Иностранные известия о восстании Степана Разина - [61]

at this juncture he with justice laid[273] at their own door. It seems on the other hand, that the King of Persia in the Letter he sent on this occasion, made some complaint, and pointed at a distance at some faults, but this was certain that the Messenger being anxions[274] what answer the Czar[275] might give, died upon the road in Persia, fearing he should incurr the Czar's displeasure,[276] and it was likewise certain, that he took notice of his Embassadour's uneasiness in his Letters[277] in answer to the[278] Epistle of Abas II,[279] when the Cossaks were still posted in the Silk Country; but he sent him at the same time an English Colonel named Mr. Palmer, who had been long in his service: for he had desired him to send him an European officer[280] well experienced in the.[281] Military Discipline and the method of managing war. But in the meantime Abas died, and Sjah Sefi II succeeded, who was not apprized of the value of this man, and as well as his Prime Minister took no notice of him. And what made him more neglected (л. З об.), was, that he was an old man with one foot in the grave, was a person of no presence, and was not talking[282] with the Persians, being capricious selfconceited and proud, nor able to conform himself to their humours. At first he lived pretty well upon his Salary, but that was soon diminished, that he could not maintain himself with his Wife and Children, whom he had brought along with him, at last to get rid of him they denied him all manner of support, unless he would renounce his Religion. Last of all when he was quite reduced to Poverty, the Europeans bore his charges to Gam-ron, from whence the English conveyed him to Bombay. This Embassy was not committed to an unskillfull Russian, but to an Englishman, one ffebdon, a perfect Master of the Russian tongue, in which Langu age his Instructions were drawn up. His Brother was likewise sent as Ambassadour from the Great Duke to the King of England.[283] The subject of the Embassy into Persia, was to make a Convention relating to the Silk Trade, and Hebdon was to have remained in Gilaan or Mezanderaan as Resident to manage the Business. But he arrived at Ispahan at the point of death, and died the next day, so this affair rested here without any farther Step being taken in it for no body of his Retinue had any instruction or orders to proceed with, and from that time nothing[284] has beed done[285] concerning that Commerce. The Proceedings of the Cossacks did also evidently demonstrate, that they did not act by the Czar's directions, for they did not spare the Country of even Great Duke himself (л. 4). These Robbers being thus posted in the Peninsula of Mezenderaan, the Persians fitted out some small Vessels[286] armed with a few pieces of small Cannon and some men, to dislodge the Cossacks by attacking them from the Seaside. But the Persians were unacquainted with the Coast and Engagements at Sea, whereas the Enemy were very ready and expert. The Persians could not manage the ir Ships, nor make use of their men advantagiously against the Enemy, so the Cossacks putt them into confusion as soon as ever they were gott out to Sea, so that the greater part of them fell into the Enemy's hands, who likewise sank most of their Ships, having first taken the Guns out of them. And thus there were but few of the people who escaped being Killed or drowned. The Court then talked of fitting out another fleet against them, and to man it with stout[287] fishermen from Bahrein and other Seafaring people, because the former defeat was thought owing to the natives of that Country. But the Robbers, not seeing that they were likely to make any farther advantages upon this Coast, did not wait the event of this resolution, but quitted the Peninsula Mijannkaal on their own accord to the Year 1669. We heard, that after this they made themselves masters of Astracan by surprize, destroying all before them, and putting many of the people to the sword, till at last a valiant general coming retook the Town, which they did not defend long, but betaking themselves to their Ships, fell down again into the Caspian Sea (л. 4 об.), and sailed to Jayk, where they put themselves in a posture of defence, thinking they should be able to hold out. But the General, as soon as he settled affairs at Astracan, followed after them with all possible expedition, and blockt them so upon all sides, that they had no way to get out, but all fell into his hands, among whom was their Bojaar or Chief taken Prisoner, who was afterwards sent in chains to Moscow, where very severe punishments were inflicted on him; as is sufficiently Known in Europe by the accounts already given of this affair, and therefore I shall say no more concerning it in this place.

Stenko Radeiri's Expedition into Persia, related by word of mouth by a Cossack who assisted at it and with 30 others was taken Prisoner nine Years ago upon the Osto Duwanni (behind which as was said, lies another, Sziloi), near