Chap. I. fl/Monfieur Tavern ier. 199 



next day, forgetful of the fad, he call'd for the Queen j but when they told 

 him what had happen'd, he began to be deeply fenfible of his error, and for- 

 row'd exceffively ; and at the fame time lent an exprefs order through his Ter- 

 ritories, that no man fhould drink Wine, and that the Governours mould break 

 all the Wine-Veffels wherever they found any, and fpill the Wine. But this 

 order did not Iaft above a year. 



During the Reign of Sha-Sefi, the Kan of Erivan fènt him a Colt, which 

 I faw, which was begot by a Mule. Not long after the King dy'd of a Surfet, with 

 excefs of drfnk ing, after he had reign'd fourteen years. 



Sha Abbas the fécond was fet upon the Throne at Casbin, with the ufual 

 Ceremonies, at the end of the year 1642, and made his entry into Jfpahan in 

 the beginning of the year following. Upon the day of the Solemnity all the 

 Citizens were order'd to be in Arms, and to march out of the City, where they 

 were hTd off upon each fide of the Road. In the fame manner were all the 

 ftanding Infantry and Cavalry rang'd for five Leagues together. All the Road 

 for two Leagues together without the City was cover'd with Tiflues of Gold 

 and Silver, with Carpets of Silk, and other rich Stuffs ; all which cofrs the King 

 nothing. For the Shi-Bander, who is like our Mayor, takes care to tax every 

 one what he is to furnifh toward that Solemnity. The Btiglifh and Hollanders 

 wentalfo forth to meet the King ; among whom I was one. When we came near 

 the King, fam-Kan,Genera\ of the Cavalry, gave the King notice who we were. 

 Whereupon we all alighted, and the King holding his Leg ftretcht out of his 

 Stirrup, we all kifs'd his Boot. When he came where the way began to be 

 fpread with rich Carpets, he found the Grand Mufti and the Grand Cadi, at- 

 tended by a great number of Moullahs, who made a Prayer after their man- 

 ner. Prayers being ended, the King rode on, the Athemadoukt being on the 

 left hand, which is the moft honourable, and the General of the Cavalry on the ; ' 

 right, yet not even with him, but fo as that their Horfès heads reaclfd to the 

 Crupper of his. There was no perfon but the King that rode over thejjflug^ 

 that Honour belonging to him alone ; nor is the way fpread above the breadth 

 of the Stuff; and as foon as the King is pafs'd over it,, the people Tall to fcram- 

 JJing^and carry away every one what they can get'TbT'themfelves. 



About a quarter of a League from Ifpahan is a Garden, with a Great Room 

 over the Gate, where the King made a halt, thinking to have made his Entry 

 into the City. But an Aftrologer came to him, and told him, that the hour 

 was paft, and that he muft tarry three days before the hour would prove pro- 

 pitious again. So that he was conftrain d to betake himfelf to the Garden of He- 

 x.ardgerib till the time came ; whither the Nobility alfo were all forc'd to come be- 

 times in the morning, and to ftay till the evening. The day that the King 

 made his Entry, the way from the Garden to the City was alfo fpread with 

 Carpets. For three days together the Fire- works play'd in the Meydan-, and 

 round the Piaz,z,a from top to bottom were lights hung out ; and in the prin- 

 cipal Inns, the richeft Merchants had adorn'd the Doors and Windows of their 

 Chambers, according to the Mode of the Country 5 and I believe it coft the 

 Chief of the Holland Company, above nine hundred Tomans. 



In the year 1643, came the Prince of the Vsbscks in perfon to defire aid of 

 Sha Abbas againft his Children, who had caus'd his own Subjects to rebel and 

 make war againft him. His eldeft Son firft took Arms, and getting the advan- 

 tage of a Battel, the other Brother treacheroufly took part with him j which 

 nothing difmay'd the Father, to whom the chief of the Nobility ftill adher'd. 

 Toward the end of the year 1642, the Prince loft another Battel and his left 

 eye, which was {hot thorough with an Arrow ; which conftrain'd him, fo foon 

 as he was cur'd of his wound, to come and crave fuccour from the King of 

 Terjia ; which he eafily obtain'd. Sha Abbas defigning to receive him honou- 

 rably fènt above ten thoufand Horfe as far as Cajhan, which is four days jour- 

 ney from Ifpahan, and five or fix thoufand Foot two days journey from thence 

 to meet him. Every day he was attended by different Officers. Every day they 

 fet him up a new Tent, and fpread new Carpets ; and every day chang'd the 

 twelve Horfes that were led before him, whofe furniture was all over cover'd 

 with Jewels. For a League and a half from the City the way was fpread with 



aft' 



