or SOFI, a title given to the emperor of Persia, importing as much as wise, sage, or philoso- pher.

The title is by some said to have taken its rise from a young shepherd named Sophi, who attained to the crown of Persia in 1370; others derive it from the fo- phoi or fages anciently called magi. Vossius gives a dif- ferent account of the word: sophi in Arabic, he ob- serves, signifies wool; and he adds, that it was applied by the Turks out of derision to the kings of Persia ever since Ishmael's time; because, according to their scheme of religion, he is to wear no other covering on his head but an ordinary red woollen stuff; whence the Persians are also called hedjellichs, q. d. red-heads. But Bochart assures us, that sophi in the original Persian language, signifies one that is pure in his religion, and who prefers the service of God in all things: and de- rives it from an order of religious called by the same name. The sophis value themselves on their illustrious extraction. They are descended in a right line from Houssein, second son of Ali, Mahomet's cousin, and Fa- tima, Mahomet's daughter.

SOFHS, or Sofer, a kind of order of religious among the Mahometans in Persia, answering to what are other- wise called dervishes, and among the Arabs and Indians faquirs. Some will have them called sophis from a kind of coarse camblet which they wear, called sauf, 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 Ro- man countries the religious are called reverend fathers. Schiek Sophi, who laid the foundation of the gran- deur 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 him- self 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.