proceeding in my voyage, towards the great Sophie. The 6 of October in the
yeere aforesayd, I with my company departed from Shamachi aforesaid, and
hauing iourneyed threescore miles, came to a towne called Yauate, wherein
the king hath a faire house with orchards and gardens well replenished with
fruits of all sorts. By this towne passeth a great riuer called Cor, which
springeth in the mountaines of the Georgians, and passing thorow the
countrey of Hircania aforesayd, falleth into the Caspian or Hircan sea, at
a place betweene two ancient townes called Shabran and Bachu, situate
within the realme of Hircane, and from thence issueth further, passing
thorow a fruitful countrey, inhabited with pasturing people, which dwell in
the Summer season vpon mountaines, and in Winter they remooue into the
valleyes without resorting to townes or any other habitation: and when they
remooue, they doe iourney in carrauans or troops of people and cattell,
carrying all their wiues, children and baggage vpon bullocks. [Sidenote:
The city of Ardouil] Now passing this wilde people ten dayes iourney,
comming into no towne or house, the sixteenth day of October we arriued at
a citie called Ardouill, where we were lodged in an hospitall builded with
faire stone, and erected by this Sophies father named Ismael, onely for the
succour and lodging of strangers and other trauellers, wherein all men haue
victuals and feeding for man and horse, for three dayes and no longer. This
foresayd late prince Ismael lieth buried in a faire Meskit, with a
sumptuous sepulchre in the same, which he caused to be made in his life
time. This towne Ardouill is in the latitude of eight and thirtie degrees,
an ancient citie in the prouince of Aderraugan, wherein the Princes of
Persia are commonly buried: and there Alexander the great did keepe his
Court when he inuaded the Persians. [Sidenote: The citie Tebris or Tauris]
Foure dayes iourney to the Westward is the citie Tebris in olde time called
Tauris, the greatest citie in Persia, but not of such trade of merchandise
as it hath bene, or as others be at this time, by meane of the great
inuasion of the Turke, who hath conquered from the Sophie almost to the
sayd citie of Tauris, which the said Turke once sacked, and thereby caused
the Sophie to forsake the same, and to keepe his court ten dayes iourney
from thence, at the sayd citie of Casbin.
The 21 day we departed from Ordowil aforesayd, trauelling for the most part
ouer mountaines all in the night season, and resting in the day, being
destitute of wood, and therefore were forced to vse for fewell the dung of
horses and camels, which we bought deare of the pasturing people.
[Sidenote: M. Ienkinsons arriuall at the Sophies court 2. Nouember, 1562.]
Thus passing ten dayes iourney the yere aforesayd, the second day of
Nouember we arriued at the foresaid citie of Casbin, where the saide Sophie
keepeth his court, and were appointed to a lodging not farre from the kings
pallace, and within two dayes after the Sophie commanded a prince called
Shalli Murzy, sonne to Obdolowcan king of Shiruan aforesayd, to send for me
to his house, who asked me in the name of the said Sophy how I did, and
whether I were in health, and after did welcome me, and inuited me to
dinner, whereat I had great enterteinment, and so from thence I returned to
my lodging. The next day after I sent my interpreter vnto the Sophies
Secretarie, declaring that I had letters directed from our most gracious
Souereigne ladie the Queenes most excellent Maiestie of the Realme of
England, vnto the sayd Sophy, and that the cause of my comming was
expressed in the same letters, desiring that at conuenient time I might
come into his Maiesties presence, who aduertising the Sophy thereof,
shortly after answered me that there were great affaires in hand: which
being finished, I should come before his presence, willing me in the meane
time to make ready my present if I had any to deliuer.
[Sidenote: The Turkes Ambassadour to the Sophie.] At this time the great
Turkes Ambassadour arriued foure dayes before my comming, who was sent
thither to conclude a perpetuall peace betwixt the same great Turke and the
Sophie, and brought with him a present in golde, and faire horses with rich
furnitures, and other gifts, esteemed to bee woorth forty thousand pound.
And thereupon a peace was concluded with ioyfull feasts, triumphs and
solemnities, corroborated with strong othes, by their law of Alkaron, for
either to obserue the same, and to liue alwayes after as sworne brethren,
ayding the one the other against all princes that should warre against
them, or either of them. And upon this conclusion the Sophy caused the
great Turkes sonne named Baiset Soltan, a valiant Prince (who being fled
from his father vnto the Sophie, had remained in his Court the space of
foure yeeres) to be put to death. In which time the said Turkes sonne had
caused mortall warres betwixt the sayd princes, and much preuailed therein:
the Turke demanded therefore his sonne to be sent vnto him; and the Sophy
refused thereunto to consent. But now being slaine according to the Turks
will, the Sophy sent him his head for a present, not a little desired, and
acceptable to the vnnaturall father. Discoursing at my first arriuall with
the king of Shiruan of sundry matters, and being interteined as hath bene
before declared, the sayd King named Obdolocan, demaunding whether we of
England had friendship with the Turks or not: I answered, that we neuer had
friendship with them, and that therefore they would not suffer vs to passe
thorow their countrey into the Sophy his dominions, and that there is a
nation named the Venetians, not farre distant from vs, which are in great
league with the sayd Turks, who trade into his dominions with our
commodities, chiefly to barter the same for raw silks, which (as we
vnderstand) come from thence: and that if it would please the said Sophy
and other Princes of that countrey, to suffer our merchants to trade into
those dominions, and to give vs pasport and safe conduct for the same, as
the said Turke hath granted to the sayd Venetians, I doubted not but that
it should grow to such a trade to the profit of them as neuer before had
beene the like, and that they should be both furnished with our
commodities, and also haue vtterance of theirs, although there neuer came
Turke into their land, perswading with many other words for a trade to be
had. This king vnderstanding the matter liked it marueilously, saying, that
he would write vnto the Sophy concerning the same: as he did in very deed,
assuring me that the Sophy would graunt my request, and that at my returne
vnto him he would giue me letters of safe conduct, and priuiledges. The
Turkes Ambassadour was not then come into the land, neither any peace hoped
to be concluded, but great preparation was made for warre, which was like
much to have furthered my purpose, but it chanced otherwise. [Sidenote: The
Turkes merchaunts withstand M. Ienkinson.] For the Turks Ambassadour being
arriued, and the peace concluded, the Turkish merchants there at that time
present, declared to the same Ambassadour, that my comming thither (naming
me by the name of Franke) would in great part destroy their trade, and that
it should be good for him to perswade the Sophy not to fauour me, as his
Highnesse meant to obserue the league and friendship with the great Turke
his master, which request of the Turkish merchants the same Ambassadour
earnestly preferred, and being afterwards dismissed with great honour, he
departed out of the Realme with the Turks sonnes head as aforesayd, and
other presents.
[Sidenote: Shaw Thomas the Sophies name.] The 20 day of Nouember aforesayd,
I was sent for to come before the said Sophy, otherwise called Shaw Thomas,
and about three of the clocke at afternoone I came to the Court, and in
lighting from my horse at the Court gate, before my feet touched the
ground, a paire of the Sophies owne shoes termed in the Persian tongue
Basmackes, such as hee himselfe weareth when he ariseth in the night to
pray (as his maner is) were put vpon my feet, for without the same shoes I
might not be suffred to tread vpon his holy ground, being a Christian, and
called amongst them Gower, that is, vnbeleeuer, and vncleane: esteeming all
to be infidels and Pagans which do not beleeue as they do, in their false
filthie prophets, Mahomet and Murtezalli. At the sayd Court gate the things
that I brought to present his Maiestie with, were deuided by sundry parcels
to sundry seruitors of the Court, to cary before me, for none of my company
or seruants might be suffered to enter into the Court with me, my
interpreter onely excepted. [Sidenote: The Queenes letters deliuered.] Thus
commihg before his Maiestie with such reuerence as I thought meete to be
vsed, I deliuered the Queenes Maiesties letters with my present, which hee
accepting, demaunded of mee of what countrey of Franks I was, and what
affaires I had there to doe: Vnto whom I answered that I was of the famous
Citie of London within the noble Realme of England, and that I was sent
thither from the most excellent and gracious soueraigne Lady Elizabeth
Queene of the saide Realme for to treate of friendship, and free passage of
our Merchants and people, to repaire and traffique within his dominions,
for to bring in our commodities, and to carry away theirs, to the honour of
both princes, the mutuall commoditie of both Realmes, and wealth of the
Subiects, with other wordes here omitted. He then demaunded me in what
language the letters were written, I answered, in the Latine, Italian and
Hebrew: well said he, we haue none within our Realme that vnderstand those
tongues. Whereupon I answered that such a famous and worthy prince (as hee
was) wanted not people of all nations within his large dominions to
interprete the same. [Sidenote: The Sophies questions.] Then he questioned
with me of the state of our Countreys, and of the power of the Emperour of
Almaine, king Philip, and the great Turke, and which of them was of most
power: whom I answered to his contentation, not dispraysing the great
Turke, their late concluded friendship considered. Then he reasoned with
mee much of Religion, demaunding whether I were a Gower, that is to say, an
vnbeleeuer, or a Muselman, that is, of Mahomets lawe. Vnto whom I answered,
that I was neither vnbeleeuer nor Mahometan, but a Christian. What is that,
said he vnto the king of the Georgians sonne, who being a Christian was
fled vnto the said Sophie, and he answered that a Christian was he that
beleeueth in Iesus Christus, affirming him to be the Sonne of God, and the
greatest Prophet. Doest thou beleeue so, said the Sophie vnto me: Yea that
I do, said I: Oh thou vnbeleeuer, said he, we haue no neede to haue
friendship with the vnbeleeuers, and so willed me to depart. I being glad
thereof, did reuerence and went my way, being accompanied with many of his
gentlemen and others, and after me followed a man with a Basinet of sand,
sifting all the way that I had gone within the said pallace, euen from the
said Sophies sight vnto the court gate.
[Sidenote: The curtesie of Shalley Murzey.] Thus I repaired againe vnto my
lodging, and the said night Shally Murzey sonne to the king of Hircan
aforesaid, who fauoured me very much for that I was commended unto him from
his father, willed mee not to doubt of any thing, putting mee in hope that
I should haue good successe with the Sophie, and good intertainment.
Thus I continued for a time, dayly resorting vnto me diuers gentlemen sent
by the Sophie to conferre with me, especially touching the affaires of the
Emperour of Russia, and to know by what way I intended to returne into my
countrey, either by the way that I came, or by the way of Ormus, and so
with the Portingals ships. [Sidenote: Warres intended against the
portingals.] Vnto whom I answered, that I durst not returne by the way of
Ormus, the Portingals and wee not being friendes, fully perceiuing their
meaning: for I was aduertised that the saide Sophie meant to haue warres
with the Portingals, and would haue charged mee that I had bene come for a
spie to passe through his dominions unto the saide Portingals, thinking
them and us to be all one people, and calling all by the name of Franks,
but by the prouidence of God this was preuented.
After this the saide Sophie conferred with his nobilitie and counsel
concerning me, who perswaded that he should not enterteine me wel, neither
dismisse me with letters or gifts, considering that I was a Franke, and of
that nation that was an enemie to the great Turke his brother, perswading
that if he did otherwise, and that the newes thereof should come to the
knowledge of the Turke, it should be a meane to breake their new league and
friendship lately concluded: disswading further because he had no neede,
neither that it was requisite for him to haue friendship with vnbeleeuers,
whose Countreys lay farre from him, and that it was best for him to send me
with my letters vnto the said great Turke for a present, which he was fully
determined to haue done at some meet time, meaning to send his Ambassadour
vnto the said great Turke very shortly after.
[Sidenote: The king of Hircans second letters in Mr Ienkinson's behalfe.]
But the king of Hircanes sonne aforesaide, vnderstanding this deliberation,
sent a man in post vnto his father, for to declare and impart the purpose
vnto him, who as a gracious prince, considering that I had passed through
his dominions, and that I had iourneyed for a good intent, did write to the
Sophie al that which he vnderstood of his said determination, and that it
should not stand with his Maiesties honour to doe mee any harme or
displeasure, but rather to giue mee good entertainment, seeing I was come
into his land of my free will, and not by constraint, and that if hee vsed
me euill, there would few strangers resort into his country, which would
bee greatly vnto his hinderance, with many other perswasions: which after
that the saide Sophie had well and throughly pondered and digested (much
esteeming the same king of Hircane, being one of the valiantest princes
vnder him and his nigh kinseman) changed his determined purpose, and the
twentieth of March 1562. he sent to me a rich garment of cloth of golde,
and so dismissed me without any harme.
[Sidenote: Conference with Indian Merchants.] During the time that I
soiourned at the sayde City of Casbin, diuers merchants out of India came
thither vnto mee, with whom I conferred for a trade of spices: whereunto
they answered that they would bring of all sorts so much as we would haue,
if they were sure of vent, whereof I did promise to assure them, so that I
doubt not but that great abundance thereof may from time to time be there
prouided and had.
[Sidenote: Mr Ienkinsons returne.] The same twentieth day of March I
returned from the saide Citie of Casbin where I remayned all the Winter,
hauing sent away all my Camels before, and the thirtieth day I came to the
saide Citie of Ardouil, and the fifteenth of April vnto Zauat aforesayd,
where king Obdolowcan was at that present, who immediately sent for me, and
demaunding of me many questions, declared that if it had not bene for him,
I had bene vtterly cast away, and sent to the great Turke for a present by
the Sophie, through the euill perswasion of his wicked counsell, that the
Zieties and holy men were the chiefe and principal procurers and moouers
thereof: but the Sophie himselfe ment mee much good at the first, and
thought to haue giuen me good entertainement, and so had done, had not the
peace and league fortuned to haue bene concluded betweene them and the
great Turke. [Sidenote: Priviledges obtained of Obdowlocan, which are
hereafter annexed.] Neuerthelesse, sayd he, the Sophie hath written vnto me
to enterteine you well, and you are welcome into my Countrey, and so he
intreated me very gently, in whose Court I remained seuen dayes, and
obteined of him letters of safe conductes and priuiledges in your names to
bee free from paying custome, which I deliuered vnto your seruants Thomas
Alcocke and George Wrenne, at their departure towards Persia for your
affaires: and his highnesse did giue mee two garments of silke, and so
dismissed me with great fauour, sending with me his Ambassadour againe vnto
the Emperour of Russia, and committed the chiefest secret of his affaires
vnto me, to declare the same vnto the Emperours Maiestie at my returne: and
thus departing the tenth day of April, I came to the City of Shamachi, and
there remayning certeine dayes for prouision of Camels downe to the Sea
side, I sent from thence before men to repaire my Barke, and to make her in
a readinesse. [Sidenote: An Armenian sent to M. Ienkinson from the king of
Georgia] And during my abode in Shammachi, there came vnto me an Armenian
sent from the king of Georgia, who declared the lamentable estate of the
same king, that being enclosed betwixt those two cruell tyrants and mightie
princes, the said great Turke and the Sophie, hee had continuall warres
with them, requiring for the loue of Christ and as I was a Christian, that
I would send him comfort by the said Armenian, and aduise how he might send
his Ambassadour to the sayd Emperour of Russia, and whether I thought that
he would support him or no: and with many other wordes required me to
declare his necessitie vnto the same Emperour at my returne: adding further
that the said king would haue written vnto me his minde, but that hee
doubted the safe passage of his messenger. Vnto whom I did likewise answere
by word of mouth, not onely perswading him to send his Ambassadour to
Russia, not doubting but that hee should finde him most honourable and
inclined to helpe him, [Sidenote: Teneruk king of Chircassi.] but also I
directed him his way how the sayde king might send by the Countrey of
Chircassi, through the fauour of Teneruk king of the said country, whose
daughter the said king had lately married. And thus dismissing the saide
Armenian, within two dayes after I sent Edward Cleark your seruaunt vnto
the Citie of Arrash, where the most store of Silkes is to be had, giuing
him Commission to haue passed further into the saide Countrey of Georgia,
and there to haue repaired vnto the sayde king. And after my commendations
premised, and my minde declared to haue pursued for safeconduct of the same
Prince for our Merchants to trade into his dominions, and that obtained to
haue returned againe with speede. The same your seruaunt iourneying to the
sayd Citie of Arrash, and there finding certaine Merchants Armenians, which
promised to goe to the sayd City of Georgia, comming to the borders
thereof, was perceiued by a Captaine there, that he was a Christian, and
thereupon demaunded whither he went, and vnderstanding that he could not
passe further without great suspition, answered that he came thither to buy
Silkes, and shewed the king of Hircanes letters which he had with him, and
so returned backe againe, and the fifteenth of April came to Shamachi: from
whence I departed the sixteene of the same moneth, and the one and twentie
therof comming to the Sea side, and finding my barke in a readinesse, I
caused your goods to be laden, and there attended a faire winde.
But before I proceede any further to speake of my returne, I intend with
your fauours somewhat to treate of the countrey of Persia, of the great
Sophie, and of his countrey, lawes and religion.
[Sidenote: The description of Persia.] This land of Persia is great and
ample, deuided into many kingdomes and prouinces, as Gillan, Corasan,
Shiruan, and many others hauing diuers Cities, townes and castles in the
same. Euery prouince hath his seuerall King, or Sultan, all in obedience to
the great Sophie. [Sidenote: The chiefe Cities of Persia.] The names of the
chiefest Cities be these: Teueris, Casbin, Keshan, Yesse, Meskit, Heirin,
Ardouill, Shamachi, Arrash with many others. The countrey for the most part
toward the sea side is plaine and full of pasture, but into the land, high,
full of mountaines, and sharpe. To the South it bordereth vpon Arabia and
the East Ocean. To the North vpon the Caspian sea and the lands of
Tartaria. To the East vpon the prouinces of India, and to the West vpon the
confines of Chaldea, Syria, and other the Turkes lands. All within these
dominions be of the Sophies, named Shaw Thamas, sonne to Ismael Sophie.
This Sophie that now raigneth is nothing valiant, although his power be
great, and his people martiall: and through his pusillanimitie the Turke
hath much inuaded his countreys, euen nigh vnto the Citie of Teueris,
wherein hee was wont to keepe his chiefe court. And now hauing forsaken the
same, is chiefly resident at Casbin aforesaide, and alwayes as the said
Turke pursueth him, he not being able to withstand the Turke in the fielde,
trusting rather to the mountaines for his safegard, then to his fortes and
castles, hath caused the same to bee rased within his dominions, and his
ordinance to be molten, to the intent that his enemies pursuing him, they
should not strengthen themselues with the same.
This prince is of the age of fiftie yeeres, and of a reasonable stature,
hauing fiue children. His eldest sonne he keepeth captiue in prison, for
that he feareth him for his valiantnesse and actiuitie: he professeth a
kinde of holynesse, and saith that hee is descended of the Blood of Mahomet
and Murtezalli: [Sidenote: The difference of religion.] and although these
Persians bee Mahometans, as the Turkes and Tartars bee, yet honour they
this false fained Murtezalli, saying that hee was the chiefest disciple
that Mahomet had, cursing and chiding dayly three other disciples that
Mahomet had called Ouear, Vsiran, and Abebeck, and these three did slay the
saide Murtezalli, for which cause and other differences of holy men and
lawes, they haue had and haue with the Turkes and Tartars mortall warres.
To intreat of their religion at large, being more or lesse Mahomets lawe
and Alkaron, I shall not heed at this present. These persons are comely and
of good complexion, proude and of good courage, esteeming themselues to bee
best of all nations, both for their religion and holinesse, which is most
erroneous, and also for all other their fashions. They be martial,
delighting in faire horses and good harnesse, soone angrie, craftie and
hard people. Thus much have I haue thought good to treate of this nation,
and nowe I returne to discourse the proceeding of the rest of my voyage.
[Sidenote: The 30. of May 1563.] My barke being ready at the Caspian sea as
aforesaide, hauing a faire winde, and committing our selues vnto God the
30. day of May 1563. we arriued at Astracan, hauing passed no lesse dangers
vpon the Sea in our returne, then wee sustained in our going foorth, and
remayning at the said Astracan, vntill the tenth day of Iune, one hundred
gunners being there admitted vnto mee for my safegard vp the riuer Volga;
the fifteenth of Iuly I arriued at the Citie of Cazan, where the Captaine
entertained me well, and so dismissing mee, I was conducted from place to
place vnto the Citie of Mosco, where I arriued the twentieth day of August
1563. in safetie, thankes bee to God, with all such goods, merchandizes,
and iewels, as I had prouided as well for the Emperours stocke and accompt,
as also of yours, all which goods I was commaunded to bring into the
Emperours treasurie before it was opened, which I did, and deliuered those
parcels of wares which were for his Maiesties accompt, videlicit, precious
stones, and wrought silkes of sundry colours and sortes, much to his
Highnesse contentation, and the residue belonging to you, viz. Crasko, and
rawe silkes, with other merchandizes, (as by accompt appeareth) were
brought vnto your house, whereof part there remained, and the rest was
laden in your shippes lately returned.