I shall do mine. I know no one better fitted to
carry this message than you, who have accompanied me
from Ispahan, and have seen my preparations; so that
you are able to inform the Christian princes of all
that you have seen, and of my good intentions.”
I offered several reasons for excusing myself from
obeying these commands, which gave me much vexation;
but the king looked at me with a severe expression
of countenance, saying, “It is my pleasure for
you to go, and I command you. I shall give you
letters for your masters, which will inform them of
my sentiments and the reasons of your return.”
In this state of embarrassment, I was advised by the
patriarch and M. Josaphat to comply with a good grace;
on which I replied to the king as follows: “My
departure, Sir, gives me much distress; but since you
judge it proper, I make no more objections, and am
ready to obey your orders. Wherever I may go,
I shall speak of your great power and goodness, and
the honours I have received from your majesty, and
shall exhort all the princes of Christendom to join
their forces with you against the common enemy.”
My speech pleased the king, and he answered me kindly
according to his wonted manner. After retiring
from this andienqe, the king sent some Persian robes
to the patriarch and me, made of fine stuff and very
beautifully ornamented, and presented each of us with
a horse and some money to assist us during our journey.
We remained two days at Tauris after the kings departure,
and set out on the 10th of June to rejoin the court,
which was then encamped in a pleasant spot among excellent
pastures and plenty of fine wells; about twenty-five
miles from Tauris. We remained there till the
pastures were eaten bare, and then marched about fifteen
miles farther. On the 27th of June the king gave
us our final audience, at which he gave us presents
for our respective sovereigns; that is to say, to the
patriarch for the Duke of Burgundy; to myself for
the republic; and to one Marcus Ruffus, who had come
with an embassy from the prince of Muscovy. The
presents consisted in certain pieces of workmanship
made in the European fashion, two swords, and certain
ornaments for the head, which are usually fastened
to bonnets. There were two Persian ambassadors
in the audience-chamber, one of whom was destined
on a mission into Russia. At length the king
turning towards the patriarch and me, addressed us
nearly as follows: “You will return with
all speed to your masters, and will tell them and
all the other Christian princes from me, that I have
used all diligence in taking the field to make war
on the Turks, as it had been concerted between them
and me. The emperor of the Turks is at present
in Constantinople, and will make no enterprize of
importance this year. As for myself, I propose
sending one part of my army to reduce my rebellious
son, and another against the Turkish generals, while
I shall remain here at hand, to act against the enemy
as occasion may require.” He gave orders,
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