Chap.V. c/Monfieur Tavernier. 77 



Money inftead of Diet, to the end he might drefs his own Meat as he pleas'd him- 

 felf. Upon which the covetous Ambaflador accepted his offer, and two hours after 

 there was a Bag brought him of 50 Tomans, which amount to about 800 Crowns. 

 The Franks being offended at his bafenefs, flighted the Ambaflador, and left him 

 to "keep Houfe by himfelf, which was poor enough God knows j an Onion or a Turnep 

 fcrVing his turn for a Meal. Some days after, he had Audience of the King, to 

 whom he presented his Letters Credential from the Pope, the Emperour, the King 

 of Poland, and the Commonwealth of Venice. Thofe from the three Iaft were well 

 receiv'd becaufe the Seals were of Gold , and for that the Paper was crabclifh'd 

 with curious Flourifhes: but the Pope's Letters were rejected with fcorn, becaufe 

 the Seals were only of Lead, as the Bulls are ufually fcal'd ', and for that the Writing 

 was very plain. For the Kings of Perfia , who are very nice, love things that are gay 

 to the Eye ■ otherwife they look upon themfelves to be affronted. Dominico de Santis 

 had better 'have tak'n upon him the meaner quality of an Envoy, than the title of 

 an Ambaflador unlefs he had known better how to behave himfelf*, eipecially being 

 lb eclips'd as he was by a real Ambaflador that arriv'd at Ifpaban fome time after. All 

 the Franh went forth to meet him , and the Mailer of the Ceremonies made him 

 the lame proffers as he had done to the Venetian : but he nobly anfwer'd , That what- 

 ever it were that the King of Perfia fent him , he fhould take it for a very great 

 Honour : otherwifc, if he would have eaten Gold , the King his Matter would have 

 allow'd him 30 Mules Load. Such peribns as behave themfelves with decency and 

 a good <*race, are the peribns that the Chriftian Princes fhOuld fend into Perfia, 

 who are the moft refin'd Wits , and the beft Politicians of all Afia. 



To conclude the Story of the Venetian , I will give you his Chara&er. An Indian 

 naturally of a good Wit having embrae'd Chriftianity and an Ecclefiaftical Life, went 

 to Rome to complete his Studies which he had begun at Gda ; whither, the Pope, 

 taking an affection to him, fent him afterward as his Vicar. Dominico de Santis 

 being then at Rome , put himfelf into his fervice , and follow'd him into the Indies, 

 where I faw him the firft time I went, in a mean condition. Upon his return to 

 Venice, where he was in no credit before , he made people believe that he underftood 

 the Trade of Afia ; whereupon fome particular Merchants trufted him with fome 

 Goods , which were caft away at Seide. Thus poor and bare he rcfurn'd to (jea, 

 where he got 800 Crowns by a charitable Contribution. From thence he travel'd 

 to Jjfahan , where he fell into the acquaintance of Father Rigor di a Jefuite , with 

 whom he went into Poland: where making his brags of the great knowledge he had 

 of the Affairs of Perfia , the King gave him that Commiflion which I have already 

 mention's!. The Emperour follow'd his Example, and trie Commonwealth of Venice 

 did the fame: and to give the more luftre and authority to hisEmbafly, they got 

 the Pope to joyn with them. But alas ! both Dominico de Santis , and all fuch perfons 

 as he , that go into Afia without Brains and good Behaviour , do but proftitute the 

 Reputation of the Princes that fend them. Such another was Father Rigor di , who 

 after he had been thruft out of Goa by the Portugals , went to Ifpahan , where he 

 infinuatcd himfelf by a Propofition which he made of Marrying the King of Perfia, 

 who was then a very young Prince , to the Dutchcfs of Orleance. Under which 

 pretence he was well receiv'd and treated by the King -, from whom he alfo receiv'd 

 fome Prefents by virtue of that Propofal , which was good iport to the Dutchefs when 



fhe heard of it. jru 



As for the Venetian, the Atemadoulet , who was very glad to be rid ot him , deiir d 

 the Mnfcovite Ambaflador, who was then upon his return home, to take him along 

 with him, which he did as far as the Cafpian Sea, where they take Shipping 

 for Aflracan; .but there the Mnfcovite told him he could carry him no further: 

 thereupon he was fore'd to come back to Jjpahan, and lb to travel to Goa, whence the 

 Portuoals fhipt thim home for Charities fake. But when he came to Venice, has was 

 fo farlrom being well receiv'd , that the Senate had like to have puniih'd him ieverely 

 for giving fo bad an account of his Negotiation. 



CHAP. 



