A Voyage to East India, Title page – Printer to the reader
A Voyage to EAST-INDIA.
Wherein Some things are taken notice of in our paſſage thither, but many more in our abode there, within that rich and moſt ſpacious Empire Of the Great Mogol.
Mix't with ſome Parallel Obſervations and inferences upon the ſtorie, to profit as well as delight the Reader.
Obſerved by Edward Terry (then Chaplain to the Right Honorable Sr. Thomas Row Knight, Lord Ambaſſadour to the great Mogol) now Rector of the Church at Greenford, in the County of Middleſex.
In journeying often, in perils of waters, in perils of Robbers, in perils by the Heathen, in perils in the Sea.
1 Cor. 11. 26.
The Lord on high is mightier than the noiſe of many waters; yea, than the mighty waves of the Sea,
Pſal. 93. 4.
—Digitis a morte remotus
Quatuor, aut Septem.—
Ju. Sat. 12.
Qui Neſcit orare, diſcat navigare▪ ubique Naufragium.
London, Printed by T. W. for J. Martin, and J. Alleſtrye, at the Bell in St. Pauls Church-Yard, 1655.
To the Reader.
READER,
THere was never age more guilty than this preſent, of the great expence, and waſte of paper: whoſe fair innocence hath been extreamly ſtubber'd by Errors, Hereſies, Blaſphemies, and what not, in theſe bold times: which like ſo many (the fouleſt of all) blots, & blurs, hath defiled very much of it, ſo true is that of the Poet,
—Tenet inſanabile multos
Scribendi Cacoëthes.—Ju.
Certainly there hath been of late abundantly more printed than ought, than ſhould: & if what follows in this diſcourſe lay under the guilt of any ſuch juſt exception, it ſhould feel the fire, not the preſs.
The ſumme & ſubſtance of what here follows (as a deſcription of that Empire) I long ſince compoſed, ſhortly after my return from Eaſt-India, and then preſented it in writing unto the late King, when he was Prince of Wales, in the year 1622. with this ſhort following Epiſtle.
Moſt Renowned Prince,
I Have nothing to plead for this high preſumption, but the Novelty of my ſubject, in which I confeſſe ſome few have prevented me, who bv traveling India in England, or Europe, have written ſomewhat of thoſe remoteſt parts, but like unto poor Tradeſmen, who take up Wares on truſt, have been deceived themſelves, and do deceive of others.
For my ſelf I was an eye-witneſſe of much here related, living more than two years at the Court of that mighty Monarch the great Mogol, (who prides himſelf very much in his moſt famous Anceſtor Tamberlane) in the deſcription of whoſe Empire, your Highneſſe may meet with large Territories, a numerous Court, moſt populous, pleaſant, and rich Provinces, but when all theſe ſhall be laid in the Balance againſt his miſerable blindneſſe, your Highneſſe ſhall have more cauſe to pity, than envy his greatneſſe.
I am not ambitious to make this my Relation publick, and therefore if it conſume more paper, it ſhall not be my fault: As it is, in a fearfull boldneſſe 'tis offered to your Princely hands, and if it may be any way pleaſing and uſefull, I have my reward; if not, my moſt humble deſires to have miniſtred ſomething this way unto your Highneſſe, ſhall be my comfort.
Thus (Reader) thou heareſt when this Relation was firſt written, and into what hands it was then put: And although there be now a very great ſpace of time 'twixt the particulars then obſerved, and their publication now; which may make thee look upon that which is here brought forth as an untimely birth, or as a thing born out of due time. Therefore know (which may give thee ſome ſatisfaction herein) that for the commodities, and diſcommodities of thoſe remote parts; for the cuſtomes and manners of that people; for their Religion and policie, with every thing beſide (wherein thou mayeſt deſire information) which lies within the vaſt compaſſe of that huge Monarchy expreſſed in the Map, and further deſcribed in this following diſcourſe (time not making that people at all to varie from themſelves) thou mayeſt look upon it now, as if it hath been taken notice of, but immediately before it was here communicated; and if it prove uſefull now, I ſhall be very glad that it was reſerved even for this preſent time, wherein it might do ſome good.
Yet notwithſtanding this, it ſhould never have been brought by me into this more open view, (eſpecially in ſuch a ſcribling writing age as this) where there is no end of making many books; (and many of thoſe written to no end, but what is evil and miſchievous) but that the Printer, who had gotten my Original Copie, preſented as before, deſired to publiſh it. And becauſe ſo, I have reviſed, and in ſome particulars by pertinent, though in ſome places very long digreſsions (which I would intreat the Reader to improve) ſo enlarged it; that it may, (if it reach my aim) contain matter for inſtruction and uſe, as well as for relation and novelty. So that they, who fly from a Sermon, and will not touch ſound, and wholeſom, and excellent treatiſes in Divinity, may happily (if God ſo pleaſe) be taken before they are aware, and overcome by ſome Divine truths that lie ſcattered up and down in manie places of this Narrative. To which end I have endeavoured ſo to contrive it for every one (who ſhall pleaſe to read it through) that it may be like a well form'd picture, that ſeems to look ſtedfaſtly upon everie heholder, who ſo looks upon it.
But here Reader, let us ſit down and wonder that in theſe dayes (which are called times of Reformation) manie choiſe books are often publiſhed, which contain in themſelves, and declare unto others very much of the minde of God: yet are laid aſide, as if they were not worth the looking into, and in their ſtead Romances, and other Pamphlets, ejuſdem farinae, of the like kinde, which do not inform, but corrupt rather the mindes of thoſe, which look ſo much into them, teaching wickedneſſe while they ſeem to reprove it, are the books (O times!) which are generally call'd for, bought up, read, and liked.
When a Traveller ſometimes obſerved the women in Rome to pleaſe themſelves in, and overmuch to play with their Curs, and Monkeys; he asked whether or no the women of Rome did not bear Children to delight themſelves withall. The ſtorie is ſo parallel to what I before obſerved; that he who runs may make Application, and therefore I forbear to do it.
As for that I have here publiſhed I know,—habent ſua fata libelli, that books have their Fates, as well as their Authors; and therefore this Relation now it is got into the World, muſt take its chance, whatſoever its ſucceſſe, or acceptance be: But however I ſhall never be of their minde, who think thoſe books beſt, which beſt ſell, when certain it is that they are not to be valued by their good ſale, but good uſe.
Which while ſome may make of this; others who love to carp, and cenſure, and quarrel (ſo as to make a man an offender for a word) may put harſh interpretation upon ſome paſſages they may find in this following diſcourſe. Mala mens, malus animus, an evil minde in it ſelf, is an evil minde to all others. 'Twas ſaid of Diogenes that he was tuba convitiorum; the Trumpet of reproaches; and that when he accuſed Plato of pride, he beat it down with greater pride. The Gramarians were laughed at for taking ſo much pains to find out the faults of Ulyſſes, and would not take notice of any of their own. They are the worſt of the Creatures that breed in, and delight to be ever ſtirring up and down in corruption. But I would have all, who have an eye ſtanding too far out of their heads, and are therefore apt to ſee more in others than themſelves, and conſequently may obſerve more than is meant, from ſome paſſages of this book, to bound all their conceivings a… to what they may finde here within the compaſſe of it, by that rule, which holds good in charity and law, and is true in Divinity likewiſe, in dubiis benigniora, that when any thing delivered may bear two interpretations, to take the faireſt.
And now that this following relation may not appear to be a loſſe, either of time or paper, he that ſhall pleaſe to read it, in our paſſage to Eaſt-India may obſerve very large foot-ſteps of the Almighty in his works of Creation & Providence. And when I have brought him thither on ſhore he may finde that there is not one queſtion (as before) of any conſequence concerning thoſe parts I have undertaken to write of, but it findes ſatisfaction in one part or other of this diſcourſe. For the Court there, there is ſo much riches and ſplendour ſometimes to be ſeen in it, that it may draw up the meditations of thoſe which behold it, as the thoughts of Fulgentius ſometimes were, (when he beheld the glorie of the Court of Rome) raiſed up ſeriouſly to conſider of the glorie of Heaven. And for the ſoil it is exceeding pleaſant, rich, and good, as in ſome other parts of the world, where the inhabitants are meer ſtrangers to God; and if Almighty God hath given ſuch ſweet places of abode here on the earth to very many whom he owns not; how tranſcendently glorious is that place which he hath prepared for them that love him.
Yet for the Inhabitants there, a man may clearly ſee, the law of Nature to be ſo ingraved upon the hearts of very many, both Pagans and Mahometans: as that it may make multitudes, who profeſſe themſelves Chriſtians (if they would but turn their eyes inward) extreamly to wonder, how it comes to be ſo much wor… out of theirs.
And then he may further behold, ſuch Temperance, Juſtice, unwearied devotion (but in a wrong way) with many other excellent Moralitics ſo to ſhine its them; that by this very light, he may ſee thouſands of thoſe (whom before I nam'd) that have means to know, and therefore ſhould do better, in many things to come exceeding ſhort of them, who (themſelves are ready to conclude) come ſhort of Heaven.
But I ſhall not further anticipate my diſcourſe, in being like a vain-glorious entertainer, who fills the ears of his gueſts with his diſhes, before they ſee, or taſte them. Which if thou ſhall pleaſe to do, read on, and thou art very welcome however.
Farewell Edward Terry.
To his worthy friend Mr. Edward Terry, on his Voyage to Eaſt-India.
I.
WOrth will break priſon, though detain'd awhile
To try its truth; yet lends the World a ſmile
At laſt: the glorious all ey'd Sun, though late
Defies its cloud, aſſerts its Native ſtate,
And in a Sovereign Grandeur, doth ariſe
To ſcorn thoſe miſts that aim'd it to diſguiſe:
So doth thine Indian Voyage after years
In ſilence buried, pleaſe our eyes and ears;
Not with Ʋtepian tancies, nor with vain
Deluſions, brought unto us from the main
Invention, backt with boldneſſe, ſo ſet out
As if we muſt believe, not dare to doubt;
No, thou to thoſe appeal'ſt, whoſe knowledge can
Upbray'd thee, if thou over-act the man,
Thou ſeem'ſt to be; thou by his light haſt gone
Who knows exactly what is wrote, or done.
II.
The World's a Theatre, in which each wight
His part doth act, The body to the Sprite
But ſhadow. Faces differ nothing more
Than do the Souls, which fleſh hath cover'd ore.
On wedg'd is to the gain of homeſtayes; when
Another counts his home a Lazers Denn.
A third man proves ſo active that he knows
No bounds but his vaſt pha…fie overflows;
With Alexander he to India flies,
Not it to Conquer, but to pleaſe his eyes.
No Sea, no danger, no amazing foe
Gives his brave Emulation overthrow,
Leviathan's a gudgeon; he can vye
With Behemoth, no monſter makes him fly.
Hurri'd he is from Eaſt, to Weſt, and thence
North, South to compaſſe earths circumference:
Here picks he up a rarity, anon,
Poſts to ſome new diſcovered Horizon.
III.
Yet fond they are, who mak't their greateſt aim
To rifle earth, onelyonly to purchaſe fame.
But you through hazards Torrid Zones arrive
To bring ſome Honey to your Countreys hive.
No Spices, Orient Peals, no Tyſſeus are
Thy traffick, theſe with thee accounted ware
For pedling dolts; thy venture no return
Admits, but what enrich the mental Urne,
And makes thy Readers, at thy pains appear
Acquainted with that South-Eaſt Hemiſphear.
Wherein rare ſecrets of Dame Nature lye
Couch'd, but diſcovered knowledge multiply.
Welfare thy Noble minde, which gives us cauſe
To view in it the force of Natures Laws
Read in thoſe Indians: Proceed, and let us know
What other fruits within th…ne India grow.
And tell us what thou know'ſt. A man's not born
To ſee and to obſerve For's ſelf alone.
But to ſucceſſion we grow ſtill in debt,
Worth lives, when dead, day laſts, though ſun be ſet.
Edward Waterhouſe, Eſq
To my ancient friend Mr. Edward Terry. On his Indian Voyage.
GEographers preſent before mens eyes
How every Land ſeated and bounded lies,
But the Hiſtorian, and wiſe Traveller
Deſery what mindes and manners ſo journ there,
The common Merchant brings thee home ſuch wa…
As makes thy Garment wanton, or thy fare.
But this hath Traffick in a …e…ter kinde
To pleaſe and profit both thy virtuous minde.
He ſhews what reaſon finds in her dim night
By groping after God with natures light.
Into what uncouth paths thoſe Nations ſtray
Whom God permits to walk in their own way.
And how the Sun, a Lamp to ſeek God by,
Dazles ſome eyes into idolatry.
Read it and thou w…lt make this gain at leaſt,
To love thy one true God, and Countrey beſt.
Henry Aſhwood.
To my ingenious friend and dear Kinſman, the Author of theſe Relations.
THough moſt Geographers have the good hap
To travel in a ſafe expenceleſſe Map,
And while the world to us they repreſent,
No further yet then Pilgrim Purchas went,
Paſt Dovers dreadfull cliffe afraid to go,
And took the Lands end for the worlds end too▪
Spand Countreys at the fingers ends at caſe,
Crack'd with their nail all France, turn'd blots to Seas;
Of whom this ſtrong line we may ridling ſay,
They travel not, but ſit ſtill a great way.
I muſt applaud whither thy choiſe, or lot
Which hath beyond their lazie knowledge got,
Who onelyonly in the Globe do croſſe the line
There raiſe the Pole, and draw whole Maps in wine
Spil'd on the Table: meaſure Seas and Lands
By ſcale of miles wherein their Compaſſe ſtands.
But you the truths eye-witneſſe have not been
Homer it'… dark, but what you write have ſeen:
A rich and abſolute Prince, whoſe mighty hand
Indus and Ganges ſolely doth command;
A numerous people, wealthy traffick; new
Manners, and men, things wonderfull and true.
Some Relicks of the ancient Bramins race,
And what religious follies yet take place;
Whoſe pious eirours, though they want our ſenſe,
Have in leſſe knowledge more of conſcience.
Who to condemne ou… barren light, advance
A juſt, obedient, humble ignorance.
While vice here ſeeks a voluntary night
As over-glitter'd with to clear a light,
Neglected love, and the fair truths abuſe
Hath left our guilty bluſhes no excuſe,
And their blinde zeal 'gainſt us a witneſſe ſtands
Who having ſo good eyes, have loſt our hands.
This you with pious faithfulneſſe declare,
Nor quit the Preacher for the Traveller.
And though theſe leaves nothing to Merchants owe
For Spices, Cuchineal, or Indico.
Yet all confeſſe, who weigh the gains you brought,
Your ſhip was laden with a richer fraught.
While the glad world by you inſtructed ſings,
Wiſdom's the nobleſt ware that Travel brings.
Robert Creſwell.
The Printer to the Reader.
IF this whole Relation had been brought unto me at firſt, as it is here preſented unto thee, it ſhould not have been ſo crouded together, as here thou ſeeſt it, but had found better room where it might have been more decently lodged, in a fitter Edition: the want of which may make ſome curious eye behold it as a bundle, rather then a book.
But the Author reviſing, and enlarging ſome of it, while I was printing the reſt, in concluſion it grew much bigger, than either of us ſuppoſed it would, which hath put me now upon this Apologie, who had proceeded ſo far in the printing thereof, as that I thought it great pity to make what I had done waſte paper; and ſo wilt thou think, now thou haſt it all before thee, if thou readeſt it over.
Fare well.