The preachers trauels Wherein is set downe a true iournall to the confines of the East Indies, through the great countreyes of Syria, Mesopotamia, Armenia, Media, Hircania and Parthia. With the authors returne by the way of Persia, Susiana, Assiria, Chaldæa, and Arabia. Containing a full suruew of the knigdom [sic] of Persia: and in what termes the Persian stands with the Great Turke at this day: also a true relation of Sir Anthonie Sherleys entertainment there: and the estate that his brother, M. Robert Sherley liued in after his departure for Christendome. With the description of a port in the Persian gulf, commodious for our East Indian merchants; and a briefe rehearsall of some grosse absudities [sic] in the Turkish Alcoran. Penned by I.C. sometimes student in Magdalen Colledge in Oxford.

The description of Chiulfal.

AT length our Carauan ferried ouer the foresaid Ri∣uer, and so we arriued at Chiulfal, a towne situate in the frontiers between the Armenians and the Atropatians, and yet within Armenia, inhabited by Christians, partly Armenians, partly Georgians: a people rather giuen to the traffique of Silkes, and other sorts of wares, whereby it waxeth rich and full of money, then instructed in weapons and matters of warre. This towne consisteth of two thou∣sand houses and ten thousand soules, being built at the foot of a great rocky mountaine in so barren a soile, that they are constrained to fetch most of their prouision, only wine excepted, from the City Nassiuan, halfe a dayes iourney off, which some thinke to be Artaxata, in the confines of Media and Armenia.* 1.1 The buildings of Chiulfal are very faire, all of hard quarry stone: and the inhabitants very courteous and affable, great drinkers of wine, but no brau∣lers in that drunken humour, and when they are most in drinke, they powre out their prayers, especially to the Virgin Mary, as the absolute commander of her Sonne IESVS CHRIST, and to other Saints as Intercessors. It is subiect and tributary to the Scepter of Persia, and contrariwise both by nature and affection great enemies to the Turke.* 1.2 This Towne was much indangered in the warres betwixt Amurat the great Turke, and Ma∣homet Codibanda the Persian King, ready to bee swal∣lowed vp of both. One while the Bassae of Reiuan,

on the great Turkes behalfe, made an inrode vpon them with a thousand and fiue hundred Harquebusiers, whom they were faine to pacifie with a very bountifull present, excusing themselues, that if they had beene backward in bringing vnto him their voluntary tributes, it was done for feare, least they should haue fallen into the displeasure of Mahomet Codibanda their King: who no doubt if he•• should haue vnderstood any such matter, would haue been ready to destroy their Countrey, and depriue them of their liberty and liues. The Bassae was no sooner departed with this answere and their present; but forth with Aliculi-cham was sent by the Persian King with three thousand Soul∣diers, and with this direction, that if the country were sub∣dued by the Turks, he should fight against it: and if it had voluntarily yeelded it selfe vnto them, hee should not only recouer it, but also burne it, and bring away all the chiefe men of the Countrey for prisoners and slaues. To auoide which danger, these poore Chiulfalini were glad to present the Persian Prince with greater and more liberal gifts, then they did their enemy Bassae. Thus these miserable people in the midst of armes and squadrons of the enemy, were con∣strained, what with presents, and what with lies, notably to preserue their liberties, and their liues in safety.

* 1.3Within a dayes iourney and halfe of this Towne is the Chalderan plaines; memorable for the battell fought there, on the seuenth day of August in the yeare 1514. betweene the two great Emperours Ismael King of Persia, and Sely∣mus the first. Emperor of the Turkes. In which battell Se∣lymus lost aboue thirty thousand men, amongst whom was Cassan-Bassae his great Lieutenant in Europe, seauen San∣zacks, with the two Malcozzian brethren, who labouring the one to rescue the other, were both together staine. Be∣sides his common foot-men, of whom he made least recko∣ning, he lost most part of his Illirian, Macedonian, Seruian, E••irot, Thessalonian, and Thracian horse-men, the vndoub∣ted flower and strength of his army, which were in that

mortall battell almost all slaine and grieuously wounded. And certainly had it not beene for the Turkes great Artil∣lery, Ismael with his thirty thousand horse-men, had ouer∣throwne Selymus with his three hundred thousand Turks. But Selymus reseruing all his great Ordonance, at his last refuge, caused it to bee discharged: by violence whereof such slaughter was made, as well of his owne men, as of his enemies, mingled together, what for dust, what for smoke, and thundering of the Artillery, hauing on both sides al∣most lost the vse of sight and hearing; and ••••eir horses be∣ing so terrified with the thundering report of the great Or∣donance, that they were not now to be managed, the bat∣tell was broken off, and the victory yet doubtfull. In the end Hismael had the worst, and was put to flight by reason that the Persian horses had neuer beene vsed to the noise and thundering of the artillery, which they could not abide to heare. The Turkish stories to expresse the terrour of this day, number it amongst their dismall daies, terming it the only day of doome. The manner of this battel is painted in the Counsell chamber at Venice, and is reported that Selymus the great Turke caused it so to bee done, and sent it to the Senate there. At Chiulfal we staied eight dayes, and pas∣sed againe the Riuer Araxis, leauing the noble Kingdome of Armenia, ••alled now Turcomania, because of the Tur∣comanes a people that came out of Scythia (as before wee noted) who liue as sheepheards in their tents, but the na∣tiue people giue themselues to husbandry, and other ma∣nuall sciences, as working of Carpets and fine Chamlets. Wee were no sooner ouer but wee entred into Media; which by some is deuided into Media Atropatia, and Me∣dia the Great.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Chiulfal∣lines great drinkers of wine, but no quarrellers in drinke.
• * 1.2

  Chiulfal much indangered in the last warre betweene th•• Turke and th•• Persian.
• * 1.3

  The mortall battell sought betweene Se∣lymus the first, Emperour of the Turks, and ••ismael the So∣fie of Persia.