Greater, (though Solyman, by taking Babylon, Mesopotamia, and part of Media, had abridged their Empire very much) and other distant Countries even to the Empire of the Homamia Patisach, as the Turks call him, and over that last part of Land Sagthamas was King: The Father had been formerly over-thrown by Selimus in a great Fight in the field of Chalderon; and from that time the Persian Affairs began to decline, for Solyman a fierce Engineer press'd upon the very Face of them; and Thamas, being much inferior to his Farher in Courage, made but weak Defence: For he was wholly given up to Sloth and Idleness, and would sit in his Palace amongst a croud of Harlots, amorously pleasing his Humour; and sometimes consulting Magicians concerning future Events: He had little Care of administring public Justice to his People. This Neglect of his opened the Door to all Injustice and Oppression in every part of his Empire: For the Strong oppressed the Weaker, and Innocence could find no Justice or Defence in his Court.
The Persians, however, have so sacred an Opinion of their Prince, that they believe him happy, that can but kiss the Gates of his Palace; and the Water wherein he washes his Hands, they use for the cure of several Diseases. He hath many Children, but the most promising is Ismael, like his Grandfather both in Name and Nature; a beautiful Prince, and a capital Enemy to the Race of the Ottomans. 'Tis reported that he was brought forth into the World, with his Fist all bloody, whence it was in every body's Mouth, that he would be a warlike Person; and when he was but young he confirmed that Report, by obtaining a great Victory over the Turks. But when his Father made Peace with
