They are well clothed and ride upon good horses, which they manage with much dexterity.  The Persian nation is very magnificent, and exceedingly fond of pomp, and shew, and it is very agreeable to see their march at some distance.  They are very careful of their camels, of which they have great numbers, even the poorest seldom travelling with less than seven of these animals; by this means, the prodigious train which attends the court appears to consist of many more persons than it actually contains.  When the king entered Ecbatana, his suite consisted of about 2000 persons, but many left the camp on the march, as it suited their fancy or convenience, and the king never had above 500 horse along with him.  The royal tents were exceedingly beautiful and magnificent, and his bed was ornamented with scarlet hangings.  The merchants who attended the camp sold every thing at a high price.  All of our party were accommodated with tents, as we belonged to the suite of the king, who often honoured us with an invitation to supper, and at other times frequently sent us refreshments.  We were always treated with much civility, and never received any injuries or affronts.

On the 31st of May the king encamped about fifteen miles from Tauris, when a certain monk of the Boulonnois named Louis, who called himself patriarch of Antioch, and envoy from the Duke of Burgundy, arrived at the camp, attended by five horsemen.  The king asked if we knew him, and we accordingly told what we knew without dissimulation.  Next day the king gave him an audience, at which we were present by command.  This patriarch presented to the king three robes of gold tissue, three others of scarlet silk, and some of fine cloth, and opened his commission, making many great offers of service from his prince, and many fine promises in very magnificent terms, which do not appear proper for me to repeat, and which the king did not seem to care much about.  We were all invited to dinner, during which the king started many questions, to which he gave very pertinent answers himself.  After dinner we returned to our tents.

On the 2d of June we arrived at Tauris, in which place lodgings were appointed for us.  Six days afterwards, Uzun-Hassan sent for the patriarch and us to court; and although he had three or four times informed me already that I must prepare to return into Italy, leaving my colleague Barbaro at his court, I could not reconcile myself to the journey, and had done every thing in my power to put off my departure.  When we went to court, the king addressed himself first to the patriarch, whom he ordered to return to his prince, and to say from him, that he, the king, would very shortly declare war against the Turks, having already taken the field with that view, and that he never failed in performing his promises.  He then turned to me, saying, “Return to your country, and tell your masters that I shall very soon make war upon the Ottomans, and desire them to do their duty as