'Some years travels into divers parts of Africa, and Asia the great. Describing more particularly the empires of Persia and Industan: interwoven with such remarkable occurrences as hapned in those parts during these later times. As also, many other rich and famous kingdoms in the oriental India, with the isles adjacent. Severally relating their religion, language, customs and habit: as also proper observations concerning them.' [‎293] (316/448)

His policy.zpi
travels with other fancies: for he hath many Fadors abroad, whom he difpatches through
the Univerfe*,fome of which return in three^in five fomejfew pafs feven years without giving
an account to his Commiflioners: if they return empty they are rarely fent abroad again,for
he is a ftrid Auditor : but when they return full fraightand to his liking, he rewards
them confiderably ^ further gratifying them with a woman out of his Haram, a Horfe, a
Sword, a Mandil, or the like. Under fuch hopes and promifes they live, and Pollitkis
dives qmlihet ejfe fotefl.
Again, from Indnftant, Tartary, and Arabia every year move towards Per/ia many
Carravans that import merchandize of feveral forts ^ as Chtaa ware, Sattens , Silks,
Stones, Drugs ,Tulipants, &c. of whofe approach he has early notice •, and fometimes for
reafon of State prohibits his Subjeds to trade with them as contrabanda ^ whereupon
none dare traffique, but by that artifice bringing them to his own price: Or elfe his Fa-
dors meet them upon entring his Dominions with a report that the paifage is not onely
long but dangerous, or that the late dearth makes the Countrey incapable to buy by
fuch devices lb ftartling them, that rather than run their refque or incur his difpleafure
they oft-times condefcend to a reafonable mart •, fometimes receiving money for goods,
or by exchange for what the Perfian Emperour can belt fpare •, to his o wn fubjeds and
others his merchants, then dilperfmg thofenew merchandizes at good rates ^ and having
coin or bullion (to prevent its pilgrimage into other regions) molds it into plate of
large alfize, too heavy to go far •, work, poor in Ihew but not in value. Befides, by a
cuftomary Law he makes himfelf heir to whom he pleafes-, fo that few rich men die but
he claims a propriety ; none daring to call his claim in queftion. Forgetfull of the old
Adage, eft ditare non ditefcere more princely to inrich than to be rich, and it was a
noble fpeech of Cato well worth the remembring, Malim cum opimis de Virtute quam cum
ditijfimis de pecunia certare, 1 had rather contend with the belt for Vertue, than with the ri-
ched for Silver. The covetous will never have enough, Avarm mn implehitur pecunia. Eccl.
5 .9. He alfo according to the old mode expeds annual prefents. Ope mans offering
a year or two before our being in Perfia is remarkable: it was the Duke of Shyraz. who
prefented the King in Larrees the value of four hundred fixty and five thoufand florens,
forty nine goblets of gold, feventy two of filver, and fuch other rarities, as in all bur-
thened three hundred camels: a royal prefent from a fubjed. Yet this might be tolera
ted were Aftraa here adored: but contrarily, corruption oft renders this brave Prince
too much diftempered. So as
Where money over-rules> what good do Lam ? Quid faciant leges ubi fola pecutiia regnat i
For there the poor are crujht without a caufe. Aut ubi paupertas vincere nulla poteft.
Nor do the Perfian Kings now refemble thofe their great Anceftors who were governed
by the Statute Laws: for in Dart. 6. 7. it is recorded That the Prefidents of the Kingdome,
the Governours, Princes, Councellours and Captains confulted together to ordain a roy
al Statute, eftablifhed by Dariw his figning, which expreffed the Royal alfent: but ra
ther what the fame Prophet told Beljhaz.zar that Nebuchadnez.z,ar alfumed, Dan. 5. 19.
Whom he would he flew? and whom he would he kept alive *, he fet up and pulled down as he
lifted: and according to that pattern the Eaftern Princes whether Mahometans or Gen
tiles demean themfelves, ufurping an abfolute Dominion: againft which, the Civilians
in defence of the Law of Nature complain Quod Vrincipi placuit, Levis UUc habet viao-
rem, &c. Law, made adequate to the will of the Ruler. A memorable prefident we
have in that fearfull ihift or expofition the Magi gave one of the Perfian Kings when he
defired to marry his Daughter, telling him There was no Law to warrant fuch a fad *, but
a Law they found that the King might do what he lift : but ad libitum mutare Leges, quia
Regnum datur propter Regem was no good Comment: for it is a maxim that Omnis Regni
poteftas referri debet ad bonum Regni, whereas a Panbafilay levels Princes with Peafants,
And indeed in this glafs I wifii we that live under Chriftian Kings and States could fee
our own freedome and happinefs: efpecially above thofe that live in unnatural bon
dage under fuch as acknowledge Mahomet ; For not without due acknowledgment be it ^
remembred, that in Europe the Sub}eds under molt Chriftian Kings and States are gover
ned by wholibme Laws, have lives and properties preferved, yea, befides municipals
have the^ Jura naturalia which are held immutable, preferved •, agreeable to that great
Aphorifm of Nature? Quod fieri non vis, alteri non fecer is \ upon which Bafis, all our whol-
fome Laws are founded. Cicero alfo /. 4. delegibm, Lex eft fundament urn liber tat is. Law is
the foundation of liberty. And again. Leges invents funt ad falutem Civium Civitatumcfr
incolumitatemj V^itacf, Hominum ut ejfet quiet a & he at a* Laws faith he are enaded for