"Chap . Ill of Mo nfieur Tavernier, 20^ 



the young Prince was recommended to his care, and in regard he had pro- 

 mis'dand (worn, he was Co far from falfifying hrs truft, that he would main- 

 tain his pofieffion to the lall gafp. 



This generous resolution of the Kan broke the young Lords defign upon 

 the Kings perfon. However the Sultanefs being not ignorant of the train that 

 was laid for the young King, and againit the repofe of the Kingdom, thought 

 it her wifeft way to prevent the blow, and to rid her felf of fuch perfons^as 

 had confpir'd the death of the King. The Kan's two other Sons took part with 

 him they call'd their elder Brother. And as for the Kan himfelf, though lie 

 were upright in his Loyalty, yet his power, his wealth, his reputation among 

 the Souldiery, and the affeftion that the people bare him, concurr'd together not 

 only to render him fufpe&ed, but guilty. The Sultanefs and the Athemadoutei 



Jjev'd them, and refolv'd to be rid both of Father and Sons together ; but 

 the difficulty was to get 'em to Court, wherein opportunity it felf afliited 

 them. For at that time Amn-ath the Great Turk at the head of a vait Ar- 

 my, was already advane'd within the Confines of Perjta, had tak'n Erivan, and 

 had ruin'd Tour is. Upon the firft news of this march, the King fends for alt 

 the Kant and Governours to attend his perfon, with all the Forces under their 

 command. Among the reft, the Kan QfScMras receiv'd the fame orders j who 

 thereupon aflembl'd all his Troops, both Horfe and Foot, who were not only 

 the molt numerous, but the belt difciplin'd and ftouteft Souldiers t>JT all Perfia: 

 As he was upon his march to Catbln with his three Sons, the eldeft having 

 well confider'd of affairs $ Sir, faid he, We are making haft to the King, to the 

 end our heads may the fooner fait at our feet. Perhaps my Son, reply'd the Kan 

 thou maifi jpeak^ the truth ; bat to this day I never was a Rebel agamfi the Kim 

 J have done whatever .he commanded , and whatever may happ'n J will obey him 

 till death. The Kan arriving at Casbin, was by the King welcom'd with great de- 

 monftrations of joy. Some days after, he took a general Mufter, and then 

 made a great Feaft which lafted three days, to which all the great Lords and 

 Kans that were at Casbin were call'd. The three Sons of Iman-Kouli-Kan were 

 of the number ; but the Father excus'd himfelf, as well by reafon of his age, 

 as alfo reprefenting to his Majefty, that it better befitted him to employ his 

 time in taking care of his affaires, and in praying for his Ma/efty - however 

 if it were his Ma jellies exprefs command, he would not fail to obey 5 to which 

 the King return'd for anfwer, that the Kan of Schiras was at his liberty to do 

 as he thought fit. The third day of the Feaft the King role from his Seat, 

 and going out of the Hall, without fpeaking a word to any perfon, went into 

 a Room hard by. Half 'an hour after, three fturdy refblute Fellows with fbme 

 other Ragamuffin attendants, entrrng the Hall with their Scimeters drawn, feiz'd 

 upon the Kans three Sons, and cut otf their heads. They were put into a 

 Gold Bafbn, and prefented to the King j who commanded the Fellows to carry 

 them to their Father, and as foon as he had feen them, to take off his head 

 to make the fourth. The Aflaffinates found him at his prayers ; but being in- 

 terrupted to fee the heads of his three Sons, he defir'd leave only to conclude, 

 which having done, with a countenance undifturb'd , and without any other 

 words or exprefiions in his mouth than what is dually faid among the Per- 

 fans, Let the Kings will be done,he fubmitted to a death which he might haveeafily 

 avoided. The four heads were brought back to the King, to be fent into 

 the Hat am to his Mother. So foon as he had taken off the heads Of the 

 Father and the three Sons, the King difpatch'd away certain Chappars. or Cour- 

 iers, with order to the Lieutenant of the Kan, to put to death all £h# reft of 

 the Children. The command was obey'd, and they were all put to death, but 

 only two that were at Nurfe, whom their Nurfes fo well conceafd, that never 

 any tidings could be heard either of the Nurfes or of the Children. 



Afier the death of Iman-Kouli-Kan, the Province of Schiras, with its de- 

 pendances, has been govern'd by *VtXir t who 'agrees with the King what 

 Rent to pay him yearly. In the years 166$ and i666 t the Viur gave him fifty 



B b z thou- 



