Chap. I. of Monfieur Taverniel ,197 



and dy'd at the end of the year 1628. Before he dy'd, he gave command, that 

 he mould be bury'd in fome place unknown to all the world ; and that they 

 fhould fet his Grandchild upon his Throne, and give him the name of Sha- 

 Sefi. 



So foon as Sha Abbas s eyes were clos'd, the General of the Horfe, and the 

 chief Captain of the Harquebuffes., with whom the Commands were left, rode 

 in all haite to Ifpahan, and coming to the Palace, deiir'd to fpeak with the Mo- 

 ther of the Child. The Mother was in a fad affright, believing that they came 

 to put the young Prince to death. But when they had difïipated her fears, 

 and that fhe underftood that they came to fet him upon the Throne by the 

 command of his Grandfather, fhe embrac'd the young Prince, and returned him 

 into the hands of the Eunuchs. When he was come out of the Haram, the two 

 Lords, attended by feveral others, faluted him King, and acknowledged him for 

 their Sovereign. At the fame time they took off his Clothes and tore them, 

 which in Perfa is a mark of mourning; and according to cuftom, put him on 

 another plain Garment, which he wore till midnight. Then they difrob'd him 

 again, and put him on his Royal Robes/and let him upon the Throne, where 

 all the Lords came and did him homage, and the next day he was acknowledg'd 

 by all the Acclamations of the people. For when the Royal Habit is put upon 

 the new King, the Drums, Trumpets, Timbrels, Hautboys , and other Inftru- 

 ments, make a din in a peculiar place of the Meydan appointed for that purpofè. 

 Which is the Signal to give notice to the people to meet the next morning, to 

 acknowledg the new King. Sha-Sefi for many years was a Novice in the art 

 of Government. But time opening his eyes, the firlt remarkable thing which 

 he did, being at Casbin, was to cut off the head of Ali-Koidi-Kan, that great 

 Captain who had conquer' d the Kingdoms of Lar and Ormtts for Sha Abbas $ 

 and the heads of three of his Sons. After that, returning to Ifpahan, he cut 

 off the heads of feven of the principal Lords of his Court ; and by little and 

 •little took the Government into his own hands. Of thofe Lords whom fàni-Ka» 

 was the chief. 



For 'tis thought that Sha Abbas had left a private order with Mirz.a Tafe' t 

 and the Dowager Sttitanefs, to rid themfelves of thofe Lords fo foon as Sha- 

 Sefi mould be fetl'd in his Throne, and that they had plac'd Governors in all places 

 where in the King might confide. Thefe Lords having fmoak'd the private order of; 

 Sha-AbbaS) and believing that the time of execution drew near, prevented the 

 Athemadotilet Mirz,a Take ; for meeting one morning before the Palaee-doory 

 they kilPd the Porter, and entring his Bed-Chamber, ftab'd him before he could 

 rife. After this execution, they went to the King, whom fani-Kan boldly told, 

 that they hadflain Mirz.a Take. The King at that time diflèmbling his anger at fo 

 bold an enterprize, and an attempt upon the Royal Authority, anfwer'd him, 

 that he had done very well, and that he had prevented thofe orders which he 

 intended to have giv'n him. The Stilt anefs his Mother then govern'd the King- 

 dom, together with the Athemadoulet, from whom fhe received four hundred 

 Ducats in Gold every day for her little pleafures ; and held a private Coun- 

 cil with him in her Haram, where he had free admiffion, as being cut clofe. In 

 this Council it was, that thefè two perfons overthrew in the night whatever the 

 Lords concluded in the day j chang'd the Kings mind, and over-rul'd his thoughts 

 as thej' pleas'd themfelves., by vertue of that power which they had over him. 

 Eight or nine days after, as thefe Lords were fitting in Council with the King, 

 an Eunuch enter'd, which was the fignal for the King to get out of the way ; 

 and as foon âs the King was gone, the Chamber was fill'd with Eunuchs, that 

 rufhing in immediately fell upon fani-Kan and his Accomplices, and cut off their 

 heads. Their heads and bodies were immediately expos'd to the view of the 

 people in the Meydan ; and for that it is not the cuftom in Perfia to take any 

 cognizance of what the King does., the moft part of the people., fpurning thé 

 heads with their feet, cry'd one to another, See the heads of thofe Dogs that have 

 difobey'd the will of the King. 



I told ye, that Mirz.a Take was clean cut ; which' occafions a particular ftory : 

 He was Governour of Guilan in the Reign of Sha Abbas, and having abus'd one 

 of his Pages,- the young Ladd ftole fecretly to Ifpahan } and made his com- 



Â a 2 plaintf 



