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diff --git a/75292-0.txt b/75292-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5379a8e --- /dev/null +++ b/75292-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,14567 @@ + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75292 *** + + + +Transcriber’s Note + +These are old texts, and part of their value includes preserving them +as written with all of their inconsistencies intact. That said, some +probable printing errors were identified and fixed; these are listed at +the end. In addition, word spacing and punctuation have been amended +without further note. The listed errata have NOT been fixed, again in the +interest of preserving the original. + + + + +Travels to Tana and Persia, and A Narrative of Italian Travels in Persia + + + + + WORKS ISSUED BY + The Hakluyt Society. + + [Illustration] + + TRAVELS TO TANA AND PERSIA, + BY BARBARO AND CONTARINI. + + A NARRATIVE OF ITALIAN TRAVELS IN PERSIA, + IN THE 15TH AND 16TH CENTURIES. + + FIRST SERIES. NO. XLIX-MDCCCLXXIII + + + + + TRAVELS + TO + TANA AND PERSIA, + + BY + JOSAFA BARBARO + AND + AMBROGIO CONTARINI. + + TRANSLATED FROM THE ITALIAN BY + WILLIAM THOMAS, CLERK OF THE COUNCIL TO EDWARD VI, + AND BY + S. A. ROY, ESQ. + + AND EDITED, WITH AN INTRODUCTION, BY + LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEY. + + BURT FRANKLIN, PUBLISHER + NEW YORK, NEW YORK + + Published by + BURT FRANKLIN + 514 West 113th Street + New York 25, N. Y. + + ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED BY THE HAKLUYT SOCIETY + + REPRINTED BY PERMISSION + + Printed in U.S.A. + + + + +COUNCIL OF THE HAKLUYT SOCIETY. + + + THE RIGHT HON. SIR DAVID DUNDAS, PRESIDENT. + ADMIRAL C. R. DRINKWATER BETHUNE, C.B. } + MAJOR-GENERAL SIR HENRY C. RAWLINSON, K.C.B., } VICE-PRESIDENTS. + D.C.L., F.R.S., VICE-PRES.R.G.S. } + W. A. TYSSEN AMHURST, ESQ. + REV. GEORGE P. BADGER. + JOHN BARROW, ESQ., F.R.S. + VICE-ADMIRAL COLLINSON, C.B. + CAPTAIN COLOMB, R.N. + W. E. FRERE, ESQ. + EGERTON VERNON HARCOURT, ESQ. + JOHN WINTER JONES, ESQ., F.S.A. + R. H. MAJOR, ESQ., F.S.A., SEC.R.G.S. + SIR W. STIRLING MAXWELL, BART. + SIR CHARLES NICHOLSON, BART., D.C.L. + VICE-ADMIRAL ERASMUS OMMANNEY, C.B., F.R.S. + REAR-ADMIRAL SHERARD OSBORN, C.B., F.R.S. + THE LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEY. + EDWARD THOMAS, ESQ., F.R.S. + THE HON. FREDERICK WALPOLE, M.P. + +CLEMENTS R. MARKHAM, ESQ., C.B., F.R.S., SEC.R.G.S. HONORARY SECRETARY. + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +The volume herewith given to the members of the Hakluyt Society, contains +six narratives by Italians, of their travels in Persia about the time +of Shah Ismail. Mr. Charles Grey, who has translated and edited four of +these travels, having accompanied Sir Bartle Frere to Zanguibar, has +been unable to finish the printing of his book, and the correction of +his proofs has been entrusted to me. As all these travellers were almost +contemporaries, and as they refer to one another, the council have +thought it best to give them to members in one single volume. + +Shah Ismail, or Ismail Sufy, is the chief personage in this volume; +he found Persia in disorder, and reunited it; he revived the Persian +nationality, and very much increased the division which existed between +Persia and the rest of the Mussulman States; a division or schism which +has been erroneously called religious, but which originally was national +and political, and, as revived and augmented by Shah Ismail, entirely +national. The feelings which animated the earlier Persians to reject the +first three caliphs, were the national repulsion of the Persians to their +Arab conquerors, and a preference for hereditary succession instead of +popular election. Shah Ismail took advantage of these national sentiments +and dynastic traditions, without which Persia, overrun as it was by +Turkish tribes, would have merged into the Ottoman Empire. Shah Ismail +did his work so effectually, that Nadir Shah was unable to undo it, and +was assassinated for attempting it; and, though the greater part of the +Persian population and the reigning dynasty at this day speak Turkish as +their own language, yet they are as Persian in feeling as the Persian +inhabitants of Shiraz and Isfahan. + +Of the Italian travellers and envoys, whose narratives are here +given, Josafa Barbaro is the most interesting personage: but none of +them attract the same interest which attaches to Varthema, or to the +Portuguese and Spanish travellers and voyagers of the same period. + +The travels of Barbaro and Contarini have long been ready for +publication, but have been delayed hitherto, for want of an editor. The +work was undertaken by Sir Henry Rawlinson and Lord Strangford, but the +former had not time to attend to it, and the latter died before he had +really commenced it. + +The translation of Contarini was done by Mr. Roy of the British +Museum, who also made a translation of Josafa Barbaro, and a question +arose whether Mr. Roy’s translation, or the quaint old translation of +William Thomas, should be published by the Society. I decided in favour +of Thomas’ translation, partly in deference to what I knew was the +opinion in its favour of Lord Strangford, on account of its interest +as English of the time of Edward VI, shewing much better orthography +than that current at a later period (Fanshaw’s translation of Camoens +for instance), and partly on account of the interest which attaches +(especially to members of the Hakluyt Society) to Mr. Thomas and his +unfortunate end. + +Chalmers’ Biography tells us that Mr. William Thomas was a learned writer +of the sixteenth century, and was born in Wales, or was at least of Welsh +extraction, and was educated at Oxford. Wood says, that a person of both +his names was in 1529 admitted a bachelor of Canon Law, but does not say +that it was this person. In 1544, being obliged to quit the kingdom on +account of some misfortune, he went to Italy, and in 1546 was at Bologna, +and afterwards at Padua; in 1549 he was again in London, and on account +of his knowledge of modern languages, was made clerk of the council to +King Edward VI, who soon after gave him a prebend of St. Paul’s, and +the living of Presthend, in South Wales. According to Strype, he acted +very unfairly in procuring the prebend, not being a spiritual person; +and the same objection undoubtedly rests against his other promotion. +On the accession of Queen Mary, he was deprived of his employment at +Court, and is said to have meditated the death of the Queen; but Ball +says it was Gardiner whom he formed a design of murdering. Others think +that he was concerned in Wyatt’s rebellion. It is certain, that for some +of these charges he was committed to the Tower in 1553, together with +William Winter and Sir Nicholas Throgmorton. Wood says, “He was a man of +a hot fiery spirit, had sucked in damnable principles, by his frequent +conversations with Christopher Goodman, that violent enemy to the rule +of women. It appears that he had no rule over himself, for about a week +after his commitment he attempted suicide, but the wound not proving +mortal, he was arraigned at Guildhall, May 9th, 1553, and hanged at +Tyburn on the 18th.” + +Chalmers gives the following list of his works:— + + 1. “The History of Italy.” Lond. 1549, 1561, 4to. + + 2. “The Principal Rules of the Italian Grammar, with a + Dictionary for the better understanding of Boccace, Petrarch, + and Dante.” _Ibid._ 1550, 1561, 1567, 4to. + + 3. “Le Peregrynne, or, a defence of King Henry VIII to Aretine, + the Italian poet.” MSS. Cott., Vesp. D 18, in Bodl. Library. + This, Wood says, was about to be published in the third volume + of Brown’s “Fasciculus.” + + 4. “Common Places of State,” written for the use of Edward VI. + MS. Cotton. + + 5. “Of the Vanity of the World.” Lond. 1549, 8vo. + + 6. “Translation of Cato’s speech, and Valerius’s answer; from + the 4th Decade of Livy.” _Ibid._ 1551, 12mo. + + He also made some translations from the Italian, which are + still in manuscript. + +Mr. Thomas might have rendered further service to letters, instead of +mixing himself up in conspiracies, had he received a favourable answer +to an application which he made to Cecil, to be sent at the expense of +the Government to Italy. A copy of his letter to Cecil, taken from the +original at the Record Office, here follows:— + + _To the right honorable Sʳ William Cecill Knight one of the + King’s Mag. twoo principall Secretaries._ + + Sʳ myne humble comᵉndacons remembered According to yoʳ pleasʳᵉ + declared unto me at my departure I opened to my L of Pembroke + the consideracon of the warde which you procured for yoʳ Sister + wherein he is the best contented man that may be and made me + this answer that though he wrote at his friends request yet he + wrote unto his friende to be considered as it might be wᵗʰ yoʳ + owne comoditie and none otherwise ffor if he had knowen so much + before as I tolde him he wolde for nothing have troubled yᵒ wᵗʰ + so unfriendly a request Assuring yoᵘ faithfully that I who have + knowen him a good while never sawe him more bent to any man + of yoʳ degree than I perceave he is unto yoᵘ and not without + cause he thanketh yoᵘ hertily for yoʳ newes yoᵘ sent him And + Sʳ whereas at my departure we talked of Venice considering the + stirre of the worlde is nowe like to be very great those waies + I coulde finde in myne hert to spende a yere or two there if I + were sent I have not disclosed thus much to any man but to yoᵘ + nor entende not to do. wherefore it may please yoᵘ to use it + as yoᵘ shall thinke good Howe so ever it be yoʳ may be sure to + commande me as the least in yoᵘ house. And so I humbly take my + leave. ffrom Wilton the xiiijᵗʰ of August 1552. + + Yoʳˢ assuredly to thuttermost + + WILLM THOMAS. + +From the following extracts from the indictment, and other records of his +trial, taken from the Record Office, it will be seen that he did conspire +against Queen Mary, and not only, as Ball supposes, against Gardiner. + + _Report of Deputy Keeper of the Public Records_, iv, p. 248. + + Pouch Nᵒ. xxx in the Record Office contains a file of 11 + membranes, relating to the Trial and conviction of William + Thomas for high treason. The Indictment found against him at + Guildhall, dated 8 May, 1 Mary, 1554, charges that, he hearing + of the proposed marriage between the Queen and Philip, Prince + of Spain, had a discourse with one Nicholas Arnolde, late of + London, Knight, as to the manner in which such marriage could + be prevented or impeded, upon which the said William Thomas + put various arguments against such marriage in writing, and + afterwards, to wit 21 December, 1 Mary, at London, in the + parish of Sᵗ Alban, in the ward of Cripplegate, the said + William Thomas compassed and imagined the death of the Queen. + + And afterwards, on the 22ᵈ December, in order to carry his + wicked intentions into effect, he went into the house of + the said Sir Nicholas, in the parish of Sᵗ. Bartholomew the + Less, in the ward of Farringdon Without, and there had a + traitorous discourse with the said Nicholas, to the following + effect:—“_Whether were it not a good ‘devise’ to have all these + perils that we have talked of, taken away with very little + bloodshed, that is to say, by killing of the Queen. I think + John Fitzwilliams might be persuaded to do it, because he seems + by his countenance to be so manly a man, that he will not + refuse any peril that might come to his own person, to deliver + his whole native country from so many and so great dangers, + as be offered thereunto, if he might be made to understand + them_”; which words the said Sir Nicholas, afterwards, viz., + 24 December, at London, in the parish of Sᵗ. Anne, in the ward + of Aldersgate, repeated to James Croftes, Knight, one of the + conspirators with Sir Thomas Wyatt, a traitor who had been + attainted for levying war against the Queen, whereof the said + James Croftes was also attainted. + + And the said William Thomas, not contented with the + before-mentioned treasons, in order more fully to fulfil such + his imaginations, 27 December, went from London to Devonshire, + to a place called Mount Sautrey, then inhabited by Peter Caro, + Knight, with which Peter Caro, an abominable traitor, the said + William Thomas had a traitorous conference and consultation, + and then and there aided the said Peter Caro; and afterwards, + to wit, 4 February, fled from Mount Sautrey, from county to + county, in disguise, not knowing where to conceal himself; and + yet he did not desist from sending seditious bills and letters + to his friends, declaring his treasonable intentions, in order + that he might induce them to join him in his treasons. + + Membrane I, Wednesday, 9 May, 1 Mary, London. + + Record of Sessions, held at Guildhall, before the + said Sir Thomas Whyte, and his fellows setting forth. + + 1 May, 1 Mary, London—Special Commission of Oyer + Terminer. + + 8 May, 1 Mary, London—Indictment as before mentioned. + + William Thomas, being brought to the bar by the + Constable of the Tower, pleads Not Guilty. + + Venire, awarded instanter. + + Verdict, Guilty. + + Judgment as usual in cases of High Treason. + + Execution at Tyburn. + + Record delivered into Court, by William, Marquis of + Winchester, on Monday next, after the Octaves of the + Holy Trinity, 1 Mary. + + + + +TRAVELS OF JOSAFA BARBARO. + + +TO THE KINGS MOST EXCELLENT MAᴵᴱ. + +Whan I consider the state of foreyn cuntreys, and do compare this yoʳ +Ma’ˢ realme to the rest of the worlde as well for justice and civilitie +as for wealth and commodities, I do so much reioice in my cuntrey +that as I do yelde contynuall and most hertie thanks unto God for His +goodness unto us that are born in it, so I wishe all other Englishemen +to do, seeing that nombers there be who, puffed up wᵗʰ wealthe, wote +not why they whyne. For undoubtedly if the whole worlde were divided +into ix partes, as the quarter of the spheare is into nynetie degrees, +and that viii of those ix partes shulde be iudged to be evill cuntreys, +the ixth parte only remaining good, this realme of Englande must needes +be taken into that one good parte for all respects. The heat is never +extreame, and the colde seldome fervent, because we are little further +than mydde waye between the sunne and the northe. We have grayne of all +kindes necessarie, fyshe, fowle, and fleshe, and some fruites. The sea +environeth the cuntrey, to serve us both for carieng out of our owne +habundance, and also for fetching of strange comodities hither, in such +sort as beside the nedeful we wante nothing to serve us for pleasʳᵉ. +Our justice cannot be amended if the faulte be not in the ministers. +The subiects are the King’s children, and not sklaves, as they be +otherwheare. And finally oʳ civilitie is great, and wolde be p’fict if +some mennes barbarousenes did not nowe and then corrupt it. So that +wᵗhout affection me seemeth, I may by good reason advaunce my cuntrey for +goodness to be one of the best p’ts of that ixᵗʰ parte if it shulde be +divided againe. For the better proof whereof to thentent it may appeare +what barbarouse people are in other regions, what wante of good foode +they have, what miserable lyves they leade, what servitude and subiection +they endure, what extremities of heate and colde they suffer, what +sup’stitions they folowe, and what a nombre of other inconveniences do +hange upon them, the least whereof is ferre from us. + +I have thought good to translate out of the Italian tonge this litell +booke, written by a Venetian of good fame and memorie, who hath travailed +many yeres in Tartarie and Persia, and hath had greate experience of +those p’tes, as he doth sufficiently declare, which I determined to +dedicate unto yoʳ Maᵗⁱᵉ as vnto him that I knowe is most desirouse of +all vertuouse knowledge. Trusting to God yoᵘ shall longe lyve and reigne +a most happie king over a blessed countrey, most humbly beseeching yoʳ +highnes to accept this poore newe yeres gift, being the worke of myne +owne hande, as a token of the faithfull love that I am bounde to beare +vnto yoᵘ as well naturally as through the speciall goodnesse that I have +founde in yoᵘ. + + Yoʳ Maᵗˢ most bounden Servant, + + WILLM. THOMAS. + + + + +[Here beginne the things that were seene and herde by me, Josaphat +Barbaro, citizen of Venice, in twoo voiages that I made thone vnto Tana +and thother into Persia.] + + +Thearthe (as the geometricians by evident reasons do prove) is as +little in respect of the firmament, as a pricke made in the middest of +the circumference of a circle; whereof by reason that a great parte is +either covered wᵗʰ water or else intemperate by excesse of heat or colde, +that parte which is inhabited is by a great deale the lesser parte. +Nevertheles, so little is the power of man, that fewe have been founde +that have seene any good porc̃on of it, and if I be not deceaved, none +at all that hath seene the whole. In our time those that have seene some +parte most com̄only are merchauntmen or maryners, in which two exercises +from the beginneng vnto this daie my Lordes and fathers the Venetians +have beene and are so excellent that I believe they may verylie be called +the principall. For syns the decaie of the Romaine estate (that sometime +ruled over all) this inferior worlde hath been so divided by diversitie +of languages, customes and religion, that the greatest parte of this +little that is enhabited shulde have been unknowen, if the Venetian +merchandise and marinership had not discovered it. Amongst whom, if +there be any that have seene ought at this daye, I may reaken myself +one: seeing I have spent all my yoʷthe and a great parte of myne age in +ferre cuntries, amongst barbarouse people and men wᵗhout civilitie, much +different in all things from our customes, wheare I have proved and seene +many things that, bicause they be not vsed in our parties, shulde seem +fables to them (as who wolde saie) that were never out of Venice. Which +in dede hath been the cause that I have not much forced either to write +or to talke of that that I have seene. + +Neverthelesse, being constrayned through the requeste of them that may +com̄ande me, and considering that things which seeme more incredible than +these are writen in PLINIO SOLINO, POMPONIO MELA, STRABONE, HERODOTO, +DIODORO, DIONISIO HALICARNASSEO, and others of late as MARCO PAULO, +NICOLO CONTE, our Venetians, and John Mandevile thenglisheman: and by +other last of all as PIETRO QUIRINI, ALUISE DA MOSTO, and AMBROGIO +CONTARINI, me thought I coulde no lesse do than write the things that +I have seene to the honor of God that hath preserved me from infinite +dangers and to his contentac̃on that hath required me; the rather for +their proffitt that in tyme to com̄e shall happen to travaile into the +ꝑties wheare I have beene, and also for the com̄oditie of oʳ noble citie +in case the same shulde hereaftre have occasion to sende those waies. +Wherfore I shall divide my woʳke into twoo partes. In the first wherof +I shall declare my voiage vnto Tana, and in the seconde myne other +voiage into Persia, and speake little of the perills and trowbles that I +endured, myself. + + * * * * * + +The yere of oʳ Lorde mccccxxxvi I beganne my voiage towardes Tana, +wheare for the most parte I contynewed the space of xvi yeres, and have +compassed all those cuntreys as well by sea as by lande not only wᵗʰ +diligence, but in maner curiousely. + +The plaine cuntrey of Tartarie to one that were in the middest thereof +hath on theast the ryver of Ledil, on the west and northwest parte +POLONIA, on the northe Russia, and on the sowthe partes towards the sea +called Mare Maggiore, the regions of Alania, Cumania, and Gazaria. All +which places do confyne upon the sea called Tabacche; and to thentent I +be the better vnderstanded, I shall declare it partely by the costes of +the Sea Maggiore, and partely by Lande to the ryver called Elice, which +is within xl miles of CAPHA: and passing that ryver it goeth towards +MONCASTRO, wheare the notable ryver of DANUBE renneth. From which place +forwardes I woll speake of nothing because those places are familiar and +knowen well enough. + +The cuntrey of ALANIA is so called of the people Alani, which in their +tonge they call As. These have been Christen men, and were chased awaie +and destroied by the Tartares. + +In that region are hills, ryvers, and plaines: wheare are to be seene an +infinite nombre of little hills forced in signe or steede of sepultures, +and on the toppe of everie of them a great stone wᵗʰ an hole: wherein +standeth a crosse of one peece made of an other stone. + +[Sidenote: Cairo is the greatest citie in Egipt.] + +[Sidenote: Zena is a sleade.] + +In one of these little hilles we were ꝑsuaded there shulde be hidden +a great treasure. For in the tyme that MR. PIETRO Lando had beene +consule at Tana, there came one named GULBEDIN from EL CAIRO, wheare +he had learned of a Tartarien woman that in one of these little hylles +called Contebe,[1] the Alani had hidden a great treasᵉ. And for proofe +thereof the woman had given this man certein tokens as well of the hill +as of the grounde. So that this Gulbedin entreprised to make certein +holes or pittes like wells into this hill in divers places; and having +so contynued the space of twoo yeers he died: whereby it was iudged +that only for lacke of habilitie he coulde not bringe this treasure to +light. Wherefore vij of us merchant men being togither in Tana on Saint +Catherines night the yere 1437, fell in reasoning howe this matter +might be brought to passe. The names of those merchants were FRANCESCO +CORNARO, brother vnto JACOMO CORNARO of the banke, Catarino Contarini, +who afterwards vsed to CONSTANTINOPLE. Giovan Barbarigo sonne vnto ANDREA +of CANDIA. Giovan da Valle, that died master of the fooyste in the Lake +of Garda, and that with certein other Venetians the yere 1428 went vnto +Derbenthe wᵗʰ a fooyste that he had made, and there by appointment of +the Lorde of that place, spooyled certein shipps that came from STRANA, +which was a marveilouse acte. Moises Bon, sonne to Alessandro of Judecca, +Bartolomeo Rosso, a Venetian, and owner of the house in Tana that we were +in at that tyme, and I the vijᵗʰ. In effect three of this companie having +beene at the place before, ꝓsuaded the rest that the thinge was faisible, +so that we agreed and bound ourselfs both by othe and by writing, made by +Catarino Contarini, the copie whereof I have yet to shewe, to go digge +this hill; whereupon the matter being thus concluded, we hired cxx men to +go wᵗʰ us for that purpose, vnto whom we gave three ducates a peece for +the moonthe. And about viij daies aftre we vij wᵗʰ oʳ cxx men departed +from Tana, wᵗʰ stuff, vittaills, weapons, and instruments necessarie, +which we caried vpon those zena that they use in Russia, and went vp the +ryver on the yse, so that the next daie we arryved at the place, for it +standeth neere the ryver, and about lx miles distant from Tana. This +little hyll is lᵗⁱᵉ paces high and is plaine above, on which plaine is +an other little hill like a round bonett, compassed about wᵗʰ a stone so +large that ij men a fronte may walke on the bryme, and this little hill +is xii paces high. The hill bylowe was round as if it had been made wᵗʰ a +compasse, and was lxxx paces by diameter. + +After all things were readie we beganne to cutt and digge on the plaine +of this greater hill, which is the beginneng of the little hill, +entending to make a large waie to enter into the botome: but the earthe +was so harde frozen that neither wᵗʰ mattockes nor yet wᵗʰ pickaxes we +coulde well break it. Nevertheles, after that we were a little entred we +founde thearthe softer, so that we wrought meetely well that daie. But +whan we retoʳned the next morneng we founde thearthe so harde frozen that +we were constraigned to forgoo our enterprise, and to retoʳne vnto Tana; +determyneng nevertheles to com̄e thither again an other tyme. + +About thende of Marche we retoʳned thither by boates and litle vessells +wᵗʰ cl men, which beganne to digge of newe. So that in xxij daies we made +a waie of lx paces longe, viij paces brode, and x paces high. Nowe shall +yoᵘ hear wonders and things almost incredyble. + +[Sidenote: Miglio is a graine almost as small as mustard seed.] + +We founde all things as it had been tolde us before, which putt vs in +the more compforte of the rest. So that the hope of finding of this +treasure made vs that had hyred the laborers to carie the barowes better +than they: and I myself was master of making of the barowes. The great +wonder was that first next vnto the grasse thearthe was blacke. Than +next vnto that all was coles, but this is possible, for having willowes +enough there by, they might easilie make fyre on the hill. Vnder this +were asshes a spanne deep—and this is also possible; for having reades +there by which they might burne, it was no great matter to make asshes. +Then were there rynds of MIGLIO an other spanne deepe, and bicause it may +be said that that they of the cuntrey lyved wᵗʰ bread made of MIGLIO, +and saved the ryndes to bestowe in this place, I wolde faine knowe what +proportion of miglio wolde furnishe that quantitie to cover such an hill +of so great a breadth wᵗʰ the onlie ryndes thereof for a spanne deepe? +Under this an other spanne deepe were skales of fishe as of carpes and +such other. And bicause it may be saied that in the ryver there are +carpes and other fishe enough whose skales wolde suffise to cover such an +hill, I referre it vnto the reader’s iudgment wheather this thinge either +be possible or like to be trewe: and yet do I tell it for trewe. And do +consider besides that he which caused this sepulture to be made being +named Indiabu, mynding to vse all these ceremonies which ꝑchaunce were +used in those daies, did thinke on it longe before: and made all these +things to be gathered and laied togither by some processe of tyme.[2] + +Thus having cutt in and finding hitherto no treasʳᵉ, we determyned to +make ij trenches into the great hill of iiij paces in breadeth and +height. This doon we founde a white harde earthe into the which we made +steppes to carie up the barrowes by. And so being entred v. paces deeper +we founde in the botome certein vessels of stone, some of them wᵗʰ +asshes, some wᵗʰ coles, some emptie and some full of fishe back bones. +We founde also v or vi beadestones as bigge as oranges made of bricke +and covered wᵗʰ glasse such as in the marke of ANCONA they used to plaie +wᵗʰall. We founde also halfe the handle of a little ewer of sylver, +made with an adders hedde on the toppe. Finally in the passion week +theast winde beganne to blowe so vehemently that it raysed thearthe wᵗʰ +the stoanes and cloddes that had been digged and threwe them so in the +workemens faces that the blowdde folowed. Wherfore we determined to leave +of and to prove no further; which we did on the Easter Monday after. + +[Sidenote: The Tartares call in maner all nations of Europe franchi.] + +This place was before called the caves of Gulbedin, but after our +digging there it hathe beene called the cave of the FRANCHI, and is so +called vnto this daie. For the worke that we did in those few daies is +so great, that it seemeth a m men coulde skarsalie have done it in so +shorte a tyme. And yet we had no certaintie of this treasure, but (as +we coulde learne), if there be any treasʳᵉ the cause why it shulde be +hidde there was that Indiabu Lorde of the Alani hearing that Themꝓoʳ +of the Tartares came against hym; for hydeng of his treasure feigned +to make his sepulture after their custome, and so conveigheng thither +secretlie that which seemed him good, he afterwardes caused this litell +hill to be made upon it. The faith of Macomett beganne to take place +amonge the Tartariens about an Cᵗʰ yeres past. In dede some of them were +Macomettanes before, but everie man was at his libertie to believe what +hym best liked; so that some worshipped ymags of woode, and of ragges, +which they carried on their carts about with them. The beginneng of +Macometts faith was in the tyme of Hedighi capitaigne of the people of +Sidahameth Can Emperoʳ of Tartarie. This Hedighi was father vnto Naurus, +of whom we shall speake at this present. + +There reigned in the champaignes of Tartarie the yere 1438 an emperoʳ +called Vlumahumeth Can, that is to saie, the great Macomett emperoʳ, +who, having alreadie reigned certein yeres, and being in the champaignes +towards Russia wᵗʰ his Lordo[3] (that is to saie, his people), had this +Naurus as his capitaigne, sonne vnto Hedighi before named, by whose +meanes Tartarie was constreigned to receave the faith of Macomett. +Betwene this Naurus and Thempoʳ, there happened such a discorde, that +Naurus wᵗʰ such people as wolde folowe him left him, and went towards +the river Ledil vnto Chezimameth, that is to say Litle macomett, one of +the bloudde of thother emperor, and there agreed wᵗʰ both their forces +to go against Vlumahumeth. Wherevpon they tooke their waie by Citerchan +into the champaignes of Tumen, and coming about by Circassia they went +towards the ryver Tana, and towards the golfe of the sea called Tabacche, +which, with the ryver of Tana, were both frozen. And bicause their people +was great and their beasts innumerable, therefore it behoved them to go +the more at large to thentent they that went before shulde not destroie +the grasse, and other such thinges as served for the refresshing of them +that came aftre. So that the formost of this people and cattaill were +at a place called Palastra whan the hindermost were at a place called +Bosagaz (which signifieth grayye woodde), on the river of Tana, the +distance between which two places is cxx myles, which space of grounde +this foresaid people occupied, though in dede they were not all apt to +travaile. + +We had newes of their cōmyng iiij moonthes before. But a moneth before +this Lordes arryvall there beganne to cōme towardes the Tana certain +skowltes, being younge men, iij or iiij on horsebacke, eche of them wᵗʰ +a spare horse in hande. Those that came into Tana were called before the +consule and well entreated. But whan they were examyned whither they went +and what was their busynes, they answered they were yonge men that went +about for their passetyme, and more coulde not be had of them. And they +never taried passing an howre or twoo, but that they goon againe, and +so it contynewed daylie, saving their nombre did somewhat more and more +encrease. But whan this Lorde was wᵗhin v or vi ioʳneys of Tana than they +begane to come by xxv and lᵗⁱᵉˢ togither, well armed and in good ordre, +and as he drewe nearer they encreased by the hundrethes. + +[Sidenote: Moschea is the name of the Maccomettanes church.] + +[Sidenote: Turcimanno signifieth an interpretoʳ.] + +At length he came himself, and was lodged in an auncient MOSCHEA, wᵗhin +an arrowe shoot of Tana. Incontinently the consule determined to send him +presents, and sent him a NOUENA, an other to his moother, and an other +to NAURUS, capitaigne of the armie. NOUENA is called a present of nyne +divers things, as who wolde saie sylkes, skarlette and other such to the +numbre of ix. For such is the maner of presenting the Lordes of those +ꝑties. So there was caried vnto hym breade, wyne made of honye, ale and +other divers things, to the nombre of ix: and I was appointed to go wᵗʰ +all. Being thus entered into the MOSCHEA, we founde the Lorde lyeng on a +carpett, leanyng his hedde vnto NAURUS, he himself being of the age of +xxij, and Naurus xxv. Whan I had presented the things that we brought, +I recōmended the towne, wᵗʰ the people, vnto him, and telled him that +they were all at his cōmandement: wherevpon he answered wᵗʰ most gentle +woordes, and aftre looking towardes me beganne to laughe and to clappe +his handes togither, saieng, beholde what a towne is this, wheare as iij +men have but iij eyes, which he saied, bicause BURAN TAIAPIETRA, our +TURCIMANNO, had but one eye; Zuan Greco, the consules servant, one other +eye; and he that caried the wyne of honye likewise but one. And than we +tooke oʳ leave, and departed. + +And bicause some woll skarse thinke it likely that, as I have saied, the +skowltes shulde go by iiij, by x, xx, and xxx, through those plaines x, +xv, and sometime xx ioʳneys before the people; constrewing whareof they +might lyve. I answere that every of them which so departe from the people +carieth wᵗʰ him a bottell, made of a goates skynne, full of meale of the +grayne called MIGLIO, made in past wᵗʰ a litle honye, and hath a certain +litle dishe of woodde, so that whan he misseth to take any wylde game +(whereof there is great store in those champaignes which they can well +kyll, specially wᵗʰ their bowes) than taketh he a litle of this meale, +and putting a litle water vnto it maketh a certein potion, of the which +he feedeth. For whan I have asked some of them what thinge they lyve vpon +in the champaigne, they have asked me again, Why do men die for hunger? +as who wolde saie, If I may have wherewᵗʰ sleightlie to susteigne the +lief, it suffiseth me. And, in dede, they passe their lyves well enough +wᵗʰ herbes and rootes and such other as they can gett, so they wante not +salte. For, if they lacke salte, their mowthes woll so swell and fester +that some of them die thereof: and in that case they cōmonly fall into +the fluxe. + +[Sidenote: Peloponesus is nowe called Morea.] + +[Sidenote: This is skarse an English halfpeny.] + +But to retoʳne wheare we lefte, whan this Lorde was departed than this +people wᵗʰ their cattaill folowed. First, heardes of horses by lx-c.cc, +and more in an hearde. Aftre them folowed heardes of camells and oxen, +and aftre them heards of small beastes, which endured for the space of +vi daies, that as ferre as we might kenne wᵗʰ oʳ eyes the champaigne, +every waie was full of people and beasts folowing on their waie. And this +was only the first parte; whereby it is to be considered what a much +greater nombre shulde be in the myddle parte. We stood on the walles (for +we kept the gates shutt), and thevening we were weerie of looking, for +the moltitude of these people and beasts was such that the dyameter of +the plaine which they occupied seemed a PAGANEA of cxx myles. This is +a Greeke woorde that I learned in MOREA, being in a gentleman’s house +that brought an c plowemen in wᵗʰ him: every one of them wᵗʰ a staffe +in his hande. The maner of this people was, that they went in ordre a +rowe, one distant from an other an c paces, strikeng on the arthe wᵗʰ +their stafes, and sometime throwing fooʳthe a woʳde to raise the game, +for the which the hunters and fawkeners, some on horsebacke and some on +foote, wᵗʰ their hawkes and dogges, waited whereas they thought best; +and whan their tyme came lett their hawkes flee or their dogges renne, +as the game required. And amongest the other game that thei hunted there +were ꝑtriches and certain other birdes that we call hethecockes, which +are shorttailed like an henne, and holde up their heades like oʳ cockes, +being almost as great as pecocks, which they resemble altogether in +coloʳ, saving in the tayle. And, by reason that Tana standeth between +litle hills and hath many diches for x miles compasse, as ferre as wheare +the olde Tana hath beene, therefore a great nombre of these fowle and +game fledde amongst those litle hilles and valeys for succoʳ; insomuch +that about the walls of Tana and wᵗhin the diches were so many pertriches +and hethecockes that all those places seemed rich mennes poultries. The +boies of the towne tooke some of them and solde them twoo for an aspre, +which is viij baggatims of ours a peece. There was a freere at that tyme +in Tana called freere Thermo, of Saint Frauncs order, who (wᵗʰ a birdeng +nett, making of ij cereles one great and stickeng it out on a croked poll +wᵗhout the walls) tooke x and xx at a tyme, and with the selling of them +gate so much mooney as bought him a litell boye, CIRCASSO, which he named +Pertriche, and made him a freere: and all the night they of the towne +wolde leave their wyndowss open wᵗʰ a certain light in it to allure the +fowle to flee vnto it. Sometimes the hartes and other wilde beastes wolde +renne into the houses and in such nombres, that almost it is not to be +belieued: but that happened not neere vnto Tana. + +From the plaine through which this people passed, it did well appeare +that their nombre was very great, and so many that at a certain place +called BOSAGAZ, wheare I had a fissheng place about xl miles from Tana, +the fisshers telled me that they had fisshed all the wynter, and had +salted a great quantitie of MORONI and CAUIARI, and that certain of this +people cōmyng thither had taken all their fishe, aswell freshe as salte, +and all their CAUIARI, and all their salte, which was as bigge as that of +SIENIZA, in such wise that there was not a crome of salte to be founde +after they were goon. Thei brake also the pipes and barells, and tooke +the barell stafes wᵗʰ them, perchaunce to trym̄e their cartes withall. +And further, they brake iij litle mylles there made to grynde salte, only +for covetousenes of that litle yron that was in the myddest of them. But +that which was doon to me was cōmon to all other. For ZUAN DA VALLE, who +had a fisshing there also, hearing of this lordes cōmyng, digged a great +diche, and putt therein about xxx barrells of cauiari and to the entent +it shulde not be ꝑceaued, when he had covered wᵗʰ earth again, he burned +woodde upon it: but it availed not, for they founde it and left not a +iote thereof. + +This people carie wᵗʰ them innumerable cartes of twoo wheeles higher than +ours be, which are closed wᵗʰ mattes made of reades, and ꝓte covered wᵗʰ +felte, parte wᵗʰ clothe, if they apꝓteigne vnto men of estimacōn. Some of +these cartes carie their houses vpon them which are made on this wise. +They take a cercle of tymber, whose dyameter is a pase and an halfe, +crossed wᵗhin fooʳthe wᵗʰ other halfe cercles: betwene the which they +bestowe their mattes of reade, and than is it covered wᵗʰ felte or cloth, +according to the habilitie of the person. So that whan they lodge they +take downe these howses to lodge in. + +Two daies after that this Lorde was departed, certain of the towne of +Tana came vnto me, willing me to go to the walles, wheare one of the +Tartares taried to speake wᵗʰ me. I went thither and founde one that +tolde me howe EDELMUGH, the Lordes brother-in-lawe, was not ferre of, and +desired (if I coulde be so contented) to entre vnto the towne and to be +my ghest. I asked licence of the consule, which being obteigned, I went +to the gate and receaued him in wᵗʰ iij of his companye. For the gates +were all this while kept shutt. I had him to my hawse and made him good +cheare, specially wᵗʰ wyne, which pleased him so well that he taried twoo +daies wᵗʰ me: and being disposed to departe entreated me to go wᵗʰ him, +for he was become my brother; and, wheare as he went, I might go saufely; +and so spake some what to the merchaunts, whereof there was none there, +but that he wondered at it. + +So, being determined to go wᵗʰ him, I tooke wᵗʰ me twoo Tartariens of the +towne on foote: rode on horsebacke myself, and about the iijᵈᵉ howre of +the daie sett forwarde. But he was so dronke that the bloudde ranne out +of his nose; and whan I wolde ꝓsuade him not to drynke so much, he wolde +make mowes like an ape, saieng, Lette me drynke; whan shall I finde eny +more of this? + +By the waie, it behoved vs to passe a ryver which was frozen over; +and being alighted, I endeavored myself to go wheare the snowe was on +the yse. But he who was overcome wᵗʰ wyne, going wheareas his horse +ledde him, chaunced on the yse in divers placs wheare no snowe was, by +reason whareof the horse was nowe up, nowe downe, aftre which sorte he +contynewed the thirde parte of an howre. Finallie, being passed that +river, we came to an other water, and passed it, wᵗʰ much a doo, aftre +the like maner: so that, being wearied, he rested him wᵗʰ certain of +the people that lodged there: wheare we taried all that night, as yll +provided, as may be thought. The next morneng we rode fooʳthe, though +not so lustylie as we had done the daie before, and when we weare passed +an other arme of the foresaid ryver: following the waie that the people +travailed (which were over all as a meyny of ants) wᵗhin two daies +ioʳney, we approached vnto the place, wheare the Lorde himself was: and +there was my conductoʳ much honored of all men, and fleshe, breade and +mylke, wᵗʰ other like things given him: so that we wanted no meate. The +next daie folowing coveting to see howe this people rode, and what order +they obserued in their things, I did see so many wonders, that if I wolde +ꝓticulerlie write them, I shoulde make a great volume. + +We went to the Lordes lodging, whom we founde vnder a pavilion wᵗʰ +innumerable people about him. Of the which those that desired audience +kneeled all separate one from an other, and had left their weapons a +stones caste off ere they came to their Lorde. Vnto some of them the +Lorde spake, and demaunding what they wolde, he alwaies made a signe to +them wᵗʰ his hande that they shulde arise. Whereupon they wolde arise, +but not approache eight paces more till they kneeled againe: and so +neerer and neerer till they had audience. + +The justice that is vsed throughout their campe is verie soddaine, aftre +this maner: Whan a difference groweth betwene partie and partie, and +wordes multiplied (not aftre the maner of oʳ quarters, for these do +vse no violence), thei both or moo (if they be moo) arise and go what +waie they thinke good: and to the first man of any estimacōn that they +meete they saie: Master, do vs right, for we here are in controversie, +wherevpon he tarieth and heareth what both ꝑties can saie: determyneng +therevpon what he thinketh best wᵗhout further writing, and what so ever +he determineth is accepted wᵗhout any contradiction. For vnto these +iudgements many ꝓsons assemble, vnto whom he that maketh the determīacōn +saieth yoᵘ shal be all witnesses, with which kinde of iudgements the +campe is continually occupied. And if any like difference happen by the +waie they observe the verie same ordre. + +I did see on a daie (being in this Lordo) a treene[4] dishe +overwhelmed[5] on thearthe: vnder the which I founde a litle loofe baken: +and demaunding of a Tartarien that was by me, What thinge it was, he +answered, It was putt there for HIBUCH-PERES, that is to wete for the +Idolatrers. Why, qᵈ I, are there Idolatrers amongst this people? O, oh, +qᵈ he, that there be enough, but they are verie secret. + +To nombre the people surely, in my iudgement, it was impossible; but to +speake according to myne estimacōn, I believe, vndoubtedly, that in all +the Lordo whan they came togither there were not so fewe as ccc thousand +ꝑsons. This I saie because VLU MAHUMETH had also parte of the Lordo, as +it hath been rehearsed before. + +The hablemen are verie valiaunt and hardie, in such wise that some of +them for their excellencie are called TULUBAGATOR, which signifieth a +valiaunt foole: being a name of no lesse reputacōn amongst them than the +sernames of wisedome or beaultie wᵗʰ vs, as Peter, ec., the wiseman, +Paule, ec., the goodly man. These haue a certein preemynence that all +things they do (though partely it be against reason) are rekened to be +well doon: because that proceading of valiauntnes it seemeth to all men +that they do as it best becometh them. Wherefore there be many of them +that in feates of armes esteeme not their lyves, feare no perill, but +stryke on afore to make waie wᵗhout reason: so that the weake harted +take cowraige at them and become also very valiaunt. And this sername, +to my seemyng, is verie convenient for them: bicause I see none that +deserueth the name of a valiaunt man, but he is a foole in dede.[6] For, +I pray yoᵘ, is it not a folie in one man to fight against iiij? Is it not +a madnes for one wᵗʰ a knyfe to dispose himself to fight against divers +that haue sweardes? Wherefore to this purpose I shall write a thinge that +happened on a tyme while I was at TANA. + +[Sidenote: Semenzina is a certein kinde of drugge.] + +Being one daie in the streate, there came certein TARTARIENS into the +towne, and saied that in a litle woodde not past iii miles of there were +about an cᵗʰ horsemen of the Circasses hidden, entending to make a roade +even to the towne, as they were wonte to do. At the hearing whereof +I happened to be in a fletchers shoppe, wheare also was a Tartarien +merchaunt that was cōme thither wᵗʰ SEMENZINA, who, as soone ahe hearde +this, rose vp and saied, why go we not to take them? howe many horses be +they? I answered, an c. Well, said he, we are five, and howe many horses +woll yoᵘ make? I answered, xl. O, qᵈ he, the Circasses are no men, but +women: let us go take them. Wherevpon, I went to seeke Mr. Frauncs, and +tolde him what this man had saied. And he, alwaies laugheng, folowed +me, asking me wheather my hert serued me to go. I answered yea; so that +we tooke oʳ horses and ordeyned certein men of ours to come by water. +And about noone we assaulted these Circasses, being in the shadowe, and +some of them on sleepe, but by mishappe a litle before oʳ arryvall, +our trumpett sowned: by reason wheʳof many of them had tyme to eskape. +Nevertheles, we killed and tooke about xl of them. But to the purpose +of these valiaunt fooles, the best was that this Tartarien wolde needes +have had us folowe them still to take them: and seeing no man offer +unto it, ranne aftre those that were eskaped himself alone, crieng NOI +MAHE TORNA.[7] And about an howre after retoʳned lamenting wonders +much that he coulde take never a one of them. Beholde, wheather this +were a madnesse or no, for if iiij of them had retoʳned they might haue +hewen him to peecs, for the which whan we reproved him, he laughed vs to +skorne. The skowtes here before menc̃oned that came before the campe vnto +Tana, went alwaies before the campe into viij costes to descrie if there +were daungier any waie. + +As soone as the Lorde is lodged, incontinently they vnlade their +baggaige, leaving large waies betweene their lodgings. If it be in the +wynter the beastes are so many that they make wondrefull mooyre: and +if it be in som̄er spreading much dust. Incontinently, aftre they haue +untrussed their baggaige they make their ovens roste and booyle their +fleshe: and dresse it wᵗʰ mylke, butter, and cheese, and most com̄only +they are not wᵗhout some venyson, or wilde fleshe, specially redde deere. +In this armie are many artisanes, as clothiers, smythes, armorers, and +of all other craftes and things that they neede. And if it shulde be +demaunded wheather they go, like the Egiptians oʳ no?[8] I answer, no. +For (saving that they are not walled about) they seeme verie great and +faire cities. And to this purpose, as I retoʳned on a tyme to TANA, +on the gate whereof was a very faire towre, I saied vnto a Tartarien +marchānt that was in my companie: who earnestly behelde this towre, +howe thinkest thoᵘ, is not this a faire thinge? But he, smiling, againe +answered, he that is afearde buyldeth towres: wherein me seemeth he said +trewly. + +[Sidenote: Carauana is a company of merchauntes with their merchandise, +assembled to go strongely togithers.] + +And because I have spoken of merchaunt men, retoʳneng to my purpose +of the armie, I saie there be alwaies merchauntes which carie their +wares divers waies though they passe wᵗʰ the Lordo, entending to +go otherwheare. These Tartariens are good fawkeners, have many +jerfaulcones, and their flight is much to the CAMMELEONS, which is not +vsed wᵗʰ vs.[9] They hunte the harte and other great beastes also. These +hawkes they carie on their fistes, and in the other hande they haue a +crowche:[10] which, whan they be weerie, they leane their hande vpon. +For one of these hawkes is twise as bigge as an egle. Sometimes there +passeth over the armie a flocke of gheese, to the which some of the campe +shoote certein croked arrowes vnfeathered, which, in the ascending, hurle +abowt breaking all that is in their waie, neckes, leggs, and whinges: +and sometyme there passe so many that it seemeth the ayre is full of +them: and than do the people showte and crie wᵗʰ so extreame a noyse, +that the gheese astonied wᵗhall do fall downe. And bicause I am entered +into talking of byrdes, I shall here rehearse one thinge that I thinke +notable. Rideng through this Lordo, on the banke of a litle ryver, I +founde a man that seemed of reputacōn talking wᵗʰ his serūnt, who called +me vnto him and made me alight, demaunding of me wheareabouts I went. +I answered as the case required, wherevpon, looking aside, I ꝑceaued +beside him iiij or v tesells:[11] on the which were certein lynettes; +he furthew cōmaunded one of his serūnts to take one of those lynetts: +who tooke two threades of his horsetayle, made a snare which he putt on +the tasells, and streight waie tooke a lynett, which he brought to his +master, who furthwᵗʰ did bidde hym dresse it: so that the serūnt tooke +him, quickely pulled him, made a broche of woode, rosted him and retoʳned +wᵗhall vnto his mʳ, who tooke it in his hande, and beholding me, said: +I am not nowe, whereas I may shewe the that honoʳ and courtesie that +thoᵘ mearitest, but of such as I haue that God hath sent me we wolde +make mearie; and so tooke the linett in his hande, brake it in three +partes, gave me one, eate an other himself: and the iijᵈᵉ, which was +verie litle, he gave vnto him that tooke it. What shall I saie of the +great and innumerable moltitude of beastes that are in this Lordo? Shall +I be believed? But, be as it be may, I haue determyned to tell it. And, +beginneng at the horses, I saie there be many horsecorsers which take +horses out of the Lordo and carie them into divers places: for there was +one CARAUANA that came into Persia er I deꝑted thense, which brought +iiij thousand of them; whereof ye neede not to mervaile, for if yoᵘ were +disposed in one daie to bie a thousande or ijᵐˡ horses yoᵘ shulde finde +them to sell in this Lordo, for they go in heardes like sheepe, and as +they go, if you saie to the owner I woll haue an cᵗʰ of these horses he +hath a staffe wᵗʰ a coller on thende of it, and is so connyng in that +feate that it is no sooner spoken, but he hath streight cast the coller +about the horse necke, and drawen him out of the hearde: and so by one +and one which he lyst, and as many as yoʷ bidde him. I have divers tymes +mett these horsecorsers on the waie wᵗʰ such a nombre of horses as haue +covered the champaigne, that it seemed a wonder. The countrey breedeth +not verie good horses, for they be litell, haue great bealies, and eate +no provander: and whan thei be brought into Persia the greatest praise +yoᵘ can give them is, that they woll eate provander: wᵗhout the which +they woll not endure any laboʳ to the purpose. The seconde sorte of their +beastes is oxen, which are verie faire and great, and such a nombre +wᵗʰall, that they serve the shambles of Italie, being sent by the waie +of Polonia, and some throwgh Valacchia into Transilvania, and so into +Allemaigne, from whense they are brought into Italie. The thirde sorte +of beasts that they have are camells of twoo bonches, great and rowghe, +which they carie into Persia, and there sell them for xxv ducats a +peece: whereas they of theast haue but one bonche, are litle, and be +solde for x ducats a peece. Their iiijᵗʰ kinde of beasts are sheepe, +which be unreasonable great, longe legged, longe woll, and great tayles, +that waie about xijˡ a peece. And some such I haue seene as haue drawen a +wheele aftre them, their tailes being holden vp. Whan for a pleasʳᵉ they +haue been put to it, with the fatt of which tayles they dresse all their +meates and serueth them in steede of butter, for it is not clammye in the +mowthe. + +I wote not who wolde verifie this, that I shall saie nowe[12] if he +haue not seene it. For it may well be demaunded whereof shulde so +great a nombre of people lyve travaileng thus every daie! wheare is +the coʳne they eate? wheare do they gett it? To the which, I that haue +seene it, do answere on this wise. About the mooneth of Februarie they +make proclamac̃ons throughout the Lordo, that he which woll sowe shall +prepare his things necessarie against the mooneth of Marche, to sowe in +such a place. And such a daie of that mooneth they must take their waie +thitherwards. This doon, they that are mynded to sowe prepare themselfs, +and being agreed togither, lading their seede on cartes[13] wᵗʰ such +cattaill as their busynes require, togither wᵗʰ their wiefs and children +or parte of them they go to the place appointed, which most cōmonly +passeth not ij ioʳneys from the place of the Lordo wheare the crie is +made. And there do they eare, sowe, and tarie, till they haue furnisshed +that they came for, which doon they retoʳne to their Lordo. + +Thempoʳ, wᵗʰ the Lordo, doth this meane while, as the mother is wonte to +do wᵗʰ her children. For whan she letteth them go plaie she ever keepeth +her eye on them, and so doth he never departe from these plowemen iiij +ioʳneys, but compasseth about them nowe here, nowe there, till the corne +be rype, and yet when it is ripe he goeth not thither wᵗʰ his LORDO, but +sendeth those that sowed it and those that mynded to bye of it wᵗʰ their +cartes, oxen, and camells, and those other things that they need; even as +they do at their village. + +[Sidenote: Zattere arr polles so tied one to an other, that thei can not +synke.] + +[Sidenote: Rialto is the merchauntes assembling place in Venice.] + +[Sidenote: Lordes ouer the night is an office of great auctoritie in +Venice.] + +Thearthe is fertile, and bringeth fooʳthe lᵗⁱᵉ busshells wheate for one +of seede: and their busshell is as great as the PADOUANE. And of MIGLIO +they haue an c for one; and sometimes thei haue so great plentie that +they leaue no small quantitie in the feelde. To this purpose I shall tell +yoᵘ, There was a sonnes sonne of VLUMAHUMETH, who, having ruled certein +years, fearing his cousyn Cormayn that dwelled on the other side of +the ryver of Ledil, to thentent he wolde not loose such a parte of his +people as must haue goon to this tyllaige, which they coulde not haue +doon wᵗhout their manifest perill, he wolde not suffer them to sowe in +the space of xj yeres. All which tyme they lyved of fleshe, mylke, and +other things. Nevertheles, they had alwaies in their tavernes a little +meale and PANICO: but that was verie deere. And whan I asked them howe +they did, they wolde answer that they had fleshe; and yet, for all that, +he at leingth was driven awaie by his said cousin. Finallie, VLUMAHUMETH, +of whom we spoke afore, whan ZIMAHUMETH was arryved neere vnto his +confines, seeing himself unhable to resist, lefte his Lordo and fledde +wᵗʰ his children and others, by reason whereof Zimahumeth became emperoʳ +of all the people: and went to wards the ryver of TANA in the mooneth +of June, and passed the same about ij daies ioʳney above Tana wᵗʰ all +that nombre of people, their cartes, and cattaill: a mervailouse thinge +to believe, but more wonderfull to beholde. For they passed all wᵗhout +any rumoʳ, and as saufe as if they had goon by lande. Their maner of +passaige is this. They that are of the most substanciall sende of their +folkes afore, who make certein zattere[14] of drie woode, whereof there +is plentie alonge the ryver. They also make certein bondells of softe +reades, which they putt vnder their zattere and vnder their cartes, and +so tye the same to their horses, who swymeng over the ryver (guyded by +certein naked men) passe the hole companie aftre this maner. About a +mooneth aftre, rowing vp the water towarde a certein fissheng place, I +mett wᵗʰ so many zatteres and bondells comyng downe the water (which +this people had lett go), that we coulde skarselie passe, and besids +that I did see so many zatteres and bondells on the banks, that it +made me to wonder. And whan we arrived at the fissheng place we founde +that these had doon much woʳse there than those that I haue writen of +before. And bicause I woll not forget my freends yoᵘ shall vnderstande +that EDELMULGH, the empoʳˢ brother in lawe before named, came unto TANA, +and his sonne wᵗʰ him, and soddainelie embraced me, saieng, here I haue +brought the my sonne, and incontinently tooke a cassacke from his sonnes +backe and putt it vpon me, wherewᵗʰ he gave me also viij sklaves of the +nation of Rossia, saieng, this is parte of the praye that I haue taken +in Rossia. In recompence whereof I presented him wᵗʰ convenient things +again, and so he taried wᵗʰ me ij daies. Some there be that, departing +from others, thinking never to meete again, do easylie forgett their +amitie, and so vse not those curtesies that they ought to vse: wherein, +by that litle experience that I haue had, me seemeth they do not well. +For, as the saieng is, mountaignes shall never meate, but men may. In +my retoʳneng out of PERSIA wᵗʰ the Ambassadoʳ of ASSAMBEI,[15] willing +to passe through Tartarie, and so through POLONIA to cōme to Venice +(though at that time I went not through that waie), it chaunced me to be +in companie of divers Tartarien merchaunts of whom I enquired for this +Edelmulg, and learned by signes of the phisonomie, and by the name, that +he which was given me by the father, as those Tartariens than telled me, +was great wᵗʰ thempoʳ. So that if we had goon further we must needes haue +fallen into his handes. In which cace I am assured I shulde haue had no +lesse good cheere of him, than as I haue made both to him and his father, +but who wolde haue belieued that xxxvᵗⁱᵉ yeres aftre in so ferre distant +cuntreys a Tartarien shulde haue mett wᵗʰ a Venetian? An other thinge +I woll rehearse even to the same purpose. The yere 1455, being in a +vinteners seller in the Rialto, as I ꝑvsed the seller in thone end of the +same, I ꝑceaued twoo men tyed in chaynes, which, by their countenaunce, +me thought shulde be Tartariens. I asked who they were, and they answered +that they had been sklaves of the Catelaines, and that, fleing awaie, +in a litle bote, they were taken by this vyntener, wherevpon I went +incontinently to the SIGNORI DI NOTTE, and declared this matter, who +by and by sent officers thither, brought them to the coʳte, and in the +vinteners presence delivered them, putteng him to his fyne. Thus I gate +them loosed, and had them home to my house, and askeng them what they +were and of what cuntrey; thone of them answered, he was of Tana, and had +been serunt to Cazadahuch, whom I had knowen well, for he was thempoʳˢ +customer over all things that came vnto Tana; so that, regarding him +more advisedly, me seemed to remembre his face, for he had been many +tymes in my house. I asked him what was his name. He answered, Chebechzi, +which signifieth a bulter of meale. And whan I had well behelde him, I +saied vnto him, doest thoᵘ knowe me? He answered, no. But, as soone as +I mentioned TANA and JUSUPH (for so they called me there), he fell to +thearthe, and wolde haue kissed my feete: saieng vnto me, thoʷ hast saved +my lief twies, and this is thone of them, for being a sklave I rekened +myself deade, and thother was whan Tana was on fyre, thoʷ madest an hole +in the wall, through the which so many creatures escaped, amongest whom +was I and my mʳ both. And it is true, for whan Tana was sett on fyre, +I made an hole in the wall forneagaint a certein grounde wheare many +persons were assembled: through the which there issued aboue xl, and +amongest them this felowe and CAZADAHUCH. I kept these twoo Tartariens +in my house about twoo moonethes, and when the shippes departed towardes +TANA I sent them home. Wherefore, I saie that departeng one from an +other, wᵗʰ opinion never to retoʳne into those ꝑties againe, no man ought +to forgett his amitie as though they shuld never meete, for there may +happen a thousande things that, if they chaunce to meete againe, he that +is most hable shall haue neede of his succoʳ that can do least. Nowe, +to retoʳne vnto the things of Tana. I woll describe it by the west and +northwest, costing the sea of Tabacche to the going fooʳthe on the lefte +hande, and aftre some parte of the sea called MAGGIORE, even to the +Province named Mengleria. Departing than from Tana about the foresaid +coste of the sea, iij joʳneys wᵗhin lande, I founde a region called +Chremuch, the lorde whereof is named Biberdi, which signifieth given to +God; he was sonne vnto Chertibei, that signifieth twelve Lorde. He hath +many villaiges vnder him, which at a neede woll make a thousand horses, +faire champaignes, many good woodes, and ryvers plentie. The principall +men of this region lyve by robbing on those plaines and speciallie on +the roberie of the carouanes that go from place to place. They are well +horsed, valiaunt men, and subtill witted, but not verie gryme of visaige. +They haue corne enough, fleshe, and honye, but no wyne. Beyonde these +are cuntreys of divers languages, though not much different one from an +other; that is to witt, Elipehe, Tatarcosia, Sobai, Cheuerthei,[16] As +Alani, of whom I haue spoken here before. And these renne alongest even +vnto Mengleria[17] for the space of xij ioʳneys. Mengleria confyneth +wᵗʰ Caitacchi, which are neere the mountaigne Caspio, and wᵗʰ parte +of Giorgiana, and wᵗʰ the sea Maggiore, and wᵗʰ the mountaigne that +passeth through Circassia, and hath on thone side a ryver called Phaso +that compasseth it and falleth into the sea Maggiore. The Lorde of this +province, named Bendian, hath two walled townes on the foresaid sea, one +called VATHI and an other SEUASTOPOLI, and besides that divers other +piles and stronge houses. The cuntrey is all stonie and barayn, wᵗhout +any kinde of grayne, saving PANICO. Salte is brought vnto them out of +Capha. They make a litle cloth, but it is both course and naught: and +they arr beastly people. For proof whereof, being in Vathi (where one +Azolin Squarciafigo, a Genowaie, arryved in companie of a PARANDERIA of +Turks that went thither wᵗʰ us from Constantinople), there was a yonge +woman stode in her doore vnto whom this Genowaie saied SURINA PATRO NI +COCON? which is, mistres is the good man wᵗhin? meaneng her husbande. +She answered, Archilimisi, that is to witt, he woll cōme anon. Whereupon +he swapped her on the lippes and shewed her vnto me, saieng, beholde +what faire teethe she hath: and so shewed me her breast and toouched her +teates, which she suffered wᵗhout moving. Afterwardes, we entred into her +house, and sate us downe, and this Azolin fayneng to haue vermyn about +him beckened on her to searche him: which she did verie diligentlie and +chastely. This, meane while, the good man came in, and my companion put +his hande in his purse, and saied PATRON TETARI SICA, which is as much +to saie as, mʳ, hast thoʷ any mooney? Wherevnto he made a countenaunce +that he had none about him: and so he tooke him a fewe aspres, wᵗʰ the +wᶜh he went streight to bye some vittaills. Within a while after, we +went through the towne to sporte vs, and this Genowaie did every wheare +after the maner of that cuntrey what pleased him wᵗhout reproche of any +man, whereby it may appeare weather they be beastly people or no, and +therefore the Genowaies that practise in those ꝑties vse for a proverbe +to saie, Thoʷ art a Mongrello, whan they arr disposed to saie thoᵘ art +a foole. And nowe, bicause I haue saied that TARTARI signifieth mooney, +I haue thought good to declare that TETARI properlie signifieth white, +and by this they understande syluer mooney, which is white, for the +Greeks also call it aspri, wᶜh signifieth white, the Turkes AKCIA, which +signifieth white and in Venice in tyme past, and yet to this present +we haue mooney called BIANCHI, in Spaigne also they haue mooney called +Bianche. Whereby it may appeare howe many nacōns agree in their languaige +to call one thinge by one maner of name. + +[Sidenote: Chersonesus.] + +Retoʳning backe to the Tana, I do passe the ryver wheare ALAMA was, as I +haue saied before, and so discurre by the sea of Tabacche, on the right +hande, going fooʳthe even to the Isle of Capha, wheare is a straict of +the lande that knitteth the Ile wᵗʰ the mayne lande, liek vnto that of +MOREA, which is called ZUCHALA. There are verie great salt springes, that +of itself being dried woll become ꝓficte salte. Costeng this ilande, +first on the sea Tabacche is the cuntrey named Cumania, of the people +Cumani. After that is the hedde of the isle wheare Capha standeth, in +the same place wheare Gazzaria hath been. And yet to this daie the +PICO, that is to saie, the yarde wherewᵗʰ they measure at Tana, and +in all those ꝑties is called PICO DE GAZZARIA. The champaigne of this +Ile of Capha is vnder the Tartariens domynion, who haue a Lorde called +Vlubi, sonne of AZICHAREI. They are a good nombre of people hable at a +neede to make iij or iiijᵐᵗ horses; they haue twoo places walled, but +not stronge, thone whereof is called Sorgathi, which they also called +INCREMIN, that signifieth a forteresse; and thother Cherchiarde, which +signifieth xl placs. In this ilande, first at the mowthe of the sea +Tabacche, is a place called Cherz, which we call BOSPHORO CIMERIO; next +to that is Capha, Saldaia, Grasui, Cymbalo, Sarsona, and Calamita. All +at this present vnder the great Turke, of the which I neede to saie +no more, bicause they are knowen well enough. And yet me thinketh it +necessarie to declare the losse of Capha, as I learned it of one ANTONY +DA GUASCO, a Genowaie, who was present there, and fledde by sea into +GIORGIANA, and from thense into Persia, the same tyme that I happened to +be there, to thentent it may be knowen aftre what maner this place is +fallen into the Turks hands. In that tyme there was a Tartarien Lorde +in the Champaigne named Emimachbi, who had yerely of them of Capha a +certein tribute as the custome of the cuntrey there is. Betweene him and +them of Capha there happened variaunce, insomuch that the CONSULE of +CAPHA, being a Genowaie, determined to sende vnto thempoʳ of Tartarie +for some one of the bloudde of this Eminachbi, by whose favoʳ he thought +it possible to expell Eminachbi out of his astate. And having therevpon +sent a shippe vnto Tana wᵗʰ an ambassadoʳ, this ambassadoʳ went into +the Lordo and there obteigned of thempoʳ one of the bloudde of this +Eminachby, named Menglieri, promiseng to conduct him to Capha, and that +if the towne wolde not accept this appointement than to sende Menglieri +backe again. Eminachbi, mistrusteng this matter, sent an ambassadoʳ +vnto Ottomanno, promiseng him that if he wolde sende an armie by sea to +assaulte the towne he would assault it by lande, and so shulde Capha +be the Turkes. Ottomanno being desirouse thereof sent his armie, and +in shorte space gate the towne, in the which Menglieri was taken, and +sent to Ottoman̄o, who kept him in prison many yeres. Not longe after +Eminachbi, through the Turks yll conversac̃on, repenting him of giveng +the towne to Ottomanno, prohibited the passaige of all vittailles into +the towne, by reason whereof they had so great skarsetie of corne and +fleshe that they rekened themselfs in maner besieged. Wherevpon the Turke +was ꝓsuaded that if he sent Menglieri to Capha, keeping him wᵗhin the +towne in curteise warde, the towne shulde haue plentie: for Menglieri +was welbeloued of the people wᵗhout. And so Ottomanno did; so that, as +soone as it was knowen that he was arrived, incontinently the towne had +plentie of all things, for he was also beloued of the townesmen. This man +thus remaineng in curteise warde went wheare he wolde wᵗhin the towne; +and one daie amongest other, there happened a game of shooting for a +prise. The maner wheʳof is, they honge on certein polles sett vp like +a galowes, a boll of sylver tied only wᵗʰ a fyne threede. Those nowe +that shall shoote for the prise shoote thereat wᵗʰ forked arrowes and +arr on horsebaike, and first must gallopp vnder the gallowes, so that +being in his full carier passed a certein space, he turneth his bodie +and shooteth backewarde, the horse galoping still awaywarde, and he that +after this sorte cutteth the threede wynneth the game. Menglieri, findeng +occasion vpon this to escape, appointed an c horsemen (wᵗʰ whom he had +intelligence before) to hide themselfs the same daie in a litell valey +not ferre from the towne, and fayneng to renne for the game he made awaie +to his companie; wherevpon the force of all the whole iland folowed him: +by reason whereof, he being waxed stronge, went to Surgathi, a towne +vi miles from Capha, and took it, and so having slayne Eminachbi, made +himself Lorde of all those places. The yere folowing he determined to go +towards Citerchan,[18] a place xvi ioʳneys distant from Capha, vnder the +domynion of one Mordassa[19] Can, who in that tyme was wᵗʰ his Lordo vpon +the ryver of Ledil. He fought wᵗʰ him, tooke him and tooke his people +from him: a great parte whereof he sent into the Ile of Capha, and so +aboade the wynter on that ryver. At which tyme, by chaunce, there was +an other Tartarien Lorde lodged a fewe ioʳneys of, who, hearing that +he wyntered there, whan the ryver was frozen came on him soddainely, +assaulted him, and discompfited him, and so recovered Mordassa that had +been kept prisoner. Menglieri being thus discompfited, retoʳned vnto +Capha in yll ordre. And Mordassa, wᵗʰ his Lordo, came the next springe +even to Capha, and made certein roades to the dammaige of the ilande. +But, seing he coulde not haue the towne yelden vnto him, he toʳned backe. +Nevertheles, I was enformed that he was making of a newe armye to com̄e +againe into the ilande and to chace Menglieri awaie, as it proved after +in dede; but hereof sprange a false rumoʳ, through thignorance of them +that vnderstande not whereof the warre amongest these Lordes proceadeth, +not knowing what difference is betwene the great Can and Mordassa Can. +For they, hearing that Mordassa Can made a newe armie to retoʳne vnto the +ilande, bruted that the great Can shulde come by Capha, awaie against +Ottomanno, purposeng by the waie of Moncastro to entre into Valachia, +into Hungarie; and so, wheareas Ottomanno was behinde the ilande of +Capha, which standeth on the sea Maggiore is Gothia, and aftre that +Alania, which goeth by the ilande towardes Moncastro, as I have saied +before. + +[Sidenote: The furlane and florentine differ but in phrase of speeche +from the Venetian.] + +The Gothes speake dowche, which I knowe by a dowcheman, my serūnt, that +was wᵗʰ me there: for they vnderstode one an other well enough, as we +vnderstande a furlane[20] or a florentine. + +Of this neighboʳhode of the Gothes and Alani, I suppose the name of +Gotitalani to be deryved, for Alani were first in this place. But than +came the Gothes and conquered these cuntreys, myngleng their name wᵗʰ the +Alani, and so being myngled togither called themselfs Gotitalani, who, in +effect, folowe all the Greekish fac̃ons, and so also do the Circassi. + +[Sidenote: Mare Caspi’u is nowe called Bachu.] + +And bicause we haue spoken of Tumen and Cithercan, thinking good to +write the things there woʳthie of memorie, we saie that going from Tumen +east northeast about vij ioʳneys, is the ryver Ledil, whereon standeth +Cithercan, which at this p’nt is but a litle towne in maner destroied; +albeit, that in tyme passed it hath been great and of great fame. For, +before it was destroied by Tamerlano, the spices and silke that passe +nowe through Soria came to Cithercan, and from thense to Tana, wheare +vj or vij galeys only were wonte to be sent from Venice to fetche +those spices and silkes from Tana; so that, at that tyme, neither the +Venetians nor yet any other nacion on this side of the sea costes, vsed +merchaundise into Soria. The ryver Ledil is great and large, and falleth +into the Sea of Bachu about xxvᵗⁱᵉ myles distant from Cithercan, and as +well in that ryver as in the sea arr innumerable fisshes taken. + +[Sidenote: Marchetto is not worthe an Englishe halfepeny.] + +[Sidenote: Stufe is an hote-house.] + +That sea yeldeth much salte, and yoʷ may saile vp that ryver by ioʳneys +almost as ferre as Musco, a towne of ROSSIA. And they of Musco come +yerely wᵗʰ their boates to Cithercan for salte. There arr many ilandes +and woodes on this ryver, some of which ilandes conteigne xxx myles in +cōpasse. In these woodes arr great trees growing, which, being made +holowe, serue for boates of one peece, so bigge that thei woll carie viij +or x horses at a tyme and as many men. Passing this ryver and going east +northeast towards Musco, keeping the rivers side xv ioʳneys continuallie, +arr innumerable people of the Tartariens, but toʳneng plaine northeast +yoʷ arryve at the confines of Rossia, at a litle towne called RISAN, +which appertaigneth to a brother in lawe of John Duke of Rossia, and +there they be all Christians aftre the ryte of the Greekes. This countrey +is verie fertyle of corne, fleshe, honye, and divers other things: and +their drynke is called BOSSA,[21] which signifieth ale. There arr also +many woodes and villages, and so passing a litle further yoʷ com̄e to a +citie called Colona. The one and other of both which townes arr fortified +wᵗʰ woodde, whereof also they buylde their houses, bicause there is small +quantitie of stone to be founde thereabouts. Three ioʳneys from thense +is the said towne of Musco, wheare the forenamed John Duke of Rossia +dwelleth, throwgh the middest of which towne renneth the most noble ryver +of MUSCO, and hath certein bridge over it: and, as I believe, the towne +tooke his name of the ryver. The castell is on a litell hyll environed +about wᵗʰ woodes. The habundance that they haue of corne and fleshe may +well be cōmprehended by this, that they sell not their fleshe by weight, +but by the eye; and surely they have iiijˡ for a marchetto. Yoʷ shall +haue lxx hennes for a ducat, and a goose for iij MARCHETTI. But the colde +is so fervent in that cuntrey that the ryvers are frozen. In the wynter +arr brought thither hogges, oxen, and other beastes, readie flayne, and +sett vpright on foote as harde as stones, and in such nombre that he +who wolde bye twoo hundred in a daie may haue them there. But they woll +not be cutt, for they arr harde as marble till they be brought into the +stufes. As for fruictes, they haue none, saving a fewe apples and nuttes +and litle wylde nuttes. + +[Sidenote: Sani arr sleddes.] + +Whan thay be disposed to travaile, specially any longe ioʳneys, they go +in the wynter, for than is it frozen over all: and by reason thereof good +travaileng, saving that it is colde, and than do they carie what they +lyst with great ease vpon those sani which serue them as cartes serue vs +and oʳ parties, we call them TRANOLI. But in the som̄er they darr not +in maner go fooʳthe of their doores, for the vnreasonable mooyre and +moltitude of stingeng flies which com̄e fooʳthe of so many great woodes +as they haue about them: the greatest parte whereof is vnhabitable. They +haue no grapes, but make them wyne of honye, and some make ale of miglio, +in thone and other whereof they putt hoppes, which giveth a taste that +maketh a man as doonye[22] or dronken as the wyne. + +Furthermore, me seemeth it not convenient to forgett the provisions that +their foresaid duke made to brydle such dronkardes, as throʷgh their +dronkenesse neglected the woʳking and doing of many things which shulde +haue been proffitable for them. He made a crye that they shulde make +neither ale nor wyne of honye, nor use hoppes in any thinge, and by this +meane hath reduced them to good lyving, which hath contynued nowe for +the space of xxvᵗⁱᵉ yeres. In tyme passed[23] the Rossians paied trybute +to Themꝓoʳ of Tartarie, but nowe they haue subdued a towne called Cassan +(which, in oʳ tonge, signifieth a cawldron[24]), that standeth on the +ryver Ledil, on the lefte hande as yoʷ go towards the Sea of Bachu, v +ioʳneys from Musco. This is a towne of great merchaundise. From whense +cometh the most parte of the furres that are caried to Musco and into +Polonia, Prusia, and Flandres, which furres come out of the Northe and +Northeast, from the regions of Zagatai and Moxia, northerne cuntreys +enhabited by Tartariens, that for the most parte arr idolatrers; and so +also be the Moxii. And bicause I haue had some experience of the things +of the Moxii, therefore I entende to speake somewhat of their faith and +maners, as I haue learned. + +At a certein tyme of the yere they vse to take a horse: which they laie +alonge on the plaine. His iiij feete bounden to iiij stakes, and his +heade to an other. This doon, cometh one wᵗʰ bowe and arrowes; and, +standing a convenient distance of, shooteth towardes the hert so often, +till he haue killed him. And whan the horse is thus deade they flaye him +and make a bottell of his hide, vsing with the fleshe certein ceremonies: +which, nevertheles, they eate at leingth. Than they stufe the hyde so +full of strawe, that it seemeth hole again; and in every of his legges +putt a pece of woodde; and so sett him afoote againe, as though he were +on lyve. Finally, they go to a great tree and thereof cutt such a boowe +as they thinke best, and thereof make a skaffolde whereon they sett +this horse standing, and so woʳship him. Offering sables, armelynes,[25] +menyver,[26] martrons, and foxes, which they hange on the same tree, even +as we offer up candells. By reason whereof the trees there are full of +such furres. This people, for the more parte, lyve of fleshe, and the +greatest parte thereof wilde fleshe: and fishe they haue also in those +ryvers. Nowe that I haue spoken of the Moxij I haue no more to saie of +the Tartariens, saving that those which be Idolatrers worship Images +that they carie on their cartes, though some there be that vse daylie to +woʳship that beast that they happen first to meete whan they go fooʳthe +of their doores. The duke also hath subdued Novgroth, which in oʳ tonge +signifieth ix[27] castells, and is a verie great towne, eight ioʳneys +distāt from Musco, northweast: which before tyme, was governed by the +people; being men wᵗhout reason and full of heresies. Nevertheles, by +litle and litle they arr nowe brought to the Catholike faith. For some +belieue in dede, and some belieue not; but they lyve nowe wᵗʰ reason and +haue justice mynistred amongst them. + +[Sidenote: Mostacchi is the berde of the vpper lyppe.] + +Departing from Musco yoʷ haue xxij daies ioʳney into Polonia, the first +place whereof is a castell called Trochi:[28] the comyng wherevnto from +Musco is through woodes and litle hilles which be in maner deserte. It +is true that travaileng from place to place, whereas[29] other haue +lodged before yoʷ shall finde wheare fyre hath been made, and there the +way faring ꝓsons may rest and make fyre if they woll: and sometimes a +litle out of the waie yoʷ shall finde some small villaige: but that is +seldome. Likewise, departing from Trochi, yoʷ finde woodes and hilles, +but sometimes houses amonge. And at thende of ix ioʳneys from Trochi yoʷ +finde a walled towne called Lonici, and than do yoʷ enter the region of +LITTUANIA, wheare there is a towne called Varsovich,[30] apꝓteyneng to +certein gentlemen, subiects of CAZIMIR, King of POLONIA. The cuntrey +is fertile and hath many townes and villaiges, but not of any great +accompte. From Trocchi into POLONIA arr vij ioʳneys, and the region is +good and faire, and than finde yoʷ Mersaga, a verie good citie, wheare +Polonia endeth: of whose townes and castells, bicause I knowe them not, +I woll saie no more. But that the king, wᵗʰ his children and all his +famylie, arr very Christian; and that his eldest sonne is nowe King +of Boemia. Being departed out of Polonia wᵗhin iiij ioʳneys, we finde +Frankforth, a citie of the Marquis of Brandenburgh, and so we enter into +Allemaigne: whereof I neede not to speake, bicause it is a cuntrey in +maner at home and knowen well enough. So that nowe there resteth somewhat +to be saied of GIORGIANA, which is forneagainst the place, here before +spoken, and confyneth wᵗʰ Mengrelia. The king of this province is called +PANCRATIO, who hath a faire cuntrey, plentyfull of breade, wyne, fleshe, +graine, and many other fruictes; the most parte of which wynes growe on +trees, as that doth in Trabisonda, and the men arr faire and bigge, but +they have very fylthie apparill and most vile customes. They go with +their heades rounded and shaven, leaving only a litle heare, aftre the +maner of our abbotts, that haue great revenewes, and they suffer their +mostacchi to growe a quarter of a yarde longer than their beardes.[31] +On their heades they were a litell cappe, of divers coloʳˢ, wᵗʰ a creste +on the toppe. On their backes they were certein garments[32] meetely +lenge, but they be straite and open behinde downe to the buttocks; for, +otherwise they coulde not gett to horsebacke; wherein I do not blame +them, for I see the Frenchmen vse the like. On their feete and leggs they +were bootes or busgynes, made wᵗʰ their soles of such a sorte, that whan +they stande, the heele and the too tooʷche the grounde, but the plante +of the foote standeth so high that yoʷ may easelie thrust yoʳ fyst +vndernethe wᵗhout hurting of it, whereof it foloweth that whan they go +afoote they go wᵗʰ paine. I wolde in this parte blame them, if it were +not that I knowe the Persians vse the same. In their feeding (as I haue +seene thexperience in the house of one of the principall of them) they +vse this maner. They haue certein square tables of halfe a yarde brode, +wᵗʰ a ledge rounde about: in the myddest whereof they putt a quantitie of +panico sodden, wᵗhout salte or other fatt; and this they vse in steade +of podaige. On an other like table they putt the fleshe of a wilde bore, +so little brooyled that whan they cutt it the bloudde cōmeth out, which +they eate very willingely. I coulde not awaie[33] wᵗhall, and therefore +drave fooʳthe the tyme wᵗʰ that podaige. Wyne we had plentie, and that +trugged[34] about lustilie: but other kinde of vittailes we had none. + +There be in this province great mountaignes and many woodes. It hath a +citie called Zifilis,[35] by the which passeth the ryver Tigris, and that +is a good towne, well inhabited. There is also a towne called Gori, which +confineth wᵗʰ the Sea Maggiore, and this is as much as I haue to saie +toocheng my voyage vnto Tana and those regions, togither wᵗʰ the things +woʳthie of memorie in those ꝑties. And nowe it behoveth me, taking an +other beginneng, to describe the seconde parte: wherein I shall declare +the things apꝓtaigneng to my voiage into Persia. + + + + +[Here beginneth the Seconde Parte which concerneth the voiage that I, +Josaphat Barbaro, made, as Ambassadoʳ into Persia.] + + +[Sidenote: Signoria signifieth the Venetian astate.] + +During the warres between our most excellent Signoria and Ottomano, the +yere 1471, I, being a man, vsed to travaile, and of experience amongst +barbarouse people, and willing also to serue oʳ foresaid most excellent +Signoria, was sent awaie wᵗʰ thambassadoʳ of Assambei, King of Persia: +who was come to Venice to compfort the Signoria to folowe the warres +against the said OTTOMANNO. + +[Sidenote: Caramano was lorde of Cilicia.] + +We departed from Venice wᵗʰ ij light galeys, and aftre vs came ij great +galeys, well furnished wᵗʰ men and municōns, besides other presents that +the forsaid most excellent Signoria sent to Assambei: wᵗʰ comission that +I shulde arrive in the cuntrey of Caramano or on those sea costes wheare, +if the said Assambei shulde come or sende, I shulde give all these +things vnto him. The proporcōn was of artillerie, certein bombardes, +springards, and hangonnes,[36] wᵗʰ powder, shott,[37] waggens, and other +yrons, of divers sortes, to the value of iiijᵐ ducates. The souldeoʳˢ +were crossbowes and handgones: cc vnder the leading of iiij conestables +and one governoʳ, named Thomas of Imola, who had x men sufficiently +provided for every governaunce. Than were there presentes of vessell of +syluer to the value of three thousande ducates; cloth of golde and sylke +to the value of ijᵐˡ vᶜ ducates. Scarletts and other fyne wollen clothes +to the value of iijᵐ ducates. And so being arryved in the Ile of Cyprus +we entered into Famagosta, and there togither came before the king, +the Busshop of Romes[38] ambassadoʳ, King Ferdinandos ambassadoʳ, and +we twoo, that is to weete Assambeis ambassadoʳ and I, wheare enquireng +wheather we might go sauf through the cuntrey of Caramano into Persia, we +founde that Ottomanno had gotten all the townes both on the sea costes +and wᵗhin lande. By reason whereof we were constreyned to tarie a certein +tyme in Famagosta. In which tyme (being desirouse to folowe on my ioʳney) +I divers tymes, in companie of thambassadoʳ of CARAMANO (whom I founde +in Cyprus) went wᵗʰ a light galey vpon the costes of CARAMANO: leaving +thother ambassadoʳ behinde me. And on one tyme amongst other, I arryved +in an haven, whereas standeth a certein castell called Sigi, and there we +spake wᵗʰ the Lorde of that place:[39] who, notwᵗhstanding that he had +lost all his fortresses, had yet about a cᵗʰ horses and some people that +went as vagabonds about the cuntrey, which did all folowe him. + +[Sidenote: Stradiottes are light horsemen, Greekes.] + +This lordes elder brother[40] was goon to Assembei for succoʳ against +Ottomanno, so that we, finding him of oʳ affection, talked wᵗʰ him; and +in cōicacōn amongest other things reioiseng he saied vnto vs, that he +had waited for vs and shewed lʳᵉˢ from Assambei, willeng him to be of +good compforte, for the Venetian armie shulde shortlie come vnto him; by +whose helpe he trusted to recover his astate, specially the places on the +sea costes. Whereupon, I hearing that oʳ armie shulde come into those +ꝑties, tooke order that our galeys which remayned of Famagosta, should +come to Sigi. This meane while I hearde that our generall capitaigne +Mʳ. Pietro Mocenico, together with the Proveditoʳ Mʳ. Vettorio Soranzo, +and Mʳ. Stephano Malipiero, with the other galeys and capitaignes were +arryved in the haven of Curcho;[41] wheare as is a faire castell of the +same name. Wherefore incontinently I sent Augustino Contarini, the +sopracomito vnto him; adviseng him that if he went about any enterprise +I thought he shulde do well to come to Sigi, wheare I was, for that waye +might he soonest obteigne victorie; howbeit, if he thought it not good, +I was readie to folowe his comaundement. Sigi is but xx myles distant +from Curcho; so that the generall capitaigne having herde my opinion +(notwᵗʰstanding he had alreadie begonne his batterie there) lefte of +and came wᵗʰ the armie vnto Sigi. In which armie were lvᵗⁱᵉ[42] galeys +besides the twoo light and twoo great ones that I had brought that +made up lx, all of oʳ most excellent signoria, xvj galeys of the King +FERDINANDOS, v galeys of the King of Cyprus, ij galeys of the great Mʳ of +Rodes, and xvj galeys of the Busshopp of Romes,[43] which at that time +remained at Modone. So that in all they were nynetie and nyne galeys. On +the which there were ccccxl horses of ours wᵗʰ their stradiotte,[44] that +is to wete, viij in every galey, v galeys excepted, which in dede had no +horse. As soone as they arryved in the haven they landed their horses +and a good ꝓᵗᵉ of the people, who made themselfs readie. The next daie +folowing the capⁿᵉ sent for me, and told me that the castell seemed vnto +him verie stronge, and by reason of the site in maner not expugnable, +because it standeth on the height of an hyll, and therefore asked myne +opinion. I answered it was vndoubtedly very stronge, but that, on thother +side again, there passed not xxv good men in it to garde and defende it, +being a myle in compasse; wherefore I made my rekenyng that folowing +thentreprise we shulde soone obteigne it, he pawsed a great while and +answered nothing, but wᵗhin two howres after he sent his admirall vnto +me, saying that he was determyned to go through with thentreprise, +bidding me to be of good compforthe. Whereupon I went streight to warne +THEMINGA, a capⁿᵉ of the caramano, who likewise reioysed much, and +made me to declare it vnto his lord, which I did; and so retorneng by +THEMINGA came to oʳ capitaigne that than travailed for the preparacon +of thassaulte. The next morning about iiij houres of the day, Theminga +tolde me there came one out of the castell to him, offering to yelde the +castell if we wolde save their persons and their goodes, which I declared +to oʳ capitaigne; and so was commanded by him to promise, by means of +Theminga, that they and all theirs, wᵗʰ their goodes, shulde be saufe, +and that in case they were not disposed to contynewe there they shulde be +saufely conducted whither they wolde. Having declared this to Theminga, +he wolde I shulde go speke wᵗʰ the lorde of the castell; and so went to +the gate, wheare, through a little square wyndowe, I spake wᵗʰ him, and, +aftre many woordes, he concluded that vpon this condicion rehearsed he +wolde deliver the castell. Whereupon, the promise being made, he opened +the gates and suffered me wᵗʰ oʳ Admyrall and three of oʳ galeymen, wᵗʰ +oʳ interpretoʳ to enter. I asked him wheare he wolde be, he answered that +he desired to go into Soria; and for his more suretie to be conducted wᵗʰ +his wife, children and goods by one of oʳ galeys, which I promised him. +And so incontinently he caused his goodes to be packed, whereof a great +deal was made readie before, and he issued out of the gate wᵗhall, and +the rest of those that were in the castell aftre him, which were to the +nombre of clⁱᵉ ꝑsons in all, and descending downe the hyll mett wᵗʰ oʳ +capitaigne that was comyng up wᵗʰ a good nombre of galeymen to receaue +the castell, which galeymen, neither for the capⁿᵉˢ commandement nor yet +for thretenyng, wolde forbeare the spoyle of those goodes and persons, +being not a litle grief to the capitaigne and proveditoʳ, and to all +them that had vnderstanding, considering the faithful promise that had +been made in their name. Thus having receaued the castell I retoʳned +to the galey, and that evenyng late the capⁿᵉ sent for me, lamenting +wonderfully the chaunce that was happened, willing me to go to the +capitaine of the Caramano to excuse him, and to declare what I thought +convenient touching the disobedience and rage of the galeymen; and what +he further mynded to do, as well in their favoʳ that had been robbed as +against them that had com̄itted the roberie. Thus being retoʳned to the +seaside, I founde myne interpretoʳ wᵗʰ an asse laden wᵗʰ these goods, +which I not only caused incontinently to be taken from him, but also +made him to be well beaten. Than went I to Theminga, capⁿᵉ to caramano, +and whan I had excused the matter as I was appointed, in conclusion I +promised him the next daye following all thinges shulde be restored. He +receaued me thankfully, saieing that it greved him that the lorde of +Sigi wᵗʰ all his (being rebells vnto his lorde) had not been slayne, +wherefore seing he passed so litle vpon that which was happened, I salued +the matter, saieng it was convenient we shulde observe oʳ promise made +vnto them, and that the thing so chaunced proceaded of the galeymennes +furie sore against the captaignes, proveditors, and all the sopracomitos +willes. Whan I was retoʳned vnto oʳ capitaigne, he commanded Mʳ. Vettor +Soranzo, wᵗʰ certein sopracomiti, to see the persons and goods taken +contrarie to thappoinctmᵗ recovered. Whearevpon, early in the moʳneng, +cries were made vpon great penaltie that everie man shulde bringe on +lande as well the persons as the goods so taken, and besides this the +galeys were dilygently searched. The persons were all founde, and a +great ꝑte of the goodes, whereof those of smallest valewe were cast on +a great heape, and such parte of it taken out as apꝑertaigned to the +Lorde, and likewise out of the sackes or elswheare all that was his was +had out, and all togither brought into the galley of Mʳ Vettor Soranzo, +the proveditoʳ, because the Lorde wᵗʰ his wief were entered into that +galey, vnto whom all the things that coulde be founde were presented. +And for the rest of the peoples goodes they were all assigned to their +own captaigne, who made a crye that every one shulde come fooʳthe and +take his owne, and so they did. It was thought this lorde shulde have +no small treasure lefte him by his father, and, as it appeared, what of +preciouse stones, perles, golde, sylver, and clothe, there were doseins +of thousande ducates. For proof whereof one SOPRACOMITO, a Candiot, which +had twoo sackes of the said goodes thone whereof be restored, and caried +thother wᵗʰ him vnto Rodes: wheare he died; bequethed vnto the said lorde +in recompense of that which he had of his viijᶜ ducates. This doon, twoo +of the same lordes bretherne came to hym into the galey, and wᵗʰ divers +reasons so ꝑsuaded him, that he consented to retoʳne to lande againe wᵗʰ +all his; wheare, shortly after, the galeys being departed, they caused +him to die; and, as though that had been but a small matter, thone of +them also maried his brothers wief. + +[Sidenote: Archipelago was sometime Mare Egeū.] + +Tharmye retoʳned to Curcho, before named: and whan the men were landed +the bombards were bestowed in their place to batter likewise that +castell: in the which was a garryson of Ottomanos men, and there also +was the Lorde CARAMANO arrived wᵗʰ his men: and having taken the first +wall they yelded, bodie and goods saved: so that we tooke the castell and +restored it vnto CARAMANO. Aftre this I, wᵗʰ certein of CARAMANOS company +went to Silephica, a famoᵘse towne[45] likewise gotten by Ottomano, and +thretened them wᵗhin; but if they wolde not yelde the towne (for the wᶜʰ +their bodies and goodes shulde be saved) they shulde be assaulted, and +ꝓchaunce whan they wolde yelde they shulde not be accepted, but be hewen +to peeces: wherevnto I was answered that I shulde departe for that tyme +in Godds name; and the next mornyng they wolde signifie vnto CARAMANO +what their entent was: which in effect proved so, for they hadde him come +to receave it, and they accordingly yelded. Vpon this our capitaigne, wᵗʰ +all tharmie, retoʳned into Cyprus, disposing themselfs to abide neere +vnto Famagosta, to take ordre for the rule and governance of that Ilande, +bicause King James[46] happened to dye while we were in Caramanos lande. +And having establisshed all things well there, wᵗhin a fewe daies they +went towardes the Archipelago, and I remaigned in the haven of FAMAGOSTA +with three light galeys and twoo great: togither wᵗʰ the conestable and +souldeoʳˢ that were comitted vnto me by the most excellent SIGNORIA, +wheare I taried a certein space. This, meane while, there arryved two +galeys of King Ferdinandos, in the which was the Archebusshop of Nicosia, +a Catelaine borne, and wᵗʰ him a messynger of the kings to treate of the +mariage of a bastarde doughter of King James.[47] Amongst which practises +there happened one night a great alarme, wᵗʰ ryngeng of belles: insomuch +that the busshop, wᵗʰ those that folowed him gate the markett place and +consequently the towne: and aftre that had Cirenes[48] wᵗʰ the rest in +maner of all the Ilande at his cōmaundement. But oʳ capitaigne-generall +hearing of the passaige of these twoo galeys, wᵗʰ the busshop eastwardes, +suspected they went into Cyprus: and therefore sent Mʳ. Vettor Loranzo, +the Proveditor, wᵗʰ x light galeys aftre him: who arryved at Famagosta, +and founde one of the said galeys in the haven there, and aftre longe +reasonyng the said busshop wᵗʰ his complices agreed to restore the +towne and all that they had taken, and so to departe. Which doon, King +Ferdinandos ambassadoʳ retuʳned to Naples, and the Busshop of Romes +remaigned still in Famagosta. I, wᵗʰ Assambeis ambassador, desirouse to +furnishe my ioʳney (having first sent backe into Candia the twoo great +galeys, wᵗʰ thartillerie and presents before named, by appoinctement of +the Signoria, who caused ꝑte of it to remaigne there, and parte to be had +againe to Venice), caused the souldeoʳˢ to remaigne for the garryson +of Cyprus, and wᵗʰ a light galey retoʳned to Curco, the site whereof +I shall nowe describe, bicause I haue not spoken of it before. This +Curco standeth on the sea, and hath forneagainst it westwarde a rocke, +the thierde parte of a myle in compasse,[49] on the which heretofore +hath been a castell both stronge and faire and well wrought, though at +this present it be greatly decaied. On the principall gates were graven +certein lᵗʳᵉˢ, which seemed verie faire and lyke to the Armenians, but in +an other kinde than those which the Armenians vse at this present: for I +had certein Armenians there wᵗʰ me which coulde not reade them.[50] This +broken castell is distant from Curco towardes the mowthe of the haven, +the shoote of a crosbowe, and Curco is partely edified on a rocke, and +partely it hangeth downe hill towards the sea. Out of the rocke is hewen +a great dyche on theaste side, and on the sande towardes the hyll side +is an exceading stronge wall, scarfelled, that it can not be annoyed wᵗʰ +artyllerie. Such an other place is likewise in the castell wᵗʰ exceading +great walles and most stronge, towards which in all may compasse twoo +thirde partes of a myle, and the same hath also vpon the gates (which +arr twoo) certein Armenian lᵗʳᵉˢ graven. Everie habitac̃on of this towne +hath his cisterne of freshe water, and in the open streates arr iiij very +great cisternes of exceading pure water, sofficient to furnishe a verie +great citie. In the high waie, a boweshoote out of the towne eastewardes, +arr certein arches of marble, of one peece (for the most parte broken), +wᶜʰ contynewe on both sides the waie to a certein churche halfe a myle +distant: seemyng to haue been a verie great thinge and all wrought wᵗʰ +very great pillers of marble and other excellent things. + +The grounde about the towne is hyllie and stonye, liek vnto that of +Istria, and hath been inhabited by the subiects of the Lorde Caramano. +There groweth much wheat, cotton, and cattaill, and specially they breed +many oxen and horses, and haue excellent fruictes of divers sortes: the +ayre being as ferre as I coulde ꝑceaue very temꝓate, but what cace the +country is in at this present I wot not; for I heare saie it hath been +destroied by Ottomano. Neere to the seaside arr ij castells, one of Sigi, +before named, buylded on an hyll, and an other very stronge. The first +whereof is wᵗhin a bowe shoote of the sea and thother vj myles distant +from that. + +Likewise on the sea-side, departing from Curco, ten myles northwest is +Seleucha,[51] on the top of an hyll; under the which reñeth a ryver[52] +that falleth into the sea beside Curco, about the bignesse of Brenta: and +neere vnto this hill is a theatre liek vnto that of Verona, verie great, +and environed wᵗʰ pillers of one peece, and gryses[53] about. Clymbeng +the hyll, to enter the towne on the lefte hande, arr seene many arches, +parte of one peece (as it is said before) separate from the hill, and +partely digged out of the same hill. And clymbing a little higher, ye +enter the gates of the first circuite to the towne, which stande in maner +on the height of the hill, wᵗʰ a great towne on either side, and arr of +yron, wᵗhout any tymber, about lᵗⁱᵉ[54] foote high and half as broad, +wrought no lesse finely than as if they were sylver, exceding thicke and +stronge. The wall is verie great, full wᵗhinfooʳthe wᵗʰ his garde before +which is so well laden and covered wᵗhout fooʳth wᵗʰ verie harde earth, +and so well cowched[55] that by it ye can not clymbe to the walles; and +this earthe environneth them and defendeth so much from the walles that +the circuite thereof bylowe is iij myles, wheare the wall itself is not +pas a myle about, so that it is made like a suger loofe. Within this +circle is the castell of Seleucha, wᵗʰ the walles full of towres, between +which wall and the vtter wall there is so much voide grounde as for neede +wolde beare ccc busshells of wheate, and leave aboue xxx paces space +between it and the inner warde. Within this castell is an holowe quadrant +digged out of the rocke, v paces deepe, xxx paces longe, and about vij +paces broade; wherein was much tymber for munic̃ion, and, besides that, a +great cisterne that can never lacke water. + +[Sidenote: At this time there was a Soldan in Egipt.] + +This towne is in the Lesse Arminie,[56] stretching towards the mountaigne +TAURUS, called in their tonge Corthestan. I aboade awhile in this place, +and afterwardes took my ioʳney towards Persia. And notwᵗʰstanding that +there was an other waie, yet went I by the sea costes, and the first day +wᵗʰout longe ioʳney, passeng fooʳthe of Caramanos domynion, I arryved +at a good citie called Tarsus, the lord whereof is named DULGADAR, +brother to SESSUAR. This countrey, though it be in the Greater Armenie, +is nevertheles vnder the souldanes subiection. The citie is iij miles +of compasse, and hath a ryver besides it,[57] whereon standeth a stone +bridge vaulted, by the which they passed out of the towne, and the ryver +doth almost environe the towne. In this citie also is a stronge castell +embatailed on both sides wᵗʰ walles of xv paces high of stone, all +wrought with the ham̄er;[58] before the wᶜʰ is an excellent voide place, +square and plaine, that leadeth to a staier entering to the castell, +and is so longe and large as woll easily conteigne an c[59] men; and +this towne standeth on a litle hill not verie high. A daies ioʳney from +thense is Adena, a verie great towne with a mightie ryver rennyng by +it,[60] over the which is a stone bridge of xlᵗⁱᵉ paces longe, on which +bridge (being in company of certein suffi, as who wolde saie pilgrymes) +we being also clothed after their maner, these suffi beganne to daunce in +spirite, one of them syngeng celestiall things of the ioyes of Macomett, +beginneng meeryly and softely,[61] and aftrewards, by litle and litle, +strayneng the measure faster, according to the tewnes, whereof they that +daunced amended their paces and their leapinges so that divers of them +fell to the grounde and laye as in a traunce, which caused much people +to assemble wondring at them, till the felowes of them that fell tooke +them vp and caried them to their lodgings. And thus did they at everie +lodging, and many tymes also by the waie as though they were forced to do +it. The towne of Adena, and likewise the region, maketh many fustians, +and is under the soldanes domynion, standing likewise in Armenie the +Lesse. I forbeare to speak of the rewynowse townes and castells that +arr betwene that and EUPHRATES, because there is nothing notable. Thus +being arryved at Euphrates, we founde there a boate of the soldanes +hable to transporte xvj horses, and this boate was verie straunge in the +which we passed the ryver. Neere vnto this ryver are certein caves in +the rockes, to the which they that passe make their refuge whan tempest +or yll wheather happeneth. On thother side arr certein villaiges of +Armenie, wheare we laie one night, and so being passed the ryver we +arrived at a towne called Orphe,[62] apꝓteineng to the King Assambei, +and governed by Valibech, brother to the same king. This has sometime +been a great towne, but it was in maner vtterly destroyed by the soldane +when the King Assambei went to the siege of Bir.[63] It hath a castell +vpon the hyll indifferent stronge. And at this place the lorde thereof +vnderstode what I was, and seemed to see me gladly; insomuch that I +deliuered him my l’res, which he caused to be well conveighed. Of this +towne I can saie no more, bicause it was defaced, for the lorde himself +dwelled there but fearefully. After this, we came to the foote of one +hyll that stoode vpon another hyll, and hath a citie called Merdin, +wherevnto there is but one waie being a staier enforced the grises[64] +whereof arr of free stone of iiij paces brode a peece and so endureth +a myle longe. At the toppe of this staier is a gate, and wᵗhin that a +waie that leadeth to the towne, and within the towne is an other hill, +in maner hewen rounde about, on the which standeth a castell of l paces +high, to whose entrey is made such an other staier as the first. This +towne hath none other walles but those of the houses, and is of leingth +the iijᵈᵉ parte of a myle, conteyneng about ccc houses wᵗhin it, well +peopled. They make very many silkes and fustians, and it belongeth also +to the King ASSAMBEI. The Turkes and Moores arr wont to saie that it is +so high that they which dwell in it do never see birdes flee over them. +Here I was lodged in an hospitall founded by Ziangirbei, brother of the +King Assambei, in the which they that reasorte thither arr fedde, and if +they seeme ꝑsons of any estimac̃on they haue carpetts layed vnder their +feete better woʳthe than an hundreth ducates a peece. In which place +there happened me a straunge cace: and verie rare in oʳ ꝓties. Sitteng +one daye alone in the hospitall, there came vnto me a Carandolo; that is +to saie, a naked man shaven, wᵗʰ a goate skynne about him, browne, about +xxx yeres of age, and sate downe by me, takeng out of his sachell a litle +booke, whereon he beganne to reade devowtely, wᵗʰ good maner, as we use +to saie oʳ praiers: wᵗhin a while aftre he ytched neere me, and asked +what I was: wherevnto answering him that I was a straungier, he saied, +and I also am a straungier to this worlde, and so be we all: wherefore +I haue lefte it and entende to folowe this trade[65] vnto myne ende: +wᵗʰ so many good and eloquent wordes, that to lyve well and modestly +he wondrefully compforted me to despise the world: saieng, thoʷ seest +howe I go naked through the worlde, whereof I haue seene parte[66] and +yet haue founde nothing that pleaseth me: and therefore haue determyned +vtterly to habandon it. Being departed from MERDINO, we rode sixe +ioʳneys, and came to a towne of the King Assambeis called ASANCHEPH. +On the right hande whereof before ye come to it in the syde of a litle +hill, there be a nombre of habitations digged out of the verie hill, +and on the lyfte hande is anoʳ hyll whereon the towne is buylded, vnder +the foote of which hyll arr many caves enhabited, those caves on thone +side of the hill being innumerable and all high enough from thearthe, +wᵗʰ their streates or waies that leade to those habitations, whereof +some arr xxx paces high; insomuch that as the people and cattaill passe +by those streates or waies it seemeth they walk in thayre they arr so +high. Following this waie and toʳneng on the lyfte hande ye enter the +towne, wherein arr fustian merchaunts and other occupiers, the towne +being a great throwefare. It is a myle and an halfe of circuite wᵗʰ the +suburbes, with many faire howses and some MOSCHEES in it. Out of it ye +passe a faire deepe ryver[67] of xxx paces brode, over a bridge of huge +tymber, which by force of the only weight standeth vpon the heades of +other peeces of tymber that arr dryven into the earth, for the ryver +is so deepe that no one peece can reache it. Aftre we had passed this +mountaigne we went through champaignes and hylly cuntreys, not high nor +trowblouse, from whense about twoo daies ioʳney eastwarde we came to a +towne called SAIRT,[68] which is made Trianglewise, and on thone ꝓte hath +an indifferent stronge castell, wᵗʰ many great towres, on which side +the walles arr somewhat decaied: showing the towne nevertheles to have +been very faire, being three myles of compasse, very well enhabited, and +furnished indifferently wᵗʰ howses, moschees, and faire fountaignes. +At thentree whereof we passed two ryvers over ij bridges of stone of +one arche apeece, vnder the which one of oʳ great barges might passe +wᵗʰ his mast vpright: for they be both great ryvers, and swifte, thone +called BETTALIS, and thother ISAN; and to this place stretcheth the +lesse Armenia, wheare arr no great hilles, nor great woods, nor yet any +buyldings different from the accustomed. And throughout that region arr +many villaiges, the people whereof live by tillaige, as they do here. +They have corne, frutes, and many fustians, oxen, horses, and other +beastes enough; besides this, they have goates, wᶜh they sheare yerely, +and of their heare make chamletts, wherfore they governe them very +diligently, keeping them wasshed and neate. + +Nowe shall we beginne to entre into the mountaigne Taurus, whose ende +is towards the sea MAGGIORE, in the ꝓties of Trabisonda, and streccheth +east-sowtheast towardes the golfe called Sinus Persicus, at thentree of +which mountaigne arr exceeding high, and stype hilles enhabited wᵗʰ a +certain people called CORBI,[69] different in languaige from all their +neighboʳˢ, exceading crewell, and not so much theevishe as openly given +to roberie. They have many townes, buylded vpon bankes and high places, +to discover all passaiges that they may robbe them that passe. Wherfore +many of those townes have been destroied by the Lordes of the cuntrey for +the damaige they have doon to the CAROUANES passeng by them. As I for my +ꝓte have had some exꝑience of their condicioñs. + +[Sidenote: Scimetarra is like that we call a fawchon.] + +[Sidenote: Musaico is an excellent kinde of paincteng wᵗʰ golde.] + +The iiijᵗʰ day of Aprile, the yere 1474, being departed from a towne +called CHESAN, apꝓteyneng to a Lorde that is subiect to Assambei, about +halfe a daies ioʳney from the towne; having in my companie an Ambassadoʳ +of the said ASSAMBEI, vpon an high hill we were assaulted by these Corbi, +who slewe the said Ambassadoʳ and my Secretaire wᵗʰ ij other, and having +hurte me and the rest, they tooke our sompters and all that they founde. +I being on horsebacke fledde out of the waie all alone, and aftre me +came they that were hurte; insomuch that at length we gate us into the +company of a Califfo, that is as much to say, as an heade pylgryme, wᵗʰ +whom we travailed as well as we coulde. The iijᵈᵉ day folowing we came +to Vastan,[70] a citie decaied and yll enhabited, for it hath not above +ccc houses. Twoo daies ioʳney thense we founde a towne called Choy,[71] +which is also decaied, having about cccc houses, and thinhabitants +lyve of handicrafte and tillaige. Being come in maner to thende of the +mountaigne Taurus, I determyned to departe from this Califfo; and taking +one of his companions for my guyde, wᵗhin three daies ioʳney we came +neere to the famouse citie of THAURIS, and being in the brode champaigne, +we mett wᵗʰ certain TURCOMANNI, who, wᵗʰ certein Corbi in their companie, +came towardes vs, askeng vs whither we went. I answered that I was going +towardes the King Assambei wᵗʰ l’res directed vnto him. Than one of them +praied me to lett him see them: and because I told him curteyslie it was +not convenient, I shulde putt them in his handes, he lyfte vp his fist +and strake me such a blowe on the face that the paine thereof lasted me +iiij moonethes after; besides that they beate my trowchman unhappely, and +so lefte vs yll content, as all men may think. Being come to Thauris, we +went into a CANOSTRA, that is to weete (after oʳ maner) an Inne, from +whense I signified to the King Assambei (being than there present) that +I was come, desireng to be brought to his presence. And incontinently +the next morneng being sent for, I presented myself vnto him, so yll +apparailed that I darr assure yoᵘ all that I had about me was not woʳthe +ij ducates. He receaved me curteslie, and than badde me welcome, saieng +that he had beene well advertised of the death of his ambassadoʳ and of +the other twoo, and also of my roberie, promiseng me to see all redressed +in such sorte as we shulde susteigne no losse. Than I presented vnto +him my l’res of credence, which I had alwaies carried in my boosome; +and bicause there was none about him that coulde reade it, he made me +reade it myself, and so to be declared vnto him by an interpretoʳ. And +whan he vnderstode the contents of it, he badde me (aftre oʳ own maner) +repaire to his counsaill, and to deliver them in writeng what had been +taken from me, and further to declare what I had to saie, and so to +retoʳne to my lodging till he shulde see tyme to send for me. The place +wheare I had this accesse to the King was on this maner. First, it had +a gate wᵗhin the which was a quadrant of iiij or v paces square, wheare +sate his chief astates that passed not eight or ten in nombre. Than was +there an other gate neere to the first, in the which stoode a porter +wᵗʰ a little staffe in his hande. Whan I was entered that gate I passed +through a grene garden like a meadowe full of trufles, wᵗʰ mudde walles, +in the which on the right syde was a pavement. About xxx paces further +was there a lodge, volte wise, aftre oʳ maner, iiij or v steppes higher +than the foresaid pavement. In the middest of this lodge was a fountaigne +like vnto a little gutter, alwaies full of water, and in thentrie of it +the king himself sate on a cusshion of cloth of gold, wᵗʰ another at +his backe, and besides him was his buckler of the Moresco fac̃on with +his scimitarra, and all the lodge was laied wᵗʰ carpettes, his chiefest +Princes sitteng round about. The lodge was all wrought of Musaico, not so +small as we vse, but great and verie faire of divers coloʳˢ. + +The first day I came to hym he had divers syngers and plaiers, wᵗʰ harpes +of a yarde longe, which they holde wᵗʰ the sharpe ende vpwardes; and +besides that lutes, rebickes, cymbales, and baggepipes, all which plaied +agreablie. The next daie he sent me twoo garmentes of sylke, that is, to +witt, a straict gowne furred wᵗʰ barco and a jackett, a towell of sylke +to girde me, a fyne peece of lynen called bumbasie to putt on my hedde, +and xx ducats, sending me worde wᵗhall that I shulde go to Maidan, that +is, to witt, to the markett place to see the TARAFUCCIO,[72] that is, to +weete, the plaie. Thither I went on horsebacke, wheare in the markett +place I founde about iij horsemen and more than twies as many on foote, +besides the King’s children, which were looking out at certein wyndowes. +To this place certein wylde wolves were brought, ledde wᵗʰ cordes tied +to eche one of their hynder feete, and those wolves were by one and one +lett go in the middest of the place. And to the first there came a man +appointed vnto it, offering to stryke him. The wolfe flewe streighte +towards his throte; but the man, which was nymble, shifted him of in such +wise as the wolfe tooke no holde but on his arme, which coulde take no +hurte by reason of his sleeves that were prepared for it. The horses fled +for feare amongst the prease, and many fell, some in the place and some +into the water which renneth through the citie. And whan they had weeried +one wolfe than they lett slyppe an other, which kinde of plaie they use +every frydaie. + +This pastyme being ended, I was brought to the King’s presence into the +place before mencioned; and was caused to sit honorably, and likewise +others being sett in their places as many as coulde conveniently sytt +wᵗhin that lodge, and the rest according to their degrees sitteng vpon +carpetts aftre the Morisco maner, table clothes were spredde vpon the +carpetts, and every man had sett before hym a sylver basen wᵗʰ a pott +of wyne, an ewer of water, and a little dishe all of silver. This meane +while there came in certein men sent from a Prince of INDIA, wᵗʰ certein +strange beastes; the first whereof was a leonza[73] ledde in a chayne by +one that had skyll, which they call in their languaige Babureth. She is +like vnto a lyonesse: but she is redde coloured, streaked over all wᵗʰ +blacke strykes; her face is redde wᵗʰ certein white and blacke spottes, +the bealy white, and tayled like the lyon: seemyng to be a marvailouse +fiers beast. Than was there a lyon brought fooʳthe and shewed to the +leonza somewhat of. At the sight whereof the leonza soddainely squatted, +as it had been a catte, and as though she wolde have leaped on the lyon, +if the keeper had not drawen her backe. Aftre this were twoo elephantes +brought, which, whan they came forneagainst the kinge aftre certein +woordes spoken to them by their leader, looked vp to the kinge and than +enclyned their heades wᵗʰ a certein gravitie, as though they did him +reverence. The greater of them was brought to a tree in the gardein as +bigge as a mannes myddell, which (aftre certein woordes spoken by his +keeper) he shaked on thone side wᵗʰ his heade, and then toʳned and did as +much on thother side: so that he plucked it vp. + +[Sidenote: Zibetto is muske.] + +Aftre this was brought fooʳthe a GIRAFFA, which they call GIRNAFFA, a +beast as longe legged as a great horse, or rather more; but the hynder +legges are halfe a foote shorter than the former, and is cloven footed as +an oxe, in maner of a violett coloʳ myngled all over wᵗʰ blacke spottes, +great and small according to their places: the bealy white somewhat +longe heared, thynne heared on the tayle as an asse, litle hornes like +a goate, and the necke more than a pace longe: the tonge a yarde longe, +violett and rounde as an eele, wᵗʰ the which he graseth or eateth the +leaves from the trees so swiftely that it is skarsely to be ꝓceaved. He +is headed like a harte, but more fynely, wᵗʰ the which standing on the +grounde he woll reache xv foote high. His brest is broder than the horse, +but the croope narowe like an asse; he seemath to be a mervaillouse +faire beast, but not like to beare any burden. Aftre these were brought +fooʳthe in three cages three paire of doves, white and blacke like vnto +ours, saving they were longe necked like a goose: being (as I believe) +rare byrdes in those parties, ells they wolde never have brought them +fooʳthe. Finally aftre all these there were three popingaies of divers +coloʳˢ brought fooʳthe, and twoo of those cattes that make ZIBETTO. Than +was I taken vp and brought into a chamber, wheare I dyned, and whan I +had doon he that attended on Ambassadoʳˢ badde me farewell and willed me +to departe. Nevertheles, immediately aftre I came to my lodging I was +sente for againe, and being come to the kinge he asked me why I departed? +wherevnto I answered that my governoʳ gave me leave; for the which the +king being offended, caused him incontinently to be called, layed flatt, +and beaten in his presence. Howbeit, viij daies aftre at my request he +was restored into favoʳ. The morowe aftre this man was beaten the King +sent for me early: who, being in the place aforesaid, caused me to sytt +as I did the other tyme. + +[Sidenote: Sandalo is the tree that the spice called Saunders is made of.] + +This daie being holydaie, and for the com̄yng of the Ambassadoʳˢ of +India, there were verie great tryomphs made. First his coʳtiers were +apparailed in cloth of golde, sylkes and chamlettes of divers coloʳˢ. +In the lodge were sett about xlᵗⁱᵉ of the most honourable, and in the +entries about an c, wᵗhout thentry about cc, betwene the two gates about +Lᵗⁱᵉ, and in the streete wᵗhout about xxᵐ, all readie sett, looking for +meate, in the myddest of whom there were about iiijᵐ horses. And standing +in this order the twoo Ambassadoʳˢ of India came in, who were made to +sytt forneagainst the kinge, and than incontinently were the presents +brought fooʳthe, which passed before the king and his companie on this +wise. First, the beastes rehersed before. Next, about an c men, one aftre +an other, everie man having on his arme v TOLPANI,[74] that is to saie, v +peeces of verie fyne bombasses lynen cloth wᵗʰ the which they make those +rolles that they were on their heades being woʳthe v or vij ducates a +peece. Than came there vi men, every man wᵗʰ vi peeces of sylke on his +arme. Than came there ix, every one of them wᵗʰ a little dishe of sylver +full of such pretiouse stones as I shall declare vnto yoʷ hereafter. +After them came certein wᵗʰ vessells and disshes of PORCELLANA. Than +some wᵗʰ woodde of ALOES and great large peeces of SANDALI. Than came +there xxv fardells of spices, caried wᵗʰ _cowle_ stakes[75] by iiij men +at every fardell. These things being passed, meate was brought fooʳthe, +and every man serued. Aftre dyner the king asked thambassadoʳˢ wheather +there were any other king than theirs that was MOSSULMAN (that is to +saie, Macomettane), who answered that there were two others, but all the +rest were Christians. The morowe aftre the king sent for me, and tolde +me that he wolde make me a litle passetyme in shewing me the jewells +that were sent him out of India, and first caused to be deliuered vnto +me a rynge (that serveth to drawe their bowe) of golde wᵗʰ a rubie in +the myddest of twoo carretts, and some dyamands about it. Also ij ringes +of golde, wᵗʰ twoo rubies waieng iiij carretts. Three skore threades of +perles of v carretts a peece, white, but not rounde. A pointed dyamant +of xxᵗⁱᵉ carretts, not verie cleane, but of a good water. Twoo heades of +deade byrdes[76] in a camewe,[77] which seemed verie straunge in respect +of the fowle of our regions. And having shewed me these jewells, he asked +me howe I lyked that present, addeng that a king sent them vnto him from +beyonde the seas: that is, to witt, from beyonde the Golfe of Persia. +I answered that the present was verie faire and of great value, though +not so great but that I esteemed him wooʳthie of a much greater. Well, +than, said he, thoʷ shalt also see my jewells. Wherevpon, he com̄aunded a +chyldes coyfe of silke to be deliuered vnto me. But I incontinently tooke +myne handekerchief to receave it wᵗhall to thentent I wolde not tooʷche +it wᵗʰ myne hande: wherewᵗʰ he behelde me, and tornyng to his owne +folkes, smylingly said, See the Italian, as though he com̄ended my maner +in receaving the coyfe. On the toppe of this coyfe there was a balasse +bored through and fac̃oned lyke a date, clene, and of a good coloʳ, +waieng an cᵗ carretts, about the which were certein great turcasses, but +they were olde, and likewise certein perles also olde. Besides this, he +caused me to see certein vessells of PORCELLANA and DIASPRO,[78] very +faire. + +[Sidenote: Cowpe is an whole volted roofe.] + +[Sidenote: Bucasin is a verie fine lynen cloth made of cotton.] + +An other tyme, com̄yng to him, I founde hym in a chambre vnder a +pavylion: and than he asked me howe I lyked it. And wheather they vsed +any such in oʳ cuntreyes, I answered him that I lyked it excellently +well; and that there was no comparyson to be made of oʳ places vnto his; +both bicause his power ferre exceeded ours, and also for that we vsed no +such chambers; and truly it was exceading faire. For the tymbre was well +wrought aftre the fac̃on of a cowpe:[79] and hanged about wᵗʰ clothes of +sylke, embrowderie, and golde and all the floore covered wᵗʰ excellent +good carpetts, being about xiiij paces over. Beyonde this chamber was +a great square tent embroʷdered, pitched, as it had been, betweene +foure trees sett to shadowe it, betweene which and the cowpe there was +a pavylion of BUCASIN, all wrought and embrowdered wᵗhinfooʳthe. The +chambre doore was of the woodde of SANDALI entrelaced wᵗʰ threedde of +golde and nettes of perle wrought and embrowdered wᵗhinfooʳthe. I founde +the king sytteng there with his greatest ꝓsonaiges about him, having +before hym a towell folded vp: which he vnfolded, and tooke out of it +a threade of twelue balasses, lyke vnto olyves, of very clene coloʳ, +betweene L and lxxx carratts a peece. Than tooke he out one sable balasse +of twoo ounces and an halfe of a goodley fac̃on, bigge as a fynger, +wᵗhout any hole and of excellent coloʳ, in thone corner whereof were +certein moresco l’res graven, wᶜʰ moved me to aske what l’res they +were, and he answered me that a certein king had caused them there to be +graven, syns whose tyme neither his predecessoʳ nor he wolde grave any +moore, bicause it shulde deface the whole. Than he asked me what that +rubie might be woʳthe. I looked on him and smyled; wherevpon he asked +me again, How I lyked it? I tolde him I had never seene the lyke, nor I +thought never to finde any that might be a paragone vnto it. And if I +shulde valewe it, the balassi, if he had a tongue might aske me wheather +ever I had seene the lyke: to the which I shulde be dryven to saye no. +So that I belieue he is not to be valewed wᵗʰ golde, but ꝑadventure, +some citie might answere him. He looked earnestly on me, and saied PRAN +CATAINI CATAINI. The worlde hath iij eyes, whereof the Cataines haue +two and the FRANCHI one. In dede thoʷ hast said truly. And toʳneng him +towardes them that were about him he tolde them howe he had asked me what +that balassi might be woʳthe and what answere I had made, rehearsing my +woʳds vnto them. + +I had before hearde this woʳde Cataini of an ambassadoʳ of Tartarie in +his retoʳne from Cataio the yere 1436, who, passeng throwgh Tana wᵗʰ all +his trayne, was lodged in my house: I hoping to get some jewell of him. +At which time, talking of Cataio, he tolde me howe the chief of that +Princes coʳte knewe well what the FRANCHI were. And vpon my demaunding +of him howe it was possible they shulde haue knowledge of the Franchi, +he asked me, why shulde they not knowe us? Thoʷ knowest, said he, howe +neere we be vnto Capha, and that we practise thither continually; liek +as also they reasorte into oʳ Lordo: addeng this further, we Cataini +have twoo eyes and yoʷ FRANCHI one, whereas yoʷ (toʳneng him towards the +Tartares that were wiᵗʰ him) haue never a one, which he spake merrylie. +So that at this tyme I did the better vnderstande the proverbe, whan +the king vsed these woordes vnto me. This doon, he shewed me a rubie, +of an once and an halfe, of the fac̃on of a chest nutte, rounde, faire +coloʷred, and clene: not bored throwgh and bounde in a cercle of golde, +which seemed to me a mervailouse thinge, being so great: he shewed me +aftre many balasses, both jewelled and vnjewelled, amongest the which +there was one in a square table made aftre the fac̃on of a litle nayle, +rounde about the which were v other table balasses, the great one in the +middest weying xxx carretts or thereabouts, and the next twenty carrets +or thereabouts, betwene the which there were certein great perles and +turcasses set not of any great estimac̃on, for they were olde. + +[Sidenote: These Cassacks are longe and strait, and but half sleeved.] + +After this he caused certein CASSACKS[80] to be brought fooʳthe of clothe +of golde, of sylke, and of damaskyne chamlette, lyned wᵗʰ sylke or furred +wᵗʰ exceading faire armelynes and sables: telling me these be of the +clothes of a towne of Ies.[81] Our apparaill, qd he, is faire; but it +waieth a litle to much. Finally, he caused certein sylke carpetts to be +brought fooʳthe, which were mervailouse faire. + +The morowe aftre, I came to hym againe, and calling me neere, he said +vnto me, Thoʷ shalt haue a litle more passetime. And so deliuered me +a camewe[82] of the breadeth of a grote, wherein was a womans heade +graven; her heare backwarde, and a garlande about her heade. He badde me +looke, is not this Mary? I answered, no. Why, who is it than (qᵈ he)? +I answered, it was the figure of some of thauncient goddesses that the +BURPARES[83] woʳshipped, that is, to witt, the Idolaters. He asked me +howe I knewe it? I tolde him I knewe it; for these kinde of woʳkes were +made before the com̄yng of Jesu Christ. He shaked his heade a litle, and +saied no more. Than he shewed me three poincted diamants, one of xxx +carretts, very clene both aboue and benethe; and the other betwene x and +xij carretts, askeng me wheather there were any such jewells wᵗʰ vs. I +tolde him no; wherevpon he tooke vp a masse of perles of xl threades, +vpon every one whereof were xxx perles of betwene v and vj carretts a +peece: halfe of them rounde, and the rest not unfitt to be iewelled.[84] +Than he caused to be putt into a sylver basen about xl perles, like vnto +peares and gourdes, of betwene viij and xij carretts a peece, vnbored +through and of very faire coloʳ, saieng to me wᵗʰ a smyleng cheere: I +coulde shewe the an hoʳse loade of these. This was doon at a bankett by +night aftre their maner, at the circumcision of his twoo sonnes. + +The daye folowing I repaired to him into a great feelde wᵗhin the towne, +wheare wheate had been sowen, the grasse whereof was mowed to make place +for the tryomphe and the owners of the grounde satisfied for it. In this +place were many pavilions pight,[85] and as sone as he ꝑceaued me he +com̄aunded certein of his to go wᵗʰ me, and to shewe me those pavilions, +being in nombre about an cᵗʰ, of the which I ꝑvsed xl of the fairest. +They all had their chambres wᵗhinfooʳthe, and the roofes all cutt of +divers coloʳˢ, the grounde being covered wᵗʰ most beautiful carpetts, +betwene which carpetts and those of CAIRO and of Borsa[86] (in my +iudgement), there is as much difference as betweene the clothes made of +Englishe woolles and those of Saint Mathewes. Aftrewardes they caused me +to entre into twoo pavylions, which were full of sylke apparaill aftre +their fac̃on, and of other sortes of clothes laied on a great heape: on +thone side of the which I ꝑceaved to the nombre of xl sadles, trymed wᵗʰ +sylver. All which apparaile and sadells they tolde me shulde be given +awaie by the king at the tryomphe. They also shewed me twoo great doores +of the woodde of SANDALI, of vj foote high, a peece sett wᵗʰ golde and +moother of perle aftre the woʳke of THARSIA.[87] Than I retoʳned to the +king, and took my leafe for that tyme. + +The morowe folowing I founde him sitteng in his accustomed place, vnto +whom there were brought eight great dishes of woodde: in every of the +which was a white sugar loofe made of divers fac̃ons, weying viijˡᵇ a +peece, and rounde about it were certein litle disshes wᵗʰ confections of +divers coloʳˢ, but for the most parte comfettes. There were also many +other disshes brought fooʳthe wᵗʰ other confecc̃ons and frutes. The first +eight he appoincted himself to whom they shulde be given: I being the +first that was presented wᵗhall, and it was woʳthe betwene iiij and v +ducates a peece: the rest was distributed amongest others, according to +their degrees. + +[Sidenote: Camocato is fine Calicut cloth.] + +The next daie I founde him sett amongest xv ꝓsons, the principall +whereof had canopies over their heades, and v or vj stoode before the +prince, whom he comaunded to go and apparaill such and such by name. +They therevpon went to those that were named, and taking them vp, ledde +them to the pavilion, wheare the garmentes were, and aftre their degrees +apparalled them, and to some they gave sadells, and to some other they +gave horses, to the nombre of xl, in my iudgement: but they that were +so apparailed were aboue ccl, amongest whom I was one. This doon, there +came certein women that beganne to daunce and to synge wᵗʰ certein that +plaied. And than was there sett on a carpett an hatt fac̃oned like a +sugar looofe, having on the toppe cuttes and tassells aftre the maner +of the hattes of ZUBIARI,[88] and a litle from it stoode one waiteng +the kinges comaundement, who poincted him on whose heade he shulde sett +that hatt. Wherevpon he took it vp and went to the person appoincted: +which arose, and putteng of his rolle, putt the hatt on his heade; being +so unseemely as suffised to haue disgraced a right goodly man. But he +hauing it on, passed fooʳthe, daunceng before the king, as he knewe the +guyse. And the king gave a signe to him that wayted, com̄aunding him +to give to the dauncer a peece of CAMOCATO. And he taking this peece +threwe it about the heade of the dauncer and of other men and women: +and useing certein woordes in praiseng the king, threwe it before the +mynstrells. This daunceng and throwing of peeces lasted till an howre +before sonnesett: in the which, by my rekenyng, what of damaske woʳkes, +lynenclothe, chamletts, and other like, there were given awaie aboue +ccc peeces and aboue lᵗⁱᵉ horses. This doon, they fell to wrasteling on +this wise. Two naked men, wᵗʰ breeches and hoses of leather downe to +the ankleys, presented themselfs before the king, and they clasped not +acrosse, but sought to take eche other by the nape of the necke, which +either of them did his best to defende. But whan thone had goten holde on +thothers necke, than he that was so taken having none other shifte wolde +stoowpe as lowe as he might, and take the other by the backe, lifteng +him vp and seeking to throwe him flatt on his backe; for otherwise it +was reckened no fall, howbeit divers of them wolde suffer himself to be +almost so throwen, and whan it came to the point wolde nevertheles shifte +the others to the fall, and so wynne the price. At leingth there came one +of these naked wrestlers before the king, so huge a man that he seemed +a gyaunte, being yonge and well proporc̃oned, of xxx yeres of age or +thereaboutes: whom the king com̄aunded to wrastle: willeng him to seeke a +companion. But he, kneeling, spake certein woordes againe, which I being +desirouse to vnderstande, it was tolde me that he had besought the king +he might not plaie, bicause in plaieng before he had killed some wᵗʰ +strayneng of them; wherefore the king was contented to spare him. Vnto +these wrastelers there were divers horses given, and the plaie, aftre I +was goon, endured till it was twoo houres wᵗhin night; so that there were +many other things given. In this, meane whele, the towne was well decked, +and spetially the shoppes; for every man sett fooʳthe his best stuf. And +there was also a price apoincted to the kings footemen, whose coʳse +to renne was a myle and an halfe, not wᵗhall their power, but a good +trotting pace, they being spoyled, naked, and anoynted over wᵗʰ larde for +the preservac̃on of their synowes, wᵗʰ a breeche of leather for everie of +them. And beginneng at the one ende of the race, whan they came trotting +to thother, they receaued (of such as were appoincted) an arrowe for a +witnesse to them that were ferre of, and coulde not discerne wheather +they arrived at the marke or not, liek as whan he retoʳned againe to +thother ende, he receaued there also an other arrowe; and so from the +one ende to the other as longe as his legges wolde serue him; so that he +which shuld most tymes trye that race shulde haue the price. These for +whom this price was prepared were all of the kings footemen; which go +barelegged and in maner naked, not styckeng to trotte sometymes x daies +ioʳney togither. + +These triomphes fynisshed, the king, wᵗʰ all his trayne, determyned, +according to their custome, to go into the champaigne; wherefore he +asked me wheather I wolde go wᵗʰ him and travaill or tarie behinde and +make meery. I answered that I had rather wayte on him wᵗʰ much sorowe +and trouble than to be from him wᵗʰ great rest and pleasʳ, which answer +me seemed he tooke verie thankefully, and so incontinently sent me an +horse, a tente, and mooney. Being thus departed from the citie, he wᵗʰ +all his trayne tooke that waie which they knewe fittest to furnishe them +of pasture and water: travailing at the beginneng betwene x and xv myles +a daye: and wᵗʰ him there went iij of his sonnes. + +He that wolde here note all the things woʳthie to be noted, shulde take +a diffuse entreprise vpon him and shulde sometimes treate of things +almost incredible. Wherefore I shall declare so much only as I thinke +convenient, leaving the rest to those writers that shall vse more +diligence in it than I haue doon. + +Thus being in the champaigne there came to visit the king a sonne of +his that soggioʳned in the ꝑties of BAGDATH, that is to saie, BABILONE, +and his mother wᵗʰ him, who presented his father wᵗʰ xx goodly horses, +c camells, and certein peeces of sylke. Than were there also presented +vnto the king by the barons attending on his sonne a nombre of camells +and horses, which in my sight at the verie instant were distributed and +given awaie by the king to such as pleased him and than went to dyner. +But not long after being in the champaigne newes came that an other sonne +of his, called ORGALU MAHUMETH had taken Syras, a notable great citie of +his father’s domynion; which he had doone vpon wooʳde that was brought +him of his father’s death, wherevpon he determyned to have that towne +for himself. These newes being hearde, the king forthwᵗʰ aroase, and wᵗʰ +all his people tooke his waie towards Syras, which from that place was +distant cxx miles, and travailed wᵗʰ so much speede that between mydnight +and the evenyng of the next daie they went xl myles, so that in iij daies +he might have been there. Who coulde believe that so great a nombre of +people, men, women, and children, and some in the cradell, shulde make so +great a speedie voiage, carieng wᵗʰ them all their baggaige and so good +ordre, wᵗʰ so much dignitie and pompe, never wanteng breade and seldome +wyne (which they needed not to lacke weare it not that a great nombre +of them drynke none), and than such plentie of fleshe and fruictes, and +all other thinges necessarie? I that have seen it do not only believe, +but also knowe it; and to thende that they which hereaftre may happen to +travaill thither (if any happen at all) may iudge whether I write trewe +or not, and that they which never mynde to see it may also believe it if +it shall please them, I shall heare make a special declaration of it. + +The noble and principall men which be wᵗʰ the king, and that carie wᵗʰ +them their wiefs and children, men and women servants, and their goodes, +arr wonte to have many camells and mooyles, the nombre whereof I shall +rehearse hereaftre. These carie the sucking children in their cradells +at the pomell of the sadell, so that the moother or the nurse ryding may +give them sucke, which cradells arr some fairer than other, according +to the qualities of the owners, wᵗʰ their sylkes over them, wrought +wᵗʰ golde or sylke. Wᵗʰ the lyfte hand they holde the cradell and the +brydell both, and wᵗʰ the right hande they drive the horse, beating him +wᵗʰ a whippe bounde to their litle fynger. The other children arr also +caried on horsebacke vpon certein cages, covered on both sides, and +wrowght according to their degrees. The women also ryde on horsebacke in +company togither wᵗʰ their maydens and seruants before them according to +their astate. The hable men attende on the King’s ꝓson, and reckenyng +all togither, they arr so many in nombre that it is a good halfe daies +ioʳney from the one ende of them to the other. The women ryde their faces +covered wᵗʰ muflers made of horse heare[89] to defende them from sonne +burneng in the cleere weather. At this tyme were the musters taken as +well of the people as of the cattell on this wise. There was a verie +great champaigne environned wᵗʰ horses, so ordered that eche of them +tooᵘched the other’s heade, and the men vpon them were partely armed and +partely vnarmed, comprehending about xxx myles in circuite, wᵗhin which +ordre they all stoode from the morneng vntill sonnesett. Than passed one +surveieng and making a reckenyng of them, not taking any mannes name or +the markes of the horses in writeng as we vse in these ꝓties, but only +called for the capⁿᵉˢ names, and considered the nombre wheather it were +in order, and than passed on, wherefore I tooke my seruʷnt wᵗʰ me, and +passed through them apace, rekenyng wᵗʰ beanes what nombres I founde, +vseng for every Lᵗⁱᵉ to lett a beane fall into my pockett. And whan the +musters were past, I made my reckenyng, and founde the nombres and +qualities of those things to be, aftre thordre that I shall describe vnto +yoᵘ: + + Of pavylions, vjᵐˡ; + Of camells, xxxᵐˡ; + Of cariage mooyles, vᵐˡ; + Of cariage horses, vᵐˡ; + Of asses, ijᵐˡ; + And horses of service, xxᵐˡ; + +Of the which there were ijᵐˡ covered wᵗʰ certein armure of yron, made +in litle squares and wrought wᵗʰ gold and syluer, tacked togither wᵗʰ +small mayle, which hanged downe in maner to the grounde, and vnder the +golde it had a frynge. The rest were covered, some wᵗʰ leather aftre +oʳ maner, some wᵗʰ silke, and some wᵗʰ quilted woʳke so thicke that an +arrowe coulde not haue passed throwgh it. The horsemens armoʳ is of +the same sorte before rehearsed. Those armures of yron that I first +menc̃oned arr made in Besthene,[90] which in oʳ tonge signifieth the v +townes, being of twoo miles compasse, and standeth on an hill wheare no +man dwelleth but the craftesmen of that science. And if any straunger +be desirouse to lerne it, he is accepted wᵗʰ putting in sureties never +to departe thense: but to dwell there wᵗʰ the rest, and to applie that +occupation. It is trewe that in other places like woʳks arr made, but no +wheare so excellent. Aftre this I nombred ijᵐˡ good mooyles, in heardes +of small cattaill xxᵐˡ, and of great ijᵐˡ, leopardes to hunte wᵗʰall +an c; fawcons gentle and bastarde, cc, grehounds, iijᵐˡ, houndes, a +thousande, goshawkes, Lᵗⁱᵉ, souldeoʳˢ for the swearde, xvᵐˡ sclaves, +heardmen, cariers, and other like, with sweardes ij, and archers a mˡ, +so that in all there myght be about xxvᵐˡ good horsemen, footemen of +villaines and bowes, iijᵐˡ, women of the best and myddell sorte, xᵐˡ, +women serūnts, vᵐˡ, children of both kindes, of xij yeres and vnder, vjᵐˡ +and other children[91] about that age vᵐˡ. Amongst the horsemen there +were about one thowsande speares, targettes vᵐˡ, archers about xᵐˡ. The +rest, some wᵗʰ one weapon, and some wᵗʰ an other. Amongst the baggaige +arr these things folowing, wᵗʰ their prices and owners. First, tayloʳˢ, +showmakers, smythes, sadlers, and fletchers in great nombre, wᵗʰ all +things necessarie for the campe. Than arr there victuallers that sell +breade, fleshe, fruite, wyne, and other things in exceading good order, +which is obserued throwghowtlie, and there be many poticaries also wᵗʰ +spices. Their breade costeth litle more than oʳˢ doth in Venice. Their +wyne costeth aftre the rate of iiij ducates oʳ hoggesheade, not bicause +there is any wante of it in the cuntrey, but bicause for the more parte +they vse it not. Fleshe aftre the rate of a peny or three halfe pence the +pounde; cheese, 1¼ᵈ; rise, 1¼ᵈ; fruicte of all sortes, 1¼ᵈ; and likewise +mellones, of the which some waied betwene xxiiij and xxxˡᵇ a peece. + +Horsemeate aftre iijᵈ the daie, and showing aftre xiiᵈ an horse mary;[92] +for gyrthers, leather sadells, and other horse harneys, there was great +skarsetie. As for horses to be solde, there be none but those nagges +that arr woʳthe betwene viij and x ducates a peece, and that come out +of Tartarie wᵗʰ the merchauntes (as I have saied before), iiij or v +thousande at a clappe:[93] which arr solde for iiij, v, or vj ducates a +peece: being litell, and serving onlie for cariaige. Amongst the nombre +of camells aboue rehearsed, there be viijᵐˡ, of twoo bunches a peece, +which haue their coveringes faire wrought, wᵗʰ belles, dyngles, and +beadestones of divers sortes hanging at them. Everie man aftre his degree +having some x, some xx, and some xxx, tied one to an others tayle, and +be ledde every mannes by themselfs for a pompe, wᵗhout any bodie suffred +to ryde vpon them. The other camells, of one bunche, carie the pavylions +and their masters apparaill in chests, sackes, and fardelles. In like +maner, amongest the mooyles there be about ijᵐˡ that carie nothing, but +arr ledde for pompe, trapped wᵗʰ goodly coveringes better wrought than +those of the camelles be. And of the same sorte, amongest the horses +abouemenc̃oned there be about a thousande thus decked. When they travaill +by night wᵗʰ the people those that be of reputac̃on, both men and women, +haue lightes borne before them, as we vse, which their men and women +serunts do carie. Wheare the Prince rydeth there go before him vᶜ horses +and more: which haue also their skowtes before them wᵗʰ certein square +enseignes, which, cryeng make roome, make roome! to whom all men give +waie. This is one parte of that which I haue seene concerneng the maner, +order, dignitie, and pompe that this peeple (whilst they be in the +champaigne) vse in attending on their king: being yet much lesse than I +coulde saie of them. + +At this tyme, bicause I felte myself not well at ease, I departed from +the campe, and went out of the waie about halfe a daies ioʳney to +Soltania, which in oʳ tonge signifieth Imperiall. This is a citie of the +forsaid kinge, which sheweth itself to haue been excellent faire. It +is not walled, but it hath a castell walled, though it be decaied, by +reason that about iiij years passed it was overthrowen by a lorde called +Giusa. The castell is a myle about, and hath wᵗhin it an high churche of +iiij iles, and of iiij vaultes high: the great cowpe whereof is bigger +than that of SAN JOANNI PAULO in Venice. At thone ende it hath a gate +of brasse of iij paces high, wrought letties[94] wise; wᵗhin the which +arr divers sepultures of the kings that were in time past. Over against +that gate there is an other like vnto it: and on the sides twoo other +lesse, one of eche side crosses, so that the great cowpe hath iiij gates, +ij great and ij small, the quarters or sydes whereof arr of brasse, iij +quarters of a yarde brode and half a yarde thicke, excellently well +kerved wᵗʰ leaves and devises aftre their maner; so wrought in wᵗʰ beaten +golde and sylver that it is both mervailousle and riche. The letties +of those gates haue certein great balles as bigge as loofes, and than +certein litell ones like orenges, wᵗʰ branches that knytt loofe to loofe, +as I remembre I haue seene it ones graven in woodde in a certein place. +The workemanship of the golde and syluer is so excellent that there is +no man in oʳ ꝑties that durst take the like in hande wᵗʰout very great +tyme. The citie is great enough, conteineng iiij myles in circuite, and +is well furnisshed of water. And if it were by none other but by the name +only, it appeareth that it hath been very notable. Indede, it is nowe but +evill enhabited, having betwene vij and viijᵐˡ people in it; ꝓadventure +more.[95] + +Whilest I laie in this citie, I had worde that the king, being +aduertised, as is aforesaid, that his sonne had taken Syras, removed +wᵗʰ all his people on his waie thitherwardes. Wherefore, immediately I +departed from Soltania, and went to CHULPERCHEAN, which signifieth in +oʳ tonge the lordes sklave, a litle towne, though by the rewynes of it, +it seemeth to haue had goodly buyldengs, being of ij miles circuite, +and conteyneng about vᶜ houses; in which place myne interpretoʳ died. +So that, from thensfooʳthe, as longe as I remayned in those ꝓties (for +the space of v yeres aftre), I coulde never finde any that vndrestode my +langaige. Wherefore I was driven to take the office of interpretoʳ vpon +me, contrary to the maner of all other ambassadoʳˢ. Departeng thense I +repaired towardes the king, who hasted his ioʳney towardes SYRAS, in +which ioʳney I noted in him one mervailouse poinct of severitie. Amongest +others about him there was one Coscadam, an aged man, of lxxx (and yet +a lustie man of his person), who had either v or vj sonnes, and all +in good reputac̃on wᵗʰ the king. This man being of honoʳ was, by the +king, com̄aunded to be taken: bicause he was aduertised that his sonne +OGURLU Mahumeth (who had wonne Syras) had writen certein l’res vnto this +Cascadam that were not showed to the king.[96] Wherefore, he caused first +his bearde to be shaven, and then made him to be had to the shambles, +wheare he was strypped, and had twoo of those hookes, whereon the +bocheoʳˢ vse to hange fleshe, driven in behinde his shouldres, on either +side one: by the which he was hanged by lowe, wheare the fleshe is wonte +to hange, and lyved twoo howres aftre. Nowe, by that I coulde learne, the +said Ogurlu Mahumeth, hearing of his fathers coming to Syras, departed +thense, and kept himself abroade; writeng vnto an vncle of his to be +meane vnto his father for him. Offering to submytt himself and to be in +any place wheare it shulde please his father to appoinct him: so that he +might haue wherewᵗhall to lyve.[97] + +All this region of Persia hitherto, by the waie that we came was verie +barayn, drie, sandie, and stonye, having fewe waters, so that wheare +water is there be some townes: though for the more parte destroied: +every of which townes hath a castell fortified of earthe. Their cornes, +vines, and fruictes encrease by force of their water; for wheare water +is skarse there is harde dwelling; nevertheles, they vse to conveigh +their water vnder earthe iiij and v daies ioʳney from the ryvers, whense +they fetche them, and that in this maner. Neere to the ryver they make +a pitt like vnto a well, from whense they folowe, diggeng by lyvells +towardes the place they meane to bringe it to; so that it may evermore +distende chanell wise: which chanell is deeper than the botome of the +foresaid pytt, and whan they haue digged about xx paces of this chanell, +than digge they an other pitt like to the first,[98] and so from pitt to +pitt they conveigh the water alongest these chanells whither they woll. +And whan they haue finisshed this worke than open they the skluse of +the pitt towardes the ryver, and so letting in the water, convey it to +their townes, and whither they woll, fetching that through the botome of +mountaignes that is had out of the deepe of the ryvers. For if they did +not thus there coulde be no dwelling there; considering that it rayneth +very seldome, insomuch that I saied to those of tharmie their cuntrey was +very barayne. Whearevnto I was answered that I needed not to mervaile, +bicause the waie they tooke was freshe, so that they founde the better +pasture and the cuntrey the holsōmer. In those ꝑties arr no woodes nor +yet trees, no not so much as one, except it be fruite trees, which they +plante, whereas they may water them; for otherwise they wolde not take. +The tymber wherewᵗh they buylde arr trees which they sett in watrie +places, in such nombre as suffiseth for their necessitie. The rather for +that they haue excellent carpenters, who, being constreyned of necessitie +to spare woll of one peece of tymber of two spannes in compasse sawed +into boordes, make an handesome doore of two paces longe, so well wrought +outwardes and so well ioyned, that it is a wonder, aftre which maner they +also make their wyndowes and other things meete for their householde. In +dede, wᵗhinfooʳthe the peeces of their ioynengs may well be discerned. +Of this they also make chestes; and for proofe that there be none other +trees, great nor small, neither on hill nor plaine, I have sometimes +founde a shrubbe of thorne, on the which, as it were for a myracle, I +haue seene certein peeces of cloth and ragges hanging, in token that the +feaver and other infirmities arr healed there. And, notwᵗhstanding the +great moltitude of people that is in their campe, yet shall yoʷ not heare +any one mourning or lamenting; for they arr all meerie: synge, plaie, and +laugh. + +Folowing on oʳ ioʳney we came to a towne called SPAHAM,[99] which hath +been a notable toune till of late, walled wᵗʰ mudde and diched, hauing +about iiij myles in circuyte, and, rekenyng the subvrbes, aboue x myles: +in which subvrbes arr no less goodly houses than wᵗhin the walles. I +vndrestode that, by reason of the moltytude of the people amongest +the which were nombres of good men, being also ryche, sometimes they +disobeyed their king. And, about xx yeres passed, one GIANSA being King +of Persia, came to this towne to reduce the same to obedience, and +hauing taken ordre wᵗʰ them, deꝓted. But shortely aftre they rebelled +againe; wherevpon he sent an armye thither wᵗʰ com̄aundement, that whan +they had sacked and burned the towne, every man at his retoʳne shulde +bringe one of thinhabitaunts heades wᵗʰ him: which they fulfilled so +exactely that (as I haue hearde some of them reporte which were in that +armie) they that coulde not gett mennes heades cutt off womens heades +and shaved them, to fulfill the kings comaundement. By reason whereof, +they overthrewe and destroied the whole towne; nevertheles, the vjᵗʰ +parte of it is nowe enhabited again. It hath many great and notable +antiquities, amongest the which the chiefest is a square cisterne, wᵗʰ +cleere and sweete water, verie good to drynke, rounde about the which +is a goodly wharfe sett wᵗʰ pyllars and vowltes: wheare arr innumerable +roomethes[100] and places for merchaunts to bestowe their merchaundizes: +which place is alwaies locked in the night for savegarde of the +merchaundize. Divers other things and goodly monuments arr in this citie: +whereof I woll forbeare to speak, saving that in the tyme rehearsed (as +it was saied) there dwelled aboue Lᵐˡ persons. Aftre this, we founde a +well enhabited citie called Cassan,[101] wheare for the more parte they +make sylkes and fustians in so great quantitie that he who wolde bestowe +xᵐˡ ducates in a daie may finde enough of that merchaundise to bestowe +it on. It is about iij myles in compasse, walled, and wᵗhoutfooʳthe hath +faire and large subvrbes. Than came we to a walled citie called COM, +very rudely buylded. It is no towne of craftesmen; for they lyve of +tyllaige, having many vineyardes and gardens and excellent good mellons; +so great, that some one sholl waie xxxˡᵇ, grene wᵗhout, white wᵗhin, and +as sweete as suger; and the towne conteigneth about xxᵐˡ houses. + +[Sidenote: A resorting place for merchauntes to trafficke in.] + +From thense, folowinge on oʳ waie we came to Jex,[102] a towne of +artificers, as makers of sylkes, fustians, chamletts, and other like. +Some may thinke I tell more than trowthe in many things; nevertheles, it +is most trewe, as they knowe that have seene it. This towne is walled, +of v myles in circuite, wᵗʰ very great subvrbes, and yet in maner they +all arr wevers and makers of divers kindes of sylkes which came from +STRAUA,[103] from AZZI, and from the ꝓties towardes ZAGATAI: towards the +sea of Bachu, the best whereof come from Jex, wᶜʰ, wᵗʰ their woʳkes, do +aftrewards furnishe a great parte of INDIA, PERSIA, ZAGATAI, CIM, and +MACIM,[104] parte of CATAY, of Bursia, and of Turchie; wherefore lett +him that woll bie good silkes of SORIA, faire and well wrought, take of +these. And whan any merchaunt cōmeth to this towne for wares, he goeth +into the FONDACO, rounde about the which arr certein litle shoppes, and +in the middest a litle square place, likewise wᵗʰ shoppes, having twoo +gates cheyned (bicause horses shulde not passe through). This merchaunt +wᵗʰ his companie, if they be acquainted wᵗʰ any place, resorte thither to +sytt: if not, they may sytt wheare pleaseth them in any of those shoppes, +being vj foote square a peece. And if they be divers merchaunts, lightly +they take eche one a shoppe by himself. An howre aftre the sonne ryseng +certein go about wᵗʰ sylkes and other wares on their armes, passeng +rounde about wiᵗhout speaking. And the merchaunts, if they see ought that +pleaseth them, call the seller; and looke on his wares; the price whereof +is writen on a paper sowed vnto it. If he lyketh them and the price, he +throweth them into the litle shoppe, and so dispacheth them wᵗhout moore +wordes. For he that deliuereth the stuff knoweth the owner of the shoppe, +and therefore deꝓteth wᵗhout further question: which markett endureth +till noone; and aftre dyner cometh the seller and receaueth his mooney; +wheareas, if he fynde none that woll bye at his price one day, than he +retoʳneth an other day: and so fooʳthe. They saie that towne requireth +every daie twoo sompters of sylkes: which, aftre oʳ maner, amounteth to +xᵐˡ weight. As for chamletts, fustians, and such other, I saie nothing; +for, by the sylke they make, it may easelie be gessed how much more they +make of those. + +All my ioʳney hitherto hath been sowtheast, but nowe I shall retoʳne +eastwardes, wheare the first towne in my waie was the city of SYRAS, +being very great, of xxᵗⁱᵉ myles compasse, rekenyng the subvrbes wᵗhall. +It conteigneth innumerable people, and is full of merchaunts; for all +they that come from the vpper parties, that is to saie, frome ERE, +SAMARCAHANTH, and NISU,[105] taking the waie throwgh Persia, do passe +by SYRAS. Hither arr brought many jewelles, sylkes, both great and +small, spices, rewbarbe, and semenzina, and is of the King Assambey, +his domynion, closed wᵗʰ high mudde walles and deepe dyches, wᵗʰ gates +according. It hath a nombre of excellent faire churches and good howses +trym̄ed wᵗʰ MUSAICO and other goodly ornaments: and may conteigne ccᵐˡ +houses, or ꝑadventure more. In which citie is very sure dwelling wᵗhout +any disturbance. Going hense, they departe out of Persia, and take the +waie vnto Ere,[106] a towne situate in the region of ZUGATAI, which towne +apꝑteigneth to the sonne of the late Soldan Bosaith, and is very great, +though not so bigge by the iijᵈᵉ parte as Syras, wheare they make sylkes +and other like woʳkes as they do in Syras. I forbeare to speake of many +castells, townes, and villaiges that arr in this waie, bicause there is +nothing in them notable. But from thense, somewhat northeastwardes, they +travaile xl daies ioʳney through desertes and barayn places, wheare no +water is to be had but in such welles only as arr made for the purpose, +and whereas is litle grasse and lesse woodde. And than come they in the +self same region of Zagatai, to a verie great and well enhabited citie +called Sammarcahanth, through the which all the merchaunts and travailers +that come out of Cim Macim, and Catay do passe to and fro. The towne is +well replenisshed of artificers and merchaunts both. The lordes whereof +arr sonnes to Giarda.[107] I went no further this waie, but by that I +learned there of others, this Cim and Macinn that I haue before named arr +ij verie great provinces, thinhabitants whereof arr idolaters, and there +make they vessells and disshes of PORCELLANA. In these ꝓties is verie +great trafficque of merchaundize, specially jewells and clothes, as well +of sylke as of other sortes, and from thense they go into the province of +Catay. Of the which I shall rehearse as much as I knowe, by the reaporte +of an ambassadoʳ of Tartarie that came thense. I, being at Tana, happened +one tyme to talke wᵗʰ the saied ambassador tooching the cuntry of Catay, +who telled me that in passeng throwgh the places hereafter menc̃oned, +aftre he was ones entred into that cuntrey, his charges were borne from +place to place, vntill he came to a towne called Cambale,[108] wheare he +was honorably receaued, and lodging appoincted vnto him. And (as he said) +even so the costes arr borne of all the merchaunts that passe that waie. +Than was he brought to the princes presence, wheare, at his comyng to +the gate, he was made to kneele wᵗhoutfooʳthe. The place was flatt and +plaine, very large and longe. At the vpper ende whereof was a pavement +of stone, on the which the Prince sate wᵗʰ his backe to the gatewardes. +And on both sides sate iiij of his wᵗʰ their faces towardes the gate; +and from the gate vnto these iiij on either side stode certein seruants +of armes wᵗʰ syluer staves, making a lane in the myddest. In the which +lane, here and there sate certein trowchemen on their heeles, as women +do in oʳ parties. The said ambassadoʳ being brought to the gate, wheare +he founde the things in thordre aforesaied, was comaunded to declare his +messaige: which the trowchemen declared again from one to the other, +till it came to the Prince. Wherevpon, it was answered that he was +welcome and might retoʳne vnto his lodging, wheare he shulde receaue a +further answere: and that he needed no more to retoʳne to the Prince, +but only to conferre wᵗʰ such as were therevnto appoincted and sent to +his lodging, who to and fro did so travaill, that he was both speedylie +and thankefully dispatched. A servaunt of the said ambassadoʳˢ and a +companyon of his, who were both wᵗʰ him, tolde me wonders of the justice +they vse in those ꝑties. Amongest the which, this was one that being on +a daye in MADIAN[109] which signifieth the markett place, they did see a +woman carieng a payle of mylke on her heade, to whom one came that tooke +it from her: and beginneng to drynke, she beganne to crye out, Helas! +howe can we poore wydowes carie oʳ goodes to sell? Wherevpon, he was +incontinently taken, and wᵗʰ a swearde cutt in sonder by the myddest: so +that at ones ye shulde haue seene both the bloudde and the mylke gushe +out of his bowells which thambassadoʳ himself affirmed aftrewardes to +be trewe: addeng further that a certein woman weaving of fustian, had +drawen out a shuttell and laied it behinde her; which shuttell, one that +by chaunce passed by, tooke awaie and went on. But she, looking backe +and mysseng her shuttell, beganne to crie: and being tolde her that he +which had it went there, he was incontinently taken, and likewise cutt +by the middest. They saie that not only wᵗhin the citie, but also in the +high waies abroade, wheare men travaile, if there be anythinge laied on +a stone or other place, which, being lost by the owners, hath been founde +by others, there is no man so hardie as darreth take it to himself. And +further, if any man on the waie aske an other whither he goeth, and that +he of whom the question is so asked do either suspect or mistrust the +person that moved the question, and therfore woll complaine: it shall +behove the questioner to yelde a laufull reason why he asked it; orelles +he shalbe punisshed for it: whereby it appeareth this cuntrey is of great +freedome and justice. As, toocheng their merchaundize, I learned that +all the merchaunt men which reasorte thither bringe their merchaundizes +into the FONDACHI, wheare the officers repaire to see it, and if they +finde any thinge meete for the Prince, they take that that pleaseth them, +yelding the valewe for it in other things, the rest remayneth at the +merchaonts libertie. The small mooney they spende in this place is made +of paper, which they yerely chaunge into a newe printe: for tholde mooney +at the yeres ende is brought to the mynte wheare the bringer receaueth as +much of the faire newe mooney, paieng for it, nevertheles, aftre twoo in +the hundred of good sylver; and than is the olde mooney throwen into the +fyre. As for the golde and syluer, they sell it by weight, and of those +mettalls, they also make certein great peeces of mooney. + +[Sidenote: As some halles be in London.] + +I suppose these Cataini be paynems of belief, though divers of Zagatai +and of other macons that come thense, saye they be christened; for whan I +asked them howe they knowe them to be Christians, they answere, bicause +they haue ymages in their churches as we haue. It happened me whilest I +was in Tana, the said ambassadoʳ being wᵗʰ me, as I haue said before, +there passed an olde man by me, a Venetian, called NICOLO DIEDO, who +sometimes ware a gowen of cloth, lyned with sendall, open sleved, as in +tymes past they vsed in Venice vpon a furred dublett, wᵗʰ an hoode on +his shulder and a twoopeny strawen hatt on his heade: whom the said +ambassadoʳ wondered at: saieng vnto me, This maner of apparaill vse the +CATAINI to weare, and they arr like vnto the men of oʳ religion, and +arr apparailed as we be. There groweth no wyne in that cuntrey; for the +region is very colde, but of other vittaills there is plentie enough. +These, wᵗʰ divers other things which I forbeare at this ꝓnt, arr such as +I learned of the reapoʳte of the said ambassadoʳ of Tartarie, and of his +famyliars, as tooching the province of Catay, wheare I was not myself, +and therefore retoʳneng backe towards Tauris, liek as I haue spoken of +the wayes east northeast, so shall I nowe declare vnto yoʷ the waie east +southeast. First, we founde a citie called Chuerch, passing over those +townes that we founde in the waie, of the which there is no notable +thinge to be remembered. In this citie there is a pitt like vnto a +fountaigne, in the keeping of their TALAFTIMANNI; that is to saie, their +priests, the water whereof hath great vertue against the leaprie. Of +which infirmitie I haue somewhat seene, not of experience, but of other +mennes credulitie. For, at the same tyme there passed a frencheman that +waie wᵗʰ certein seruants and guydes, that were moores, which frencheman +was infected wᵗʰ the leaprie: and therefore (as we were informed) +travailed thither to bathe himself in that water. What became of him I +wote not, but the com̄on voice went that many were healed there. For +whilest I taried there myself, I vnderstode notable things of the vertue +of that water.[110] + +[Sidenote: Pistacchi is a kynde of delicate nuttes.] + +This citie Chuerch is but litle; nevertheles, it is a through fare, for +all they passe through it that go towardes the Redde Sea; that is to +saie, vnto SINU PERSICO. In which sea there is an ilande that hath a +citie called Ormuos, between xviij and xx myles from the mayne lande: +the ilande being a lx myles in compasse. That citie is great and well +enhabited, but they haue none other than well water and cisterne water; +whereof, whan they finde any lacke, they arr faine to sende into the +mayne lande for it, from whense they also haue their grayne. It yeldeth +tribute to the King Assambei, and thinhabitaunts arr great makers of +sylkes. And the merchaunts that travaill either out of India into +Persia or out of Persia into India, for the more parte do all arryve in +this ilande. The Lorde whereof is called Sultan Sabadin, who vseth to +sende his barkes into India to fyshe for oysters of perles, and there +looseth many; and whilest I remaigned on this citie there arryved twoo +merchaunts out of India with perles, jewells, sylkes, and spices. Into +this golfe of Persia falleth the notable ryver EUPHRATES, vpon the which +vj daies ioʳney vpwardes is BAGDATH, sometime called BABILONE, which +was so famouse, as the worlde knowᵗʰ, though at this present it be for +the more parte destroyed, not exceading xᵐˡ houses. Nevertheles, it is +plentyfully victailed, having abundance of fruictes: as dates, pistacchi, +and other like, not only in great quantitie, but also of excellent +goodnes: amongest the which arr qwynces of the taste and greatnesse of +ours. Nevertheles, they haue qwinces that haue no hardenes wᵗhin them, as +oʳˢ haue, but arr most sweete in the eating, as oʳ sweetest peares be. +They also haue a kynde of pomegranates, not very great, but for the more +parte wᵗʰ a thynne rynde, which they pyll as we pyll oranges: and than +may byte it neither more nor lesse than as it were an apple; for they +haue none of those cores in the myddest, but even a litell in the botome, +and the sweetnes of it is myngled wᵗʰ a litle sharpe. And some there be +that wante the litle cornell which oʳˢ hath wᵗhin the graine, and some +other haue it so softe that yᵒ shall no more feele of it in yoʳ mowth to +spytt out againe, than as if ye did eate of correyns. They also make much +suger and ꝓfect confeciones thereof, specially siropes, of the which they +furnishe Persia and other places. + +Nowe, retoʳneng to Ormuos, I shall somewhat saie of the places that arr +forneagainst it on the other syde of the foresaid golfe northewardes, +which is of the coste of Persia. These places arr enhabited wᵗʰ +Macomettanes, and this golfe in itself is ccc myles broade, and the +places on the other syde of the golfe arr vnder the domynion of iii +princes, Macomettanes. Comyng to lande eastsoutheast, as the golfe goeth, +at thende of it there is a citie called CALICUTH, of verie great fame, +being, as it were, a staple or a receipt of merchaunts of divers places, +as who wolde saye of those that come out of the golfe of Catay and from +all those partes: so that alwaies ye shall finde a nombre of shippes—yea, +and great shippes there. Bicause there seldome happeneth any great +tempest. The citie is a passaige haunted wᵗʰ merchaundise of all sortes, +and is both great and well peopled. + +[Sidenote: Half relieuo is thymage, wᵗh the foreparte full grauen and the +back flatt.] + +Retoʳneng alongest the coste, forneagainst Ormuos there is a towne called +Lar, a great and a good towne of merchaundise, about ijᵐˡ houses: and is +a passaige for those that go and come through this golfe lyghtely lande +at this towne. Than is there Syras, of the which I haue spoken before; +and so folowing the waye yoʷ come to a great towne called CAMARA.[111] +And from thense, a daies ioʳney, ye come to a great bridge vpon the +Byndamyr, which is a notable great ryver. This bridge they saie Salomon +caused to be made at the towne of Camara, and there appeareth a rounde +hyll which on thone side seemeth to be cutt and made in a fronte of vj +paces high: on the toppe whereof is a plaine, and rounde about xl pillers +called Cilminar,[112] which in their tongue signifieth xl pillers, every +one whereof is xx yardes longe and as thicke as iij men can embrace; +but some of them arr decaied. Nevertheles, by that which remayneth it +appereth to haue been a very faire monument; for, vpon this plaine there +is a mightie stone of one peece, on the which arr many ymages of men +graven as great as gyaunts, and aboue all the rest one ymage like vnto +that that we resemble to God the Father in a cercle, who in either hande +holdeth a globe, vnder whom arr other litle ymages, and before hym the +image of a man leanyng on an arche, which they saie was the fygure of +SALOMON. Vnder them arr many other ymages, which seeme to susteigne +those that be aboue. Amongest whom there is one that seemeth to haue a +Popes myter on his hedde, holding vp his hande open as though he ment to +blesse all that arr vnder him; liek as they looking towardes hym seeme +also to gape for his blisseng. A litle further there is a great ymage on +horsbacke, seemyng to be of a boysterouse[113] man: who they saie was +SAMPSON; about the which arr many other ymages apparailed of the frenche +fac̃on, wᵗʰ longe heares, and all those ymages arr of halfe relieuo. Two +daies ioʳney from this place is a towne called THIMAR, and from thense +two daies ioʳney an other towne, in the which is a sepulture that they +affirme to be the tombe of Salomons moother, and over the same a litle +churche: whearein certein Arabike l’res is writen, as they saie Mater +Suleimen, that is to saye, the moother of Salomon: the gate whereof is +towardes the East. From thense, iij daies ioʳney, yoʷ come to a towne +called Dehebeth, wheare they vse tillaige and making of fustians. Twoo +daies ioʳney further ye com̄e to a place called VARGARI,[114] which in +tyme past hath been a great and a faire towne; but at this pñt it maketh +not aboue mˡ houses, in the which they also vse tillaige and making of +fustians, as is aforesaid. + +Foure daies ioʳney thense ye come to a towne called Deiser,[115] and iij +daies ioʳney further an other towne called Taste, from whense folowing +that waie an other daies ioʳney ye come to JEX, of the which I haue +made sufficient menc̃on before. Thense ye go to Meruth, a litle towne, +and twoo daies ioʳney further is a towne called Guerde, in the which +there dwell certein men called ABRAINI, which in myne opinion either +be descended of Abraham orells haue Abrahams faith, and they weare +longe heare. Twoo daies ioʳney further there is a toune called NAIM, +evill enhabited, not exceading vᶜ houses; and twoo daies ioʳney thense +is a towne called Naistan, and from thense twoo other daies ioʳney is +Hardistan, a litle towne that maketh a vᶜ howses. + +Three daies ioʳney thense ye come to Cassan, which I haue spoken of +before, and from thense iij other daies ioʳney is Com, before named, and +beyonde that one other daies ioʳney is Saua, having about mˡ houses. In +all which places they vse tyllaige and making of fustians. Three daies +ioʳney from Saua is a litle towne called EUCHAR,[116] from whense in +iij other daies ioʳney ye come to Soltania, before named, and vij daies +ioʳney thense is Tauris. Nowe, he that wolde departe thense to travaile +towardes the sea of Bachu eastwardes, being of the region of Zagatai, +shulde fynde these townes folowing, from Thauris to Soltania; viz., from +Soltania to Euchar, iij ioʳneys; from Euchar to Saua, iiij ioʳneys; from +Saua to Choi, a litle towne, vj joʳneys; from Choi[117] to Sarri, a +litle towne, also iij ioʳneys; from Sarri to Lindan,[118] a litle towne, +iiij ioʳneys; from Lindan to Tremigan, a litle towne, iij ioʳneys; from +Tremigan to Bilan, vj ioʳneys; and than come ye to Straua.[119] Of the +which the sylkes called Strauatine take this name. This towne is neere +to the sea of Bachu, and standeth not very holsomely. There groweth +litle wheate, wherefore they feede of ryse; of the which they make their +breade. In this towne, and in all the villaiges vnder it, whereas any +water is to be had, they spynne and make course sylkes, and alongest the +bankes of those ryvers they haue their bowthes wᵗʰ their cawldrons for +sylkes; for they keepe great nombres of sylke wormes and haue plentye +of white mulberie trees. In these quarters arr innumerable pertriches, +in such sorte, that whan the prince or other great ꝑsonaige maketh any +feast, they booyle of these ꝓtriches and give everie man a dishe of ryse +podaige, and than pertriches; so that all the people eateth; which to +them arr not deynteth.[120] + +Alongest the coste of the said sea arr many townes; that is, to witt, +Straua, Lanzibeuth, Madrandani, and others; whereof, for this tyme, I +speake not, but in those townes arr the best sylkes made that come out of +these quarters. + +And nowe, being come neere, me seemeth it not amysse to speake some what +of the waie from TRABISONDA to THAURIS, going southwest; wherefore, first +tooching Trabisonda, I saie that it hath been both a good and a great +towne vpon the sea Maggiore. The lorde wheroof in tymes past hath had +the tytle of Emperoʳ; for he was brother to Themperoʳ of Constantinople, +and wolde also be called Emperoʳ himself, whereof all his successoʳˢ +(though they were no emperours bretherne) did, nevertheles, from one to +an other vse, or rather vsurpe, this tytle of Emperoʳ. As for the towne, +I shall neede to saie no more of it: bicause it is sufficiently knowen +over all. But, going thense towards Thauris, as I haue said, southwest, +ye shall finde many villaiges and litle castells, and besides that ye +shall travaill throwgh hilles and woodes, disenhabited, till ye com̄e +to Baiburth, the first notable place that waie being a castell, standing +in a plaine valley, environned wᵗʰ hylles, stronge, and walled, and in a +plentyfull sooyle, the towne vnder the castell conteyneng mˡvᶜ howses, +and is wᵗhin the domynion of the King Assambei. Five daies ioʳney further +ye come to Arsengan, which hath been a great citie, but for the more +ꝓte decaied at this ꝑnt. Going on west southwest ij myles further ye +come to the notable ryver EUPHRATES, over the which ye passe on a faire +great bridge of bricke, of xvij arches. Than come ye to a towne called +CARPURTH,[121] v ioʳneys from Arsengan. In this place soggioʳned the wief +of the King Assambei, she that was doughter to Themoʳ of Trabisonda.[122] +The place is stronge, and is for the more parte enhabited by Greekes[123] +attending on the said Queene. Following on, ye finde many litle townes +and castelletts, till ye come to MOSCHONE, from thense to Halla, and +so to Thene, which three arr stronge castells, and well walled, eche +of them having about vᶜ howses vnder them: wᵗʰ a great ryver rennyng +alongest, which cometh not ferre from Carpurth, aboue menc̃oned, and +hath passaiges by boates. All the people enhabiteng these places vnder +the iurisdic̃on of these castells arr called COINARI, which in oʳ tonge +signifieth heardemen. Than going eastwarde ye come to a walled castell +standeng on a rocke, called Pallu, the towne vnder it having about +ccc houses vnder the which passeth a certein ryver. Travaileng, than, +still eastwarde, iiij ioʳneys further ye come to a castell called Amus, +standing in a champaigne, yll enhabited. All the countrey of Trabisonda, +wᵗʰ the confynes, breedeth plentie of wyne, and the vynes growe vp +alongest their trees wᵗhout any cutteng, so that contynually in those +ꝑties one of our hoggesheades of wyne is lesse woʳthe than a ducate. +Their woodes arr full of nutte trees of the kinde of Puglia,[124] +and many other good fruictes they haue, and in some partes they make +certein wynes called ZAMORA. From thense ye enter into TURCOMANIA, which +heretofore was called Armenia; but now those that arr there borne arr +called Caracoilu; that is, to wete, blacke ewes, liek as they of the +provinces of Persia and Zagatai arr called Accoilu, wᶜʰ signifieth white +ewes: being names of ꝑties amongest them, as who wolde saie amongest vs, +Guelfi and Ghibellini, orells Zamberlani and Mastruccieri, vnder which +titles arr great ꝑte takinges. After this ye come to a litle stronge +castell called Mus, standing on an hyll amongest certein mountaignes, +having a citie vnderneth it of iij myles compasse, very well enhabited. +Three ioʳneys further is a faire, stronge castell, in a place called +Allarch,[125] standing vpon a lake clᵗⁱᵉ myles longe, and in the brodest +lᵗⁱᵉ myles brode. From which lake, xv myles northewardes, is an other +lake of iiijˣˣ myles in compasse, wᵗʰ certein castells about it. Under +Allarch is a towne of about mˡ houses, and in both these lakes arr many +shippes that make their voyages into the sea. There is also vpon this +seconde lake a towne called Ceus, a good walled towne. One ioʳney further +costeng the sea, there is a towne called Herzil,[126] wᵗʰ a ryver and a +bridge of v arches over it, and between Ceus and Herzil arr iiij other +like bridges to passe over the ryver. In Herzil is the sepulture of +the mother of Giansa, which was King of Persia and Zagatai. Five myles +distant from this place ye come to Orias, a stronge castell standing on +a litle hill. And so folowing eastwardes half a daies ioʳney, ye come to +Coi, not that which I named before, but an other of the same name, and +five ioʳneys thense ye enter into a champaigne, in the which is a great +citie heretofore destroied by Zamberlan.[127] Than shall ye finde divers +villaiges, and aftre that an other lake of cc myles longe and xxx myles +brode: in the which arr certein ilandes enhabited. Finally, ye come to +twoo cities, Tessu[128] and Zerister,[129] which betwene both may make +iijᵐˡ fyres. Other notable things I haue seene none in these ꝓties, +saving that generally they make fustians, lynen clothes, fryses, many +rugges, and a litell sylke. They haue plentie of fleshe (specially of +mutton), wynes, and other fruictes enough, which they conveigh into the +sea Maggiore and to the townes about; wherefore, retoʳneng ones againe +to beginne at THAURIS, and going east northeast, sometyme toʳneng north +and tooʷching a litle of northwest, passing over also dyvers places by +the waie of small accompt, not woʳthie to be spoken of, I saie that xij +ioʳneys thense ye shall finde SAMMACHI,[130] a citie in Media in the +region of Thezichia, the lorde whereof is called SIRUANZA,[131] which +citie at a neede wolde make betwene viiij and xᵐˡ horseman. It confyneth +towardes the sea of Bachu, wᵗhin vj ioʳneys, which sea is on the right +hande of it, and on the lyfte hande is Mengrelia, towards the sea +MAGGIORE, and Caitacchi, that inhabite about the mountaigne CASPIO. This +is a very good citie; it hath betwene iiij and vᵐˡ houses, and maketh +sylkes, fustians, and other thinges aftre their maner. It standeth in +the great Armenia, and a goode parte of thinhabitants arr Armeniens. +Departeng thens ye come to Derbenth, a towne, as they saie, buylded +by Alexander, standeng vpon the sea of Bachu, a myle distant from the +mountaigne, on which mountaigne it hath a castell that descendeth wᵗʰ +twoo whynges; that is to saie walles, even into the water; so that the +height of the walles arr twoo paces vnder water. The towne, from the one +gate to the other, is halfe a myle brode: and the walles thereof arr of +great stone, aftre the Romayn buyldeng. + +Derbenth signifieth in oʳ tonge a straict; in somuch, that many which +vnderstande the nature of that place do call it TEMIRCAPI; that is to +saie, the gate of yron. And, truly, he that named it so, had very good +reason: considering that this towne divideth MEDIA from SCYTHIA; so that +they which woll travaile out of Persia, Turchie, Soria, and the other +lowe cuntreys, to passe into Scythia, must needes enter in at thone gate +of this towne, and yssue at the other, which to him that vnderstandeth +not the site of those places shulde seeme mervailouse and almost +impossible; but thoccasion is this. From the sea of Bachu vnto the sea +Maggiore, the streight waie, as it were, by line, is vᶜ myles. All which +grounde is full of mountaignes and valleys, in some places well enhabited +by certein Lordes of it (throwgh whose territories no man darr passe for +feare of robbyng); but, for the more parte, it is disenhabited. And, if +any man wolde determyn to passe that waie, leaving Derbenth, he shulde be +constregned first to go through Giorgiana, and than through Mengrelia, +on the cost of the sea Maggiore, at a castell called ALUATHI, wheare is +a mountaigne of so great height that it shall behove him to leave his +horse and to clymbe vp afoote by the rockes, so that betwene ascending +and descending he shulde travaill two ioʳneys, and than entre into +Circassia, of the wᶜʰ I haue spoken in the beginneng, and that passaige +is only vsed by them that dwell neere it, besides the which in all the +said distance there is no passaige knowen, by reason of the difficultie +of the places, wherefore retoʳneng to the purpose: the cause of this +straict is, that the sea eateth even to the verie mountaigne, wheare +Derbenth standeth. And from that forwardes it is all rocke, wᵗʰ very +litle earthe. So that this straict endureth about lx myles; nevertheles, +the waie is somewhat apte to be travailed on horsebacke. From thense, +torneng backwarde on the lyfte hande the mountaigne torneth, so that it +may be travailed: the same being it that aunciently was called MONTE +CASPIO: wheare arr certein gray freeres and some priestes aftre oʳ Romayn +fac̃on. The people there enhabiteng arr called Caitacchi, as it is said +before. They speake languaiges different one from an other, and many of +them arr Christians: some aftre the Greekes, some aftre the Armenians, +and some aftre the Catholike. Vpon this syde of the sea there is an other +citie called Bachu, wherof the sea of Bachu taketh name, neere vnto which +citie there is a mountaigne that casteth fooʳthe blacke oyle, stynkeng +horryblye, which they, nevertheles, vse for furnissheng of their lightes, +and for the anoynteng of their camells twies a yere. For if they were not +anoynted they wolde become skabbie. Over the champaigne of the mountaigne +CASPIO ruleth one Tumembi, that signifieth in oʳ tonge lorde of xᵐˡ, +throughout whose domynion they vse to make their houses coffyn-wise, even +like to those houses that I made menc̃on of in the first parte of this +treatise, the principall being made of a cercle of woodde bored wᵗʰ holes +rounde about: the diameter being a pace and an halfe, in the which they +fasten certein litle staves that arr drawen into a litle cercle in the +toppe; which they cover wᵗʰ felte or cloth, according to their degrees, +and whan they arr weery of dwelling in one place, then trusse they their +houses on carts and remove to another place. Whan I retoʳned to this +lorde there arryved a sonne of the Emperoʳ of Tartarie, which had maried +a doughter of this lordes: whose father was than lately expelled out of +his astate. This yonge Prince was entred into one of these houses, and +was sett on the grounde, wheare he was viseted by some of his cuntreymen +and by some other also of the cuntrey wheare he was. The maner of wᶜʰ +visitac̃on was, that whan they came wᵗhin a stones cast of the gate, if +they had any weapons they laied them on the grounde, and than marcheng +certein paces towards the gate they kneeled doune, which they did twoo +or iij tymes, marcheng alwaies forwarde, till they came wᵗhin x paces at +the neerest, wheare they declared their matter. And having receaved their +answer, retoʳned backewarde, never torneng their backes to the Prince. + +I was divers tymes wᵗʰ this lorde Tumembei, whose lief (by that I coulde +ꝓceave) was bent to be in contynuall dronkenes, wᵗʰ drinkeng of wyne made +of honey. + +And sothens[132] we haue spoken of the things of the mountaigne Caspio +and of the nature of those that dwell thereaboutes, me seemeth it not +amysse to recyte also an historie, which I lately hearde of one Vincent, +a blacke freere, borne in Capha, who for certein affaires was sent into +those ꝑties: and departed about x moonethes past, the rehersall whereof +serueth to good purpose for oʳ religion. This freere reaported that out +of the Soldanes cuntrey there came a certein secte of Macomettanes, +cryeng wᵗʰ an extreme fervencie in their faith: Downe to death wᵗʰ +these Christians: and the more they approached vnto Persia the greater +their nombre encreased. These rybauldes tooke their waie towardes the +sea of Bachu, and came to SAMMACHI, and so to DERBENTH, and into TUMEN, +being a mervailouse great nombre, though partely wᵗhout armoʳ. And whan +they were arryved at a ryver called Terch, which is in the province of +TEZECHIA,[133] and about the mountaigne Caspio, wheare arr many Catholike +Christians, they slewe them all, wheare so ever they founde them, men, +women, and children. Aftre this, they overranne the cuntrey of GOG and +MAGOG, which arr also Christians (though aftre the Greekish rites), and +handled them likewise. Than retoʳned they towardes Circassia, taking +their waie towardes CHIPPICHE and Charbatri, which arr both towards +the SEA MAGGIORE, and there delte they likewise; never ceasing till +they of TITARCASSA and CHREMUCH wᵗʰstode them, fought wᵗʰ them, and so +discompfited them that there eskaped not xx of the hundreth which fledde +wᵗʰ a mischief towards their owne cuntrey. So that we may well consider +what miserable astate the poore Christen men thereabouts do endure. This +happened the yere of oʳ Lorde 1486. + +Of DERBENTH I shall tell yoʷ one mervailouse matter. Going from the one +gate towardes this place, even till ye come vnder the walles, ye shall +finde grapes and fruictes of all sortes, specially almons. On the other +ꝓte there arr neither fruictes nor any trees, except it be certein wilde +qwynces; and so it endureth x, xv, or xx myle of that side. And further, +being there, I did see in a seller ij ankers of viijᶜl a peece, and more: +which declareth that in tyme past they haue vsed in those p̄ties very +great shippes: whereas, nowe, the greatest ankers thei haue arr betwene +cl and ccl a peece. + +Having hitherto declared that that apꝑteigneth vnto those regions, +partely by heresaye, but most by that I haue seene; nowe, retoʳneng to +Thauris, I shall showe what I did wᵗʰ the King Assambei, whan, at his +departing from Thauris, he bruted that he wolde go against Ottomanno, +though by divers tokens that I ꝑceaued, I beliued it not. He had in all +as ferrefooʳthe[134] as I coulde esteeme betwene xx and xxiiijᵐˡ good +horsemen: and the rest that came for the furnyture of the campe were +about vjᵐˡ men. As for women, children, and serūnts, I shall neede to +saie no more, bicause I haue sufficiently spoken of them before. Whan we +had travailed vij daies we torned on the right hande towards GIORGIANA, +in the confynes of the sea Maggiore, into the wᶜʰ cuntrey we entred. +For the king mynded to spooyle it, and therefore sent his skowtes afore +aftre their maner: being about vᵐˡ horses: which cleered the waie, the +best they coulde, by felling and burneng the woodes; for their passaige +laye through mightie mountaignes and very great woodes. So that we might +see the fyre aferre of, and thereby knowe what waie to keepe. And thus +was the waie readie made twoo daies ioʳney into Giorgiana, wheare we +arryved at Tifilis, the which being habandoned (as the rest of all the +hither parte of that region was) we tooke wᵗhout resistance. And passing +from thens we came to Gory and to certein other places thereabouts; +which were all putt to sacke, as the like was doon to a great parte +of that region. At leingth, the King Assambei fell to composic̃on wᵗʰ +the King PANCRATIO, King of Giorgiana, and wᵗʰ Giurgura, who confyneth +wᵗʰ the same king that they shulde give him xvjᵐˡ ducates, and that he +shulde leave all the cuntrey to them except Tefilis. Wherevpon the King +PANCRATIO and GIURGURA, myndeng to paie this mooney, sent vnto Assambei +iiij balasses, reasonable good, but neither so great nor so faire as +those that arr wonte to be shewed on Saint Markes aulter in Venice. So +that whan the King Assambei had receaued these iiij balasses, he sent +for me to praise and to valewe them. But first, er I came at him, those +ambassadoʳˢ of the said King Pancratio and of Giurgura (that had brought +the balasses) sent to me, praieng me to valewe them well, considering +they also were Christen men. Whan I was come to the king, he caused +these balasses to be delivered unto me, and as I looked substancially +on one of them, the King ASSAMBEI demaunded of me what it was woʳthe: +wherevnto, answering that I thought him woʳthe iiijᵐˡ ducates, he fell +on a lawghing, saieng, O they arr very deere in thy cuntrey. I woll no +balasses, but I woll haue mooney. As the voice went there were at that +tyme caried awaie out of those cuntreys betwene iiij and vᵐˡ p̄sons: +and the places which we overranne were on the lyfte hande towardes the +region of Giurgura. Cotathis,[135] belonging to the King Pancratio, is +a litle towne standing on a litle hyll, wᵗʰ a ryver vnder it:[136] over +the which they passe a verie great bridge of stone, and so go towardes +Schender, a meetely stronge castell, wᵗʰ a great ryver rennyng throwgh +it, and is iiij ioʳneys from Gory. Than, passeng one other mountaigne, +yoʷ descende into the cuntrey of Assambei, in great Armenye. From whense, +iij daies ioʳney, ye come to the castel Loreo, and iiij daies ioʳney +thens shall ye fynde the mountaigne wheare Noe, aftre the great flowdde, +rested wᵗʰ his arke, being a mervailouse high hyll wᵗʰ a great plaine +vndernethe it, and is about ij daies ioʳney of circuite: on the which, +both wynter and somer, the snowe contynually remaigneth. And joyneng vnto +it there is an other litell hyll, likewise laden wᵗʰ snowe. Two ioʳneys +further is a castell called Cagri, enhabited rounde about by Armeniens, +which celebrate aftre the Catholike maner, and haue twoo monasteries, the +p̄ncipall whereof is called Alengia, conteyneng lᵗⁱᵉ monkes, observants +of Saint Benetts Ordre, that celebrate their masses aftre oʳ maner in +their owne languaige. Their Prioʳ, aftre my retoʳne to Venice, died, and +one of that house came thither, who arryved at San Giovanni Paolo, in +Venice, and came to my house to haue my com̄endac̃on towardes oʳ most +excellent Signoria, and the Busshop of Rome, that he might be made Prior +of that house, being brother to the deade Prior. + +[Sidenote: Mamalukes were the Soldane of Egiptes men of armes.] + +Whan the King ASSAMBEI had concluded wᵗʰ the King PANCRATIO and the +forenamed GIURGURA, and receaved the xvjᵐ ducates, he determyned to +retoʳne vnto Thauris: wherefore, seing he ment nothing lesse than to +make warre on OTTOMANNO, I tooke my leave of hym, entending to retoʳne +homewards throwgh Tartarie, and entred into the company of an ambassadoʳ +of the foresaid King Assambei, accompanied wᵗʰ many merchaunts of +Tartarie. Of whom I learned that, as I haue writen in the beginneng, +HAGMETH, sonne of Edelmugh, nephiewe to Thempoʳ of Tartarie, was aftre +his fathers death growen great about the foresaid Emperoʳ, which Hagmeth +was by his owne father given me as my sonne, wherefore I was the more +desyrouse to keepe on that waie, assuring myself to haue founde much +curtesye at his hands. But the warres were so great in those p̄ties, that +I durst not folowe my ioʳney; and, being constrained to alter my purpose, +retoʳned therefore to Thauris in the yere of oʳ Lorde 1478; wheare, at +myne arryvall, I founde the King Assambei so sycke, that the night of the +Epiphanie folowing he died, leaving iiij sonnes, iij by one mother and +one by an other. The same night the iij whole bretherne strangled the +iiijᵗʰ halfe brother, being a yonge man of xx yeres, and than departed +thastate amongest them. Than did the seconde brother cause theldest to +be slayne; and so remayned he king, in such sorte that he raigneth even +to this present; wherfore, seeing all things brooyleng, I that by the +fathers lief had taken good leave, both of the father and the sonnes, +fell into the company of an Armenien that went to Assengan,[137] wheare +he dwelled. And I had wᵗʰ me a boye of Sclavonie, which was onely lefte +me of all those that I brought into that cuntrey wᵗʰ me. I apparailed +myself wᵗʰ such poore and miserable clothes as I had, and rode both +continually and speedylie for feare of those alterac̃ons, which aftre +the death of such princes most com̄only do happen. The xxixᵗʰ of Aprile +I came to Assengan, wheare I taried a mooneth, waiteng for the Carovana +that shulde go to Aleppo. Departeng from hense we founde CYMIS,[138] +CASSEG, and ARAPCHIR,[139] which be litell townes. Than came we to a good +citie of merchaundise called MALATHEA, vnder the Soldans domynion; from +Assengan to this towne arr many mountaignes and valleys, yll and stonie +waie; though, in dede, there be certein houses by the waie and places +not much enhabited. Being in this citie, at the custome house, amongest +those of the CAROUANA, wᵗʰ whom I had accompanied myself: the customer +there went vp and downe pervsing them that shulde paie. And while I kept +myself a loofe looking whan the Carouana shulde departe, one of the same +Carouana came vnto me, askeng me: What doest thoʷ? The customer woll +haue v ducates of the: bicause it is tolde him thoʷ goest to Coz,[140] +which in oʳ tonge signifieth HIERUSALEM. Wherfor go excuse thyself. +I went to hym, and, fyndeng him sitteng on a sacke, asked him what he +wolde wᵗʰ me. He badde me go paie v ducates, and notwᵗʰstanding that +all they of the CAROUANA witnessed for me (as I had told them before), +that I went to Syo to seeke my sonne, and wolde therewᵗʰ haue excused +me, yet wolde he needes that I shulde paie. Syo is a place much spoken +of in Persia and in all those p̄ties, and is called Seghex,[141] which +signifieth mastike. For there groweth mastike, which in their p̄ties is +very much occupied. This, meane while, one that (as I tooke him) was +some famyliar of the customers, said, O lett him go; but he p̄severed, +saieng, Still thoʷ shalt paie; hangeng his heade towardes the grounde. +Wherevpon, the other chopped him wᵗʰ his fyste vnder the nose: saieng, +The Devill go wᵗʰ the; that the bloudde sprange out. So that the customer +cried, Thou foole, thoʷ wolt ever be a foole, and therevpon ridde me out +of the prease,[142] and badde me farewell. I tooke my horse and went +wᵗʰ the Carouano, and so travaileng founde divers castells, townes, +and faire cuntreys, and being past the ryver of Euphrates arryved in +Aleppo. Of the wᶜʰ I shall neede to write nothing, considering it is a +place well enough knowen over all; howbeit, it is a notable great citie +and very well traded wᵗʰ merchandise. Departing thense our merchaunts +deliuered me a MUCHARIO;[143] that is to saie, a guyde, wᵗʰ whom I and +my serūnt departed to come towardes the sea costes; that is, to witt, to +Baruto.[144] And, being on the sea side forneagainst Tripoli, we founde +a great rowte of MAMMALUCCHI a shooteng, and certein of them ꝑceaving my +guyde, drewe their horses togither to cutt my waie; but I (ꝑceaving they +were disposed to do me displeasʳ) badde my boye go on wᵗʰ the guyde, and +I folowed faire and softelie, till I overtooke them, they having passed +on twoo boweshootes before me. And whan I came neere I rode a litle +besides the waie; wherevpon, one of them called me, howe father herken? +I, wᵗʰ a good countenaunce approched, and asked him what he wolde? He +again asked me whither I went? I tolde him I went wheare as myne evill +fortune ledde me. He asked me what I ment by those words. Mary (qᵈ I), a +xij moonthes past, I solde a trusse of sylkes to a merchaunt man, whom +I haue sought in Aleppo to haue had my mooney, wheare I haue myssed +him. And nowe it is tolde me that he is goon to Baruto, I am faine to +go aftre to seeke my povertie: which answere moved him so to pitie me, +that he badde me, Go on, poore man, a Godds name. I folowed my waie, +and overtooke my guyde: who, as soone as he sawe me, beganne to laughe, +saieng, Hay, hay, hay, meaneng that I had handled the matter well to +escape out of the Mamalukes hands. For he coulde speake no Turkishe, nor +I no Moresco. On this wise, I came to Baruti, wheare a fewe daies aftre +arryved a shippe of Candia: on the which, at her retoʳne, I passed into +Cyprus; and from thense, by the helpe of Almightie God, came to Venice. +And, seing I haue tolde the things belonging to the waies, me thinketh +it reasonable to tell also the things app̄teyneng some vnto their +superstitions, some to their dissemblings of religion, and some vnto +the yll entreatie that the Christians haue in those p̄ties that I haue +travailed. + +Comeng towardes SAMACHI, I laie in a litle hospital, wheare was a +sepulture vnder an arche of stone, by the which was a man of yeres, wᵗʰ +a longe bearde and heares, naked all, saving that a litle before and +behinde he was covered wᵗʰ a certein skynne; and he sate on a peece +of a matt vpon the grounde. I greeted him and asked what he did? He +answered me, that he watched his father. I asked him againe, who was his +father? Wherevnto, he answered that he is a father that doth good to his +neighboʳ, as this man did that lieth there buried. Addeng, further, +that he had kept him company xxx yeres, by his lief tyme, and was so +determyned also to do aftre his death. And whan I die (said he), here +woll I also be buried. Furthermore, he saied, I haue seene enough of the +worlde, and nowe am determyned thus to remaigne till my death. + +[Sidenote: Drauis are madde men esteemed to haue hollie spirites.] + +An other tyme, being in Thauris on Alsowles daie, which in like maner +was than celebrated wᵗʰ them, not that it is their ordinarie daye; but +that so it happened then: being in the place of buriall and standing +somewhat of, I did see one sytt neere vnto a sepulture wᵗʰ many byrdes +about hym, specially crowes and chowghes: and believing that it was +a dead corps, I asked them that were by what it might be? Wherevnto, +they answered, it was a living saint, the like whereof was not in all +that cuntrey; saieng further vnto me, See yoʷ those byrdes, every daye +they feede there: and whan he calleth one of them, he cometh streight, +for he is a saint: praieng me to go neere and see it. We drewe neere, +wᵗhin lesse than a stones cast: and there might see that he had certein +disshes of meate and other foode, so that these birdes wolde flee even +to the face of him to be fedde; but he putt them of wᵗʰ his hands, and +some tymes wolde give some of them a litell meate. Of whom they tolde me +many myracles aftre their opinions, which, nevertheles, to men of good +iudgement may appeare expresse madnesse. An other tyme I did see one of +these Drauis that folowed the king and fedde in the Coʳte, whilest the +King Assambei was in the great Armenia, nowe called Turcomania, who, +as the king was removing to come into Persia, to go vnto the citie of +Here against Giansa, then King of Persia and Zagatai, threwe a staffe +that he had in his hande amongest the disshes wheare they were eating, +and vseng a fewe woordes, brake them all. And this foole was counted a +good foole. The king asked what he had saied, and it was answered by +them that vnderstoode it, that the king shulde obteigne the victorie; +and discompfite his enemye even as he had broken the disshes. Is it +true, qd the king? Which being confirmed by them that had spoken it, he +com̄aunded him to be well governed till his retoʳne: promiseng to honoʳ +him and to make much of him. The king went fooʳthe, discompfited, and +slewe his enemye, tooke all Persia, even to Here, and reduced all the +cuntrey about vnto his obedience. And aftrewarde, not forgetting his +promise, caused this foole to be brought vnto him and to be honorably +entreated. Eight moonethes aftre this victorie I was present myself, and +did see the maner of his entreatie. This man dayly caused all them to +be fedde that came to his house at a dewe howre: howe many so ever they +were. Causeng them first to sytt in a cercle: which (rekenyng them one +tyme with an other) were never lesse than cc nor aboue vᶜ. And he everie +day had both to lyve and to apparaill himself right well. Whan the king +shulde ride into the champaigne he was put on a mooyle wᵗʰ a cassacke on +his backe and his handes bounde before him vnder his cassacke. For divers +tymes he was wonte to plaie peryllouse madde partes; wherefore there were +many other of these Drauis that went by him a foote. And being one daie +in a pavylion of a Turke, my freende, there came in one of these Drauis, +of whom this Turke asked howe this Drauis did? wheather he raged, spake, +or wolde eate? To the which, he answered, that as he was accustomed, +sometyme he madded aftre[145] the moone, and sometime he wolde not eate +in twoo or three daies, and wolde so rage, that they were constrayned to +bynde him; and that he spake well, but ferre out of purpose, and that +he wolde eate such as was given him. But some tymes he wolde rent his +clothes, wᵗʰ other like ꝓtes. And of this felowe, learned I the storie +of his throwing the staffe amongest the disshes, who, in dede, tolde it +me smylengly. The Turke, my frende, asked him, howe they did for mooney? +mainteyneng so great a chardge; wherevnto, he answered that there was a +certein _sum_ assigned vnto them, and if they needed more, more they had. +So that it is to be concluded madde men arr in good cace amongest them, +and that wᵗʰ litle laboʳ and lesse good woʳkes the meyney may attaigne to +be taken for saintes. + +But retoʳneng to the com̄emoration of the deade, I saie that whan +they celebrate that com̄emoration there assemble about the sepultures +a great nombre of men and women, oldemen and children, which sytt in +plumpes,[146] wᵗʰ their priestes, and candells burneng in their handes. +The priests either pray or reade in their language. And having finisshed +their reading and praieng, they cause their meate to be brought, even +to the very place. So that the streates arr full of folks, going and +comyng to and fro that place of buriall. This place is iiij or v myles +in circuite. And alongest the waie thither the poore folke lye, asking +almes: some of them offering to saie praieres for their benefactoʳˢ. +Their sepultures haue certein stones pitched vpright: wᵗʰ l’res declaring +the name of the bodie buried; and some haue a litell chappell walled over +them. This suffiseth tooʷcheng their superstition. Wherfore, tooʷcheng +their dissembling in religion, I shall recite one vnto yoʷ, wissheng to +God that amongest vs Christen men, either there were no such dissembling +or that it were punisshed as this was that I shall tell yoʷ. The first +whereof me seemeth were very good, and the seconde not amysse. + +There was a Macomettane saint aftre their maner, who went naked as a +beast, preaching and speaking so much of their faith, that he had gotten +right good creadite. And having a great recourse of ydeote people that +folowed him, he could not be so satisfied, but wolde needes go close +himself in a wall, pretending to fast xl daies wᵗhout meate; not doubting +but to passe it over in healthe wᵗhout any detryment to his bodie. And +being determyned to prove this mastrie,[147] he caused bricke to be +brought into a forest. Of the which, wᵗʰ morter and such lyme as they vse +in those ꝑties, he made a litle rounde house, into the which he mured +himself. And being founde at the xl daies ende alyve and sownde, the +people woondred at hym. But one more wylie than the other smelte in that +place a certein savoʳ of flesshe, and, causing it to be digged, founde +the frawde. This came to the kings eares, who caused the CADILASHCAR[148] +to be apprehended, and a certein disciple of his also, who, wᵗʰ small +torment, confessed that he had broken an hole into the wall: throʷgh +the which he putt in a litle cane, and so conveighed brothe and other +substanciall things into hym by night; wherefore they both suffred death. + +And, as tooʷcheng the yll handling of the Christians that I haue seene +there, I shall recite that I learned in the yere 1487, in the mooneth +of Decembre, of one PIETRO DI GUASCO, a Genowaie, borne in Capha, who, +whilest I was in Persia, came thither, and was there wᵗʰ me about iij +moonethes. He being enqⁱred of for newes of those parties, tolde me, that +being on a daie in Thauris, an Armenien called Choza[149] Mirech (who was +a riche merchaunt in all wares) stoode in a certein goldsmythes shoppe, +wheare came vnto him a saint aftre their maner called Azi:[150] willeng +him to rynege the faith of Christ, and to make himself a Macomettane: +wherevnto he made curteyse answere, praieng him not to trowble him; but +thother ꝑsevered, still calleng on him importunately to rynege. He againe +shewed him mooney, intending therewᵗʰ to pacifie him; but the saint wolde +no money, persevering still that he wolde haue him rynege. Wherevnto, +Choza Mirech answered that he wolde not rynege, but ꝓsever in the faith +of Jesu Christ, as he had doon hitherto. Wherevpon this rybaulde drewe a +swearde out of an other mannes sheathe by, and strake Choza so on the +heade that he slewe him, and incontinently fledde. There was a sonne +of his in the shoppe of xxx yeres olde, or thereabouts, that beganne +to weepe, and departing out of the shoppe, went towards the coʳte, and +caused the king to be enformed of it: who, seemyng to be mervailousely +offended wᵗhall, com̄aunded the saint shulde be apprehended, sending +abroade streight to seeke him. So that he was founde in a citie ij +daies ioʳney from Thauris, called MEREN, and was broʷght to the kings +presence; who called for a knyfe, and wᵗʰ his owne hand slewe him, +comaunding his bodie to be throwen into the streate, and there to be +lefte, that the dogges might eate him. Askeng wheather this were the +waie to encrease the faith of MACOMETT? But whan the night drewe neere, +divers of the people, those that were most ialouse of their religion, +went vnto one DARUIS CASSUM, who had the custodie of the King ASSAMBEY, +his sepulture, father to the king that now is: being, as who wolde saie, +the Prioʳ of thospitall wᵗʰ vs, a man of accompte and reputac̃on, that +had been Treasorer to the king before, and besought him to give them +leave to take awaie that bodie that the dogges shulde not eate it. He, +thinkeng no further, gave them leave, so that the people tooke him and +buried him: which whan the king vnderstode, being shortely aftre (for +the streate is neere vnto his palaice), he com̄aunded DARUIS CASSAM to +be taken and brought vnto him, to whom he saied: Darrest, thoʷ com̄aunde +contrary to my com̄aundement? Well, lett him dye, wherevpon he was +incontinently slayne. That doon, he saied further, syns the people hath +transgressed my com̄aundemᵗ, the whole towne shall suffer for it, and +be putt to sacke. And so his people beganne to sacke the towne to the +mervailoᵘse feare and disquieting of all men, which endured for iij or +iiij howres, and than com̄aunded he them to staie and to leave sacking. +But for all that he taxed a certein some of golde vpon them of the towne; +and finally sent for the sonne of this CHOZA MIRECH vnto him, whom he +compforted and chearished wᵗʰ verie good and gratiouse woordes; for this +CHOZA MIRECH that was slayne was a notable ryche merchaunt man, and of +verie good fame. Wherfore this suffise now, both tooʷcheng the evill +entreatie of Christen men in those ꝓties, and also to the ending of +this seconde parte, and of the whole woʳke described by me wᵗʰ the best +order I coulde, considering the great varietie of things, of places, and +tymes:[151] to the praise of oʳ Lorde Jesu Christ very God, vnto whom +we Christen men, and spetially borne wᵗhin oʳ most excellent citie of +Venice, arr much more bounde than arr these barbarouse people, which arr +ignoraunt of all good maner and full of evill customes. + + +THE END OF THE VOYAGES OF M. JOSAFA BARBARO TO TANA AND TO PERSIA. + + + + +Letter addressed by the same author to the Rev. Monsignor Piero Barocci, +Bishop of Padua, in which is described the herb Baltracan, used by the +Tatars for food. + + +MY LORD,—Having heard from my brother M. Anzolo, who had the happiness +to stay with your Grace many days in those pleasant mountains of the +Padovano, how much you delight in hearing of the nature of plants, +especially of those which are not generally known, I wished, in order +not to fail in my duty towards your Grace, to write you a description +of one I remember among many others, which I saw in Tartary, during +my stay at Tana. The Tartars have a plant in their country which they +call Baltracan, the want of which would cause them great suffering, and +prevent them from going from place to place, especially across those +great deserts and solitudes, where they find nothing to eat except +this plant, which supports them and gives them vigour. Accordingly, as +soon as its stem has grown up, all the merchants and other people who +wish to go long journeys, start in security, saying, “Let us go, for +the Baltracan has grown.” And should one of their slaves escape when +the Baltracan is grown, they abstain from following him, as they know +that he can find support anywhere. And when they march with the _lordo_ +they carry supplies of it on carts and on the croups of their horses +and even on their shoulders, for their sustenance, nor do they mind the +load, so pleasant is its perfume. When any of it was brought to Tana, +we merchants immediately ate of it. Nor must I omit to mention, that +when in Albania, where I had been sent as Proveditore, after my return +to Venice, as I was riding towards Croatia with five hundred persons, I +saw some of this Baltracan at the roadside, which I began eating; after +which, the whole company wanted to taste it. When they had tasted it, it +came so much into use, that everyone carried bundles of it; those who +were not on horseback carrying it on their shoulders. This they did, not +so much from necessity, as on account of its good flavour and smell, +and the Albanians shouted out Baltracan, Baltracan. I subsequently saw +some of this Baltracan at Terrarsa in the Padovana; and, in order that +your Lordship may know it, when searching for it in those mountains, I +will describe its form in a few words. It has a leaf like that of the +rape, with a stem thicker than one’s finger, which, at seedtime attains +a height of more than a braccio. The leaves spring from the stem at the +distance of a quarter of a braccio from each other. Its seed is like +that of fennel, but larger. It has a pungent but pleasant taste, and +when it is in season, it is broken as far as the soft part. It has a +smell of rather musty oranges, and from its nature requires nothing to +flavour it, so that it can be eaten without salt. I consider that, at the +proper time, it may be sown like other seeds, especially in temperate +places and in good soil. Each stem has a root of its own, and is hollow +in the interior. The bark of the stem is green inclined to yellow. But, +I believe that those who would not know it by any other characteristic, +would know it by taking notice of its seeds. The Tartars and all who are +acquainted with it, boil the leaves in a kettle with water, and when they +have allowed the liquor to cool they drink it as though it were wine, and +say it is very refreshing; and I can affirm that it is so from my own +experience. Recommending myself to your Grace, + + I am your Grace’s servant, + + JOSAFA BARBARO. + +Venice, this 23rd of May, 1491. + + + + +FOOTNOTES + + +[1] Kum tepeh, or sand mound. + +[2] See Haxthausen, vol. ii, cap. xxi, for descriptions of these Tumuli. + +[3] Ordu, camp. + +[4] Treene or Treen, _i.e._, wooden. + +[5] Baron Haxthausen mentions a somewhat similar custom as still existing +among the Russian peasants. + +[6] Tulubagator is Tulu Bahadur; Bahadury means swaggering or boasting. +The Russian word Bogatir is supposed to be derived from Bahadur. + +[7] From the text it seems this should be translated: “whilst we cried to +him, you will never return, you will never return.” + +[8] This perhaps is one of the earliest occasions of gipsies being +mentioned. + +[9] The text is: uccellano a camelioni che da noi non s’usano. + +[10] There are many of these crutches to be seen in the bazars and houses +at Constantinople, but the use and object of them is forgotten. They are +still used in Persia. + +[11] Tessels, or tassels, for tiercels, a term for a hawk; the text is: +& viddi appresso di lui, quattro ouer cinque di quell’ herbe, che noi +chiamiamo garzi: sopra lequali eran’ alcuni cardellini. + +[12] Nowe; _i.e._, enough. + +[13] In Wallachia the villagers go in their carts to a distance from +their village and from any water, and plough and sow the ground, and +return again in the same way to gather in the harvest. + +[14] Zattera is Italian for a platform, raft, or framework for sailors to +stand on in harbour to work at the ship’s sides. + +[15] Hassan Bey Ak-Koyunlu. + +[16] Kabarda. + +[17] Mingrelia. + +[18] Hajy Terkhan or Astrakhan. + +[19] Murteza Khan. + +[20] Furlane; _i.e._, of Forli. + +[21] Buzah, Turkish and Persian, a kind of beer; here it means Kwass. + +[22] Dunny; _i.e._, stupid. + +[23] Ramusio has the preceding clause here—“It may be twenty-five years +ago.” + +[24] _Kazan_ is Turkish for a cauldron. + +[25] Ermines. + +[26] Skins of grey squirrels. + +[27] Nove castelli; _i.e._, new castles. + +[28] Troki, near Wilna. + +[29] Whereas, used here, and at page 38, for wherein. + +[30] Ramusio prints Varsonich. + +[31] Or: a quarter of an ell below their chins. + +[32] Giubbe; _i.e._, jubbeh. + +[33] Endure, abide. + +[34] The text of Ramusio has—E andava intorno alla polita. + +[35] Ramusio has—Tiflis. + +[36] Schioppetti. + +[37] Polvere da trarli. + +[38] Ramusio has—The Pope. + +[39] _Ibid._ has—named Cassambeg. + +[40] _Ibid._—named Pirameto. + +[41] _Ibid._—which, according to the ancients, was Corycus. + +[42] Ramusio has—56. + +[43] _Ibid._ has—of the Supreme Pontiff. + +[44] στρατιωται. + +[45] Ramusio has—which was formerly called Seleucia; now Selefkeh. + +[46] Il Re Zacho. + +[47] Ramusio has here—with a natural son of the said King Ferdinand. + +[48] _Ibid._—Cerines. + +[49] Ramusio has—which, according to the ancients, was Eleusia. + +[50] This inscription is given in Beaufort’s _Karamania_, p. 220. + +[51] Ramusio has—that is to say, Seleutia. + +[52] _Ibid._ has—according to the ancients, called Calycadnus. + +[53] Gryse, a step. + +[54] Ramusio has—quindici, 15. + +[55] Erto; _i.e._, steep. + +[56] Ramusio has—“but formerly it was in Cilicia, and it was taken by the +Turks, when they occupied the rest of Asia Minor, from whom it was taken +by Rubino and Leone, brothers of Armenia, about 1230, and they brought it +back to the kingdom, which they call Armenia; and this Armenia stretches +to the mountain Taurus,” etc., etc. + +[57] _Ibid._ has—named by the ancients Cydnus. + +[58] Scarpello; _i.e._, chisel. + +[59] Ramusio has—1000. + +[60] Ramusio has—named by the ancients Pyramus. + +[61] Slowly and softly. + +[62] Orfa. + +[63] Birajik, on the left bank of the Euphrates. + +[64] Grises; _i.e._, steps. + +[65] To continue in this manner. + +[66] A great part. + +[67] Ramusio has—named Set, formerly named Tigris. + +[68] Sert, thirty leagues east of Diarbekir. + +[69] Kurds. + +[70] Vastan, six leagues south of Van. + +[71] Khoy. + +[72] Ramusio has—Tanfaruzo, corruption of _tafarraj_, rejoicing. + +[73] An ounce. + +[74] Turban. + +[75] A pole on which to carry a _cowl_ or vessel between two persons. + +[76] Ramusio has—which had died on their passage. + +[77] Cameo. + +[78] Jasper. + +[79] Kubbeh, dome. + +[80] Cassock. + +[81] Yezd. + +[82] Cameo. + +[83] But-perest. + +[84] Set or mounted. + +[85] Pitched. + +[86] Broussa. + +[87] Marquetterie work. + +[88] Zubiaur, a district in the Basque country, where there are caps with +large tassels. + +[89] Ramusio has—as much to prevent their being seen, as, etc. + +[90] Probably Besh-keuy, five villages. + +[91] Ramusio has—in the cradles. + +[92] A set of horse-shoes. + +[93] In a herd. + +[94] Lattice. + +[95] Sultaniah and its great mosque are now in ruins. + +[96] Ramusio has—which he refused to show to the king. + +[97] So that his life might be spared. + +[98] These pits are for removing the earth to make the conduit, or +_kanad_. + +[99] Ispahan. + +[100] Rooms. + +[101] Kashan. + +[102] Yezd. + +[103] Astrabad. + +[104] Tchin and Matchin, China. + +[105] Samarcand and the parts beyond. + +[106] Probably Ré, a town formerly existing near Tehran. + +[107] Or Giansa. + +[108] Cambalu. + +[109] The Maidan, or open space. + +[110] Ramusio has here—“While I was still in that country there came an +Armenian to procure some of the water, who had been sent by the King +of Cyprus long before I began my journey to those parts, and returning +while I was in the country with some of the water in a tin flask, came to +Tauris two months after I had arrived there. He staid with me two days, +and then started on his way to Cyprus, where, on my return, I saw the +same flask of water hanging up on a pole placed outside a kind of tower, +and was told by the people of the place that, by virtue of that water, +they had not been troubled with grasshoppers. I also saw there certain +black and red birds, called birds of Mahomet, which fly in flocks like +starlings; and, from what I heard, destroy all the grasshoppers they meet +with. It is asserted by the country people that, wherever these birds +know there is water of that particular kind, they fly towards it.” + +[111] Or Kinara. + +[112] Chehl minar. + +[113] Robust. + +[114] Or Vargan. + +[115] Or Deister. + +[116] Afshar. + +[117] Ramusio has, from Choi to Rhei, three journeys from Rhei to Sarri. + +[118] Or Sindan. + +[119] Astrabad. + +[120] Are not much valued. + +[121] Kharput. + +[122] For an account of this lady, see Travels of Caterino Zeno. + +[123] Ramusio has—and Caloieri, or Monks. + +[124] Apulia. + +[125] Akhlat. + +[126] Arjish. + +[127] Tamerlan. + +[128] Tessuj. + +[129] Shebister. + +[130] Shamakhy. + +[131] Shirvan Shah. + +[132] Since. + +[133] Ramusio has—Elochzi. + +[134] As far as. + +[135] Koutais. + +[136] Ramusio has—called Fasso, formerly Phasis. + +[137] Arsengan or Erzingan. + +[138] Kumis. + +[139] Arabghir. + +[140] Kudus. + +[141] Sakis. + +[142] Press or crowd. + +[143] Mukary, a muleteer. + +[144] Beyrout. + +[145] According to. + +[146] Crowds, clumps. + +[147] Masterly operation. + +[148] Kady Leshker, judge of the troops. + +[149] Khoja. + +[150] Hajy. + +[151] Ramusio has here—I finished the writing on the 21st December, 1487. + + + + +THE TRAVELS + +OF THE + +MAGNIFICENT M. AMBROSIO CONTARINI, + +AMBASSADOR OF THE ILLUSTRIOUS SIGNORY OF VENICE TO THE GREAT LORD +USSUNCASSAN, KING OF PERSIA, IN THE YEAR 1473. + + + + +THE TRAVELS OF THE MAGNIFICENT M. AMBROSIO CONTARINI. + + +I, Ambrosio Contarini, the son of Messer Benedetto, having been chosen +ambassador to the Illustrious Lord Ussuncassan, King of Persia, by +our Illustrious Signory in the Council of Pregadi,—notwithstanding +that such a mission appeared to me arduous on account of the long and +perilous journey,—I resolved, in deference to the earnest wishes of our +Illustrious Signory, and for the universal good of Christianity, and the +honour that would accrue to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and His +Glorious Mother, to put aside all fear of peril and go cheerfully and +willingly for the service of our Signory and Christianity; and deeming +that an account of a journey of such importance and length might be +interesting and useful to our descendants, I intend, with as much brevity +as possible, to relate what occurred to me from my departure from Venice, +on the 23rd of February, 1473 (the first day of Lent), until my return, +on the 10th of April, 1477, and describe the towns, and provinces through +which I passed, as well as the manners and customs of their inhabitants. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + The Serene Ambassador leaves Venice, and, passing through + Germany, Poland, Lower Russia, and the great desert of Tartary + in Europe, arrives at the city of Cafà. + + +I left Venice on the 23rd of February, 1473, accompanied by the venerable +priest Stephano Testa, as my chaplain and secretary; Dimitri da Setinis, +as my interpreter: and Mapheo da Bergamo and Zuanne Ungaretto, as my +servants. We were, all five, dressed in thick clothes, in the German +fashion. The money with which I was provided was sewn up partly in the +skirts of the priest Stephano, and partly in my own, and did not fail +to cause us some trouble. With these four I embarked for San Michiel da +Murano, where, after hearing Mass, the Prior, at my request, signed us +all with the wood of the Cross, immediately after which we left, with his +blessing, for Mestre. Here five horses were provided for us, on which, by +God’s help, we reached Treviso, as, notwithstanding all my endeavours, I +had been unable to procure a guide for any amount of money. + +On the 24th I set out for Conegliano, where, considering it my duty, on +so long and perilous a journey to confess and take the sacrament, I did +so, with great devotion, together with my retinue. + +On the 26th, having left Coneglian in the morning, I met a certain +Sebastiano Todesco, who said he was going our way. As he appeared to +know me and where I was going, and offered to accompany us as far as +Nuremberg, I certainly looked upon him as one sent by God. We all six set +out together, and, travelling every day, entered Germany, where I found +many beautiful castles and towns belonging to various lords and bishops, +who are all, however, under the allegiance of the Most Serene Emperor. +Among other places I saw Augsburg, a very beautiful city. And after we +had visited Bercemsiurch, a walled city belonging to the Emperor, and +had gone about five miles beyond, Sebastian left us after a cordial +embrace, and took the road to Frankfort. + +On the 10th of March, 1474 (?), I arrived with a guide at Nuremberg, a +most beautiful city, with a castle, and a river running through it. As +I was looking for a guide, with whom to continue my journey, my host +comforted me by suggesting that I should accompany two ambassadors of His +Majesty the King of Poland, who, he informed me, were then in that city. +This news gave me great satisfaction, and I immediately sent the priest +Stefano to make known to them who I was, and to say that I should be +glad to speak with them. When they had heard my message, they sent word +back, that I might accompany them if I felt so disposed. I went then, and +found that they were persons of high rank. One was an Archbishop; the +other Messer Paul, a knight. After salutations were exchanged, I showed +them that I was the bearer of credentials for their sovereign; and, +notwithstanding my dress, they treated me with much honour, and received +me willingly into their company, with liberal offers of assistance. I +waited for them in Nuremberg until the 14th of March. + +March 14th. On this day we started from Nuremberg in company with the +abovementioned ambassadors. There was also an ambassador of the King of +Bohemia, the eldest son of the King of Poland; and there might have been +sixty horsemen. Riding through Germany, we lodged sometimes in very good +towns, but generally in cities and fortresses, of which there are many +both handsome and strong and worthy of being remembered. But as Germany +is pretty well known, either by sight or report, I shall refrain from +mentioning her cities and castles. From the above-named day, until the +25th, we continued travelling in Germany, in the country of the Marquis +of Brandenburg, Duke of Saxony. Again entering the territory of the +Marquis of Brandenburg we reached a fine walled city called Frankfort, +where we remained till the 29th. As this city is on the confines of +Germany and Poland, the Marquis sent a number of armed men, in excellent +order, to escort the ambassadors until they arrived in their own country. + +On the 31st, we entered Messariga,[152] the first town belonging to the +King of Poland. It is small, but handsome, and has a small castle. + +On the 2nd of April, 1474, we arrived at Posnama[153] without having +passed any place of importance. Posnama deserves notice on account of the +beauty of its streets and houses; it is also much frequented by merchants. + +On the 3rd, we left Posnama, with the idea of finding the king. In +travelling through Poland we found neither cities nor castles worth +mentioning; and with regard both to lodgings and other things the country +is very different to Germany. + +On the 9th, which was Holy Saturday, we entered a city named Lancisia, +where the King of Poland was then residing. His Majesty sent two +gentlemen (knights) to receive me, and I was accommodated with very good +lodgings, considering the place. The next day being Easter Sunday, I did +not think it would be proper to visit His Majesty. + +On the 11th, in the morning, I received from His Majesty a coat of black +damask, and a request to attend his presence. And as such was the Polish +custom, I donned the garment, and went accompanied by many men of rank. +Having made the requisite salutations, I delivered the presents which +were sent to him by our Illustrious Signory, and told him my business. I +was then invited to dine with his Majesty. Dinner is conducted in nearly +the same manner as with us, and everything was exceedingly well prepared +and in abundance. When dinner was over I took leave of His Majesty, and +returned to my lodgings. + +On the 13th, the king sent for me again, and replied to what I had said +on the part of our Illustrious Signory, in such kind and courteous terms +as to confirm what is said among us, that there has not been a more just +king than he, for many years. He ordered that I should be provided with +two guides, one for Poland and the other for Lower Russia, as far as +a place called Chio or Magraman, situated, beyond his territories, in +Russia. Having returned thanks in the name of our Illustrious Signory, I +took leave of His Majesty. + +On the 14th, I left Lancisia with the above-mentioned guides, and +travelled through Poland, which is a flat country, but with forests. +Every day and night we found lodgings, which were sometimes good and +sometimes otherwise. Poland has the appearance of being a poor country. + +On the 19th, I arrived at a pretty good city called Lumberli, where +there is a castle in which reside four of the king’s sons (the eldest of +whom may have been about fifteen years of age), with a most excellent +preceptor, from whom they receive instruction. They requested me (I +believe by command of their father) to visit them, which I did. The words +addressed to me by one of them were very appropriate, and showed great +esteem for the master. After making a suitable reply, and thanking their +Royal Highnesses, I took my leave. + +On the 20th, we left Poland, and entered Lower Russia, which also belongs +to the said king. Journeying till the 25th, almost all the way through +forests, and lodging sometimes at a small castle and sometimes in a +village, we arrived at a city called Iusch, where there is a good castle, +though built of timber. Here we staied till the 24th (?), not without +peril, on account of the celebration of a couple of weddings: nearly all +the population being drunk, and, on that account, very dangerous. They +have no wine, but make a kind of beverage with apples, which is more +intoxicating. + +April 25th. We left here and arrived, in the evening, at a town with a +castle called Aitomir, built entirely of timber. Leaving this place, +we travelled on the whole of the 29th through forests, which were very +dangerous, from being infested with discontented men of all conditions. +Not having found a lodging at night, we were obliged to sleep in this +forest without anything to eat, and I had to mount guard all night. + +On the 30th, we came to Beligraoch, a white castle, used as a dwelling by +the king, where we lodged in great discomfort. + +On the 1st of May, 1474, we arrived at a city called Chio or Magraman, +beyond the confines of the above-mentioned Russia. It is governed by a +Catholic Pole, named Pammartin, who, when he had heard of my arrival from +the king’s guides, provided me with very bad quarters, for the country, +and sent me provisions, which were very acceptable. This city is on the +confines of Tartary, and is frequented by merchants who bring furs from +High Russia, and pass in caravans to Capha, but are often captured by +the Tartars. The country abounds in bread and meat. It is the custom of +the people to work from morning to tierce, and then to spend the rest of +their time till night in caves, frequently quarrelling like drunkards. + +May 2nd. Pammartin sent many of his gentlemen to invite me to dine with +him. After the proper salutations had been exchanged, he made me great +offers, and informed me that he had been commanded by his sovereign, +to treat me with honour, protect me from every danger, and give me the +means of passing through Tartary as far as Capha. I thanked him, and +begged him to do so; when he said that he was expecting an ambassador +from Lithuania, with presents for the Emperor of the Tartars, and that +the emperor was going to send two hundred Tartar horsemen as an escort. +He recommended me, therefore, to wait for this ambassador, in whose +company I might pass in safety, which I resolved to do. We sat down to +dinner, which was exceedingly well prepared and abundant, and I received +most honourable attention. There were present a bishop, brother to the +governor, and many gentlemen; and there were also several singers, who +sang during the repast. I was made to remain at table a very long time, +to my great annoyance, as I required rest more than anything else. When +dinner was over, I took leave of his lordship, and went to my lodgings, +which were in the town, the governor remaining in his quarters at the +castle, which was constructed of wood. There is a river, called Danambre +in their language, and Leresse in ours, which passes by the town and +flows into the Mar Maggiore. We waited here ten days for the arrival of +the Lithuanian ambassador. On the morning we were about to depart, the +governor wished that we should hear Mass, although I had previously told +him that I had done so. When Mass was over we embraced each other, and +Pammartin made me shake hands with the ambassador, whom he requested, +with much warmth, to consider me as the person of his own king, and +conduct me in safety to Capha. The ambassador replied that the command of +His Majesty the King should be observed, and that I should be treated in +the same manner as if I were the king himself. And with this I took leave +of the governor, thanking him to the best of my ability, as he deserved, +for the great honour he had done me. During the time I staid here I often +received provisions. I presented the governor with a German saddle-horse, +which was one of those I had brought from Mestre; and, as the others were +entire horses, he wished me to leave them there, and take horses of the +country. The king’s guides were the best of company, and I treated them +with courtesy. + +On the 11th, we left here with the ambassador. I was on a carriage, +which I had used since I left the king, on account of a bad leg, which +prevented me from riding on horseback. We journeyed until the 9th (?), +when we arrived at a village called Cercas, which also belonged to the +said king. Here we remained till the 15th, when the ambassador heard +that the Tartars had arrived; we then left Cercas in their company, and +entered upon a desert country. + +On the 15th, we reached the above-mentioned river, which we had to cross. +This river separates Tartary from Russia towards Capha, and, as it was +more than a mile in breadth and very deep, the Tartars began to cut +timbers, which they tied together, and covered with branches to form a +raft, and our things being placed on it the Tartars entered the river +holding on to their horses’ necks, while our raft was attached to their +tails by cords. Thus mounted, the horses were driven across the river, +which we passed by the help of God. How great our peril was, I leave my +readers to consider,—in my opinion it could not have been greater. When +we had landed on the opposite bank, every one put his things in order, +and we remained the whole day with the Tartars. Some of the Tartar chiefs +eyed me closely, and I appeared to be the subject of many surmises among +them. We set out from the river and travelled through the desert country, +suffering many discomforts of every kind. And as we were passing through +a wood, the ambassador sent to tell me, by his interpreter, that the +Tartars felt it their duty to conduct me to their emperor. He said that, +as they had heard of the rank I held, I could not be allowed to pass +Capha without being previously presented to their emperor. At this I was +very much annoyed, so I urged my case to the interpreter, begging him +to remember the promise which had been made as much to Pammartin as to +the King of Poland, and I promised to give him a sword. Saying he would +serve me, and bidding me take comfort, he returned to the ambassador, and +repeated what I had said. He then sat down to drink with the Tartars, +whom he assured with many words that I was a Genoese, and the affair was +arranged by means of fifteen ducats: before hearing this, however, I was +in great anxiety. In the morning we rode on and travelled till the 24th, +with much hardship, having passed a day and a night without water, came +to a pass where the ambassadors and the Tartars had to take the road to +a castle called Chercher, where the Tartar emperor was staying. A Tartar +was here appointed to accompany me to Caphà, and I took leave of the +ambassador. Although we were alone and in constant fear lest the Tartars +should send after us, I was well pleased to be free from those confounded +dogs who smelt of horse-flesh to such a degree that there was no standing +near them. Travelling with my guide, we lodged, in the evening, in the +open air among some Tartar carts with their skin covering. Many of the +Tartars immediately surrounded us, and wished to know who we were: on +hearing from our guide that I was a Genoese, they presented me with sour +milk. + +On the morning of the 26th, we left here before daybreak, and, about +the hour of Vespers, entered the town of Caphà, thanking our Lord God, +who had taken pity on our trouble. Having gone secretly to a church, I +sent the interpreter to our consul, who immediately sent his brother to +tell me to stay till the evening and then to come secretly to one of his +houses in the town, which I did. At the appointed time we came to the +consul’s house, where we were well received, and where I met Ser Polo +Ogniben, who had been sent by our Illustrious Signory three months before +me. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + His Excellency the Ambassador leaves Caphà, and after crossing + the Mar Maggiore, reaches Fasso; then passing Mengrelia, + Giorgiana, and part of Armenia, arrives at the country of + Ussuncassan. + + +I cannot give many particulars concerning the town of Caphà, as I +remained indoors nearly all the time I was there, that I might not +be seen; but I will mention what little I saw and heard. The town is +situated on the Mar Maggiore; it is very mercantile, with a numerous +population composed of natives of every nation, and has the reputation of +being very wealthy. While there, as it was my intention to go to Fasso, +I hired a ship lying in the Sea of Zabacche, of which was master Antonio +di Valdata, and I had to ride on horseback to this ship to complete the +engagement. When I had concluded the business, a proposal was made to +me by an Armenian named Morach, who had been to Rome and who acted as +ambassador to Ussuncassan, and another old Armenian, to the effect that, +instead of going, as was my intention, to Fasso, I should go to another +place named Tina, about a hundred miles from Trebizond, and belonging +to the Turk, and that, as soon as we had landed, we should take horses, +and I was promised that, in four hours, I should be taken to the castle +of a certain Ariam, who was a subject of Ussuncassan, giving me also to +understand that at Tina there was only a castle belonging to Greeks, in +which I should certainly be placed in safety. This project did not please +me in any way; but I was so persuaded by the consul and his brother, that +I consented to it, although against my will. + +On the 3rd of June, 1474, we left Caphà, accompanied by the consul, and, +the next day arrived at the place where the ship I had hired was lying. I +had engaged to pay seventy ducats for our passage; but, as we had altered +our course I was obliged to pay a hundred. And, as I was informed that +there were no horses at the place at which we intended landing, I took +nine on board for the use of the guides, and also to enable us to carry +provisions through Mengrelia and Giorgiania. + +On the 15th, the horses being embarked, we set sail and entered the Mar +Maggiore; and, then bending our course towards the said Tina, sailed +with a favourable wind. Having sailed about twenty miles, however, +without seeing that place, the wind veered to the east, contrary to us +while we kept on the same course. Having noticed that the sailors were +talking together, and wishing to know the subject of their conversation, +I was told that they were willing to do whatever I wished, but was +assured that Tina was a very dangerous place. Hearing this, and seeing +that it appeared as though our Lord God did not wish me to come to +harm, I determined to make for Leati and Fasso; and having come to this +determination, the weather became favourable shortly afterwards, and we +sailed with good winds. + +On the 29th, we reached Varti, and as the horses were out of condition, +I had them put on shore and sent to Fasso,[154] a distance, I was told, +of sixty miles. At this place a certain Bernardino, the brother of our +captain, came on board, who, hearing that we had intended to go to Tina, +said that, if we had done so, we should all have been taken as slaves, +as he knew for certain that that place was frequented by a _Sobassi_ +with many horsemen, who acted according to their usual custom. Returning +thanks to God, we left this place. Varti, in Mengrelia, consists of a +castle surrounded by a town of small extent, and belongs to a lord named +Gorbola. There is another town on the Mar Maggiore, of little importance, +called Caltichea, trading in silks, canvass, and wax, of little value, +and the people of every condition are very miserable. + +On the 1st of July, 1474, we arrived at the mouth of the Fasso, and a +boat came alongside filled with Mengrelians, who behaved like madmen. +Leaving the ship, we went, in this boat, to the mouth of the river, where +there is an island over which, it is said, reigned King Areta, the father +of the poisoner Medea. We slept there that night and were annoyed by so +many gnats that we could scarcely guard against them. + +On the morning of the 2nd, we went up the river in the boats of the +country to a city called Asso, situated on the river and surrounded by +woods. The river is as wide as two shots of a crossbow. When we had +landed at the city I found a certain Nicolò Capello da Modone, who had +settled there and become a Mahometan; a Circassian woman, named Marta, +who was the slave of a Genoese; and a Genoese, who was also settled and +married there. I lodged with the woman Marta, who certainly treated me +well, and staid till the 4th. Fasso belongs to the Mengrelians, whose +chief is named Bendian. He has not much territory, as it may be traversed +in three days, and consists principally of woods and mountains. The men +are brutal, and shave their heads after the fashion of minor friars. +There are stone quarries in the country, and a little corn and wine is +also produced, but of no great value. The men live miserably on millet +made hard like polenta, and the women fare more miserably still; and were +it not for a little wine and salt fish imported from Trebisond, and salt +from Capha, they would be very badly off. They produce canvas and wax, +but in small quantities. If they were industrious they might procure +as much fish as they required from the river. They are Christians, and +worship according to the rites of the Greek Church, but they have many +heresies. + +On the 4th, we left Fasso with the above-mentioned Nicolò Capello as +guide, and crossed a river named Mazo in a boat. + +On the 5th, after passing through woods and over mountains, we arrived +in the evening at the place where Bendian, the Lord of Mengrelia, was +staying. This prince, with his court, was seated in a small plain under +a tree. I made known to him by the said Nicolò that I wished to speak to +His Highness, and he had me sent for. He was seated on a carpet with his +wife and some of his sons by his side, and he made me sit before him. +When I had spoken to him and made him presents, he merely said that I was +welcome. I asked him for a guide, which he promised to let me have, on +which I returned to my quarters. He sent me, as a present, a pig’s head, +a little beef badly cooked, and some bad bread, which we were compelled +to eat from necessity, and I waited for the guide the whole day. In this +plain there were a great many trees like box trees, but much larger, and +all of an equal height, with a path in the middle of them. Bendian was +about fifty years of age, rather handsome, but his manners were those of +a madman. + +On the 7th we left, and travelled continually through woods and over +mountains, and on the 8th crossed a river which divides Mengrelia from +Giorgiania, and slept in a meadow on the fresh grass, without much +provision. + +On the 9th, we came to a small town called Cotochis,[155] where, on a +hill, there is a castle built entirely of stone, containing a church +which has the appearance of being very ancient. We afterwards crossed +a very large river by a bridge, and lodged in a meadow in which were +the houses of Pangrati, King of Giorgiania, the castle above mentioned +belonging to him. We were allowed by the governor to lodge in these +houses, and remained there the whole of the 11th, much annoyed by the +Georgiani (?), who are as mad as the Mengrelians. The governor wished me +to dine with him. When I went to his house he sat down on the ground, and +I sat beside him with some of his people and some of mine. A skin was +spread before us for a table-cloth, on which there was a layer of grease, +that I firmly believe would have sufficed to cook a large cauldron full +of cabbages. Bread, turnips, and a little meat, prepared in their manner, +were placed before me, as well as several other unsavoury things, which I +certainly cannot recal. The cup went round, and they did all they could +to make me as drunk as they were themselves, and as I would not drink, +they held me in much contempt, and I left them with great difficulty. The +governor provided me with a guide to accompany me to the place where the +king was. + +On the 12th, I left here and travelled over mountains and through woods, +and in the evening was made to dismount, by the guide, on a meadow near +a castle, situated on a mountain, in which resided King Pangrati. Here +the guide went away, saying that he was going to inform the king, and +that he would return immediately with another guide who would accompany +me all over the country, and we were left in the middle of the wood in +considerable fear, and we waited the whole night suffering much from +hunger and thirst. Early the next morning he returned, accompanied by two +of the king’s clerks, who said that the king had gone to Cotachis, and +had sent them to look after the things which I had, to put them down in +a letter, in order that I might be able to pass through the whole of the +country without paying anything. They wanted to see everything, and to +take a note even of the clothes I had on my back, which I thought very +strange. When they had made their notes, they told me to get on horseback +alone, and wanted me to go to the king. But, as I tried by all means to +make them leave me, they began to abuse me, and after much trouble I was +allowed to take my interpreter. I mounted without having had anything to +eat or to drink, and rode with them to the said castle of Cotachis, where +the king was staying. Here I was made by the king to wait all night +under a tree, and he only sent me a small quantity of bread and fish. My +attendants remained in the custody of others, and were taken to a village +and placed in the house of a priest. One may imagine the state of mind +we were in. In the morning the king sent for me. He was in his house, +seated on the ground, together with many of his barons. He asked me many +questions, and among others, whether I knew how many kings there were +in the world. I answered at random, that I thought there were twelve, +on which he said that I was right, and that he was one of them; and, he +added, “And art thou come to my country without bringing me letters from +thy lord?” I replied, that the reason I had not brought him letters, was +that I did not think I should have come to his country; but I assured +him that he was well appreciated by my lord the Pope, who recognised him +among the other kings, and who, if he had thought that I should have +passed through his country, would have had great pleasure in writing to +him. This seemed to please him, and he afterwards asked me many strange +questions, which gave me to understand that that rogue of a guide who +had brought me had informed him that I had many valuables with me. And, +truly, if he had found this to be the case, I should never have been +allowed to leave the place. The clerks, out of the few things belonging +to me, which they had noted down, took whatsoever they pleased, and +insisted that I should give them to the king. On taking leave, I begged +the king to let me have a guide to conduct me safely out of the country; +and he promised to comply with my request, saying that he would also give +me a letter which would enable me to traverse the whole of his dominions +in safety. I then left him, and returned to my tree. I was obliged to +importune the clerk very strongly, in order to get the guide and the +letter, which I obtained at last, after much trouble. + +On the 14th, I left the king and returned to the village, where my +people were staying, who, in consequence of the bad account they had +heard of the king, made certain that I should never return. They could +not have been more delighted if they had seen the Messiah, and knew not +what they did for joy. The poor priest seemed pleased, and prepared me +food. We slept, that night, as well as was possible, and the priest made +some bread to take with us, and gave us a little wine. + +On the 15th, about tierce, we started with the guide, and travelled +through the terrible woods and mountains of that accursed country, +sleeping, at night, on the ground near water and grass, and being obliged +to make fires on account of the cold. + +On the 17th, we came to a place belonging to the same king, called +Gorides,[156] situated in a plain, and having a wooden fort on a hill. A +large river passes by it, and it is a very convenient place. As soon as +the governor of the town had been informed of my arrival by the guide, he +made me enter a house where I expected to have met with a good reception. +After I had waited there a little time, however, he sent to inform me +that the king had written to order that I should pay twenty-six ducats +to him and six to the guide. And when I told him, with astonishment, +that this could not be, as the king had received me well, and that I had +already given him seventy ducats, and said much more which was of no +avail, I was obliged, reluctantly, to give the money. He kept me till the +19th, and then allowed me to depart. I was very much annoyed during my +stay, as the brutes appeared never to have seen men before. Giorgiania +is, however, rather a better country than Mingrelia; but the customs and +way of living of the inhabitants are the same, as are their religion +and mode of celebrating it. We were told, when we had descended a high +mountain, that in a large church, situated in a forest, there was an +ancient image of Our Lady, guarded by forty calviri (or priests), which +was said to perform many miracles. I would not go there, as I had a great +desire to get out of that accursed country, where I certainly underwent +great trouble and escaped many dangers, to describe which would take much +time and only prove tiresome to the reader. + +On the 20th, we left Gorides, and went on, still travelling over +mountains and through forests. Occasionally, we came to a house, where +we obtained refreshments. We rested in places where there was water and +pasture for the horses, and our bed was the fresh grass. We journeyed in +this manner all through Mengrelia and Giorgiania. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + His Excellency the Ambassador arrives at Tauris, a royal city + of Persia, where, not meeting Ussuncassan, he presents himself + to his son. Leaving Tauris, he travels many days through + Persia, and arrives at length at the city of Spaan, where he + meets the Shah. + + +On the 22nd, we began to ascend a high mountain, the summit of which +we had nearly reached at night, when we were obliged to rest, without +water. We rode on again early the next morning, and when we had descended +the mountain we were in the country of Ussuncassan; that is to say, we +had entered Armenia. In the evening we arrived at a castle garrisoned +by Turks belonging to Ussuncassan, called Lores, situated in a kind of +plain, below which, however, passes a very deep river. On the other side +there is a mountain, and, in front of the river, an Armenian village, +where we were certainly well received and where we lodged until the +25th, partly for the purpose of resting ourselves, and partly in order +to obtain a guide. The Armenian whom I had brought from Cafà, who said +he was a subject of Ussuncassan, was found to be a great rogue, and I +was told by these Armenians, that I had been very lucky in escaping +from his hands. I therefore kept back a horse, which I had given to him, +and dismissed him, and took, as my guide as far as Tauris, an Armenian +priest, who proved very faithful. + +On the 26th, we five, together with the priest, left Lores and crossed a +mountain, and in the evening came to a plain surrounded by mountains, and +reached a Turkish village, where we were very well received, and we slept +in the open air. + +On the 27th, we started before daybreak to pass another mountain, on +the descent of which, we were told, there was a village of Turks, which +it would be dangerous for us to pass in the day time. We were fortunate +enough to pass it at a time, when, I believe, we were not seen. We then +entered a very fine country and made every effort to increase the length +of our stages, taking little rest except at night, and sleeping in the +open air. We thus travelled through this country until the 28th, when we +reached the mountain of Noah, which is very high and covered with snow, +from the summit to the base, throughout the year. It is said that many +persons have attempted to reach the top. Some have never returned, and +those who have returned, say that it does not appear to them that a way +up will ever be found. Travelling until the 30th through a flat country, +with the exception of a few hills of no importance, we came to a castle +belonging to free Armenian Franks, who call themselves Chiagri, where we +remained till the 31st to take a little rest, as we had provisions of +bread, poultry, and wine. + +On the 1st of August, 1474, we were obliged to take another guide for +Tauris, and we started at vespers. + +On the 2nd, we arrived at another tolerably good Armenian village, +situated on the side of a mountain, where we had to cross a river in a +strange kind of boat used there. It is said that on the banks of this +river, but much more to the east, the Soldan Busech came to give battle +to Ussuncassan, and that while Ussuncassan was on one side and the +Tartar on the other, the Tartars became so weakened by disease produced +by scarcity of provisions that Ussuncassan routed them, and captured the +Soldan Busech, whom he caused to be beheaded. We crossed this river, on +the left bank of which are situated eleven Armenian villages near to each +other, having their bishop and being all subject to the Pope. There is +not a finer nor a more fertile country than this in all Persia. + +On the 3rd, we came to a small town called Marerichi, where we rested for +the night. + +On the 4th, we started early and travelled through the plains; the +weather was excessively hot, and we could not find good water anywhere. + +I must observe that, from the time we left Loreo, while travelling +through the places I have mentioned, we met a great many Turcomans, with +their families, who were changing their quarters, in search of fresh +pasture: it being their custom to remain encamped where the pasturage +is abundant, until it is all consumed; after which they go in search +of fresh. We also passed some of their encampments. These men are an +accursed race and arrant thieves, and certainly caused us great fear. By +making known to them, however, that I was going to their sovereign, we +managed by the help of God, to pass on. + +On this day, about the hour of vespers, we entered the city of Tauris, +situated in a plain and surrounded by dismal-looking earthen walls. +There are near here several red mountains (monti rossi), which are +said to be the Tauri mountains. When we entered this city we found it +in great commotion, and it was with much difficulty that I reached a +caravanserai, where we lodged. Passing among some Turks I heard them +say, “These are the dogs who come to create a schism in the Mahometan +religion; we ought to cut them to pieces.” Having dismounted at the +caravanserai, the Azamo, who certainly appeared to be a good sort of +person, provided us with a couple of rooms. His first words were to +express astonishment at our safe arrival, which he appeared to think was +a thing scarcely credible, as he gave us to understand, what I myself had +observed, that the streets were all barricaded. On my wishing to know +the reason, he said that Gurlumameth, the valiant son of Ussuncassan, +had gone to war with his father and had seized one of the chief towns of +Persia called Siras, which he had given up to the Sultan Chali and to +his mother-in-law. In consequence of this Ussuncassan had raised an army +and was marching towards Siras to expel him. There was a mountain chief +also of the name of Zagarli in league with Gurlumameth and commanding +above three thousand horsemen, who made inroads and ravaged the country +as far as Tauris; and it was from fear of him that the streets were +barricaded. He also told me that his Subassi, who had gone out to meet +this Zagarli, had been routed and despoiled of everything, and was very +thankful to return to Tauris. On my asking him why all the people of the +city did not sally forth, he replied that they were not fighting men, but +gave obedience to any chief who had possession of the city. I tried all +means to leave Tauris and go in quest of the Shah, but could not find +a man to accompany me, nor could I obtain any favour of the Subassi. I +was, therefore, obliged to remain in the caravanserai, the master of +which recommended me to keep in concealment. I was, however, sometimes +obliged to go out to buy provisions, or to send my interpreter or a +certain Astustin of Pavia who had accompanied me from Cafà, as he had +some knowledge of the language. They both suffered much abuse and were +told that we ought to be cut to pieces. After a few days there arrived a +son of Ussuncassan named Massubei, accompanied by a thousand horsemen, to +take the government of Tauris, on account of the fear caused by Zagarli, +to whom I went, and with difficulty obtained an audience. I was obliged +to give him a piece of camlet, and when I had saluted him, I said that I +was going to the Shah, his father, and begged him to let me have a good +escort. He scarcely answered me and appeared not to care; so I returned +to my lodging. Things then began to get worse; for, when Massubei wanted +to obtain money from the people in order to raise an army, they refused +to give him any, and closed all the shops. I was, therefore, obliged to +leave the caravanserai and go to an Armenian church, where I obtained a +small space for lodging for ourselves and our horses, and I could not let +any of my people go out. One may imagine our state of mind, in constant +dread of ill-usage; but our Lord God, who had taken compassion on us +hitherto, in so many perils, was again pleased to save us. + +On the 5th of September, 1474, while still in Tauris, there arrived, +on a mission from our Illustrious Signory to the Shah Ussuncassan, +Bartholomeo Liompardo, who had visited me in Cafà, accompanied by his +nephew Brancalion. Having come by way of Trabisonda he arrived a month +after me. I now resolved to send the above-mentioned Agustino, by way of +Aleppo, to Venice with my letters, to inform the Illustrious Signory of +everything that had taken place, and he arrived at his destination in +safety, after many perils. I staid in Tauris until the 22nd of September. +I cannot say much about Tauris, as I remained continually in concealment. +It is a large city, and much amber is met with in it. I do not think it +is very populous. It abounds in all kinds of provisions, but everything +is dear. It contains many bazaars. A great quantity of silk passes +through in caravans, bound for Aleppo, and there are many light articles +of silk from the manufactures of Jesdi, and a great deal of fustian and +merchandise of almost every kind. Of jewels I heard no mention. As my +good fortune would have it, the Cadi Lascher,—one of the most important +personages about Ussuncassan, who had been on an embassy to the Soldan +for the purpose of concluding a peace, without, however, succeeding,—came +to Tauris on his way back to his sovereign. As soon as I knew this, I +sought an interview with him, made him a present, and begged that he +would allow me to travel in his company, as I was going to the Shah +on important business. He granted my request in the most gracious and +courteous manner, saying that he gladly accepted my company and trusted +in God to conduct me in safety to his sovereign. It appeared to me to be +a proof of the grace of God; for which I tendered many thanks. The Cadi +had two renegade Slavonian slaves with him, who formed a close friendship +with my servants, and made them offers of assistance. They promised me +also that when their master was going to leave they would let me know, +which they did, and I made them a present, which was profitable to me. + +On the 22nd, as I have said, we left Tauris with the Cadi Lascher. A +caravan consisting of a number of Azami, going our way, kept in our +company for protection. As we travelled we found the country generally +level, with the exception of a few hills, but very arid, as there was +not a tree of any kind, except near some rivers. We passed, however, a +few villages of no importance. Before midday we rested in the open air, +and did the same at night. We procured provisions as we required them +at the villages as we went along. Travelling in this way, we arrived, +on the 28th, at Soltania, which, from its appearance, I should judge to +be a good town. It has a large walled castle, which I wished to see. It +contains a mosque, which has the appearance of being very ancient. It +had three bronze gates higher than those of St. Mark in Venice, worked +with knobs, made in damask work with silver, which are certainly most +beautiful, and must, I should think, have cost a large sum of money. I +saw nothing else worthy of note. This city is situated in a plain, but +in the vicinity of some mountains of moderate height. The cold here in +winter is said to be so severe that the people are obliged to remove to +another place. There is a bazaar for the sale of provisions, and fustians +of a common description. We remained here till the 30th, on the morning +of which day we left, and travelled again over plains and hills, sleeping +every night in the open air. The country forms part of Persia, which +begins at Tauris. + +On the 4th of October, 1474, we arrived at a city called Sena, without +walls, but with a bazaar as usual. It is situated in a plain near a +river, and surrounded by trees. Here we slept in a very incommodious +caravanserai. + +On the 5th, we left here; and on the 6th, while bivouacking in the open +air, I was attacked by fever. On the morning of the 8th we rode on, +I being greatly fatigued, and arrived in good time at a city called +Como.[157] Here, when we had entered a caravanserai in a sort of inn, +the fever increased and began to trouble me seriously, and the next day +all my people were taken ill, except Pré Stephano, who attended to us +all. Our illness, from what I was told, was of a kind that is accompanied +by delirium, and we said many insane things. Cadi Lascher sent to me to +make excuses for not staying longer, saying that he was obliged to hasten +to his sovereign, but that he would leave me a servant, and comforted +me with the assurance that I was in a country where I should not be +molested. My illness kept me in this place till the 23rd. Como is a small +but handsome town situated in a plain, and surrounded by a mud wall. It +has an abundance of everything, with good bazaars for its manufactures +and fustians. + +On the 23rd, as I have said, we left here, and I travelled with much +suffering on account of my illness. + +On the 25th, we arrived at another city called Cassan,[158] having walls +and bazaars like those of Como, but it is a finer city. + +On the 26th, we left here and entered another small city called +Nethos,[159] situated in a plain, where more wine is made than anywhere +else. Here, on account of my debility and a slight return of fever, +I remained a day. On the 28th I mounted my horse as well as I could, +and after travelling again over plains, arrived on the 30th at a city +called Spaan. Here we found the Shah Ussuncassan, and having ascertained +where Messer Josafa Barbaro, our ambassador, was residing, I dismounted +at his lodgings. As soon as we saw each other, we embraced each other +affectionately, and with great joy. One may imagine the consolation +which this meeting afforded me; but as I was more in want of repose than +anything else, I retired to rest. On the following day I had a conference +with his Excellency, in which I stated what I had to say. The Shah having +heard of my arrival sent his slaves to receive me with presents of +provisions. + +On the 4th of November, 1474, we were summoned to the presence of the +Shah by some of his slaves. Having entered the audience chamber in +company with the Magnificent Messer Josafa Barbaro, we found His Majesty +and eight of his barons, who appeared to be men of authority. After the +required salutations, performed according to the Persian custom, I stated +the object of my embassy from the Illustrious Signory, and delivered my +letter of credence. When I had concluded, the Shah replied briefly, and, +as it were, excusing himself for having been obliged to come to these +parts; after which, he made me sit with his barons, and an abundant +supply of refreshments were brought, well prepared, according to their +methods, of which we partook, seated on carpets in the Persian fashion. +When we had eaten we saluted His Majesty and returned to our lodgings. + +On the 6th, we were summoned by the Shah, and a great part of the +residence where he was staying, which was in the middle of a field, +through which a river flowed, in a very delightful locality, was shown to +me. One part was formed like a quadrangle and was adorned by a painting, +representing the decapitation of Soltan Busech, and showing how he was +brought by a rope to execution by Curlumameth, who had caused the chamber +to be made. We were served with a luncheon of good confections, after +which we returned to our lodgings. We remained in this city of Spaan +with His Majesty until the 25th of this month, during which time we were +invited by His Majesty to frequent banquets. Spaan appears to be a very +convenient city. It is situated in a plain abounding with all kinds of +provisions. It is said that, as the city refused to surrender, much of +it was destroyed after it had been taken. It is surrounded by a wall +of earth like the others. From Tauris to Spaan is a twenty-four days’ +journey, through a country entirely belonging to Persia, consisting of +a very arid plain with salt water in many places. The corn and fruits +which, however, grow in abundance, are produced by means of irrigation. +There are fruits of all kinds, and of better quality than I have seen +or tasted anywhere. To the right and left of Spaan there are mountains, +said to be very fertile, from which are brought the greater portion of +the provisions. All things are dear. Wine costs from three to four ducats +for a quantity equal to our quart. Bread is at a reasonable price. A +camel-load of wood costs a ducat. Meat is dearer than with us. Fowls are +sold seven for a ducat. The prices of other things are in proportion. The +Persians are well behaved and of gentle manners, and by their conduct +appear to like the Christians. While in Persia we did not suffer a single +outrage. The Persian women are dressed in a very becoming manner and +surpass the men, both in their dress and in their riding. Both women and +men are handsome and well-made, and follow the Mahometan religion. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + His Excellency the Ambassador leaves Spaan and returns in + company with Ussuncassan to Tauris, where he meets the + Ambassadors of the Duke of Burgundy and the Duke of Muscovy, + and, after many audiences, takes leave of Ussuncassan. + + +On the 25th of November, as above mentioned, His Majesty left Spaan with +his court, and all returned, with their families, to winter at Como. I +accompanied His Majesty, and we travelled as nearly as possible through +the same places by which we had come, lodging under tents, and wherever +we settled, bazaars were established by those who are deputed to follow +the camp with provisions and corn of every description. + +On the 14th of December, 1474, we entered Como with His Majesty, where, +with difficulty, I obtained a small house for our lodging, after staying +two days under tents. We remained at Como with the king, who often +summoned us to his presence, until the 21st of March, during which time +we suffered considerably from the extreme cold. When we ate with His +Majesty, he made us enter his apartment in the pavilion, but sometimes +we remained outside, and departed without ceremony. When we dined with +him, he took great pleasure in asking us about places in our country, and +put some strange questions. His demeanour is certainly good; and he is +constantly surrounded by men of rank. At least four hundred people sat +daily at his entertainments, and sometimes many more, all seated on the +ground. The food is brought to them in vessels of copper, and consists +sometimes of rice; sometimes of corn, with a little meat; and it is a +pleasure to see with what avidity it is eaten. The Shah and those who +ate in his company, were served in an honourable manner, the dishes +being abundant and well prepared. His Majesty always drinks wine at his +meals; he appears to be a good liver, and took pleasure in inviting us +to partake of the dishes which were before him. There were constantly +present a number of players and singers, to whom he commanded whatever +he wished to be played or sung, and His Majesty appeared to be of a +very merry disposition. He was tall and thin, and had a slightly Tartar +expression of countenance, with a constant colour on his face. His hand +trembled as he drank. He appeared to be seventy years of age. He was +fond of amusing himself in a homely manner; but, when too far gone, was +sometimes dangerous. Take him altogether, however, he was a pleasant +gentleman. We remained in Como, as I have said, till the 22nd of March. +It would not be to the purpose for me to mention the number of times I +had spoken to the Shah on the subject of my embassy; it may be understood +by the result. + +On the 21st of March, 1475, we left Como for Tauris with the whole +_lordo_; that is, with all who followed the Shah, whose whole family, +with the baggage, went on camels and mules, of which there were great +numbers. We journeyed from ten to twelve miles a day, and sometimes, but +rarely, twenty, when in search of good pasturage. It is the practice of +the Shah to send his pavilion on to the place where he wishes to settle, +and where there is good pasturage and water, and to which place the whole +lordo sets out on the following night, and remain there till the grass +is consumed, when they proceed to another place in a similar manner. The +women are always the first on the ground to erect the tents and make +preparations for their husbands. The Persians dress well; they are good +horsemen, and ride the best horses they have. They are a very pompous +nation, and their camels are so well caparisoned that it is a pleasure to +look at them. Few are so poor as not to possess at least seven camels. +So that, from a distance, one would suppose there were a great number of +people, which is not actually the case. When the Shah arrived at Tauris +he might have had in his company about two thousand men on foot. There +never appeared to Messer Josefa Barbaro and myself more than five hundred +horsemen following the Shah, as the rest went as they pleased. The tents +of the Shah were exceedingly beautiful: the one in which he slept was +like a chamber; it was covered with red felt, with doors, which would +serve for any room. As we journeyed along, bazaars were established in +the lordo, at which everything was to be had, but at a high price. We, +with our tents, that is one for each, followed His Majesty and were +frequently invited to partake of his hospitality. He also often made us +presents of eatables, and certainly showed us great kindness, nor did we +ever receive injury from any of his followers or from any one else. + +On the 30th of May, 1475, at about fifteen miles from Tauris, there came +to His Majesty a certain Friar Lodovico da Bologna, accompanied by six +horsemen, who called himself the Patriarch of Antioch, and said that he +was sent as ambassador from the Duke of Burgundy. The Shah immediately +sent to ask us whether we knew him, on which we gave a favourable report +of him to His Majesty. + +On the 31st, the Shah sent for him in the morning, and also for us to +be present at the audience. The Patriarch had brought with him three +dresses of cloth of gold, three of crimson velvet, and three of violet +cloth, which he presented to the Shah. The Shah made us enter his tent, +and, having requested the ambassador to state his mission, the latter +said that he had been sent by the Duke of Burgundy, in whose name he made +great offers. He made a long speech, which seemed to have little effect +upon the Shah, and which it is unnecessary here to repeat. We dined with +His Majesty, who put many questions to the ambassador, which he answered; +after which, we returned to our tents. + +On the 2nd of June, 1475, we entered Tauris, and were provided with a +lodging, and on the 8th we and the said Patriarch were sent for. And, +although the Shah had told me four times previously that I should return +to the Frank country, and that the Magnificent Messer Josafà Barbaro +should remain with him, I constantly objected to this, nor did I think +that any more would be said on that subject. When we appeared before His +Majesty, he said to the Patriarch: “Thou shalt return to thy lord and +inform him that I intend to abide by my promise of making war on the +Ottoman, which I am on the point of doing”: with other words on the same +subject. Then, turning to me, he said: “Thou also shalt go with this +Casis to thy lord, and say that I am on the point of going to war with +the Ottoman, and that they, too, wish to do the same. I cannot send a +better or more efficient messenger than thou. Thou hast been to Spaan and +returned with me, and hast seen everything, and mayest report to thy lord +and to all the lords of Christendom.” When I heard this I was very much +displeased, and replied that I could not do anything of the kind, for the +reasons I assigned. He then said, with an angry look: “I wish and command +thee to go, and of this my command I will write to your lord.” I then +requested the Patriarch and Messer Josafà to give me their opinion; who +both said that I could not do otherwise than obey. In deference, then, to +their opinion and the wish of the Shah, I replied: “Sire, since such is +your pleasure, I will, although loath, do what you command; and wherever +I may be, I will speak of your Majesty’s great power and good will, for +the satisfaction of all Christian princes, who, on their part, may wish +to follow your Majesty’s example.” My answer appeared to please him, and +he vouchsafed me a few gracious words in reply. When we left we were +taken to another place, and the Patriarch and I received as a present +from the Shah two very light robes made after the Persian fashion. We +went again to the Shah, and, after saluting him, returned to our room, +where he sent us each, as presents, a small sum of money, a horse, and +a few trifles of small importance. He left Tauris this day, while we +remained until the 10th, when we started together to go to His Majesty, +who was encamped at the distance of about twenty-five of our miles from +Tauris, at a place where there was water and good pasturage. + +On the 10th, then, we started from Tauris and went to His Majesty’s +encampment, and having pitched our tents in the accustomed place, +remained many days until the grass was consumed. We then left, and +proceeded about fifteen of our miles, to a place where we stayed till the +27th, when he took leave of us. During the last period we were with the +Shah we were occasionally summoned to his presence, though not for any +matter of importance, and sometimes we received presents of eatables. + +On the 26th, we were summoned by His Majesty, and, before we entered the +presence, were shown some very light articles of silk, lately made. We +were also shown three presents, one of which was intended for the Duke of +Burgundy, to be sent by the Patriarch, another for our Signory, and the +third to be taken by a certain Marco Rosso, who had come as ambassador +from the Duke of Muscovy, the Lord of Rossia Bianca. They consisted of +Gesdi manufactures, two swords and _tulumbanti_, all things of a very +light description. We were then summoned to His Majesty’s presence, where +there were two of his Turks, whom he intended sending as ambassadors, +one to the Duke of Burgundy and the other to the Duke of Muscovy. When +the Patriarch and I made our salutations, he addressed us in these +words: “You will go to your sovereigns and to the Christian princes, and +tell them how I was on the point of setting out against the Ottoman, +but that, having heard that he was in Constantinople, where he intends +to remain the whole of this year, I did not deem it becoming to go in +person against his people; I have, therefore, sent some of my forces +against my disobedient son and some to annoy the Ottoman, and I have come +to this place to be in readiness myself at a future time to attack the +Ottoman. And this you will tell your sovereign lords and to the Christian +princes.” He commanded his own ambassador to say the same. This language, +and that which he had previously held, was very displeasing to me; but +we could only reply that we would fulfil his commands. With this he +dismissed us, and, as we were about to depart, we were made to stay till +the morning. In the meantime, he caused all his foot-soldiers to assemble +by the mountain side, and in the morning we were sent to a tent in a +commanding situation, where there was one of the _Ruischasan_, who had +the charge of the ambassadors, and who, after conversing with us about +various things, said: “Here come a great many foot-soldiers; it will +afford you _tanfaruzzo_ (that is, amusement), to see them.” His slaves +added, that those who came were in great numbers, but that great numbers +also remained behind. The soldiers marched past the side of the mountain +that we might the better see them. When they had passed, it was said that +they might have amounted to ten thousand. Wishing to hear everything, +we were assured that they were the same foot-soldiers who had come with +the Shah, and that the review had been got up in order that we might +report it. When the review was over the Shah gave us the letters, and we +returned to our tents. Inquiring of various persons, and, among others, +of Messer Josafà Barbaro, to ascertain the number of horse-soldiers there +may have been with His Majesty, I heard that there were upwards of twenty +thousand, or, taking the good and bad together, upwards of twenty-five +thousand. Their arms are bows and swords, and shields worked with silk or +thread. They have no lances. Most men of rank wear very beautiful helmets +and cuirasses, and they have good and handsome horses. I have nothing +more to say concerning the Persians, I have spoken sufficiently of their +country, and of their manners, and of everything else. I might have been +more diffuse, but at the risk of being tedious. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + The Illustrious Ambassador leaves Tauris, and, after being + attacked several times while travelling through Georgiana and + Mengrelia, at last arrives at Fasso. + + +On the 28th, I dined with Messer Josafà Barbaro in his tent, and we both +felt the hardship of separation, and a hardship it certainly was. We +embraced each other, and parted with many tears. I mounted my horse in +company with the Patriarch, the Turkish ambassadors, and Marco Rosso, +and we started, as I think, in an evil hour, considering the misfortunes +and great perils which I underwent. Travelling through the country +of Ussuncassan, on our way to Fasso, we arrived at the nine Catholic +Armenian villages, of which we have already spoken, where we lodged in +the house of the Bishop, who received us kindly, and where we heard +a Catholic Mass. We remained there three days to furnish ourselves +with provisions, after which we started, and travelled over plains and +an occasional mountain, until we entered the country of the King of +Giorgiania. + +On the 12th of July, 1475, having passed a river named Tigris, we arrived +at a city belonging to this king called Tiphis, situated on a little hill +with its castle, which is very strong, on the hill higher up. This city +has the reputation of having been very large, but much of it has been +destroyed. What little remains contains a numerous population, among +which are many Catholics. Here, also, we met with an Armenian Catholic, +with whom we lodged. + +On the 15th, while riding through Georgiania, for the most part over +mountains, we passed a few villages and occasionally saw a castle on the +summit of a mountain. + +On the 18th, when near the confines of Mengrelia, we met King Pangrati in +the midst of a wood surrounded by mountains, and we all went to pay him a +visit. He wished us to eat with him, and we sat down on the ground with +skins for a table-cloth, according to their fashion. Our repast consisted +of roast meat with a little poultry, badly cooked, and a few other +things; but there was wine in abundance, as they consider that to treat +their guests with wine is the greatest honour they can show them. When +the eating was over, they began the debauch with certain goblets half a +braccio long, and those who drank most were the most esteemed. As the +Turks do not drink wine, we rose from the contest and finally took our +leave, for which reason we were looked upon with much contempt. The king +was tall, and about forty years of age; he had a brown complexion, and a +Tartar expression of countenance, but was nevertheless a handsome man. + +On the morning of the 20th we left here, and, travelling through +Georgiania almost continually over a mountainous country, came to the +confines of Mengrelia, where, on the 22nd, we met the captain of certain +men, on foot and on horseback, belonging to the king, who, on account +of some troubles which there were in Mengrelia, occasioned by the death +of King Bendian, compelled us, with many menaces, to stop. They then +took from us two quivers with the bows and arrows, and we gave them some +money. Being then allowed to go, we left the road as fast as we could, +and entered a wood, where we remained that night in great fear of being +attacked. + +On the morning of the 23rd, while going through a narrow pass on our way +to Cotatis, we were attacked by some people of a village who stopped us, +threatening to take our lives. After a great deal of parleying they took +three horses belonging to the Turkish ambassadors, the bearers of the +present, and it was only with much trouble and by paying about twenty +ducats of their money, and giving up some horses and bows, that we were +allowed to pass on. We then proceeded to Cotatis, a castle belonging to +the king. + +On the morning of the 24th, being obliged to cross a river by a bridge, +we were attacked and compelled to pay a grosso for each horse, which +certainly caused us much vexation. After leaving here we entered +Mingrelia, sleeping continually in the forests. + +On the 25th, we crossed a river by means of boats, and entered a village +belonging to a woman named Moresca, the sister of Bendian, who pretended +to give us a good reception, and presented us with bread and wine, and +placed us in one of her closed meadows. + +On the morning of the 26th, we determined to make her a present to the +value of about twenty ducats. She thanked us, and would not accept it, +but began to complain, saying that she wanted two ducats for each horse; +and, although we pleaded our poverty as an excuse, it was, as in former +cases, of no avail, and we were obliged to give her the two ducats per +horse; after which, she not only wanted the present we had offered +her, but gratuities besides, and it was not without difficulty that we +succeeded in leaving. Certainly, from the way she went on, I thought we +should have been mulcted of everything. + +On the 27th, some of us in boats and some on horseback, arrived at Fasso +much fatigued. We lodged at the house of the before-mentioned Marta, and, +as a consolation for the hardships we had endured, we heard that Capha, +through which we had intended to pass, had been taken by the Turks. What +disappointment this news afforded us may be imagined. We knew not what +course to adopt, and felt as lost. Ludovico da Bologna, the Patriarch of +Antioch above-mentioned, however, decided upon going by way of Circassia +and Tartary to Russia, as he appeared to have some knowledge of the way. +He himself had several times proposed that we should not abandon each +other, and of this I reminded him, and begged that we might perform the +journey in company. He replied, however, that it was time for everyone to +take care of his own safety. This appeared to me a strange and iniquitous +reply, and I again begged him not to be so cruel, but it was of no avail. +He insisted on going with his company and attendants and the ambassador +given to him by Ussuncassan. When I saw this I tried to come to an +arrangement with Marco Rosso and the Turkish ambassador who was with him, +and take measures to return. They seemed to agree to this, and, as a +sign of good faith, we kissed each other’s lips, and I counted on their +promise. Having consulted together, however, they resolved to go through +the territories of Gorgora, Lord of Calcican, and the lands of Vati +which border on places belonging to the Ottoman, and pay him tribute. +When I heard this, rather than take the same direction, I considered it +preferable to remain at Fasso at the mercy of God. + +On the 6th of August, 1475, the Patriarch mounted his horse, and, after +making me some excuse, started with his people. The next day Marco Rosso, +the Turk, and some Russians, who were with them, departed: some in one +of the boats of the country, and some on horseback, for Vati, with the +intention of going by way of Samachi, and then passing through Tartary. +I thus remained alone with my attendants—five of us in all—utterly +abandoned, without money, without hope of safety, neither knowing which +way to go nor what course to adopt. What our feelings were I leave any +reasonable person to consider. I was attacked on this day of trouble with +a severe and terrible fever, to cure which I could get nothing but water +from the river and gruel and, occasionally, a little chicken. It was a +severe illness, accompanied by delirium, as, from what I was afterwards +told, I said many strange things. A few days afterwards three of my +people fell sick, and Priest Stephano alone remained to attend to us all. +My bed consisted of a miserable counterpane, lent to me by a certain +Zuan di Valcan, a Genoese, residing at that place, and served both for +bed and bedding. The attendants had to put up with what few clothes +they had. My illness lasted till the 10th of September, and brought me +to such extremity that my attendants made sure that I should die. But +my good fortune would have it, that Donna Marta applied to a little bag +containing oil and certain herbs; after which, I got better. I really +attribute my recovery, however, to the mercy of our Lord God, who did not +wish me to die in those countries, and to Him be all gratitude. Having, +then, remained united, we took counsel together as to what course we +should adopt, and it was resolved, in deference to my opinion, to turn +back to Samachi in order to pass through Tartary. Some wished me to go by +way of Soria; but this I would not do on any account, and I remained a +short time at Fasso to restore my health. + +On the 10th of September, 1475, we mounted our horses, and, after going +about two of our miles, I could not ride any farther, on account of +extreme weakness. I was, therefore, lifted from my horse and placed on +the ground, and when I had taken a little rest we returned to Donna +Marta, with whom we remained till the 17th. When our strength was to +a certain degree restored, we mounted again, and, in the name of our +Lord God, proceeded on the voyage we had resolved upon. At Fasso there +happened to be a Greek acquainted with the language of Mengrelia, whom I +took as a guide, and who committed a thousand rascally tricks, which it +would excite pity to relate. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + The Illustrious Ambassador leaves Fasso, returns through + Mengrelia and Giorgiania, enters Media, crosses the Bachu or + Caspian Sea, and reaches Tartary. + + +On the 17th, we mounted our horses, as I have mentioned, and returned +through Mengrelia with some difficulty. On the 21st we were in Cotatis, +and, as our guide gave me much trouble, I was obliged to dismiss him. +We remained at Cotatis till the 24th, partly because I did not feel +well, and partly to wait for some people to accompany us. At length we +started in company with some people whom we neither knew nor understood, +and travelled over certain mountains, not without fear, until the 30th, +when we reached Tiflis. Here I dismounted, more dead than alive, at the +church of an Armenian Catholic, by whom we and many others were certainly +well received. This priest had a son, who, to our misfortune, fell sick +of the plague, which had been very prevalent at this place during the +year. As my people went in his company, he gave it to Mapheo da Bergamo, +the servant, who attended me, and who kept near me for two days while +ill with it. Having at length thrown himself down on his bed, and his +disease being discovered, I was advised to move to other quarters. A +place where cows were kept at night having been cleaned as well as it +was possible, and furnished with a little hay, I was made to rest in it +on account of my great weakness. The priest would not allow Mapheo to +remain in his house any longer, and, as there was nowhere else, it was +necessary to put him in a corner of the place where I was. He was waited +upon by Priest Stephano, but it pleased our Lord God to take him. I then +obtained, after many prayers, another cowshed, where I was accommodated +in a similar manner. We were abandoned by everyone except an old man, who +understood a little Turkish, and continued to serve us. But how we fared +may be easily judged. We remained at Tiflis until the 21st of October; +on the day preceding which, as my good fortune would have it, there +arrived the Turkish ambassador, who had accompanied brother Ludovico, the +Patriarch of Antioch. From him I learnt that when they had proceeded as +far as Avogasia they had been robbed of everything, and that the robbery +was to be attributed to the Patriarch himself. He had, therefore, left +him to return to his own country, and said that this would cause great +dissatisfaction to Ussuncassan. I condoled with him as well as I could, +and we left together on the 21st of October. Tiflis belongs to Pangrati, +King of Giorgiania. After travelling two days we entered the territory of +Ussuncassan, as it was on our way to Samachi, and passed through a fine +country. + +On the 26th of October, 1475, we came to a place where we were obliged to +separate, as it was necessary that I should travel through the country of +Sivanza, in order to reach the town of Samachi, and that the ambassador +should go towards his own country. By means of this ambassador I obtained +a Turkish priest as a guide as far as Samachi. Having taken leave, we +started with the guide and entered Media, which is a much more beautiful +and fertile country than that of Ussuncassan, and consists mostly of +plains. Here we fared very well. + +On the 1st of November, 1475, we arrived at Samachi, a town belonging +to Sivanza, the Lord of Media, where silks called Talamana and others +of a light texture are made, as well as satins. This city is not so +large as Tauris; but is, in my opinion, a better city in every respect, +and abounds in all kinds of provisions. While here we met Marco Rosso, +the ambassador of the Duke of Muscovy, with whom we had travelled to +Fasso. He had gone by way of Gorgora, and had arrived here after a very +troublesome journey. He had the courtesy to pay me a visit at the +caravanserai where I was staying; and when we had embraced each other +cordially, I begged him to admit me into his company, which he did in the +most kind and courteous manner. + +On the 6th, we left here with Marco for Derbent, a city belonging to the +said Simanza, on the confines of the Tartar country. After travelling +partly over mountains and partly over plains, and lodging occasionally in +Turkish villages, where we were hospitably received, we reached, midway, +an agreeable little town where an incredible number of fruit trees, +especially apple trees, are grown, of excellent quality. + +On the 12th, we arrived at Derbent. As, in order to reach Russia, it +was necessary to cross the plains of Tartary, we were advised to winter +here and cross over the Sea of Bachu, to Citracan[160], in April. The +city of Derbent is situated on the Sea of Bachu or Caspian Sea, and is +said to have been founded by Alexander the Great. It is called the Iron +Gate, as it is only possible to enter Media and Persia through this +city, on account of its being situated in a deep valley, which extends +into Circassia. It is surrounded by five broad and well made walls; but +of that portion of the city beneath the mountain, on the way to the +castle, not a sixth part is inhabited, and the portion bordering on the +sea is all destroyed. It has a great number of sepulchres. It abounds +in all kinds of provisions, much wine is produced, and fruit of every +description is grown in abundance. The Caspian Sea is very large, as it +is without outlet. It is said to be equal in circumference to the Mar +Maggiore, and is also very deep. Sturgeon and _morone_ are caught in it +in very great numbers, but they do not know how to catch other fish. +There are a great many dog-fish, with heads, feet, and tails, really +resembling those of dogs. Another kind of fish is also caught, about a +_braccio_ and a half in length, almost round, without any visible head or +anything. From this fish a certain liquor, used all over the country, +is extracted, which is burned in lamps, and employed to anoint camels +with. We remained at Derbent from the 12th of November until the 6th of +April, when we embarked, during which time we certainly fared well. The +natives are a fine race, and we never experienced the slightest injury. +We were asked who we were, and when we said we were Christians, they +required nothing more. I wore a jacket all torn, lined with lambskin; +above this, a very sorry pellisse, and, on my head, a lambskin cap. Thus +attired I went about the city and the bazaar, and often carried home +meat. Yet I heard people say, “This does not look like a man used to +carry meat.” And Marco blamed me also, saying that I looked as though I +were in a Sanctuary (Franchisa).[161] I answered that I was unable to +dress otherwise, and I was certainly surprised that, being so ragged, +they should have had such an opinion of me. As I have said, however, we +fared well. While in this place, as I was desirous of hearing how the +affairs of Ussuncassan and the Magnificent M. Josapha Barbaro were going +on, I determined to send Dimitri, my interpreter, to Tauris, a journey +of twenty days. He went, and returned fifty days afterwards, bringing me +letters from Josapha, who wrote that the lord was there, but that nothing +could be ascertained concerning him. An arrangement was then made by +Marco with the master of a vessel to carry us to Citracan. The vessels +here are kept on shore during the winter, when they cannot be used. They +are called fishes, which they are made to resemble in shape, being sharp +at the head and stern and wide amidships. They are built of timbers +caulked with rags, and are very dangerous craft. No compass is used, as +they keep continually in sight of land. They use oars, and, although +everything is done in a most barbarous manner, they look upon themselves +as the only mariners worthy of the name. To sum up, these people are all +Mahometans. + +April 6th, 1476. We had been obliged to stay with our baggage on board +the vessel, which was drawn up on shore waiting for favourable weather, +for about eight days. During this time, as Marco remained in the city, +we were not without fear, as we were alone. It having pleased our Lord +God, however, to send us at length a favourable breeze, we all assembled +on the shore, and, the vessel being set afloat, we immediately embarked +and made sail. We were in all thirty-five persons, including the captain +and six mariners; there were on board some merchants taking rice, silk, +and fustians to Citracan for the Russian market, and some Tartars +going to procure furs for sale in Derbent. We started, then, on the +above-mentioned day with a favourable wind, and kept constantly at the +distance of about fifteen miles from a mountainous coast. After three +days’ sail we passed these mountains and came to a beachy shore, when, +the wind becoming contrary, we dropped one of our anchors: this was at +about four hours before evening. The wind having increased, however, and +the sea got rough in the night, we looked upon ourselves as lost, so +we resolved to weigh our anchor and take our chance in running ashore. +When the anchor was raised we crossed the sea, and the waves, which were +running high on account of the wind, threw us aground. It pleased our +Lord God, however, to save us by means of these big waves, which carried +us over the rocks, and we were driven into a little creek, as long as +the vessel itself, and it really seemed as if we had entered a port, as +the sea broke so many times before it reached us, that it could do us no +damage. We were all obliged to jump into the water, and carry our things +ashore well soaked. The vessel leaked also, from having gone on the +rocks, and we ourselves were very cold, both from the wet and the wind. +In the morning, after holding council, it was determined that no fire +should be lighted, as we were in a most dangerous place on account of its +being frequented by Tartars, the foot-marks of whose horses were visible +on the beach. As there was a boat, which appeared to have been lately +broken, we thought that the horsemen, whose traces we had seen, had been +there to capture the crew, either dead or alive; we were, therefore, in +great fear and in continual expectation of attack. We became reassured, +however, when we perceived beyond the beach a number of marshes, which +proved that the Tartars could not be very near the shore. We remained +at this place until the 13th, when the weather became favourable for +continuing our voyage. The things belonging to the mariners were then +put on board, and when the vessel had been taken off the rocks the other +baggage was taken in, and we set sail. This was on Holy Saturday. After +sailing about thirty miles, a contrary wind again sprang up; but, as +there were some small cane islands on our lee, we were compelled to make +for them, and we ran into a place where there was very little water. The +wind having increased, and the vessel touching ground occasionally on +account of the swell, the captain made us all leave the vessel and land +on a small cane island, to reach which I was obliged to put my bags on +my shoulder and wade ashore with bare legs as well as I could; but I +was very cold and in considerable danger on account of the surf which +washed over me. On reaching land I found shelter under the canes, which +I entered with my people, and we endeavoured to dry ourselves as well +as we could. The seamen, with great trouble, then took the vessel to a +place sheltered from the wind, where it was out of danger. From what I +was given to understand, the Tartars were in the habit of coming to this +island in the summer to fish. + +On the morning of the 14th, which was Easter Sunday, while on this cane +island and suffering from cold, with nothing wherewith to celebrate the +day but a little butter, one of Marco’s attendants, as he was walking +along the rock, found nine duck’s eggs, which he gave to his master, who +had them made into an omelet with butter, and presented us each with a +piece. With this we kept the day in a proper manner, and returned thanks +to God. As those about us were often curious to know who I was, it was +agreed between Marco and myself that I should pass for a doctor. They +were told, therefore, that I was the son of a physician in the service +of Despina, the daughter of the despot Thomas, who had come from Rome +to marry the Duke of Muscovy, and that, being poor and in her service, +I was going to the Duke and to Despina to seek my fortune. One of our +sailors, who was suffering from an abscess, having asked my advice soon +afterwards, I applied a plaister composed of a little oil, bread, and +flour, which I found on board, and in three days, by good fortune, the +abscess broke, and he was cured. For this I was looked upon as a perfect +doctor, and requested to stay with them. Marco, however, made an excuse +for me, saying that it could not be then, but that, after I had been in +Russia a short time, I should return. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + The Illustrious Ambassador crosses the Caspian Sea and arrives + at Citracan, a Tartar city. After having been much alarmed by + the Tartars on several occasions, he departs, at length, with + the caravan, for Muscovy. + + +On the 15th, the wind springing up in the morning, we made sail, and, +after coasting those cane islands nearly the whole time, entered the +mouth of the Volga on the 26th. The Volga is a very large river and deep +in many places; it flows from Russia and discharges itself into the Sea +of Bachu, it is said, by seventy-two mouths. From its mouth to Citracan +the distance is seventy-five miles. On account of the strong current +which we ascended, sometimes by towing and sometimes by means of the +wind, we did not reach Citracan until the 30th. Between Citracan and +the coast there is a very large salt lake yielding salt of excellent +quality, from which Russia is principally supplied, and which would +suffice for a great part of the world. The Tartars, that is, the Lord of +Citracan, would not allow us to come on shore that day. Marco, however, +was permitted to land, as he had some friends in the town. On the first +evening I also was admitted, with my people, into the little house where +Marco lodged, and accommodated for the night. In the morning came three +ill-favoured Tartars, who told Marco that he was welcome, as he was +a friend of their lord; but, that for me, I had become his slave, as +the Franks were their enemies. I thought this a strange reception. But +Marco answered for me, and would not allow me to say a word, except to +recommend myself to them. This was on the 1st of May, 1476. I returned to +my little chamber in such dread, that I scarcely knew where I was; and my +perils increased every day, not only in consequence of the Comerchieri, +who gave out that I had a quantity of jewels, but from having some +trifling things which we had brought from Derbent and intended exchanging +for horses; but everything was taken from us. I was afterwards told +by Marco that they intended selling them in the bazaar; but that, by +interceding with some merchants who were going to Muscovy, he had, with +much trouble and risk, and after a delay of several days, arranged that I +should pay the sum of two thousand alermi to the lord. This sum did not +include what was extorted by others. As I had not a soldo, the money was +advanced on very usurious terms by Russian and Tartar merchants who were +going to Muscovy, on security given by Marco. Although our difficulty +with the lord might be said to have been overcome by this arrangement, +the dog of a Comerchier used to come to our house, when Marco was not at +home, and, after knocking down my door, would threaten, in his cursed +voice, to have me impaled, saying that I had jewels in quantities. I +was, therefore, obliged to appease him as best I could. Many and many a +time, also, Tartars, drunk with a beverage they make with apples, used to +come and shout that they would have the Franks, who had not the hearts of +men. We were terrified into purchasing their silence also. We remained +at Citracan from the first of May to the 10th of August, the Feast of +St. Lawrence. Citracan belongs to three sons of a brother of the present +Emperor of those Tartars who inhabit the plains of Circassia and the +country lying in the direction of Tana. In the heat of the summer they +go towards the confines of Russia in search of fresh pasturage. These +three brothers remain in Citracan a few months in the winter, but in the +summer do like the rest. Citracan is a small town situated on the Volga, +and surrounded by a low wall. The few houses it contains are built of +bricks; but it is evident that it possessed several edifices at no very +distant period. Citracan is said to have been, in ancient times, a place +of considerable trade, the spices which came to Venice by way of Tana +having passed through it; and, from what I could understand, they were +sent direct from Citracan to Tana, a distance of only eight days’ journey. + +On the 10th of August, 1476, the Feast of St. Lawrence, as we have said, +we left Citracan, as I shall hereafter relate. The Lord of Citracan, +named Casimi Can, sends an ambassador to Russia every year to the Duke +of Muscovy (more for the sake of obtaining presents than anything else), +who is accompanied by a great many Tartar merchants who form a caravan +and take with them silk manufactured in Gesdi and fustian stuffs to +exchange for furs, saddles, swords, bridles, and other things which +they require. And, as the country between Citracan and Muscovy is a +continual desert, everyone is obliged to carry provisions. The Tartars, +however, care little to do so, as they always drive a great number of +horses with them, some of which they kill every day for food. They +live, indeed, continually on meat and milk, without other food, no one +being even acquainted with bread, unless it be some merchant who has +visited Russia. We, however, were obliged to provide ourselves as well +as we could. We took a little rice with which a mixture is made with +milk dried in the sun, and called thur, which becomes very hard, tastes +rather sour, and is said to be very nourishing. We also had onions and +garlic, besides which I obtained with much trouble a quart of biscuits +made of very good wheaten flour, and a salted sheep’s tail. Our way was +between two tributaries of the Volga; but, as the said emperor was at war +with Casimi Can, his nephew—who pretended that he was the true emperor, +his father having been the Emperor of the _Lordo_, and in possession of +the territory—it was unanimously resolved that the whole caravan should +cross over to the other bank of the river and proceed as far as a narrow +pass between the Tanais and the Volga, about five days’ journey distant, +as beyond that point it might be considered out of danger. Everyone, +therefore, placed his goods and provisions on certain boats which are +used in those parts, that they might be carried over the river. Marco +also embarked his things and wished me to embark the few provisions +I had with me. He advised me also to send on the Priest Stefano and +Zuane Ungharetto, my attendant, and remain with him myself, as he had +arranged with the ambassador, whose name was Anchioli, that he should +come for me about midday; and that we should advance to where the boats +had gone, which might be about twelve miles higher up the river. When +the time came, he made me mount on horseback with the said ambassador +and my interpreter; and with great fear, and riding as low as I could, +we arrived at the pass, at about an hour before sunset. As I was about +to cross the stream, as darkness was coming on, to join our people, +Marco called to me in such a furious tone that I certainly thought my +last hour had come. He made me mount with my interpreter and a Russian +woman, together with a Tartar, whose aspect was as forbidding as could +well be imagined. All he said was, “Ride, ride fast”. As I could not do +otherwise, I obeyed, and followed the Tartar all that night and until +midday the next day, nor would he allow me to dismount for a moment. +Having asked him several times, through my interpreter, where he was +taking me to, he at length replied that Marco’s reason for sending me +forward was, that the Khan was going to have the boats searched, and he +feared that, if I were discovered, I should be detained. This was on +the 13th of August, about midday. Having come to the river, the Tartar +tried to find a boat wherewith to cross over to a little island, where +there were some cattle belonging to the ambassador Anchioli. Not finding +one, he collected some branches, which he bound together as well as he +could; and, after placing the saddles upon them, tied them with a rope +to the tail of a horse, which he drove to the island, a distance, I +should think, of two good bowshots. He then returned and took the Russian +woman, whom he passed over in the same way. My interpreter preferred +to swim over, which he did with some peril. He then came over for me, +and, as I saw how great the danger was, I took off my shirt and hose, +although, in any case, this would have availed me little; and by the help +of our Lord, although in great danger, I was carried over. The Tartar +then returned again, and brought over the horses, which we mounted, and +proceeded to his lodging,—a skin covering,—which I got under. This was +the third day that I had not eaten, and when he gave me a little sour +milk I received it with the greatest thanks, and thought it very good. +Shortly afterwards, there came a number of Tartars, who were on the +island minding their cattle. They looked at me and appeared to wonder +much, amongst themselves, as to how I had come there, as no Christian +had ever been there before. I said nothing, but feigned to be as ill +as possible. The Tartar guide appeared to favour me greatly, and no +one, I believe, dared to speak, from respect to the ambassador, who was +a great man. On the 14th, which was the eve of Our Lady’s day, a lamb +was killed in my honour, which was partly roasted and partly boiled, +but no trouble whatever was taken to wash the flesh, as they say that +washing takes all the flavour away; nor do they scum it with anything but +a twig. Some of this meat and some sour milk was then served up; and, +although it was the eve of Our Lady (of whom I craved forgiveness, as +I could hold out no longer), we all began eating together. Mare’s milk +was also brought, which they hold in great esteem, and of which they +wished me to drink, as they say it gives great strength to man; but, +as it stank most horribly, I refused to taste it, which gave them some +offence. I remained here until the 16th, when Marco arrived with the +caravan, and sent a Tartar and one of his Russians to fetch me. I was +then taken over the river in a boat to the place where the caravan was. +The Priest Stephano and Zuanne Ungaretto, who had despaired of seeing +me again, rejoiced greatly when I appeared, and returned thanks to God. +Marco had provided as many horses as I might require. We remained the +whole of the day of the 17th, and then started with the caravan to cross +the desert on our way to Muscovy. The ambassador took the command of the +whole company, which, with Russians and Tartars, might have amounted to +about three hundred persons. There were, besides, more than two hundred +horses led for food and for sale in Russia. We certainly marched in good +order, keeping by the side of the river, sleeping at night and resting +at midday. We proceeded thus for fifteen days, during which time they +no longer appeared apprehensive of the Emperor of the Lordo, as they +were before reaching the narrow pass. This Lordo is governed by an +emperor, whose name I do not remember, who rules over all the Tartars +in those parts. These Tartars, as I have said, are constantly wandering +in search of fresh pasturage and water, and live entirely on milk and +meat. They have, I believe, the most beautiful oxen, cows, and sheep in +the world, the meat being of good flavour on account of the excellence of +the pastures. Mare’s milk, however, is held in great estimation. Their +country consists of beautiful and extensive plains, where not a mountain +is to be seen. I did not visit this _Lordo_ myself, but was desirous +of obtaining what information I could respecting it and its numerical +strength. It is the general opinion that, although it contains altogether +a great many people, a thousand men armed with sword and bow could +scarcely be mustered in it, all the rest being women and children in +considerable numbers, or men shoeless and without arms of any kind. They +are accounted valiant, as they plunder both Circassians and Russians. +Their horses are no better than wild; they are timid, and it is not the +custom to shoe them. These Tartars themselves are generally looked upon +as brutes. As has been said, they dwell between the rivers Tanai and +Volga. But there is said to be another tribe of Tartars living beyond +the Volga, in an east-north-easterly direction, who are supposed to be +very numerous. They wear long hair reaching to their waists, and are +called wild Tartars. They wander in search of pasturage and water like +the others; and, in the winter, when there is much cold and ice, they +are said to come as far as Citracan; nor do they commit any damage in +the town, unless it be some paltry theft of meat. When we had travelled +fifteen days continually by the river-side, we came to a little wood +where the Tartars and the Russians began cutting timbers, which they +bound together, with cords brought for the purpose, and made, I should +think, upwards of forty rafts. While these were being prepared we found +a miserable boat, on which Marco ordered his things to be carried across +the stream. He then sent it back for me, requesting me to bring over +our saddles and what provisions we had, in order that I might guard his +things on the side of the river, while Dimitri, the Turciman, and the +Hungarian, remained behind to guard the horses. I embarked, then, on this +boat, together with Stephano and two Russians, who guided the boat with +poles of wood, and we crossed to the opposite bank of the river, which I +should consider to be more than a mile across, although our course was +considerably longer, both on account of the strong current which carried +us down and the leaking of the boat. Stephano and I, however, sat in the +water and baled it out as well as we could, and after great fatigue and +extreme peril we at length, by God’s help, reached the opposite bank +in safety. When the boat was unloaded the Russians wanted to return in +her, but this was impossible, as she was too much broken; they were, +therefore, obliged to remain, and were six in all. The next morning the +whole caravan was to have crossed, but was prevented by a high wind, +which arose from the north and continued blowing for two days. As I had +taken everything with me, my people who were guarding the horses were, +during this time, without either food or clothing, so that my anxiety +on their account may well be imagined. I now thought that I would look +into the state of our provisions, which I was alarmed to find anything +but satisfactory. I, therefore, though late, took charge of them myself, +and resolved to cook only a dishful of rice for dinner and the same for +supper, giving with each ration sometimes onions, and sometimes garlic, +with a little dry sour milk, and occasionally some of the biscuits. We +used all to sit round our dish of rice, each eating his proper allowance, +nor did I take a greater share than the rest. During the two days we +remained at this place, we found some wild apples, which we boiled and +ate to economise our provisions. After the two days were passed the whole +caravan with the baggage crossed over the river by means of the rafts, +each raft being towed by six or seven horses, with as many Tartars to +guide them, the rafts being tied with ropes to the horses’ tails. The +remainder of the horses were made to swim across without their harness, +that the whole caravan might pass over at the same time. It was certainly +a goodly sight, and they crossed quickly, though the passage was full of +peril. When all had crossed over and taken a little rest, the baggage was +packed, and we set out, leaving the river, than which, in my judgment, +there can be few greater, as it appears to be more than two miles across, +very deep, and with high banks. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + The Illustrious Ambassador traverses the great desert of + Asiatic Sarmatia and arrives at Moscow, a city of White Russia, + where he presents himself to the Duke. + + +We started, as I have said, by God’s grace, and travelled, as before, +in a northerly direction, but turned very often towards the west. There +was no indication of a road, but all was a desert plain. The Tartars +said that we were more than fifteen days’ journey north of Tana, which +I thought we had passed. We continued travelling in the same manner, +resting at midday and towards evening, our couch being the earth and our +covering the air and sky. At night we always placed three guards: one on +our right hand, one on our left, and a third in front, to secure us from +attack. At times we could not find water either for ourselves or for our +horses at our resting places, and throughout this journey we scarcely +met with any game. We found, however, two camels and four hundred horses +feeding, which were said to have belonged to the caravan of the preceding +year. We were, on two occasions, in fear of attack. One was a false +alarm; on the other we found about twenty chariots with a few Tartars, +who could not make us understand where they were going. As the journey +was long and my stock of provisions small, we were obliged to limit +ourselves. + +On the 22nd September, 1476, it pleased God that we should enter Russia. +There were a few little Russian villages in the middle of the woods, +and when it was known that Marco was with the caravan, the people came +forth,—with great timidity, however, on account of the Tartars,—and +brought him a little honey in the combs. Of this he gave me a portion, +and I was certainly in want of it, as all our provisions were exhausted, +and we were reduced to such a state that we could scarcely mount our +horses. We left here, and reached a city called Resan, belonging to a +lord whose wife is sister to the Duke of Muscovy, the houses, as well as +the castle of which, are all of wood. Here we obtained bread and meat in +abundance, as well as their beverage of apples, by which we were much +restored. After leaving here, we travelled through extensive forests, +and at night we all lodged in Russian villages, and were able to take +some repose, as by the aid of God we appeared to have reached a place of +security. We then came to another city named Colonna, which is situated +on a branch of the Volga, called Mosco, over which there is a large +bridge. We left here, and I was sent in advance by Marco, as the caravan +would not go so quickly. + +On the 26th, praising and thanking God, who had taken pity on us in so +many dangers and extremities, we entered Moscow, which belongs to Duke +Zuanne, the sovereign of Great White Russia. I should state that, during +the greater part of the time we occupied in passing the desert, which was +from the 18th of August, when we left Citracan, until we reached Moscow +on the 25th of September, as we had no wood, we cooked our food with the +dung of the cattle. Having reached here, then, in safety, Marco provided +lodgings for myself and my people, and stables for the horses, which, +although small and cheerless, seemed to me a grand palace in comparison +with what I had had to put up with. + +On the 27th, Marco entered Moscow, and came in the evening to see me, +bringing with him some provisions, which are very abundant in this +city, as I shall describe hereafter. He exhorted me in the name of his +sovereign to be of good cheer, as I might consider myself at home; for +which I thanked him as well as I was able. + +On the 28th, I went to visit Marco, and, as I was desirous of returning +home, I requested him to be pleased to procure me an audience of the +Duke. This he did, as the Duke shortly afterwards sent for me. After +the usual salutations I thanked his lordship for the good offices I had +experienced at the hands of Marco, his ambassador, as I could certainly +say, with truth, that by his means I had escaped many dangers. And, +although I had benefited by these services personally, they might be +considered as having been rendered to my Illustrious Signory, whose +ambassador I was. The Duke scarcely allowed me to finish my speech, but, +with a severe look, complained of Zuan Battista Trivisano. I will not +enter into this subject, as it is beside the purpose; but when, after a +long conversation, I requested to be allowed to take my departure, he +said that I should receive an answer on that subject at another time; and +with this I was dismissed by the Duke, who was about to leave the city. +It is his custom to visit the various parts of his dominions every year. +He especially looks after a Tartar, in his pay, who commands, it is said, +five hundred horsemen, to guard the frontiers of his territory from the +incursions of the Tartars. + +Being desirous, as I have said, of leaving, I endeavoured to obtain an +answer to my request, and was again summoned to the palace, before +three of the Duke’s principal barons. They informed me, in the Duke’s +name, that I was welcome, and repeated everything that the Duke himself +had said, complaining at the same time about the above-mentioned Zuan +Battista. In conclusion, they told me that I might go or stay, as I +pleased; and with this they dismissed me. + +As I was indebted to Marco for the amount of my ransom with the interest, +as well as for some other expenses which he had incurred on my account, +I begged him to have the goodness to allow me to leave, and that as soon +as I had reached Venice I would send him all that I owed him. He would +not, however, consent to this, as he said that the Tartars and Russians +whom I had promised to pay, wanted the money; and, as I was unable, after +various attempts, to influence either the Duke or Marco in this matter, I +determined to send Stephano to Venice to advise the Illustrious Signory +of all that had occurred, that they might with their accustomed clemency +and good nature provide against my ending my days in this country. + +On the 7th of October, 1476, I despatched Priest Stephano in company with +a certain Nicolo da Leopoli, who was well acquainted with the road, while +I remained in Moscow. I found here Maestro Trifoso, a goldsmith from +Catharo, who had made, and was engaged in making, many beautiful vases +and other articles for the Duke. There was also a Maestro Aristotele da +Bologna, an engineer, who was building a church in the Piazza, besides +many Greeks from Constantinople, who had come in the suite of Despina, +with all of whom I was on terms of great friendship. The room which +Marco had given me was small and unpleasant, and made an uncomfortable +dwelling-place; but, by the influence of Marco, I obtained a lodging in +the house of Maestro Aristotele, which was situated close to the Duke’s +palace, and was very convenient. A few days afterwards, however (for +what reason I never heard), I was ordered, in the Duke’s name, to leave +this house, and I was, with difficulty, provided with two little chambers +outside the castle, where I remained until my departure, one of which I +occupied myself, while the other served for my attendants. + +The city of Moscow is situated on a little hill, and is built entirely +of wood, as is the castle. It is traversed by a river called Moscow, on +one side of which stands the castle and part of the city, and on the +other the remaining portion. The river is crossed by numerous bridges. +Moscow is the principal city, and the residence of the Duke. It is +surrounded by forests, with which, indeed, the greater part of the +country is covered. The country abounds in all kinds of corn; and when I +was there, you might have bought more than ten of our _stare_ of wheat +for a ducat, and other corn in proportion. The meat principally eaten is +that of cows and pigs, of which you can procure, I believe, more than +three pounds for a soldo. They give a hundred fowls or forty ducks for a +ducat, and geese are little more than three _soldi_ each. A great number +of hares are brought to market, but other game is very scarce, because, +I imagine, they do not know how to catch them. There are small birds of +all kinds, and very cheap. They do not make wine of any kind, nor have +they any fruit, with the exception of a few water melons and wild apples. +The climate is so excessively cold, that the people stay nine months of +the year indoors. As it is difficult to travel in the summer time, on +account of the thick forests and the great quantity of mud caused by the +melting of the ice, they are obliged to get in all their provisions in +the spring, for which purpose they use their _sani_ or sledges on which +they stow everything, and which are easily drawn by one horse. By the end +of October the river which passes through the city is frozen over, and +shops and bazaars for the sale of all sorts of things are erected on it, +scarcely anything being sold in the town. They do this, as the river, +from being surrounded on all sides by the city, and so protected from +the wind, is less cold than anywhere else. On this frozen river may be +seen, daily, numbers of cows and pigs, great quantities of corn, wood, +hay, and every other necessary, nor does the supply fail during the whole +winter. At the end of November, all those who have cows or pigs, kill and +bring them, from time to time, to the city market. They are frozen whole, +and it is curious to see so many skinned cows standing upright on their +feet. The meat that you eat has sometimes been killed three months or +more. Fish, fowls, and all other provisions are treated in the same way. +Horses run on this river when it is frozen, and a good deal of amusement +takes place. Sometimes, also, a neck is broken. Both the men and women +are handsome, but they are a brutal race. They have a pope of their own, +appointed by their sovereign, and hold ours in little esteem, saying that +we are doomed to perdition. They boast of being great drunkards, and +despise those who are not. They have no wine of any kind, but drink a +beverage made of honey and the leaves of the hop, which is certainly not +a bad drink, especially when old. The sovereign, however, will not grant +permission to every one to make it; for, if they had that permission, +they would be constantly intoxicated, and would murder each other like +brutes. Their custom is to remain from morning till midday in the bazaars +and to spend the remainder of the day in the taverns in eating and +drinking. After midday you cannot obtain any service of them whatever. A +great many merchants frequent this city from Germany and Poland during +the winter, for the sole purpose of buying peltries, such as the furs +of young goats, foxes, ermines, squirrels, wolves, and other animals; +and, although these furs are procured at places many days’ journey +from Moscow,—towards the north-north-east, or the north-west,—they are +all brought here where the merchants buy them. A great many, also, go +to a town called Novogardia, on the confines of _Francia_ and Upper +Germany, and eight days’ journey west of Moscow. This town, although it +has a republican government, is subject to the Duke, to whom it pays a +yearly tribute. This prince, from what I have heard, possesses a large +territory, and might raise a large army, but the men are worthless. The +country is bounded by that part of Germany which belongs to the King of +Poland. Towards the north-north-west there is said to be a certain nation +of idolaters, without any sovereign, but who, when so inclined, pay +obedience to the Duke of Muscovy. There are some who are said to adore +the first thing they see, and others who sacrifice an _animal_ at the +foot of a tree, and afterwards worship it. Many other things are told, +which I shall not repeat, as I have not witnessed them myself, nor are +they credible. The Duke may be thirty-five years of age; he is tall and +thin, and handsome. He has two brothers, and his mother is still alive. +Besides two daughters by Despina, who is said to be _enceinte_, he has, +by another woman, a son who is not in great favour, on account of his +bad conduct. I might mention other things, but it would take too long. I +remained in Moscow from the 25th of September until the 21st of January, +and I certainly received good treatment from everyone. After visiting +his dominions, the Duke returned to Moscow about the end of December. I +had sent Priest Stephano for my ransom, and was certain that it would be +forthcoming, yet wishing very much to hasten my return home, as the way +of living of the country did not agree with me, I spoke to some gentlemen +who were favourable to my desire of leaving; and a few days afterwards +received an invitation to dine with the Duke. He then told me that he +was willing that I should depart, and that he should be happy to serve +our Illustrious Seignory, and pay whatever was due to the Tartars and +Russians for my ransom. The banquet to which I was invited was certainly +served in good style, not only with regard to the numerous dishes, but +in every other respect. As soon as the dinner was over, according to the +custom of the country, I returned to my apartments. A few days afterwards +the Duke invited me to dine with him again, and he ordered his treasurer +to give me what money I required to pay the Tartars and the Russians. I +then went to his palace, where I was made to put on a dress of ermine +(that is, the skin only), and received also a thousand squirrel skins, +with which I returned home. I also, at the Duke’s request, paid a visit +to Despina, with whom, after the usual salutations and compliments, I had +a long conversation. She treated me with great kindness and courtesy, and +entreated me earnestly to recommend her to my Illustrious Seignory. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + The Illustrious Ambassador leaves Muscovy, and, after passing + through Lithuania, Poland, and Germany, arrives in Italy. + + +The following day I was invited to the palace to dine with the Duke. +Before sitting down to table, we entered a chamber where I was received +by His Highness Marco, and one of the secretaries in a most courteous +manner. The Duke entreated me to signify to my Illustrious Signory that +he was their good friend, and wished to remain so; that he willingly +allowed me to depart, and that if I required anything more I should have +it. When the Duke spoke to me I retired from him, but he approached +me with great kindness. I answered all his questions, and thanked him +appropriately, and we conversed for more than an hour. He showed me, +with great good nature, some of his dresses of cloth of gold, lined +with ermine, which were most beautiful. We then left this chamber, and +soon after sat down to table. The dinner was longer than usual; the +dishes more numerous; and many of his barons were present. When the +banquet was over, I rose from table and presented myself before his +Highness, who, with a loud voice, that everyone might hear, took leave +of me in courteous terms, and with great demonstration of good-will +towards our Illustrious Signory; and I replied in a becoming manner. I +was, afterwards, presented with a large cup of silver filled with their +beverage made of honey, and was told to drink the contents, and keep the +cup. This custom is observed when they wish to show very great honour +either to ambassadors or others. But as there appeared to me too much +to drink at once, I drank about a quarter of it, and His Highness, who +was aware of my habits, seeing that I could not drink more, ordered the +cup to be emptied and given back to me. I kissed his Highness’s hands, +and took leave of him. I was accompanied to the staircase by many of his +barons, who embraced me with great demonstrations of friendship. I then +went home, and had prepared everything for my departure; but Marco wished +that I should previously dine with him. + +On the 21st of January, 1476, after partaking of a good dinner with Marco +and my own people, I took leave of him, and we entered our sani and +departed. These sani, which are only used on the ice, somewhat resemble +little houses, and are drawn by one horse. Each person has his own. You +sit inside with as much clothing as you require and drive the horse. They +go very fast and are made to contain all the provisions and everything +that is necessary. The Patriarch of Antioch, or Brother Ludovico, who +had been detained by the Duke on the representation of Marco, was, after +great efforts on my part, released, and was to have accompanied us; but, +seeing that he appeared to have no desire to do so, I started alone +with my people, and a man was sent by the Duke to accompany me, with +orders that I should be provided with other guides from place to place +throughout the whole of his territories. In the evening we lodged at a +very strange village; and, although I was aware that we should have to +undergo many discomforts and hardships, on account of the intense cold of +those countries, and from having to travel continually through forests, +I welcomed every discomfort and was intent on nothing but travelling day +and night; nor had I any fear, so great was my desire to escape from +those places and ways of living. + +We left this village on the 22nd, and travelled continually through +forests, in extreme cold, until the 27th, when we reached a little town +called Viesemo. Leaving here, we took guides from place to place, and +reached another little town called Smolencho, from which we departed with +another guide, leaving the dominions of the Duke of Muscovy to enter +Lithuania, which belongs to Casimir, King of Poland. We then proceeded to +a small town called Trochi, where we found His Majesty, the said King. + +Be it observed that, from the 21st of January, when we left Moscovy, +until the 12th of February, when we reached Trochi, we travelled +continually through forests. The country was generally flat, with a few +hills. Sometimes we found a village where we rested, but usually slept +in the forest. At midday we took our meals at places where we found that +fires had been made, and the ice had been broken to water the horses by +persons who had preceded us. We then added wood to the fire, and sat +round it to partake of what little provision we had with us. We certainly +underwent great suffering; for when we were warm on one side, we had +to turn the other to the fire, and I slept in my sano rather than on +the ground. We travelled three days and slept two nights on a frozen +river; and we were said to have travelled three hundred miles, which +is a great distance. His Majesty having heard of my arrival, sent two +gentlemen to congratulate me on my safe arrival, and to invite me to +dine with him on the following day. On this day, which was the 15th, +the King sent me, as a present, a dress of crimson damask, lined with +ermine; and I was taken to the palace in one of the Royal sani drawn by +six beautiful horses. Four barons were on foot outside the sano, and +others accompanied us with much state. On reaching the presence chamber +I found His Majesty seated on a most beautifully adorned throne with two +of his sons, young and handsome as angels, at his side clothed in crimson +satin. A great many barons and knights of distinction were also present. +A seat was placed for me in front of His Majesty, who received me with +great affection and made me shake hands with his sons. His kindness and +courtesy towards me could not have been greater had he been my father. +I wanted, and tried as well as I could, to speak kneeling, but he would +not allow me to begin until I had taken a seat, which I was at length +obliged to do, in compliance with his repeated commands. I then briefly +related to His Majesty the particulars of my voyage, describing what +had occurred to me at the Court of Ussuncassan, and giving an account +of the power of that monarch and of the customs of his country, which +he appeared very desirous to know. I also described the manners and the +resources of the Tartars, and spoke of the dangers I had passed on the +journey. I was listened to by the King with the greatest attention for +half an hour, so pleased did he appear to hear me. I then thanked His +Majesty, in the name of our Illustrious Signory, for the present and the +honour he had conferred upon me. His Majesty replied by his interpreter +that he rejoiced greatly at my arrival, as it was thought when I set out +on my journey that I should never return. He then said that he had heard +with great interest about Ussuncassan and the Tartars, and that he felt +sure that what I had said was true; and, he added, that he had never +before met with anyone who had told him the truth. I was finally made +to enter another room, where the tables were laid, and where, shortly +afterwards, the King and his two sons entered to the sound of trumpets +in great state. His Majesty sat down to table, his two sons being on the +right hand side, and the chief bishop on the left. I was placed next to +the latter, at no great distance from His Majesty. There were also many +barons at the tables, but at some distance. I think there might have +been, in all, more than forty persons. The viands, as they were brought +in on large platters and in great abundance, were always preceded by +trumpets, and knives were placed before us after our own fashion. We +remained at table about two hours, during which time His Majesty asked +me many questions relating to my voyage, which I fully answered. When +the repast was over, I rose to take leave of His Majesty, and asked him +whether he had any further commands. He replied, very kindly, that he +wished to be well recommended to my Illustrious Signory, and commanded +his sons to tell me the same. I then took leave of His Majesty and of his +sons, with due respect, and was honourably accompanied to the chamber +where I lodged. The King gave directions that I should be accompanied +by a guide who should see that guides and escorts were provided for me +throughout the country, in order that I might travel everywhere in safety. + +On the 16th, we left Trochi and travelled till the 25th, when we reached +a place called Ionici. Leaving Ionici, we entered Poland, where we were +provided with guides from one place to another, according to the King’s +commands. Having arrived at a city called Varsovia, which is under the +dominion of two brothers, I was received with much honour, and a guide +was provided for me, who accompanied me into Poland. As I have already +spoken of this kingdom, I shall only add that it is a fine country, +and appears to abound in meat and other provisions, but produces very +little fruit of any kind. We saw castles and villages, but no town +worth mentioning. Every night we found lodgings, and were well received +everywhere. It is a safe country. + +It was on the 1st of March, 1477, that we reached this city; and, as +we had performed the whole journey from Moscow on the above-mentioned +_sani_, I and my people were much fatigued, both on account of the great +cold and the other hardships we had endured. I, therefore, remained in +this beautiful city until the 5th, as we were lodged in comfortable +quarters, and well provided with everything we wanted, and could obtain +horses to continue our journey. + +On the 5th we left, and came to another small town called Messariza, +belonging to the same King. After leaving here we arrived at the +frontiers of Poland and Germany, which we passed, not without fear and +danger. + +On the 9th, we reached Frankfort, a city belonging to the Marquis of +Brandenburg, and, having put up at the same house at which I had stayed +on my outward journey, the landlord recognised me, and was very much +surprised. He received me with great respect and kindness, and said that +we had escaped great dangers in crossing the frontiers. + +On the 10th, we left Frankfort, and, as we travelled through Germany, +found a continual improvement, as well in the villages and castles as in +the cities and lodgings. As I was, on the 15th, in the vicinity of a city +called Ian, I met Priest Stephano, who was on his way back to me from our +Illustrious Signory with my ransom. The joy we both felt at meeting again +may be easily imagined, and was certainly due, like everything else, to +the Grace of God. When we had embraced each other, and heard all we had +to say, we entered the city of Ian, where we rested. + +We left here on the 17th, and on the 22nd reached Nuremberg, a very +beautiful city, as I have already said. Being much fatigued, and wishing +to keep the feast of the Most Holy Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ +(and this was my principal reason), I determined to remain here whilst +the festival lasted, and we certainly enjoyed a refreshing repose, of +which we stood in great need. + +On the 26th, we left Nuremberg, which is governed by a municipality, +but subject to the Emperor. Every night we lodged in good and important +cities,—among others, Augsburg,—and passed through many more. + +On the morning of the 4th of April, 1477, which was Good Friday, we +arrived at Trent, where, having heard of the miracle of the blessed +Simon, I considered it my duty not only to pay respect to his holy +remains, and keep Easter Day, but to confess and take the sacrament. +On the 6th, therefore, which was Easter Sunday, I took the sacrament, +together with my people, and remained in Trent to observe the festival. + +On the morning of the 7th, with that easily-imagined longing to reach +our own dear land which made every day appear a year, I left Trent after +taking leave of its Reverend Bishop, by whom I had been honoured and well +received, and came to Scala, the first place belonging to our Illustrious +Signory. And, in order to fulfil a vow I had made, I started for S. Maria +di Monte Arthon, where I arrived on the 9th at midday. Having satisfied +the requirements of my vow and made the promised offering, I took leave +of Brother Simone, the prior of the place, and came to the Portello +at Padua. Nor did I omit to return thanks to our Lord God and to His +dearest Mother, who had saved me from so many perils and hardships, and +brought me safely back to where I desired, which was more than I ever +expected. And, although I was corporeally in this place, my mind almost +doubted the fact, so impossible did it seem when everything was taken +into consideration. I had written to my brother and to my family, to let +them know that I should arrive at Venice on Thursday, the 10th, about +the hour of Vespers; but my longing was so great, that I was unable to +observe this arrangement. I embarked, therefore, before daybreak, and +reached the Zuffasine about two o’clock in the day. Going alongside, in +order to accomplish another vow at S. Maria di Gratia before going home, +I met my brother, Messer Agustin, in the Canal della Giudecca, and two +of my brothers-in-law. They were very much astonished to see me, as they +had made certain that I was dead, and when we had embraced each other +affectionately we went to S. Maria di Gratia. As on Thursday there was +a Council of Pregadi, I considered it also my duty, before going home, +to pay the respects to the Illustrious Signory, and to report how I had +executed my commission. I went, therefore, just as I was, to the Council +of the Pregadi, and after the necessary salutations, was ordered to mount +the rostrum and report what I had to say, which I accordingly did. And, +as our Serene Prince was rather unwell, and not at the Council, when +I had concluded and taken leave of the Signory, I went to him. He was +overjoyed to see me, and I related briefly a part of what I had done. I +then went home, and immediately returned sincere thanks to our Lord God, +who had vouchsafed me such favour in delivering me from so many dangers, +and bringing me back to my family, whom I had so often despaired of ever +seeing again. + +Here I conclude this voyage. I might possibly have written in a more +elegant style, but I preferred stating the truth in the way I have done +to adorning falsehood in fine and elegant language. And if anything +relating to Germany has been omitted, let no one be surprised, as it +did not appear to me necessary to speak at length in this relation of a +country which is so near and familiar to us. + + + + +BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE DOMINIONS OF USSUNCASSAN. + + +The extensive country of Ussuncassan is bounded by the Ottoman empire and +by Caramania. Turcomania, his first province, joins the dominions of the +Soldan towards the district of Aleppo. Persia, which Ussuncassan wrested, +more by good fortune than superior power, from Iausa, whom he caused +to be put to death, has Tauris for its capital and seat of government. +At the distance of twenty-four days’ journey from this city, in an +east-south-easterly direction is Siras, the last town in Persia. The +Persian empire is also bounded by the country of the Zagatai, who were +the children of the Tartar Sultan Busech with whom there is frequently +war, and who still cause some anxiety. It is also bounded by Media, +belonging to Sivanza, the Lord of Sumachi, who pays an annual tribute to +Ussuncassan; by Giorgiania, belonging to King Pancrati; and by Gorgora, +beyond the plain of Arsigan.[162] It is said that Ussuncassan also +possesses some territory on the other side of the Euphrates towards the +Ottoman empire. The whole of Persia, as far as Spama,[163] its capital, +where I have been, at a six days’ journey from Siras, is a most arid +country; there is scarcely a tree to be seen, and the water is for the +most part bad. The country is, nevertheless, tolerably well supplied +with all kinds of provisions and fruits, which are grown by artificial +irrigation. Ussuncassan appeared to me to be about seventy years of +age. He was tall, thin, and handsome, but did not appear prosperous. +His eldest son, by the Curd lady, was named Gurlumameth; he was very +famous, and it was with him that his father was at war. By another +wife he had three sons. The eldest, called Sultan Chali, was said to +be about thirty-five years of age. It was to him that Ussuncassan had +given his city of Siras. The second, named Lacubei, might have been +about fifteen years old. The name of the third, a boy of about seven, I +do not remember. By another wife he had a son called Masubei, who had +made war against him, his father, whom I saw every day, and whom he kept +in chains for having conspired with Gurlumameth, and finally had put to +death. I was desirous of learning from different persons the extent of +Ussuncassan’s resources. Those who give the highest estimate say that +he has fifty thousand horsemen, though these are not all of the best. I +also wished to know how many men were brought into the field during the +war with the Ottoman, and was told that there might have been upwards +of forty thousand. This I heard from persons, most of whom had served +in that war. But they were of opinion that this army was not intended +to fight against the Ottoman, but only to restore Pirameth, the Lord of +Caramania, to his country, which was in the possession of the Ottoman. +Nor did Ussuncassan exert himself for any other purpose. Those who hold a +different opinion are considered by most people to be wrong. I have had +the opportunity of hearing and understanding everything, and only state +what I have seen and heard. I will refrain from mentioning many other +things,—which are, however, not very important,—that I may not make my +narrative too long. + + +END OF THE TRAVELS IN PERSIA OF M. AMBROSIO CONTARINI. + + + + +FOOTNOTES + + +[152] Messeritz, forty-eight miles E.N.E. of Frankfort. + +[153] Posen. + +[154] Poti. + +[155] Kutais. + +[156] Gori. + +[157] Koum. + +[158] Kashan. + +[159] Nathunz. + +[160] Astrakhan. + +[161] That is to say, an Alsatia. + +[162] Arsingan. + +[163] Isfahan. + + + + +ERRATA. + + +Page 19, Note.—“Tesells”. This word here means “thistles”, “teasells”; +and “_garzi_”, in the Italian text, should be “_carde_”. + + + + +INDEX. + + + Adana, 47 + + Alani, 5, 30 + + Astrakhan, 29, 150 + + + Baltracan, herb, 102, 103 + + Barbaro plundered, 51 + + — returns to Venice, 95 + + Bendemir, 80 + + Buza, 31 + + + Cambalu, 75 + + Chehlminar, 81 + + Chinese paper money, 77 + + Contarini leaves Venice, 108 + + — meets Barbaro, 130 + + — returns to Venice, 171 + + Curco, 44 + + + Derbend, 87, 145 + + + Famagosta, 38 + + + Georgia, 36, 90, 117-122, 139-145 + + Gori, 122 + + Gothic language, survival of, 30 + + + Hassan Beg, King, his death, 93 + + + Ispahan, 72, 130 + + + Kaffa, 27-29, 116, 140 + + Kashan, 72 + + Kinara, 80 + + Kum, 73, 129 + + Kutais, 91, 119 + + + Ledil or Volga, 4, 31, 156 + + + Mardin, 48 + + Mingrelia, 26, 139 + + Moscow, 32, 158 + + + Novgrod, 34 + + + Orfa, 47 + + Ormuz, 79 + + + Persian army, 64-68, 137 + + — king’s jewels, 56, 59 + + — sports, 53, 54, 62 + + Poland, 34, 35, 110, 111, 114, 167 + + Poti, 117 + + + Routes, 82-86 + + Russia, 31, 33, 157-165 + + + Seleucia, 45 + + Sena, 129 + + Sert, 49 + + Shamakhy, 86 + + Sultaniah, 68, 128 + + + Tabriz, 51, 125 + + Tana, 12 + + Tarsus, 46 + + Tatar customs, 12, 15, 16, 21, 33, 34, 88, 155 + + Tumulus, excavation of, 6-8 + + + Varti, 117 + + Vastan, 51 + + + Uzun Hassan’s dominions, 172, 173 + + + Yezd, 73 + + + + + A NARRATIVE + OF + ITALIAN TRAVELS + IN + PERSIA, + IN THE + FIFTEENTH AND SIXTEENTH CENTURIES. + + Translated and Edited + BY + CHARLES GREY, ESQ. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + PAGE + + TRAVELS IN PERSIA, BY CATERINO ZENO 1 + + DISCOURSE OF MESSER GIOVAN BATTISTA RAMUSIO ON THE WRITINGS + OF GIOVAN MARIA ANGIOLELLO, ETC. 67 + + THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA 139 + + NARRATIVE OF THE MOST NOBLE VINCENTIO D’ALESSANDRI 209 + + + + +A NARRATIVE OF ITALIAN TRAVELS IN PERSIA. + + +The close of the fifteenth century is an epoch in the history of the +East, and especially of Persia, of which but little is known. The blast +of Timour’s invasion had swept over that historic land and left it +desolate. These four Accounts of Travels by Europeans are, therefore, +especially interesting in a geographical and historical point of view, +and will, with the books of Barbaro and Contarini, which are in Ramusio’s +collection, complete the series of Italian voyages about that period. +In order clearly to understand the facts brought forward, it will be +necessary to glance at the motives of policy which started the embassies, +and the historical changes which influenced their results. + +In Eastern Europe the Byzantine empire had, after a long and gradual +decline, at length crumbled into ruins beneath the power of the Ottomans, +which threatened to be as great a scourge to Europe as that of Timur +(or Tamerlane) had been to Asia, while the stability and vitality of +their empire offered a great contrast to the ephemeral character of +Timur’s dominion. Singly, the powers of Christendom could in vain hope to +withstand their terrible foe; and Venice, the Great Republic, then rich +and flourishing, with a far-sighted policy, endeavoured to induce all the +Christian princes to make common cause against the Ottoman Turks. + +Hungary and Poland were engaged in continuous warfare with the Musulmans; +but the petty jealousies, which no danger, however imminent, could +lull, caused the other powers to look coldly on the proposed alliance. +Venice, in her need, then cast her eyes to the East, where she found a +new dynasty firmly established in the ancient kingdom of Persia, the +inveterate foe of the house of Othman. That country, after the death +of Timour, had been nominally subject to his descendants, though two +rival Toorkoman tribes had established principalities in Azerbigan and +Diarbekr. These were the Kara Koinlu, and Ak-koinlu, or the Black and +White Sheep, between whom a deadly feud existed; the former were the +first to rise to power, under their chief, Kara Mahomed; while his son, +the famous Kara Yusuf, threw off the yoke of the descendants of Timour +in 1410. Secunder, the son of Kara Yusuf, waged war with Shah Rokh; and, +after his death, his brother Jehan Shah, in 1437, not only overran Irak, +Fars, and Kerman, but in 1457 besieged and pillaged Herat. The Kara +Koinlus kept the throne until 1486. + + KARA KOINLU RULERS. + + Kara Mahomed. + | + Kara Yusuf. + | + +---------------------+-------------------+ + | | | + Secunder. Abouseyd, Jehan Shah, 1437-1468. + put to death by Secunder. | + | + Hassan Aly. + +In that year the chief of the rival tribe of the Ak-koinloos, named Uzun +Hassan, who had established himself at Diarbekr, succeeded in defeating +Jehan Shah in a battle in which the latter fell. The Ak-koinloos were now +masters of Persia, and Uzun Hassan carried his victorious arms against +Sultan Abouseyd, the reigning prince of the house of Timour, who also +fell before him. + +Malcolm’s account of the reign of Uzun Hassan is very meagre. He was +the chief of the Ak-koinlu, or Turks, of the tribe of White Sheep, and +established a powerful principality at Diarbekr. He defeated and killed +Jehan Shah and his son Hassan Aly, whom he had taken prisoner, with all +his family. The dynasty which Uzun Hassan founded is termed Bâyenderee; +the family date their rise from the reign of Timour, who made them grants +of land in Armenia and Mesopotamia. Hassan, after defeating his rival, +engaged in a war with Sultan Abouseyd. He owed his triumph to his skill +and activity in a predatory warfare, and at last having taken his enemy +prisoner, made himself master of a great part of the dominions of the +house of Timour. Malcolm says: “Uzun Hassan, after making himself master +of Persia, turned his arms in the direction of Turkey; but his career was +arrested by the superior genius of the Turkish emperor, Mahomet II; he +suffered a signal defeat, which terminated his schemes of ambition. He +died after a reign of eleven years, at the age of seventy. All authors +agree in ascribing valour and wisdom to this prince. We are told by an +European ambassador, who resided at his court, that he was a tall thin +man, of a very open countenance, and that his army amounted to fifty +thousand horse, a great proportion of which were of very indifferent +quality.” He adds that this ambassador was an envoy from Venice, sent by +that Republic to solicit the aid of Uzun Hassan against the Ottoman. The +personage alluded to by Malcolm must have been M. Josafat Barbaro, the +successor of M. Caterino Zeno. + +Uzun Hassan had already been in collision with the Turks, having, when +ruler of Diarbekr, undertaken to defend Calo Johannes of the noble house +of the Comneni, one of the last of the Christian emperors of Trebizond, +against Mahomet II. This alliance had been cemented by his marriage with +the beautiful princess Despina, daughter of Calo Johannes, in which +manner he was connected with some of the princely families of Venice, +so that the way for an embassy was easily paved. The Venetians might +hope much from the ambitious and turbulent character of the Persian +prince; and in this they were not disappointed, as it needed but little +persuasion to induce the hitherto almost invincible soldier to take up +arms against his hereditary foe. Worn out by a state of anarchy, rival +chiefs and tribes struggling for power before the land had fully risen +again after the blast of foreign conquest had passed over it, the ancient +glory of Persia had paled before the brighter light of its rival; but the +old hatred still remained, with the will, if not the power, to oppose +the Turkish arms. An embassy to Uzun Hassan being determined on, the +difficult task of sending an envoy still remained. The duty would be a +hazardous one, as any one proceeding from Venice to Persia would have to +run the gauntlet of the Turks. The sister of Queen Despina had married +Nicolo Crespo, the Duke of the Archipelago, whose four daughters were +in turn wedded to four of the merchant princes of Venice, one of whom +was M. Caterino Zeno, a man of courage and talent. He, of all others, +appeared the fittest to undertake this honourable but perilous mission, +and the patriotism of Zeno induced him to overlook the dangers he would +run in traversing hostile and almost unknown regions before reaching his +destination. He was rewarded for his courage by arriving safely in the +presence of the king, though not without meeting serious obstacles in his +journey through Caramania. + +Zeno was well received by the monarch; and, being supported in his +arguments by his aunt, the Queen Despina, succeeded in inducing Uzun +Hassan to take up arms against the Turk. + +In 1472 the Persians marched into the Turkish dominions and ravaged +them, but a flying column under Mustafà, the second son of Mahomet II, +routed a force of Persians under one of Uzun Hassan’s generals. In the +following year the Grand Turk invaded Persia with an immense army, but +met with a severe check while endeavouring to cross the Euphrates near +Malatia, and was forced to retreat. Uzun Hassan, however, following up +his success too rashly, was routed by the Turks at Tabeada. M. Caterino +Zeno was then sent as ambassador from Uzun Hassan to various Christian +princes, among others to Poland and Hungary, to incite them to take up +arms against the Ottoman. M. Josafat Barbaro and Ambrogio Contarini were +sent from Venice to take his place at the Persian Court; but no arguments +could again induce the Persian monarch to meet the Turks in the field. + +The account of Zeno’s Travels in Ramusio’s collection was prepared from +Zeno’s letters, as the editor was never able to get possession of a +copy of Zeno’s book. For this reason the geographical details in these +Travels are not so explicit as in the others, and Ramusio has in his book +put Zeno’s narrative after several others, although in date he was the +first. It is supplemented by a sketch of Persian history subsequent to M. +Caterino’s embassy, taken from other sources. MM. Barbaro and Contarini +succeeded Zeno. The account of their travels will form a separate work. + +The second author in this collection is a M. Giovan Maria Angiolello, who +was in the service of the Turks, and present in their campaign against +the Persians. He describes, shortly, the rise of Uzun Hassan, and gives +a full description of the Turkish invasion from the Turkish point of +view, and the details of the march. Unghermaumet’s rebellion against his +father Uzun Hassan is also mentioned by him as well as by Zeno. After +the death of Uzun Hassan and his son Yakoob, Persia fell into a state of +anarchy caused by the civil wars between various members of the dominant +Akkoinloo family; from this the country rose at length, through the +process of a revolution, almost without a parallel in the history of the +world. Not only was there a change in the dynasty and form of government, +but the empire was revived in a native Persian family, and an end was put +to the long foreign domination. More than all, the very religion of the +people was essentially altered: a fact which, by widening the gulf which +separated them from their surrounding enemies, consolidated the empire +and created a nationality. The family which now rose on the ruins of the +Ak-koinlu power traced their descent from Ali, the son-in-law of the +Prophet, through Mussa, the Seventh Imaum:— + + Mussa. + | + --+-- + | + --+-- + | + Sheikh Saffy-u-din Ishak (from whom the dynasty is named Suffavean). + | + Sadder-u-din. + | + _a_ + | + Khaujah Ali. + | + Sheikh Ibrahim. + | + Juneyd (married a sister of Uzun Hassan). + | + +----+ + | + Sheikh Hyder (m. Martha, daughter of Uzun Hassan and Despina). + | + +-------------------------+ + | + Shah Ismail Sofi. + | + Shah Tahmasp. + | + +---------------------------+-------+------+------+------+ + | | | | | | + Mahomet Khodabendeh Ismail. Hyder. + | + Shah Abbas the Great. + +The chiefs of this family were regarded by the Persians as saints, and +when Sheikh Hyder, a son-in-law of Uzun Hassan, rose in arms against +Rustan, King of Persia, he was joined by great numbers. This insurrection +was, however, ineffectual, and it was reserved for Sheikh Hyder’s son, +afterwards Shah Ismail Sofi, to overthrow the fast decaying power of +the Ak-koinlus, which was still further weakened by the struggle for +the throne between two brothers named Alwung Beg and Morad Khan. The +victorious career of Ismail is treated of by Angiolello, as also his +wars with the Uzbegs under Sheibani Khan, and the Turks under Selim I, +the former of whom were routed at the great battle of Merv Shah Jehan +in 1514; but from the latter Ismail sustained a defeat in the plains +of Chalderan, near Khoi, which left Tauris at the mercy of Selim. +Angiolello, leaving Persian history, gives a full and animated account +of Selim’s expedition against Egypt, which resulted in the conquest by +the Turks of that great country and the deaths of the two last Soldans, +Khafur el Ghouri and Tomant Bey. + +The Third Book of Travels from Ramusio is that of an unnamed author +trading from Damascus and Aleppo to Persia, where he remained upwards +of eight years, from 1511 to 1520; so that he also was an eye-witness +of the glory of Shah Ismail. The style of this latter is more involved; +but while his historical facts correspond, his description of the towns +and country is more detailed, as is but natural, from his occupation, +which was more suited than that of an ambassador for gaining geographical +information. He opens his narrative by describing, with a good deal of +minuteness, the route from Aleppo to Tauris, finishing with an account of +that city and of the historical events that took place during his stay. + +There is a long gap between these two latter writers and Vincentio +d’Alessandri, an envoy from Venice in 1571 to the Court of Shah Tahmasp, +the son and successor of Shah Ismail Sofi, who had died in 1524. This +writer is mentioned by Knolles in his General History of the Turks, +from whom the following account of the intermediate history is also +taken. In the year 1534 Solyman was persuaded by Ibrahim Pasha to +make war on Persia, stirred up against the new Shiah religion which +had been introduced by Shah Ismail Sofi. The purpose of Ibrahim was +also furthered by a Persian named Ulemas, brother-in-law of the King +Tahmasp, who had revolted from him,[164] fearing to be called to account +for his extortion. After making preparations, Solyman sent Ibrahim +and Ulemas with an army into Syria, and in the spring they advanced, +without resistance, as far as Tauris. Tahmasp, the Persian monarch, was +then absent, engaged in a war with Kezienbassa, Prince of the Corasine +Hyrcanians; but, hearing of the taking of his capital, returned in +haste for the defence of his empire. Solyman, on reports reaching him +of the successes of his generals, crossed the Euphrates at Malatia, and +joined them at Tauris. Tahmasp, not daring to join battle with Solyman, +retreated to the mountains above Sultania, where the Turkish army, +endeavouring to follow him, was greatly distressed, and forced to retreat +from the inclemency of the weather. Solyman now retired to Mesopotamia, +where he took Bagdad and added the provinces of Babylonia and Mesopotamia +to the Turkish empire. In the following year, 1535, Solyman again +entered Tauris and ransacked it; but, finding that nothing was to be +done against Tahmasp, withdrew to his own dominions greatly harassed on +his journey by Persian cavalry, who at last surprised and routed his +army near Betilis, under the command of Delimenthes. This last reverse +was the occasion of the fall of the great Pasha Ibrahim, the friend +and counsellor of Solyman, by whose orders he was murdered. Ulemas was +afterwards made Governor of Bosina. In 1549 the cause of Ercases Imirza, +Prince of Shirvan and brother of Shah Tahmasp, was espoused by Solyman +against Tahmasp; but, in a tedious war, except the capture of Van by the +Turks, nothing of any importance took place, as the Persian monarch, +pursuing his usual tactics, acted on the defensive, and retreated to the +mountains. Discord being sown between Solyman and Ercases Imirza, the +latter fled to Chaldea, where he was treacherously delivered into the +hands of Tahmasp, who caused him to be murdered in prison. Bajazet, the +son of Solyman, after his rebellion in 1556, fled for safety to the Court +of Tahmasp, who received him with favour at first; but his mind becoming +embittered against him, he caused his followers to be dispersed and +slain, and Bajazet himself to be cast into prison. Solyman used all the +means in his power to have Bajazet delivered into his hands, but Tahmasp +would not consent; but afterwards, in consideration of a large sum of +money, agreed to allow him to be made away with.[165] Bajazet accordingly +was strangled, with his four sons. On the accession of Selim II, Tahmasp +sent ambassadors to Constantinople to ratify a peace between them, which +was concluded in the year 1568. About Vincentio d’Alessandri Knolles +says, A.D. 1571:— + + “Whilest these things were in doing, the Venetians, the more + to entangle the Turke, thought it good to make proofe, if + they might by any means stirre up Tamas, the Persian king, + to take up armes against him; who, as hee was a prince of + great power, so did hee exceedingly hate the Turks, as well + for the difference between the Persians and them about matters + of their vaine superstition, as for the manifold injuries he + had oftentimes sustained. There was one Vincent Alexander, + one of the secretaries for the State, who, having escaped out + of prison at Constantinople, was but a little before come to + Venice, a warie wise man, and of great experience, who, for his + dexteritie of wit and skilfulnesse in the Turkish language, + was thought of all others most fit to take in hand so great a + matter. He having received letters and instructions from the + Senat, and furnished with all things necessarie, travelling + through Germanie, Polonia, and the forrests of Mæsia, in + Turkish attire, came to Moneastron, a port towne upon the side + of the Euxine or Black Sea, at the mouth of the great river + Boristhenes, where he embarked himself for Trapezond, but + was by a contrarie wind driven to Sinope, a citie of great + trafficke; from whence he travelled, by rough and broken ways, + to Cutay, keeping still upon the left hand because he would not + fall upon any part of the Turk’s armie (which was then marching + towards Cyprus through all those countries); neverthelesse, + he fell upon a part thereof, from which he with great danger + rid himselfe, beinge taken for a Turke, and by blind and + troublesome wayes, through rockes and forrests, arrived at + length at Erzirum, a strong citie of the Turks, then upon the + frontiers of the Turk’s dominions toward the Georgians. This + journey of Alexander’s was not kept so secret, but that it + was vented at Constantinople by a spie, who, under the colour + of friendship haunting the Venetian embassadour’s house at + Pera, had got certaine knowledge of the going of Alexander in + Persia. Whereupon, certaine courrours were sent out with all + speed to beset the three straight passages into Persia, whereby + it was supposed he must of necessitie passe, with certaine + notes also of the favour of the man, of his stature, and other + marks wherby he was best to be knowne. But he in so dangerous + a countrie doubting all things, and fearing such a matter, + leaving his companie behind him, with incredible celeritie + posted from Erzirum to Tauris, and was a great way gone before + the Turk’s courrours came into those quarters; who, yet hearing + of him, followed after as far as they durst, but could not + overtake him. Alexander, comming to Tauris, understood that + the court lay at Casbin, about twelve days’ journey farther up + into the country. Comming thither the 14th of August of this + year, 1571, he chanced to meet with certaine English marchants, + with whom he had beene before acquainted; by whose helpe he not + only got to speak with Ayder Tamas, the king’s third sonne, but + learned of them also the manners and fashions of the Persian + court, and how to beare himselfe therein. The Persians, by + reason of the intolerable heate, doe most of their business at + that time of the yeare by night. Wherefore, Alexander, about + midnight brought in to Aider, declared unto him the cause of + his comming: and the next night admitted into the speech of + his aged father, delivered his letters of credence, and in the + name of the Senat, declared unto him, with what perfidious + dealing Selymus, the Turkish emperor, was about to take away + Cyprus from the Venetians, with what greedinesse and pride + he had set upon the Christians, and that discharged of that + warre, he would of all likelyhood set upon the Persians; + having the selfesame quarrell unto the Persians that he had + unto the Venetians, that is, an ardent and insatiable desire + of soveraignetie; a sufficient cause for the greedie Turke + to repute every king, the richer that he was, the more his + enemie. After that, setting foorth to the full the prowesse of + the Christians, the wonderfull preparation they had made, both + at sea and land, he persuaded the king, with all his power, + to invade the Turke, now altogether busied in the warres of + Cyprus; and to recover againe such parts of his kingdom as + Solyman, the father of Selymus, had taken from him. Warres, + he said, were more happily managed abroad than at home; that, + sithence he alone (the Christian princes all then at quiet) + had withstood the Turk’s whole force and power, he needed not + now to doubt of his most prosperous successe, the Christian + princes now joyning with him. That he was much unmindful of his + former losses and wrongs, if he thought he enjoyed an assured + peace, which he should find to be nothing els but a deferring + of war unto more cruell times; and that the Turke, if he should + overrun Cyprus, would forthwith turne his victorious arms upon + him. The end of one warre was (as he said) but the beginning + of another; and that the Turkish empire could never stay in + one state; and that he would observe not the Turke’s words, + but his deeds; and how that the Othoman emperours, according + to the oportunitie of the times, used by turnes sometimes + force, sometimes deceit, as best served their purposes. That no + princes had at all times, by dissembled peace and uncertaine + leagues, more deluded some, untill they had oppressed others. + He wished also, that at length this his cunning dealing might + appeare unto the world; and that princes would thinke, that + being combined together, they might more easily overcome the + Turke, than being seperated, defend their owne; that in former + times, sometimes will, sometimes occasion, was wanting to them + to unite their forces; and that, therefore, they should now + combine themselves for their common good against the common + enemie; that it conserned no lesse the Persians than the + Christians, to have the power of the Turke abated; and that + this taking up of armes should be for the good of the Persian + king, howsoever things should fall out; if well, he should + then recover what he had before lost, with much more that was + the Turke’s; if otherwise, yet by voluntarie entering into + armes, to countenance himselfe, and to give the Turks occasion + to think that he feared him not, which was (as he said) the + only way to preserve their common safetie, which would be unto + all the confederat princes easie enough, if they themselves + made it not more difficult than the power of the enemie. The + speech of the embassadour was willingly heard; whereunto the + king answered, that he would consider thereupon what he had to + doe; and, in the meanwhile, a faire house was appointed for + the embassadour and his followers, and bountifull allowance + appointed for the king’s charge. He was also many times + sumptuously feasted by the noblemen whom he still requested to + be mediatours unto the king, to take that honourable warre in + hand. The king had at that time a sonne called Ismael, a man + of great spirit, whom he then kept in durance, for that he, + with too much insolencie, made roades into the frontiers of the + Turke’s dominions, to the disturbance of the leagues his father + had before made with the late Turkish emperor, Solyman: unto + him, Alexander having accesse, was of him courteously heard, + who, fretting and languishing for verie griefe of revenge + upon the Turkes, wished that either the king, his father, had + his mind, or he himselfe the power of a king, and said, That + if ever it were his good fortune to obtaine, he would indeed + shew what he then in mind thought. But of him more shall be + said hereafter. Whilest this matter went more slowly forward + in the Persian court than the embassadour would have had it, + newes was brought unto the court of the great victorie which + the Christians had much about that time obtained of the Turkes + at sea; upon which occasion the embassadour solicited the king + more earnestly than before, to make himselfe partaker of the + victorie of the Christians by entring into confederation with + them, and by taking up of armes, rather than to hold uncertain + friendship with the Turkes in their miseries, by whom he had + been so often wronged. This he said, was the only time for + the Persian king to recover his former glorie, the like offer + whereof would neither often chance, neither long stay; and that + if he suffered so fit an opportunitie to slip away, he should + afterwards in vaine wish for the same, when it were so late. + This so wholsome counsell was well heard, but prevailed nothing + to stir up the aged king, who, then troubled with rebellion + in Media, or wearie of the former warres he had had with the + Turke, and glad of such peace as he had then with him, answered + the embassadour: That, for as much as the Christian princes had + made a perpetuall league amongst themselves, he would for two + yeares expect the event, and afterward, as occasion served, so + to resolve upon peace or warre. This improvident resolution + of the king brought afterward unprofitable and too late + repentance unto the whole Persian kingdome, when, as within a + few yeares after, all the calamities which the Senat had by + their embassadour (as true prophets) foretold, redounded unto + the great shaking thereof. For the Cyprian warre once ended, + and peace concluded with the Venetians, Amurath, the sonne of + Selymus, succeeding his father in the Turkish empire, invading + the Persian king, tooke from him the great country of Media, + now called Silvan, with a great part of Armenia the Great, and + the regall citie of Tauris, as shall be here after in due place + declared. At which time the Persian, who now refused to take up + armes or join in league with the Christian princes, repented + that he had not before hearkened unto the wholsome counsell of + the Venetians; and, taught by his owne harmes, wished in vaine + that the Christian princes would againe take up armes and joyne + with him against the Turke.” + +In the year 1576 troubles arose in the Persian kingdom consequent on +the death of Tahmasp, which were taken advantage of by Sultan Murad +III. Tahmasp had eleven sons; Mahomed Khodabendeh, who suffered from +a weakness in his eyes; Ismael, a turbulent warrior, confined in the +fortress of Cahaca, between Tauris and Casbin; Hyder, the third, with a +powerful party in the State; and the others, Mahmoud, Solyman, Mustafa, +Emanguli, Alichar, Ahmed, Abrahim, and Ismael the younger. + +Before his death he appointed Ismael his successor, to the great +discontent of Hyder, who, being in the palace, caused himself to be +crowned; but Ismael’s friends being strong he was imprisoned in his +palace and soon after murdered. Ismael, on ascending the throne, caused +his eight younger brothers to be murdered, and greatly oppressed the +country;[166] he himself, after a year’s reign, met with his fate, being +murdered by his sister. The Persian chiefs raised Mahomed Khodabendeh +to the throne, who, in endeavouring to avenge his brothers’ deaths, +caused great discord in the kingdom, of which Murad determined to take +advantage, inducing the Georgians under Levent Ogli and the people of +Shirvan to revolt. After a few years, however, the incapable Mahomet +was dethroned by the Persian nobles to make way for his son Abbas. This +prince, perhaps the best ruler Persia had had for many centuries, began +to reign in 1585, and is known to history as Shah Abbas the Great. + + + + +FOOTNOTES + + +[164] According to Alessandri, Shah Tahmasp would allow no one to be +avaricious but himself. + +[165] Angerius Busbequius legationis Turcicæ epist. 4. + +[166] He also sent to put Mahomed Khodabendeh to death, but died himself +before the order was executed. + + + + +TRAVELS IN PERSIA, BY CATERINO ZENO. + + + + +RAMUSIO’S PREFACE.[167] + + +Having undertaken to describe a journey made in Persia by M. Caterino +Zeno, knight, at the time that our Republic, being at war with the Turk, +desired that he should be harassed on the East by the arms of the king +Ussun Cassano, who, some years before with great skill in the art of war, +had made himself Master of Persia, and a great part of the neighbouring +provinces; I have considered it suited to my undertaking, to treat of +all the wars, which were waged in Persia, both between the members of +the royal family and by the Persians against the Turks. And particularly +to narrate the manner in which this Ussun Cassano, a poor nobleman, and +the weakest in condition of many brothers[168] (Giausa,[169] the eldest, +having become King of Persia), not possessing more than thirty soldiers +besides a small castle, afterwards raised himself to such grandeur, that +he had the courage to dispute the empire of all Asia with the Ottoman +house, which, under Mahomet II,[170] was a terror to the East. + +But the arts by which he made himself king, his valour and cunning, I +shall narrate as briefly as possible, as I consider these things worthy +to be reported to our nation; for, amongst all the kings of the East, +who existed since the Government was taken away from the Persians, and +transferred to the Greeks, there have been none who equalled the glory +of Darius Hystaspes and Ussun Cassano; and if fortune had favoured him +in the second battle at Tabeada in the campaign of Tokat, as it did in +the first he had with the Turks on the Euphrates, there is no doubt that +by these two victories he would have made himself master of all Asia and +Egypt. But it is to be regretted that some Eastern kings, great in power +and intellect, have not had historians to celebrate their deeds, since +among the Sultans of Egypt and among the Kings of Persia, there have been +men most excellent in war,[171] and worthy not only of being compared +with ancient barbarian kings famous in arms,[172] but even with the +great Greek and Roman commanders, in all those things which constitute +able generals of armies. For the record of the deeds of such reach us +Europeans, who are admirers of the virtues of men abroad and at home, in +a condition so mutilated and imperfect, that from the few particulars +we cannot draw up a complete history. Therefore, let no one marvel if +in these my notes I do not describe things as fully in some places as I +should have done, if I had had ampler information; since M. Caterino, +who, as has been said, went as ambassador to Ussun Cassano, wrote several +letters, from which I have drawn the pith of this short history, for the +satisfaction of those who, hearing discussions about the Sufi, and of his +great pomp, are desirous of being informed of the affairs of the Persian +Empire. And I know well that in thus writing to a purport different from +what has been written by others, many will be apt to criticise me, as it +is difficult to efface early impressions from the mind; but before they +do so, I beg they will rather consider my good intentions than impute +to me any desire to gain a reputation for being better acquainted with +the affairs of the world than other writers. But surely we ought far +sooner to credit what is told us of the doings of Ussun Cassano, by one +who was connected with him, and who got his information from the Queen +Despina, his own aunt, than by those who, in their histories, have only +availed themselves of the narrations of some Armenians, who, to take away +his reputation, went about spreading the report that he was not born of +royal blood, and that while he governed certain places in Armenia, by +lavish expenditure, and gaining the favour of the soldiery, he seized an +opportunity of casting off the sway of Giausa, and treacherously putting +him to death with his son.[173] And they add, to further embellish this +lie, that in this Giausa the descendants of Moleoncre, formerly a great +sultan of the Parthians, became extinct. These things are all well known +not to be true, since how could Ussun Cassano have made himself Lord of +Persia, if he had not been of royal blood; particularly, for this reason, +that there is no nation which holds noble birth and royal descent in +more estimation than the Persians. And to omit the ancient example of +Darius Hystaspes,[174] the son of Atossa, the daughter of Cyrus, there +is the more recent one of Ismail; for, although he was not born of royal +blood on his father’s side, nevertheless his mother, called Martha, was +daughter of Ussun Cassano, through whom the new king was tolerated, as +formerly Darius was, as the son of Atossa. We must not believe that the +partizans of the ancient kings[175] (if indeed there was a party, as +these authors say) would be so soon swept away; because it is impossible +that a new dynasty should appear without causing great commotions +and tumults, as we have seen in many kingdoms of Christendom; and, +nevertheless, the reign of Ussun Cassano, as regards internal affairs, +was not visited by any blast of domestic or civil war, except that raised +by his son Unghermaumet; but this was caused by lust of power and not by +a faction of a former reign. Therefore, read without chiding these my +commentaries, in which, if I had been able to find the “Book of Travels +of M. Caterino”, who first gave information of the affairs of Persia, and +preceded M. Giosafat Barbaro, and M. Ambrogio Contarini as ambassador +to Persia from our Republic, I should have touched upon many other +particulars, which would have been most acceptable to those who take an +interest in such things. + +As, in spite of all my research, I have never been able to get into my +hands this Book of Travels, if I should find it (and I am sure there +is no one so malicious as not to shew it), I will supply what I have +now missed. But, as we say, he who does all he can, does much. Since +we cannot get further particulars, let us accept these, and praise +the industry of the good M. Caterino, and it being evident that, not +being able to find more on this subject among his writings, I cannot +communicate it. + + + + +CATERINO ZENO. + + + + +FIRST BOOK. + + +In the year of our Lord Jesus Christ one thousand four hundred and +fifty, (1450), Giausa,[176] being King of Persia, _Assimbeo_[177] +(who, from that time, on account of his deeds, called himself _Ussun +Cassano_,[178] which in the Persian tongue signifies “great man”), not +contenting himself with being Lord of a small castle, began by little +and little to usurp the states, and the jurisdictions of his other +brothers less powerful than himself,[179] who, either not being of a +warlike disposition or for some other reason, preferred living in ease +and not opposing his ambition. Thus he without difficulty raised himself +in credit and reputation. Ussun Cassano was a warlike, valiant man, +and above all of great liberality, which is a rare virtue, to enable +great lords to gain over the affections of the soldiery, provided it +is exercised at the proper time and place, and towards the deserving +(so that he who makes use of it be not esteemed of small judgment or a +prodigal). By this means he was soon followed by people of war, so that +he brought together five hundred good horsemen, assaulted the great and +famous city of _Amitto_;[180] in which fortune was so favourable to him, +that he took it with so much reputation that from that time he had the +support of all those regions. Hence, he thought he should easily be able +to make himself master of the kingdom of Persia, provided his partizans, +who now favoured him so readily, continued to do so. Therefore, having +made of them a large army, he took the field with the intention, if +Giausa[181] opposed him, of trying the fortune of battle. Giausa, who +had been half apprehensive of the designs of his brother[182] hearing +of the assault and capture of Amitto,[183] did not think it politic to +keep himself aloof and so allow Ussun Cassano to increase in power and +also to repair the other disadvantages, which usually follow in the +course of war. Therefore, having levied an army, he advanced, with almost +all the forces of Persia, against Ussun Cassano. At this juncture, some +Persian lords, who were friends of both, knowing what desolation would +follow in Persia if they came to blows, thrust themselves between the +brothers, and would have brought, with much difficulty, matters to a +good understanding, if it had not been that Giausa, demanding a tribute +of three hundred boy slaves from Ussun Cassano, and the latter not +being willing to consent to it, proved the cause of all proposals of +reconciliation being broken off. As he said, “Have I command over the +sons of my vassals, that I should pay them as a tribute to Giausa; or can +I forsooth dispose of them as my own? If Giausa wished to take them by +force of arms from the hands of their fathers and mothers, I should never +consent to it, even if I were certain of losing my life, as it is equally +enjoined on the Prince to defend his people, as on the people to obey; it +is not now to be thought of, that I should give them of free will.” + +This answer so touched to the quick, as it were, the hearts of those +people, that there was not one who would not have risked his life for +Ussun Cassano. Being held in this favour he artfully drew Giausa[184] +to the plains of _Arsenga_,[185] where, having come to an engagement, +he defeated and took him, pursuing his son, who sought safety in flight +beyond Tauris. + +The Persian histories say, that Mahomet the Second, the lord of the +Turks, who was afraid lest the greatness of Ussun Cassano should harm +him in time, undertook to favour and replace Giausa in power. Wherefore, +Ussun Cassano, expecting some great commotion on this side, sent +Unghermaumet, his son, a valiant young man, as far as Tauris, which was +the chief place of a great region; while he himself on the other side +went on reducing the whole of Persia to his sway, and conquered as far as +the Indian Sea, possessing a mighty empire; which empire was comprised +in these limits—on the east, the river Indus and the Tartars;[186] on +the west, Gorgora,[187] Trebizond, Caramania, Soria,[188] and Lesser +Armenia, on this side of the Euphrates; on the south, the Arabs and the +Sea of India; on the north, the _Sea of Baccu_.[189] This his country +was for the most part inhabited by Armenian Christians, and by native +Persian races, separated by a continuous rampart of mountains, inhabited +by Kurds, an independent people, and partly ruled over by the Lord of +_Betelis_,[190] who, some years later, seeing the greatness of Ussun +Cassano, gave in his submission. And because at that time the Turkish +arms were more than ever flourishing and illustrious under Mahomet II, +Grand Turk, and made themselves felt gloriously in Asia and in Europe, +Ussun Cassano, as generally happens to great Princes who live in jealousy +about their states if they see another Prince of enterprise make great +progress in war, fearing lest the immense power of the Ottoman house +should in time destroy the Persian kingdom, made a close alliance and +connection with Caloiane,[191] Emperor of Trabisonda, taking as a wife +Despina, his daughter, under the condition that she might live in the +Christian faith. This same Emperor had also married another of his +daughters to the Lord Nicolo Crespo, Duke of the Archipelago, from whom +were born four daughters, who were afterwards most honourably married +to as many Venetian gentlemen, of the first nobility, and of one named +Fiorenza settled in the Cornaro house, was born Madame Caterina, the +Queen of Cyprus, and M. Giorgio, the Procurator; Valenza married to +M. Giovanni Loredano dalla Samitara, son of the late M. Aluise, the +Procurator, had no issue; of another, called Lucretia, married into +the house of Priuli, was born M. Nicolò, the Procurator. Lastly, from +Violante, who married M. Caterino Zeno, knight, who was afterwards +ambassador in Persia, was born M. Pietro, who begot M. Caterino, who +died last year, whose soul God hath taken to himself, and whose son, M. +Nicolò, still lives. This same M. Caterino, knight, in the misgivings +which nearly all the powers of the world had of the power of Mahomet, +the Grand Turk, was despatched as ambassador from our Republic to Ussun +Cassano, in order that if they were not able to raise the Sovereigns +of the West to combat the common enemy, who, insatiable in his lust +of power, aspired to the empire of the world, they might at least +induce those of the East, by the same misgivings to become anxious and +mistrustful of their affairs. + +Fortune, which often opposes itself to the loftiest desires of men, +caused that our Republic, being then at the zenith of its greatness, +and most flourishing through many acquisitions, having in recent years +waged a glorious war in Lombardy against Philippo Visconte, and having +increased her dominion in that province, excited a certain jealousy in +the Sovereigns of Europe, who feared lest such power and opulence should +in time prove their ruin; and especially lest this Republic, being +superior to the Roman in civil government, might in course of years +attain the same grandeur; therefore, as if they had conspired together, +when she invited each one into a league against Mahomet, they all plainly +declined. On this account our ancestors, who, animated by an honourable +zeal, were eager for this politic enterprise, were filled with much +anxiety, seeing that envy of their greatness would occasion the ruin of +Christendom. As, in the event of a Republic, which was powerful at sea +and in Greece, and enriched by many large islands,[192] which were in her +possession, meeting with any slight defeat, what obstacle would remain to +the Turk, to prevent him attacking Italy, as was afterwards shown in the +capture of Otranto.[193] + +But what gave them greater disgust and anxiety of mind was, that the Turk +knowing the importance of keeping this Republic friendly, sought for +peace; and the senators saw that after the other Powers had been beaten +by his arms, they themselves his allies, would remain an easy prey to +the conquerors. Now, while they found themselves in this dilemma, four +ambassadors sent by Ussun Cassano, arrived at Venice,—namely, Azimamet, +Morat, Nicolo and Chefarsa, venerable men, and of great authority with +the king, who, with many proffers from their master, offered to make +a league and an honourable alliance against the Turk and against the +Soldan, provided the Venetians would not fail with their fleet to attack +both powers. These (Venetians) being delighted to have the greatest and +most powerful king of the East as their confederate and ally in this war, +accepted the offer, and professed to have always been good friends with +the king, and assured him that this war would be more agreeable to them +than ever so many others they had waged. + +And thus, Azimamet remaining at Venice, the other three passed on to +the Pope and to the King of Naples to excite, if possible, both of +these powers to enter the league. Hence the Senate thought proper to +elect an ambassador to reside at the Court of the King Ussun Cassano; +as much to be ready to inflame and excite him to take up arms for the +common offence and defence as to represent the grandeur and dignity of +the Republic. Therefore, M. Francesco Michele was first elected, who +refused; then the senators elected M. Giacomo da Mezo, who also would +not accept this charge. At last, in the year 1471, M. Caterino Zeno was +elected, who cheerfully undertook the journey moved only by zeal for +the holy faith. He was the son of M. Dragon Zeno, who died at Damascus, +having been many years before as far as Bassera,[194] to Mecca and to +Persia; therefore, M. Caterino had some acquaintance with those regions, +and from the knowledge that he was nephew of the Queen Despina, wife of +Ussun Cassano, considered himself alone fitted to serve his country well +and efficiently in this embassy. But, because this journey was unknown, +long, and full of dangers, and there was no one to be found to go with +M. Caterino, our Government, not wishing to desist from the enterprise, +and perceiving this difficulty, provided more pay and better provisions +for those attendants who would go with him, by which means they procured +some valiant men, accustomed to all kinds of hardships, who, induced by +the high salary, and by a desire to see the world, gladly entered his +service. By this means M. Caterino was despatched on the 6th June of the +same year that he was elected, with a commission to Ussun Cassano, our +Government offering to arm one hundred galleys and many other large and +small ships, and with them to attack the empire of the Turk from the sea, +if he from the East would not fail to press them with all his forces. +With these commissions M. Caterino left Venice, arrived at Rhodes in a +few months, and thence having entered the country of the Caramanians, +with much difficulty reached Persia. I cannot give the particulars of +his journey, because, as I mentioned above, I could never, with all my +research, get his book that was printed, into my hands. + +M. Caterino, having arrived at the Court of Ussun Cassano,[195] was +received by him with great rejoicing and honour, as the ambassador of +a Republic so illustrious and powerful, his new confederate and ally; +then, after having visited the king, he asked to be allowed to visit +the Queen Despina. This matter, as it was not the custom to grant it to +any of the Persians, was refused, it being the habit among them for the +ladies not to allow themselves to be seen by any one, and they consider +being seen as bad as if among us a person committed adultery. + +Therefore, while they walk about the cities and the fortresses, or ride +with their husbands to the war, in the following of the king, they cover +their faces with nets woven of horsehair,[196] so thick that they can +easily see others, but cannot be seen by them. Nevertheless, M. Caterino, +by the special permission of the king, was allowed to visit her in the +name of the Republic. Then, being taken into the presence of the queen, +and she being informed who he was, he was welcomed and received by her +with the greatest favour as a dear nephew and relation, asking him with +great instance if all her nephews were alive, and in what condition they +were. M. Caterino replied with great pleasure, and gave satisfactory +answers to all her questions. Afterwards, when he wished to return to +his lodging, she would not hear of it, but kept him in her palace, +giving him separate apartments for himself and suite, and presenting him +every day (a thing which is considered very honourable from the King of +Persia) with the same victuals, which were put before their majesties. +And then, having heard more particularly the reason of his coming, she +promised him all her influence, and showing herself friendly towards +our illustrious Government. And in reality this queen was instrumental, +through M. Caterino, in inducing Ussun Cassano to declare war against +the Turk. Nor can one deny that through the relationship M. Caterino +had with Despina, he attained to such favour and intimacy with Ussun +Cassano, that he even went in and out of the private apartments of the +king and queen at whatever time and hour he pleased, and what is still +more extraordinary, even when both their majesties were in bed; which I +do not think any other Mahometan or Christian king ever granted, even to +their nearest relations. This Despina was the most religious lady in the +world, always remained a good Christian, and every day had mass solemnly +celebrated in the Greek manner, which she attended with much devotion. +Nor did her husband, although he was of a different faith and an enemy +of her own, ever say one word to her about it, or persuade her to change +her religion; certainly it is curious that the one bore so much with the +other, and that there was so much love and affection between them. Nor +did M. Caterino fail, after seeing this good Christian, to incite her +to persuade her husband to wage a stubborn war with the Turks, bitter +enemies of all the Christians and most particularly hostile to her and to +her race, as they had slain her father,[197] and taken away his realm. +Prevailed on by these arguments, the queen did so much and said so much +to her husband, that he who was of himself much inclined to humble the +greatness of the Ottoman power, wrote with his own hand orders to the +King of Gorgora, Lord of the Georgians, to commence war with the Turks in +that quarter. And Despina, while her husband was engaged in this project +and was collecting troops, hurriedly dispatched M. Caterino’s chaplain, +with letters written by her own hand to the most Illustrious Government +and all her relations. + +But the spring having passed, and there being no news of the preparations +which M. Caterino said our Republic was making to attack the Ottoman, +the king began to lose hope and to give less credit to him than before. +On this account, having in readiness a magnificent army, he thought of +leading it against some Tartar chiefs, his enemies. But our Republic, +which did not fail to send messages and letters, to keep him acquainted +with affairs and to confirm him in his knowledge, that the Venetians +would never fail in what they had promised, on the 6th of January, +twenty months after the departure of M. Caterino, elected M. Giosafat +Barbaro ambassador to Persia, and sent with him several gifts to the +king, which were six immense siege guns, arquebuses, and field-pieces in +great number, powder, and other munitions of war; six bombardiers, one +hundred arquebusiers, and other men skilled in artillery. And, on the +other hand, they made a captain-general of the sea, and sent him with a +great fleet to the coasts of Caramania, where, having arrived, and after +waging some minor battles with the enemy, he took some castles which the +Turks had occupied, giving them over to the generals of the Caramanian +prince.[198] This chief, for having given a passage to M. Caterino, was +unexpectedly attacked by the Turk, and deprived of his power;[199] having +left several fortresses well garrisoned with men and munitions, he fled +to Ussun Cassano, by whom he was graciously received, and given hopes of +being reinstated, provided those fortresses, which he said still held +for him, remained in his allegiance. But hope, which often disappoints +the desires of men, now disappointed the Caramanian; since the captains +who had charge of these strong places, corrupted by Turkish gold, +although with the dishonoured name of traitors to their sovereign, gave +up the fortresses in their possession, to the enemy. Having made this +acquisition, Mahomet sent ambassadors from Constantinople to Persia, to +excuse himself to Ussun Cassano for what he had done, and to confirm an +honourable peace and friendship with him. + +But very early on the day they were to have had an audience of the king, +M. Caterino entered his room, and spoke to him with such convincing +arguments, that, being backed up by Despina and by pity for the +Caramanian monarch exiled from his home, and who, having come into his +presence, supplicated, and entreated him not to abandon him in his +adversity, the ambassadors were dismissed without ceremony. And having +given immediate orders for war, he put his army in readiness; and he +himself having arrived in great haste at the city of Betilis,[200] sent +for M. Caterino, and said that he wished him to come with him to his army +that he might see with what promptitude he had undertaken the war, partly +for his own sake and for the safety of the kingdom of Persia, and partly +incited by our Republic, and by the recent injury done to the Caramanian +lord, his friend and ally, whom he could not desert, as he had thrown +himself altogether into his hands. + +These things M. Caterino heard with great delight, and thanked him with +many words for the affection he had for our most illustrious Government, +and joining one of his captains, called Amarbei Giusultan Nichenizza, +went to make a muster of the king’s warriors, who, as he writes in a +private letter, were one hundred thousand horse, reckoning attendants, +who accompanied their masters; some of them and their horses armed after +the manner of Italy, and some covered with strong, thick hides, able +to save the wearer from any heavy blow. Others were clothed in fine +silk with doublets quilted so thickly that they could not be pierced +by arrows. Others had gilt cuirasses and coats of mail, with so many +weapons of offence and defence, that it was a marvel to behold how well +and skilfully they bore themselves in arms.[201] Their servants also +were excellently mounted, with cuirasses of polished iron and in place +of bucklers which our people use, they have round shields, with which +they cover themselves, and make use of the keenest scimitars in battle; +the masters made a total of forty thousand men, all brave soldiers, and +their servants sixty thousand, and finer cavalry were never seen in any +army: the men were tall and very muscular, and very dexterous in wielding +their weapons, so that it is reported that a small troop of them would +have routed ever so great a squadron of the enemy. The muster being +completed, he made forced marches with the whole army towards the country +of the enemy, and with him went Pirameto,[202] the Caramanian chief, and +all the king’s sons who were valiant young men. And M. Caterino, who +also wished to be with them, went to bid adieu to the Queen Despina; but +the army marched ahead with such speed that he could not rejoin it, +and therefore was much disgusted. Going on his way with a squadron of +five hundred horse he was attacked in Giauas[203] by the people of the +country, who caused them much loss; thus, having lost many soldiers, and +having suffered several other inconveniences, he turned towards Tocat, +and led them at last to the city of Carpeto,[204] where he heard, to +his great comfort, that Ussun Cassano was soon to arrive. The Persian +army entered Giauas in the month of September, and carried fire and +sword through the country far and near, plundering and cutting people to +pieces, to the great terror of the inhabitants, so that every one fled +before this tempest. And passing Arsenga[205] and Tocat, he burnt the +towns and villages everywhere with the same fury, and assaulted and took +Carle, which belonged to the Caramanian. + +Mustafà, the son of the Turk, who, with Acomat Pasha, was in Lulla, a +city of Caramania, being alarmed at this, fled towards Cogno:[206] and +removing his mother, sent her to Saibcacarascar,[207] four days’ journey +in the interior, towards Constantinople. But the Persians coming towards +Cogno, the Turk wrote letters to his son that he should retreat, and not +rashly seek to come to blows with the enemy, because any little victory +would raise their courage, and make them attempt anything. On account +of these letters Mustafà, who knew that his father was right, retired +to Cuteia,[208] where he found Daut[209] Pasha, Beglerbeg of Natolia, +making great assemblies of people of war. The Grand Turk then did not +think it right to linger lest his men, missing his presence, might lose +spirit and allow the enemy boldly to enter the country and to capture +the strongholds. On this account, having passed into Asia with his whole +court, he expected soon to encounter Ussun Cassano with the Persian army. +But having heard from his spies that the disturbances in those provinces +arose from a captain of Ussun Cassano’s, who, with forty thousand +horse, went plundering, burning, and slaughtering, and who just then +was marching towards Bursia[210] to burn it (the king having remained +behind with the rest of the army), the Turk despatched Mustafà with sixty +thousand of the best cavalry of the army, who moved by forced marches +towards the enemy, desirous of encountering them and of putting a stop +to such devastation. The Persian army being warned of this, commenced a +retreat, knowing themselves to be much inferior in number to the enemy; +and, as they were loaded with booty and made slow progress, four thousand +Turks who pursued at great speed under Armaut,[211] came up with them and +at once attacked, when the Persians, beginning to fight bravely, pressed +them hard, and routed them in a moment, and cut to pieces two thousand +Turks with their leader Armaut. Scarcely was this action over when +Mustafà arrived with the rest of his men, who, closing in one squadron, +attacked the Persians fiercely; while the latter, on their side, resisted +not less courageously. Both parties bore themselves bravely for many +hours, and it is thought that anyhow the victory would have been on +the side of the Persians, if they had not first fought with those four +thousand horse, since Mustafà, who came up with fresh men, found them +fatigued with that battle and with the journey, and thus remained the +conqueror, although with great loss on his side.[212] The number of the +slain is not given in the letters from which this history is taken; it is +only mentioned that Usufcan,[213] the general of Ussun Cassano, was taken +prisoner by the Turks, and that Pirameto,[214] the Caramanian Prince, +fled and saved himself with a great part of the army. The whole of the +succeeding winter the king and the Turk busied themselves in making fresh +preparations for war, that they might in the spring again confront each +other. + +And Ussun Cassano, in the beginning of the summer, took the field with +his army, and having captured some of the spies of the Turk, commanded +their hands to be cut off and hung round their necks, and that they +should be sent back to the Ottoman in this manner. + +At this very time arrived letters for M. Caterino, written by M. Pietro +Mocenigo, who was afterwards Doge, then Captain-General of the Sea, and +M. Giosafat Barbaro[215] giving him intelligence, both of the presents +which our most Illustrious Government was sending to the king, and of the +arrival of the fleet on the coast of Caramania. And above all, he heard +with great satisfaction of the castles which they had taken and restored +to the generals of the Caramanian Prince; these letters filled Ussun +Cassano with such joy and hope, that he ordered the news to be spread +through the whole army, and commanded as a greater token of affection +and honour towards our Republic, that at the sound of the trumpet, and +Zamblacare,[216] the Venetian name should be lauded and saluted, and such +was the din, that the noise might be heard at several miles’ distance. + +The Turk also having made greater exertions than before, passed into +Asia, and shut himself up in Amasia, a city of Cappadocia, which was the +Sangiacato[217] of his son Bajazet,[218] who together with Mustafà, +went with his father to this war, Gien,[219] his third son, remaining in +Constantinople. And since the difficulty of leading armies into Persia +consists in supplying provisions, it being the custom of the Persians to +desolate the country for fifteen or twenty days’ journey on the side on +which they expect an invasion; so that, whoever, in attacking Persia, +does not go well provided with necessaries, either dies of hunger on the +road, has to retire much to his dishonour, or else becomes a prey to the +enemy. Mahomet, who had deliberated well about this with his people, +after having made a good provision of victuals, divided all his army into +five columns. + +The first he led in person, in which, with the corps of Janissaries, were +thirty thousand soldiers—the flower of the Turkish nation, so to speak. + +The second, of another thirty thousand, Bajazet commanded. + +Mustafà led the third, also of thirty thousand, including twelve thousand +Wallachians, led by Basaraba, their captain, who came to the aid of the +Turks in this war. + +The fourth was under Asmurat Palæologus, a Turk, Beglerbeg of Roumania, +numbering sixty thousand men, among whom were many of his Christian +subjects. + +The fifth was under Daut, Beglerbeg of Natolia, of forty thousand men. +There were besides, the Acangi,[220] volunteer cavalry, with their chief, +to the number of thirty thousand. These traversed the country thirty, +forty, and fifty miles before the Turkish armies, plundered, burnt, and +slaughtered whatever they found before them. They are most valiant in +person, and it is their duty to bring provisions to the camp. + +With this immense army the Turk started from Amasia, and having with +him several large pieces of artillery, took the road to Tocat in +capital order, and leaving on the left the town of Siuas[221] on the +river Lais,[222] which flows from the mountains of Trebizond, entered a +low plain between that city and Mount Taurus. On their way they found +Nicheset,[223] a very strong Persian castle, which they did not attack, +in order not to lose time on the way. Thus marching, they had on the left +the city of Coiliutar,[224] situated among mountains, and surrounded +with villages; descending the mountain they halted near the city +Carascar,[225] famous for its mines. + +The inhabitants of this place had all fled to the mountains; therefore, +without halting, the army proceeded to the city of Argina,[226] situated +in a wide plain. Here they found in a church a philosopher studying with +many books around him, and who,[227] not ceasing to read, in spite of all +the noise and uproar they made, was cut to pieces by the Acangian[228] +horsemen. All the other people had fled beyond the Euphrates. Having +left this, the Turks passed the country called Arsenga,[229] which is +Lesser Armenia, and approached the Euphrates not far from Malatia,[230] +where, on eleven dromedaries, there arrived before the sovereign the +ambassadors of the Soldan of Cairo to deliver an arrow with a letter on +its point, to which an answer was soon given; and they having remounted +their dromedaries departed, getting over a deal of ground in one day, the +dromedary being so swift as to travel without intermission further than +any other animal. And St. John Chrysostom, upon Matthew, explains the +difficult passage as to how the Magians could have come from the East to +Judæa to worship Christ in such a short space of time, as is mentioned in +the Evangelist, by supposing that they came upon dromedaries, which are +said to be the fastest animals for a long journey. Leaving this place the +Turkish army marched along the banks of the river towards the north-east, +going up against the course of the stream, when on the other bank Ussun +Cassano presented himself with the whole Persian army in array. + +In this place the Euphrates, which is an immense river with very high +banks, forms many sandy islands; so that it is easy to ford it from one +side to the other.[231] + +Ussun Cassano had a magnificent army of Lesdians who are Parthians, of +Persians, Georgians, Kurds, and Tartars, and the principal captains who +led them were Unghermaumet, Calul, and Ezeinel, his sons, and Pirameto, +the Caramanian Prince.[232] But, although his army was so large, he +nevertheless saw that of the Turk as immense, and occupying as large +a space of ground, a thing which he had not at first believed, from +hearsay. He marvelled at it for a time, and then all astonished, said: +“Hai cabesen ne dentider,”[233] which in the Persian tongue signifies +“Oh, son of a ——, what an ocean”; comparing this immense army to a sea. +Then the Turk, who thought that by boldness he might anticipate and check +the forces of Ussun Cassano, commanded the Beglerbeg of Roumania, Asmurat +Palæologus, to cross the river with his men and gain possession of the +other bank, which would be an evident defeat for Ussun Cassano and his +whole army; and since Palæologus was young and bold, in order that his +rashness might not cause some mistake, he joined to him Mahomet Pasha to +direct him in any emergency. + +He led out an immense squadron to the sound of kettle-drums and other +martial instruments, with banners flying, descended into the bed of the +river, and crossed from one sand-bank to another. Then Ussun Cassano, +irritated by this bold proceeding, sent a powerful force of the flower +of his army into the river, where the Persians having joined battle with +the Turks, either party without yielding as much as an inch of water or +ground, fought bravely for more than three hours continuously, while both +armies stood on the banks looking on and encouraging. At last, the Turks +being repulsed by the Persians with great loss, were routed and driven +from the sand-banks; many were drowned in the tumult, being carried away +by the stream; and the Persians falling upon them persistently, caused a +renewal of the battle more fiercely and cruelly than before; since, in +this retreat Palæologus, carried away by the water, was nearly drowned, +and the Turks wishing to assist him made desperate head again, regardless +of their lives.[234] Thus the assault was renewed so fiercely that no +advantage could be discerned on either side; however, the Persians at +last obtaining the victory, again broke the enemy, and beat them back +with great slaughter, Asmurat[235] remaining drowned in the waters. + +Mahomet Pasha, who was in array on a neighbouring sand-bank, seeing this, +adroitly withdrew to the bank, where, on the arrival of the Persians +pursuing the enemy, he a third time made head, and valorously sustained +the Persian assault; and there would have been fiercer fighting than ever +if the night had not come on and separated the combatants. + +And there is an opinion that the closing in of the day robbed Ussun +Cassano of a great victory; as, if Mahomet Pasha had been beaten, the +Persians, to their great honour, would have made themselves masters of +the other bank; and, as the Turk in the elevated country could not use +his artillery or occupy an open space of ground with his cavalry, he +would certainly have become a prey to the enemy; since, in the passage of +arms in the river not more than five hundred Persians were killed, and +from the Turkish army there were fifteen thousand missing in killed and +drowned, and numberless prisoners. + +On this account the Turk, harassed by a thousand conjectures, kept +his army under arms all the night, fearing an attack. The next day he +gave an extra donation to all the troops, liberated the slaves on the +condition that they should return with the camp to Constantinople, and +having arrayed the army, marched up the river, leaving it near the city +of Braibret,[236] which he left on his right hand, across the mountains +which separate Greater and Lesser Armenia, which road was towards the +north-west in the direction of Trebizond. + +The Turks being defeated at the fords of the Euphrates in the manner I +have described, Ussun Cassano was incited by his sons and by the whole +army to follow on, so as not to lose the fruits of so great a victory; +since the Persians, who had proved the force of the enemy, despised them, +and expected to come off victorious in every encounter. Therefore, the +king followed the Turks on the other bank, to see what was their design; +but when the Persians saw that they kept away from the Euphrates, they +called on Ussun Cassano with great importunity, to cross the river, as +they plainly saw the Turk was in flight. He gave way to this, although +against his will (as, being a clever, practical, and veteran soldier, +he remembered that noble precept of military science, “that one ought +to pave the roads with gold and make bridges of silver for a flying +enemy”), and acceded to the wishes of his men, to see how so much ardour +and longing for battle would succeed. Thus, having chosen forty thousand +of his most skilful and daring soldiers, he crossed the Euphrates, and +began, with forced marches, to pursue the hostile army, having left +Calul, his eldest son, on the other side of the river with all the +Georgians, Tartars, and many other soldiers in charge of the baggage. By +the end of August he reached the top of some mountains, from the summits +of which he saw the Turkish army in the valley leading in the direction +of Trebizond. Thinking, from his recent victory, that he could easily +overcome them and put them to flight, he arrayed himself for battle. + +The Turks, seeing the road closed to them, and knowing that they must +either open it sword in hand or, to their great disgrace, be routed +and cut to pieces, as happens when inspired by desperation, made a +virtue of necessity, and also arrayed themselves with great ardour for +the battle.[237] The Turk then having left Ustrefo with a considerable +garrison in charge of his camp, set out to scale the mountain on another +side, which was not occupied by the Persian troops. Ussun Cassano, +seeing them leave the camp, sent Unghermaumet, his son, with a squadron +of ten thousand cavalry to oppose Ustrefo, and to cut off all hope of +safety from the Turk. And having made three other large divisions, he +gave the right wing to Pirameto,[238] the Caramanian Prince, and the +left to Ezeinel, his son, commanding in person the centre with all the +infantry, which was in magnificent condition. And the battle having begun +at the fourteenth hour, the action lasted eight hours continuously, +the Persians resisting that great army with such valour, that their +personal prowess was wonderful to see; and if Mustafà, the son of the +Turk, had not attacked with a fresh squadron the right flank of the +Caramanian, the victory would have remained uncertain still longer; +as, when the Caramanian gave way before the fresh assault of Mustafà, +everything was thrown into confusion in that quarter.[239] Thus it was, +that in his retreat he disordered the flank of the line of battle of +Ussun Cassano, who, on account of the confusion of his troops and the +attack of the enemy in front, saw himself so pressed that he was afraid +of being surrounded. Therefore, seized with no small fear on account of +the uncertainty of affairs, he jumped off his horse and mounted a swift +mare, which he always kept ready for such emergencies; and seeing himself +pressed more and more every hour and driven in on the right wing, he +turned round and fled. His son Ezeinel seeing this, threw himself with +great courage into the midst of the infantry and endeavoured to make +head, so that the whole army might not be routed by one charge of the +enemy; but, however much this gallant young man might sustain the fury of +the Turks, being at length killed by them, the Persians were routed and +put to flight. Unghermaumet, who had gone to attack the camp of the Turks +guarded by Ustrefo, met with great resistance, but nevertheless hoped +to have taken it in time; but, seeing the rout of his father, withdrew +little by little, and was in great danger of being made prisoner; since, +before his retreat, the Turks had occupied all the plain. However, by +making great exertions, he escaped and rejoined his father. The latter +not considering himself safe in his camp, which was ten miles distant +from the field of battle, crossed the Euphrates, and retired with the +rest of his men to the interior of his country. This fight took place in +the year 1473, in which ten thousand Persians and fourteen thousand Turks +fell. + +Mahomet, thus remaining conqueror, decided to follow up this good +fortune, and in the course of war to make himself master of some place +of the enemy’s. Therefore, having mustered his army, he marched a second +time towards the city of Baibret,[240] and the Acangi[241] who preceded +him were cut to pieces by the people of the country in great numbers. +After this feat the inhabitants, warned by scouts, that the Turk was +marching up in haste with the rest of his army, fled to the mountains, +having, so to speak, given vent to their fury on their enemies. The Turks +having arrived at the ford of the river Euphrates, where the first battle +had taken place, crossed without any resistance, the Acangi still in +advance. + +Then marching towards Erseagan,[242] they found the country and towns +everywhere abandoned; and four days after they reached Carascar,[243] +a fortress posted on the top of a mountain; the Turks preparing to +attack it, dragged some pieces of artillery up another mountain[244] +which commanded the fortress, and thence bombarded it fifteen days +continuously. At last a captain named Darap, a vassal of Ezeimel, the son +of Ussun Cassano, who was in command, hearing of the death of his master, +surrendered it. From Carascar, the army marched to Coliasar,[245] a city +which, not wishing to essay its strength against so daring an enemy, +also yielded. At that time news came to the Turk that Ussun Cassano was +restoring his army with the design of driving, if possible, the enemy +out of the country, and on this account he did not think it right to +advance further, that he might not run into dangers from which he might +not afterwards be able to extricate himself. Then, having faced about, +he returned in great haste to Sevas, and thence to Tocat,[246] where was +the ambassador of the King of Hungary, whom he had cajoled with many +dissembling words in this way, saying to him that he wished first to +free himself from the war with Persia, and that he would then conclude a +peace with his king who was in treaty for one. All this he did with the +object in this crisis not to be molested by the Hungarian arms. But after +his victory he dismissed him without any conclusion of the affair, by +which artifice the Hungarian king was deceived, to his great hurt and to +that of all Christendom; as there is little reason to doubt that if he +had availed himself of this opportunity, he would, even with very small +forces, have driven the Turks from Greece, and also have terrified the +whole of Asia. + +And the Persian war having been concluded in the manner narrated above, +the Turk returned in great triumph to Constantinople, leaving Mustafà +in his Sangiacato,[247] where he soon afterwards died. And Acomat[248] +Pasha went with a large army towards Laranto, a city of the Caramanian +monarch, situated near Mount Taurus, where, pretending to have peaceable +intentions towards the inhabitants, he gradually gained over the chiefs +by inviting now this one and now that, with courtesy and familiarity, +to eat with him. By using these arts for some time, so as to rid them +of all suspicion of him and of the army, he fixed a certain day for his +departure, before which he made a solemn feast for all these lords, +who, while they were eating and drinking merrily with him, were made +prisoners by some of his men told off for the purpose, and strangled in +some secret places; then, having entered the mountainous country without +difficulty, he took away the people and sent them to Greece, putting +others in their stead to inhabit the country. While these things came to +pass in the Caramanian dominions, Ussun Cassano, who had had in a short +space of time, first the best fortune and then the most adverse he had +ever experienced, found himself in great distress of mind on account +of his recent defeat; as the reputation of being invincible, which he +had acquired in so many wars, seemed to disappear at one blow. For this +reason, having at his court two ambassadors—one a Pole and the other an +Hungarian—he dismissed them both, that they might not witness his misery, +and, by so doing, increase it.[249] + +And as his greatest hope was in the Christian princes, and as he saw that +they had the same interests as himself, he despatched M. Caterino with +letters written to all the kings of Europe, to beg assistance of them, +urging the danger that both parties ran, and that he had taken up arms +against the Ottoman, principally at the instigation of our Republic and +the other Christian powers. + +And thus all these ambassadors, setting out in company from the king, +passed into Gorgora; and M. Caterino having left the other two to +continue their journey, arrived at Salvatopolo on the Greater Sea, +whence he crossed to Cafa[250] in a ship of Lugi da Pozzo, a Genoese; +who, having heard on the voyage that he was ambassador to Ussun Cassano, +wished to take him to Constantinople to the Turks, as Cafa obeyed the +latter and paid tribute. Therefore, they sent a proclamation under severe +penalties, that no one should lodge, receive, or assist him in any way. +However, Andrea Scaranelli, an honest citizen of our Republic, without +thinking of the penalties he would incur, esteeming the favour of our +Government more than life or fortune, came alongside the ship secretly by +night in a boat, and having told him wherefore he was come, took him off +and brought him safely to land, hiding him in his house. M. Caterino not +finding any money here was in great difficulty about his affairs, when a +servant of his, named Martin, persuaded him with many words to sell him +by auction, and to use the money. M. Caterino, although he admired the +peculiar liberality and fidelity of Martin, still pressed by the want +in which he found himself, had him sold, as he proposed, by auction, +making use of the money he got for the sale: a rare example of a faithful +servant, and worthy of being compared with any other in ancient times, +when they say there were such devoted servants, that they would offer to +be killed to save the lives of their masters. Nor did our Republic fail +to recognise such a service done to so worthy a citizen, as, in addition +to his ransom, they gave him a pension, on which he lived: an example for +others to see of what value it is to serve the State faithfully. + +From Cafa M. Caterino wrote letters to the most Illustrious Government, +narrating in them all the events of the two recent battles, and how Ussun +Cassano had despatched him with secret commissions to all the kings of +Europe, to incite them to wage war with spirit against the common enemy, +as he intended in the beginning of spring to take the field with all +the forces of Persia, and to try afresh the fortune of battle. These +letters were most acceptable to the Government on account of their news, +none of which had yet reached them from any other source. But, hearing +that M. Giosafat Barbaro had not yet arrived in Persia, according to +the commission he received when he accepted the embassy, they did not +think it was consistent with their dignity to leave a most friendly +king, and one most constant to his word, without an ambassador, now that +M. Caterino had left him. For this reason, on the 10th September, in +the year 1473, the Senate elected M. Ambrosio Contarini as ambassador +to Persia, who set out on the 13th of February, as is narrated in his +travels. This man, also going through Germany and Poland on the way to +Cafa, at last crossed into Persia, where he found M. Giosafat Barbaro +already arrived, but was not very well received by the king,—perhaps, +because he had found in our other rulers promises and words enough, but +few deeds. Our Republic had always kept inviolate all it had promised +him, and was again most ready to join him in the same risks. Perhaps, +also, because he found his soldiery inferior in strength to the Turkish, +as it was not paid, but served the king in war when called out.[251] +For this reason, he dismissed him with general words of being willing +at some future time to wage war against the enemy; and, on his refusing +to return, saying that that was not his commission from the Republic, +compelled him by force to leave with another ambassador—the Duke of +Burgundy’s; and, M. Ambrosio being indignant with this king, on account +of this slight, tried with many words to lower his reputation. M. +Caterino, in the meanwhile, with the aid of S. Michele Aman, after having +suffered many fatigues and gone through many great dangers, went to +Poland, and found the King Casimir[252] waging a desperate war with the +Hungarian king. Notwithstanding this, M. Caterino announced his mission +from Ussun Cassano, and entreated him, in consideration of the great +danger to Christendom, if after the conquest of the mighty sovereigns +of the East, Mahomet were to turn his arms towards the West, to make an +alliance with this king, and to harass the enemy on his side, as he also +would do on the East. + +The king heard him graciously, and replied that, on account of the war +with Hungary, he could not fight against the Turks with whom he was in +league. M. Caterino perceiving from this answer the disposition of this +monarch, and that he would not be able to get either ambassadors or a +letter written to Ussun Cassano, exhorted him in a long speech to make +peace with the Hungarians, saying that since he would not make war on the +Turks, at least he ought not to be the reason of Hungary’s not doing her +duty by Christendom in this crisis, as she had been accustomed to do in +so many other wars with the very same enemy; and so efficacious were his +words, that Casimir having given an audience to the Hungarian ambassadors +concluded and ratified a peace in three days. + +While M. Caterino was in Poland he found M. Paolo Ognibene, who was going +as Nuncio from our most Illustrious Government to Ussun Cassano, and gave +him letters written to the king, full of encouragement and warm words, +exhorting him to persevere boldly in the war he had begun, as, then at +any rate, he would be seconded by the Christian princes, when they saw +him really begin to act against the Ottoman; and that he himself would +not fail by importunity, and all the pains in his power, to express all +his commissions to the Europeans from him. With these letters he also +wrote in the same tenor to the King of Gorgora and to Melico, King of +Mingrelia; and having bidden Ognibene God speed, he set out for Hungary. +Being honourably received there by the King Matthias Corvinus,[253] who +was the most illustrious sovereign in arms and learning, not only of the +Hungarians, but also of all the kings of Christendom, he discoursed to +him so powerfully about the commissions he had from Ussun Cassano, that +the king, who was of himself much inclined to go to war with the Turks, +promised that he would never fail a king who deserved so much from the +Christian commonwealth. Then, having conversed more intimately with M. +Caterino, and having recognised his valour and virtue, he dubbed him +knight with many honours, as may be seen in the special grant made at +Buda on the 20th April, 1474, in which are related all his works and +exertions in this enterprise. + +M. Caterino left Hungary and came to Venice, where, as he had been in +such distant regions, and as no Venetian in the memory of man had been a +longer or more memorable journey in the service of his country, he was +received by all the nobility and people with great acclamations, and his +relations in particular looked upon him as a god come down from heaven. +The Senate having afterwards heard the commissions of Ussun Cassano and +the goodwill he had towards our Republic, elected four ambassadors to the +Pope and the King of Naples, and sent with them M. Caterino as ambassador +of the King of Persia, who was to take precedence of the others. They +were despatched by the Senate on the 22nd of August, in the year one +thousand four hundred and seventy-four. These embassies, however, +produced no good effect, since, at that time, on account of the bitter +discords existing among our princes, it seemed that a certain fatal +jealousy prevented them from taking up arms with so great and valorous +a king, and one who, moreover, had just exposed himself and his kingdom +to the sport of Fortune, in order to show that he had this enterprise at +heart against an enemy, who evidently aspired to make himself master of +the world. + +And before the departure of these ambassadors they wrote to M. Giosafat +Barbaro, who was in Cyprus, that he should proceed to Ussun Cassano +and not render his mission useless, as he had spent so long a time +between Venice and the coast of Caramania (since, having been elected +in the Senate on the 5th of January, 1471, he set out after having +received this letter, which was written on the last day of January, +1473). Wherefore, having laid aside all care for his life, he at last +set out for his destination to serve his country, and thus after having +gone through many dangers he arrived at Tauris in the presence of Ussun +Cassano, as he relates in his travels, in the year one thousand four +hundred and seventy-four, where he was welcomed and favourably received +by that sovereign. And this same M. Giosafat writes that he found him in +the height of his grandeur and reputation, as at that time the Indian +ambassadors, who were accustomed every year to bring certain gifts in +sign of subjection, were received with the greatest pomp. But the war +which broke out between him and Unghermaumet, his valiant son, was the +occasion of taking from him all his reputation and of blunting the forces +of his mind, which till that time had been considered invincible; so that +on account of the grief he felt for the rebellion of so gallant a son, +and one so famous for his prowess in Asia and Europe, he had to give up +all the duties of a king, and more particularly to cast away all thought +of the enterprise against the Ottoman. + +The reason of this war between father and son was, that the Kurds, people +of the mountains, being envious of Ussun Cassano and the grandeur of the +Persian kingdom, in order to sow the seeds of discord in the midst of +peace in that realm, spread a report around that Ussun Cassano was dead, +to which rumour Unghermaumet gave ear readily, as after the death of his +father he aspired to the throne of Persia. Thus, having collected the +army his father had given him to guard Bagadet,[254] which was formerly +Babylonia, and all the country of Biarbera,[255] he immediately seized +Seras,[256] a city on the confines of Persia, gaining over almost all the +Kurds to his party, as they, when they heard that Unghermaumet had made +himself master of Seras, came together in great numbers and traversed +and plundered the country up to Tauris. Hence Ussun Cassano took the +field with the “porta”, that is, the standing army, which he always kept +as a guard about his person, and marched in great haste towards Seras. +Unghermaumet being terrified at this, as he had already discovered the +falsehood of the Kurds, and that his credulity had made him rashly +endeavour, by force of arms, to complete a matter of such importance, +left the territory, and by means of some chiefs, friendly both to him +and to his father, tried to obtain forgiveness from him for his fault; +but, hearing that Ussun Cassano was coming with a mind embittered against +him, he considered that he had made a mistake, and therefore became +apprehensive of being betrayed and losing his life. And his imagination +coloured it so highly, that without even confronting the troops of his +father, he fled, and reached the country of the Ottoman on the frontiers +of the Sangiacato[257] of Bajazet, son of the Grand Turk, from whom with +the consent of the latter, he obtained a safe conduct to allow him to +seek an asylum under Turkish protection; and having sent his wife and +sons to Amasia,[258] to give more assurance to Bajazet, he also rode in +his direction, and was welcomed and greatly honoured by that prince. And +since this gallant young man could not endure being thus, so to speak, +deserted by fortune, desirous of trying his chance (which, as is said, +often changes about from troublous to the most prosperous, provided +one does not fail in duty to oneself), he passed on to Constantinople +to incite, if possible, Mahomet, the Grand Turk, to give him some +assistance, and was received with the greatest demonstrations of love +and many promises, as Mahomet was a man of valour, and admired nobleness +and bravery in illustrious men more than any of his predecessors among +the Ottoman princes. Nor were his deeds less than his words, since +Mahomet, wishing to take away Ussun Cassano’s fame and reputation, and +to gain such a friend that for the future the Persian arms might not +oppose him in his full career of conquest, thought that he would do much +for his advantage by assisting Unghermaumet in this enterprise, and by +these discords between father and son exhaust the force of Persia, in +order that in later times, either he or his descendants might subdue that +country. + +Unghermaumet having obtained these Turkish auxiliaries, entered the +province of Sanga, on the confines of Persia, and thence damaged the +country of his father by frequent inroads; the latter, although he sent +several bands of cavalry and infantry to those frontiers to repulse his +son who was thus at war with him, did not seem to wish to revenge himself +for so many injuries, as both in public and in private he gave out that +he felt such grief on this account, and so after a little feigned to +have fallen ill, and gradually retiring with those he had most faith +in, either on account of benefits he had done them or otherwise, caused +it to be rumoured in Persia and Turkey that he was very ill, and at +last published abroad his death through the same people. Hence letters +and messages were quickly sent to Unghermaumet, furnishing him with +information of the death of his father and the requests of the principal +nobles of the kingdom to come in haste in order that his other brothers, +namely, Calul and Giacuppo,[259] might not by chance take away his +kingdom, which of right belonged to him, on account of his great valour, +rather than to them; and, in order to hide the deceit better, they +celebrated the obsequies of the dead king with great pomp in the city. + +Thus the unfortunate Unghermaumet, who was led by his fate by the hair +of his head to die, not recollecting that his too great credulity had +already driven him from his home and exiled him to seek assistance +from his enemies who favoured him outwardly, in order to gain a better +opportunity for themselves to profit by his still lower fall, gave full +credence to the matter, and having given the messages brought to him +in charge to some of his people set out for Persia in such haste that +in a few days he reached Tauris. Here, having sought out those who had +written to him of the death of his father and given him hopes of gaining +the kingdom, he was conducted by them to where his father was with such +secrecy, that the unhappy wretch did not discover it till he found +himself face to face with him; and being then received with severe words +and threats, he was put in prison, and soon afterwards murdered. This was +the end of Unghermaumet who, on account of his great courage, was always +called by the Persians “The Valiant”: a man without doubt most excellent +in arms and worthy of his father’s kingdom, if, attracted by the lust of +power, he had not been so hasty of belief; as, if he had lived longer, +the kingdom of Persia would have gained greatly in glory from him, and +would have risen to greater fame than it afterwards did under Ismail, his +nephew; nor after his death was Persia again molested by the Turks; nor +did Ussun Cassano do anything remarkable until his decease. + +And M. Caterino, also, after he had completed all the missions he had +undertaken by the command of Ussun Cassano and of our Republic returned +to Venice so well thought of and welcomed by all the nobles as well +as people, that on account of the universal favour he was held in, +all turned their eyes towards him, beholding a man who, through great +dangers, had compassed not only Europe, but also a great part of Asia. +And, as an example of the favour he was held in, at his election to +the Council of Ten, what is most singular and a great honour in our +Republic, he had only seventeen adverse votes in the great Council. But +what is still more extraordinary is, that when he used to walk in the +street, so many persons ran together to see him, that he could hardly +proceed. + +And thus it is true what is said, that the path of glory is narrow and +difficult, and like Hercules[260] mentioned by Xenophon, who chose rather +to become famous through great trials, than live at ease without a name +in the world, the good M. Caterino, to serve his country, and to gain an +honourable fame, never thought of dangers and difficulties; whence one +may for certain conclude that sham honours paid by the common people are +but dust and ashes in comparison with those meritoriously gained by a +man’s own exertions. + + +END OF THE FIRST BOOK. + + + + +SECOND BOOK. + + +Knowing well how universally people enjoy novelty in things, and above +all, how acceptable an account of the deeds of illustrious kings is +to those who are versed in history, I have thought fit to add to the +above narration a short account of the other Persian wars which took +place after the death of Ussun Cassano. From these few particulars they +may see what wonderful things might be written about these kings if, +in addition to civilisation in manners and valour in arms, they had a +literature[261] to collect an account of their actions and hand them +down to the admiration of posterity. And the kings of the East have no +other thing to complain of, but that neither study nor polite literature +flourished among them, as, if the love of learning were joined to that of +military glory, the one would support the other, and their fame become +greater than that of our kings. Since, in the same way that fine subjects +draw out powers of composition, a fine writer will often enable lofty +subjects to shine forth and to become models of splendour even among more +illustrious ones. + +Coming at length to the task I have prescribed for myself, I say that +after the death of Unghermaumet, Ussun Cassano survived but a short time, +and died on the eve of Epiphany in the year one thousand four hundred and +seventy-eight, leaving four sons, three born from one mother, and one +from Despina Caton,[262] the daughter of the Emperor of Trebizond,[263] +which son on the very night of his father’s death was killed by his +three brothers. Between these three the desire of reigning they each +had, produced great rivalry and hatred, so that the second assassinated +his elder brother,[264] and reigned alone, being named Giacuppo +Chiorzeinal.[265] + +Despina had already been separated from her husband, and lived on the +confines of Riarbera, in the city of Cavalleria,[266] where she died, +and was buried in the town in the Church of St. George,[267] where +even to this day her sepulchre[268] is greatly honoured. Ussun Cassano +had three daughters by her: the first, named Marta, was married to +Secheaidare,[269] Ruler of Arduil,[270] a town towards the north-east, +three days’ journey distant from Tauris. This chief was the head of +the faction of the “Cacarineri”[271] (black sheep), which is the Sufi +party, very powerful by the number of its partizans,[272] and the new +doctrine, the whole of Persia being divided into two factions, one of +which is called the White Cacari,[273] and the other the Black Cacari, +which are like what the Guelphs and Ghibellines, the Bianchi and Neri +used to be in Italy. And the other two daughters lived with their mother +with great riches, and after her death still dwelt in Cavalleria; but +hearing of the death of their father, and how cruelly their half-brothers +had killed their full brother, fearing what might happen to them also, +they collected their jewels and other valuables, and fled to Aleppo and +thence to Damascus. In this place one of them was living in the year one +thousand five hundred and twelve, and saw M. Caterino, son of M. Pietro, +the son of the M. Caterino who had been ambassador in Persia, which young +merchant was then trading in Damascus, and having recognised him as a +relation, she received him with the greatest demonstrations of love, and +wishing to return to Persia, as she had heard of the good fortune of +Ismail, her nephew, who had possessed himself of the kingdom of Persia, +she endeavoured to take him with her, promising him great things and +certain rank. But M. Caterino, who was restrained by the love of his +country and further by affection for his relations, thanked her for her +goodwill and kindness of disposition, but remained, excusing his not +going on account of the importance of his affairs, and the affection he +bore to his native country. + +This Giacuppo, who had slain his elder brother, reigned a long time, and +at last, as they say, was killed by an intrigue of his wife, who was not +a _very_ virtuous woman. After him Allamur,[274] his son, reigned, who, +besides Persia, possessed Diarbec, and part of Greater Armenia, near the +Euphrates; in his time the faction of the Black Cacari[275] was held in +such credit, through Secheaidare, that the other of the White Cacari +declined altogether. Secheaidare was a Saint or Master or Prophet,[276] +as we should call him, who, by preaching a new Dogma in the Mahometan +creed, that Ali was superior to Omar, obtained many disciples and people +who favoured his doctrine. So great was his success, that at this time +he was considered by all a Saint, and a man almost divine. He had by +Marta, the daughter of Despina, and of Ussun Cassano, six children: three +sons and three daughters; and, although his wife was the daughter of +a Christian lady, he nevertheless remained an enemy to our faith; as, +having made himself captain[277] of a foraging party, he made frequent +hostile inroads as far as Circassia, plundering everywhere and bringing +back an immense number of slaves into Persia to Arduil,[278] his city. +These incursions, in addition to the advantages he reaped from his booty, +raised his reputation so high, that he soon had the support of all the +chiefs of his faction, and having raised a large army marched on another +similar invasion of Circassia, and passing Sumachi[279] in eight days’ +journey from Arduil, arrived at Berbento,[280] which is five days distant +from Sumachi, having with him a force of between five and six thousand +men, all warriors and brave, well-trained soldiers. Berbento is a city +which was built in the passes of the Caspian Mountains by Alexander, to +resist the incursions of the Scythians, where the pass is so narrow that +one hundred resolute soldiers could bar with their pikes the passage of +a million of men. Its site is considered the strongest of all the cities +of the East, as it is situated on the summit of some mountains and has +two walls[281] as far as the sea enclosing the town and the port, where +the vessels lie, in a space not exceeding three hundred paces in extent; +and this space is so strong and well fortified that, by keeping guard, no +one can enter. It is the only pass by which one can enter Circassia, and +the people of the country call it Amircarpi,[282] which signifies gates +of iron, not because there are any, but because the place is so strong +and secure against attack. For this reason, being safe themselves, the +inhabitants would neither give free passage to Secheaidare,[283] nor let +anyone enter, from fear of the men he had with him; then, immediately +despatching letters and messages to the King Alamur to inform him of +these things, they prepared to defend themselves, if Secheaidare tried to +force a passage. + +The king, greatly disturbed by these designs of Secheaidare, entertained +no slight suspicion of him, as it seemed to him that he, by the esteem in +which he was held, and his numerous followers whom he enriched from the +great booty he made, might make himself so great in time as to be able to +overthrow the kingdom, and establish a dynasty of his own firm and safe +against any attack. + +Secheaidare, seeing the passage barred to him, being greatly enraged +against the people of Berbento, commenced attacking the country, and used +all his power to get them into his hands. Alamur hearing this, did not +think fit to hold back any longer, as too much procrastination might be +productive of some misfortune. Therefore, having hastily collected an +army, he advanced towards Berbento, and by marching quickly arrived in +time for the support of his people. Secheaidare, when he heard of the +approach of the army of Alamur, left off attacking the place, and set +himself in array against him; and, the fray beginning fiercely on both +sides, a stubborn fight was kept up for several hours before either side +appeared to be getting the best of it. At length Secheaidare, overcome +by the number of his enemies, was cut to pieces, and his men, although +but few, performed prodigies of valour, and there was not one who was not +dead or mortally wounded. The head of Secheaidare, fixed on the point +of a lance, was sent to Tauris and kept in a public place that it might +be seen by everyone; and after rejoicing and celebrating the victory +obtained over him, they threw him to the dogs. And this news being +brought to Arduil, where the wife of Secheaidare and his children were, +all those of the Sufi faction lamented greatly; nevertheless, they kept +silence and dissimulated in order not to give the king cause for anger +against them. But his sons, seized with fear for themselves and their +lives, as in sudden emergencies one is afraid of everything, fled, one +to Natolia, another to Aleppo, and the third to an island in the lake +Attamar,[284] inhabited by Armenian Christians and called by the name of +the Holy Mother of God, where he remained four years concealed in the +house of a priest, without anything being known of it in Persia.[285] + +This youth, who was called Ismail, was thirteen years old,[286] of noble +presence and a truly royal bearing, as in his eyes and brow there was +something, I know not what, so great and commanding, which plainly showed +that he would yet some day become a great ruler. Nor did the virtues of +his mind disaccord with the beauty of his person, as he had an elevated +genius, and such a lofty idea of things as seemed incredible at such a +tender age. Therefore the good priest, who professed to be an astrologer +and to know the course of events from the aspect of the heavens, cast +his horoscope, and foresaw that he would yet become lord of all Asia. On +this account he set himself with greater solicitude to serve him, and +treated him to the extent of his power with every sort of indulgence and +courtesy, thus laying up a debt of the greatest gratitude from him. + +Ismail, longing to recover his paternal possessions, left this +place before he had reached the age of eighteen years, and went to +Carabac,[287] and then to Gillon,[288] finding out the house of a very +old friend of his father’s, named Pircale. He, moved with compassion for +the condition of Ismail, as he had once seen his father a great ruler, +wrote secretly to Arduil to all those of the Suffavean faction,[289] who +he knew had lost fathers, brothers, or kinsmen in the battle of Derbent +against the opposing faction of the white Cacari, in order that when +they were reminded of all that Secheaidare had done for them, they might +assist his son Ismail, who had come to him from his place of concealment, +both to gain his father’s inheritance, and to restore the party. Also +that, if ever one could expect great things from a young man as handsome +and nobly-born as he was, he would promise wonderful things from him, +as he saw that he had vigour of mind, quickness of perception, and a +personal valour which he had never yet seen equalled by any of his +contemporaries. + +Gained over by these letters, the people of Arduil offered for this +object and for any other, which would help Ismail, all their power and +influence. Therefore, he having sent secret orders as to what they +would have to do, and having collected two hundred men of his faction +in Gillon, and another two hundred given by the people of Arduil, with +whom he was prepared to bring, by a prosperous start, his affairs to a +happy termination, took up a position in a valley favourably situated +for an ambush, whence at a favourable moment he hurried in the direction +of the Castle Marmurlagi,[290] and having made a sudden assault cut to +pieces all the garrison; then, having set it in order and left a better +guard, he entered the town and gave it up to his soldiers to sack, +putting all the inhabitants to the edge of the sword. This fortress was +very rich from its position on a harbour of the sea of Baccu, eight +days’ journey distant from Tauris, and to this harbour came ships from +Namiscaderem[291] and other places, laden with merchandise for Tauris, +Sumachi, and the whole of Persia. + +Having captured the fortress, Ismail caused the booty to be brought into +it, and distributed freely among his soldiers, not keeping anything for +himself from so many precious things, as he wished by this liberality to +gain over as much as possible the affections of his men; knowing that +in this devotion consists the whole stability of kingdoms and empires. +Thus the fame of his liberality and boldness was quickly rumoured abroad, +and the memory of his father, who was considered a saintly man, came out +more bright and illustrious than ever, and the Suffavean faction, which +since his death had been greatly reduced, began to agitate and rise, +attracting adventurers in great numbers to it. Thus he, having assembled +five thousand good soldiers, began to hope that he might safely attempt +greater things than he had yet done. + +Then seeing how easy it would be to make himself master of the town of +Sumachi, as there was no suspicion of war in the country,[292] and +consequently few people in the garrison, he hurried towards it by forced +marches. The King Sermendole, who ruled over it, hearing of this, and +seeing that defence was hopeless against Ismail, fled to the impregnable +fortress of Culifan,[293] in the same country of Sumachi. Thus Ismail +found the city without defenders, took it without loss, and having cut +to pieces the Sumachians all over the place, enriched himself with the +immense treasure he found there; this was divided by him, and, as before, +bestowed on his men, who thus became very rich. + +This second enterprise, so successfully accomplished, raised him to +the highest credit; so that the army being reinforced from all the +neighbouring regions was greatly augmented in number. + +For this reason Alamur, being more alarmed than he ever was in the time +of his father, summoned all the great Persian lords to court, and, having +collected fighting men, marched with his army against Ismail. The latter, +finding his forces too weak to take the field, and, if an opportunity +offered, to give battle to the king, sought the aid of some Georgian +Christian chiefs whose land bordered on that country, whose names were +Alexander Beg, Gurgurabet, and Mirabet. These, as they had an ancient +enmity against Alamur, and wished to overthrow his power, availing +themselves of the opportunity given by Ismail, decided to assist him +against Alamur, and therefore each of them sent three thousand horse, so +that they were altogether nine thousand excellent soldiers; these are the +people who were anciently called Iberians, and as they then were, and +still are, Christians, have continually waged war with the Turks on the +frontiers of Trebizond. They were joyfully welcomed, and received many +presents from Ismail, who, with these Georgian auxiliaries, found himself +with an excellent army of sixteen thousand men in the field. + +Thence he advanced with the intention of giving battle to Alamur, if he +had an opportunity, and thus both approached each other between Tauris +and Sumachi, near a great river,[294] where Alamur, who had an army of +thirty thousand men, infantry and cavalry, having placed himself on his +guard, occupied the only two bridges by which Ismail could cross into the +territory in which he was posted. He did it with the intention that the +enemy, finding the passage barred to them, might not, with the daring +which they say is often favoured by fortune, stake all on one throw, and +force him to fight against his will. + +But Ismail, who was fearful of losing his reputation by any check or +loss of time, and the more so, as he saw that Alamur, by his occupation +of the bridges, was safe in his position from any attack, and looked +slightingly on any skirmish, having by great good luck found a ford of +the river, crossed it silently by night, and forming into a heavy column +attacked the enemy and caused great slaughter. This happened, as the +king’s men being half-naked, and not having time to seize their arms, +were cut to pieces in immense numbers by armed and ferocious soldiers; +and if here and there some bolder spirits made head, so fierce was the +onset of the Suffaveans, that they were driven back in an instant by +a continuous shower of blows, and forced to share the fortunes of the +others. And never has a more horrible nocturnal struggle than this been +recorded; because, in the greatest darkness of the night, the whole field +of battle was lighted up with the flash of arms, and throughout the whole +region were heard the clash and din and confusion caused by the rout and +massacre of so large an army, which fled before the pursuit of the enemy. +Alamur, having escaped with difficulty with a few friends, retired to +Amir,[295] fortifying himself in that city. + +And Ismail having, to his great reputation, put that great army to the +edge of the sword, caused all the booty to be collected and divided among +his men, without keeping a single thing for himself. The second day he +appeared before Tauris,[296] and, meeting with no resistance, took it and +gave it up to plunder, cutting to pieces those of the opposing faction; +and then, in order to avenge his father on those captains and chiefs who +were said to have opposed Secheaidare in the battle of Berbent, and to +have had a hand in his death, he caused their bodies to be disinterred +and burnt in the market-place. And, while they were carrying them there, +he drew up a procession before them of two hundred harlots and four +hundred thieves; and to show a greater indignity to those chiefs, he +ordered the heads of the thieves and harlots to be cut off and burnt with +the bodies. And, not satisfied with this, he had his stepmother brought +before him, who after the death of his father had married a certain great +lord, who was on the side of the king in the same action of Berbent, +abused her to her face, insulted her in every possible way, and at last +commanded that she should be decapitated as the vile and worthless woman +she was, in revenge for the slight estimation she had held his father in. + +All the people and neighbouring chieftains being terrified by the capture +of Tauris and the rout of the king, sent in their allegiance to Ismail, +except those of Alangiacalai, a fortress two days’ distant above Tauris +towards the north, which place, with ten adjacent towns, is inhabited by +Catholic Christians, who at last, having remained faithful to Alamur for +five years, hearing of his death, surrendered it on conditions to Ismail +with its immense treasure. When he had gained possession of this castle, +Ismail caused himself to be proclaimed sovereign of Persia under the new +title of Sofi. + +But Moratcan,[297] son of Alamur, having assembled an army of thirty +thousand men with some Turkish auxiliaries, endeavoured to recover the +throne which rightly belonged to him, with the design of regaining +his father’s dominions, and at the same time to avenge the defeat of +his relative on the Suffavean faction. Ismail, hearing this, quickly +assembled an army and advanced to meet Moratcan, when these two young +princes came to blows in the plain of Tauris, and for a time both +performed great feats with arms in their hands; but the Suffaveans were +brave, and being veteran soldiers and accustomed to be victorious under +the fortunate generalship of their commander, routed the soldiers of +Moratcan with great slaughter, and this unhappy young man seeing no hope +of re-establishing his affairs, fled to Diarbeca[298] with a few soldiers +who escaped from the rout. These things happened in the year one thousand +four hundred and ninety-nine, Ismail gaining a great reputation for good +fortune, but more for courage, so that from that time he began to become +a terror to all the East. + +The following year Ismail made an enterprise against Diarbeca, which was +still in the allegiance of Moratcan, and made himself master in that +region of some important places. And since Aladuli[299] had assisted +Moratcan from distrust of Ismail and his greatness, he collected an army +of more than sixty thousand men and marched against him, not, however, +without great fear of exciting against himself the Soldan and the Turk, +as the country of Aladuli was situated between these two powers. Then, +taking the road of Arsenga and Seras, he arrived in Maseria, through +the dominions of the Turk, paying for provisions and tolls, without +molesting the inhabitants in any way, showing himself desirous of being +on a good footing with the Ottoman. Thus, having arrived in Aladuli’s +country, at the town of Alessat,[300] he crossed some mountains in one +day, in this way reaching Amaras,[301] putting all the country to fire +and sword and rapine. But Aladuli, who had escaped to the mountains of +Catarac,[302] and fortified himself there, not wishing to stake all +his power at once, took particular care not to give battle to Ismail. +Instead, he sent out some bands of good cavalry and, by attacking the +Suffaveans, sometimes by day and sometimes by night, and retiring to the +mountains, kept continually harassing the hostile army, wherefore Ismail +having remained from the twenty-ninth of July to the middle of November, +without succeeding in his undertaking, was forced to retreat from want +of supplies, the winter, and dearth, to Malatia, a city of the Soldan’s, +from whence he passed on to Tauris, having lost on the road many soldiers +and an almost countless number of his horses and camels, through the +bitterness of the cold and the quantity of the snow. + +But, not being in the least cast down by this repulse, the following +year, assembling an army of forty thousand men, he attacked Casan, a town +in Babylonia belonging to Moratcan, to free himself from all apprehension +of his ever doing him any harm. On this account, Moratcan having +collected an army of thirty-six thousand infantry and cavalry, advanced +to Sevas,[303] to draw the enemy off from attacking Casan; then Ismail +following him, advanced to Spaám[304] to join battle with Moratcan, +staking the whole of his fortune on this battle, knowing well the valour +of his men, and that already the Persians and all the others who had +been under the sway of Alamur began to desire that he should rule over +them. This move of Ismail’s cast such terror into the hostile army, that +gradually they began to desert and to escape into the Suffavean camp; +hence, Moratcan being thrown into consternation, attempted to make peace +with Ismail, and sent ambassadors to announce his willing submission, if +he would only leave him Bagadet;[305] but, as neither the ambassadors +nor the conditions of peace were received by Ismail, who aspired to +become sole master, Moratcan, despairing of his life if he fell into his +hands, fled with a squadron of three thousand cavalry towards Aleppo. +As he was not received here from the fear the Soldan had of irritating +Ismail, he went on to Aladuli, and was most graciously received by that +lord, who had formerly been his great friend and who gave him hopes of +re-establishing him in his power, if an opportunity showed itself; and, +in order to increase his hopes, gave him one of his daughters as his wife. + +Ismail having in the manner related, defeated Moratcan, came with +his whole army to Bierbeca,[306] and made himself master of Bagadet +and Seras,[307] cutting to pieces many of the opposing sect in that +region, and then having established laws and settled a garrison, +returned to Tauris. The following year, which was 1508, after making +great preparations for war, he advanced in person against the Tartar +Leasilbas,[308] ruler of Samarcant, whose subjects are the Zagatai, +otherwise called the Green Caftans.[309] This chief was at that time on +the frontier of Persia with a victorious army, having performed many +feats of arms in the vicinity, as, after seizing the country of the +Saracens, he had then taken the great town of Eri[310] and Caradisca, +and Cara,[311] and, last of all, Sanderem[312] and Sari,[313] two large +cities situated on the Sea of Baccu,[314] and close to the dominions of +Ismail; by these conquests he had thrown all the East into the greatest +alarm, and particularly raised great apprehension in the Sofi, who was +an enemy of those of the Green Caftans. On this account he retired +to Spaàm,[315] and encamped with his whole army, but the victorious +Lasilbas,[316] in order to gain a pretext for coming to blows with the +Suffaveans, demanded a free passage from Ismail, in order that he might +pay his vows at Mecca. This demand made Ismail still more apprehensive; +therefore, having refused point blank, he strengthened all the region +on the frontiers of Lasilbas with a strong force of cavalry, keeping +his army the whole year, 1509, in those parts with the intention of +opposing the Tartar if he attempted to force a passage. At length, by +the intervention of some Tartar and Persian lords friendly to both, they +concluded a peace between them. + +And Ismail, who, from one war was urged on to another, in the following +year went against the Ruler of Siraan,[317] who had refused the tribute +which he paid every year, and having entered the plains of Carabac,[318] +which are more than one thousand miles in extent, in the midst of which +is the territory of Chianer,[319] whence come the Canary silks, he +sent to take Sumachi, and having attacked Culofan,[320] a very strong +fortress situated in the same region as Sumachi, he reduced it, together +with Mamurcagi,[321] a castle of great importance in those parts, from +its strength. And then, marching by the shores of the Sea of Baccù, he +took many other strong castles, since the country of Servan is seven +days’ journey in extent along the coast of this same sea, beginning at +Mamurcagi as far as Berbento, in which tract there are three large cities +and three castles. With this conquest he returned in triumph to Persia, +and feasted several days in honour of the victory he had obtained, with +almost all the great lords and princes of the realm. + +And a short time after there broke out a fierce war with the +above-mentioned Tartar Lasilbas, from a certain ambition and rivalry +which existed between them; when Lasilbas came with a great army against +the Suffaveans, and, joining in a fierce and sanguinary contest,[322] +bore himself as a valiant man for many hours; nevertheless, the forces of +the enemy prevailing, he was repulsed and routed, and saved[323] himself +by flight to Samarcant. + +This victory was the most illustrious that Ismail ever obtained, as he +fought against enemies who were great warriors and famous in all the +East. For this reason the Turk and the Soldan became greatly apprehensive +of the power of Ismail, both considering, that if after all the Tartar +happened to be conquered, the road would be opened for Ismail to acquire +Asia and Egypt, as in all the East there were no princes more powerful +than they, but the Tartar Lasilbas. + +On this account Selim, the Grand Turk, having heard that Ismail was +engaged with the war waged against the city of Samarcant,[324] which was +the largest in the possession of the Tartar prince, brought together an +immense army of Turks, and advanced in person against Persia, in the year +1514; he marched towards the river of Sivas,[325] which is six hundred +miles distant from Constantinople and six hundred and forty from Tauris: +so that one may say that it is about half way between the two cities, and +having passed the river Lai,[326] he marched forward quickly through the +country of Arsenga.[327] Ismail, who was in Tauris without his regular +troops, who were engaged in besieging Samarcant, hearing of this, began +to levy other forces in haste, and having collected a tolerably good +army placed it under two of his most valiant captains, one named Stàcàlu +Amarbei and the other Aurbec Samper, and sent them against Selim, in +order, by skirmishing, to retard his advance until he had assembled +sufficient men to oppose his enemy openly in the field. This army +consisted of fifteen thousand horsemen, all good soldiers, and, so to +speak, the flower of the Persian people, as the kings of Persia are not +accustomed to give pay on the occasion of war, but to a standing force, +which is called the “porta” of the king. Thus it is that the Persian +gentlemen, to be well brought up, pay great attention to horsemanship, +and when necessity calls, go willingly to war, and bring with them, +according to their means, a certain number of servants as well armed and +mounted as themselves; nevertheless, they do not come out except for the +defence of the country; so that, if the Persian soldiery were paid, as is +the Turkish, there is no doubt but that it would be far superior to that +of the Ottoman princes. This thing has been observed by all those who +have had anything to do with both these nations. + +The Persian ladies themselves follow in arms the same fortunes as their +husbands, and fight like men, in the same way as those ancient Amazons +who performed such feats of arms in their time. + +Now, the two captains, Amarbei and Samper, marched ahead, and hearing +that Selim had crossed the Euphrates and was advancing by forced marches, +retreated to Coi,[328] where Ismail, who had come from Tauris, was in +person. Being informed of the large forces Selim was bringing with him +on this enterprise, he caused his army to be strongly entrenched, and +returned to Tauris to collect more troops, and then to show front to +the enemy.[329] Coi is a city which they say was built on the ruins of +the ancient Artasata,[330] not more than three days’ journey distant +from Tauris; on this account, it appeared likely to Ismail, from its +proximity, that he might in a very short time find himself engaged in a +battle, and therefore expressly commanded the above-mentioned captains +to wait, and when he arrived with fresh forces they would drive back +the enemy together. However, shortly after the departure of Ismail, the +Turkish army came up in array, on the 24th of August, and spread itself +over the plains called Calderane, where the Persians also had their +encampment. + +The latter, seeing the enemy behave with such audacity and provoke them +to battle, could not refrain from attacking them, as they had been +victorious in so many past wars under the auspices of the greatest +monarch of the East: hence, having been joined the night before by some +bands of horse from Tauris, making them in all twenty-four thousand men, +divided in two deep columns, of which one was led by Stacàlu Amarbei and +the other by Aurbec Samper, signal of battle being given, they attacked +the enemy bravely. Amarbei, who was foremost, assaulted the troops of +Natolia with such a terrific rush, that he broke and routed them utterly, +and the Persians made such a slaughter of the Turks, that in that quarter +they already had the victory in their hands, if it had not been that +Sinan Pasha, to aid that side of the conflict advanced the Caramanian +troops, and, taking the Persian force in flank, enabled those who were +routed and preparing to fly to make head again. The Persians, resisting +Sinan, bore themselves as valiantly as before; nor even when Amarbei was +cut to pieces did they fail to keep up the fight courageously. + +Samper, seeing the Caramanians change their positions and attack Amarbei, +also closed his column and attacked Sinan on his flank, routed the +Caramanians, and in a moment was on the royal forces, and the cavalry, +though in disorder and badly led, cut to pieces the foremost ranks of +the janissaries, and cast into confusion that famous infantry, so that +it appeared a thunderbolt cleaving that large and mighty army. The +monarch, seeing the slaughter, began to retreat, and to turn about, and +was about to fly, when Sinan, coming to the rescue at the time of need, +caused the artillery to be brought up and fired on both the janissaries +and Persians. The Persian horses hearing the thunder of those infernal +machines, scattered and divided themselves over the plain, not obeying +their riders’ bit or spur any more, from the terror they were in. Sinan, +seeing this, made up one squadron of cavalry from all that which had been +routed by the Persians, and began to cut them to pieces everywhere, so +that, by his activity, Selim, even when he thought all lost, came off the +victor. It is certainly said, that if it had not been for the artillery, +which terrified in the manner related the Persian horses which had never +before heard such a din, all his forces would have been routed and put +to the edge of the sword; and if the Turk had been beaten, the power of +Ismail would have become greater than that of Tamerlane, as by the fame +alone of such a victory he would have made himself absolute lord of the +East. + +As it happened, the Persians being discomfited, in the manner related, +by Selim, not without great loss on his side, Aurbec Samper was led +before him covered with wounds, and on his hearing that Ismail had not +been in the action, he said to him, full of indignation, “Dog that thou +art, thou hast had the audacity to come against me, who am in the place +of a prophet, and hold the post of God on earth.” To this, without any +sign of fear, Samper replied, “If you held the post of God on earth, you +would not come against my master; but God has saved you from our hands, +that you may fall alive into his, and then he will avenge his and our +wrongs.” Selim, being greatly enraged by his words, said, “Go and kill +this dog.” And he replied, “I know that this is my hour; but do you +prepare your soul to pay the sacrifice of mine; since my master will meet +you in a year, and will do the same to you, which you order to be done to +me”; whereupon he was immediately cut to pieces. Having done this, Selim +raised the camp and came to Coi, in which city he rested with his whole +army some days; he then published abroad, and wrote in many letters sent +to different places, that he had gained the victory, and that Ismail had +been in person in the battle which had taken place in the Calderani[331] +plains. This, however, was written falsely, as Ismail was not there in +person, nor even the corps of his veteran soldiers, who were then round +Samarcant, investing that city. Ismail, hearing the news of the rout of +his army, collected some of the men who had escaped from the action and +had made head in Tauris. With his wife and all his riches he left the +city and went to Caseria,[332] which is six days’ journey distant from +Tauris towards the East, assembling another army to try again in person +the fortune of battle. + +After his departure the Turk leaving Coi, arrived at Tauris, and was +received with favourable and courteous demonstrations by those of the +city, because it did not seem fit to them to peril their lives, as +they had no chance against the enemy, before whom so many valiant men +who had armed in defence of Persia had not been able to make head; and +remaining there only three days, and not seeing that any of the people +or neighbouring chiefs came to give in their submission to him,[333] +Selim began to be apprehensive lest Ismail should be more powerful than +he had thought him, as he in truth was, since all the principal men of +Persia began to join him with their forces for the safety of the kingdom. +Therefore, taking with him different men skilled in arts and five hundred +loads of treasure, without injuring the city in any other way, he left it +and marched towards the Euphrates, being continually harassed on the road +by the Georgians,[334] who, with some troops of light cavalry, pillaged +the baggage of the army, and cut to pieces all those who quitted the +ranks ever so short a way. Their assaults were so frequent, that the +Acangi[335] who were accustomed to range forty or fifty miles at least +from the army, did not dare to forsake it as these fierce guerilla foes +made a great slaughter of them everywhere; nor did they fall by the sword +alone, but also by hunger; since, as they were accustomed to forage +for the army, and not being able to perform this office from fear, it +followed that in avoiding one miserable death, they perished by another +still more wretched one. + +Ismail, in the meanwhile, had greatly strengthened his army, and +therefore, hoping soon to fall in with the enemy, advanced to Tauris, +where, hearing that the Turk had departed, and was retreating in such +haste that he would not be able to overtake him, thought fit to remain +and to take steps with more caution in this enterprise. He therefore +wrote letters and sent ambassadors to the Soldan, to Prince Aladuli, and +to the King of Gorgora, to show them the great peril they ran if they did +not take up arms with him against Selim, since if Persia were subdued, +all their States would become a prey to the enemy. These ambassadors were +willingly listened to, from the fear these princes entertained on account +of Selim’s victory over the Suffaveans. On this account they formed a +league, into which Ismail, the King of Gorgora, the Soldan,[336] and +Aladuli entered, these monarchs promising to aid one another in case of +need against the Ottoman, with the express condition that they should not +receive any ambassador from the Turk; this condition not being observed +by the Soldan, was afterwards his ruin, and that of all the power of the +Mamelukes. As, the Turk having sent an ambassador a short time later, he +received and heard him against the condition of the league; therefore, +when Selim entered Soria[337] to fight against the Soldan, Ismail would +not give him his assistance from fear of being left in the lurch.[338] + +The league being concluded in the manner related, Ismail, who was fully +prepared for the enterprise against the Turks, sent ambassadors to Selim, +who was then in Amasia,[339] with presents, a _bâton_ of massive gold, a +saddle and richly-mounted sword, with a letter to this effect:—“Ismail, +great Sovereign of the Persians, sends to you Selim these gifts, quite +equal to your greatness, as they are worth as much as your kingdom; if +you are a brave man, keep them well, because I will come and take them +from you, together with your head and kingdom, which you possess against +all right, as it is not proper that the offspring of peasants should +bear rule over so many provinces.” This letter so enraged the haughty +spirit of Selim, that he wished to kill the ambassadors, but refrained, +being kept back by his Bashas. However, in his rage he could not restrain +himself from having their ears and noses cut off, and sent them back +in this state with a letter written to Ismail, saying:—“Selim, great +Sovereign of the Turks, replies to a dog without taking the least notice +of his baying; telling him that if he will show himself, he will find +that I will do to him what my predecessor Mahomet did to his predecessor +Ussun Cassano.” + + + + +FOOTNOTES + +[167] This Preface is by Ramusio; the rest is prepared by the same writer +from the official letters of M. Caterino Zeno. + +[168] + + Kara Mahomed, chief of the Kârâ Koinloo. + | + Kara Yusoof. + | + +-------------+-------------+ + | | | + Secunder. Abouseyd. Jehan Shah. + | + +-------------+ + | + Kârâ Yussoof or Hussun Ali, according to Malcolm. + +[169] Jehan Shah. Uzun Hassan was not his brother, as they were the +respective chiefs of the rival tribes of Kârâ Koinloo and Ak-Koinloo. +The dynasty founded by Uzun Hassan of the Ak-Koinloo tribe is termed +Bâyenderee; the influence of the family dates from the reign of Timour, +who made them grants of land in Armenia and Mesopotamia. + +[170] Mahomet II, the first Emperor of the Turks, reigned from 1450-1481. + +[171] + + “Vixêre fortes ante Agamemnona + Multi.”—_Horace_, Book iv, ode 10. + +[172] It was by no means the case that at that time the Persian monarchs +had no poets or historians to celebrate their deeds, as the Augustan age, +so to speak, of Persian literature was just then coming to a close, the +two last of the great poets, Jami and Hatifi, flourishing at the Court of +Abou-said and his successor Hoossein Meerza, the enlightened descendants +of Timour. Hatifi died in 1522; his great poem was written to commemorate +the victory of Ismael Shah over the Usbegs at Merv in 1514. The two +famous historians, Mirkhond and Khondemir, also flourished at this time. + +[173] Jehan Shah, Karâ Yusuf. + +[174] Darius was the husband, not the son, of Atossa. + +[175] There were two rival Toorkman tribes, as has already been noticed, +the Kara-Koinloo and the Ak-Koinloo, who were engaged in continual +struggles for the supremacy in Persia. Uzun Hassan was a chief of the +Ak-Koinloo, or White Sheep. + +[176] Jehan Shah. + +[177] Hassan Beg, called Alymbeius by Knolles. + +[178] He was called Uzun Hassan and Hassan et Taneel by the Arabs, from +the fact, as the appellative denotes, of his height, which was far above +the standard. Barbaro describes him as a very tall, thin man. Taneel, +Arabic, is the translation of Uzun or Oozoon, Turkish, and means “tall”, +not “great”. Oozoon, in Turkish, means essentially long, not great. + +[179] _Ak-Koinloo Chiefs_:— + + Kârâ Osman put to death by Secunder, chief of the Kârâ Koinloo. + | + Uzun Hassan, first of the Bâyenderee kings. + | + +----------+---------+--------+---------+ + | | | | | + Unghermaumet. Ezeinel. Calul. Yakoob. Martha m. Sheikh Hyder. + | | + +---------------------------+ +-----+ + | | | + Alwung Beg (Alumut). Morad Khan. Ismael Sofi. + +[180] Amida (Diarbekr) was founded, according to Oriental tradition, +by Tahmuras of the Paishdadian dynasty, and fortified by the Emperor +Constans, who probably surrounded it with the stupendous wall of black +stone, from which the city is often called by the Turks Kârâ Amid, or +Black Amid. Some of the masonry is evidently Roman, though there are +Cufic inscriptions on different parts of the wall. Kinneir says:— + +“The houses are built of stone, and have a good appearance, but the +streets, although paved, are narrow and filthy. The castle is on the +north side of the town; it is also surrounded by a strong wall, and +divided into many courts and handsome buildings, where the Pasha and +his officers reside. The population of the town is said to amount to +thirty-eight thousand souls, of which the greater proportion are Turks, +and the remainder Armenians, Kurds, Jacobites, and Catholics. The bazar +is well supplied with corn and provisions, and the adjoining country +is fruitful and well cultivated. Cotton, silk, copper, and iron are +manufactured by the natives, and exported to Bagdad and Constantinople. +When viewed from a distance, the city of Diarbekr has a fine appearance. +The elevation of the surrounding mountains, the windings of the Tigris +and height of the walls and towers with the cupolas of the mosques, give +it an air of grandeur far above that of any other city which I have +visited in this quarter of the world. In the spring the Tigris rises to +a great height at this place, but in the month of December it was so +shallow, that the water did not reach much above my horse’s knees. It +is generally passed on a bridge of twelve arches, situated about half a +mile below the town. Diarbekr is sixty miles from Merdin, two hundred and +eighty-seven from Orfa, and a hundred and seventy-two and a half from +Malatea. Its position is fixed in latitude 37° 55′ 40″ N., and longitude +39° 52′ E., as ascertained from actual observation by Mr. Simon.” + +[181] Jehan Shah. + +[182] Uzun Hassan was not a brother of Jehan Shah, but of a different +tribe. + +[183] Diarbekr. + +[184] Jehan Shah was killed in the battle and his son Kara Yusuf taken +prisoner. + +[185] Erzingan, Eriza, a town and district of the same name. The town is +situated on the eastern branch of the Euphrates, below Erzeroum. The fine +plain slopes gently from north to south, acting as a kind of vast drain +for the waters of the mountains on the north and two other sides—viz., +the Mezoor Dagh and the Kesheesh Dagh, thus conveying them to the Kara +Su. Otherwise, it is a perfect level, free from stone or elevation of any +kind, but some artificial mounds at the east corner. It is a garrison +town, with new barracks just built; the town and villages contain about +twelve thousand houses, or, by the usual calculation, sixty thousand +inhabitants. The soil is rich, producing abundance of grain, cotton, +fruits, and melons. + +[186] His dominions hardly extended so far, even after defeating Abou +Said, the reigning prince of the House of Timour, as Khorassan, Herat, +Cabul, etc., were governed by the successors of that prince. + +[187] Georgia. + +[188] Syria. + +[189] The Caspian Sea. + +[190] Bitlis, the Armenian Pangesh, about an equal distance between +Diarbekr and Van, the scene of the signal defeat sustained by Solyman the +Magnificent in 1535. Kinneir says:— + +“The town extends across the greater part of the valley, the houses +being built at some distance from each other in the manner of Rutnuz. +The castle is situated on the top of a high mountain, which bounds the +plain to the west. The inhabitants of the town and the neighbouring +villages amount to about twenty-six thousand—Kurds, Turks, Armenians, +and Syrians. The Armenians have four churches and four monasteries, +and, upon the whole, enjoy more liberty and are treated with greater +respect than in most Mahomedan States. The lands around Betlis are highly +cultivated, and produce grain of several kinds—cotton, hemp, rice, +olives, honey, truffles, and mushrooms. There is abundance of gravel in +the neighbourhood, and the mountains are infested by lions, wolves, and +bears. Quarries of red and white marble have also been discovered at a +short distance from the town.” + +[191] Calo Johannes, or Black John, brother of David, last Christian +Emperor of Trebizond, was of the noble family of the Comneni, which +became extinct with them. Trebizond was taken in 1461 by Mahomet II, +Sultan of the Turks. Uzun Hassan had married Despina while still Prince +of Diarbekr, before he had gained the throne. + +[192] Rhodes, Cyprus, etc. + +[193] Otranto was taken by the Turks in 1480, under Achmet Pasha, who +embarked at Vallona in Macedonia, and ravaged a great part of Apulia; +but, being called away to join Mahomet in his wars in Asia, the Turkish +garrison, after holding the place for a year, surrendered at discretion +to Alfonso, Duke of Calabria.—Knolles, _Hist. of the Turks_, p. 433. + +[194] Bussora, or Basra, was founded by Omar in 636; has a population of +sixty thousand at the present time. It is situated on the western bank of +the Shat-ul-Arab and seventy miles from its mouth, with an immense trade. +It was conquered by the Turks in 1668. + +[195] At Tauris, or Tabreez. See _Travels of a Merchant_, cap. 7. + +[196] This covering, called Peychar, is now only used in Bagdad. + +[197] David, last Emperor of Trebizond, was Despina’s uncle. Her father +had died before. + +[198] Peer Ahmed, who was afterwards defeated and killed in 1486 by +Bajazet II, for having aided his brother Zizim in his revolt. See +Knolles, _Hist. of the Turks_, p. 446. + +[199] See Angiolello, cap. 2. + +[200] Bitlis. See p. 8. + +[201] Kinneir, speaking of the Persian soldiery, says:—“What is +denominated the standing army of the empire consists of the king’s +body-guard, which amounts to about ten thousand men, and the Gholaums or +royal slaves, in number about three thousand. The former are a kind of +militia, which are obliged to have their habitations in the capital or +its vicinity, and are liable to be called out at a moment’s warning: the +latter are in constant attendance upon his majesty and more feared and +respected than any other troops in his service. But it is the numbers +and bravery of the wandering tribes which constitute the military force +of the Persian empire. When the sovereign is desirous of assembling +an army, the chiefs of the different tribes are commanded to send to +the royal camp a number of men proportionate to the power and strength +of his tribe: each town and village is also under the necessity of +furnishing its quota. The army thus assembled, is consequently entirely +irregular, chiefly consisting of cavalry; and, as they seldom receive +either clothing or pay, only kept together by the hope of plunder. The +present king, as an extreme effort, might probably in this manner be +able to collect together a force of a hundred and fifty thousand or +perhaps two hundred thousand men. To their cavalry, which is excellent, +the rulers of Persia have hitherto, with success, solely entrusted +the defence of their dominions. Their arms are a scimitar, a brace of +pistols, a carabin, and sometimes a lance, or a bow and arrow—all of +which they alternately use, at full speed, with the utmost skill and +dexterity. The pistols are either stuck in the girdle or in the holsters +of the saddle; the carabin or bow is slung across the shoulder; and +the lance, which is light and shafted with bamboo, is wielded in the +right hand. There is one great defect inherent in the constitution of +their cavalry—a defect which cannot fail of proving highly detrimental +to its success in the field, and of repressing the natural impetuosity +and courage of the troops. His arms and horse in general belong not to +the public, but to the individual; his whole property is often vested +in these articles; and, as he receives no compensation in the event +of losing them, his whole attention is naturally turned towards their +preservation. This single circumstance, as must be obvious, may often +be productive of the most disastrous consequences, and has, on more +than one occasion, proved fatal to the honour and reputation of the +Persian arms. They are not so gaudy in the trappings of their horses +as the Turks; their saddles and bridles are more adapted for use than +show; and the Arabian bit and stirrup were thrown aside by the orders +of Nadir Shah for a plain snaffle and light iron stirrup. The saddle +also is much more light than that in use among the Turks or Mamelukes, +but somewhat too short in the seat, and inconvenient to a person who +has not been accustomed to it. They ride with very short stirrups; but +have, notwithstanding, a wonderful command over their horses, and can +stop them in an instant in the midst of their career. Their cavalry, +like all irregular horse, are incapable of acting in unison or of making +any serious impression on a body of troops disciplined in the European +fashion: but, as their evolutions and movements are extremely rapid and +each individual is aware of the part he ought to act, they are nearly +as formidable when broken and dispersed as when united. The Persian +armies, as I have said before, receive no regular pay, and are only kept +together by the hope of plunder; we therefore find, that it is considered +as incumbent on the king to take the field once a year, either against +the Russians, Affghans, or Turkomans, his immediate neighbours. They +know nothing of the modern science of war, being entirely ignorant of +the principles of fortification and of the arts of attack and defence. +The field artillery is chiefly composed of zumbarooks or small swivels, +mounted on, and fired from, the backs of camels. There are also small +field-pieces attached to the army; but the roads on the frontier are but +ill adapted for the transportation of cannon, and as the carriages are +of a miserable construction, they are either broken by the rocks and +precipices, or go to pieces after firing a few rounds. Another great +defect in the organisation of the armies of this country is the total +want of good officers, and therefore of a proper degree of subordination. +Without able and experienced men to direct and command, and a regular +system of payment, it is next to impossible that an army can arrive at +anything like perfection. There is no separation of the civil from the +military authorities. The troops are commanded by the chiefs of their own +tribes, who are jealous of each other, and therefore not likely to act +in concert or yield that obedience so absolutely necessary in military +affairs. In the absence of the King and Prince, the Grand Vizier is the +general-in-chief; and, as he is not unfrequently raised to that dignity +from offices entirely civil, the army may be commanded by a man who has +never witnessed an engagement.” + +[202] Peer Ahmed. See p. 15. + +[203] Gerjannes, a district of Erzingan. + +[204] Kharput, in the Valley of Sophene, as it was called by the +ancients. See _Travels of a Merchant_. + +[205] Erzingan. See p. 7. + +[206] Konieh (Iconium). Konieh, a city of Asia Minor, with a population +of thirty thousand, employed mostly in the manufacture of carpets; it was +a capital of the Seljook Sultans. + +[207] Ofium Kara Hissar, a town of fifty thousand inhabitants, two +hundred miles from Smyrna, where opium is raised in great quantities. + +[208] Kutaieh. + +[209] Daood. + +[210] Boorsa. + +[211] Amurath. + +[212] This, according to Knolles, was a Persian victory, Mustafa being +forced to fly.—_History of the Turks_, p. 410. See below, p. 25. + +[213] Yusuf Khan. + +[214] Peer Ahmed. + +[215] M. Josafat Barbaro’s account of his travels is in Ramusio’s +Collection. + +[216] Zumburka. + +[217] Sanjak. + +[218] Afterwards Bajazet II, reigned from 1481-1512. + +[219] The unfortunate Djim-Zizim, or Zemes, who, being defeated by +Bajazet in his struggle for empire, fled first to Egypt and then to +Rhodes. He was sent to Rome to the Pope Innocent VIII, but was poisoned +at the instigation of the infamous Alexander Borgia, who had been forced +to give him up to Charles VIII of France. + +[220] Ikindjis. + +[221] Siwas, sixty miles from Tokat on the Kizzil Irmak, with +manufactures of coarse woollen, etc. + +[222] River Iris, the present Kizzil Irmak. + +[223] Niksar. + +[224] Koili Hissar, according to Kiepert’s Map on the Schonak or Owadmish +Schai, which falls into the Yekyl Irmak. It is a little below Shebban +Kara Hissar; it is also called Koyunlu Hissar. + +[225] Shebban Kara Hissar, still noted for its alum mines. The castle +is built on an isolated mountain about six hundred feet high and three +miles in circumference, and is of great natural strength; it has the +same contrivance common to most of the old castles for the supply of +water during a siege, namely, a staircase excavated in the solid rock. +It was probably one of the treasure-cities of Mithridates mentioned by +Strabo. The trade in alum has greatly diminished, as it is now exported +to Turkish provinces solely. + +[226] Probably Egin on the Euphrates, on the route from Erzingan to +Malatia. See Angiolello, cap. 6. + +[227] Compare the death of Archimedes. + +[228] Ikindjis. + +[229] Erzingan. See p. 7. + +[230] Malatia, the ancient Melitene, near the Euphrates or Murad, in lat. +N. 30 deg. 26 min., long. E. 38 deg. 27 min. + +[231] This is only in the dry season, as there are no islands, only +sandbanks. + +[232] Peer Ahmed. + +[233] See Angiolello, cap. 7. + +[234] This battle took place near Malatia 1473. + +[235] Knolles says that Mustafà, Mahomet the Second’s eldest son, and +Amurath, Pasha of Roumania (the latter of whom was killed in the battle), +commanded the Turks when they were defeated in 1473. He also mentions +another battle the next year in which Mahomet was present in person and +was defeated, one of his great Pashas being killed. Perhaps two battles +were made out of this one, or more probably the battle previously +mentioned (p. 20) was a Persian victory. + +[236] Baiboort, on the river Turak or Delchoroch Su, which flows into the +Euxine near Batoum. It is situated nearly due north of Erzingan. + +[237] The battle of Tabeada. + +[238] Peer Ahmed. + +[239] Knolles says that the Turkish artillery did great mischief to the +Persians, as in the battle of Schalderan. + +[240] Baiboort. See p. 5. + +[241] Ikindjis. + +[242] Erzingan. + +[243] Shebban Kara Hissar. See p. 23. + +[244] After crossing the river the Turkish army evidently began to +retreat to their own country. Why they went near Malatia is not very +evident. + +[245] Koili Hissar. See p. 23. According to Angiolello, it was near +Erzingan that the Turks reached the Euphrates, and only the Acangi +crossed on a foraging expedition, which is much more probable. + +[246] Tocat, fifty-six miles from Sivas, with a population of forty +thousand, and a very extensive trade. + +[247] Sanjak. + +[248] Achmet. + +[249] It seems that the other Christian princes were not altogether so +blind to the advantages of a Persian alliance as the Venetian writer +would have us think. + +[250] Caffa, anciently called Theodosia, situated in the Crimea, and then +belonging to the Genoese, was a rich and busy port. It was subdued, with +the rest of the Crimea, by Achmet Pasha in 1476. + +[251] See note, p. 16. + +[252] Casimir IV reigned from 1447 to 1492. He defeated the Teutonic +knights and also the Hungarians. + +[253] Matthias Corvinus, son of the Great Huniades, the champion of +Christendom against the Turks, reigned from 1458 to 1490. + +[254] Bagdad. + +[255] Diarbekr. + +[256] Shiraz. + +[257] Sanjak. + +[258] Amasia, the birthplace of Strabo and Mithridates, is now an +important town with thirty thousand inhabitants and great trade in silk, +situated on the Yekyl Irmak. + +[259] Yakoob, who succeeded Ussun Cassano in 1478. + +[260] It was Achilles, not Hercules, who is said to have preferred a +short and famous career to a long life of inglorious ease. + +[261] Persian literature at that time was in a most flourishing +condition, the age comprising some of the most illustrious names in their +annals. _Vide_ p. 2. + +[262] Caton-Khatoon, meaning “Madam” or “Lady”, and so “Queen.” Despina, +Δεσποινα, means the same thing. + +[263] Calo Johannes. See p. 9. + +[264] Calul. + +[265] Yakoob. + +[266] From what appears in the other books this must be meant for +Cartibiert Kharput, in the province of Diarbekr. See Angiolello, cap. 1. + +[267] See _Travels of a Merchant_, cap. 3. + +[268] She was buried in the town of Diarbekr. + +[269] Sheikh Hyder. + +[270] Ardebil, where are the tombs of Sheikh Hyder and Shah Ismael Sufi, +is situated in the plain of Mogam. It has now entirely declined from its +former importance. + +[271] Kârâ Koyun. + +[272] This was not the case, as the Suffavean family did not belong to +either of the Toorkman tribes. + +[273] Ak Koyun. + +[274] Also called Alumut or Eluanbeg; he was not left in undisturbed +possession of the throne, as his brother Morad Khan disputed it with him, +and established himself in Babylonia and Fars. + +[275] Kârâ Koinloo. See previous page. + +[276] Follower of Ali, Alanee. + +[277] See Angiolello, cap. 12. + +[278] Ardebil. + +[279] Shirvan, the largest and most important division of the Southern +Caucasus, is watered by numberless rivers, the largest of which is the +Kur. Its capital is Schamachi, under which name, according to Kinneir, +there are two cities, the old and the new. He says: “New Schamachi is +situated in a plain on the river Aksui, about fifty versts from the Kur, +and the same distance from the sea. The form is quadrangular, each side +being eight hundred paces in length. The walls are in tolerable repair, +built of unburnt brick, and surrounded with a very deep and broad ditch. +When this town was taken by Aga Mahomed Khan in 1795, the inhabitants +were supposed to amount to six thousand souls; but the city, as well as +the villages nearest the plain, were reduced to ruins by that relentless +tyrant, who did not retire till the month of February of the following +year. The ruins of the old Schamachi, once a large and populous city, are +still extant, but they are almost hid from the view by thick brushwood. +This is the Schamacha of the ancients and stands in a fine situation, in +an angle formed by the southern branch of Mount Caucasus.” + +[280] Derbend, a strong fortress on the Caspian, the Peninsula of +Apshernon, near the Demir Kapoo or Iron Gates of the Caucasus. See note +to Angiolello, cap. 16. + +[281] Compare the Long Walls at Athens. + +[282] Demir Kapoo. + +[283] Sheikh Hyder. + +[284] Aktamar or Van Lake, so called from the island of Ak Tamar, where +the Catholicos of the Armenians resides. + +[285] Knolles says he fled into Hyrcania to Pyrcales. See _Travels of a +Merchant_, cap. 13, and next page. + +[286] The accounts of authors vary as to Ismael’s age (see _Travels of a +Merchant_, cap. 13); but I believe this to be the correct statement. + +[287] Kara Bagh, the country between the rivers Kur and Aras, the former +river dividing it from Shirvan. + +[288] Ghilan, a province along the south-west shore of the Caspian, +is rich and populous, the soil exceedingly fertile, fruits, rice, and +grain being cultivated with great success; but the cultivation of silk +constitutes the principal trade, and quantities are exported annually +to Astrakhan from Resht and Lankeroon, the two principal towns in the +province. Its population amounts to about six hundred thousand. + +[289] Followers of Ali, or rather of Sheikh Hyder, from the name of his +ancestor Sheikh Suffee-u-deen Ishack. The family were lineally descended +from Môossâh, the seventh Imaum. + + Môossâh. + | + ..... + | + ..... + . + . + . + Sheikh Suffee-u-deen Ishack. + | + Sudder-u-deen. + | + Khaujah Ali. + | + Sheikh Ibrahim. + | + +------------------+ + | + Juneyd married a sister of Uzun Hassan. + | + +------+ + | + Sheikh Hyder married Martha, daughter of Uzun Hassan and Despina. + | + +-------------------------------+ + | + Ismael Sofi. + | + Tamasp. + | + +-----------------+---------+ + | | | + Mahomed Codabundah. Ismael. Hyder. + | + Shah Abbas, the Great. + +[290] Also mentioned at page 57. + +[291] Mazenderan, part of ancient Hyrcania, is separated from Irak by the +Elburz Mountains; in its soil and climate it resembles Ghilan, except in +being more mountainous and wooded. Silk is not cultivated to so great +an extent, though the commerce of the province is considerable. The +inhabitants were regarded as the most warlike of the Persians, and even +held out for a considerable time against the whole power of Tamerlane. +The population is about one million five hundred thousand; the principal +towns are Sari, the capital, Balfrush, with upwards of a hundred thousand +inhabitants, Amol, Ferrabad, and Ashraff, famous for the palace of +Shah Abbas the Great, who also executed that stupendous work named the +Causeway of Mazenderan, which at present has been allowed to fall into +disrepair. + +[292] Alamur, or Eluan Beg, was not in sure possession of the throne, as +he was engaged in a struggle with his brother Morad Khan, who ruled over +Bagdad, Shiraz, etc. See page 43. + +[293] Also mentioned at page 56. + +[294] Either the Kur or the Aras, more probably the latter. + +[295] Diarbekr. + +[296] Tauris, or Tabreez. See _Travels of a Merchant_, cap. 7. + +[297] Morad Khan, brother, not son, of Eluan Beg, ruler of Fars, +Babylonia, etc. + +[298] Diarbekr. Eluan Beg had also taken refuge here. + +[299] Allà-ed’ Douleh. + +[300] Albistan, sixty miles from Marash; ten thousand inhabitants. + +[301] Marash, sixty miles from Iskenderoon; ancient capital of Karamania. + +[302] Kara Dagh, or Black Mountain. + +[303] Shiraz in this case, not Sivas. + +[304] Ispahan. + +[305] Bagdad. + +[306] Diarbekr. + +[307] Shiraz. + +[308] Sheibani Khan, or Shahabeg Khan, a descendant of the Great Zengis, +the enemy of Baber the first of the Moguls, was the founder of the Usbeg +power on the ruins of that of Timour, in Central Asia. He was defeated +and killed by Shah Ismael Sofi at the battle of Merv Shah Jehan in 1514. +See Baber’s _Memoirs_, translated by Mr. Erskine. + +[309] Sunnees. + +[310] Herat, a city of great importance in the history of Persia, +and the key or gate of India, as it has been aptly described; it is +well fortified, and the emporium of commerce between Cabul, Bokhara, +Hindostan, and Persia, with a population of forty thousand; it is now +subject to Affghanistan. + +[311] Khaf. + +[312] Sanderem, probably Amol or Balfrush, in Mazanderan. + +[313] Sari, the capital of Mazanderan, a well fortified town of fifteen +thousand inhabitants, with a brisk trade with Astrakhan and the interior +of Persia, twenty miles from Balfrush. + +[314] The Caspian. + +[315] Ispahan. + +[316] Sheibani Khan. + +[317] Shirvan. + +[318] Kara Bagh. + +[319] Canar. + +[320] See page 50. + +[321] See page 48. + +[322] The great battle of Merv Shah Jehan, 1514. The city of Merv, the +ancient capital of Margiana, was founded by Alexander the Great, and +embellished by Antiochus Nicator, who gave it the name of Antiochia. It +was long the seat of the Seljooks and also of the great Alp Arslan, whose +tomb is there. It has now declined in importance, having been repeatedly +sacked by the Usbegs. + +[323] He was killed in the battle. + +[324] Samarcand, a city once almost the capital of the world, being well +known as the seat of Timour, but now greatly declined in importance. It +is a hundred and thirty miles from Bokhara, and is still the _entrepôt_ +for a caravan trade, with ten thousand inhabitants. + +[325] The Iris, present Kizzil Irmak. + +[326] Iris. + +[327] Erzingan. + +[328] Khoi, the capital of a rich district, with a considerable trade +between Turkey and Persia; it has a population of twenty-five thousand, +and is a well-built, handsome town, on the Ak Schai, a tributary of the +Aras. + +[329] Battle of Schalderan, fought, according to Knolles, on the 7th +August, 1514. He says that Ismael himself was present in the battle and +did wonders in arms, as, with only thirty thousand men he attacked the +Turkish army three hundred thousand strong. The Persian cavalry bore +down the Turks on every side, though with the loss of one of their great +chiefs, Usta-ogli. “The Persians were now ready on everie side to have +assailed Selymus in his greatest strength; when Sinan Bassa, although +the wing he led was sore rent and weakened, yet following the Persians +through the middest of the heaps of the slaine footmen, came in, in +good time for Selymus, and with certaine fresh troups which had escaped +from the furie of Usta-ogli restored the battell before almost lost; +but, especially by the invincible courage of Alisbeg and Mahomet his +brother, descended of the honourable familie of the Molcozzii, which +for nobilitie among the Turks is accounted next unto the Ottomans; both +of them for courage resembling their warlike father Molcozzius, famous +for that wofull expedition he made into Friuli against the Venetians +in the raigne of Baiazet. Selymus, also not yet discouraged, but still +in hope, commaunded all the great ordinance wherewith he was environed +which he had reserved as his last refuge, to be discharged; by the +violence whereof such slaughter was made as well of his owne men as of +his enemies, mingled togither, that what for dust, what for smoake, +and thundering of the artillerie, having on both sides almost lost the +use of sight and hearing; and their horses being so terrified with the +thundering report of the great ordinance that they were not now to be +ruled, the battell was broken off, the victorie yet doubtfull.” He goes +on to say that Ismael was slightly wounded, and had to retire from the +field, which gave the Turks breathing time. + +[330] The site of the ancient Artaxarta is fixed on the Aras, a little to +the south of Erivan. + +[331] Knolles says:—“This was that notable battell fought in the Calderan +fields neare unto the city of Coy, betwixt these two great princes, +the 7th day of August, in the yeare of our Lord 1514. In which battell +Selymus lost above thirtie thousand men, amongst whom was Casan Bassa, +his great lieutenant in Europe; seaven Sanzackes, in which were the two +Malcozzian brethren, who, labouring the one to rescue the other, were +both togither slaine. Beside his common footmen, of whom he made least +reckoning, he lost most part of his Illirian, Macedonian, Servian, +Epirot, Thessalian, and Thracian horsemen, the undoubted flower and +strength of his army, which were in that mortall battell almost all +slaine or grievously wounded. Selymus, for all this great losse, by the +confession of his enemies having gotten the victorie, and receiving +embassadours from Coy and the cities thereabout, and the great citie of +Tauris, promising to relieve him with whatsoever he needed, and to doe +what else he should commaund, marched directly to Tauris, desiring both +to see and possesse himself of that citie as one of the chiefe pallaces +of the Persian kings. This citie is two daies’ journey distant from Coy, +where the battell was fought, and is probably supposed to be the famous +citie called in auntient time Ecbatana, about an hundred and fiftie miles +distant from the Caspian Sea. The citizens were readie at the comming of +the Turks, and brought them great store of victuals out of the gates of +the citie, where Selymus had lodged his army in the suburbs, thinking +it no safetie to lodge within that great and populous citie, contenting +himselfe to have the gates thereof delivered unto him, which he kept with +strong guard.” + +[332] Caseria, probably Casbin. + +[333] The janissaries mutinied, according to Knolles. + +[334] Knolles says:—“Yet for all the speed he could make, the Georgian +horsemen, the forerunners of Hysmaell, his armie being come within sight +before the Turkes were all got over, raised such a feare and a stirre +all alongt that side of the river that two thousand of the Turkes were +in their hastie passage there drowned, divers field pieces left sticking +in the mud, and much of their baggage carried away with the force of the +river. The Georgians contenting themselves with such things as were left, +pursued them no farther.” + +[335] Ikindjis. + +[336] Khafour el Ghouri. + +[337] Syria. + +[338] Knolles gives a different reason, namely, that the Persian soldiery +were well suited for defending, but not for fighting out of their own +country: so Ismael would not risk an invasion. + +[339] Amasia, birthplace of Strabo. See page 37. + + + + +DISCOURSE OF + +MESSER GIOVAN BATTISTA RAMUSIO + +ON THE + +WRITINGS OF GIOVAN MARIA ANGIOLELLO AND OF A MERCHANT WHO WENT THROUGH +THE WHOLE OF PERSIA; IN WHICH ARE NARRATED THE LIFE AND DEEDS OF USSUN +CASSANO. + + + + +DISCOURSE OF MESSER GIOVAN BATTISTA RAMUSIO. + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +Everyone who considers the various changes brought by the course of +events to human affairs, will, on reflection, be filled with wonder; +but I think that those who read ancient history have greater reason to +be so, seeing many republics and many great and powerful kingdoms, so +to speak, collapse without, in certain cases, leaving even a name, or +any memorial behind. The same course of events has caused many races to +leave their native countries, and, like proud and rapid rivers, invade +those of others, chasing away the ancient inhabitants, and, not content +with that, even change their names. So it happens that, nowadays, there +are many races whose origin is not known, of which miserable Italy is an +example, as, after the ruin of the Roman empire, a multitude of strange +and barbarous nations entered from the North, ousted the inhabitants, +changed the vulgar tongue, the names of the provinces, rivers, and +mountains, moved the towns from their proper sites, and built them up +afterwards at a distance from the spots where they first stood. This +has not happened to Italy alone, but also to the province of Gallia, +which, on its occupation by the fierce nation of the Franks, lost its +name as well as its inhabitants. The same happened to Britain, now +called England; to Pannonia, which is now Hungary; and to many other +countries which it would be tedious to enumerate. But I cannot hold my +peace about poor, afflicted Greece, celebrated by all classic writers, +which was anciently the home of science and the example of humanity, but +now fallen low indeed, being subjected to the empire of the Turks, and +inhabited only by barbarous and unlettered tribes. This same calamity +has fallen also on the whole of Asia, since (as one reads in the books +of M. Marco Polo and the Armenian), great hordes of Tartars issued from +the regions of Cathay and overran the countries, and, having settled in +their new abodes, changed the names of the provinces to others familiar +to the conquerors. Thus Margiana, Bactriana, and Sodiana, provinces near +the Caspian Sea, being taken by Zacatai, brother of the Great Can, were +called instead the country of Zacatai, from the province of Turquestan, +which is beyond the rivers Jaxartes and Oxus. + +There came another great multitude of people, who settled themselves in +Asia Minor,—that is, in Bithynia, Phrygia, Cappadocia, and Paphagonia, +and called it Turkey. At the same time, Hoccota Can[340] having made +himself master of the provinces of Media, Parthia, and Persia, now named +Azemia;[341] his successors gave them different names; and even in our +times the Sophi, who was the son of a daughter of Ussun Cassano, King +of Persia, had these provinces named after him. As there have come into +my hands some carefully composed writings, in which are narrated the +life and acts of the above-mentioned Ussun Cassano, or Assambei,[342] +which are synonymous, and of Sheikh Ismail, who is the Sophi, I thought +them suitable to follow the books of M. Marco Polo, and of the Armenian. +Moreover, they treat of the same matter, and though agreeing, are +different versions, so I think they will greatly amuse my readers. I +find that the first author, who speaks of the life of Ussun Cassano, +was named Giovan Maria Angiolello, who relates in his history that he +served Mustafà, son of Mahomet II, Grand Turk, and that he was in the +action[343] with the same Grand Turk, in which he was routed on the +islands in the bed of the river Euphrates by the army of Ussun Cassano. +The name of the second author is not known; but it is evident that he was +of a cultivated intellect, and that in the course of his business he went +through almost the whole of Persia. To these two authors we have added +two Travels, one of the Illustrious M. Josapha Barbaro, and the other +of the Illustrious M. Ambrosio Contarini, Venetian gentlemen, who treat +of the same matters; so that of the affairs of Persia of late times, we +have a history, if not continuous, at least leaving little to be desired. +I wish that fortune had been favourable enough to allow me to get into +my hands the Travels of the Illustrious M. Caterino Zeno, knight, who +was the first ambassador who went into that region to the monarch Ussun +Cassano; but, although printed, it has been lost, owing to the length of +time that has elapsed. And truly the above-mentioned M. Caterino was one +of the rare and worthy gentlemen who existed at that time in this most +excellent Republic. Therefore, in the year 1471 he was elected ambassador +to the King Ussun Cassano, to incite him to attack the Turk, with whom +the Republic was then engaged in the fiercest war. He, moved by the love +he bore to his country, like a good citizen, not considering the length +or danger of the journey, accepted the charge cheerfully, and went the +more willingly as he hoped to be a more fitting instrument for good than +anyone else. Since Caloianni,[344] Emperor of Trebizond, having given one +of his daughters, named Despinacaton,[345] in marriage to Ussun Cassano, +King of Persia, married another of them called Valenza to the Duke of +the Archipelago, named the Lord Nicolo Crespo, by whom the duke had four +daughters and a son, Francesco, who succeeded his father, and whose +descendant, Giacomo Crespo, the twenty-first Duke of Naxo, is still +living. The daughters were all honourably married at Venice: one named +Firunza was mother of the Queen of Cyprus and of the most Illustrious M. +Giorgio Cornaro, knight, and his brother, the Procurator, from whom are +descended many reverend Cardinals. Another named Lucretia was married +to the noble M. Jacomo Prioli, who was the father of M. Nicolo Prioli, +the Procurator. Valenza, the third, was the wife of the noble M. Gio. +Loredano, and Violante, the fourth, was the wife of the above-mentioned +M. Catharin Zeno. Now this Despinacaton, though she was in Persia and at +a distance, continually kept up the remembrance of her relatives, her +affection for her sister Valenza, wife of the Duke of the Archipelago, +and her nieces at Venice. For this reason, this gentleman went readily +and was not deceived in his opinion, as, after many hardships and +dangers, when he arrived at Tauris in the presence of Ussun Cassano and +Despinacaton his wife, he was recognised by her as her nephew, and had +great honours and favours paid him; and by the influence he acquired +with that monarch he was able to perform many things for his Republic, +described in his book, which, as we have said above, we have not been +able to get into our hands. King Ussun Cassano, to do greater honour to +the noble M. Catharin, chose him for his ambassador to the Christian +princes, to incite them against the Turk, and principally to the Kings of +Poland and Hungary; but, when he came to them and found them at war with +each other, he passed on to others. At this time, the most Illustrious +Government hearing of the departure of M. Catharino, elected in his place +M. Josapha Barbaro, and after him M. Ambrosio Contarini, whose travels, +on his return journey to Venice, by the Caspian Sea, the river Volga, and +the country of Tartars, I think will greatly amuse his readers from their +novelty and the account of the various accidents that befel him from day +to day. + + + + +A SHORT NARRATIVE OF THE LIFE AND ACTS OF THE KING USSUN CASSANO. + +BY GIOVAN MARIA ANGIOLELLO. + + + + +CHAP. I. + + Assambei, King of Persia, takes as wife the daughter of the + Christian Emperor of Trebizond, and after he has had sons + by her, she, with two daughters, goes to lead a solitary + life in the Christian faith; her father is taken prisoner to + Constantinople. + + +Assambei,[346] the most powerful King of Tauris and Persia, had several +women as his wives; and, among others, one named Despinacaton, who was +the daughter of an Emperor of Trebizond, named Caloianni, who feared the +might of the Ottoman, Mahomet II, and hoped in this way to strengthen +himself, with the assistance of Assambei, in case of need, so gave her to +him as his wife, with the condition that she might hold to the Christian +faith, employing chaplains to perform the sacred offices. By this lady +Assambei had one male and three female children. The first of these +daughters, named Marta, was married to Sachaidar,[347] father of Ismail +Sophi. The other two remained with their mother, who, after a certain +time, determined to lead a solitary life apart from her husband, who +consented and gave her a large income, assigning as a residence a city +named Iscartibiert,[348] on the frontiers of the land of Diarbet.[349] +This lady remained in this place a long time, and with her her two +daughters, leading a Christian life, and after her death was buried in +the city of Amit,[350] in the church of San Giorgio, where her tomb is +to be seen even to this day. The son, Jacob or Juibic, remained with +his father, Assambei, and, when about twenty years of age, the very +night on which his father died, was strangled by three other brothers by +another mother. His sisters, named the one Eliel and the other Eziel, +hearing of their brother’s death, decided to fly; and, after packing up +their goods, went to Aleppo, and thence to Damascus; where they have +been often seen by our countrymen, one of them being still alive. Now, +to return to Caloianni, who thought, by giving his daughter as wife to +Assambei, that he would strengthen his country against the enemy and +remain in possession of Trebizond, I will mention that the Turk quickly +came down upon him with his army, before he could obtain succour. The +unhappy monarch,[351] not finding help on any side, was constrained to +give himself up to the enemy. Thence he was taken to Constantinople and +treated honourably enough, but died before a year was over, in 1462.[352] + + + + +CHAP. II. + + Pirahomat makes war on Abrain, his brother, in order to take + from him the kingdom of Caramania, and obtains his end by the + aid of the Grand Turk, against whom he afterwards rebels, and + flies to Persia. + + +The King Assambei afterwards had a war with the Ottoman monarch on +account of the kingdom of Caramania, to which both preferred a claim. +This kingdom was anciently called Cilicia, but afterwards, and to the +present time, called Caramania, from an Arab chief named Caraman, who, +in course of time, had a descendant named Turuan, who had seven sons. +After his death these sons came to blows amongst themselves, and five of +them dying, there were two left, Abrain and Pirahomat. Abrain,[353] by +having more adherents, made himself master, and Pirahomat[354] fled to +the Grand Turk, who claimed relationship with them. Pirahomat, while in +Constantinople, continually solicited the Turkish monarch to give him aid +to oust his brother and to make him king, offering, in return, to be his +subject. The Ottoman monarch, seeing that this offer suited his purpose, +agreed, and gave him sufficient forces. Abrain, Prince of Caramania, +hearing this, made preparations to defend his State. In the year 1467 +the two armies met between Carasar[355] and a city called Aessar,[356] a +great slaughter taking place on both sides. However, at length Pirahomat +gained the victory, and remained master of the country without any +opposition; his brother turning to fly, fell from his horse, and breaking +his ribs, died from it. Pirahomat, however, remained in peaceable +possession of the throne for two years only; for it being the custom for +all the Turkish barons to go to visit the monarch once a year and to kiss +his hand, giving him presents in proportion to their incomes and dignity, +and for the monarch to caress them, and to give them many presents, +Pirahomat, not caring to observe this custom like the others, the Turk +sent to tell him to come to his assistance with part of his forces, as +he wished to march against the Christians. But Pirahomat would not obey; +wherefore the Turk, enraged at his disobedience, went in person to attack +him, and took from him part of the country as far as the Cogno,[357] +putting in command his second son, named Mustafá Celebi,[358] leaving a +large force with him and sending a good commander with a number of men to +go on occupying the rest of the country. Pirahomat, seeing that he could +not resist the Turkish forces, left some governors in certain fortresses, +departed from the country, and went to Persia to the King Assambei. On +his arrival in Tauris he was greatly welcomed, and his prayers for aid +against the enemy being favourably listened to, a force of about forty +thousand men was set in order. The commander was named Yusuf,[359] a man +of great reputation, ability, and courage, who, taking the field with +the army, soon arrived at the city of Toccat,[360] and put the whole +country to fire and sword, burning the towns belonging to that city, not +delaying to attack fortresses, but went plundering and devastating the +country, so that every one fled to the fortresses. At this time Mustafà, +the son of the Turk, was sent with one of his father’s generals, named +Agmat Bassa,[361] to take the fortresses of Caramania, and was encamped +before a strong city named Lula, the inhabitants of which, unaccustomed +to hear the terrible sound of artillery, surrendered, and were cruelly +treated by Mustafà. Having placed a garrison in the city and hearing +that the Persian camp was in the neighbourhood, but that Ussun Cassano +was not there in person, he retired to the Cogno, and sent his women and +goods away for safety, to a place four days’ journey to the west, towards +Constantinople, named Sabi Carrahasar,[362] situated on a high mountain. +The camp remained some days at the Cogno, when they, hearing of the +approach of the Persians, and not considering themselves strong enough +for resistance, retired to the city of Cuthey,[363] where Daut[364] +Bassa, Beglerbeg of Natolia, happened to be collecting men to resist the +Persians. The Grand Turk also had crossed the strait with all his court +and part of the Rouman troops to join his other camp, being deceived as +to the strength of the enemy, who had been joined by some Caramanians and +were marching boldly through the country. + + + + +CHAP. III. + + Mustafà comes to an engagement with the Persians who had come + with Pirahomat to defend Caramania, and routs them. Ussun + Cassano exhorts the Venetians to make war on the Turk and to + send him artillery. + + +Mustafà, hearing that Ussun Cassano was not there in person, and that +in all, both cavalry and infantry, there were about fifty thousand men, +taking leave of his father with Agmat Bassà,[365] and a force of sixty +thousand men, the greater part cavalry, set out against the Persians. +The enemy, hearing of this movement, advanced no further, but retired to +the country of Caramania to get reinforcements and provisions. Now, the +Turkish army riding forward in great haste for several days, arrived not +very far from where the enemy were encamped. A force of four thousand +cavalry under a captain named Arnaut was sent in advance, and at the +dawn of day attacked the Persian camp, and during the engagement the +rest of the Turkish army came up to the aid of the four thousand horse +who had already been roughly handled, Arnaut and more than two thousand +of his men being slain. The Persians, seeing their advantage met the +Turkish squadron boldly and showed great courage in the contest. But +after a great number had been slain on both sides, about the third hour +the Persians began to yield, and were routed by the Turks; Yusuf, the +commander, and other chiefs, were taken prisoners, while many others +were slain. The tents and baggage were captured with a great booty in +horses, camels, and other plunder. Pirahomat, Prince of Caramania, +having the country in his favour, found means to escape, but not feeling +safe in his own dominions, returned to Ussun Cassano in Persia. The +Turkish sovereign, hearing of this victory, caused great feasts and +rejoicings to be held in Constantinople, sending many presents to his +son Mustafà and his captains. After this defeat the King Assambei sent +an ambassador to persuade the Venetian rulers to make war on the Turk, +since the latter was coming in person against him. And, in addition, +he requested artillery from them, which a short time after was sent to +Cyprus with their fleet, but arrived too late, after Assambei had come +to blows with the Turks, in which action he had suffered a defeat and +retired to Tauris, where he was followed by Messer Josaphat Barbaro and +the artillery. + + + + +CHAP. IV. + + The preparations made by the Turk to go in person against Ussun + Cassano and the array of his army in the camp and on the march. + + +The Turk having gained the victory and made himself master of Caramania, +perceiving that Ussun Cassano was hostile to him, by giving aid to +Pirahomat, in the year 1473 determined to show him that he was not in +the least afraid of him. This he had already done in the battle, but he +resolved to do more, and make him feel his immense power. Therefore, the +following spring, he made preparations for going in person against Ussun +Cassano, ordering great musters of men to be made. And when the time for +opening the campaign was come, in the above-mentioned year he crossed the +Strait of Constantinople, with his whole court, into Asia. On arriving +in Cappadocia he halted in a plain near a city called Amasia,[366] the +residence of Baiesit[367] Celebi, the eldest son of the Turk. This plain +is called Casouasi,[368] which, in our language, signifies the plain of +the goose; it can support great armies, and has great resources of water +and forage, as there are many towns round it. As this was on the route +the Sultan intended to take, it was determined on as the rendezvous for +the grand army. Having (as we have already mentioned) ordered all his +generals and captains to be prepared, and at the appointed time, with +everything in readiness, to appear in this place,—it was done as he +commanded. But the Turkish monarch, knowing that this enterprise was of +the greatest importance, determined to make all the preparations that the +number of his men, the scarcity of necessaries, and the safety of his +country and himself required. Therefore, of his three sons, he wished the +two elder ones to come on this enterprise, namely, Baiesit the eldest, +and Mustafà his second son; the third, by name Gien,[369] remained at +Constantinople with good advisers to watch over the safety of his realm. +The army being mustered and arranged in this plain of the goose, he +resolved on the order it was to hold in the camps and on the road, and +the means by which there might be no want of any necessaries or comforts. + +It was first resolved to make five principal commanders, one of whom +was the Turkish monarch at the head of his court, and other troops to +the number of thirty thousand infantry and cavalry. The second was his +eldest son, Baiesit, who had a following of another thirty thousand, +with his position on the right of his father. The third was his second +son, Mustafà, who also had thirty thousand men, among whom were twelve +thousand Wallachians from the Basha of Wallachia, under a chief named +Bataraba, and this column had its position on the left of the Turk. The +fourth was the Beglerbeg of Roumania, named Asmurat,[370] of the family +of the Palæologi; and, as he was young, Maumet Bassà was given him as +an adviser, as he was the first, and considered the most prudent man +of the whole empire of the Turk; he was a counsellor of the sovereign, +as he had also been of Amurat, the father of the present monarch. This +column was sixty thousand strong, comprising many Christians, Greeks, +Albanians, and Sorians in their number; and this column had its post in +front of the Turk. The fifth commander was the Beglerbeg of Natolia, +named Daut Bassà, a man of authority and mature discretion. The column +was forty thousand strong, including Mussulman infantry and cavalry, and +their post was behind the Grand Turk; so that the Sultan, with his court, +remained in the midst surrounded by the four abovementioned columns. And +the commands were that they should pitch their tents, which are very +numerous, according to their rank, but without disturbing the order of +the march, or leaving their own divisions, arranging close together like +a fortified place; but, that they should always leave roads for passage +in the camp, and in the middle of each column a large space for a square, +since in each column was a market for cooked foods, forage, and other +comforts. There were besides in each column seneschals and marshals +with full powers for keeping order and providing against disturbances. +Each of these four commanders was obliged to send out sentinels and to +keep guard in his division. Besides the five columns we have mentioned, +there was also another of the Aganzi,[371] who are not paid, except by +the booty they may gain in guerilla warfare. These men do not encamp +with the rest of the army, but go traversing, pillaging, and wasting the +country of the enemy on every side, and yet keep up a great and excellent +discipline among themselves, both in the division of the plunder and in +the execution of all their enterprises. In this division were thirty +thousand men, remarkably well mounted, and as a commander they had given +them a valiant chief named Maumut Aga. + + + + +CHAP. V. + + The supplies of provisions made by the chief, Arphaemiler, that + the army might be in plenty. + + +In the matter of provisions great care and diligence were required to +keep the army in plenty, and for this, two Arphaemiler (as the chief +commissariat officers are called, who have two hundred and fifty men +under each) were appointed. Their duty is, when the Grand Turk takes the +field to send word on a day in advance, to let the people know that the +army is about to encamp in that region. And the governors and rulers of +those districts provide abundant provisions for the army; and people +of every condition come willingly in order to find a market for their +produce, as well as for the sake of fellowship and a welcome, being +perfectly sure that no violence will be offered them; and woe to anyone +who dares to do them violence, as he would be severely punished. There +also follow the camp many sutlers, as butchers, bakers, cooks, and many +others, who go about buying goods, and bringing them to the camp to make +a profit, and in this traffic great and rich men also engage. And those +who pursue this trade are favoured and protected by the authorities in +all the things they do for the accommodation of the camp; so that at all +times when the army is in the field, if the roads are not blocked up by +the enemy, there is the greatest abundance. + +When the Turkish monarch wishes to go against the enemy and begins to +leave his territories, and plenty of provisions are not easily obtained, +they determine on the road they are to take, as when in this case against +Ussun Cassano we entered the country and advanced ten days’ journey from +the Turkish frontiers. All safe communication with the frontiers was cut +off for three months; so that Gien Sultan, his son, to whom was left the +Government of the State at Constantinople, remained more than forty days +without news of his father or of the army. At length it was rumoured that +we were all routed and cut to pieces, which he believed, and endeavoured +to gain over to his allegiance the governors of the fortresses as well +as the other magistrates, with which the Turk became so indignant, that +he put to death the counsellors who had advised Gien to do so. One of +these was named Carestra Solciman and the other Nasufabege. Now, when it +happens that the army is past the frontiers and in the enemy’s country, +and there is need of provisions, these Arphaemiler have the charge of +sending to all parts of their sovereign’s dominions, where they know +there is plenty of grain, and of ordering each city to send so many +camel loads of corn and barley. The cities, with their territories, are +bound to obey and to furnish their overseers with the quantity of corn +and barley which has been imposed upon them. Besides, they must send +sufficient provisions for the use of the men and animals, who convey it +on the way, so that the victuals ordered by these lords for the army be +not aught diminished, but that at the time of distribution there be found +as much as was ordered, otherwise, the communities would suffer reproofs +and loss. When these overseers arrive in the camp at their appointed +time, they present themselves to the officials of the abovementioned +masters of the camp, who, taking note of their arrival, assign to them +their places of encampment. Similarly, they take note of all the loads of +provisions, and do not touch them without the order of these Arphaemiler, +and do not distribute them while they can obtain provisions in any +other way. And when the roads are blocked up, and there is a want of +provisions, the seneschals of the camp go to these Saraphaemiler masters +of the camp, and mention that such and such districts are in want of corn +and barley, and these lords consign one or more of the overseers with his +convoy to them, sending one of their clerks with them, while sometimes a +commissary of the seneschals of the camp accompanies them, when, putting +the provisions into the market with prices set upon them, they thus sell +them, taking equally good reckoning of the quantity of grain as of the +money received, lest they should be cheated. After the sale, the money is +handed over to the overseer in the name of the community, and receipts +taken for the quantity of supplies sold, and of the money consigned. +When the overseer arrives at his home he hands over the money to the +community, which is distributed in proportion to the quantity of supplies +each man has forwarded to the camp, and as such good order reigns, the +supply of necessaries is easy. And it is a thing almost incredible to +those who have not witnessed it, to see the vast numbers of camels +carrying provisions, more especially in this expedition against Ussun +Cassano; in which the Turk, in addition to the ordinary pay, gave an +advance of three months, that is, one quarter, according to the person’s +rank. He also gave assistance to the paymasters, as they have the payment +of the incomes assigned to them. + + + + +CHAP. VI. + + The Grand Turk holds a consultation as to the route to be + followed by the army on leaving Amasia; of the places passed on + the way; and of the dromedaries bringing presents from the Lord + of Sit and the Soldan. + + +Everything necessary for the journey being got ready, they held a +consultation about the route to be followed in going against Ussun +Cassano. There was at this consultation the great chief, Jussuf, with +other great captains of Ussun Cassano, who, as I have mentioned before, +were taken prisoners the previous year, 1472, when the army was routed at +Begisar; the Grand Turk had promised to liberate them, if he found that +they told the truth about the things that were asked them of the route +to be pursued; nevertheless, they were conducted with the army under a +safe escort, and were often questioned about the passes, provisions, +water, and encampments. The Turk, also by means of his attendants, +treated with and brought to his camp some merchants and other persons +accustomed to this journey; and they also were examined separately on +these matters. Similarly, the Aganzi,[372] scouring the country and +making prisoners of people well acquainted with the country, sent them to +the court, where they were likewise examined, and the information given +by all being then weighed, they advanced with the greatest caution. + +All the necessary preparations being made, the Grand Turk moved the +army from the Plain of the Goose and from the city of Amasia,[373] and +advanced towards Toccat, a city of Cappadocia; and the army following its +route arrived at the city of Civas,[374] situated near the mountains, +and near it crossed a large river named the Lais,[375] flowing from the +mountains of Trebizond, over which is an immense stone bridge. Leaving +this city on the left, and having crossed this river, we entered a valley +of Mount Taurus and arrived at a fortress called Nicher,[376] belonging +to King Ussun Cassano. Here the Aganzi were attacked by the enemy, and a +small skirmish took place, in which as many were killed on one side as +on the other, and twelve prisoners were brought to the headquarters of +the Turk. The rest of the garrison, not waiting to be attacked, departed, +leaving the castle undamaged, where the army arrived, but not delaying to +besiege fortified places, proceeded on its way, leaving on the left not +very far distant a city called Coiliuasar,[377] situated among mountains +in a valley surrounded by many villages. Still advancing, we arrived on +the slope of a high mountain at another city named Careafar,[378] where +alum is found; the army encamped half a mile from this city, and the +cavalry scoured and ravaged the country, so that the greater part of the +peasants, with their cattle and goods, fled to the strongholds in the +mountains and other safe places. Having raised the camp and continued our +march, we arrived at a large plain, in which is the city of Argian,[379] +on a site a little elevated above the plain, which is called the country +of Arsingan.[380] But, as the city was not fortified, the inhabitants +had fled across the river Euphrates. Nevertheless, some few remained, +among whom was found, on the arrival of the Aganzi, an aged Armenian, +in a church, surrounded by many books; and, although those who found +him called to him several times, he did not answer, but continued most +attentively reading the books before him, and the anger of the soldiers +being aroused, he was killed and the church burnt over him, with which +the Grand Turk, on hearing it, was very indignant; as it was said that +this man was a great philosopher. + +Continuing our journey through this country of Arsingan, which is a part +of Lesser Armenia, and approaching the river Euphrates not very far +from Malacia,[381] which journey we performed in eight days, and the +army having already halted about the hour of nine, behold there arrived +eleven dromedaries coming with presents from the lord of Sit, and from +the Soldan, and on these dromedaries were men closely wrapped up in white +cloth, as otherwise they could not bear riding these animals, as the +great pace would shake their persons too much. Of these eleven men some +were white, and others black, and the first of them had in his hand an +arrow, on the point of which was fixed a note; all the others had before +them a covered box, with various sweetmeats inside; others carried bread +and cooked meat, which was still hot. When they arrived at the pavilion +of the Turk, without alighting or stopping, they put down the note and +the boxes, and said that they had come ninety miles in six hours. Their +answer was given them without speaking, in another note fixed on the same +arrow; and when they departed, it seemed as if they disappeared before +our eyes, so marvellous is the speed of those animals. + + + + +CHAP. VII. + + The Grand Turk, arriving at the river Euphrates, determines + to cross, and orders Asmurat to force a passage with his men, + whereupon he is defeated by the Persians. + + +Now on arriving at the river Euphrates, and marching north-east along its +bank, we perceived that Ussuncassano had arrived with his army on the +other side, at the spot where he thought that the Turk would cross. The +river was wider in this place—divided into many streams by banks of mud; +here the armies encamped opposite each other, with the stream separating +them. Ussuncassano had an immense army, and with him were three of his +sons, the first named Calul,[382] the second Ugurlimehemet,[383] and the +third Zeinel, and also Pirahomat, the prince of Caramania, and many other +lords and men of various nationalities, namely, Persians, Parthians, +Albanians (?), Georgians, and Tartars. On Ussuncassano’s seeing the +Turkish army encamped, he was quite astonished at the multitude, and +stood some time without speaking, and then said in the Persian language, +“Baycabexen nede riadir,” which means, “O, son of a whore, what a sea!” +comparing the Turkish army to an ocean. On the same day that the armies +encamped in this place, about nine, it was decided to attempt a passage +and to attack the enemy, and that Asmurat,[384] Beglerbeg of Romania +should attempt it with all his men, and, as he was young, Mahumut Bassa +was given him as a colleague. Then having raised the standards, sounded +the drums, the naccare, and other warlike instruments, they began +to cross, swimming over certain streams, and going from sandbank to +sandbank, and so arrived nearly at the other side of the river. + +Ussuncassano, seeing that the Turkish troops began to cross, and were +already near his bank, sent a body of his own men against them, who also +entered a good way into the river; but as a deep stream separated them, +they began the fight with arrows. Still the Turks, wishing to cross, made +great exertions; and a part of them crossing the stream, came to blows +with the Persians, the fight lasting more than three hours, with great +slaughter on both sides. The Persians being nearest their bank of the +river, easily received support from their own people; while the Turks, +being only able to cross by a narrow ford, arrived a few at a time, +swimming over with their horses, many also being drowned by the rush of +water which carried them away from the ford. At length the Turks were +overcome by the Persians, and made to retreat, recrossing the stream +in their flight. Mahumut Bassa, who was on a bank, half a mile distant +from the place where they were fighting, not only did not give them +assistance, but retreated across several streams to another sandbank. The +Persians pursued the Turks, killing and taking prisoners; and the Turks +in their flight got into disorder, and blocked up the passage, many being +drowned by falling into the whirlpools of which there are a great many in +this river, and among others Asmurat, Beglerbeg of Romania. When he, with +many others, fell into a large whirlpool, the Turks, and in particular +his slaves and retainers, endeavouring to assist him, made head, and +attacked the Persians again. And numbers of them being killed and +drowned, the Persians crossing several streams in pursuit of the Turks, +arrived at a muddy bank on which Mahumut Bassa had formed many squadrons, +and where the contest was renewed. + +But the Persians, with all their efforts, could gain no ground in the +hand to hand fight that ensued with the troops of Mahumut, neither party +gaining the least advantage. And as the evening began to come on, and +the day to close, the Turk, who the whole time with all the rest of the +army had been under arms on the bank of the river, sounded a retreat, and +Ussuncassano, who had been also under arms on the other bank, did the +same. And the retreat being sounded on both sides, each withdrew without +any further attack; still Ussuncassano had the best of the fight, as of +his men fewer were killed, but few drowned, and not one taken prisoner. +But on our side, when the muster was made, there were twelve thousand men +missing, among whom were several persons of note. Sentinels were posted +on the banks of the river, the Persians doing the same, as both parties +were apprehensive of an attack. + +The Turkish monarch was very indignant that Mahumut Bassa had retired +from one bank to another instead of giving assistance to Asmurat, and +suspected that he had done so on purpose, not being very friendly +with him. Nevertheless, the Turk did not at this time show ill-will +towards Mahumut, as neither the time nor place appeared convenient, but +principally because this Mahumut[385] was beloved by all; dissimulating +now, he awaited the time that he could punish him without risk to +himself, which happened six months later, when he caused him to be +strangled with a bowstring. + + + + +CHAP. VIII. + + Ussun Cassano pursues the Turk, who, after his defeat, returns + to his country, and a battle takes place, in which, by the + flight of Ussun Cassano from the army, the Persians are routed, + and the Grand Turk remains victorious. + + +Having suffered this defeat, the Turk became very apprehensive, and +determined to lead his army back to his country by the shortest route; +and, to console his soldiers, besides their usual pay, he gave them +another advance, making them a present of the former one which he had +given at his departure. Also he liberated all his slaves that were in the +camp, on the condition that none should abandon him, but should serve him +like the other troops, who are not slaves, and who can do what they like +with their own; he made many other concessions to the captains. The army +having started, we marched along the bank of the river, and the Persians +did the same on the other side, not attempting to cross, but keeping on +their guard, seeing that the Turkish army was still larger than theirs; +nevertheless, as was afterwards reported, Ussuncassano was incited by +his sons and the other commanders to cross the river and attack us, as +we were in flight in consequence of the defeat we had sustained, many +consultations being held about it. At the end of about ten days the +Turkish forces, having turned away from the river, with the city of +Baybret[386] on their right, among the mountains which separate Greater +and Lesser Armenia, took their way towards the north-west, entering +a valley on the route to Trebizond. At the second halt we made after +entering the valley, at the end of August, at the fourteenth hour of the +day, behold the Persians appeared on the mountains on our right.[387] + +Then the Turk faced round towards the enemy, and gained the heights, but +first fortified the camp, leaving the brother of the ruler of Scandeloro, +named Eustraf, to guard it and the baggage-waggons. All the arrangements +being made, he marched by the mountains towards the enemy, placing Daut +Bassa Beglerbeg of Natolia, with his whole column, and all those of +Romania who remained from the first rout in the van, Bajesit, the Grand +Turk’s eldest son, being on the right of his father, and Mustafa, the +second, on the left. Thus marching over mountains and rocky ground, we +arrived at a valley on the other side of which the Persians were drawn +up, with a very extended line, opposite which the Grand Turk had his men +arrayed. Then both sides sounded a countless number of naccare, drums, +and other warlike instruments, the noise and din being so great that one +had to hear it to imagine it. The slopes of the valley where the armies +fronted each other were easy of ascent and descent; it was a quarter of a +mile wide and rather long, in a wild situation among mountains. + +Here began a stubborn contest, first one party and then the other +repulsing the enemy, each giving assistance to their own side wherever +the need was greatest, until Pirahomat, prince of Caramania, who was on +Ussuncassano’s right, after a fierce resistance, was defeated by Mustafa, +son of the Grand Turk, and recoiling on the flank of Ussuncassano, who, +fearing to be surrounded, which might easily have happened, from the +superiority of the Turks on every side, and principally on the right, +where the great captain Mustafa fought, began to get very much afraid, +mounted an Arab mare, and in a very short time took to flight. In this +way they were routed and chased as far as the tents, which were nearly +ten miles off in a plain, and some of the prisoners taken at the rout +of the fords were rescued.[388] The tents were also plundered and an +immense booty taken, and among the slain was a son of Ussuncassano named +Zeinel, whose head was presented to the Turk by a foot-soldier who had +killed him in the battle; since this prince Zeinel, leaving his father +when he mounted the mare, entered among the infantry, and was surrounded +and slain with many of his followers. This was a great rout, about ten +thousand of the Persians being killed, and many more taken prisoners, of +whom some were put to death each day. + +The night was all spent in rejoicing, with bonfires, and music, and +shouting. But because Mustafà the Sultan’s son had pursued Ussun Cassano, +and it was now the second hour of the night, the Turk became anxious, and +sent some couriers after him, with whom he returned. His father came out +of his tent with a cup of gold full of julep, which he presented to him +with his own hand, kissing him and commending him greatly for his bearing +and valour. This battle lasted eight continuous hours before the Persians +were put to rout, and if it had not been for Mustafà and Ussun Cassano’s +cowardly flight, they might not have lost. In this battle, of Turks there +were in all about one thousand killed.[389] There were found in the +baggage-waggons of Ussun Cassano some vases of gold, with their sheaths +covered with copper, and other vases of gold and silver; there were also +some fine suits of armour, made at Syras,[390] quite masterpieces, like +mirrors, with gilt borders wonderfully polished and a marvel to behold. +They also captured a thousand horses and a great number of camels. I must +not omit to mention that in this battle Ugurlimehemet, Ussun Cassano’s +second son, came with a great number of men to assail our camp, but he +also was repulsed by the lord Cusers[391] and the rest of the garrison, +and so much so that he narrowly escaped being taken prisoner, but got +away through his acquaintance with the country. Thus if Ussun Cassano had +remained content with his first victory, the Turk would have gone away +ignominiously, and he would not have lost the territories he did. + +Having rested the army for three days, the Turk resolved to go back again +by the way he had come. Therefore, raising his camp, he marched towards +Baibret,[392] where, on account of the rout of Ussun Cassano, he found +that the inhabitants of this city and of the surrounding country had +fled to the strongholds in the mountains. Nevertheless, the Aganzi took +some prisoners and plunder, and some of these Aganzi were assailed by +the Persians, and the prisoners and booty recaptured. On being pursued +they retired to the city of Baibret. And the Persians following in +pursuit, the Aganzi defended the place, the whole of one night and half +of the following day, until the news came to the army, when relief was +sent to them. The Persians hearing this, went off, not wishing to await +the attack. Proceeding on the march, we arrived on the banks of the +great river Euphrates, finding the castles and villages all abandoned, +and a good many of them burnt. Coming to the ford, the Aganzi crossed +without opposition, and traversed the country on the opposite shore for +one day’s journey in distance, seizing some small flocks as booty. When +they returned to the camp we directed our route towards Erfenia,[393] a +city in front, which had been abandoned; here we fixed our camp for one +night, and four days after leaving it we arrived at Carassar,[394] which +is situated on a black mountain, and has a very strong natural position, +from having high precipices all round, except on one side, where there is +one place that one can get up to the gate by a tortuous and rocky path. +Having encamped here, the people of the place stood silently on the walls +provided with sharp pikes and many bows; at first they would not listen +or speak to any one, but fired and hit everyone who approached, so that +they were obliged to direct five cannon against them. Two of these were +drawn up a hill not very far from the city, and did great harm. And after +they had bombarded it fifteen days, and killed a considerable number +of the people of the place, the latter were obliged to capitulate. The +governor of it was named Aarap,[395] a retainer of prince Zeinel, the +son of Ussun Cassano, who was killed in the above-mentioned battle, and +who possessed this Sangiacato[396] or territory. Aarap, hearing that his +master was dead and his head being shown him, wept bitterly, and then, +with some of the inhabitants, determined to make sure of his life and +property. The Turk promised him the conditions, and the seventeenth day +after we encamped they surrendered the place, and we returned, taking +Aarap with us, who, however, was shortly afterwards restored to liberty, +the Turk giving him a Sangiaccato on the borders of Hungary. In fact, if +he had held out eight days longer, we should have been forced to raise +the siege from want of provisions, and principally of fodder for the +horses, which had to be fed on oak leaves and twigs cut small. + +The army, marching thence, came to the city of Coliasar,[397] which town, +hearing that the strong fortress of Carcasar had surrendered, and that +prince Zeinel had been killed, sent ambassadors and surrendered to the +Turk, while Nieser[398] did the same. All necessary provisions having +been made for their government, the army proceeded and arrived at Sivas. + + + + +CHAP. IX. + + Assambei, being defeated, returns to Tauris; the following year + he goes into the country; his son rebels, and flies to the + Grand Turk; but Ussun Cassano, causing a report to be spread of + his death, induces him to return to Tauris, where he causes him + to be put to death. + + +After this defeat Assambei returned to Tauris. In 1473 M. Josaphat +Barbaro arrived, who relates that the lord Assambei, after remaining +quiet that year, in the following year, 1474, determined to go with his +people into the country, as was his wont. He accordingly asked this +M. Josaphat if he would accompany him, and as he said he would, they +therefore set out together. In the month of May, therefore, the lord +Ussun Cassano set out with his troops, the number being twenty-five +thousand foot-soldiers, eighteen thousand country-people, three thousand +tents, six thousand camels, thirty thousand baggage mules, five thousand +riding mules, two thousand baggage horses, five thousand women, three +thousand boys and maid-servants, and many animals of different kinds. +These all went into the country, and found plenty of pasture. This was +his standing army; I leave you to judge of the number he could levy on an +emergency. + +While the lord Assambei was in the country near Sultania, the news came +to him that Ugurlimehemet, his son, had seized Syras. The king Assambei +having heard this, immediately raised his camp and marched towards +Syras. His son, hearing that his father was coming against him with a +large army, fled, and leaving his dominions, escaped with his wife and +all his family into the Turkish territory, where he sent messengers to +beg a safe-conduct from the Sultan Baiesit, who had his residence not +far from Ussun Cassano’s frontiers. Baiesit immediately sent to let his +father know, who approved of giving the safe-conduct, but told him that +by no means should he go out of the territory of Amasia to meet him, but +should show him every other honour, while still keeping an eye upon his +actions, from fear of Persian treachery. And you may know that the city +of Syras,[399] which this same Ugurlimehemet had taken from his father, +is the most important city of Persia on the frontiers near Chirmas,[400] +and is walled with stone. It is twenty miles in circumference, and has +two hundred thousand inhabitants. It has a great trade, with manufactures +of arms, saddles, bridles, and all equipments of men, as well as horses, +and supplying Soria,[401] Constantinople, and all the East with them. +Ugurlimehemet having thus escaped to Sivas, sent his wife with his small +family in advance, to avert every suspicion his coming might awaken, +while he himself followed with three hundred horsemen. He was favourably +received by Baiesit, who embraced him and made sumptuous feasts in his +honour. Some days after, Ugurlimehemet left with his troop, and having +arrived at Usuhuder, the Grand Turk sent a guard of honour to meet him, +with whom he proceeded to Constantinople. Here he was honourably lodged, +and provided with sustenance both for himself and suite at the expense +of the Grand Turk, who then opened his court, and arriving at the place +in which he was accustomed to give audiences, Ugurlimehemet came to the +court to visit the monarch whom he had not yet seen. The Grand Turk +sent councillors and captains to meet him, and commanded that he should +be permitted to come on horseback into the second seraglio, which it +is the custom for no one to enter except the monarch; and that when he +dismounted he should be admitted to his presence girt with his sword, +which no one is permitted to wear, however great a lord he may be, not +even the princes themselves. On the entry of Ugurlimehemet, the Grand +Turk rose from his seat, and greeted him kindly, and made him sit down +beside him, where they conversed on different subjects for the space of +an hour, Mahomet calling him “son”, and making many proposals to him. +On this occasion he left without asking any safe-conduct or any other +favour; but after visiting the monarch several times, he thought fit to +ask for a command on the Hungarian frontiers, promising to be always a +good and faithful subject. The Grand Turk replied that he would make +him King of Persia in the room of his father, who was his enemy; and +giving him troops and means of commencing operations, sent him to Sivas, +on the boundary between the Grand Turk and Ussun Cassano. Ugurlimehemet +having arrived on the frontiers, was but a short time before he began to +make inroads and forays, doing great damage to his father’s territory, +who sent troops to protect his dominions, without, however, showing much +interest in this expedition against his son. On the contrary, he feigned +great grief and mortification on account of his rebellion, and then gave +out that he had fallen ill. He then retired to his apartments for some +days, and would not allow himself to be visited by anybody but those in +whom he could trust. While thus dissembling, a report was spread abroad +to Constantinople, that Ussun Cassano had fallen dangerously ill from +melancholy, on account of the rebellion of his son, and a rumour of +his having got worse being whispered about, some of his most faithful +adherents, as had been arranged, announced his death, while messengers +were sent to Ugurlimehemet with letters and tokens, as is customary, +giving information of the death of his father, and begging him to return +and take possession of the throne, before either of his brothers, Halul +or Jacob,[402] could do so. And in order to give greater semblance to +the affair, funeral rites were paid, and his death was really believed +in throughout the country. Ugurlimehemet having received three different +messages, with secret pledges such as are used in affairs of state, +thought it safe to go to Tauris. He arrived there in a few days with a +small escort, and on going to the palace to make himself sovereign, was +taken to where his father was in perfect health, who ordered him to be +confined, and afterwards put to death, without showing any consideration +for his being his son. + + + + +CHAP. X. + + Assambei goes to ravage the country of the Georgians, and + having made them pay tribute, returns to Tauris, where he dies. + One of his captains defeats the Mamelukes. + + +These things happening in the year 1475, Assambei remained at peace till +1477, when he assembled a large army, giving out that he was going to +attack the Ottoman, when in fact he meant to ravage Georgia. His troops +consisted of about twenty or four and twenty thousand horsemen, and +about eleven thousand foot soldiers. I have already made mention of the +numbers of women, children, camp-followers, and others; so I shall say +nothing about them. Marching for seven days in a westerly direction, they +turned off to the right towards Georgia, which country the king wished +to plunder, because the Georgians had given him no assistance in his +war with the Turk. According to their custom, he sent forward his light +cavalry, about five thousand strong, who on their march went burning and +cutting down the woods, as they had to cross mountains and pass through +immense forests. After two days’ journey through Georgia[403] we found +a castle named Tiflis, commanding a pass, but deserted, which we took +without any resistance. And advancing to Geri[404] and other places +in the vicinity, he sacked them and also ravaged a great part of the +country. The chief, Pancratio, with the King of Congiurre, which borders +on Georgia, and seven other lords, sent to sue for peace, and agreed +to pay a tribute of sixteen thousand ducats, while Assambei promised +to leave the country free, except Tiflis,[405] which he wished to keep +from the importance of its position. The prisoners taken were about +five thousand. The peace being made, and the payment of tribute being +settled, Assambei returned to Tauris, and died in the year 1478, leaving +four sons: three by one mother and one by the Princess of Trebizond. +This prince, who was twenty years of age, was strangled by his three +brothers, who divided the realm among them, after which the second, named +Jacob Patissa,[406] made a coalition with the eldest, named Marco;[407] +whereupon the youngest fled, and Jacob made himself sovereign, ascending +the throne in 1479. + +In the year 1482 (?) it happened that the people of Amit,[408] the +principal city of Diarbec, heard that the Mamelukes had seized and +plundered Orfà,[409] doing great damage to all the country. The general +of Assambei determined to go against them, crossed with his troops some +mountains between Amit and Orfà, and entered the plains of Orfà, three +days’ journey from Amit. The Mamelukes hearing this put themselves in +order of battle, and the two armies marching to meet each other, at +length joined battle, the contest lasting till midday. Though both armies +in turn repulsed the enemy, the Persians came off victors, cutting to +pieces more than half of the Mamelukes, with many lords. The Persians +following up their victory, advanced to Albir,[410] and took it with many +other fortresses, finding immense booty; they then returned to Tauris, +where they found that the King Assambei had died on the eve of Epiphany +in the year 1487 (1478). + + + + +CHAP. XI. + + Jacob, the son of Assambei, on ascending the throne takes a + wife of a wicked disposition, who, to raise her paramour to the + throne, gives the king poison, which also causes her own death + and that of her son. + + +Jacob Patissa, as I have already mentioned, after the death of his +father, made himself master of Tauris and Persia, and took for wife a +daughter of the lord of San Mutra, who was of a lascivious disposition, +and being enamoured of one of the principal lords of the court, sought +wickedly to put her husband to death, that after his decease this +lord might succeed to the throne. Then, having arranged a plan with +her paramour for murdering Jacob, she prepared poison. The adulteress +prepared a bath, as usual, with perfumes, knowing her husband’s habits, +who, with his son of eight or nine years of age, entered the bath and +remained from the twenty-second hour of the day, till sunset. When +Jacob Sultan came out and entered the ladies’ seraglio, his wife, who +had prepared a poisoned cup, knowing that Jacob was always accustomed +to drink on coming out of the bath, came to meet him with a gold cup in +which she had put the poison, appearing more friendly than usual. But he, +seeing her face rather pale, became suspicious, as he had already seen +some evil symptoms in her that day; but the wicked woman had dissimulated +and excused herself so well, that he partly believed her, although his +suspicions were not altogether cleared up. Therefore, when the lady +came to meet him with such a pallid countenance holding the cup, Jacob +commanded her to taste it first. The terrified woman could not refuse, +and after she had drunk, her husband drank also, giving some to the +little boy. This happened at the twenty-fourth hour of the day, and so +noxious was the beverage, that by midnight they were all dead. The death +of these three personages being announced the following day, all the +great lords were thrown into consternation, and also the whole of Persia. +Many of Jacob’s relatives seized different places, as you shall hear. +After the death of Jacob Patissa, there being no other son of Assambei, +the throne was seized by a lord, a relation of Jacob, named Julauer, +who, although he reigned three years, did nothing of importance. To him +succeeded a Baysingir,[411] who reigned two years. Rustan, a youth about +twenty years of age, succeeded him and reigned seven years; in his time +the father of the Sophi was killed, as the king himself was afterwards by +the hands of a lord with the connivance of his own mother, with whom this +lord, named Agmat,[412] was in love, who, after the death of Rustan, made +himself king, and reigned five months. After Rustan’s murder his troops +joined one of his captains, named Carabes, who lived at Van, and who, +hearing of the king’s death and the succession, after biding his time, +marched to Tauris, met this Agmat, and cut him to pieces. The kingdom now +came to a youth named Aluan,[413] a relation of Ussun Cassano, who lived +at Amit, whence he was summoned by the popular voice, and made king, but +reigned only a short time, being expelled by the Sophi. + + + + +CHAP. XII. + + Secchaidar, the father of the Sophi, marches against Rustan + King of Persia, but is defeated and slain; Rustan sends to take + his wife and three sons, and gives them in custody, but the + latter escape. + + +During the reign of Rustan in Tauris, Sechaidar,[414] the father of the +Sophi, who had married a daughter of the King Assambei, through his +wife, became rightful heir of the realm of Persia.[415] He resolved +to raise an army and drive out Rustan, and for this purpose collected +a number of Suffaveans, who all followed him as their chief and also +because he was considered a saint; he was accustomed to reside in the +city of Ardouil,[416] three days’ journey distant from Tauris, towards +the East, like an abbot with a number of disciples. Having assembled +an army of twenty-two thousand men, he marched towards Tauris;[417] +but the King Rustan having heard of the preparations of the enemy, had +also raised an army of fifty thousand men, and as he himself was very +young, he gave the command in this enterprise against Sechaidar to one +of his captains, named Sulimanbec. Sechaidar, hearing that the hostile +army was more powerful than his, retreated to a place named Van, near +Coi,[418] expecting to be joined from the West by some other chiefs, +hostile to Rustan. But such was the rapidity of Sulimanbec, Rustan’s +general, that Sechaidar was forced to join battle without waiting for +further reinforcements, and a fierce contest began.[419] The Suffaveans +fought like lions; nevertheless, at length after numbers of men had been +killed on both sides, those of Tauris came off victorious, Sechaidar +being killed with numbers of his men. After the rout they sought out +the body of Sechaidar, which was found by an Armenian priest and taken +to Ardouil to be buried. In Tauris the victory caused great rejoicings. +Rustan, hearing the news of the defeat of the enemy, and the death of +Sechaidar, sent immediately to Ardouil to seize his wife and three sons, +and wished to put them to death; but to please some lords, they were +liberated, keeping them, however, in charge in an island in the lake of +Astumar,[420] inhabited by Armenian Christians. There are there more than +six hundred houses, a church named after the Holy Cross, in which are +more than a hundred priests governed by a patriarch. Here, then, were +sent the three sons of Sechaidar, but the mother remained in Tauris, and +was married for the second time to a lord who was an enemy of her former +husband. The sons remained three years in the island; but Rustan, being +apprehensive of their escape, and being persuaded by some of his friends +to put them to death, sent to take them. The day that the messenger asked +for them on behalf of Rustan, they were given up to him by the Armenians, +although very reluctantly, as they were very much beloved, especially +Ismael the second, for his beauty and pleasing manners. After they had +given them up (notice well the influence of Providence to carry out what +it has determined) one of the principal Armenians addressed the others, +saying, “We have given up these boys to this messenger without having +seen any command from the King Rustan; it may easily happen that we have +been deceived, and that they may be taken away and escape somewhere, so +that we would receive great blame, and our sovereign might well say, +‘Where is my order’. Thus it is my opinion that we ought not to deliver +them to him unless he brings credentials in writings, which we may keep +for security.” All the others agreed to this, more especially because +they were very loth to give them up. Then they told the messenger to +bring credentials from the king; and as it was some distance thence to +Tauris, he was more than seven days before he returned. During this +time the boys and their[421] mother were conducted in a boat from the +island to the country of Carabas[422] on the east. This country borders +on Sumacchia[423] and Ardouil, which belonged to the father of these +boys, and its inhabitants are for the most part Suffaveans, and had +great reverence for the father. Here they were hidden without anyone +hearing anything of them for the space of five years. Ismael at this +time was nine years old, and when he attacked Sumacchia was not quite +fourteen.[424] + + + + +CHAP. XIII. + + How Ismael, the son of Haidar, was born and brought up; he + becomes a captain, attacks and defeats Sermangoli, possessing + himself of his realm; he marches against, and takes Tauris. + + +During these five years these boys were incited by many of their father’s +friends, who came to visit them, to assemble troops to recover his +possessions; having collected five hundred brave and faithful men, and +the whole country being friendly disposed towards them, they elected +Ismael their captain, as he was a fiery, brave, and courteous youth. +This Ismael, when he was born, issued from his mother’s womb with fists +clenched and covered with blood: a remarkable fact, and when his father +saw him, he said, “Surely he will grow up a bad man”; and agreed with his +mother that he should not be reared; but God disposed otherwise, as when +they sent him away to be put to death, those who were charged with the +deed, touched by his beauty, had pity on him and brought him up. After +three years the boy giving great promise, they determined to show him to +his father, and when an opportunity occurred they placed him before him, +and when, he being taken with him, asked who he was, they told him he was +his son, at which he was delighted, and received him with great show of +affection. + +Then, having assembled five hundred horse and foot soldiers, they +crossed a large river called the Cur,[425] flowing in the direction of +Sumacchia,[426] into the Caspian Sea; then marching towards Sumacchi they +received intelligence that the lord of that place, named Sermangoli, +was assembling his chiefs to collect an army against them. One of +these chiefs said, “Sire, leave the business to me, and I will engage +to bring you this fellow’s head”; and, then collecting seven thousand +men, marched against him. The Suffaveans, seeing the Sumacchians coming +against them in great force in a plain, retreated to the top of a hill. +The Sumacchians surrounded it to besiege the enemy, but fortune was +propitious to the Sophi, who attacked them in the weakest quarter, and +intending to fall sword in hand, their assault was so impetuous that +fifteen hundred of the enemy surrendered at once, the others being cut +to pieces. The Suffaveans provided themselves with arms and horses from +the booty, and followed up their victory, by marching towards Sumacchia. +The king, hearing of this defeat, issued into the plain with the rest of +his men; but, being without discipline, they were routed, and the King +Sermangoli taken prisoner. Ismael spared his life, and having captured +the city, made great presents to his soldiers; he also took the other +numerous fortresses in the country of Sermangoli. Ismael having made +himself lord of this country, besieged a castle called Pucosco on the +way to Tauris, a very rich place, which he took by assault (his younger +brother, Bassingur, being killed in the fight), and gave all the wealth +they found in the place to his soldiers. Hence, the fame was spread +abroad, that Ismael, the son of Sechaidar, had recovered his dominions, +and that his liberality to his men made them devoted to him; and an +almost incredible number of people joined him; thus, having about forty +thousand men[427] under him, he determined to march on Tauris. Before he +set out he inquired what the Greeks did, when they held the empire of +Persia; and hearing that they would not harm the country in anything, but +were friendly to everyone, he then marched to Tauris, committing such +severities that everyone was thrown into mortal terror and dared not +take up arms against him. Aluan, who was then king, seeing that he could +not defend himself from the fury of the enemy, resolved to fly. Taking +with him his wife and treasure, he went to Amit, his former city.[428] +Thus, in 1499, in the same year, and six months from the commencement of +the war, the Sophi made himself master of Tauris. On his entry he used +great cruelty towards the opposing faction, as he cut to pieces many +people, doctors, women, and children; wherefore, all the surrounding +places sent in their allegiance, and all the city wore his ensign, that +is, the red caftan; in this war more than twenty thousand people were +killed. He then caused the bones of several lords who were already +dead to be disinterred and burnt; he put to death his own mother,[429] +recollecting, as he had been told, that she had wished to kill him after +his birth, and also because she was by birth of the opposing faction. + + + + +CHAP. XIV. + + Ismael raises war against Moratcan, defeats him, and makes + himself king. After his victory he is advised to marry, which + he does, and then attacks Bagadet, is victorious, and thus + becomes master of many countries. + + +Ismael having remained all the winter at Tauris, in 1500, early in the +year, determined to go against a certain Moratcan,[430] who had seized +the country of Erach[431] after the death of Jacob, which country +comprises Spaan, Ies, and Syras,[432] with many other cities, which used +to be under the dominion of the kings of Persia. He therefore assembled +an army of twenty thousand men, all brave Suffaveans, and, marching +towards the enemy’s country, he heard that Moratcan was prepared to +receive him with fifty thousand men. Nevertheless, he continued his +route to Chizaron, having advanced a long way from Tauris, and from +thence to Syras, bordering on the country of Carason[433] or Gon. Here +they met in battle, and at length Moratcan was killed[434] and his +men defeated and dispersed, when Ismael made himself master of all +those realms. After this victory, before returning to Tauris, all his +friends counselled him to marry; but while he was considering this step, +they could find no lady worthy of such a match. At length, after many +discussions, they said that a certain lord had a lady in his house, +a granddaughter of Sultan Jacob, the son of Ussun Cassano, who was +beautiful, and named Taslucanum; wherefore, he sent to the lord demanding +her of him. The lord replied to the messengers that she was not there; +but Ismael, insisting on her being sent, the lord had another dressed +up instead of her, saying he had no other in the house. The messengers, +seeing that she did not correspond to the description given of her, said +that it was not this one that they wanted, and ordered all the girls to +be brought, among whom was Taslucanum, but went away without recognising +her. The Sophi ordered them to return and have the girls shown again, +which they did, and recognised her this time, and had her dressed up +and brought with them. Ismael, when he saw her, said “This is she I was +told of”; and took her for wife. But, as the king was very young, only +fifteen or sixteen years old, he gave her to a lord to take care of. +After three years the king asked for her, and said to the lord, “You +have been able to do just as you liked with her during three years.” He +replied, “Sire, do not believe it; I would sooner kill myself”. The Sophi +said, “You have been a great fool”; and took her as his wife. After the +Sophi had conquered the country of Erach, he returned to Tauris in 1501, +and caused great rejoicings to be made on account of his victory. The +following year he determined to invade the country of Bagadet, three +hundred miles distant from Tauris towards the south and south-west, a +large district, and having assembled an army, he set out. The lord[435] +of the country held himself in readiness with many troops, not in the +field, but in the city of Baldac,[436] anciently called Babylon the +Great, through the midst of which flows the river Euphrates. The king, +arriving two miles distant from it, one night a great part of the wall +fell down, and caused so great a panic in the city, that everyone fled. +The lord also was forced to fly across the sandy plains of Arabia +Deserta, sixteen days’ journey in extent, from Baldac to Damascus, and +thence to Aleppo, where, after residing some time, the Prince Aladuli +gave him his daughter in marriage, and settled him there. The Sophi +remained in Baldac and took the land of Bagadet, and afterwards Mosul +and Gresire,[437] a large city, through which the river Tigris flows. +This is also called the country of Mesopotamia. The Sophi having made +these conquests in 1503, returned to Tauris and made great feasts and +rejoicings in honour of his victory. While he was in Tauris, after his +return in 1504, he heard that while he was away at Mosul and Bagadet the +King of Gilan had rebelled, and, determining to be revenged, he prepared +an army and marched against him. Hearing this the King of Gilan sent +ambassadors to him immediately, asking pardon. With great reluctance, +after many entreaties, the Sophi pardoned him, but doubled the tribute. +He then returned, and remained in peace and quiet till the year 1507. + + + + +CHAP. XV. + + Ismael goes against Alidoli; ruins his country and people. + Aluan, who had escaped from Tauris, is taken prisoner. The + son of Alidoli is killed at the capture of the city. Then, + repulsing the Great Khan of Tartary when invading Persia, he + returns to Tauris, and causes great feasts and rejoicings to be + held. + + +The Sophi, having under his sway a part of the country of Diarbec, that +is, Orfa, Moredin,[438] Arsunchief,[439] and other places, and hearing +continually that Abnadulat[440] was ravaging that part of the country, +and had taken the city of Cartibiert,[441] placing one of his sons in +it, determined to make an expedition against this Abnadulat; since these +places had always been under the sway of Persia, until this Alidoli,[442] +after the death of Jacob, while Persia was in a state of anarchy, had +seized them. Then, having assembled seventy thousand men, he marched +towards Arsingan,[443] a fine city on the borders of Trebizond and +Natolia. Having arrived here, he halted forty days, fearing lest the +Ottoman and the Soldan should take into their heads to defend Alidoli, +as his country was on the frontiers of both. While in this doubt, he +sent two ambassadors, one named Culibech,[444] to the Ottoman Emperor +of Constantinople; and the other named Zaccarabech,[445] to the Soldan +of Cairo, swearing by his head and other oaths that he would do them +no harm, but that he only wished to destroy his enemy Alidolit. After +forty days Ismael left Arsingan, from which place it is four days’ +journey to the country of Alidoli. But he would not take the ordinary +route, but went to Caisaria,[446] a city belonging to the Ottoman, +where he supplied himself with provisions, paying for everything, and +proclaiming abroad that everyone might bring supplies to the camp for +sale, and that anyone taking anything without paying for it, would be +put to death. In this city he remained four days, and then advanced +to Albustan,[447] situated on a river[448] and in a beautiful plain, +and belonging to Alidoli. From this to Maras[449] is a journey of two +days, and after burning the country of Albustan, he advanced to Maras. +But Alidoli had disappeared, and retired to some strongholds in the +mountains. These mountains are called Carathas,[450] and have only one +very difficult pass. Ismael ravaged the country, and cut to pieces many +soldiers, who from time to time descended from the mountains to attack +the Suffaveans, but who were discovered by his sentinels and by the +people of the country. It was in the month of July 1507 that Ismael +entered the country of Alidoli, and he remained there till the middle of +November. Then, on account of the snow and cold, he determined to return +to Persia, and on his way to Tauris arrived at Malacia,[451] where he +met one of his adherents, named Amirbec,[452] who wore the seal of the +Sophi, and was a man high in authority. He had taken Sultan Aluan, who +had escaped from Tauris, prisoner, in the following manner: he set out +from Mosul with four thousand fighting men to support the Sophi, and +passing by Amit,[453] where Sultan Aluan was, he gave out that he had +come to assist him against the Sophi, and was thus received in Amit. +Having entered Amit, he threw Aluan into chains, took him prisoner in +the name of Ismael, and conducted him to Malacia, where he was shortly +afterwards put to death; and I myself saw him in chains there. After +this, Ismael proceeded and crossed the Euphrates, which river is ten +miles distant from Malacia on the east, and advanced to Cartibiert,[454] +which was governed by a son[455] of Alidoli. This place was well provided +with men and provisions, but these were of no avail, as the place was +taken, and the governor put to death. They then advanced towards Tauris, +but were overtaken by snow six days’ journey distant from Coi,[456] so +that many men, horses, and camels died of the cold, and a great portion +of the booty they had taken in the country of Alidoli was lost. At last +they arrived at Coi, where was a magnificent palace built by Ismael, +and there they remained till the spring. He then returned to Tauris, +where he rested that summer, and in the following year was forced into +another war, as Jesilbas,[457] the ruler of Samarcand, called the Grand +Tartar, whose people are named after the green caftans, had assembled an +immense army, and entered the country of Corasan and Strave,[458] places +belonging to Persia, and then seized the lands of some neighbouring +chieftains to be able to advance against the Sophi. But Ismael was in +readiness, and went with an immense camp to Spàan,[459] fourteen days’ +journey distant from Tauris towards the east, and there halted. The +Tartar, hearing this, advanced no further, but thought to outwit Ismael +by demanding a free passage to Mecca through his territory; but the +latter perceived the stratagem, refused him a passage, and while the +Tartar was in Corasan, Ismael remained in Spàan, watching the movements +of the enemy. At the close of the year 1508 the Tartars returned to their +country, and Ismael likewise to Tauris. In honour of his return they +arranged and ornamented the bazaars and palaces, causing great feasts +and games to be held, as you will hear. The Sophi had a high pole or +mast erected in the maidan, that is, in the piazza, on which was placed +a golden apple, and whoever running past could knock it down with their +arrows or other missiles, took it for their own. After the golden one +they set up a silver one, and so on, twenty in number, ten gold and ten +silver; between the knocking down of each apple, Ismael rested a short +time, drinking several confections and delicate wines; and while he was +amusing himself, there stood before him two beautiful boys: one of whom +held a vase of gold with a cup; and the other, two jugs of refreshing +drinks. At his sport he has a guard of a thousand soldiers, besides whom, +a crowd of perhaps thirty thousand soldiers and citizens stand by to +see the game. After his recreation he goes with his lords to sup in a +palace[460] in the country built by Sultan Assambei, but the lords sup +apart. This Sophi is fair, handsome, and very pleasing; not very tall, +but of a light and well-framed figure; rather stout than slight, with +broad shoulders. His hair is reddish; he only wears moustachios, and uses +his left hand instead of his right. He is as brave as a game cock, and +stronger than any of his lords; in the archery contests, out of the ten +apples that are knocked down, he knocks down seven: while he is at his +sport they play on various instruments and sing his praises. + + + + +CHAP. XVI. + + Ismael being with his army in the country of Carabas,[461] + sends two captains to invade Sumacchia, while he himself went + towards the Caspian Sea, taking many places, and among others + the castle of the city of Derbant, an important place. + + +Ismail having remained fifteen days in Tauris, set out in 1510 with his +camp to Coi, where he remained two months, and whence in the year 1509 +he determined to attack Sermangoli, to whom, besides his life, he had +presented for the second time the realm of Servan and Sumachia;[462] +but who, when he was engaged in the war with the Tartars, had broken the +conditions of peace. Therefore, having assembled his army, he marched +towards the country of Carabas, where there is a plain of immense extent, +in which is situated a fortress named Canar, with many villages belonging +to it. Here they manufacture the silk which is called Canarian, after the +name of the place. As this region was very rich, he halted here eight +days, and having nominated two captains, one named Dalabec and the other +Bairabac,[463] he gave them charge of the expedition against Sumacchia, +making them a present of the city. When they arrived there, according to +their instructions, they found the city deserted, the king having fled +to Culustan, a large and well fortified castle, situated on a mountain, +but whose governor had orders to surrender it if Ismael appeared in +person. The two captains, with ten thousand valiant men, encamped round +this place, which is half a mile distant from the city, but were not +able to assault on any side, as there were no engineers or artillery +with them. About this time Ismael left Canar and went to the castle of +Maumutaga, a port on the shores of the Caspian Sea, eight days’ journey +distant from Tauris, which he took, and with it much booty. He then +marched along the coast to take possession of all the other fortresses of +the country of Servan. From Maumutaga to Derbent is seven days’ journey +along the coast, on which are many towns and castles, Sumacchia being one +day’s journey distant. On our march we reached a place named Baccara, +four days’ journey from Maumutaga, and two from Sumacchia. It is also +called Baccuc,[464] and is one of the ports of Tauris, with an excellent +harbour; it was anciently the principal place on the sea, which is +called the Sea of Baccuc after it, although others call it the Caspian, +from the Caspian mountains; others, the Hyrcanian Sea from Hyrcania, now +called the country of Strava,[465] from whence comes the silk of Strava. +One day’s journey further from Baccara is a fortress named Sirech, +situated on a mountain. The inhabitants held out three days before coming +to terms with Ismael, who, at length agreeing to their conditions, sent +in sixty men, leaving the former governor; but these sixty Suffaveans, +behaving outrageously, were cut to pieces by the former occupants, who, +from fear of the consequences, fled by night to the heights of the +mountains; the castle was in consequence demolished. A little further +was an unwalled city, named Sebran, which we found deserted, as everyone +had fled: some in order to lay waste the country, and others from fear. +Leaving this, we arrived at Derbant[466] in four days, and found all the +people fled: some to the country of the Tartars; some to the head of the +Caspian Sea; and some to the heights of the mountains: so that only the +castle, which is large, well-built, and strong, held out; the towers were +all newly erected, and on their summits were men with lances, slings, +bows, etc. This castle has two gates, which are walled round with immense +stones, like flint; and while about this city, I will give a description +of it before going on to anything else. The city of Derbant, called by +some Tenicarpi,[467] is situated on the Caspian Sea, near a high chain of +mountains, called the Caspian Mountains, the only pass into Tartary or +Circassia being in this place. Near this mountain there is an open bit +of sea-beach of about a mile in extent, from the sea to the mountain, +enclosed by two walls, commencing at the sea and going as far as the +mountain, half a mile distant one from the other. These walls project +into the sea up to six feet depth of water, so that no one either on foot +or horseback can pass except by the gates. Between these walls there are +numerous houses, as this place is a port with many ships, which trade +to Citrachan[468] and other places. They used to have large ships of +eight hundred tons burden, but now only those of two hundred can enter. +On the mountain is an almost impregnable castle, before which the Sufi +monarch encamped. Passing this city towards the west, one has the sea +on the east for a space of sixty miles, and when it bends round to the +left the mountains recede from the sea, near which place, on the summit +of a mountain, is the Church of Saint Mary of the Caspian Mountains. +But I will not relate anything more about this, as it is not the proper +place for it. The Sophi remained besieging the castle for twenty days, +having dug three mines without any effect. They then excavated under the +foundations of a tower, and filled the hollow up with wood; having set +fire to this, a great smoke rose in the air, which, being seen by the +governor, he sent to Ismael at midnight and proposed to capitulate on +condition of safety for their lives and property; Ismael, seeing that +very little was gained by the fire, was satisfied and agreed to their +request. The following morning he took possession of the castle, in which +was a great quantity of provisions, ammunition, and arms; and I myself +saw many of the suits of armour which were brought into the presence of +the sovereign. + + + + +CHAP. XVII. + + Many chiefs give in their allegiance to Ismael, who, after his + return in great triumph to Tauris, makes a second expedition + against the Lord of Sammarcant, defeats, and puts him to death; + he makes his sons swear fealty to him, but, having released + them, they revolt. + + +Having made himself master of the castle he remained there eight or nine +days to rest his men, and during this time many of the neighbouring +chiefs came to give in their submission to him, putting on the red +caftan, and swearing obedience to the Sophi. After that he returned +to Tauris, where, on his arrival, the bazaars were richly decked out, +a triumphal procession taking place in the city and rich banquets +being held, according to custom. This monarch is almost, so to speak, +worshipped, more especially by his soldiers, many of whom fight without +armour, being willing to die for their master. They go into battle with +naked breasts, crying out “Schiac, Schiac”,[469] which, in the Persian +language, signifies “God, God”. Others consider him a prophet; but it +is certain that all are of opinion that he will never die. While I was +in Tauris I heard that the king is displeased with this adoration, and +being called God. Their custom is to wear a red caftan, coming half a +cubit over the head, which widens at the part which covers the head; it +gets narrower towards the top, and is made with twelve fringes, a finger +in thickness, symbolising the twelve Sacraments[470] of their religion; +neither do they ever shave their beards or moustachios. They have made no +change in their dress; their armour consists of cuirasses of gilt plates +made of the finest steel of Syras. Their horse-armour is of copper: not +like ours, but in pieces like those of Soria;[471] they also have helmets +or head-pieces of a great weight of metal. Everyone of them rides on +horseback: some with a lance, sword, and shield; others with bow and +arrows, and a mace. While Ismael was in Tauris in the winter, there came +three Negro ambassadors, who were received with great honour by the Sophi +monarch, and having fulfilled their mission, returned to their master +with many presents. Ismael, while resting, as we have related, received +news that Jesilbas,[472] the Lord of Sammarcant, with an Usbec chief, +with an immense army, was ravaging the country of Hirac,[473] that is, +Iespatan[474] and other places. He determined to take vengeance, and +taking the field, ordered all his troops to assemble at Cassan,[475] a +place twenty days’ journey to the east of Tauris; he chose this city +for the muster, as it abounded in provisions. This city is walled with +stone, and is three miles in circumference; there are great manufacturers +of silk and cotton. After he had collected a hundred thousand men, +learning from an Armenian Bishop of his adversary’s immense army, he +set out to meet him, having a deep grudge against these Tartars; as, +on the previous occasion when peace was made with them, they broke the +treaty before the year was out. Thus Ismael marched against the hostile +army, which was at Strava,[476] on the confines of Hirach, in the year +1501. Leaving Cassan with his army, he went to Spaàn, four days’ journey +from Cassan, then hurried eagerly forward in pursuit of the enemy, who, +hearing that Ismael was coming, retired to a river named Efra, anciently +called Iarit,[477] rising in a lake called the lake of Corassan. In the +middle of the river is a town named Chiraer, in which the Tartars took up +a position, making head against the Suffaveans, who, on their arrival, +encamped close to them, and prepared for battle; Ismael exhorting his +troops and making such great promises, that all were eager for the fight. +Then the Suffaveans were arrayed in three columns, the first being given +to Busambet,[478] Lord of Sumacchia; the second to Gustagielit;[479] +while the king commanded the third in person; the Tartars doing likewise. +The following morning the Sophi ordered all his martial instruments to +be sounded, while everyone shouted, “Long live Ismael our king”. In this +manner, at the first hour of the day the two armies engaged, and, at the +first assault, the Tartars repulsed the Sophi’s division, and cut numbers +to pieces. The Tartars still gaining, the Sophi seeing his destruction +imminent, threw himself into the front rank of the battle, fighting +bravely and giving new courage to his soldiers, who were confused by +the rout of the first division; so that they, seeing their monarch in +danger, made head and fought bravely against the Tartars for four hours. +At length they put to flight the division commanded by Usbec, the others +following the example; so that the Sophi gained great honour by his +victory over the Tartars, and by showing in this, as in his previous +enterprises, his great valour and generalship. Usbec and Jesilbas were +taken prisoners with their sons; the heads of the two former were +immediately cut off and sent, one to the Soldan, and the other to the +Turk. In this battle there was greater slaughter on both sides than has +ever taken place in Persia. He did not put the princes to death, but +threw them into prison, and took away their realm: Strava,[480] Rassan, +Heri, and other neighbouring places coming under his sway. When the +Sophi was about to set out on his return journey, he caused the sons +of Jesilbas to be brought before him, and said to them: “You are the +sons of a great monarch, who, having broken his faith, and ravaged my +territories, forced me to attack him; I have conquered him, and put him +to death; but I will spare your lives, and allow you to return to your +country on condition that you wear the red caftan, and that this river be +your boundary.” The young men replied, “Sire, we are content with what +pleases your majesty, and will give in our submission.” Thus they were +released, and went to Sammarcant, while we returned to Cassan[481] and +remained there all the winter of 1510.[482] When the young men returned +to Sammarcant, the report reached their maternal uncle that they had +promised allegiance to the Sophi. This uncle was one of the seven Soldans +of Tartary, and came to them, and said: “Oh, fools, you have disgraced +our name by wearing the ensign of a dog, who is neither Christian nor +Mahometan,” being exceedingly enraged with them. The young men answered: +“We did all in our power, seeing our father dead, ourselves captives, +our realm seized, and the troops dispersed.” They then recanted, and +put on the green caftan, while their uncle promised to assist them with +troops against the Sophi. The year 1512 these princes, with their uncle, +collected an immense army and entered the country of Corassan, belonging +to the Sophi, and took the city of Chirazzo, cutting to pieces the +Suffaveans, and, following up their victory, took several other places. +The news coming to the Sophi, who was with his army at Coraldava, he set +out immediately against the wearers of the green caftans, and chased them +out of the country of Corassan, beyond the river Efra[483] into some +mountains near the Caspian Sea, where he did not think it prudent to +follow them, and so returned to Chirazzo, leaving one of his sons, four +years of age, with a wise and brave general. He then went on to Tauris, +leaving his whole army behind him from apprehension of the return of the +Tartars. + + + + +CHAP. XVIII. + + Some Persian noblemen invite the Ottoman to attack the Sophi in + Persia, which he does with a great number of men, and having + joined battle gains the victory, and thereupon returns to + Amäsia. + + +While the Sophi was in Tauris, some of his tributary chiefs in the +territory bordering on the Turks seeing that the army was away in +Corassan, came to an understanding with the Ottoman, and invited him +to attack Persia; but for which invitation the Turk would never have +mustered courage to do so. Being summoned by such great chiefs and +principally by the Curds, who were enemies of the Sophi monarch, who +inhabited the mountains of Bitlis,[484] knowing the power of the Tartars, +and thinking that the Sophi would be in difficulties, he determined in +1514 to form an army and invade Persia, apprehensive that if the Sophi +were victorious against the Tartars, he would make an alliance with the +Soldan for his destruction. Hence he set out from Constantinople, and +made his way with a great number of men to Amasia. Having provided all +that was necessary in this place, he marched towards Toccat in the month +of May. Here it will be convenient to recount the distance in miles of +some places one from the other. First, then, from Constantinople to +Amasia there are five hundred miles. Thence to the river Lais,[485] +that is, Sivas, passing through the country of Toccat, are a hundred +and fifty miles. From Lais, the frontier of the Sophi’s dominions, to +the Euphrates,[486] are a hundred miles; thence to Carpiert[487] eighty +miles; to Amit fifty miles; thence to Bitlis two hundred and forty +miles; from Bitlis to the lake[488] fifty miles; the lake is a hundred +miles long; from thence to Coi[489] are fifty miles; and from Coi to +Tauris seventy-five miles. Through the Sophi’s dominions seven hundred +and forty-five miles to Tauris, to Constantinople, in all 1395 miles. +Having crossed the Toccat, he reached Sivas, and then the country of +Arsingan,[490] making great booty, and sending many people to Amasia and +Constantinople, principally artizans and skilled workmen, and also men of +rank. The Sophi, who was in Tauris, hearing this, as his army was still +in Corassan, determined to collect as many men as he could. Therefore he +hastily sent two great generals, one called Stugiali Mametbei, the other +Carbec Sampira, into the country of Diarbec, who collected about twenty +thousand men and marched with them to the fords of the Euphrates. But +hearing that Selim was coming in great force, they did not feel strong +enough to oppose him, but returned to Coi, where there is a wide valley +or plain named Calderan. Here they halted, and the Sophi joined them +in person. While they were here the Turk kept on advancing, so that he +arrived not far from that place, ravaging and burning all the country +he passed through. The Sophi monarch having left for Tauris in order +to assemble more troops, the two generals seeing the enemy approaching +so near determined to attack them. On the other hand, the Turks fought +with desperation, as their provisions were failing, and if they had been +defeated all would have perished. On the 23rd[491] of August, therefore, +in the year 1514, the first division of the Suffaveans under Stugiali +Mametbei, with half the troops, began the fight by routing those opposed +to them, who were all inhabitants of Natolia, dispersing and cutting them +to pieces. But Sinan Bassà, with his troops, who came from Roumania, +coming up, many on both sides were killed, and at length the squadron of +Stugiali was defeated, he himself being taken prisoner and his head cut +off, which was afterwards sent to the Sophi. At this moment the second +division of the Persians came up, and fought so valiantly, that they put +the enemy to flight, so that the Turk was compelled to retire with his +whole force to where the janissaries and the artillery were, his troops +being in confusion; but the genius of Sinan Bassà rallied them, and the +Suffaveans were routed and all the camp taken, together with one of the +Sophi’s wives. The whole army being lost, both generals were killed; but +one of them named Carbec, before he died, was taken before the Turk, who +said to him: “O, dog, who art thou, who hast had the courage to oppose +our majesty; knowest thou not that my father and I are vicars of the +prophet Mahomet, and that God is with us?” The captain Carbec replied: +“If God had been with you, you would not have come to fight against my +master the Sophi; but I believe that God has taken away his hand from +you.” Then Selim said: “Kill this dog;” and the captain replied: “I know +it is my hour now, but you, Selim, prepare yourself for another occasion, +when my master will slay you as you now are slaying me;” upon which he +was immediately put to death. The Turk, after his victory, rested at Coi, +as many of his troops had been killed; the news of the defeat came to the +Sophi in Tauris, who immediately set out with his men who had escaped, +his wife named Tasluchanum, and his treasures, to Casibi,[492] in order +to collect another army to oppose the Turk. This place is seven days’ +journey to the east of Tauris. The people of Tauris, seeing their king +escaping, were in dread of the Turk, and sent two ambassadors to him +with presents. The Turk then came to Tauris, and immediately seeking out +seven hundred families of skilled workmen, sent them to Constantinople. +He remained in Tauris three days when, being in want of provisions and +fearing lest the Persians should attack him in great force, he departed; +on his journey he was greatly distressed for want of supplies and +harassed by the Iberians, but at length arrived at Amasia. + + + + +CHAP. XIX. + + The Sophi sends ambassadors to the Soldan, to Alidolat, and the + Iberians, making a league with them against the Turk; to whom + he also sends ambassadors, ironically making rich presents to + him, and threatening him. The Turk, having attacked Alidolat, + defeats him, and puts him to death, with two of his sons. + + +On the return of the Sophi to Tauris he determined to send ambassadors +to Cairo, to Alidolat, and to the Iberians, this happening in the month +of October. Those sent to the Soldan[493] arrived in December, and made +known to him the object of their mission, to which the Soldan replied +that he would be well satisfied to assist the Sophi and make an alliance +with him against the Turk, sending him aid in troops and trying their +fortune together. The Sophi, however, made it a condition, that if the +Turk sent any ambassadors to him he should not receive them, either +publicly or secretly, or else the peace would be broken between them; +and thus was the alliance concluded between the Soldan and the Sophi. +The other ambassadors who went on the same mission to Alidolat, had the +same success, and equally so with the Iberians, who besides agreed to +assist Ismael with the largest force they could raise every-time he went +against Selim. After this the Sophi sent legates to the Turk in Amasia, +with a sceptre of gold ornamented with jewels, a saddle and a sword +likewise covered with jewels,[494] and a letter, saying: “We, Ismael, +Lord of Persia, herewith send you these regal presents, equal in value +to your realm; if you are a man, keep them well, as I shall come and +take them back, and not them only, but also your throne and life.” Selim +hearing this wished to put the ambassadors to death, but his Pashas +dissuaded him, and so contenting himself with cutting off their noses +and ears he let them go, saying: “Tell your master that I treat him as a +dog, and that he may do his worst.” [The countries I am about to mention +are under the sway of the Turk, kept in subjection by his janissaries. +They rule over the country of Arsingan and Baibiert,[495] where there +are many towns and castles; these countries are the Turkish frontiers +towards Trebizond,[496] and are both in Lesser Armenia. Thence from the +Euphrates, the country of Diarbec, the metropolis of which is Amit, in +Greater Armenia; also, the land of Mosul and the great plain as far as +the borders of Bagadet, being part of Mesopotamia.] Matters being at this +crisis, the Turk came to the Toccat and to Amasia in 1515, with a few +of his troops, as he had divided his forces into two parts. One he had +given the command of to Scander, sending him to attack a city belonging +to Ismael called Tania,[497] of a hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants. +With the other division he set out on an enterprise against Alidolat, +who had taken up a position in the strongholds of the mountains. The +latter prince hearing of the intention of the Turk, sent ambassadors to +him, saying that he had always been his friend, and that he did not know +his reasons for seizing his dominion; but, nevertheless, he resolved +to die like a brave man. The Turk replied that he wished to give him a +lesson as to what business he had to receive ambassadors from the Sophi, +and promise him aid against himself. The general Scander took Tania by +assault with great slaughter. The Ottoman marching towards Cassaria,[498] +near Alidolat, the Alidolians attacked him, but were repulsed and roughly +handled, Alidolat[499] being taken prisoner with two of his sons, and +their heads cut off; the others fled to the mountains. Thus the Turk +gained a great victory, and the captain, Scander, an equal one, as he +caused a great massacre among the people of Tania. Having achieved these +successes, the Turk determined to leave his sons in Amasia, while he +himself returned to Constantinople. + + + + +CHAP. XX. + + The Turk makes an expedition against the Soldan, and meeting + him in battle, defeats him, the Soldan being slain. + + +In the year 1516, the Turk hearing of the agreement between the Soldan +and the Sophi, and seeing that Ismael was hard pressed by those of +the green caftans, determined to set out with a large army against +the Soldan. In the same year, in the month of May, he sent his troops +across the strait into Natolia under his general Sinan Bassa, with +a number of arquebusiers and artillerymen, commanding him to march +towards Caramania. Traversing the country of the Turcomans he arrived +at a place named Albustan, and remained there several days to refresh +his troops. The Sophi hearing this sent envoys to the Sultan of the +Mamelukes, Campson, named the Gauri, to tell him that he would advance +from one quarter and that the Gauri should do the same from the other, +and together crush Sinan Pasha. The Soldan agreed to all, and, having +assembled a great number of soldiers, leaving Cairo, went to Aleppo; the +Turk hearing this, set out from Constantinople on the 5th June, 1516, to +join Sinan Bassa, and while on the journey sent forward as his envoys +the Cadi Lascher,[500] and Zachaia Bassa to enquire of the Soldan his +reasons for coming in this unexpected way to Aleppo. But he received +no satisfactory answer, which plainly shewed an understanding with the +Sophi. Therefore the Turk summoned all the Doctors and learned men, and +enquired of them the will of God. They answered that it was his duty +first to root out that obnoxious thorn, and then to follow the path in +which God would guide him. Hearing the reply he marched toward Aleppo +with an immense army, and great rejoicings, and on his arrival there +encamped in a beautiful plain near the venerated tomb of the prophet +David, sending the vanguard in advance in four divisions; so that the +troops were under arms both night and day. The Mamelukes, arriving +the following day, arrayed themselves in order of battle.[501] The +Turk having information of this, rose to his feet in his tent, making +supplication to God, beseeching him for his great name’s sake and the +reverence they bore him, that he would give the victory that day to the +army of good Mussulmans. Having ended his prayer, he mounted his horse +and went to exhort the Bassas to put their troops in array, which was +done; the different pieces of artillery, both large and small, being +put in order, they began to march; all his pages, about twelve hundred +in number, mounted on horses and clad with rich vests, while attentive +to their rank and order, made prayer to God for the success of their +Sovereign. The monarch also arrayed himself, having in attendance a noble +youth named Mergis, and three thousand men clad in dresses embroidered +with gold, and armed with bows, who were his slaves. On the left were +three thousand five hundred of the men of his court, then seventeen +hundred Solacchi and the white roses of the garden of the camp, and +thirteen thousand janissaries with arquebuses and pieces of artillery. +On the left of these were the troops of Natolia, armed with lances, at +the head of whom was their Sangiacco[502] named Sachinalogier, chief of +the Turcomans. On the right were the fighting men of Greece with their +captain Sinan Bassa, and the Begliarbei of the newly acquired territory +of Azimia, named Buichimehemet, with all the warriors of Amasia sword in +hand. Arrayed in this manner on the 24th[503] of August, at the third +hour of the day they joined in a fierce and sanguinary contest which +lasted till mid day. Opposed to the Greeks was the ruler of Damascus, +a great chief named Sibes,[504] and opposed to the Natolians was +Caierbec[505] the ruler of Aleppo; Sinan Bassa fighting bravely drove +back those opposed to him as far as their standards, and the other troops +seeing the valour of the Bassa followed up their success, both parties +bearing themselves bravely, and repulsing the enemy in turn five or six +times. At last the ruler of Aleppo turned his back, and fled with all his +troops, when the Bassa turned his arms against the ruler of Damascus, +who was not able to resist any longer and fled to the great Soldan. He +was pursued by one of the Grecian warriors, who cut off his head, and +shortly afterwards the Soldan[506] Campson the Gauri was slain. Their +army being routed, abandoning their tents, arms, and treasures, a great +number of the Mamelukes fled to Aleppo, and having remained there a short +time went on to Damascus and Cairo. The Turkish monarch coming to Aleppo, +remained there some time in order to make himself master of several +castles in which he placed garrisons of janissaries, and then sent Janus +Bassa,[507] with some of the Greek troops to pursue the enemy. Having +overtaken them near a city called Caman, Caierbec, the lord of Aleppo, +and another chief named Algazeli approached. The lord of Aleppo advanced +to meet the Bassa, promising allegiance to the great Turkish monarch; +Algazeli fled to Cairo, and Caierbec came to the presence of the Sultan, +by whom he was well received and presented with rich gifts of gold, silk, +wool and cotton, and made to sit down with the great lords. The monarch +rode towards Damascus, and, before entering it, had his tent erected near +the city, and held a court with great splendour and magnificence, as +there were people speaking seventy-two different languages in the city. +This court was one of the most splendid ever seen. Having rested several +days in the city he ordered two of the Greek captains named Mametbei and +Scanderbei, to advance with their troops to Gazzara[508] on the frontiers +of the district, and to halt there. Setting out with this command, they +were on the journey greatly harassed by Moors and Arabs, but nevertheless +arrived at Gazzara and entered the place, expecting to enjoy themselves. + + + + +CHAP. XXI. + + Tomombei, the new Soldan, hearing of the victory of the Turk, + sends Algazeli against the Turks in Gazzara; but Sinan Bassà + going to their assistance, confronts and defeats him. The Turk + leaves Damascus and goes to Jerusalem, where he gives alms and + offers sacrifices. + + +The new Soldan of Cairo, the great Diodar[509] surnamed Tomombei,[510] +was quickly informed of this victory; and Algazeli who was a brave +General, on his arrival at Cairo asked permission to go and attack +this force. The Turks who had arrived at Gazzara stood firm, and this +Algazeli, setting out from Cairo with five thousand well armed Mamelukes, +hurried through the country raising troops. The Turks at Gazzara became +apprehensive, but nevertheless determined to perish sword in hand; the +Grand Turk, on receiving the news, determined to reinforce the troops +at Gazzara, and for this purpose send Sinan[511] Bassà with fifteen +thousand men. Algazeli having left Cairo arrived at Catia, and after +crossing the sandy desert and coming to a caravanserai or villa where +he halted, received intelligence of Sinan’s arrival at Gazzara; though +this was to his great disgust, as it prevented him accomplishing his +object, he nevertheless plucked up spirits, and exhorted his men to +fight valiantly, promising them the victory. Having arranged an assault +on the Turks during the night, news of this determination came to the +ears of the enemy, and Sinan Bassà arrayed his troops for the battle, +and resolved to conquer or die; there being no other alternative left +them, as they were surrounded by such a number of Moors. That night they +held great rejoicings with salutes and bonfires, praying to Allah for +victory, and set out on their march; hence the people of Gazzara imagined +that they were retreating to join their sovereign, the Grand Turk, and +therefore they put to death all the wounded in Gazzara, and informed +Algazeli that our troops had fled. This caused him great satisfaction, +but at the third hour of the day, seeing the dust made by the army which +he thought had fled, coming to meet him in battle, his satisfaction +was turned to disgust, and he seemed struck with astonishment. Our men +drawing near, dismounted, tightened the girths of their horses, and +then asking forgiveness one of another, they shook hands, embraced, +and commenced praying to God for the sake of his prophet Mahomet, and +his four vicars, Abu Beker, Omar, Osman, and Ali, and all the other +prophets, his predecessors, that he would give the victory to the army +of the true Mussulmans. Then Sinan Bassà, turning to the army, exhorted +them all, saying that they had often before routed larger armies and +gained more important battles than these;[512] telling them that they +should stand firm, as he who was destined to die would perish even if +he fled, and he who was not destined to fall would not do so even if +he fought on; and that as male wethers are proper for sacrifices, so +ought they to fight for their sovereign. “Let us avenge our friends, +whom these dogs have slain at the first outset, whose corpses, if they +could speak, would cry, ‘Slay, slay’; if you conquer you will receive +great rewards from our ruler, and obtain great fame, as many of you who +are now of low rank will be promoted.” They all replied, saying: “God +give long life to our sovereign; may the whole earth be subjected to +him; and let him who does not submit be put to death. Forward! forward!” +Having marched, therefore, and the two armies having met, the Circassians +resisted our attack with great courage and daring, each side repulsing +the other in turn several times from the third hour till noon, numbers +being slain. At last the Circassians were routed, while our troops were +highly elated with the victory and immense booty; the Mamelukes fled to +Cairo, pursued by some of our men. The others returned to Gazzara with +Sinan Bassà, stuffing with straw the heads of the dead chiefs, while the +others they fixed to the palm trees in memory of the battle. The great +monarch sent two hundred Solacchi to meet Sinan Bassà, and request him +to ride forward and meet him in a certain place. But not finding the +Bassà, they set out on their return. On the march, numbers of them died, +and being again attacked by the Arabs, all but six were killed. These +rejoined the great monarch and reported that they had heard nothing +of Sinan or of his army. The Sultan hearing this rose up in a great +fury to march to the rescue of the valiant Greeks; but just then there +arrived some Moors with the news of the rout of Algazeli by the Turkish +troops, who had returned in triumph to Gazzara. The Moors were rewarded +for their tidings, and the emperor was in the highest spirits; marching +from Damascus he came to Peneti, where the two hundred Solacchi were +slain, which place he sacked and burnt. He then went to Jerusalem, but +had a great deal of rain and bad weather on the road, which caused much +suffering and the death of many. In Jerusalem the monarch bestowed much +money on the poor of the city, and also made offerings of good rams; so +that the sacrificing priests were satisfied with his bounty. Proceeding +on the route to Gazzara they arrived at a fearful gorge,[513] where only +two horses could advance abreast. The Arabs had seized the defile and +had collected huge stones above to roll down when the Sultan was passing; +they had also numerous archers. The monarch having heard this, ordered +the artillery and the arquebuses to be prepared; but when the need came +they could not be discharged, owing to the wind and rain. Nevertheless, +the valiant janissaries managed to make use of the arquebuses and put to +flight the Moors with great slaughter. When we approached Gazzara the +valiant Greek troops, fully armed and sumptuously clad in the spoils of +the enemy, came a bowshot out of the city to meet their sovereign. The +Moors seeing this great array were filled with astonishment, while the +Sanzacchi dismounted to kiss the hand of the Sultan, and the whole army +separated into two parts, having the monarch in the centre, and saluted +him. Then he met Sinan Bassà, and thanked him, the army, and the Spachi, +which means noblemen, and made them many presents. Having remained four +days at Gazzara, they advanced to Casali, where they had not been able +to go previously from want of water. But the desert being full of water +from the rains, they proceeded at their ease, and immediately on arriving +Casali was given up to pillage, in retaliation for the attack on the +Sultan in the valley above mentioned. + + + + +CHAP. XXII. + + The Turk marches on Cairo, and the Soldan, with Algazeli, + confronts him; but in the battle is defeated and flies in + disguise; while the Turk enters the capital of the Soldan. + + +We then set out on the straight route to Cairo, where the newly created +Soldan Tomombei[514] was making preparations by digging moats and raising +embankments of earth[515] with a great number of labourers. He also +posted pieces of artillery with the design when our army appeared of +sweeping it all away, and by a sally of fourteen thousand Mamelukes and +twenty thousand auxiliaries to rout it utterly. When we arrived in the +country six thousand Mamelukes deserted, and informed the Grand Turk +of everything. Therefore he turned suddenly into another road, which +was unguarded, and in which he could not be molested by the enemy’s +artillery. The Circassians and the Soldan seeing that the Sultan was +advancing by another route, attacked us with great shouts and yells: +Algazeli against the Greek troops, a vizier named Allem[516] against +those of Natolia, and the Soldan against the Grand Turk himself; so +that, from the morning till mid-day, there was a fierce fight. And in +the battle, unfortunately, Sinan Bassà was killed,[517] and with him a +great number of his retainers who had partaken of his bread and salt, and +who, clad in garments he had given them, devoted themselves to death with +their master. They bathed him with their tears, and having enveloped him +in a fine cloth, and having sprinkled him in some water called Abzenzom +found at Mecca,[518] they buried him in a grave they dug for him. Mustafà +Bassà, seeing that all depended on him, with loud shouts and great valour +began the combat, which being seen by the men of Natolia, at the head +of whom he was, they got so enraged that they cut down the Circassians +like grass in the most marvellous manner. The troops of the monarch and +of Greece also fought bravely, but at the hour of evening prayers each +retired from fatigue, and the Circassians, wearied out, were put to +flight, part into Cairo and part to the open country.[519] The Greeks +pursued them till night, plundering and slaughtering them; the monarch +remained that night on the field of battle, and ordered all the prisoners +to be put to death, which was done. They remained here three days, and on +the fourth reached the river Nile at a place called Bichieri, where they +halted two days. The Mamelukes who had advanced joined the Soldan to the +number of nine thousand, planning a night attack; but the Sultan, hearing +this, ordered the troops to remain under arms all night. But the enemy, +hearing this, changed their plan and determined to attack us by day, and +thus came on with fearful yells. The janizzaries fought bravely, and the +troops of Greece mounted and fought on horseback. Still, not being able +to conquer the enemies that day, both armies retreated. The following +morning the great monarch rose with the dawn, and, having returned thanks +to God, ordered all the army to be put in array, all mounting, moving +with great solemnity and display against the Circassians, who, with +their usual cries, began the battle, one side being soon hidden from +the other by the dust. The Mamelukes[520] were desperate, and wished +for nothing better than to die sword in hand, it appearing to them a +disgrace to escape and leave all their possessions in the hands of the +enemy, a calamity from which God preserve every one, and more especially +all good Mahometans. The monarch, seeing that he could not destroy the +Circassians, ordered the city to be set on fire, which the janizzaries +did in several places. The Mamelukes, seeing this, cried out for quarter +with loud and terrible yells; and the Sultan, having pity on them, +ordered the fire to be extinguished, it being almost by a miracle that +the whole city was not burnt down. The Circassians renewed the contest +with such vigour that the arrows fell like rain; and so many fell on +both sides, that the streets of Cairo ran blood, the fight continuing +the entire day. At night, the Circassians, being faint and exhausted, +retired into a mosque, in which as a citadel they kept up a gallant +defence for three days and three nights. But at length, a grand attack +being made, the mosque was taken by storm. The Soldan Tomombei escaped +in disguise, when the great monarch went to rest and his followers to +get booty and prisoners; the heads of these prisoners were afterwards +cut off by the banks of the Nile. Algazeli, who had been away from Cairo +in order to collect forces of Arabs, was already approaching the city +when he was informed that the Turk had proclaimed a free pardon to all +the Circassians who came in in the course of three days. Hence many +Circassians who had been concealed presented themselves and received +gifts; Algazeli also did the same, and gave in his submission to the +king. And to him also were presents made. After this the Grand Turk, with +the great white standard, with drums, fifes, and naccare, went to the +residence of the Soldan; while on the way, they discovered a conspiracy +of some Mamelukes who wished to escape, for which some were put to death, +and others confined in certain prisons till some days afterwards, when +they were drowned in the Nile. In this manner did this monarch Sultan +Selim revenge himself on his enemies; also, when at Cairo, hearing that +the people of a town named Catia had insulted our soldiers who had +been sent there, he commissioned Algazeli and a Beglerbei to go and +chastise the Moors and to plunder the city. This being done and the Moors +being all put to death, the other places in the vicinity became quite +submissive. + + + + +CHAP. XXIII. + + The Turk sends Ambassadors to the Soldan, who had fled, + advising him to submit; but, these men being killed by the + Circassians, he sends Mustafà with an army to revenge them. The + Soldan is defeated; and, being pursued by Mustafà, is taken + prisoner, and brought to the Grand Turk, who causes him to be + impaled by one of the gates of Cairo. + + +We remained at Cairo alert to all the movements of the Soldan, who had +crossed the Nile and taken flight into the country of the Saettò.[521] +As he wished to be informed of what the Turks were doing, he sent secret +emissaries to Cairo to stir up the citizens to molest our troops. While +things were in this train, Omar,[522] a lord of the Moors, came secretly +to kiss the hand of the Sultan, told him all, and was rewarded by a +good Sangiacato in the regions of the Saettò. Sentinels were posted +everywhere, and artillery to command the river, so that not even a bird +could have crossed. They then determined to send two chiefs with the +Cadis of Cairo to the Soldan to advise him to submit himself to the +Grand Turk, who promised to give him the government of Cairo. But the +Circassians, when they got the ambassadors into their power, put them to +death. The monarch, hearing of this cruelty, caused bridges to be erected +over the river, and commanded Mustafà to cross with the entire army, +which was reported to the Soldan, who, with five thousand Circassians +and ten thousand Arabs, advanced to meet them by forced marches in one +day and one night. At this juncture part of the Greek troops had crossed +and others were crossing, not having any intelligence of this; but +God so willed it that those who were seeking a good spot to pitch the +Sultan’s tent, saw the dust raised by the approaching squadrons, and, +being utterly amazed, rode off to tell the news. The monarch ordered +Mustafà to mount and set the army in array. The Circassians charged and +drove back our troops as far as the standard, but, being reinforced, we +repulsed them; the Circassians, seeing this, again closed and drove us +back with such slaughter that the blood ran in rivers. The Moors fought +only to give the Circassians time to rest, so that our men were at a +great disadvantage, fighting on bravely still, but with immense loss. The +Bassa, who was in attendance on the Sultan, seeing this, and that the +day was in a way to be lost, seized his scimitar and bosdocan furiously, +and rushed towards the Soldan, intending to cut the life out of his body +before dying himself. The Greeks, seeing this act of valour, struggled +on to assist their chief. And it is certain that if their courage had +failed them then, they would have lost their lives, as they would all +have been cut to pieces. But their bravery showed the Soldan that they +would gain the victory, and, seeing that from a great and rich monarch +he would become a poor and solitary outcast, looking up to heaven he +bewailed his sad lot with such bitter words as to make all who heard him +pity him. After many words, accompanied with tears, he took to flight, +riding night and day till he reached a bridge, where he rested a short +time. Mustafà[523] and the Greeks pursued him, but he managed to keep in +advance of them. The Turk set out from Cairo, and halted half a day’s +journey distant from Mustafà, who had pursued the Soldan for four days +and as many nights, till he forced him from fatigue to take refuge in +a Casal of the Moors. Our men, also being very much fatigued, could +not get possession of him; so they determined to write to the people +of the Casal ordering them under pain of fire and sword to prevent the +Soldan proceeding any further. Thence the chief of the fortress, named +Sheikh Assaim, told all his men, and Tomombei and the Circassians were +surrounded by the Moors, so that they could not escape till the arrival +of our men, who soon got them into their power. The Circassians threw +themselves into a neighbouring lake, while our soldiers cut some of them +to pieces and made prisoners of the others. Tomombei was taken standing +up to his knees in water, and conducted to the Bassà, who despatched a +troop to the monarch with intelligence of all that had occurred. The +messenger on his arrival was received with great rejoicings, and all the +Sangiacchi and the lords kissed the Grand Turk’s hand. The Soldan was not +brought to his presence, but kept in good custody in a tent near his. +After this there was another battle with the Moors in another fortress +near the Nile; the inhabitants and some Mamelukes were continually +killing and robbing our men. Mustafà set out and destroyed the fortress, +and, after remaining four days, returned to the Turk, who was holding +a court, and had commanded that Tomombei Soldan[524] should be led +through the country of Cairo on a mule, with a chain round his neck, +and that at a gate of the city called Bebzomele he should be impaled, +which was immediately done. This was the termination of the kingdom of +the Mamelukes and the commencement of the greater power of Selim Sultan. +The history of this last expedition of Selim against the Soldan and the +Mamelukes was carefully written by a _Cadi Lascher_,[525] who was with +the army, to a Cadi in Constantinople, and translated from the Turkish +into Tuscan on the 22nd October, 1517. + +In 1524, in the month of August, news came that the celebrated Sophi +monarch was dead, and that his younger son had seized the power, but +was opposed by the elder with a great number of soldiers. Ismael had +left four sons, the eldest named Schiacthecmes,[526] the second Alcas el +Mirza,[527] the third Päerham[528] el Mirza, the fourth Sam el Mirza; +Mirza being a title meaning prince. The eldest was then fourteen years +old, and his father had left him as a governor a man, named Chiocha +Sultan, to govern the kingdom till the boy came of age to rule. This +regent was wise, and of a great influence. But it came to pass that +some of the other nobles, from envy of the regent, began to make war +on one another, and having taken the field, came as far as the tent +of Schiacthecmes,[529] wishing to slay the regent; but the matter was +compromised. + + + + +FOOTNOTES + + +[340] Hulakoo Khan, son and successor of the great Zingis, and the +conqueror of Bagdad. + +[341] Ajemi. + +[342] Hassan Beg. + +[343] This action was fought near Malatia, at a point previous to the +Euphrates entering the Gerger Gorge (Elegia). The islands do not now +exist, and they were probably (considering the time of year) only +sandbanks left by the fall of the river. + +[344] Calo Johannes. See Zeno, p. 9. + +[345] Despina Khatoon; _i.e._, “Lady” or “Queen” Despina. + +[346] Hassan Beg. + +[347] Sheikh Hyder. See Zeno, p. 48. + +[348] Present Kharput. See _Travels of a Merchant_, cap. 3; and Zeno, p. +42. + +[349] Diarbekr. + +[350] Amid (Diarbekr). The Church of San Giorgio, or Mar Jurjees, was an +old Jacobite church, but is now in ruins. See Zeno, p. 42. + +[351] It was David Comnenus who was the last Emperor of Trebizond, Calo +Johannes, his elder brother, having died before the Turkish invasion. + +[352] Trebizond was taken by Mahomet II in 1461. + +[353] Ibrahim. + +[354] Peer Ahmed. See Zeno, p. 15. + +[355] Shebban Kara Hissar. See Zeno, p. 23. + +[356] Niksar? + +[357] The city of Konieh; but the text denotes a river rather, probably +the Iris. + +[358] Tchelebee or the noble, a common title among the Ottoman princes. + +[359] Yusuf Khan. + +[360] Tocat. + +[361] Achmet Pasha. + +[362] Afioom Kara Hissar. Zeno, p. 19. + +[363] Cutayeh. + +[364] Daoud. + +[365] Achmet Pasha. + +[366] Amasia. See Zeno, p. 37. + +[367] Bajazet Tchelebee. + +[368] Quzbvassi. The Goose’s Plain. + +[369] Djim or Zizim. See Zeno, p. 22. + +[370] Amurath. + +[371] Ikindjis. + +[372] The Ikindjis, irregular troops. + +[373] Amasia, birthplace of Strabo and Mithridates. + +[374] Sivas. See Zeno, p. 23. + +[375] The Iris or Kizzil Irmak. + +[376] Niksar. + +[377] Koili Hissar. See Zeno, p. 23. + +[378] Shebban Kara Hissar. The alum mines are still worked, but yield +little revenue. See Zeno, p. 23. + +[379] Probably Egin. See Zeno, p. 23. + +[380] Erzingan. + +[381] Malatia. + +[382] Khalul. + +[383] Called Unghermaumet in Zeno. + +[384] Amurath Palæologus. + +[385] Knolles, in his _History of the Turks_, says that a great Pasha +Mahomet was assassinated by the janissaries on the accession of Bajazet +II to the throne, but makes no mention of this incident. + +[386] Baiboort. See Zeno, p. 26. + +[387] Tabeada. + +[388] How this happened it is not easy to understand, as Zeno says the +Persian king pursued the Turks with only a flying column. + +[389] Zeno says fourteen thousand. + +[390] Shiraz; it has still a great manufacture of sword-blades and armour. + +[391] See p. 89. Eustraf? + +[392] Baiboort. + +[393] Erzeroum or Erzingan. + +[394] Shebban Kara Hissar. + +[395] Called Darap by Zeno. + +[396] Sanjak. + +[397] Koili, or Koyumlu Hissar. + +[398] Niksar. + +[399] Shiraz, a far more important town then than it is now. + +[400] Kerman. + +[401] Syria. + +[402] Khaleel and Yakoob. + +[403] Angiolello had evidently by this time left the Turkish camp and +joined the Persians. + +[404] Gori. + +[405] Tiflis, the present capital of Russian Trans-Caucasia, on the river +Kur, was founded in 1063. It has a population of fifty thousand, and, +under the Russian sway, has become almost like a European town. + +[406] Padishah. + +[407] Khaleel is generally called the eldest of Uzun Hassan’s sons. + +[408] Amida, present Diarbekr. + +[409] Orfa. See _Travels of a Merchant_, cap. 2. + +[410] Birjik, or Bir, ancient Apamea. See _Travels of a Merchant_, cap. 2. + +[411] Baisongor. + +[412] Ahmed. + +[413] Eluan-Alwung, or Alumut, son of Sultan Yakoob. + +[414] Sheikh Hyder. + +[415] There were sons of Shah Yakoob living, namely, Aluan Beg and Morad +Khan, who were more direct descendants of Uzun Hassan. + +[416] Ardebil. + +[417] The other authors give a different account; they expressly state +that Sheikh Hyder was not up in arms against the king, whatever his +ulterior object may have been, but was engaged in an expedition into +Circassia. + +[418] Khoi. + +[419] Zeno says the battle took place near Derbend—far enough, certainly, +from Van. + +[420] Ak Tammar, the Van Lake, so called by the Armenians. The island is, +to this day, the seat of the Catholicos, and is fully described by Layard. + +[421] See above, where it is stated that their mother was married a +second time; and page 105, where it is said Ismail put her to death. It +is more probable that another of their father’s wives is denoted in these +other cases. + +[422] Kara Bagh. + +[423] Schamachi. + +[424] Vide _Travels of a Merchant_, cap. 13. + +[425] Kur, or Cyrus. + +[426] Schamachi. + +[427] Zeno, p. 51, says he had only sixteen thousand men under him after +being joined by the Georgians. + +[428] Diarbekr, the hereditary city of the Ak Koinloos. + +[429] Stepmother, according to Zeno, which is certainly more probable. + +[430] Morad Khan, brother of Aluan Beg. + +[431] Irak-el Ajim. + +[432] Ispahan, Yezd, and Shiraz. + +[433] Khorassan. + +[434] The other authors agree in stating that he escaped to Alla-ed +Douleh’s country; at any rate, he was no further trouble to Ismail Sofi. + +[435] Morad Khan. + +[436] Bagdad is situated on the Tigris, not the Euphrates, but the modern +city of Hillah is supposed to represent the site of the ancient Babylon. + +[437] Jezireh ebn Omar on the Tigris. See _Travels of a Merchant_, cap. 4. + +[438] Orfa and Mardin. See _Travels of a Merchant_, caps. 2 and 4. + +[439] Hesn Keyf, Ciphas of Procopius. Baldwin de Bourg and Jocelyn de +Courtenay were confined here after their capture by Sookman, the Ortokide +lord of the place, and Dejekermish, lord of Mosul. See _Travels of a +Merchant_, cap. 4. + +[440] Alla-ed Douleh. + +[441] Kharput. Jocelyn was again captured, together with his kinsman, +by Balak, the Ortokide, and confined in this place. See _Travels of a +Merchant_, cap. 3. + +[442] Alla-ed Douleh, written “Abnadulat” above. + +[443] Erzingan. + +[444] Ko-li Beg. + +[445] Zekkaria Beg. + +[446] Kaisarieh. + +[447] El Bostan, or Albistan. See Zeno, p. 54. + +[448] The Jihoon. + +[449] Marash. See Zeno, p. 54. + +[450] Kara Dagh. + +[451] Malatia. + +[452] Amir Beg. + +[453] Diarbekr. + +[454] Kharput. + +[455] Named Becarbec. + +[456] Khoi. + +[457] Sheibani Khan. See Zeno, p. 55. + +[458] Khorassan and Astrabad. + +[459] Ispahan. + +[460] Called Astibisti in the _Travels of a Merchant_, cap. 8. + +[461] Kara Bagh. + +[462] Shirvan and Schamachi. + +[463] Bairambec, the conqueror of Van and Ismael’s brother-in-law. See +_Travels of a Merchant_, cap. 6. + +[464] Baku. + +[465] Astrabad. + +[466] Derbend. See Zeno, p. 44. + +[467] Demir Kapoo, or the Iron Gate. + +[468] Astrakhan. + +[469] “Sheikh, Sheikh.” In this sense it means simply a holy man, not God. + +[470] Rather the twelve Imaums. + +[471] Syria. + +[472] Sheibani Khan, the Usbeg. See Zeno, p. 55. + +[473] Irak Ajemi. + +[474] Ispahan. + +[475] Kashan. + +[476] Astrabad. + +[477] Jarood. + +[478] Most probably Bairambec, the king’s brother-in-law, mentioned +before. + +[479] Custagialu, another brother-in-law of the king. + +[480] Astrabad, Khorassan, Herat. + +[481] Kashan. + +[482] The battle of Merv Shah Jehan, in which Sheibani Khan was killed, +took place in 1514. + +[483] Jarood. + +[484] Bitlis. See Zeno, p. 8. + +[485] Iris. + +[486] At Gumish Khaneh. + +[487] Kharput. + +[488] The Van lake, _at its nearest point_, is scarcely twenty English +miles from Bitlis. + +[489] Khoi is nearly a hundred miles from the Van lake. + +[490] This is the shortest and most direct route from Tocat to Persia and +quite different from the one just mentioned. + +[491] Zeno, p. 60. + +[492] Casveen. + +[493] Khafour el Ghouri, called Campson Gauri later on. + +[494] We have an instance of this sort in our own annals, viz., the +presents sent by the Dauphin to Henry V. + +[495] Baiburt. + +[496] These were the latest conquests made by Selim from Persia. + +[497] Euxaghly, near Malatia, called Ciamassum by Knolles, who says +it was situated near the confluence of the Melas (Kara Su) with the +Euphrates. + +[498] Kaisarieh. + +[499] Knolles says that Aladeules was betrayed by his nephew, Alis Beg, +who became the Turkish governor of the country. + +[500] Kazi Asker. + +[501] This was contrary to the advice of Algazeli, who advised Campson to +protract the war and not to risk all on one battle. + +[502] Sanjak. + +[503] Knolles says the 7th. + +[504] Sybeius Baluan. + +[505] Knolles says that the Mamelukes lost the battle through the +treachery of Caierbec, who had a secret understanding with Selim. The +Turks were almost put to rout by Sibes and Algazeli, when the desertion +of the Governor of Aleppo and the opportune arrival of Sinan Pasha turned +the fortune of the fight. Sibes and Campson Gauri were both killed in the +battle, which took place, according to Knolles, on the 7th of August, +1516, the same day that the battle of Schalderan took place two years +before. + +[506] Kafoor el Ghouri, the last Soldan of Egypt but one, died 1516, and +was succeeded by Tomant Bey. + +[507] Jonnses Pasha put to death soon afterwards by Selim. + +[508] Gaza. + +[509] Devetdar. + +[510] Tomant Bey, last Soldan of Egypt. + +[511] Sinan Pasha, Selim’s best general—his valour and generalship had +saved him upon more than one occasion; for instance, at the battle of +Schalderan, and again in the conflict with the Mamelukes. + +[512] Knolles says, in his _History of the Turks_, p. 535:—“The Bassà +had placed his harquebusiers in the wings of his battell, which were +raunged of a great length in their rankes, thereby to use their peeces +at more liberty and with more ease to enclose the enemie: in the middle +were placed the horsemen to receive the first charge of the Mamalukes. +Gazelles approaching the enemy, sent before the troupes of the Arabian +light horsemen to trouble the wings of the enemies battell, and with +a square battell of his Mamalukes charged the middle battell of the +Turks. The battell was a great while most terrible, and the victorie +doubtfull; for, although the Turkes in number farre exceeded, yet were +they not able to endure the armed and courageous Mamalukes, but were +glad to give ground; and, quite disordered by the breaking-in of the +Mamalukes, as men discouraged, began to look about them which way they +might flie; when, by the commaundement of Sinan, the harquebusiers, +who, with the first volley of their shot, had repulsed the Arabians, +wheeling about enclosed all the enemies battell. By which means both +men and horse were a farre off slaine, with the multitude of the deadly +shot, where true valour helped not them, so on every side enclosed. For +where any troupe of the Mamalukes pressed forward upon the Turkes, they +quickly retired, and in all places of the battell, as much as they could, +shunned to encounter their enemies with their horsemen, labouring onely +to gaule them with shot. Gazelles seeing his horses spent with extreame +wearinesse, and that he was not to expect any further helpe, his Arabians +now beginning to fall from him; and also, considering that many of his +most valiant souldiours were either slaine or wounded, and having also +himselfe received a great wound in his necke, he, with the rest of his +armie, made way through the middest of his enemies, and having lost +divers of his ensignes, fled back againe to Caire, through the same +sandie deserts whereby he came. In this battell was lost the Governor of +Alexandria and Orchamus, Governor of Caire (both men of great account +among the Mamalukes), and beside them a great number of Arabians, with a +thousand or more of the Mamaluke horseman. Neither got Sinan a joyfull or +unbloudie victorie, having lost above two thousand of his best horsemen, +and amongst them certaine commaunders, men of great marke.” + +[513] Petra? + +[514] Tomant Bey. + +[515] At Maharra, six miles from Cairo. + +[516] Allem, called Heylims the Devetdar, by Knolles. + +[517] By a Mamaluke captain named Bidon, frequently mentioned by Knolles. + +[518] The well of Zemzem. + +[519] Knolles says, Tomant Bey, after showing great personal courage, was +forced to order a retreat, which soon became a flight. The battle was +fought on the 24th January, 1517. + +[520] The Mamelukes were repulsed, and were then attacked in Cairo by +Selim. + +[521] Delta? + +[522] Called Albuchomar by Knolles. + +[523] Mustafà, Algazeli, and Caierbec were sent in pursuit. + +[524] He was first tortured to make him reveal where he was supposed to +have hidden the great treasures of Campson Gauri. + +[525] Cazi Asker. + +[526] Shah Tamasp. + +[527] Elias Mirza, King of Shirvan. _Vide_ Alessandri. + +[528] Bahram Mirza. + +[529] Shah Tamasp. + + + + +THE TRAVELS + +OF A + +MERCHANT IN PERSIA. + + + + +THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. + + + + +CHAP. I. + + The apology the Author makes for this his Narrative. + + +It is well-known that naturally all men, and especially students, love +knowledge, and, therefore, always go out of their way to investigate new +things. On this account I have thought that by writing an account of my +travels in Persia and narrating all that I have, with my slight genius, +been able to learn in the east, in the space of eight years and eight +months of my stay there, that these my writings might be interesting to +my readers, both by the novelty of the subject and by the information +respecting so many great cities, peoples, and foreign customs. And if +in any passage I become confused and lengthy, I ask my kind readers’ +pardon, as it will not proceed from anything but my being unaccustomed +to composition; but they may be assured for the rest that I will tell +nothing but the truth of what I have seen and heard, not exaggerating +anything, but simply narrating as becomes an honest merchant who does not +know how to adorn his tale by his words. + +And, to begin about the places and regions where I have been, I will say +that when Shiec Ismael came against Aladuli[530] in Caramania, in 1507, I +happened to be in his army at Arsingan,[531] where I remained forty days, +and afterwards at Cimischasac,[532] when I crossed the river Euphrates, +entering the country of Aladuli. I was present also during his expedition +against Sirmacchia[533] and the country of Sirvan,[534] and in Tauris, +on Siech Ismael’s return there with his army. I was absent, however, +when there were districts and castles taken, and some battles fought and +victories gained, by the same Siech Ismael near Dierbec. Nevertheless, I +will recount them, having been enabled to learn the facts from different +persons who were present. This I did easily, as I knew perfectly the +languages of Ajemi,[535] Turkey, and Arabia. + + + + +CHAP. II. + + The cities one finds on leaving Aleppo to go to Persia; of the + city of Bir, of Orfa, and of the fountain of Saint Abram; the + water of which cures fever; and the fishes there are in it; + of a well which cures lepers; and of the magnificence of the + above-mentioned city of Orfa. + + +And to return to my journey, I say that on leaving Aleppo to go to Persia +in general, and to Tauris in particular, at three days’ journey distant +is a place named Bir,[536] which is on the bank of the river Euphrates +on the other side, and is of small extent. Sultan Cartibec[537] had it +walled round, as it was not fortified before, but always had a strong +fine castle, which has been besieged by many, and also by Diodar,[538] +who rebelled against the Soldan, without anyone having been able to take +it. All the country, the city, and castles which are across the river, +have always been, and still are, under the sway of the King of Persia; +on this side of the river, towards Aleppo, all is governed by the Soldan +of Cairo. In all the countries, provinces, towns, and fortresses between +Aleppo and Tauris, and from Tauris as far as Derbant, on the shores of +the Caspian Sea, I have remained some time and traded, as you will learn +when I come to relate about them. Two days’ journey from Bir there is a +large town named Orfa,[539] which the inhabitants and their chronicles +say was anciently founded and walled round by the great Nembroth;[540] +and in truth they show very ancient walls extending ten miles in circuit +without a ditch round them. There is within it a magnificent castle with +walls of immense size and thickness, but also without any fosse, and in +it there are two fine lofty columns, equal in size to those of Venice, in +the Piazza of St. Mark, on which they say that Nembrot had his idols, and +they are still as upright as when they were first erected. In this city +is also the place where our father Abraham was about to sacrifice to God +his son Isaac (?). + +And it is said that in this very place at that time there sprang forth +an excellent clear fountain, large enough to work seven mills in the +city and to irrigate the country round. And where it sprang forth the +Christians built a church dedicated to the holy Abraham,[541] which when +they had lost power was changed by the Mahometans into a mosque, while +to the present the fountain is called the fountain of Abraham (which in +Turkish is “Ibrahim calil bonare”). It is even now much reverenced by +both Christians and Mahometans for the virtue it possesses of curing +anyone ill of fever who goes in with faith. In this fountain are many +fish,[542] which are never caught, but are considered sacred. + +Six miles outside the city is a wonderful well which heals lepers, +provided they go there with devotion, keeping this order. First they +must fast five days, and each day of the fast they drink frequently of +the water, and every time they drink they must wash themselves with it, +but after the five days they do not wash any more, but still drink up to +the tenth or twelfth day; and so the virtue of the holy water frees them +from this infirmity, or at least keeps it from going further. And I have +seen this effect with my own eyes in Orfa, many who came infirm going +away well. On my way back to Aleppo from Tauris, I came to Orfa, where +was a Cypriote named Hector, who lived at Nicosia; this man, by going to +the sacred well, came back freed from many complaints. This city used +to be a regal one, as is seen by the ancient monuments and buildings. +There are ten or twelve large churches built of marble, more imposing +than I can describe in words. This city has as beautiful and pleasant a +country about it as one could wish.[543] Towards the west there is a +fine hill covered with inhabited villas, and many ancient castles now +deserted. There are vast and beautiful gardens close to the city, full of +all kinds of fruit, with as great an abundance of provisions as one can +desire. Besides, it is on the routes from Bagadet,[544] Persia, Turkey, +and Soria;[545] and the inhabitants are honest and good. This city is the +first in the dominions of Sultan Sciech Ismael, and is a metropolis and +capital city of a province named Dierbec, in which are six large cities +with five hundred fortresses, as shall be related. + + + + +CHAP. III. + + Of the castle Jumilen; of the great city Caramit, founded by + the Emperor Constantine; and of the fine buildings, churches, + and streams there are in it, and which is inhabited more by + Christians, Greeks, Armenians, and Jews, than by Mahometans; of + the province of Dierbec, its cities, and by whom it is governed. + + +Two days’ journey from Orfà is a castle named Jumilen,[546] which is on +a mountain, with walls not very strong, and with a small fosse dug out +of the rock. Round the castle is a town of houses dug into the mountain +like grottoes, in which the peasants live: a low race like gipsies. This +district is very arid, and has no water; but in the grottoes they have +excavated they have made deep reservoirs, which they fill with water in +the spring, and which serve them the whole year. Three days’ journey from +this castle is the great city of Caramit,[547] which, according to their +chronicles, was built by the Emperor Constantine, and has a circuit of +ten or twelve miles.[548] It is surrounded by walls of black stone, so +placed, that it appears painted, and has in the whole circumference three +hundred and sixty towers and turrets. I rode the whole circuit twice +for my pleasure, looking at the towers and turrets of very different +forms and sizes;[549] still no one who is not a geometrician would not +be pleased to see them, so marvellous are the structures; and in several +parts on them I saw the imperial arms carved with an eagle with two heads +and two crowns.[550] In this city are many wonderful churches, palaces, +and marble monuments, inscribed with Greek letters. The churches are +about the size of that of SS. Giovanni and Paulo or the Frati Minori at +Venice. And in many of them are relics of saints and particularly of +Saint Quirinus, which, at the time the Christians had the upper hand, +were shown openly; and in the church of St. George I saw the arm of a +saint in a case of silver, which they say was the arm of St. Peter, +and which they keep with great reverence. In this church is also the +tomb of Despinacaton,[551] the daughter of the King of Trebizond, named +Caloianni,[552] who is meanly buried under a portico near the door of +the church in the earth, and above the tomb is a thing like a box one +cubit high and one wide and about three in length, built of bricks and +earth. There is also a church of St. John, beautifully built, and several +others of great beauty and splendour; and while I remember, I must not +pass over one of them named the church of St. Mary, the account of which +will interest my readers. It is a large edifice,[553] with sixty altars, +as one sees before chapels; the interior is built up with vaults, and +the vaults are supported by more than three hundred columns. There are +also vaults above vaults, equally supported by columns; and, as far as I +could judge, this church was never covered in, in the middle, as taking +into consideration the mode of its erection, and, above all, the sacred +christening font, which I saw was in the open air. This baptismal font +is situated in the middle of the church, and is of fine alabaster, made +like an immense mastebe,[554] carved inside with various designs and most +splendidly worked. It is covered by a magnificent block of the finest +marble, supported by six columns of marble as clear as crystal, and these +columns also are worked with fine and gorgeous carvings, while the whole +church is inlaid with marble. Nowadays, the eastern part of this church +has been made a mosque, while the other part is in the same state it +always has been, as it was the convent where the priests lived; in it +there is a wonderful fountain of water, as clear as crystal. This church +is so nobly built that it appears like a paradise, so rich is it in fine +and splendid marbles, having columns upon columns, like the palace of St. +Mark at Venice. There is also a campanile with bells, and in many other +churches there are steeples without bells. + +This city abounds in water, as springs rise in many places; and it is +partly on a plain and partly on a mountain—in the midst of a great plain, +round which many fresh-water springs gush forth. It has six gates,[555] +well guarded by corporals and soldiers; the corporal of every gate has +ten, twelve, or twenty men under him, and by every gate there is a +large clear fountain. There are here, also, people of many religious +persuasions in greater numbers than Mahometans, namely, Christians, +Greeks, Armenians, and Jews. Each religion has its separate church with +its own service, without being molested by the Mahometans. + +Among the other rivers flowing through this city is one from the East +named the Set,[556] which, in the spring, rises wonderfully and flows +rapidly towards Asanchif and Gizire,[557] in Bagadet, entering the river +Euphrates, and the two then fall into the Persian Gulf. Custagialu +Mahumutbec rules this city with the whole province of Dierbec, Sciech +Ismael having given it to him as his relative, being his sister’s +husband, and most devoted to him. This province has six great cities +and five large fortresses, as I have said; of which cities there were +three, namely, the one we have been relating about, _i.e._, Caramit,[558] +the second Orfà, and the third Cartibiert, formerly ruled over by +Aliduli,[559] who had subdued them. At the time that Jacob Sultan +passed from this life, they were occupied by Aliduli; although it cost +him dear, as, when Sciech Ismael gave the fine province of Dierbec to +Custagialu Mahmutbec, he commanded him at all hazards to recover Orfà +and Cartibiert, and this commission he, as a faithful vassal, prepared +to execute. Therefore, he siezed Orfà, cutting all within it to pieces, +but could not take Caramit,[560] since Sultan Custalumut had surrounded +it with walls, neither could he take Cartibiert. Custagialu, seeing this, +left Orfà, and came to Mardin,[561] which he took without bloodshed or +resistance, as they surrendered voluntarily. While Custagialu remained +at Mirdin, Aliduli advanced and endeavoured to recover Orfà, ravaging +the country, plundering and slaying the inhabitants, and threatening to +do great things against Sciech Ismael, who then came to subdue Aliduli, +as shall be related at the proper time and place, to the satisfaction of +those who desire to hear of the origin of Sultan Sciech Ismael. + + + + +CHAP. IV. + + Of the castle of Dedu; of the magnificent city of Mirdin, built + on a high mountain near a vast plain; of the city of Gizire, + situated on an island, and very wealthy; of the royal city of + Asanchif, filled with innumerable inhabitants and different + religions; the two castles which Custagialu, the relative of + Sciech Ismael, is now besieging; and of the wonderful bridge in + this city. + + +Now, continuing my journey one day from Caramit, one arrives at a fine +castle named Dedu; which is on an eminence, near a high mountain, and +has many villages below it, and is a very rich place. Proceeding a day’s +journey further, one sees the magnificent city of Mirdin, which is about +four or five miles in circumference, on a high mountain, with a castle +a long crossbow shot above the city, and one mile in circumference, +which, if one looks at from below, is terrifying, as, when one is on the +mountain at its foot, one sees numerous huge rocks as large as houses, +and which always seem about to fall. At the foot of this castle the city +is surrounded by high walls, and, as I have said, is situated on a high +mountain, and has within it beautiful palaces and mosques. It is true +there is a want of water,[562] since the water of this region is salt and +scarce; otherwise, this would be the finest city of Diarbec, being in +a most beautiful and pleasant climate. This city is so high, that from +within, looking down towards the east, it appears hanging over, like the +battlement of a fortress. It is also appalling, looking from the foot of +the walls of the city up to the height of the castle; which is so far +off, that the colour becomes softened off into that of the sky, and this +is seen principally from the plain on the east below the city. This plain +commences at Orfà, goes as far as Bagadet, and thence extends to Gizire, +wonderfully wide and grand. This city is inhabited far more by Armenian +Christians and Jews than by Mahometans, and each sect officiates in its +separate church, according to their custom. + +Travelling from this city for two days towards the East, one finds +another city named Gizire,[563] inhabited by the same people, by Curds, +and very many other races, and is situated on an island. The river Set +spreads itself out in that region, flowing by another mountain, where +they are building a fine castle. This city is governed by a Curd, +although in subjection to Custagialu Mahumutbec, and abounding in +everything that one can ask. I have thought fit to make mention of this +city although it is not on the direct road to Tauris, but on one’s right +hand on the route to the East. But following the direct road to Tauris in +the ordinary manner, I say that in four days from the above-named city of +Mirdin, one comes to another city named Asanchif,[564] which is a royal +city, and a metropolis of the province of Diarbec, and is ruled over by +a lord named Sultan Calil,[565] who is a Curd, has married a sister of +Sultan Sciech Ismael, and is chief of several Curdish lords of those +territories. This city is four or five miles in circuit, and is fortified +at the foot of a high mountain, while by the opposite side of the +mountain flows the large river Set,[566] the city being built between +the mountain and the river, and in it there is a countless population of +Christians, Mahometans, and Jews—a very rich and trading community.[567] +I remained there two months, kept in by the deep snow on the road to +Tauris, where I was sent by my correspondents. Custagialu Mahumutbec +was there with an army of ten thousand men, since Sultan Calil, the +relative[568] of Sciech Ismael, as we have said, ruled that country, but +not in his allegiance, since he was a Curd, and the Curds are disobedient +and insubordinate; and although they wear the red caftans[569] they are +not Suffaveans at heart, but only outwardly. Sciech Ismael, therefore, +who is of a masterly and sagacious character, easily understood the +need of his realm; and as he wished Asanchif and the whole of Diarbec, +of which Asanchif is one of the principal territories, to be ruled by +Custagialu, who is a Natolian and a true Suffavean of the sect of Sciech +Ismael, very devoted, and as nearly related to him, took the measure of +sending him in person to take possession of this territory from Sultan +Calil. Having thus entered Asanchif, as I have said, with ten thousand +men, this Sultan Calil, seeing his enemy upon him by order of Sciech +Ismael, having hastily furnished himself with provisions, shut himself up +in two castles, upon two mountains commanding the city, one being a mile +in circuit, and the other about half a mile. In the larger one there are +no rooms nor any habitations, only a very steep mountain about a mile +round, rising as perpendicularly as a wall, and inaccessible, except in +one quarter, where high walls are built, with many towers for the defence +of the pass, and the soldiers who lodge in the fortress have their +apartments in the towers. The other, which is smaller, is well built, and +inhabited, and here it was that Sultan Calil, with Calconchatun,[570] +his wife, the sister of Sieche Ismael, with the rest of his family, +lived. In this city all the lords of Diarbech came together by command +of Custagialu Mahumutbec, bringing with them all the men they could, +to the number, before mentioned, of ten thousand; and they kept up +fighting night and day, but they gained but little, as the two castles +were impregnable, and their horses, lances, arrows, crossbows, and guns +availed nothing. Similarly, a mortar of bronze, of four spans, which they +brought from Mirdin, where it used always to stand before the door of +the fort of that city, was useless. This mortar was cast in that country +at the time of Jacob Sultan, and by his orders. And while I was at +Asanchif I went several times to see the fighting and the firing of this +same mortar; and Custagialu also had another larger one cast by a young +Armenian, who cast it in the Turkish manner—all in one piece. The breech +was half the length of the whole piece, and the mortar was five spans +in bore at the muzzle. They had only these two pieces to bombard the +castles, in which there was no artillery, except three or four muskets of +the shape of Azemi,[571] with a small barrel, which, with a contrivance +locked on to the stock about the size of a good arquebuse, carry very +far. They also had a certain kind of crossbow, made like bows of horn, +but made on purpose stronger than those which are drawn by hand, and have +a handle, with a contrivance like ours for bending them, and are without +nuts, but instead of them they have a bit of iron. Their bolts are long, +about half the length of an arrow, and slender; they are feathered, and +have points like the Turkish arrows, and go a great distance. Of these +crossbows there were about twenty in one of these castles; I think it was +in the smaller one. + +In this city there is a hill, on which they have built a rampart of +planks and beams, behind which are a number of men with slings, who +fire into the castle, as also those in the castle do into the town. +They have made this rampart on the highest point of the city, and from +thence they cast down many stones. The two cannons were directed on the +castle to sweep away some outposts, which did a great deal of harm, and +had caused the death of a great many of the citizens. They also made a +rampart of a number of great beams, which could be raised and lowered +like a drawbridge. This was all completed in one night; and when they +wished to fire one of the cannons they raised and then lowered the door; +and many perished on both sides. Since before dawn they began to sound +their warlike instruments, continuing till the setting of the sun. For +two months while I remained there was continual fighting, so that the +unfortunate city was half besieged by the number of soldiers and people +who came to the fighting, causing great disturbances. All this was +tolerated by Custagialu Mahumutbec in order to have money to pay his +soldiers. + +This city was always considered a separate realm, but subject to the King +of Persia. And really the inhabitants appear to me to be very worthy, +good people. There are many traders and prettier women than in any other +part of Diarbec. Outside the city there are four suburbs, as I will +relate to you. On the east, in the mountain under the castle, there are a +number of grottoes enough to form a city; below this is another borough +with very large houses. On the other side of the river are heights +far above the stream full of excavated grottoes, with rooms, palaces, +with many staircases[572] (by which they descend to the river to draw +water), finer than any of the houses. Near this place is another suburb +of houses, with a magnificent bazaar and a chan for the accommodation +of merchants. Going to the city from this bazaar, one crosses the river +by a magnificent stone bridge,[573] which is wonderfully built, and in +my opinion has no superior. It has five lofty, wide, solid arches; the +one in the middle is built on a firm foundation of stones, two and three +paces long and more than one pace broad. This foundation is so large that +it is about twenty paces in circumference, made in the form of a column, +and sustains the centre arch, being fixed in the middle of the river. The +arch is so wide and lofty that a vessel of three hundred tons, with all +its sails set, can pass under it; and, in truth, many a time when I have +been standing on it and looking down into the river, the great height +has made me shudder. But while I recollect it I will say that I consider +three things in Persia great marvels—this bridge of Asanchif, the palace +of Assambei Sultan, and the castle of Cimischasac.[574] + + + + +CHAP. V. + + Of the castle of Cafondur; of the town of Bitlis; of the + Kurdish tribes; and of the Curd, Sarasbec, the lord of that + city, who has but little respect for Sciech Ismael. + + +As I think I have now said quite enough about this city and its state, it +seems to me I ought to continue the journey I have begun. Therefore, at +the end of two months I set out towards Bitlis, and at the end of five +days’ journey arrived at a castle called Cafondur,[575] inhabited by a +Curdish chief who governs it in the allegiance of the ruler of Bitlis. +It is a small castle built on a peaked mountain, the whole country being +mountainous and arid, as from Asanchif to Bitlis the whole road is hilly +with some narrow and dangerous passes. + +And, although I had promised to describe my journey straight on, +nevertheless, for my own satisfaction, and to please my readers, I will +make mention of a city a little out of the road named Sert,[576] where +nuts and chesnuts grow in large quantities, and also gall for tanning. +There are also three fine castles under the kingdom of Asanchif, called +Aixu, Sanson,[577] Arcem;[578] this Arcem is governed by a tall Saracen +negro, a slave of Sciech Ismael, named Gambarbec, of gigantic height +and strength. Sciech Ismael made him a Sultan, and placed him under +Custagialu. + +I now recollect that I mentioned before that there were six great +cities and five castles in the province of Diarbec; but I did not name +them at the time; but now I will give the name of each. The cities are +Orfà, Caramit, Mirdin, Gizire, Asanchif, and Sert;[579] the castles +are Jumilen,[580] Dedu, Arcem, Aixu, Sanson, all of which have their +particular rulers subject to Custagialu Mahumutbec. But to return to the +castle of Cafondur[581] we have mentioned, near which, in a deep valley, +is a stream,[582] and a fine large chan built, for the accommodation of +people travelling during the deep snow, as it snows in an extraordinary +manner in that country. I myself was compelled to remain a month in this +chan, not being able to continue my journey to Bitlis, on account of the +deep snow which covered all the country. In this place one gets dear +bread, victuals, barley, and fodder, from some Curdish peasants, who +inhabit certain villages on the mountains.[583] This country is perfectly +free from robbers, as the whole time I remained in that chan I was +molested by no one, although I went about a great deal with the servant +of our Carimbassi;[584] and, although he had some of the goods of this +same Carimbassi with other merchandise left at Asanchif, to the value of +ten thousand ducats, and I had three thousand ducats in my possession, +we never had any hindrance. Setting out at the beginning of the month, I +arrived at Bitlis as best I could, and remained there about fifteen days +expecting Comminit of Casvem, with whom I had been sent by my employers +to Tauris to recover some money. + +This city of Bitlis[585] is neither very large nor walled round, but has +a fine castle on a hill in its midst, which is large and well built, and, +according to their chronicles and traditions, was founded by Alexander +the Great; it is surrounded by high walls, with many turrets and lofty +towers. This city, together with the castle, is governed by a Curd +named Sarasbec, half a rebel against Sultan Sciech Ismael, and who is +considered in Persia as the master of this fine fortress. All the Curds +are truer Mahometans than the other inhabitants of Persia, since the +Persians have embraced the Suffavean doctrine, while the Curds would not +be converted to it: and, though they wear the red caftans, yet in their +hearts they bear a deadly hatred to them. This same city is situated +among high mountains in a valley; so that it is, as it were, hidden, and +one does not perceive it till one is close upon it. And all that region +is a kind of receptacle or reservoir of snow, and so much falls that they +are only three or four months of the year without it, and they cannot sow +their corn before the 15th or 20th of April. Many merchants leave this +city to trade in Aleppo, Tauris, and Bursa, as there is nothing to buy +in it, nor any merchandise to be retailed, as the inhabitants are all +Curds and a vile race. There are also many Armenian Christians: a people +far worse than the Mahometans, though not so much so in this place as +throughout the rest of Persia, wherever one finds them. A stream[586] +passes through the centre of this city, so that it is well supplied with +water. There is also a spring in the castle, which, though it supplies +but little water, is sufficient for their wants. In the winter every one +collects a quantity of snow, putting it in cisterns, and then makes use +of it in summer. This Curd, Sarasbec, who rules this city, has but little +respect for Sultan Sciech Ismael, who, while I was at Tauris, I remember, +sent several times to summon him to his court; but he would never trust +himself to go there. On this account, Sciech Ismael sent one of his +captains, named Sophi Zimammitbec, with about six thousand horsemen, who, +when they arrived at a distance of two days’ journey from Bitlis, were +overtaken by a courier with orders from the sovereign to the captain to +return at once to Tauris. He, turning about with his men, went back to +Sciech Ismael, whom he found in great perturbation because the Usbec, +named Casilbas,[587] had invaded his country, ravaging the territory +of Jesel.[588] Ismael determining to avenge himself, assembled all his +horse and foot soldiers, and marched against this same Casilbas, who was +a kinsman of the great Tamberlane, and ruler of Tartary, Curidin,[589] +and the borders, as far as Sammarcant. What followed, I shall keep for a +more convenient place, and narrate the whole of it in detail. I will now +return to my first undertaking. + + + + +CHAP. VI. + + Of a sea or salt lake, and of the castles round it; of the + city of Arminig, situated on an island of this sea, inhabited + solely by Armenian Christians; of the fortresses of Vastan and + Van, where the ruler is named Zidibec, a rebel against Sciech + Ismael; Bairdunbec was sent against him, and besieged him three + months; when the castle capitulated, Zidibec having escaped by + night. + + +Then, setting out from Bitlis, on the second day I arrived at +Totouan,[590] a small fort on a mountain stretching out into the sea, +as you shall hear. In this country there is a sea or lake, the water +of which is salt; but not so much so as the Adriatic sea. It is three +hundred miles long, and a hundred and fifty broad in the widest part, +and has round it many inlets, with a fertile region full of villages, +the greater number of the villagers being Armenians. Round this sea are +seven splendid castles, inhabited by Curds and Armenians, in all of which +I have traded; as on my way to Tauris I went on one side, and came back +on the other, as this sea was in the middle of the route. There are four +of the castles on the east, namely, Totouan, already mentioned, Vastan, +Van,[591] and Belgari;[592] on the west are Argis,[593] Abalgiris, and +Calata.[594] This Calata was anciently a large city, as can be seen by +the buildings,[595] but is now reduced to a small fortress. Between +Totouan and Vastan is a lofty island in the sea,[596] two miles front +the mainland, all of hard rock, on which is a small city about two miles +in circumference, the city being the same size as the island. This city +is named Arminig, is very populous, and inhabited only by Armenian +Christians, without one Mahometan; it has many churches, all for the +services of Armenian Christians; of these, that of St. John is the +largest, and has a steeple made like a tower, so high that it overlooks +the whole city, and among the bells is one so large, that when it is +struck, it resounds over all the mainland. Opposite the city or island +is a large gulf, with a delightful plain with many villages inhabited by +Armenian Christians, with much cultivated land, and beautiful gardens +with trees that produce every sort of fruit. This region has a delightful +and healthy atmosphere, and all round it are mountains so high, that they +appear to touch the sky; and, not only in the circuit of this gulf, but +also round the whole sea there are bleak mountains covered with eternal +snow. + +At two days’ journey from this place, one finds the castle of +Vastan,[597] which was demolished by Sciech Ismael, and only a town +with a bazaar remains. It is on a large gulf of this sea, with numbers +of villages, all inhabited by Curds. There is a greater abundance of +provisions here than in any other place, and a good deal of white honey +is made here, which from time to time is sent by caravans to Tauris to be +sold, together with fine ointment and cheese. + +Proceeding a day’s journey further is the fortress of Van, which is built +on a mountain or hill of hard rock, from which fresh water springs forth +everywhere; it is more than a mile in circumference, but narrow and long, +like the rock on which it is built; also on the summit of this rock, in +one part which is as steep as a wall, is a fountain the water of which +is used by all in the fortress.[598] This citadel is ruled over by a +Curdish chief named Zidibec, who is a great lord, and very proud, from +having in his possession this fine fortress with many other castles in +these mountains. He had money coined with his own stamp of gold, silver, +and copper. Below the castle is a large town, and the greater part of the +inhabitants are Armenians, but within the castle they are all Curds. This +place is a good mile from the sea, and is well supplied with provisions. +This chief has many sons, who govern the castles round; and, as I have +said, he is very arrogant from his power, and is a rebel against Sciech +Ismael, who at another time sent one of his captains named Bairambec with +ten thousand picked troops against him. While I was in Tauris, I learnt +all the events from soldiers who had returned, but in particular from +a chief of bombardiers, a good man, and a great friend of mine, named +Camusabec of Trebizond. I heard that when Bairambec arrived beneath the +castle with his army, Zidibec, full of treachery, sent one of his men +to Bairambec to ask a safe conduct for him to come and kiss his hand. +Having obtained his demand, Zidibec came down from the castle with a few +companions all unarmed; and, having arrived in the presence of Bairambec, +saluted him in the Persian or Suffavean manner, saying that he wondered +that his Excellency had come to that place with that army, there being +no necessity for it, as although in the past he had been disobedient, +yet for the future he wished to be a faithful vassal of Sultan Sciech +Ismael—inclining his head to the ground, as he did whenever he named +Sciech Ismael, as if out of reverence for that great name, showing +much humble respect in his discourse, as it was his duty to do. And at +length he warmly entreated Bairambec that, when he returned to the noble +presence of Sciech Ismael his sovereign, he would deign to defend him, +and help him to make his apologies; this the commander Bairambec promised +to do. And, besides the promise, he made him a banquet, magnificent +enough for any king. After they had dined together in the plain, Zidibec +began to make excuses, asking pardon of Bairambec for the trouble and +difficulty he had had on his account, coming to that place with so large +an army; and, rising to his feet, said: “My lord, send with me whomsoever +you please, and I will surrender the castle into his hands; and I beg of +you to give me two days’ time, that I may make ready to go with you to +the presence of Sultan Sciech Ismael.” The general conceded his request; +and, having called a nobleman named Mansorbec, ordered him to go with +Zidibec to the castle, and to take it in charge until orders came from +Sciech Ismael, and also promised Zidibec to use his influence with +Sciech Ismael, that he might remain master of the castle and of the fine +territory. + +Having made this agreement and these conditions, Zidibec took leave, +and with him went this same Baron Mansorbec, with perhaps a hundred +men, intending to take possession of the castle in the name of Sciech +Ismael. When they arrived at the gate, Zidibec entered first, and after +him Mansorbec and his men, when suddenly the gate was shut, and fifteen +hundred armed men appeared, who had been standing prepared for this, and +cut to pieces Mansorbec with all his men. Zidibec then went with the same +soldiers towards the camp, where, as he had given his word of honour to +Bairambec, he found him with all his soldiers without suspicion, and +unarmed. Then he began boldly to fight against the whole army, of which a +great number of men were killed, and of his own men about three hundred +were killed, and a good many others wounded; and Bairambec, the general, +received three wounds. Zidibec retreated as well as he could into the +castle, and, closing the gates, fortified himself in it, considering +himself secure against assault. After this success, Bairambec, having two +moderate-sized cannons in his camp, began to batter the castle; but they +were able to do no harm, as the walls were too strong and the gunners +too little skilled. And after besieging the castle for three months, the +artillerymen at last found a place where a fountain sprang forth inside +the fortress, whence the besieged got their water. Near this spot they +planted the two cannons, and fired so much that the spout by which the +water issued broke into several pieces, and the water which used to +rise all went downwards. Thus at once the castle was at their mercy; +and Zidibec, now seeing himself insecure, determined when night came to +escape from that place; so descending from the walls with about fifty of +his court, without saying a word to anyone else, he took his treasures, +his wife, and two daughters, and, after disguising himself, fled across +the mountains to some of his other strongholds. The following morning the +tidings were known everywhere that Zidibec had fled; therefore the people +sent at once to Bairambec, offering to surrender the castle if he would +ensure to them their lives and property. Bairambec being wearied by the +siege, which had already lasted three months, promised it on his honour, +and conceded their request. Then they opened the gates to him, and when +he had entered they told him of the flight of Zidibec with his court +during the night. Let every one judge for himself of the indignation and +grief he felt in not getting him into his hands. And, having appointed a +governor with sufficient troops to keep the place, he returned to Tauris, +where Sciech Ismael caused great festivities and games to be held in sign +of rejoicing, as they are accustomed to do on receipt of like news. He +then left Tauris with many of his lords, and went to Coi,[599] where he +remained some time, occupying himself with the chase and other amusements. + + + + +CHAP. VII. + + Of the castle of Elatamedia; of the city of Merent and of Coi; + of the city of Tauris, where the kings of Persia have their + residence; of the castle, the palaces, fountains, and baths + there are in it; of the wonderful mosque in the midst of the + city; of the quality of the men and women; and of the customs + and trade of this city. + + +Now after having abandoned my first proposition in order to give +some information about this interesting affair, I must return to the +abovementioned castle of Van, from which, after three days’ journey +distant, one arrives at another castle called Elatamedia, inhabited and +ruled over only by Turcomans, a fine race. Proceeding three days from +this place, one arrives at Merent,[600] which in old times was a large +city, as is seen by the ancient buildings; it is situated in a beautiful +plain with many streams and gardens, but within there is only a small +town and a bazaar. Three days’ journey further on, lies a fine large +plain, surrounded by high mountains, in the midst of which is a large +place named Coi, which in ancient times was a large city, as can be seen +by the great space occupied by the ruins. In this place, it was anciently +the custom (which is still observed) for the troops to assemble when the +King of Persia was about to take the field with his army. This city, a +short time ago, was in ruins; but when Sciech Ismael succeeded to the +throne he began to rebuild it, and has now restored the greater part. +And, among other things, a large palace has been built, which in the +Persian tongue is called Douler Chana,[601] signifying “pleasant abode.” +This palace is all walled round with bricks, and is of great extent, with +an Arim[602] all together; within there are many halls and chambers, and +it is built in one vault—that is to say, with one flooring; and it has +a large and magnificent garden. It has two gates, with two fine courts, +beautifully decorated, and these entrances are like two cloisters of +a convent of friars. Before the gate which looks west are three round +turrets, each of them eight yards in circumference, and about fifteen or +sixteen high. These turrets are built of the horns of Namphroni stags, +and it is considered that there are none like them in the world. The +Persians also consider these things very magnificent. Therefore for show +they have built these three turrets of the horns of these animals, as the +mountains are rocky and full of game. And Sultan Sciech Ismael boasts +that he and his lords have killed all these animals. And truly Sciech +Ismael takes the greatest pleasure in the chase; and to show that he is +a skilful hunter he has had these three turrets built, and takes more +delight in living in this place than in Tauris, as this country is well +adapted for hunting. In this city, they also make much crimson dye, by +using some red roots, which they dig out of the ground with spades and +hoes, and then take to Ormus, and they are employed as red dyes in many +parts of India. + +One day’s journey from this place is a small town named Merent,[603] from +which a day’s journey further is another small place named Sophian,[604] +situated in the plain of Tauris, at the foot of a mountain; it is a +beautiful country, and has many rivulets and gardens. + +From this, one arrives at the great and noble city of Tauris, where was +the abode of Darius, King of Persia, who was afterwards defeated and +slain by Alexander the Great, and which has always been the seat of the +kings of Persia. Here lived Sultan Assambei,[605] and, after him, Jacob +Sultan, his son. This great city[606] is about twenty-four miles in +circumference in my judgment, and is without walls, like Venice. In it +there are immense palaces, as memorials of the kings who have ruled over +Persia. There are many splendid houses. + +Two streams flow through it; and half a mile outside the city, towards +the west, there is a large river of salt water, which is crossed by a +stone bridge. In all the neighbouring region there are fountains, the +water of which is brought by underground aqueducts. The numerous palaces +of former kings are wonderfully decorated within, and covered with gold +on the outside, and of different colours; and each palace has its own +mosque and bath, which are equally overlaid, and worked with minute and +beautiful designs. Every citizen of Tauris has his room all overlaid in +the inside, and decorated with ultramarine blue, in various patterns; +many mosques, also, are so worked as to cause admiration in all who +behold them; among these, there is one in the middle of the city so well +built that I do not know how I am to describe it; but at any rate I will +attempt to do so in a way. This mosque is called “Imareth alegeat”, and +is very large, but has never been covered in in the centre. On the side +towards which the Mahometans worship, there is a choir that is a vault +of such a size that a good bowshot would not reach the top; but the +place has never been finished, and all round it is vaulted in with fine +stones, which are sustained by marble columns, which are so fine and +transparent that they resemble fine crystal, and are all equal in height +and thickness, the height being about five or six paces. This mosque has +three doors, of which two only are used, and are arched; they are about +four paces wide and about twenty high, and have a pillar, made not of +marble, but of stone of different colours, while the rest of the vault is +all of layers of decorated plaster. In each doorway there is a tablet of +transparent marble, so clear and fine that one might see one’s face in +it. And the mosque can be seen from the whole country round about; and +even at the distance of a mile, one can clearly see these tablets, which +are three yards each way, the door which opens and shuts being three +yards broad and five high, of huge beams cut into planks, covered with +large cast bronze plates, smoothed down and gilt. Before the principal +door of the mosque is a stream flowing under stone arches. In the midst +of the edifice is a large fountain, not springing there naturally, but +brought artificially, as the water comes in by one pipe and is emptied by +a second, as they please. This fountain is a hundred paces in length and +as many in breadth, and is six feet deep in the middle, where is built a +beautiful platform or pedestal on six pilasters of the purest marble, all +overlaid, and carved inside and out. The building is very ancient, but +the platform has been recently put up, and there is a bridge leading from +the side of the fountain on to the platform. There is a beautiful boat +like a bucentaur, which Sultan Sciech Ismael used often when a boy (as +he still does now) to get into, with four or five of his lords, and row +about the fountain. + +I will say no more about this, but will go on to mention two enormous +elm-trees, beneath each of which more than a hundred and fifty men can +stand; and here they preach,[607] declaring and setting forth the new +faith or Suffavean doctrine. The preachers are two doctors of this sect; +and one of them, as many people say, taught Sultan Sciech Ismael, and the +other is required to attend with care to preaching and converting people +to their sect. + +This city has also a fine castle on the east at the foot of a hill, but +which is uninhabited, and has no other rooms in it but a magnificent +palace, which is built partly into the hill; it is most wonderful, as +you will learn from what I am about to tell you. This palace is very +lofty, and seems solid half way through. Outside there is a flight of +steps eight or ten paces long, and three broad, which mounts to the royal +gate of the palace; the entrance is in a very large hall, on one side of +which is a solid cube, intended to be a hiding place, sustained by four +large columns, five paces and about twice the grasp of my arms in girth. +The capitals of these columns are wonderfully carved; the cement is of a +certain mixture or stone like fine jasper, as I really believed it to be; +but trying it with my knife, I found it was not hard. They were placed +here not so much for use as for show, as the cube (dome) is sustained by +strong thick walls. Then, further in, there is another long narrow hall, +with many little chambers like rooms; and entering further, one finds +a vast hall with many windows looking on to the city, since the palace +is above it, as I have said, standing on a hill overlooking the city +and the country round for a long way. All these rooms are beautifully +decorated with layers of cement of various colours. All the ceilings of +the rooms are decorated and coloured with gilding and ultramarine blue. +The large hall looking on to the city has many columns round it, which +seem to support the roof; still it is kept up by strong walls, and they +are placed there for the sake of appearance, as they are of the most +beautiful marbles, not white, but in colour like silver, so that in each +one of them are reflected the city, the hall, all the columns and people +there. And at each window of this hall, there are pilasters of fine +marble of the same kind and appearance as the columns, which reflect in +the same way but in a greater degree, as they are flat, so that one can +see not only the city, but also the surrounding country, the mountains +and hills more than twenty miles distant, all the gardens and the great +plain. + +This city has, besides, some other great advantages. The principal one is +its being situated in a marvellous position at the head of a fine large +plain towards the east, in a place like a small inlet at the foot of a +high mountain, though this belongs to the chain ten miles further to +the east. On the west there is another, but not very extensive, plain, +stretching three miles from the city. + +The air here is so fine and salubrious as to induce people to remain +willingly and with great enjoyment; nor did I ever see anyone in bad +health there. They almost all eat mutton there, which has a very delicate +taste. The beef there is most vile; so that but little is eaten by the +inhabitants. Their bread is of flour as white as milk; they have little +wine, but still there are some red wines, and some wines white in colour, +and tasting like malmsey. There are also a good many fish, which are +caught in a lake,[608] a day’s journey distant from the city, which is +salt like those of Vastan and Van. The fish have not a natural taste, but +have a strange smell and taste of sulphur. To this place there are also +brought many sturgeon,[609] smaller than those of the Mediterranean, but +still excellent. There is delicious caviar also, which, as well as the +sturgeon, is brought from the Caspian Sea, nine days’ journey distant +from this place, from a castle named Maumutaga. There also come from this +sea fresh [Transcriber’s Note: a gap was left here intentionally in the +original printing; use your imagination], as large as men, and so good +that they are better than the flesh of pheasants; but they only come +during the spring, as their season only lasts two months. + +There are also the common fruits, as over all the world, few nuts, most +delicious olives, and Adam’s apples; but no oil, oranges, or lemons. +These fruits, which fail in spring-time, are brought from Chilan,[610] +a little province on the southern shore of the Caspian Sea, extending +twenty-five miles from the sea. This city is also ornamented with +numerous gardens, in which there are the common herbs like cabbages, +lettuces, greens, and other small vegetables, like those at Venice; rape +and carrots, small radishes, marjoram, parsley, and rosemary. There is +also much rice, and great abundance of corn and barley. + +Besides all this, the city is thickly inhabited by Persians, Turkomans, +and gipsies, who are treated as people of the Suffavean sect, and wear +the red caftans like the rest of the people. There are a good number of +Armenian Christians; but beyond Tauris there are no Christians of any +kind to be found. There are also Jews, but not permanent inhabitants, as +they are all foreigners from Bagadet, Cassan, and Jesede,[611] and come +to Tauris, are Suffavean subjects, and live in alcharan saradi[612] +like all foreign merchants. Of the inhabitants you will learn wonderful +things. The men are ordinarily taller than in our country, are very +bold, robust in appearance, and of high spirit. The women are short in +proportion to the men, and as white as snow. Their dress is the same +as always has been—the Persian costume—wearing it open at the breast, +showing their bosoms and even their bodies, the whiteness of which +resembles ivory. All the Persian women, and particularly in Tauris, are +wanton, and wear men’s robes, and put them on over their heads, covering +them altogether. These are robes of silk, some of crimson cloth, woollen +cloth, velvet, and cloth of gold, according to the condition of the +wearer. A quantity of velvet and cloth of gold is brought from Bursa and +Cafà. In this city there is an order, as throughout the whole of Persia, +that a revenue farmer levies all the excise and tolls as taxes and +customs. There is also a vile usage, which has always existed, that every +merchant who has a shop in the bazaar pays each day either two or six +aspri, or even a ducat, according to their business; likewise, a payment +is fixed for the masters of every art according to their condition. Also +the harlots, who frequent the public places, are bound to pay according +to their beauty, as the prettier they are the more they have to pay; and +far worse than the others I have mentioned is this cursed, horrible, +disgraceful custom, the evil odour of which ascends to heaven; and from +the following instance you may learn their iniquities, as in this city +there is a public place and school of Sodomy, where likewise they pay +tribute according to their beauty. + +All the money they collect is for the private advantage of the +revenue-farmers, and no difference is made between Christians and +Mussulmans in going to the prostitutes. Besides these taxes, they have +the tariff, of which the Christians pay ten per cent. on every kind of +merchandise from whatever quarter it may come. The Mussulmans only pay +five per cent. on everything; and if they do not sell in Tauris, and the +goods are in transit, they do not pay per cent., but weigh the whole +quantity and pay a certain proportion on it. In a load worth forty or +forty-five ducats, or one of fine or heavy goods, the payment is limited. +Of everything one buys in this city, what one has to pay is also fixed +according to the class of merchandise, and all is collected by the +revenue-farmer. At the time I was in Tauris, a certain man named Capirali +held this office and received an income of sixty thousand ducats from +these taxes. There is much traffic in this city, and there are silks of +every quality, raw and manufactured. There are rhubarb, musk, ultramarine +blue, pearls of Orimes[613] of every water, coin of all sorts, lake dye +of great beauty, fine indigo, woollen and other cloths from Aleppo, +Bursa, and Constantinople, since crimson silks are exported from Tauris +to Aleppo and Turkey, and are paid for in cloth and silver. + + + + +CHAP. VIII. + + Description of the royal palace built by Assambei outside the + city of Tauris. + + +Having given full enough particulars of the different matters of this +city, I do not think I ought to omit to mention a beautiful palace which +the great Sultan Assambei had built; and though there are many large +and beautiful palaces in the city built by the kings, his predecessors, +yet this, without comparison, far excels them all; so great was the +magnificence of Assambei that, up to the present time, he has never had +an equal in Persia. The palace is built in the centre of a large and +beautiful garden, close to the city, with only a stream dividing them to +the north, and in the same circumference a fine mosque is built with a +rich and useful hospital attached. The palace in the Persian language is +called Astibisti,[614] which, in our tongue, signifies “eight parts”, as +it has eight divisions. It is thirty paces high, and is about seventy or +eighty yards round, divided into eight parts, which are subdivided into +four rooms and four anterooms, each room having the anteroom towards the +entrance, and the rest of the palace is a fine circular dome. This palace +is under one roof, or, as one should say, with one storey, and has only +one flight of steps to ascend to the dome, the rooms and anterooms, since +the staircase leads to the dome, and from the dome one enters the rooms +and anterooms. This building, on the ground floor, has four entrances, +with many more apartments, all enamelled and gilt in various ways, and so +beautiful that I can hardly find words to express it. This palace, as I +have already said, is situated in the centre of the garden, and is built +on a terrace, or rather the mastabé has been raised round for appearance, +being a yard and a half high and five yards wide, like a piazza. By +every door of the palace there is a way paved with marble leading to +the mastabé. By the door of the chief palace there is a small flight of +steps of the finest marble by which one mounts to the mastabé, which is +all made of fine marble, while in the centre of the mastabé there is a +channel of a streamlet paved and skilfully worked out in marble. This +streamlet is four fingers broad and four deep, and flows all round in +the form of a vine or a snake. It rises at one part, flows round, and at +the same place again the water is conducted away elsewhere. For three +yards above the mastabé is all of fine marble. All below is plastered in +different colours, and is conspicuous far off like a mirror. + +The terrace of the palace has for each angle a gutter or spout, which +spurts out water, and the spout is immensely large, and made in the +form of a dragon; they are of bronze, and so large that they would do +for a cannon, and so well made as to be taken for live dragons. Within +the palace, on the ceiling of the great hall, are represented in gold, +silver, and ultramarine blue, all the battles which took place in Persia +a long time since; and some embassies are to be seen which came from +the Ottoman to Tauris presenting themselves before Assambei, with their +demands and the answer he gave them written in the Persian character. +There are also represented his hunting expeditions, on which he was +accompanied by many lords, all on horseback, with dogs and falcons. +There are also seen many animals like elephants and rhinoceroses, all +signifying adventures which had happened to him. The ceiling of the great +hall is all decorated with beautiful gilding and ultramarine. The figures +are so well drawn that they appear like real living human beings. + +On the floor of the hall is spread a magnificent carpet, apparently of +silk, worked in the Persian manner with beautiful patterns, which is +round, and of the exact measurement the place requires; likewise in the +other rooms the floor is all covered. This hall has no light except what +it gets from the anterooms and chambers. Still there are entrances from +the centre hall to the apartments and anterooms where there are many +windows all giving light, each anteroom having only one window, but +that one as large as the whole side of a room, and beautifully fitted. +Thus when these doors are open, the palace, or rather the hall, is so +brilliant with these beautiful figures, that it is a wonder to see. This +is the palace where Assambei used to give audience. About a bowshot from +the palace there is a harem of one storey, so large that a thousand women +might conveniently live there in different rooms. Among the rooms is a +large one like a hall, with the walls all adorned with gold and plaster, +looking like emerald and many other colours. The ceiling of this harem +is ornamented with gold and ultramarine. From this hall there are many +chambers on every side, with all the doors superbly decorated with +gold and blue, and many signs and letters made of mother of pearl, in +beautiful patterns; and through the centre of this hall flows a stream +of pure water, a cubit in breadth and as much deep. On one side of this +harem is a summer-house four yards square, beautifully decorated with +enamel, gold, and ultramarine blue, in patterns really a wonder to see. +Here the queen stays with her maidens to do needlework, according to +their custom. + +And in truth it would be too long and too tedious for me to recount +everything about the palace and the harem, which is in the same garden, +and has three entrances, one to the south, another to the north, and +the third to the east. That to the south is arched with bricks, but not +very large, and leads to the garden, the palace being a bowshot distant; +passing through the gate, fifteen paces off on the left is a gallery, a +bowshot in length and six paces broad, which from one end to the other +has seats of the finest marble, with a kind of railing with a design, as +an ornament in relief of plaster, of various colours, quite a wonder to +behold from the excellence of the workmanship. The roof is all ornamented +with gold and plaster. This gallery is supported from one end to the +other by columns of fine marble; in front of it there is a fountain, as +long as the gallery, of fine marble likewise, which is always full of +water, and is twenty-five paces broad. In it there are always four or +five couple of swans; round it there are rose trees and jessamines, and a +smooth road leading direct to the royal palace. + +On the north side, one must enter a certain place like a cloister, paved +with bricks, with seats of marble round it. This place is so large +that it will hold three hundred horses, as the lords who came to the +court used to dismount here when Assambei was reigning. In this place +there is a door entering the garden on the way to the king’s palace, +which is an arch fifteen yards high and four yards wide, beautifully +worked in plaster from top to bottom. The door is made of marble, in one +square carved piece about four yards each way; its height about a yard +and a half; its breadth about the same. The rest of the marble is cut +into designs, and when it is exposed to the rays of the sun it shines +so brilliantly on both sides, that it appears like crystal, since the +marbles found in Persia do not resemble ours, but are much finer; they +are not opaque, but are more a species of crystal. Beyond this lordly +door there is a fine paved road leading to the royal palace. + +The other door, towards the east, is on an immense maidan or piazza, +and leads into the garden. This door has a wall of bricks, in the form +of an arch, three yards high and two broad, without any decorations, +but simply whitened with plaster, and through it there is a fine large +fountain. Over this there is a large edifice with many rooms, and a +covered hall looking over the garden. On the side towards the maidan +there is an arched gallery, so white as to exceed in whiteness anything I +think I have ever seen. Into this building Assambei used to retire with +many lords whenever a feast was made on this maidan, and frequently when +ambassadors came they used to put them up here, as it was a fine place +and had many apartments. This door is further than the others from the +royal palace, with a splendid view of the maidan, on which are the mosque +and the hospital I have already mentioned. This mosque was built by +Sultan Assambei, is very large, and has within many rooms all decorated +with plaster, gold, and blue. + +Also the hospital or moristan, is large, having many buildings, and +within it is even more beautifully ornamented than the mosque, having +many large wards about ten yards long and four broad, each of these being +fitted with a carpet to its measurement. Between the hospital and the +mosque there is a wall only, and outside the hospital, from one side to +the other, is a mastebe one cubit high and two yards broad, and there +used to be an iron chain drawn from one side to the other round the +border of the mastebe; so that no horse might approach either the mosque, +hospital, or mastebe. At the time that Assambei and Jacob Sultan reigned, +more than a thousand poor people lived in the hospital, and the chain +was kept until the death of Jacob Sultan, and was then taken away by the +Turkomans. All these edifices were raised by the great Assambei, who was +so excellent and worthy a man that there has never been his equal in +Persia, as he conquered by force of arms many Persian lords who rebelled +against him. And in the contest with the Ottoman Sultan he gained glory +by defeating and routing his army, though another time he came off worst, +as you will learn from what I am now about to relate to you. + + + + +CHAP. IX. + + Caloianni, King of Trebizond, sends an ambassador to Assambei, + King of Persia, entreating his assistance against the Ottoman + Grand Turk; the latter promises every aid if he would give him + his daughter as his wife; he gives her on the condition that + she may observe the Christian faith, and sends her to Tauris. + + +At this time there reigned in Trebizond a Christian king named +Caloianni,[615] who had a daughter named Despinacaton,[616] who was +very beautiful, being considered the most beautiful woman of that time, +and throughout Persia was spread the fame of her loveliness and grace. +As this king was already much molested and troubled in his peaceful +dominions by the Ottoman Grand Turk, and finding himself in a bad way +and in danger of losing his kingdom, considering the great power of +his enemy, he resolved to send an ambassador to Tauris, where Sultan +Assambei[617] lived, to ask his assistance, knowing him to be a +magnanimous monarch. The ambassador, who was most desirous to obtain the +request of his sovereign and to return with full satisfaction, entreated +Assambei not to refuse to give aid to his master, showing him many +reasons why the destruction of the Christian king would cause harm to his +dominions. Assambei being young and unmarried, and already in love with +the above-mentioned lady from having heard so much talk of her beauty +and talents, replied to the ambassador that if his master would give him +his daughter as his wife, he would aid him against the Ottoman not only +with his army, but also with his purse, and in person. The ambassador +departed with this answer, and when he came to his sovereign expressed to +him what Assambei demanded. Seeing that he had not sufficient power to +resist the enemy who just then was attacking him, he was induced to agree +to the request of Assambei, giving him his daughter as his wife, on the +condition that she might observe the Christian faith and keep a chaplain +to perform the sacred offices as ordered by our true religion. + +Having made this compact Despinacaton arrived in Tauris accompanied by +many lords: some sent by Assambei and many others coming from Trebizond. +There also came with her many young maidens, daughters of noblemen +of high condition, who were always to remain with her. She had also +a greatly venerated chaplain, a worthy person, who always celebrated +the eucharist according to the Christian custom while she lived with +Ussuncassano, which she did a long time, and always in observance of our +faith. She had her chapel in a separate place, saying her prayers there +whenever it pleased her. This lady had four children: the eldest was +Assambei;[618] the others were daughters, two of whom are still alive, +and Christians. + + + + +CHAP. X. + + The Ottoman makes preparations against Assambei and Caloianni, + who send ambassadors to the Venetians, requesting their + alliance, and asking for artillery; in the meantime, the + Ottoman sends a Bassà, with his troops, to invade Persia. + Assambei having marched against him, defeats him in a battle. + The Grand Turk, collecting another army, sends against him and + defeats him. He then retreats to Tauris. Afterwards, marching + against the Soldan who had taken from him the city of Orfà, he + defeats him near that place. + + +The Ottoman, in the year 1472, having heard fully of the compact and +treaty that Assambei had made with the King of Trebizond, and being very +angry and indignant with it, determined to prove the power and valour of +these two monarchs, and therefore made great levies of men to go against +Persia. Assambei receiving intelligence of it, not less full of anger +and indignation than his enemy, ordered all his lords to assemble their +troops with the greatest possible speed, since the King of Trebizond +had informed him of the great preparations of the Turk against them +both. It seems that Caloianni had relatives at Venice, or else a close +friendship with some noblemen. Therefore Assambei, in accordance with +his father-in-law, determined to do his utmost, and therefore sent two +ambassadors to Venice, requesting their alliance to be able to subdue +their Ottoman foe, giving him the chastisement his audacity deserved. +And, as I hear, the ambassadors asked for artillery and gunners, and the +Most Illustrious Government, for the defence of the King of Trebizond, +gave as much as was demanded by the ambassadors, who were greatly +honoured. A ship being equipped with the pieces of artillery on board, +the ambassadors embarked to go to Giazza, as was their master’s command. +While the ambassadors were treating in Venice, Sultan Assambei assembled +his army with great celerity, about thirty thousand fighting men, and +marched, full of rage and fury, against the Ottoman foe, who had already +sent a large force to ravage the Persian territory in the vicinity of +Arsingan. Assambei, on arriving in the beautiful plain of Arsingan, +remained there some days to refresh his troops, who, having been levied +near Tauris, had had a long march. The Ottoman army, from fear of such +a force of Persians, retreated towards Tocat; and Assambei, having +rested his troops, who, in the meantime, had been largely reinforced +from Persia, determined to attack the Turks. There being a distance of +two days’ journey on a good road between the two armies, he advanced to +within a mile of the Turkish camp, and having pitched their tents in the +morning Assambei sent notice to the Bassà in command of the Ottoman army +that on the following day early he would join battle with them. Matters +being in this case, at the hour fixed both armies were set in array, +the first, second, and third columns being all in order by the break +of day. Sultan Assambei was the first to attack, and the combat lasted +till the hour of nine; at this point, a Bassà, with a large force of +Turks, charged fiercely into the _mêlée_, and put the Persians to rout. +Assambei, perceiving the disaster, and having a reserve of eight thousand +picked men at hand to carry succour wherever it was needed, boldly +charged the centre of the hostile army, encouraging his own soldiers and +carrying death everywhere before him, so that the Turks were signally +defeated in that engagement. Assambei having conquered the enemy in this +battle, immediately occupied in triumph Tocat, Malacia, and Sivas,[619] +three large cities. The Ottoman was greatly displeased and troubled on +hearing the news of the rout and destruction of the greater part of his +army, but more especially by that of the loss of the three cities; but, +by collecting troops throughout his dominions, he assembled an immense +army and directed it against Assambei, who had established himself in +safety in Malacia. The latter having also suffered severe loss in the +battle, sent some of the chiefs back to Persia to levy all the troops +they could to reinforce his army. Besides, he awaited with impatience +the cannon and bombardiers sent by our Most Illustrious Government, but +neither succour came with the speed the occasion required, while the +Turkish forces arrived on the frontiers well provided with artillery. +Assambei was disquieted about this; but being in necessity and in hourly +expectation of the Persian reinforcements and the artillery, like a +noble monarch he determined to face the enemy with the troops he had +with him, about twenty-four or twenty-five thousand in number, while +they had thirty-six thousand men. The enemy was stationed on one side +of Malacia, while Assambei was on the other, as he had retreated half +a day’s journey between Malacia and Tocat, a place well suited for the +operations of the armies. The Turks following him up, attacked him +there with great bravery, each side proving their valour. After a great +slaughter on either side Assambei was defeated and forced to retreat into +his own country of Persia, abandoning the three cities. He arrived at +Tauris, where he caused games and rejoicings to be held, not caring much +for his reverse, as he had lost none of his dominions. After a certain +time war broke out with the Soldan of Cairo, and he marched with a +considerable force into the country of Diarbec. The Soldan of Cairo, with +the Mamelukes and a large army of his subjects, crossed the Euphrates +and took Orfà, which he pillaged at his leisure, Assambei not having yet +come up. Assambei, who was already at Amit,[620] mustering his forces to +attack the Mamelukes, hearing of the fall of Orfà,[621] quickly marched +to the plain of Orfà, where he attacked the camp of the Mamelukes with +such fury, that they were nearly all cut to pieces, the rest being forced +to fly with the loss of all their baggage, which afforded great spoil to +Assambei and his chiefs. He then advanced to Bir, and took it, together +with Besin,[622] Calat, and Efron, ravaging the whole country about +there. After remaining six months at Bir, he returned in great triumph to +Persia, holding feasts at Tauris in his palace of Astibisti. + + + + +CHAP. XI. + + Assambei dying, is succeeded on the throne by his son Jacob, + who takes for wife a licentious woman, an adulteress; she gives + him poison, of which he dies as well as herself, and a little + son. Whence the great lords of Persia make war among themselves + for a long time, to prove who is to succeed to the throne, + first one and then another. + + +Assambei had four children, one a son, Sultan Jacob, who succeeded his +father; and three daughters, of whom two are still alive at Aleppo. I +myself have often conversed with them in Trebizond Greek, which they had +learnt from Queen Despinacaton, their mother. Assambei being at Tauris, +and having already lived to a great age, died in the year 1478, and, as +I mentioned above, was succeeded by his son, who was a great lord, and +ruled Persia for some time. He took as wife a high-born lady, daughter +of a Persian noble, but a most licentious woman: having fallen in love +with a great lord of the court, this wicked woman sought means to kill +Jacob Sultan her husband, designing to marry her paramour, and make him +king, as, being closely related to Jacob, he would become so by right in +default of children. Having arranged matters with him, she prepared an +insidious poison for her husband, who having gone into a perfumed bath, +as was his custom, with his young son, aged eight or nine years, remained +there from the twenty-second hour till sunset. On coming out, he went +into the harem, which was close to the bath, where he was met by his +wicked wife with a cup and a gold vase containing the poison, which she +had got ready while he was in the bath, knowing that it was his custom +to have something to drink on coming out of the bath. She caressed him +more than usual, to effect her wicked purpose; but not having sufficient +command over her countenance, became very pale, which excited the +suspicion of Jacob, who had already begun to distrust her from some of +her proceedings. He then commanded her to taste it first, which, although +she knew it was certain death, she could not escape, and drank some; she +then handed the gold cup to her husband Jacob, who, with his son, drank +the rest. The poison was so powerful that by midnight they were all +dead. The next morning the news was circulated of the sudden death of +Jacob Sultan, his son and wife. The great lords hearing of their king’s +decease, had quarrels among themselves, so that for five or six years all +Persia was in a state of civil war, first one and then another of the +nobles becoming sultan. At last, a youth named Alumut,[623] aged fourteen +years, was raised to the throne, which he held till the succession of +Sheikh Ismael Sultan. + + + + +CHAP. XII. + + Secaidar, chief of the Suffaveans, engages in battle with the + general of the forces of Alumut, is defeated, taken prisoner, + and his head being cut off, is taken to the king at Tauris, who + causes it to be thrown to the dogs. + + +During the reign of Alumut, in a city four days’ east from Tauris, lived +a lord about the rank of a count, named Secaidar,[624] of a religion +or sect named Sophi, reverenced by his co-religionists as a saint, and +obeyed as a chief. There are numbers of them in different parts of +Persia, as in Natolia and Caramania, all of whom bore great respect to +this Secaidar, who was a native of this city of Ardouil,[625] where he +had converted many to the Suffavean doctrine. Indeed, he was like the +abbot of a nation of monks; he had six children, three boys and three +girls, by a daughter of Assambei;[626] he also bore an intense hatred to +the Christians. He frequently made incursions with his followers into +Circassia, ravaging the country, and so brought away many slaves and much +booty with him on his return, with great rejoicings, to Ardouil. Alumut +Sultan having succeeded to the throne, Secaidar, wishing to return to +his wonted expeditions into Circassia against the Christians, assembled +his troops, and set out towards Sumacchia,[627] which he reached in +eight days; from thence he took the road to Derbant,[628] where is the +pass by which one enters Circassia, and was five days _en route_. Sultan +Alumut and his lords hearing that Secaidar, with an army of four or five +thousand Suffaveans, was marching into Circassia, joined by numbers of +volunteers in hopes of plunder, quickly sent messengers to the king of +the country, who was himself afraid of the number of troops Secaidar +had with him, to tell him to use every means in his power to stop him. +Secaidar and his Suffaveans had the previous year, with half the number +of men, done great damage near that fortress, and so they feared he +might do the same; therefore they wished to bar his passage, lest he +should go on increasing his power, as he did every day on his march into +Circassia, by being joined by such multitudes of volunteers for the +sake of booty, by which means he would soon have become a great lord. +Secaidar therefore, on his arrival at Derbant, found the pass closed by +the order of Alumut Sultan. Derbant is a large city, and, according to +their chronicles and traditions, was built by Alexander the Great; it +is one mile wide and three in length, having on one side the Caspian +Sea, and on the other a high mountain; no one can pass except through +the gates of the city, as on the east is the sea, and on the west a +mountain, so steep that not even a cat could climb it. Derbant, the +name of this city, in Persian signifies “closed gate”;[629] and any one +wishing to go into Circassia, must pass through the city which borders on +that country, and the greater part of whose inhabitants speak Circassian, +or rather Turkish. Secaidar finding his passage barred as I have said, +was very indignant, and began to attack the fortress and pass; there +being few soldiers in the place, and insufficient numbers to resist +the Suffaveans, news of their necessity was sent in great haste to the +king of the country, who reported it to Alumut in Tauris. The latter +ordered his lords to levy troops, and when they had assembled about ten +thousand men, set out against Secaidar, who was besieging the fortress +of Derbant, where they arrived in a few days. Secaidar perceiving the +troops of Alumut, retired to a hill on one side, where he exhorted his +soldiers to fight bravely, saying that he felt confident of victory, +and promising them great things. This was in the evening, and every one +swore to fight valiantly. The following morning, the Suffaveans were +all admirably posted for the battle, while opposite them the general of +Alumut had marshalled his troops. Secaidar seeing that an engagement was +inevitable, was the first to attack the enemy, his Suffaveans fighting +like lions, and cutting to pieces a third of Alumut’s troops; but he was +at length defeated, and his men massacred. He himself was taken prisoner; +and his head being cut off, was presented to Alumut Sultan, who commanded +it to be carried on a lance all through Tauris, with martial instruments +sounding in honour of the victory, and afterwards taken to a maidan, +where executions took place, and there thrown to be eaten by dogs. For +this reason, the Suffaveans hate dogs, and kill all they come across. + + + + +CHAP. XIII. + + Three sons of Secaidar, hearing of their father’s death, escape + in different directions; one of them, named Ismael, flies + to an island inhabited by Armenian Christians, where he was + instructed in the Holy Scriptures by an Armenian priest. Hence + he goes to Chilan, and, determining to avenge his father’s + death, manages to take the castle of Maumutaga, which he sacks, + and bestows all the booty on his followers. For this reason, + many flocked to his banner, being voluntarily converted to + Suffaveism. + + +Immediately on the news reaching Ardouil, where Secaidar’s wife and six +children were, the three sons fled, one going to Natolia, another to +Aleppo, and the third to an island which, as I have mentioned before, +is in the lake of Van or Vastan,[630] and contains a town of Armenian +Christians. Here this son, named Ismael, who was a noble youth about +thirteen or fourteen years old, remained four years in the house of a +Papà or priest, who was slightly acquainted with astrology, by which he +learnt that Ismael would one day become a great lord. For this reason +he was particularly kind and attentive to him, also instructed him in +our holy faith and in the Scriptures, showing him also the vanity and +emptiness of the Mahometan religion. After four years Ismael determined +to leave Arminy,[631] and went to Chilan,[632] where he lived a year with +a goldsmith,[633] a great friend of his father’s, who kept him in secret +with great care and respect. During this period the youth frequently +wrote secret letters to some of the chief personages in Ardouil, who had +been friends of his father’s, to arrange matters with them; in the spring +of the year he determined to avenge his father’s defeat, and collected, +with the goldsmith, ten or twenty Suffaveans to make a sudden attack +upon the castle of Maumutaga, having arranged that two hundred of his +friends in Ardouil should come armed to the castle and conceal themselves +near it in a glen filled with canes. Everything being settled, Ismael +set out from Chilan with his troop, and on arriving at Maumutaga[634] +attacked the gate of the castle with great fury, killing the guards; as +there were but few defenders in the castle they were all cut to pieces +with the exception of the women and children. Ismael then mounted a +tower, and having signalled to his two hundred allies, who joined him +in great haste, together with them sallied out into the town below the +castle, killing the inhabitants, and carrying with them great booty back +into the castle where they had left the goldsmith and ten companions as +a garrison. This fortress of Maumutaga is very rich, from being a port +on the Caspian sea. All the ships coming from Strevi, Sara,[635] and +Masanderan, loaded with merchandise for Tauris and Sumacchia, disembark +at this place. Ismael found immense treasures in the town, which he +divided among his men, keeping nothing for himself; thus the fame went +abroad that Ismael, the son of Secaidar, had taken this fine fortress and +had bestowed all he found there on his companions. Thus he was joined by +numbers, even those who were not Suffaveans flocking to his standard, +in hopes of receiving gifts of this nature from the valiant Ismael; in +this way arrived at Maumutaga in the course of a few days more than +four thousand Suffaveans. Alumut on hearing this news was much amazed, +and wished to send a force against Maumutaga, but was dissuaded as the +fortress was considered impregnable against assault, while with the sea +open to it it could not be reduced by a regular siege or famine. Alumut +then was compelled to send an army to keep Ismael in check, hoping to +destroy him by some act of rashness, not knowing what was decreed by +fate. + + + + +CHAP. XIV. + + Ismael marches against the King Sermangoli, takes and pillages + his city of Sumacchia, giving everything to the soldiery; + Alumut being alarmed, assembles his forces; whereupon, Ismael + having sought and obtained the aid of the Iberians, surprises + the camp of Alumut; the latter flies to Tauris, and thence to + Amit; Ismael, following up his victory, takes Tauris, and, + after many other acts of cruelty, causes the head of his own + mother to be cut off. + + +Ismael was reinforced from day to day, making rich presents to all who +joined him; when he found himself sufficiently powerful he resolved to +take Sumacchia, and assembled his troops for that purpose. Sermangoli on +the attack of the Suffaveans abandoned the city and retired to an almost +impregnable castle, named Culistan,[636] situated on a high mountain and +cut out of the solid rock, where he considered himself secure. Ismael +soon performed the two days’ march from Maumutaga to Sumacchia,[637] +where he slaughtered many of the wretched inhabitants. This city is +large and rich, a port, and the headquarters of a great trade, wherefore +Ismael and his army enriched themselves with its spoils. The fame of the +victories and generosity of Ismael spread throughout Persia and Natolia, +so that every one became a Suffavean in hopes of advancement. Alumut +beholding with no slight apprehension the rapid advances of Ismael and +the increase of his partizans, hastily summoned his lords and commanded +them to levy troops. Ismael also being alarmed on hearing this, sent +messengers to Iberia, which is three, or rather four days’ journey from +Sumacchia. This Iberia is a large province inhabited by Christians, and +governed by seven great chiefs, two or three of whom are on the frontiers +of Persia or Tauris, and whose names are Alexander Bec, Gorgurambec, and +Mirzambec. Ismael sent to them for assistance, promising wealth to all +who joined him, and agreeing, in case he took Tauris, to free them from +the tribute they paid to the King of Persia. Each of these Christian +chiefs sent three thousand horse, being nine thousand in all. These +Iberians are famous horsemen, and valiant in war; on their arrival at +Sumacchia, Ismael bestowed rich presents on them, all from the plunder of +the town. Alumut Sultan, who was a younger man than Ismael (Ismael[638] +being nineteen years old, as I have been informed by many people, and +Alumut only sixteen), hearing of Ismael’s proceedings through his spies, +set out from Tauris against him, while the latter also advanced with all +his troops, fifteen or sixteen thousand in number. The rivals met in +this way between Tauris and Sumacchia, near a river, over which there +were two stone bridges half a mile apart. Alumut, with an army of thirty +thousand men, having arrived first, caused the bridges to be broken so +as to obstruct the passage, and then encamped there. On the following +day, Ismael arrived on the opposite bank; but having by good fortune +discovered a ford, he crossed with his whole army on the following night, +and took the army of Alumut by surprise as they were sleeping in their +tents overcome with wine and food, so that they were unable to defend +themselves. Then began a great slaughter of these poor wretches, so much +so that at the hour of three they were all cut to pieces, except Alumut, +who escaped with a few companions to Tauris, where he kept his treasures +and his harem, and thence to Amit. Ismael took an immense booty in tents, +horses, arms, etc., while all his soldiers enriched themselves with +spoil. He remained in that place four days to refresh his troops, who +were wearied with the fighting, and then advanced on the city of Tauris, +where they met with no resistance, but massacred many of the inhabitants. +All the kinsman of Jacob Sultan were put to the edge of the sword, and +even pregnant women were slaughtered with their unborn offspring. The +tomb of Jacob Sultan, and those of many lords who had been present at +the battle of Derbant where Ismael’s father was killed, were opened, +and their bones burnt. Three hundred public courtezans were then +arranged in line, and their bodies divided in two. Then eight hundred +avaricious Blasi who had been brought up under Alumut were beheaded. +They even slaughtered all the dogs in Tauris, and committed many other +atrocities. After this, Ismael sent for his own mother,[639] who was in +some way related to Jacob Sultan (in what manner I have not been able to +discover), and finding that she had married one of the lords who had been +present at the battle of Derbant, after reviling her, caused her head +to be cut off before him. From the time of Nero to the present, I doubt +whether so bloodthirsty a tyrant has ever existed. + + + + +CHAP. XV. + + Many cities and chiefs give in their submission to Ismael, + with the exception of a fortress of Christians, which held + out for five years; but, hearing of the death of Alumut, they + surrender. In the villages near this fortress are found books + written with Latin characters, in the Italian tongue. + + +At this time many districts, cities, and castles gave in their submission +to Ismael. Many nobles also sought his presence, and paid him homage, +putting on the red caftan, kissing his hands, and taking oaths of +allegiance. There was one exception of the governor of a fortress named +Alangiachana,[640] two days’ distant from Tauris. This castle has twelve +neighbouring villages inhabited by orthodox Christians, whose patriarch +sends two men every year to the Pope with an offering of incense. They +perform their worship in Armenian, having lost the use of the Italian +language. In these villages there are many manuscripts and books in +Italian; while I was in Tauris two were brought to me, one relating to +astronomy and the other to the rules of grammar. They also produce a +great quantity of rich crimson dye. As I have mentioned, this was one +of the last castles belonging to the Christians, who have for some time +forgotten their original language, the Italian. This governor, after +Ismael had taken Tauris, still held out for four or five years, being a +devoted adherent of Alumut Sultan, while Assambei Sultan and Jacob Sultan +had also deposited immense treasures in the fortress for security. The +news of Alumut’s death at length reaching him, he no longer wished to +hold out, and surrendered the castle and treasures to Ismael. Ismael +having obtained the regal power was nominated Sultan by the whole nation, +who admired his wonderful victories; and he reigned, honoured, loved, and +respected by all.[641] + + + + +CHAP. XVI. + + Muratcan, the son of Jacob Sultan, marches against Ismael to + fight for the throne; but, his army being defeated and cut to + pieces, he flies to Bagadet. + + +While Ismael Sultan was in Tauris, Muratcan[642] Sultan of Bagadet, with +an army of 30,000 men, moved against him to seize the throne which was +his by right. Ismael upon hearing this was moved with great indignation, +and assembling his vassals and troops issued from Tauris to a wide plain, +where he heard that Muratcan was hastily advancing, thinking to obtain +great booty. This Muratcan was the son of Jacob Sultan. Then Ismael +exhorted all his vassals and soldiers to bear themselves manfully, and +also desired the Iberian Chieftains to encourage their men to deeds like +those when they routed the army of Alumud; everyone promised this and +waited with great impatience for the contest. Muratcan having advanced +with his army to a spot not far distant from the camp of Ismael, in the +plain of Tauris, halted on the banks of a rivulet to refresh his men; +Ismael marched to the other bank, and took up his station there. In this +position both armies challenged each other to the fight and reviled +each other. At noon, Muratcan exhorted his followers to fight bravely +against their Suffavean foes (Ismael doing the same on the other side), +and then divided his army into three columns. Ismael Sultan, seeing the +proceedings of the enemy, made two divisions of his army, one of Iberians +9,000 strong and the other of Suffaveans, separated from each other, and +appointed captains as customary in battle, and the whole of the day and +the following night both armies remained under arms. On the appearance +of dawn they began to sound the numerous instruments the Persians use +in battle, exhorting each other to fight valiantly. When day was fully +broke, Muratcan was the first to throw himself with 10,000 men upon the +Suffavean host, causing great slaughter, but in less than an hour all +his soldiers were cut to pieces, so that he was forced to bring up his +other two columns together into the contest, Ismael being compelled to +do the same. Such a slaughter took place and more blood was shed than +ever happened in one battle in Persia since the days of Darius,[643] +the battle lasting from morning till noon, ending with the total rout +of Muratcan, who fled with a few adherents to Babylon or rather Bagadet +to his utter disgrace. On the opposite hand Ismael returned with great +reputation, having made an immense booty of tents, pavilions, and horses, +with but slight loss on his side; so he entered Tauris with a grand +triumph, and spent some time in the great palace of Astibisti in sports +and rejoicings. But the Babylonians, with the exception of 50 or 70 who +fled with Muratcan, were cut to pieces, about 30,000 in number, and +mountains of their bones were piled up on the site of the battle. At this +time Ismael was only nineteen, so that in this one year, the year 1499, +all these exploits and actions took place.[644] And during my stay in +Tauris, men were continually flocking to his standard, from all parts of +the country, but especially from Natolia, Turkey, and Caramania, Ismael +presenting gifts to them all according to their rank and condition. + + + + +CHAP. XVII. + + Sultan Calil, Lord of Asanchif, and Ustagialu Maumutbec, a + chieftain of Natolia, give in their submission to Ismael, who + gives to each of them one of his three sisters in marriage. + Later on Ustagialu makes war on Sultan Calil, in accordance + with the commands of Ismael, who, with an immense army, marched + in person against Aliduli, ravaging his country and killing + some of his sons, with an immense number of his people. + + +The province of Diarbec had always been subject to Persia, and therefore, +Sultan Sciech Ismael having gained the throne wished to bring the +whole country under his sway. Thus Sultan Calil,[645] the lord of +Asanchif,[646] came in person to Ismael, put on the red caftan, and +promised to be an obedient vassal, for which Ismael made him munificent +presents, confirmed him in his realm, and gave him one of his sisters +in marriage, so that he returned with great rejoicings to Asanchif. +Another Natolian chieftain, named Ustagialu Maumutbec, who had come to +the aid of Ismael with seven brothers, all valiant men, was granted +for his services the fine province of Diarbec with the exception of +Asanchif. Then Ustagialu made a conquest of this province, excepting the +cities of Amit and Asanchif; and because Sultan Calil (as was said) had +transgressed the orders of Ismael, the latter resolved that the whole +province should be under the orders of Ustagialu, and sent commands to +Calil to surrender the city and fortresses to Ustagialu. In like manner +he ordered the latter to take possession of the city notwithstanding his +relationship to Calil; for on setting out to conquer the province he had +been given the second sister of Ismael as his wife, so that these two +Chieftains were connected. But Sultan Calil was a Curd, and this people, +though subject to the Suffaveans, are ill-disposed towards them, so Calil +refused to give up anything to Ustagialu. Ustagialu then being moved with +indignation, marched against him with 10,000 horsemen and waged continual +war against him until the year 1510, which was that of my arrival +from Azemia,[647] without being able to subdue him. The Alidulians +were in the habit of making frequent incursions into this province of +Diarbec and laying waste the country round Orfa, Somilon,[648] and +Dedu. Orfa is a large city, the other two are fortresses; they also +had in their possession a city named Cartibert,[649] governed by a son +of Aliduli,[650] which Ustagialu had never been able to take. This +city with its independent castle was in the realm of Persia, but the +Alidulians had seized it during the reign of Sultan Jacob, and during +the government of Ustagialu caused great damage throughout the country. +On this account Ismael determined to march in person to destroy the +Alidulians, and having recruited his army advanced to Arsingan, a +fortress on the confines of Trebizond, Natolia, and Persia. Here he +collected an immense force and took the place, which was held by one +of the sons of the Grand Turk who had subdued Trebizond at the time of +Sultan Jacob’s death; and rested forty days in the place, where he +assembled a force of 60,000 fighting men, more than were sufficient to +subdue the Alidulians, but because he distrusted the Ottoman and the +Soldan of Cairo, between the borders of whose respective dominions the +country of Aliduli was situated. During Ismael’s stay in Arsingan he +sent two ambassadors,[651] one named Culibec to the Ottoman in Natolia, +and the other named Zachariabec to the Soldan of Cairo, swearing solemn +oaths to these monarchs, that he intended no harm to their dominions, but +was only marching against his enemy Aliduli. After a halt of forty days, +Ismael set out from Arsingan against the enemy, with his 60,000 men. It +is only a four days’ march from Arsingan to the country of Aliduli; but +Ismael took another route, passing by the Turkish city of Cesaria[652] +in order to obtain supplies which he intended to pay for honestly. On +his arrival, he caused proclamation to be made that everyone who brought +provisions for sale should be liberally paid, and forbade his men under +pain of death to take even as much as a handful of straw without paying +for it, as it was a friendly city; having remained there four days, +Ismael continued his march to the beautiful district of Bastan, where +there is a fine river and numerous villages, just one day’s journey +from Aliduli’s capital, a city named Marras.[653] Ismael having first +ravaged Basten,[654] moved upon Marras, from whence Aliduli had fled with +numerous followers to the high mountain named Caradag,[655] to which +there was access by only one narrow pass. Ismael devastated the country, +killing numbers of people, among them some of the sons of Aliduli who +from time to time used to descend from the mountain to fall upon the +Suffaveans, but were easily cut to pieces by them, as their descent was +betrayed by the numerous scouts kept by Ismael, and also by some secret +Suffaveans among the Alidulians themselves. It was the 29th July, 1507, +when Ismael entered the country of Aliduli, where he remained till the +middle of November, when he was forced to leave from want of provisions +in the country, and from the snow and cold which prevented a winter +campaign. + + + + +CHAP. XVIII. + + Amirbec makes a prisoner of Sultan Alumut, who had admitted him + with his soldiers into Amit, and leads him in chains before + Ismael, who cuts off his head with his own hands. He then takes + the city of Cartibirt, with the son of Aliduli, whom he puts to + death; after the winter he returns to Tauris. + + +During my stay in Malacia,[656] a city belonging to the Soldan of Cairo, +on my return journey from Cimiscasac[657] and Arsingan to Aleppo, I met +Amirbec the governor of Mosulminiato, a great adherent of Ismael’s, +who wore two gold chains, covered with rubies and diamonds, round his +neck, to which was attached the seal of Ismael, a mark of his greatest +confidence. When the latter required to seal anything it was Amirbec’s +duty to do so with his own hands. To do a favour to Sultan Ismael, he had +put a number of lords to death, and while I was in Malacia, I found that +he had captured, in the following manner, the young Sultan Alumut, who +had been defeated by Sciech Ismael; he set out from Mosul with 400[658] +men to Amit where Sultan Alumut lived, pretending to be coming to his +aid as he was doubtful about Ismael’s return, wherefore Alumut received +him courteously as usual, for Amirbec had been one of his chiefs. Thus +confiding in him, and having allowed him to enter the city with his 400 +men, Amirbec suddenly placed his hand on the shoulder of the unfortunate +young man, saying—You are the prisoner of Ismael Sultan. Leaving a +governor in the city, he put him in chains and took him with him to meet +Ismael at Malacia (where I then was), being the nearest place on the road +to the country of Aliduli where Ismael was engaged in war. He remained +there a day and a half with the 4,000 Suffaveans he had with him, and I +myself saw the young Alumut bound in chains in a tent. Amirbec leaving +took him as a grateful gift to Ismael, who had him brought into his +presence and cut off his head with his own hands; he then hurried back to +his own country for fear of the snow, passing through Malacia, where he +only rested one day to supply his troops with provisions; he then crossed +the Euphrates, which is only ten miles distant from Malacia, and encamped +before Cartibert;[659] which was governed by a son of Aliduli named +Becarbec, and well furnished with troops and provisions; but all was of +no avail, as Ismael took the place, cut off the young man’s head with +his own hands and then proceeded in great haste on his way to Tauris. On +the six days’ march to that city, the snow and cold caused great loss +in men, horses, and camels, and they had to abandon part of the booty +they had made in the country of Aliduli. But nevertheless Ismael rode on +to a beautiful palace he had built at Coi, where he remained until the +Naurus,[660] that is the new year, when he determined to march against +Muratcan Sultan of Bagadet. Returning to Tauris he found that his two +brothers whom he had left in charge of the city had not thoroughly +observed his commands, so he was very nearly putting them to death; but +in accordance with the entreaties of many of his lords the young men +escaped, but were banished to their native province of Ardouil which they +were not allowed to leave, being granted a train of only 200 horsemen +each. + + + + +CHAP. XIX. + + Ismael sets out with his army against Muratcan, many of whose + lords and soldiers desert to Ismael; Muratcan, offering to + become his vassal, sends an ambassador to him, whom Ismael + causes to be cut to pieces with all his train; Muratcan then + flies, and finding shelter nowhere, goes to Aliduli, who gives + him one of his daughters in marriage. + + +At the new year Ismael collected thirty or forty thousand fighting men, +with whom he set out on his march to his city of Casan;[661] remaining +there a few days he proceeded to Spaan,[662] a large and populous city +belonging to Moratcan, who foreseeing the storm had on his side assembled +an army of 36,000 fighting men. He came to Siras,[663] a larger and +more beautiful city than Cairo in Egypt, so that both were prepared, +Moratcan in Siras and Ismael in Spaan. Ismael had a large army all of +Suffaveans and brave men; on the contrary, Moratcan’s army came to the +field compulsorily and with reluctance; hearing of Ismael’s force they +knew it would be impossible to resist him in the fight, as with a fewer +number of men he had routed and cut to pieces the host of Muratcan 30,000 +strong in the plains of Tauris, in the former battle. On this account, +many of the chiefs and soldiers doubtful as to the issue fled to Ismael’s +camp. Moratcan perceiving the desertion sent two ambassadors with a +train of five hundred to Ismael, followed by spies to learn the result +of the embassy, which was to declare himself Ismael’s vassal and that he +was willing to pay him tribute. Ismael caused the ambassadors and their +suite to be cut in pieces, saying “if Moratcan were willing to become my +subject, he would have come in person and not have sent an embassy.” The +spies seeing the result, reported the news at once to Moratcan, who took +to flight with all his belongings, as the rumour had spread throughout +his camp, many of his chiefs donning the red caftan. Moratcan fearing +to be made captive in the same manner as Alumut, chose a guard, three +thousand in number, of the adherents he thought most faithful, and with +them he fled towards Aleppo from the fury of Ismael, who hearing of his +flight dispatched six thousand Suffaveans in pursuit. After crossing a +river by a stone bridge he caused it to be broken down, so on the speedy +arrival of the Suffaveans on the opposite bank all further action was +useless; Moratcan pursuing his route came to a castle, governed by one of +his slaves, who seeing his master in flight, or having some understanding +with Ismael, refused to admit him, for which, enraged by the loss of +his treasure in the castle, Moratcan caused the inhabitants of a small +town beneath the castle to be slaughtered. Advancing towards Aleppo, in +a few days he arrived within thirty miles of the city, and waited till +he sent to Cairbec, the governor,[664] to ask for a safe conduct, which +was courteously granted, and a grand reception accorded him. He further +sent some of his lords to Cairo to demand a safe conduct from the Soldan, +who for some reason or other would not grant it, but sent information as +to where he would find Aliduli. On joining the latter, he was heartily +welcomed, Aliduli condoling with him for his losses from the Suffaveans, +and Moratcan doing likewise on his side. Aliduli also, notwithstanding +his condition, gave him one of his daughters in marriage. + + + + +CHAP. XX. + + Ismael takes Bagadet and then returns to Spani to oppose the + Tartars; after one year he re-enters Tauris, where great + rejoicings were held with archery sports for fifteen days. A + description of his qualities is given. + + +Ismael having seen the total destruction of his enemy proceeded to +Siras and then to Bagadet, making great slaughter among the wretched +inhabitants. About this time the great Tartar Iesilbas[665] had invaded +Persia with a vast army, had over-run Corasan,[666] and taken the +city of Eri,[667] a populous and commercial place, also Stravi,[668] +Amixandaran,[669] and Sari, towns on the shores of the Caspian towards +the East, and bordering on the new conquests of Ismael, who being alarmed +at the news returned with his army to Spaan. The Tartar endeavouring to +outwit Ismael, asked leave to pass through his territories on his way +to Mecca, as he pretended he wished to make a pilgrimage to his prophet +Mahomet, but Ismael perceiving the snare not only refused a passage, +but sent insulting messages in reply and remained one year in Spaan to +meet the Tartars. The great Tamerlane once took this very country with +the whole of Persia and Soria, and there still remain memorials of him +in Soria. At the end of a year Ismael returned to Tauris, where on his +arrival great rejoicings took place; I happened to be there myself, +having gone to recover debts from the traitor Chamainit of Casvene. For a +fortnight Ismael continued to join in archery every day with his lords in +a maidan, in the midst of which was a pole, on which was placed a golden +apple (twenty apples, ten of gold and ten of silver, being provided for +the days’ sport), at which, they shot from their bows while running, and +whoever hit it took it for his own. Every time one was hit they rested +for a time, drinking delicate wines and eating sweetmeats; during the +sports two beautiful youths stood beside the monarch, one holding a gold +vase, and the other two plates of sweetmeats; the lords having their wine +and sweetmeats separately. When Ismael rests, the youths approach with +the wine and sweetmeats; he does so sometimes, even when no apple has +been hit. He always has a guard of a thousand soldiers to attend him at +these sports; besides there is a crowd of about thirty thousand people, +composed of citizens and soldiers, round the maidan. At the entrance of +the garden nearest the palace there is a large saloon, where a supper +is prepared for the lords who have joined in the sports, while Ismael +retires to his repast in the palace Astibisti. Then all the lords sing +in praise of their master Ismael, extolling his graciousness towards +them. At present he is about thirty-one, very handsome, of a magnanimous +countenance, and about middle height; he is fair, stout, and with broad +shoulders, his beard is shaved and he only wears a moustache, not +appearing to be a very hairy man. He is as amiable as a girl, left-handed +by nature, is as lively as a fawn, and stronger than any of his lords. +In the archery trials at the apple, he is so expert, that of every ten +knocked down he hits six; during the sports, music is played and dancing +girls perform after their manner, singing the praises of Ismael; after a +stay of a fortnight at Tauris he went with his army to Coi where he abode +for two months. + + + + +CHAP. XXI. + + Sermangoli breaks the treaty with Ismael, sets out to ravage + the country a second time, sending two captains on this + expedition, while he himself, leaving Canar, marches towards + the Caspian, taking many places, and among them the great and + famous fortress of Derbant. + + +During his stay at Coi, Sermangoli the king of Servan,[670] a tributary +of Ismael’s, broke the treaty between them. Then Ismael, filled with +anger, assembled his troops and marched against the country for the +second time, having on the former occasion taken the country from this +Sermangoli who was the ruler, but having restored it to him on his +promising to be a faithful subject; for his deceit he now set out to +take it away from him. He first marched to Carabacdac,[671] a district +more than a thousand miles in extent, in which is a large fortress named +Canar, subject to which are many villages famous for the culture of silk, +which from this place is named Canarese; here he remained some days as it +was a fertile district. Here he appointed two captains, one named Lambec, +and the other Bairambec the conqueror of Van, as I have before related, +and a brother-in-law of Ismael’s as he had married one of the latter’s +three sisters, Custagialutbec another, and Sultan Calil of Asanchif the +third. These two captains being appointed, they were despatched against +Sumacchia, which town they found quite deserted on their arrival, as the +inhabitants had fled to a large and impregnable fortress named Culustan, +situated on the summit of a mountain. It was held by a brave officer, +devoted adherent of the king of Servan, who had given orders to him on +the approach of Ismael to retire to it from the city, which is only half +a mile distant. Lembec and Bairambec seeing that every one had retired to +the castle, sat down with ten thousand men to besiege it, but could make +no impression upon it as it was inaccessible on every side, and they had +no artillery or engines. While they were engaged in the siege, Ismael +left Canar and came to Maumutaga, which was immediately surrendered +to him as the inhabitants had on a previous occasion experienced his +cruelty; all the wealth found in the place was given to the soldiers. He +further set out on his march along the shore of the Caspian, to subdue +the other fortresses of the province of Servan, which extends from +Maumutaga to Derbant, a seven days’ journey. There are three large cities +and three fortresses along this shore: the first is Sumacchia, which is +a day’s journey from the sea, but the others, Maumutaga and Derbant, +are close to it. The first castle he came to was called Baccara,[672] +which was immediately given up to him; a day’s journey further was a +fine castle named Sirec on the summit of a mountain, which detained him +three days while treating for terms, which Ismael granted, reinstating +the former governor, but sending sixty Suffaveans to hold it, who by +their arrogant conduct towards the inhabitants were all massacred by the +latter, who then fled to the mountains by night, from fear of Ismael, +who finding no one on whom to wreak his vengeance, caused the place to +be demolished. Advancing a little further they came to a castle and a +large unwalled town named Sabran, which was deserted, as the king of the +country caused it to be wasted that Ismael might not procure supplies; +however, fresh provisions reached the latter every day from Carabacdac. +After four days’ march, Ismael arrived at Derbant[673] where he found the +inhabitants fled, either to the mountains or to Circassia, while only the +citadel held out, which was very strong as I have already described, and +defended on every side by men with lances and banners. This castle has +only two gates, well built with stone and mortar. Ismael, who had arrived +in about fifteen or twenty days, remained eleven days with his whole army +forty thousand strong before the castle; they made two mines, neither of +which succeeded. At last they made a large mine under a tower, digging +out all the foundations, and supporting it with beams of wood; then +filling the hollow with dry wood they set fire to it hoping that when the +beams were burnt the tower would fall. The dry wood soon burnt and flames +soon poured out of the hollow, but had little effect as they were choked +in the cavern. But the governor fearing greater damage and the loss of +the place, sent a messenger at midnight to Ismael, offering to yield the +castle if lives and property were spared. Ismael having seen the ill +success of the fire gave the promise as required to the messenger, and on +the following morning the gates were opened and the castle surrendered. +They found in it great quantities of arms, stores, and provisions, which +were brought before Ismael, who remained eight or nine days to refresh +his troops, during which stay many chiefs gave in their submission, and +put on the red caftan. + + + + +CHAP. XXII. + + Ismael returns to Tauris; great sports and feasts are prepared + for his arrival; of the affection his soldiers bear him, and + how he is adored almost as a God; of their clothes and armour; + of the disgraceful act committed by him, and how he sets out + for the second time with his army against the Tartar. + + +During these latter events I was at Tauris, endeavouring to hasten the +recovery of my debts, for which I had to summon Camaidit of Casvene, but +could not get satisfaction from him, as he had gained the favour of a +friend of his, an usher of the court. I was then advised to have recourse +to Ismael, so having drawn up a memorial I set off on horseback to find +him, which I did in the midst of his army beneath the ruined citadel of +Zirec. Finding some lords whom I had known in Tauris, I acquainted them +with my wants, asking them to procure me an audience of Ismael, but they +advised me to wait till he had subdued Derbant, when in his joy for his +victory he would be inclined to grant anything I might ask, which counsel +I took and remained the whole time in the camp. When the fortress was +taken and the conquest completed, I sought out those lords, and giving +them the memorial with the papers proving the debt, the matter was shown +to Ismael, who despatched me immediately to Tauris with orders to all the +officers that right should be done me. The decree was written in Ismael’s +name in large letters, and sealed with his seal with a sign resembling +a Z, by the hands of Mirbec, the ruler of Mosul, who wears the seal of +Ismael on a chain round his neck; it is made out of a diamond set in a +beautifully worked ring of gold; it is about half the size of a nut, and +is engraved in minute letters with the name of Ismael surrounding the +twelve sacraments of their sect.[674] On my arrival in Tauris I found I +could do nothing as my adversary had fled, so I determined to proceed +to Aleppo, but before I left, Ismael returned with his army, for whose +coming there were great preparations made, and all the shops decorated +for the festival and triumphs. He came every day to the maidan to divert +himself with archery with his lords who received many gifts from him. And +there was dancing, music and songs in honour of the great Sultan Ismael +when he was present in the maidan. This Sophy is loved and reverenced +by his people as a god, and especially by his soldiers, many of whom +enter into battle without armour, expecting their master Ismael to watch +over them in the fight. There are also others to go into battle without +armour, being willing to die for their monarch, rushing on with naked +breasts, crying “Schiac, Schiac.” The name of God is forgotten throughout +Persia and only that of Ismael remembered; if any one fall when riding +or dismounted he appeals to no other god but Schiac, using the name in +two ways; first as god Schiac; secondly as prophet; as the Mussulmans +say “Laylla, laylla Mahamet resuralla,” the Persians say “Laylla yllala +Ismael vellialla;”[675] besides this, everyone, and particularly his +soldiers, consider him immortal, but I have heard that Ismael is not +pleased with being called a god or a prophet. They are accustomed to +wear a red caftan and above that a high conical turban made with a +dozen folds, representing the twelve sacraments of their sect, or the +twelve descendants of Ali; besides this, they neither shave either their +beard or whiskers. Their dress has never changed; their armour is of +beautifully worked and carved steel cuirasses, besides coats of mail, +helmets like those of the Mamelukes; their harness is very strong, bound +with cotton; sometimes it is of the fine steel of Siras, and sometimes +of copper, but not like ours, but all in pieces like that of Soria: they +have other helmets or headpieces of heavy mail. Everyone rides, and so +there are no foot soldiers; they use lances, swords, and slings, besides +bows with many shafts. + +On his second arrival in Tauris, Ismael committed a most disgraceful act, +as he caused twelve of the most beautiful youths in the town to be taken +to his palace of Astibisti for him to work his wicked will upon them, and +gave them away one by one to his lords for the same purpose; a short time +previously he had caused ten children of respectable men to be seized in +like manner. When he returned from Sumacchia three Georgian ambassadors +arrived and were well received, and a damsel given them as a present. +While engaged in these rejoicings, news came that the Usbecs, that is the +subjects of the Tartar, had over-run the country of Gesti,[676] whereupon +he had to decide to march against him at once, so he took the field and +mustered his troops, ordering all his lords to assemble their retainers +which they had to maintain during the campaign. In this way forces came +together from all sides in numbers sufficient to meet Jeselbas,[677] +a great many being necessary as the Tartar was a mighty monarch. I +left Tauris on the 1st of May, 1520,[678] during the levying of this +army, taking the route to Aleppo, and in spite of some dangerous fellow +travellers, and by the favour of God arrived at Albir[679] on the 2nd +July, 1520.[680] + + + + +FOOTNOTES + + +[530] Alla ed Douleh. + +[531] Erzingan. See p. 7, Caterino Zeno. + +[532] Tchimish Gazak, or birthplace of Zimisces; identified by the +Armenians with the ancient Hierapolis, though called by its present name +after the birth of Zimisces, the Byzantine Emperor; it is now a town of +about five thousand inhabitants, but without any relics of the Roman +period. + +[533] Schamachi. + +[534] Shirvan. + +[535] Irak-Ajemi. + +[536] Bir, on the Euphrates; formerly a large town. It was taken and +destroyed by Timour, the ancient Apamea. + +[537] Kaiid Beg. + +[538] Devetdar, an officer of Mamelukes. Tomant Bey, the last of the +Soldans of Cairo, defeated and put to death by Selim I. in 1517, after a +gallant resistance to the Turkish arms; he succeeded Campson Gauri. + +[539] Orfa, anciently called Edessa by the successors of Alexander, and +more recently Rhoa. It became a Roman colony, and one of their chief +strongholds against the Parthians. At the time of the Crusades it was the +residence of the Courtneys, who were called Counts of Edessa, and was +taken from them by Saladin. Timour sacked it in 1426; it is now subject +to Turkey. Kinneir, in his _Geographical Memoir of Persia_, says:—“It is +situated in a barren country, sixty-seven miles from Bir and two hundred +and thirty-two from Diarbekr. The town is surrounded by a stone wall +and defended by a citadel. The ditch, which is broad and deep, is hewn +out of the rock, and, when necessary, can be filled with water from the +river Scirtus. The houses are well built, and the inhabitants, who are +composed of Turks, Arabs, Armenians, Jews, and Nestorians, are said to +amount to about twenty thousand souls. The chief ornaments of the city +are a magnificent mosque consecrated to Abraham, and the cathedral of +the Armenians, now fallen to decay. On a mountain, which overlooks and +commands the citadel, are the ruins of a building called by the Arabs +the Palace of Nimrod, and several extraordinary subterraneous apartments +apparently of great antiquity.” + +[540] Nimrod. + +[541] Now the mosque of Ibrahim al Khaleel. + +[542] The same tradition prevails now, and the fish alluded to seem as +plentiful as ever, it being held sacrilege to catch them. + +[543] The region is now very barren. + +[544] Bagdad. + +[545] Syria. + +[546] Jemeleyn. + +[547] Kara Amid, or Amid-Diarbekr. See Zeno. + +[548] An error. The Emperor Constantine repaired the old Roman walls only. + +[549] These towers were built at various periods by the chiefs of the +different dynasties that reigned there. There are inscriptions from +Valens down to Sultan Selim, that each successive possessor placed on the +walls. + +[550] This was the emblem of the Ortokide and Eioobite rulers, and not +the Imperial arms. + +[551] Despina Khatoon, the latter word meaning “lady” or “madam”, and so +“queen”. + +[552] Calo Johannes, or Black John. See p. 42, Zeno. + +[553] Now the Ooloo Jami. + +[554] A stone seat fastened to a wall. + +[555] It has only four now. + +[556] The Tigris, or Shat (Arabic for river). After the junction of the +Euphrates and Tigris, the river, on its way to the Persian Gulf, goes by +the name of the Shat ul Arab. + +[557] Hisn Keyf and Jezireh. + +[558] Kara Amid-Diarbekr. + +[559] Kharput, called by Arabic historians Khutburt and Hisn Ziyad, now +Mauooriet el Azeezeh in Turkish official documents. It was a chief seat +of the Orlokides, and here it was that Balak, the son of Behram, the +son of Ortog, confined the gallant crusaders, Jocelyn de Courtenay and +Baldwin du Bourg, after they had been liberated by their conquerors, +Dejekermish and Soukman Ibn Ortok. Balak destroyed all his prisoners, +with the exception of the royal captives, by throwing them over the +battlements. It is now fast falling into decay, the fine old castle in +the lower part of the town being now in ruins. + +[560] Diarbekr. + +[561] Mardin, the ancient Roman colony of Marde, still a prosperous town. +Kinneir says, “Although in so elevated a situation, it has within itself +a plentiful supply of the finest water; and, as the vine is cultivated +with success in the recesses of the mountains, wine and brandy (arrack) +are made by the Armenians in considerable quantities. The houses are +all built of fine hewn stone, and appear to be very old. The windows +are small, grated with iron, and, from the position of the town on a +declivity, added to the narrowness of the streets, the buildings seem, +progressively, to rise one on the top of the other. The population of +Merdin amounts to nearly 11,000 souls, of which fifteen hundred are +Armenians and two hundred Jews; the remainder are Turks, Arabs, and +Kurds. The Armenians have here several churches, and a patriarch who was +educated at Rome; he is a well-informed man, highly respected even by the +Turks. The walls of the city are kept in tolerable repair, and a few old +pieces of cannon are mounted on the towers of the castle, which is now in +a very dilapidated state, and has never been completely repaired since +the place was taken by Timour. Merdin is forty-six furlongs from Mosul +and eighteen from Diarbekr. It is the frontier town of the Pashalik of +Bagdad, towards Constantinople, and under the government of a Mussaleem +appointed by the Pasha.” + +[562] According to Kinneir this is not the case now. See preceding note. + +[563] Jezireh, on the Tigris, representing the old fortress of Bezabde, +was an important town till the invasion of Timour, by whom it was taken +and destroyed. It was a chief seat of the Atabegs, the ruins of whose +castle still exist. + +[564] Hesn Keyf. + +[565] Sultan Khalil, the Eioobite. His tomb exists there yet. Hesn el +Kahef or Hesn Keyf, three hours and a half from Redhwanis, mentioned by +Procopius as Ciphas, while an Armenian author, writing about the first +crusade, speaks of it under the name of Harsenko, and says that after the +defeat of Baldwin de Bourg, Count of Edessa, and Jocelyn de Courtenay +by Dejekermish and Soukman, which resulted in the capture of those two +chiefs, Jocelyn was sent a prisoner to Hesn Keyf, while Baldwin was +incarcerated at Mosul. They were ransomed for a considerable sum, but +fell into the hands of Balak the son of Behram, the son of Ortok, who +confined them at Kharput. The modern town is perched on the top of a +steep and nearly inaccessible rock, having at the eastern end the old +castle built by the Ortokides on the ruins of a more ancient edifice. In +a small plain at the foot of the mountains that here press down upon the +Tigris, are the ruins of the old town of the same name, the seat of the +Ortokides and Eioobites. A noble bridge of three large and three smaller +pointed arches, but now in ruins, spanned the river close under the town. +But by far the most interesting relics of the place are the myriads of +grots that stretch for three miles in one direction, and occupy the sides +of six other separate ravines, scooped out of the hills to the east of, +and round the town. They exist, tier above tier, in parallel lines all +up to the top, communicating with each other by stairs and by a narrow +zigzag path, that passing each cell reaches from the highest cave to the +plain. In the same manner the water of some springs on the top of the +hill was conducted by a narrow channel past each of them and within easy +reach of their inhabitants. + +[566] Tigris. + +[567] It is now a miserable village of one hundred and fifty houses only. + +[568] Brother-in-law. + +[569] Kizzilbashes, or red-heads. The seven Turkish tribes who bore this +name were the “Oostkajalu,” “Shamlu,” “Nikallu,” “Baharlu,” “Zulkudder,” +“Kajar,” and “Affshar.” + +[570] Khatun “lady” or “princess.” + +[571] Irak Ajemi. + +[572] From the courtyard of the old castle at the eastern end of the +modern town, a curious covered way, containing a winding stair of two +hundred steps, is scooped out of the solid rock, leading down to the +river. A little farther on are the remains of a similar stair, which, +like the former, was evidently used by the townspeople to supply +themselves with water from the Tigris. Where the stairs are at all +exposed to the attack of an enemy from the opposite side, they are pitted +with innumerable small holes, probably caused by flights of arrows that +had been shot against these exposed parts to prevent any communication +with the river. + +[573] The foundations are Parthian. The only remaining arch fell in last +year—1869. + +[574] Tchimishgazak. In ruins now. + +[575] Now Keffendo. The ruins are situated in the narrow gorge of the +Bitlis valley. + +[576] Saert, on the Bohtan Su or Eastern Tigris, also called Asaerd and +Mobaelra, has been identified by d’Anville and Kinneir as the ancient +Tigranocerta, though Mr. Ainsworth more recently has combated that idea, +as no ruins are to be seen above ground. Tacitus and Strabo both place +Tigranocerta near Nisibin; but coins of Tigranes are to be found here. + +[577] Sassone. + +[578] Arzen, on the Huzu Arzen, near the village of Giri Hassan, has +fallen into ruins, which are still very extensive. Numerous coins have +been found here. + +[579] Orfà, Kara Amid (Diarbekr), Mardin, Jezireh, Hesn Keyf, and Saert. + +[580] Jemeleyn. + +[581] Keffendo. + +[582] The Bitlis Tchai, rising near the Van Lake, flows into the Bohtan +Su or Eastern Tigris. + +[583] Modern travellers give a very different account of this region. + +[584] Caravan Bashi. + +[585] Bitlis. See Zeno, p. 8. + +[586] The Bitlis Tchai. See p. 156. + +[587] Sheibani Khan, Yeshilbash. See Zeno, p. 55. + +[588] Yezd. + +[589] Sheibani Khan was a descendant of Gengis Khan, and an enemy of the +house of Timour. + +[590] Tadvan, on the Van Lake. + +[591] Van, the ancient Artemita, according to Kinneir, is situated two +miles from the lake. “It is surrounded with a good wall and deep ditch, +and has four gates: one, corresponding with the palace of the governor; +another, to the east, called the Gate of Tauris; the third, to the +south, called the Middle Gate; and the fourth, fronting the lake, known +by the appellation of the Gate _Sinla_. On the north is a castle built +on a high and perpendicular hill, which rises abruptly from the plain. +This fortress can only be approached by one passage, so narrow as to +admit only two persons abreast; it is always supplied with corn and +military stores, and in the centre of the works stands the palace of +the Aga of the Janissaries. This city is abundantly supplied with water +and provisions; the houses are built of stone and tile; the streets are +spacious and well paved; and the population is said to amount to fifty +thousand souls, two-thirds of which number are Turks, and the remainder +Kurds and Armenians. The air is pure, and the environs of the city +delightful.” + +[592] Peygri, now Beygir Kellah, hardly on the lake, but a short distance +from it, on a small stream falling into the same. + +[593] Arjish, Ardh-el Jivaz. + +[594] Iklat, a very ancient Armenian town. Subsequently it became the +seat of the Eioobites, and then of the Ak-koinloo. + +[595] Arjish (the ancient Arzes) is a town containing six thousand +inhabitants, situated on the north-west side of the lake, three days’ +journey from Van. + +[596] Island of Ak-Tamar, the seat of the Catholicos of the Armenians, +described by Layard. + +[597] Vastan in ruins to the south of the lake, nearly opposite the +island of Aktamar. + +[598] There are numerous cuneiform inscriptions on the castle walls, of +which it is curious he should make no mention. + +[599] Khoi. + +[600] Marand, a town about halfway between Tabreez and Khoi, seems, by +the name, to denote the town mentioned; but the traveller here expressly +states that it is between Van and Khoi; so we must look for it somewhere +on the blank space of Kiepert’s map to the east of Lake Van. + +[601] Doulet Khaneh. + +[602] Harem. + +[603] Marand. See p. 164. + +[604] Sofian, on the Ak Tchai, a tributary of the Aras, on the direct +route to Tabreez. + +[605] Hassan Beg. + +[606] Tauris, or Tabreez, as it is now called, is supposed by most to be +the ancient Ecbatana. Kinneir says:— + +“The Persians conceive Zobeida, the celebrated wife of Haroun-ul-Rashid +to be its founder; but, as they are in general very ignorant regarding +the history of their cities, little reliance can be placed on any +information obtained from them. That Tauris was a favourite residence of +Haroun-ul-Rashid cannot be denied, and, although he might not actually +have founded the city, he may yet have improved and embellished it to a +considerable degree. It was, in the days of Chardin, one of the largest +and most populous cities in the East, and contained, according to that +traveller, five hundred thousand inhabitants. But no town has experienced +to a greater degree the ravages of war. Situated towards the frontiers of +contending empires, it has alternately been in the hands of the Turks, +Tartars, and Persians, and has been taken and sacked eight different +times; but its ruin has been chiefly owing to the number of earthquakes, +which have at different times levelled its proudest edifices with the +dust. + +“Tabreez does not now contain more than thirty thousand inhabitants, +and is, upon the whole, one of the most wretched cities I have seen in +Persia. It is seated in an immense plain at the foot of a mountain, on +the banks of a small river, whose waters are consumed in the cultivation +of the land. It is surrounded with a decayed wall, and the only decent +house in the place is a new barrack, erected by the Prince for the +accommodation of his troops. The ruins of the ancient city are very +extensive and very mean, being nothing but a confused mass of old mud +walls. + +“The observations of the gentlemen of the Mission give the latitude of +Tabreez in 38 deg. 10 min. N., and 46 deg. 37 min. E.” + +The population and trade of Tabreez have greatly increased since +Kinneir’s time, partly owing to the intercourse with Russia; it has now +nearly eighty thousand inhabitants. + +[607] The followers of what is called the “Shiah sect”, curse the +memories of Abu Bekr, Omar, and Othman, whom they look upon as usurpers +of Ali’s rights; and they despise all the “Soonee”, or body of traditions +collected during their reigns, which are venerated by all orthodox +Mahometans. They believe that Ali, the beloved son-in-law of Mohammed, is +almost equal to the Prophet himself; and that if Mohammed is the Apostle, +Ali and his descendants, the twelve Imaums, were the Vicars of God. These +Imaums all suffered martyrdom, except Mahadi, the last, and he is said +to have mysteriously disappeared, and is believed to be still alive. The +twelve Imaums are— + + 1. Ali, the son-in-law of Mohammed. + 2. Hassan } his sons. + 3. Hossein } + 4. Zein al Abudeen. Put to death by Caliph Walid I. + 5. Mohammed al Badkir. Put to death by Caliph Hashem. + 6. Jaffier al Sadiek. + 7. Moôssâh Kazim, from whom the Suffavean } All put to death, + family is descended. } generally by order + 8. Ali Riza; buried at Meshed. } of the Caliphs. + 9. Mohammed al Takec. } + 10. Ali al Nukec. } + 11. Hassan Askeri. } + 12. Mohammed al Mahadi. Mysteriously disappeared. + +[608] The Lake of Urumea, into which the Adschy Tchai, the river close to +Tabreez, flows. + +[609] From the Caspian. + +[610] Ghilan. + +[611] Bagdad, Kashan, and Yezd. + +[612] Caravan serai. + +[613] Ormuz. + +[614] Hesht Behesht, eight heavens. + +[615] Calo Johannes. See Zeno, p. 9. + +[616] “Queen Despina.” + +[617] Uzun Hassan, at the time of his marriage with Despina, was not King +of Persia but only Prince of Diarbekr. Trebizond was taken by Mahomet II, +Grand Turk, in 1461. + +[618] He was strangled by his half-brothers after Uzun Hassan’s death. + +[619] Tocat, Malatia, and Sivas. See Zeno. + +[620] Amida Diarbekr. See Zeno, p. 6. + +[621] Orfà (Edessa). See Zeno, p. 98. + +[622] Kalat en Nejm. + +[623] A son of Yakoob Sultan; his brother, Murad Khan, disputed the +throne with him, and seized Fars and Babylonia. + +[624] Sheikh Hyder. See Zeno, p. 42. + +[625] Ardebil. + +[626] Martha. + +[627] Schamachi. + +[628] Derbend. + +[629] Demir Kapoo, or “iron gate”, it is sometimes called. + +[630] The island of Ak Tamar, the seat of the Armenian Catholicos. + +[631] Arminig. + +[632] Ghilan. + +[633] Pyrcall. + +[634] See Zeno, pp. 48, 49. + +[635] Astrabad, Sari. + +[636] See Zeno, pp. 50, 56. + +[637] Schamachi. See Zeno, p. 56. + +[638] See Zeno, p. 46. + +[639] Stepmother, according to others. + +[640] Perhaps Alanja, near Maragha, on a small stream falling into Lake +Urumia; but Zeno says it was to the north of Tauris. + +[641] This is rather a contrast to his previous assertion, that he was +one of the most bloodthirsty tyrants that ever existed. See p. 191. + +[642] Murad Khan, brother of Alumut. + +[643] This by no means equals the slaughter caused by Timour at Ispahan. + +[644] See Zeno, pp. 53, 54. + +[645] Sultan Khalil, the Eiobbite. + +[646] Hesn Keyf. See p. 108. + +[647] Ajem. + +[648] Jemeleyn. + +[649] Kharput. + +[650] Alla-ed Douleh, named Becarbec. + +[651] See Angiolello, p. 108. + +[652] Kaisarieh. + +[653] Marash. See Zeno, p. 54. + +[654] El Bostan or Albistan. See Zeno, p. 54. + +[655] Kara Dagh, Black Mountain. + +[656] Malatia. + +[657] Tchimish Gazak. + +[658] Next page says 4000. + +[659] Kharput. + +[660] Nevruz, New Year’s day, at the vernal equinox. + +[661] Kashan. + +[662] Ispahan, which rose to its greatest prosperity under Shah Abbas. + +[663] Shiraz. + +[664] Caierbec, notorious for his treachery against Khafoor el Ghouri, +the Soldan of Egypt, in his war with Selim I. See Angiolello, p. 122. + +[665] Sheibani Khan. See Zeno, p. 56. + +[666] Khorassan. + +[667] Herat. See Zeno, p. 56. + +[668] Astrabad, a city of about fifty thousand inhabitants, is situated +near the mouth of the river Ester, on a bay of the Caspian. It is +the capital of a small province of the same name often included in +Mazanderan; it is also a treasure city of the reigning family, being the +centre of their hereditary possessions. + +[669] Probably one of the ports of Mazanderan; perhaps Balfrush. Zeno. + +[670] Shirvan. + +[671] Kara Bagh Dagh, or Mountain of Kara Bagh. + +[672] Baku, after which the Caspian is sometimes named. + +[673] Derbend. See Zeno. + +[674] Probably the names of the twelve Imaums. + +[675] La Illaha illa Allah. Ismael Wely Allah. + +[676] Yezd. + +[677] Sheibani Khan. + +[678] The battle of Merv took place in 1514. + +[679] Bir or Birajik. + +[680] He does not mention the Turkish invasion of Persia, under Selim +I, in 1514, which must have come under his notice, if, as he says, he +remained in Tauris till 1520. + + + + +NARRATIVE + +OF THE + +MOST NOBLE VINCENTIO D’ALESSANDRI, + +Ambassador to the King of Persia for the Most Illustrious Republic of +Venice. + + + + +VINCENTIO D’ALESSANDRI. + + +[Sidenote: Introduction.] + +I have now undertaken to give an account to your most Illustrious +Government of the regions and kingdoms which are in Persia, of the +produce, of the character of the people, of the person of the king, and +the qualities of his mind, the government of the Court, the manner and +custom of determining the affairs of State, of things of importance in +the administration of justice, of the revenue and expenditure, of the +number and quality of the Sultans, who are nothing but commanders of +the soldiery, and in fine of all that may appear to me worthy of your +greatness. + +[Sidenote: Ismail, King of Persia, by breaking his word, seizes the +kingdom.] + +This king, named Tamas,[681] is of the house of Scili, a family +illustrious from an antiquity of 980 years, coming in a direct line from +Ali,[682] who was the son-in-law of Mahomet their Prophet. He was the +son of Ismail the First, the father of whom was named Serdiadar,[683] +a man of great goodness and learning, and considered by his people a +saint, saying that it had been predicted a thousand years before, that +his son should yet be king. Thus, Ismail, after having promised the +kingdom to the son of the daughter of the King Ussuncassano, with no +fear of God seized it for himself, causing the head of the aforesaid +son to be cut off. In this way, although much harassed by the Ottoman +Emperors, fortune was favourable to him, as he was the first who began to +reduce the greatness of that power, and to recover some of the principal +fortresses from Sultan Selim, who was the father of Sultan Suliman. This +prince took possession of Coninut,[684] a populous city of the greatest +importance, a centre of manufactures, in a most beautiful situation, +which being strong by nature, is now made almost impregnable by the +industry of the Ottomans, governed by a Pasha of high rank. Dependent on +this place are plains and fortresses which are all called Dirabech[685] +by this same Ismail. Ismail had three other sons besides the present +king, who was the eldest,—Elias Mirisce,[686] Saine Mirisce, and Baiaram +Mirisce. Elias was a man of great valour and daring, who during a peace +with the king, Barcam, King of Sirvan,[687] took both his city and +country, which is very large and of great importance on the shores of +the Caspian Sea.[688] All this territory came into the hands of his +brother, who failed to show his gratitude towards him for the acquisition +of so vast a region, and so was the cause of his becoming his enemy, and +joining the Ottomans. He excited Sultan Suliman to march with a great +army against his brother, taking in his country the town of Vam, then +the principal fortress of Persia, six days distant from Tauris. For this +reason the king caused him to be killed, as he had already done to Saine +Mirisce, his second brother, fearing lest he also should rise against +him, and as their father had already died a natural death, there only +remained one brother, who had a principality in India. + +And the king, wishing to marry him to one of his daughters, sent to +summon him, but the people would never consent to let him go to Casmen, +fearing lest he should do him some harm. The sons of this king are +eleven, born from different wives, eleven say sons and three daughters; +the eldest, named Cababinde[689] Mirisce, aged forty-three years, is +a man of a quiet disposition, and does not trouble himself about the +affairs of this world, contenting himself with a small domain given him +by his father in the region of Carasam, called Cheri. This Cababinde +has three sons, the eldest of whom[690] is fifteen years of age, of +noble aspect and lofty spirit, and is tenderly loved by the king for his +virtues, and also because none of his other sons have children. + +Ismail, the second son, is forty-one years of age, of robust frame and +daring spirit, of great courage, and loving war; he has proved his valour +on many occasions against the Ottomans, and particularly against the +Bassa of Esrom,[691] as, with a small force of cavalry, he broke the army +of the Bassa, which was very numerous; and if the latter had not quickly +retreated, would have made himself master of the city. On this account, +Maesum Bech, the chief vizier of the king, perceived that this young man +had ambitious views, and that he had assembled an army without leave from +his father, and entered the country of the Ottomans in a time of peace; +considering this a want of obedience, he showed the king some letters +sent to the Sultans throughout the provinces, inciting them to rise for +a war against the Ottomans. In this way he persuaded the king to place +him in a fortress, with a guard of Sultans and many soldiers. It is now +more than seventeen years ago since he was thrown into prison, and this +very year they have taken away the guard, but not set him at liberty. +The king, wishing to gratify him, has sent him many beautiful women +to be companions to him, but he never will have any intercourse with +them,[692] saying that he will support with patience his imprisonment by +his father, but that it would be too heavy a burden for him to see his +children prisoners too; and that slaves are not worthy of ladies. + +And this same Ismail is particularly beloved by his father, but his fear +of him is great, seeing how ardently he is desired as ruler by all the +people; and the Sultans are especially afraid of him from his too proud +disposition; so that if he ever comes to succeed to the throne he may +have to replace a great number of the chiefs of the soldiery, and to +oppose all his brothers, who have taken possession of many portions of +the kingdom. + +Sultan Caidar Mirisce,[693] the third son and Lieutenant of his father, +is eighteen years old, of small stature, most fascinating and handsome +in appearance, and excelling in oratory, elegance and horsemanship, and +most beloved by his father; he is very fond of hearing people discourse +about war, although he does not show himself much fitted for that +exercise, from his too delicate and almost feminine nature; he is of good +intellect, for his age is grave enough, and shows that he understands the +affairs of government, and knows how the other monarchs of the world rule. + +[Sidenote: Negligence of the king.] + +[Sidenote: Tyranny of the ministers.] + +Sultans Mustaffa, Umircan, and Ennit Mirisce, are all three between +fourteen and fifteen years old, and show great talent; the others also, +between eight and eleven years, are at Carassam for instruction, except +a young one of five years, who is with his father, as at that age he is +very cheerful and pleasing. The daughters are all married to relations, +to whom great possessions are given with them as dowries. The king is in +the sixty-fourth year of his age, and the fifty-first of his reign, is of +middling stature, well formed in person and features, although dark, of +thick lips, and a grisly beard; he is more of a melancholy disposition +than anything else, which is known by many signs, but principally by +his not having come out of his palace for the space of eleven years, +nor having gone once to the chase nor any other kind of amusement, to +the great dissatisfaction of his people, who according to the customs +of that country, not seeing their king, can only with the greatest +difficulty make their petitions, and cannot have a voice in the decisions +of justice; so that day and night they cry aloud before the palace for +justice, sometimes a thousand, more or less. And the king, hearing the +voices, usually orders them to be sent away, saying that there are +judges deputed in the country, with whom rests the administration of +justice, not taking into consideration that these things are against +the tyrannical Judges and Sultans, who usually wait in the street to +assassinate the people, seen by me as well as by many other people. I +have been told as a fact, that in the book of lawsuits there are written +more than ten thousand persons who have been killed during the last eight +years. This evil comes principally from the Cuzzi,[694] who, as they do +not receive pay, are forced to take bribes, and do so the more, as they +see that in the matter of law affairs the king takes no thought or care. +Hence it arises that throughout the kingdom the roads are unsafe, and in +the houses themselves one runs great dangers, and the Judges nearly all +allow themselves to be corrupted by money. + +In truth, one may say that this king never had any inclination for war, +although he talks a great deal as if he did, being a man of very little +courage. And if, indeed, in any case he has shown himself with an army in +the field, he did not do so from freewill, but of necessity; never having +dared to show his face to the enemy, so that, to his infinite disgrace, +he has lost in his reign the important city of Babilonia, near the river +Euphrates, which belonged to a lord Scharafbech,[695] ruler of some +people who are called Chinedi,[696] who as he was not afforded assistance +against the Turks, was chased away by them. Besides, near this is a place +called Bichillas,[697] a pass of great importance, and the key to the +following cities and regions, namely, Chilach, Ergis, Vastan, Adalgeras, +Berghieri, Cassan, and Van,[698] a city and fortress of much importance, +and a great extent of country belonging to the above-mentioned places, +which would be enough for a great Principality, all of which were lost. +But what above all is his greatest enjoyment, are women and money, and +these women have acquired such an influence over his mind, that he +remains a long time with them deliberating and consulting about affairs +of state; and although this king is miserly by nature, with them one +may say that he is a spendthrift, giving them money, jewels, and things +in great quantities. The women at times have permission from the king +to come out of the palace; those, indeed, who have children, under the +pretext of seeing them when they are ill. And I saw the mother of the +Sultan Mustaffa Mirisce, who was slightly indisposed, come out with her +face covered with a black veil, riding like a man, accompanied by four +slaves and six men on foot. + +[Sidenote: Great avarice of the King of Persia.] + +This king uses many contrivances for promoting his pleasures, and for +this keeps people on purpose; and those who do most for it are greatly +rewarded. He also gives women slaves to the Sultans, that they may not +be an expense to him, and when he orders them to be brought to him, they +are ornamented with jewels and rich garments. Although, in the things +mentioned, the great avarice of the king is plainly to be seen, I shall +go on to give to your Excellencies some particulars which will make it +more evident. This king sent to the East for Boscasinian cloth, and to +Carassam for close velvets and other silken fabrics, and to Aleppo for +woollen cloths, and from these stuffs he had clothes given as payment +to the soldiers, at ten times their value. He will accept any sort of +present, however small, nor does he always make one in return. As another +instance, a soldier, in time of war, captured the son of a certain +Orbech, one of the king’s greatest enemies, who has great power on the +frontiers of Cinasari, and to whom the king is forced to give every year +four hundred talleri, which in our coinage make eight thousand scudi, +that he may not molest the caravans coming from India. Another soldier +offered to give this soldier, for his prisoner, a village and a thousand +scudi, but he would not give him up, and presented him instead to the +king, hoping to obtain a greater reward; the king, however, only gave +him a horse in exchange for a prisoner of such importance. He shows the +greatest liberality in making provisions for people, by appointing them +to places which are never paid, except by force of great obligations and +presents. He gives up, as a favour, many kinds of tribute, and taxes, but +for the most it is not so in reality, since after two or three years, he +generally requires all the arrears at once, as he did at the time when I +was at his Court, in the territory of Zutta, inhabited by Armenians, who +were all exempted from tribute. He suddenly required all the arrears, +which caused the ruin of these poor Christians. Sending the majordomo of +Sultan Caiadar Mirisce,[699] lieutenant of the king, to collect these +moneys, he required twenty-five loads of cloths and shawls in addition, +as he is accustomed to change his garments fifty times a day, which are +afterwards distributed to the people at ten times their value. And no +one dares to show reluctance in taking these clothes, but rather to be +grateful to be allowed to have them. + +[Sidenote: Very heavy tolls in Persia.] + +[Sidenote: Service of the king.] + +[Sidenote: Seraglio.] + +This king sells jewels and makes other bargains, buying and selling with +the cunning of a small merchant. It is true that six years ago he did a +magnanimous act, having taken away all the tolls in his kingdom, which +were greater than any others in the world, since he takes a seventh part +of the merchandise, besides what is taken by the officials. It has, +however, been said, that he had a dream in which the Angels took him by +the throat, and asked him whether it was becoming to a king, surnamed the +Just, and descended from the house of Ali, to get such immense profits by +the ruin of so many poor people; and then ordered him to free the people +from them. The king on waking, and full of fear, commanded that in all +parts of his empire the tolls should be taken off. By this deed it is +evident that he repented; as in the time past, in order to accumulate +money, he did thousands and thousands of actions unworthy not only of a +king but of a man, which I will not particularize for fear of wearying +you with their length; but will go on to speak of his court, which is +divided into two departments, one the service of the king, and the other +the council of state. The king’s service is divided into three classes; +first, the women, daughters of Sultans, bought by the king, or received +as presents into his harem, which is thus called from them, the Seraglio, +as the abode of the women. They are all Georgian and Circassian slaves, +and he is attended by them when he sleeps in the palace. When he sleeps +out, he is attended by slaves in the lower duties, as in dressing and +undressing; these are of the number of forty or fifty, and keep in order +the tents and the larder. + +[Sidenote: Pay of the attendants.] + +[Sidenote: Loans.] + +The third class of people who attend him are the noble sons of Sultans, +who do not sleep in the royal palace, but come morning and evening from +their houses to their attendance, and generally are about one hundred in +number. The king is served by them in turn, by handing water to him, +by presenting to him his robes, and by following him when he walks in +the gardens. Pay is given by the king to the servants who attend him, +from fifteen years of age to twenty-five and even thirty, as long as +they have no beard. In this manner, in proportion to their service, he +lends some twenty, some twenty-five, and some fifty thousand scudi, at +twenty per cent., to some for ten, and others for twenty years, receiving +for himself the interest from year to year. They then lend it on good +security, at sixty and eighty per cent. to nobles of the Court who are in +expectation of receiving rank and appointments from the sovereign, and if +it happens that those who have borrowed the money do not compound for the +capital with him who has advanced the money, they sell their houses and +possessions, nor is any compensation to be had afterwards. + +[Sidenote: Rewards of the nobles.] + +The rewards of service of the nobles are the appointments of the Court as +centurions and captains of the king’s guard, also Sultanates, which mean +governorships of the provinces; these all belong to the service of the +person of the king. + +[Sidenote: Order of the Council.] + +[Sidenote: Council.] + +The Council is really one body, in which the king is the sole President, +with the intervention of twelve Sultans, men of long experience in +affairs of State. It is remarkably well attended by those Sultans who +from time to time come to the Court, and who all enter the Council, +which is held every day except when the king goes to the bath, or has +his nails cut; the time of this council in summer as well as winter is +from the twenty-second hour of the day, and according to the matters in +hand, continues till the third, fourth, and sixth hour of the night. The +king sits upon a Masthean, not very high from the ground, and behind his +shoulders his sons sit when they are at Court, especially Sultan Caidar +Mirise,[700] who, as Lieutenant of his father, does not leave the king’s +sight. The Sultan Councillors, who are four in number, named viceroys, +sit in front. The king introduces the subjects, and discourses about +them, asking their opinions from the Sultans, and each one as he states +his opinion, rises, and comes near the king, speaking aloud, that he may +be heard by his colleagues. If, in the course of argument, the king hears +anything which strikes him, he has it noted by the grand Councillors, and +very often takes a note of it with his own hand; and thus in their order +in which the king inquires of them, the Sultans give their opinions. When +the king has no doubt about the matter in question, it is settled at the +first Council; and if he has doubts, he hears the arguments of the full +Council, and then settles it after private consideration. In the number +of the consulting Sultans is included the Curzibassa, chief of the king’s +guard, although he may not be a Sultan. The grand Councillors have no +vote, and can say nothing unless they are called upon by the king; they, +although of great dignity, cannot rise to the rank of Sultan, nor to any +other appointments belonging to the military service, even if they are +nobly born. + +[Sidenote: Knighthood.] + +Knighthood is really more for deserving than for noble persons. While the +Council is sitting every night, there is also a guard of three hundred +armed Curzi, who, when the Council is up, do not leave, but remain to +guard the king. + +As it seems to me that I have at last discoursed enough about the king’s +court, I will go on to speak of the guard of the state, of the government +and capitals of the provinces and the pursuits of the people. + +[Sidenote: Boundaries of Persia.] + +[Sidenote: Kingdoms possessed by the King of Persia.] + +[Sidenote: Metropolitan cities.] + +The country possessed by the King of Persia is bordered on the east by +the Indies, which are between the rivers Ganges and Ondo (Indus); on +the west by the river Tigris, which divides Persia from Mesopotamia, +now called Diarbech, and running towards the frontiers of Babilonia +enters the Euphrates,[701] then flowing together in one bed through +Bolsora,[702] into the Persian Gulf, towards the south; on the north by +the Caspian Sea, called also the sea of Baccu,[703] and by Tartary of the +great Cattai. In this country there are the following regions possessed +by this king, namely, Sunan,[704] the ancient kingdom of the Medes, Aras, +near Greater Armenia, Carassan, Chiessen,[705] Cheri,[706] Diargomet, and +Gilari,[707] which is now in a disturbed state, owing to an insurrection +of the people. There are fifty-two cities in this realm: the chief are +Tauris, metropolis of the whole kingdom, Carbin, Curassam, Naesimen,[708] +Samachi,[709] and others I will not name, but must mention that there +is not one in the whole kingdom which is walled, but all are open; the +buildings are wretched, and the houses all of mud and cut straw, mixed +together; neither are there mosques nor anything else to adorn these +cities, although their sites are generally beautiful. The roads are +disagreeable, from the great quantity of dust and mud by turns, rendering +them difficult for travelling. + +[Sidenote: Abundance of corn.] + +[Sidenote: Agriculture or irrigation of the fields in Persia.] + +There is a very great abundance of corn, and generally the plains are +beautiful; in the country they are accustomed to conduct the water to +irrigate the fields, one week in one place, and the other in another, +and thus they give sufficient water to the grain and vines. In spite +of the scarcity of rain, in the ascents and other places, where water +cannot be brought, they grow grass. There is also a great quantity of +live stock, and particularly of sheep, of such a size, that I had seen +some in Tauris, whose tails weighed ten bisti, or rather ten battuarii, +which in our weights make nine pounds. With all this the supply has to be +immense, as no people in the world eat more than the Persians, it being +the custom for both old and young to eat four times a day, the excellence +of the water helping the digestion. + +[Sidenote: Women and their habits.] + +In the cities and towns they do not use many ornaments; everyone sleeps +on the ground, and those who are of some position use a mattress on the +carpet, others a simple mat. The women are mostly ugly, though of fine +features and noble dispositions, their customs not being so refined as +those of the Turkish ladies. They wear robes of silk, veils on their +heads, and show their faces openly. They have pearls and other jewels +on their heads, and on this account pearls are in great demand in these +regions, as it is not very long since they came into use. + +[Sidenote: Love and reverence of the people of Persia for the king.] + +[Sidenote: Superstition of the Persian people.] + +[Sidenote: Factions at Tauris.] + +The reverence and love of the people for the king, notwithstanding the +things mentioned above, which make one think he ought to be hated, +are incredible, as they worship him not as a king, but as a god, on +account of his descent from the line of Ali, the great object of their +veneration. Those who are in sickness or hardships do not call to aid +the name of God so much as that of the king, making vows to present him +with some gift, and some go to kiss the doors of the palace, that house +being considered fortunate which is able to get some cloth or shawl from +the king, or else some water in which he has washed his hands, which they +consider a preventive of fever. To pass over many other things I might +say about this matter, I will only mention that not only the people, +but his own sons and the sultans speak to him as if they could not find +epithets worthy of such greatness, saying, “Thou art the living faith, +and in thee we believe.” And not only in the neighbouring cities can +one observe these signs of reverence, but also in the distant towns and +places many hold that besides having the prophetic spirit, he has the +power of raising the dead and of working other like miracles, saying +that, as Ali, their chief saint, had eleven male children, this king has +received from the Majesty of God the same favour as Ali. It is true that +in the city of Tauris he is not held in such veneration as in the other +places, for which reason it is said that he has left it and gone to stay +at Casin,[710] seeing that he was not esteemed there as he wished. The +city is divided into two factions, one called Nausitai, and the other +Himicaivartu, which comprehend the nine municipal districts, five in one +and four in the other, and all the citizens, about twelve thousand in +number. These factions had always been at enmity, and slaughtered each +other every day, nor could the king or any others put a stop to it, as +the hatred between them had lasted more than thirty years. + +[Sidenote: A curious and remarkable case.] + +Certainly, one may say that the chiefs of districts are more masters of +the city than the king, since the origin of their discord was that the +price of meat having risen a little higher than usual, the chiefs of the +districts went to the palace of the sultans and killed all the servants, +and the sultan himself, if there was anything against him; then they went +to the houses of those servants who were not present, broke in the doors, +killed them, and carried their heads to the palace. Nor did they do these +things secretly, so that from that time no attempt has been made against +their freedom; so much so, that in past times they have slain sultans +only to preserve some one of their privileges. + +[Sidenote: Situation of the city of Tauris.] + +And since this city is the metropolis of the whole empire, it seems to +me that I ought to say something about it.[711] This city, therefore, +is situated in a large plain not far from some hills, and in the +neighbourhood of a height where used to be an ancient castle, as may be +seen from the ruins; its circumference, although it has no walls, is +fifteen miles and more in a long shape. From a place called Nassa, as far +as the gate of the city, towards Casbin, is almost a short day’s journey +in distance, with, however, numberless gardens and open places. The +streets are forty-five in number, and in each there is a grove of trees, +so that one may say that there is a garden for every street. The air is +most salubrious in winter as well as summer. The fruits surpass those of +every other country in goodness and quality. This city is commercial, as +in it the goods and caravans of all parts of the kingdom come together, +but its business has suffered much from war. As, for instance, in the +past, two (loads) of silk, with which the country abounds, were worth +more than four hundred sequins, and are now worth only two hundred. +The merchandize which comes viâ Ormus, is taken care of by no one, as +the route used to be through Aleppo, where there is now no traffic. +They are still brought to Constantinople by land, and thence taken to +Bogdania,[712] being dispersed through Poland, Denmark, Sweden, and other +places, but the expenses are so great, that the profits are very small, +in spite of the risk, as told me by some Armenians whom I met in Tauris, +and afterwards in Tripoli. Commerce was still on the downhill road, until +an English gentleman,[713] named Mr. Thomas, of London, arrived in this +city with a great quantity of cloth through Muscovy, with the title of +ambassador from the queen. Having died, the ruler of Siruan[714] took +away all his things, so that his companions had to spend a great deal +of money to get them back; so that, on this account, one cannot hope to +negotiate or continue traffic with these countries. + +[Sidenote: Silken goods.] + +[Sidenote: Mines.] + +In the kingdom of Carassam[715] they worked cloths of silk and especially +velvets, which are equal in excellence to the Genoese; in other parts +they work on smooth stuffs and damask, but not with the finish they have +in Italy. In this country of Persia there are no mines of gold and silver +or of copper, but only of iron; so that those who introduce silver from +Turkey gain twenty per cent., gold fourteen and fifteen per cent., and +copper sometimes eighteen and sometimes twenty per cent.; it is true that +there are great expenses, as the exportation of metals is forbidden. + +[Sidenote: No duties in Persia.] + +[Sidenote: Taxes on houses.] + +[Sidenote: Male animals do not pay tribute in Persia.] + +[Sidenote: Income and expenditure of the King of Persia.] + +This king, unlike other states, gets none of his revenues from duties, +as they do not exist in this kingdom, but has a sixth part of the +produce of the land, of corn and other plants; on vines and grass land, +for one thousand archi of ground an annual payment of sixty-six pieces +of gold, which is rather more than four sequins of gold. Archi are a +measure, of which ten go to an ordinary field; so that one pays less +than half a ducat for a field, and houses pay five per cent. on their +rent. Christians in some regions pay five, in others seven and eight +ducats, per house, according to the goodness and wealth of the country +they inhabit. And on animals, for every herd of forty sheep he receives +a tribute of fifteen bisti a year, which make three ducats of our money, +but which male animals do not pay; for every cow they paid the sum of two +ducats a year of our money, and so on; these make up the income of the +king, which is said to amount to three millions of gold. The expenditure, +which really comes from the treasury, is very small, as he is under +obligation to pay only five thousand soldiers, called Curzi, who act as +his body-guard, and are selected from the best and finest men in the +realm; nor these even does he pay in money, but gives them uniforms and +horses, putting on them whatever value he thinks fit in advance for their +salaries. + +[Sidenote: Soldiery of the King of Persia easily brought together.] + +[Sidenote: Persian arms.] + +He has eleven sons, and each of them has a sumptuous and separate court, +but no one knows what he gives them. There are fifty sultans, by whom +all the soldiery of the kingdom is made up, as it is divided into fifty +parts, except that which he and his sons keep, which is not subject to +governors. These same commanders have the charge of from five hundred +to three thousand horsemen each, and from the regions assigned to them +get as large an income as will support their retainers and cavalry, and +enable them to muster them frequently; so that the king, in case of war, +has nothing else to do but to send messengers to the sultans a month or +two before, who, as they are always prepared, come without difficulty +to the rendezvous. In all, they may amount to sixty thousand cavalry, +notwithstanding that on paper the muster is much higher. They are +generally men of fine aspect, robust, well-made, of great courage, and +very warlike. They use for arms swords, lances, arquebuses, which all the +soldiers can use; their arms also are superior and better tempered than +those of any other nation. The barrels of the arquebuses are generally +six spans long, and carry a ball a little less than three ounces in +weight. They use them with such facility, that it does not hinder them +drawing their bows nor handling their swords, keeping the latter hung +at their saddle-bows till occasion requires them. The arquebus then is +put away behind the back, so that one weapon does not impede the use of +another. + +[Sidenote: Persian horses and how they were introduced.] + +The horses are so well trained and are so good and handsome that there is +now no need to have them brought from other countries; this has happened +since the arrival of Sultan Bayazeth,[716] who fled into Persia with some +magnificent Caramanian and Arab horses, which were given away throughout +the country, and afterwards when he was executed by order of the king, +there were a thousand horses and mares in existence. On this account +there has never been so fine a breed, and the Ottomans even have not got +one like it. This Bayazeth also brought thirty pieces of artillery, which +were taken to San Marco, towards the Caspian Sea; but not so the money +and other spoils. + +[Sidenote: Strength of the King of Persia.] + +The strength of the king lies in his having caused them to lay waste the +country on the frontiers of the Turk on every side for six days’ journey +in distance, and to pull down every castle in the district, in order to +strengthen himself by the Turks having no inclination to seize and hold +it. I shall now speak of the relations and understandings between him and +the neighbouring princes. + +[Sidenote: Claims of the King of Persia to countries taken from him by +the Ottoman.] + +[Sidenote: Allegiance and dependence.] + +This king has pretensions and claims to the countries taken from him by +the Ottoman emperors, on one side from the river Euphrates to Babilonia, +on the west to the countries of Benbech[717] and Lesser Armenia, in which +are comprised Urfa,[718] Merdin,[719] Bira,[720] Adiligus, Bitis,[721] +Van, Vastan, Cassan,[722] Calasci, Haligan, Baiiburdt,[723] and other +places. This king has the allegiance and dependence of a Christian named +Lentul[724] Deghi, Prince of the Georgians, who is his tributary, and +pays every year twenty thousand ducats; he has his state near the Caspian +Sea. This prince, in case of war with the Ottomans, could assist with ten +thousand Georgian horse, all robust and valiant men. + +[Sidenote: Chindi, inhabitants of the mountains of Armenia, and their +forces.] + +There are also some Turkish chiefs named Chindi inhabiting certain +mountains in Lesser Armenia, towards the Mediterranean;[725] and these +Chindi, when all united, may amount to seven or eight thousand cavalry, +of great excellence, and always eager to fight against the Turk. + +[Sidenote: Conclusion.] + +This is all, most Serene Prince and most Illustrious Noblemen, that in +the space of one and twenty months passed since the day I left the feet +of your Highnesses to go to Persia, till my return, I have diligently +observed of the affairs of that realm. + + +FINIS. + + + + +FOOTNOTES + + +[681] Tamasp. + +[682] See Zeno, p. 48. + +[683] Sheikh Hyder. + +[684] Kara Amid Diarbekr. See Zeno, p. 6. + +[685] Diarbekr. + +[686] Mirza, “prince”. + +[687] Shirvan. + +[688] In 1549, Knolles says:—“Solyman had now almost three yeares taken +his rest, when it fortuned that Ercaces Imirza, King of Sirvan, moved +with the often injuries of Tamas, his brother, the great Persian king, +fled to Solyman at Constantinople, to crave aid of him against his +brother. Solyman, glad of such an occasion to worke upon, entertained +him with all courtesie, and promised to take upon him his quarrell and +to protect him against his unnaturall brother; and when he had made all +things readie for so great an expedition, passed over into Asia; and +after long and painfull travell entered at last with a puissant armie +into Armenia, and there, in the borders of the Persian kingdome, first +besieged the citie of Van, which, after ten daies’ siege, was yeelded +unto him upon condition that the Persian souldiors there in garrison +might, with life and libertie, depart with their armes as souldiors; +which was at the first by Solyman granted, and so the citie surrendered. +From thence, Solyman sent his chiefe commanders, with a great part of +his armie, to burne and spoile the enemie’s countrey, which they for a +time cheerfully performed, and running farre into the countrey strive, +as it were, among themselves who should doe most harme; where Imirza, +among the rest, for whose sake Solyman had undertaken this warre, was +as forward as the best to wast and spoile his brother’s kingdome, +sparing nothing that came to hand. The best and richest things he got +he presented to Solyman, to draw him on still in that warre. But that +served not his turne to recover againe his kingdome of Sirvan; for Tamas, +without shewing any power to withstand the Turks, had, after his wonted +manner, caused his people to withdraw themselves far into the mountainous +countrey, leaving nothing behind them in that wast countrey to relieve +them but bare ground; so that the farther the Turks went the more they +wanted, without hope of better successe than such as they had before to +their losse made proofe of, in their former expeditions into that great +kingdome. The conceit whereof so much pierced not the common souldiors +only, but even the captaines themselves: that to make an end of that +long and unprofitable warre, taken in hand for another man’s good, they +consulted among themselves either to kill Imirza, or else to disgrace +him with Solyman; which they so cunningly wrought: some suggesting false +suspitions of his treacherous dealing in the proceeding of that warre; +and others, with like craft, under cover of friendship, giving him +warning in secret of the danger he was in: the one filling Solyman’s head +with distrust, and the other, Imirza’s with fear. Briefly, to shut the +matter up in their owne tearmes, _they persuaded the hare to flie and +the hounds to follow_. Imirza, doubting some sudden mischiefe, fled for +succour to an old acquaintance of his, one of the princes of Chaldea, +who most treacherously sent him in bonds to Tamas, his brother, his most +cruell enemie, who, glad to have the author of all his troubles with the +Turks delivered into his hands, cast him in prison, and that Solyman nor +any other should in his behalfe further prosecute the warre, or by his +means hope for victorie, caused him to be in prison murthered. In this +expedition against the Persian king Solyman was occupied a yeare and +nine months: all which time the Turks endured great troubles and were +oftentimes hardly distressed by the Persians; untill, at last, Solyman +himselfe, wearie of that tedious warre, wherein he had got neither honour +nor profit, thought it best to make an end; and thereupon returned againe +to Constantinople in the yeare 1549.” + +[689] Mahomet Khodabundah Mirza, Prince Mahomet, the slave of God. + +[690] Afterwards Shah Abbas, the Great. + +[691] The Pasha of Erzeroum. + +[692] When he came to the throne he gave way altogether to debauchery. + +[693] Hyder Mirza. + +[694] Judges. + +[695] Sherf Beg. + +[696] Khunneydec Kurds in the Bohtan mountains, near Mosul, tribesmen of +Sherf Beg. + +[697] Bitlis. + +[698] Ikhlat, Arjeesh, Van, Ardel, Jiraz, Pergri, all on the Van Lake. +Ikhlat was the summer seat of the Akkoniloos, and its burial ground is +full of the tombs of their chiefs. + +[699] Hyder Mirza. + +[700] Hyder Mirza. + +[701] Called then the Shat-ul-Arab. + +[702] Basrat or Bassora. + +[703] Baku. + +[704] Shirvan. + +[705] Yezd. + +[706] Herat. + +[707] Ghilan. + +[708] Nakshivan. + +[709] Schamachi. + +[710] Kasween. + +[711] See Angiolello. + +[712] Moldavia. + +[713] Alcocke, or Anthony Jenkinson, who came with a letter from Queen +Elizabeth to Shah Tamasp in 1561. + +[714] Shirvan. + +[715] Khorassan. + +[716] Bayezid, the son of Suleyman, after his rebellion in 1556, fled for +safety to the Court of Tahmas, who received him with favour at first; +but, his mind becoming embittered against him, caused his followers to be +dispersed and slain, and Bayezid himself to be cast into prison. Suleyman +used all the means in his power to have Bayezid delivered into his +hands, but Tamas would not consent; but afterwards, in consideration of +a large sum of money, agreed to allow him to be made away with. Bayezid, +accordingly, was strangled, with his four sons. (From Augerius Busbequius +Legationis Turcicæ, epist. 4.) + +[717] Diarbekr. + +[718] Orfa. + +[719] Mardin. + +[720] Bir. + +[721] Aradh el Jivaz and Bitlis. + +[722] Kashan. + +[723] Baiboort. + +[724] Lentul Ogli, or Levent Ogli. + +[725] These I suppose to be the Kizzilbashes of the Deyrsun and Kara +Dagh, near Marash. They are still inveterate enemies of the Turks, though +inhabiting their territory. Their religious tenets assimilate more with +the Persians. + + + + +ERRATA AND NOTES. + + +Page 5, Note, _for_ “taneel”, _read_ “tawil”, long. Uzun means long in +Turkish, and Zeno is right in giving it the secondary sense of great; the +Turks claim Artaxerxes Longimanus to have been of Turkish race, because +with them long arms are esteemed a sign of power and greatness. + +Page 8, _for_ “Ikindjis”, _read_ “Akinjys”. + +Page 24, “ne dentider”, probably “neh deria-dir”, what a sea it is, +Turkish, not Persian. + +Page 70, “Occota Can”, probably “Oktai Khan”. + +Page 79, Note, _for_ “Quzbvassi”, _read_ “Kas-ovahsy”. + +Page 81, “Arphaemiler”, Arpa-eminy, master of the barley. + +Page 136, “bosdocan”, buzdugan, a mace, a word nearly obsolete in +Constantinople; it is preserved in Wallachia. + +Page 143. These columns are still standing, and have some inscriptions, +apparently Phœnician, upon them. + +Page 207. Sheibani Khan; for an account of his life and death, see M. +Vambery’s _History of Bokhara_. + + + + +INDEX. + + + Amasia, 37 + + Amida (Diarbekir), 6 + + Ardebil, 42 + + Astrabad, 113 + + Astrakhan, 114 + + + Barbaro, 15, 21, 33, 93 + + Bitlis, 8, 157 + + + Calo Johannes, 9, 178 + + Casimir, King of Poland, 33 + + Chalderan, battle of, 59-61, 120 + + Contarini Ambrosio, 33 + + + Derbend, 44, 113, 185, 186 + + Despina, wife of Uzun Hassan, 9, 13, 14, 18, 41, 42, 71, 146, 178, 179 + + + Erzingan, 7 + + + Gaza, battle of, 128-130 + + Genealogy of Kara Yusuf, 1 + + — — Shah Ismail, 5 + + — — Shah Abbas, 48 + + + Hassan Beg or Uzun Hassan, 1, 73, 183 + + Hyder Sheikh, 42, 43, 73, 100, 101, 184 + + + Ismail, Shah, 46, 48, 103, 122, 137, 152, 187, 190, 191, 211 + + + Jezirah, 150 + + + Kafur el Ghouri, 126 + + Kharput, 148 + + Khoi, 165 + + Kurds, 157 + + + Malatia, battle of, 25-29, 86-88, 181, 182 + + Mamelukes, 129, 133 + + Mardin, 148 + + Matthias Corvinus, 34 + + Mazenderan, 49 + + Morenigo, Pietro, 21 + + Murad Khan, 53, 55, 105, 192 + + + Orfa, 98, 143, 144 + + + Pancratio, 97 + + Persian army, 16, 17, 65 + + — games, 111 + + + Selim Sultan, 58 + + Sert, 156 + + Shebban Kara Hissar, 23 + + Sheibani Khan, 55, 110, 115, 117, 158, 207 + + Sinan Pasha, 128, 132 + + Suleyman Sultan, 213 + + + Tabriz, 166, 178-224 + + Tahmasp Shah, 211 + + Tiflis, 97 + + Tomant Bey, 127, 131 + + Turkish army, 22, 62, 79, 83 + + + Van, 159, 187 + + Vastan, 161 + + Violante, wife of C. Zeno, 9 + + + Yakub, son of Hassan Beg, his death, 99, 183 + + + + +List of amendments made to the text + + +In “Travels to Tana and Persia”: + + Page 13, “ꝑerchaunce” changed to “perchaunce” (perchaunce to trym̄e) + Page 24, “sigfieth” changed to “signifieth” (signifieth a bulter) + Page 39, “thtt” changed to “that” (that is to wete, viij in every galey) + Page 39, “Wherepon” changed to “Whereupon” (Whereupon I went streight to) + Page 41, “comannded” changed to “commanded” (commanded Mʳ. Vettor) + Page 41, “morʳneng” changed to “moʳneng” (early in the moʳneng) + Page 45, “ꝑecaue” changed to “ꝑceaue” (being as ferre as I coulde ꝑceaue) + Page 66, “goskawkes” changed to “goshawkes” (houndes, a thousande, + goshawkes, Lᵗⁱᵉ) + Page 74, “xxˡⁱᵉ” changed to “xxᵗⁱᵉ” (very great, of xxᵗⁱᵉ myles compasse) + Page 117, “acording” changed to “according” (acted according to their + usual custom) + Page 154, “despared” changed to “despaired” (had despaired of seeing me) + Page 155, “mumbers” changed to “numbers” (in considerable numbers) + Page 155, “numerons” changed to “numerous” (supposed to be very numerous) + Page 168, “porvided” changed to “provided” (escorts were provided for me) + Index, the “K” section was partly duplicated, this has been fixed + +In “A Narrative of Italian Travels in Persia”: + + Page xi, “rebelion” changed to “rebellion” (after his rebellion in 1556) + Page 101, “son” changed to “sons” (to seize his wife and three sons) + Page 191, “Christains” changed to “Christians” (villages inhabited by + orthodox Christians) + Page 199, “vasaal” changed to “vassal” (Muratcan, offering to become + his vassal) + Page 199, “Spain” changed to “Spaan”, twice (he proceeded to Spaan / + Ismael in Spaan) + Page 203, “fortrèss” changed to “fortress” (a fortress named Canar) + Footnote 405, missing word “of” added (the present capital of Russian + Trans-Caucasia) + Footnote 486, “Knaneh” changed to “Khaneh” (At Gumish Khaneh) + Footnote 668, “Maganderan” changed to “Mazanderan” (often included in + Mazanderan) + Index, “Sbah” changed to “Shah” (entry for Genealogy of Shah Ismail) + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75292 *** |