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That said, some +probable printing errors were identified and fixed; <a href="#Amendments">these are listed at +the end</a>. 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.</p> + +</div> + +<h1>Travels to Tana and Persia,<br> +<span class="smaller">and</span><br> +A Narrative of Italian Travels in Persia</h1> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_i"></a>[i]</span></p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smaller">WORKS ISSUED BY</span><br> +<span class="larger gothic">The Hakluyt Society.</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="line" style="max-width: 9.375em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/line.jpg" alt=""> +</figure> + +<p class="center">TRAVELS TO TANA AND PERSIA,<br> +<span class="smaller">BY BARBARO AND CONTARINI.</span></p> + +<p class="center">A NARRATIVE OF ITALIAN TRAVELS IN PERSIA,<br> +<span class="smaller">IN THE 15TH AND 16TH CENTURIES.</span></p> + +<p class="titlepage smaller">FIRST SERIES. NO. XLIX-MDCCCLXXIII</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_ii"></a>[ii]</span></p> + +<p class="titlepage larger"><span class="smaller">TRAVELS<br> +<span class="smaller">TO</span></span><br> +TANA AND PERSIA,</p> + +<p class="titlepage"><span class="smaller">BY</span><br> +JOSAFA BARBARO<br> +<span class="smaller">AND</span><br> +AMBROGIO CONTARINI.</p> + +<p class="titlepage"><span class="smaller">TRANSLATED FROM THE ITALIAN BY</span><br> +WILLIAM THOMAS, CLERK OF THE COUNCIL TO EDWARD VI,<br> +<span class="smaller">AND BY</span><br> +S. A. ROY, ESQ.</p> + +<p class="titlepage"><span class="smaller">AND EDITED, WITH AN INTRODUCTION, BY</span><br> +LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEY.</p> + +<p class="titlepage">BURT FRANKLIN, PUBLISHER<br> +NEW YORK, NEW YORK</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_iii"></a>[iii]</span></p> + +<p class="titlepage"><span class="smaller">Published by</span><br> +BURT FRANKLIN<br> +<span class="smaller">514 West 113th Street<br> +New York 25, N. Y.</span></p> + +<p class="titlepage smaller">ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED BY THE HAKLUYT SOCIETY</p> + +<p class="center smaller">REPRINTED BY PERMISSION</p> + +<p class="titlepage smaller">Printed in U.S.A.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_iv"></a>[iv]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="COUNCIL_OF_THE_HAKLUYT_SOCIETY">COUNCIL OF THE HAKLUYT SOCIETY.</h2> + +</div> + +<table> + <tr> + <td colspan="3"><span class="smcap">The Right Hon. Sir DAVID DUNDAS, President.</span></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Admiral C. R. DRINKWATER BETHUNE, C.B.</span></td> + <td class="tdr">}</td> + <td rowspan="2" class="valign nw"><span class="smcap">Vice-Presidents.</span></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Major-General Sir HENRY C. RAWLINSON, K.C.B., D.C.L., + F.R.S., Vice-Pres.R.G.S.</span></td> + <td class="tdr">}</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td colspan="3"><span class="smcap">W. A. TYSSEN AMHURST, Esq.</span></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td colspan="3"><span class="smcap">Rev. GEORGE P. BADGER.</span></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td colspan="3"><span class="smcap">JOHN BARROW, Esq., F.R.S.</span></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td colspan="3"><span class="smcap">Vice-Admiral COLLINSON, C.B.</span></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td colspan="3"><span class="smcap">Captain COLOMB, R.N.</span></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td colspan="3"><span class="smcap">W. E. FRERE, Esq.</span></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td colspan="3"><span class="smcap">EGERTON VERNON HARCOURT, Esq.</span></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td colspan="3"><span class="smcap">JOHN WINTER JONES, Esq., F.S.A.</span></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td colspan="3"><span class="smcap">R. H. MAJOR, Esq., F.S.A., Sec.R.G.S.</span></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td colspan="3"><span class="smcap">Sir W. STIRLING MAXWELL, Bart.</span></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td colspan="3"><span class="smcap">Sir CHARLES NICHOLSON, Bart., D.C.L.</span></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td colspan="3"><span class="smcap">Vice-Admiral ERASMUS OMMANNEY, C.B., F.R.S.</span></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td colspan="3"><span class="smcap">Rear-Admiral SHERARD OSBORN, C.B., F.R.S.</span></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td colspan="3"><span class="smcap">The Lord STANLEY of Alderley.</span></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td colspan="3"><span class="smcap">EDWARD THOMAS, Esq., F.R.S.</span></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td colspan="3"><span class="smcap">The Hon. FREDERICK WALPOLE, M.P.</span></td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">CLEMENTS R. MARKHAM, Esq., C.B., F.R.S., +Sec.R.G.S. Honorary Secretary.</span></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_v"></a>[v]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="INTRODUCTION">INTRODUCTION.</h2> + +</div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_vi"></a>[vi]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_vii"></a>[vii]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_viii"></a>[viii]</span> +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.”</p> + +<p>Chalmers gives the following list of his works:—</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> + +<p>1. “The History of Italy.” Lond. 1549, 1561, 4to.</p> + +<p>2. “The Principal Rules of the Italian Grammar, with a +Dictionary for the better understanding of Boccace, +Petrarch, and Dante.” <i>Ibid.</i> 1550, 1561, 1567, +4to.</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>4. “Common Places of State,” written for the use of +Edward VI. MS. Cotton.</p> + +<p>5. “Of the Vanity of the World.” Lond. 1549, 8vo.</p> + +<p>6. “Translation of Cato’s speech, and Valerius’s answer; +from the 4th Decade of Livy.” <i>Ibid.</i> 1551, 12mo.</p> + +<p>He also made some translations from the Italian, which +are still in manuscript.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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:—</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_ix"></a>[ix]</span></p> + +<div class="blockquote"> + +<p class="hanging"><i>To the right honorable Sʳ William Cecill Knight one of the +King’s Mag. twoo principall Secretaries.</i></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p class="center">Yoʳˢ assuredly to thuttermost</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Willm Thomas</span>.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_x"></a>[x]</span> +Queen Mary, and not only, as Ball supposes, against +Gardiner.</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> + +<p class="center"><i>Report of Deputy Keeper of the Public Records</i>, iv, p. 248.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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:—“<i>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</i>”; 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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_xi"></a>[xi]</span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p class="tb">Membrane <span class="allsmcap">I</span>, Wednesday, 9 May, 1 Mary, London.</p> + +<p>Record of Sessions, held at Guildhall, before the said Sir +Thomas Whyte, and his fellows setting forth.</p> + +<p>1 May, 1 Mary, London—Special Commission of Oyer +Terminer.</p> + +<p>8 May, 1 Mary, London—Indictment as before mentioned.</p> + +<p>William Thomas, being brought to the bar by the Constable +of the Tower, pleads Not Guilty.</p> + +<p>Venire, awarded instanter.</p> + +<p>Verdict, Guilty.</p> + +<p>Judgment as usual in cases of High Treason.</p> + +<p>Execution at Tyburn.</p> + +<p>Record delivered into Court, by William, Marquis of +Winchester, on Monday next, after the Octaves of the Holy +Trinity, 1 Mary.</p> + +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_1"></a>[1]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="TRAVELS_OF_JOSAFA_BARBARO">TRAVELS OF JOSAFA BARBARO.</h2> + +</div> + +<p class="center">TO THE KINGS MOST EXCELLENT MAᴵᴱ.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_2"></a>[2]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p class="center">Yoʳ Maᵗˢ most bounden Servant,</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Willm. Thomas</span>.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_3"></a>[3]</span></p> + +<p class="hanging mid">[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.]</p> + +</div> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_4"></a>[4]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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 <span class="smcap">Plinio +Solino</span>, <span class="smcap">Pomponio Mela</span>, <span class="smcap">Strabone</span>, <span class="smcap">Herodoto</span>, <span class="smcap">Diodoro</span>, <span class="smcap">Dionisio +Halicarnasseo</span>, and others of late as <span class="smcap">Marco Paulo</span>, <span class="smcap">Nicolo +Conte</span>, our Venetians, and John Mandevile thenglisheman: and +by other last of all as <span class="smcap">Pietro Quirini</span>, <span class="smcap">Aluise da Mosto</span>, and +<span class="smcap">Ambrogio Contarini</span>, 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.</p> + +<p class="tb">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.</p> + +<p>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 <span class="smcap">Polonia</span>, 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_5"></a>[5]</span> +Lande to the ryver called Elice, which is within xl miles of +<span class="smcap">Capha</span>: and passing that ryver it goeth towards <span class="smcap">Moncastro</span>, +wheare the notable ryver of <span class="smcap">Danube</span> renneth. From which +place forwardes I woll speake of nothing because those +places are familiar and knowen well enough.</p> + +<p>The cuntrey of <span class="smcap">Alania</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Cairo is the greatest citie in Egipt.</div> + +<div class="sidenote">Zena is a sleade.</div> + +<p>In one of these little hilles we were ꝑsuaded there shulde +be hidden a great treasure. For in the tyme that <span class="smcap">Mr. +Pietro</span> Lando had beene consule at Tana, there came one +named <span class="smcap">Gulbedin</span> from <span class="smcap">El Cairo</span>, wheare he had learned of a +Tartarien woman that in one of these little hylles called +Contebe,<a id="FNanchor_1" href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> 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 <span class="smcap">Francesco Cornaro</span>, brother vnto +<span class="smcap">Jacomo Cornaro</span> of the banke, Catarino Contarini, who afterwards +vsed to <span class="smcap">Constantinople</span>. Giovan Barbarigo sonne +vnto <span class="smcap">Andrea</span> of <span class="smcap">Candia</span>. 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_6"></a>[6]</span> +fooyste that he had made, and there by appointment of the +Lorde of that place, spooyled certein shipps that came from +<span class="smcap">Strana</span>, 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_7"></a>[7]</span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Miglio is a graine almost as small as mustard seed.</div> + +<p>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 <span class="smcap">Miglio</span> an other +spanne deepe, and bicause it may be said that that they of +the cuntrey lyved wᵗʰ bread made of <span class="smcap">Miglio</span>, 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.<a id="FNanchor_2" href="#Footnote_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_8"></a>[8]</span></p> + +<p>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 <span class="smcap">Ancona</span> 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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Tartares call in maner all nations of Europe franchi.</div> + +<p>This place was before called the caves of Gulbedin, but +after our digging there it hathe beene called the cave of the +<span class="smcap">Franchi</span>, 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_9"></a>[9]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<a id="FNanchor_3" href="#Footnote_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> (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.</p> + +<p>We had newes of their cōmyng iiij moonthes before. But<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_10"></a>[10]</span> +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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Moschea is the name of the Maccomettanes church.</div> + +<div class="sidenote">Turcimanno signifieth an interpretoʳ.</div> + +<p>At length he came himself, and was lodged in an auncient +<span class="smcap">Moschea</span>, wᵗhin an arrowe shoot of Tana. Incontinently +the consule determined to send him presents, and sent him +a <span class="smcap">Nouena</span>, an other to his moother, and an other to <span class="smcap">Naurus</span>, +capitaigne of the armie. <span class="smcap">Nouena</span> 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 <span class="smcap">Moschea</span>, we founde +the Lorde lyeng on a carpett, leanyng his hedde vnto <span class="smcap">Naurus</span>, +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 <span class="smcap">Buran Taiapietra</span>,<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_11"></a>[11]</span> +our <span class="smcap">Turcimanno</span>, 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.</p> + +<p>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 <span class="smcap">miglio</span>, 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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Peloponesus is nowe called Morea.</div> + +<div class="sidenote">This is skarse an English halfpeny.</div> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_12"></a>[12]</span> +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 +<span class="smcap">Paganea</span> of cxx myles. This is a Greeke woorde that I +learned in <span class="smcap">Morea</span>, 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, +<span class="smcap">Circasso</span>, which he named Pertriche, and made him a freere: +and all the night they of the towne wolde leave their wyndowss<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_13"></a>[13]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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 <span class="smcap">Bosagaz</span>, 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 <span class="smcap">Moroni</span> and <span class="smcap">Cauiari</span>, and that certain of this +people cōmyng thither had taken all their fishe, aswell freshe +as salte, and all their <span class="smcap">Cauiari</span>, and all their salte, which was +as bigge as that of <span class="smcap">Sieniza</span>, 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 <span class="smcap">Zuan da Valle</span>, 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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_14"></a>[14]</span> +habilitie of the person. So that whan they lodge they take +downe these howses to lodge in.</p> + +<p>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 <span class="smcap">Edelmugh</span>, +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.</p> + +<p>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?</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_15"></a>[15]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_16"></a>[16]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>I did see on a daie (being in this Lordo) a treene<a id="FNanchor_4" href="#Footnote_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> dishe +overwhelmed<a id="FNanchor_5" href="#Footnote_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> 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 +<span class="smcap">Hibuch-Peres</span>, 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.</p> + +<p>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 <span class="smcap">Vlu Mahumeth</span> had also parte of the +Lordo, as it hath been rehearsed before.</p> + +<p>The hablemen are verie valiaunt and hardie, in such wise +that some of them for their excellencie are called <span class="smcap">Tulubagator</span>, +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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_17"></a>[17]</span> +for them: bicause I see none that deserueth the +name of a valiaunt man, but he is a foole in dede.<a id="FNanchor_6" href="#Footnote_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> 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 <span class="smcap">Tana</span>.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Semenzina is a certein kinde of drugge.</div> + +<p>Being one daie in the streate, there came certein <span class="smcap">Tartariens</span> +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 <span class="smcap">semenzina</span>, 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 <span class="smcap">Noi<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_18"></a>[18]</span> +mahe torna</span>.<a id="FNanchor_7" href="#Footnote_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>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?<a id="FNanchor_8" href="#Footnote_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> 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 <span class="smcap">Tana</span>, 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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Carauana is a company of merchauntes with their merchandise, +assembled to go strongely togithers.</div> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_19"></a>[19]</span> +Tartariens are good fawkeners, have many jerfaulcones, and +their flight is much to the <span class="smcap">Cammeleons</span>, which is not vsed +wᵗʰ vs.<a id="FNanchor_9" href="#Footnote_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> 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:<a id="FNanchor_10" href="#Footnote_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> 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:<a id="FNanchor_11" href="#Footnote_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> 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,<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_20"></a>[20]</span> +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 <span class="smcap">Carauana</span> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_21"></a>[21]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>I wote not who wolde verifie this, that I shall saie nowe<a id="FNanchor_12" href="#Footnote_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> +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<a id="FNanchor_13" href="#Footnote_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_22"></a>[22]</span> +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 <span class="smcap">Lordo</span>, 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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Zattere arr polles so tied one to an other, that thei +can not synke.</div> + +<div class="sidenote">Rialto is the merchauntes assembling place in Venice.</div> + +<div class="sidenote">Lordes ouer the night is an office of great auctoritie in +Venice.</div> + +<p>Thearthe is fertile, and bringeth fooʳthe lᵗⁱᵉ busshells +wheate for one of seede: and their busshell is as great as +the <span class="smcap">Padouane</span>. And of <span class="smcap">Miglio</span> 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 <span class="smcap">Vlumahumeth</span>, 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 <span class="smcap">panico</span>: 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, <span class="smcap">Vlumahumeth</span>, +of whom we spoke afore, whan <span class="smcap">Zimahumeth</span> 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 <span class="smcap">Tana</span> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_23"></a>[23]</span> +certein zattere<a id="FNanchor_14" href="#Footnote_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> 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 <span class="smcap">Edelmulgh</span>, the empoʳˢ brother in lawe before named, +came unto <span class="smcap">Tana</span>, 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 <span class="smcap">Persia</span> wᵗʰ the +Ambassadoʳ of <span class="smcap">Assambei</span>,<a id="FNanchor_15" href="#Footnote_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> willing to passe through Tartarie, +and so through <span class="smcap">Polonia</span> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_24"></a>[24]</span> +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 <span class="smcap">Signori di Notte</span>, +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 <span class="smcap">Tana</span> and <span class="smcap">Jusuph</span> (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,<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_25"></a>[25]</span> +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 <span class="smcap">Cazadahuch</span>. +I kept these twoo Tartariens in my house about twoo +moonethes, and when the shippes departed towardes <span class="smcap">Tana</span> 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 <span class="smcap">Maggiore</span>, 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,<a id="FNanchor_16" href="#Footnote_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> As Alani, of whom I haue spoken here before. +And these renne alongest even vnto Mengleria<a id="FNanchor_17" href="#Footnote_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a> for the space<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_26"></a>[26]</span> +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 <span class="smcap">Vathi</span> and an other +<span class="smcap">Seuastopoli</span>, and besides that divers other piles and stronge +houses. The cuntrey is all stonie and barayn, wᵗhout any +kinde of grayne, saving <span class="smcap">panico</span>. 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 <span class="smcap">Paranderia</span> of Turks that went +thither wᵗʰ us from Constantinople), there was a yonge woman +stode in her doore vnto whom this Genowaie saied +<span class="smcap">Surina patro ni cocon?</span> 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 <span class="smcap">Patron tetari sica</span>, 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_27"></a>[27]</span> +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 <span class="smcap">Tartari</span> signifieth mooney, I haue thought +good to declare that <span class="smcap">Tetari</span> 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 +<span class="smcap">Akcia</span>, which signifieth white and in Venice in tyme past, +and yet to this present we haue mooney called <span class="smcap">Bianchi</span>, 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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Chersonesus.</div> + +<p>Retoʳning backe to the Tana, I do passe the ryver wheare +<span class="smcap">Alama</span> 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 <span class="smcap">Morea</span>, which +is called <span class="smcap">Zuchala</span>. 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 <span class="smcap">Pico</span>, that is +to saie, the yarde wherewᵗʰ they measure at Tana, and in all +those ꝑties is called <span class="smcap">Pico de Gazzaria</span>. The champaigne of +this Ile of Capha is vnder the Tartariens domynion, who +haue a Lorde called Vlubi, sonne of <span class="smcap">Azicharei</span>. 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 <span class="smcap">Incremin</span>, +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 <span class="smcap">Bosphoro Cimerio</span>; next to that is Capha, +Saldaia, Grasui, Cymbalo, Sarsona, and Calamita. All at<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_28"></a>[28]</span> +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 <span class="smcap">Antony da Guasco</span>, a Genowaie, who +was present there, and fledde by sea into <span class="smcap">Giorgiana</span>, 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 <span class="smcap">Consule</span> of <span class="smcap">Capha</span>, 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_29"></a>[29]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_18" href="#Footnote_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a> a place xvi ioʳneys distant from Capha, vnder the +domynion of one Mordassa<a id="FNanchor_19" href="#Footnote_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_30"></a>[30]</span> +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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The furlane and florentine differ but in phrase of speeche +from the Venetian.</div> + +<p>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<a id="FNanchor_20" href="#Footnote_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a> or +a florentine.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Mare Caspi’u is nowe called Bachu.</div> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_31"></a>[31]</span> +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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Marchetto is not worthe an Englishe halfepeny.</div> + +<div class="sidenote">Stufe is an hote-house.</div> + +<p>That sea yeldeth much salte, and yoʷ may saile vp that +ryver by ioʳneys almost as ferre as Musco, a towne of <span class="smcap">Rossia</span>. +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 +<span class="smcap">Risan</span>, 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 <span class="smcap">Bossa</span>,<a id="FNanchor_21" href="#Footnote_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_32"></a>[32]</span> +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 <span class="smcap">Musco</span>, 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 <span class="smcap">marchetti</span>. 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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Sani arr sleddes.</div> + +<p>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 <span class="smcap">Tranoli</span>. 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<a id="FNanchor_22" href="#Footnote_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a> +or dronken as the wyne.</p> + +<p>Furthermore, me seemeth it not convenient to forgett the +provisions that their foresaid duke made to brydle such<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_33"></a>[33]</span> +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<a id="FNanchor_23" href="#Footnote_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a> the Rossians paied trybute to Themꝓoʳ of Tartarie, +but nowe they haue subdued a towne called Cassan (which, +in oʳ tonge, signifieth a cawldron<a id="FNanchor_24" href="#Footnote_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a>), 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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_34"></a>[34]</span> +whereon they sett this horse standing, and so woʳship him. +Offering sables, armelynes,<a id="FNanchor_25" href="#Footnote_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a> menyver,<a id="FNanchor_26" href="#Footnote_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a> 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<a id="FNanchor_27" href="#Footnote_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a> 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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Mostacchi is the berde of the vpper lyppe.</div> + +<p>Departing from Musco yoʷ haue xxij daies ioʳney into +Polonia, the first place whereof is a castell called Trochi:<a id="FNanchor_28" href="#Footnote_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a> 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<a id="FNanchor_29" href="#Footnote_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a> 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 <span class="smcap">Littuania</span>, + wheare there is a towne called Varsovich,<a id="FNanchor_30" href="#Footnote_30" class="fnanchor">[30]</a><span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_35"></a>[35]</span> +apꝓteyneng to certein gentlemen, subiects of <span class="smcap">Cazimir</span>, King +of <span class="smcap">Polonia</span>. The cuntrey is fertile and hath many townes +and villaiges, but not of any great accompte. From Trocchi +into <span class="smcap">Polonia</span> 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 <span class="smcap">Giorgiana</span>, +which is forneagainst the place, here before spoken, and confyneth +wᵗʰ Mengrelia. The king of this province is called +<span class="smcap">Pancratio</span>, 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.<a id="FNanchor_31" href="#Footnote_31" class="fnanchor">[31]</a> On their heades they were a +litell cappe, of divers coloʳˢ, wᵗʰ a creste on the toppe. On +their backes they were certein garments<a id="FNanchor_32" href="#Footnote_32" class="fnanchor">[32]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_36"></a>[36]</span> +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<a id="FNanchor_33" href="#Footnote_33" class="fnanchor">[33]</a> wᵗhall, and therefore +drave fooʳthe the tyme wᵗʰ that podaige. Wyne we had +plentie, and that trugged<a id="FNanchor_34" href="#Footnote_34" class="fnanchor">[34]</a> about lustilie: but other kinde of +vittailes we had none.</p> + +<p>There be in this province great mountaignes and many +woodes. It hath a citie called Zifilis,<a id="FNanchor_35" href="#Footnote_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a> 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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_37"></a>[37]</span></p> + +<p class="hanging mid">[Here beginneth the Seconde Parte which +concerneth the voiage that I, Josaphat Barbaro, +made, as Ambassadoʳ into Persia.]</p> + +</div> + +<div class="sidenote">Signoria signifieth the Venetian astate.</div> + +<p>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 <span class="smcap">Ottomanno</span>.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Caramano was lorde of Cilicia.</div> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_36" href="#Footnote_36" class="fnanchor">[36]</a> wᵗʰ powder, +shott,<a id="FNanchor_37" href="#Footnote_37" class="fnanchor">[37]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_38"></a>[38]</span> +the king, the Busshop of Romes<a id="FNanchor_38" href="#Footnote_38" class="fnanchor">[38]</a> 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 <span class="smcap">Caramano</span> (whom I founde +in Cyprus) went wᵗʰ a light galey vpon the costes of <span class="smcap">Caramano</span>: +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:<a id="FNanchor_39" href="#Footnote_39" class="fnanchor">[39]</a> 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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Stradiottes are light horsemen, Greekes.</div> + +<p>This lordes elder brother<a id="FNanchor_40" href="#Footnote_40" class="fnanchor">[40]</a> 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;<a id="FNanchor_41" href="#Footnote_41" class="fnanchor">[41]</a> wheare +as is a faire castell of the same name. Wherefore incontinently<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_39"></a>[39]</span> +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<a id="FNanchor_42" href="#Footnote_42" class="fnanchor">[42]</a> 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 <span class="smcap">Ferdinandos</span>, v galeys of +the King of Cyprus, ij galeys of the great Mʳ of Rodes, +and xvj galeys of the Busshopp of Romes,<a id="FNanchor_43" href="#Footnote_43" class="fnanchor">[43]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_44" href="#Footnote_44" class="fnanchor">[44]</a> 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 <span class="smcap">Theminga</span>, a capⁿᵉ of<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_40"></a>[40]</span> +the caramano, who likewise reioysed much, and made me to +declare it vnto his lord, which I did; and so retorneng by +<span class="smcap">Theminga</span> 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,<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_41"></a>[41]</span> +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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_42"></a>[42]</span> +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 +<span class="smcap">sopracomito</span>, 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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Archipelago was sometime Mare Egeū.</div> + +<p>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 +<span class="smcap">Caramano</span> 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 <span class="smcap">Caramano</span>. Aftre this I, +wᵗʰ certein of <span class="smcap">Caramanos</span> company went to Silephica, a +famoᵘse towne<a id="FNanchor_45" href="#Footnote_45" class="fnanchor">[45]</a> 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 <span class="smcap">Caramano</span> +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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_43"></a>[43]</span> +into Cyprus, disposing themselfs to abide neere vnto Famagosta, +to take ordre for the rule and governance of that +Ilande, bicause King James<a id="FNanchor_46" href="#Footnote_46" class="fnanchor">[46]</a> 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 <span class="smcap">Famagosta</span> with three light +galeys and twoo great: togither wᵗʰ the conestable and +souldeoʳˢ that were comitted vnto me by the most excellent +<span class="smcap">Signoria</span>, 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.<a id="FNanchor_47" href="#Footnote_47" class="fnanchor">[47]</a> 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<a id="FNanchor_48" href="#Footnote_48" class="fnanchor">[48]</a> 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),<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_44"></a>[44]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_49" href="#Footnote_49" class="fnanchor">[49]</a> +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.<a id="FNanchor_50" href="#Footnote_50" class="fnanchor">[50]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>The grounde about the towne is hyllie and stonye, liek<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_45"></a>[45]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>Likewise on the sea-side, departing from Curco, ten myles +northwest is Seleucha,<a id="FNanchor_51" href="#Footnote_51" class="fnanchor">[51]</a> on the top of an hyll; under the +which reñeth a ryver<a id="FNanchor_52" href="#Footnote_52" class="fnanchor">[52]</a> 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<a id="FNanchor_53" href="#Footnote_53" class="fnanchor">[53]</a> 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<a id="FNanchor_54" href="#Footnote_54" class="fnanchor">[54]</a> 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<a id="FNanchor_55" href="#Footnote_55" class="fnanchor">[55]</a> +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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_46"></a>[46]</span> +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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">At this time there was a Soldan in Egipt.</div> + +<p>This towne is in the Lesse Arminie,<a id="FNanchor_56" href="#Footnote_56" class="fnanchor">[56]</a> stretching towards +the mountaigne <span class="smcap">Taurus</span>, 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 <span class="smcap">Dulgadar</span>, brother to <span class="smcap">Sessuar</span>. 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,<a id="FNanchor_57" href="#Footnote_57" class="fnanchor">[57]</a> 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;<a id="FNanchor_58" href="#Footnote_58" class="fnanchor">[58]</a> 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<a id="FNanchor_59" href="#Footnote_59" class="fnanchor">[59]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_47"></a>[47]</span> +by it,<a id="FNanchor_60" href="#Footnote_60" class="fnanchor">[60]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_61" href="#Footnote_61" class="fnanchor">[61]</a> 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 <span class="smcap">Euphrates</span>, 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,<a id="FNanchor_62" href="#Footnote_62" class="fnanchor">[62]</a> 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.<a id="FNanchor_63" href="#Footnote_63" class="fnanchor">[63]</a> It hath a castell vpon the hyll indifferent stronge. And +at this place the lorde thereof vnderstode what I was, and<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_48"></a>[48]</span> +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<a id="FNanchor_64" href="#Footnote_64" class="fnanchor">[64]</a> 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 <span class="smcap">Assambei</span>. 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_49"></a>[49]</span> +to folowe this trade<a id="FNanchor_65" href="#Footnote_65" class="fnanchor">[65]</a> 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<a id="FNanchor_66" href="#Footnote_66" class="fnanchor">[66]</a> and yet haue founde nothing that pleaseth +me: and therefore haue determyned vtterly to habandon it. +Being departed from <span class="smcap">Merdino</span>, we rode sixe ioʳneys, and +came to a towne of the King Assambeis called <span class="smcap">Asancheph</span>. +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 <span class="smcap">Moschees</span> +in it. Out of it ye passe a faire deepe ryver<a id="FNanchor_67" href="#Footnote_67" class="fnanchor">[67]</a> 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 <span class="smcap">Sairt</span>,<a id="FNanchor_68" href="#Footnote_68" class="fnanchor">[68]</a> +which is made Trianglewise, and on thone ꝓte hath an indifferent +stronge castell, wᵗʰ many great towres, on which side<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_50"></a>[50]</span> +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 <span class="smcap">Bettalis</span>, and thother <span class="smcap">Isan</span>; 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.</p> + +<p>Nowe shall we beginne to entre into the mountaigne +Taurus, whose ende is towards the sea <span class="smcap">Maggiore</span>, 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 <span class="smcap">Corbi</span>,<a id="FNanchor_69" href="#Footnote_69" class="fnanchor">[69]</a> 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 <span class="smcap">Carouanes</span> +passeng by them. As I for my ꝓte have had some exꝑience +of their condicioñs.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Scimetarra is like that we call a fawchon.</div> + +<div class="sidenote">Musaico is an excellent kinde of paincteng wᵗʰ golde.</div> + +<p>The iiijᵗʰ day of Aprile, the yere 1474, being departed +from a towne called <span class="smcap">Chesan</span>, apꝓteyneng to a Lorde that is +subiect to Assambei, about halfe a daies ioʳney from the<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_51"></a>[51]</span> +towne; having in my companie an Ambassadoʳ of the said +<span class="smcap">Assambei</span>, 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,<a id="FNanchor_70" href="#Footnote_70" class="fnanchor">[70]</a> a citie decaied and +yll enhabited, for it hath not above ccc houses. Twoo daies +ioʳney thense we founde a towne called Choy,<a id="FNanchor_71" href="#Footnote_71" class="fnanchor">[71]</a> 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 <span class="smcap">Thauris</span>, and being in the brode champaigne, we mett wᵗʰ +certain <span class="smcap">Turcomanni</span>, 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 <span class="smcap">canostra</span>, 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_52"></a>[52]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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,<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_53"></a>[53]</span> +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 <span class="smcap">Tarafuccio</span>,<a id="FNanchor_72" href="#Footnote_72" class="fnanchor">[72]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>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 <span class="smcap">India</span>, wᵗʰ certein strange beastes;<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_54"></a>[54]</span> +the first whereof was a leonza<a id="FNanchor_73" href="#Footnote_73" class="fnanchor">[73]</a> 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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Zibetto is muske.</div> + +<p>Aftre this was brought fooʳthe a <span class="smcap">Giraffa</span>, which they call +<span class="smcap">Girnaffa</span>, 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_55"></a>[55]</span> +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 <span class="smcap">zibetto</span>. 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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Sandalo is the tree that the spice called Saunders +is made of.</div> + +<p>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 +<span class="allsmcap">L</span>ᵗⁱᵉ, 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 <span class="smcap">tolpani</span>,<a id="FNanchor_74" href="#Footnote_74" class="fnanchor">[74]</a> 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.<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_56"></a>[56]</span> +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 <span class="smcap">porcellana</span>. Than some wᵗʰ woodde of +<span class="smcap">aloes</span> and great large peeces of <span class="smcap">sandali</span>. Than came there +xxv fardells of spices, caried wᵗʰ <i>cowle</i> stakes<a id="FNanchor_75" href="#Footnote_75" class="fnanchor">[75]</a> 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 <span class="smcap">Mossulman</span> (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<a id="FNanchor_76" href="#Footnote_76" class="fnanchor">[76]</a> +in a camewe,<a id="FNanchor_77" href="#Footnote_77" class="fnanchor">[77]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_57"></a>[57]</span> +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 <span class="smcap">Porcellana</span> and <span class="smcap">Diaspro</span>,<a id="FNanchor_78" href="#Footnote_78" class="fnanchor">[78]</a> +very faire.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Cowpe is an whole volted roofe.</div> + +<div class="sidenote">Bucasin is a verie fine lynen cloth made of cotton.</div> + +<p>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:<a id="FNanchor_79" href="#Footnote_79" class="fnanchor">[79]</a> 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 <span class="smcap">Bucasin</span>, all wrought and embrowdered wᵗhinfooʳthe. +The chambre doore was of the woodde of <span class="smcap">Sandali</span> +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 <span class="allsmcap">L</span> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_58"></a>[58]</span> +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 <span class="smcap">Pran cataini cataini</span>. The worlde hath iij +eyes, whereof the Cataines haue two and the <span class="smcap">Franchi</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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 <span class="smcap">Franchi</span> 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 <span class="smcap">Franchi</span> +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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_59"></a>[59]</span> +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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">These Cassacks are longe and strait, and but half sleeved.</div> + +<p>After this he caused certein <span class="smcap">Cassacks</span><a id="FNanchor_80" href="#Footnote_80" class="fnanchor">[80]</a> 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.<a id="FNanchor_81" href="#Footnote_81" class="fnanchor">[81]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>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<a id="FNanchor_82" href="#Footnote_82" class="fnanchor">[82]</a> 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 <span class="smcap">Burpares</span><a id="FNanchor_83" href="#Footnote_83" class="fnanchor">[83]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_60"></a>[60]</span> +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.<a id="FNanchor_84" href="#Footnote_84" class="fnanchor">[84]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_85" href="#Footnote_85" class="fnanchor">[85]</a> 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 <span class="smcap">Cairo</span> and of Borsa<a id="FNanchor_86" href="#Footnote_86" class="fnanchor">[86]</a> (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 <span class="smcap">Sandali</span>, of vj foote high, a peece sett wᵗʰ golde +and moother of perle aftre the woʳke of <span class="smcap">Tharsia</span>.<a id="FNanchor_87" href="#Footnote_87" class="fnanchor">[87]</a> Than I +retoʳned to the king, and took my leafe for that tyme.</p> + +<p>The morowe folowing I founde him sitteng in his accustomed<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_61"></a>[61]</span> +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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Camocato is fine Calicut cloth.</div> + +<p>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 <span class="smcap">Zubiari</span>,<a id="FNanchor_88" href="#Footnote_88" class="fnanchor">[88]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_62"></a>[62]</span> +to give to the dauncer a peece of <span class="smcap">Camocato</span>. 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_63"></a>[63]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_64"></a>[64]</span></p> + +<p>Thus being in the champaigne there came to visit the +king a sonne of his that soggioʳned in the ꝑties of <span class="smcap">Bagdath</span>, +that is to saie, <span class="smcap">Babilone</span>, 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 <span class="smcap">Orgalu mahumeth</span> 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.</p> + +<p>The noble and principall men which be wᵗʰ the king, and +that carie wᵗʰ them their wiefs and children, men and women<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_65"></a>[65]</span> +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<a id="FNanchor_89" href="#Footnote_89" class="fnanchor">[89]</a> 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 <span class="allsmcap">L</span>ᵗⁱᵉ to lett a beane +fall into my pockett. And whan the musters were past, I<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_66"></a>[66]</span> +made my reckenyng, and founde the nombres and qualities +of those things to be, aftre thordre that I shall describe vnto +yoᵘ:</p> + +<ul> +<li>Of pavylions, vjᵐˡ;</li> +<li>Of camells, xxxᵐˡ;</li> +<li>Of cariage mooyles, vᵐˡ;</li> +<li>Of cariage horses, vᵐˡ;</li> +<li>Of asses, ijᵐˡ;</li> +<li>And horses of service, xxᵐˡ;</li> +</ul> + +<p class="noindent">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,<a id="FNanchor_90" href="#Footnote_90" class="fnanchor">[90]</a> 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, <span class="allsmcap">L</span>ᵗⁱᵉ, 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_67"></a>[67]</span> +children<a id="FNanchor_91" href="#Footnote_91" class="fnanchor">[91]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>Horsemeate aftre iijᵈ the daie, and showing aftre xiiᵈ an +horse mary;<a id="FNanchor_92" href="#Footnote_92" class="fnanchor">[92]</a> 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:<a id="FNanchor_93" href="#Footnote_93" class="fnanchor">[93]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_68"></a>[68]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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 <span class="smcap">San Joanni Paulo</span> in +Venice. At thone ende it hath a gate of brasse of iij paces +high, wrought letties<a id="FNanchor_94" href="#Footnote_94" class="fnanchor">[94]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_69"></a>[69]</span> +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.<a id="FNanchor_95" href="#Footnote_95" class="fnanchor">[95]</a></p> + +<p>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 <span class="smcap">Chulperchean</span>, 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 <span class="smcap">Syras</span>, 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_70"></a>[70]</span> +was aduertised that his sonne <span class="smcap">Ogurlu</span> Mahumeth (who had +wonne Syras) had writen certein l’res vnto this Cascadam +that were not showed to the king.<a id="FNanchor_96" href="#Footnote_96" class="fnanchor">[96]</a> 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.<a id="FNanchor_97" href="#Footnote_97" class="fnanchor">[97]</a></p> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_98" href="#Footnote_98" class="fnanchor">[98]</a> and so from pitt to pitt they conveigh the +water alongest these chanells whither they woll. And whan<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_71"></a>[71]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>Folowing on oʳ ioʳney we came to a towne called <span class="smcap">Spaham</span>,<a id="FNanchor_99" href="#Footnote_99" class="fnanchor">[99]</a> +which hath been a notable toune till of late, walled wᵗʰ mudde<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_72"></a>[72]</span> +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 <span class="smcap">Giansa</span> 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<a id="FNanchor_100" href="#Footnote_100" class="fnanchor">[100]</a> 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 <span class="allsmcap">L</span>ᵐˡ persons. Aftre this, we founde a well enhabited +citie called Cassan,<a id="FNanchor_101" href="#Footnote_101" class="fnanchor">[101]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_73"></a>[73]</span> +subvrbes. Than came we to a walled citie called <span class="smcap">Com</span>, 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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A resorting place for merchauntes to trafficke in.</div> + +<p>From thense, folowinge on oʳ waie we came to Jex,<a id="FNanchor_102" href="#Footnote_102" class="fnanchor">[102]</a> 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 <span class="smcap">Straua</span>,<a id="FNanchor_103" href="#Footnote_103" class="fnanchor">[103]</a> from <span class="smcap">Azzi</span>, + and from the ꝓties towardes <span class="smcap">Zagatai</span>: +towards the sea of Bachu, the best whereof come from +Jex, wᶜʰ, wᵗʰ their woʳkes, do aftrewards furnishe a great +parte of <span class="smcap">India</span>, <span class="smcap">Persia</span>, <span class="smcap">Zagatai</span>, <span class="smcap">Cim</span>, + and <span class="smcap">Macim</span>,<a id="FNanchor_104" href="#Footnote_104" class="fnanchor">[104]</a> parte of +<span class="smcap">Catay</span>, of Bursia, and of Turchie; wherefore lett him that +woll bie good silkes of <span class="smcap">Soria</span>, faire and well wrought, take +of these. And whan any merchaunt cōmeth to this towne +for wares, he goeth into the <span class="smcap">fondaco</span>, 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_74"></a>[74]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>All my ioʳney hitherto hath been sowtheast, but nowe I +shall retoʳne eastwardes, wheare the first towne in my waie +was the city of <span class="smcap">Syras</span>, 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 <span class="smcap">Ere</span>, +<span class="smcap">Samarcahanth</span>, and <span class="smcap">Nisu</span>,<a id="FNanchor_105" href="#Footnote_105" class="fnanchor">[105]</a> taking the waie throwgh Persia, +do passe by <span class="smcap">Syras</span>. 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 <span class="smcap">musaico</span> 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,<a id="FNanchor_106" href="#Footnote_106" class="fnanchor">[106]</a> a towne situate in the region of <span class="smcap">Zugatai</span>, 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,<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_75"></a>[75]</span> +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.<a id="FNanchor_107" href="#Footnote_107" class="fnanchor">[107]</a> 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 <span class="smcap">Porcellana</span>. 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,<a id="FNanchor_108" href="#Footnote_108" class="fnanchor">[108]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_76"></a>[76]</span> +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 <span class="smcap">Madian</span><a id="FNanchor_109" href="#Footnote_109" class="fnanchor">[109]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_77"></a>[77]</span> +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 <span class="smcap">fondachi</span>, 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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">As some halles be in London.</div> + +<p>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 <span class="smcap">Nicolo Diedo</span>, 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_78"></a>[78]</span> +shulder and a twoopeny strawen hatt on his heade: whom +the said ambassadoʳ wondered at: saieng vnto me, This +maner of apparaill vse the <span class="smcap">Cataini</span> 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 <span class="smcap">Talaftimanni</span>; 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.<a id="FNanchor_110" href="#Footnote_110" class="fnanchor">[110]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_79"></a>[79]</span></p> + +<div class="sidenote">Pistacchi is a kynde of delicate nuttes.</div> + +<p>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 <span class="smcap">Sinu persico</span>. 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 <span class="smcap">Euphrates</span>, +vpon the which vj daies ioʳney vpwardes is <span class="smcap">Bagdath</span>, sometime +called <span class="smcap">Babilone</span>, 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,<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_80"></a>[80]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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 <span class="smcap">Calicuth</span>, 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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Half relieuo is thymage, wᵗh the foreparte full +grauen and the back flatt.</div> + +<p>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 +<span class="smcap">Camara</span>.<a id="FNanchor_111" href="#Footnote_111" class="fnanchor">[111]</a> And from thense, a daies ioʳney, ye come to a +great bridge vpon the Byndamyr, which is a notable great<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_81"></a>[81]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_112" href="#Footnote_112" class="fnanchor">[112]</a> 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 <span class="smcap">Salomon</span>. 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<a id="FNanchor_113" href="#Footnote_113" class="fnanchor">[113]</a> man: who they saie was <span class="smcap">Sampson</span>; +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 <span class="smcap">Thimar</span>, 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_82"></a>[82]</span> +further ye com̄e to a place called <span class="smcap">Vargari</span>,<a id="FNanchor_114" href="#Footnote_114" class="fnanchor">[114]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>Foure daies ioʳney thense ye come to a towne called +Deiser,<a id="FNanchor_115" href="#Footnote_115" class="fnanchor">[115]</a> and iij daies ioʳney further an other towne called +Taste, from whense folowing that waie an other daies ioʳney +ye come to <span class="smcap">Jex</span>, 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 <span class="smcap">Abraini</span>, 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 <span class="smcap">Naim</span>, 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.</p> + +<p>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 <span class="smcap">Euchar</span>,<a id="FNanchor_116" href="#Footnote_116" class="fnanchor">[116]</a> 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<a id="FNanchor_117" href="#Footnote_117" class="fnanchor">[117]</a> to Sarri, +a litle towne, also iij ioʳneys; from Sarri to Lindan,<a id="FNanchor_118" href="#Footnote_118" class="fnanchor">[118]</a> a litle +towne, iiij ioʳneys; from Lindan to Tremigan, a litle towne,<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_83"></a>[83]</span> +iij ioʳneys; from Tremigan to Bilan, vj ioʳneys; and than +come ye to Straua.<a id="FNanchor_119" href="#Footnote_119" class="fnanchor">[119]</a> 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.<a id="FNanchor_120" href="#Footnote_120" class="fnanchor">[120]</a></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And nowe, being come neere, me seemeth it not amysse +to speake some what of the waie from <span class="smcap">Trabisonda</span> to <span class="smcap">Thauris</span>, +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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_84"></a>[84]</span> +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 <span class="smcap">Euphrates</span>, over the which ye passe on a +faire great bridge of bricke, of xvij arches. Than come ye +to a towne called <span class="smcap">Carpurth</span>,<a id="FNanchor_121" href="#Footnote_121" class="fnanchor">[121]</a> v ioʳneys from Arsengan. In +this place soggioʳned the wief of the King Assambei, she +that was doughter to Themoʳ of Trabisonda.<a id="FNanchor_122" href="#Footnote_122" class="fnanchor">[122]</a> The place is +stronge, and is for the more parte enhabited by Greekes<a id="FNanchor_123" href="#Footnote_123" class="fnanchor">[123]</a> +attending on the said Queene. Following on, ye finde many +litle townes and castelletts, till ye come to <span class="smcap">Moschone</span>, 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 <span class="smcap">Coinari</span>, +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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_85"></a>[85]</span> +woodes arr full of nutte trees of the kinde of Puglia,<a id="FNanchor_124" href="#Footnote_124" class="fnanchor">[124]</a> and +many other good fruictes they haue, and in some partes they +make certein wynes called <span class="smcap">Zamora</span>. From thense ye enter +into <span class="smcap">Turcomania</span>, 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,<a id="FNanchor_125" href="#Footnote_125" class="fnanchor">[125]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_126" href="#Footnote_126" class="fnanchor">[126]</a> 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.<a id="FNanchor_127" href="#Footnote_127" class="fnanchor">[127]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_86"></a>[86]</span> +ilandes enhabited. Finally, ye come to twoo cities, Tessu<a id="FNanchor_128" href="#Footnote_128" class="fnanchor">[128]</a> +and Zerister,<a id="FNanchor_129" href="#Footnote_129" class="fnanchor">[129]</a> 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 <span class="smcap">Thauris</span>, 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 <span class="smcap">Sammachi</span>,<a id="FNanchor_130" href="#Footnote_130" class="fnanchor">[130]</a> a citie in Media in the region of +Thezichia, the lorde whereof is called <span class="smcap">Siruanza</span>,<a id="FNanchor_131" href="#Footnote_131" class="fnanchor">[131]</a> 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 <span class="smcap">Maggiore</span>, and Caitacchi, that +inhabite about the mountaigne <span class="smcap">Caspio</span>. 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.</p> + +<p>Derbenth signifieth in oʳ tonge a straict; in somuch, that +many which vnderstande the nature of that place do call it<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_87"></a>[87]</span> +<span class="smcap">Temircapi</span>; that is to saie, the gate of yron. And, truly, he +that named it so, had very good reason: considering that +this towne divideth <span class="smcap">Media</span> from <span class="smcap">Scythia</span>; 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 <span class="smcap">Aluathi</span>, 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 +<span class="smcap">Monte Caspio</span>: wheare arr certein gray freeres and some +priestes aftre oʳ Romayn fac̃on. The people there enhabiteng<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_88"></a>[88]</span> +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 <span class="smcap">Caspio</span> 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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_89"></a>[89]</span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And sothens<a id="FNanchor_132" href="#Footnote_132" class="fnanchor">[132]</a> 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 <span class="smcap">Sammachi</span>, and so to <span class="smcap">Derbenth</span>, +and into <span class="smcap">Tumen</span>, 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 <span class="smcap">Tezechia</span>,<a id="FNanchor_133" href="#Footnote_133" class="fnanchor">[133]</a> +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 <span class="smcap">Gog</span> and <span class="smcap">Magog</span>, which arr also +Christians (though aftre the Greekish rites), and handled +them likewise. Than retoʳned they towardes Circassia, +taking their waie towardes <span class="smcap">Chippiche</span> and Charbatri, which +arr both towards the <span class="smcap">Sea Maggiore</span>, and there delte they +likewise; never ceasing till they of <span class="smcap">Titarcassa</span> and <span class="smcap">Chremuch</span> +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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_90"></a>[90]</span></p> + +<p>Of <span class="smcap">Derbenth</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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<a id="FNanchor_134" href="#Footnote_134" class="fnanchor">[134]</a> 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 +<span class="smcap">Giorgiana</span>, 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.<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_91"></a>[91]</span> +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 +<span class="smcap">Pancratio</span>, 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 <span class="smcap">Pancratio</span> and <span class="smcap">Giurgura</span>, +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 <span class="smcap">Assambei</span> 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,<a id="FNanchor_135" href="#Footnote_135" class="fnanchor">[135]</a> belonging to the +King Pancratio, is a litle towne standing on a litle hyll, wᵗʰ a +ryver vnder it:<a id="FNanchor_136" href="#Footnote_136" class="fnanchor">[136]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_92"></a>[92]</span> +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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Mamalukes were the Soldane of Egiptes men of armes.</div> + +<p>Whan the King <span class="smcap">Assambei</span> had concluded wᵗʰ the King <span class="smcap">Pancratio</span> +and the forenamed <span class="smcap">Giurgura</span>, and receaved the xvjᵐ +ducates, he determyned to retoʳne vnto Thauris: wherefore, +seing he ment nothing lesse than to make warre on <span class="smcap">Ottomanno</span>, +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, <span class="smcap">Hagmeth</span>, 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;<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_93"></a>[93]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_137" href="#Footnote_137" class="fnanchor">[137]</a> +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 <span class="smcap">Cymis</span>,<a id="FNanchor_138" href="#Footnote_138" class="fnanchor">[138]</a> <span class="smcap">Casseg</span>, + and <span class="smcap">Arapchir</span>,<a id="FNanchor_139" href="#Footnote_139" class="fnanchor">[139]</a> +which be litell townes. Than came we to a good citie of +merchaundise called <span class="smcap">Malathea</span>, 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 <span class="smcap">Carouana</span>, 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,<a id="FNanchor_140" href="#Footnote_140" class="fnanchor">[140]</a> which in oʳ tonge signifieth <span class="smcap">Hierusalem</span>. + Wherfor<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_94"></a>[94]</span> +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 <span class="smcap">Carouana</span> 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,<a id="FNanchor_141" href="#Footnote_141" class="fnanchor">[141]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_142" href="#Footnote_142" class="fnanchor">[142]</a> 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 <span class="smcap">Muchario</span>;<a id="FNanchor_143" href="#Footnote_143" class="fnanchor">[143]</a> 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.<a id="FNanchor_144" href="#Footnote_144" class="fnanchor">[144]</a> And, +being on the sea side forneagainst Tripoli, we founde a +great rowte of <span class="smcap">Mammalucchi</span> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_95"></a>[95]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>Comeng towardes <span class="smcap">Samachi</span>, 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,<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_96"></a>[96]</span> +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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Drauis are madde men esteemed to haue hollie +spirites.</div> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_97"></a>[97]</span> +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<a id="FNanchor_145" href="#Footnote_145" class="fnanchor">[145]</a> 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,<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_98"></a>[98]</span> +he answered that there was a certein <i>sum</i> 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.</p> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_146" href="#Footnote_146" class="fnanchor">[146]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_99"></a>[99]</span> +mastrie,<a id="FNanchor_147" href="#Footnote_147" class="fnanchor">[147]</a> 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 <span class="smcap">Cadilashcar</span><a id="FNanchor_148" href="#Footnote_148" class="fnanchor">[148]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>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 <span class="smcap">Pietro di Guasco</span>, +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<a id="FNanchor_149" href="#Footnote_149" class="fnanchor">[149]</a> +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:<a id="FNanchor_150" href="#Footnote_150" class="fnanchor">[150]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_100"></a>[100]</span> +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 <span class="smcap">Meren</span>, 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 <span class="smcap">Macomett</span>? But whan the +night drewe neere, divers of the people, those that were +most ialouse of their religion, went vnto one <span class="smcap">Daruis Cassum</span>, +who had the custodie of the King <span class="smcap">Assambey</span>, 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 +<span class="smcap">Daruis Cassam</span> 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 <span class="smcap">Choza Mirech<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_101"></a>[101]</span></span> +vnto him, whom he compforted and chearished wᵗʰ verie +good and gratiouse woordes; for this <span class="smcap">Choza Mirech</span> 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:<a id="FNanchor_151" href="#Footnote_151" class="fnanchor">[151]</a> 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.</p> + +<p class="titlepage">THE END OF THE VOYAGES OF M. JOSAFA BARBARO +TO TANA AND TO PERSIA.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_102"></a>[102]</span></p> + +<p class="hanging mid">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.</p> + +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">My Lord</span>,—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 <i>lordo</i> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_103"></a>[103]</span> +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,</p> + +<p class="center">I am your Grace’s servant,</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Josafa Barbaro</span>.</p> + +<p>Venice, this 23rd of May, 1491.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="footnotes"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_104"></a>[104]</span></p> + +<h3 class="nobreak">FOOTNOTES</h3> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_1" href="#FNanchor_1" class="label">[1]</a> Kum tepeh, or sand mound.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_2" href="#FNanchor_2" class="label">[2]</a> See Haxthausen, vol. ii, cap. xxi, for descriptions of these Tumuli.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_3" href="#FNanchor_3" class="label">[3]</a> Ordu, camp.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_4" href="#FNanchor_4" class="label">[4]</a> Treene or Treen, <i>i.e.</i>, wooden.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_5" href="#FNanchor_5" class="label">[5]</a> Baron Haxthausen mentions a somewhat similar custom as still +existing among the Russian peasants.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_6" href="#FNanchor_6" class="label">[6]</a> Tulubagator is Tulu Bahadur; Bahadury means swaggering or +boasting. The Russian word Bogatir is supposed to be derived from +Bahadur.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_7" href="#FNanchor_7" class="label">[7]</a> From the text it seems this should be translated: “whilst we cried +to him, you will never return, you will never return.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_8" href="#FNanchor_8" class="label">[8]</a> This perhaps is one of the earliest occasions of gipsies being mentioned.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_9" href="#FNanchor_9" class="label">[9]</a> The text is: uccellano a camelioni che da noi non s’usano.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_10" href="#FNanchor_10" class="label">[10]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_11" href="#FNanchor_11" class="label">[11]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_12" href="#FNanchor_12" class="label">[12]</a> Nowe; <i>i.e.</i>, enough.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_13" href="#FNanchor_13" class="label">[13]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_14" href="#FNanchor_14" class="label">[14]</a> Zattera is Italian for a platform, raft, or framework for sailors to +stand on in harbour to work at the ship’s sides.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_15" href="#FNanchor_15" class="label">[15]</a> Hassan Bey Ak-Koyunlu.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_16" href="#FNanchor_16" class="label">[16]</a> Kabarda.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_17" href="#FNanchor_17" class="label">[17]</a> Mingrelia.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_18" href="#FNanchor_18" class="label">[18]</a> Hajy Terkhan or Astrakhan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_19" href="#FNanchor_19" class="label">[19]</a> Murteza Khan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_20" href="#FNanchor_20" class="label">[20]</a> Furlane; <i>i.e.</i>, of Forli.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_21" href="#FNanchor_21" class="label">[21]</a> Buzah, Turkish and Persian, a kind of beer; here it means Kwass.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_22" href="#FNanchor_22" class="label">[22]</a> Dunny; <i>i.e.</i>, stupid.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_23" href="#FNanchor_23" class="label">[23]</a> Ramusio has the preceding clause here—“It may be twenty-five +years ago.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_24" href="#FNanchor_24" class="label">[24]</a> <i>Kazan</i> is Turkish for a cauldron.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_25" href="#FNanchor_25" class="label">[25]</a> Ermines.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_26" href="#FNanchor_26" class="label">[26]</a> Skins of grey squirrels.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_27" href="#FNanchor_27" class="label">[27]</a> Nove castelli; <i>i.e.</i>, new castles.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_28" href="#FNanchor_28" class="label">[28]</a> Troki, near Wilna.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_29" href="#FNanchor_29" class="label">[29]</a> Whereas, used here, and at <a href="#I_Page_38">page 38</a>, for wherein.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_30" href="#FNanchor_30" class="label">[30]</a> Ramusio prints Varsonich.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_31" href="#FNanchor_31" class="label">[31]</a> Or: a quarter of an ell below their chins.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_32" href="#FNanchor_32" class="label">[32]</a> Giubbe; <i>i.e.</i>, jubbeh.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_33" href="#FNanchor_33" class="label">[33]</a> Endure, abide.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_34" href="#FNanchor_34" class="label">[34]</a> The text of Ramusio has—E andava intorno alla polita.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_35" href="#FNanchor_35" class="label">[35]</a> Ramusio has—Tiflis.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_36" href="#FNanchor_36" class="label">[36]</a> Schioppetti.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_37" href="#FNanchor_37" class="label">[37]</a> Polvere da trarli.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_38" href="#FNanchor_38" class="label">[38]</a> Ramusio has—The Pope.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_39" href="#FNanchor_39" class="label">[39]</a> <i>Ibid.</i> has—named Cassambeg.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_40" href="#FNanchor_40" class="label">[40]</a> <i>Ibid.</i>—named Pirameto.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_41" href="#FNanchor_41" class="label">[41]</a> <i>Ibid.</i>—which, according to the ancients, was Corycus.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_42" href="#FNanchor_42" class="label">[42]</a> Ramusio has—56.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_43" href="#FNanchor_43" class="label">[43]</a> <i>Ibid.</i> has—of the Supreme Pontiff.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_44" href="#FNanchor_44" class="label">[44]</a> στρατιωται.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_45" href="#FNanchor_45" class="label">[45]</a> Ramusio has—which was formerly called Seleucia; now Selefkeh.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_46" href="#FNanchor_46" class="label">[46]</a> Il Re Zacho.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_47" href="#FNanchor_47" class="label">[47]</a> Ramusio has here—with a natural son of the said King Ferdinand.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_48" href="#FNanchor_48" class="label">[48]</a> <i>Ibid.</i>—Cerines.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_49" href="#FNanchor_49" class="label">[49]</a> Ramusio has—which, according to the ancients, was Eleusia.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_50" href="#FNanchor_50" class="label">[50]</a> This inscription is given in Beaufort’s <i>Karamania</i>, p. 220.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_51" href="#FNanchor_51" class="label">[51]</a> Ramusio has—that is to say, Seleutia.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_52" href="#FNanchor_52" class="label">[52]</a> <i>Ibid.</i> has—according to the ancients, called Calycadnus.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_53" href="#FNanchor_53" class="label">[53]</a> Gryse, a step.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_54" href="#FNanchor_54" class="label">[54]</a> Ramusio has—quindici, 15.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_55" href="#FNanchor_55" class="label">[55]</a> Erto; <i>i.e.</i>, steep.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_56" href="#FNanchor_56" class="label">[56]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_57" href="#FNanchor_57" class="label">[57]</a> <i>Ibid.</i> has—named by the ancients Cydnus.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_58" href="#FNanchor_58" class="label">[58]</a> Scarpello; <i>i.e.</i>, chisel.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_59" href="#FNanchor_59" class="label">[59]</a> Ramusio has—1000.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_60" href="#FNanchor_60" class="label">[60]</a> Ramusio has—named by the ancients Pyramus.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_61" href="#FNanchor_61" class="label">[61]</a> Slowly and softly.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_62" href="#FNanchor_62" class="label">[62]</a> Orfa.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_63" href="#FNanchor_63" class="label">[63]</a> Birajik, on the left bank of the Euphrates.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_64" href="#FNanchor_64" class="label">[64]</a> Grises; <i>i.e.</i>, steps.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_65" href="#FNanchor_65" class="label">[65]</a> To continue in this manner.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_66" href="#FNanchor_66" class="label">[66]</a> A great part.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_67" href="#FNanchor_67" class="label">[67]</a> Ramusio has—named Set, formerly named Tigris.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_68" href="#FNanchor_68" class="label">[68]</a> Sert, thirty leagues east of Diarbekir.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_69" href="#FNanchor_69" class="label">[69]</a> Kurds.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_70" href="#FNanchor_70" class="label">[70]</a> Vastan, six leagues south of Van.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_71" href="#FNanchor_71" class="label">[71]</a> Khoy.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_72" href="#FNanchor_72" class="label">[72]</a> Ramusio has—Tanfaruzo, corruption of <i>tafarraj</i>, rejoicing.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_73" href="#FNanchor_73" class="label">[73]</a> An ounce.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_74" href="#FNanchor_74" class="label">[74]</a> Turban.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_75" href="#FNanchor_75" class="label">[75]</a> A pole on which to carry a <i>cowl</i> or vessel between two persons.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_76" href="#FNanchor_76" class="label">[76]</a> Ramusio has—which had died on their passage.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_77" href="#FNanchor_77" class="label">[77]</a> Cameo.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_78" href="#FNanchor_78" class="label">[78]</a> Jasper.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_79" href="#FNanchor_79" class="label">[79]</a> Kubbeh, dome.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_80" href="#FNanchor_80" class="label">[80]</a> Cassock.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_81" href="#FNanchor_81" class="label">[81]</a> Yezd.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_82" href="#FNanchor_82" class="label">[82]</a> Cameo.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_83" href="#FNanchor_83" class="label">[83]</a> But-perest.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_84" href="#FNanchor_84" class="label">[84]</a> Set or mounted.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_85" href="#FNanchor_85" class="label">[85]</a> Pitched.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_86" href="#FNanchor_86" class="label">[86]</a> Broussa.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_87" href="#FNanchor_87" class="label">[87]</a> Marquetterie work.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_88" href="#FNanchor_88" class="label">[88]</a> Zubiaur, a district in the Basque country, where there are caps with +large tassels.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_89" href="#FNanchor_89" class="label">[89]</a> Ramusio has—as much to prevent their being seen, as, etc.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_90" href="#FNanchor_90" class="label">[90]</a> Probably Besh-keuy, five villages.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_91" href="#FNanchor_91" class="label">[91]</a> Ramusio has—in the cradles.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_92" href="#FNanchor_92" class="label">[92]</a> A set of horse-shoes.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_93" href="#FNanchor_93" class="label">[93]</a> In a herd.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_94" href="#FNanchor_94" class="label">[94]</a> Lattice.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_95" href="#FNanchor_95" class="label">[95]</a> Sultaniah and its great mosque are now in ruins.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_96" href="#FNanchor_96" class="label">[96]</a> Ramusio has—which he refused to show to the king.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_97" href="#FNanchor_97" class="label">[97]</a> So that his life might be spared.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_98" href="#FNanchor_98" class="label">[98]</a> These pits are for removing the earth to make the conduit, or <i>kanad</i>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_99" href="#FNanchor_99" class="label">[99]</a> Ispahan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_100" href="#FNanchor_100" class="label">[100]</a> Rooms.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_101" href="#FNanchor_101" class="label">[101]</a> Kashan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_102" href="#FNanchor_102" class="label">[102]</a> Yezd.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_103" href="#FNanchor_103" class="label">[103]</a> Astrabad.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_104" href="#FNanchor_104" class="label">[104]</a> Tchin and Matchin, China.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_105" href="#FNanchor_105" class="label">[105]</a> Samarcand and the parts beyond.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_106" href="#FNanchor_106" class="label">[106]</a> Probably Ré, a town formerly existing near Tehran.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_107" href="#FNanchor_107" class="label">[107]</a> Or Giansa.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_108" href="#FNanchor_108" class="label">[108]</a> Cambalu.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_109" href="#FNanchor_109" class="label">[109]</a> The Maidan, or open space.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_110" href="#FNanchor_110" class="label">[110]</a> 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.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_111" href="#FNanchor_111" class="label">[111]</a> Or Kinara.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_112" href="#FNanchor_112" class="label">[112]</a> Chehl minar.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_113" href="#FNanchor_113" class="label">[113]</a> Robust.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_114" href="#FNanchor_114" class="label">[114]</a> Or Vargan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_115" href="#FNanchor_115" class="label">[115]</a> Or Deister.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_116" href="#FNanchor_116" class="label">[116]</a> Afshar.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_117" href="#FNanchor_117" class="label">[117]</a> Ramusio has, from Choi to Rhei, three journeys from Rhei to Sarri.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_118" href="#FNanchor_118" class="label">[118]</a> Or Sindan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_119" href="#FNanchor_119" class="label">[119]</a> Astrabad.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_120" href="#FNanchor_120" class="label">[120]</a> Are not much valued.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_121" href="#FNanchor_121" class="label">[121]</a> Kharput.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_122" href="#FNanchor_122" class="label">[122]</a> For an account of this lady, see <a href="#CATERINO_ZENO">Travels of Caterino Zeno</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_123" href="#FNanchor_123" class="label">[123]</a> Ramusio has—and Caloieri, or Monks.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_124" href="#FNanchor_124" class="label">[124]</a> Apulia.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_125" href="#FNanchor_125" class="label">[125]</a> Akhlat.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_126" href="#FNanchor_126" class="label">[126]</a> Arjish.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_127" href="#FNanchor_127" class="label">[127]</a> Tamerlan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_128" href="#FNanchor_128" class="label">[128]</a> Tessuj.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_129" href="#FNanchor_129" class="label">[129]</a> Shebister.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_130" href="#FNanchor_130" class="label">[130]</a> Shamakhy.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_131" href="#FNanchor_131" class="label">[131]</a> Shirvan Shah.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_132" href="#FNanchor_132" class="label">[132]</a> Since.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_133" href="#FNanchor_133" class="label">[133]</a> Ramusio has—Elochzi.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_134" href="#FNanchor_134" class="label">[134]</a> As far as.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_135" href="#FNanchor_135" class="label">[135]</a> Koutais.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_136" href="#FNanchor_136" class="label">[136]</a> Ramusio has—called Fasso, formerly Phasis.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_137" href="#FNanchor_137" class="label">[137]</a> Arsengan or Erzingan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_138" href="#FNanchor_138" class="label">[138]</a> Kumis.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_139" href="#FNanchor_139" class="label">[139]</a> Arabghir.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_140" href="#FNanchor_140" class="label">[140]</a> Kudus.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_141" href="#FNanchor_141" class="label">[141]</a> Sakis.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_142" href="#FNanchor_142" class="label">[142]</a> Press or crowd.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_143" href="#FNanchor_143" class="label">[143]</a> Mukary, a muleteer.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_144" href="#FNanchor_144" class="label">[144]</a> Beyrout.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_145" href="#FNanchor_145" class="label">[145]</a> According to.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_146" href="#FNanchor_146" class="label">[146]</a> Crowds, clumps.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_147" href="#FNanchor_147" class="label">[147]</a> Masterly operation.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_148" href="#FNanchor_148" class="label">[148]</a> Kady Leshker, judge of the troops.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_149" href="#FNanchor_149" class="label">[149]</a> Khoja.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_150" href="#FNanchor_150" class="label">[150]</a> Hajy.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_151" href="#FNanchor_151" class="label">[151]</a> Ramusio has here—I finished the writing on the 21st December, +1487.</p> + +</div> + +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter" id="CONTARINI"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_105"></a>[105]</span></p> + +<p class="center mid">THE TRAVELS</p> + +<p class="center smaller">OF THE</p> + +<p class="center larger">MAGNIFICENT M. AMBROSIO CONTARINI,</p> + +<p class="center smaller">AMBASSADOR OF THE ILLUSTRIOUS SIGNORY OF VENICE TO +THE GREAT LORD USSUNCASSAN, KING OF PERSIA, +IN THE YEAR 1473.</p> + +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_106"></a>[106]</span></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_107"></a>[107]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak">THE TRAVELS OF THE MAGNIFICENT M. AMBROSIO CONTARINI.</h2> + +</div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_108"></a>[108]</span></p> + +<h3 class="nobreak" id="CONTARINI_CHAP_I">CHAPTER I.</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_109"></a>[109]</span> +Emperor, and had gone about five miles beyond, Sebastian +left us after a cordial embrace, and took the road to Frankfort.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_110"></a>[110]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>On the 31st, we entered Messariga,<a id="FNanchor_152" href="#Footnote_152" class="fnanchor">[152]</a> the first town belonging +to the King of Poland. It is small, but handsome, +and has a small castle.</p> + +<p>On the 2nd of April, 1474, we arrived at Posnama<a id="FNanchor_153" href="#Footnote_153" class="fnanchor">[153]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_111"></a>[111]</span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_112"></a>[112]</span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>On the 30th, we came to Beligraoch, a white castle, used +as a dwelling by the king, where we lodged in great discomfort.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_113"></a>[113]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_114"></a>[114]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_115"></a>[115]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_116"></a>[116]</span></p> + +<h3 class="nobreak" id="CONTARINI_CHAP_II">CHAPTER II.</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_117"></a>[117]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>On the 29th, we reached Varti, and as the horses were +out of condition, I had them put on shore and sent to Fasso,<a id="FNanchor_154" href="#Footnote_154" class="fnanchor">[154]</a> +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 +<i>Sobassi</i> 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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_118"></a>[118]</span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>On the 4th, we left Fasso with the above-mentioned +Nicolò Capello as guide, and crossed a river named Mazo +in a boat.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_119"></a>[119]</span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>On the 9th, we came to a small town called Cotochis,<a id="FNanchor_155" href="#Footnote_155" class="fnanchor">[155]</a> +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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_120"></a>[120]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_121"></a>[121]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>On the 14th, I left the king and returned to the village,<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_122"></a>[122]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>On the 17th, we came to a place belonging to the same +king, called Gorides,<a id="FNanchor_156" href="#Footnote_156" class="fnanchor">[156]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_123"></a>[123]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3 class="nobreak" id="CONTARINI_CHAP_III">CHAPTER III.</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_124"></a>[124]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>On the 1st of August, 1474, we were obliged to take +another guide for Tauris, and we started at vespers.</p> + +<p>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,<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_125"></a>[125]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>On the 3rd, we came to a small town called Marerichi, +where we rested for the night.</p> + +<p>On the 4th, we started early and travelled through the +plains; the weather was excessively hot, and we could not +find good water anywhere.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_126"></a>[126]</span> +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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_127"></a>[127]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_128"></a>[128]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_129"></a>[129]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<a id="FNanchor_157" href="#Footnote_157" class="fnanchor">[157]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>On the 23rd, as I have said, we left here, and I travelled +with much suffering on account of my illness.</p> + +<p>On the 25th, we arrived at another city called Cassan,<a id="FNanchor_158" href="#Footnote_158" class="fnanchor">[158]</a><span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_130"></a>[130]</span> +having walls and bazaars like those of Como, but it is a +finer city.</p> + +<p>On the 26th, we left here and entered another small city +called Nethos,<a id="FNanchor_159" href="#Footnote_159" class="fnanchor">[159]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_131"></a>[131]</span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_132"></a>[132]</span></p> + +<h3 class="nobreak" id="CONTARINI_CHAP_IV">CHAPTER IV.</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_133"></a>[133]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>On the 21st of March, 1475, we left Como for Tauris with +the whole <i>lordo</i>; 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_134"></a>[134]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>On the 2nd of June, 1475, we entered Tauris, and were +provided with a lodging, and on the 8th we and the said<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_135"></a>[135]</span> +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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_136"></a>[136]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <i>tulumbanti</i>, 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_137"></a>[137]</span> +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 <i>Ruischasan</i>, 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 <i>tanfaruzzo</i> (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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_138"></a>[138]</span> +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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3 class="nobreak" id="CONTARINI_CHAP_V">CHAPTER V.</h3> + +<p>The Illustrious Ambassador leaves Tauris, and, after being attacked +several times while travelling through Georgiana and Mengrelia, +at last arrives at Fasso.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_139"></a>[139]</span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_140"></a>[140]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_141"></a>[141]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_142"></a>[142]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_143"></a>[143]</span></p> + +<h3 class="nobreak" id="CONTARINI_CHAP_VI">CHAPTER VI.</h3> + +<p>The Illustrious Ambassador leaves Fasso, returns through Mengrelia +and Giorgiania, enters Media, crosses the Bachu or Caspian Sea, +and reaches Tartary.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_144"></a>[144]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_145"></a>[145]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<a id="FNanchor_160" href="#Footnote_160" class="fnanchor">[160]</a>, 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 <i>morone</i> 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 <i>braccio</i> and a half in +length, almost round, without any visible head or anything. +From this fish a certain liquor, used all over the country,<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_146"></a>[146]</span> +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).<a id="FNanchor_161" href="#Footnote_161" class="fnanchor">[161]</a> +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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_147"></a>[147]</span></p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_148"></a>[148]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_149"></a>[149]</span> +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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3 class="nobreak" id="CONTARINI_CHAP_VII">CHAPTER VII.</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_150"></a>[150]</span> +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,<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_151"></a>[151]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_152"></a>[152]</span> +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 <i>Lordo</i>, 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_153"></a>[153]</span> +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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_154"></a>[154]</span> +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,<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_155"></a>[155]</span> +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 <i>Lordo</i> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_156"></a>[156]</span> +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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_157"></a>[157]</span> +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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3 class="nobreak" id="CONTARINI_CHAP_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_158"></a>[158]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_159"></a>[159]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Being desirous, as I have said, of leaving, I endeavoured +to obtain an answer to my request, and was again summoned<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_160"></a>[160]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_161"></a>[161]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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 <i>stare</i> 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 <i>soldi</i> +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 +<i>sani</i> 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.<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_162"></a>[162]</span> +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.<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_163"></a>[163]</span> +A great many, also, go to a town called Novogardia, on the +confines of <i>Francia</i> 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 <i>animal</i> 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 <i>enceinte</i>, 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_164"></a>[164]</span> +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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3 class="nobreak" id="CONTARINI_CHAP_IX">CHAPTER IX.</h3> + +<p>The Illustrious Ambassador leaves Muscovy, and, after passing through +Lithuania, Poland, and Germany, arrives in Italy.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_165"></a>[165]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_166"></a>[166]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_167"></a>[167]</span> +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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_168"></a>[168]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_169"></a>[169]</span> +town worth mentioning. Every night we found lodgings, +and were well received everywhere. It is a safe country.</p> + +<p>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 <i>sani</i>, 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_170"></a>[170]</span> +whilst the festival lasted, and we certainly enjoyed a refreshing +repose, of which we stood in great need.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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,<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_171"></a>[171]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_172"></a>[172]</span></p> + +<h3 class="nobreak" id="BRIEF_ACCOUNT_OF_THE_DOMINIONS_OF_USSUNCASSAN">BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE DOMINIONS OF USSUNCASSAN.</h3> + +</div> + +<p>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.<a id="FNanchor_162" href="#Footnote_162" class="fnanchor">[162]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_163" href="#Footnote_163" class="fnanchor">[163]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_173"></a>[173]</span> +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.</p> + +<p class="titlepage">END OF THE TRAVELS IN PERSIA OF M. AMBROSIO CONTARINI.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="footnotes"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3 class="nobreak" id="CONTARINI_FOOTNOTES">FOOTNOTES</h3> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_152" href="#FNanchor_152" class="label">[152]</a> Messeritz, forty-eight miles E.N.E. of Frankfort.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_153" href="#FNanchor_153" class="label">[153]</a> Posen.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_154" href="#FNanchor_154" class="label">[154]</a> Poti.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_155" href="#FNanchor_155" class="label">[155]</a> Kutais.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_156" href="#FNanchor_156" class="label">[156]</a> Gori.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_157" href="#FNanchor_157" class="label">[157]</a> Koum.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_158" href="#FNanchor_158" class="label">[158]</a> Kashan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_159" href="#FNanchor_159" class="label">[159]</a> Nathunz.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_160" href="#FNanchor_160" class="label">[160]</a> Astrakhan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_161" href="#FNanchor_161" class="label">[161]</a> That is to say, an Alsatia.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_162" href="#FNanchor_162" class="label">[162]</a> Arsingan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_163" href="#FNanchor_163" class="label">[163]</a> Isfahan.</p> + +</div> + +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="I_Page_174"></a>[174]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="ERRATA">ERRATA.</h2> + +</div> + +<p><a href="#Footnote_11">Page 19, Note.</a>—“Tesells”. This word here means “thistles”, +“teasells”; and “<i>garzi</i>”, in the Italian text, should be “<i>carde</i>”.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="I_INDEX">INDEX.</h2> + +</div> + +<ul> + +<li class="ifrst">Adana, <a href="#I_Page_47">47</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Alani, <a href="#I_Page_5">5</a>, <a href="#I_Page_30">30</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Astrakhan, <a href="#I_Page_29">29</a>, <a href="#I_Page_150">150</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Baltracan, herb, <a href="#I_Page_102">102</a>, <a href="#I_Page_103">103</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Barbaro plundered, <a href="#I_Page_51">51</a></li> + +<li class="indx">— returns to Venice, <a href="#I_Page_95">95</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Bendemir, <a href="#I_Page_80">80</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Buza, <a href="#I_Page_31">31</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Cambalu, <a href="#I_Page_75">75</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Chehlminar, <a href="#I_Page_81">81</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Chinese paper money, <a href="#I_Page_77">77</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Contarini leaves Venice, <a href="#I_Page_108">108</a></li> + +<li class="indx">— meets Barbaro, <a href="#I_Page_130">130</a></li> + +<li class="indx">— returns to Venice, <a href="#I_Page_171">171</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Curco, <a href="#I_Page_44">44</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Derbend, <a href="#I_Page_87">87</a>, <a href="#I_Page_145">145</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Famagosta, <a href="#I_Page_38">38</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Georgia, <a href="#I_Page_36">36</a>, <a href="#I_Page_90">90</a>, <a href="#I_Page_117">117-122</a>, <a href="#I_Page_139">139-145</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Gori, <a href="#I_Page_122">122</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Gothic language, survival of, <a href="#I_Page_30">30</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Hassan Beg, King, his death, <a href="#I_Page_93">93</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Ispahan, <a href="#I_Page_72">72</a>, <a href="#I_Page_130">130</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Kaffa, <a href="#I_Page_27">27-29</a>, <a href="#I_Page_116">116</a>, <a href="#I_Page_140">140</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Kashan, <a href="#I_Page_72">72</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Kinara, <a href="#I_Page_80">80</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Kum, <a href="#I_Page_73">73</a>, <a href="#I_Page_129">129</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Kutais, <a href="#I_Page_91">91</a>, <a href="#I_Page_119">119</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Ledil or Volga, <a href="#I_Page_4">4</a>, <a href="#I_Page_31">31</a>, <a href="#I_Page_156">156</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Mardin, <a href="#I_Page_48">48</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Mingrelia, <a href="#I_Page_26">26</a>, <a href="#I_Page_139">139</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Moscow, <a href="#I_Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#I_Page_158">158</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Novgrod, <a href="#I_Page_34">34</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Orfa, <a href="#I_Page_47">47</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Ormuz, <a href="#I_Page_79">79</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Persian army, <a href="#I_Page_64">64-68</a>, <a href="#I_Page_137">137</a></li> + +<li class="indx">— king’s jewels, <a href="#I_Page_56">56</a>, <a href="#I_Page_59">59</a></li> + +<li class="indx">— sports, <a href="#I_Page_53">53</a>, <a href="#I_Page_54">54</a>, <a href="#I_Page_62">62</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Poland, <a href="#I_Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#I_Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#I_Page_110">110</a>, <a href="#I_Page_111">111</a>, <a href="#I_Page_114">114</a>, <a href="#I_Page_167">167</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Poti, <a href="#I_Page_117">117</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Routes, <a href="#I_Page_82">82-86</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Russia, <a href="#I_Page_31">31</a>, <a href="#I_Page_33">33</a>, <a href="#I_Page_157">157-165</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Seleucia, <a href="#I_Page_45">45</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Sena, <a href="#I_Page_129">129</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Sert, <a href="#I_Page_49">49</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Shamakhy, <a href="#I_Page_86">86</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Sultaniah, <a href="#I_Page_68">68</a>, <a href="#I_Page_128">128</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Tabriz, <a href="#I_Page_51">51</a>, <a href="#I_Page_125">125</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Tana, <a href="#I_Page_12">12</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Tarsus, <a href="#I_Page_46">46</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Tatar customs, <a href="#I_Page_12">12</a>, <a href="#I_Page_15">15</a>, <a href="#I_Page_16">16</a>, <a href="#I_Page_21">21</a>, <a href="#I_Page_33">33</a>, <a href="#I_Page_34">34</a>, + <a href="#I_Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#I_Page_155">155</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Tumulus, excavation of, <a href="#I_Page_6">6-8</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Varti, <a href="#I_Page_117">117</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Vastan, <a href="#I_Page_51">51</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Uzun Hassan’s dominions, <a href="#I_Page_172">172</a>, <a href="#I_Page_173">173</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Yezd, <a href="#I_Page_73">73</a></li> + +</ul> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<p class="titlepage larger"><span class="smaller">A NARRATIVE<br> +<span class="smaller">OF</span></span><br> +ITALIAN TRAVELS<br> +<span class="smaller"><span class="smaller">IN</span></span><br> +PERSIA,<br> +<span class="smaller"><span class="smaller">IN THE<br> +FIFTEENTH AND SIXTEENTH CENTURIES.</span></span></p> + +<p class="titlepage"><span class="gothic">Translated and Edited</span><br> +<span class="smaller">BY</span><br> +<span class="smcap">CHARLES GREY, Esq.</span></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS.</h2> + +</div> + +<table> + <tr> + <td></td> + <td class="tdpg smaller">PAGE</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Travels in Persia, by Caterino Zeno</span></td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#CATERINO_ZENO">1</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Discourse of Messer Giovan Battista Ramusio + on the Writings of Giovan Maria Angiolello, etc.</span></td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#ANGIOLELLO">67</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">The Travels of a Merchant in Persia</span></td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#MERCHANT_IN_PERSIA">139</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Narrative of the Most Noble Vincentio d’Alessandri</span></td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#VINCENTIO_DALESSANDRI">209</a></td> + </tr> +</table> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_i"></a>[i]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="A_NARRATIVE_OF_ITALIAN_TRAVELS_IN_PERSIA">A NARRATIVE OF ITALIAN TRAVELS IN PERSIA.</h2> + +</div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_ii"></a>[ii]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_iii"></a>[iii]</span></p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Kara Koinlu Rulers.</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="chart1" style="max-width: 37.5em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/chart1.jpg" alt="Genealogical chart"> +</figure> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_iv"></a>[iv]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_v"></a>[v]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>In 1472 the Persians marched into the Turkish<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_vi"></a>[vi]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The second author in this collection is a M. Giovan +Maria Angiolello, who was in the service of the<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_vii"></a>[vii]</span> +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:—</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp77" id="chart2" style="max-width: 40.625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/chart2.jpg" alt="Genealogical chart"> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_viii"></a>[viii]</span></p> + +<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_ix"></a>[ix]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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,<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_x"></a>[x]</span> +brother-in-law of the King Tahmasp, who had revolted +from him,<a id="FNanchor_164" href="#Footnote_164" class="fnanchor">[164]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_xi"></a>[xi]</span> +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.<a id="FNanchor_165" href="#Footnote_165" class="fnanchor">[165]</a> 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, <span class="allsmcap">A.D.</span> 1571:—</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_xii"></a>[xii]</span> +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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_xiii"></a>[xiii]</span> +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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_xiv"></a>[xiv]</span> +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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_xv"></a>[xv]</span> +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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_xvi"></a>[xvi]</span> +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.”</p> + +</div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_xvii"></a>[xvii]</span> +throne, caused his eight younger brothers to be murdered, +and greatly oppressed the country;<a id="FNanchor_166" href="#Footnote_166" class="fnanchor">[166]</a> 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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="footnotes"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3 class="nobreak" id="INTRO_FOOTNOTES">FOOTNOTES</h3> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_164" href="#FNanchor_164" class="label">[164]</a> According to Alessandri, Shah Tahmasp would allow no one to +be avaricious but himself.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_165" href="#FNanchor_165" class="label">[165]</a> Angerius Busbequius legationis Turcicæ epist. 4.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_166" href="#FNanchor_166" class="label">[166]</a> He also sent to put Mahomed Khodabendeh to death, but died +himself before the order was executed.</p> + +</div> + +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_1"></a>[1]</span></p> + +<h3 class="nobreak" id="CATERINO_ZENO">TRAVELS IN PERSIA, BY CATERINO ZENO.</h3> + +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="RAMUSIOS_PREFACE">RAMUSIO’S PREFACE.<a id="FNanchor_167" href="#Footnote_167" class="fnanchor">[167]</a></h4> + +</div> + +<p>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<a id="FNanchor_168" href="#Footnote_168" class="fnanchor">[168]</a> (Giausa,<a id="FNanchor_169" href="#Footnote_169" class="fnanchor">[169]</a> +the eldest, having become King of Persia), not possessing<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_2"></a>[2]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_170" href="#Footnote_170" class="fnanchor">[170]</a> was a terror to the East.</p> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_171" href="#Footnote_171" class="fnanchor">[171]</a> and worthy not only of being compared +with ancient barbarian kings famous in arms,<a id="FNanchor_172" href="#Footnote_172" class="fnanchor">[172]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_3"></a>[3]</span> +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.<a id="FNanchor_173" href="#Footnote_173" class="fnanchor">[173]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_4"></a>[4]</span> +of Darius Hystaspes,<a id="FNanchor_174" href="#Footnote_174" class="fnanchor">[174]</a> 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<a id="FNanchor_175" href="#Footnote_175" class="fnanchor">[175]</a> (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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_5"></a>[5]</span></p> + +<h4 class="nobreak">CATERINO ZENO.</h4> + +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h5 class="nobreak" id="FIRST_BOOK">FIRST BOOK.</h5> + +</div> + +<p>In the year of our Lord Jesus Christ one thousand four +hundred and fifty, (1450), Giausa,<a id="FNanchor_176" href="#Footnote_176" class="fnanchor">[176]</a> being King of Persia, +<i>Assimbeo</i><a id="FNanchor_177" href="#Footnote_177" class="fnanchor">[177]</a> (who, from that time, on account of his deeds, +called himself <i>Ussun Cassano</i>,<a id="FNanchor_178" href="#Footnote_178" class="fnanchor">[178]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_179" href="#Footnote_179" class="fnanchor">[179]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_6"></a>[6]</span> +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 <i>Amitto</i>;<a id="FNanchor_180" href="#Footnote_180" class="fnanchor">[180]</a> 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<a id="FNanchor_181" href="#Footnote_181" class="fnanchor">[181]</a> opposed him, of trying the +fortune of battle. Giausa, who had been half apprehensive<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_7"></a>[7]</span> +of the designs of his brother<a id="FNanchor_182" href="#Footnote_182" class="fnanchor">[182]</a> hearing of the assault and +capture of Amitto,<a id="FNanchor_183" href="#Footnote_183" class="fnanchor">[183]</a> 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.”</p> + +<p>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<a id="FNanchor_184" href="#Footnote_184" class="fnanchor">[184]</a> to the plains of <i>Arsenga</i>,<a id="FNanchor_185" href="#Footnote_185" class="fnanchor">[185]</a> where, +having come to an engagement, he defeated and took him, +pursuing his son, who sought safety in flight beyond Tauris.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_8"></a>[8]</span></p> + +<p>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;<a id="FNanchor_186" href="#Footnote_186" class="fnanchor">[186]</a> on the +west, Gorgora,<a id="FNanchor_187" href="#Footnote_187" class="fnanchor">[187]</a> Trebizond, Caramania, Soria,<a id="FNanchor_188" href="#Footnote_188" class="fnanchor">[188]</a> and Lesser +Armenia, on this side of the Euphrates; on the south, +the Arabs and the Sea of India; on the north, the <i>Sea +of Baccu</i>.<a id="FNanchor_189" href="#Footnote_189" class="fnanchor">[189]</a> 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 <i>Betelis</i>,<a id="FNanchor_190" href="#Footnote_190" class="fnanchor">[190]</a> who, some years later, seeing the greatness +of Ussun Cassano, gave in his submission. And because<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_9"></a>[9]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_191" href="#Footnote_191" class="fnanchor">[191]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_10"></a>[10]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_192" href="#Footnote_192" class="fnanchor">[192]</a> +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.<a id="FNanchor_193" href="#Footnote_193" class="fnanchor">[193]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_11"></a>[11]</span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_12"></a>[12]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_194" href="#Footnote_194" class="fnanchor">[194]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>M. Caterino, having arrived at the Court of Ussun Cassano,<a id="FNanchor_195" href="#Footnote_195" class="fnanchor">[195]</a> +was received by him with great rejoicing and honour, +as the ambassador of a Republic so illustrious and powerful,<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_13"></a>[13]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_196" href="#Footnote_196" class="fnanchor">[196]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_14"></a>[14]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_197" href="#Footnote_197" class="fnanchor">[197]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_15"></a>[15]</span> +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.<a id="FNanchor_198" href="#Footnote_198" class="fnanchor">[198]</a> This chief, +for having given a passage to M. Caterino, was unexpectedly +attacked by the Turk, and deprived of his power;<a id="FNanchor_199" href="#Footnote_199" class="fnanchor">[199]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_16"></a>[16]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_200" href="#Footnote_200" class="fnanchor">[200]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>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.<a id="FNanchor_201" href="#Footnote_201" class="fnanchor">[201]</a> Their servants also were excellently<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_17"></a>[17]</span> +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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_18"></a>[18]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_202" href="#Footnote_202" class="fnanchor">[202]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_19"></a>[19]</span> +it, and therefore was much disgusted. Going on his +way with a squadron of five hundred horse he was attacked +in Giauas<a id="FNanchor_203" href="#Footnote_203" class="fnanchor">[203]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_204" href="#Footnote_204" class="fnanchor">[204]</a> 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<a id="FNanchor_205" href="#Footnote_205" class="fnanchor">[205]</a> and +Tocat, he burnt the towns and villages everywhere with the +same fury, and assaulted and took Carle, which belonged to +the Caramanian.</p> + +<p>Mustafà, the son of the Turk, who, with Acomat Pasha, +was in Lulla, a city of Caramania, being alarmed at this, +fled towards Cogno:<a id="FNanchor_206" href="#Footnote_206" class="fnanchor">[206]</a> and removing his mother, sent her to +Saibcacarascar,<a id="FNanchor_207" href="#Footnote_207" class="fnanchor">[207]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_208" href="#Footnote_208" class="fnanchor">[208]</a> where +he found Daut<a id="FNanchor_209" href="#Footnote_209" class="fnanchor">[209]</a> Pasha, Beglerbeg of Natolia, making great +assemblies of people of war. The Grand Turk then did not<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_20"></a>[20]</span> +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<a id="FNanchor_210" href="#Footnote_210" class="fnanchor">[210]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_211" href="#Footnote_211" class="fnanchor">[211]</a> 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.<a id="FNanchor_212" href="#Footnote_212" class="fnanchor">[212]</a> The number<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_21"></a>[21]</span> +of the slain is not given in the letters from which this history +is taken; it is only mentioned that Usufcan,<a id="FNanchor_213" href="#Footnote_213" class="fnanchor">[213]</a> the general +of Ussun Cassano, was taken prisoner by the Turks, and +that Pirameto,<a id="FNanchor_214" href="#Footnote_214" class="fnanchor">[214]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<a id="FNanchor_215" href="#Footnote_215" class="fnanchor">[215]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_216" href="#Footnote_216" class="fnanchor">[216]</a> the Venetian name should be +lauded and saluted, and such was the din, that the noise +might be heard at several miles’ distance.</p> + +<p>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<a id="FNanchor_217" href="#Footnote_217" class="fnanchor">[217]</a> + of his son Bajazet,<a id="FNanchor_218" href="#Footnote_218" class="fnanchor">[218]</a><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_22"></a>[22]</span> +who together with Mustafà, went with his father to this war, +Gien,<a id="FNanchor_219" href="#Footnote_219" class="fnanchor">[219]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The second, of another thirty thousand, Bajazet commanded.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The fourth was under Asmurat Palæologus, a Turk, Beglerbeg +of Roumania, numbering sixty thousand men, among +whom were many of his Christian subjects.</p> + +<p>The fifth was under Daut, Beglerbeg of Natolia, of forty +thousand men. There were besides, the Acangi,<a id="FNanchor_220" href="#Footnote_220" class="fnanchor">[220]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>With this immense army the Turk started from Amasia,<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_23"></a>[23]</span> +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<a id="FNanchor_221" href="#Footnote_221" class="fnanchor">[221]</a> on the river Lais,<a id="FNanchor_222" href="#Footnote_222" class="fnanchor">[222]</a> which flows from the +mountains of Trebizond, entered a low plain between that +city and Mount Taurus. On their way they found Nicheset,<a id="FNanchor_223" href="#Footnote_223" class="fnanchor">[223]</a> +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,<a id="FNanchor_224" href="#Footnote_224" class="fnanchor">[224]</a> situated among mountains, +and surrounded with villages; descending the mountain +they halted near the city Carascar,<a id="FNanchor_225" href="#Footnote_225" class="fnanchor">[225]</a> famous for its mines.</p> + +<p>The inhabitants of this place had all fled to the mountains; +therefore, without halting, the army proceeded to the city of +Argina,<a id="FNanchor_226" href="#Footnote_226" class="fnanchor">[226]</a> situated in a wide plain. Here they found in a +church a philosopher studying with many books around +him, and who,<a id="FNanchor_227" href="#Footnote_227" class="fnanchor">[227]</a> not ceasing to read, in spite of all the noise +and uproar they made, was cut to pieces by the Acangian<a id="FNanchor_228" href="#Footnote_228" class="fnanchor">[228]</a> +horsemen. All the other people had fled beyond the Euphrates. +Having left this, the Turks passed the country +called Arsenga,<a id="FNanchor_229" href="#Footnote_229" class="fnanchor">[229]</a> which is Lesser Armenia, and approached +the Euphrates not far from Malatia,<a id="FNanchor_230" href="#Footnote_230" class="fnanchor">[230]</a> where, on eleven dromedaries,<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_24"></a>[24]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.<a id="FNanchor_231" href="#Footnote_231" class="fnanchor">[231]</a></p> + +<p>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.<a id="FNanchor_232" href="#Footnote_232" class="fnanchor">[232]</a> 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,”<a id="FNanchor_233" href="#Footnote_233" class="fnanchor">[233]</a> +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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_25"></a>[25]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.<a id="FNanchor_234" href="#Footnote_234" class="fnanchor">[234]</a> 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<a id="FNanchor_235" href="#Footnote_235" class="fnanchor">[235]</a> remaining drowned in +the waters.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_26"></a>[26]</span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_236" href="#Footnote_236" class="fnanchor">[236]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>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,<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_27"></a>[27]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.<a id="FNanchor_237" href="#Footnote_237" class="fnanchor">[237]</a> +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,<a id="FNanchor_238" href="#Footnote_238" class="fnanchor">[238]</a> the Caramanian<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_28"></a>[28]</span> +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.<a id="FNanchor_239" href="#Footnote_239" class="fnanchor">[239]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_29"></a>[29]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_240" href="#Footnote_240" class="fnanchor">[240]</a> and the Acangi<a id="FNanchor_241" href="#Footnote_241" class="fnanchor">[241]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>Then marching towards Erseagan,<a id="FNanchor_242" href="#Footnote_242" class="fnanchor">[242]</a> they found the country +and towns everywhere abandoned; and four days after +they reached Carascar,<a id="FNanchor_243" href="#Footnote_243" class="fnanchor">[243]</a> a fortress posted on the top of a +mountain; the Turks preparing to attack it, dragged some +pieces of artillery up another mountain<a id="FNanchor_244" href="#Footnote_244" class="fnanchor">[244]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_245" href="#Footnote_245" class="fnanchor">[245]</a> a city which, not wishing +to essay its strength against so daring an enemy, also<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_30"></a>[30]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_246" href="#Footnote_246" class="fnanchor">[246]</a> +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.</p> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_247" href="#Footnote_247" class="fnanchor">[247]</a> where +he soon afterwards died. And Acomat<a id="FNanchor_248" href="#Footnote_248" class="fnanchor">[248]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_31"></a>[31]</span> +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.<a id="FNanchor_249" href="#Footnote_249" class="fnanchor">[249]</a></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<a id="FNanchor_250" href="#Footnote_250" class="fnanchor">[250]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_32"></a>[32]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_33"></a>[33]</span> +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.<a id="FNanchor_251" href="#Footnote_251" class="fnanchor">[251]</a> 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<a id="FNanchor_252" href="#Footnote_252" class="fnanchor">[252]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_34"></a>[34]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_253" href="#Footnote_253" class="fnanchor">[253]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_35"></a>[35]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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,<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_36"></a>[36]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_254" href="#Footnote_254" class="fnanchor">[254]</a> which was formerly Babylonia, and all +the country of Biarbera,<a id="FNanchor_255" href="#Footnote_255" class="fnanchor">[255]</a> he immediately seized Seras,<a id="FNanchor_256" href="#Footnote_256" class="fnanchor">[256]</a> a city +on the confines of Persia, gaining over almost all the Kurds<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_37"></a>[37]</span> +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<a id="FNanchor_257" href="#Footnote_257" class="fnanchor">[257]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_258" href="#Footnote_258" class="fnanchor">[258]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_38"></a>[38]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_259" href="#Footnote_259" class="fnanchor">[259]</a> 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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_39"></a>[39]</span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_40"></a>[40]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>And thus it is true what is said, that the path of glory +is narrow and difficult, and like Hercules<a id="FNanchor_260" href="#Footnote_260" class="fnanchor">[260]</a> 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.</p> + +<p class="titlepage">END OF THE FIRST BOOK.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_41"></a>[41]</span></p> + +<h5 class="nobreak" id="SECOND_BOOK">SECOND BOOK.</h5> + +</div> + +<p>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<a id="FNanchor_261" href="#Footnote_261" class="fnanchor">[261]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_262" href="#Footnote_262" class="fnanchor">[262]</a> the daughter of the Emperor of<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_42"></a>[42]</span> +Trebizond,<a id="FNanchor_263" href="#Footnote_263" class="fnanchor">[263]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_264" href="#Footnote_264" class="fnanchor">[264]</a> + and reigned alone, being named Giacuppo Chiorzeinal.<a id="FNanchor_265" href="#Footnote_265" class="fnanchor">[265]</a></p> + +<p>Despina had already been separated from her husband, +and lived on the confines of Riarbera, in the city of Cavalleria,<a id="FNanchor_266" href="#Footnote_266" class="fnanchor">[266]</a> +where she died, and was buried in the town in the +Church of St. George,<a id="FNanchor_267" href="#Footnote_267" class="fnanchor">[267]</a> where even to this day her sepulchre<a id="FNanchor_268" href="#Footnote_268" class="fnanchor">[268]</a> +is greatly honoured. Ussun Cassano had three daughters +by her: the first, named Marta, was married to Secheaidare,<a id="FNanchor_269" href="#Footnote_269" class="fnanchor">[269]</a> +Ruler of Arduil,<a id="FNanchor_270" href="#Footnote_270" class="fnanchor">[270]</a> a town towards the north-east, three days’ +journey distant from Tauris. This chief was the head of the +faction of the “Cacarineri”<a id="FNanchor_271" href="#Footnote_271" class="fnanchor">[271]</a> (black sheep), which is the Sufi +party, very powerful by the number of its partizans,<a id="FNanchor_272" href="#Footnote_272" class="fnanchor">[272]</a> and the +new doctrine, the whole of Persia being divided into two +factions, one of which is called the White Cacari,<a id="FNanchor_273" href="#Footnote_273" class="fnanchor">[273]</a> 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.<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_43"></a>[43]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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 <i>very</i> virtuous woman. After him +Allamur,<a id="FNanchor_274" href="#Footnote_274" class="fnanchor">[274]</a> 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<a id="FNanchor_275" href="#Footnote_275" class="fnanchor">[275]</a> was held in such +credit, through Secheaidare, that the other of the White +Cacari declined altogether. Secheaidare was a Saint or +Master or Prophet,<a id="FNanchor_276" href="#Footnote_276" class="fnanchor">[276]</a> 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;<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_44"></a>[44]</span> +and, although his wife was the daughter of a Christian lady, +he nevertheless remained an enemy to our faith; as, having +made himself captain<a id="FNanchor_277" href="#Footnote_277" class="fnanchor">[277]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_278" href="#Footnote_278" class="fnanchor">[278]</a> 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<a id="FNanchor_279" href="#Footnote_279" class="fnanchor">[279]</a> in eight +days’ journey from Arduil, arrived at Berbento,<a id="FNanchor_280" href="#Footnote_280" class="fnanchor">[280]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_45"></a>[45]</span> +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<a id="FNanchor_281" href="#Footnote_281" class="fnanchor">[281]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_282" href="#Footnote_282" class="fnanchor">[282]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_283" href="#Footnote_283" class="fnanchor">[283]</a> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_46"></a>[46]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_284" href="#Footnote_284" class="fnanchor">[284]</a> +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.<a id="FNanchor_285" href="#Footnote_285" class="fnanchor">[285]</a></p> + +<p>This youth, who was called Ismail, was thirteen years old,<a id="FNanchor_286" href="#Footnote_286" class="fnanchor">[286]</a> +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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_47"></a>[47]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>Ismail, longing to recover his paternal possessions, left +this place before he had reached the age of eighteen years, and +went to Carabac,<a id="FNanchor_287" href="#Footnote_287" class="fnanchor">[287]</a> and then to Gillon,<a id="FNanchor_288" href="#Footnote_288" class="fnanchor">[288]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_289" href="#Footnote_289" class="fnanchor">[289]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_48"></a>[48]</span> +valour which he had never yet seen equalled by any +of his contemporaries.</p> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_290" href="#Footnote_290" class="fnanchor">[290]</a> and +having made a sudden assault cut to pieces all the garrison;<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_49"></a>[49]</span> +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<a id="FNanchor_291" href="#Footnote_291" class="fnanchor">[291]</a> and +other places, laden with merchandise for Tauris, Sumachi, +and the whole of Persia.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Then seeing how easy it would be to make himself master +of the town of Sumachi, as there was no suspicion of war in<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_50"></a>[50]</span> +the country,<a id="FNanchor_292" href="#Footnote_292" class="fnanchor">[292]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_293" href="#Footnote_293" class="fnanchor">[293]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_51"></a>[51]</span> +received many presents from Ismail, who, with these +Georgian auxiliaries, found himself with an excellent army of +sixteen thousand men in the field.</p> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_294" href="#Footnote_294" class="fnanchor">[294]</a> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_52"></a>[52]</span> +difficulty with a few friends, retired to Amir,<a id="FNanchor_295" href="#Footnote_295" class="fnanchor">[295]</a> fortifying himself +in that city.</p> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_296" href="#Footnote_296" class="fnanchor">[296]</a> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_53"></a>[53]</span> +to be proclaimed sovereign of Persia under the new title +of Sofi.</p> + +<p>But Moratcan,<a id="FNanchor_297" href="#Footnote_297" class="fnanchor">[297]</a> 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<a id="FNanchor_298" href="#Footnote_298" class="fnanchor">[298]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>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<a id="FNanchor_299" href="#Footnote_299" class="fnanchor">[299]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_54"></a>[54]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_300" href="#Footnote_300" class="fnanchor">[300]</a> he crossed +some mountains in one day, in this way reaching Amaras,<a id="FNanchor_301" href="#Footnote_301" class="fnanchor">[301]</a> +putting all the country to fire and sword and rapine. But +Aladuli, who had escaped to the mountains of Catarac,<a id="FNanchor_302" href="#Footnote_302" class="fnanchor">[302]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_303" href="#Footnote_303" class="fnanchor">[303]</a> to draw the enemy off from attacking +Casan; then Ismail following him, advanced to Spaám<a id="FNanchor_304" href="#Footnote_304" class="fnanchor">[304]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_55"></a>[55]</span> +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;<a id="FNanchor_305" href="#Footnote_305" class="fnanchor">[305]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>Ismail having in the manner related, defeated Moratcan, +came with his whole army to Bierbeca,<a id="FNanchor_306" href="#Footnote_306" class="fnanchor">[306]</a> and made himself +master of Bagadet and Seras,<a id="FNanchor_307" href="#Footnote_307" class="fnanchor">[307]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_308" href="#Footnote_308" class="fnanchor">[308]</a> +ruler of Samarcant, whose subjects are the Zagatai, otherwise +called the Green Caftans.<a id="FNanchor_309" href="#Footnote_309" class="fnanchor">[309]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_56"></a>[56]</span> +town of Eri<a id="FNanchor_310" href="#Footnote_310" class="fnanchor">[310]</a> and Caradisca, and Cara,<a id="FNanchor_311" href="#Footnote_311" class="fnanchor">[311]</a> + and, last of all, Sanderem<a id="FNanchor_312" href="#Footnote_312" class="fnanchor">[312]</a> +and Sari,<a id="FNanchor_313" href="#Footnote_313" class="fnanchor">[313]</a> two large cities situated on the Sea of +Baccu,<a id="FNanchor_314" href="#Footnote_314" class="fnanchor">[314]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_315" href="#Footnote_315" class="fnanchor">[315]</a> and encamped with his whole +army, but the victorious Lasilbas,<a id="FNanchor_316" href="#Footnote_316" class="fnanchor">[316]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>And Ismail, who, from one war was urged on to another, in +the following year went against the Ruler of Siraan,<a id="FNanchor_317" href="#Footnote_317" class="fnanchor">[317]</a> who +had refused the tribute which he paid every year, and having +entered the plains of Carabac,<a id="FNanchor_318" href="#Footnote_318" class="fnanchor">[318]</a> which are more than one +thousand miles in extent, in the midst of which is the territory +of Chianer,<a id="FNanchor_319" href="#Footnote_319" class="fnanchor">[319]</a> whence come the Canary silks, he sent to +take Sumachi, and having attacked Culofan,<a id="FNanchor_320" href="#Footnote_320" class="fnanchor">[320]</a> a very strong<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_57"></a>[57]</span> +fortress situated in the same region as Sumachi, he reduced +it, together with Mamurcagi,<a id="FNanchor_321" href="#Footnote_321" class="fnanchor">[321]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_322" href="#Footnote_322" class="fnanchor">[322]</a> bore himself as a valiant +man for many hours; nevertheless, the forces of the enemy +prevailing, he was repulsed and routed, and saved<a id="FNanchor_323" href="#Footnote_323" class="fnanchor">[323]</a> himself +by flight to Samarcant.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_58"></a>[58]</span></p> + +<p>On this account Selim, the Grand Turk, having heard that +Ismail was engaged with the war waged against the city of +Samarcant,<a id="FNanchor_324" href="#Footnote_324" class="fnanchor">[324]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_325" href="#Footnote_325" class="fnanchor">[325]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_326" href="#Footnote_326" class="fnanchor">[326]</a> he marched forward quickly through the country of +Arsenga.<a id="FNanchor_327" href="#Footnote_327" class="fnanchor">[327]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_59"></a>[59]</span> +to that of the Ottoman princes. This thing has been observed +by all those who have had anything to do with both +these nations.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_328" href="#Footnote_328" class="fnanchor">[328]</a> +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.<a id="FNanchor_329" href="#Footnote_329" class="fnanchor">[329]</a> Coi is a city which<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_60"></a>[60]</span> +they say was built on the ruins of the ancient Artasata,<a id="FNanchor_330" href="#Footnote_330" class="fnanchor">[330]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_61"></a>[61]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_62"></a>[62]</span> +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<a id="FNanchor_331" href="#Footnote_331" class="fnanchor">[331]</a> plains. This, however, was written falsely, as<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_63"></a>[63]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_332" href="#Footnote_332" class="fnanchor">[332]</a> which is six days’ +journey distant from Tauris towards the East, assembling +another army to try again in person the fortune of battle.</p> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_333" href="#Footnote_333" class="fnanchor">[333]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_334" href="#Footnote_334" class="fnanchor">[334]</a> who, with some troops of light cavalry, pillaged<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_64"></a>[64]</span> +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<a id="FNanchor_335" href="#Footnote_335" class="fnanchor">[335]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_336" href="#Footnote_336" class="fnanchor">[336]</a> 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,<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_65"></a>[65]</span> +he received and heard him against the condition of the +league; therefore, when Selim entered Soria<a id="FNanchor_337" href="#Footnote_337" class="fnanchor">[337]</a> to fight against +the Soldan, Ismail would not give him his assistance from +fear of being left in the lurch.<a id="FNanchor_338" href="#Footnote_338" class="fnanchor">[338]</a></p> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_339" href="#Footnote_339" class="fnanchor">[339]</a> +with presents, a <i>bâton</i> 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.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="footnotes"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_66"></a>[66]</span></p> + +<h5 class="nobreak" id="ZENO_FOOTNOTES">FOOTNOTES</h5> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_167" href="#FNanchor_167" class="label">[167]</a> This Preface is by Ramusio; the rest is prepared by the same writer +from the official letters of M. Caterino Zeno.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_168" href="#FNanchor_168" class="label">[168]</a></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="chart3" style="max-width: 37.5em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/chart3.jpg" alt="Genealogical chart"> +</figure> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_169" href="#FNanchor_169" class="label">[169]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_170" href="#FNanchor_170" class="label">[170]</a> Mahomet II, the first Emperor of the Turks, reigned from 1450-1481.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_171" href="#FNanchor_171" class="label">[171]</a></p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Vixêre fortes ante Agamemnona</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Multi.”—<i>Horace</i>, Book iv, ode 10.</div> + </div> +</div> +</div> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_172" href="#FNanchor_172" class="label">[172]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_173" href="#FNanchor_173" class="label">[173]</a> Jehan Shah, Karâ Yusuf.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_174" href="#FNanchor_174" class="label">[174]</a> Darius was the husband, not the son, of Atossa.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_175" href="#FNanchor_175" class="label">[175]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_176" href="#FNanchor_176" class="label">[176]</a> Jehan Shah.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_177" href="#FNanchor_177" class="label">[177]</a> Hassan Beg, called Alymbeius by Knolles.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_178" href="#FNanchor_178" class="label">[178]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_179" href="#FNanchor_179" class="label">[179]</a> <i>Ak-Koinloo Chiefs</i>:—</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="chart4" style="max-width: 40.625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/chart4.jpg" alt="Genealogical chart"> +</figure> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_180" href="#FNanchor_180" class="label">[180]</a> 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:—</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_181" href="#FNanchor_181" class="label">[181]</a> Jehan Shah.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_182" href="#FNanchor_182" class="label">[182]</a> Uzun Hassan was not a brother of Jehan Shah, but of a different +tribe.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_183" href="#FNanchor_183" class="label">[183]</a> Diarbekr.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_184" href="#FNanchor_184" class="label">[184]</a> Jehan Shah was killed in the battle and his son Kara Yusuf taken +prisoner.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_185" href="#FNanchor_185" class="label">[185]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_186" href="#FNanchor_186" class="label">[186]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_187" href="#FNanchor_187" class="label">[187]</a> Georgia.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_188" href="#FNanchor_188" class="label">[188]</a> Syria.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_189" href="#FNanchor_189" class="label">[189]</a> The Caspian Sea.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_190" href="#FNanchor_190" class="label">[190]</a> 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:—</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_191" href="#FNanchor_191" class="label">[191]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_192" href="#FNanchor_192" class="label">[192]</a> Rhodes, Cyprus, etc.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_193" href="#FNanchor_193" class="label">[193]</a> 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, <i>Hist. of the Turks</i>, p. 433.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_194" href="#FNanchor_194" class="label">[194]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_195" href="#FNanchor_195" class="label">[195]</a> At Tauris, or Tabreez. See <i>Travels of a Merchant</i>, <a href="#MERCHANT_CHAP_VII">cap. 7</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_196" href="#FNanchor_196" class="label">[196]</a> This covering, called Peychar, is now only used in Bagdad.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_197" href="#FNanchor_197" class="label">[197]</a> David, last Emperor of Trebizond, was Despina’s uncle. Her father +had died before.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_198" href="#FNanchor_198" class="label">[198]</a> Peer Ahmed, who was afterwards defeated and killed in 1486 by +Bajazet II, for having aided his brother Zizim in his revolt. See Knolles, +<i>Hist. of the Turks</i>, p. 446.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_199" href="#FNanchor_199" class="label">[199]</a> See Angiolello, <a href="#ANGIOLELLO_CHAP_II">cap. 2</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_200" href="#FNanchor_200" class="label">[200]</a> Bitlis. See <a href="#II_Page_8">p. 8</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_201" href="#FNanchor_201" class="label">[201]</a> 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.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_202" href="#FNanchor_202" class="label">[202]</a> Peer Ahmed. See <a href="#II_Page_15">p. 15</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_203" href="#FNanchor_203" class="label">[203]</a> Gerjannes, a district of Erzingan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_204" href="#FNanchor_204" class="label">[204]</a> Kharput, in the Valley of Sophene, as it was called by the ancients. +See <a href="#MERCHANT_IN_PERSIA"><i>Travels of a Merchant</i></a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_205" href="#FNanchor_205" class="label">[205]</a> Erzingan. See <a href="#II_Page_7">p. 7</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_206" href="#FNanchor_206" class="label">[206]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_207" href="#FNanchor_207" class="label">[207]</a> Ofium Kara Hissar, a town of fifty thousand inhabitants, two hundred +miles from Smyrna, where opium is raised in great quantities.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_208" href="#FNanchor_208" class="label">[208]</a> Kutaieh.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_209" href="#FNanchor_209" class="label">[209]</a> Daood.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_210" href="#FNanchor_210" class="label">[210]</a> Boorsa.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_211" href="#FNanchor_211" class="label">[211]</a> Amurath.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_212" href="#FNanchor_212" class="label">[212]</a> This, according to Knolles, was a Persian victory, Mustafa being +forced to fly.—<i>History of the Turks</i>, p. 410. See below, <a href="#II_Page_25">p. 25</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_213" href="#FNanchor_213" class="label">[213]</a> Yusuf Khan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_214" href="#FNanchor_214" class="label">[214]</a> Peer Ahmed.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_215" href="#FNanchor_215" class="label">[215]</a> M. Josafat Barbaro’s account of his travels is in Ramusio’s Collection.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_216" href="#FNanchor_216" class="label">[216]</a> Zumburka.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_217" href="#FNanchor_217" class="label">[217]</a> Sanjak.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_218" href="#FNanchor_218" class="label">[218]</a> Afterwards Bajazet II, reigned from 1481-1512.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_219" href="#FNanchor_219" class="label">[219]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_220" href="#FNanchor_220" class="label">[220]</a> Ikindjis.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_221" href="#FNanchor_221" class="label">[221]</a> Siwas, sixty miles from Tokat on the Kizzil Irmak, with manufactures +of coarse woollen, etc.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_222" href="#FNanchor_222" class="label">[222]</a> River Iris, the present Kizzil Irmak.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_223" href="#FNanchor_223" class="label">[223]</a> Niksar.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_224" href="#FNanchor_224" class="label">[224]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_225" href="#FNanchor_225" class="label">[225]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_226" href="#FNanchor_226" class="label">[226]</a> Probably Egin on the Euphrates, on the route from Erzingan to +Malatia. See Angiolello, <a href="#ANGIOLELLO_CHAP_VI">cap. 6</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_227" href="#FNanchor_227" class="label">[227]</a> Compare the death of Archimedes.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_228" href="#FNanchor_228" class="label">[228]</a> Ikindjis.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_229" href="#FNanchor_229" class="label">[229]</a> Erzingan. See <a href="#II_Page_7">p. 7</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_230" href="#FNanchor_230" class="label">[230]</a> Malatia, the ancient Melitene, near the Euphrates or Murad, in +lat. N. 30 deg. 26 min., long. E. 38 deg. 27 min.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_231" href="#FNanchor_231" class="label">[231]</a> This is only in the dry season, as there are no islands, only sandbanks.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_232" href="#FNanchor_232" class="label">[232]</a> Peer Ahmed.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_233" href="#FNanchor_233" class="label">[233]</a> See Angiolello, <a href="#ANGIOLELLO_CHAP_VII">cap. 7</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_234" href="#FNanchor_234" class="label">[234]</a> This battle took place near Malatia 1473.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_235" href="#FNanchor_235" class="label">[235]</a> 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 (<a href="#II_Page_20">p. 20</a>) was a Persian victory.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_236" href="#FNanchor_236" class="label">[236]</a> Baiboort, on the river Turak or Delchoroch Su, which flows into the +Euxine near Batoum. It is situated nearly due north of Erzingan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_237" href="#FNanchor_237" class="label">[237]</a> The battle of Tabeada.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_238" href="#FNanchor_238" class="label">[238]</a> Peer Ahmed.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_239" href="#FNanchor_239" class="label">[239]</a> Knolles says that the Turkish artillery did great mischief to the +Persians, as in the battle of Schalderan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_240" href="#FNanchor_240" class="label">[240]</a> Baiboort. See <a href="#II_Page_5">p. 5</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_241" href="#FNanchor_241" class="label">[241]</a> Ikindjis.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_242" href="#FNanchor_242" class="label">[242]</a> Erzingan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_243" href="#FNanchor_243" class="label">[243]</a> Shebban Kara Hissar. See <a href="#II_Page_23">p. 23</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_244" href="#FNanchor_244" class="label">[244]</a> After crossing the river the Turkish army evidently began to retreat +to their own country. Why they went near Malatia is not very evident.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_245" href="#FNanchor_245" class="label">[245]</a> Koili Hissar. See <a href="#II_Page_23">p. 23</a>. 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_246" href="#FNanchor_246" class="label">[246]</a> Tocat, fifty-six miles from Sivas, with a population of forty thousand, +and a very extensive trade.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_247" href="#FNanchor_247" class="label">[247]</a> Sanjak.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_248" href="#FNanchor_248" class="label">[248]</a> Achmet.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_249" href="#FNanchor_249" class="label">[249]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_250" href="#FNanchor_250" class="label">[250]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_251" href="#FNanchor_251" class="label">[251]</a> See <a href="#Footnote_201">note, p. 16</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_252" href="#FNanchor_252" class="label">[252]</a> Casimir IV reigned from 1447 to 1492. He defeated the Teutonic +knights and also the Hungarians.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_253" href="#FNanchor_253" class="label">[253]</a> Matthias Corvinus, son of the Great Huniades, the champion of +Christendom against the Turks, reigned from 1458 to 1490.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_254" href="#FNanchor_254" class="label">[254]</a> Bagdad.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_255" href="#FNanchor_255" class="label">[255]</a> Diarbekr.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_256" href="#FNanchor_256" class="label">[256]</a> Shiraz.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_257" href="#FNanchor_257" class="label">[257]</a> Sanjak.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_258" href="#FNanchor_258" class="label">[258]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_259" href="#FNanchor_259" class="label">[259]</a> Yakoob, who succeeded Ussun Cassano in 1478.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_260" href="#FNanchor_260" class="label">[260]</a> It was Achilles, not Hercules, who is said to have preferred a short +and famous career to a long life of inglorious ease.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_261" href="#FNanchor_261" class="label">[261]</a> Persian literature at that time was in a most flourishing condition, +the age comprising some of the most illustrious names in their annals. +<i>Vide</i> <a href="#II_Page_2">p. 2</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_262" href="#FNanchor_262" class="label">[262]</a> Caton-Khatoon, meaning “Madam” or “Lady”, and so “Queen.” +Despina, Δεσποινα, means the same thing.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_263" href="#FNanchor_263" class="label">[263]</a> Calo Johannes. See <a href="#II_Page_9">p. 9</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_264" href="#FNanchor_264" class="label">[264]</a> Calul.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_265" href="#FNanchor_265" class="label">[265]</a> Yakoob.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_266" href="#FNanchor_266" class="label">[266]</a> From what appears in the other books this must be meant for Cartibiert +Kharput, in the province of Diarbekr. See Angiolello, <a href="#ANGIOLELLO_CHAP_I">cap. 1</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_267" href="#FNanchor_267" class="label">[267]</a> See <i>Travels of a Merchant</i>, <a href="#MERCHANT_CHAP_III">cap. 3</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_268" href="#FNanchor_268" class="label">[268]</a> She was buried in the town of Diarbekr.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_269" href="#FNanchor_269" class="label">[269]</a> Sheikh Hyder.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_270" href="#FNanchor_270" class="label">[270]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_271" href="#FNanchor_271" class="label">[271]</a> Kârâ Koyun.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_272" href="#FNanchor_272" class="label">[272]</a> This was not the case, as the Suffavean family did not belong to +either of the Toorkman tribes.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_273" href="#FNanchor_273" class="label">[273]</a> Ak Koyun.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_274" href="#FNanchor_274" class="label">[274]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_275" href="#FNanchor_275" class="label">[275]</a> Kârâ Koinloo. See <a href="#II_Page_43">previous page</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_276" href="#FNanchor_276" class="label">[276]</a> Follower of Ali, Alanee.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_277" href="#FNanchor_277" class="label">[277]</a> See Angiolello, <a href="#ANGIOLELLO_CHAP_XII">cap. 12</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_278" href="#FNanchor_278" class="label">[278]</a> Ardebil.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_279" href="#FNanchor_279" class="label">[279]</a> 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.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_280" href="#FNanchor_280" class="label">[280]</a> Derbend, a strong fortress on the Caspian, the Peninsula of Apshernon, +near the Demir Kapoo or Iron Gates of the Caucasus. See <a href="#Footnote_466">note</a> to +Angiolello, <a href="#ANGIOLELLO_CHAP_XVI">cap. 16</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_281" href="#FNanchor_281" class="label">[281]</a> Compare the Long Walls at Athens.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_282" href="#FNanchor_282" class="label">[282]</a> Demir Kapoo.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_283" href="#FNanchor_283" class="label">[283]</a> Sheikh Hyder.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_284" href="#FNanchor_284" class="label">[284]</a> Aktamar or Van Lake, so called from the island of Ak Tamar, +where the Catholicos of the Armenians resides.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_285" href="#FNanchor_285" class="label">[285]</a> Knolles says he fled into Hyrcania to Pyrcales. See <i>Travels of a +Merchant</i>, <a href="#MERCHANT_CHAP_XIII">cap. 13</a>, and <a href="#II_Page_47">next page</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_286" href="#FNanchor_286" class="label">[286]</a> The accounts of authors vary as to Ismael’s age (see <i>Travels +of a Merchant</i>, <a href="#MERCHANT_CHAP_XIII">cap. 13</a>); but I believe this to be the correct statement.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_287" href="#FNanchor_287" class="label">[287]</a> Kara Bagh, the country between the rivers Kur and Aras, the +former river dividing it from Shirvan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_288" href="#FNanchor_288" class="label">[288]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_289" href="#FNanchor_289" class="label">[289]</a> 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.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp82" id="chart5" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/chart5.jpg" alt="Genealogical chart"> +</figure> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_290" href="#FNanchor_290" class="label">[290]</a> Also mentioned at <a href="#II_Page_57">page 57</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_291" href="#FNanchor_291" class="label">[291]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_292" href="#FNanchor_292" class="label">[292]</a> 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 <a href="#II_Page_43">page 43</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_293" href="#FNanchor_293" class="label">[293]</a> Also mentioned at <a href="#II_Page_56">page 56</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_294" href="#FNanchor_294" class="label">[294]</a> Either the Kur or the Aras, more probably the latter.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_295" href="#FNanchor_295" class="label">[295]</a> Diarbekr.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_296" href="#FNanchor_296" class="label">[296]</a> Tauris, or Tabreez. See <i>Travels of a Merchant</i>, <a href="#MERCHANT_CHAP_VII">cap. 7</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_297" href="#FNanchor_297" class="label">[297]</a> Morad Khan, brother, not son, of Eluan Beg, ruler of Fars, Babylonia, +etc.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_298" href="#FNanchor_298" class="label">[298]</a> Diarbekr. Eluan Beg had also taken refuge here.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_299" href="#FNanchor_299" class="label">[299]</a> Allà-ed’ Douleh.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_300" href="#FNanchor_300" class="label">[300]</a> Albistan, sixty miles from Marash; ten thousand inhabitants.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_301" href="#FNanchor_301" class="label">[301]</a> Marash, sixty miles from Iskenderoon; ancient capital of Karamania.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_302" href="#FNanchor_302" class="label">[302]</a> Kara Dagh, or Black Mountain.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_303" href="#FNanchor_303" class="label">[303]</a> Shiraz in this case, not Sivas.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_304" href="#FNanchor_304" class="label">[304]</a> Ispahan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_305" href="#FNanchor_305" class="label">[305]</a> Bagdad.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_306" href="#FNanchor_306" class="label">[306]</a> Diarbekr.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_307" href="#FNanchor_307" class="label">[307]</a> Shiraz.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_308" href="#FNanchor_308" class="label">[308]</a> 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 <i>Memoirs</i>, translated by Mr. Erskine.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_309" href="#FNanchor_309" class="label">[309]</a> Sunnees.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_310" href="#FNanchor_310" class="label">[310]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_311" href="#FNanchor_311" class="label">[311]</a> Khaf.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_312" href="#FNanchor_312" class="label">[312]</a> Sanderem, probably Amol or Balfrush, in Mazanderan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_313" href="#FNanchor_313" class="label">[313]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_314" href="#FNanchor_314" class="label">[314]</a> The Caspian.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_315" href="#FNanchor_315" class="label">[315]</a> Ispahan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_316" href="#FNanchor_316" class="label">[316]</a> Sheibani Khan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_317" href="#FNanchor_317" class="label">[317]</a> Shirvan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_318" href="#FNanchor_318" class="label">[318]</a> Kara Bagh.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_319" href="#FNanchor_319" class="label">[319]</a> Canar.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_320" href="#FNanchor_320" class="label">[320]</a> See <a href="#II_Page_50">page 50</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_321" href="#FNanchor_321" class="label">[321]</a> See <a href="#II_Page_48">page 48</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_322" href="#FNanchor_322" class="label">[322]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_323" href="#FNanchor_323" class="label">[323]</a> He was killed in the battle.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_324" href="#FNanchor_324" class="label">[324]</a> 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 <i>entrepôt</i> +for a caravan trade, with ten thousand inhabitants.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_325" href="#FNanchor_325" class="label">[325]</a> The Iris, present Kizzil Irmak.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_326" href="#FNanchor_326" class="label">[326]</a> Iris.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_327" href="#FNanchor_327" class="label">[327]</a> Erzingan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_328" href="#FNanchor_328" class="label">[328]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_329" href="#FNanchor_329" class="label">[329]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_330" href="#FNanchor_330" class="label">[330]</a> The site of the ancient Artaxarta is fixed on the Aras, a little to +the south of Erivan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_331" href="#FNanchor_331" class="label">[331]</a> 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.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_332" href="#FNanchor_332" class="label">[332]</a> Caseria, probably Casbin.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_333" href="#FNanchor_333" class="label">[333]</a> The janissaries mutinied, according to Knolles.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_334" href="#FNanchor_334" class="label">[334]</a> 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.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_335" href="#FNanchor_335" class="label">[335]</a> Ikindjis.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_336" href="#FNanchor_336" class="label">[336]</a> Khafour el Ghouri.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_337" href="#FNanchor_337" class="label">[337]</a> Syria.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_338" href="#FNanchor_338" class="label">[338]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_339" href="#FNanchor_339" class="label">[339]</a> Amasia, birthplace of Strabo. See <a href="#II_Page_37">page 37</a>.</p> + +</div> + +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter" id="ANGIOLELLO"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_67"></a>[67]</span></p> + +<p class="center mid">DISCOURSE OF</p> + +<p class="center larger">MESSER GIOVAN BATTISTA RAMUSIO</p> + +<p class="center smaller">ON THE</p> + +<p class="center">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.</p> + +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_68"></a>[68]</span></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_69"></a>[69]</span></p> + +<h3 class="nobreak">DISCOURSE OF MESSER GIOVAN BATTISTA RAMUSIO.</h3> + +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="RAMUSIO_INTRODUCTION">INTRODUCTION.</h4> + +</div> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_70"></a>[70]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<a id="FNanchor_340" href="#Footnote_340" class="fnanchor">[340]</a> having made himself +master of the provinces of Media, Parthia, and Persia, now +named Azemia;<a id="FNanchor_341" href="#Footnote_341" class="fnanchor">[341]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_342" href="#Footnote_342" class="fnanchor">[342]</a> 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<a id="FNanchor_343" href="#Footnote_343" class="fnanchor">[343]</a> +with the same Grand Turk, in which he was routed on the<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_71"></a>[71]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_344" href="#Footnote_344" class="fnanchor">[344]</a> Emperor of Trebizond, having given one of his +daughters, named Despinacaton,<a id="FNanchor_345" href="#Footnote_345" class="fnanchor">[345]</a> 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,<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_72"></a>[72]</span> +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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_73"></a>[73]</span></p> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="A_SHORT_NARRATIVE_OF_THE_LIFE_AND_ACTS_OF_THE_KING_USSUN_CASSANO">A SHORT NARRATIVE OF THE LIFE AND ACTS OF THE KING USSUN CASSANO.</h4> +</div> + +<p class="center">BY GIOVAN MARIA ANGIOLELLO.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="ANGIOLELLO_CHAP_I"><span class="smcap">Chap. I.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>Assambei,<a id="FNanchor_346" href="#Footnote_346" class="fnanchor">[346]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_347" href="#Footnote_347" class="fnanchor">[347]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_348" href="#Footnote_348" class="fnanchor">[348]</a> +on the frontiers of the land of Diarbet.<a id="FNanchor_349" href="#Footnote_349" class="fnanchor">[349]</a> This lady remained +in this place a long time, and with her her two daughters,<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_74"></a>[74]</span> +leading a Christian life, and after her death was buried in +the city of Amit,<a id="FNanchor_350" href="#Footnote_350" class="fnanchor">[350]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_351" href="#Footnote_351" class="fnanchor">[351]</a> 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.<a id="FNanchor_352" href="#Footnote_352" class="fnanchor">[352]</a></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="ANGIOLELLO_CHAP_II"><span class="smcap">Chap. II.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_75"></a>[75]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_353" href="#Footnote_353" class="fnanchor">[353]</a> by having more adherents, +made himself master, and Pirahomat<a id="FNanchor_354" href="#Footnote_354" class="fnanchor">[354]</a> 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<a id="FNanchor_355" href="#Footnote_355" class="fnanchor">[355]</a> +and a city called Aessar,<a id="FNanchor_356" href="#Footnote_356" class="fnanchor">[356]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_357" href="#Footnote_357" class="fnanchor">[357]</a> putting in command his second son,<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_76"></a>[76]</span> +named Mustafá Celebi,<a id="FNanchor_358" href="#Footnote_358" class="fnanchor">[358]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_359" href="#Footnote_359" class="fnanchor">[359]</a> a man of great reputation, ability, and +courage, who, taking the field with the army, soon arrived +at the city of Toccat,<a id="FNanchor_360" href="#Footnote_360" class="fnanchor">[360]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_361" href="#Footnote_361" class="fnanchor">[361]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_362" href="#Footnote_362" class="fnanchor">[362]</a> +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,<a id="FNanchor_363" href="#Footnote_363" class="fnanchor">[363]</a> where +Daut<a id="FNanchor_364" href="#Footnote_364" class="fnanchor">[364]</a> Bassa, Beglerbeg of Natolia, happened to be collecting<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_77"></a>[77]</span> +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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="ANGIOLELLO_CHAP_III"><span class="smcap">Chap. III.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_365" href="#Footnote_365" class="fnanchor">[365]</a> 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,<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_78"></a>[78]</span> +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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="ANGIOLELLO_CHAP_IV"><span class="smcap">Chap. IV.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_366" href="#Footnote_366" class="fnanchor">[366]</a> the residence of Baiesit<a id="FNanchor_367" href="#Footnote_367" class="fnanchor">[367]</a> + Celebi,<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_79"></a>[79]</span> +the eldest son of the Turk. This plain is called Casouasi,<a id="FNanchor_368" href="#Footnote_368" class="fnanchor">[368]</a> +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,<a id="FNanchor_369" href="#Footnote_369" class="fnanchor">[369]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_80"></a>[80]</span> +Asmurat,<a id="FNanchor_370" href="#Footnote_370" class="fnanchor">[370]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_371" href="#Footnote_371" class="fnanchor">[371]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_81"></a>[81]</span> +division were thirty thousand men, remarkably well mounted, +and as a commander they had given them a valiant chief +named Maumut Aga.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="ANGIOLELLO_CHAP_V"><span class="smcap">Chap. V.</span></h4> + +<p>The supplies of provisions made by the chief, Arphaemiler, +that the army might be in plenty.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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,<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_82"></a>[82]</span> +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,<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_83"></a>[83]</span> +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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="ANGIOLELLO_CHAP_VI"><span class="smcap">Chap. VI.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_84"></a>[84]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_372" href="#Footnote_372" class="fnanchor">[372]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>All the necessary preparations being made, the Grand +Turk moved the army from the Plain of the Goose and from +the city of Amasia,<a id="FNanchor_373" href="#Footnote_373" class="fnanchor">[373]</a> and advanced towards Toccat, a city of +Cappadocia; and the army following its route arrived at the +city of Civas,<a id="FNanchor_374" href="#Footnote_374" class="fnanchor">[374]</a> situated near the mountains, and near it crossed +a large river named the Lais,<a id="FNanchor_375" href="#Footnote_375" class="fnanchor">[375]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_376" href="#Footnote_376" class="fnanchor">[376]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_377" href="#Footnote_377" class="fnanchor">[377]</a> situated among mountains in +a valley surrounded by many villages. Still advancing, we<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_85"></a>[85]</span> +arrived on the slope of a high mountain at another city +named Careafar,<a id="FNanchor_378" href="#Footnote_378" class="fnanchor">[378]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_379" href="#Footnote_379" class="fnanchor">[379]</a> on a site a little elevated above +the plain, which is called the country of Arsingan.<a id="FNanchor_380" href="#Footnote_380" class="fnanchor">[380]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_381" href="#Footnote_381" class="fnanchor">[381]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_86"></a>[86]</span> +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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="ANGIOLELLO_CHAP_VII"><span class="smcap">Chap. VII.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_382" href="#Footnote_382" class="fnanchor">[382]</a> the second Ugurlimehemet,<a id="FNanchor_383" href="#Footnote_383" class="fnanchor">[383]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_87"></a>[87]</span> +enemy, and that Asmurat,<a id="FNanchor_384" href="#Footnote_384" class="fnanchor">[384]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_88"></a>[88]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<a id="FNanchor_385" href="#Footnote_385" class="fnanchor">[385]</a> 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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_89"></a>[89]</span></p> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="ANGIOLELLO_CHAP_VIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. VIII.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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<a id="FNanchor_386" href="#Footnote_386" class="fnanchor">[386]</a> 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.<a id="FNanchor_387" href="#Footnote_387" class="fnanchor">[387]</a></p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_90"></a>[90]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.<a id="FNanchor_388" href="#Footnote_388" class="fnanchor">[388]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_91"></a>[91]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.<a id="FNanchor_389" href="#Footnote_389" class="fnanchor">[389]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_390" href="#Footnote_390" class="fnanchor">[390]</a> 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<a id="FNanchor_391" href="#Footnote_391" class="fnanchor">[391]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_92"></a>[92]</span> +away ignominiously, and he would not have lost the territories +he did.</p> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_392" href="#Footnote_392" class="fnanchor">[392]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_393" href="#Footnote_393" class="fnanchor">[393]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_394" href="#Footnote_394" class="fnanchor">[394]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_93"></a>[93]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_395" href="#Footnote_395" class="fnanchor">[395]</a> a retainer of prince Zeinel, the son of Ussun Cassano, +who was killed in the above-mentioned battle, and who possessed +this Sangiacato<a id="FNanchor_396" href="#Footnote_396" class="fnanchor">[396]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>The army, marching thence, came to the city of Coliasar,<a id="FNanchor_397" href="#Footnote_397" class="fnanchor">[397]</a> +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<a id="FNanchor_398" href="#Footnote_398" class="fnanchor">[398]</a> did +the same. All necessary provisions having been made for +their government, the army proceeded and arrived at Sivas.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="ANGIOLELLO_CHAP_IX"><span class="smcap">Chap. IX.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>After this defeat Assambei returned to Tauris. In 1473 +M. Josaphat Barbaro arrived, who relates that the lord<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_94"></a>[94]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_399" href="#Footnote_399" class="fnanchor">[399]</a> which this same Ugurlimehemet had taken from +his father, is the most important city of Persia on the frontiers +near Chirmas,<a id="FNanchor_400" href="#Footnote_400" class="fnanchor">[400]</a> and is walled with stone. It is twenty<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_95"></a>[95]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_401" href="#Footnote_401" class="fnanchor">[401]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_96"></a>[96]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_402" href="#Footnote_402" class="fnanchor">[402]</a> 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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_97"></a>[97]</span></p> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="ANGIOLELLO_CHAP_X"><span class="smcap">Chap. X.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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<a id="FNanchor_403" href="#Footnote_403" class="fnanchor">[403]</a> we found a castle named Tiflis, commanding a pass, +but deserted, which we took without any resistance. And +advancing to Geri<a id="FNanchor_404" href="#Footnote_404" class="fnanchor">[404]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_405" href="#Footnote_405" class="fnanchor">[405]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_98"></a>[98]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_406" href="#Footnote_406" class="fnanchor">[406]</a> made a coalition with the eldest, +named Marco;<a id="FNanchor_407" href="#Footnote_407" class="fnanchor">[407]</a> whereupon the youngest fled, and Jacob +made himself sovereign, ascending the throne in 1479.</p> + +<p>In the year 1482 (?) it happened that the people of Amit,<a id="FNanchor_408" href="#Footnote_408" class="fnanchor">[408]</a> +the principal city of Diarbec, heard that the Mamelukes had +seized and plundered Orfà,<a id="FNanchor_409" href="#Footnote_409" class="fnanchor">[409]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_410" href="#Footnote_410" class="fnanchor">[410]</a> 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).</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="ANGIOLELLO_CHAP_XI"><span class="smcap">Chap. XI.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>Jacob Patissa, as I have already mentioned, after the +death of his father, made himself master of Tauris and<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_99"></a>[99]</span> +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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_100"></a>[100]</span> +Baysingir,<a id="FNanchor_411" href="#Footnote_411" class="fnanchor">[411]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_412" href="#Footnote_412" class="fnanchor">[412]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_413" href="#Footnote_413" class="fnanchor">[413]</a> 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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="ANGIOLELLO_CHAP_XII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XII.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>During the reign of Rustan in Tauris, Sechaidar,<a id="FNanchor_414" href="#Footnote_414" class="fnanchor">[414]</a> 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.<a id="FNanchor_415" href="#Footnote_415" class="fnanchor">[415]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_416" href="#Footnote_416" class="fnanchor">[416]</a> three days’ journey distant from +Tauris, towards the East, like an abbot with a number of<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_101"></a>[101]</span> +disciples. Having assembled an army of twenty-two thousand +men, he marched towards Tauris;<a id="FNanchor_417" href="#Footnote_417" class="fnanchor">[417]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_418" href="#Footnote_418" class="fnanchor">[418]</a> 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.<a id="FNanchor_419" href="#Footnote_419" class="fnanchor">[419]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_420" href="#Footnote_420" class="fnanchor">[420]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_102"></a>[102]</span> +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<a id="FNanchor_421" href="#Footnote_421" class="fnanchor">[421]</a> mother were conducted in a boat from the island to +the country of Carabas<a id="FNanchor_422" href="#Footnote_422" class="fnanchor">[422]</a> on the east. This country borders +on Sumacchia<a id="FNanchor_423" href="#Footnote_423" class="fnanchor">[423]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_103"></a>[103]</span> +the space of five years. Ismael at this time was nine years +old, and when he attacked Sumacchia was not quite fourteen.<a id="FNanchor_424" href="#Footnote_424" class="fnanchor">[424]</a></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="ANGIOLELLO_CHAP_XIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XIII.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Then, having assembled five hundred horse and foot +soldiers, they crossed a large river called the Cur,<a id="FNanchor_425" href="#Footnote_425" class="fnanchor">[425]</a> flowing +in the direction of Sumacchia,<a id="FNanchor_426" href="#Footnote_426" class="fnanchor">[426]</a> into the Caspian Sea; then +marching towards Sumacchi they received intelligence that +the lord of that place, named Sermangoli, was assembling<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_104"></a>[104]</span> +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<a id="FNanchor_427" href="#Footnote_427" class="fnanchor">[427]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_105"></a>[105]</span> +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.<a id="FNanchor_428" href="#Footnote_428" class="fnanchor">[428]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_429" href="#Footnote_429" class="fnanchor">[429]</a> 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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="ANGIOLELLO_CHAP_XIV"><span class="smcap">Chap. XIV.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>Ismael having remained all the winter at Tauris, in 1500, +early in the year, determined to go against a certain Moratcan,<a id="FNanchor_430" href="#Footnote_430" class="fnanchor">[430]</a> +who had seized the country of Erach<a id="FNanchor_431" href="#Footnote_431" class="fnanchor">[431]</a> after the death +of Jacob, which country comprises Spaan, Ies, and Syras,<a id="FNanchor_432" href="#Footnote_432" class="fnanchor">[432]</a> +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,<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_106"></a>[106]</span> +he continued his route to Chizaron, having advanced +a long way from Tauris, and from thence to Syras, bordering +on the country of Carason<a id="FNanchor_433" href="#Footnote_433" class="fnanchor">[433]</a> or Gon. Here they met in battle, +and at length Moratcan was killed<a id="FNanchor_434" href="#Footnote_434" class="fnanchor">[434]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_107"></a>[107]</span> +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<a id="FNanchor_435" href="#Footnote_435" class="fnanchor">[435]</a> of the country held himself +in readiness with many troops, not in the field, but in the +city of Baldac,<a id="FNanchor_436" href="#Footnote_436" class="fnanchor">[436]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_437" href="#Footnote_437" class="fnanchor">[437]</a> 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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_108"></a>[108]</span></p> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="ANGIOLELLO_CHAP_XV"><span class="smcap">Chap. XV.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>The Sophi, having under his sway a part of the country +of Diarbec, that is, Orfa, Moredin,<a id="FNanchor_438" href="#Footnote_438" class="fnanchor">[438]</a> Arsunchief,<a id="FNanchor_439" href="#Footnote_439" class="fnanchor">[439]</a> and other +places, and hearing continually that Abnadulat<a id="FNanchor_440" href="#Footnote_440" class="fnanchor">[440]</a> was ravaging +that part of the country, and had taken the city of Cartibiert,<a id="FNanchor_441" href="#Footnote_441" class="fnanchor">[441]</a> +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,<a id="FNanchor_442" href="#Footnote_442" class="fnanchor">[442]</a> +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,<a id="FNanchor_443" href="#Footnote_443" class="fnanchor">[443]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_444" href="#Footnote_444" class="fnanchor">[444]</a> to the +Ottoman Emperor of Constantinople; and the other named +Zaccarabech,<a id="FNanchor_445" href="#Footnote_445" class="fnanchor">[445]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_109"></a>[109]</span> +the ordinary route, but went to Caisaria,<a id="FNanchor_446" href="#Footnote_446" class="fnanchor">[446]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_447" href="#Footnote_447" class="fnanchor">[447]</a> situated on a river<a id="FNanchor_448" href="#Footnote_448" class="fnanchor">[448]</a> and in a beautiful +plain, and belonging to Alidoli. From this to Maras<a id="FNanchor_449" href="#Footnote_449" class="fnanchor">[449]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_450" href="#Footnote_450" class="fnanchor">[450]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_451" href="#Footnote_451" class="fnanchor">[451]</a> +where he met one of his adherents, named Amirbec,<a id="FNanchor_452" href="#Footnote_452" class="fnanchor">[452]</a> +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,<a id="FNanchor_453" href="#Footnote_453" class="fnanchor">[453]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_110"></a>[110]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_454" href="#Footnote_454" class="fnanchor">[454]</a> which was +governed by a son<a id="FNanchor_455" href="#Footnote_455" class="fnanchor">[455]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_456" href="#Footnote_456" class="fnanchor">[456]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_457" href="#Footnote_457" class="fnanchor">[457]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_458" href="#Footnote_458" class="fnanchor">[458]</a> +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,<a id="FNanchor_459" href="#Footnote_459" class="fnanchor">[459]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_111"></a>[111]</span> +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<a id="FNanchor_460" href="#Footnote_460" class="fnanchor">[460]</a> 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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="ANGIOLELLO_CHAP_XVI"><span class="smcap">Chap. XVI.</span></h4> + +<p>Ismael being with his army in the country of Carabas,<a id="FNanchor_461" href="#Footnote_461" class="fnanchor">[461]</a> +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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_112"></a>[112]</span> +second time the realm of Servan and Sumachia;<a id="FNanchor_462" href="#Footnote_462" class="fnanchor">[462]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_463" href="#Footnote_463" class="fnanchor">[463]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_464" href="#Footnote_464" class="fnanchor">[464]</a> +and is one of the ports of Tauris, with an excellent harbour; +it was anciently the principal place on the sea, which<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_113"></a>[113]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_465" href="#Footnote_465" class="fnanchor">[465]</a> 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<a id="FNanchor_466" href="#Footnote_466" class="fnanchor">[466]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_467" href="#Footnote_467" class="fnanchor">[467]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_114"></a>[114]</span> +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<a id="FNanchor_468" href="#Footnote_468" class="fnanchor">[468]</a> 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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="ANGIOLELLO_CHAP_XVII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XVII.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>Having made himself master of the castle he remained +there eight or nine days to rest his men, and during this<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_115"></a>[115]</span> +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”,<a id="FNanchor_469" href="#Footnote_469" class="fnanchor">[469]</a> 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<a id="FNanchor_470" href="#Footnote_470" class="fnanchor">[470]</a> 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;<a id="FNanchor_471" href="#Footnote_471" class="fnanchor">[471]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_472" href="#Footnote_472" class="fnanchor">[472]</a> the Lord of +Sammarcant, with an Usbec chief, with an immense army,<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_116"></a>[116]</span> +was ravaging the country of Hirac,<a id="FNanchor_473" href="#Footnote_473" class="fnanchor">[473]</a> that is, Iespatan<a id="FNanchor_474" href="#Footnote_474" class="fnanchor">[474]</a> and +other places. He determined to take vengeance, and +taking the field, ordered all his troops to assemble at +Cassan,<a id="FNanchor_475" href="#Footnote_475" class="fnanchor">[475]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_476" href="#Footnote_476" class="fnanchor">[476]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_477" href="#Footnote_477" class="fnanchor">[477]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_478" href="#Footnote_478" class="fnanchor">[478]</a> Lord of Sumacchia; the second to +Gustagielit;<a id="FNanchor_479" href="#Footnote_479" class="fnanchor">[479]</a> 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,<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_117"></a>[117]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_480" href="#Footnote_480" class="fnanchor">[480]</a> 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<a id="FNanchor_481" href="#Footnote_481" class="fnanchor">[481]</a> and remained there all +the winter of 1510.<a id="FNanchor_482" href="#Footnote_482" class="fnanchor">[482]</a> When the young men returned to<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_118"></a>[118]</span> +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<a id="FNanchor_483" href="#Footnote_483" class="fnanchor">[483]</a> 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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="ANGIOLELLO_CHAP_XVIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XVIII.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_119"></a>[119]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_484" href="#Footnote_484" class="fnanchor">[484]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_485" href="#Footnote_485" class="fnanchor">[485]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_486" href="#Footnote_486" class="fnanchor">[486]</a> are a +hundred miles; thence to Carpiert<a id="FNanchor_487" href="#Footnote_487" class="fnanchor">[487]</a> eighty miles; to Amit +fifty miles; thence to Bitlis two hundred and forty miles; +from Bitlis to the lake<a id="FNanchor_488" href="#Footnote_488" class="fnanchor">[488]</a> fifty miles; the lake is a hundred +miles long; from thence to Coi<a id="FNanchor_489" href="#Footnote_489" class="fnanchor">[489]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_490" href="#Footnote_490" class="fnanchor">[490]</a> +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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_120"></a>[120]</span> +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<a id="FNanchor_491" href="#Footnote_491" class="fnanchor">[491]</a> 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:<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_121"></a>[121]</span> +“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,<a id="FNanchor_492" href="#Footnote_492" class="fnanchor">[492]</a> 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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="ANGIOLELLO_CHAP_XIX"><span class="smcap">Chap. XIX.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>On the return of the Sophi to Tauris he determined to +send ambassadors to Cairo, to Alidolat, and to the Iberians,<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_122"></a>[122]</span> +this happening in the month of October. Those sent to +the Soldan<a id="FNanchor_493" href="#Footnote_493" class="fnanchor">[493]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_494" href="#Footnote_494" class="fnanchor">[494]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_495" href="#Footnote_495" class="fnanchor">[495]</a> where there are many towns and +castles; these countries are the Turkish frontiers towards +Trebizond,<a id="FNanchor_496" href="#Footnote_496" class="fnanchor">[496]</a> and are both in Lesser Armenia. Thence from the<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_123"></a>[123]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_497" href="#Footnote_497" class="fnanchor">[497]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_498" href="#Footnote_498" class="fnanchor">[498]</a> near Alidolat, the Alidolians +attacked him, but were repulsed and roughly handled, Alidolat<a id="FNanchor_499" href="#Footnote_499" class="fnanchor">[499]</a> +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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_124"></a>[124]</span></p> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="ANGIOLELLO_CHAP_XX"><span class="smcap">Chap. XX.</span></h4> + +<p>The Turk makes an expedition against the Soldan, and +meeting him in battle, defeats him, the Soldan being slain.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_500" href="#Footnote_500" class="fnanchor">[500]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_125"></a>[125]</span> +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.<a id="FNanchor_501" href="#Footnote_501" class="fnanchor">[501]</a> 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<a id="FNanchor_502" href="#Footnote_502" class="fnanchor">[502]</a> 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<a id="FNanchor_503" href="#Footnote_503" class="fnanchor">[503]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_504" href="#Footnote_504" class="fnanchor">[504]</a> and opposed to the<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_126"></a>[126]</span> +Natolians was Caierbec<a id="FNanchor_505" href="#Footnote_505" class="fnanchor">[505]</a> 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<a id="FNanchor_506" href="#Footnote_506" class="fnanchor">[506]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_507" href="#Footnote_507" class="fnanchor">[507]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_127"></a>[127]</span> +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<a id="FNanchor_508" href="#Footnote_508" class="fnanchor">[508]</a> 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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="ANGIOLELLO_CHAP_XXI"><span class="smcap">Chap. XXI.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>The new Soldan of Cairo, the great Diodar<a id="FNanchor_509" href="#Footnote_509" class="fnanchor">[509]</a> surnamed +Tomombei,<a id="FNanchor_510" href="#Footnote_510" class="fnanchor">[510]</a> 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<a id="FNanchor_511" href="#Footnote_511" class="fnanchor">[511]</a> Bassà with fifteen thousand<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_128"></a>[128]</span> +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;<a id="FNanchor_512" href="#Footnote_512" class="fnanchor">[512]</a> telling<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_129"></a>[129]</span> +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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_130"></a>[130]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_513" href="#Footnote_513" class="fnanchor">[513]</a> where only two horses could advance abreast. The<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_131"></a>[131]</span> +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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="ANGIOLELLO_CHAP_XXII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XXII.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>We then set out on the straight route to Cairo, where the +newly created Soldan Tomombei<a id="FNanchor_514" href="#Footnote_514" class="fnanchor">[514]</a> was making preparations +by digging moats and raising embankments of earth<a id="FNanchor_515" href="#Footnote_515" class="fnanchor">[515]</a> with a +great number of labourers. He also posted pieces of artillery +with the design when our army appeared of sweeping it all<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_132"></a>[132]</span> +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<a id="FNanchor_516" href="#Footnote_516" class="fnanchor">[516]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_517" href="#Footnote_517" class="fnanchor">[517]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_518" href="#Footnote_518" class="fnanchor">[518]</a> 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.<a id="FNanchor_519" href="#Footnote_519" class="fnanchor">[519]</a> The Greeks +pursued them till night, plundering and slaughtering them;<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_133"></a>[133]</span> +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<a id="FNanchor_520" href="#Footnote_520" class="fnanchor">[520]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_134"></a>[134]</span> +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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_135"></a>[135]</span></p> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="ANGIOLELLO_CHAP_XXIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XXIII.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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.<a id="FNanchor_521" href="#Footnote_521" class="fnanchor">[521]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_522" href="#Footnote_522" class="fnanchor">[522]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_136"></a>[136]</span> +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<a id="FNanchor_523" href="#Footnote_523" class="fnanchor">[523]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_137"></a>[137]</span> +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<a id="FNanchor_524" href="#Footnote_524" class="fnanchor">[524]</a> 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 <i>Cadi Lascher</i>,<a id="FNanchor_525" href="#Footnote_525" class="fnanchor">[525]</a> who was with the +army, to a Cadi in Constantinople, and translated from the +Turkish into Tuscan on the 22nd October, 1517.</p> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_526" href="#Footnote_526" class="fnanchor">[526]</a> + the second Alcas el Mirza,<a id="FNanchor_527" href="#Footnote_527" class="fnanchor">[527]</a><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_138"></a>[138]</span> +the third Päerham<a id="FNanchor_528" href="#Footnote_528" class="fnanchor">[528]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_529" href="#Footnote_529" class="fnanchor">[529]</a> wishing to slay the regent; but +the matter was compromised.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="footnotes"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="ANGIOLELLO_FOOTNOTES">FOOTNOTES</h4> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_340" href="#FNanchor_340" class="label">[340]</a> Hulakoo Khan, son and successor of the great Zingis, and the conqueror +of Bagdad.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_341" href="#FNanchor_341" class="label">[341]</a> Ajemi.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_342" href="#FNanchor_342" class="label">[342]</a> Hassan Beg.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_343" href="#FNanchor_343" class="label">[343]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_344" href="#FNanchor_344" class="label">[344]</a> Calo Johannes. See Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_9">p. 9</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_345" href="#FNanchor_345" class="label">[345]</a> Despina Khatoon; <i>i.e.</i>, “Lady” or “Queen” Despina.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_346" href="#FNanchor_346" class="label">[346]</a> Hassan Beg.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_347" href="#FNanchor_347" class="label">[347]</a> Sheikh Hyder. See Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_48">p. 48</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_348" href="#FNanchor_348" class="label">[348]</a> Present Kharput. See <i>Travels of a Merchant</i>, <a href="#MERCHANT_CHAP_III">cap. 3</a>; and Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_42">p. 42</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_349" href="#FNanchor_349" class="label">[349]</a> Diarbekr.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_350" href="#FNanchor_350" class="label">[350]</a> Amid (Diarbekr). The Church of San Giorgio, or Mar Jurjees, was +an old Jacobite church, but is now in ruins. See Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_42">p. 42</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_351" href="#FNanchor_351" class="label">[351]</a> It was David Comnenus who was the last Emperor of Trebizond, +Calo Johannes, his elder brother, having died before the Turkish invasion.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_352" href="#FNanchor_352" class="label">[352]</a> Trebizond was taken by Mahomet II in 1461.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_353" href="#FNanchor_353" class="label">[353]</a> Ibrahim.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_354" href="#FNanchor_354" class="label">[354]</a> Peer Ahmed. See Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_15">p. 15</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_355" href="#FNanchor_355" class="label">[355]</a> Shebban Kara Hissar. See Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_23">p. 23</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_356" href="#FNanchor_356" class="label">[356]</a> Niksar?</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_357" href="#FNanchor_357" class="label">[357]</a> The city of Konieh; but the text denotes a river rather, probably +the Iris.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_358" href="#FNanchor_358" class="label">[358]</a> Tchelebee or the noble, a common title among the Ottoman princes.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_359" href="#FNanchor_359" class="label">[359]</a> Yusuf Khan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_360" href="#FNanchor_360" class="label">[360]</a> Tocat.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_361" href="#FNanchor_361" class="label">[361]</a> Achmet Pasha.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_362" href="#FNanchor_362" class="label">[362]</a> Afioom Kara Hissar. Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_19">p. 19</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_363" href="#FNanchor_363" class="label">[363]</a> Cutayeh.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_364" href="#FNanchor_364" class="label">[364]</a> Daoud.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_365" href="#FNanchor_365" class="label">[365]</a> Achmet Pasha.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_366" href="#FNanchor_366" class="label">[366]</a> Amasia. See Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_37">p. 37</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_367" href="#FNanchor_367" class="label">[367]</a> Bajazet Tchelebee.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_368" href="#FNanchor_368" class="label">[368]</a> Quzbvassi. The Goose’s Plain.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_369" href="#FNanchor_369" class="label">[369]</a> Djim or Zizim. See Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_22">p. 22</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_370" href="#FNanchor_370" class="label">[370]</a> Amurath.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_371" href="#FNanchor_371" class="label">[371]</a> Ikindjis.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_372" href="#FNanchor_372" class="label">[372]</a> The Ikindjis, irregular troops.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_373" href="#FNanchor_373" class="label">[373]</a> Amasia, birthplace of Strabo and Mithridates.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_374" href="#FNanchor_374" class="label">[374]</a> Sivas. See Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_23">p. 23</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_375" href="#FNanchor_375" class="label">[375]</a> The Iris or Kizzil Irmak.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_376" href="#FNanchor_376" class="label">[376]</a> Niksar.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_377" href="#FNanchor_377" class="label">[377]</a> Koili Hissar. See Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_23">p. 23</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_378" href="#FNanchor_378" class="label">[378]</a> Shebban Kara Hissar. The alum mines are still worked, but yield +little revenue. See Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_23">p. 23</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_379" href="#FNanchor_379" class="label">[379]</a> Probably Egin. See Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_23">p. 23</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_380" href="#FNanchor_380" class="label">[380]</a> Erzingan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_381" href="#FNanchor_381" class="label">[381]</a> Malatia.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_382" href="#FNanchor_382" class="label">[382]</a> Khalul.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_383" href="#FNanchor_383" class="label">[383]</a> Called Unghermaumet in Zeno.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_384" href="#FNanchor_384" class="label">[384]</a> Amurath Palæologus.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_385" href="#FNanchor_385" class="label">[385]</a> Knolles, in his <i>History of the Turks</i>, 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_386" href="#FNanchor_386" class="label">[386]</a> Baiboort. See Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_26">p. 26</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_387" href="#FNanchor_387" class="label">[387]</a> Tabeada.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_388" href="#FNanchor_388" class="label">[388]</a> How this happened it is not easy to understand, as Zeno says the +Persian king pursued the Turks with only a flying column.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_389" href="#FNanchor_389" class="label">[389]</a> Zeno says fourteen thousand.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_390" href="#FNanchor_390" class="label">[390]</a> Shiraz; it has still a great manufacture of sword-blades and armour.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_391" href="#FNanchor_391" class="label">[391]</a> See <a href="#II_Page_89">p. 89</a>. Eustraf?</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_392" href="#FNanchor_392" class="label">[392]</a> Baiboort.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_393" href="#FNanchor_393" class="label">[393]</a> Erzeroum or Erzingan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_394" href="#FNanchor_394" class="label">[394]</a> Shebban Kara Hissar.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_395" href="#FNanchor_395" class="label">[395]</a> Called Darap by Zeno.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_396" href="#FNanchor_396" class="label">[396]</a> Sanjak.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_397" href="#FNanchor_397" class="label">[397]</a> Koili, or Koyumlu Hissar.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_398" href="#FNanchor_398" class="label">[398]</a> Niksar.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_399" href="#FNanchor_399" class="label">[399]</a> Shiraz, a far more important town then than it is now.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_400" href="#FNanchor_400" class="label">[400]</a> Kerman.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_401" href="#FNanchor_401" class="label">[401]</a> Syria.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_402" href="#FNanchor_402" class="label">[402]</a> Khaleel and Yakoob.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_403" href="#FNanchor_403" class="label">[403]</a> Angiolello had evidently by this time left the Turkish camp and +joined the Persians.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_404" href="#FNanchor_404" class="label">[404]</a> Gori.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_405" href="#FNanchor_405" class="label">[405]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_406" href="#FNanchor_406" class="label">[406]</a> Padishah.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_407" href="#FNanchor_407" class="label">[407]</a> Khaleel is generally called the eldest of Uzun Hassan’s sons.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_408" href="#FNanchor_408" class="label">[408]</a> Amida, present Diarbekr.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_409" href="#FNanchor_409" class="label">[409]</a> Orfa. See <i>Travels of a Merchant</i>, <a href="#MERCHANT_CHAP_II">cap. 2</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_410" href="#FNanchor_410" class="label">[410]</a> Birjik, or Bir, ancient Apamea. See <i>Travels of a Merchant</i>, <a href="#MERCHANT_CHAP_II">cap. 2</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_411" href="#FNanchor_411" class="label">[411]</a> Baisongor.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_412" href="#FNanchor_412" class="label">[412]</a> Ahmed.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_413" href="#FNanchor_413" class="label">[413]</a> Eluan-Alwung, or Alumut, son of Sultan Yakoob.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_414" href="#FNanchor_414" class="label">[414]</a> Sheikh Hyder.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_415" href="#FNanchor_415" class="label">[415]</a> There were sons of Shah Yakoob living, namely, Aluan Beg and +Morad Khan, who were more direct descendants of Uzun Hassan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_416" href="#FNanchor_416" class="label">[416]</a> Ardebil.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_417" href="#FNanchor_417" class="label">[417]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_418" href="#FNanchor_418" class="label">[418]</a> Khoi.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_419" href="#FNanchor_419" class="label">[419]</a> Zeno says the battle took place near Derbend—far enough, certainly, +from Van.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_420" href="#FNanchor_420" class="label">[420]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_421" href="#FNanchor_421" class="label">[421]</a> See <a href="#II_Page_102">above</a>, where it is stated that their mother was married a +second time; and <a href="#II_Page_105">page 105</a>, 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_422" href="#FNanchor_422" class="label">[422]</a> Kara Bagh.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_423" href="#FNanchor_423" class="label">[423]</a> Schamachi.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_424" href="#FNanchor_424" class="label">[424]</a> Vide <i>Travels of a Merchant</i>, <a href="#MERCHANT_CHAP_XIII">cap. 13</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_425" href="#FNanchor_425" class="label">[425]</a> Kur, or Cyrus.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_426" href="#FNanchor_426" class="label">[426]</a> Schamachi.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_427" href="#FNanchor_427" class="label">[427]</a> Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_51">p. 51</a>, says he had only sixteen thousand men under him after +being joined by the Georgians.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_428" href="#FNanchor_428" class="label">[428]</a> Diarbekr, the hereditary city of the Ak Koinloos.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_429" href="#FNanchor_429" class="label">[429]</a> Stepmother, according to Zeno, which is certainly more probable.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_430" href="#FNanchor_430" class="label">[430]</a> Morad Khan, brother of Aluan Beg.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_431" href="#FNanchor_431" class="label">[431]</a> Irak-el Ajim.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_432" href="#FNanchor_432" class="label">[432]</a> Ispahan, Yezd, and Shiraz.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_433" href="#FNanchor_433" class="label">[433]</a> Khorassan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_434" href="#FNanchor_434" class="label">[434]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_435" href="#FNanchor_435" class="label">[435]</a> Morad Khan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_436" href="#FNanchor_436" class="label">[436]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_437" href="#FNanchor_437" class="label">[437]</a> Jezireh ebn Omar on the Tigris. See <i>Travels of a Merchant</i>, <a href="#MERCHANT_CHAP_IV">cap. 4</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_438" href="#FNanchor_438" class="label">[438]</a> Orfa and Mardin. See <i>Travels of a Merchant</i>, <a href="#MERCHANT_CHAP_II">caps. 2</a> and <a href="#MERCHANT_CHAP_IV">4</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_439" href="#FNanchor_439" class="label">[439]</a> 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 <i>Travels of +a Merchant</i>, <a href="#MERCHANT_CHAP_IV">cap. 4</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_440" href="#FNanchor_440" class="label">[440]</a> Alla-ed Douleh.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_441" href="#FNanchor_441" class="label">[441]</a> Kharput. Jocelyn was again captured, together with his kinsman, by +Balak, the Ortokide, and confined in this place. See <i>Travels of a Merchant</i>, +<a href="#MERCHANT_CHAP_III">cap. 3</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_442" href="#FNanchor_442" class="label">[442]</a> Alla-ed Douleh, written “Abnadulat” above.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_443" href="#FNanchor_443" class="label">[443]</a> Erzingan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_444" href="#FNanchor_444" class="label">[444]</a> Ko-li Beg.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_445" href="#FNanchor_445" class="label">[445]</a> Zekkaria Beg.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_446" href="#FNanchor_446" class="label">[446]</a> Kaisarieh.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_447" href="#FNanchor_447" class="label">[447]</a> El Bostan, or Albistan. See Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_54">p. 54</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_448" href="#FNanchor_448" class="label">[448]</a> The Jihoon.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_449" href="#FNanchor_449" class="label">[449]</a> Marash. See Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_54">p. 54</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_450" href="#FNanchor_450" class="label">[450]</a> Kara Dagh.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_451" href="#FNanchor_451" class="label">[451]</a> Malatia.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_452" href="#FNanchor_452" class="label">[452]</a> Amir Beg.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_453" href="#FNanchor_453" class="label">[453]</a> Diarbekr.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_454" href="#FNanchor_454" class="label">[454]</a> Kharput.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_455" href="#FNanchor_455" class="label">[455]</a> Named Becarbec.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_456" href="#FNanchor_456" class="label">[456]</a> Khoi.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_457" href="#FNanchor_457" class="label">[457]</a> Sheibani Khan. See Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_55">p. 55</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_458" href="#FNanchor_458" class="label">[458]</a> Khorassan and Astrabad.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_459" href="#FNanchor_459" class="label">[459]</a> Ispahan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_460" href="#FNanchor_460" class="label">[460]</a> Called Astibisti in the <i>Travels of a Merchant</i>, <a href="#MERCHANT_CHAP_VIII">cap. 8</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_461" href="#FNanchor_461" class="label">[461]</a> Kara Bagh.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_462" href="#FNanchor_462" class="label">[462]</a> Shirvan and Schamachi.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_463" href="#FNanchor_463" class="label">[463]</a> Bairambec, the conqueror of Van and Ismael’s brother-in-law. See +<i>Travels of a Merchant</i>, <a href="#MERCHANT_CHAP_VI">cap. 6</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_464" href="#FNanchor_464" class="label">[464]</a> Baku.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_465" href="#FNanchor_465" class="label">[465]</a> Astrabad.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_466" href="#FNanchor_466" class="label">[466]</a> Derbend. See Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_44">p. 44</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_467" href="#FNanchor_467" class="label">[467]</a> Demir Kapoo, or the Iron Gate.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_468" href="#FNanchor_468" class="label">[468]</a> Astrakhan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_469" href="#FNanchor_469" class="label">[469]</a> “Sheikh, Sheikh.” In this sense it means simply a holy man, +not God.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_470" href="#FNanchor_470" class="label">[470]</a> Rather the twelve Imaums.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_471" href="#FNanchor_471" class="label">[471]</a> Syria.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_472" href="#FNanchor_472" class="label">[472]</a> Sheibani Khan, the Usbeg. See Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_55">p. 55</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_473" href="#FNanchor_473" class="label">[473]</a> Irak Ajemi.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_474" href="#FNanchor_474" class="label">[474]</a> Ispahan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_475" href="#FNanchor_475" class="label">[475]</a> Kashan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_476" href="#FNanchor_476" class="label">[476]</a> Astrabad.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_477" href="#FNanchor_477" class="label">[477]</a> Jarood.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_478" href="#FNanchor_478" class="label">[478]</a> Most probably Bairambec, the king’s brother-in-law, mentioned before.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_479" href="#FNanchor_479" class="label">[479]</a> Custagialu, another brother-in-law of the king.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_480" href="#FNanchor_480" class="label">[480]</a> Astrabad, Khorassan, Herat.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_481" href="#FNanchor_481" class="label">[481]</a> Kashan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_482" href="#FNanchor_482" class="label">[482]</a> The battle of Merv Shah Jehan, in which Sheibani Khan was killed, +took place in 1514.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_483" href="#FNanchor_483" class="label">[483]</a> Jarood.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_484" href="#FNanchor_484" class="label">[484]</a> Bitlis. See Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_8">p. 8</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_485" href="#FNanchor_485" class="label">[485]</a> Iris.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_486" href="#FNanchor_486" class="label">[486]</a> At Gumish Khaneh.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_487" href="#FNanchor_487" class="label">[487]</a> Kharput.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_488" href="#FNanchor_488" class="label">[488]</a> The Van lake, <i>at its nearest point</i>, is scarcely twenty English miles +from Bitlis.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_489" href="#FNanchor_489" class="label">[489]</a> Khoi is nearly a hundred miles from the Van lake.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_490" href="#FNanchor_490" class="label">[490]</a> This is the shortest and most direct route from Tocat to Persia and +quite different from the one just mentioned.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_491" href="#FNanchor_491" class="label">[491]</a> Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_60">p. 60</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_492" href="#FNanchor_492" class="label">[492]</a> Casveen.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_493" href="#FNanchor_493" class="label">[493]</a> Khafour el Ghouri, called Campson Gauri later on.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_494" href="#FNanchor_494" class="label">[494]</a> We have an instance of this sort in our own annals, viz., the presents +sent by the Dauphin to Henry V.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_495" href="#FNanchor_495" class="label">[495]</a> Baiburt.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_496" href="#FNanchor_496" class="label">[496]</a> These were the latest conquests made by Selim from Persia.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_497" href="#FNanchor_497" class="label">[497]</a> Euxaghly, near Malatia, called Ciamassum by Knolles, who says it +was situated near the confluence of the Melas (Kara Su) with the +Euphrates.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_498" href="#FNanchor_498" class="label">[498]</a> Kaisarieh.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_499" href="#FNanchor_499" class="label">[499]</a> Knolles says that Aladeules was betrayed by his nephew, Alis Beg, +who became the Turkish governor of the country.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_500" href="#FNanchor_500" class="label">[500]</a> Kazi Asker.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_501" href="#FNanchor_501" class="label">[501]</a> This was contrary to the advice of Algazeli, who advised Campson +to protract the war and not to risk all on one battle.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_502" href="#FNanchor_502" class="label">[502]</a> Sanjak.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_503" href="#FNanchor_503" class="label">[503]</a> Knolles says the 7th.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_504" href="#FNanchor_504" class="label">[504]</a> Sybeius Baluan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_505" href="#FNanchor_505" class="label">[505]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_506" href="#FNanchor_506" class="label">[506]</a> Kafoor el Ghouri, the last Soldan of Egypt but one, died 1516, and +was succeeded by Tomant Bey.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_507" href="#FNanchor_507" class="label">[507]</a> Jonnses Pasha put to death soon afterwards by Selim.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_508" href="#FNanchor_508" class="label">[508]</a> Gaza.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_509" href="#FNanchor_509" class="label">[509]</a> Devetdar.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_510" href="#FNanchor_510" class="label">[510]</a> Tomant Bey, last Soldan of Egypt.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_511" href="#FNanchor_511" class="label">[511]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_512" href="#FNanchor_512" class="label">[512]</a> Knolles says, in his <i>History of the Turks</i>, 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.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_513" href="#FNanchor_513" class="label">[513]</a> Petra?</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_514" href="#FNanchor_514" class="label">[514]</a> Tomant Bey.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_515" href="#FNanchor_515" class="label">[515]</a> At Maharra, six miles from Cairo.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_516" href="#FNanchor_516" class="label">[516]</a> Allem, called Heylims the Devetdar, by Knolles.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_517" href="#FNanchor_517" class="label">[517]</a> By a Mamaluke captain named Bidon, frequently mentioned by +Knolles.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_518" href="#FNanchor_518" class="label">[518]</a> The well of Zemzem.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_519" href="#FNanchor_519" class="label">[519]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_520" href="#FNanchor_520" class="label">[520]</a> The Mamelukes were repulsed, and were then attacked in Cairo by +Selim.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_521" href="#FNanchor_521" class="label">[521]</a> Delta?</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_522" href="#FNanchor_522" class="label">[522]</a> Called Albuchomar by Knolles.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_523" href="#FNanchor_523" class="label">[523]</a> Mustafà, Algazeli, and Caierbec were sent in pursuit.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_524" href="#FNanchor_524" class="label">[524]</a> He was first tortured to make him reveal where he was supposed to +have hidden the great treasures of Campson Gauri.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_525" href="#FNanchor_525" class="label">[525]</a> Cazi Asker.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_526" href="#FNanchor_526" class="label">[526]</a> Shah Tamasp.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_527" href="#FNanchor_527" class="label">[527]</a> Elias Mirza, King of Shirvan. <i>Vide</i> <a href="#VINCENTIO_DALESSANDRI">Alessandri</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_528" href="#FNanchor_528" class="label">[528]</a> Bahram Mirza.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_529" href="#FNanchor_529" class="label">[529]</a> Shah Tamasp.</p> + +</div> + +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter" id="MERCHANT_IN_PERSIA"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_139"></a>[139]</span></p> + +<p class="center">THE TRAVELS</p> + +<p class="center smaller">OF A</p> + +<p class="center larger">MERCHANT IN PERSIA.</p> + +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_140"></a>[140]</span></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_141"></a>[141]</span></p> + +<h3 class="nobreak">THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA.</h3> + +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="MERCHANT_CHAP_I"><span class="smcap">Chap. I.</span></h4> + +<p class="center">The apology the Author makes for this his Narrative.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And, to begin about the places and regions where I have +been, I will say that when Shiec Ismael came against +Aladuli<a id="FNanchor_530" href="#Footnote_530" class="fnanchor">[530]</a> in Caramania, in 1507, I happened to be in his +army at Arsingan,<a id="FNanchor_531" href="#Footnote_531" class="fnanchor">[531]</a> where I remained forty days, and afterwards +at Cimischasac,<a id="FNanchor_532" href="#Footnote_532" class="fnanchor">[532]</a> when I crossed the river Euphrates,<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_142"></a>[142]</span> +entering the country of Aladuli. I was present also during +his expedition against Sirmacchia<a id="FNanchor_533" href="#Footnote_533" class="fnanchor">[533]</a> and the country of +Sirvan,<a id="FNanchor_534" href="#Footnote_534" class="fnanchor">[534]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_535" href="#Footnote_535" class="fnanchor">[535]</a> Turkey, +and Arabia.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="MERCHANT_CHAP_II"><span class="smcap">Chap. II.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_536" href="#Footnote_536" class="fnanchor">[536]</a> +which is on the bank of the river Euphrates on the other +side, and is of small extent. Sultan Cartibec<a id="FNanchor_537" href="#Footnote_537" class="fnanchor">[537]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_538" href="#Footnote_538" class="fnanchor">[538]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_143"></a>[143]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_539" href="#Footnote_539" class="fnanchor">[539]</a> which the inhabitants +and their chronicles say was anciently founded +and walled round by the great Nembroth;<a id="FNanchor_540" href="#Footnote_540" class="fnanchor">[540]</a> 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 (?).</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_144"></a>[144]</span></p> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_541" href="#Footnote_541" class="fnanchor">[541]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_542" href="#Footnote_542" class="fnanchor">[542]</a> which are never caught, but are +considered sacred.</p> + +<p>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.<a id="FNanchor_543" href="#Footnote_543" class="fnanchor">[543]</a> Towards<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_145"></a>[145]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_544" href="#Footnote_544" class="fnanchor">[544]</a> Persia, Turkey, +and Soria;<a id="FNanchor_545" href="#Footnote_545" class="fnanchor">[545]</a> 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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="MERCHANT_CHAP_III"><span class="smcap">Chap. III.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>Two days’ journey from Orfà is a castle named Jumilen,<a id="FNanchor_546" href="#Footnote_546" class="fnanchor">[546]</a> +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,<a id="FNanchor_547" href="#Footnote_547" class="fnanchor">[547]</a> which, according to their chronicles, +was built by the Emperor Constantine, and has a circuit of +ten or twelve miles.<a id="FNanchor_548" href="#Footnote_548" class="fnanchor">[548]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_146"></a>[146]</span> +turrets. I rode the whole circuit twice for my pleasure, +looking at the towers and turrets of very different forms and +sizes;<a id="FNanchor_549" href="#Footnote_549" class="fnanchor">[549]</a> 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.<a id="FNanchor_550" href="#Footnote_550" class="fnanchor">[550]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_551" href="#Footnote_551" class="fnanchor">[551]</a> the daughter of the King +of Trebizond, named Caloianni,<a id="FNanchor_552" href="#Footnote_552" class="fnanchor">[552]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_553" href="#Footnote_553" class="fnanchor">[553]</a> with sixty altars, +as one sees before chapels; the interior is built up with<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_147"></a>[147]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_554" href="#Footnote_554" class="fnanchor">[554]</a> +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.</p> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_555" href="#Footnote_555" class="fnanchor">[555]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>Among the other rivers flowing through this city is one<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_148"></a>[148]</span> +from the East named the Set,<a id="FNanchor_556" href="#Footnote_556" class="fnanchor">[556]</a> which, in the spring, rises +wonderfully and flows rapidly towards Asanchif and Gizire,<a id="FNanchor_557" href="#Footnote_557" class="fnanchor">[557]</a> +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>i.e.</i>, Caramit,<a id="FNanchor_558" href="#Footnote_558" class="fnanchor">[558]</a> the second Orfà, and the third +Cartibiert, formerly ruled over by Aliduli,<a id="FNanchor_559" href="#Footnote_559" class="fnanchor">[559]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_560" href="#Footnote_560" class="fnanchor">[560]</a> since Sultan Custalumut had surrounded +it with walls, neither could he take Cartibiert. Custagialu, +seeing this, left Orfà, and came to Mardin,<a id="FNanchor_561" href="#Footnote_561" class="fnanchor">[561]</a> which he took<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_149"></a>[149]</span> +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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="MERCHANT_CHAP_IV"><span class="smcap">Chap. IV.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_150"></a>[150]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_562" href="#Footnote_562" class="fnanchor">[562]</a> +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.</p> + +<p>Travelling from this city for two days towards the East, +one finds another city named Gizire,<a id="FNanchor_563" href="#Footnote_563" class="fnanchor">[563]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_151"></a>[151]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_564" href="#Footnote_564" class="fnanchor">[564]</a> +which is a royal city, and a metropolis of the province of +Diarbec, and is ruled over by a lord named Sultan Calil,<a id="FNanchor_565" href="#Footnote_565" class="fnanchor">[565]</a> +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,<a id="FNanchor_566" href="#Footnote_566" class="fnanchor">[566]</a> the city being built<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_152"></a>[152]</span> +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.<a id="FNanchor_567" href="#Footnote_567" class="fnanchor">[567]</a> 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<a id="FNanchor_568" href="#Footnote_568" class="fnanchor">[568]</a> 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<a id="FNanchor_569" href="#Footnote_569" class="fnanchor">[569]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_153"></a>[153]</span> +Calil, with Calconchatun,<a id="FNanchor_570" href="#Footnote_570" class="fnanchor">[570]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_571" href="#Footnote_571" class="fnanchor">[571]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>In this city there is a hill, on which they have built a +rampart of planks and beams, behind which are a number<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_154"></a>[154]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<a id="FNanchor_572" href="#Footnote_572" class="fnanchor">[572]</a> (by which they descend to the river to<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_155"></a>[155]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_573" href="#Footnote_573" class="fnanchor">[573]</a> 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.<a id="FNanchor_574" href="#Footnote_574" class="fnanchor">[574]</a></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="MERCHANT_CHAP_V"><span class="smcap">Chap. V.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_575" href="#Footnote_575" class="fnanchor">[575]</a> inhabited by a Curdish<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_156"></a>[156]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_576" href="#Footnote_576" class="fnanchor">[576]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_577" href="#Footnote_577" class="fnanchor">[577]</a> Arcem;<a id="FNanchor_578" href="#Footnote_578" class="fnanchor">[578]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>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;<a id="FNanchor_579" href="#Footnote_579" class="fnanchor">[579]</a> the castles are Jumilen,<a id="FNanchor_580" href="#Footnote_580" class="fnanchor">[580]</a> Dedu, +Arcem, Aixu, Sanson, all of which have their particular +rulers subject to Custagialu Mahumutbec. But to return to +the castle of Cafondur<a id="FNanchor_581" href="#Footnote_581" class="fnanchor">[581]</a> we have mentioned, near which, in a +deep valley, is a stream,<a id="FNanchor_582" href="#Footnote_582" class="fnanchor">[582]</a> and a fine large chan built, for<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_157"></a>[157]</span> +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.<a id="FNanchor_583" href="#Footnote_583" class="fnanchor">[583]</a> 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;<a id="FNanchor_584" href="#Footnote_584" class="fnanchor">[584]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>This city of Bitlis<a id="FNanchor_585" href="#Footnote_585" class="fnanchor">[585]</a> 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,<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_158"></a>[158]</span> +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<a id="FNanchor_586" href="#Footnote_586" class="fnanchor">[586]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_587" href="#Footnote_587" class="fnanchor">[587]</a> had invaded +his country, ravaging the territory of Jesel.<a id="FNanchor_588" href="#Footnote_588" class="fnanchor">[588]</a> 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,<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_159"></a>[159]</span> +Curidin,<a id="FNanchor_589" href="#Footnote_589" class="fnanchor">[589]</a> 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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="MERCHANT_CHAP_VI"><span class="smcap">Chap. VI.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>Then, setting out from Bitlis, on the second day I arrived +at Totouan,<a id="FNanchor_590" href="#Footnote_590" class="fnanchor">[590]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_591" href="#Footnote_591" class="fnanchor">[591]</a><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_160"></a>[160]</span> +and Belgari;<a id="FNanchor_592" href="#Footnote_592" class="fnanchor">[592]</a> on the west are Argis,<a id="FNanchor_593" href="#Footnote_593" class="fnanchor">[593]</a> + Abalgiris, and Calata.<a id="FNanchor_594" href="#Footnote_594" class="fnanchor">[594]</a> +This Calata was anciently a large city, as can be seen by the +buildings,<a id="FNanchor_595" href="#Footnote_595" class="fnanchor">[595]</a> but is now reduced to a small fortress. Between +Totouan and Vastan is a lofty island in the sea,<a id="FNanchor_596" href="#Footnote_596" class="fnanchor">[596]</a> 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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_161"></a>[161]</span></p> + +<p>At two days’ journey from this place, one finds the castle +of Vastan,<a id="FNanchor_597" href="#Footnote_597" class="fnanchor">[597]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>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.<a id="FNanchor_598" href="#Footnote_598" class="fnanchor">[598]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_162"></a>[162]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>Having made this agreement and these conditions, Zidibec +took leave, and with him went this same Baron Mansorbec,<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_163"></a>[163]</span> +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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_164"></a>[164]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_599" href="#Footnote_599" class="fnanchor">[599]</a> where he +remained some time, occupying himself with the chase and +other amusements.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="MERCHANT_CHAP_VII"><span class="smcap">Chap. VII.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_600" href="#Footnote_600" class="fnanchor">[600]</a> which in old times was a large +city, as is seen by the ancient buildings; it is situated in a<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_165"></a>[165]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_601" href="#Footnote_601" class="fnanchor">[601]</a> signifying “pleasant abode.” This palace is all +walled round with bricks, and is of great extent, with an Arim<a id="FNanchor_602" href="#Footnote_602" class="fnanchor">[602]</a> +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,<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_166"></a>[166]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>One day’s journey from this place is a small town named +Merent,<a id="FNanchor_603" href="#Footnote_603" class="fnanchor">[603]</a> from which a day’s journey further is another small +place named Sophian,<a id="FNanchor_604" href="#Footnote_604" class="fnanchor">[604]</a> situated in the plain of Tauris, at the +foot of a mountain; it is a beautiful country, and has many +rivulets and gardens.</p> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_605" href="#Footnote_605" class="fnanchor">[605]</a> and, after him, Jacob Sultan, +his son. This great city<a id="FNanchor_606" href="#Footnote_606" class="fnanchor">[606]</a> is about twenty-four miles in circumference<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_167"></a>[167]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_168"></a>[168]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_607" href="#Footnote_607" class="fnanchor">[607]</a><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_169"></a>[169]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_170"></a>[170]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_171"></a>[171]</span> +are also a good many fish, which are caught in a lake,<a id="FNanchor_608" href="#Footnote_608" class="fnanchor">[608]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_609" href="#Footnote_609" class="fnanchor">[609]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_610" href="#Footnote_610" class="fnanchor">[610]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_611" href="#Footnote_611" class="fnanchor">[611]</a> +and come to Tauris, are Suffavean subjects, and live in<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_172"></a>[172]</span> +alcharan saradi<a id="FNanchor_612" href="#Footnote_612" class="fnanchor">[612]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_173"></a>[173]</span> +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<a id="FNanchor_613" href="#Footnote_613" class="fnanchor">[613]</a> 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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="MERCHANT_CHAP_VIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. VIII.</span></h4> + +<p class="center">Description of the royal palace built by Assambei outside +the city of Tauris.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_174"></a>[174]</span> +called Astibisti,<a id="FNanchor_614" href="#Footnote_614" class="fnanchor">[614]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_175"></a>[175]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_176"></a>[176]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_177"></a>[177]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_178"></a>[178]</span> +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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="MERCHANT_CHAP_IX"><span class="smcap">Chap. IX.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>At this time there reigned in Trebizond a Christian king +named Caloianni,<a id="FNanchor_615" href="#Footnote_615" class="fnanchor">[615]</a> who had a daughter named Despinacaton,<a id="FNanchor_616" href="#Footnote_616" class="fnanchor">[616]</a> +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<a id="FNanchor_617" href="#Footnote_617" class="fnanchor">[617]</a> lived, to ask<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_179"></a>[179]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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;<a id="FNanchor_618" href="#Footnote_618" class="fnanchor">[618]</a> the others were daughters, two of +whom are still alive, and Christians.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_180"></a>[180]</span></p> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="MERCHANT_CHAP_X"><span class="smcap">Chap. X.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_181"></a>[181]</span> +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 <i>mêlée</i>, +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,<a id="FNanchor_619" href="#Footnote_619" class="fnanchor">[619]</a> +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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_182"></a>[182]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_620" href="#Footnote_620" class="fnanchor">[620]</a> mustering his forces to attack the Mamelukes, +hearing of the fall of Orfà,<a id="FNanchor_621" href="#Footnote_621" class="fnanchor">[621]</a> 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,<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_183"></a>[183]</span> +which afforded great spoil to Assambei and his chiefs. He +then advanced to Bir, and took it, together with Besin,<a id="FNanchor_622" href="#Footnote_622" class="fnanchor">[622]</a> +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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="MERCHANT_CHAP_XI"><span class="smcap">Chap. XI.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_184"></a>[184]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_623" href="#Footnote_623" class="fnanchor">[623]</a> +aged fourteen years, was raised to the throne, which he held +till the succession of Sheikh Ismael Sultan.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="MERCHANT_CHAP_XII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XII.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>During the reign of Alumut, in a city four days’ east from +Tauris, lived a lord about the rank of a count, named +Secaidar,<a id="FNanchor_624" href="#Footnote_624" class="fnanchor">[624]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_625" href="#Footnote_625" class="fnanchor">[625]</a><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_185"></a>[185]</span> +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;<a id="FNanchor_626" href="#Footnote_626" class="fnanchor">[626]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_627" href="#Footnote_627" class="fnanchor">[627]</a> which +he reached in eight days; from thence he took the road to +Derbant,<a id="FNanchor_628" href="#Footnote_628" class="fnanchor">[628]</a> where is the pass by which one enters Circassia, +and was five days <i>en route</i>. 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_186"></a>[186]</span> +a mountain, so steep that not even a cat could climb it. +Derbant, the name of this city, in Persian signifies “closed +gate”;<a id="FNanchor_629" href="#Footnote_629" class="fnanchor">[629]</a> 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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_187"></a>[187]</span></p> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="MERCHANT_CHAP_XIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XIII.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_630" href="#Footnote_630" class="fnanchor">[630]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_631" href="#Footnote_631" class="fnanchor">[631]</a> and went to Chilan,<a id="FNanchor_632" href="#Footnote_632" class="fnanchor">[632]</a> +where he lived a year with a goldsmith,<a id="FNanchor_633" href="#Footnote_633" class="fnanchor">[633]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_188"></a>[188]</span> +settled, Ismael set out from Chilan with his troop, and on +arriving at Maumutaga<a id="FNanchor_634" href="#Footnote_634" class="fnanchor">[634]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_635" href="#Footnote_635" class="fnanchor">[635]</a> 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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_189"></a>[189]</span></p> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="MERCHANT_CHAP_XIV"><span class="smcap">Chap. XIV.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_636" href="#Footnote_636" class="fnanchor">[636]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_637" href="#Footnote_637" class="fnanchor">[637]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_190"></a>[190]</span> +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<a id="FNanchor_638" href="#Footnote_638" class="fnanchor">[638]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_191"></a>[191]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_639" href="#Footnote_639" class="fnanchor">[639]</a> 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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="MERCHANT_CHAP_XV"><span class="smcap">Chap. XV.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_640" href="#Footnote_640" class="fnanchor">[640]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_192"></a>[192]</span> +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.<a id="FNanchor_641" href="#Footnote_641" class="fnanchor">[641]</a></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="MERCHANT_CHAP_XVI"><span class="smcap">Chap. XVI.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>While Ismael Sultan was in Tauris, Muratcan<a id="FNanchor_642" href="#Footnote_642" class="fnanchor">[642]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_193"></a>[193]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_643" href="#Footnote_643" class="fnanchor">[643]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_194"></a>[194]</span> +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.<a id="FNanchor_644" href="#Footnote_644" class="fnanchor">[644]</a> 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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="MERCHANT_CHAP_XVII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XVII.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_645" href="#Footnote_645" class="fnanchor">[645]</a> the lord of Asanchif,<a id="FNanchor_646" href="#Footnote_646" class="fnanchor">[646]</a> 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,<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_195"></a>[195]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_647" href="#Footnote_647" class="fnanchor">[647]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_648" href="#Footnote_648" class="fnanchor">[648]</a> and Dedu. Orfa is a +large city, the other two are fortresses; they also had in +their possession a city named Cartibert,<a id="FNanchor_649" href="#Footnote_649" class="fnanchor">[649]</a> governed by a son +of Aliduli,<a id="FNanchor_650" href="#Footnote_650" class="fnanchor">[650]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_196"></a>[196]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_651" href="#Footnote_651" class="fnanchor">[651]</a> 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<a id="FNanchor_652" href="#Footnote_652" class="fnanchor">[652]</a> 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.<a id="FNanchor_653" href="#Footnote_653" class="fnanchor">[653]</a> Ismael having first +ravaged Basten,<a id="FNanchor_654" href="#Footnote_654" class="fnanchor">[654]</a> moved upon Marras, from whence Aliduli +had fled with numerous followers to the high mountain +named Caradag,<a id="FNanchor_655" href="#Footnote_655" class="fnanchor">[655]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_197"></a>[197]</span> +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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="MERCHANT_CHAP_XVIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XVIII.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>During my stay in Malacia,<a id="FNanchor_656" href="#Footnote_656" class="fnanchor">[656]</a> a city belonging to the Soldan +of Cairo, on my return journey from Cimiscasac<a id="FNanchor_657" href="#Footnote_657" class="fnanchor">[657]</a> 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<a id="FNanchor_658" href="#Footnote_658" class="fnanchor">[658]</a> 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,<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_198"></a>[198]</span> +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;<a id="FNanchor_659" href="#Footnote_659" class="fnanchor">[659]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_660" href="#Footnote_660" class="fnanchor">[660]</a> 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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_199"></a>[199]</span></p> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="MERCHANT_CHAP_XIX"><span class="smcap">Chap. XIX.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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;<a id="FNanchor_661" href="#Footnote_661" class="fnanchor">[661]</a> remaining there a few days he proceeded to +Spaan,<a id="FNanchor_662" href="#Footnote_662" class="fnanchor">[662]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_663" href="#Footnote_663" class="fnanchor">[663]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_200"></a>[200]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_664" href="#Footnote_664" class="fnanchor">[664]</a> 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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="MERCHANT_CHAP_XX"><span class="smcap">Chap. XX.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>Ismael having seen the total destruction of his enemy +proceeded to Siras and then to Bagadet, making great<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_201"></a>[201]</span> +slaughter among the wretched inhabitants. About this time +the great Tartar Iesilbas<a id="FNanchor_665" href="#Footnote_665" class="fnanchor">[665]</a> had invaded Persia with a vast +army, had over-run Corasan,<a id="FNanchor_666" href="#Footnote_666" class="fnanchor">[666]</a> and taken the city of Eri,<a id="FNanchor_667" href="#Footnote_667" class="fnanchor">[667]</a> a +populous and commercial place, also Stravi,<a id="FNanchor_668" href="#Footnote_668" class="fnanchor">[668]</a> Amixandaran,<a id="FNanchor_669" href="#Footnote_669" class="fnanchor">[669]</a> +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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_202"></a>[202]</span> +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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="MERCHANT_CHAP_XXI"><span class="smcap">Chap. XXI.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>During his stay at Coi, Sermangoli the king of Servan,<a id="FNanchor_670" href="#Footnote_670" class="fnanchor">[670]</a> +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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_203"></a>[203]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_671" href="#Footnote_671" class="fnanchor">[671]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_204"></a>[204]</span> +it. The first castle he came to was called Baccara,<a id="FNanchor_672" href="#Footnote_672" class="fnanchor">[672]</a> 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<a id="FNanchor_673" href="#Footnote_673" class="fnanchor">[673]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_205"></a>[205]</span> +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.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="MERCHANT_CHAP_XXII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XXII.</span></h4> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_206"></a>[206]</span> +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.<a id="FNanchor_674" href="#Footnote_674" class="fnanchor">[674]</a> 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;”<a id="FNanchor_675" href="#Footnote_675" class="fnanchor">[675]</a> +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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_207"></a>[207]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_676" href="#Footnote_676" class="fnanchor">[676]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_677" href="#Footnote_677" class="fnanchor">[677]</a> a great many being necessary as the Tartar was +a mighty monarch. I left Tauris on the 1st of May, 1520,<a id="FNanchor_678" href="#Footnote_678" class="fnanchor">[678]</a> +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<a id="FNanchor_679" href="#Footnote_679" class="fnanchor">[679]</a> on the 2nd July, 1520.<a id="FNanchor_680" href="#Footnote_680" class="fnanchor">[680]</a></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="footnotes"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_208"></a>[208]</span></p> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="MERCHANT_FOOTNOTES">FOOTNOTES</h4> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_530" href="#FNanchor_530" class="label">[530]</a> Alla ed Douleh.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_531" href="#FNanchor_531" class="label">[531]</a> Erzingan. See <a href="#II_Page_7">p. 7</a>, Caterino Zeno.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_532" href="#FNanchor_532" class="label">[532]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_533" href="#FNanchor_533" class="label">[533]</a> Schamachi.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_534" href="#FNanchor_534" class="label">[534]</a> Shirvan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_535" href="#FNanchor_535" class="label">[535]</a> Irak-Ajemi.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_536" href="#FNanchor_536" class="label">[536]</a> Bir, on the Euphrates; formerly a large town. It was taken and +destroyed by Timour, the ancient Apamea.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_537" href="#FNanchor_537" class="label">[537]</a> Kaiid Beg.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_538" href="#FNanchor_538" class="label">[538]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_539" href="#FNanchor_539" class="label">[539]</a> 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 <i>Geographical Memoir of Persia</i>, +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.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_540" href="#FNanchor_540" class="label">[540]</a> Nimrod.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_541" href="#FNanchor_541" class="label">[541]</a> Now the mosque of Ibrahim al Khaleel.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_542" href="#FNanchor_542" class="label">[542]</a> The same tradition prevails now, and the fish alluded to seem as +plentiful as ever, it being held sacrilege to catch them.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_543" href="#FNanchor_543" class="label">[543]</a> The region is now very barren.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_544" href="#FNanchor_544" class="label">[544]</a> Bagdad.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_545" href="#FNanchor_545" class="label">[545]</a> Syria.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_546" href="#FNanchor_546" class="label">[546]</a> Jemeleyn.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_547" href="#FNanchor_547" class="label">[547]</a> Kara Amid, or Amid-Diarbekr. See <a href="#CATERINO_ZENO">Zeno</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_548" href="#FNanchor_548" class="label">[548]</a> An error. The Emperor Constantine repaired the old Roman walls +only.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_549" href="#FNanchor_549" class="label">[549]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_550" href="#FNanchor_550" class="label">[550]</a> This was the emblem of the Ortokide and Eioobite rulers, and not +the Imperial arms.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_551" href="#FNanchor_551" class="label">[551]</a> Despina Khatoon, the latter word meaning “lady” or “madam”, +and so “queen”.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_552" href="#FNanchor_552" class="label">[552]</a> Calo Johannes, or Black John. See <a href="#II_Page_42">p. 42</a>, Zeno.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_553" href="#FNanchor_553" class="label">[553]</a> Now the Ooloo Jami.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_554" href="#FNanchor_554" class="label">[554]</a> A stone seat fastened to a wall.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_555" href="#FNanchor_555" class="label">[555]</a> It has only four now.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_556" href="#FNanchor_556" class="label">[556]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_557" href="#FNanchor_557" class="label">[557]</a> Hisn Keyf and Jezireh.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_558" href="#FNanchor_558" class="label">[558]</a> Kara Amid-Diarbekr.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_559" href="#FNanchor_559" class="label">[559]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_560" href="#FNanchor_560" class="label">[560]</a> Diarbekr.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_561" href="#FNanchor_561" class="label">[561]</a> 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.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_562" href="#FNanchor_562" class="label">[562]</a> According to Kinneir this is not the case now. See <a href="#Footnote_561">preceding note</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_563" href="#FNanchor_563" class="label">[563]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_564" href="#FNanchor_564" class="label">[564]</a> Hesn Keyf.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_565" href="#FNanchor_565" class="label">[565]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_566" href="#FNanchor_566" class="label">[566]</a> Tigris.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_567" href="#FNanchor_567" class="label">[567]</a> It is now a miserable village of one hundred and fifty houses only.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_568" href="#FNanchor_568" class="label">[568]</a> Brother-in-law.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_569" href="#FNanchor_569" class="label">[569]</a> Kizzilbashes, or red-heads. The seven Turkish tribes who bore +this name were the “Oostkajalu,” “Shamlu,” “Nikallu,” “Baharlu,” +“Zulkudder,” “Kajar,” and “Affshar.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_570" href="#FNanchor_570" class="label">[570]</a> Khatun “lady” or “princess.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_571" href="#FNanchor_571" class="label">[571]</a> Irak Ajemi.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_572" href="#FNanchor_572" class="label">[572]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_573" href="#FNanchor_573" class="label">[573]</a> The foundations are Parthian. The only remaining arch fell in last +year—1869.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_574" href="#FNanchor_574" class="label">[574]</a> Tchimishgazak. In ruins now.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_575" href="#FNanchor_575" class="label">[575]</a> Now Keffendo. The ruins are situated in the narrow gorge of the +Bitlis valley.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_576" href="#FNanchor_576" class="label">[576]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_577" href="#FNanchor_577" class="label">[577]</a> Sassone.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_578" href="#FNanchor_578" class="label">[578]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_579" href="#FNanchor_579" class="label">[579]</a> Orfà, Kara Amid (Diarbekr), Mardin, Jezireh, Hesn Keyf, and Saert.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_580" href="#FNanchor_580" class="label">[580]</a> Jemeleyn.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_581" href="#FNanchor_581" class="label">[581]</a> Keffendo.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_582" href="#FNanchor_582" class="label">[582]</a> The Bitlis Tchai, rising near the Van Lake, flows into the Bohtan +Su or Eastern Tigris.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_583" href="#FNanchor_583" class="label">[583]</a> Modern travellers give a very different account of this region.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_584" href="#FNanchor_584" class="label">[584]</a> Caravan Bashi.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_585" href="#FNanchor_585" class="label">[585]</a> Bitlis. See Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_8">p. 8</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_586" href="#FNanchor_586" class="label">[586]</a> The Bitlis Tchai. See <a href="#II_Page_156">p. 156</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_587" href="#FNanchor_587" class="label">[587]</a> Sheibani Khan, Yeshilbash. See Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_55">p. 55</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_588" href="#FNanchor_588" class="label">[588]</a> Yezd.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_589" href="#FNanchor_589" class="label">[589]</a> Sheibani Khan was a descendant of Gengis Khan, and an enemy of +the house of Timour.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_590" href="#FNanchor_590" class="label">[590]</a> Tadvan, on the Van Lake.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_591" href="#FNanchor_591" class="label">[591]</a> 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 <i>Sinla</i>. 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.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_592" href="#FNanchor_592" class="label">[592]</a> Peygri, now Beygir Kellah, hardly on the lake, but a short distance +from it, on a small stream falling into the same.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_593" href="#FNanchor_593" class="label">[593]</a> Arjish, Ardh-el Jivaz.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_594" href="#FNanchor_594" class="label">[594]</a> Iklat, a very ancient Armenian town. Subsequently it became the +seat of the Eioobites, and then of the Ak-koinloo.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_595" href="#FNanchor_595" class="label">[595]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_596" href="#FNanchor_596" class="label">[596]</a> Island of Ak-Tamar, the seat of the Catholicos of the Armenians, +described by Layard.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_597" href="#FNanchor_597" class="label">[597]</a> Vastan in ruins to the south of the lake, nearly opposite the island +of Aktamar.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_598" href="#FNanchor_598" class="label">[598]</a> There are numerous cuneiform inscriptions on the castle walls, of +which it is curious he should make no mention.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_599" href="#FNanchor_599" class="label">[599]</a> Khoi.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_600" href="#FNanchor_600" class="label">[600]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_601" href="#FNanchor_601" class="label">[601]</a> Doulet Khaneh.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_602" href="#FNanchor_602" class="label">[602]</a> Harem.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_603" href="#FNanchor_603" class="label">[603]</a> Marand. See <a href="#II_Page_164">p. 164</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_604" href="#FNanchor_604" class="label">[604]</a> Sofian, on the Ak Tchai, a tributary of the Aras, on the direct route +to Tabreez.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_605" href="#FNanchor_605" class="label">[605]</a> Hassan Beg.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_606" href="#FNanchor_606" class="label">[606]</a> Tauris, or Tabreez, as it is now called, is supposed by most to be +the ancient Ecbatana. Kinneir says:—</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_607" href="#FNanchor_607" class="label">[607]</a> 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—</p> + +<table> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">1.</td> + <td colspan="3">Ali, the son-in-law of Mohammed.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">2.</td> + <td>Hassan</td> + <td class="tdr">}</td> + <td rowspan="2" class="valign">his sons.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">3.</td> + <td>Hossein</td> + <td class="tdr">}</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">4.</td> + <td colspan="3">Zein al Abudeen. Put to death by Caliph Walid I.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">5.</td> + <td colspan="3">Mohammed al Badkir. Put to death by Caliph Hashem.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">6.</td> + <td colspan="3">Jaffier al Sadiek.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">7.</td> + <td>Moôssâh Kazim, from whom the Suffavean family is descended.</td> + <td class="tdr">}</td> + <td rowspan="5" class="valign">All put to death, generally by order + of the Caliphs.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">8.</td> + <td>Ali Riza; buried at Meshed.</td> + <td class="tdr">}</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">9.</td> + <td>Mohammed al Takec.</td> + <td class="tdr">}</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">10.</td> + <td>Ali al Nukec.</td> + <td class="tdr">}</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">11.</td> + <td>Hassan Askeri.</td> + <td class="tdr">}</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">12.</td> + <td colspan="3">Mohammed al Mahadi. Mysteriously disappeared.</td> + </tr> +</table> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_608" href="#FNanchor_608" class="label">[608]</a> The Lake of Urumea, into which the Adschy Tchai, the river close +to Tabreez, flows.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_609" href="#FNanchor_609" class="label">[609]</a> From the Caspian.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_610" href="#FNanchor_610" class="label">[610]</a> Ghilan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_611" href="#FNanchor_611" class="label">[611]</a> Bagdad, Kashan, and Yezd.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_612" href="#FNanchor_612" class="label">[612]</a> Caravan serai.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_613" href="#FNanchor_613" class="label">[613]</a> Ormuz.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_614" href="#FNanchor_614" class="label">[614]</a> Hesht Behesht, eight heavens.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_615" href="#FNanchor_615" class="label">[615]</a> Calo Johannes. See Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_9">p. 9</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_616" href="#FNanchor_616" class="label">[616]</a> “Queen Despina.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_617" href="#FNanchor_617" class="label">[617]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_618" href="#FNanchor_618" class="label">[618]</a> He was strangled by his half-brothers after Uzun Hassan’s death.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_619" href="#FNanchor_619" class="label">[619]</a> Tocat, Malatia, and Sivas. See <a href="#CATERINO_ZENO">Zeno</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_620" href="#FNanchor_620" class="label">[620]</a> Amida Diarbekr. See Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_6">p. 6</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_621" href="#FNanchor_621" class="label">[621]</a> Orfà (Edessa). See Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_98">p. 98</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_622" href="#FNanchor_622" class="label">[622]</a> Kalat en Nejm.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_623" href="#FNanchor_623" class="label">[623]</a> A son of Yakoob Sultan; his brother, Murad Khan, disputed the +throne with him, and seized Fars and Babylonia.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_624" href="#FNanchor_624" class="label">[624]</a> Sheikh Hyder. See Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_42">p. 42</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_625" href="#FNanchor_625" class="label">[625]</a> Ardebil.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_626" href="#FNanchor_626" class="label">[626]</a> Martha.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_627" href="#FNanchor_627" class="label">[627]</a> Schamachi.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_628" href="#FNanchor_628" class="label">[628]</a> Derbend.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_629" href="#FNanchor_629" class="label">[629]</a> Demir Kapoo, or “iron gate”, it is sometimes called.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_630" href="#FNanchor_630" class="label">[630]</a> The island of Ak Tamar, the seat of the Armenian Catholicos.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_631" href="#FNanchor_631" class="label">[631]</a> Arminig.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_632" href="#FNanchor_632" class="label">[632]</a> Ghilan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_633" href="#FNanchor_633" class="label">[633]</a> Pyrcall.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_634" href="#FNanchor_634" class="label">[634]</a> See Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_48">pp. 48, 49</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_635" href="#FNanchor_635" class="label">[635]</a> Astrabad, Sari.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_636" href="#FNanchor_636" class="label">[636]</a> See Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_50">pp. 50</a>, <a href="#II_Page_56">56</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_637" href="#FNanchor_637" class="label">[637]</a> Schamachi. See Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_56">p. 56</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_638" href="#FNanchor_638" class="label">[638]</a> See Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_46">p. 46</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_639" href="#FNanchor_639" class="label">[639]</a> Stepmother, according to others.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_640" href="#FNanchor_640" class="label">[640]</a> Perhaps Alanja, near Maragha, on a small stream falling into Lake +Urumia; but Zeno says it was to the north of Tauris.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_641" href="#FNanchor_641" class="label">[641]</a> This is rather a contrast to his previous assertion, that he was one +of the most bloodthirsty tyrants that ever existed. See <a href="#II_Page_191">p. 191</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_642" href="#FNanchor_642" class="label">[642]</a> Murad Khan, brother of Alumut.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_643" href="#FNanchor_643" class="label">[643]</a> This by no means equals the slaughter caused by Timour at +Ispahan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_644" href="#FNanchor_644" class="label">[644]</a> See Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_53">pp. 53, 54</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_645" href="#FNanchor_645" class="label">[645]</a> Sultan Khalil, the Eiobbite.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_646" href="#FNanchor_646" class="label">[646]</a> Hesn Keyf. See <a href="#II_Page_108">p. 108</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_647" href="#FNanchor_647" class="label">[647]</a> Ajem.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_648" href="#FNanchor_648" class="label">[648]</a> Jemeleyn.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_649" href="#FNanchor_649" class="label">[649]</a> Kharput.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_650" href="#FNanchor_650" class="label">[650]</a> Alla-ed Douleh, named Becarbec.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_651" href="#FNanchor_651" class="label">[651]</a> See Angiolello, <a href="#II_Page_108">p. 108</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_652" href="#FNanchor_652" class="label">[652]</a> Kaisarieh.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_653" href="#FNanchor_653" class="label">[653]</a> Marash. See Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_54">p. 54</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_654" href="#FNanchor_654" class="label">[654]</a> El Bostan or Albistan. See Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_54">p. 54</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_655" href="#FNanchor_655" class="label">[655]</a> Kara Dagh, Black Mountain.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_656" href="#FNanchor_656" class="label">[656]</a> Malatia.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_657" href="#FNanchor_657" class="label">[657]</a> Tchimish Gazak.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_658" href="#FNanchor_658" class="label">[658]</a> <a href="#II_Page_198">Next page</a> says 4000.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_659" href="#FNanchor_659" class="label">[659]</a> Kharput.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_660" href="#FNanchor_660" class="label">[660]</a> Nevruz, New Year’s day, at the vernal equinox.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_661" href="#FNanchor_661" class="label">[661]</a> Kashan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_662" href="#FNanchor_662" class="label">[662]</a> Ispahan, which rose to its greatest prosperity under Shah Abbas.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_663" href="#FNanchor_663" class="label">[663]</a> Shiraz.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_664" href="#FNanchor_664" class="label">[664]</a> Caierbec, notorious for his treachery against Khafoor el Ghouri, +the Soldan of Egypt, in his war with Selim I. See Angiolello, <a href="#II_Page_122">p. 122</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_665" href="#FNanchor_665" class="label">[665]</a> Sheibani Khan. See Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_56">p. 56</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_666" href="#FNanchor_666" class="label">[666]</a> Khorassan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_667" href="#FNanchor_667" class="label">[667]</a> Herat. See Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_56">p. 56</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_668" href="#FNanchor_668" class="label">[668]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_669" href="#FNanchor_669" class="label">[669]</a> Probably one of the ports of Mazanderan; perhaps Balfrush. Zeno.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_670" href="#FNanchor_670" class="label">[670]</a> Shirvan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_671" href="#FNanchor_671" class="label">[671]</a> Kara Bagh Dagh, or Mountain of Kara Bagh.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_672" href="#FNanchor_672" class="label">[672]</a> Baku, after which the Caspian is sometimes named.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_673" href="#FNanchor_673" class="label">[673]</a> Derbend. See <a href="#CATERINO_ZENO">Zeno</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_674" href="#FNanchor_674" class="label">[674]</a> Probably the names of the twelve Imaums.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_675" href="#FNanchor_675" class="label">[675]</a> La Illaha illa Allah. Ismael Wely Allah.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_676" href="#FNanchor_676" class="label">[676]</a> Yezd.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_677" href="#FNanchor_677" class="label">[677]</a> Sheibani Khan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_678" href="#FNanchor_678" class="label">[678]</a> The battle of Merv took place in 1514.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_679" href="#FNanchor_679" class="label">[679]</a> Bir or Birajik.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_680" href="#FNanchor_680" class="label">[680]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter" id="VINCENTIO_DALESSANDRI"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_209"></a>[209]</span></p> + +<p class="center mid">NARRATIVE</p> + +<p class="center smaller">OF THE</p> + +<p class="center larger">MOST NOBLE VINCENTIO D’ALESSANDRI,</p> + +<p class="center">Ambassador to the King of Persia for the Most Illustrious +Republic of Venice.</p> + +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_210"></a>[210]</span></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_211"></a>[211]</span></p> + +<h3 class="nobreak">VINCENTIO D’ALESSANDRI.</h3> + +</div> + +<div class="sidenote">Introduction.</div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Ismail, King of Persia, by breaking his word, +seizes the kingdom.</div> + +<p>This king, named Tamas,<a id="FNanchor_681" href="#Footnote_681" class="fnanchor">[681]</a> is of the house of Scili, a family +illustrious from an antiquity of 980 years, coming in a direct +line from Ali,<a id="FNanchor_682" href="#Footnote_682" class="fnanchor">[682]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_683" href="#Footnote_683" class="fnanchor">[683]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_212"></a>[212]</span> +father of Sultan Suliman. This prince took possession of +Coninut,<a id="FNanchor_684" href="#Footnote_684" class="fnanchor">[684]</a> 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<a id="FNanchor_685" href="#Footnote_685" class="fnanchor">[685]</a> by this same Ismail. Ismail +had three other sons besides the present king, who +was the eldest,—Elias Mirisce,<a id="FNanchor_686" href="#Footnote_686" class="fnanchor">[686]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_687" href="#Footnote_687" class="fnanchor">[687]</a> +took both his city and country, which is very large and of +great importance on the shores of the Caspian Sea.<a id="FNanchor_688" href="#Footnote_688" class="fnanchor">[688]</a> All<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_213"></a>[213]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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,<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_214"></a>[214]</span> +named Cababinde<a id="FNanchor_689" href="#Footnote_689" class="fnanchor">[689]</a> 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<a id="FNanchor_690" href="#Footnote_690" class="fnanchor">[690]</a> +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.</p> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_691" href="#Footnote_691" class="fnanchor">[691]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_215"></a>[215]</span> +never will have any intercourse with them,<a id="FNanchor_692" href="#Footnote_692" class="fnanchor">[692]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Sultan Caidar Mirisce,<a id="FNanchor_693" href="#Footnote_693" class="fnanchor">[693]</a> 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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Negligence of the king.</div> + +<div class="sidenote">Tyranny of the ministers.</div> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_216"></a>[216]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_694" href="#Footnote_694" class="fnanchor">[694]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_217"></a>[217]</span> +Scharafbech,<a id="FNanchor_695" href="#Footnote_695" class="fnanchor">[695]</a> ruler of some people who are called Chinedi,<a id="FNanchor_696" href="#Footnote_696" class="fnanchor">[696]</a> +who as he was not afforded assistance against the Turks, +was chased away by them. Besides, near this is a place called +Bichillas,<a id="FNanchor_697" href="#Footnote_697" class="fnanchor">[697]</a> a pass of great importance, and the key to the +following cities and regions, namely, Chilach, Ergis, Vastan, +Adalgeras, Berghieri, Cassan, and Van,<a id="FNanchor_698" href="#Footnote_698" class="fnanchor">[698]</a> 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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Great avarice of the King of Persia.</div> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_218"></a>[218]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_699" href="#Footnote_699" class="fnanchor">[699]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_219"></a>[219]</span> +in taking these clothes, but rather to be grateful to be +allowed to have them.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Very heavy tolls in Persia.</div> + +<div class="sidenote">Service of the king.</div> + +<div class="sidenote">Seraglio.</div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Pay of the attendants.</div> + +<div class="sidenote">Loans.</div> + +<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_220"></a>[220]</span> +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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Rewards of the nobles.</div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Order of the Council.</div> + +<div class="sidenote">Council.</div> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_700" href="#Footnote_700" class="fnanchor">[700]</a> who, as Lieutenant of his father,<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_221"></a>[221]</span> +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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Knighthood.</div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Boundaries of Persia.</div> + +<div class="sidenote">Kingdoms possessed by the King of Persia.</div> + +<div class="sidenote">Metropolitan cities.</div> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_222"></a>[222]</span> +the Euphrates,<a id="FNanchor_701" href="#Footnote_701" class="fnanchor">[701]</a> then flowing together in one bed through +Bolsora,<a id="FNanchor_702" href="#Footnote_702" class="fnanchor">[702]</a> into the Persian Gulf, towards the south; on +the north by the Caspian Sea, called also the sea of Baccu,<a id="FNanchor_703" href="#Footnote_703" class="fnanchor">[703]</a> +and by Tartary of the great Cattai. In this country there +are the following regions possessed by this king, namely, +Sunan,<a id="FNanchor_704" href="#Footnote_704" class="fnanchor">[704]</a> the ancient kingdom of the Medes, Aras, near +Greater Armenia, Carassan, Chiessen,<a id="FNanchor_705" href="#Footnote_705" class="fnanchor">[705]</a> Cheri,<a id="FNanchor_706" href="#Footnote_706" class="fnanchor">[706]</a> Diargomet, +and Gilari,<a id="FNanchor_707" href="#Footnote_707" class="fnanchor">[707]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_708" href="#Footnote_708" class="fnanchor">[708]</a> Samachi,<a id="FNanchor_709" href="#Footnote_709" class="fnanchor">[709]</a> 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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Abundance of corn.</div> + +<div class="sidenote">Agriculture or irrigation of the fields in Persia.</div> + +<p>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,<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_223"></a>[223]</span> +it being the custom for both old and young to eat four times +a day, the excellence of the water helping the digestion.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Women and their habits.</div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Love and reverence of the people of Persia for the king.</div> + +<div class="sidenote">Superstition of the Persian people.</div> + +<div class="sidenote">Factions at Tauris.</div> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_224"></a>[224]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_710" href="#Footnote_710" class="fnanchor">[710]</a> 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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A curious and remarkable case.</div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Situation of the city of Tauris.</div> + +<p>And since this city is the metropolis of the whole empire, +it seems to me that I ought to say something about it.<a id="FNanchor_711" href="#Footnote_711" class="fnanchor">[711]</a> +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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_225"></a>[225]</span> +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,<a id="FNanchor_712" href="#Footnote_712" class="fnanchor">[712]</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_713" href="#Footnote_713" class="fnanchor">[713]</a> 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<a id="FNanchor_714" href="#Footnote_714" class="fnanchor">[714]</a> 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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Silken goods.</div> + +<div class="sidenote">Mines.</div> + +<p>In the kingdom of Carassam<a id="FNanchor_715" href="#Footnote_715" class="fnanchor">[715]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_226"></a>[226]</span> +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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">No duties in Persia.</div> + +<div class="sidenote">Taxes on houses.</div> + +<div class="sidenote">Male animals do not pay tribute in Persia.</div> + +<div class="sidenote">Income and expenditure of the King of Persia.</div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Soldiery of the King of Persia easily brought together.</div> + +<div class="sidenote">Persian arms.</div> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_227"></a>[227]</span> +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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Persian horses and how they were introduced.</div> + +<p>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,<a id="FNanchor_716" href="#Footnote_716" class="fnanchor">[716]</a> 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_228"></a>[228]</span> +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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Strength of the King of Persia.</div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Claims of the King of Persia to countries taken from him +by the Ottoman.</div> + +<div class="sidenote">Allegiance and dependence.</div> + +<p>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<a id="FNanchor_717" href="#Footnote_717" class="fnanchor">[717]</a> and Lesser Armenia, in which are comprised +Urfa,<a id="FNanchor_718" href="#Footnote_718" class="fnanchor">[718]</a> Merdin,<a id="FNanchor_719" href="#Footnote_719" class="fnanchor">[719]</a> + Bira,<a id="FNanchor_720" href="#Footnote_720" class="fnanchor">[720]</a> Adiligus, Bitis,<a id="FNanchor_721" href="#Footnote_721" class="fnanchor">[721]</a> Van, Vastan, +Cassan,<a id="FNanchor_722" href="#Footnote_722" class="fnanchor">[722]</a> Calasci, Haligan, Baiiburdt,<a id="FNanchor_723" href="#Footnote_723" class="fnanchor">[723]</a> and other places. +This king has the allegiance and dependence of a Christian +named Lentul<a id="FNanchor_724" href="#Footnote_724" class="fnanchor">[724]</a> 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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Chindi, inhabitants of the mountains of Armenia, and their +forces.</div> + +<p>There are also some Turkish chiefs named Chindi inhabiting +certain mountains in Lesser Armenia, towards the +Mediterranean;<a id="FNanchor_725" href="#Footnote_725" class="fnanchor">[725]</a> 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.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Conclusion.</div> + +<p>This is all, most Serene Prince and most Illustrious<span class="pagenum"><a id="II_Page_229"></a>[229]</span> +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.</p> + +<p class="titlepage">FINIS.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="footnotes"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4 class="nobreak" id="DALESSANDRI_FOOTNOTES">FOOTNOTES</h4> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_681" href="#FNanchor_681" class="label">[681]</a> Tamasp.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_682" href="#FNanchor_682" class="label">[682]</a> See Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_48">p. 48</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_683" href="#FNanchor_683" class="label">[683]</a> Sheikh Hyder.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_684" href="#FNanchor_684" class="label">[684]</a> Kara Amid Diarbekr. See Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_6">p. 6</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_685" href="#FNanchor_685" class="label">[685]</a> Diarbekr.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_686" href="#FNanchor_686" class="label">[686]</a> Mirza, “prince”.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_687" href="#FNanchor_687" class="label">[687]</a> Shirvan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_688" href="#FNanchor_688" class="label">[688]</a> 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, <i>they persuaded the +hare to flie and the hounds to follow</i>. 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.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_689" href="#FNanchor_689" class="label">[689]</a> Mahomet Khodabundah Mirza, Prince Mahomet, the slave of God.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_690" href="#FNanchor_690" class="label">[690]</a> Afterwards Shah Abbas, the Great.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_691" href="#FNanchor_691" class="label">[691]</a> The Pasha of Erzeroum.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_692" href="#FNanchor_692" class="label">[692]</a> When he came to the throne he gave way altogether to debauchery.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_693" href="#FNanchor_693" class="label">[693]</a> Hyder Mirza.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_694" href="#FNanchor_694" class="label">[694]</a> Judges.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_695" href="#FNanchor_695" class="label">[695]</a> Sherf Beg.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_696" href="#FNanchor_696" class="label">[696]</a> Khunneydec Kurds in the Bohtan mountains, near Mosul, tribesmen +of Sherf Beg.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_697" href="#FNanchor_697" class="label">[697]</a> Bitlis.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_698" href="#FNanchor_698" class="label">[698]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_699" href="#FNanchor_699" class="label">[699]</a> Hyder Mirza.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_700" href="#FNanchor_700" class="label">[700]</a> Hyder Mirza.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_701" href="#FNanchor_701" class="label">[701]</a> Called then the Shat-ul-Arab.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_702" href="#FNanchor_702" class="label">[702]</a> Basrat or Bassora.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_703" href="#FNanchor_703" class="label">[703]</a> Baku.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_704" href="#FNanchor_704" class="label">[704]</a> Shirvan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_705" href="#FNanchor_705" class="label">[705]</a> Yezd.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_706" href="#FNanchor_706" class="label">[706]</a> Herat.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_707" href="#FNanchor_707" class="label">[707]</a> Ghilan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_708" href="#FNanchor_708" class="label">[708]</a> Nakshivan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_709" href="#FNanchor_709" class="label">[709]</a> Schamachi.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_710" href="#FNanchor_710" class="label">[710]</a> Kasween.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_711" href="#FNanchor_711" class="label">[711]</a> See <a href="#ANGIOLELLO">Angiolello</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_712" href="#FNanchor_712" class="label">[712]</a> Moldavia.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_713" href="#FNanchor_713" class="label">[713]</a> Alcocke, or Anthony Jenkinson, who came with a letter from Queen +Elizabeth to Shah Tamasp in 1561.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_714" href="#FNanchor_714" class="label">[714]</a> Shirvan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_715" href="#FNanchor_715" class="label">[715]</a> Khorassan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_716" href="#FNanchor_716" class="label">[716]</a> 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.)</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_717" href="#FNanchor_717" class="label">[717]</a> Diarbekr.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_718" href="#FNanchor_718" class="label">[718]</a> Orfa.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_719" href="#FNanchor_719" class="label">[719]</a> Mardin.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_720" href="#FNanchor_720" class="label">[720]</a> Bir.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_721" href="#FNanchor_721" class="label">[721]</a> Aradh el Jivaz and Bitlis.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_722" href="#FNanchor_722" class="label">[722]</a> Kashan.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_723" href="#FNanchor_723" class="label">[723]</a> Baiboort.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_724" href="#FNanchor_724" class="label">[724]</a> Lentul Ogli, or Levent Ogli.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_725" href="#FNanchor_725" class="label">[725]</a> 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.</p> + +</div> + +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="ERRATA_AND_NOTES">ERRATA AND NOTES.</h2> + +</div> + +<p><a href="#Footnote_178">Page 5, Note</a>, <i>for</i> “taneel”, <i>read</i> “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.</p> + +<p><a href="#II_Page_8">Page 8</a>, <i>for</i> “Ikindjis”, <i>read</i> “Akinjys”.</p> + +<p><a href="#II_Page_24">Page 24</a>, “ne dentider”, probably “neh deria-dir”, what a sea it is, +Turkish, not Persian.</p> + +<p><a href="#II_Page_70">Page 70</a>, “Occota Can”, probably “Oktai Khan”.</p> + +<p><a href="#Footnote_368">Page 79, Note</a>, <i>for</i> “Quzbvassi”, <i>read</i> “Kas-ovahsy”.</p> + +<p><a href="#II_Page_81">Page 81</a>, “Arphaemiler”, Arpa-eminy, master of the barley.</p> + +<p><a href="#II_Page_136">Page 136</a>, “bosdocan”, buzdugan, a mace, a word nearly obsolete in +Constantinople; it is preserved in Wallachia.</p> + +<p><a href="#II_Page_143">Page 143.</a> These columns are still standing, and have some inscriptions, +apparently Phœnician, upon them.</p> + +<p><a href="#II_Page_207">Page 207.</a> Sheibani Khan; for an account of his life and death, see +M. Vambery’s <i>History of Bokhara</i>.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="II_INDEX">INDEX.</h2> + +</div> + +<ul> + +<li class="ifrst">Amasia, <a href="#II_Page_37">37</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Amida (Diarbekir), <a href="#II_Page_6">6</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Ardebil, <a href="#II_Page_42">42</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Astrabad, <a href="#II_Page_113">113</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Astrakhan, <a href="#II_Page_114">114</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Barbaro, <a href="#II_Page_15">15</a>, <a href="#II_Page_21">21</a>, <a href="#II_Page_33">33</a>, <a href="#II_Page_93">93</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Bitlis, <a href="#II_Page_8">8</a>, <a href="#II_Page_157">157</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Calo Johannes, <a href="#II_Page_9">9</a>, <a href="#II_Page_178">178</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Casimir, King of Poland, <a href="#II_Page_33">33</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Chalderan, battle of, <a href="#II_Page_59">59-61</a>, <a href="#II_Page_120">120</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Contarini Ambrosio, <a href="#II_Page_33">33</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Derbend, <a href="#II_Page_44">44</a>, <a href="#II_Page_113">113</a>, <a href="#II_Page_185">185</a>, <a href="#II_Page_186">186</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Despina, wife of Uzun Hassan, <a href="#II_Page_9">9</a>, <a href="#II_Page_13">13</a>, <a href="#II_Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#II_Page_18">18</a>, <a href="#II_Page_41">41</a>, + <a href="#II_Page_42">42</a>, <a href="#II_Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#II_Page_146">146</a>, <a href="#II_Page_178">178</a>, <a href="#II_Page_179">179</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Erzingan, <a href="#II_Page_7">7</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Gaza, battle of, <a href="#II_Page_128">128-130</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Genealogy of Kara Yusuf, <a href="#II_Page_1">1</a></li> + +<li class="indx">— — Shah Ismail, <a href="#II_Page_5">5</a></li> + +<li class="indx">— — Shah Abbas, <a href="#II_Page_48">48</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Hassan Beg or Uzun Hassan, <a href="#II_Page_1">1</a>, <a href="#II_Page_73">73</a>, <a href="#II_Page_183">183</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Hyder Sheikh, <a href="#II_Page_42">42</a>, <a href="#II_Page_43">43</a>, <a href="#II_Page_73">73</a>, <a href="#II_Page_100">100</a>, <a href="#II_Page_101">101</a>, + <a href="#II_Page_184">184</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Ismail, Shah, <a href="#II_Page_46">46</a>, <a href="#II_Page_48">48</a>, <a href="#II_Page_103">103</a>, <a href="#II_Page_122">122</a>, <a href="#II_Page_137">137</a>, <a href="#II_Page_152">152</a>, + <a href="#II_Page_187">187</a>, <a href="#II_Page_190">190</a>, <a href="#II_Page_191">191</a>, <a href="#II_Page_211">211</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Jezirah, <a href="#II_Page_150">150</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Kafur el Ghouri, <a href="#II_Page_126">126</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Kharput, <a href="#II_Page_148">148</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Khoi, <a href="#II_Page_165">165</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Kurds, <a href="#II_Page_157">157</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Malatia, battle of, <a href="#II_Page_25">25-29</a>, <a href="#II_Page_86">86-88</a>, <a href="#II_Page_181">181</a>, <a href="#II_Page_182">182</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Mamelukes, <a href="#II_Page_129">129</a>, <a href="#II_Page_133">133</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Mardin, <a href="#II_Page_148">148</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Matthias Corvinus, <a href="#II_Page_34">34</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Mazenderan, <a href="#II_Page_49">49</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Morenigo, Pietro, <a href="#II_Page_21">21</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Murad Khan, <a href="#II_Page_53">53</a>, <a href="#II_Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#II_Page_105">105</a>, <a href="#II_Page_192">192</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Orfa, <a href="#II_Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#II_Page_143">143</a>, <a href="#II_Page_144">144</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Pancratio, <a href="#II_Page_97">97</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Persian army, <a href="#II_Page_16">16</a>, <a href="#II_Page_17">17</a>, <a href="#II_Page_65">65</a></li> + +<li class="indx">— games, <a href="#II_Page_111">111</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Selim Sultan, <a href="#II_Page_58">58</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Sert, <a href="#II_Page_156">156</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Shebban Kara Hissar, <a href="#II_Page_23">23</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Sheibani Khan, <a href="#II_Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#II_Page_110">110</a>, <a href="#II_Page_115">115</a>, <a href="#II_Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#II_Page_158">158</a>, + <a href="#II_Page_207">207</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Sinan Pasha, <a href="#II_Page_128">128</a>, <a href="#II_Page_132">132</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Suleyman Sultan, <a href="#II_Page_213">213</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Tabriz, <a href="#II_Page_166">166</a>, <a href="#II_Page_178">178-224</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Tahmasp Shah, <a href="#II_Page_211">211</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Tiflis, <a href="#II_Page_97">97</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Tomant Bey, <a href="#II_Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#II_Page_131">131</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Turkish army, <a href="#II_Page_22">22</a>, <a href="#II_Page_62">62</a>, <a href="#II_Page_79">79</a>, <a href="#II_Page_83">83</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Van, <a href="#II_Page_159">159</a>, <a href="#II_Page_187">187</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Vastan, <a href="#II_Page_161">161</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Violante, wife of C. Zeno, <a href="#II_Page_9">9</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Yakub, son of Hassan Beg, his death, <a href="#II_Page_99">99</a>, <a href="#II_Page_183">183</a></li> + +</ul> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="transnote"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="Amendments">List of amendments made to the text</h2> + +</div> + +<p>In “Travels to Tana and Persia”:</p> + +<ul> +<li><a href="#I_Page_13">Page 13</a>, “ꝑerchaunce” changed to “perchaunce” (perchaunce to trym̄e)</li> +<li><a href="#I_Page_24">Page 24</a>, “sigfieth” changed to “signifieth” (signifieth a bulter)</li> +<li><a href="#I_Page_39">Page 39</a>, “thtt” changed to “that” (that is to wete, viij in every galey)</li> +<li><a href="#I_Page_39">Page 39</a>, “Wherepon” changed to “Whereupon” (Whereupon I went streight to)</li> +<li><a href="#I_Page_41">Page 41</a>, “comannded” changed to “commanded” (commanded Mʳ. Vettor)</li> +<li><a href="#I_Page_41">Page 41</a>, “morʳneng” changed to “moʳneng” (early in the moʳneng)</li> +<li><a href="#I_Page_45">Page 45</a>, “ꝑecaue” changed to “ꝑceaue” (being as ferre as I coulde ꝑceaue)</li> +<li><a href="#I_Page_66">Page 66</a>, “goskawkes” changed to “goshawkes” (houndes, a thousande, goshawkes, <span class="allsmcap">L</span>ᵗⁱᵉ)</li> +<li><a href="#I_Page_74">Page 74</a>, “xxˡⁱᵉ” changed to “xxᵗⁱᵉ” (very great, of xxᵗⁱᵉ myles compasse)</li> +<li><a href="#I_Page_117">Page 117</a>, “acording” changed to “according” (acted according to their usual custom)</li> +<li><a href="#I_Page_154">Page 154</a>, “despared” changed to “despaired” (had despaired of seeing me)</li> +<li><a href="#I_Page_155">Page 155</a>, “mumbers” changed to “numbers” (in considerable numbers)</li> +<li><a href="#I_Page_155">Page 155</a>, “numerons” changed to “numerous” (supposed to be very numerous)</li> +<li><a href="#I_Page_168">Page 168</a>, “porvided” changed to “provided” (escorts were provided for me)</li> +<li><a href="#I_INDEX">Index</a>, the “K” section was partly duplicated, this has been fixed</li> +</ul> + +<p>In “A Narrative of Italian Travels in Persia”:</p> + +<ul> +<li><a href="#II_Page_xi">Page xi</a>, “rebelion” changed to “rebellion” (after his rebellion in 1556)</li> +<li><a href="#II_Page_101">Page 101</a>, “son” changed to “sons” (to seize his wife and three sons)</li> +<li><a href="#II_Page_191">Page 191</a>, “Christains” changed to “Christians” (villages inhabited by orthodox Christians)</li> +<li><a href="#II_Page_199">Page 199</a>, “vasaal” changed to “vassal” (Muratcan, offering to become his vassal)</li> +<li><a href="#II_Page_199">Page 199</a>, “Spain” changed to “Spaan”, twice (he proceeded to Spaan / Ismael in Spaan)</li> +<li><a href="#II_Page_203">Page 203</a>, “fortrèss” changed to “fortress” (a fortress named Canar)</li> +<li><a href="#Footnote_405">Footnote 405</a>, missing word “of” added (the present capital of Russian Trans-Caucasia)</li> +<li><a href="#Footnote_486">Footnote 486</a>, “Knaneh” changed to “Khaneh” (At Gumish Khaneh)</li> +<li><a href="#Footnote_668">Footnote 668</a>, “Maganderan” changed to “Mazanderan” (often included in Mazanderan)</li> +<li><a href="#II_INDEX">Index</a>, “Sbah” changed to “Shah” (entry for Genealogy of Shah Ismail)</li> +</ul> + +</div> + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75292 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + |