‘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’ [‎463] (484/508)

5 poor
iV.ll*
j Man
lyfjili
eve'!
A Voyage ^EAST-INDIA, &C.
tvery year, raifed from Land, and other Commodities which
that Empire affords and appointed for that purpofe. Now
fbme of the Mogol's moft beloved Nobles have the pay of fix
thoufand horfe 5 and there are others (at the leaft twenty in his
Empire) which have the pay of $ooohorfe ;) exceeding large
Penfions above the revenue of any other Subjedh in the whole
World., they Amounting unto more than one hundred thoufand
pounds yearly unto a particular man. Now others have the
pay of four thoufand horfe 5 others of three, or two, or one
thoufand horfe, and Co downward 5 stnd tKPefe by their propor
tions , are appointed to have horfes always in readinefs well
mann'd, and otherwife appointed for the Rings fervice, fo that
he who hath the pay of five, or fix thoufand, muft always have
one thoufand in readinefs, or more, according to the Kings
heed of them, and fo in proportion all the reft which enables
them on a fudden to make tip the number, at the leaft of two
hundred thoufand horfe 5 of which number, they have always
at hand one hundred thoufand to wait upon the King wherefo-
cver he is.
There are very many private men in Cities and Towns, who
arc Merchants, or Trades-men that are very rich: but it is not
fafefor them that are fo, fo to appear j left that they ftiouldbe
ufed as fili'd Sponges.
But there is never a Subject in that Empire, who hath Land of
inheritance, which he may call his own| but they are all Te
nants at the will of their King 5 having no other title to that
they enjoy befides the Rings favour, which is by far more eafily
loft than gotten 5 It is true, that the King advanceth many there,
unto many great honours, and allows them (as before) marvel
lous great revenues 5 but no Son thfer^ enjoys either the Titles,
or Means of his Father that hath had Penfions from that Ring,
for the Ring takes pofleffion of all when they are dead, appoint
ing their Children fbme competent means for their (ubfiftencej
which they (hall not exceed, if they fall not into the Rings af-
fe<5tion as their Fathers did 5 wherefore many great men in this
Empire live up to the height of their means ^ and therefore
have a very numerous train, a very great retinue to attend up
on them, which makes them to appear like Princes, rather
thanSubje&s. t w x.
Yet this their necefTary dependance on their Rmg binas
them unto fuch bale (ubje^ion , as that they will yield with
readinefs unto any of his unreafonable arid willful commands.
As Tint arch writes of the Souldiers of Scipi»^ Nulltts eji horum^
qui non confiettfa turri femet in mare pr£cipaturus ft, j( jujfero^
There was never a one in his Army, by his own report, t at
would not for a word of his mouth, have gone up into a Tower,
and caft himfelf thence head-long into the Sea : and thus t e
people here will do any thing the Ring commands them to 05
fo that if he bid the Father to lay hands of violence upon his
bon.
alM-
tII