Chap. V. fl/Monfieur Tavernier. *99 



caufe that the Brother of the deceas'd, who was to be the Executioner, not 

 only mils'd his firft blow , but wounded himfelf in the Leg, while his Skain 

 being born off by one of the fides of the triangular Inftrument.by the force of the 

 blow lighted upon himfelf. Whereupon the people making a great fhout 

 hinder'd farther execution for that time. The King being advertis'd thereof, re- 

 manded him to Prifon, and after a few days lent for him a third time into; 

 his prefence ; but though the King offer'd him a thoufand Tomans, and that 

 the Lords urg'd him to turn, though it were but for a while, and in outward 

 appearance 5 yet neither threats nor promifes could move the Zurkkian, who 

 was thereupon executed at the end of October, 1637. 



All the Frankj willingly contributed to raife him a Tomb ; which was co- 

 ver'd with a fmall Duomo, fupported with four Pillars, ten or twelve foot high. 

 The Armsnian; have made him a Saint j fo that when they are fick of a Fea- 

 ver, they come and make their devotions at this Tomb ; and every time they 

 come, they carry away a piece of a Stone ; fo that the Tomb wants repair- 

 ing every year. 



The Athemadoulet, to the end the King might be the lefs fenfible of the 

 want of him, had told the King, that his Majefty would find no great mifs 

 of him, in regard he had a Servant who was almoft as good as himfelf. But 

 fome few days after, the Kings Watch that he always carry'd about him, be- 

 ing out of order, and Ralphs Apprentice not being able to remedy the fault ; 

 the King for madnefs that he had been the Watchmakers death, threw the 

 Watch at the Athemadoulets head. There, cry'd he, Dog as thou art, by thy 

 advice I put Ralph to death , the moft skilful man df his Profeffion that ever 

 will come into my Kingdom. ThoH defcrvefi for thy counfel, to have thy belly ripe 

 up. But I [wear by my Throne, that from this time forward I will never put a 

 a Chriftian to death for his Religion. And I queftion whether any of you would 

 have had the fame courage to have dfd for the Law of Haly. And indeed they 

 have been very cautious ever fince ; nor has any of the Franks been put to 

 death, though they have flown out before the King in words and actions rafh 

 enough. 



C HAP. V. 



Of fome particulars under the Reign of Sha-Abbas the fécond. 



S Ha- Abbas the fécond, Son of Sha Éefi, was no lefs cruel then his Father? 

 and would be no lefs punctually obey'd. 

 He had two Sifters, which he màrri'd to two of the richeft Lords of his 

 Kingdom, though of a very mean extraction. Some time after, the King un- 

 derftanding that they were both wkh-Child, order'd Phyfick to be given them 

 to deftroy the fruit of their Wombs. About three months after, he was told 

 that they were big again ; then he fuffer'd 'em to be brought to bed 5 but com- 

 manded that they mould not give the Children any nourifhment, but let 'em 

 ftarve to death. 



The fame Sha Abbas caus'd the tongue of one that filfd him Tobacco to be 

 cut out for a word fpok'n idly. For the King calling for Tobacco, one of the 

 Pages ran haftily for it to him that had it in charge, and bid him difpatch; 

 who anfwer'd him briskly, Gehennemé fabreijlé, that is, to Hell y have a little pa- 

 tience. The King being inform'd of it, commanded his tongue to be cut out. 

 The poor man defir'd him that was the Executioner, to cut it as deep as he 

 could in his throat, and to leave it very mort j by which means he Ipokeibme 

 words muffling. 



The people cry'd out againft the Naz.ar, who being a perfon of low ex-, 

 traction, and advane'd to that high dignity in a ftiort time, grew fo proud that 

 he contemn'd all the Lords of the Court. There was no dealing with him, 



about " 



f 



