Soffet, a kind of order of religious among the Mahometans in Persia, answering to what are otherwise called devotis, and among the Arabs and Indians faquirs. Some will have them called sophis from a kind of coarse camlet which they wear called fouf, from the city Souf in Syria, where it is principally manufactured. The more eminent of those sophis are complimented with the title Schiek, that is, reverend, much as in Roman countries the religious are called reverend fathers. Schiek sophi, who laid the foundation of the grandeur of the royal house of Persia, was the founder, or rather the restorer of this order: Ishmael, who conquered Persia, was himself a sophi, and greatly valued himself on his being so. He chose all the guards of his person from among the religious of this order; and would have all the great lords of his court sophis. The king of Persia is still grandmaster of the order; and the lords continue to enter into it, though it be now fallen under some contempt.