I shall do mine.  I know no one better fitted to carry this message than you, who have accompanied me from Ispahan, and have seen my preparations; so that you are able to inform the Christian princes of all that you have seen, and of my good intentions.”  I offered several reasons for excusing myself from obeying these commands, which gave me much vexation; but the king looked at me with a severe expression of countenance, saying, “It is my pleasure for you to go, and I command you.  I shall give you letters for your masters, which will inform them of my sentiments and the reasons of your return.”  In this state of embarrassment, I was advised by the patriarch and M. Josaphat to comply with a good grace; on which I replied to the king as follows:  “My departure, Sir, gives me much distress; but since you judge it proper, I make no more objections, and am ready to obey your orders.  Wherever I may go, I shall speak of your great power and goodness, and the honours I have received from your majesty, and shall exhort all the princes of Christendom to join their forces with you against the common enemy.”  My speech pleased the king, and he answered me kindly according to his wonted manner.  After retiring from this andienqe, the king sent some Persian robes to the patriarch and me, made of fine stuff and very beautifully ornamented, and presented each of us with a horse and some money to assist us during our journey.

We remained two days at Tauris after the kings departure, and set out on the 10th of June to rejoin the court, which was then encamped in a pleasant spot among excellent pastures and plenty of fine wells; about twenty-five miles from Tauris.  We remained there till the pastures were eaten bare, and then marched about fifteen miles farther.  On the 27th of June the king gave us our final audience, at which he gave us presents for our respective sovereigns; that is to say, to the patriarch for the Duke of Burgundy; to myself for the republic; and to one Marcus Ruffus, who had come with an embassy from the prince of Muscovy.  The presents consisted in certain pieces of workmanship made in the European fashion, two swords, and certain ornaments for the head, which are usually fastened to bonnets.  There were two Persian ambassadors in the audience-chamber, one of whom was destined on a mission into Russia.  At length the king turning towards the patriarch and me, addressed us nearly as follows:  “You will return with all speed to your masters, and will tell them and all the other Christian princes from me, that I have used all diligence in taking the field to make war on the Turks, as it had been concerted between them and me.  The emperor of the Turks is at present in Constantinople, and will make no enterprize of importance this year.  As for myself, I propose sending one part of my army to reduce my rebellious son, and another against the Turkish generals, while I shall remain here at hand, to act against the enemy as occasion may require.”  He gave orders,