Purchas his pilgrimes. part 2 In fiue bookes. The first, contayning the voyages and peregrinations made by ancient kings, patriarkes, apostles, philosophers, and others, to and thorow the remoter parts of the knowne world: enquiries also of languages and religions, especially of the moderne diuersified professions of Christianitie. The second, a description of all the circum-nauigations of the globe. The third, nauigations and voyages of English-men, alongst the coasts of Africa ... The fourth, English voyages beyond the East Indies, to the ilands of Iapan, China, Cauchinchina, the Philippinæ with others ... The fifth, nauigations, voyages, traffiques, discoueries, of the English nation in the easterne parts of the world ... The first part.

§. II.

Of ABAS King of Persia, his Person, Vertues, Perils, Escapes, Aduancement, [ 20] Gouernment, and Conquests.

ANd now that I am in Persia, and speake of the Kings absence; since hee is both one of the mightiest Princes that are, and one of the excellentest, for the true vertues of a Prince, that is, or hath beene; and hauing come to this greatnesse, though by right; yet through the circumstances of the time, and the occasions, which then were, sole∣ly his owne worthinesse, and vertue, made way to his right: besides, the fashion of his gouern∣ment differing so much from that which wee call barbarousnesse, that it may iustly serue for as great an Idea for a Principalitie, as Platoes Commonwealth did for a Gouernment, of that sort. I hold it not amisse, to speake amply first of his Person, the nature of his People, the distribu∣tion of his Gouernment, the administration of his Iustice, the condition of the bordering Prin∣ces, [ 30] and the causes of those Warres, in which hee was then occupied; that by the true expres∣sion of those, this discourse may passe with a more liuely, and a more sensible feeling.

His Person then is such, as well-vnderstanding Nature would fit for the end proposed for his being, excellently well shaped, of a most well proportioned stature, strong, and actiue; his co∣lour somewhat inclined to a man-like blacknesse, is also more blacke by the Sunnes burning: his furniture of his mind infinitely royall, wise, valiant, liberall, temperate, mercifull, and an ex∣ceeding louer of Iustice, embracing royally others vertues, as farre from pride and vanitie, as from all vnprincely signes, or acts; knowing his power iustly what it is; and the like acknow∣ledgement will also haue from others, without any gentilitious adoration; but with those re∣spects, [ 40] which are fit for the maiestie of a Prince; which foundeth it selfe vpon the power of his State, generall loue, and awfull terrour. His fortunes determining to make proofe of his ver∣tue, draue him (in his first yeeres) into many dangerous extremities; which hee ouercomming by his vertue, hath made great vse of, both in the excellent encrease of his particular vnder∣standing, and generall tranquillitie, strength of his Countrey, and propagation of his Empire. For the Lawes, and Customes, or both, of that Kingdome, being such, that though the King haue a large encrease of Issue, the first-borne onely ruleth; and to auoide all kind of cause of ciuill dissention, the rest are not inhumanely murthered, according to the vse of the Turkish gouernment, but made blind with burning Basons: and haue otherwise all sort of content∣ment and regard fit for Princes children. Xa-Tamas King of Persia dying without Issue, Xa-Codabent, his brother was called blind to the Kingdome; who had Issue, Sultan Hamzire Mirza [ 50] the eldest, who succeeded him, and this present King called Abas.

The eldest Sonne of the King remayned at the Court of his Father, administring all that, which his Fathers defect of light vnabled him to doe. Abas the second Sonne, twelue yeares of age vnder the gouernment of Tutors, held the Prouince of Yasde; and (as Courts are full of Rumours, and suspition neuer wanteth in Princes, especially which haue such imperfections, as they are compelled to take knowledge of) the vertues of Abas, by which hee bound to him the hearts of his Prouincials, spred themselues further, and so to the Court; where they were increa∣sed to such a condition, as altered the Father, and Brothers reioycing in them, to an opinion that his winning of the affections of the people, proceeded not from any other worthinesse, but artifice; which had the intent of it stretching to the Crowne: which tooke such hold in the Fa∣thers [ 60] minde, worne with age and griefe, and sore with his late misfortunes, that hee resolued secretly his death: The newes of which being brought to Abas, speedily by the meanes of se∣cret friends; not onely to himselfe, but to his Gouernours (which as they were the greatest of

the state, so they were not vnfriended in the Court) being so farre from any such designe, that he had no sort of prouision at hand to defend himselfe; hee fled to the King of Corasan, a Countrey of the Tartars, limiting vpon the East of Persia, euer infestuous to that State, not more in their * 1.1 owne disposition (being a people giuen to spoyle, vnquiet, and which cannot liue in rest) then through their dependance vpon the Turke, whose Religion they professe (which the Persians do not, but much altered) and whose Pensionaries they were, by which they were bound in all sea∣sons, when the Turke was tyed to the Christians wars, to diuert the Persian from looking to the commoditie of such a time; besides, on occasions, the Turke vsed to transport great forces of them ouer the Caspian Sea into Siruana; and from thence passed them into Hungarie; eyther the longer way by Land, or the shorter by Sea, ouer Negropont. To this King Abas was exceeding [ 10] welcome, and cherished, and honoured like his owne Sonne. Shortly after the flight, the Father dyed, and Sultan Hamzire Mirza, his Sonne, succeeded him, who renewed the Truce with the Turke, through the necessitie which hee had to vse the most, which his strength and power could yeeld him, to suppresse a great Rebellion of the Turcomans: whom, at the last, he so brake with diuers Battels, and all other sort of afflictions, that they deliuered him vp their Princes, and then themselues. Their Princes he beheaded, and of them, slue twentie thousand of the a∣blest for the warres, assuring his peace with them by their extremest ruine; and as he was, by all reports, a most braue, and warlike Prince, hauing pacified his owne State, and desirous to reco∣uer, not onely what was freshly lost; but all which was formerly taken from the Sophies King∣dome, by the power of the Ottomans; vnited all his thoughts, and all his Councels to that one [ 20] great end; which all finished with his life, ending it selfe by Treason of his Princes (not with∣out perswasion of the Turke) when hee had fit yeares, minde, and courage; and meanes ioyned with occasion, to haue made himselfe the greatest Prince of many Ages: all which though they, made his death miserable, yet the manner was more miserable, beeing vilely slaine by his Barber retyring halfe drunke from a Banquet, to which hee was prouoked by the Conspirators, which presently parted the State betweene them; euery man making himselfe absolute Prince of those Prouinces, which they had in gouernment; and parting the Royall Treasure amongst them for * 1.2 their reciprocall mayntenance, disposed themselues vnitely to resist the comming in of Abas; whom notwithstanding they did not much feare, hauing promise of the Turke, that hee should be detayned in Corassan where he was refuged: and knowing that he had neither Men nor Mo∣ney, [ 30] nor yeares to giue him any incouragement to attempt against them, who had soone confir∣med themselues, both with giuing good satisfaction to the people, and with liberalitie to the Souldioury; and their entrance into the State being without opposition, and so, without offence, made the foundation both more sure and more facile.

Abas in the meane time, whose iust Title made him King, assured himselfe that both the mur∣der of his Brother, and this parting of the State, had the Turkes counsell concurring with those Princes Impietie: and not doubting but the King of Corassan was also perswaded to detayne him resolued notwithstanding by his necessitie, began to deale boldly with him for his assistance against his Rebels, the King of Corassan, though pre-occupyed by the Turke, yet desirous to bee his Friend afarre off, and also doubting the successe of Abas, neither hauing yeares, nor experi∣ence, [ 40] nor Friends; In fine, being destitute of all reasonable hope, not to mooue the Turkes dis∣pleasure vpon such a disaduantagious condition, was notwithstanding contented to see whe∣ther some thing might be mooued by such a helpe as should not appeare to be giuen by him, but rather voluntarie followers of Abas his fortune: he gaue him three thousand Horse onely to put him in possession of that State, which by his vertue, and fortune, is growne now so great, that it hath deuoured all the States of the Tartars, extended it selfe so farre as Cabull to the East; the Arabian gulfe downe to Balsaracke on the South; within three dayes Iourney of Babylon on the * 1.3 West; and to Tauris on the North; embracing the whole Circumference of the Caspian Sea vn∣to Astracan, which is the vttermost of the Moscouites Dominion, and Seruane of the Turkes, which lyeth vpon that Sea: an Empire so great, so populous, and so abundant; that as it may [ 50] compare with most of the greatest that euer were, so is it terrible to the Turkes which is the grea∣test that now is; though I doe thinke verily, That in Asia the Persian hath as great an extent of Territories, as the Turke, and better inhabited, better gouerned, and in better obedience and affection, I am sure he hath. With this small troupe, the King of Persia, guided by his infinite Royall cou∣rage, entred Persia. But as those which are wicked, are euer so well instructed in the Art of their pofession, that they neuer want Instruments in themselues to deuise, and in others to act those counsels which must euer be waking, to maintayne what they haue gotten by their sceleratenesse. So their Spyes hastened, with such diligence, to giue those Rebels notice, of their Kings being on foot, that the next of them to him, had time to arme great forces, and encountred him in a Prouince, called Sistane: and though his inuincible spirit, without any sparke of feare, made him aduenture to [ 60] * 1.4 fight vpon so vnequall termes, as was three thousand against twentie thousand: he found by his experience, that Maiestie and right, is nothing without power to beare them vp: and that no exquisite vigour of the minde, can resist the violence of sinister fortune, nor oppression of many hands. Yet did Fortune so much care (for so great vertue) that she gaue him way to escape to the Mountaynes,

all the rest of the small troupe beeing cut in pieces. This victory assured the Rebels (as they thought) from all further danger; the King of Persia, whose owne minde euer comforted him, with a stedfast assurance of his greatnesse, to which hee is now growne, hauing recouered the Mountaynes, liued amongst the Heardes-men for three monethes vnknowne, changing conti∣nually from place to place, without any certaine abode, accompanied onely with ten or twelue followers, which were of his first Gouernours, and other young Gentlemen brought vp with him from his child-hood. But being now no longer able to temporize with his great desire, re∣soluing to proue the last, and the vttermost of his fortune, and remembring how much loue and affection those of Yasd had shewed towards him in the time of his gouerning them, and how much he had truly deserued of them, determined to shew himselfe in that Prouince; and prooue what effect the Maiestie of his person, the iustice of his cause, and former obligation would [ 10] worke in them: which, though it were a foundation prooued euer false, almost by all experien∣ces, The peoples affections euer raising mens hopes, and ruining their persons: Yet it prooued other∣wise with this King; who was no•• sooner certainly knowne in those parts, but numbers of peo∣ple came flocking to him, armed and appointed for the warres: in such sort, that before any prouision could be made against him (this being an accident so farre remoued from all sort of sus∣pition) he had a power together, too strong to bee easily suppressed; which was no sooner heard by Ferrat Can, a great Prince, and discontented with the alteration of the gouernment (to whose * 1.5 share none of that partition had falne, his fortune being such, that at the time of the other Kings death, he had none of the Prouinces to administer, and they were parted onely betweene them, which held them) hee I say, with his Brother, and a company of some ten thousand, came and [ 20] ioyned themselues to the forces of the King. Neither were the men so welcome, as that Ferrat Can (being a wise Prince, and a great Souldier) grew a partie, and such as the King also stood in need of: Neither did the King lose any sort of opportunitie, but hearing of the Assembly which certaine of the Princes were making in the neerest Prouinces vnto him, with all speed fell vpon them, and ouerthrowing them followed them as farre as Casbin.

In the meane time, those of Shyras, Asphaan, Cassan assisted by the Kings of Gheylan, and Ma∣zandran, gather mightie forces; the Turkes armed at Tauris, and the Prince of Hamadan, hauing called in a strength of the Courdines, to his assistance, was marching also towards Casbin: So that the King was likely to bee so inclosed with all these Armies, that his first victory would rather haue proued a snare to his intrapment; then important, as he hoped, to the summe of his affaires: [ 30] Whence he resolued to helpe, with Art, that which hee was much too weake to accomplish by strength. Wherefore he leaueth Ferrat Can in Casbin with some fiue thousand men, accompanied with Zulpher his Brother; and himselfe, with the rest of his power marched towards the Can of Hamadane. Ferrat Can, according to the deliberation taken betweene the King and him, shewed * 1.6 himselfe altered from the Kings part, writeth to the Rebels, which were all, in a grosse, aduan∣ced as farre as the mid-way betweene Cassan and Casbin, and offereth not onely to ioyne that strength which he had with them, but to mutinie the Kings Armie, which was lodged in the Mountaynes towards Hamadane, in a shew to keepe those straights, to giue impeachment to the passage of that other Army; but indeed to protract time onely, and to expect the euent of his o∣ther counsels. The other Cans rebelled easily, and desirously imbraced Ferrat Cans proposition, [ 40] hasted the Army towards Casbin, which they entred without difficultie, both by the nature of the place, which is not of any strength, and conueyance of Ferrat. There were many dayes spent in Counsell, and at last it was concluded, since the suppression of the King was certaine, being abandoned by him which was his onely Captaine and Counsellour; by so great a part of his strength; and vpon the confidence which Ferrat gaue them to mutine the rest; that it would prooue too dangerous to call in those forces of the Turkes, which were in readinesse for their suc∣cour. Not knowing whether they should so easily free themselues of them againe, if they were once entred: They reared the Turkes purposes, and as much feared to know them; therefore to auoid the danger of being compelled to experience them, they determined to write to the Bassa of Tauris, that the warre was so certaine to bee finished by themselues, that they would reserue [ 50] fauour till a more vrgent opportunitie: and with that deliberation a principall man was dispat∣ched with a Present for the Bassa. Of this, the King had present aduice, by a confident Messen∣ger, and also that few nights after, the principals of the Army were to meete together at Ferrats house, inuited to a great Banquet; which being vnderstood by him, electing fiue thousand of his best men, and best horsing, with great and close Iourneyes, hee came to Casbin; where hauing secretly disposed his people in the Mountayne, couered with the quarter of Ferrats Troupe, he expected the signe which was to be giuen him. The Prince (as it was appointed) failed not of comming, nor he of his signe to the King, nor the King to accomplish his resolution. For Fer∣rat hauing protracted the Banquet the most part of the night, when the whole companie was [ 60] heauie with Wine and sleepe, the King was receiued into the house with three hundred men, where without any vproare, hee slue all those which were inuited, to the number of threescore and ten; the Seruants and Pages being so suddenly taken hold of, and with such dexteritie, that without any mouing of other Rumours, the same fashion of Feast of Singing and of Dancing,

continued all the night; and in that space all the rest of those people, which the King had with him, were appointed, in the breaking of the day, to make the greatest shew, and the greatest noyse that they could vnder the foote, of the Mountayne, as though all the Army had beene there, marching to the Towne. When the Alarme beganne to bee hot in the Towne, and euery man fell to his Armes, and repaired to Ferrats Lodging, where they supposed their Princes to haue beene; the King hauing disposed his three hundred men which were shut fitly in the house, and Zulpher hauing his fiue thousand all in a troope, in the great place, the threescore and ten Cans heads were shewed, all laced vpon a string, and hung out of a Tarras; vpon which the King presently shewed himselfe, accompanied with Ferrat Can; whereas the Maiestie of the King, the terrour of the sight represented before them, the feare of the Armie, [ 10] which they saw (as they thought) at hand, Zulpher and Ferrat Cans power amongst them, which they perceiued turned against them; their being destitute of Commanders, and the guiltinesse of their owne consciences, for their rebellion, strooke them into so dead an amazement, that they stood readie, rather to receiue all mischiefe, then that they had either courage, or minds, or counsell to auoide it.

But vpon offer of pardon, they cryed out, Let the King liue, let the King liue; we are all King Abas his slaues, and will not suffer to liue any of his Enemies: and there was more trouble to defend the poore people of Casbin from sacking by them (their Towne euer hauing beene a well dispo∣sed Harbour for the Rebels) then to turne their hearts and armes to the Kings part. Besides, the succours which the Gheylan and Mazandran had sent the Rebels, were with great difficultie sa∣ued, [ 20] , and returned to their Countries by the King of Persia, with commandement to tell their Masters, that as the poore men were not culpable, which obeyed their Princes authoritie, by whom they were sent against him, and for that innocencie, hee had giuen them their liues; so that he would not be long from seeking his reuenge vpon their Masters, which had more iustly deserued it, by his neuer prouoking them to any offence. And when hee came with his Armie thither, he would proue, by those mens acknowledgement vnto him, whether they could dis∣cerne by the benefits they had already receiued of him in the gift of their liues, which they had forfeited vnto him, by bearing Armes with Rebels against him, what better hopes they might conceiue of him, if they would dispose themselues to deserue good of him. In this meane time, the fame of this great successe, flew to both the Armies about the Mountaynes of Hamadan: [ 30] which, as it comforted the Kings with exceeding ioyfulnesse; so it entred into the others with such a terrour, that they presently vanished, euery man retyring to his best knowne safe-guard, that part of the Warre ending with the blast onely of the fortune of the other, with little ex∣pence of time, labour and bloud: which beeing vnderstood by the King, hee raised Oliuer-Di∣beague to the title of a Can, and sent him, with those forces which he had to Hamadan, to set∣tle the Countrey in a good forme of gouernment, and to ease it from the oppression of the other dispersed Troupes. Zulpher he also called Can, and sent him to Ardouile, which frontireth vpon Tauris, with an Army consisting of foure and twentie thousand men, in shew to quiet the Coun∣trey, but indeed, to preuent any mouing of the Turkes. And because hee knew, that as his State stood then weake, raysed (as it were) freshly from a deadly sicknesse, it was not fit for him (at [ 40] that time) to bind himselfe to wrastle with such an Enemie, by taking knowledge of his ill dis∣position towards him; he dispatched Embassadours to Constantinople, to Tauris, and to the Bassa of Babylon, to congratulate with them, as with his friends, for the felicitie of his fortune; and to strengthen himselfe, by Alliance, also the more firmely, against the proceeding of any thing which the Turk might designe against him, either then or in future time; he required the Daugh∣ter of Simon Can, one of the Princes of the Georgians, to wife, which was, with as readie an affection performed, as demanded.

Whiles that Lady was comming from her Father, the King vnderstanding that the Cans Son of Hisphaan held yet strong the Castle, and whether he gaue it out to amaze his Armie, which now began to looke for satisfaction, for the great trauels and dangers which they had passed, or [ 50] whether he had heard so indeed; true it is, that he gaue out, that the most part of the Treasure of the former Kings of Persia, was by the consent of the Rebels, for securitie, kept together in that Castle: to receiue the which, and to chastise that Rebell, the King marched thither with a part onely of his Armie, leauing the rest at Casbin, which was Frontier to Gheylan against which his purpose carryed him. Without much trouble hee expugned the Fort at Hisphaan, beeing a large Circumference onely of Mud-wals, somewhat thicke, with Towers, and certaine ill Bat∣tlements, and suppressed that Rebell; but Treasure he found none, for the indignation whereof, he made the World beleeue, dismantled the Castle. His owne necessitie to content the Army, and his Armies necessitie to aske contentment, drew him suddenly backe from thence to Casbin, where hee had not stayed many dayes (for daily satisfaction with hope hauing no reall meanes) [ 60] but that the Queene arriued, honourably accompanied with two thousand Horse, and Byraicke Myrza her Brother. The Marriage was soone dispatched, those Countries vsing few Ceremo∣nies in such cases: and God blessed them both so happily, that within the tearme of lesse then one yeare, she brought him a gallant yong Prince who is now liuing, called Sophir Mirza.

The King vnwilling to oppresse his Countrey, and desiring to reuenge himselfe vpon the Kings of Gheylan, and Mazamdran, to enlarge his Empire, and to content his Souldiers; hauing * 1.7 a flourishing Armie, both in men, and the reputation of his present victory; resolued all vnder one, to increase his State, honour himselfe, ease his Countrey, and satisfie his Souldiers with the Enemies spoyles. Gheylan is a Countrey cut off from Persia, with great Mountaynes hard to passe, full of Woods (which Persia wanteth, being here and there onely sprinkled with Hils, and very penurious of fuell, onely their Gardens giue them Wood to burne, and those Hils, which are some Faggots of Pistachios, of which they are well replenished) betweene those Hils there are certaine breaches, rather then Valleyes; which in the Spring, when the Snow dissolueth, and the great abundance of Raine falleth, are full of Torrents; the Caspian Sea in∣cludeth this Countrey on the East: betweene which and the Hils, is a continuing Valley, so * 1.8 [ 10] abounding in Silke, in Rice, and in Corne, and so infinitely peopled, that Nature seemeth to contend with the peoples industry; the one in sowing of men, the other in cultiuating the Land; in which you shall see no piece of ground which is not fitted to one vse or other 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their Hils also (which are Rockes towards Casbin) are so fruitfull of Herbage, shadowed by the Trees, as they s••ew, turned towards the Sea, that they are euer full of Cattell, which yeeldeth Commoditie to the Countrey, by furnishing diuers other parts. In this then lay the difficultie most of the Kings Enterprize, how to enter the Countrey.

Yet before the King would enter into this Action, hee called vnto him to Casbin, all Go∣uernours, and all Administratours of Iustice, whosoeuer had occupyed those Functions, du∣ring the vsurped Rule of the Cans, through all his Prouinces; with the Kinsmen, Friends * 1.9 [ 20] and Children of the said Cans: besides, that all men of power, as Mirzaes, Cans, Sultans, and Beagues, which are principall Titles of Dukes, Princes, and Lords, should repayre thither, without excuse of Age, Sicknesse, or any other pretence whatsoeuer: which beeing done, hee appointed new Gouernours and Officers of all sorts; hee cleered all his Prouinces for three yeares, for paying any Tribute-Custome, or any other ordinary or extraordinary Exaction whatsoeuer. His Chiefe Vizier he made one Haldenbeague a Wise man, excellently seene in all Affaires, of great Experience; but such a one as was onely his Creature, without Friends or Power: him hee commanded to passe through all his Prouinces, accompa∣nied with the Xa-Hammadaga, who is, as it were, Knight Marshall, to cleere them from Vagabonds, Robbers, and seditious Persons. Ologonlie, which had followed him in all his [ 30] Aduersitie (a man of great Worthinesse) hee made Bearer of his Great Seale, which is an Of∣fice there, liker the Lord Priuie Seale, then Chancellour. (The place of the Vizier compre∣hending in it, the Office of Chancellour, and High Treasurer) him hee also aduanced to the dignitie of a Can. Bastana, an Ancient approoued man, both for Fidelitie and other Wor∣thinesse, hee made principall Aga of his House; which is as great Chamberlaine. Cur••chi∣basschie Captaine of his Guard, which is a General-ship of twelue thousand shot, who attend at the Port by turnes, two hundred and fiftie euery quarter, except when the King goeth to the Warres, that they are all bound to be present. Ferrat Can he made his Generall.

Thus hauing wisely and prouidently placed through all his Estates, those who must be most assured to him, their Fortunes depending onely vpon him, hauing no more strength, nor autho∣ritie [ 40] in themselues, then they receiued from him: and hauing all the great ones in his Armie with him, or such of them as could not bee able to follow him, eyther by their few, or many yeares, or sicknesse, so securely left at Casbin, that they could not by themselues, or any other, moue any Innouation. And moreouer, hauing dispatched all those, and keeping their persons with him which had any Obligation to the former Cans, secured by that meanes (as much as the counsell of any man could secure him) from perill at home: hauing called Oliuer di Can from Hamadan, and appointed him a Successor for that Gouernment with ten thousand new men; he set himselfe forward to his Enterprize, with his old Troupes, and great part of his rebelled Ar∣my, with no greater courage and counsell then Fortune: for those men which were remitted by him to Gheylan, and Mazandran, (as those which had bin some-what exercised in the wars) [ 50] hauing, with some more, adioyned vnto them the guard of the Streights, from which the mayne Armie of the Kings was some foure leagues remoued (remembring the benefit of the King, bet∣ter then their faith to their Princes) at the very sight of the first Troupes, retyred themselues from the places left to their confidence in charge; which aduantage beeing followed by Ferrat; with the Alarme giuen, fell so iustly vpon that Army, that what with the vnexpected terrour of the Streights abandoning, and their being surprized in disorder, the Army was facily broken, with the death of two of the Kings, and an infinite slaughter of people, which had beene much greater if the Woods had not couered them from the furie of their Enemies. The greatest of those Kings hauing escaped with much difficultie (accompanied euer with the terrour of the perill from which hee had escaped) neuer ended his flight, vntill hee came into Seruane; and [ 60] from thence went to Constantinople, to desire succour from the Turke, where hee yet liueth. The other which remayned, beeing but one, without any great difficultie or alteration of Fortune; was suppressed.

The Countrey beeing first spoyled, and ransomed at a great rate, which they might well beare, by reason of their great Riches, which they had gathered together through a long peace, and the Kings Armie excellently well satisfied; hee dispatched instantly Embassadors to the Turke, the Georgians, and his old Friend, the King of Corassan, to giue them an account of this new victorie: not doubting, but as it would bee exceeding pleasant to some; so it would be as bitter to others: and leauing Ferrat Can to gouerne the Countrey, and Oliuer Dibeague, as his assistant, but to be commanded by him, hee returned himselfe full of glorie, and great vi∣ctorie into Persia, disposing himselfe to reduce his State to that excellent forme of gouernment which now it hath.

First then, after his arriuall in Casbin, hauing heard by his Vizier, and the Relation of Xa-Hammadaga, [ 10] who had not onely spoyled the Subiects in their substances; but also of all Or∣ders, and iust forme of gouernment, which it now hath; and giuen them, by that meanes, more matter of dis-vnion, then vnion; insomuch, that they were full of Theeues, of Vaga∣bonds, of Factions, and such like Insolencies: hee iudged it fit, to reduce it to the more peaceable and obedient, to giue it in those cases, a good condition of gouernment: Where∣vpon, hee presently dispatched that Xa-Hammadaga, a terrible, and resolute person, with full power and authoritie, for the Reformation of those Disorders; who in short time, though with more terrible Examples, reduced all the Prouinces to a vnite Tranquilitie, with mightie reputation.

Whilest hee was busied in that Administration; the King, to shew that it was necessitie, that counselled to giue him that excessiue authoritie, and to preserue it from beeing odious to [ 20] himsefe, appointed in the chiefe Citie of euerie Prouince, a Gouernour elected of those of most valour: to him he ioyned two Iudges of Criminall and Ciuill Causes, a Treasurer, two Secretaries, with an excellent President, and two Aduocates generall, for the causes both particular and generall of the whole Prouince; Besides the particular Aduocate of euery Citie, which should bee resident in that Metropolis. These determined all Causes within themselues of those Prouinces in which they had the Administration; and because they should neither bee burthen some to the Prouinces, nor corrupted in paritializing; the King paid them their stipend, enioyning them vpon paine of life to take no other sort of reward. And because such things, and Causes might fall out, as by reason of the importance of them, or appellations of the par∣ties [ 30] might bee brought before himselfe, because hee would euer know what hee did, and bee continually informed, not onely of the generall State of the Prouinces, but of their particular Administration; he ordayned Posts once euery Weeke from all parts, to bring all sort of Relati∣ons to the Court; for which cause also he willed that one of the two generall Aduocates should euer bee Resident there, who receiuing those Relations presenteth them to the Vizier, and hee to the King. The Uizier, sitteth euery morning in counsell about the generall State of all the Kings Prouinces, accompanied with the Kings Councell, Aduocates Resident, and the Secretaries of State; there are all Matters heard, and the Opinions of the Councell written by the Secretaries of State; then after Dinner, the Councell, or such a part of them as the King will admit, present those Papers, of which the King pricketh those hee will haue proceed; the [ 40] rest are cancelled; which being done: the Councell retyre them againe to the Viziers, and then determine of the particular businesse of the Kings House. The King himselfe euery Wednesday, sitteth in the Councell publikely, accompanied with all those of his Councell, and the foresaid Aduocates: thither come a floud of all sorts of people, rich and poore, and of all Nations with∣out distinction, and speake freely to the King in their owne Cases, and deliuer euery one his owne seuerall Bill, which the King receiueth; pricketh some, and reiecteth other, to bee bet∣ter informed of. The Secretaries of State presently record in the Kings Booke those which hee hath pricked, with all other Acts, then by him enacted; the which Booke is carryed by a Gen∣tleman of the Chamber, into his Chamber, where it euer remayneth: and woe be to his Vizier, if after the King hath pricked, Bill, or Supplication, it be againe brought the second time. [ 50]

When hee goeth abroad to take the Ayre, or to passe the time in any exercise, the poo∣rest creature in the World may giue him his Supplication: which hee receiueth, readeth, and causeth to bee registred; and one request, or complaint, is not ordinarily brought him twice: and though these bee great wayes, wise wayes, and iust wayes, to tye vnto him the hearts of any people; yet the nature of those is so vile in themselues, that they are no more, nor longer good, then they are by a strong and wisely tempered hand made so: The Countrey not beeing inhabited by those nobly disposed Persians, of which there are but a few, * 1.10 and those few are as they euer were: But being mightily wasted by the Inundation of Tamber∣laine, and Ismael afterward making himselfe the head of a Faction, against the Ottomans, and by that reason, forced to re-people his Countrey to giue himselfe strength of men against so potent [ 60] an Aduersary, calling in Tartars, Turcomans, Courdines, and of all scumme of Nations; which though they now liue in a better Countrey, yet haue not changed their bad natures: though as I said, so carefull and true Princely a regard of the King for the establishment of good and iust Orders, for the gouernment of this Countrey, in equitie, generall securitie, and tranquilitie;

had beene of sufficient abilitie to haue bound the hearts of people vnto him: Yet knowing what his were, and to leaue no meanes vnacted which might both assure them more, and himselfe with them; because he knew, that their owne dispositions, which were euill, would neuer rightly iudge of the Cause of many rigorous Examples that had passed: which by that fault in them, had ingendred him hatred amongst them; to purge their mindes from that sicknesse, and gaine them the more confidently, hee determined to shew, that if there were any cruell Act brought forth, it did not grow from himselfe, but from necessitie, wherefore he displaced, by lit∣tle, finding particular occasions daily against some or other, all the whole Tymarri of his Estate; as though from them had growne all such Disorders, as had corrupted the whole gouernment, sending new ones, and a great part of them Gheylaners to their Possessions, with more limited * 1.11 [ 10] authoritie, and more fauourable to the people; the old ones part he cashiered, part he distribu∣ted in Gheylan and Mazandran, which hee had new conquered, so that by that Arte, the peo∣ple beganne to rest exceeding well satisfied, and himselfe the more secured; those which suc∣ceeded them beeing bound to his Fortune; and those which were remooued also, beeing disposed in the new conquered Prouinces, which they were bound to maintayne in secu∣ritie, for their owne Fortunes, which depended onely vpon their preseruing them for the King.

When all these things were done, and the King beganne to thinke himselfe throughly esta∣blished, for a long time, both from intrinsicke and extrinsicke dangers. The Turkes forces being so occupyed in the Warres of Hungarie, that hee had no leisure to looke to his increasing the [ 20] Tartars of Corrasan his Friends, by the old Hospitality which he had receiued from their King: and if not his Friends, yet cold Enemies, such as would be long resoluing, before they would attempt any thing to his preiudice. There fell out a new occasion to trouble both the peace of his minde and Countrey, if it had not beene preuented with great dexteritie, celeritie, and for∣tune. For Ferrat Can, not regarding his benefits downe to the King, knowing too well his owne worthinesse, and attributing vnto that, the successes of all the Kings Fortunes, and for so great causes, not being able to limit his mind within any compasse of satisfaction, not resting conten∣ted with the place of Generall, nor gouernment of Gheylan, nor with the honour to be called the Kings Father, but despising that Haldenbeague should be Vizier, and not himselfe all, which had giuen the King all; began to take counsell to innouate, and alter the things with the Bassa of Ser∣uan, [ 30] and Tauris. So dangerous are too great benefits from a Subiect to a Prince, both for themselues and the Prince, when they haue their minds only capable of merit, and nothing of dutie.

These practises of his were most dangerous, for which hee did more assure himselfe, to haue laid a strong foundation for the discontentment of those Timari, which the King had sent into his gouernment, and so had they beene, questionlesse, if Oliuer di-Can, through his true zeale to his Masters seruice; and, perhaps, a little enuy at the others greatnesse, had not made him so watchfully diligent, that hauing gathered his intentions by very momentall circumstances, hee gaue the King from time to time notice of them, which at the first were negligently receiued, and rather taken as matter of emulation, then truth. But when those very same aduertisements euer continued, and Oliuer di-Can, was not at all terrified from sending of them; neither by the [ 40] Kings neglecting them, nor rebuke, and that Mahomet Shefia was also secretly arriued in the Court, with more particular and certaine aduice, that the Bassa of Seruan had sent a great summe of money to Ferrat, which was receiued on a certayne day, and in a certaine place. The King hereupon presently sent Xa-Tamascoolibeague, his chiefe Fauourite, to will Ferrat Can, for very important affaires, for the determining of which his presence was requisite, to repaire to the Court; which he excused, through his indisposition, which he said to be such, that he could not possibly trauell: so that per••sting in that deniall, when Xa-Tamas Coolibeague perceiued that he would not be perswaded, he returned with all expedition to the King; who assuring himselfe the more by the deniall, of the former related accusations, instantly commanded his guard of twelue thousand Courtchies to be in a readinesse; with which, and a thousand of the Xa-Hamma∣gaes [ 50] he vsed such celeritie, that he preuented the newes of his comming, and was sooner arriued at Ferrats house then he had almost opinion that his Messenger had beene returned▪ yet, although amazed with his owne guiltinesse, and the Kings sudden comming, he made shift to make great shew of the indisposition which he had so long counterfeited.

The King, as soone as he came vnto him, said; That he had taken a great iourney to visite him in his sicknesse, and to bring him the Cure thereof; and hauing commanded all out of the Cham∣ber, but themselues onely alone (as the King himselfe told me) he vsed such like speeches vnto him: Father, I doe acknowledge, that first from God, then from you, these Fortunes which now * 1.12 I haue, haue receiued their being. And I know, that as a man, I may both erre in my merit to God, and in my well deseruing of your seruice. But my intention (I can assure you) is most [ 60] perfect in both: the time of my establishment in my estate, hath beene so small, that I could scarce v••e it sufficiently to performe my generall dutie towards my people, ouer whom (by Gods permission) I am appointed: much lesse to prouide for euery particular satisfaction, as I mind and will doe; which you principally, as a Father to me, both in your yeares, and my election

should haue borne withall. But since some ill spirit hath had power to misleade your wisedome so farre, as to make you forget your great vertue; you shall once receiue wholesome counsell from me, as I haue done often from you, &c. Ferrat neither excused nor confessed, but indiffe∣rently answered the King, as sory to haue giuen cause of offence, and infinitely reioycing (as he seemed) that the King had so royally pacified himselfe with him: and not daring to refuse to goe with the King, desiring him to vse some few daies in the visiting of the Country: in which time he hoped that God, and the comfort of his presence, would raise him from his infirmitie. The King hauing staid some eight or ten daies in the Countrey, was sooner hastned thence then he thought, by the newes of the Queenes death, who was deceased by a sudden and violent sick∣nesse after his departure: so that with great speed taking Ferrat with him, and leauing Lieute∣nant [ 10] in the Countrey, for Ferrat, Mahomet Shefia, he returned to Hisphaan, where after some dayes spent in sorrow, (for his great losse) he sent to Alexander, the other Can of the Goorgi∣ans, to demand his Daughter, by that meanes to binde againe that league, which might haue beene dissolued by the death of the other Queen: In that Embassage went Xa-Tamas Coolibeague, who returned with the Lady within few moneths.

In the meane time, the Brother to that King of Corasan, who had so royally and carefully brought vp the King of Persia, when he fled from the wrath of his Father, rebelled against his Brother, slue him, and all his Children, but onely one; whose Tutors fled with him into the Mountaines, and so escaped the present danger, and persecution of that Tyrant. Diuers other also, as they had beene in estimation or fauour with the old King, fearing for that the violence [ 20] of the present authoritie, and others onely discontented with the alteration, and the wicked meanes of it, fled into Persia, by whom the King hauing largely and perfectly vnderstood the state of things, hauing so faire a way both to shew an infinite royall point of gratitude, to that one poore posteritie of the murdered King, for great obligations to the Father; and withall, to assure himselfe in future times and occasions, from that certaine enemy, which had euer hung like a dangerous Cloud ouer his State, vsually breaking into terrible Tempests, as it was, or should be carried against him by the breath of the Turke: though he knew those Tartars so ob∣stinate enemies to his Gouernment and Religion, that if they had the most odious reasons of disvnion amongst themselues, yet that they would combine against him, without reposing him∣selfe vpon any hope to bee holpen by those partialities, which the refuged vnto him seemed to [ 30] promise: but confident onely in the Iustice of the Cause which he intended, in his owne force, vertue, wisedome and fortune; he resolued to gather his Armie, and to goe for those parts, to which he was, besides his owne disposition mightily instigated by Ferrat Can, whose feare and ambition being without meanes of end, gaue him assurance by place of Generall which he held, to haue some faire opportunitie giuen him to end them, with the Kings ruine, and without his owne danger.

Thirtie thousand men the King tooke with him for that warre, twelue thousand Harquebu∣siers which bare long pieces, halfe a foote longer then our Muskets, sleightly made: the Bullet of the height of Caliuer, which they vse well and certainely: and eighteene thousand Horse, which may seeme a small troope in these places, where the warres are carried with innumerable [ 40] multitudes. But the King of Persiaes iudgement agreeth with that of the best experienced Cap∣taines, that multitudes are confusers of Orders, and deuourers of Time, and of those meanes which nou∣rish the Warres; and are good for no other vse, but to make a warre soone breake off, and to consume the world. This Army being chosen out from all his Forces, of elected good men, hee carried into Corasan with wonderfull expedition, and had taken it vtterly vnprouided, if Ferrat Cans ad∣uertisement had not preuented his celeritie, who had not onely giuen notice to them, but to the Bassa of Tauris of the Kings purpose, and his owne resolution, promising them a certaine victo∣rie, and the deliuery of the Kings owne person. A daies iourney the King passed peaceably into the Countrey, without the sight onely of an enemy: himselfe with fiue thousand of the best men, accompanied with diuers of the principallest, was a kind of Vaunt-guard to the rest, [ 50] which followed with Ferrat Can, Zulphir Can, and Oliuer di Can, which marched softly. The King by that meanes was farre aduanced; and being almost assured in himselfe, that through the celeritie of his comming, he should find yet no enemy sufficiently able to resist him, and more confidently by the perswasion of Ferrat Can: some sixe hundred Horse vnder the leading of Vseph-Aga (which were sent to discouer before the Kings troope) fell vpon fiftie thousand of the enemy; vpon which sight he would faine haue retired: but being so farre ingaged that hee could not, and vnable to resist so great a force, with the losse of almost all his company, hee was beaten backe to the Kings Grosse: who by the dust rising a farre off, and the great noyse follow∣ing, imagining what it was indeed, with a great and ready courage prouided himselfe ready to fight, and dispatched Messenger vpon Messenger, to command Ferrat Can to aduance vnto him. [ 60] To the first Ferrat answered, that it was but a troope of some few Rascals, and desired the King * 1.13 to march on, any not trouble himselfe nor his Army, and to diuers the like. At the last, when young Hassan-Can came from the King, and told him the Kings danger, and that certainely the whole Force of the enemy had charged him; hee began to shew feare, and to call a Councell of

the Commanders, then to know what they were best to resolue of for the sauing of the Army, since the King had so rashly lost himselfe. Which when Oliuer di-Can heard, vpbraiding him of Treason, called vpon all those which loued the King to follow him; and putting Spurs to his Horse, being followed by Courtchibassa, and most of the Kings Guard, and many other, with all possible haste speeded to the King, who by this time was forced to sustaine and retire as well as he could, without disorder or shew of feare. But when this Troope of Oliuer di-Can was seene, his men receiued new courage; and the enemy which dependeth more vpon Ferrats trea∣son, then their owne valour, beganne to be exceeding amazed, doubting that it had beene the whole Army, and that Ferrat had exchanged his Treason from his Master to them: Wherefore slacking their first fury, and rather standing at a gaze then fighting, the King commanded Vseph-Aga to charge them throughly afresh, and not to giue them time to take new courage: which he [ 10] did with so good fortune, that lighting vpon the Vsurper of Corazan and his Sonne, he sl••e them * 1.14 both with his owne hands; from which grew the first maine flight of the enemy, and the be∣ginning of the victorie for the King. The chase was desperatly followed, so that in that battell and the chase, were slaine thirtie thousand men, with the Vsurper King and his Sonne; and di∣uers of the principall of the Countrey taken. That night the King pitched his Tents in the place of the battell, and being informed by Oliuer di-Can and the whole Army, which cryed out with open mouth of Ferrats Treason, tempered the outward shew of his indignation with a compassionate feeling of mans errors and frailtie; excused the constraint and necessitie, of the Iustice which he was forced to doe: protesting, that though for his States and owne preseruati∣on, he was at last compelled to giue his Iustice place, aboue the power of his loue and Obligati∣on: [ 20] yet what the Father had rent from himselfe by the violence of his owne misdeeds, his Sonne should find ripened for him, who should be heire of what his Father had well merited by his former seruices, as he hoped he would be of his vertue; praying God, that his Fathers vices onely might dye with himselfe. Which when he had said, he gaue Oliuer di-Can the General∣ship of his Army, and appointed him to doe execution vpon Ferrat, who being resolued of that iudgement which his double offence had brought vpon him, attended ready in his Tent with∣out feare to dye, or desire to liue, and there receiued that punishment, which was vnworthy of his excellent parts, if he had made that true vse of them which he should.

Zulpher Can his Brother fled to the Port of the Kings Tent, and there prostrated himselfe on the ground, and obtained pardon. Next day, the King marched farther into the Countrey, [ 30] and so daily aduanced on without obstacle, the Keyes of all their Townes meeting him by the way; and at the last, an Embassage from the whole State, with a generall submission: which when he had receiued, hauing spent some time in the setling of such a Gouernment as was secu∣rest for himselfe, and hauing receiued the young Prince, Sonne to the first King, and diuers others of the principall of the Countrey hauing left order with Xa-Endibeague, whom hee left there with the best part of his Army, which he increased afterwards to thirtie thousand men, to ex∣tirpate all those which were likeliest, either through their Obligation to the Vsurper, or through their owne particular interest, to make innouation, hee returned with that young Prince, and those Prisoners into Persia. [ 40]

Notes

• * 1.1

  Abas his flight to the King of Corasan.
• * 1.2

  The King mur∣thered.
• * 1.3

  The Persian Greatnesse.
• * 1.4

  Sistane.
• * 1.5

  Ferrat Can.
• * 1.6

  Slie stratagem.
• * 1.7

  Gheylan and Mazamdran.
• * 1.8

  Populous and feitile.
• * 1.9

  The meanes by which King Abas setled the quiet of Persia.
• * 1.10

  The people.
• * 1.11

  Colonies,
• * 1.12

  The Kings gracious speech to Fer∣rat.
• * 1.13

  Ferrats treason.
• * 1.14

  The Vsurper slaine.