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THis Prouince in antique writers is much renowmed: Nigro doth call it Corassan, and would haue the metropoliticall Ci∣tie to be Charras, vnder which he would comprehend the Zagathean Tartars, but herein he is much deceiued, for Coras∣san and the Zagathean Tartars is very nigh two moneths trauell from Hispaan, which is the chiefe and principall Citie of Parthia as shall be shewed in due time and place.
Mercator and Minadoi doe call it Arach: and Alphon∣sus Hadrianus, Iex. The bounds of this Prouince East∣ward is on Aria: Southward on the great desart of Cara∣mania: Westward on Media: and Northward on Hirca∣nia. The North part is very woody, and compassed about with huge mountaines; ••uery plaine is inclosed with a seuerall pale of high hils belonging to ••••e same: though the climate heere be subiect to much heate, yet doth the countrie produce all sorts of delicate fruits (only Oliues ex∣cepted) being watered with many prettie riuers which flow from the mountaines.
The natiue people were at the first a most base, vile, and obscure people, d••iuen out of the cold countries of Scythia at that time, when the Assirians and Medes flour••shed, and they continued so a long time after, when the Persians gai∣ned the monarchy from the Medes, yea and after Alex∣ander had conquered Persia, they were so rude and bar∣barous, that no Macedonian Prince would take vpon him to be king of Parthia. But in processe of time they became very valiant, and great souldiers: for after they serued in the warres one while vnder Eumenes, another while vnder An∣tigonus, and after vnder Sel••ucius Nicanor, and then vnder Antiochus, commaunders of great account, they grew so famous by their seruice, that finding themselues strong enough, they made head against Antiochus, and re∣uolted from him, making choyse of a king among them∣selues, who in short time brought such renowne to the Par∣thians, as that they enla••ged their confines, and augmented their territories in such m••nner, that Parthia (once des∣pised and contemned of the M••cedonians) within the raigne of eight kings became sole Lady & com••aundresse ouer all the countries from the mountaine Caucasus to th•• riuer Emphrates: subdoing Persia, Media, and Assiria, sacking and d••spoyling the great and wea••thie Citie of Ba∣bylon, in so much that their fame spread vnto Rome, a Ci∣tie that could neuer abide any kingdome or countrey to
flourish but it selfe. These were they that gaue the great ouerthrow to rich Crassus of Rome, who minding more his gold, then the guiding of his armie, was slaine himselfe and many thousand Romanes, the Parthians with exprobration of his thirst after money powred moulten gold into his mouth after he was dead. Against these great Lucullus fought many battels, and the Romanes were ne∣uer able to bring them quite into subiection, vntill Au∣gustus Caesar raigned.
I omit for breuitie sake to write anything of Arsaces, the first king of Parthia, whom the Persians loued so aliue, that they honoured him being dead, surnaming alwaies af∣ter him the kings of Parthia, Arsaces, with no lesse honor and glory, then the Caesars of Rome, the Pharhoes and Pto∣lomees of Egypt: or of Herodes the ninth king of Parthia, who so much preuailed against the Romans or of Phraherts their tenth and last king, who vnnaturally killed his aged father, and put thirtie of his brethren to death, and that the Parthians might haue no man left to to be nominated king after him, commaunded his owne sonne to be put to death likewise: or lastly how Augustus Caesar by his clemency, & iustice drew this bloody tyrant to submit himselfe and his kingdom vnto the Roman Monarchy, ending that without warre, which others could not do with warres, commaun∣ding more with a word, then Antonius who sought it with blowes, or Crassus that sought it with his death. But leauing these matters of antiquity, we return where we left.
AFter two daies trauell from Com, we arriued at Cas∣san a principall Citie in Parthia; very famous and rich howsoeuer Ortelius, and others make no mention of it. This Citie is seated in a goodly plaine, and because it hath no mountaines neere it, but within a daies iourney the heate is verie fastidious, as great almost as it is in Ormuz:
the spring and haruest is sooner in this climate, then in any other p••••ts of the Persi••n dominions. It wanteth neither fountaines, springs, nor gardens, but aboundeth with all necessaries what••oeuer: consisting altogether in merchan∣dize, and the best trade of all the land is there, being great∣ly frequented with all sorts of merchants, especially out of India. The people are very industrious and curious in all sciences, but specially in weauing girdles, and ••hashes, in making Veluets, Sattans, Damasks, very good Ozmuze∣nes, and Persian carpets of a wonderfull finenesse; in a word it is the very Magazeen and warehouse of all the Persian Cities for these stuffes,
Here may you buy all manner of drugs and spices, and Turkasses with store of Pearle, D••amonds, and Rubies; as also all so••ts of silkes as well wrought as raw. I am per∣swaded that in one yeare there is more silke brought into Cassan, then is of broad cloath brought into the Citie of London. This Citie is much to be commended for the ciuill and good gouernment, which is there vsed. An idle person is not permitted to liue among them: the child that is but sixe yeare old is set to l••bour: no ill ••ule, disorder, or riot is there suffered. F••r they haue a law among them, (resem∣bling the Egyptian law which Diodorus mentioneth) wher∣by euery person is compelled to giue his name to the Ma∣gistrates, therewith declaring what kinde of life he liketh, how he liueth, and what art he exerciseth. And if any doe tell vntruly is either well beaten on the feete, or imploied in publike slau••ry. The greatest annoyance that this Citie is infes••ed withall, is the aboundance & multitude of black Scorpions, of an exceeding greatnesse, which many times doe much harme, if a speciall care be not had of them. At this Citie Master Iohn Mildenall and my selfe parted com∣pany; he trauelling to Labor in the E••st Indies; and my selfe setting forwards to the great Citie of Hispaan, three daies trauell distant from Cassan.
THis Citie as some affirme was built by Arsaces the first King of Parthia, being then called Dara. But whether so or no, is not much m••teriall. Sure it is, that in times past it was called Ecatompolis, the Citie of a hun∣dred gates: and well it may keepe that name still since the huge walles of the same containe in circuit an easie daies iourney on horse backe, and is become the greatest Citie in all the Persian dominions: which is so much the more magnified and made populous; by reason of the kings re∣••iance therein. For there is the supreme place of iustice; all matters of importance haue recourse to this place; all Ambassadours of Princes, and Agents of Cities, make their repaire thither; and such as aspire and thirst after of∣fices and preferments runne thither amaine with emulation and disdaine at others: and in a word thither are brought the reuenewes that appertaine to the crowne, and there are they disposed out againe. By all which meanes this Citie hath wonderfully increased and appopulated it selfe with∣in these fiue and twentie yeares.
Very strong is this Citie by situation, compassed about with a very great wall, and watered with deepe channels of running springs, conueighed into it, from a part of the Coronian mountaines, which are as a wal inaccessible about it. On the North side is erected a strong Fort or Castle, be∣ing compassed about with a wall of a thousand and seauen hundred yards, and in the midst thereof is built a tower or rather a strong keepe, sundrie chambers and lodgings therein, but stored with little Ordonance. On the West side of this Citie standeth two Seraglios, the one for the King, the other for his women; Pallaces of great state and magnificence, farre exceeding all other proud buil∣dings of this Citie: the walles glister with red marble and pargeting of diuers colous, yea all the Pallace is paued
with checher and tesseled worke, and on the same is spread carpets wrought with silke and Gold: the windowes ••f Alablaster, white marble, and much other spotted marble; the postes and wickets of massie Iuory checkred with gli∣stering blacke ••bony, so curiously wrought in winding knots, as may easier stay, t••en satisfie the eyes of the won∣dring beholder.
Neere vnto this Pallace, is a garden very spacious and large, all flourishi••g a••d b••a••ti••ull, replenished with a thousand sundry kinds of grafts, ••rees, and sweete smelling plants, among whi••h the ••illy, the Hyacinth, the Gilly∣flower, the Rose, the Violet, the flower-gentle, and a thou∣sand other odoriferous flowers doe ye••ld a most pleasant and delightfull sig••t to all beholders. There are a thou∣sand fountaines, and a thousand brookes; among them all, as the father of them all, a prettie riuer, which with his mild course and delight••ome noise doth deuide the garden from the Kings Pallace; neither is this garden so straitly lookt vnto, but that both the kings souldiers and Citizens, may and doe at their pleasures oftentimes on horse backe re∣paire thither to recreate themselues in the shadowes and walkes of those greenes.
And as a gard for the gate of this sumptuous Pallace, the king keepeth certaine orders of souldiers: wherof the most noble and the greatest in number are called Churchi, which are as it were the kings Pensioners, being eight thousand in number, all of them deuided vnder seuerall Captaines: which Captaines doe yeeld obedience to the generall Captaine called Churchi-Bassa, a man alwaies of great autho••ity. Next vnto this order is another called E∣sahul, to the number of a thousand, distinguished also vn∣der particular Captaines, and the chiefe Captaine is called Esahul-Bassa. All these are maintained by certaine townes and villages, which are feudataries to the crowne of Per∣sia; and they receiue at certaine times of the kings armour, horses, apparrell, and tents, euery one as he is in place and
degree: with this strong garrison is the King daily atten∣ded vpon, and maintaineth the Maiestie of his Court, es∣pecially when he rideth in prograce.
And for the gouernment of this Citie, there is besides the King and the Prince twelue Sultanes, but three especi∣ally are appointed by the King, for the generall gouerne∣ment of the whole Empire, hauing their seuerall di∣stinct charges. One hath the care of all martiall affaires throughout the kingdome: and the other two receiue all the reuenewes, keeping a iust account thereof, which two we may call Treasurers. Next vnto these are the Mor∣dari two great Chancellors, whose office is to write all orders, commaundements, and letters concerning the gouernment of the kingdome: one of them keepeth the Seale, and the other the Pen. Besides these there are two Caddi, that is two Iudges, who make answere and giue sentence on••ly in matters of controuersie and ciuill quar∣rels; but as touching criminall causes, they haue no fur∣ther authority, then to frame examinations of witnesses, and to make declaration thereof, which they call the Sygil, and this Sygil they deliuer vp into the hands of the Sul••an, that is either gouernour of the Citie, or else of the Empire, and he causeth execution to be done according to custome. And looke as Hispaan is gouerned, so other Cities haue the selfe same Magistrates, all being at the kings disposition and appointment.
Concerning the Church gouernment, there is in this Ci∣tie, first the chiefe of the law whom they call the Mustaed∣dini, a wicked and prophane Priest: and in the other sub∣iect Cities are certaine peculiar heads, obedient to this chiefe Priest, who are not chosen and displaced at his plea∣sure, as the popish Bishops are by the Pope, but by the king himselfe, who is not onely a King, but a Priest, as Maho∣met and Aly were. But to auoid trouble, the King gran∣teth that fauour, and putteth ouer that burden from him∣selfe vnto others, to whose iudgement, he also referreth
himselfe, whensoeuer any consultation is touching their law or prophane superstition. Vnder this great Priest are Califes, and these doe daily execute seruice in the Mos∣chees or Temples. The chiefe of these Califes is he that put∣teth the horne vpon the Kings head, when he is first inthro∣nized. A ceremony once performed in Cafe neere Babylon, but since Solyman the Turkish Emperor won Assiria from the Persian, it hath beene sometimes performed in Casbin, and sometimes in Hispaan.
Finally the inhabitants of this City do much resemble the anciēt Parthians in diuers things, but specially in their con∣tinuall riding. They ride on horseback for the most part, on horsback they fight with the enemy they execute all affairs as w••l publike as priuat on horsebacke, they go from place to place on horseback, they buy and sell, and on horsebacke they conferre & talke with one another; and the difference betweene the G••ntleman and the slaue is, that the slaue neuer rideth, nor the Gentleman neuer goeth on foote.
Besides the nature of this people is arrogant, seditious, de∣ceitfull, and very vnquiet, but that the fiercenesse of their nature is much restrained by the kings seuere gouerne∣ment.
To sensuality they are much inclined, hauing three sorts of women, as they terme them, viz. honest women, halfe honest women and courtezans; and yet they chastice no of∣fence with like extremity as adultery, and that as well in the halfe honest woman, as in the honest.
Last of all they are full of craftie stratagems, and are breakers of their promise (a vice that is very inbred in all Barbarians.) Not content with any mans gouernement long: and louers of nouelties. For testimonie whereof wee may auouch those ancient poysonings & wicked trea∣cheries which were plotted not onely by subiectes against their soueraignes, but also by children against their natu∣rall parents, for the name of father were in so small esti∣mation with those fiftie sons of Artaxerxes, that with one
consent, they all conspired to murther him. The which monstrous impietie euer since hath beene practised in this nation, sometimes the father with the children sometimes the children with the father, and sometimes the children with one another. For instance whereof we may take A∣bas that now reigneth, who being gouernour of Heri whilst his father raigned, did not onely conspire to haue his eldest brother Emirhamze, the hopefullest Prince that euer was in Persia, to be betraied into the hands of the Turkish generall in the yeare 1586, but also by force of money and gifts, perswaded one of his owne Eunuches to kill him; who was no sooner corrupted, put his treason in practice, and vpon a sodaine in the night time, as he slept on his pallet, stroke him through his bodie with a launce: and so the most resplendent and bright shining Lampe that euer was in Persia, was vtterly extinguished. And not con∣tent with this impietie towards his brother, did shortly after condescend, (as the full report goeth) to haue his a∣ged father Mahomet surnamed Codibanda poysoned with∣out either regard of his fatherly maiestie, or reuerence to age, or naturall pietie, that so he might ascend into the kingdome. Infinite also are the calamities, which he hath brought (since he came to the crowne) on the houses of the ancient Persian Nobilitie.
Notwithstanding howsoeuer by the shedding of much bloud he was saluted King, vpon the death of his father, yet hath he so carried the matter, that now he is exceedingly beloued and honoured of his subiects, in so much that when they will confirme any thing by solemne oathes they will sweare by the head of Abas the king, and when they wish well to any man, they vsually say, King Abas grant thee they desire.
This Prince is verie absolute both in perfection of his bodie, and his minde, (but that he is in religion a profes∣sed Mahumatine) excellently composed in the one, and honourablie disposed in the other. Of an indifferent sta∣ture,
neither to high, nor to low. His countenance ve∣rie sterne, his eyes fierce and piercing, his colour swa••ffy, his mustachees on his vpper lip long, with his beard cut close to his chinne, expressing his martiall disposition, and exorable nature, that at the first a man would thinke to haue nothing in him, but mischiefe and crueltie. And yet he is of nature courteous, and affable, easie to be seene and spoken withall: his manner is to dine openly in the company of his greatest courtiers, delighting much in hawking and hunting accompanied with his nobilitie, and the Ambassadors of forraine Princes. He will often∣times runne, leape, and proue masteries with his chiefe courtiers, being himselfe a most excellent horseman and cunning archer.
V••ually euery morning he visiteth his stables of great horses, and according to an old custome of the Persian kings, the souldiers of his court (before mentioned) doe receiue horses at his hands, as he is in place and degree. And these their horses are of singular vertue, equall with those of the old time, which (as Strabo writeth) were accustomed to be fed and brought vp in Armeniae for the kings vse. They are wonderfull swift in course, fierce in battell, long breathed and very docible: when they are vnsadled, thy are gentle and milde, but when they are ar∣med, they are warlike, hardie, and manageable, euen at the pleasure of the rider. And I haue seene of them sold for a thousand, and somtimes a thousand and sixe hundred duckates a peece.
After he hath viewed his horses, he passeth into his Ar∣mory, certaine buildings neere vnto his Pallace, where are made very strong Curiasses, or Corselets, headpeeces & tar∣gets, most of them able to keepe out the shot of an ar∣quebusier, and much more to daunt the force of a dart. Heere also the king furnisheth his souldiers, not only with Curiasses, headpeeces, and targets; but with bowes and arrowes, pouldrones, and gantlets, and with launces made
of good ash, armed at both ends; with Scimatars & shirts of maile, most finely & soundly tempered, wherewith both themselues and their horses are defended in time of warre.
By this time hauing spent most of the forenoone, he re∣turneth againe into his pallace, and there remains till three of the clocke in the afternoone, at which time he makes his entry into the A••-Maidan, which is the great market place or high streete of Hispaan: round about this place are erected certaine high scaffolds, where the multitude do sit to behold the warlike exercises performed by the King and his courtiers, as their running and leaping, their shoo∣ting with bowes and arrowes, at a marke both aboue and beneath, their playing at tennis, all which they performe on horsebacke with diuers mo•• too long to write of. In this place also is to be seene seuerall times in the yeare, the pleasant sight of fireworks, of banquets, of musickes, of wrastlings, and of whatsoeuer triumphes else is there to be shewed, for the declaration of the ioy of this people.
Besides, the King very often in this place, in the presence of the Princes and Peeres of the Realme, will giue iudge∣ment in diuers causes: much like vnto the ancient kings of France, who vsed ordinarily to heare the complaints of their subiects; but of late yeares the more the pitie, they haue committed this businesse vnto the consciences of sub∣ordinate officers, hearing by other mens eares, and seeing by other mens eyes, well nigh concerning all their affaires: which course the Persian King holdeth neither good nor cōfortable for the people, nor yet by any means to further Iustice. And certainly, where such carelesnes doth enter into the maiesty of kings, the estate of the Realme cannot chuse but be weakned, & the maiesty royal imbased, so that in the end (it might be shewed) the people haue not refused to rise against the person of the king, & somtimes to murder him.
To be briefe in the execution of iustice he is very seuere, a•• well to the greatest as to the meanest, not sparing (as might be shewed) to hang vp his chiefe Cuddi or Iudges,
when he shal perceiue how that vpon bribes & fauour they delay the suits of his subiects, against the cle••re & manifest truth: imitating herein Cambises who cōmanded Sisamnes ••kin for giuing an vniust sentence, to be flead off, and coue∣red the iudgement seat th••rewith, appointing also his son to iudge in his place, to the end that by sight thereof, all o∣ther iudges might be warned, to be iust and vpright. And I haue seene him many times alight from his horse, onely to doe iustice to a poore bodie. Besides he punisheth theft & manslaughter so seuerely, that in an age a man shall not heare eyther of the one or of the other; which kind of se∣uerity were very needfull for some parts of Christendome, I will not say for England though we haue faulted therein) but for France especially; where within ten years sixe thou∣sand gentlemen haue bene slaine, as it appears by the kings pardons. So that since king Abas came vnto the crowne, ful twenty yeares & vpwards, the Persian Empire hath flo∣rished in sacred and redoubted laws, the people demeaning themselues after the best manner they can, aboundance of collections coming plentifully in, the rents of his chamber were increased more then euer they were in his Grandfa∣ther Tamas his time, armes, artes, and sciences doe won∣derfully prosper, and are very highly esteemed.
To this great Monarch, came Sir Anthony Sherley Knight, with sixe and twentie followers, all gallantly mounted and richly furnished; whose entert••inment was so great, that the Persians did admire, that the king should vouchsafe such high fauour to a meere stranger without desert or tri∣all of his worth. Of whose bounty, the world may iudge, since within three daies after his first arriuall, the king sent him fortie horses, furnished with saddles, and very rich trappings; foure of them fit for the proper vse of any Prince, twelue Cammels for carriage, together with sixe Mules, foure and twentie carpets, most of them rich and faire, three tents or pauilions, with all other necessaries of house, and lastly sixe men laden with siluer.
Sundry times Sir Anthonie had audience of the king, wherein he declared first with what perfidious dealing, and with what greedinesse and pride the Turkish Emperours haue alwaies set vpon the Christians, and that being dis∣charged of the warre with them, he would of all likeli∣hood set vpon the Persians, hauing the selfe same quarrell vnto the Persians, that he hath vnto the Christians: viz. an ardent and insatiable desire of soueraignty: a suffici∣ent motiue for the greedie Turke to repute euery king, the richer that he is, the more his enemie. After that he set forth to the full the prowesse of the Christians, the won∣derfull preparation, that they could make both at Sea and land, perswading the king with all his power to inuade the Turke, then altogether busied in the warres of Hun∣garie, and to recouer againe such parts of his kingdome as his predecessors had lost. Warres he said were more hap∣pily managed abroad then at home: that since his maiestie alone is able to withstand the Turkes whole force and power, he needed not now to doubt of the most prospe∣rous successe, the Christian Princes (by his meanes) ioy∣ning with him.
He told the King further, that he was much vnmindfull of his former losses and wrongs, if he thought he ioyned an assured peace, which he should finde to be nothing else but a deferring of one war vnto more cruel times: and that the Turke if he should ouerrunne Hungary, would forth∣with turne his victorious armes vpon him and his king∣dome: the end of one warre (as he said) was but the begin∣ning of another; and that the Turkish Empire could ne∣uer stay in one state; and it were good that his highnesse should obserue not the Turkes words but his deeds; and how the Othoman Emperors according to the opportuni∣tie of the time, haue vsed by turnes, sometimes force, sometimes fraude, as best serued their purposes.
He wished also the king, that at length this his deceit might manifest it selfe vnto the world; and though in for∣mer
times, there were sometimes wanting will, and some∣times occasion to vnite their forces, yet now he hoped that by an imployment from his Maiestie to the Christian Prin∣ces, that they would combine themselues for their common good against the common enemie; and that it concerned no lesse his Highnes, then the Christians to haue the power of the great Turke abated: & this taking vp of armes should be for the good of his Maiesty, howsoeuer the warre should fall out, if wel, he should then recouer what his predecessors before had lost, with much more that was the Turkes: If o∣therwise yet by voluntarie entering into armes to counte∣nance himselfe, and to giue the Great Turke occasion to thinke that he feared him not, which was (as hee said) the onely way to preserue the common safetie.
Many such speeches passed from Sir Anthony, but most of the chiefe counsellours were obstinately bent against it at the first; howbeit the King being stil•• animated by his forci∣ble perswasions, and his Generall, Oliuer-chan a Georgian Christian furthering the busines in the end with the rest of his Councell consented thereto; and so Sir Anthony within three moneths after his first arriuall, was dispatched to these seuerall Princes: viz. to Queene Elizabeth of famous me∣morie; to King Iames our dread Soueraigne; to the French King, to the Emperour, the Pope, the King of Spaine, the Se∣nate of Venice, and the Duke of Florence, with Letters of credence, and very rich and bountifull presents; to conclude a generall peace among themselues, and betweene the Per∣sian and our Christian world.
The chiefe things that the Persian requested of the Chri∣stians was; that they would send him by the way of Syria, men skilfull in the casting of great Ordinance, an Engine once hated of the Persians, who held it a sinne and shame to exercise so cruell a weapon against mankind: yet nowe knowing by wofull experience, of what moment it is in a set battell, the King did specially require such men as were skilfull therein, hauing matter enough within his Domini∣ons whereof to cast them: that they with an armie by land, 〈…〉〈…〉 Turke promising
in the meane time himselfe to fill Asia the lesse with his ar∣mie, and that if they would be in the field three moneths, he would be sixe monethes: & if the Christian Princes would bring an hundred thousand fighting men into the field, hee would bring two hundred thausand, and so they should giue vnto themselues a faire occasion to recouer both by land & sea, all such places as they had before lost, either in Hungari∣a, or vpon coast of Peloponesus and Grecia.
But how well Sir Anthony behaued himselfe in so waighty a negotiatiō, I leaue to the world to iudge of: sure I am that for his fidelitie therein, hee left his brother Master ••obert Sherley a worthy gentleman as a pledge for his returne out of Christendome, accompanied with fiue English men, viz. honest Captaine Powell, Iohn Ward, Iohn Parrot who after∣wards died in Lahor, being in Master Mildenals company; one Brookes who is gone for the East Indies; and an English gunner, whose name I doe not well remember, who was slaine by an Italian in the way to Corassan. All these at the first were very kindly intreated by the King, and receiued large allowance; but after two yeares were fully expired, and no newes of that great and important Ambassie; and the King perceiued that Mahomet the great Turke beganne now to haue him in iealousie, and that the whole warre was like to lie vppon his owne necke, without any helpe from the Christians, he began to frowne on the English, notwith∣standing Master Sherley through his good desert, soone gained the Kings gracious fauour againe. And as euident signes thereof obtained of the King freedome of conscience for all Christians throughout his Dominions: allowing also his house, to be the onely harbour and receite for all poore Christians that trauaile into those parts. And farther, the King to manifest his loue, gaue him out of his Seraglion in Marriage, a Cirassian Lady of great esteeme and regard. But that hee should haue a child in Persia, and that the King (a professed enemie to the Name of our blessed Sauiour) should bee the God-father; this certainely is more fitte for a Stage, for the common people to wonder at, then
for any mans priuate studies.
Notwithstanding, if we do rightly consider on the one side, the great power & preparation, that the Persian is able to make against the great Turke: and on the other side the miserable captiuity of many thousands of poore Christians that are subiect vnto the Turkish tyranny, we cannot denie but that both the Embasseies of Sir Anthony Sherley, & also of M. Robert his brother are of great importance, & that a combinatiō of so great forces together would soone haue deliuered many poore Christiās of their miseries, the world of it ignominy, & mankind of that monster of Turkish ty∣ranny, that hath too long raigned & laid the earth desolate.
As for the first, the strength of the Persian consisteth now in three kinds of soldiers: the first are the soldiers of his court, to the number of nine thousand, as we said before. The second kinde are such, who by custome and duty are bound to serue him in his wars, & these be his ancient gen∣tlemen of h••s country, who hold land•• & possessions descē∣ded vnto them from their ancestors, or holden by the gift of the king; these are sent for in time of wars, & are of duty bound to performe such like seruice, as the gentry of Italy, France, & Spain do vnto their Soueraigns: these do amount (since Abas came to the crowne) very nigh to forty thou∣sand, most of them come well armed, the rest content them∣selues with headpeeces & Iacks, and vse for their weapons either horsmen staues or bowes, which they can most cun∣ningly handle, discharging their arrowes also, very neere vnto that they ayme at, either forward or backward. The third sort are such as are sent vnto him from the Princes and neighbours his confederates: and these are commonly sent from the Princes of Iberia, Albania, and the countries bordering vpon Media and Armenia: who being halfe Christians, beare a mortall hatred against the Turke.
Besides the King hath vnder his dominions, these great & famous coūtries, Seruania, otherwise called Atropatia, & some part of Georgia, these countries since the yeelding vp
of Tauris, haue voluntarily yeelded vp themselues vnder his protection; Besides Media the great, Gheilan or Gely, Massandran or Hircania: Parthia, Aria, Cand••har, Heri, Corass••n, Farsi, or Persia with the Caramanian desert, as also the Kingdome of Lar, which frontiers on Ormuz: Prouinces so great and large, that in ancient times were able with their multitudes to couer the face of the earth, and to drinke the ••i••••ers drie. And to make himselfe more strong, within the bowels of his kingdome, he hath sub∣dued the Turcoman nation, that were rebellious in his fa∣thers time; as also he hath ruinated the houses of most of his ancient nobilitie; as of late Amet-chan Lord of Ghei∣lan, Rust••n M••r••ze the King of Candahar, Emir-Miran the ••ord of Iest, and Ebrain-chan the gouernour of Lar, who would neuer in his fathers time Mahomet-Codibanda send in their aide against the cruell en••mies ••f their com∣mon liberty, but impeach and molest their soueraigne, as much as they could, leauing many times the poore King to escape with his life. But now the King hath drawne all the aforementioned prouinces into his owne poss••ssion; and is able to carry all his force cl••ere without interruption, which at the least may be two hundred thousand strong and better.
And for his souldiers they are for the most par•• very va∣lorous and noble, which b••ing compared with the Tur••ish people (who fo•• the most par•• are very ••••scall, of vile race) are by good right very highly to be esteemed. For the na∣ked Turkish horse-man is not to be compared with the Persian m••n at a••mes; who comes into the field armed with a strong Cuiras, a sure head peece, and a good target: whereas the Turkish Europeian ho••s••men, altogether na∣ked, vse only a square or crooked buckler, wherewith they doe scarcely couer themselues: and the Asian horsemen, bucklers ma••e of soft reeds, wound round, and couered with some kinde of silke. Againe, the Persian horseman, weareth his poudrons and gantlets, and beareth a staffe of
good Ash, armed at both ends, fighting with them as oc∣casion serueth at the staffe, after the manner of the Numi∣d••ans, and with doubling and redoubling their often thrust from on high, doe easily wound or kill the vnarmed Turks with their horses: whereas the Turk••sh horseman, af∣ter the manner of the Grecians doe couch their staues in their rest, and so that the first course most commonly break the same, being made of light and brittle fire, and so presently come to their scima••ars or horseman mace, being in all other things farre inferiour to the Persian man at armes. And for the Turkish archers on horsebacke, they are in no resp••ct to be compared with the Persians, who are well mounted and surely a••med, vsing both greater and stronger bowes, and shoote more deadly arrowes, making small account of the Turkes. So that all things well consi••ered, the Persian is now able to deale in field with the great Turke, hauing both numbers of souldiers, good store of shot, and other warlike furniture, as also (which is the chiefest stay of a state) obedience of his sub∣iects. And verily when Persia was at the weakest, had not the Turkish Emperours Selymus, Solyman, and Amurat, beene allured either by treason, rebellion, or intestine dis∣cordes, they would neuer haue taken that warre in hand. And so much of the Persians forces.
And as for the miserable thraldome that the poore Chri∣stians doe endure vnder the Turkish tyranny, we (thanks be giuen vnto God) in these Northerne parts of the world may behold with safety, but not without pitie, when we rightly consider, how that the people among whom our Sauiour himselfe conuersed, at what time his beautifull steps honoured this world, with those Churches in Grecia, which his Apostles so industriously planted▪ so carefully vi∣sited, so tenderly cherished, instructed, and confirmed by so many peculiar Epistles, and for whom they sent vp so many seruent prayers, are now become a cage of vn∣cleane birds: filthy spirits doe possesse them. The Turke
with his Curaam, and Mahomet with his Alcoran, are Lords of these places. So that now the Grecians haue lost their liberty, (which their ancestors had many times be∣fore, to their immortall praise, worthily defended against the greatest Monarches of the world) and are now so de∣generate, by the meanes of the Turkish oppression, that in all Grecia is hardly to be found any small remembrance of the ancient glory thereof: Insomuch that whereas they were wont to account all other Natiōs barbarous in com∣parison of themselues, they are now become no lesse barba∣rous then those rude nations whom they before skorned.
Infinite are the miseries, which they from time to time haue endured vnder the Turkish tyrants; and so great hath beene the fury of that barbarous Nation, that no tongue is able to expresse, or pen desc••ibe. For what tongue is able to expresse the miseries that the poore Greekes in∣dured, when the imperiall Citie of Constantinople was ta∣ken and spoiled by Mahomet the great in the yeare 1453. when the cruell tyrant could not content himselfe with the spoile and riches of that faire Citie; but caused also, as he sate feasting with his Bassaes and great commaunders most of the chiefe Christian Captaines, both men and women (of whom many were of the Emperors line and race) to be in his presence put to death: deming his feast much more stately and magnificent, by such effusion of Christiā bloud.
There might a man haue seene the poore Christian cap∣tiues driuen vp and downe, by the mercilesse soldiers, as if they had beene droues of cattell or flocks of sheepe. It would haue pittied any strong heart, to haue seene the noble Gentlewomen and great Ladies, with ••heir beauti∣full children, who flowed in all worldly wealth and plea∣sure, to become the poore & miserable bondslaues of most base and contemptible rascals, who were so far 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shew∣ing them any pity, as that they delig••ted in nothing more then to heape more & more misery vpon them, making no more reckoning of them then of dogs. There might the Pa∣rents see the wofull misery of their beloued children, & the
childrē of the parents, the husband might see the shameful abuse of his wife, & the wife of her husbād, & generally one friend of another: yea such was their malice to the Christian faith, that they cōuerted the temple of Sophia, built for God to be honored in, into a stable for their horses, making it a place for the executiō of their abhominable & vnspeakable filthinesse: yea the image of the crucifixe they also tooke down, & put a Turks cap vpō the head therof, & so set it vp & shot at it with their arrowes, & afterwards in great deri∣sion carried it about in their campe, as it had beene in pro∣cession, with drums playing before it, rayling & spitting at it, & calling it the God of the Christians, which I note not so much done in contempt of the images, as in despight of Christ & the Christiā religion. Neither haue they commit∣ted these outrages & monstrous cruelties in Grecia alone, but in other parts of Christendom also: as Italy hath sundry times tasted of their cruell incursions & bloudy inuasions. Besides Seruia Bulgaria, Transiluania, Moldauia, & Vala∣chia do groane vnder the yoke of Trukish tyranny: what should I write of Hungaria that royall kingdome, since in the raigne of one Turkish Emperour (I meane Solyman the magnificent) the number of those which were slaine, and caried ••nto miserable captiuity were welnigh two hundred thousand Hungariās. So spoiled & harried in this kingdom by the Turks that it may welbreed an astonishmēt not only to the neighbor countries adioyning, but to others further remote. So that to wind vp all in a word, there i•• now to be seene in these Christiā countries, which the great Turke possesseth, nothing but triumphs ouer Christ, & skorners of his religion: insolencies and violences against the profes∣sors: extortions and oppressions vpon their goods: ra∣pines and murderings vpon the very soules of their chil∣dren, a case to be wailed with teares of bloud by all Christiā harts that know it: hearing the onely anchor & stay of th••ir soules (our blessed Sauiour) daily derided & blasphemed by the pride of the Turks. Indeed it were a small thing, if the Turks extorsiōs were only on their goods & labors, or if the
bodies and liues of those poore Christians, were onely wa∣sted and worne out in his workes and slaueries, it might be suffered, for goods are transitory, and death the end of all wordly miseries.
But to be forced (as those poore countries are) to pay a tribute also of soules to wicked Mahomet, to haue their dearest children both sonnes and daughters snatcht out of their parents bosomes▪ to be brought vp in his impious abhominations, & to be imploied (after they are so brought vp) in murdering their fathers and mothers that begat them; and in rooting out that faith wherein they were borne and baptized, and which onely were able to bring their soules into happinesse. This surely is a calamity in∣supportable, and which crieth out vnto God in the heauens for reliefe.
I will say no more touching this matter, but euen wish with the humble petition of a minde pierced with griefe, to the iust Iudge of the world, Redeemer of mankind, and Sauiour of his people, to cast downe his pitifull eyes vpon those nations; to behold on the one side his triumphing fierce enemies persecuting without measure; on the other his poore seruants troden downe, and persecuted without helpe, hope, or comfort; to dissolue the pride and power of the one, to comfort the astonished and wasting weake∣nesse of the other, with some hope of succour and finall deliuery: To inspire the hearts of Christian Princes (their neighbours) compounding or laying side their endlesse and fruitlesse contentions, to reuenge their quarrell against their vniust oppressors. For certainly if meane Princes haue incombred the course of the great Turks conquest; what would not the vnited Christian forces doe? if we might but once see the glorious beames of that bright shining day appeare?
Which vnion the Persian king hath often and instantly sought of the Christian Princes, and that within these few yeares. For first (as we said before) he sent Sir Anthony
Sherley a man very wise and valiant, if hee had not beene too prodigall. After him in the yeare of grace 1605. hee sent three other seuerall Ambassadors one after another: viz. Zincl Chan Beg, Methi Cult Beg, and Ius Bassi Hassan Beg. The two first came directly to the Emperour at Prage, and the other was sent vnto the French King, whose Embassie was for the common good also, though it wanted the wished successe. And to shew the great desire that the Persian still hath, to haue the pride of the great Turke aba∣ted, he hath since imployed Master Robert Sherley as his Ambassadour to the same purpose.
Neuer did Christendome misse times of more aduan∣tage, to haue preuailed much against the Turke, not onely to haue holden their owne (which they doe not in Hun∣gary) but to haue recouered some good part of their los∣ses before receiued also. And indeed true it is that the time then well serued for both, by reason that the great Turke was and is still troubled with warres both against his owne rebels, and the Persian King in Asia; most part of his for∣ces being turned that way. But what auaileth opportu∣nitie without vnitie▪ For howsoeuer the Persian king did instantly request of the Emperour to ioyne with him in all fr••endship and brotherly loue, and to continue his warres against the great T••rke their common enemy: and also promised that for his part he would neuer lay down armes vntill that enemy were brought to nought and destroyed, so that the Christian Princes would on the other side like∣wise impugne him: and though the Emperour for his part did promise to continue his warres, and to raise greater forces, and also by letters to exhort and incite the greatest Christian Princes & Potentates to extend also their power against the common enemy; yet could hee not eff••ct it, neither performe any part of his promise to the Persian King.
For the next yeare following (seeing the Hungarians reuolted from him, and taking part with the Turkes and
the Turks with them, and finding himselfe not able with his owne power to hold the field against them, much lesse to maintaine a defensiue warre, and his friends & allies, his wonted and greatest staies, then at his greatest need to faile him) was glad to leaue the Persian in the field to his owne strength, and to conclude a reasonable peace with Achmet the great Turke that now raigneth; being no way able without the great aide of other Christian Princes, to with∣stand the huge and dreadful power of th•• Othoman Empe∣rour VVhich (be it spoken without ominous presage) is to be feared, wil too truly appeare and manifest it selfe, when∣soeuer the wars of the great Turke, and his troubles in the East with the Persian be ended, he shall thē again turne his victorious & insulting forces, this way towards the West.
I conclude then, that those distressed parts of Christen∣dome which are subject to the Turkish fury, cannot but be much beholding, both to Sir Anthony Shirley, as also his brother M. Robert Shirley for this twenty years peace which is concluded betweene the Emperour & the great Turke. They being (I dare be bold to say vnder God) the onely meanes that stirred vp the Persian king to take vp armes a∣gainst the great Turke, and to draw by degrees the whole warre vpon his owne necke, therby to free and giue a time of breathing to the champions of Iesus Christ to refresh themselues, and increase their forces. A peace not only well pleasing to the Emperour, but to the Turke also, who no sooner heard from the the Bassa of Buda, that it was conclu∣ded, but forth with conceiued so great••oy, that with a num∣ber of Ianiz••ries and others, he went from his Pallace in Constantinople in great magnificence to the Church, to giue thanks therfore vnto his Prophet Mahomet, spending the next day in great sport & pleasure, purposing from thence∣forth to turne all his force & power for the subduing of the Persian king. But to leaue these two great Monarches, the onely enemies to the name of Christ in field each against the other, I come now to my returne from those parts.
The Parthians were at the first a most ser∣uile and base people.
Ciuill and good gouern∣ment.
The Persian law against idlenesse.
〈◊〉〈◊〉 sort of 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
〈◊〉〈◊〉 kings 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
The kings garden.
The gard of the kings Pal∣lace.
The order of the Persian dignities in Hispaan.
The Sultanes.
The Treasu∣rers. The g••eat Chancellours.
The Caddi or Judges.
The 〈…〉〈…〉
The Calif••s.
The nature of the Persians.
The Persians giu••n to sen∣sualitie.
The Persians verie incon∣stant.
The impietie of the sons of Artaxerxes the Persian king.
The Persian Prince slaine by one of his own Eunuchs.
The impiety of Abas King of Persia.
The descrip∣••ion of the Persian king.
The Persian horses very good.
The weapons of the Persian souldiers.
The kings ex∣ercises in the A••-maidan.
The Persian kings corre∣ction of Iud∣ges. Herodotus.
See Les ombres des defuncts sieurs de Ville∣mer & de Fon∣taines. pag. 46.
Sir Anthony Sherleys arriua•• in Persia.
Sir Anthony Sherleys speech vnto the King.
Sir Anthonie Sherley sent b•• the Persian King to eight seuerall Prin∣ces.
The deman•• of the Persia•• King.
Master Robert ••herley left as •• pledge for Sir Anthonies ••eturne out of Christiandom.
The great power that the Persian king is able to make against the Turke.
The co••ntrie•• subiect to Per∣sia.
The Pers••••••s bette•• souldi∣ers then t••e Turkes.
The miserable thraldome of the Christians vnder the Turkish ty∣ranny.
The Gecian Nobility put to death in the presence of the great Turke, whilst he sat feasting with his Bas∣saes.
The miseries of the Con∣stantinopoli∣tanes.
The countries which (besides Grecia) that groane vnder the Turkish slauery.
A tribute of soules paide yearly by the Christians to Mahomet that lying Prophet
The king o•• ••ersia or late ••eare hath ••••nt fiue ••eve∣••••ll Embasla∣••••urs into ••hristendome
The Persians promise vnto the Emperor.
The Emperors promise t•• the Persian king.
The reasons why the Empe¦rour leaues the P••rsian king in field to him∣selfe, and con∣cludes a pe••ce wit the great Turke.
Some parts of Ch••istendome greatly in in∣debted to the Sherlies.