‘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’ [‎386] (407/508)

I
A Voyage to EAST-INDIA, &c.
But I (hall here digrefs no farther 5 but return again to that
people CI mean thofe of quality amongft them) who out of
Pride, orldlenefs, or both, are thus carried up and down or
by fome other means I named before, though they remove'ne-
verfo little way from one place to another, accounting it very
diftionourable for them to go on foot. And (b much of this. I
(hall now proceed, Chaving made mention of their huge multi
tudes of Horfes, and Elephants) &c, to take notice
SECTION VII.
Of their numerous Armies, Their Ammunition for ivar;
How they lade themfelves with weapons 5 How terribly
they appear 5 yet how pujillanimom-, and low-fpirited
they are.
WHere firft, for their numerous Armies, it will appear to
be no ftrange thing, if we confider the Great Mogal to
be what he is, an overgrown Prince, (as before deferibed) in the
vaft extent of his large Territories, being like a huge Pike in a
great Pond, that preys upon all his neighbours, who therefore
purchafe, and keep his favour by very great Prefents given him
byway of homage, and a fubmifs acknowledgment of his mighty
Power. And befides, the is a Mafter of unknown trea-
fure, having Silver, as'tis written of Solomon^ 1 Kings 10.27.
like jiones in the Jireets, And certainly in far greater abun
dance than ever Solomon had. Though I muft teii my Reader^
that all metals there, are not filver and gold, nor* all ftones
precious. Now he that can command what treafure he will,
may likewife command what men hepleafe, as the Mogol doth
befides his own people. Many Perftans and Tartars (before fpo-
ken of) very valiant men, who ferve him as Souldiers on horfe-
back, and fo the major part by far, whether Natives, or ftran-
gers, are mounted for his fervice in his wars.
Hence it is that the Armies there confift of incredible multi
tudes 5 they talk of fbme which have exceeded that mightv
Hofl which Zerah King of JEthiopia brought againjt King AJa^
2 Chron. 14,9. but they having not well learned that horrid
bloody art of war, as the Europeans have, and wanting Com
manders, and other Officers to manage their great Companies,
are not fo fkilful to deftroy, as otherwife they might be: it is a
phrafe mbft properly and fitly applyedunto favage 3 and abfurd,
and brutifti, and unreafonable men, to the Enemies of God,
and of his Church by the Prophet Emk, 21. 31. Where Al
mighty God threatens that he mlldeiver them into the hands of
brutijh men^ and skilful to dejiroy.
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