Chap. X. of Monfieur Taverniel 221 



CHAP. X. 



Of the fir ft of the three Orders or States of Perfia, which comprehends 

 the Kings Houjh old, the Kans or Governours of Trovinces , and the 

 £onld/ery. 



THE Primicr Mjnifter of the Kingdom is call'd Athemadoulet i or the fupport 

 of Riches. His office is the fame with the Grand Fiz.ir's in Turkic s and may 

 becofnpar'd to the ancient Majors of the Palace in France. In regard all the af- 

 fairs of the Kingdom pafs through his hands, he ought to be rather a Gownman 

 then a Souldier : and herein he only ditfers from the Grand Y&itr, \ who is always 

 to be at the head of the Army, and for every flight fault or diftalte is fubjccT: to 

 bettrangPd by the Grand Signior. Whereas in Perfia where the Government is 

 milder, the Prime Minilters generally dye in their beds, or if they are DeposM, 

 they are only exil'd to fome frontier City, where they live as private 

 men. 



When the King is young, the Prime Minifter has a hard game to play, for then 

 the Favourite Eunuchs and the Sultaneiiesdifannul and cancel in the night what- 

 ever orders he makes in the day time. 



The Naz.ar or Seer has the charge of all the Kings goods, of his breeds of hor- 

 fes, of his moveables, of his Cloaths and Plate : much like the grand Matter of 

 the Kings Houfe in France. 



The Mebter, who is always a white Eunuch, is the firft Gentleman of the Kings 

 Chamber, and follows the King with a kind of bag hanging by his fide full of 

 handkerchiefs. And as he is always at the Kings elbow, if he have the Kings 

 car, it is eafie for him to befriend ordounkindnelfes, as his inclination leads him. 

 During the minority of the King, fome of thefe Mshters have been known to go- 

 vern the Kingdom. 



The Mif-Akhor-Bajhl, or Grand Enquire, has the Charge of the Kings Stables, 

 which as well as the Gate of Ah -Capri, are a place of Refuge, and whoever faves 

 himfclf therein, let it be for Murther or Debt is fafe. All the Horfes in the Kings 

 Stable are mark'd with a hot iron upon the left hip, and thole that belong to pri- 

 vate perfons upon the right. Thole that the King gives to them that ferve in his 

 Armies, have the Kings mark, and are not to be fold, but they may be chaffer'd 

 away. If any of thofe Horfes happens to dye in a Horfe-mans hands, he mult 

 flea off the Kings mark, and carry it to the under Officers of the General of the 

 Cavalry, to have another, otherwife he would be fore'd to buy another at his 

 own expences. Thofe people by laying the skin in the water, know, though by 

 what art I cannot tell, whither the Horie dy'd of age or ficknefs, or whither he 

 were malitioufly kill'd. For in times of Peace there are fome Horfemen that will 

 kill their Horfes, to lave the Charges of keeping any more than themfelves: then 

 at the next Muller they bring the skin of their Horfe^with the mark on,to the Of- 

 ficers, and get another, unlefs they be found out. Nor are their Horfes only 

 mark'd, but their Scimitars, Mufquets, Bows and Quivers, all which they mult 

 (hew to the Commiffioners every Mutter. 



SU-Atbas the fecond being at Casbm in the year 16^4, took a general view 

 of his Cavalry, which lafted for ten or twelve days. For the King fitting in the 

 Portal of one of his Gardens, with his Officers ftanding about ham, every day 

 caus'd fo many troopers to ride by him : which were all ftout a&ivc men and well 

 mounted. Every Souldier gallop'd fingly by him 5 and coming juft under the 

 King, he (hoc an Arrow againft a Butt of Turf that was thrown up upon his left 

 hand, and when the Mutter was over, the King advancM the Pay of every Horfe- 

 mun, who according to the fentence of the Judges had mot neareft the 



mark. 



I was then at Casbin, and I remember one Souldier, who quite contrary to what 

 the other Horie- men did, walk'd his Horfe along by the King, and never mot, but 

 only lav'd his hand upon his breft, and then upon his forehead , which is the 



D d 2. Cere- 



