‘The perillous and most unhappy voyages of John Struys, through Italy, Greece, Lifeland, Moscovia, Tartary, Media, Persia, East-India, Japan, and other places in Europe, Africa and Asia. Containing, I. Most accurate remarks and observations of the distinct qualities, religion, politie, customs, laws and properties of the inhabitants: II. A due description of the several cities, towns, forts and places of trust, as to their site and strength, fortifications by nature, or art, &c. with other things worthy of note: and III. An exact memorial of the most disastrous calamities which befell the author in those parts (viz) by ship-wrack, robberies, slavery, hunger, tortures, with other incommodities and hardships’ [‎45] (86/470)

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C hap . IX. The Voyages of Strays. 45
flefli remained imburn'd. The Sage judging it to be done by fome fevr.
Enchantment, durft not declare his opinion about itj buttofatisfy 1650
the King, replied, That his Majefty could not but be fenfible of the
Caufe , fince nothing could ly occult from his fearchmg Wifdom:
the more in regard it was a thing fo palpable and open. 1 he King
by the Saying of this Parafite, concluded with himfelf that Ihe had
been poyfoned , cries out with great raging, length I h.tve di/co-
yered the certainty of Tvhzt I eyer had in fufpicion
doubtpoyfined.l] pon that in great difcontent he went into hisMourning.
appartment whence he iffued an Order for the fudden Apprehenfion
Vj K 0 f {-he Ladies , that attended the Princefsin her Life time, who
were in obedience to his Royal Will immediately fecured.
On the day following divers others of the greateft rank were fiezed
and committed to Cuftody , who were wont to converfe with the
Princefs , although they hadnotbeeninherprefenceforthefpace of
a whole year.
Mii Shortly after it was my fortune to be Spectator to fuch a cruel'Tra-
> * gedy as ever I have feen elfewhere.TheKing being now poflelTed wchi
Jealoufy, and fufpefting feveral to be factious in the matter, yet could
'■dm not ou(: an y certainty in the thing-,he therefore to fift it out, who
thofe Ihould be that were concerned in the deed , praftifed this cruel
Stratagem and impious way of Trial. The king fent a Meflengerto
fummon up fome of the chief Nobility in the land to Court, where
being come to give attendance, were Ihut up in Prifon, till the Prifon
would not hold any morejfo that he was fain to find a new place,where
to committ thofe unhappy Gentlemen. When the principal Officers
and Courtiers were taken into Security. The king not contented fo,
fent alfo for their Wives,and feveral Young Ladies, who were known
to be familiar with the Prihcefs fome time before her death: thefe werfi
apart, that they might not have the benefit of Communication,
alfo fecured in a place When the Emperour had as many Perfons in
Cuftody,as he,or others that advifed him fufpeded, he gave order to -
make feveralPitts in the ground about 20 foot fquare,one near another ;
which the Soldiers were commanded to fill with Charcoal, kindle and
blow it up with long F ans,fuch as the Slaves in do fan their Lords
and Ladies with. When all was performed according to the Com-
mandment of the king j they brought forth fome of thofe Perfonages
F 3 that