRE DE SIFY PREMIER Round the Gallery of Abas's Tomb runs a Frize divided equally into Cartridges of Azure wherein are written in large Characters of Gold the Elegies of the Famous Haly the Great Saint and Idol of the Persians made by the Learned Hasan-Caza Of which I shall insert the Translation as being a Piece of Eloquence wherein may be seen not only the Genius of the Persian Poetry but the Transports of Mahumetan Devotion The whole is divided into seven Songs in Distichs of which the first runs all upon Mahomet and the other six all upon Haly. The first Song I Salute the glorious Creaturê of whom the Sun is but the shadow Master-piece of the Lord of Human Creatures Great Star of Justice and Religion Infallible Expounder of the four Books Conductor of the eight Mobiles Governor of the seven Parts Chief of the Faithful Doctor of that Knowledge which is infus'd into the Prophets Royal Hero celebrated by twelve Successors though the Veil should be taken away yet would not my Belief be encreas'd Light of God Illuminating Soul of Prophesie Guide of true Believers The first Object of God when he bethought himself of sending his Orders to Earth and Embassador Center of divine Secrets concerning what is past and to come who has caus'd the Acknowledgment of God to shine forth out of the darkness of Errors as the Morning goes before the Sun
understanding the Aga Nazir was come forth to understand what he desired the other desired him to go immediately to Sephie-Mirza and to let him know that the Messenger of the most Sublime Command and of the most Potent Order staid at the Door and had something to communicate to him of the highest Importance and which was for his Advantage And therefore that he would be pleased to come forth and speak with him Which words the White Eunuch delivered to the Black Eunuch in such a Tone and with such a Countenance as discovered nothing either of Sadness or Joy from whence he could make any Conjectures either of bad or good Fortune For considering the secrecy of the Affair he came about it behoved him to affect a kind of Indifferency So that the Black Eunuch reported back the Message to the Young Prince as he had received it who at that time was with the Princess his Mother I shall rather chuse to give the Reader leave to imagin what was the Astonishment that seized those two Royal Persons at the suddenness of the News and whence they had reason to gather a thousand suspicions and jealousies than go about to express it in words We learnt afterwards that for some time they stood like Statues in a profound silence which was first interrupted by a loud shriek of the Princess and afterwards by these words which brake forth through the midst of her sighs while she embraced the Prince Ah my dear Son there 's an end of thy Life And indeed she could not look for any other thing for him than Death or some other Misfortune little less terrible She much less dreamt that it was to advance him to the Throne For in two Years that she had taken leave of her Husband then healthy and vigorous in the Flower of his Age not exceeding thirty six Years she had never heard of his being sick much less could she believe him dead Therefore when she heard that a Noble Messenger of the High Order was come to speak with the Prince what could she think but that this Order came from Habas the Second and that his Command was either to put to death or pluck out her Sons Eyes and that if they pressed him so earnestly to come forth it was only to understand and suffer the Execution of that Order All Appearances confirmed this sad Suspicion The severity of the Monarch was known to her as well as the disgust which he had taken against his Eldest Son of which he had given such publick proofs by the strict Captivity to which he had confined him But she that most perplexed her and augmented her mistrusts was the Lady-Mother of Hamzeh-Mirza Questionless said she that wicked Woman it is who by her Caresses and alluring Charms has over-ruled the King to deprive my Son of the Crown to set it upon hers Thereupon she began to redouble her Shrieks and Lamentations in such a manner that the whole Palace rang with her Complaints All the Ladies surprized to hear the first of the Kings Legitimate Wives in such an Agony ran presently to condole her sorrows and to intermix their Tears and Complaints with hers And indeed they had reason especially the Confidents of the Young Prince who had an extraordinary Passion for his Interests Friendship in others produced the same Effects believing bloudy Executioners were come to ravish from their Arms a Friendly Prince in his tender Years So that it is said that the Women raised such a general Compassion that even the Black Eunuch who was present tho they are a sort of People endued with savage and remorseless Souls could not refrain from dropping some few tears and quitting that Indifferency to which his Trust and Duty obliged him The General of the Musquetteers and the Nazir Eunuch at the same time heard the Womens Lamentations and believing it proceeded from the mistake of the Mother of the Ladies that belonged to the Prince sent a second Black Enunch to assure the Princess that the Messenger who waited for the Prince her Son at the Gate had brought him happy tydings and desired only to give him notice of a more Exalted Fortune Which they both confirmed by an Oath most solemn among the Persians by the Head of the Great Agrea by whom they mean Haty whom they believe to be the real Successour to Mahomet But all those Oaths and Protestations did nothing avail but only to augment the Mistrusts of the afflicted Mother She redoubled her Lamentations more loudly than before She hugged her beloved Son in her Arms and in the Transports of her sorrow called down a Thousand Imprecations upon the deceased King her Husband calling him Barbarian Infidel Impious and the Fatal cause of all her Tears Wherein she said Truth tho he were but a very Innocent Cause Sometimes she turned toward the Lordly Messenger whom she reproached with the scurrilous Terms of Dog and Messenger of Death sometimes toward the Eunuchs that were present whom she upbraided for Traytors All the while the Young Prince stood immovable for as is said he uttered not one word nor did he shew in his Countenance any sign of sorrow It is very probable that it was so extreme as to overwhelm him in such a sort that he had neither Life nor Motion While Nature that could not find sufficient signs to express her dreadful pains stood as it were entranced not knowing what side to take Therefore the Young Prince shed not a Tear because the occasion which he had to weep was so great In that manner he stood in the midst of the Lamentations of the Women who detained him and drew him to their knees as if they had resolved to defend him and prevent those that came to carry him away from approaching his Person This Scene had lasted above three quarters of an Hour for other Black Eunuchs that were sent one after another with Oaths and new Imprecations to assure them that the General brought Orders only that were highly to the Princes advantage could gain nothing upon the belief of the Mother and the other Women so that the Nazir resolved to go himself in person to try what he could do to undeceive her But so soon as he appeared before the Mother and with terrible Oaths endeavoured to assure her that there was no danger the Princess still holding her Son closely embraced in her Arms cried out And Thou Dog art thou also a Messenger of Death like the rest The disconsolate Princess was not to be comforted for the more Messengers they sent the more Oaths they swore the less credit she gave to their Imprecations She looked upon them all as Artifices to surprize her and to induce her to consent that her Son should go forth where Death waited his coming But at length some of the Principal Young Ladies suffered themselves to be over-ruled by the persuasions of the Aga and the horrible Imprecations which he called down upon his head that there was
Lieutenant of the King of the World according to the true Law is Safiè We have in another Place explained these Inscriptions more exactly and literally On the other side was this Persian Distich Zibad Destiè shae Abas sanie Safiè zad Zikkeh saheh Karaniè That is After Habas the Second was in Corporeal Being Or thus After Habas the Second quitted his Corporeal Being Safiè Master of the World coined this Money Which is as much as to say He was declared King in regard that in those Countries as well as here none but Sovereigns can coin Money Underneath were these words Zarby sefahaan hazar haftad ou Heft Coined at Ispahan the year of the Hegirah 1077. It was almost near Midnight before the Ceremony ended At what time the King rose up in his Royal Habiliments which he did not put off till he was retired into his particular Apartment in the Womens Palace All the while there was to be observed a great alteration in the Countenance of the Young Prince He looked with a Countenance all in disorder like a Person that was not well in his Senses And indeed what other could be expected from a Person that had been all along mued up under a close confinement and had never seen the World Besides that by a secret Fatality of the ill humour of his Father he had been shut up in a more rigorous Imprisonment than ever was practised before toward the Kings Children Could he observe a certain Posture of Majesty that should have performed all things after a surprizing manner who had never been instructed before Much less was he able to make any Reflections upon himself Add to this that the Young Prince passed of a sudden from one Extremity to another He heard himself called Master of the World He that but a little before was in condition little inferiour to that of a Slave True it is that he wanted for no Conveniences in his Captivity which was accompanied with all the Pleasures grateful to the Senses but those Pleasures became Torments when sowered with the continual fears of Death or deprivation of his Eyes that continually threatned him And this was that which made him he could not tell what to do For what may we say of that last assault that attacked his very Soul How many dismal Apparitions did the dreadful Cries and frantick Lamentations of his Mother and his Wives and others of the same Sex present to his Mind His Soul to speak after the Persian manner was like a Sea which being agitated by a furious Tempest expresses its disorder by the roaring of the Waves and shews the disturbance it was in after the Storm is over and tho a pleasing Calm succeed The Grand Dutchess for that Title is given to the Mother of the New King from the very moment of her Sons being Crowned was not in a worse condition They had told her the very first words which the General of the Musquetteers had uttered throwing himself at her Sons Feet they brought her the news every Minute of what passed But Fear and Grief had so possessed her Imagination that there was no entrance for any other Passion It was above a quarter of an hour before she would so much as listen to the welcome news which they brought her she refused obstinately to believe And tho she had such forcible reasons to rejoyce she still continued weeping and lamenting according to the humour of her Sex that are willing to dwell upon sorrowful Objects and wilfully refuse to put away those Idea's from their Minds However at length so many Eunuchs came to tell her the news of the Death of her Husband and the Election of her Son for whose Coronation they were preparing that she began to lend an Ear and to surcease her fears Nevertheless her Soul continued still in suspence between Joy and Grief For as the good Fortune of her Son and his Exaltation afforded her a happy occasion of Gladness so the mournful death of her Husband recalled her Tears So that those two Passions equally prevailing in her heart kept the ballance so even that her joys and sorrows hung in an equal Poise But at length Custom and good Manners turn'd the Scales So that for a while she relapsed into her first Commotions she rent her Garments calling upon the Soul of the Deceased expostulating with him as if he had been present what reason he had to quit the World and leave her in that forlorn condition with other moans and lamentations of the same nature However she gave over when she understood that the King her Son was returning to her Thereupon after she had performed the usual Ceremonies of Purification which the Law ordains she changed her Habit as did the Princess the New Monarchs Wife with the rest of the Ladies of Quality that belonged to the Court to receive the King who till then had lived among them as a Prisoner So soon as they had notice that the New King was entered into their Palace they went all to meet him The Great Dutchess was the first that paid her duty to him upon her Knees bowing her Head three times to the ground which done his Wife and his Concubines did the same and then the rest of the Persons belonging to the Place whose Quality and Employments priviledged them for that Honour I could not learn what was done more the rest of the Night for I have already informed you how difficult it is to be informed of the Transactions in those secret Habitations that seem to be Regions of another World There are none but Women that can approach within a League of it or some Black Eunuchs with whom a Man may as well converse with so many Dragons that can discover those secrets and you may as well tear out their hearts as a syllable upon that Text. You must use a great deal of Art to make them speak just as we tame Serpents in the Indies till they make them hiss and dance when they please In the mean time the noise of the Nakara resounded from the Terraces of the Royal Palace And in regard it continued longer than ordinary which is generally not above three Quarters of an Hour it gave an occasion to those that were wakened with the din to wonder what was the matter But in regard it was then Midnight and an unseasonable time to stir out of the House there were very few unless they were such as lived near the Royal Palace that would so far gratifie their Curiosity as to enquire the Reason The rest contented themselves till next Morning at what time they understood that Saphiè the Second was seated upon the Throne as Successour to his Father Habas deceased I leave the Reader to conjecture how every body was surprised For my part I apprehended something so strange upon the novelty of the Accident that I thought my self in a dream That they could conceal the Death of so great and Potent a Prince so long
mortally and so openly hated him that he would neither accept of his Visits nor his Presents The reason of which animosity was because that in the Reign of Habas II. about twelve years before his death when the General of the Army being then in his Government of Tauris fell a second time under the displeasure of his Prince for the reasons already related and after a Confiscation of all his Goods was sent a Prisoner to Casbin Mirza-Sadek Brother of this Mirza-Ibrahim being at that time Farmer Royal of the same City and Province was appointed Commissioner by his Majesty for the sale of those Confiscated Goods At what time he carri'd himself so rigorously that he took away the very Tombans or Linnen Drawers belonging to his Wives and sold 'em in open Market for in regard the disgrac'd Lord had several Wives and for that the Persian Ladies are all sumptuously habited there are some of these under-Drawers that are worth thirty or forty Crowns so that a good number might come to a great deal of Money This Affront touch'd the General to the Quick and enrag'd him to that excess against the whole Family that he gave it its full swinge first against the Vazier himself who had given him the Affront For after he was restor'd and found he had power to do what he pleas'd he sent for him and not so much as vouchsafing to see him when he arrived he caus'd him to be shut up in his Stables where to do him the greatest Injury that could be done him in Persia he expos'd him to the beastly Passion of six lusty Grooms Mirza Ibrahim was not ignorant of all this and knew how far the Transports of his Pride and Cruelty was able to carry him he saw him newly restor'd and advanc'd to the third dignity in the Kingdom and that which was of more importance that he was the Chief in favour and that the King listen'd to him as his Governour For those reasons he conjectur'd rightly that among those that sought his ruine there was not any one who had more Power or a greater good Will Therefore he resolv'd to purchase his favour whatever it cost him or if he could not oblige him to do him a kindness at least that he would be pleas'd to hold his tongue To which purpose he went to give him a Visit desiring he might be admitted to pay him Reverence At first when the Vazier enter'd the General of the Army pretended not to see him but feigning as if his head ak'd call'd for a Couch to lie down where after he had lain about two hours he retir'd into his Palace leaving a great throng of People that waited without to come another time and among the rest Mirza Ibrahim However Mirza Ibrahim would not take this for a denial but return'd the next day To whom the General taking no notice that he had demanded leave to be admitted to make his salutation in the great Hall where he dispatch'd all Comers and Goers gave him no Answer so that the poor Lord was forc'd to stand three hours together among the Officers and Common Persons and after that he pass'd by him without so much as looking upon him and so took horse before his Palace Gate Mirza Ibrahim follow'd him and keeping close to him ever now and then gave him the usual Salute of My Lord peace be with yee and that so loud that he might easily be heard At first the General of the Army said nothing to him but finding the other still pursue him tir'd with his importunate Complements turning about Gidi segh Cursed Dog said he what have I to do with thee or thou with me Go to the Devil and let me never see thee more And having so said he caus'd his Servants to thrust him away Poor Mirza Ibrahim seeing himself so coursely us'd made trial of Presents the great Spring that moves the whole Court of Persia To that purpose he sent the General two thousand Tomans which the General refus'd the other believing 't was too little sent again two thousand five hundred which were sent back as before then he sent three thousand which had no better acceptance after that four thousand which still could make no impression in the haughty Spirit of the Exasperated Lord So that at length he sent five thousand Tomans which comes to twenty thousand pounds And then somewhat suppl'd he invited Mirza Ibrahim two days after to his Megeles or Publick Feast nevertheless he shew'd him no particular Civility nor said any thing to him more then what is usually spoken to all the Guests Kochs-Geldi Y' are welcome I question'd the truth of this Present of twenty thousand pounds when I heard it related the first time not believing that any person would purchase any mans favour at so dear a Rate but afterwards upon farther examination I found it to be really true And I the rather give this Advertisement to the Reader that he may not mistrust the fidelity of my Relations or think that I speak by Hearsay and not upon any exact information All this while the Kings distemper increas'd upon him that he could ride no longer so that he never went abroad with his Wives but in a Kagia veh which are little wooden sheds carri'd by gread Camels wherein they usually put their Women when they go to take the Air. In this Condition he continued a month tho all the while he would not forbear his usual recreations with his Wives The Kourrourks continu'd in all the parts round about Ispahan where the Prince caus'd all the handsom women to be taken up and brought to his Haram One day the Queen Mother had a desire to see the Fortress of the City where are kept all the Curiosities and rarities belonging to the present Monarch and his Ancestors whether Presents or Purchas'd or Trophies of their Conquests To which purpose she persuaded her Son to carry her thither so that there was a Kourrouk proclaim'd all over one part of the City which was never known or at least never remembred by any body then alive Now it haepn'd that one time as the King was thus sporting himself abroad with his Wives an Accident fell out that render'd 'em still more unsupportable to the People His Majesty at that time lay in the Fields without Ispahan under Tents in Harvest time when the sheaves lay heap'd up one upon another in the Grounds and as he was one that greatly delighted in Fireworks some flying Rockets were presented him one Evening of an extraordinary weight for there are some that weigh forty pounds of which he order'd a trial to be made But their extraordinary weight hindering the Massie Squib from mounting directly upwards as it should have done and so not flying very high they made a kind of a Semicircle at a distance which carri'd 'em a great way into the Fields where they set the Sheaves on fire and burnt the Corn together with some houses that stood not
Persian Prayer 45. Kafer the name given by the Persians to Idolaters and Christians 135. L M. de Lalain French Envoy his Audience 72. Hubert de Laresse Envoy from the Hollanders to the Emperour 56. his negotiation at the Persian Court under Habas II. 61 62. and under Sefie II. 64. his Audience 65. Letter of the Persian Lords to Sefie-Mirza upon having Elected him Emperour 27 28. of the Spies in the Persian Court to the King of India 98. Letters of Credence of the Cosaque Embassadors not to be uncypher'd 144. of the Great Duke of Muscovy to the King of Persia 145. of the Pope to the same 151. M Mahamed-Kouli-Kaan a great Enemy to the Christians 87. Bastinado'd 140. made Governor of Candaar 141. Mahamed Saleh a famous Astrologer 25. Meihter or High Chamberlain of Persia 3-14 Message of the Persian Noblemen to the Emperour 67. his Answer 68. Mer-Atever-Bachi Grand Esquire to the Emperor 13. Metched an extraordinary holy City among the Persians 69. Mir-tchekar-Bachi Prince of the Chase 13. Mirza the signification of it 8. Mirza-Baker Chief of the Astrologers 25. Mirza-Hali-Riza a learned Persian Nobleman 43. imprison'd by Habas II. and releas'd by Sefié II. 78. Mirza Hachem a foul-tongu'd person 74. out of the Kings favour 76. his death 77. Mirza-Koudchek Physician to Habas II. 5. confin'd and his Estate confiscated 70. Mirza-Ibrahim Vazier of Media 104. how cheated by the General of the Slaves 106. his usage at his arrival at Ispahan 112 113. when almost ruin'd he gets leave to retire 127. Mirza-Refié a learned Persian 42. his Oration at the Coronation 45. Mirza-Sadek his fall 149. Mirza-Sahid Physician to Habas II. 5. confin'd and his Estate confiscated 70. Mission of Capuchins to Georgia 151. Moubarek-Bached a Persian Complement 70. Moulouk the meaning of the word 115. Multani a sort of Banians 98. the principal of them apprehended 100. Munckiziim-Bachi the Lord of the Astrologers 13. order'd to accompany the tydings of his Election to Sefie-Mirza 25. Muscovite Embassadours slighted at the Persian Court 142. the Great Dukes Letter to the King 145. N Nazir Eunuch see Aga Mubarek Nazir the signification of the word 8. Nazir or Seer the Superintendant General of the Royal Revevenues 13. Passionate for the preferment of Hamzeh-Mirza to the Throne 17. not honour'd as other Noblemen 17. his abject Submission ibid. gains his pardon 72. cheated by the General of the Slaves 107. Nekaat-Kanum the first Wife of Habas II. 6. her extreme passion upon the Message from the Lords to her Son 31 32. Niazouk the Comet so call'd Noblemen of Persia assemble to choose a new Emperour 12 c. their Message to him 67. their Arrival and Reception at Court 70 71. Nour-Nissa-Kanum the second Wife of Habas II. 8. O Orders for the Commissioners who carri'd to Sephiè Mirza the News of his being elected Emperour 26 c. Orquenge a petty Principality of Tartary 115. a Prince of that Country taken Prisoner by the Persians ibid. and his usage among them 116. P Pehri Rocksar Begum restor'd to favour and her Husband preferr'd 83. Physicians to the Emperour of Persia their case upon the death of their Master 5. they complot to raise the younger Son to the Throne 9. they are confin'd and their Estates confiscated 70. Popes Letter to the Persian Emperour 151. Portraitures of the Emperour and great Officers taken by the Indian Spies 98. Prayer or Speech at the Coronation of the Emperour 45. Present of the Dutch Envoy to the General of the Musquetteers 66. of the English to the Emperour ibid. and to the General of the Musquetteers 67. of the French to the Emperour 72. of Mirza Ibrahim to Hali-Kouli-Kaan 113. of the Indian Lady Sakeb-Koudshek to Solyman III. 151. R Religion of Mahomet divided into the Shia and the Sunni Factions 119. Revenues of Persia decrease under the management of the young K. 128. Sepher-Kouli-Kaan the Princely Slave of the Armies 101. Sephie the signification of the word 48. Shama Ki a City almost Ruin'd by an Earthquake 127. Sha-Naavaz Kaan Prince Governor of Gorgia 101. Sheik-Hali-Kaan one of the Persian Generals against the Tusbeks 120. advanc'd to be General of the Musquetteers 148. Shia the name of that Sect of Mahometans of which are the Persians 119. Soliman the new name of the Persian Emperor 134. the original and meaning of it 133. Sophy a word used by Historians c by mistake 49. Speech of the prime Minister for the promotion of Hamzeh-Mirza to the Throne 14 15. of Aga-Mubarek against it 20 21. of the Messenger who brought the news to Sephie-Mirza of his being Elected Emperor 34. of Mirza-Refia at the Coronation 45. of the Emperour of Persia and the Dutch Envoy at his Audience 65. of the Emp. and the English 66 67. of the same and the French 72 73. of the Emperor and Hali-Kouli-Kaan upon his Arrival 80. of the same Lord upon another occasion 129. of the prime Minister to the Cossque Embassadors Spies in the Persian Court from the King of India 98. Stephen d' Ameria Superior of a Mission of Capuchins to Georgia 151. Sunni the name of that Mahometan Sect of which the Yusbecks and Turks are 119 135. T. Taag the Diadem or Crown of the Persian Emperor 40. Talaar Tavieleh the Emperours Apartment for Audience 36. the description of it 37. Tefflis the Capital City of Georgia a good part of it overturn'd by an Earthquake 126. Temuraz-Kaan the last King of Georgia 101. Terviet-Kaan Embassador from the King of India 102 Toefenktchi the Lord of the Musquetteers 13. chosen to carry the tidings to Sefi-Mirza of his being Elected Emperour 25. and his Character ibid. a great Favourite of the Emperour 57. 73. loses his Love and retires 148. Tshehel Setoon or the Hall with forty Pillars 132. Tumult in Ispahan 84 85. Turbant see Dhulbandt Turks or Turkmans whence they came 124. V. Valié-Neamet its signification 34. Vateaa-Noviez the Notary of occurrences 13. Vazier the meaning of the Word 73. Vazier of Mazenderan see Mirza-Hachem Vests given by the Persian Emperor to his Noblemen 70 71. W Wine prohibited to be sold 130. Wives the choice of them by the Kings of Persia 130. Women why extremely afflicted upon the death of the Emperour 3. the constant Companions of Sephie 130. Y Yus and Yusi the meaning of the words 115. Yusbecks a People of Tartary invade the Persian Territories 114. an account of them 115. a great defeat of them ibid. they submit to Habas II. 119. make an irruption into Bactria 120. surprize a Persian Convoy 121. Z Zachara an Armenian Merchant 91. FINIS * On taille la vigne tous les quatre Anns une fois †As if I had said On taille la vigne quatre fois en un An. Abas the Second Victorious King Lord of the World Thrice Valliant Prince descended from Shaik Sephi from Moussa from Hassein The Word signifies desire (1) The Pentateuch the Psalter the Gospel and the Alcoran The Mahometans believing that these Books ever were and always shall be the Rule of their Faith (2) The Heavens of the Planets of the Primum Mobile (3) The seven Climates which was the Ancient Division of the Earth (4) It is in the Original Doctor in the Knowledge of the Prophets who knew not their A B C. For the Mahumetans affirm that Mahomet was so ignorant in human Learning that he could not read To the end they might the better from thence conclude that his Knowledge was supernatural (5) The twelve Heirs and Successors of Mahomet the last of which was carry'd to Heaven and shall return to confound the Reign of the unfaithful (a) Let it be so and it was so Gen. 1. The Mahometans hold that every man has two inspecting Angels the one who writes down the good the other the evil which he does (7) The Persians affirm that Aly was the handsomest Person that ever was and that his Beauty was unconceivable For which reason the Painters usually cover his Face with a Veil and will not let it be seen But what the Poet here speaks of Haly signifies that the Blessed in Heaven account it their chiefest felicity to be belov'd by him (8) Or Fortune The sence is thou knowest how to turn the world at thy pleasure as a Mule turns the little Bell that hangs at his neck (9) Renown or Fame (10) Sulphagar is the name of Haly's sword which the Mahometans say divides it self at the end with two points (11) Stones of Divination The Mahumetans say that when Jesus Christ was living Physick flourish'd in its highest degree of Excellency and that God gave him so many secrets of that Art that he rais'd the Dead and penetrated the very thoughts of Men. (12) That is to say the greatest Prophet (13) A figure taken from the Custom of the Persians to seal their Mines with the King's Seal and of his Officers because all Mines belong to the King (14) The Heaven 17 The place toward which they are obliged to turn when they say their Prayers Thus Jerusalem was the Kebleh of the Jews and Mecca of the Mahometans (17) An allusion to the Kiss which the Mahumetans say that Mahomet gave Haly when he publickly appointed him his Heir and Successor and is a prophane imitation of the manner of Christs giving his Holy Spirit to his Apostles (18) In the Elogy of the Mahumetans it is said that God created the World by the Ministry of Angels which is drawn from the Theology of the Jews (19) Abraham's Wells of which mention is made in Genesis and with whose Water the Pilgrims of Mecca are oblig'd to purify themselves a certain number of times (20) The house of Abraham to which the Alcoran commands Pilgrimage once in a man's life (21) The ancient Kings of Persia of the first Race and Monarchs of the East