SIR ROBERT SHIRLEY, SENT AMBASSADOR IN THE NAME OF THE KING OF PERSIA, TO SIGISMOND THE third, King of POLAND and SWECIA, and to other Princes of EUROPE.  
His Royal entertainment into CRACOVIA, the chief City of POLAND, with his pretended Coming into ENGLAND.  
Also, The Honourable praises of the same Sir Robert Shirley, given unto him in that Kingdom, are here likewise inserted.  
LONDON Printed by I. WINDET, for john Budge, and are to be sold at his Shop at the Great South door of Paul's. 1609.   

TO THE WORTHY and well experienced Gentleman, Sir THOMAS SHIRLEY, Son to that happy Father, Sir Thomas Shirley, and Brother to that Noble Gentleman, Sir Robert.  
Worthy Sir,  
THe self same office of love and due praises which the world put itself into, at your long desired arrival in England, falls happily upon me to perform the like duty toward your worthy Brother, nor can I recite more Encomiums of his Actions, than those of your own hath rightly and properly challenged to themselves; I'll speak thus much of you both, and the world shall judge it free from flattery, you well may be own Brothers in birth, that are so near kin to one another in Actions of Fame and Honour: so commending you both to eternising memory of your own Virtues and Fortunes, I remain an unworthy observer of them both.  
Your Worships, in his most selected studies, THOMAS MIDLETON.   

To the Reader.  
READER, This Persian rob, so richly woven with the praises only of Sir ROBERT SHIRLEY (thy Conntriman) comes to thee at a low price, though it cost him dear that wears it, to purchase so much fame, as hath made it so excellent. It is now his, forever, Thine so long as it is his; for every good man (as I hope thou art) doth participate in the Renown of those that are good, and virtuous.  
He hath been a traveler a long time, give him now a welcome home; the Arms of his own Country embracing him, will be more joyful to him, than all those of so many foreign Kingdoms, with which he hath so often been honoured.  
If a man that hath ventured through the world, may deserve thy love, thou canst not choose, but bestow as much of it upon him, as upon any. Look upon him truly, and thou shalt find a large general Chronicle of time writ in a little Volume.  
He comes laden with the Trophies of War, and the honours of Peace. The Turk hath felt the sharpness of his sword, and against the Turk is he now whetting the swords of Christian PRINCES. Much more could I speak of him, but that I should do wrong to the common Laws of civility, by taking away that Reverence from Strangers, whom (from Countries afar off) you shall presently hear giving ample testimonies of his Nobleness.  
Vale:   

News from PERSIA and POLAND, touching Sir Robert Shirley, being sent Ambassador to divers Princes of EUROPE, famed aswell for his Wisdom and experience, as for his knowledge and understanging of many Tongues.  
ALbeit that man can receive his Birth but from one place, yet is he Borne a Freeman of all the Cities of the world The whole earth is his Country, and he that dwelleth farthest off. is by the laws of nature, as near to him in love as his kindred & acquaintance. This General Charter being given by the King of this Universal Crown, to all Nations, hath caused men from time to time, (by the virtue of that Privilege) to forsake the places of their first being, and to travel into other Countries. The benefits that kingdoms have gotten by this means, cannot in so small a volume, (as this in hand) be comprehended. Travel is the golden Mine that enricheth the poorest Country, and filleth the barrenest with abundant plenty. It is the chain that at first tied Kingdoms together, and the Musical string that still maintains them in Concord, in Leagues and in Unity. The portugals have hereby Crowned themselves and there Posterity with garlands of never dying honour. The Spaniards have their names (for this) so deeply engraven in the Chronicles of Fame, that they can never be forgotten. The French likewise and the Dutch, have raised their glories to a nobler height, only by these Adventures. In imitation of all whose labours, or rather in Emulation of all their Fames, our Englishmen have not only Stepped as far as any of them All, but gone beyond the most, and the best of them. And not to reckon those men of worth (in this kind) of our own Nation, whose voyages and travels (by sea and land) to set down, were able to fill whole volumes, I will only at this time (not with a loud and shrill trumpet, as they deserve, but as it were upon an instrument tuned and directed by another) give only a soft touch at the Praises of this worthy Gentleman (Sir ROBERT SHIRLEY) of whose adventures, dangers, & various fortunes, both good and bad, to draw a true picture in the right & lively colours; would as easily feed men's eyes with gazing admiration, as the large pictured tables of others have filled them with wonder.  
Being therefore contented (at this time) to swim but in a shallow stream, of his Fame, sithence greater sails are likely hereafter (and that very shortly) to swell with the true report of his actions, You shall understand that Sir ROBERT SHIRLEY, after a long, a chargeable, and a dangerous progress through most (if not all) the Kingdoms in Europe, receiving entertainment from the Princes of those Dominions, sitting to such a guest, desire of glory still more and more burning within him. At the length, he left Europe, and traveled into Asia, receiving noble entertainment at the hands of the King of Persia, In whose Court he so well and so wisely bore himself in all his Actions, that the Persian (with much of his love, of which he tasted most plenteously) heaped on his head many honourable favours.  
That common enemy of Christ and Christians, (the Turk) lifting up his sword continually (for the most part) not only against the Polack, the Hungarian, Bohemian, and other Princes of Christendom, but also thirsting after the rich Empire of Persia, and showing a mortal hatred to that Kingdom by being ever up in Arms against it; It was thought fit that (the Persian himself confessing and worshipping Christ,) Aid should be required at the hands of Christian Princes in the Persians behalf, against so barbarous, so ambitious and so general an enemy. hereupon the honour of such an Embassy, was conferred (by the King of Persia) upon Sir Robert Shirley, as a man worthy and apt to treat with Christian princes in so weighty a business, he himself being a Christian born, and a gentleman that had Traveled, and by experience knew the conditions, State, and policies of most of their Kingdoms.  
First therefore was he employed into Poland, where by Sigismond (the King of Poland and of Suecia) he was received with great magnificence, and applause both of the Polack himself and of his people.  
And because it is not fit, that every Common and popular ear, should stand listening to the private business of Princes in a Deseignement, that concerns the Universal state of Christendom, we will not therefore at this time be interpreters of the Persians Embassy but rather wait his expected coming who hath in charge to deliver it by word of mouth himself.  
In the mean time not withstanding (forbearing to reckon up the rich presents given by the Poland King, to Sir Robert, the honours done to him, by the Polish Lords, and the favours thrown upon him by the Common people) You shall be witnesses only, to those, (not unworthy) praises of Him, by which his Fame (amongst Scholars by those of the better sort) was lifted up, at the time of his staying in Poland.  

A fourfold Anagram upon Sir Robert Sherley's Name.  
ROBERTUS SHERLAEIUS.  

1 Heus Labour, Tueris Res.  
2 servus, hast Hero Liber.  
3 Libertas, ero servus.  
4 Virtus, Labores sere.    

Enconiums or Praises, as well upon the Name, as the negotiation of Sir ROBERT SHIRLEY, an English Knight, sent Ambassador from the King of the Persians, to the Princes of Europe.  
MErcurius, seeing the Ambassador ready to take his journey, resigneth unto him his office, as being messenger or Herald to the Gods, according to the fiction of Poets, and with that office bestoweth the gift of eloquence upon him, because he may have power to persuade the princes to whom he is sent: and withal, adds a wish, that those Christian Kings whom he is to solicit, may not be cold in joining their forces together, but that they may enter into an honourable, a pious and inviolable league against that common enemy, the Turk.  

Mercury's speech.  
THou (O Shirley) being borne an Englishman, art sent from the Persian Empire to the Kingdoms that lie in Europe, thy place is full of honour, thy message of weight: discharge thou therefore boldly those things, which the great Lord of Persia, commands thee to do▪ It is not chance, that throws this high office upon thee, but a full Synod (or Parliament) of all the Gods, do appoint thee to be their Messenger, to the great Kings of the earth. For this cause, I that am heavens winged Messenger, seeing thee ready to depart, present myself thus before thee, and uttering only so much, as in the letters of thy name lies mystically hidden, and that is this,  

Heus Labour,— tu Res hoc ore Tueris  
Persarum.—   
O exceeding Labour! yet thou art the man, that must defend the state of the Persians, even by the force of my eloquence. Go on therefore, be thou Mercurius in the Courts of Kings: I give thee my place; I give it to thee, that art more worthy of it then myself. O that the princes of Europe, would knit an indissoluble league together, with thy Master (the Persian Monarch,) and tie all their Sinews to one Arm, that a noble War may be begotten. Let Bellona (the goddess of battles) breath courage into the breasts of soldiers; and let no Country be dishonoured by bearing men, that have no hearts to come into the field. O let not that covetous Dragon, which once watched the golden firmament, sleep in the bosoms of Kings, and with his poison, infect them with that covetous disease of hoarding up gold. Cast off (O you Princes) your sensual pleasures, and let it be your Ambition to wear Garlands of Oak, which are the Crowns of Conquerors. Prefer immortal Fame before all those Dangers, over which you must of necessity pass, be they never so invincible in the show of undertaking, and aspire only to that life which shall remain, when your bodies lie dead. Heaven (in your doing so) shall smile upon your enterprises▪ Hell shall be conquered, and that hel-hownde brood of Mahomet be utterly confounded. Universal peace shall Crown the world, and the Barbarous Turks, feel the Sinews and puissant Arms of Europe.    

To the Nations (unto whom the Ambassador is sent, on great and serious affairs, as rightly may be conjectured.) A desire & wish is made, that all Kings in Christendom, may entertain this holy War, with the same courage, constancy and zeal, that the Persian doth.  
HHearken O you Polanders, Italians, French, & you Germans; every your Chronicles, with an Act of a wonder never heard of in the world before: For behold, a Britain, is sent on a royal message, from the King of the Persians. A Britain is sent, but who is it? Such a one he is, as by his name (being before Anagramatizde) he may apparently be deciphered.  Ast Liber, servus Hero. 
Freeborn and a servant only unto his Sovereign▪  
He, even he, is sent to you (O you Nations of Europe,) from the confines of the Persians, bringing along with him, the name of his Lord, and with that name, the sound of an Approaching war.  
The destinies begin to promise some great matter: The God of Battles (hereupon) speaks chéerefullly. God himself prepares the Armour; muster yourselves together therefore (O you Kings) and with a religious defence, draw your swords against the Turks.   

A gratulatory compendious Speech, to Sir ROBERT SHIRLEY, commending both his Virtue, and present Fortune.  
O Shirley, thou that art an honour to the Persians, aswell as to the Britain's: within whose head dwelleth experience and wisdom, and upon whose tongue eloquence writeth her charms: whatsoever he was, that at first durst say that Fortune was Blind and that she bestowed extraordinary benefits upon undeserving men, let him know, that all this while he hath been in an error: for Fortune had more eyes than Argus, when she Crowned this Englishman with so many Persian honours and offices, That Monarch (O thou Renowned Britain) whose sword is dreadful to the Thracian Tyrant, makes thee a partner in the cares and burdens of his empire: for he hath seen, yea he hath ever seen, and found thee constant in execution of all his just and Royal commands.   

The Empire of the Persian is here commended: The Kings and Princes of Europe being called to give witness, how much glory the dexterity of Sir ROBERT SHIRLEY, hath added to the Persian Monarchy: Upon which, he appears to the Persians a Gentleman of such merit, as that England may very justly accuse Persia of wrong, for detaining him from her.  
THe same of the Persian Empire doth not grow up only in a mean Soldier, for their Cities are full of renowned and worthy Captains: from the Ancient discipline and Stratagems of war, are the glories of the Persians sprung up and continue famous, But (O thou honoured Englishman) she derived her first principles from thy practice and knowledge. far be my words from the base servitude of flattery: for within a short time, Kings shall rise up as witnesses of what I speak. Let thine own Country envy the kingdom of Persia for enjoying this honour, (which by thee is given her) yea, let her challenge thee to be delivered back again as her own, yet let her claim be made in such manner, that England and Persia, may not grow into quarrel about thee, But rather thus let them both share thee. Let rich Persia enjoy thy presence, and reckon thee in the number of her Citizens, & be proud in the possession of a man, so worthy: Let England glory that she alone, is happy in thy Birth, and that she bears the honour of giving thee thy name. But howsoever, (O thou, the Dignity and Luster of two renowned Kingdoms) Go thou on, in thine intended embassage, and perform these Hests, which the great Persian thy Lord hath imposed upon thy Integrity.   

A short Speech uttered as it were by the whole body of the Polish Court, to ROBERT SHIRLEY Ambassador from the invincible King of the Persians.  
IT is not thy rich garments Embroidered so thick with gold, and woven by Grecian workmen, that draws our eyes into admiration by beholding thee: It is not thy sparkling Jewels, nor those costly precious stones that adorn thy Kobe, which dazzle our sight. It is not thy comely riding, nor skilful managing of that Thracian courser, upon whose back thou sittest, whilst the proud beast itself, Champs on the glistering bit in disdain to be so kerbed, that makes us to look after thee, It is not that victorious Semyter of thine, wherewith thou hast made the earth drunk so often with so much blood of those, that are enemies to the Persians, that causeth us to stand gazing at thy presence: No it is the beauty of thy mind wherewith our eyes are enchanted. It is the excellent music of thy tongue, that so ties our ears to thy charms, Thou being able to speak and to answer see many several nations, in their own proper languages.   

England's Complaint to Persia for her SHIRLEY.  
O Persia! thou glorious kingdom, thou chief of Empires; the Palace sometimes where Wisdom only kept her Court, the Land that was governed by none but by wisemen: Yet must I tell thee, and with grief dost thou enforce me to tell thee, that against all Law of Nations, thou robbest me of my subject. Why should the right of another be thine? It is Justice for every one to keep their own. But thou makest up thy gain by my loss. Is this Equity? Is this tolerable? Cease to do it: and send home (O Persia) That son of mine to me that am his mother: for to me only is he due. But (ay me) the honours of his own Country, and the palaces of my Kingdom, are by him (belike) neglected and seem not worth the looking on; And though to the eye of the world I may perhaps appear beautiful and great, yet in his eye, I show no bigger than a small corner of the world. I do envy thee therefore (O Persia) only for him: yet sithence I cannot enjoy him, Fare thou well, O thou my darling, and with that farewell bear along with thee, the Praises which I give thee. I rob Persia, Persia robs not me: My loss is to me more honour: for the Persian Empire, borrows her brightness from the beams of one of the Sons of England.   

SHIRLEY to his native Country.  
O Thou my Country, if I should pay back into thy hands so much as by bond is due unto thee from me, I should then lay down my life at thy feet. But my thoughts aim at greater matters, It is not Breath I would pay thee, but Fame: Take thou from me so much Honour, as may make me live for ever. Liberty is the Goal to which I run, but such a liberty it is, as may free me from the common baseness of the multitude, and make me worthy to be respected by the eye of a King.  
servus hero, I am a servant to that great Master, to whose feet all the Persians bow and do reverence: I am his servant, that I may be his messenger, and bear the treaties of such a King, to other Kings in Christendom. I am destin'de out, to deliver his mind in their own languages, to Foreign Princes and to the monarchs of the earth. Let them therefore come together, and quickly shall the Turkish fury be calmed, and being weakened in her own strengths, shall be glad to kneel to the power, and mercy of others. And thou, (O my Native Country), if thou wouldst be pleased to knit thy forces in this just and universal War, to what Dignities mayst thou advance thyself? Whatsoever is dishonourable, hath a base descension, and sinks beneath Hell, But Whatsoever is good and honest, lifts up the unblemished brow on high, and makes it Level with the front of heaven.   

The Author's wish and request to virtue, that she would give unto SHIRLEY such a fruitful harvest of his Labours, that having Conquered the hardness of them, his Name may aspire to the full height of his desert.  
OUertue! the noblest and boldest guide, thou that givest to men the due Crown of Praises, prosper thou the honoured enterprises of Shirley: But touching those paths which must lead him to titles of fame and honour, make them even and certain before him; He hath no desire to have his name eaten out by the rust of idleness, no; he will never unworthily sink beneath his own proposed fortune.   

Another of the same Author, touching Sir Robert Shirley being called as it were by Fate, to manage the affairs of Foreign Princes.  
WHat is the cause that Shirley hath not all this while lived in the same Country, that first lent him breath? This is the reason, a spirit so great was not to be contained within so small a circle, as his Country. Besides,  

He is the child of Fate and highly sings  
Of kingly Embassies to none but Kings.   
Crowned with these praises as you hear in Poland, and leaving the same of his memorable actions behind him, bending his coarte to other Princes of Christendom with the same Royal Embassage of honourable, and Christian confederacy against Mahomet & his Adherents, it shall not be amiss here to speak of the Kingdom of Persia, where Sir Robert received such honourable entertainment, suitable to his noble Actions, and the virtues of his mind, as also the manners, fashions, rites, and customs, that are and have been observed by the Persians; and first, for their Religion which they have observed of old, doing worship and reverence in their upright zeal to the Sun, Moon, Venus, Fire, Earth, Water, and Winds, erecting neither Altars nor Statues, but in open Fields offering their sacrifices, which Sacrifices were superstitious, and full of idle Ceremonies too tedious to be here rehearsed: For their Kings; the golden line of them is drawn out of one family, that custom amongst the Persians never as yet suffered change or alteration, and so severe their laws are in effect, to the punishing of all rebellious treasonable and disobedient people, that whosoever be be that is found repugnant in the least demeanour to the will and affection of the King▪ he is presently seized upon by the Tormentors, his head and arms chopped off, and with his detested body thrown into some common field, without either grave or covering: And for their palaces & royal mansions, this hath ever been the continued custom amongst them, that every King hath had his seat Royal erected on some high hill or mountain, the Bowels of which he makes his safe Treasure house, where all his riches, Jewels, and Tribute moneys are with exceeding carefulness kept hid and secret; And so much they do detest Sterility and barrenness, that from the highest to the lowest they take many wines in marriage, counting the fruitful propagation of the Empire, the only happiness they can raise to it, and so much they thirst after human fruitfulness, that the Kings themselves propound great gifts and rewards, To those that in one year brings forth the greatest harvest of mankind; From five year old to four and twenty the male children practise to ride great horses, to throw the Uulnerable and Inevitable dart, to shoot in Arbalists or long steel bows, and all such manly exercises which shames many other Christian Countries, and may justly upbraid them of effeminacy and laziness.  
Their victuals for the most part, by which the common sort of people are said & do live by, are Acorns, and Hedge-peares, their Bread course and hard, their Drink the running Springs, For their Apparel, the Princes and those that live ingreatest respect amongst them, adorn their bodies with a Triple rob, and another garment in the fashion of a cloak hanging down to their knees, the inward linings all of white silks & the outward facing like powdered Ermines, In Summer for the most part they walk in purple, the winter refuses no colour, about their temples they wear a great Tiara, being a stately ornament high & round with a Cone at the top, from which descends a rich fair pendant of some costly embroidered stuff, as Tissae, etc.  
Attired in some of which ordinary Persian habits his Agent Master Moor is lately arrived in England, bringing happy tidings of this famous English Persian, as also of his coming to England to the exceeding great Joy of his Native Country, laden with honours through every kingdom, as the deserving ornaments of his virtue and labour; And thus, ingenuous Reader, have I set down by true and most credible Information a brief Epitome of Sir Robert Sherlyes' entertainment into Cracovia the chief City of Poland, together with all those several speeches delivered to him by the Scholars of that Country, which although they may seem to the nice ear of our times, not altogether so pure and polished as the refined labours of many english wits, yet therein they strived to express both their fashion and affection to the worthy virtues of Sir Robert, & for a taste of their Style and manner of writing, it shall not be amiss, if you cast your eye upon these verses following, composed by a Scholar worthily reputed in that Country, one Andraeas Loeaechius, & those are they which at this I borrow to shut up the honourable praises of our Famous English traveler.    

Ad illustrissimum & maximi tum ingenij tum animi virum, Dom. Robertum Sherlaeum, Equitem Anglum Regis Persarum nomine ad Europae PP. legatum.  

AEmule Honos Animo Proavis, Lux alta, Britannae  
Qui gentis pessum non sinis ire Decus;  
Non uni dat Cuncta Polus, sed Carmina Apollo,  
Mars vires, Arcas Nuncius Ingenium.  
Haec cuncta unus habes, est vis, sunt ora deserta,  
Numina avara aliis, prodiga facta tibi;  
Persia seiactat gemino in te munere, Martis  
Pectore belligeri; Palladis ingenio,  
Tantus honore licet, te Scoti hannd subtrahe Vena,  
At Venam excedit pondere vatis Amor.  
Immò Censendum satis est Cecinisse Poetam  
Quod tibi se fassus carmine & ore rudem;  
parva loquor, ne te venturis subtrahe saeclis:  
At Fidei, ut Famae sue sce parare modum.   
FINIS.