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 PREACHERS TRAVELS . 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 , Chaldaea , and ARABIA . Containing a full suruew of the Knigdom 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 in the Turkish ALCORAN .

Penned by I. C. sometimes student in Magdalen Colledge in OXFORD .

LONDON Printed for Thomas Thorppe , and are to bee sold by Walter Burre . 1611.

TO THE VERTVOVS AND Worthy Knight , Sir THOMAS HVNT , one of his Maiesties Iustices of the Peace and Quorum in the Countie of Surrey , I. C. wisheth all terrestriall and celestiall happinesse .

SIR , when I consider that it is the common manner of all , that write any Bookes in this age , to Dedicate the same to one or other of great place , I bethought me to whome I might offer these my trauels : and at last resolued with my selfe , none to be more fit , then your Worship ; both in regarde of your zeale to Religion , because you doe giue to diuers Congregations in this land , Milke without siluer , and bread without money , which not many other Patrones doe ; as also for your loue vnto Schollers , who though in this vnthankfull age of ours , men wonder at vs , V● pueri Iunonis auem ; and wee wonder againe at them , because they doe so litle for vs , yet my selfe , and many others now of some place in the Church neuer departed discontented from you . Many other respects as well publike as priuate , doe naturally beare this small discourse to the very point and center of your Worships onely Patronage .

Concerning the matter of this discourse , you shall finde in the Preface : and concerning the maner , there is no great matter of learning or ingenious inuention , onely a simple relation of a simple truth ; yet somewhat there is , which may happily concerne the learned , and giue some satisfaction to an indifferent Reader , when hee vnderstands , how two of the most mightie and most warlike Princes among the Barbarians , the great Turke and the Persian , are now in armes one against the other ; stirred vp thereunto by two of our Country-men , Sir Anthonie Sherley , and Master Robert Sherley his brother .

A warre not onely like to be long and bloudie , but also very commodious and of great oportunitie to the Christian Commonweale : for that it doth g●aunt and giue leasure to diuers parts of Christendome to refresh themselues , and to increase their forces , much weakned , both by the Great Turkes warres ; and most of all by their ciuill dissentions at home . For Cortug-ogli the Turkish Pirate , in his perswasiue Oration to his great Mast. Solyman , The Magnificent , to besiege Rhodes , could say vnto him , And now dread Soueraigne , if it please you to vouchsafe but to looke into the matter , you shall see that there is a diuine occasion by the procurement of our great Prophet Mahomet , presented vnto your most sacred Maiestie , for that the Christians of the West are at discorde and mortall warre among themselues . And to say the truth , the discords and dissentions of Christian Princes haue laide more Countreyes to the enrichment of the Great Turke , then euer his bowe or Shield could haue purchased . In the dayes of Mahomet the second , these polluted Sarazens had gleaned out of Christendome like scattered eares of corne neglected by the owners , Two hundred Cities , twelue Kingdomes , and two Empires , and still as a canker running on , before the Persian tooke the field against them , they euery yeere did fret and eate into Christendome .

Finally , I might haue added many worthy collections , as well out of sacred as prophane writers , that haue written of the most stately and magnificent Empire of the Medes and Persians in times past , and so haue compared it , with the moderne and present estate thereof ; which hath scarce a shadow of the antique Gouernment , wherewith it was then ruled and gouerned . But the matter would haue proued too long , & made this volume too great : and therefore for those aduertisements , I purpose to put them forth , when God shal make me strong and able . In the meane time , whatsoeuer is here penned , I leaue it with your Worship , beseeching you to giue it entertainment . And so I do most humbly take my leaue , commending both your selfe , your vertuous Lady , and your whole family to the best mercies of the Lord Iesus .

From mine House in Southwarke , this 18. of October . Anno Dom. 1611. Your Worships to command in the Lord , IOHN CARTWRIGHT .

Gentle Reader ,

IT was my purpose to haue added to this Iournall , some obseruations touching our Northwest Passage ; with many reasons to haue proued the great probabilitie thereof . But I am perswaded by some friends to make stay thereof , vntill the truth of the newes : That it is alreadie discouered , be throughly examined . In the meane time moderate thy opinion of our former proceedings . And though some maleuolent tongues haue especially shot out their venemous poyson against me , vpon what ground they cannot iustly say , when they haue beene pressed thereto , y●t God is my witnesse that my Conscience is cleare , either from wronging the Companie that then was ; or any wayes from hindring the full proceeding of that Voyage , which I purpose shortly to make good vnto the world . And for this small discourse , if it passe currant in thy iudgement , I shall thinke my sel●e to haue gained enough , in lieu of all the Trauels , of all the dangers , & perils , that I haue sustained in those places .

THE PREACHERS TRAVELS . Wherein is set downe a generall description of the most principall Kingdomes , that haue beene , and are at this day in ASIA the great , viz. Syria , Mesopotamia , Armenia the great , Media , Hircania , Parthia , Persia , Susiana , Chaldaea , Assiria , and Arabia . TOGETHER WITH THE MOST memorable occurrences and expeditions , which the Princes of those parts haue had each against the other .

THE PREFACE .

POMPEY the Great being put to flight in the battell at Pharsalia , by Iulius Caesar , was desirou● to know of Cratippus the Philosopher , what should be the euent of the warres betweene Caesar and himselfe , demanding of him , an sit Prouidentia ? whether the purpose & decree of God were vnchangeable without alteration ? To whom Cratippus answered , not as a Philosopher , but as a true Diuine , saying , Fatales esse Imperiorum periodos , the prouidence of God is most sure and certaine ; which Pompey found most true , in a small time after , when Caesar was created the first Emperour of the Roman Monarchy ; and which also shall be verified ( God willing ) in the discourse of this Iournall : wherein is principally shewed , how all humane affaires , and the greatest Cities of renowme haue had their Periods in their greatest perfections ; to which though they haue ascended gradatim , yet they haue forthwith fallen into a retrograde of declination , till they haue beene brought to the lowest degree which misery can allot : So true is that of Seneca . Nulla sors longa , dolor & voluptas Inuicem cedunt : breuior voluptas , Ima permut at breuis hora summis : Nemo confidat nimium secundis . Nemo desperet meliora lapsis . No chance is long , for griefe and eke delight , By course giue place , pleasure hath shorter flight , An houre but shor● , that presently doth end , Doth make the lowest things aloft asc●nd : Let none too much trust in a prosperous state . Let none despaire , but hope for better f●te . For in this small discourse wee shall see how vnauoidable destruction doth alwaies attend on the succession of greatnesse , and aduancement on the posterity of misery : as also the sacking of many Cities , the depopulating of the greatest Countries , the deposing of Princes , and high descended families of their liues , together with their Crownes and Kingdomes , and that in so short a time , as neuer the like was executed in the antique world . Two reasons haue moued me to set downe this Iournall : ●he causes 〈◊〉 moued 〈◊〉 Authour 〈◊〉 write this ●●urnall . The one for that I haue not yet seene any that hath made a full description of these parts , as they are at this day , which I hope shall be performed by my selfe , who spent much time in those Countries , being familiarly conuersant ( to helpe my knowledge herein ) with many Sultanes , and principall Commanders in the Kingdome of Persia , as also diuers Ianizaries , who serued in the warres betweene the great Turke and the Persian . The other is for that I doe verily perswade my selfe , that this discourse will breede much delight vnto any indifferent Reader , when hee shall vnderstand how mighty the forces are of the Persian King , a capitall enemy of the name of Christ , as also in what termes he standeth at this day with the great Turke , what Kingdomes he possesseth , what Prouinces are subiect vnto him , his worship , his religion , his kinde of gouernment , their weapons , their manner of fight , their forme of battell , the reuennues and expences of that Crowne , and in a word whatsoeuer else is necessary to be knowen .

Finally , you haue here described the seueral Nations , Situations , Cities , Riuers , Mountaines , and Prouinces , which I haue seene and passed by . It is not my purpose to write any thing of the Ilands in the Mediterranean-Sea , which we sailed by , and are so much renowmed in old writers , viz. Maiorica , and Minorica , Corsica , Sicilia , Malta , Cephalonia , Zant , Candia , Rhodes , and Cyprus , howsoeuer many excellent things might be spoken of them ; yet seeing they are so well knowen to most of our nation , I omit to write , binding my selfe to a true relation of what mine eyes haue seene in more remote parts of the world , not respecting the iudgement of the vulgars , but contenting my selfe with the conscience of truth , beside which ( I protest ) I purpose to write nothing .

The beginning of the trauell .

ANd first I will beginne at Alexandretta : Alexandretta now called Scanderone , is a roade in the bottom of the Mediterranean-Sea , on the coast of Cilicia , where our Merchants land their goods to be sent to Aleppo : within eight miles of this roade is Tharsus , the chiefe Citty of Cilicia , and the Countrey of St. Paul : the place also where King Salomon sent for great store of gold , and other prouision for the building of the Temple : whither the Prophet Ionas also sledde , when he should haue gone to Nineuie . A little from this Towne did Alexander the Great giue the ouerthrow in person to Darius , in ioyning of their first battell together .

Lying at an Anchor in the aforesaid roade the space of two houres , our Ianizaries with a sufficient guard and horses for our selues , were ready to conduct vs vp to Aleppo , and safe-guard vs as well a● they might , from the dangers and euils , which many times in the way doth befall passengers . In our passage vp , no matter of importance happened : many false rumours of Theeues were diuulged by the Countrey people , to affright vs ; but we by the assistance of God arriued in safety at Aleppo , being some sixe miles before our approch to the Citty , encountred by many of our English Merchants , to giue vs the welcome on the Turkish shore . After mutuall courtesies ended , they accompanied vs into the City vnto the Consull Pallace ; where hauing dismounted our selues , we were well entertained by Mr. Richard Colethrust worthy Consull then to our worthy English nation . At whose charge and expences , I abode two moneths and better : all which time I fell into consideration , not so much of the City , as of the Prouince , in which it standeth , offering hereby vnto my selfe two things worthy obseruation .

The description of SYRIA .

FIrst the greatnesse of the Kingdome of Syria , which confronteth East-ward on Mesopotamia ; South-ward on Arabia ; North-ward on Cylicia , and Asia the lesse ; and West-ward on Tyre and Sydon , and the bottome of the Mediterranean-Sea . The other the diuision of the said Kingdome , which deuideth it selfe into fiue notable Prouinces : viz. Palestina , Foenitia , Celestria , Syria , and Camogena . The last of which fiue is that part which runneth vp to the Riuer Euphrates , and to the confines of Armenia , in which standeth the great and wealthy City of Aleppo . This Kingdome of Syria hath diuers Cities of importance , but my purpose is to speake but of those , which my Iournall leadeth me vnto , and which my eyes haue seene : viz. Tripolis , Hamath , Antioch , and Aleppo .

The description of Tripolis .

TRipolis is a Towne which standeth vnder a part of Mount Lybanus , two English miles distant from a certaine Port , which trendeth in the forme of an halfe Moone , hauing on the one side thereof fiue block-houses , or small Forts , wherein is very good Artillery , and ●ept by an hundred Ianizaries . This City is as great as Bristow , and walled about , the walles being of no great force . The chiefest strength is a Citadell , which standeth on the South side within the walles , and ouer-lookes the whole Towne , and is strongly kept with two hundred Ianizaries , and good Artillery . Through the midst of this City passeth a Riuer , wherewith they water their Gardens and Mulbery trees , in such sort that there grow on them abundance of silke wormes , where with the Inhabitants makes great store of very white silke , which is the chiefest naturall commodity in and about this place . Finally , this roade of Tarapolos or Trapolos , commonly called Tripolis , was more frequented ( before Scanderone was found out ) with all sorts of Christian Merchants , as Venetians , Genouis , Florentines , Marsilians , Sicilians , Raguses , and English men , then any other Port of the great Turks Dominions . Some say that the Scale is againe translated from Scanderone thither , but how true it is , I leaue to the Merchants to report . One inconuenience this Towne is subiect vnto : for right before it toward the Sea is a banke of mouing sand , which gathereth and increaseth with the Westerne winds in such sort , that according to an old prophesie amongst them , this banke is like to swallow vp and ouerwhelme the Towne : for euery yeare it increaseth more and more , and eateth vp many Gardens and Orchards , albeit they vse all pollicy to diminish the same , and to make it firme ground .

The description of Hamath .

THree dayes iourney from this Towne in the mid-way to Aleppo standeth Hamath , a City of great Antiquity , and very famous in the Scripture : for it was deliuered vp into the hands of Dauid by Toi , Numb. 13.22 . 1. Chro. 1.16 . 2. Sam. 8.9 . who was King of the same . It standeth on a very goodly plaine , replenished abundantly with cornemand cotton-wooll ; but is much ruinated , and falleth more and more to decay , and at this day there is scarse one halfe of the wall standing , which hath beene very faire and strong : but because it cost many mens liues to winne it ; the great Turke will not haue it repaired , commanding these wordes to be set ouer the Castle gate , which standeth in the midst of the Towne , in the Arabian tongue : Cursed be the Father and the Sonne , that shall lay their hands to the repairing of this place .

The description of Antioch .

NOt farre from this Towne is the famous City Antioch , which in ancient time was called Epidaphane , or Epiphane , and of the Hebrewes Reblatha , sometime the Seate of the Syrian Kings , and afterwards the Metropoliticall City of Syria , hauing vnder it an hundred and fifty Bishops : famous for many things , but amongst the rest , because it was the seate of the blessed Apostle St. Peter , and because it was the first place , where the professors of Christian religion tooke the name of Christians . This City lyeth vpon the Riuer Orontes , in Scripture called Farfar , about twelue miles from the Sea , and was once strongly fortified both by nature on the one side by high broken Mountaines , and on the other side by Art , being compassed about with a double wall , the vttermost whereof is of hard stone , of an huge bignesse , and the other of bricke with foure hundred and sixty towers on the same , and an impregnable Castle at the East-end thereof , whereunto was ioyning a deepe lake , comming out of the great Riuer , which wa●ereth the South-side of the City .

But in the yeare of Grace 1187. Saladin Sultan of Aegypt , dealt so cunningly with the Patriarke , that by his meanes the Castle ( otherwise almost impregnable ) was for gold betrayed vnto him . By meanes whereof Saladin in a short time , became Lord and Master of that famous City ( which was hardly gained by the whole power of the Christians , after eleuen moneths siege ) and with it fiue and twenty Cities moe , that depended of the fortune thereof , with all the Prouinces belonging thereunto ; and so now at this day the splendor and beauty thereof is altogether Eclipsed by the Turkes , there resting and remaining in the midst of the ruinous walles a small village to be seene .

Close by the walles of this ruinous Towne runneth the Riuer Orontes , The Riuer Orontes . which courseth through the large and spacious plaine of Antioch , being numbred amongst the famous riuers of Syria , whose bankes I haue viewed , euen from his springing head to his maine channell , which is neere to Selencia Pieria , now called Soldin . This riuer amongst the Turkes and Arabians hath quite lost his auncient name : but because it runneth very swiftly in his course , and hath many turnings and windings , ( so that those that swimme in it are oftentimes drowned ) as though the poore riuer had in that respect the nature of a murderer ; therefore the Turkes and the Moores doe now giue it a name , that expresly signifieth a murderer or traytor .

The description of Aleppo .

FRom this miserable towne we spent a dayes iourney and halfe to the rich and wealthy Citie of Aleppo , which in ancient time was called Heliopolis , and was that ancient Haram mentioned so often in Scripture . The Moores doe call it Halip , which in our tongue signifieth milke , for the same Arabians doe say , that it was so called for the abundance of milke , which in the time of the Patriarkes was y●elded by the heards and flockes of cattell , which fed in those champaines . This Citie standeth in the Prouince of Camogena , which runneth vp to Euphrates , and to the confines of Armenia , and is now become the third capitall citie of the Turkish Empire . And well it may be so accounted , since it is the greatest place of traffique for a dry towne in all those parts : for hither resort Iewes , Tartarians , Persians , Armenians , Egyptians , Indians , & many sorts of Christians , all enioying freedome of conscience , and bringing thither all kindes of rich merchandise : the trade and trafficke of which place , because it is so well known to most of our nation , I omit to write of .

The ayre of this Citie is much pleasing and delightfull to a sound and healthfull body , but very piercing and dangerous for such as haue receiued any contagion at Scanderon ; and therefore it is not good for any passenger to lie long at that roade , but to hasten at his first arriuall so soone as he can vp farder into the Countrey . This City lyeth vpon the Riuer Singa , The Riuer Synga . which as some report a Souldier of Grand Caire drew from Euphrates , and hath a channell vnder ground , which produceth many fountaines both publike and priuate , yeelding no small pleasure and contentment to the inhabitants . It containeth in circuit foure hils , vpon one of which is raised a goodly Castle , hauing a deepe ditch intrenched round about , and a bridge ascending step by step , with foure gates , before you can passe into the Castle it selfe , being guarded with a strong and sure garrison of foure or fiue hundred Ianizaries , both to curbe the rebellion of the City , and to keep it from forraigne inuasion . The walles of this City are about three English miles in compasse , and the suburbs almost as much more : and round about for foure miles space are goodly Gardens , Orchards , and Vineyards , which beare abundance of delicate fruits , and of the best Wines , which are notwithstanding very deare , by reason of the quantity thereof , that there is sold and eaten . The number of people which resort to this City may easily be comprehended , sith betweene the City and the suburbs in the yeare of Grace 1555. there dyed of the plague more then an hundred and twenty thousand persons in three Moneths . No building of importance is here to be seen , Cain●s are storehouses for forraigne Merchants . saue the Temples or Moschees , and Caines , all fabricated of hard quarry stone , arched and vaulted with Cesternes full of water in the middest of the Courts . In a word this City is one of the most famous Marts of the East : the customes that are paied by our English nation , the French , the Venetians , the huge Carauans , which come from Balsara , Persia , Mecha , are exceeding great , and therefore may well obtayne the third place of the Turkish Empire .

Neuerthelesse it hath indured diuers changes and sundry alterations , being in the yeare 1177. betrayed and taken from the Christians by Saladin Sultan of Damascus ; but afterwards in the yeare 1260. it was againe recouered by Haalon the Tartar , who hauing receiued the Christian faith was sent of purpose by Mango the great Cham of Tartary a Christian also , with a puissant army and a world of people to releeue the distressed Christians in Syria ; and so Haalon with Hayton king of Armenia , scouring through the Countries of Persia , Asiria , and Mesopotamia , in the end entred into Syria , and in a few dayes tooke Aleppo , sacking and razing it downe to the ground . But it continued not so long ; for afterwards being repaired by the Christians , it was againe taken by the Sultans of Aegypt , who possessed it many yeares , but in the yeare 1516. when Campson Ganrus raigned in Aegypt , it was peaceably deliuered vp by Cayerbeius the Traitor , into the hands of Selymus the first , who fauourably tooke the Citizens into his protection ; and the more to winne their hearts , graunted vnto them greater priuiledges then they had in former time inioyed . And so euer since hath continued vnder the Turkish Gouernment , hauing vnder the regiment thereof , fiue and twenty thousand Timarriots , that is to say , Pensioners , which are all horsemen , so called of Timaro , that is a stipend , which they haue of the Grand Signeor , viz. the possession of certaine Villages and Townes , which they hold during their life , and for which they stand bound . For euery threescore Duckates of yearlie reuennew , to maintaine one horseman either with bow and arrowes , or else with Target and Lance , and that as well in time of peace , as in time of warre .

Hauing rested in Aleppo two Moneths and better , Mr. Iohn Mildenab and my selfe tooke our leaue of the Consull and Merchants , with a full intent and purpose to trauell vnto the great City Lahor , in the great Mogors Countrey in the East Indies : lodging all that night on a thinne Turkish Carpet in woods-caine , where the * * A Carauan is a great many of Camels laden , not much vnlike our carriers here in England . Carauan was assembled , to the end that we might bee with the foremost : for delay in such trauell doth produce great and ineuitable danger . From Aleppo we spent three daies iourney vnto the bankes of Euphrates , passing by many villages not worth the naming , and fertile plaines , abounding with all sort of prouision necessary for mans life . One of those Villages is a Village of note vnto this day , called by the Countrey people Tedith , Tedith a Village of note , for the Great Synode holden there by the chiefest Iewes , for the reformation of the old Testament . where the Iewes keepe a monument in remembrance of the great Synagogue holden there in the yeare from the Creation 3498. For after the twelue Tribes were by Salmanazar King of the Assirians led captiue into a Country neuer inhabited by any before , a yeare and halfe iourney ; so as men in this age trouble their wits to know where they remaine , in the East or West Indies , in Tartaria or Moscouia , and new inhabitants in their place ; I say , it so fell out that after the captiuity of Babylon , an hundred and twenty men of the chiefest of the Iewes held a Synode at the aforesaid Village , of which Esdras was the Scribe , at which Synode ( as the Rabbins affirme ) were present , Nehemias , Mardocheus , Zorababel , Ioshua the high Priest , Daniel , Ananias , Azarias , Misael , Haggeus , Zacharias , and Malachiah , and placed the bookes of the old Testament in the same order as now they are , and changed the hebrew characters ( the figure T excepted ) into the Assirian characters , which is the square forme vsed at this day : and changed the Hebrew tongue into the Armenian tongue , but that was altered afterward , and the right Hebrew tongue restored .

Neare vnto this Towne is the Valley of Salt , The Valley of Salt . 2. Sam. 8.13 . memorable for that great ouerthrow which Dauid gaue the Aramits , when he slew of them in one battell eighteene thousand men . Here also Campson Gaurus the great Sultan of Aegypt fought that deadly and mortall battell with Selymus the first , the great Turke ; where hee lost his life being troden , without regard , to death , both by his owne Souldiers and pursuing enemies , after he had with great Maiesty gouerned the Kingdome of Aegypt , Iudea , and Syria many yeares ; and together with the losse of his life and ouerthrow of his army , he lost the great and populous Kingdome of Aegypt , which he and his predecessours had gotten and kept by martiall prowesse aboue the space of three hundred yeares .

Being arriued on the bankes of Euphrates , we found it as broade as the Thames at Lambith ; but in some places it is narrower , in some broader , running with a very swift streame and current , almost as fast as the Riuer of Trent . At this place doth this Riuer beginne to take his name , being here all gathered into one channell , whereas before it commeth downe from the lake Chieldor-Giol in Armenia , in manifold armes and branches , and therefore is called by the Countrey people , by a name which signifieth a thousand heads . Here it is that Merchants vse to passe downe by Barke vnto Babylon , thereby to auoide and shunne the great charge and wearisomnesse of trauell through the desart of Arabia . Which passage they make sometimes in fifteene dayes , sometimes in twenty dayes , and sometimes in thirty dayes , answerable to the rising and falling of the Riuer : and the best time to passe thither is either in Aprill or October , when the Riuer doth swell with abundance of r●ine . The Boates are flat bottomed , because the Riuer is shallow in many places ; so that when they trauell in the Moneths of Iuly , August , and September , they finde the Riuer at so low an ebbe , that they are faine to carry with them a spare Boate or two , to lighten their owne , if they should chance to fall on the shoales . Euery night after Sunne-set , they fasten these Boats to a stake , the Merchants lying aboord , and the Marriners vpon the shore , as neare as they can vnto the same . In this passage downe the Riuer , you shall meete with diuers troupes of Arabians , who will barter their prouision of dyet ( for they care not for money ) as Hennes , Kids , Lambe , Butter , and sowre milke , for Glasses , Combes , Corall , Amber , Kniues , Bread and Pomegranates , Pilles , wherewith they vse to tanne their Goates skinnes , in which they Churne withall . All of them , as well Women , Children , and Men are very good swimmers , who oftentimes will swimme to the Barke side with vessels full of milke vpon their heads . These people are very theeuish , and therefore in your passage downe good watch must be kept .

But to returne where we left , wee were constrained by the deepnesse of the riuer to ferry ouer our whole Carauan , which consisted of a thousand persons , besides Camels , Horses , Mules , and Asses , by reason of which multitude we spent a whole day in transporting ouer the said Carauan . The gaines of which transportation yeelded the ferriman a Shaughoe , which is fiue pence English vpon a beast . It was the manner of the Aegyptian Sultanes , not to account themselues worthy of the name of Sultanes , or great Generall , before they had incamped their army vpon this side of the Riuer and in this place , and there with solemne pompe had in the sight of the army , forced their horses into the Riuer to drinke ; giuing to vnderstand by that ceremony , the greatnesse of their Empire , and that they were ready by force of armes to proue , that all those Countries were theirs , which lay along the Riuer from the Mountaine Taurus , vnto the desart of Arabia .

The description of MESOPOTAMIA .

BEing ouer the aforesaid Riuer , we arriued at Bi r and entred into the famous Prouince of Mesopotamia ; which North-wards bounds on a part of Armenia the Great , where the Altar of Hercules stood : South-ward on the desart of Arabia ; Eastward on Assiria ; and Westward on Armenia the lesse . The Hebrewes were wont to call this Kingdome Aram Nearot , Syria amongst the Riuers , as the Iewes doe at this day . The Greeks call it Mesopotamia , because it lyeth betweene two great Riuers , which watered Paradise , Euphrates and Tygris . The Turkes doe call it Diarbech . This Prouince of it selfe is most fruitfull , but by the Turkish warres much ruinated and wasted : neuerthelesse there are some Cities of great importance .

The description of Bir.

BI r called by Ptolomey , Barsina , is an ancient City , but very ruinous . It is very famous for the situation , being built on the side of an high craggy mountaine , hauing the Riuer Euphrates running close vnder the walles therof , and a most delightfull valley , yeelding abundance of graine and other necessary prouision . But because this towne is not much esteemed by the Turks , but left open to the fury of euery enemy , I will be sparing to speake thereof , and so passe to the rest .

The description of Orpha .

ABout two daies iourney from this vnrespected towne , we came to Orpha , a City of great account and estimation , which many suppose to haue beene the famous City Edessa , which Seleucus ( the next King after Alexander the Great ) built . For hauing conquered Asia and Syria , Functius reporteth that he beganne to build townes and Cities , as Antioch , Laodicea , Seleucia , Apamia , B●rouea , Pellum , and Edessa ; and they are not deceiued , because that as yet there remaineth certaine monuments of Baldewine in Latin letters , who after his brother Godfrey was possessed of Ierusalem , is reported to haue taken Edessa , and there raigned . The aire of this City is very healthfull , the Countrey fruitfull , only wood excepted , and therefore in steede thereof , they burne the dung of Camels and other beasts , dryed in the Sunne . This City is built foure-square ; the West part standing on the side of a rocky mountayne , and the East part trendeth into a spacious valley , replenished with vineyards , orchards , and gardens : the walles are very strong , furnished with great store of artillery , and containe in circuit three English miles : and for the gallantnes of the site , it was once reckoned the Metropoliticall seate of Mesopotamia , howsoeuer it is now translated to Caramida or Caraemit . There is in this City a fountaine full of fishes , so vsed to hand , that they will receiue any sustenance that shall be offered vnto them : both Iewes , Armenians , and Turkes reported vnto vs , that this fountaine was Iacobs-well , Gen. 29.13.27 . and that here hee serued his Vncle Laban twise seauen yeares , for faire and beautifull Rachel .

The gates of this City were much battered , The Scriuano at the walles of Orpha . 1603. a little before our comming by Eliazgee the Scriuano , and the rebels his followers ; The successe whereof , so much tormented the haughty minde of Mahomet the Turkish Emperor , Mahomet much troubled with the Scriuano . as that it would scarce suffer him to thinke of any thing else . For the rebell growing stronger and stronger ( by reason of the great numbers which he allured with the sw●ete name of liberty , hope of prey , or the good entertainement by him giuen , daylie more and more resorted vnto his camp ) had ouer-runne a great part of the Turkes Dominion in Asia the lesse , and in these parts , putting all to fire and sword , that stoode in his way , ransacking also diuers walled and fenced Cities by the way as he went : this City bearing a share in that misery : for being entred into the City , hee drew the citizens to a composition of fifty thousand Chekens , and so departed . A rebellion not only dangerous to the great Turke , but also very commodious and of great oportunity to the Christian commonweale , and to the Persian himselfe , if at that time they had taken vp armes together .

Memorable also is this City , then called Carras , for the great battell which was fought before it betweene the Romans and the Parthians , when Marcus Crassus was Generall on the one side , Crassus and Surena ioyned battell together be●ore the walles of Orpha . and Surena on the other side , who ioyning both their armies together , there was fought a most mortall and deadly battell . For there might a man haue seene a miserable and lamentable sight of the ouerthrowne Romans , which were so tortured and tormented with the Parthians arrow●s , that some shewed vnto their Captains their hands fast nailed to their Targets , some their feete shot through and nailed to the ground , some their bodies stuc●e full of forked arrowes , and some wounded with speares and pikes , in such cruell manner , that the m●st part of t●● G●ntlemen of Rome slue t●●mselues : for Publius Crassus himselfe commanded one of his Gentlemen to kill him , whose h●ad after was cut off by the enemy , and s●nt to his Father for a present , the Fathers fortune being no better then his Sonnes , for his head was cut off as his Sons was , and twenty thousand Romans of great account slaine ; besides a great number carried captiues into Parthia . Plutarch affirmeth , that the Parthians so triumphed of this victory in their feasts and plaies ; that they made rimes and iests of both Crassus heads .

At this City hauing paid our custome , which is a Dollor on a summe of goods , our Carauan was licenced to depart : and at our ordinary houre which was three of the clocke in the afternoone , we set forward towards the auncient City Amida , now called Caramida , or Caraemit , fiue dayes iourney from Orpha , trauailing sometimes ouer rough and craggy mountaines , and sometimes through most delightfull plaines and vallyes : amongst which there is one of note , enuironed about with a pale of mountaines , in such wise that there is but one entry and passage .

The pollicy of Aladeules to ●inne vnto ●imself despe●ate Villaines to execute his mischieuous practises . In the midst whereof wee beheld the ruines of a great Fortresse , built ( as the Countrey people report ) by Aladeules a mountaine King , who much annoyed Selymus the first and his army , in his expedition against Ismael the Persian King . This plaine is very pleasant to the eye , by reason of the faire meadowes and brookes , wherewith the same doth plentifully abound . In this place did Aladeules build diuers houses of pleasures , causing the same to be inhabited with the fairest young men and women that could be found ; so that , when he had surprised any young man , he brought him to this Fortresse , and gaue vnto him a drinke , which should cause him to sleepe so soundly , that he should so remaine a long space , as though he had beene dead . Then would he cause him to be carried into this valley amongst his beautifull women , and to bee cloathed in rich apparell , so that awaking out of his trance hee should finde himselfe another man , and as though hee came into a new world . Forthwith he was entertained with all kinds of pleasures , which youth and lust could desire , and this continued so long as one whole day lasted . But at night after a certaine banket , the drinke as before againe was giuen him to make him sleepe , his sumptuous attire pulled off , and his former garments put on , and so carried againe into the Fortresse from whence he came , a place farre vnlike to that which he had beene in the day before .

Hereupon the mountaine King would inferre , that the place where he had beene in , was Paradise , and that it lay in his power to send him thither when he would ; if therefore he had a desire to continue in such happinesse for euer , it was graunted vnto him vpon this condition , that hee should take courage to aduenture his life in such seruice , as hee should command him . To which those desperate villaines most willingly consented , as not esteeming any aduenture dangerous , yea though it were with the losse of their owne liues , so they might attaine that vaine Paradise , which Aladeules had promised vnto them . Selim the great Turke had like to haue lost his life , together with other Princes , too long to recite , by these desperate ruffians : But Selim in his returne from Persia , both destroyed their King , and ruinated their Fortresse , with all the houses of pleasure built in the aforesaid valley .

The description of Cara-emit .

AT the end of fiue dayes trauell from Orpha , wee arriued at an ancient City , termed by Iouius and others Amida , but now Caraemit , which is to say , the blacke City , either for the stone wherewith it is built , being like vnto jet in colour , or for the fertility of the soile round about it , which is of a dusky colour . This City is seated vpon a maruailous high Rock , and containeth in circuit very neere sixe miles ; and though it bee sufficiently fortified by nature , yet is it inuironed with a double wall : the outmost is somewhat decayed , but the inmost is well repaired , being fenced with great store of artillery . It is gouerned by a Bassa , who commandeth ouer twelue Sanzacks , and thirty thousand Tymariots : and is now become the Metropoliticall City of Mesopotamia . There were mustered from this City , when Amurat the third inuaded Persia , in the yeare 1578. twelue thousand Souldiers , the Captaine being well checked by Generall Mustapha for bringing so few . The Souldiers of this City for the most part are archers , not of any courage , but very effeminate , and accustomed to the vse of the Scimatarre .

During our abode at this place ( which was fourteene dayes ) wee lodged in a very faire Caine built of free stone ; for which lodging we paid to the Master of the Caine fiue Shaughes a peece : all which time nothing fell out worthy obseruation , A most cruell execution . but the cruell execution of a petty malefactor , who hauing but pilfered away certaine small wares , was mounted on a Camell , with his armes spread abroade , hauing two sockets-holes bored in his shoulder blades , into which were set two flaring torches , dropping continually on his skinne to his greater torment , and in the end hauing carried him in this pittifull manner through the principall streets of the City , they brought him to the place of execution , and there ganched him on a great yron hooke , suffering him so to hang till he dyed .

Passing through the South-gate of this City , we paid to the Porter of the gate a Shaughee vpon a beast , descending from the City into a most fertile and fruitfull plaine , where are many Gardens and Orchards , and places of great refreshment .

Through this plaine runneth the great Riuer Euphrates , Euphrates . with a very swift current ; and is as broade here sometimes of the yeare as the Thames at London Bridge , but now was much dryed vp , by reason of the heate in Sommer , making thereby many Ilands and demi-Ilands , where the Citizens of Caraemit during the Sommer season doe vse to pitch their Tents , to enioy the freshment of the aire and riuer : but in the Winter it swelleth so abundantly ouer the said Ilands and bankes , that neither man nor beast is able to passe ouer : to auoide which inconuenience , there is a mile distant from the city a stone bridge of twenty arches , made ouer the said Riuer . This euening wee pitched two miles from the City , and staied all that night of purpose for some Merchants that were behinde . Here wee exchanged our Camels , and in stead of them tooke Mules , a creature farre more fit to trauaile ouer craggy Rocks and Mountaines then Camels : for now we were within a few daies iourney , to passe ouer the high Mountaines of Armenia , called in Scripture the Mountaines of Arraret : which trauell with Camels is not only laborious , but very dangerous , if the ground should proue moist or slabby ; for then being laden with great burdens , they cannot goe onwards , neither are they able to passe with their huge burdens , through the streight passages which are in those Mountaines .

Two daies iourney from Caraemit , One of the heads out of which Tygris floweth . we rested at the foot of a great rocky Mountaine , being one of the heads out of which Tygris floweth , and runneth downe with a swift current to Balsara , and so dischargeth it selfe in the Persian gulfe . Strangely doth it issue out of three rocks admirably hanging , that a man as he passeth vnder them , would imagine them to bee ready to fall on his head . And for the strangen●sse of the site , the Turkes haue builded three Bridges in the midst of those rocks , to passe from one vnto another , thereby to b●hold natures wisedome in fram●ng them so wonderful . We went to view the same , but through the huge ouer fals , which came farre off within those Mountaines , and the steepnesse of the same , together with the hideous noise , and whistling murmuring , we found not so great contentment aboue , as we did beneath .

The next day we spent ouer many high Mountaines , on the toppe wherof grew great quantity of Gall-trees , Gall trees . which are somewhat like our Oakes , but lesser and more crooked : on the best tree in this place a man shal not gather a pound of g●ll●s : at eu●ning wee pitched againe on the bankes of Euphrates ; Euphrates . and in the morning passed the said Riuer , but not by barge as before , which was likely to haue bred no small annoyance to our whole Carauan ; for through the swiftnesse of the streame and deepnesse of the channell , many beasts with their ladings had been carried away and drowned , if there had not beene in ti●e a shallow Foorde discouered , which had in such sort raised the depth of the channell , making as it were a shelfe for our commodious pas●●ge : by helpe whereof there was not so much as one man or beast that perished .

The description of the Curd●●s a most theeuish people .

WE were no sooner ouer , but forthwith wee were incountred with a c●rtaine troupe of people called the Cur●ies , which some thinke to be a remnant of the ancient Parthians , who so much annoied the Romans with their bowes and arrowes , as before is declared . This rude people are of a goodly stature , and well proportioned , and doe neuer goe abroade without their armes , as bowes and arrowes , Scimatarre and buckler , yea and at such time , when a man for age is ready to goe downe to his graue . They doe adore and worship the Diuell , The Curdies worshippers of the Diuell . to the end he may not hurt them or their cattell , and very cruell are they to all sorts of Christians ; in which regard , the Country which they inhabite , is at this day termed Terra Diaboli , the land of the Diuell . They participate much of the nature of the Arabians , and are as infamous in their Ladrocinies and robberies as the Arabians themselues . They liue vnder the commandement of the great Turke , but with much freedome and liberty ; For Selymus the second hauing a great multitude of them in his army against the Persians , they did him little seruice , performing no more then what well pleased themselues . This theeuish company did sundry times arrest our Carauan , affirming that their Prince had sent for a Dollor on a summe of goods , without the payment whereof ( being fiue seuerall times demanded ) wee should not passe through their Countrey .

One Village of note is there in this Country , Manuscu●e . wholly inhabited by the Curdies , being fiue dayes iourney from Caraemit , and three dayes iourney from Bitclish , called by the Countrey people Manuscute . This Towne is seated in a most fertile and fruitfull valley betweene two mountaines , abounding with pasture and cattell : and about a mile from it , is an Hospitall dedicated to St. Iohn the Baptist , which is much visited as well by Turkes as Christians , who superstitiously affirme , that whosoeuer will bestow either a Sheepe , Kidde , or some peece of money to releeue the poore of that place , shall not only prosper in his iourney , but obtaine forgiuen●sse of all his sinnes . To the Gouernour of this Village we paied for our custome a Shaughee on a summe of goods , and so were dismissed . The next day following wee passed ouer many craggy and steepe mountaines , and at the last rested our selues and wearied beasts on the banke of Euphrates , Eup●rate●● . being the outmost bounds on this side of Mesopotamia , and so entred the day following on the borders of Armenia the Great , which is by some distinctly deuided into three parts ; the North part whereof being but little , is called Georgia : the middle part Turcomania : and the third part by the proper name of Armenia .

The description of ARMENIA .

The originall of the Armenians . ARmenia was founded by Armenius ( one of the companions of Iason , who wonne the golden Fleece at Colchos : ) for after Iason was dead , Armenius hauing gathered together a great multitude of people , and wandering vp and downe the Countrey , in the end hee founded the Towne of Armenia , neere vnto the mountaines out of which the Riuer Tygris springeth ; constituting many good and wholsome lawes , whereby from time to time , the Countrey of Armenia was gouerned by Kings of their owne Nation , vntill such time as the house of the Ottamans subdued the same .

The Turkes first came out of Scythia , and seated themselues in Armenia . It is now called Turcomania , and was the first seate of the Turkes , after their first comming out of Scythia , who left their naturall seates in that cold and bare Countrey , to seeke themselues others in more pleasant and temperate Countries more Southerly , stirred vp no doubt by the hand● of the Almighty , who being the Authour of all Kingdomes vpon earth , as well of those which hee hath appointed as scourges wherewith to punish the world , as others more blessed . This people thus stirred vp , and by the Caspian ports passing through the Georgian Countrey , then called Iberia , neere vnto the Caspian Sea ; first ceased vpon this part of Armenia , and that with so strong an hand , that it is by their posterity yet holden at this day , and of them called Turcomania ; of all other , the most true progeny of the Turkes . These Turcomanes of a long time vnder their diuers leaders , in the manner of their liuing , most resembling their ancestours , did roame vp and downe with their families and heads of cattell , after the manner of the Scythian Nomades , their Countrey men , without certaine places of aboade ; yet at great vnity amongst themselues , as not hauing much to loose , or wherefore to striue . This people did not only notably defend this Countrey thus by them at the first possessed , but still incroched farther and farther , and gayning by other mens harmes , became at length dreadfull vnto their neighbours , and of some fame also farther off . Whereunto the effeminate cowardise of those delicate people of Asia , with whom they had to doe , gaue no lesse furtherance then their owne valour ; being neuerthelesse an hardy rough people , though not much skilfull , or trained vp in the feates of warre . But to leaue these Turcomanes for a while , wee will returne where we left .

This Countrey of Armenia hath for it vtmost bounds northward , Colchos , Iberia , and Albania ; all which are now called by the Tartars Comania . Colchos was that famous Prouince , so much spoken of by the Poets , for the fable of Medea and Iason , and the golden Fleece : the inhabitants now are called Mengrellians , a Nation most barbarous and sauage , selling their Sonnes and Daughters to the Turkes for litle or nothing . Iberia is now called Georgia , and Albania , Zuiria : Westward it confronts vpon Euphrates and Armenia the lesse : Southward on Mesopotamia , with that which the Curdies inhabit : and Eastward on the Riuer Araxis , which watereth the South part of Armenia , and almost diuideth from Georgia .

A d●scription of the people of Armenia , as they are at this day .

AT our first entrance into this Countrey , we trauelled through a goodly , large , and spacious plaine , compassed about with a row of high mountaines , where were many Villages , wholly inhabited by Armenians ; a people very industrious in all kinde of labour : their women very skilfull and actiue in shooting , and managing any sort of weapon , like the fierce Amazones in antique time ; and the women at this day , which inhabit the mountaine Xatach in Persia. Their families are very great ; for , both Sonnes , Nephewes , and Nieces doe dwell vnder one roofe , hauing all their substance in common : and when the father dyeth , the eldest Sonne doth gouerne the rest , all submitting themselues vnder his regiment . But when the eldest Sonne dyeth , th● gouernment doth not passe to his sonnes , but to the eldest brother . And if it chance to fall out , that all the brethren doe die , then the gouernment doth belong to the eldest Sonne of the eldest brother , and so from one to another . In their dyet and cloathing , they are all fedde and cladde alike , liuing in all peace and tranquility , grounded on true loue and honest simplicity .

The Armenians are a populous nation . To discourse how populous this nation is at this day , is needlesse , since they inhabit both in Armenia the greater , and Armenia the lesse ; as also in Cilicia , Bithinia , Syria , Mesopotamia and Persia. Besides the principall Cities of the Turkish Empire be much appopulated with them , as Brusia , Angori , Trabisonda , Alexandria , Grand-Caire , Constantinople , Cassa , Aleppo , Orpha , Cara-●mit , Van , and Iulpha . Some of this nation affirmed vnto vs , that the chiefest cause of their great liberty in the Ottoman Kingdome is , for that certaine of their Kings bare great affection and loue vnto Mahomet their lewde Prophet , in regard whereof Mahomet did recommend them as his kind friends to his successours , who euer since haue permitted the poore Armenians to liue amongst them . But the true reason is , for that they are very laborious in transporting merchandise from one City to another , by which meanes through the customes which are paid in euery City , the coffers of the Grand Signior are wonderfully inriched . Vnto which doth well agree that scoffing taunt which Abbas now King of Persia did throw vpon an Armenian , who being desirous to forsake his Christian faith , and to embrace the wicked and filthy superstition of the Persians , vppon hope of reward and preferment , the King did not only rebuke his tepedity and coldnesse in his religion , but sent him away with this skornefull reproofe : That an Armenian now was good for nought , saue as a Camel to transport merchandise from one city to another : implying that hows●euer in antique times they had beene warlike and couragious , yet now they were become Buffelloes and Pultrones , altogether vnfit for martiall affaires .

This people haue two Patriarkes , The Armeni●●s gouerned by two Patriarks . to whom they giue the name of Vniuersall : the one keepeth his seate in the City of Sis in Caramania , not farre from Tharsus : the other in the Monastery of Ecmeazin , neere vnto the City Eruan in this Countrey . Vnder these two Patriarkes are eighteene Monasteries full fraight with Friers of their religion ; and foure and twenty B●shopricks . The maintenance allowed in times past vnto each of these two Patriarks was a Maidin on an house ; each Patriarke hauing vnder him twenty thousand housholds : but now that large beneuolence the great Turke hath ceased into his owne hands , as if the tythe of the Church were fitter for his vnsatiable desire ; then for those poore , miserable , and despised Church-men : and therefore now they are constrained to liue on the almes of the people , going continually in visitation from one City to another , carrying their wiues and whole family with them .

The people of this nation haue retained amongst them the Christian * * The religion of ●he Armenians is spotted with many absurdities . faith , as it is thought from the time of ●he Apostles : but at this day it is spotted with many absurdities . They hold with the Church of Rome in the vse of the Crosse , affirming it to be meritorious if they make the same with two fingers , as the Papists vse ; but idle and vaine if with one finger as the Iacobites . They adorne their Churches in euery place with the signe of the Crosse , but for other Images they haue none , being professed enemies against the vse of them . In keeping ancient reliques they are very superstitious , and much deuoted to the ●lessed Virgin Mary , to whom they direct their prayers . They imitate the Dioscorians in eating whit-meats on Saturday , which to doe on Wednesday and Friday were a deadly sin : neuerthelesse they will not refraine from the eating of flesh on euery Friday , betweene the feast of the Passeouer and the Ascention . They abstaine fiue Sabboths in the yeare from eating flesh , in remembrance of that time , in which the Gentiles did sacrifice their children vnto Idols . They celebrate the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary on the sixt of Aprill , the Natiuity of our blessed Sauiour on the sixt of Ianuary , the Purification the fourth of February , and the Transfiguration the fourteenth of August . The ministration of their Liturgie or seruice , is performed in their natiue language , that all may vnderstand : but in their seruice of the Masse for the dead , they are most idolatrous , vsing at the solemnizing thereof , to sacrifice a Lambe , which they first lead round about the Church , and after they haue killed it and rosted it , they spread it on a faire white linnen cloath , the Priest giuing to each of the Congregation a part and portion thereof . For which cause they are called by some Sabbatists , and Iulianists , as too much addicted to the ceremonies of the Iewes , and deuoted to the errours of Iulian. I haue heard some Papists boast and bragge much , that both Armenians , Iacobites , and Greoians , are vnited to the Chu●ch of Rome , but I could neuer heare either Armenian or Grecian●uouch ●uouch any such matter . They are ( vnlesse some few families ) so farre from yeelding obedience vnto the Sea of Rome , that they assume all antiquity vnto themselues , as hauing retained the Christian faith from the time of the Apostles . Many Iesuites and Priests haue been sent from Rome to bring this oppressed nation vnder her gouernment , but they haue little preuailed ; for neither will they yeeld obedience , nor be brought by any perswasion to forsake their ancient and inueterate errours , to become more erroneous with her .

Hauing well refreshed our s●lues amongst these villages , we proceeded in our ordinary trauell , but ere we had passed two miles , certaine troupes of Curdies incountred our Carauan , with a purpose and intent to haue robbed the same , but finding themselues too weake to contend with so great company , they departed vntill the next day following , when againe they met with vs in a very narrow passage betweene two mountaines , where they made a stay of our whole Carauan , exacting a Shaughee on euery person , which to purchase our peace wee willingly paied ; and so arriued that euening at Bithlis an ancient City , but a City of much cruelty and oppression , where little iustice and right is to be found to releeue distressed passengers .

The description of Bithlis .

THis City standeth in a pleasant valley , by which runneth a little Riuer , falling out of the mountaines Anti-Taurus , it was once a Towne in the confines of the Persian Kingdome , bordering vpon Mesopotamia , and had a Castle kept with a garrison of Persian Souldiers , before such time as Solyman the Magnificent did conquer these Countries , The great battell fought betweene two great Bassaes & Delymenthes a valiant Nobleman of Persi●● which was in the yeare 1535. In which yeare there was a memorable battell fought betweene the two great Bassaes of Caire and Syria , conducted by Vlemas the Persian Traitor ; and Delymenthes a right Nobleman of Persia. The two Bassaes and Vlemas were commanded by Solyman ( in his returne from the spoile of Tauris ) to follow him with eighteene thousand good Souldiers in the rereward of his army , to receiue and represse the sudd●n assaul●s of the Persians , if neede should require . But Delymenthes with fiue thousand Persian Souldiers pursued the Turkes , and ouertooke them in the aforesaid valley ; and being furthered in this venterous designement , both by the darkenesse of the night , and the abundance of raine which fell at the same instant , as if it had beene wished for , on a sudden go● within the Turkes campe : where the Persian Souldiers , as Wolues amongst Sheepe , did such speedy execution amongst the sleepy Turkes , that the two great Bassaes and Vlemas had much adoe to get to horse , and saue themselues by flight . And such was the fury of the Persians , and the greatnesse of the sudden feare increased by the darkenesse of the night , that the Turkes not knowing which way to turne themselues , or what to doe , were slaine by thousands , some sleeping , some halfe waking , some making themselues ready to fight , and to flie , few of all that great army escaped the sword of the Persians . There was three great Sanzaecks slaine , one taken , and the other fled , eight hundred Iamzaries seeing themselues for●aken of their Captaine● , laid downe their Harquebusiers , and other weapons , and yeelded themselues vpon Delymenthes his word . It might then well haue beene said of the Turks , which the Poet spea●eth of the night , wherein Troy was ●ack● : Quis cladem illius noctis qui funere fando Explicet ? — The slaughter of that night was such , as that it is of the Turkes vntill this day accounted amongst their greatest losses ; and the victory so welcome to the Persians , that in memoriall thereof they still keepe that day ( which was the thirteenth of October ) as one of their solemne holidayes .

In Bithlis wee staied two dayes ; and at our departure paied vnto the Gouernour of the said City a Doll●r on a summe of goods , and so set forwards towards the great City Van , three dayes iourney farther . In which trauell we had a very wearisome and painefull iourney , ouer high mountaines and craggy rocks , the way being exceeding narrow , that a beast could hardly passe with his burden , without much heauing and tumultuous shouldering . The which narrow passages the Turks told vs , was by the commandement of Amurat the third , the great Turke , cut through by the maine industry of laborers , for his army to passe , like that incredible worke , which Hanibal with vineger wrought vpon the Alpes . In this place our trauell was very dangerous , by reason of a brackish lake or little Sea , called the lake Arctamar , which was vnder the Rocke , ouer which wee passed , and wee inforced to ride shoaling on the side of the said Rocke , that had not our Mules beene sure of footing , both the● and we had perished with an insupportable downefall i●●hat Sea . Two miles from this shore in the aforesaid lake are two Ilands called the Ecmenicke Ilands , The Ecmenick Ilands . inhabited only by Armenians , and some Georgians , which two Ilands doe bring forth and yeeld such store of cattell and plenty of rice , wheate , and batly , that as the Island of Scycilia was called in time● past Horreum . P. Romani , so these Ilands are at this day the gatners and store houses for all the Countrey round abou● .

Being arriued at Van , our Carauan rested in the sub●●bs of the said City , not daring to presume to enter the City , by reason that the Bassae was gone to fetch in a rebell , that was risen vp in those parts ; in whose absence the City , vnder the sub-Bassae , was no better gouerned then it should be . On the West side of this City lyeth a pleasant and delightfull plaine , wherein the Ianizaries twise a weeke doe exercise themselues after their manner in the seats of warre . On the North side runneth the lake Arctamar , The ●ake Actamar call●● in ancient ti●● Martiana . called in antique time the Moore or Marish , Martiana , or Margiana , or Mantiana . Strabo affirmeth that it is matchable in greatnesse with the lake M●otidis , in the Kingdome of Sermatia , so much spoken of by the Poets . Out of this lake is caught yearly an innumerable quantity of fish like our Herring , which being dryed in the Sunne , they disperse and sell them ouer all the Countrey thereabout .

The description of Van.

THis City is double walled with hard quarry stone , and is the strongest Towne in all these parts , being fortified with great store of brasse Ordonance , and a strong Castle mounted on an high Rocke , to command and defend the City . Solyman after ten dayes siege tooke the City Van. It was once vnder the gouernement of the Persian , but Solyman the Magnificent in the yeare 1549. with a puissant army did besiege the same , which after ten daies siege was yeelded vnto him by the Persian Gouernour , vppon condition , that the Persian Souldiers there in garrison , might with life and liberty depart with their weapons , as Souldiers : which was by Solyman granted , and so the City was surrendred vp into his handes from the Persian King , who neuer since could get the same into his possessions . It is gouerned now by a Bassae , who hath vnder him twelue thousand Timariots .

At this City wee stayed fiue daies , paying a Dollor on a summe of goods , and passed from thence to a Turkish Village called Gnusher , the houses standing in two seuerall places , the one row fit for the Winter , and the other for the Sommer season : Here wee beganne the ascent of the high mountaines of Arraret , and about noone-tide we beheld Bruz ; the very crest of the Periardi mountaines , now called Cheilder Monte , the hils of Periardo . These mountains so called , are very famous by the rising of many notable great riuers , which doe so fructiferate the country therabouts , that the barbarous people call it Leprus , which is to say fruitfull , viz. First , the Riuer Araxis , which running out of a certaine Marish , with many armes doth wonderfully inrich that champaine and drie Countrey .

This Riuer springeth out of the hill Taurus in this part , The Riuer Araxis springeth out of the hill Taurus . where Periardo is situate , on the side of the hill Abo , and so runneth by East euen to the confines of Seruan , and windeth it selfe towards the West , and by North , where it is ioyned with the Riuer Cirus , and then passeth to Artaxata now called Nassiuan , a City of the Armenians , right against Reiuan another City , and so watereth Armenia , and coursing along the plaine of Araxis , dischargeth it selfe into the Caspian Sea , on the one side by South leauing Armenia , and on the other side by North leauing the Countrey Seruania ; whose chiefe City is Eris . This Riuer is deep and large ; but yet at this present , it containeth not those maruels , that Herodotus reporteth of it ; as also it is very hard to vnderstand , that which Q. Curtius writeth touching the course thereof ; and that which Natales Comes hath left written of it in his History .

The Riuer Cirus likewise springeth out of Taurus , The Riuer Cirus . and so descending into the champaines and plaines of Georgia , charging it selfe , and being greatly increased with other Riuers , it is ioyned with Araxis , and so maketh his issue also into the Caspian Sea . This Riuer the inhabitants of the Countrey at this day call by the name of Ser , in their owne language , but the Turkes call it Chiur .

Out of these mountaines also springeth the Riuer Canac , The Riuer Canac . which maketh ( as it were almost ) an Iland , a little on this side the City Eres , and afterwards vnite it selfe in the Channell with Araxis , and so runneth into the Caspian Sea .

Two other mountaines are of great note in this place ; The mounta●● Anti-Taurus . the one is Anti-Taurus , now called Mons Niger , the blacke mountaine , which runneth vp into Media ; and the other Gordaeus , the tops of which mountai●es are couered continually with white and hoary snowes . The mountai● Gordaeus . The mountaine Gordaeus is inuironed with many other petty mountaines called the Gordaean mountaines ; on the tops whereof ( as we passed ) we found many ruines and huge foundations , of which no●re son can be rendred , Ioseph . Ant●quitat . lib. 1. cap. 5. but that which Iosephus giues , saying : that they which escaped the flood were so astonished and amazed , that they durst not descend into the plaines and low countries , but kept on the tops of those mountaines and there builded . And some obserue that this Countrey was first peopled after the flood , for being high land it first appeared . Fruitfull propagation a●ter the flood . The Tradition of the Hebrewes is , now in this place after the flood , the men accompanying with their wiues , euery woman brought forth at once a male and a female , and so did their children ; for God and Nature neuer failed to the necessity , which belonged to the wealth and increase of the vniuersall world , no more then in this old age of the world , in the time of the infinite multitude , and increase of people , wherein God doth miraculously keepe them ( as the Sea from ouerflowing the land ) that they doe not so abound as that one cannot liue by another .

The Turkes call the mountaine Gordaeus Augri-daugh , the Armenians Messis-Saur : it is so high , that it ouer-tops all the mountaines thereabout . There issueth out of the foote of this hill a thousand little springs , whereof some doe feede the Riuer Tygris , and some other Riuers , and it hath about it three hundred villages inhabited by Armenians and Georgians ; as also an ancient Monastery dedicated to St. Gregory , very large and spacious , able to receiue Shaugh Tamas the great King of Persia , and most of his army , who for the austere and strict life that he saw in those religious men , made him to spare it , and to change his determination , hauing a full purpose before to haue destroyed it . About this Monastery groweth great plenty of graine , the graine being twise as bigge as ours , as also Roses and Rheubarb , Rheubarb . which because they haue not the skill to dry it , that simple is of no esteeme or value .

The Arke of Noah rested on the toppe of the Gordaean Mountaines .

ON the top of this Mountaine did the Arke of Noah rest , as both Iewes , Turks , and Armenians affirmed . Berosus who registred the affaires and acts of the Chaldaeans , Berosu● . setteth downe diuers things both concerning Noah and the resting of the Arke in this place . Concerning Noah he writeth , that ( the flood ceasing ) Noah with his family descending out of the Arke from Mount Gordaeus ▪ ( called by Manasseus Damascenus , Manasseus Damasce● . Baris , and by other Araxis ) into the plaine adioyning full of dead karcasses , which they call M●ry Adam , that is , of dead men , wrote in a stone ( for a monument ) what was done . The inhabitants to this day , especially the Armenians , doe call this place where Noah descended , Aprobaterion , that is , descent , or Egressorium Noe , The going out of Noah . Hee furder setteth downe how that the eldest of all , father Noah did in the same place first teach his children Theologie and holy Writs , Noah wrote bookes . and afterwards humane wisdome , committing to writing many secrets of naturall things , which the Armenians and Scythians , did commit only to the Priests , to whom only it was lawfull , both to reade , to teach , and to looke into those writings , rites , and ceremonies left by Noah .

And as for the resting of the Arke , he setteth downe diuers occurrences of the flood on this manner . Some ( saith he ) affirme that a certaine part of the Arke is yet in Armenia , neere to the mountaine of the Gordaeans , and that some men haue brought from thence , some part of the pitch wherewith it was calked , which the people of that place were wont to vse as a soueraigne preseruatiue against inchantments . So Hierome the Aegyptian ( who wrote the Antiquities of the Phoenitians ) doe make mention of the same matter ; Hierome the Aegyptian . and also Nanesius with diuers others . Nicholas Damascene . Nicholas Damascene speaketh thus : aboue the region of the Minaeans , there is a great mountaine in Armenia called Baris , in which mountaine it is reported that diuers people retired themselues for safety during the time of the deluge , and there escaped ; and that a certaine man ( meaning Noah ) arriued in an Arke on the highest toppe of the said mountaine , and that certaine plankes and timbers of the bottome of that Vessell was kept there a long while after . To verifie which , some Friers of St. Gregories Monastery told vs , that euen at this day some part of the Arke is yet to bee seene on the toppe of this mountaine , if ●ny could ascend thither ; but the way ( as they say ) is kept by Angels , so that whosoeuer shall presume to goe vp ( as once a Brother of that Monastery did ) shall be brought downe in the night season , from the place which hee had gained by his trauaile in the day time before . But to leaue this fable to the first inuentor , it sufficeth vs that here amongst these mountaines the Arke rested , since the Scriptures tell vs , that none were saued , but Noah and his Wife , with his three Sonnes , and their three Wiues , euen eight persons in the whole , in the Arke ; and that the said Arke after the waters had preuailed vpon the earth an hundred and fifty dayes rested in the seauenth Moneth , in the seauenteenth day of the Moneth vpon the Mountaines of Arraret , which is expounded by all Writers to be in Armenia .

From the foote of this mountaine , w●e spent a dayes iourney farther towards Chiulfall , which day wee trauelled through very many narrow lanes in those mountaines , and very deepe vallies , The Riuer Araxis . wherein the Riuer Araxis with most outragious turnings and windings , and his many rushing downefals amongst the Rocks , doth euen bedease a mans eares , and with his most violent roaming in and out , doth drowne and ouerwhelme , whosoeuer by miserable chance falleth downe head-long from the toppe of those narrow passages , which are vpon the mountaines . And vpon the crests of the said mountaines , on the side of the said narrow passages , there growe most hideous Woods and antique Forrests , full of Beeches : Trees like Poplers carrying mast fit for Hogges , and Pine-trees ; where the horrour of darkenesse , and silence which is oftentimes interrupted , only by the whistling winds , or by the cry of some wild beasts , doe make the poore passengers most terribly afraide .

The description of Chiulfal .

AT length our Carauan ferried ouer the foresaid Riuer , 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 thousand 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 . The Chiulfallines great drinkers of wine , but no quarrellers in drinke . 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 braulers 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 . Chiulfal much indangered in the last warre betweene th● Turke and th● Persian . This Towne was much indangered in the warres betwixt Amurat the great Turke , and Mahomet Codibanda the Persian King , ready to bee swallowed 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 Souldiers , and with this direction , that if the country were subdued 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 constrained , what with presents , and what with lies , notably to preserue their liberties , and their liues in safety .

The mortall battell sought betweene Selymus the first , Emperour of the Turks , and ●ismael the Sofie of Persia. Within 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 Selymus the first . Emperor of the Turkes . In which battell Selymus lost aboue thirty thousand men , amongst whom was Cassan-Bassae his great Lieutenant in Europe , seauen Sanzacks , with the two Malcozzian brethren , who labouring the one to rescue the other , were both together staine . Besides his common foot-men , of whom he made least reckoning , he lost most part of his Illirian , Macedonian , Seruian , E●irot , Thessalonian , and Thracian horse-men , the vndoubted 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 Artillery , Ismael with his thirty thousand horse-men , had ouerthrowne 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 almost lost the vse of sight and hearing ; and ●●eir horses being so terrified with the thundering report of the great Ordonance , that they were not now to be managed , the battell 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 passed againe the Riuer Araxis , leauing the noble Kingdome of Armenia , ●alled now Turcomania , because of the Turcomanes a people that came out of Scythia ( as before wee noted ) who liue as sheepheards in their tents , but the natiue people giue themselues to husbandry , and other manuall 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 Media the Great .

The description of MEDIA ATROPATIA .

The Kingdome of Siruan . MEdiae Atropatia is called by the Hebrewes Madian , but now it is termed S●ruan or Seruania : The bounds of this Kingdome Northwards are the Albanians , and a little beyond them some wandering and vagabond Tartars called Pericorschi , betweene Caucasus and the Riuer Volga , whereupon it may be , that the Tartarians are comprehended vnder the name of Volcenses : Eastward the lake ( as Polycletes terme it ) or rather ( as other call it ) the Sea of Corazan , viz. the Caspian Sea : Southward on Armenia , and more towards the South , Atropatia exceeding fruitfull . and South-cast Media the great : The whole countrey is very fruitfull , and watered with the Riuer Araxi● and Cirus , and other Riuers that are famous euen in antique Writers .

Diuers Cities are there in this Kingdome , but my purpose is to speake only of those , which we saw in these parts . viz. Sumachia , Derbent , Sechi , Eres , and Aras .

Sumachia . Sumachia is the Metropoliticall City of Sir●an ; and lyeth betweene Derbent and Eres ; where the Kings of Siruan vsed to keepe their great and sumptuous Courts , chiefly inhabited by Armenians and Georgians . In this City our English Merchants did traffique much , and had an house giuen them by Obdowlocan in the yeare 1566. ( as reuerend Mr. Hackluit doth relate ) who then raigned there vnder the Persian King . In this City wee saw the ruines of a most cruell and barbarous spectacle , A most barbarous spectacle in Sumachia . that is to say , a turret erected with free stone and flints , in the midst of which flints were placed the heads of all the Nobility and Gentry of that Countrey : which fell out on this occasion . This Countrey of Siruan in time past was of great renowme , hauing many Cities , Townes , and Castles in it ; the Kings thereof being of great power , able to wage warre with the Kings of Persia , but through their diuersity in religion , the Persian made a conquest of them , razing downe to the ground their Cities , Townes , and Castles , that they should not rebell , and also putting to death their Nobility and Gentry , and for the greater terrour of the people placed their heads in the foresaid Turrer .

About a mile distant from this Towne is the ruines of an old Castle , once esteemed to be one of the strongest Castles in the world , and was besieged by Alexander the Great a long time before hee could winne it . And a little further off , was a Nunnery most sumptuously builded , wherein was buried ( as they told vs ) the body of Ameleke Canna the Kings Daughter , who slew her selfe with a knife , for that her Father would haue forced her ( shee professing chastity ) to haue marryed with a Prince of Tartary : vppon which occasion the Virgins of this Countrey doe resort thither once a yeare to lament her death . This City is distant from the Caspian Sea with Camels seauen dayes iourney ; and from Derbent sixe dayes iourney ; It was in the yeare 1578. yeelded vp vnto Mustaffa the Generall of the Turkish army , without resistance , who presently did surprise the City , intreating all the inhabitants in friendly manner , without doing or suffering any outrage to be done vpon them ; but for this their infidelity in voluntary yeelding themselues to follow the religion of the Turkes , when as they were not induced thereunto by any necessity ; Emirhamze eldest Sonne to Mahomet Codibanda King of Persia , The Persian Prince punis●eth the inhabitants of Sumachia with diuers kindes o● tortures and death● . comming with his army into Seruan , did with great cruelty punish the miserable and infortunate commons of this City , making their houses euen with the ground , destroying both the old and new wals thereof , and bringing the whole land to nought , that somtimes was so desired a ●eceit of the Turks ▪

Derbent builded by Alexander th● Great . Sixe dayes iourney from this City , lyeth Derbent ; This city hath sundry names giuen vnto it by writers : Somtimes it is called Derbent , because it is in figure narrow and long : and sometimes Demir-Capi , because there were the yron-gates , that were sometimes the entrance into Scythia : and sometimes Alessandria ; because it was first erected by Alexander the Great , when hee warred against the Medes and Persians ; The great wall which Alexander built betweene Derbent and Testis . at which time also he made a wall of a wonderfull height and thicknesse , which extended it selfe from this City , to a City in Armenia , called Testis , belonging to the Georgians . And though it be now razed and decayed , yet the foundation remaineth : and it was made to this purpose , that the inhabitants of that Countrey , newly conquered by Alexander , should not lightly flie , nor their enemies easily inuade them . This City is seated vpon an high hill , and builded all of free stone much after our buildings , being very high and thicke : neuerthelesse it neuer grew great nor famous , and euen in these dayes , there is no reckoning made of it : and the reason is because of the situation , seruing for passage only out of Tartaria into Persia , and out of Persia into Tartaria , receiuing those that trauell too and fro , not as Merchants and men of Commerce , but as passengers and trauellers ; and to speake in a word , it is seated in a very necessary place as the case standeth , by reason that it is in the ports of the Caspian Sea , but not profitable vnto it selfe : much like as it is in the passages of the Alpes , where though the Frenchmen , Switzers , Dutchmen , and Italians , continually doe passe by them ; yet was there neuer found a meane City ; much lesse any City of state and importance .

Sechi . About foure daies iourney from Sumachia , is Sechi , which also at the same time as Sumachia offred themselues to Mustapha , as vassals and subiects to the Turks , who all were gladly intertained of him , and some of the chiefe of them apparelled in silke and gold , and honored with great magnificence , and in the end had all protection promised vnto them . Here also standeth the Citie Eres, , Ere 's made Mamodaean silkes . most fruitfully watered with the riuer Araxis and Cyrus , and hath yeelded in times past great store of those fine white silkes , commmonly tearmed by the marchants Mamodaean silkes , whereof at this day , there is not to be found , no not a very small quantitie , by reason of the monstrous ruines and ouerthrowes , that hath happened in these countries , partly by the Armies of the great Turke , and partly by the Armie of the Persians , which still hath succeeded one another , in their cruell incursions , and bloodie inu●sions . For after the people of Sechi and Eres had yeelded themselues voluntarily without any resistance vnto Mustaffa great Amurats Generall ; Emirhamze the Persian Prince came vpon them with his armie , as vpon rebels to inflict deserued punishment . In effecting of which his purpose he spared neither sexe , nor age , nor any condition , but though the persons were vnequall , yet was the punishment equall to all , carrying away with him the two hundred peeces of artilerie , that were left in the sort by Mustapha , and presently sent them to Casbin to his father .

There is also in this Kingdome another Citie that bordereth vpon the Georgians called Arasse , Arasse the most chiefe and opulent Citie in the trade of Merchandize that is in all Seruauia . being the most chiefe and opulent Citie in the trade of Merchandise , partly by the aboundant grouth of silke , there nourished , partly by other good & necessary commodities , there growing and there brought , as rough and smooth galles , Cotten wooll , Allome ; besides all kinds of spices and drugs , and Diamonds , and Rubies , and other stones brought out of the East-Indies . But the principall commoditie is raw silke of all sorts ; so that from hence hath beene and is carried yearly fiue hundred , and sometimes a thousand mules laden of silke to Aleppo in Syria . From this towne we spent sixe daies trauell to Tauris , passing ouer the riuer Araxis , leauing Media Atropatia , and entring into Media the great .

The description of MEDIA the Great .

THis countrey hath for it bounds , westward Armenia the great and Assiria : Southward Persia : Eastward Hircania and Parthia : and Northwards the Caspian Sea . The land is high and spacious , most part mountainous , full of hils , woods , rockes , and ruines , specially towards the North parts , but Southwards it aboundeth with silkes , fruits , wilde beasts and falcons . It receiued the name from Medus , The originall of the Medes . Iasons sonne , who being an earnest follower of his fathers vertues , in honour of his mother Medea , after the death of his father Iason , builded the Citie Medea , and established the kingdome of the Medes , calling it after his owne name , which in continuance of time , grew to that estate , that all the East was in subiection to the Empire thereof .

I omit to write any thing of Astyages , who raigned in this countrey ; or of his dreame , how he saw springing out of his daughters belly a vine , whose branches should ouershadow all Asia , meaning Cyrus that was borne of her ; or how Cyrus was brought vp of an heard-man , and miraculously preserued from death ; and lastly how Cyrus was banished into Persia , and after being come to mans estate , ouercame Astyages his Grandfather , remouing the Empire from the Medes to the Persians , being all matters of antiquitie , and not so pertinent to our iournall .

S●●chatana . The chiefe Citie of this country is Tauris , which in times past was called Ecbatana , as Ortelius and Minado do witnesse , howsoeuer P. Ionius very vniustly would haue it Terua , and Nigro the Italian Tigranoama . ●uffinus de Medioru● ori●ne . It was first founded by Deiocis the first king of Media , who no sooner gaue out his edict for the building thereof , but forthw●th the inhabitants with one consent did make it the chiefe Citie aboue the rest ; and so euer since it hath remained one of the chiefest seats both of the Median and Persian kings .

Memorable also is this Citie for the resiance once of the Prophet Daniel , The Castell which Daniel the Prophet builded . who neere vnto the same builded a most magnificent and sumptuous Castell , which many yeares remained a maruailous monument ; the beauty wherof was so liuely and perfect , that continuance of time did little deface it , being very fresh and flourishing in the time of Iosephus . In this Castell were all the kings of Media , Iosephus Anti. lib. 10.11 . Persia , and Parthia for many yeares together intombed . But now time hath worne it out , it faring with buildings as with mens bodies , they waxe old , and are infeebled by yeares , and loose their beautie : neuerthelesse Ecbatana now called Tauris remaines in great glorie vnto this day .

The description of Tauris .

IT is seated at the foote of the hill Orontes eight daies iourney or there abouts from the Caspian Sea , and is subiect to winds and full of snow ; yet of a verie wholesome ayte , abounding with all things necessary for the sustentation of man : wonderfull r●ch , as well by the perpetuall concourse of merchandizes , that are brought thither from the countries of the East , to be conueighed into Syria , and into the countries of Europe ; as also of those that come thither out of the Westerne parts , to be distributed ouer all the East . It is very populous , so that it feedeth almost two hundred thousand persons : but now open to the furie of euery armie without strength of wals , and without bulwarkes , sauing a Castle built of late by the Turkes . The buildings are of burnt clay , and rather low then high . On the South side of this Citie , is a most beautifull and flourishing garden , large and spacious , replenished with sundry kinds of trees , and sweete smelling plants , and a thousand fountaines and brookes , deriued from a prety riuer , which with his pleasant streame denides the garden from the Citie : and is of so great beautie , that for the delicacie thereof , it is by the countrey inhabitants called Sechis-Genet , that is to say , the eight Paradises : and was in times past the standing house of the Persian Kings , whilest they kept their residence in this Citie , and after they withdrew their seate from thence , by reason of the Turkish warres , to Casbin , became the habitation and place of aboad for the Persian gouernours .

Tauris yeeldeth to Selymus the first . 1514. Sundrie mutations euen of late yeares hath this Citie indured both by the great Turke and the Persian . For in the yeare 1514. it was yeelded to Selymus the Turkish Tyrant , who contrary to his promise exacted a great masse of money from the Citizens , and carried away with him three thousand families , the best artificers in that Citie , especially such as were skilfull in making of armour and weapons , onely to enrich and appopulate the great Citie Cons●antinople .

Sacked by So●yman . 1535. Afterwards in the yeare 1535. it was againe spoyled by Solyman the Turkish Emperour , who gaue the whole Citie for a prey vnto his souldiers , who left neither house nor corner thereof vnransacked , abusing the miserable Citizens with all manner of insolencie : euery common souldier without controlement , fitting himselfe with whatsoeuer best pleased his greedie desire or filthie lust : beside the most stately and royall Pallace of King Tamas , together with the most sumptuous and rich houses of the Nobilitie were by the great Turkes commandement all rased downe to the ground , and the greatest part of the best Citizens , and beautifull personages of all sort and condition were carried away captiues .

●iserably ●o●led by Os●an Visier . 1583. And in the yeare 1585. it was miserably spoyled by Osmun visier vnto Amurat the third , who commaunded his souldiers to do the worst that possibly they could or might do to it . Here a man had need of a very learned & eloquent pen , to set forth the fierce and cruell execution of the Turkish souldiers . For in truth who is able eyther by writing , or by speech , sufficiently and liuely to lay open the treachery , the couetousnesse , the wrath , the crueltie , the impietie , the wickednesse of these triumphing Turks ? The misery of the Taurisians . And on the other side , who can expresse the crying of infants , the gronings of the wounded , the teares of parents , the prayers of old men , the ●eares , the griefes , and to be short , the miserie of the Taurisians . There was nothing but slaughter , pillings , rauishing , spoyling and murdering : virgins defloured , men children defiled with vnspeakable and horrible Sodomitry , younglings snatcht out of their mothers armes , houses laid euen with the ground and burnt : riches and money carried away , and to be briefe all things wasted and ruinated . Neither were those outrages committed once only , but the second followed worse then the first , and the third vpon that worse then the second : so that it was a miserie almost inexplicable to behold that Citie , which was once so populous and so rich , sometimes the Court and Pallace of the Crowne , and the honour of the Persian Empyre , now subiect to the furie and cruelty of the Turke plunged in calamitie , and vtterly destroyed . This is the vncertaine state of the world , sometimes vp , and sometimes downe , sometimes conquerers , and within a while after conquered .

For this Citie groaned not full foure and twentie yeares vnder the Turkish slauery , Tauris wonne by the Persian King in the yeare . 1603. but Abas now King of Persia reposing no lesse confidence in his owne good fortune , then the valour of his souldiers marched in the yeare 1603 with his armie directly to the Citie of Tauris , and that with such expedition , that he was come before it , before any such thing was feared , much lesse prouided for : stirred vp hereunto , partly by the great Turke troubles at home , and his warres with the Christians in Hungarie , as also with the disposition of the Taurisians , whose minds were then so alienated from the Turkish gouernour ; that vpon the approach of Abas , they were all readie to forsake him . Neuerthelesse the King was constrained to besiege the Citie , being then kept with a strong garrison of Turkish souldiers . In which siege he for battery vsed the helpe of the Canon , an engine of long time by the Persian skorned , as not beseeming valiant men , vntill that by their owne harmes taught ; they are content to vse it , being with the same , as also with skilfull Canoniers furnished by the Portugals from Ormuz . So that after sixe weekes siege this Citie was surrendred vp into the Persians hands to the great reioycing of all Persia , together with the whole countrey of Seruan , except a fort or two which still stands out .

At this Citie we paid a dolour on a summe of goods , and fiue Shaughes to the keeper of the Caine wherein we lodged , and set forward to the wealthy Citie of Casbin distant from Tauris ten daies iourney ; passing the three first daies ouer many rough and craggie mountaines , full of a thousand difficulties , which were the more increased by wonderfull great snowes that were fallen , by meanes whereof many passengers , horses , and mules ( if our guide had not beene good ) had perished in one common destruction . Euery night we had great fl●kes of lightening , and huge thunderclaps with g●eat store of raine & snowes which did much annoy our whole Carauan . We had no sooner left those hard passages , but we were forthwith encountred by a gallant troupe of Persian horsemen , who lay vp and downe the borders by the kings commaundement , to murder all Turkish merchants that should passe that way : vpon reuenge of the death of a Persian merchant , who being richly arriued at Van , ( a little before our comming ) was iniuriously depriued both of his goods and life . Hereupon the gouernour of this troupe , demaunded of our Carauan-Bassa ( who was a Chiulphalin ) to deliuer vp into his hands , all the Turkie merchants , that were in our company ; to which request he durst not condescend , affirming that there was none but Iewes and Christians vnder his conduct ; and withall bestowed on him a bountifull present of two hundred and fiftie dollors , which was leuied amongst vs .

By this time we came to the full borders , Our first entry into the Persian kingdome . and outmost bounds then of the great Turkes dominion , so farre as the Othoman Empire on this side doth extend ; and so entred into the territories of the Persian King : both which are deuided by the high mountaine Duz●m , and by a pretie riuer that runneth at the foote th●reof . This night we rested at a Persian village called Darnah , much ruinated , but seated in a very delightfull place , both for springs of water , ●nd plentie of all things . For heere we bought foure hens for fiue pence , a kid for ten pence , and thirtie egs for two pence .

From Darnah we spent three daies further to Soltania , a very ancient Citie , trauelling by many Persian villages , and finding euery man at his labour , and neighbour with neighbour going from one towne to another , Great quiet in Persia. which bred much contentment , and made vs wonder at the great peace & tranquilitie , which the commons of Persia liue in aboue the commons of Turkie . The ruines of many faire Christian Churches we beheld , but not without pitie , built all with great arches and high towers , lauorated with gold and other rich paintings to the beautifying of the same . And verily I take them to be those Churches , which Cosro● King of Persia destroyed , who being in a battell discomfited , fought betweene him and Heraclius the ●mperour , reaked his teene and malice on the Christian Churches throughout his dominions .

The description of Soltania .

AT Soltania we safely arriued . This Citie is called by Ptolome , Heraclea ; but by others Tigranocerta , because of the wonderfull ruine of the huge buildings ; and was in times past one of the royall seates of the Persian Kings , but it was much ruinated by the Scythian Tamerlane , when with a world of people he ouerran these countries : it retaineth now no shew of the ancient majestie , but onely in the Churches by him spared . This desolate towne is on euery side enuironed with huge mountaines , whose tops are to be seene a far off , alwaies couered with deep snowes , called in ancient time Nyphates , Caspius , Coathras & Zagras , taking their beginning no doubt of Cancasus the father of mountaines ; which ioyning one to another , some one way , some another , doe deuide most large and wide countries .

Before this towne lieth a very great and spacious plaine , memorable for that dreadful & horrible tempest which fell on Solyman the Turkish Emperour and his whole armie in the yeare 1534. A most horrible and terrible tempest . For whilest he lay incamped in these plaine fields with his Army , there fell downe such an horrible and cruell tempest from the mountains , as the like whereof the Persians had neuer seene before at that time of the yeare , being in the beginning of September ; and that with abundance of rain , which froze so eagerly as it fel , that it seemed the depth of Winter had euen then of a sodaine beene come in : for such was the rage of the blustering windes , ●triuing with themselues , as if it had beene for victory , that they swept the snow from the toppe of those high mountaines , and cast it downe into the plaines in such aboundance , that the Turkes lay as men buried aliue in the deepe snow , most part of their tents being ouerthrowne & beaten downe to the ground , with the violence of the tempest and weight of the snow , wherein a wonderfull number of sicke souldiers and others of the baser sort which followed the campe perished , and many other were so benummed , some their hands , some their feete , that they lost the vse of them for euer : most part of their beasts which they vsed for carriage , but specially their camels were frozen to death . Neither was there any remedie to be found for so great mischiefes , by reason of the hellish darknesse of that tempestuous night , most of their fires being put out , by the extremitie of the storme : which did not a little terrifie the superstitious Turkes , as a thing accounted of them ominous . Many of the Turkes vainely thought , that this horrible tempest was brought vpon them by the charmes and inchantments of the Persian Magitians ; whereas it was vndoubtedly by the hand of God , which bringeth the proud deuises of Princes to nought .

The description of Casbin .

FRom Soltania we spent foure daies trauell to Casbin , passing by many villages , where we paid a Shaughee a peece to the Beg or gouernour of the village , not as a custome , but as a free grat●ity , and so entred into the territories of Casbin , a Citie very wealthy , by reason of the Kings Pallace , & the great concourse of merchants which resort thither . It was in ancient time called Arsacia as in Strabo ; but now termed Casbin , which in the Persian language signifieth chastisement , or a place of punishment , because the kings were wont to banish or confine such persons , as for their offences and misdemeanours had deserued such chastisement . This Citie is seated in a goodly fertile plaine of three or foure daies iourney in length , furnished with two thousand villages , to serue the necessary vses thereof : but euill builded , & for the most part all of bricks not hardened with fire , but onely dried in the Sunne ; as are most parts of the buildings of all Persia.

It is now one of the seates of the Persian Kings Empire , which was translated by King Tamas , ( this kings Grandfather ) from Tauris , who built one goodly Seraglio for himselfe , and another for his women , and hath beene euer since continued by his successors , though the king that now raigneth , make most of his abode in Hispaan fourteene daies iourney farther towards the East .

There are three places in the Citie most of note : viz. the Kings Pallace , the Bassars , and the At-Maidan . The gate of the kings Pallace is built with stone of diuers colours , and verie curiously ennameled with gold : on the seeling within , is carued the warres of the Persian Kings , and the sundrie battels sought by them against the Turks and Tartars ; the pauements of the roomes beneath , and chambers aboue are spread with most fine carpets , wouen and tessuted with silke and gold , all ensignes and monuments of the Persian greatnesse .

Bassars are certaine streetes of trafficke . There is likewise in this Citie sundrie Bassars , where , in some you may buy Shasses and Tulipants , and Indian cloth of wonderfull finenesse : in others silkes of all sorts , as Ve●uets , Damasks , cloth of Gold and Siluer : in others infinite furres , as Sables and Martine out of Muscouia , and Agiam furres brought from Corassan . In a word euery speech hath a seuerall science or trade , wherein is sold whatsoeuer is fit and necessary for the vse of man .

The At-Maidan , is the high speech or chiefe market place in this Citie ; and is foure-square , containing in a circuit verie neere a mile ; and serues as a Bursse for all sorts of Merchants to meete on , and also for all others to sell whatsoeuer commodities they possesse , so that in one place is selling of horses , mules and cammels ; in another place carpets , garments , and felts of all sorts , and in another all kind of fruits , as Muske-mellons , Anguries , Pomegranates , Pistaches , Adams apples , Dates , Grapes , and Raisons dried in the Sun . In this place do sit daily twelue Sheraffes , that is , men to buy & sell Pearle , Diamonds , and other pretious stones , and to exchange gold & siluer , to turne Spanish dollers to great aduantage into Persian coyne ; and to change the great peeces of the Persian coyne , as Abbasses , Larines , and such like into certain brasse monies for the poore . They wil also lend vpon any pawne , & that with as great interest as our diuellish Brokers and Scriueners take in London .

Finally the strength of this Citie consisteth not in walles and bulwarkes , but in the souldiers that are continually maintained in and about this Citie ; for out of Casbin , and the villages belonging vnto the same , are maintained twentie thousand souldiers on horsebacke , howsoeuer in this kings fathers time were leuied but twelue thousand . Ardouil the first place that receiued the Persian superstition .

Two places neere to this Citie are very remarkable ; the one is the Citie Ardouil ; the other Giland . Ardouil is a Citie foure daies iourney from Casbin , and two from Soltania . A Citie of great importance , where Alexander the great did keepe his Court , when he inuaded Persia. It is a towne much esteemed and regarded , by reason of the sepulchers of the kings of Persia , which for the most part lie there intombed : and so is growne a place of their superstitious deuotion ; as also because it was the first place which receiued the Persian sect , wherein Gi●●● the first Authour thereof did reside and raigne ; A sect or superstition very commodious to the Christian Commonwealth , because it hath bred great contentions and warre among the Mahumetane nations , which before were so vnited together by Mahomets deuice , that they seemed to be more then friends and in league one with another .

The Author of this nouelty was as we said before , The Author 〈◊〉 the Persian s●perstition . one Giuni , a man well descended among the Persians , who contemning al worldly honour , r●ches , & pleasure , as meere vanities & trifles , led such an austere kind of life with such continency & contempt of the world , as that the vulgar people began to haue the man in singular admiration for the opinion they had conceiu●d of his vpright life & rare vertues . The fame of thi● new Prophet ( as so he was accounted ) was growne so great in the Persian kingdome , that the people without number resorted out of all parts of Persia vnto the Citie Ardouil to see the man . And he the more to seduce the people , The Turks and Persians differ not about the interpretation of their law , but about the true successour of their great Prophet Mahomet . being by nature inconstant and superstitious , began to perswade them , that the three first successours of Mahomet , were vniust and vnlawfull vsurpers of that dignitie , and that iust Aly , Mahomets sonne in law , onely ought to be named the lawfull successour : that he alone ought to be called vpon in their prayers for helpe , and that all honours should be giuen to him , and taken from Abubacher , Omar , and Ottaman , as from persons that were vndoubtedly damned . Finally he taught them onely to receiue the writings of Aly as of others most authenticall , to reiect Abuchacher , Omar , and Ottaman , with their writings as most wicked & accu●sed ; whom the Turks had euer , and yet do honour & worship as the true successors of their Prophet Mahomet , and his sincere interpreters , together with the aforesaid Aly , ●he new prai●r of the Per●ians . whom the Persians do only acknowledge : and therefore in their prayers doe commonly say , Cursed be Abubachar , Omar , and Ottaman , and God be fauorable to Aly , and well pleased with him . Which their difference about the true successor of their Prophet , in whom was no ●ruth , hath bene , and yet is , one of the greatest causes of the mortall warres betweene the Turkes and the Persians : and not the diuers interpretation of their law ( as many haue written ) which among the Tu●ks and Persians is all one .

This superstition was first broached ( as we said ) by Giuni , afterwards maintained by Sederdin , after him by Giuni the second , then by Haider Erdebil ; afterwards by Hysmael the great Sophy it increased wonderfully , that Persia seemed to enuie the glory of Cyrus and Darius . After the death of Hysmael it was maintained by King Tamas his sonne , who raigned with lesse felicitie , being much damnified by Solyman the Turkish Emperour : After Tamas succeeded Aidere the second , who raigned but certaine daies and houres ; and then followed Hismael the brother of Aidere , who troubled all the Cities of his kingdome with manifold hurly-burlies : after him Mahomet surnamed Codibanda this kings father , more vnfortunate then all the rest : and lastly the king that now is , who by his valour hath so largely dilated the confines of his kingdome , that it seemeth he hath ( as it were ) founded it anew .

The description of HIRCANIA .

THe other place neere to Casbin remarkable is the countrey of Gilan , in the Prouince of Hircania very famous in antique time . Sundry names are giuen vnto it by the Barbarians ; some call it Girgia or Corca , from a certaine Citie which stood in the same : others Straua from a part of this kingdome : others Messandra , as Minado● : Mercator calles it Diargument : and in ancient time Hircania , so much spoken of by the Poets for the huge woods , and fierce Tygers that abound there . Westward this kingdome bounds vpon Media : Eastward on Margiana : Southward on Parthia , and the Coronian mountaines : and Northward on the Caspian Sea . The North part of this kingdome is ful of thick woods & shadowi● g●ones wherein grow diuers sorts of trees , but specially C●da●s , Beeches , and Oakes , a fit harbour and shelter for Tygers ▪ Panthe●s , and Pardies , which wilde beasts make the passage in those places very dangerous : but neere to the Sea side it is full of pasture , and very delightfull by reason of the manifold sweete springs which issue out of the mountaine neere adioyning . Many principall Cities are there in this countrey , as Bestan , Massandran , Pangiazer , Bachu and Gheilan Cities of such state and condition , as deserue to haue a Gouernour of the same dignitie , that the Bassa is with the Turkes .

Bachu . Concerning Bachu , it is a verie ancient hauen-towne , very commodious for ships to harbour in , as also profitable to vent commodities , by reason that Ardouil , Tauris , Eres , Sumachia , Oyle springeth out of the ground . and Derbent ly not many daies from thence . Neere vnto this towne is a verie strange and wonderfull fountaine vnder ground , out of which there springeth and issueth a maruellous quantitie of blacke Oyle , which serueth all the parts of Persia to burne in their houses ; and they vsually carrie it all ouer the countrey , vpon Kine and Asses , whereof you shall oftentimes meete three or foure hundred in company .

Gheilan . Gheilan and the rest stand likewise altogether in traffick : Gheilan being but foure easie daies trauell from Casbin ; and very neere vnto the Caspian Sea . The Caspian Sea . A Sea that is very commodious and profitable ; being in length two hundred leagues , and in breadth an hundred and fiftie , without any issue to other Sea : to the East part of this Sea ioyneth the great desart countrey of the Tartars : to the West part , the country of the Circassians , the mountaine Caucasus : to the North the riuer V●lga , which hath seuentie mouthes or falles into the same : and to the South part ioyneth the countries of Media and Parthia . This Sea is fresh water in many places , and in other places , as salt as the maine Ocean . It hath many goodly riuers falling into it , as the great riuer Volga , called by the Tartars Edell , which runnes at the least two thousand miles in length : as also out of Syberia , Yaic and Yem , and out of the Periardian mountains Araxi● , Cirus , Canac , and diuers others too long to write of . And though so many goodly riuers do discharge themselues into it , yet it emptieth not it selfe , except it be vnder ground into the blacke Sea by Constantinople .

A trade might be planted by ●he Muscouian merchants ●erchants . Now by the commodious site of the Sea , a very profitable trade might be planted , being but seauen daies sayling from Astracan to Gheilan : the gaines of which passage is as I haue credibly heard say both of Persians and Armenians fifty in the hundred , euen in meere Buttanosses . To further which commerce and trade Abas the Persian king hath diuers times of late sent sundry Ambassadors to the grand Duke of Moscouia ; among other things , requesting of him , The barkes which must passe the Caspian sea must n●t draw fiue foote water , because in diuers places it is very shoald . that merchants might haue a safe conuoy , to transport their goods downe the riuer Volga into the Caspian Sea , and so to Gheilan ; which he promised most faithfully to performe , so fa●re as his power would extend . I know the voiage will be chargeable , yet the benefit will quite the charge , were the passage safe and secure down the riuer , and had we barks of our building but of fifty or three score tuns , which might by reason of the great store of timber in those parts be easily builded .

The commodities to be found at Gheilan & Casbin are silks of all sorts of colors , The commodities of Persia both raw & wrought , and that in such quantity , that a merchant may b●stow thirty or forty thousand pounds yearly , as also all maner spices & drugs , pearls diamonds , and rubies , likewise carpets of diuers sorts , with diuers other rich merchandizes , the prices of which I think not meet to set down , because of their ●ising & falling as the market goes . The commodities to be carried from England into Persia. In exchange of which commodities , we are to carry thither tin & copper and brassel ; as also ca●sies for the common p●ople , broade cloath for the merchants , & better sort of people , blacke cloathes for womens garments ; good chamlets & v●luets died in graine , with purple colours and fine reds ; cloath of gold and tissue , veluets , imbroidered with gold ; fine holland cloath for the king and Sultanes , dags and pistols , complete harnesses , targets of steele , shirts of male , stonebowes , brushes and such like .

The only colors of cloth which are to be sent , The colours of cloath to be sent into Persia . are skarlets , violets in graine ; fine reds , blacks , brown blewes , London russets , taunies , Lion colors , faire liuely greens , & the like . I am perswaded that any honest factor residing in Casbin may vent a thousand cloathes yearly , wherof the Venetians haue good experience . But to leaue this noble countrey of Hircania , we will againe come to Casbin a principall Citie in Media , where we stayed fifteene daies .

From Casbin we set forwards to the great and populous Citie of Hispaan , lodging euery night eyther in a Persian village , or in a faire Caine built of stone , where we found all kinde of prouision necessarie for our selues and beastes trauailing sixe or seauen in a company : company sufficient , by reason of the great peace and tranquilitie , which the Persians liue in aboue the Turkes ; and so hauing spent sixe daies , wee arriued at Com a verie ancient Citie .

The Citie Com once twice as big as Constantinople . This Citie is called by Ptolomie , Guriana , and was so great in times past , that the inhabitants affirmed vnto vs , that when it was in it first flourishing estate , it was twice as bigge as Constantinople ; but it was much ruinated by Tamerlane , and euer since hath lien in the dust without repaire , Cassan carrying away the trade of merchandize from her , which was once the Mistresse and Ladie thereof . It is well seated for water and all other necessaries , hauing a spacious riuer running by it , with a stone bridge ouer the same : the which we no sooner passed , but wee entred into the bounds of Parthia ; a kingdome once famous , but now so mingled with Persia , that the verie name of Parthia is quite extinguished among them .

The description of PARTHIA .

THis Prouince in antique writers is much renowmed : Nigro doth call it Corassan , and would haue the metropoliticall Citie to be Charras , vnder which he would comprehend the Zagathean Tartars , but herein he is much deceiued , for Corassan 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 Alphonsus Hadrianus , Iex . The bounds of this Prouince Eastward is on Aria : Southward on the great desart of Caramania : Westward on Media : and Northward on Hircania . 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 excepted ) being watered with many prettie riuers which flow from the mountaines .

The natiue people were at the first a most base , The Parthians were at the first a most seruile and base people . 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 gained the monarchy from the Medes , yea and after Alexander had conquered Persia , they were so rude and barbarous , 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 Antigonus , 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 reuolted from him , making choyse of a king among themselues , who in short time brought such renowne to the Parthians , as that they enla●ged their confines , and augmented their territories in such m●nner , that Parthia ( once despised 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 Babylon , in so much that their fame spread vnto Rome , a Citie 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 neuer able to bring them quite into subiection , vntill Augustus 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 after him the kings of Parthia , Arsaces , with no lesse honor and glory , then the Caesars of Rome , the Pharhoes and Ptolomees 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 , commaunding 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 .

The description of Cassan.

AFter two daies trauell from Com , we arriued at Cassan 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 merchandize , and the best trade of all the land is there , being greatly 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 Ozmuzenes , 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 perswaded that in one yeare there is more silke brought into Cassan , then is of broad cloath brought into the Citie of London . Ciuill and good gouernment . 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 , ( resembling the Egyptian law which Diodorus mentioneth ) wherby euery person is compelled to giue his name to the Magistrates , 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 Persian law against idlenesse . 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 company ; 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.

The description of Hispaan .

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 hundred 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 offices 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 within 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 . 〈◊〉 sort of 〈◊〉 . On the North side is erected a strong Fort or Castle , being 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 , 〈◊〉 kings 〈◊〉 . the one for the King , the other for his women ; Pallaces of great state and magnificence , farre exceeding all other proud buildings 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 glistering blacke ●bony , so curiously wrought in winding knots , as may easier stay , t●en satisfie the eyes of the wondring beholder .

Neere vnto this Pallace , The kings garden . 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 Gillyflower , the Rose , the Violet , the flower-gentle , and a thousand other odoriferous flowers doe ye●ld a most pleasant and delightfull sig●t to all beholders . There are a thousand 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 repaire thither to recreate themselues in the shadowes and walkes of those greenes .

And as a gard for the gate of this sumptuous Pallace , The gard of the kings 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 Esahul , to the number of a thousand , distinguished also vnder 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 Persia ; 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 attended vpon , and maintaineth the Maiestie of his Court , especially when he rideth in prograce .

The order of the Persian dignities in Hispaan . And for the gouernment of this Citie , there is besides the King and the Prince twelue Sultanes , but three especially are appointed by the King , for the generall gouernement of the whole Empire , hauing their seuerall distinct charges . The Sultanes . 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 . The Treasurers . The g●eat Chancellours . Next vnto these are the Mordari 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 , The Caddi or Judges . that is two Iudges , who make answere and giue sentence on●ly in matters of controuersie and ciuill quarrels ; but as touching criminall causes , they haue no further 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 .

The 〈…〉 Concerning the Church gouernment , there is in this Citie , first the chiefe of the law whom they call the Mustaed-dini , a wicked and prophane Priest : and in the other subiect Cities are certaine peculiar heads , obedient to this chiefe Priest , who are not chosen and displaced at his pleasure , as the popish Bishops are by the Pope , but by the king himselfe , who is not onely a King , but a Priest , as Mahomet and Aly were . But to auoid trouble , the King granteth that fauour , and putteth ouer that burden from himselfe vnto others , to whose iudgement , he also referreth himselfe , whensoeuer any consultation is touching their law or prophane superstition . The Calif●s . Vnder this great Priest are Califes , and these doe daily execute seruice in the Moschees or Temples . The chiefe of these Califes is he that putteth the horne vpon the Kings head , when he is first inthronized . 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 . The nature of the Persians .

Finally the inhabitants of this City do much resemble the ancient Parthians in diuers things , but specially in their continuall 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 , deceitfull , and very vnquiet , but that the fiercenesse of their nature is much restrained by the kings seuere gouernement .

To sensuality they are much inclined , The Persians giu●n to sensualitie . hauing three sorts of women , as they terme them , viz. honest women , halfe honest women and courtezans ; and yet they chastice no offence 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 . The Persians verie inconstant . ) Not content with any mans gouernement long : and louers of nouelties . For testimonie whereof wee may auouch those ancient poysonings & wicked treacheries which were plotted not onely by subiectes against their soueraignes , The impietie of the sons of Artaxerxes the Persian king . but also by children against their naturall parents , for the name of father were in so small estimation 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 Abas 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 ; The Persian Prince slaine by one of his own Eunuchs . 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 content with this impietie towards his brother , did shortly after condescend , ( as the full report goeth ) to haue his aged father Mahomet surnamed Codibanda poysoned without either regard of his fatherly maiestie , The impiety of Abas King of Persia. 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 .

The descrip●ion of the Persian king . This Prince is verie absolute both in perfection of his bodie , and his minde , ( but that he is in religion a professed Mahumatine ) excellently composed in the one , and honourablie disposed in the other . Of an indifferent stature , neither to high , nor to low . His countenance verie 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 oftentimes 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 , The Persian horses very good . 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 armed , 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 , The weapons of the Persian souldiers . he passeth into his Armory , certaine buildings neere vnto his Pallace , where are made very strong Curiasses , or Corselets , headpeeces & targets , most of them able to keepe out the shot of an arquebusier , 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 .

The kings exercises in the A●-maidan . By this time hauing spent most of the forenoone , he returneth 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 shooting 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 iudgement 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 subordinate 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 confortable 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 , The Persian kings correction of Iudges . Herodotus . against the cle●re & manifest truth : imitating herein Cambises who commanded Sisamnes●kin ●kin for giuing an vniust sentence , to be flead off , and couered the iudgement seat th●rewith , appointing also his son to iudge in his place , to the end that by sight thereof , all other 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 seuerity were very needfull for some parts of Christendome , I will not say for England though we haue faulted therein ) but for France especially ; See Les ombres des defuncts sieurs de Villemer & de Fontaines . pag. 46. where within ten years sixe thousand 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 florished 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 Grandfather Tamas his time , armes , artes , and sciences doe wonderfully prosper , and are very highly esteemed .

To this great Monarch , Sir Anthony Sherleys arriua● in Persia. 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 triall 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 , Sir Anthony Sherleys speech vnto the King . and with what greedinesse and pride the Turkish Emperours haue alwaies set vpon the Christians , and that being discharged of the warre with them , he would of all likelihood 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 sufficient 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 wonderfull 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 Hungarie , and to recouer againe such parts of his kingdome as his predecessors had lost . Warres he said were more happily 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 prosperous successe , the Christian Princes ( by his meanes ) ioyning 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 forthwith turne his victorious armes vpon him and his kingdome : the end of one warre ( as he said ) was but the beginning of another ; and that the Turkish Empire could neuer 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 opportunitie 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 former times , there were sometimes wanting will , and sometimes occasion to vnite their forces , yet now he hoped that by an imployment from his Maiestie to the Christian Princes , 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 otherwise yet by voluntarie entering into armes to countenance 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 ; Sir Anthonie Sherley sent b● the Persian King to eight seuerall Princes . howbeit the King being stil● animated by his forcible 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 memorie ; to King Iames our dread Soueraigne ; to the French King , to the Emperour , the Pope , the King of Spaine , the Senate 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 Persian and our Christian world .

The chiefe things that the Persian requested of the Christians was ; The deman● of the Persia● King . 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 Dominions 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 armie , 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 Hungaria , or vpon coast of Peloponesus and Grecia .

Master Robert ●herley left as ● pledge for Sir Anthonies●eturne ●eturne out of Christiandom . But how well Sir Anthony behaued himselfe in so waighty a negotiation , 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 afterwards 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 , notwithstanding 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 combination of so great forces together would soone haue deliuered many poore Christians of their miseries , the world of it ignominy , & mankind of that monster of Turkish tyranny , that hath too long raigned & laid the earth desolate .

As for the first , The great power that the Persian king is able to make against the Turke . 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 gentlemen of h●s country , who hold land● & possessions descended 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 thousand , most of them come well armed , the rest content themselues with headpeeces & Iacks , and vse for their weapons either horsmen staues or bowes , which they can most cunningly 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 , The co●ntrie● subiect to Persia . these great & famous countries , 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 subdued the Turcoman nation , that were rebellious in his fathers time ; as also he hath ruinated the houses of most of his ancient nobilitie ; as of late Amet-chan Lord of Gheilan , 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 common 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 .

The Pers●●●s bette● souldiers then t●e Turkes . And for his souldiers they are for the most par● very valorous 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 naked 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 naked , 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 occasion serueth at the staffe , after the manner of the Numid●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 , after 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 subiects . 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 discordes , 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 Christians doe endure vnder the Turkish tyranny , The miserable thraldome of the Christians 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 visited , 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 vncleane 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 before , to their immortall praise , worthily defended against the greatest Monarches of the world ) and are now so degenerate , 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 Nations barbarous in comparison of themselues , they are now become no lesse barbarous 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 indured , when the imperiall Citie of Constantinople was taken 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 ; The Gecian Nobility put to death in the presence of the great Turke , whilst he sat feasting with his Bassaes . 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 Christian bloud .

The miseries of the Constantinopolitanes . There might a man haue seene the poore Christian captiues 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 beautifull children , who flowed in all worldly wealth and pleasure , to become the poore & miserable bondslaues of most base and contemptible rascals , who were so far 〈◊〉 shewing 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 Parents see the wofull misery of their beloued children , & the children of the parents , the husband might see the shameful abuse of his wife , & the wife of her husband , & generally one friend of another : yea such was their malice to the Christian faith , that they conuerted the temple of Sophia , built for God to be honored in , into a stable for their horses , making it a place for the execution of their abhominable & vnspeakable filthinesse : yea the image of the crucifixe they also tooke down , & put a Turks cap vpon the head therof , & so set it vp & shot at it with their arrowes , & afterwards in great derision carried it about in their campe , as it had beene in procession , 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 Christian religion . Neither haue they committed 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 . The countries which ( besides Grecia ) that groane vnder the Turkish slauery . Besides Seruia Bulgaria , Transiluania , Moldauia , & Valachia 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 Hungarians . So spoiled & harried in this kingdom by the Turks that it may welbreed an astonishment 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 Christian countries , which the great Turke possesseth , nothing but triumphs ouer Christ , & skorners of his religion : insolencies and violences against the professors : extortions and oppressions vpon their goods : rapines and murderings vpon the very soules of their children , a case to be wailed with teares of bloud by all Christian 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 extorsions were only on their goods & labors , or if the bodies and liues of those poore Christians , were onely wasted and worne out in his workes and slaueries , it might be suffered , for goods are transitory , and death the end of all wordly miseries .

A tribute of soules paide yearly by the Christians to Mahomet that lying Prophet 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 insupportable , 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 weakenesse 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 The king o●●ersia or late ●eare hath ●●nt fiue ●eve●●ll Embasla●●urs into ●hristendome 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 abated , he hath since imployed Master Robert Sherley as his Ambassadour to the same purpose .

Neuer did Christendome misse times of more aduantage , to haue preuailed much against the Turke , not onely to haue holden their owne ( which they doe not in Hungary ) but to haue recouered some good part of their losses 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 forces being turned that way . The Persians promise vnto the Emperor . But what auaileth opportunitie 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 likewise impugne him : The Emperors promise t● the Persian king . 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 , The reasons why the Emperour leaues the P●rsian king in field to himselfe , and concludes a pe●ce wit the great Turke . 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 withstand the huge and dreadful power of th● Othoman Emperour Which ( be it spoken without ominous presage ) is to be feared , wil too truly appeare and manifest it selfe , whensoeuer the wars of the great Turke , and his troubles in the East with the Persian be ended , he shall then again turne his victorious & insulting forces , this way towards the West .

I conclude then , that those distressed parts of Christendome which are subject to the Turkish fury , Some parts of Ch●istendome greatly in indebted to the Sherlies . 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 against 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 concluded , but forth with conceiued so great●oy , that with a number 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 thenceforth 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 returne of the Author by the way of Persia , Susiana , Chaldaea , Assiria , and Arabia .

HAuing tooke my leaue of Master Robert Sherley , and the rest of my country-men , I left them to the mercy of the king ( whose bountie and goodnesse by their returne hath plentifully shewed it selfe ) and betooke my selfe to the protection of the Almightie , to bring me in saftie againe into my owne countrey : being in my returne , accompanied with one Signior Belchior Dios d' Croce , an Armenian , Portugall or Portugall Armenian ; and one Christophero a Greeke , who were sent with letters from the gouernour of Goa , to the king of Spaine , but lost afterwards their liues and letters by shipwracke in the Venetian Golfe .

From Hispaan we spent ten daies trauell to Siras by perswasion of some Persian merchants that were bound for Aleppo with vs , trauelling through the very heart of Persia it selfe , paying now and then a Sha●ghee a peece to certaine villages in the way , no matter of importance worth the relating till we come to the Citie it selfe .

The description of Persia.

THis country ( in which Siras standeth ) is now called the Kingdome of Farsi , but in ancient time the Kingdome of Persia ; a kingdome of it selfe very large and pacious ; confining Northwards on Media & Parthia , Eastward on the great desart of Caramania , Westward on Susiana , which Strabo maketh a part of Persia , and lieth betweene Babylon and Persia , as shall be declared hereafter , and Southward on Ormuz and the Persian golfe , containing also the great kingdome of Lar , whence the best Bezar stones are brought .

Very famous is this countrey : for that it was the first place , where Elam the eldest sonne of Sem dw●lt , whereby the people of this nation were a long time called Elamits , as appeareth by the prophecy of Daniel , No more but fiue kings in Persia. who nameth it Elam : as also because it was the seate of those fiue great Persian kings mentioned in the Scriptures , viz. Darius Medus , Cyrus , Ah●shuerosh , Darius Longimanus aliàs Artaxerxes , and Artaxerxes the third , which was that Darius whom Alexander the great ouercame . Darius Medus . For Darius Medus his acts and deeds were of so small esteeme and regard , that they are not worth the writing . But concerning Cyrus his sonne in law , Cyrus . many excellent things are spoken of him : for no king conquered so many kingdomes as he did . Besides he was in grace and fauour with God : for by Daniels instructions he was brought to confesse and acknowledge the God of Israel . Of him did Esay prophesie an hundred yeares before his birth : Esay . 44.28 . and his diligence was so great in ayding the Iewes af●er their captiuity vnto Ierusalem , 2. Chro. 36.22 . 1. Esdras . 1.2 . Esdras . 2. Ioseph . Anti. 11. ca. 1. that he suffered them quietly to returne with wealth and treasure , and commaunded all his Princes of Syria , and subiects to fauour and to helpe them , publishing a decree for the building vp of their temple vnto God . Notwithstanding this happy and fortunate Prince was slaine by Tomyris Queene of the Massogets in Scythia , who not contenting her selfe with the death of her enemy , commaunded also his head to be smitten oft , and throwne into a bole of mans bloud , with this exprobration of his crueltie in killing her sonne : Tu quidem meum vluentis & in pugna victricis filium perdidisti dolo captum , Herodo●us . at ego te cruore satura●n : Goe now , and glut thy selfe with the bloud of men , which in thy life time wouldest neuer be satisfied with bloud .

Next vnto him raigned Ahashuerosh , Ahashuerosh . whom our writers call Xerxes , the Chaldeans Artaxerxes the first ( husband to Queene Hester ) whose dominion did extend it selfe from India vnto Ethiopia , ouer an hundred and seauen and twenty Prouinces . The goodnesse of this king was fully proued , at what time the Church was miserably afflicted by proud Haman , and hindered by cruell Cambyses against the decree of Cyrus : for he gaue full liberty and licence vnto the Iewes to build the Temple at Ierusalem . Neuerthelesse towards his latter daies , he was very vnfortunate in his warres , being twise ouercome both at sea and land ; by which vnfortunate successe , he that earst while was termed the Terrour of all Nations , became in so generall contempt of all his subiectes , Iustin. lib. 3. that both himselfe and his sonnes were slaine by Artabanus the traitour .

Next vnto him succeeded Darius Longimanus . Darius Longimanus . This Prince was no way behind his predecessours in pietie and deuotion towards God : for he would not by any meanes change their institutions concerning religious worship , but with great beneficence fauoured the Iewes . For in the second yeare of his raigne the Temple at Ierusalem was finished : and in the seauenth yeare Esdra● with a number in his company returned .

The last King was Artaxerxes the third , Darius . whom they called by the name of Darius a Prince of great industrie , and noblenesse of spirit : yet at last was vanquished by Alexander the great , and slaine by one of his owne kinsmen , ending his life together with the Persian Empyre .

So that now by the computation of the raigne of these kings which was one hundred fortie and seauen yeares , The Iewe● confuted . Daniel . 9.25 . we may easily confute that malicious tergiuersation and erroneous exposition of the Iewes , of the prophecy of Daniel , touching the threescore and nine weekes to the comming of the Messiah . The Iewes affirme that the same prophecie doth not belong to our Sauiour Christ , but that it ended the day wherein the Temple was ouerthrowne by Titus : and doe interprete Christ ( whom Daniel prophecied should be slaine after threescore and nine weekes ) to be Agrippa the last of the Herodians ( surmising peeuishly that the Messiah liueth in the wor●d inuisibly ) colouring their grosse errours therein by the false and lying Histories of some Greeks and ●atines , The Iewes surmise that the Messiah liueth in the world inuisibly . who attribute two hundred yeares and aboue to the Empire of the Persian kings : whereby some haue beene driuen to recken the beginning of those weekes after the time of Cyrus , that they may end at the death of our Sauiour Christ .

Which false Histories to make vp those yeares , name more Persian kings then euer were ; Herodo . lib. 7. as Cambyses to succeed his father Cyrus ; wheras he was but left by his father King in Persia , in his expedition into Scythia , according to the Persian custome mentioned by Herodotus , which was that if the king went out of the countrey with an armie , hee must appoint another king to abide in the countrey during his absence . And so were Cambises and Darius Histaspis kings of Persia. And whereas some Persian kings had two or three names , as Darius , Xerxes , and Artaxerxes , they make so many kings ; whereas the Scriptures set downe but the fiue before named , As the captiuitie grew at three times . So the returne was at three times . who raigned ( as we said ) but one hundred fortie and seauen yeares . Whereupon it falleth out , that whether you beginne to account the threescore and nine weekes from the first yeare of Cyrus , who then determined the Iewes reduction ; and as the captiuitie grew at three times , so the returne from the captiuitie was at three times .

For first in the second yeare of Cyrus , Zorababell with welnigh fiftie thousand Iewes returned , and then laid the foundation of the Temple ; which was finished the second yeare of Darius Longimanus : And many Iewes remaining in Babylon , who for the loue of their possessions and children , hauing purchased of the kings of Persia a forme of a commonwealth , elected to themselues a Prince of the line of Dauid , ( whom Origen calleth a Patriarch ) calling him Aechmalatarcham , which signifieth the head of the outlawes . And in the seauenth yeare of Darius Longimanns , Esdras with a number in his company returned . And lastly in the twentieth yeare of the same Darius , Nehemiah with his company departed .

So that it falleth out , that whether you beginne to account the threescore and nine weekes from the first yeare of Cyrus , who then determined the Iewes reduction ; or from the second yeare of Darius ( as others will ) for that hee confirmed , and put the same in execution : or from the twentieth yeare of his raigne , for that hee then made a new edict in fauour of Nehemiah , and sent him intò Iewrie . ( And not onely the tribes of Iuda , Leui , and Beniamin , to the number of thirtie thousand , but some of the other tribes to the number of tenne thousand returned also into Iewrie by the Edict of those kinges . ) Euery way those threescore and nine weekes did ende eyther in the raigne of Augustus or Herode , vnder whom Christ was borne , or in the yeare of Tiberius vnder whome hee suffered .

Hee that would reade more of the ancient estate of Persia , eyther concerning the Royall Maiestie thereof , or the Religion , Lawes , Manners , and Customes of the same , or the Militarie Discipline whilest shee held the world in awe , let him reade Barnabas Brissonius , who hath written three bookes , De Regio Persarum Principatu . In the meane time , wee come to describe that which wee haue seene ; returning where we left to Siras ancient Persepolis .

The description of Sieras ancient Persepolis .

The riuer Bindamir . THis Citie is situated on the banks of Bindamir , a great and famous riuer , which courseth through Persia , and the kingdome of Lar , and so emptieth it selfe into the Persian Golfe , and was once the Metropoliticall seat of all the kingdome , vntill of late yeares , Hispaan hath gained that priuiledge from her . Notwithstanding it is large & spacious containing very neere ten miles in circuit , and lieth iust in the road way which leads from Hispaan to Ormuz . Plinie did call it caput Persiciregui , for so it was during the Monarchy , the head Citie of the Persian kingdome , which continued famous many yeares together , being stuffed with the spoyles of the whole world : for Alexander when he tooke it , found in the treasury fortie thousand talents of gold , euery talent being sixe hundred crownes by Budaeus his computation . Alexander at the request of a strumpet fi●eth Pe●sepolis . And the same t●me at the request of a drunken strumpet he set this gallant Citie on fire , himselfe being the first president in that wofull misery , which in short time was quite burnt downe to the ground as Diodorus Siculus relateth . Which vnhappy mischance Quintus Curtius on this manner bewaileth : Huno exitum habuit Regiatotius Orientis , vnde tot gentes ante i●ra petebant patria tot regum , vnicus quond●m G●aecia terror . &c. Such a miserable end befell to the re●all Citie of all the Ea●● , whence so many Nations did deriue their lawes and customes ; which was the seate of so many kings , and in times past the onely terour of Greece .

So that in and about this towne are to be seene the ruines of many ancient monuments : as two great gates , tha● are distan● one from the other the space of twelue miles , which shewes the circuite of this Citie , as it was in the time of the Monarchy , to be both large and spacious . On the South side we viewed the ruines of a goodly Pallace , ●●ilded as they say by King Cyrus , a Palla●● 〈◊〉 ●agnified by Aelianus in his first booke de animalibus . cap. 59. And on the North side the ruines of an old Castle , which seemes was gyrt about with a three-fold wall : ●he first wall being foure and twentie foote high , adorned and bea●●i●ied with many Tu●rets and spires : the second was like vnto the first , but twice as high ; ●nd the third was foure square , being foure score and ten foote high . All fabricated of free stone . On each side were twelue gates of Brasse , with brazen pales set before them very curiously wrought , all which did shew the magnificence of the founder . On the East side of this ruinous Castle , some foure ac●es of ground distant , is a mountaine , on which was erected a goodly Chappell , in which most of the Persian kings in anticke time were intombed . And though this Citie hath endured sundry mutations and changes , yet is it not to be esteemed one of the least Cities in Persia : for out of it in short time is leuied twentie thousand horsemen well armed . Besides it is one of the greatest and most famous Cities of the East , Excellent armour made in Syras . both for traffike of merchandize ; as also for most excellent armour and furniture , which the armorers with wonderfull cunning doe make of yron and steele , and the 〈◊〉 of certain hearbs , of much more notable temp●r and beautie , then are those which are made with vs in Europe ; not onely Headp●ec●s , Curiaffes , and complete armours , but whole caparisons for horses , curiously made of thinne plates of yron and steele .

Now by the s●tuation of this towne on the ri●er Bindamir , Batan a commodious por● towne in the Persian Golfe for the East Indian company . a verie profitable trade for the East Indian companie might be at Batan , an hauen towne in the Persian Gol●e , which trende●h in the forme of an halfe Moone , hauing a little pretie Iland , as a most commodious shelter , in the mouth of the same , whereby a sh●p of fiue hundred ●unnes and better may ride at pleasure . Very desirous is the Persian King that our shipping should come thither , or to any oth●r port in his dominions ; prom●sing oftentimes times ( as may be iustified very probably ) that it should be lawfull for vs to builde and fortifie , The riuer Iesdri ninneth close by Batan . and to enioy all priuiledges in as ample manner as his owne subiectes ; and that if the Portugals in Ormuz should offer violence to our shipping , that then hee would become their professed enemie : whose league of friendship ( I am assured ) they dare not in that Iland breake , standing so many waies beholding to the Persian King as they doe . Besides where wee planted in Batan , the King would quickly cut off the greatest trade of Merchandize eyther of raw silke or Indico from Tauris to Constantinople , and turne it vnto that harbour . There wee should haue a speedie vent for our broade cloath , Carsies , Tinne , and Lead , and haue in barter for the same whatsoeuer eyther the kingdome of Persia or India doth affoorde . So that in mine opinion to haue Batan for a resting and refreshing harbour after our tedious sayling through the great Ocean , were farre better then Bantam in Iaua , or Aden , or any other port in Arabia Felix ; places altogether of wrong and oppression , where little iustice is to bee found being so farre from Constantinople : Whereas Batan standeth in such a Countrey as is full of peace and tranquilitie , hauing a most iust and vpright Prince ( the onely true stay of traffike ) Lord of the same , whose onely care and endeuour is to maintaine and vpholde the trade of Merchandize . But to leaue these thinges to the Merchants , wee come now to the Kingdome of Assiria .

The description of ASSIRIA .

FRom Siras , hauing spent eight daies trauell and better , we entered into the Prouince of Susiana , now called Cu●estan , but in old time Assiria . The bounds of this Countrey , Northwards is on the South part of Armenia , Eastward on a part of Persia : Westward on Mesopotamia : and Southward on a part of the Persian Golfe , which part is 〈◊〉 of fennes and marish bogges , without either port or hauen . The climate in that part is exceeding hote , and very much infested with bituminous matter , which both spoiles the growth of trees , and corrupt the waters , whereby it comes to passe , that the people are not long liu'de . And howsoeuer this countrey was that land , wherein the first Monarchie was setled , so that many excellent things might be spoken of it ; yet since , it hath endured so many mutations and changes by the outrage of armies , that it hath lost her ancient name , I will be sparing to write thereof , least I should write many things rather fabulous then true , and therefore , laying aside the danger of lying , I will passe vnto those townes and ruines which I haue seene .

The description of Susa.

TRauelling two daies farther from the entrance into this Kingdome , Herodot . lib. 5. wee rested at Valdac , once the the great Citie Susa , but now verie ruinous . It was first built by Tythonus and his sonne Memnon , but inlarged by Darius the sonne of Histaspis .

In the building whereof Memnon was so exceeding prodigall , that as Cassiodorus writeth , he ioyned the stones together with gold . It was once one of the regal Cities of the Kings of Persia ; Cassiod . lib. 7. ●ariar . ●pist. 15. and was so rich that Aristag●ras did in this maner cheere vp the harts of his souldiers , when they came to besiege it . Hanc vos vrbem , si animose ceperitis , iam cum Ioue de diuitijs , licet certetis , If you can winne this Citie couragious souldiers , you may striue with Iupiter himselfe for riches : which Alexander had good experience of , when he found fiftie thousand talents in wedges of gold , besides siluer , and great store of coyne . Behold ( saith Q. Curtius ) that in an houre , which many kings had heaped together for posteritie , falleth now into the hands of a stranger . In a word such was the beautie and delectablenesse thereof for situation , that they called it Susa , which then in the Persian tongue signifyeth a Lilly , but now it is called Valdac , The riuer Ch●aspes . of the pouertie of the place .

Close by this ruinous towne swimmeth the famous Riuer Choaspes , which after many turnings and windings through the countrey of Susiana dischargeth it selfe in the Persian Golfe . The water of this riuer is very delicate to the tast ; so that it is no meruaile , though the Persian and Parthian kings in times past would by their good wils drink of no other water . For which purpose they had vessels of gold and siluer , to carry the same after them , whensoeuer they eyther did ride in prograce , or goe to the warres . Xerxes ( as Varr● relateth ) being on a time exceeding thirstie , caused proclamation to be made throughou● his campe , that if any soldier had any water of Choaspes left he should be well rewarded . And it so fell out , that a small quantitie was found , which though it was exceeding muddie by reason of carriage , yet that mightie Prince dranke freely of it . Of such account was ●his riuer in ancient time .

Hauing passed ouer this riuer , The description of Nineuie . we set forward towards Mosul , a very antient towne in this countrey , sixe dayes iourney from Valdas ; and so pitched on the bankes of the riuer Tigris . The magnificent building of Nineuie by Ninus . Here in these plaines of Assiria , and on the bankes of Tigris , and in the region of Eden , was Nineuie built by Nimrod , but finished by Ninus . It is agreed by all prophane writers , and confirmed by the Scriptures , that this citty exceeded all other citties in circuit , and answerable magnificence . For it seemes by the ruinous foundation ( which I throughly viewed ) that it was built with foure sides , but not equall or square ; for the two longer sides had each of them ( as we geffe ) an hundreth and fifty furlongs ; the two shorter sides , ninty furlongs , which amounteth to foure hundred and eighty furlongs of ground , which makes threescore miles , accounting eight furlongs to an Italian mile . The walles whereof were an hundreth foote vpright , and had such a breadth , as three Chariots might passe on the rampire in front : these walles were garnished with a thousand and fiue hundr●th towers , which gaue exceeding beauty to the rest , and a strength no lesse admirable for the nature of those times . Ninus reigned in Nineu●e . Here it was that Ninus raigned , who after he had maistred Bactria , and subiected vnto his Empire al those regions betweene it and the Mediterranean sea , and Hellespont ( Asia the lesse excepted ) & finished the worke of Nin●uie , he left the world i● the yeare thereof 2019. after he had reigned two and fifty yeares . After him succeeded Semiramis his wife , The rich and sumptuous tombe of Ninus . a Lady of great prowesse and vertue , who in this citty buried him so honourably and in such a sumptuous tombe , that it was the onely patterne which Artemesia the Queene of Caria made for her husband Mausolus , and accounted for the rarenesse thereof , one of the seauen wonders of the world . Vpon the Pillars whereof was set this Epitaph . His Epitaph . Mihi pat●r Belus Iupiter , Auus Saturnus Babilonicus , proauus Chus Saturnus Aethiops , Abauus Saturnus Aegiptus , Atauus Coelus Phoenix Ogyges , repeating the pedegree of Ninus to be the son of Belus , the sonne of Nimrod , the sonne of Chus , the son of Cham , and the sonne of Noah .

Sardanapolus the last king of the Assyrians . Now as the Monarchie of the Assyrians began by Ninus , which lasted for the space of a thousand and two hundred yeares , and some adde fortie yeares more : so it ended in Sardanapalus , that beastly Epicure , who finding his forces too weake to fight against the power of Arbaces and Belochus his two Lieutenant● , the one in Media , and the other in Babylon , retired out of the field to his pallace in Niniuie , and there caused an huge fire to be made , Sardanapalus destroyeth himselfe . into which hee cast himselfe and all his riches ; herein onely playing the man . Such was the effeminate wantonnes of this King , that he consumed whole daies in the nurcerie among his concubines , sparing no time from incontinent exercises . As appeares by the Epitaph , which liuing , he commanded to be written on his tomb : His Epi●●ph . Ede , Bibe , Lude . Eate , Drinke , Play . Which Epitaph , Aristotle chancing to find , stayed , and read the first part thereof , and smiling , said : A man wold thinke , this writing fitter to be fixed to the graue of an oxe , then written vpon the tombe of a Prince And hauing perused the three verses , concluded , That Sardanapalus enioyed that being dead , which liuing he neuer had , but so long as he was in feeding his panch . Intimating , that all pleasures which are not reduced to necessity and honestie , are very reprochfull

San●he●ib slain by h●s 2. sons . 2. Reg. 19 37. Herodotus lib. 2. Here also raigned and dyed Saneherib , who at his returne from the beseeging of Ierusalem was slaine by his two sons , Adramelech & Sharezar , as he was in the temple worshipping Nisro●h his god . Herodotus relates , that after his death , an image was set vp v●to him with this inscription ; Learne by me to feare God ; for a memoriall of Gods iudgement against him .

Finally , that this city was farre greater then Babilon , being the Lady of the East , the Queene of Nations , and the riches of the world , hauing more people within her wals , then are now in some one kingdome : but now it is destroyed ( as God foretold it should be by the Chaldaeans ) being nothing else , then a sepulture of herself , a litle towne of small trade , where the Patriarch of the Nestorians keeps his seate , at the deuotion of the Turkes . Sundry times had we conference with this Patriarch : and among many other speeches which past from him , he wished vs that before we departed , to see the Iland of Eden , but twelue miles vp the riuer , which he affirmed was vndoubtedly a part of Paradise .

The description of the Iland of Eden .

THis Iland lyes in the heart of the riuer Tigris , and is ( as we could guesse ) in circuit ten English miles , and was somtimes walled round about with a wall of strong defence , as appeares by the ruinous foundation of bricke which there remaineth . And howsoeuer the beautifull land of Eden is now forgotten in these part● , with those flourishing countries of Mesopotamia , Assyria , Babylonia , and Chald●a , being all swallowed vp into meere Barbarism , yet this Iland stil retains the name of the I le of Eden

Now whither this Iland were the very Eden of Paradise , is not probable : but certaine it is , that , that garden of Pleasure , which God chose out to set Adam into , was seated in the lower part of the Region of Eden , The Description of the Region of Eden . afterward called Aram fluuiorum , or Mesopotamia : a country which Southwards stretcheth it self ouer the great riuer Euphrates , toward Shinar nie Babylon : and Northwards containeth that continent of Mesopotamia , Assyria , and Armenia , which is watred with Tigris , between mount Taurus and Seleucia .

That there was such a Paradise as the garden of Eden , That Paradise was vpo● the earth , is without all disput● . vpon earth , is without all dispute , because the Scriptures tell vs of it : And the Lord God planted a Garden , Eastward in Eden , and there he put the man whom he had made . gen. 2.8 . And it is said of Caine , that he dwelt in the land of Noa towards the East side of Eden . gen. 4.16 . The Prophets likewise doe often make mention of the land of Eden and the inhabitants thereof , As in Esay 37.12 . where after Gozan , and Haran , and Reseph , the Prophet speaketh also of the children of Eden which were at Telasser . And the Prophet Ezechiel in the. 27. chap. and 23. vers. bewailing the desolation of Tyrus , sheweth what Merchants resorted thither , and among many other nations , he reconeth the merchants of Eden . Now as they make mention of the land of Eden , so also of the garden it selfe . How is this land wast , which was like the garden of Eden . Ezech. 36.35 . And in the Prophet Ioel. 2.3 . the land is as the garden of Eden before him . By which places of scripture it is euident that the garden of Eden , was a certaine place vpon the earth , which God chose out ( aboue all other places of the world ) to set Adam into after he had created him .

Paradice planted in the country of Eden neere Babilonia And that the very Eden of Paradice was in this contrey is plaine by the relation of Moses , who saith that it was eastward in Eden , that is , it lying eastward ( as this countrey doth ) from Indaea . For so it is sayd , that the Lord God planted a garden Eastward in Eden , which quarter of the world is to be vnderstood , eastward , in respect of Iud●a . Besides this countrey standeth in the most excellent temper of all other , to wit fiue and thirty degrees from the Equinoctiall line , and fiue and fifty from the North-pole : in which climate the best wines , the most delicate fruits , the sweetest oyle , and the purest graine of all sorts , are this day found in great aboundance .

The riuers which watered Paradic● . Againe the very riuers , which course through this countrey , doe make good , that the very Eden of Paradice , was here planted : For Moses describeth , that a riuer went out of Eden to water this garden , and from thence deuided it selfe into four● braunches : and we find by experience , that Tigris and Euphrates , running through this country of Eden doe ioyne in one , and afterward taking seuerall waies a part , doe water both the land of Chus , and Hauilah , as Moses relateth : the true seates of Chus and his sonnes , beeing then in the valley of Shinar , in which Nimrod built Babell , and not in Ethyopia as some would haue it . And as for the land of Hauilah , that country ioyned to Persia eastward , where Hismael and his Sonnes dwelt : for they dwelt from Hauilah vnto Shur , that is towards Aegipt , as thou goest to Assiria . Gen. 25.18 . And therefore they that make the riuer Pison to bee Ganges , The e●our of those disproued , which make P●son to be Nilus . doe contrary both Scripture , experience , and reason . For how can the riuer Ganges , which runneth through the great Mogors country in the East-Indies , be a braunch of those riuers which watred Eden , since the riuer Tigres ( though it rise in the same quarter of the world ) is distant from Ganges , aboue foure thousand miles ? And as for them that would haue , the riuer Gihon to bee Nilus , doe dreame of an impossibility ; because the riuer Nilus is farther distant from Tigris and Euphrates , then Ganges is : being begotten in the mountaines of the Moone in Ethyopia , almost as farr●e off as the cape of good hope ( which our East-Indian shippes doe double ) and falleth into the Mediterranean-Sea ; whereas Euphrates springeth ( as we haue said ) out of the Mountaines of Armenia , and falleth into the golfe of Persia : the one rising South which is Nilus , and running North ; the other rising North , which is Euphrates , and coursing South , threescore & three degrees one from the other . Strange fertility and happinesse in the region of Eden . Finally this country aboundeth with all kind of fertility and happinesse though not in that exquisit manner , as before the fall of Adam , because it was accursed in special , like as all the earth in generall , yet thus much I find written of it ; Strabo maketh mention of the South-part of Armenia , which is the North border of Eden , or a part thereof ; to bee a region which aboundeth with most pleasant fruites and delightfull trees , alwaies greene and florishing , witnessing therby a perpetual spring , not found elswhere , but the Indies only . And Q. Curtius writeth on this maner : As you trauell on the left hand of Arabia ( famous for plenty of sweet odours ) there lieth a champain country placed between the two riuers Tigris and Euphrates , and is so fruitful and fat a soile , that they are said to driue there cattaile from the pasture , least they should perish by Satietie . And true it is that the vngy , or hay , which groweth in these parts , is of so strong an operatiue power to fatten , that they are constrained ( before they giue it their cattaile ) to flake and coole the heats thereof with water .

Herodotus speaketh as an eye-witnesse , that the place where Euphrates runneth out into Tigris , not farre from the place where Ninus is seated , is a Region , of al other● most excellent , which bringeth forth corne so aboundantly , that the ordinary fields in his time did returne the seed sowne in them two hundreth fold : the better places three hundreth , that is thr●e hundreth bushels for one , Palme-trees in gre●t aboundance . or at the least three hundreth graines for one corne . And there is nothing that better proueth the excellency of this soile , then the aboundant growing of Palm-trees , in these places , without the care & labor of man . The most of which trees do beare fruit , out of which the inhabitants make both meat , & wine , & hony , and whatsoeuer else the life of man begetteth at nature . Pliny affirmeth , that such is the fertility of the ground , that they are constrained twise , to mow down their corne-fields , Pliny . nat. ●i . stor . lib. 18. c. 17. & a thi●d time to eate them vp with sheepe : adding this singularity to the soile , that the second yeere , the very stubble ( or rather falling downe of the seed againe ) yeeldeth them a haruest of corne without any farther labour .

So that by these few collections we may gather , that they are farre besides the truth , which haue sought Paradise , either beyond our knowne world , or in the middle region of the aire ; or nere the Moone ; or as far as the South-line ; or the North-pole , beeing meere vanities imagined in mens fancies . Cardinal Bellarmin● in his controuersi●s is likewise much troubled , to finde out the place where Paradise should bee , Bella●m . lib. de Grat. primi hominis . whether it be in the earth or in the aire ; yea some are so mad , that they doe peremptorily set downe , that the earthly Paradise , after Adam was banished thence for his sin , was by God lifted vp into the aire : but this ( as His Maiesty learnedly sheweth in his Praemonition to al Christi●n Monarchs , free Princes and states ) is like one of the dreames of the Turkish Alcoran , s●eing no such miracle is mentioned in the scriptures , h●uing no ground but from the curious fancies of some boiling braines , who cannot be content sapere ad sobrietatem . We conclude then , that the garden of Eden was created by God , in this habitable world , and that in the lower part of the region of Eden , called by the Iewes Aram Fluuiorum , Aram amongst the ●iuers : and by the Greekes M●s●potamia , conteyning a part of Shinar & Armenia , and reteining the name of Eden , in some part vnto this day , as before is declared .

From the Island of Eden wee returned to Mosu● , and staied there eight daies & so went down the riuer Tigris to Bagd●t or New Babilon , beeing carried not on boat , as down the riuer Euphrates , but vpon certaine Zatarres or rafts , borne vpon goates skins blowne full of winde like bladders . Which rafts they sel at Bagdat for fire , The strang coursing o● the riuer Tigris . & carry their skins againe home vpon Asses by land , to make other voiages down the said riuer . This riuer is very famous because it watered Paradise , whose coursing is very strang : for some part of it , issuing out of the Mountaines Nifates , passeth through the lake Topiti in Armenia , ( a lake which hath Nitrum in it , the property whereof is to rent and teare a mans apparell ) with such swiftnesse , that it mingles not it selfe with the water of the said lake , and therevpon it is called Tigris , which in the languag of the Medes signifieth an arrow . Nere to the vttermost corner of this lake , it falleth into a great deepe & runneth for a great space vnder ground , and then riseth againe neere to Colonitis , and from thence courseth towards Opis and the ruins of Nineuy , and so to 〈…〉 Persian gulfe .

The description of New Babilon , now called Bagdat .

BY this riuer the cittie Bagdat is very aboundantly furnished with all kinde of prouision both of corne , flesh , fowle , fish , and venison of all sorts ; besides great store of fruit , but especially of dates , and that very cheape . This citty by some is called new Babilon , and may well be , because it did rise out of the ruines of old Babilon , not farre distant , being nothing so great , nor so faire : for it conteines in circuit but three English miles ; and is built but of brick dryed in the sunne : their houses also beeing flat roofed and lowe . They haue no raine for eight moneths together , nor almost any clowd in the skie night nor day . Their winter is in Nouember , December , Ianuary and February , which moneths are neuerthelesse as warme as our summer in England . In a word , this towne was once a place of great trade and profit , by reason of the huge Carauans , which were wont to come from Persia and Balsara : but since the Portugalls , Englishmen , and Hollanders , haue by their traffique into the East-Indies , cut off almost all the trade of Marchandize into the gulfs of Arabia and Persia , both Grand Cairo in Egipt , and Bagdat in Assyria , are not now of that benefit , as they haue beene , either to the merchant , or great Turke ; his tributes both in Egypt , and his customes in this place being much hindred thereby .

Bagdat the seat of the Caliph for sixe hundreth yeere● . Memorable not withstanding is this towne ; for that it was the onely place , where for the space of six hundreth yeares , the Mahumetane Caliphes were resident and kept their sumptuous court ; vntill the Tartare Prince and the King of Armenia ( as before is declared ) did besiege it , Bagdat won by the Tartar Prince and King of Armenia . and in the end tooke it , with the Caliph also , together with an inestimable masse of treasure . Which treasure when the two Princes saw , they demanded of the Caliph , why he would not with the same leauy and wage souldiers for his owne defence . Whereunto he answered , that vnto that time , he thought , his owne subiects had beene sufficient enough to haue resisted any forraine enemie : which they vnderstanding , immediatly caused all that treasure to be carried into the castle , and the couetou● wretch set in the midst of the same , forbidding that any man should giue him either meat or drink , where he miserably dyed through famine , Bagdat yeelded vnto the Turkes . in the midst of his riches .

After it continued vnder the Tartar and Persian gouernment , vntil it was taken by Solyman the Turkish Emperor , from Tamas the Persian king , who ( after it was yeelded vnto him ) according to an old superstitious manner , receiued at the hands of a poore Caliph , A Caliph is a man reuerenced of all Mahometa● Princes , and hath an old priuiledge in the choice & confirmation of the Assyrian kings and Su●ans of Egyp● the ensignes and ornaments of the kings of Assyria ▪ so this city , with the great countries of Assyria and Mesopotamia , somtimes famous kingdomes of themselues , and lately part of the Persian kingdome , fell into the hands of the great Turke , in the yeare 1534 , and so haue continued euer since Prouinces of the Turkish Empire . It was reported vnto Rodulphus the Emperor for a certaine truth , that the king of Persia had won this citie & these countries again from the Turk , in the yeare 1604 but that newes was not true ; for in Aprill last 1611 , it was then vnder the Turkish gouernement .

Within two daies trauell of Bagdat , At Case the body of Aly intombed . lyeth Cafe a little village , where the bodies of Aly , whome the Persians honor , and his two sons Hassan and Ossain lye entombed : by whose sepulchers , it is in great credit , and is euery vere visited by the Persians in all respects , after the same sort , that the Turks do visit the sepulchers of the three first successors Abuchacher , Ottaman , and Omar : yea the very Kings of Persia vsed to be crowned and gi●t with the sword in this place , where the Caliph was wont to keepe his residence as being the man that represented Aly , and occupied the chiefe roome of their filthy & abhominable priest-hood .

Hauing stayed 20. daies at Bagdat , wee put our selues into the company of a Chiaus , who was bound from the Bassa of Bagdat for Constantinople , being in number sixeteen persons and no more , to trauell through a great part of Chaldaea , and the defart of Arabia . So soon as we were out of this cittie , we passed ouer the swift riuer Tigris , on a great bridge made with boats , chained together with two mighty chaines of Iron : and so entred into a part of Bagdat , on this side of the riuer , like London and Southwarke , where we stayed foure dayes .

The description of Chaldaea .

THis part of new Babylon standeth in Chaldaea , which hath on the East , Assyria : on the West , Syria and Palestina : on the North , Armenia : and on the South the desart of Arabia . It is called by some , by the name of Mesopotamia , because it lyeth in the middle of the two great riuers Euphrates and Tigris . This country is famous for many things : and among the rest , for that it was the country wherein Abraham was borne . The country wherein Abra●am was born For Eupolemon in his booke of the Iewes , relateth , that about the tenth generation from the ●loud , Abraham was borne in Camerine , a towne of Babylonia , otherwise called Vr , or Chaldeopole : where he inuented Astronomie , and was in such fauour with God , that by his commaundement , he remoued into Phoenicia , and there taught the course of the Moone , of the Sun , and of the Planets , to the great liking of the king of that country : all which ( saith the same Author ) he had receiued by tradition from Enoch , whom the Greeks call Atlas , vnto whom the Angell had taught many things . Besides , here were the great Southsayers , Enchanters , and Wise-men , as they call them : the first Astrologians , which are so described and derided in the Scripture : and indeed from this country and Egypt is supposed to haue sprung ●e first knowledge of Astronomie .

Two places of great antiquity did we throughly view in the country : The tower of Babel . the one was the ruines of the old tower of Babel , ( as the inhabitants hold vnto this day ) bu●lt by Nymrod , the nephew of Cham , Noahs sonne : a man very valiant and couragious , yet very prophane and irreligious ; insom●ch , that he perswaded the nations about him , that all their prosperitie and happie fortune came not from God , The perswasion of Nimrod . but from their owne prowesse and industrie : giuing them farther to vnderstand , that if God should send any more flouds , he would on their behalfe and his predecessours take reuenge on him , by building a tower so high , that the waters should not dare to touch the top thereof . Hereupon they began to build , and continued building ( as ●lycas saith ) forty yeares together , raising the worke to such an height , that it was beyond all expectation . But God seeing their madnes , did not punish them with a generall extermination , ( because as yet they had made no vse of those fearefull examples which perished in the Floud ) but made them mutinous one against another , by changing their language , whereby they could not vnderstand one another . Of which ouerthrow Sybilla thus prophecied : At such time as men vsed one kind of language , they builded a most high tower , as if they would haue mounted vp into heauen : but the Gods sent downe winds and ouerthrew the tower , giuing euery one his distinct and seuerall language ,

So that the Diuision of Languages was not a deuise of man , The diuision of languages no humane d●uice , but a p●nishment of God vp● on mankind . ( as some wicked spirits that call that storie into question , would haue it ) but a punishment cast by God vppon mankind . For it was a common opinion ( by the verdict of Abidenus ) that men beeing bredde of the earth , and trusting in their owne strength , would needes , in despight of the Gods , go reare a to●er vp to the Sunne , in the same place , where Babylon now is : and farther addeth , That at that time beganne the diuersitïe of Languages , wh●rupon the Hebrewes called that place Babell ▪ And now at this day that which remayneth , is called , the remnant of the tower of Babel : there standing as much , as is a quarter of a mile in compasse , and as high as the stone-worke of Paules steeple in London . It was built of burnt bricke cimented and ioyned with bituminous mortar , to the end , that it should not receiue any cleft in the same . The brickes are three quarters of a yard in length , and a quarter in thicknesse , and between euery course of brickes , there lyeth a course of mat● made of Canes and Palme-tree leaues , so fresh , as if they had beene layd within one yeare .

The description of old Ba●ylon . The other place remarkable is , the ruines of old Babylon , because it was the first citie , which was built after the Floud . For after Nimrod had drawn the people together , he did not onely make lawes , but began to build the great citie Babylon , his son Belus amplifying it , and at last Semiramis , the wife of Ninus , finished it in great glory & shew , as Herodotus and Solinus relate . ●erod . lib. 1. This city was built vpon the riuer Euphrates , as we found by experience , spending two dayes iourney and better , o● the ruines therof . It was so great that it contayned in compasse foure hundred and fourescore furlongs , the walles were fiftie cubites in breadth , ●rist . Pol. li. 3. and two hundred cubits high . Aristotle reports , that it was so huge and great , that when part therof was taken by the enemie , the other part heard not of it in three dayes together : and the Inhabitants were so many in number , that they durst giue battell vnto Cyrus , the greatest Monarch for power that euer was in Persia.

Amongst other stately buildings was the temple of Bel , erected by Semiramis in the middle of this citie , 〈◊〉 of Belus 〈◊〉 by Semi●ais . inuironed with a double wall , carried foure-square of great heighth and beautie , hauing on each square certaine brazen gates curiously engrauen . In the vault of the square , shee raysed a tower of a furlong high , which is halfe a quarter of a mile : and vppon it againe ( taking a Basis of a lesse circuit ) shee set a second tower ; and so eight in all , one aboue another : Vppon the toppe whereof the Chaldaeans Priests made their obseruation of the stars , because the tower ouer-topped the ordinary clouds . Some do thinke , that the ruins of Nimrods tower , is but the foundation of this temple of Bel , & that therefore many trauellers haue bin deceiued , who suppose that they haue seene a part of that tower which Nimrod builded . But who can tel whether it be the one or the other ? It may bee that confused Chaos which we saw , was the ruines of both , the Temple of Bel being founded on that of Nimrod . In a word their were burnt in t●is Temple an hundreth thousand talents of Frankincence in a yeere as Herodotus relateth . This Temple did Nabuchadnezar adorne and beautifie with the spoiles of Ierusalem , and of the Temple of Solomon : all which vessels & ornaments Cyrus re-deliuered . And Xerxes after him euened this Temple with the soile ; which Alexander is said to haue repaired , by the perswasion of the Chaldeans . I denie not that it might haue been in his minde so to doe , but hee enioyed but a few yeeres after the taking of Babilon , and therefore could not performe any such worke .

But to returne where wee left . The captiuit● confirmed b● the Heathen To this city were the Iewes carried captiues , and so thereof it was called the captiuity of Babilon . A captiuity so well known to heathen writers , that they make mention of it . For they expresly affirme , that in the time of Ioachim King of Iuda , Ieremie the Prophet was sent vnto them from God , to foretell them of extreame calamity , because they worshipped an Idol called Baal ; whervpon ( as they relate ) Ioachim commanded Ieremy to be burnt aliue . But Ieremy tels them , that the King of Assiria should put them to sore labor , & make them to digge a channel , to saile , out of the riuer Euphrates , into the riuer Tigris : wherevpon Nabuchadnezar did set forward with a mighty army spoyling Samaria , winning Ierusalem , and leading away King Ioachim prisoner . Yea they doe set downe the very time of the captiuity : viz. that it should last three score yeers and ten : and that Nabuchadnezar at his returne to Babilon , was stricken with madnesse , and did cry out for a certaine time , night and day to his subiects the Babilonians , that so great a mischiefe would shortly fall vpon them , that all the power of the Gods should not stay it . For ( quoth he ) an halfe asse of Persia shall come & make you thrals : foreshewing that Cyrus should bee the man , which should both build againe the Temple of Ierusalem , and subdue Babilon . So that now wee may iustly aske ; what is become of this proud city , which once held the world in awe ? Where are her conduits , the rarenesse of her bathes , the hugenesse of her towers , the greatnesse of her Temples , the beauty of her princely palaces , & a number of other monuments of her kings vanities ? Alas ! time hath worne them out : and we may say .

Miramur perijsse homines ? monumenta fatiscunt : interitus Saxis nominibusque venit . Why wonder we that men doe die ? Since monuments decay , And towers fall , and founders names , Doe perish cleane away .

For first she was subdued by the Medes , then by the Persians ; after by the Grecians , then by the Saracens ; then by the Tartars , after that by the Persians againe : & now by the Turkes . So God doth appoint , and God doth disapoint states and commonwealthes , according to the decree of his Eternall will , sinne being the only cause of his anger , his anger the cause of all calamities and subuersion of Kingdomes , according to that of Syrach ; Regnum a gente in gentem transferetur propter i●iustitiam . Because of vnrighteous dealing and wrongs , and riches gotten by deceit , 〈◊〉 , 10. the Kingdom is translated from one people to another .

The description of Arabia .

FRom the ruines of old Babilon wee set forwards to Alepo ; traueling , for the most part , through the Desart Arabia . This country of Arabia hath on the North Palestina , and Mesopotamia : on the East the golfe of Persia : on the South the maine Ocean of India ; on the West Egipt & the red-sea . It is deuided into three parts : the North-part whereof , is the desart Arabia : the South-part is called Arabia Foelix : and the middle betweene both , is Arabia Petrosa . It is not my purpose to write any thing either of Arabia Foelix , or Arab●a Petrosa , because they lie not in the compasse of my trauell : onely it shall not be amisse to insert a word or two , of Mahomet and his superstition , who was borne in this country , and hath seduced the greatest part of the world with his abominable religion .

Concerning Mahomet , The opinion of them of Mecha touching Mahome● their Prophe● the people of Mecha ( where he lieth intombed ) doe altogether condemne him both for his robberies and murders . And himselfe in his Alcoran confesseth himselfe to be a sinner , an idolator , an adulterer , and inclined to women aboue measure , and that in such vnciuil termes , a I am ashamed to repeate .

And concerning his Alcoran , wherein hee hath inserted the precepts of his inuention , The Turkish religion a meere s●igne inuention . there is no truth in it . For first vpon paine of death , it may not bee disputed vpon , whereas the truth loues triall , so that though the Arabians , Turkes , and Persians will not spare to say , and that vauntingly , that the doctrine of Mahomet , is diuine & conformable both to the old & new Testament , yet as good as they make it , you may not examine it or call it into question ; as if a man should say , behold you are paide in good money ; but you must not weigh it , neither looke vpon it by day-light . 2 Besides his Alcoran is pestred with a number of fables and falsities , as nine hundreth vntruthes ; It is ful of li●● and fables . whereof two are most grosse , that Abraham was the sonne of Lazarus : and Mary the sister of Aaron . 3. Againe it pointeth out at things sensible and corporall , and not to things internall and spirituall : for Mahomet most blasphemously reporteth in his prograce vp to the throne of God , that hee felt the hand of God three-score and ten times colder , then any yee : that he saw an Angel that had a thousand heads , a diamond table of a thousand miles in length , and a Cocke of a wonderfull bignesse , which is kept vntil the day of doome , that then by the shrilnesse of his crowing the dead may be raised : and further he setteth it downe that the diuell is circumcised , with this leasing also , that the starres , are very candles hung out euery night from the firmament . Th● promises are meere carnall pleasures . 4. And for his promises to all such as call vpon him faithfully , are meere carnal and earthly , such as I am ashamd to name , being fit for none but Heliogabalus , and Sardanapalus . 5. His precepts are indulgent to periury , giuing leaue to haue as many wiues as a man will , to couple themselues not only with one of the same sex , but with bruit beasts also : to spoile one anothers goods , and none to be accused vnder foure witnesses . Mahomet wrought no mir●cles , but propagated his doctrine with fire and sword . 6. For his miracles he wrought none at al , but hee confesseth that God sent Moses with miracles , and Christ his forerunner with miracles , but for himselfe he was to come with fire and sword to force men , to obey his law , whereas the truth doth draw men of their own accords : rediculous also is that which hee writeth of himselfe , how when hee was a child , an Angel was sent from God to open his heart , and to take out that lumpe of bloud , which is the cause of sinne , The effects of ●he Turkish religion . as though the cause thereof were not spirituall . 7. The effect of his doctrine is periury , as that they need not to keepe any oth made with a Christian , who is an Infidell : and also murder , as the eldest brother , so soone as hee commeth to weare the crowne , to strangle all the rest . For instance whereof , Mahome● the third ( this Kings father that now swaieth the Scepter at Constantinople ) did not onely murder his brethren , but to rid himselfe of the feare of all competitours ( the greatest torment of the mighty ) at the very same time caused ten of his fathers wiues and concubines , such as by whom any issue were to bee feared , to bee all drowned in the sea .

And is it not now a wonder , that the people of the Turks and Persians , being both warlike and politicke , magnificent and stately , and to say in a word , the very hammer of the world , as it was said of Babylon , should be thus ledde away with these vild inchantments of their wicked Prophet Mahomet . I will say no more , but since the darknes of Turkie and Persia is so great , that it may be felt , and that it is a wonder in our eyes , to see such mists in those places , then let vs in this land reioyce , that are not onely endued with nature as they are , but with a speciall inspiration from aboue besides : hauing the celestiall doctrine of the euerlasting Sonne of God , to guide vs vnto true happinesse . For certainely the time will come , when both the great Turke and his Bassaes , and the Persian with his Chans , shall bitterly rue the time , and wish , with the losse of both their eyes , that they had but heard and seene , as much as we haue done .

Let this then perswade my louing Countri-men , that either shall hereafter serue in the warres of Hongary against the Turk ▪ or trade in those places , vtterly to detest the Turk●sh Religion , as the only way that treads to death and destruction . Lud. Viues 〈◊〉 1. de ve●itate Fidei . We may conclude with Ludouicus Viues , who compareth Heathenisme and Mahometisme , to glasse : Touch not glasse , for though it be bright , yet is it brittle , it cannot endure the hammer : and Christianisme to gold , do you melt it , or doe you rubbe it , or do you beate it , it shineth still more orient .

But to returne where wee left , hauing spent three dayes and better , from the ruines of old Babylon , wee came vnto a towne called Ait , inhabited onely with Arabians , but very ruinous . The mouth c. Hell . Neere vnto which towne is a valley of pitch very merueilous to behold , and a thing almost incredible , wherein are many springs throwing out aboundantly a kinde of blacke substance , like vnto tarre and pitch , which serueth all the countries thereabouts to make staunch their barkes and boates ; euery one of which springs maketh a noise like a Smiths forge , in puffing and blowing out the matter , which neuer ceaseth night nor day , and the noyse is heard a mile off , swallowing vp all weighty things that come vpon it . The Moores call it , the mouth of hell .

Heere wee entred on the Desart of Arabia , wherein it pleased God , after the deliuery of his people out of Egipts fornace , to exercise them , for their rebellion , vnder the conduct of Moses for fortie yeeres together ; feeding them from heauen with Manna ; and giuing them drinke miraculously out of the drie rockes . Three daies spent wee on this Desart , Anna a towne in Arabia . and so arriued at Anna , a town of three miles in length , but very narrow , inhabited altogether with Curdies , a most theeuish people . Here we staied two daies , and could not bee suffered to passe without a present to the gouernor of this towne , which came to a duckat a peece . Close by this towne runneth the riuer Euphrates , with a very swift current , which doth merueilously fructiferate the country round about , whereby we prouided our selues of all necessaries fit for trauaile through the rest of the Desart .

F●om this towne wee proceeded , and euery second night , through the good descretion of our guid , we pitched on the bancke of the riuer Euphrates , which much refreshed our selues and wearied beasts , beholding euery day , great droues of wild beasts , as wild Asses all white , Gasells , Wolues , Leopards , Foxes , and Hares . And now to winde vp all , in passing from Babilon to Alepo , they ordinarily with Camels spend forty daies , trauelling through this sory & barren Desart ▪ lying vnmanured because of the scarcity of moisture . Neuerthelesse great is the mutuall commerce and trade , through these sandy and barren places , and that by the labour of Camels , which carry wonderous burdens , as a thousand weight a peece , The Cam●ll a commodious beast . and that for forty daies and vpwards . They drink in these sterill and sandy places , but once euery fifth day , and if extremity inforce , they will indure the want of water tenne or twelue daies . When their burdens are off , a few thistles , thornes , or leaues of trees , and a little round ball of paste made of barley meale wil suffice them . There is no lyuing creature lesse chargeable , and more laborious then the Camel , how beit wee vsed not their seruice , by reason of the speed which the Chiaus made for Constantinople , so that the trauell with the Carauan is forty daies about ; wee passed in eighteene daies in much security , and so in great safety by the mercy of God I arriued againe in Alepo .

FINIS .

ERRATA .

PAg. 6. l. 26. read corn and. p. 10. l. 32. read Mildenal . p. 25. l. 26. r. Maidin on an house . p. 25. l. 31. r. then for . pa. 28. l. 26. r. funera . p. 30. l. 26. r. Ararat . p. 37. l. 5. r. as . p. 38. li. 21. r. was . p. 50. l. 22. r. street . l. 25. r. street . p. 63. l. 35. r. was . p. 65. l. 5. r. inexorable . p. 68. l. 25. d. one . p. 73. l. 8. r. firre p. 75. li. 24. r. is this . p. 84. l. 1. r. Siras . l. 2. d city . p. 85. l. 14. r. antique .

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