A True Report of Sir Anthony Shierlies' journey over-land to VENICE, from thence by sea to ANTIOCH, ALEPPO, and Babylon, and so to Casbine in Persia: his entertainmnt there by the great Sophy: his Oration: his Letters of Credence to the Christian Princes: and the Privilege obtained of the great Sophy, for the quiet passage and traffic of all Christian Merchants, throughout his whole Dominions.  
LONDON, Printed by R, B. for I. I. 1600.   

❧ A brief and true Report of S. Anthony Shierlie his journey into Persia, reported by two Gentlemen who have followed him in the same the whole time of his travail, & are lately sent by him with Lette●s into England. September 1600.  
FIrst, Sir Anthony Shirley departing from England, landed at Vlishing, & so went to Colleme, from thence to Frankfurt, then to Nuremberg, & so to Augustus: Thence taking his journey over the Alps, he arrived at Venice, where he staid two Months, & from thence (after honourable Entertainment by the State and Duke of Venice) he took shipping and crossing the straights passed the gulf of Zante, so came to Candie, then to Rhodes, and so alongst the coast of Cypress to Antioch where he landed, and in five days space marched to Aleppo and staid there six weeks: From thence he passed with a Caruan to Beer in Arabia. There he & his company made Boats, & therein passed down the River of Euphrates unto Arabia, where he presented the King with a very rich gift or present. Thence he departed towards Babylon, staid there six weeks, and at last met with a Caruan bound for Persia, in company whereof, he passed the deserts of Same●ay, being all sandy and very painful to pass, and are two months travail from thence to Casbine in Persia: At which place he met with the great Sophy, by whom he was most honourably received and entertained.  
For before his arrival (understanding of his coming) he sent Horses Leagues for him and his Company to travail unto Casbine, the imperial city of Persia, where finding him on horseback (as the manner is) he offered to have kissed his foot, but the great Sophy refused it, putting his hand between Sir Anthony Shirleys Mouth and his Foot. Then did his Majesty presently appoint a very fair and large house fit for him and his Company to abide and rest themselves in, and daily sent all manner of Diet unto him (limmiting him a short time wherein his pleasure was to give him Audience) at which time Sir Anthony resorting unto the Court, made his Oration in Italian, as followeth.   

¶ The true Copy of Sir ANTHONY SHIRLEY'S Oration to the Sophy, as followeth.  
I Am so assuredly free from any just imputation, that I will not draw into suspicion so noble a cause (as this of my coming with circumstances,) which though they bear the name, yet are in substance nothing but uncertain Excuses that betoken a fault: whereas truth seeketh no starting-holes, but as a Pilgrim (who followeth the motion of his affections) is come from far, to yield and pay unto virtue his Zeal and Devotion, and to none other end, if it may please your Majesty to accept the consecration of his poor Carcase unto you, which my mind hath carried hither to be made an Offering or hanging vow in the Temple of your most singular virtues, being brought to this point by the Extremity of my desires, with expenses of much time, and not without great peril: which though it be no Present in any degree of worth estimable to such a Prince: it may please your Majesty to remember, that the pitch of an eagle's flight, doth far surmount the fluttering of a Fly, and that common base Minds are not Capable of such Noble Thoughts, as might raise themselves with the true seeking of these your most rare & worthy parts, which have drawn me to your Presence: whereof I have heard men speak with wonder, & now they give me cause to think myself most happy. And therefore I humbly beseech your Majesty, when you have read the History of the inward thoughts of my mind, you will vouchsafe to judge hereof, not as of conceits hanging of the threads of flattering terms: but that you will be pleased to understand through the conscience of your own virtues, that words of never so great magnificence, are but the least part of so high and excellent desert, and that the less I am able to display their dignity with my speeches: the more will I with my Blood make proof of my zeal towards them, if at any time I may be made worthy to be Commanded by your Majesty.  
I am a Soldier whose profession is clean contrary to words, which shall sooner fail me, than my courage to greater effect. If the present be acceptable to your Majesty, I shall esteem it as a most singular good hap unto me: but much more, if it shall be employed. For it would be but a very idle end and conclusion of so long a travail, full of so many perils, if it were knit up with words only, and a very poor and slender harvest of so fervent Affection, if it should bring forth only Buds or Blossoms, and no sound Fruit: and finally too meek a Subject for your majesties most excellent virtues, if my devotion and observances were not sealed with my Blood, the which I do humble and freely offer at your majesties feet, to be shed and spent, at the least sign and token of your majesties pleasure.  
SInce which time, Sir Anthony Shirley hath received all the familiar and kind Entertainment at the great Sophy's hands, that could possibly be devised.  
It happened within a small time after that Sir Anthony Shirley came thither, the Turk sent a very Principal Bassa to the great Sophy upon an Embassage, after whose coming, the great Sophy dined one day publicly: where he feasted both the Bassa, and Sir Anthony and his Company also, placing them on his right hand, and the Bassa, and his train on the left.  
The great Sophy hath dealt very graciously and liberally with Sir Anthony Shierlie during all the time of his being there: for the King intending a journey from B●ssan unto Hastfam, required Sir Anthony to go with him, at which time the great Sophy sent him this gift following, (Viz.) Forty Horse well furnished, whereof four Saddles were Plate of Gold, set with precious Stones, and two of Silver. Fifteen Camels, and as many Mults for his Carriages. Three most fair Tents. Eighteen Carpets curiously wrought with Gold. 16000 Pistolets withal, Commanding his Messenger to tell Sir Anthony, that the great Sophy would not have him to accept them as a Present, but as things necessary for his journey, (being but for eight days,) and ever since he hath bestowed many great gifts upon him.  
Sir Anthony Shirley is now at prague, being sent by the Sophy, upon an embassage to the Emperor, and divers other Christian Princes.   

¶ The Copy of Sir Anthony Shirley's letters of Credence from the great Sophy, to the Christian Princes.  

●he king  THere is come unto me in this good time, a principal Gentleman (Sir Anthony Shierlie) of his own free will out of Europe into these parts: and all you Princes that believe in jesus Christ, Know you, that he hath made Friendship between you & me, which desire we had also heretofore granted, but there was none that came to make the way, and to remove the vail that was between us and you, but only this Gentleman, who as he came of his own free will, so also upon his Desire, I have sent with him a chief man of mine. The Entertainment which that Principal Gentleman hath had with me, is, that daily whilst he hath been in these parts we have eaten together of one dish, and drunk of one Cup, like two Brothers.  
Therefore, when this Gentleman comes unto you Christian Princes, you shall Credit him in whatsoever you shall demand, or he shall say, as mine own Person, and when this Gentleman shall have passed the Sea, and is entered into the Country of the great king of Muscouie, (with whom we are in friendship as Brothers) all his Governors both great and small, shall accompany him, and use him with all favour, unto Moses: and because there is great Love between you, the king of Moscow and me, that we are like two Brothers, I have sent this Gentleman through your Country, and desire you to favour his passage without any hindrance.   

¶ The Copy of the free Privileges obned by Sir Anthony Shierlie, of the great Sophy, for all Christians to trade and traffic into Persia.  

I the king  OUR absolute Commandment, will, and pleasure is, that our countries and Dominions shall be from this day open to all Christian People, and to their Religion: and in such sort, that none of ours, of any Condition shall presume to give them any evil word. And because of the Amity now joined, with the Princes that profess Christ: I do give this Patent for all Christian Merchants, to repair and traffic, in, and through our Dominions, without disturbances or molestations of any Duke, Prince, Governor or Captain, or any of whatsoever Office, or quality of ours: but that all Merchandise that they shall bring, shall be so privileged, that none of any Dignity or Authority, shall have Power to look unto it: neither to make inquisition after, or stay for any use or person, the value of one Asper. Neither shall our religious men, of whatsoever sort they be, dare disturb them, or speak in matters of their Faith. Neither shall any of our justices have power over their persons or goods, for any cause or act whatsoever.  
If by chance, a Merchant shall die, none shall touch any thing that belongeth unto him: but if the Marchante have a Companion, he shall have power to take possession of those goods. But if (by any occasion) he be alone, only with his servants: The Governor, or whomsoever shall be required by him in his sickness, shall be answerable for all such goods unto any of his Nation, which shall come to require them. But if he die suddenly, and have neither Companion nor servant, nor time, to recommend to any, what he would have done: Then the Governor of that place, shall send the goods to the next Merchant of his Nation, which shall be abiding in any parts of our Dominions.  
And those within our kingdoms and Provinces, having power over our Tolles and Customs, shall receive nothing, nor dare to speak for any receipt from any christian Merchant.  
And if any such Christian shall give Credit to any of our subjects (of any Condition whatsoever) he shall by this Patent of ours, have authority to require any Caddie or Governor to do him justice, and thereupon at the instant of his demand, shall cause him to be satisfied.  
Neither shall any Governor, or justice of what quality soever he be, dare take any Reward of him, which shall be to his expense: for our Will and pleasure is, that they shall be used in all our Dominions to their own full content, and that our Kingdoms and countries shall be free unto them.  
That none shall presume to ask them for what occasion they are here.  
And although it hath been a continual and unchangeable use in our Dominions every year, to renew all Patents: This Patent notwithstanding shall be of full Effect and force for ever without any Renewing, for me and my successors, not to be changed.   
FINIS.