The Kingdom of _Persia_ at that time contained all the Countries between the _Caspian_ Sea, and the Seas of _Persia_, with some part of _Armenia_ the 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 Father 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 _Solyman_, ’twas agreed betwixt them, that _Ismael_ should be sent Prisoner into the Bowels of his Kingdom, that he might be no Obstacle to the intended Agreement: And yet, as ill us’d as he is, after his Father’s Death, ’tis thought, he will succeed in the Empire.