Chap. I of Monfieur Taver n i e r~ 



201 



pray for his health, and altogether gave near a thouland Tomans to the poor. 

 The next day they commanded the Chriftian Armenians to pray for the reco- 

 very of the King. Whereupon as well the Eccleliafticks as the Laity went to 

 their prayers upon the fide of the River which is between Jfpahan and Zulpha 

 They alio fent their Kclontcr, with fifty Tomans in Gold, to bear over the Kings 

 head ; though the Armenians pronounce not the fame words as the Per/tans, 

 laying only, Berai tc Saddfd^y deft in d for Alms. 



'Thus the danger being over in a few days, they made it their bufinefs to re- 

 cover him to a perfecT habit of health ; but in regard the King continu'd in 

 a languishing condition, and for that the Phyficians could not discover the caufe 

 of the diftemper, the King began to beleive that it proceeded from the igno- 

 rance of the Phyficians j for which reafbn fome of them had receiv'd none of the 

 belt entertainment already. At length it came into the thoughts of feme others 

 of the Phyficians, who were afraid for themfelves, that in regard l-crfi* was 

 thus doubly aillided, with Famine and the Sicknefs of the King, both at one 

 time, it muft of neceffity be the Aftrologers fault, that mifs'd the favourable 

 hour when the King mould have afcended the Throne. Thus being troubPd at 

 their dilgracc, pretending to have no lefs skill in future knowledg than the 

 Aftrologers, who had not chos 'n a true time for the King to afcend die Throne, 

 they concluded that for the perfect recovery of his health, and the reftoring of 

 plenty to the Nation, it was neceffary to renew the Ceremony at a lucky hour, 

 and to change his name. This propofition pleas'd the King and his Council. 

 The Phyfitians and Aftrologers joining together, obferv'd the firft unlucky da}', 

 which would certainly be follow'd by another that would prove fortunate. Now 

 there being among the Games, fbme that pretend themfelves defcended from 

 the Ruftms, who were ancient Kings of rerfia and Vanhia, that very morning 

 one of thole Games letting himfclf upon the Throne, with his back againft a 

 wooden Figure which represented him to the life, all the Grandees of the Court 

 came and did him homage as their King, as he had order'd them to do. This 

 aftion lafted till the favourable hour was come, which happen'd a little before 

 Sun-fet. Then it was that an Officer of the Court came behind and cut off the 

 head of the wooden Figure, while the Game immediately took his heels and 

 fled. Prefently upon that the King appear'd in the Hall, upon whole head when 

 they had put the Bonnet of Sopbi, and re-girt him with the Scimitar, he afcend- 

 ed the Throne, and took the name of SoLman. He was fore'd to aft this Co- 

 medy to fatisfie the Law, which contriv'd that he mould change his Name, 

 and take a new poffeflion of his Throne, by ejecting a Ufurper that had wrong- 

 fully claim'd it. For which rcalbn the Game was let up as Pretender, as laying 

 claim to the ancient Lineage of the Verftan Kings, and being of a different 

 Religion. From that time the King recovering, and the Famine decrealing, 

 the Phyficians were in great repute, and the Aftrologers were caft out of fa- 

 vour, except two or three of the raoft skilful. 



Sba-Soliman before his coming to the Crown, had convers'd with none but 

 Women and black Eunuchs i from whom he could not learn the art of Ruling. 

 At prefent he only divertizes himfelf with his Wives in going a hunting, very 

 rarely troubling himfelf with bufinefs, but relying wholly upon his Minifters of 

 State. He will not be feen for ten or twelve days together 5 all which time 

 there are no Petitions to be preferr'd, nor Complaints to be made. 



CHAP. 



