Pilgrimage, Book 4 · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
Of the alterations of the State and Religion in Persia, vnderunder the Saracens.
THe Saracens (as is already shewed) a people bred, as it were, of putrifaction in that corrupt estate of the World, dispossessed of his stato and life Ormisdas the last Persian King. Their Religion had sustained small alteration in Persia before this time, for aught I finde, sauing what the Christian had in these parts preuailed, (which belongeth to another taske.) But from that time that the Saracens were Conquerours, the soules of the Persians hauehave no lesse beene subiect to those foolish Mahumetan superstitions then their bodies to cruell slauerie: yea the aCurio Sara. histor.lib. 1. Blondus saith, that Mahumet was present at their first conquest, and that by his command they relinqu…shed their name, & accepted the Saracen. dec. 1. libr.9.name of Persian was drowned in the title of Saracens. Homar was then Caliph. But when Iezid the sonne of Muavi was Priest and King (such are the Caliphs) of the Saracens, Mutar, the Deputy or Gouernour of Persia, proclaimed himselfe a Prophet, and seised on the state: from him the Persian Sophi deriueth his originall. When Iezid was dead, the Inhabitants of Cufa in Arabia proclaimed Hocem the sonne of Ali, Caliph: but Abdalam the sonne of Iezid intrapped and slew him: and at his Sepulchre was after erected the city Carbala. This Hocem had twelue sonnes, Zeinal, Abadin, Zeinal Muamed, Bagner Muamed, Giafar Cadeneg, Ciafar Musa, Cazin Musa, Hali Macerat, Alle Muamed Taguin, Muamed Halmaguin, Alle Hacem Asquerin, Hacem Muamed Mahadin: This last bBarr. As.dec.2.lib.10.c.6.the Persians say that he is not yet dead, but that he shall come sitting on a horse, to preach their Law to all Nations: beginning in Massadalle where Ali his grandfather lieth buried. And therfore they hauehave there alway a horse prepared ready, which in time of Diuine Seruice, on a certaine festiuall day, they bring with Lights burning to the Temple in which Ali is buried, praying him to send his nephew quickely. That day is solemnely celebrated with so great concourse of people, as a Portugall there present said hee had neuer seene the like. The other eleuen brethren were buried in diuers places. To returne to Mutar; Abdimelec one of the following Calipha's, sent Ciafa against him, by whose ouerthrow that new Prophet wanne new and greater estimation then before. But an other tyrant, Abdala Zubir, arising amongst the Saracens, sent his brother Musub against Mutar, who slew Mutar, and was soone after slaine himselfe of Abdimelec, who recouered againe that Prouince of Persia. Abdimelec being dead, in the yeare seuen hundred and two and twenty, Gizid his sonne cCurio Sarac. hist.lib.2.succeeded, and an other Gizid vsurped the Scepter in Persia, but was ouerthrowne by Masabner the Captaine of Abdimelecs sonne.
In the reigne of Marvan, Asmulin tooke on him the protection of Mutars Sect, affirming Ali to be greater then Mahumet: he was Prince of the Corasens in Persia, and by one Catabanus his counsell incited the seruants, by force or treachery, to kill their Masters: and these being growne great by their Maisters wealth were diuided into two factions, the Caisms, and the Lamonites. Asmulin Captaine of the Lamonites destroyed the Caismi: and with his Lamonites, and Catabanus, inuaded Persia, and were there incountred by Iblinus the Lieutenant with an armie of an hundred thousand men; but the Lamonites by the incouragement of Asmulin and Catabanus (whom they reckoned holy men) discomfited him and his; and after incountred Marvan himselfe with three hundred thousand men, and made him to flee with foure thousand into Aegypt, where Salin the sonne of Asmulin ouerthrew him. Thus the Maruanian race being expelled (the reliques whereof setled themselues in Fesse and Spaine) Asmulin, from whom the family of the Sophi descendeth, with Catabanus reigned ouer the Saracens.
By this which hath bin said, appeareth a continual difference betwixt the Persians, and other Saracens about their Religion; eyther (as some affirme) for that the Persians preferred Ali to Mahumet, or for that (which is more likely) they accounted Ali, and not any of the other three (Eubocar, Osmen, or Homar) to be the true successour of Mahumet. The Sultans or Deputies of Persia, which gouerned there vnderunder the Chaliph, vsed that their schismaticall fancie, as they sawe occasion to their owne ambitious designes, vnderunder colour of Religion. Among the rest Muamet or Mahumet is famous, who being hardly beset for the like cause by his Maister, the Chaliph of Bagadet, required aide, (as before is more largely shewed) eLibr.3.ca.8…of the Turkish Nation then wandering in part of Armenia, called of them Turcomania, who sent him for his succour three thousand Turkes vnderunder the leading of Tangrolipix, by whose helpe Pisasiris the Califa was ouerthrowne. And after this hee obtained both the Sultanship of Persia, in the yeare of our LORD, 1030. and also slew Pisasiris, and enioyed that soueraignty: fKnolies.from thenceforth the Califa's of Bagadet being stripped of their temporalls, but retayning still the places of Patriarchs of their Religion (as some relate) euen to this day. The Turkes thus possessing the Persian royalty, and possessed of the Persian superstitions, there reigned one hundred and seuentie yeares, the Tartars then chasing them out of Persia. For after gHaithon de Tartar.that Changis Can had founded that Empire, Hocota, or Occoda Can his successour sent out his sonnes diuers wayes with diuers armies with intent to subdue the world, Iochi conquered Turquestan and Persia: and not long after Mango Can sent Haolon his brother, who continued and prosecuted the Tartarian Conquests beyond Phison or Tigris, subdewing the whole kingdome of the Persians, taking Baldach, with the great Chalifa, whom he starued amiddest his treasure; beleagered a Castle of the Assassini, with a siege of seuen and twenty yeares, and then taking the same by composition of the defendants, only for want of clothing: he wanne Aleppo, and the kingdome of Syria, with Damascus the head City thereof: and had intended also the Conquest of the Holy Land from the Saracens, if he had liued; for both this Haolon & Mango the great Can were both Christians by perswasion of Ait…on the Armenian King.
About this time in the North-East parts of Persia (which of this new heresie they called Mulehet) there was an old man, named Aloadin, a Mahumetan (as all those parts then were) which had inclosed a goodly hAloadins Paradise,valley situate betweene two hilles, and furnished it with all variety, which Nature and Art could yeeld, as fruits, pictures, rilles of milke, wine, hony, water, pallaces, and beautifull damosells richly attired, and called it Paradise. To which was no passage, but by an impregnable Castle. And daily preaching the pleasures of this Paradise to the youths, which he kept in his Court, sometimes would minister a sleepy drinke to some of them, and then conueigh them thither: where being intertained with these pleasures foure or fiue dayes, they supposed iA right fooles Paradise.themselues rapt into Paradise. And then being againe cast into a trance by the said drinke, he caused them to be carried forth; & then would examine them of what they had scene, and by this delusion would make them resolute for any enterprise, which he should appoint them; as to murther any Prince, his enemy. For they feared not death, in hope of their Mahumeticall Paradise. But this kM. Paul. & Odor.Haolon or Vlan after three yeares siege, destroyed him, and this his Fooles Paradise. Some tell lCartwright.this of Aladeules in the time of Zelim the first. Abaga succeeded him in the gouernment of these parts, anno 1264, but not in the Christian religion: Tangodor the next, became a Saracen, and called himselfe Mahomet, and at Tauris and other places destroyed the Churches of the Christians, as Haolon had done of the Saracens: hee banished the Christians, and peruerted as many Tartars as he could to Mahumetisme. But Argonus the sonne of Ahaga rebelled, and taking him, cut him asunder in the middle, succeeding in his place, anno 1285. after him Regayto whom the Tartars slew, placing in his steed Baydo a christian, who forbad the preaching of Mahumetism among the Tartars, and reedified the Churches of the Christians: Casan succeeded in his dominion & deuotion: and after his death Carbaganda, who in his childehood had been baptized, and named Nicholas, but when his Christian mother was dead, he became a Saracen.
Thus farre out of Haithonus; in which history appeareth the vicissitude of diuers Religions, sometime Tartarian, sometime Christian, sometime Mahumetan, as in the Princes who gouerned these Countries vnderunder the great Cham or Can of the Tartars: so also no doubt in a great part of the Countries themselues, which vsually are of the Kings religion. This Carbaganda, reigning about 1305, is the last Tartar Prince which ruled in these parts; for as their religion, so also their Empire failed; the Aegyptian Soldans preuayling in Syria; the Ottoman Turkes, in Asia; and Gempsas, in Persia. This Gempsas was Soldan of the Parthians: and about the yeare 1350. restored that Persian kingdome to the Parthians. From him descended the mPeucerus lib.4.… 5.Persian Kings to Malaonchres, who being taken away by fraud, Vsun Cassan succeeded. Yet was not the Persian state so settled in Gempsa his posteritie, but that Great Tamerlane subdewed the same vntounto himselfe, which his sonne after lost againe. This Tamerlane some report to hauehave bin of meane parentage; others, of royall descent, and Michouius, libr.1. cap.8. deriueth him from Baths, one of the greatest Conquerors among the Tartars.
Vsuncassan (called also Assymbe… ) depriued the Sultan of Parthia and Persia of his life and kingdome: his name is by some Malaonchres; by others, De…: but Ambrosio Contarini, & Iosapha Barbaro (which both were in Persia with Vsuncassan) cal him Iausa. In the yeare 1478. died Vsuncassan; and his sonne lacob succeeded, whose wife, bearing dishonest affection to one of the court, sought by the murther of her husband to aduance this Courtier to her husbands bed and empire. And nViaggio di mercante apud Ramus.hauing conueighed venime into a golden Cup presents her husband the same to drinke, who somewhat suspecting her, caused her to beginne; himselfe and his sonne following her both in drinking and dying. And thus was Persia, by the wickednesse of one woman, made the stage of ciuill warres, whiles the chiefe Nobles sought each to possesse himselfe of the state, which at last, after fiue or six yeares warre befell to Alumut or Elvan-beg, then being but foureteene yeares old, who was slaine by Ismael in the yeare 1499.
The history of Ismael, because it giueth much light both into the state and religion of Persia, is more fully to be reported. When as Mustacen Mumbila the Chaliph of Bagdet had beene by the Tartars done to death, in the yeare after Haithonus account 1258 (about the yere 1369) there arose in Persia oI.P.B.par.2 l.2 Osor …ere. Em. libr. …. Surius Comment. Knolles T.histor. pag 464.a noble man called Sophi, lord of the City Ardouil, reporting himselfe to be of the bloud of Alle or Hali, descended from Musa Cazin, or Cersin one of the twelue sonnes, (as is said) of Hocem.
Guinue his sonne (otherwise written, Ginni, Guine, and Giunet) maintained his Sect after him. Minadoi pMinidoi lib. 2saith, That Sexehiuni, or more distinctly, Serec Ginnet, was Author of the Persian sect, who vnderunder the name of qSofi is by Minadoi deriued of Sofiti, a people subdewed by Alexander.Sofi, and of Siec, (that is, of a wise man, and an Author of Religion) or rather vnderunder the pretence of holines, beganne to perswade the people, that the 3 first successors of Mahomet were vsurpers, onelyonly Ali ought to be named lawfull successor, and ought to be called vponupon in their prayers, and by all means to be honored. From this time forward the Sepulchre of Ali and his sons in Cafe grew in great credit, and was visited eueryevery yeare after the same sort that the Turkes visit the Sepulchre of the other three: and the Kings of Persia vsed there to be crowned, and girt with their sword, and their great Calife there kept his residence. Because this Cafe was neare Babylon, hence grew the common errour, that these things were done at Babylon or Bagdet. Ionius also is deceiued, where hee maketh Arduelle or Aidere, author of the Persian faction. This Persian superstition was brought in by Giunet the Sofi, afterward maintained by Siec Sederdin, and after him by Siec Ginnet the second, then by Siec Aider called by Ionius, Arduelle, and at last encreased and enlarged by Ismael and his successors. Ismael renewed or continued the name Sofi or Sofiti: but his successors leauing that, and the name of Siec, hauehave retained onelyonly the title of Saha, which some write Shaugh, some Xa, a royall title communicated by the head of this superstition to those Kings which participate with them therein. Ioseph Scaliger rScal.Can.Isag.libr.3.saith, that Sa or Seha is the same with Monsieur among the French, and Don among the Spaniards. The Iewes and Arabians write it foreign: It is sometimes set before the name, as in the present King Scha Habas; sometime comes after, as Melixa for Melic-scha. Barrius sIo.Bar.Asia.dec.2.li.10.c.6.beginnes this pedegre at the father of Giunet, or Guine (so he calls him) and not as Minadoi, with Guinet himselfe. He addeth, That for the Ensigne, Character, or Cognisance of his Sect, he ordained, that in the midst of their Turbant, (which they weare with many folds) there should arise a sharp top, in maner of a Pyrainis, diuided into twelue parts; (in remembrance of Ali his twelue sons) from the top to the bottome. They vsed the colour red on their heads (saith Minadoi) by ordinance of Arduelle, and therefore were called Cheselbas, that is, Red-heads, some write it Cuselbas. Guine (as Barrius affirmeth) was holden in such reputation of holines by Tamerlane, that he came to visit him as a Saint; and at his request, set free 30000. slaues, which he had taken in the warres against Baiazet. These slaues became his disciples first, and after souldiers to his sonne Aidar against the Christian Georgians.
This pSurius Com. Knoll.T.Hist. pag.464.Aidar Erdebil (or after I…vius, Harduelles,) forsaking (as some say) the world, led a streight life in continencie and austerity, and was therefore admired as a Prophet, and resorted to out of all parts of Armenia and Persia comming to Tauris to see him: He inueighed against the common opinion concerning Mahomets successors, as Guinne and Sophi had done, shutting vp heauen to all, sauing Hali his followers. For so the Persians vse to say in their praiers; Cursed be Ebubeker, Omar, and Osman: God be favorable to Hali, & wel pleased with him. Vsuncassan moued with his fame, gaue him in marriage his daughter Martha begot of the Christian Lady Despina, daughter of Calo Ioannes emperor of Trapezoned; both of them by this alliance strengthning themselues against the Turke. Aider had by this Mar…ha, Ismael, whom shee trained vp in the principles of Christian Religion. Iacob, successor of Vsuncassan, iealous of the multitude of Aiders disciples, and the greatnes of his fame, caused him to be secretly murthered; persecuting all his professed followers with fire and sword. Ismael then a child fled into Hircania to one Pyrchales, a friend of his fathers, who afterwards ayded him to the recouering of his patrimony. Boterus saith, That Iacob, after the murther of Aidar, committed his two sonnes, Ismael and Solyman, to Amanzar (a Captaine of his) to be conueighed to Zalga, a strong mountainy place: but he brought them vp liberally with his owne children, and in his last sickenes, gaue them horse and two hundred ducats, with aduise to repaire to their mother; where taking vponupon him the protection of the sect of Hali, & the reuenge of his fathers death, his enterprises succeeded prosperously. qCap.11.Gionan Maria Angiolello saith, That Iacob being poysoned 1485, the seigniorie was possessed by a kinsman of Iacobs called Iulauer, after whose …. yeares reigne succeeded Baysingir two yeres; after, Ru…tan seuen yeres, who sent Solimanbec against Sechaidar the father of Ismael, who made challenge to the state in right of his wife the daughter of Vsuncassan, who slew him in the field. Rustan would also hauehave killed the mother and her sons, had not intreaty of his nobles preuented it. He committed them to warde in the Iland of the Armenians in the lake Astumar; whither the sent for them againe after three yeares, but they for feare fled to Ardovill, and there liued closely for a time. Rustan was slaine by Agmat through his mothers procurement, who loued that Agmat, who abode Sultan fiue months, and was slaine by Rustans souldiors. And Alvan the kinsman of Vsuncassan was Seignior, whom Ismael slew.
A certaine Merchant who abode a long time in Tauris, and trauelled through the most part of Persia (skilfull of the Turkish, Persian, and Arabian languages, either seeing himselfe, or learning of them which did see) in the time of Ismael, relates this History somwhat otherwise, Ramusius:whom, as learning of the Persians themselues the Persian affaires, we may reckon worthy to be followed, saith, That this Sechaidar in Ardovil was the head of this Sophian Sect, and had three sons and three daughters by the daughter of Vsuncassan. He was a zealous enemy against the Christians, oftentimes with his followers repairing into Circassia, doing the people much damage, which when in the daies of Sultan Alumut he attempted as before times, he was by Alumuts order forbidden at Darbent further passage: but seeking to make way by force, he was by the forces of Alumut taken, and his head, on the toppe of a launce, presented to Alumut, and by his commaund, giuen to the dogges to be eaten; the cause why the Sophians are such enemies vntounto dogs, killing all they finde. This newes comming to Ardouill, his three sons fled, one into Natolia, another to Aleppo, Ismael the third to an Iland in the lake of Van, in which is a city of Christian Armenians, where he abode foure yeares in the house of an Armenian priest, being then about thirteene yeares old, who vsed him curteously, and instructed him in the rudiments of Christian Religion. A yeare after he went from Arminig to Chillan, where he kept with a Goldsmith his fathers friend. In this time he had intelligence, by mutuall writing, with his friends at Ardouil: and with this Goldsmith hauing gathered together eighteene or twentie men of their Sect secretly to take a strong castle, called Maumutaga, and hidden in ambush two hundred horsemen of his friends in Ardouil, suddenly slaying the gard, and possessing himselfe of the Castle, he entred a Towne not farre from the Castle, killing the inhabitants, and carrying the spoyle to the Castle. This Castle was very rich, because it was a principall Hauen of the Caspian Sea; and so strong, that when Alumut had newes hereof, he was dissuaded from sending any power thither to besiege him. Two dayes iourney from hence is Sumachi: which with his power, now encreased, he also tooke, and diuided the spoyles eueryevery where to his souldiors, which with fame of this liberalitie came from all parts vntounto him. He sent also into Hiberia, three or foure dayes iourney from thence, which was then gouerned by seuen great Lords, three of which, Alexander Sbec, Gorgurambec, and Mirzambec, with many promises of present spoyles and future exemptions from tribute, he woon to his side, receiuing from each of them three thousand horse, so that he was now growne fifteene or sixteene thousand strong. Alumut with thirty thousand valiant souldiers went to meete him betweene Tauris and Sumachia, and hauing passed a great riuer, ouer which were two Bridges, he presently caused them to bee broken: Ismael arriuing there the next day, with great diligence found a passage through the streame, & with his whole forces, in front, in the breake of the day, assailed Alumut his army, little suspecting such a good morrow, that Alumut with a few companions hardly escaped. The pauilions, horses, and other bootie, Ismael bestowed on his souldiers: and then hasted to Tauris, where entring without resistance, he made great slaughter, killing all the race of Iacob, opening his Sepulchre, and the Graues of other noblemen, which had bin at the battell of Darbent against his father, & burning their bones; 300 harlots he caused to be cut asunder in the middle: he killed all the dogges in Tauris, and because his mother had married to one of those nobles which were in the battell of Darbent, hee caused her head to be stricken off in his presence. In this while many towns, cities, castles, and Lords submitted themselues to him, and ware his red-coloured Turbant: but the Castle Alangiachana (whereto were subiect eighteen villages of Christians, which vsed yerely to send to Rome two men from the Patriarch to the Pope, of whose faith they were, speaking Armonian, hauing some bookes, but quite lost the vse of the Italian language) this castle (I say) held out for Alumut vntill his death.
While Ismael was Sultan in Tauris, the Sultan in Bagadet Murat Can son of Iacob, with an army of 30000. marched against him, & in a plaine meeting with Ismael was there ouerthrowne, not 70. persons escaping to Bagadet with Murat Can: the place bearing witnes of the slaughter, buried vnderunder many new hils of bones. All these things were done anno 1499. And while I was in Tauris, many came from Natolia, Caramania, and Turkie to serue him; of whom they were gratiously intertained, Anno 1507. our Author being then in Malacia saw with his eyes, the Sultan Alumut conueyed prisoner by Amirbec, who with foure thousand men going from Mosul (somtime Niniue) to Amit, where the Sultan kept, with promise and profession of his succor, being admitted the city, tooke him, & cast a chaine about his necke, whose head Ismael smote off with his owne hands. He was presented to him by Amirbec in the country of Aladuli, against whom Ismael was now warring: where taking the city Cartibirt, he cut off the head of Becarbec son of Aladuli lord thereof with his own hands. From thence returning to Tauris he had almost done as much to his two brethren, whome hee had left Gouernours in his absence, for transgressing their Commission, but with much intreaty of his Lords, spared their liues, yet confined them to Ardouill, not to depart from thence. The next yeere he pursued Murat Can, who was come to Syras, a Citie not inferiour to Cairo in Egypt, with sixe and thirtie thousand men, but male content, and therefore many of them fleeing vntounto Ismael. Whereupon Murat Can sent two Embassadours with fiue hundred followers, with offer of Vassallage vntounto him. Ismael cut them all in pieces, saying, That if Murat can would be his Vassall, hee should come in person, not by Embassage. Muratcan had closely sent Spies to obserue the sequele of his businesse, and being hereof by them aduertised, fledde: For many of his Nobles had alreadie put on the redde Turbant, of whome he feared to be taken, as Alumut had beene; and therefore with three thousand of his most faithfull he fledde vntounto Aleppo: but the Soldan of Cairo not admitting him, hee went to Aladuli, who entertained him honourably, and gaue him his daughter to wife.
Ismael, after great slaughters in Siras and Bagadet, was forced to returne to Spaan with his Armie. For Ieselbas the Tartar had taken all the Countrey of Corasan, and the great Citie of Eri, which is in compasse betwixt fortie and fiftie myles, well peopled, and full of Marchandize: He had taken also Strava, Amixandaran, and Sari, on the Caspian shore; and with intent to beguile Ismael, desired leaue to passe through is Countrey to Mecca on Pilgrimage. Ismael with deniall, and other sharpe words; repelled his suit, and abode a yeare in Spaan, to withstand his enterprises. After he returned to Tauris, where were great Triumphes solemnized in his honour. This Sophi is so loued and feared (sayth this Marchant) that they hold him as a God, especially his souldiors: of which, some goe into the warres without Armour, holding it sufficient, that Ismael will succour them: others, because they content themselues to die for Ismael, goe into battaile with naked breast, crying, Schiack, Schiack, i. GOD, GOD. And they forget the name of GOD, alway naming Ismael: they hold, That he shall not die, but liue euer. And where other Mosulmans say, La ylla yllala, Mahamet resullalla, the Persians say, Laylla yllala, Ismael vellilalla; reputing him a God and a Prophet. I hauehave learned, that Ismael is not contented to be called or worshipped as God. Their custome is to weare redde Bonnets, with a certaine thing like girdle, large below, and straiter vp wards, made with twelue foulds, a finger thicke, signifying the twelue Sacraments of their Sect, or those twelue brethren, nephewes of Ali, Ismael was of faire countenance, of reasonable stature, thicke and large in the soulders, shauen all but the mustaches; left-handed, stronger then any of his Nobles, but giuen to Sodomie. At his second comming to Tauris, he caused to take twelue of the fairest boyes in the Citie to serue his lust, and after gaue to each of his Nobles one for the like purpose, and before tooke tenne of the best mens sonnes for the same intent.
Thus farre hauehave we had commerce with this namelesse Persian Marchant in Ramusius his shoppe, Osorius de Reb. Emman. lib. 10. I.Bot.Ben.who sometime attended on his Court and Campe. Others adde hereunto, That he sent Embassadours to all the Mahumetan Princes of the East, to receiue that redde-Hat Ensigne, together with his Sect; as did his sonne Tammas after him, when Nizzamulucco onelyonly accepted thereof. But it is the common opinion, that the greatest part of the Mahumetanes in Soria and of Asia Minor are secretly of at Sect. Ismael after this warred, and wonne, vponupon the Zagatai Tartars, and other adiacent Nations, that he left vntounto his successours a very great Estate, Knol.Turk.Hist.reaching from the Caspian Sea to the Persian, and betweene the Lake Iocco and Tigris, the Riuer Abbiam, and the Kingdome of Cambaya, more then twentie degrees from East to West, and eighteene from North to South. He ordained a new Liturgie, and forme of Prayer, differing from the auncient. Such was his authoritie, that they would sweare, By the Head of Ismael, and blesse in his name, saying, Ismael graunt the thy desire. VponUpon his Coyne, on the one side, was written, La illahe illalahu Muhamedun resulallahe: And on the other, Ismaill halife Iullahe, that is, Ismael the Vicar of GOD. Surius Comm. in An.1500.The Iewes, at the first, had this Ismael in such admiration, that they foolishly reckoned Ismael to be their promised Messias, gratulating themselues, in this conceit, throughout the most part of Europe, celebrating feastiuall Solemnities, with mutuall Presents, in testimonie of their ioy; which yet was soone dashed, none hating the Iewes more then Ismael. He lyeth buried at Ardouil, in a faire Meskit, with a sumptuous Sepulchre made by himselfe in his life time; where is a faire Stone-Hospitall erected by him for strangers, allowing to all trauellers three dayes reliefe for horse and man freely. Ant. Ienkinson.Ardouil is in latitude 38. degrees.
The life of Ismael had beene answerable to the bloudie presages in his ominous birth; Angiolello, c.13.for he came forth of his mothers wombe with both his hands shut, and full of bloud: for which cause his father would not hauehave brought him vp, but commaunded him to be slaine: but they which carried him away, moued with compassion, secretly nourished him three yeares, Ph.Camerar. Medit. Histor. Cent.2.c.4.and after presented him to his father, who then acknowledged and receiued him with louelove and kindnesse: for this his bloudie and warre-like spirit dwelt in a louely and amiable bodie, adorned with all the Ensignes of beautie. He died Anno 1524.
Schiack Theemes, or Shaugh Tamas, succeeded, and raigned aboue fiftie yeares. Michael lsselt. in An.1576.He liued deuoutly, and yet (for their Law reconcileth both) very voluptuously, inheriting his fathers Throne, but *Busbeq. epist.3.not his valour, and spending the greatest part of his time amongst his women. Ant. Ienkinson. Hak.t….1.p.349.So zealous he was of their superstition, that when M. Ienkinson came to his Court with the Queenes Letters to treat with him of Traffique and Commerce for our English Marchants, before his feet touched the ground, a payre of the Sophies owne Shooes or Basmackes (such as himselfe vsed to weare, when he arose in the night to pray) were put vponupon his feet, least their holy ground should be polluted with Christian steppes. And being admitted into his presence, and asked of his Religion, Whether he were a Gower, that is, an Vnbeleeuer, or a Muselman (so they call them of their owne profession) hauing answered, That he was a Christian, beleeuing CHRIST to be the greatest Prophet: Oh thou vnbeleeuer (said he) we hauehave no need to hauehave friendship with the vnbeleeuers, and so willed him to depart: which he did, and after him followed a man with a Basanet of Sand, fifting all the way that he had gone within the said Pallace, euen from the Sophies sight vntounto the Court-gate.
In his time Solyman (as in our Turkish Relations before is shewed) much endammaged the Persians, Lib.3.cap.8.and tooke Babylonia, Tauris, and other parts of their dominions: yet did Tam… recouer some part thereof againe, and draue Solyman out of Tauris, (or Ecbatana, as Minadoi Minadoi of the Warres betweene the Turkes and Persians, l.1.interpreteth) and, by a composition, caused him to rase the Fort of Chars, erected by the Turkes in his frontiers. He died the eleuenth of May, 1576, leauing behind him eleuen children: Mahamet the eldest, who had liued a while in Heri (sometime called Aria) and after in Siras (aunciently named Persepolis:) his second sonne was Ismahel, whome for his fiercenesse his father had confined to the Castle Cahaca: the third, Aidere; the rest, Mamut, Solimano, Mustaffa, Emanguli, Alichan, Amet, Abrahim, and Ismahel the younger. He appointed his second sonne Ismahel his successour, esteeming him more worthie then Mahamet Codabanda (this surname was giuen him for his diseased eyes) as being giuen to a studious and quiet life, and contenting himselfe, that Abas Mirize (which now raigneth) was confirmed in the Citie of Heri, and honoured with the title of the Visier of that Countrey.
Periaconcona, the daughter of Tamas, and elder then any of the brethren, being in Commission with other Councellors of State to see her fathers Will executed, whiles the Postes ranne with aduertisements to Ismahel, was attempted by Aidere with earnest solicitation for the Crowne: whose ambitious desire shee so farre satisfied, as that shee caused him to be inuefted in Regall apparrell, and setled in the great Gallerie, attending the acclamation of the people; being publikely installed, as though he were elected King. But meane while she set sure gards of men, deuoted to Ismahel, at the gates of the Palace; thus purposing to entertaine him (with dreames of dangerous honours) till Ismahel arriued at Casbin. But whiles he (suspecting the deceit) sought to flee, he left his head behind in the hands of Sahamal his vncle, which he cast, all-bloudie, in the middest of his conspiring partakers. Ismahel soone after came, and receiued with publike applause the desired Soueraigntie: & as he had before addicted himselfe to the studie of the Turkish Law; (enough, if it had beene knowne, to hauehave barred his succession) so now, after the Turkish manner, he foundeth his Throne (a foundation too slipperie to stand) in bloud, causing the heads of his eight younger brethren to be cut off, together with all such as were neere them in bloud or affinitie, and all the fauourites of the late slaine Aidere. Turkish Parricide imitated in Persia.Thus is Casbin dyed in the bloud of her hopefull Gallants, and entertaines her beholders eyes with streames of bloud running from the slaine, which cause another streame of teares to issue from their liuing friends; who filling the ayre with mournefull complaints (which returning answere by Ecchoes, seemed to sympathize their griefe) and in compassion of those dying bodies, then gasping their fatall breaths, imitating (with true affection, and not affected imitation) the same in deepe and broken sighes: viewing also their owne dangers in the present ruine of their neerest and deerest some-time allies and acquaintance: tossed with this varietie of turbulent passions, conceiue, in this confusion of thoughts (that which is truly the daughter and mother also of confusion) Trecherous Disloyaltie to the author of these their sorrowes. Ismahel posting on to his owne destruction, had now forbidden the deuotions of Aly the Persian Prophet, and enioyned the Turkish Rites of Abubar, and other the followers of Mahomet, by imprisoning, rayling, pulling out the eyes, and killing Aly his obseruants, establishing his Decree, not sparing, in this persecution, to torment the tender Ladies (some of them of his owne bloud) nor reuerencing age or profession, depriuing euen the Califfe of Casbin (the eye of their blindnesse) of both his eyes, because he would not see equitie in this noueltie; and purposing (as the Fame went) to goe to Bagdat, there to receiue the Crowne from him whomsoeuer he should finde the successour of the great Califfe, in the middest of his cruelties he was (with like crueltie) murthered by Periaconcona. The Executor of her fathers Will is thus made an Executioner of her fathers sonne, hauing brought in the conspirators, apparrelled in womens weedes, to strangle him among his paramours. This was done the 24. of Nouember 1577; after he had raigned one yeare, seuen moneths, and sixe dayes. Mahomet Codabanda thought it now time for him to looke to his right, which by meanes of Mirize Salma…, the chiefe of the Sultans, he obtained. This Sultan presented him with the head of that Virago Periaconcona vponupon the top of a Launce, with the disheuelled haire, gastly lookes, and bloudie impressions, yeelding an vncouth (though not vndeserued) spectacle to the beholders: De Medusa & Megaera, vide Poetas.which (if like the Snakie scalpe of Medusa it did not transforme them into stones, yet, as if it had beene the banner of Megaera) seemed to display new quarrels, kindling inward hatreds, tumultuous seditions, and ciuill broyles, which exposed them to Amuraths forces, who thought it fit time for him to fish with his Turkish Nets in this troubled Persian streame. Of these warres is alreadie spoken *Lib.3.c.8.. Much losse did the Persians by this meanes sustaine, and much more had followed, had not Emir Hamze, Mahomets eldest sonne, with his valorous attempts, stopped the Turkish proceedings, and, like the Easterne Sunne, with his greater brigtnesse dispersed those weaker beames of The Moonie Standards of proud Ottoman.I. Silvest. in Du Bartas transl.
But soone was this Sunne eclipsed, not by the Moones interposition (for that is naturall, if we vnderstand it of the heauenly; and ordinary, if of the earthly and Turkish) but by extraordinary and vnnaturall procurement (as was thought) of his ambitious brother Abas, or of others suspected of his father, effected by a treacherous Eunuch that garded him; which sodainely strucke him through the body and slew him. Abas his brother by solemne oath cleared himselfe of this odious imputation. And yet he is no lesse suspected of a more monstrous and vnnaturall treachery against his owne father, who is thought Minadoi, l.9. in his 9. books, translated by M. Hartwell, the Reader may see these wares at full. Relatione di Persia, & Tu. Thesoro. Politice. Hericus Porsius, Laurentius Riseburgius, Anonymus quidam de eodem bello scrips.to bee poysoned by his meanes, that by these bloudie steps hee might ascend to that throne which now hee enioyeth. But (all this notwithstanding) he hath since so subtilly handled the matter, that he is both beloued of his owne, and feared of his enemy: his subiects sweare and blesse in his name. *Cartwright. An. 1603.He hath recouered from the Turke both Tauris, and other Regions of Servania and Georgia, which the Turke had before taken from the Persians. Hee was reported also to hauehave taken Bagdat, bnt (it seemeth) not truely.
As for Tauris, in the yeare 1514, Selim tooke it (as some say) on composition, which he brake, and carried thence three thousand of the best artificers to Constantinople. An. 1535, Solyman gaue it for a prey to his souldiors; An 1585, Osman spoyled it vvith vncouth and inhumane cruelties; whatsoeuer the insulting Conqueror, in the vtmost extent of lawlesse lust, could inflict, or the afflicted condition of the conquered could in the most deiected state of miserie sustaine, was there executed. Abas in recouerie here of vsed the Canon, an Instrument which before they had, to their owne losse, scòrned. This Prince is (sayth our Author) excellent both of composition of bodie, and disposition of minde, of indifferent stature, sterne countenance, piercing eyes, swart colour, his mustachees on the vpper lippc long, his beard cut close to the chinne. He delights in Hunting and Hawking, Running, Leaping, and trying of Masteries: He is an excellent Horseman and Archer. In the morning he vseth to visit his stables of great Horses, and hauing there spent most of the fore-noone, he returnes to his Pallace: About three of the clocke in the afternoone he goeth to the At-Maidan, which is the high street of Hispaan, the Citie of his residence, round about which are seaffolds for the people to sit and behold the King and his Nobles at their Exercises of Shooting, Running, Playing at Tennis, &c. all on horsebacke. In this place very often, in his owne person, he heareth causes, and pronounceth sentence, executing Iustice seuerely.
Now that we may mention some of the chiefe Cities of Persia (vnderunder which name I here comprehend, as vsually in this Historie, their *Media, Gheilan, Massandtan, or Hyrcania, Parthia, Aria, Candahar, Heri, Corassau, Farsi, or Persia, with the Caramanian desart, and the Kingdome of Lar, and the Turcoman nation are subiect to this King: and lie hath also subdued & ruined the houses of some great men, which in his fathers daies would doe what they lift.Dominion, not as it is measured by the Pennes of Geographers, but by the Swords of their Princes.) In Sumachia Master Cartwright sayth, They saw the ruines of a cruell spectacle, which was a Turret erected with Free-stone & Flints, in the middest whereof were placed the heads of all the Nobilitie and Gentrie of the Countrey. A mile from this Towne was a Nunnerie, wherein was buried the bodie of Amalcke Canna, the Kings daughter, who slew her selfe with a knife, for that her father would hauehave forced her to marrie a Tartarian Prince: the Virgins of the Countrey resort hither once a yeare to lament her death. Sechi is foure dayes iourney thence, not farre from which is Eres, which, because they yeelded to the Turke, were by Emir-Ha…ie vtterly destroyed, man, woman, and child. Arasse is the chiefe Citie of Marchandise in all Servania, especially for raw Silkes. Tauris hath out-liued many deaths, and is very rich by reason of continuall Trade, nourishing almost two hundred thousand people within her compasse; for walls it hath not. This was sometimes the Seat-Royall, and after that, Casbin, which is situate in a fertile Plaine, foure dayes iourney in length, wherein are two thousand Villages. The buildings are of Bricke dried in the Sunne, as in Persia is most vsuall: The At-maidan, or chiefe street, is foure-square, almost a mile in circuit. Neere to it is Ardouil, of chiefe note for beginning of the Sophian Superstition. G…ilan is foure dayes iourney from Casbin, and stands neere to the Caspian Sea. Neere to Bachu is a Fountaine of blacke oyle, which serueth all the Country to burne in their houses. Cassan is well seated, and rich in marchandise, but subiect to heat more then other parts of Persia. No person is there permitted to be idle. Hispaan is thought to be Hecatompolis: the walls are a dayes iourney about on horsebacke, before the greatest, now the royall Citie of the Persians. It hath a strong Fort, two Seraglio's, the walls where of glister with red Marble and Parget of diuers colours, paused all with Mosaique worke, all things else combining Maiestie and louelinesse, Magnificence and beautie. The inhabitants, as did the ancient Parthians, buy, sell, talke, and performe all their publike and priuate affaires on horsebacke: the Gentlemen neuer goe on foot. Sieras is thought to be Persepolis, it is rich of Trade, and there is the best Armour made in all the East, of Iyron & Steele, cunningly tempered with the iuice of certaine hearbes.