'Some years travels into divers parts of Africa, and Asia the great. Describing more particularly the empires of Persia and Industan: interwoven with such remarkable occurrences as hapned in those parts during these later times. As also, many other rich and famous kingdoms in the oriental India, with the isles adjacent. Severally relating their religion, language, customs and habit: as also proper observations concerning them.' [‎273] (296/448)

The jignification o/ 7 Sophy*
2 73
in the chafe: fo as no other Claymant appearing, Ifmad firnamed Sophy, both bv right of
Blood and Conqueft gat the Scepter into his hand, and then entred the City of
where he was welcomed with Inch demonftrations of joy as is ufually alforded Conquer-
ours: but what made this change the more acceptable, was the long wilht reftauration of
the Diadem to a Prince of the Blood of Perfia.
In Perfia I endeavoured to inform my lelf concerning the genuine fignification of the
word Sophy, a Name ufuaiiy attributed to the Kings of Perfia •, but the Natives could
give me little fatisfadion: Some fay it fignifies eled. Mnadoi derives it from SophitL i.
a conquered People. Scaliger fromTl^/i, an Arab' word, fignif/ing Orthodox. Others
make it a Mendicant, or Beggar *, butl imagine it a derivative from Sha, i. Kins;, or Sho •
and thence Shoff, or Soph,as now pronounced ^ albeit 1 find it not more ancient than J[-
mael at his Coronation either as a iiippof) in memory of his Anceftor who bore that
name, and indeed laid the firlt foundation of 7/J»^/'sgreatnefs, and whence honoris or a
Ha it might be attributed according to that ancient cuftome of the Oriental, and other
Nations *, for, in iy £ffypt the Pharaoh and Ptolomy^s ^ in Syria-, the Antlochi •, in Perfia, the
Jchemenesy and Arfacida •, and the Crfars amongit the Romans were in ufe, as now the Sophy
with the Per fans. Neverthelefs,it feems to me, that,either the Agnomen might be given by
the Greeks upon Jydar his Fathers Marriage with Martha the Daughter of Defbina, Daugh
ter to Calo Johannes Emperour of Trep^ond as lately mentioned, and by reafon of his
prudence probably might merit that name, as did Mw, i.e. good, and according to
the ancient ufual cuftome of the Kings of England, France and other places- but if the
Greek, derivation will not ferve, if I may criticize without offence, I do obferve' that in the
Armenian idiom Sophy lignifies Woo . , of which the Salhes were made the Perfian Kings
ufed to wear, in elteem with them^ as may be obferved by their diftinguifhing their race
by the black and white Sheep •, or othcrwiie may relate to the word ShofF ; as 1 find the
Shafh in ancient times was termed, which differed from the Turbant now worn • for it
was a high narrow peakt Cap lined with the rich Wool of Chorazan refembling the Cyda-
risj which fome iay Gyrw firlt invented: but in the Sclavonian it fignifieth ftudious, and by
reafon hereof Bajazet was firnamed Sophy, he that was Son toSolyman by Roxellana , as ap
pears in the Turkiih Hiftory F'Ita Solymanni: but though to me the word Shoff feems derived
from Shaugh, I e. King, yet feeing that in the Scythic tongue Sofey is famous, and that
much of the Per pan language,as well as their extrad, flows thence, the greater is the pro
bability that thence the name may be deduced ^ and the rather for that the word Mo vol is
impofed by the Tartars upon the race of Tamherlane ruling Induflan, which word in their
fpeech imports great or illuftrious, though in the firft Original, laborious •, but a^ain,
when I confider that feveral of the intervening Kings fince Jfmael have intermittedthat
word, namely Mahomet firnamed Codohanda, Tahamas, and Abbas, it may be granted
that the word Sophy h a proper Name, and that the former is datum & non acceptum, gi
ven by the Europeans, but not taken by the Per/tans: for the Prince that fucceeded Ab~
has having his name Sophy or Sofee as they pronounce, the prefent King fucceeding him
is called Abbas', Co as it appears to be a proper and alternate Name without any further
relation. To return.
The Crown was no fooner fet upon IfmaePs head but by Proclamation he ratified thq
Reformation his Grand father had contrived, declaring thereupon the Turks to be Here-
ticks. This glorious rife continued fo to the Meridian : for to give the T/^fome better
aiTurance of his fitnefs to mhthe Perfians, and animofity to the Ottomans race, he forth
with entred Diarhec with a confiderable Army, moft Horfe, with which he reduced that,
as foon after Armenia, Albania, Iberia, and Sarcajhta, which he challenged as his right by
defcending from Vfan-Cajfan, and quieted the poUeffion with his Sword, to the unex-
preffible joy of the Perfians, but amazement of the Turks, and dread too, perceiving
they fhould now have work enough with the Perfians, About this time, 'viz.. 1506. it
was that Techellis Aydars Difcipleout of zeal to propagate thefe new broacht opinions,
and to force the erroneous Turk to a conformity, with a confiderable party of Horfe
which Ifmael gave liberty to raife and to be equally divided betwixt him and Cajfan his
con-difciple by fome ironically called Kaliph, for fomatime gave a notable difturfomce
to the Turl^ and not a little advantage to the European Chriftians, had they made right
ufe of it. Strange it is to confider with what confidence thefe reputed Saints, with a
fmall party, advanced againft a numerous, and the moft formidable Enemy at that time
in the Univerfe *, which neverthelefs zeal, in their apprehenfions, rendred eafie to be ef-
feded: having therefore in the firft place adjudged the Turks Hereticks, and proclaim
ed them Enemies to the Muffelmanifli faith, worthy to be profecuted with Fire and Sword,
in hbftile manner they entred Natolia with 20000 Horfe and Foot, at Iconium near Lyca-
N n onia