A Voyage to East India, Account of voyage · Section 24
SECT. XXIV.
Of him, ſhewing himſelf three times publickly unto his people every day, and in what ſtate and glory he doth oftentimes appear.
FIrſt, early in the morning at that very time, the Sun begins to appear above the Horizon, He appears unto his people in a place very like unto one of our Balconies, made in his houſes, or Pavilions for his morning appearance, directly oppoſite to the Eaſt, about ſeven, or eight foot high from the ground, againſt which time a very great number of his people▪ eſpecially of the greater ſort, who deſire as of…en as they can to appear in his eye, aſſemble there together to give him the Salam, or good morning, crying all out as ſoon as they ſee their King with a loud voice Padſha Salamet, which ſignifies, live ô Great King, or O great King, health and life, (as all the people cried, 1 King. 1. 39. God ſave King Solomon: and thus they clapped their hands for joy when Jehoaſh was made King, crying, God ſave the King, or let the King live, 2 King 11. 12.) At noon he ſhews himſelf in another place like the former, on the South-ſide, and a little before Sun-ſet, in a like place, on the Weſt-ſide of his houſe, or Tent, but as ſoon as the Sun forſakes the Hemisphear, he leaves his people uſhered in and out with Drums and Winde inſtruments, and the peoples acclamations.
At both which times likewiſe very great numbers of his people aſſemble together to preſent themſelves before him: And at any of theſe three times, he that hath a ſuite to the King or deſires Juſtice at his hands, be he poor, or Rich, if he hold up a Petition to be ſeen, ſhall be heard and anſwered.
And between ſeven and nine of the Clock at night, he ſits within his Houſe, or Tent, more privately in a ſpacious place, called his Goozalcan, or bathing houſe made bright, like day by abundance of lights, and here the King ſits mounted upon a ſtately Throne, where his Nobles and ſuch as are favoured by him ſtand about him, others finde admittance to, but by ſpecial leave from his Guard, who cauſe every one that enters that place to breath upon them, and if they imagine that any have drunk wine, they keep him out.
At this time my Lord Ambaſſadour made his uſual addreſſes to him, and▪ I often waited on him thither, and it was a good time to do buſineſſe with that King, who then was for the moſt part very pleaſant, and full of talk unto thoſe which were round about him, and ſo continued till he fell a ſleep, (oft times by drinking) and then all aſſembled immediately quitted the place, beſides thoſe which were his truſted ſervants, who by turns watched his Perſon.
The Mogol hath a moſt ſtately, rich and ſpacious houſe at Agrae, his Metropolis, or chief Citie, which is called his Palace Royal, wherein there are two Towers, or Turrets about ten foot ſquare covered with maſſie God (as ours are uſualy with Lead) this I had from Tom. Coriat, as from other Engliſh Merchants, who keep in a Factory at that place. And further they told me, that he hath a moſt glorious Throne within that his Palace, aſcended by divers ſteps, which are covered with plate of ſilver, upon the top of which aſcent ſtand four Lions upon pedeſtals (of curiouſly coloured Marble) which Lions are all made of Maſſie ſilver, ſome part of them guilded with Gold, and beſet with precious ſtones. Thoſe Lions ſupport a Canopy of pure Gold, under which the Mogol ſits, when as he appears in his greateſt ſtate and glory.
For the beauty of that Court it conſiſts not in gay and Gorgious apparel, for the Countrey is ſo hot, that they cannot endure any thing that is very warm, or maſſie, or rich about them. The Mogol himſelf for the moſt part is covered with a garment (as before deſcribed) made of pure, white, and fine Callico Laune, and ſo are his Nobles, which Garments are waſhed after one dayes wearing. But for the Mogol, though his cloathing be not rich and coſtly, yet I believe that there is never a Monarch in the whole world that is dayly adorned with ſo many Jewels as himſelf is. Now, they are Jewels which make mens covering moſt rich, ſuch as people in other parts ſometimes wear about them, that are otherwiſe moſt meanly habited, to which purpoſe I was long ſince told by a Gentleman of honour ſent as a Companion to the old▪ Earle of Nothingham, when he was imployed as an extraordinary Ambaſſadour by King James, to confirm the peace made 'twixt himſelf and the King of Spain, which Ambaſſadour had a very great many Gentlemen in his train, in as Rich cloathing as Velvets and Silks could make, but then there did appear many a great Don, or Grandee in the Spaniſh Court, in a long black bayes Cloak and Caſſack, which had one Hatband of Diamonds, which was of more worth by far, than all the bravery of the Ambaſſadours many followers.
But for the Mogol I wonder not at his many Jewels, he being (as I conceive) the greateſt, and richeſt Maſter of precious ſtones that inhabites the whole earth. For Diamonds (which of all other are accounted moſt precious ſtones) they are found in Decan (where the Rocks are, out of which they are digged) the Princes whereof are the next Neighbours and Tributares to the great Mogol, and they pay him as Tribute many Diamonds yearly, and further, he hath the refuſal of all thoſe rich ſtones they ſell, he having Gold and Silver in the greateſt abundance, (and that will purchaſe any thing but heaven) and he will part with any mony for any Gems beſide, that are precious and great, whither Rubies, or any other ſtones of value, as alſo for rich Pearls.
And his Grandees follow him in that phanſie, for one of his great Lords gave our Merchants there, twelve hundred pounds ſterling for one Pearle, which was brought out of England. The Pearle was ſhaped like a Pare, very large, beautifull, and Orient, and ſo its price deſerved it ſhould be.
Now the Mogol having ſuch an abundance of Jewels, wears many of them dayly, enough to exceed thoſe women, which Rome was wont to ſhew in their Starlike dreſſes, who in the height and proſperity of that Empire
—Were ſaid to wear
The ſpoils of Nations in one ear.
Or, Lollia Paulina, who was hid with Jewels. For the great Mogol, the Diamonds, and Rubies, and Pearls, which are very many, & dayly worn by him, are all of an extraordinary greatneſſe, and conſequently of an exceeding great value. And beſides thoſe he wears about his Shaſh, or head covering, he hath a long Chain of Jewels hanging about his Neck (as long as an ordinary Gold Chain) others about his wriſts, and the Hilts of his Sword and Dagger are moſt curiouſly enriched with thoſe precious Stones, beſides others of very great value, which he wears in Rings on his fingers.
Ventilat aeſtivum digitis ſudantibus aurum,
Nec ſufferre queat majoris Pondera gemmae.
Ju. Sat. 1.
He airs his ſweaty fingers with rings freight,
And Jewels, as if burdened with their weight.
The firſt of March the Mogol begins a royal Feaſt, like that which Ahaſuerus made in the third year of his Reign, Eſth. 1. wherein he ſhewed the riches of his glorious Kingdom. This feaſt the Mogol makes, is called the Nooroos, that ſignifies nine dayes, which time it continues, to uſher in the new year, which begins with the Mahometans there, the tenth day of March.
Againſt which Feaſt, the Nobles aſſemble themſelves together at that Court in their greateſt Pomp, preſenting their King with great gifts, and he requiting them again with Princely rewards, at which time I being in his preſence, beheld moſt immenſe and incredible riches, to my amazement, in Gold, Pearls, Precious ſtones, Jewels, and many other glittering vanities. This Feaſt is uſually kept by the Mogol while he is in his Progreſſe, and lodges in …ents.
Whether his Diet at this time be greater than ordinary I know not, for he alwayes eats in private among his Women, where none but his own Family ſee him while he is eating; which Family of his conſiſts of his Wives and Children, and Women, and Eunuchs, and his boyes, and none but theſe abide and lodge in the Kings houſes, or Tents, and therefore how his Table is ſpread, I could never know, but doubtleſſe he hath of all thoſe vanities that Empire affords, if he ſo pleaſe. His food (they ſay) is ſerved in unto him in Veſſels of Gold, which covered, and brought unto him by his Eunuchs, after it is proved by his Taſters he eats, not at any ſet times of the day, but he hath proviſion ready at all times, and calls for it when he is hungry, and never but then.
The firſt of September (which was the late Mogols birth day) he retaining an ancient yearly Cuſtom, was in the preſence of his chief Grandies weighed in a Balance, the Ceremony performed within his Houſe, or Tent, in a fair ſpacious Room, whereinto none were admitmitted but by ſpecial leave. The Scales in which he was thus weighed were plated with Gold, and ſo the beam on which they hung, by great Chains made likewiſe of that moſt precious Metal, the King ſitting in one of them was weighed firſt againſt ſilver Coin, which immediately after was diſtributed among the poor, then was he weighed againſt Gold, after that againſt Jewels (as they ſay) but I obſerved (being preſent there with my Lord Ambaſſadour) that he was weighed againſt three ſeveral things, laid in ſilken Bags on the contrary Scale, when I ſaw him in the Balance I thought on Belſhazzar, who was found to light, Dan. 5. 27. By his weight (of which his Phyſicians yearly keep an exact account) they preſume to gueſſe of the preſent eſtate of his body, of which they ſpeak flatteringly, however they think it to be.
When the Mogol is thus weighed, he caſts about among the ſtanders by thin pieces of ſilver & ſome of Gold, made like flowers of that Countrey, and ſome of them are made like Cloves, and ſome like Nutmegs, but very thin and hollow. Then he drinks to his Nobles in his Royal wine (as that of Ahaſuerus is called) Eſth. 1. 7.) who pledge his health, at which ſolemnity he drank to my Lord Ambaſſadour, in a Cup of Gold moſt curiouſly enameled, and ſet all over the outſide with ſtones (which were ſmall Rubies, Turkeſſes, and Emeralds) with a Cover, or Plate to ſet it in, both of pure Gold, the brims of which plate, and the cover were enameled, and ſet with ſtones as the other, and all theſe together weighed twenty & four ounces of our Engliſh weight,, which he then gave unto my Lord Ambaſſadour, whom he ever uſed with very much reſpect, and would moreover often ask him why he did not deſire ſome good, and great gifts at his hands, he being a great King, and able to give it, the Ambaſſadour would reply, that he came not thither to beg any thing of him, all that he deſired was that his Countrey-men the Engliſh might have a free and ſafe and peaceable trade in his Dominions, the Mogol would anſwer that he was bound in honour to afford them that, we coming from the furthermoſt parts of the world to trade there, and would often bid the Ambaſſadour to ask ſomething for himſelf, who to this would anſwer, that if that King knew not better to give, then he knew to ask, he muſt have nothing from him, upon theſe terms they continually both ſtood, ſo that in concluſion the Ambaſſadour had no gift from him, but that before mentioned, beſides an horſe, or two, and ſometimes a Veſt, or upper Garment made of ſlight Cloath of Gold, which the Mogol would firſt put upon his own back, and then give it to the Ambaſſadour. But the Mogol (if he had ſo pleaſed) might have beſtowed on him ſome great Princely gift, and found no greater miſſe of it, than there would be of a Glaſſe of water taken out of a great Fountain; yet although the Mogol had ſuch infinite Treaſures, yet he could finde room to ſtore up more ſtill, the deſires of a covetous heart being ſo unſatiable, as that it never knows when it hath enough, being like a bottomleſſe purſe that can never be fill'd, for the more it hath, the more ſtill it covets.
See an image hereof in Alcmaeon, who being will'd by Craeſus to go into his Treaſure houſe, and there take as much Gold as himſelf could carry away, provided for that purpoſe a long Garment that was double down to his ankles, and great bootes, and fill'd them both; nay, he ſtuffed his mouth, and tied wedges of Gold to the locks of his head, and doubtleſſe, but for killing himſelf, he would have fill'd his skull & bowels therewith. Here was an heart ſet upon Gold, and Gold over-lading an heart, for the Man ſtowing ſo much about him, as that he could not ſtir with it, forfeited what he might have had, and was turned out of the Treaſury, as poor and empty as he came into it. He is a rich man whatever he hath (be it more, or leſſe) that is contented. He is a poor man, who ſtill wants more, in becoming poor by plenty, wanting what he hath, as well, as much, as what he hath not, and ſo do very many, who are the greateſt engroſſers of the worlds wealth.
But certainly there is no heart more poor and barren than that which is ſet upon abundance, and as a the ground wherein there are Mines of Gold and Silver, and the moſt precious Stones is moſt barren; ſo the hearts of ſuch as are moſt violently carried on after the deſire of theſe things are moſt barren likewiſe. Therfore almighty God in wiſdom hath laid up Treaſures in the bowels of the earth ſecretly, and baſely, ſecretly that they ſhould not be to much ſought after, and baſely, that they ſhould not be too much deſired nor valued. Hence the Prophet Habak. 2 6. ſpeaks thus to covetous men, woe be to him that lades himſelf with thick clay, how long? where riches are compared to thick clay, becauſe they are but the very ſelf-ſame earth we tread on, better hardened and coloured; and becauſe they are many times a burden unto him that hath them, how long? ſaith the Prophet is there no end of encreaſing? how long? hath the Sea bars and bounds. and the deſires of man in this caſe without all moderation? how long? can any ever hope to fill and ſatisfie their hearts with this? let them know that the barren womb, and the unmercifull grave, and unſatiable death will ſooner be ſatisfied, than the hearts ſet upon riches find ſatisfaction from them, for he that loveth ſilver ſhall not be ſatisfied with ſilver, Eccleſ. 5. 10. and therefore they who can come up to a right underſtanding of themſelves in this caſe, will have a far greater cauſe to fear, than to deſire abundance.
Which that great Emperour hath, yet ſtill would have more. This covetouſneſſe carries men very far; and ambition (which is a refin'd, or rather an heightned covetouſneſſe) ſtill further.
I have obſerved much of the Riches, and Pomp, and Greatneſſe, and Glory of the great Mogol, So in the book of Eſth. Chap. 1. we may read of the goodly Tabernacle of King Ahaſuerus, in the Garden of his Palace, where were white, green, and blue hangings, faſtned with Coards of fine linnen, and purple, and ſilver rings, and pillars of Marble! the Beds were of Gold and Silver, upon a Pavement of Porphyre and Alabaſter, and Stone of blue-colour; and he gave thoſe (whom he there feaſted) drink in changes of veſſels of Gold, & royal wine in abundance, according to the ſtate of the King. We may further read there of his hundred and ſeven and twenty Provinces, and his Princes, and Captains thereof, his Throne and his Palace at Shuſhan, &c. So of the Treaſures of Hezekiah, Eſa. 39. his Silver and Gold, his ſpices and precious Oyntments, and Armory, and all the ſtore of his houſe, which he and his Fathers had laid up, &c. So of Belſhazzar his thouſand Princes, Wives and Concubines, Dan. 5. O what ſhadows do theſe hundreds and thouſands caſt over the heads of men, to give comfort unto them for the preſent, and to make them ſay under theſe coverts will we ſit and be at reſt, and forget, that ſome ſudden meſſenger from the Lord, either ſickneſſe, or death, or the like can preſently deprive them of all their preſent enjoyments and comforts.
But the Mogol takes a courſe to put the remembrance of death as far from him, as poſſibly he can, and therefore there is no man that at any time wears any blue thing in that Kings preſence, which is there the colour of mourners, neither is the name of death at any time mentioned in that Kings ears, but when any one is dead, of whom his Majeſty muſt have intelligence, the meſſage is delivered unto him in milde, ſoft, flattering terms to this purpoſe, ſuch, or ſuch a one hath made himſelf a Sacrifice at your Majeſties feet. ô Mors quam acerba eſt memoria tua homini Pacem habenti in Poſſeſſionibus ſuis.
O death, how bitter are thy thoughts to one
Who …aſe enjoyes in his poſſeſſion!
No loſſe he deemes ſo great, as loſſe of breath,
Death 'tis to ſuch a one, to think of death.
Certainly if death, when it comes to ſtrike would take money & be gone, it would in ſhort time engroſs the wealth of the whole world, but it will not, for no wit, nor wiſdom, nor wealth, nor policy, nor ſtrength, nor any thing beſide can keep off the impartial wounding hand of death. That mighty Prince (we ſpeak off) who did all he could to ſtave off the thought of dying, and ſince dead, though while he lived he denied himſelf nothing that might pleaſe his corrupted nature, not high & richly compounded wines, not ſtrange fleſh, nor any thing beſide that might for the preſent give ſome ſeeming content to his brutiſh ſenſual appetite, ut ipſum voluptas potius quam ipſe voluptatem, &c. that pleaſures did poſſeſſe him, rather than he pleaſures; which will further appear if we conſider more.