An epitome of Mr. John Speed's theatre of the empire of Great Britain And of his prospect of the most famous parts of the world. In this new edition are added, the despciptions of His Majesties dominions abroad, viz. New England, New York, 226 Carolina, Florida, 251 Virginia, Maryland, 212 Jamaica, 232 Barbados, 239 as also the empire of the great Mogol, with the rest of the East-Indies, 255 the empire of Russia, 266 with their respective descriptions.

[illustration] map of Persia

PERSIA

P. Karius Caelavit

The Description of the Kingdom of PERSIA.

THis Empire was one of the first, and most potent in the Eastern world; and though since in several ages, she hath felt the variety of fortunes, to which all Kingdomes are subject, and been forced to deliver up her glory to the succeeding Monarchies of the Macedonians, Parthians, Turks, and Sarazens; yet now at last is she recovered to her own heighth and greatness, and the name of Persia reacheth farther than ever, if we take in, (as most Geographers do) the Regions of Media, Assyria, and the rest; which were heretofore the seat of several illustrious Kingdomes.

(2) Surely the first which inhabited any part of this compass, were the Medes, a people of great an∣tiquity, who reach both their original and name from Madai, the son of Iapheth: for it was not long after the floud; that they were subdued by Ninus King of the Assyrians: one and t'other, Media I mean and Assyria, though then they had apart their peculiar governments, yet both were but a parcel of this Countrey, which is now known by the name of Persia.

(3) To Ninus and his successors they continued faithful for many years, till the effeminate weakness of Sardanapalus gave opportunity to the ambition of Belochus governour of Babylon, and Arbaces of Media, to divide his Empire betwixt them, which they did in the year of the world three thousand one hundred forty six; and then began the Monarchy of the Medes, which spread it self through the the greatest part of Asia; and (for above two hundred years) gathered strength, till the time of Astia∣ges, who dreamed himself out of his Empire, as Iustine relates the story.

(4) Persia propriè dicta, from whence this whole Country at last took name, was at this time but an obscure Kingdom in respect of what now it is, and tributary to the Medes. Her Prince was Cam∣byses, the Father of the great Cyrus, by Mandanes daughter to Astiages; when she was great, and expe∣cted

the time of her deliverance, her Father touched with a perplexed dream, that she made so much water as would drown all Asia, interpreted it, that her issue should be the overthrow of his state; and therefore delivered the child which was born to her, into Harpagus his charge to be destroyed, and he to the Kings Herdsman, who (unawares to Both) preserved the guiltless infant, so that at last he took revenge upon his cruel Grand-father, and laid a foundation for the Persian Monar∣chy.

(5) In this attempt his anger wrought him no farther than his enemy: for he left the government of Media still to Cyaxares the son of Astyages, and afterward married his daughter, joyned with him in his conquests, and till his death gave him preheminence of title. They were both engaged in the taking of Babylon, slaughter of Baltazar, and destruction of the Chald••ans: The Scripture gives this victory to Darius Medus, who, as most hold, was no other than Cyaxares: and he only named as the principal of the two while he yet lived, though Cyrus had his part in the action, after his Uncles death enjoyed it as his own, and made perfect the Monarchy of the Persians in the year of the world 3046.

(6) About thrity seven years after, the succession was broke for want of lawful heirs, to Cambyses their second King; and therefore their Princes consulted to salute him, whose Horse first neighed at a set meeting upon the Court green, before the Sun-rising. Darius Histaspes was one, and by the subtiliy of his Horse-keeper carried the Crown; for the night before, in the same ground, he had coupled a Mare with the Horse that his Master should ride, which when the lustful Steed missed the next morn∣ing, being full of spirit, no sooner had he set footing upon the place, but with much eagerness he snuf∣fed and neighed after his Mare, and gave the quue to the other Princes to proclaim Darius King of the Persians. This was he whom the Scripture calls Ahasuerus: he was H••sters husband.

(7) Thus is the Empire now setled, and entailed by descent after him to that famous Xerxes, who

made war upon Greece, with an incredible Army, joyned Asia to Europe with a bridge, and dammed up Hellespont with his Navy; yet was at last vanquished by four thousand at Thermopyle, and after by Themistocles forced to make his flight in a small boat towards his own Countrey, contemned of his sub∣jects, and within a few years slain in his Palace by Artabanus. His immediate successour was Arta∣xerxes Lengimanus, who. sent the Prophet Esdras to re-edifie the Temple, and so on to Darius the last Persian of. that course, who was ost vanquished by Alexander the Great, and left the Monarchy of the world to the Macedonians: After the death of their victorious Captain, it was divided among many of the most potent Princes of Greece.

(8) But when the Persians saw the force of their enemy thus severed, they began to conceive a hope of recovering their liberty; and so they did indeed under the conduct and command of the Par∣thian Arsaces, but. found themselves little bettered in their condition, as being now become new slaves to a more harsh tyrant; and therefore in the year two hundred twenty eight after the Incarnation, they made a second attempt to quit themselves from the Parthians; they took their time, when their Masters were sore afficted with a strong enemy from Rome, which had broke their Forces to their hands; so that by the admirable prowess of another Artaxerxes, they made good their Con∣quest upon the Parthians, and adventured so far with the Romans themselves, that their name began to grow terrible, and the Emperour Constantine forced to fortifie his Provinces, which lay towards the East; and his might be some cause too, why he removed his seat to Constantinopolis.

(9) After this fell into the hands of the Saracenical Caliphs, in the year six hundred thirty four, and to the Turks in the year one hundred and thirty, next to the Tartars, and so again to the Par∣thians, by the help of Gempsas, who redeemed both his own and this from the Tartarian; and briefly after many turns, it became the possession of Isma••l Sophy of Persia whose race continues it to this day.

(10) The bounds of this Empire on the North are the Caspian Sea, and the River Oxus; on the South the Sinus Persicus, and the Ma••e Indicum, heretofore called Rubrum; on the West the Turkish confines, as far as the River Tigris, and the lake Giocho: on the East the River Indus, and the King∣dom of Cambaia; a spacious Land it is, and contains from East to West 38 degrees, and about 20 from the North to South.

(11) This variety of distance in respect of the Heavens, must needs cause as much difference in the qualities of her several Regions: In some places there is that fertility, which makes her equal to any part of Asia; in others again she is so barren, unfruitful, and unprofitable, that the Land is left waste, as being not able to nourish an Inhabitant. Ora maritima (saith Quadus) aestuosa est ac ventosa, & fru∣ctuum inops, praeterquam palmarum, mediterranea regio Campestris est & omnium ferax, pecorumque opti∣ma nutrix, stuminibus & lacubus plena. Maxime autem suppeditat Araxes plurimas commoditates. It abounds much with metals, and stones of great price.

(12) The ancient Persians were warlike, and ambitious of rule; for not content with their own, which they freely posses in Asia, they attempted the nearest parts of Africa and Europe, which cost them the first fall from their Monarchy. Nec enim petituri Macedones Persidem vide bantur, in priores Persae Graeciam provocassent, faith Vadianus. Their customes are most of them superstitious, but they held nothing almost in so great reverence as water: it might not lawfully be soyled, so much as with a soul hand; but to piss, or cast rubbish, or a dead carcass into the Rivers, was a kind of Sacriledge. They had many Wives, and more Concubines: for they were exceeding desirous of increase, and great rewards were appointed by their King himself, for him that could most augment the number of his subjects in one year. They seldome entred into any consultation of State, till they had well arm∣ed themselves with drink; for then they thought they should be more free to speak what they most thought. To spit, or laugh before their Prince, was a crime well nigh unpardonable: some say that

they bury not their dead, but cast them forth to be devoured by wild beasts, and thought him most happy which was soonest torn to mammock; the rest their friends bewailed, as such who had lived impurely; and were therefore by this sign declared worthy of hell only, without any redemption.

(13) Their Philosophers were called Magi, and studied principally the art of fore-telling things to come; from whence we have our tearm of Magick; and usurp the word only in the worse sense whereas (questionless it was no other with them, than the Greeks Philosophy, Philosophi, or Sapientes with the Latines: for it is by most thought that such were those good Magi, which came from the East to worship Christ; and Saint Chrysostome directly names Persia to be that East from whence they were led by the Star.

(14) They have now put off most of their antique barbarism, and are become good Politicians, excellent Warriour, sgreat Scholars, especially in Astrology, Physick and Poetry. Those which apply themselves to Mechanick trades, are not inferiour to any almost in our quarter; they deal most in making of Silks, which they send into all the Eastern Countries in great abundance. They are mild and courteous to Strangers, yet jealous of their Wives, which for the most part are very fair and richly attired; not withstanding their affection to them usque ad insanam Zelotypiam; yet are they much addicted to that beastly sin of the Turks, and have their Stews on purpose, whither they resort without controul or shame. Their language is elegant, and in use in most of those Eastern Countries. The Chri∣stian Religion was once planted here both by Saint Thomas and Saint Andrew; yet are they now fal∣len to Mahametism, and differ but as Schismaticks from the Turks, which occasioneth much hatred and perpetual war betwixt them.

(15) The Regions which belong to the Empire of Perfia are (1) Persii. (2) Media. (3) Assyria. (4) Sus••ina. (5) Mesopotamia. (6) Parthia. (7) Hyrcania. (8) Bactriana (9) Parapomissus.(10) Aria.(11) Drangiana. (12) Gedrosia. (13) Carmania, and (14) Ormus.

(16) Persis had her name from Perseus, which came hither out of Greece; and this gives it to the whole Empire: It is now called Fa••st or Fars••st••n, and was heretofore Panchaia. It lieth betwixt Me∣dia on the North, and the Sinus Persicus on her South: on her West Susiana, and East Carmania. Her Metropolis is Siras, once Persepol••s, and is built toward the mid land near the River Araxis: it was surprized by Alexander, and many thousand talents of gold sent into Greece, with other rich spo••l and trophies of Victories, which the Persians had. before gotten from most parts of the then known world. Upon the Sea-coast stands Cyrus, a City which was built by their first absolute Monarch, and called by the Inhabitants Grechaia: It was the Bishop seat of the learned Theodoret, who lived here about the year 450, and in this Region is Laodicea built by Antiochus, and Passagarda, where Cyrus had his Sepulchre.

(17) (2) Media now Servania, on the North of Persis, and South of the Caspian Sea, hath Armenia major and Assyria on her West, and on her East Parthia and Hyrcania. It was before Cyrus, the seat of the Empire, and mother to a warlike potent Nation. Their Kings had many wives, seldome fewer than seven: and their women thought it a great calamity to have less than five husbands. In this stands the Territory of Tauris, which was called by our ancients Erbathana, and doth stand some eight dayes journey from the Hyrcinian Sea: it is rich and populous, and was the seat of the Sophies, till it was removed to Casbin, which lieth somewhat more South. Betwixt both stands the City Turcoman: and elsewhere in this Province are many others dispersed of good note, especially Suliana, Symma∣chia, Nassinum, Ardovil, Marant, and Saucazan, &c.

(18) (3) Assyria now Arzeram on the West of Media, South of Armenia, North of Susiania, and East of Mesopotamia: it was the seat of Ninus his Kingdome, lost by Sardanapalus; and here stands the most famous City Nineveh near. the River Tigris, larger than Babylon containing full threescore miles in compass: for the community which the Babylonians had with them in course of government,

they were oft times promiscuously used by Historians: both had this custome, to sell their Virgins, which were fair and most desired, and tender the price into the common treasury. The homelier sort were placed in marriage with that money, to those which would accept of them for gain at least, if not for beauty. They were much addicted to Astrology, and were questionless led to it by the oppor∣tunity of their situation, which gives them a more perfect view of the Heavens, and several course of the Planets, than any other part of the world besides.

(19) (4) Susiana, now Cuceston, seems to have her name from Cus, upon the South of Assyria, West of Persia, East of Babylonia, and North of the Persick bay. It is severed by Pliny from Elemauss the great by the River Euleus, of whose waters only the Persian Kings were wont to drink, as being more sweet and pure, than any other in this Countrey.

(20)(5) Mesopotamia, now Diarbecha, heretofore Aram or Charam, lies betwixt the two Rivers Euphrates and Tigris, and hath Armenia major on her North, and on her South Arabia deserta: it is of large extent, and hath much variety of commodities in her several quarters, but hath suffered great calamities by reason of her continual wars with the Turk. Her chief Cities are Charon or Haran, where Abraham setled himself when he was called forth of Chaldaea and where that gurges Avaritiae, the Roman Marcus Crassus, lost his life. Not far distant is the City Nisibis, which was once called Antio∣chia, and Migdonia; to these Maginus adds Merdin and Mosus.

(21) (6) Parthia, now Arach, on the East of Media, on. the South of Hyrcania, North of Carmania, and West of Aria. The Inhabitants were valiant, and had their course of Sovereignty in the Eastern Monarchy. Her chief Cities are Cassan and Hispaham, which the Persian hath in so great account, that he calls it half the world.

(22) (7) Hyrcania, now Strava, on the North of Parthia, and East of Media, and South of the Mare Caspium: it is plain, fertile, and rich. Her Metropolis Hyrcania: the rest of note are Bestan, Mesna∣dran,

(8) Bactriana now Charassan, on the South is divided from Aria by the mountain Parapomissus: Her chief City Bactra, the birth place of that great Physician Avicenna, and Zoroaster Magus: This Region belongs not entire to the Sophie of Persia. (9) Parapomissus now Sublestan and Candbear on the East of Aria a mountainous Countrey, and the Inhabitants rude and ragged, yet her chief City Candatura is a great market, and well frequented both from India and Cathaia.(10)Aria now Eri, on the East of Parthia: the Inhabitants of this Region rebelled against Alexander, but were forced by his Armies to flye for shelter into a Cave upon the ••op of a Rock; yet thither he pursued them, and dammed up the Caves mouth with Timber, which he set on fire, and stifled most; the rest were taken to the Victors mercy: the treason of Philotus against Alexander was here discovered. (11) Drangiana now Sigestan: In this Country the Hill Taurus is called Caucasus, where. the Poets seign, that Prome∣theus was perpetually gnawn by a Vulture for stealing fire from Heaven: Her chief Cities are Sim and Cabul, built by Alexander at the foot of Caucasus; and therefore Alexandria Arachosiae.(12)Gedro∣sia now Circan, near the Mare Indicum, a barren Countrey, scarce worth a farther description; and so (13)Carmania.

(23) (14) Upon the confines of the Persian Empire stands a potent Kingdome, which comprehends part of the coast of Persia, some Islands of the Persick bay: and a good portion of Arabia Foelix near to those Seas. The chief seat is the City and Island Ormutz a place of a great merchandise, but of it self affordeth little provision for victuals; so that they are forced to have it brought in from other Parts of the Empire, though at an extream dear rate. It bounds with a precious Pearl called the Vnion: Their King is now tributary to Portugal, as once it was to the Persian Emperour.