Relations of the most famous kingdomes and common-wealths thorowout the world discoursing of their situations, religions, languages, manners, customes, strengths, greatnesse, and policies. Translated out of the best Italian impression of Boterus. And since the last edition by R.I. now once againe inlarged according to moderne observation; with addition of new estates and countries. Wherein many of the oversights both of the author and translator, are amended. And unto which, a mappe of the whole world, with a table of the countries, are now newly added.

Persia.

PErsia, and the Persian glory hath beene of∣ten obscured: First, by the Arabians, who (to bury in oblivion the memory of for∣mer reputation) enacted by Law, accor∣ding to the custome of Conquerours, that the people should no more be called Per∣sians, but Saracens. Secondly, by the Tartarians, led by Ching••s. And lastly, by Tamerlan and his followers.

But not long before the daies of our Ancestors, by the vertue of Ismael Sophy (of whose originall and fortunes, for the better understanding of this History, it will not bee a∣misse to discourse) the King some might truly have beene said to have recovered its ancient splendour, if the Turkish depredations upon the Natives, had not through bloud and devastation, inforced this Ismael to re-people the Country with Tartars, Turcomans, Courdines, and the scumme of all Nations: who though they live in a better Country, yet doe they nothing resemble the ancient and noble descended

Persians; but at this day retaine the inheritance of their bad, trecherous, and vilde dispositions.

When Mahumet, after the decease of his first wife (who adopted him her heire) by her riches and his new supersti∣tion, had gotten him a name amongst the vulgar, he married for his second wife Aissa, the daughter of one Ahubacer a great rich man, and of high authority in those quarters. By this mans continuance, and the friendship of Oman and Ot∣tomar his kinsmen, hee gathered together a great rabble of Arabians, and partly by faire meanes, and partly by co∣lour of Religion he became Master of many bordering Ter∣ritories; and also about the same time gave Fatime his Daughter (by his first Wife) to Halie his Cousin: and to him after his death, all his earthly substance, making him the head of his superstition, with the title of Caliph.

Abubacer, by whose countenance Mahumet became gracious, taking in ill part the preferment of the young man; by the aide of Omar and Ottomar (whose desires, wholly built upon hope of succession, by reason of the old mans yeares, and for kindred sake, were inclined rather to see Abubacer, than Halie to bee their Caliph) beganne openly to resist Halie and to spoile him, and his wife Fatime, of all the substance which was left them by the Uncle. Abubacer died: Omar and Ottomar succeeded. Omar was slaine by a slave; Ottomar in a private quarrell; after whose death Halie succeeded. Against him rose Mavie, who accusing him as accessary to the death of Ottomar his Lord, caused him to be slain neere Caffa, a City within two daies journey of Babylon, where likewise he lieth buried: The place is called to this day Massadel, that is, the house of Halie. After his decease the Inhabitants of Caffa proclaimed Ossan, the son of Fatime, Caliph; but him likewise Mavie opposed, and flew by poison. Then was he absolute Caliph, and after him his sonne Iazit. Ossan left behinde him twelve sonnes, one whereof was called Mahumet Mahadin. The Moores say, he never died, but that hee shall returne againe to convert the world; and therefore they keepe alwaies ready in the

Mosque of Massadella, a horse gallantly furnished, where in their foppery they affirme, that this worlds conversion shall first begin. Upon these differents of Halie, Abubacer, Omar, Ottomar, and Mavie, have mighty factions of armes and opinions arisen amongst the sectaries of this new su∣perstition. The Persians labour to prove Halie true Caliph, by the last Will of Mahumet; the Arabians stand as stifly to the three first. When from the yeare of our Lord God 1258. to the yeare 1363. the Moores had no Caliph (Mu∣stapha Mumbala the last Caliph being slaine by Alcu King of the Tartarians) a certaine Nobleman in Persia, named Sophi, Lord of Ardevel, deriving his pedegree from Halie, by Musa Ceresin his Nephew, and one of the twelve sonnes of Ossan (in memory of whom he altered the forme of the Turbant) by his vertue and valour, won great credit and estimation to his new faction.

To him succeeded Adar the sonne of Guine, to whom Assembeg, a powerfull Prince in Syria and Persia, gave his daughter in marriage. But his sonne Iacob-beg, fearing the power and estimation of Adar, caused him to be slaine, and delivered his two sons, Ismael and Soliman, to his Captaine Amanzar, willing him to cast them in prison in Zaliga, a Castle in the mountaines: but Amazar detesting the tyranny of his Lord, conveied the children to his owne house, and brought them up like Gentlemen amongst his owne sonnes; and falling sicke of a deadly disease, forecasting what might happen after his decease, gave them horses and money, wil∣ling them to flie, and to betake themselves to their mothers house and tuition. Ismael the eldest was no sooner returned to his mothers place, but he vowed revenge for his fathers death, and after some fortunate expeditions, tooke upon him the cause and protection of the followers of Halie, from whom hee derived his pedegree. Hee made the Turbant higher, and sent Ambassadours to all the Orientall Mahu∣metans, to exhort them to unity in Religion and Cognisan∣ces. By these meanes and fortune of his armes, he became a terror to the East, and slew Ossan then Usurper of the Persian

State, with his ten brethren, except Marabeg, who saved himselfe, and sled to Soliman first Emperour of the Turkes, imploring his aid. This Ismael at the Lake Vay, overthrew with a great slaughter the Prince of the Tartars Zagatai, and in heat of his victory had passed the River Abbian, if his Astrologian, in whom he greatly trusted, had not fore∣told him that his passage should bee prosperous, but his re∣turne unfortunate. Hee left to his sonnes a most spacious Empire, bounded with the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulfe, the Lake Sioc, the Rivers Tygris and Oxus, and the King∣dome of Cambaia, which Provinces containe more than twenty degrees from East to West, and eighteene from North to South. And although these Kingdomes lying within these bounds held not immediatly of the Crowne of Persia, yet all acknowledge the Persian for their soveraigne Prince, that is to say, the Kings of Matam, Patan, Guadel, and Ormus.

Georgia and Mengrellia, being Christian Countries, ac∣cording to the superstition of the Greeke Church, submitted to certaine conditions, as toleration of Religion, payment of Tribute, and disclaiming to assist the Turke against them; and so obtained a kind of peace and protection untill againe the Persians declined, by the fortunes of the Ottomans. The like course ranne Media, now called Servan, Dierbechia, once Mesopotamia; Cusistan, the inhabitation of the Susiani; Farsistan, the Country of the Persians; Strava, once Hirca∣nia; Parthia, at this day called Arac; Caramanie, now Si∣gestan, Carassa, Sablestan, and Istigiu, whose ancient names were Drangia, Bactria, Parapamisus, Margiana. Of these Regions, those which lie neerest to the Persian Sea are most plentifull, by reason of the Rivers every where dispersed thorow the whole Land. Amongst these Rivers, the most famous is Bindimir, to whose waters the Inhabitants are much beholding, conveying it by trenches, and other inven∣tions into their grounds, to their great ease and commodity. The Provinces lying upon the Caspian Sea, for their Rivers and temperature, doe likewise participate of the said fer∣tility,

especially all those quarters which are watered with the River Puly-Malon, falling into the Lake Burgian: the residue of the Province is dry; by reason whereof, Townes and Villages are seldome seene in those places, un∣lesse it be by some springs or waters side.

The most ample and magnificent Cities of Persia,* 1.1 are Istigias the chiefe seat of Bactria, thought to be one of the pleasan∣test Cities of the East. Indion, the chiefe City of Mar∣giana, situated in so fat and fertile a territory, that therefore Antiochus Soler caused it to be walled about. Candahar, the chiefe seat of Pamaparisus, famous for the trafficke of In∣diae and Cathaia, whither the Merchants of those Countries doe resort. Ert, the chiefe City of Aria, so abounding with Roses, that thereof it should seeme to take the name. Barbarus saith, it is of thirteene miles compasse. Ispaa the chiefe seat of Parthia, so spacious for the circuit thereof, that the Persians hyperbolically terme it, the halfe World. Chirmaine is the chiefe seat of Caramania, renowmed for the excellent cloth of gold and silver woven therein. Eor is a noble City, and so is Custra of Susiana. But all these for beauty and magnificence may bow and bend to Syras, sea∣ted upon the River Bindimire.

It was once the chiefe seat of Persia, and as some thinke, called Persepolis. Alexander the Great burnt it to the ground at the intreatie of his Concubine; but afterward, being ashamed of so vile an action, caused it to bee re-edified. It is not at this time so great, as in times past, yet it is thought to bee one of the greatest Cities in all the Orient, with its suburbs, which are in compasse twenty miles. It is a Proverbe among the Persians; Quando Suars erat Siras, tunc Cairus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Pagus: yet they account it not very ancient, nei∣ther are they of their opinions, who will have it the head of ••••••ia. Tauris and Casbin are famous Cities, and besides their magnificence they may glory, that in them the Kings of Persia for the most part keepe their residences.

The forme of Government of this Nation,* 1.2 is not like the Government of any other Mahumetan people; neither is ••••

There are also many desarts,* 1.3 and many mountaines dis∣joyning the Provinces farre asunder. Herein it resembleth Spaine, where for want of navigable Rivers (except to∣wards the Sea-coast) traffike is little used, and mountaines and Provinces lie unmanured for scarcity of moisture. But Nature, unwilling that humane life should want any ease∣ment, hath so provided for mutuall commerce in these sandy and barren places, that through the labour of Camels, the want of Navigation is richly recompenced thorowout Per∣sia, & the bordering Countries. These beasts carry wondrous burdens, and will longer continue than either Horse or Mule. They will travell laden with a thousand pound weight, and will so continue forty dayes and upward. In ste∣rile and deepe sandy Countreyes (such as are Lybia, Arabia, and Persia,) they drinke but once every fifth day, and if extremity enforce, they will endure the want of water ten or twelve. When their burdens are off, a little grasse, thorns, or leaves of trees will suffice them. There is no living thing lesse chargeable, and more laborious, certainly ordained of nature a fit creature for those sandy and deepe places of Asia and Africke, wherein even man himselfe feeleth the want of food and water. Of these there are three sorts, upon the lesser men travell; the middle sort have bunches on their backs, fit for carrying of Merchandize; the greater and stronger are those which carry burdens of one thousand pound weight, these are their ships, the sands their Seas.

What numbers of horsemen this King is able to levie, was manifested in the warres betweene Selim the first,* 1.4 and Ismael; betweene Ismael and Soliman; and betweene Co∣dabanda and Amurath. Not one of them brought above thirty thousand horse into the field, but so throughly furni∣shed, that they had little cause to feare greater numbers. The richer and abler sort arme themselves after the manner of our men at Armes; the residue being better than the third part of their Cavalry, content themselves with a Scull, a Jack and a Cemiter. They use the Launce & the Bow indif∣ferently. There is scarce a better Musketteer in the whole

world than the Persian generally is at this day, nor a sorer fellow at the Spade, or at a Mine: Of both these the Portu∣gals had sensible experience at the siege of Ormuz, lately taken from them by the Persian.

Touching their riches, the common opinion is,* 1.5 that in the dayes of King Tamas, the yearely Revenues amounted to foure or five millions of Gold, who by a sudden doubling of the value of his coine, raised it to eight, and according∣ly made payment to his Soldans and souldiers. But in these dayes, by the conquest of the great Turke they are much diminished, and it is thought that they amount to little more than two; But indeed the feodary Lands, Townes, and Villages, Tenths, Shops, &c. (which are ve∣ry many) supply a great part of the pay due to the com∣panies of those his horsemen above mentioned.

Towards the East bordereth the Mogor,* 1.6 upon the North the Zagatai.* 1.7 Towards the West the Turke possesseth a large frontier. With the Mogors he is little troubled; for as Spaine and France by reason of the narrow streight, and difficult passages over the mountaines, cannot easily convey neces∣saries (the life of an Armie) to infest one another: So to∣wards the frontiers of India and Cambaia (Provinces be∣longing to the Mogors) high Mountaines, and vast De∣sarts, keepe good peace betweene these two Princes: yet in∣fest they one another on the borders of Cahull & Sablestan, of which certaine Lords of the Mogors have gotten the do∣minion. He commeth not neere the borders of the great Cham, betweene whom certaine petty Princes, and impas∣sable Desarts doe oppose themselves. It seemeth,* 1.8 that to∣ward the Zagatai he standeth content with those bounds which the River Oxus hath laid out; for he never durst passe it; and when Zaba King of the Zagatai had passed it, hee was overthrowne with much slaughter by Ismael. So was Cyrus by Tomyris, who slew him and all his host. The Turk is a borderer all alongst the western coast of this whole Empire, even from the Caspian Sea, to the gulfe Saura,* 1.9 a tract almost of fifteene degrees. He hath no enemy so dangerous,

nor more to be feared, nor at whose hands in all conflicts (for the most part) he hath received greater losse. Mahumet the second overthrew Vssanchan, and tooke from David, his Vassall and Confederate, the Empire of Trapezond. Selim the first did overthrow Ismael in Campania, and tooke from him Caramit, Orfa, Merdis, and all the territory which they call Alech. Soliman put Tamas to flight, and tooke from him Babylon and all Mesopotamia. In our dayes Amurath wonne whatsoever lieth betweene Derbent and Tauris, wherein is comprehended Georgia, and Sirvan, and by buil∣ding of fortresses in Teflis, Samachia, and Eres, assured the passages of Chars, Tomanis, and Lori. He is Lord of all that lieth betweene Erzirum & Orontes, a River three daies jour∣ney beyond Tauris. In this City he caused a Citadell to be built, not minding to leave it, as did Selim and Soliman, but thereby as with a curbe to bridle and keepe it. In this warre which lasted from the yeare 1591. to 1597. the Turks altered their forme of warfare: for whereas they were wont to lay their whole hopes upon their numbers, the va∣lour of their horsemen and footmen, their store of artillery and warlike furniture, scorning to be cooped up in Castles and Fortresses, for the most part spoyling and burning what∣soever they overcame, or became Lords of, and taking as little care to keepe what they had conquered (supposing it no good policie to fortifie Castles; or strengthen Townes, by weakning of their companies) in these warres to avoid the inconveniences, where into Selim and Soliman were plun∣ged, they were glad to build strong places upon commodi∣ous passages, and Citadels in the chiefest Townes, furnishing them with good Garrisons, and great store of Artillery. This warre cost them very deare; for by surprises, by famine, and extremities of weather, infinite thousands perished, yet al∣wayes to the losse of the Persian or his Confederates. In the field the Persian is farre inferiour to the Turke in numbers and goodnesse of footmen, in Ordnance, in all sorts of war∣like furniture, and (the chiefe stay of a State) in obedience of subjects. Notwithstanding, if Selim, Soliman, or Amu∣rath,

had not beene allured thither either by rebellion, or intestine discords, they durst not have medled with this warre. Selim was called into the aid of Mara-beg the son of Ossaen, a mighty Prince in Persia. Soliman came in aid of El∣caso, the brother of Taemas, hatefull to his Soveraigne, for his ambition and aspiring humour, and in the end abused the credit and good will of the people toward Elcaso, to the furtherance of his owne designments. Amurath never tooke weapon in hand against this people, before he understood by the letters of Mustapha, Bassa of Van, that all Persia was in uprore about the election of a new Prince, thereby cer∣tifying him that some had chosen Ismael, some Ainer (both sonnes of Tamas) and that Periacocona slaying her owne brother Ismael, and betraying Ainer, had procured the Kingdome to Mahumet Codobanda. After this mischiefe fell those fatall jarres betwixt Codobanda and his sonne, and betwixt the Turcoman Nation (a mighty family in Persia) and the King: A faction no lesse disasterous to the State of Persia, than the warre of Turkie.

Against the Portugal, for want of Sea-forces hee stirreth not, and againe, for want of Land-forces the Portugals are not able to molest his upland Countries. Tamaes being coun∣selled to make a voyage against Ormus, asked what com∣modities the Island brought forth, whether Corne, Cattell, Fruit, or what other good thing? When it was answered, that the soile was utterly barren and destitute of provision, but excellently well seated for traffike and navigation,* 1.10 scof∣fing at the motion, he replied: That of this kinde of Revenue he had released unto his people above 90000. Tomana.

Truth is, that he wanteth shipping to put the Portugals out of those Seas: where these stead not, he is content to reigne from India to Arabia, East and West; and from the Caspian to the South side of the Persian gulfe. And as for these ninety thousand Tomana (being in our account eighty thousand French crownes of annuall Revenue) said to bee decreed in the dayes of this Tamas, upon the generall cu∣stomes of importation and exportation, thorowout the

whole Realme. I can give my Reader no other satisfaction; why to thinke the stomacks of great Princes can at any time be cloyed with such surfets; unlesse hee be pleased to ima∣gine, that after this Prince (or his Predecessor) had received one or two dismall overthrowes by the Turkish forces, and that not so much by their valours, as by his owne deficiencie in shot, ordnance and discipline: he set on foot this Procla∣mation. First, to induce his owne people to manuall thrift, and mutuall commerce: And secondly, to allure Gentle∣men and forren Merchants to frequent his Dominions. Without the which inticements, peradventure they might be unwilling to hazard their estates from farre Nations a∣mongst such barbarous and unsure customers. For sure hee was, that his Neighbours could not, and the Portugals would not supply those necessities, which concerned the life and essence of an intire Estate.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cities.
• * 1.2

  Government.
• * 1.3

  Desarts.
• * 1.4

  Forces.
• * 1.5

  Riches.
• * 1.6

  Borderers.
• * 1.7

  The Mogor.
• * 1.8

  The Zagatai.
• * 1.9

  The Turke.
• * 1.10

  One Tomana maketh twen∣ty French Crownes.