'The travels of Sir John Chardin into Persia and the East Indies, through the Black Sea, and the country of Colchis. Containing the author's voyage from Paris to Ispahan. To which is added, the coronation of the present King of Persia, Solyman the III.' [‎7] (428/594)

S olyman III. Periia.
over Kingdoms. There he was bred up with all the Tendernefs
and Pomp, that h,s High Birth required, and enjoyed all the
Liberty that could be allowed to a Perfon of his Quality • which
was to go up and down over all that fpacious Palace where
he pleaied himfelf: for to go further into the Mens Apart
ments is by no means permitted thofe young Princes
When he arrived at the Age of feventeen Years, an Accident
betel him that rendered his Confinement much more clofe
For it happened that an Eunuch brought him fome Peices of
Cloth or Tiuue, at what time the Prince being of a haughty
Temper, and not thinking them Rich enough, rejeded
them with very fcornful and flighting Language: nor was he
better pleafed when it was told him that the Peices were fent
him by the Order of the King his Father. Which being carried
back and perhaps aggravated to the jealous Monarch 5 his Majefty
believing that the overmuch Liberty which was allowed the
young Prince did but icrve to heighten his Arrogance and aug
ment his natural Pride, confined him to the remoteft Part
of all the Palace.
Some perfons were of opinion that he would have caufed his
Eyes to have been put out. But when they found that the Walls
of the Place to which he was confined were ordered to be raifed,
the more Intelligent Sort believed that the King would not pro
ceed to that Extremity of Rigour; for that he would not have
been fo careful to prevent the Eicape ofone that was Blind,whole
Misfortune would have been fufficient to render him incapable
to attempt any Enterprize of that nature.
However when the King was fetting forward for Ma^endaran
in the year 1665. according to our Computation, his Actions
were fuch, that even the Grandees and moft Politick Courti
ers began to fufpeft that he had then determined the Dreadful
Execution. For he was not gone above Eight Leagues from
Jfpahan , when he turned back again of a fudden toward the
City with a very fmall Retinue, without imparting his Defign
to any one of all his Favourites : but when he arrived, all that
he did was to enter unexpected into the Womens Apartment,
where after he had ftaid about two hours, he came forth again
very Penfive and Melancholy.
Of which the Courtiers not being able fo Gonje<5ture any other
apparent Caufe, attributed it to Ibme Fatal Refolution which the
King had taken againft; the Prince his Son.Tho as it appeared after
wards they were all deceived in their jndgments,and that there was
another Motive that put him upon this fwift and fudden return.
For