‘The travels of Sig. Pietro della Valle, a noble Roman, into East-India and Arabia Deserta. In which, the several countries, together with the customs, manners, traffique, and rites both religious and civil, of those Oriental princes and nations, are faithfully described: In familiar letters to his friend Signior Mario Schipano. Whereunto is added a relation of Sir Thomas Roe’s voyage into the East-Indies’ [‎459] (480/508)

2lflS
A Voyage E A S T-IN DI &c.
0
When the Mogolis thus weighed 3 he cafts about among the
f>andersby thin pieces of [filver 3 and fbme of Gold, made like
flowers of that Countreyj and fome of them are made like
Cloves,) and fome like Nutmegs 3 but very thin and hollow.
Then he drinks to his Nobles in his Royal wine (as that of A-
hafaerush caWed, Eflh, I. j.) who pledge his health : at which
fblemnity he drank to my Lord Ambaffadour, in a Cup of
Gold moft curiouily enameled^ and fet all over the outfide with
ftones (which were fmall Rubies, Turkefles 3 and Emeralds)
with a Cover, or Plate, to fet in it in, both of pure Gold, the
brims of which plate, and the cover were enameled, and
let with ftones as the other, and all thefe together weighed
twenty and four ounces of our Englifll weights, which he then
gave unto my Lord Ambaffadour, whom he ever ufed with
very much refpedt, and would moreover often ask him, why he
did not defire fome good, and great gifts at his hands, be being a
great King, and able to give it 5 the Embafladour Wduld reply.
That he came not thither to beg any thing of him^ all that he
defired, was that his Countrey-men the Englifti might have a
free, fafe, and peaceable trade in his Dominions: The Mogol
would anlwer that he was bound in honour to afford them that,
we coming from the furthermoft parts of the world to trade
there 5 and would often bid the Ambaffadour to ask fomething
for himfelf,who to this would aufwe^that if that Ring knew not
better to give, then he knew to ask, he muft have nothing
from him. Upon thele terms they continually both ftood, fo
that in conclufiun the Embaffadour had no gift from him, but
that before-mentioned, befides an horfo or two, and fometimes
a Veft, or upper Garment, made of (light Cloth of Gold,which
the Mogol would firfl: put upon his own back, and then give it
to the Embaffadour. But the Mogol ( if he had fo pleafed)
might have beftowed on him fome great Princely gift, and
found no greater mifsofit, than there would be of a Glafs of
water taken out of a great Fountain. Now although the Mogol
had fuch infinite Treafure , yet he could find room toftoreup
more ftill: the defires of a covetous heart being fo unfatiable,
as that it never knows when it hath enough : being^ like a bot-
tomlefs purfe that can never be fill'd 5 for the more it hath, the
more ftill it covets. ^
See an image hereof in Alcmaon^ who being will a by
fits to go into his Treafure-houfe, and there take as much GoUl
as himfelf could carry away 5 provided for that pnrpo.e a
long Garment that was double down to his ankles, and great
boots, and fill'd them both 5 nay , he fluffed his mouth and
tied wedges of Gold to the locks of his head, and doubt e s,
but for killing himfelf, he would have fill'd his skull and bowels
therewith. Here was an heart fet upon Gold, and Gold over-
lading an heart: for the man flowing To much about him, as that
he could not ftir with it, forfeited what he might have had,
Nnn 2 and