I Was now arrived at the Meridian of my age , and enjoyed such a plenty of every thing , that I soon forgot the many miseries I had lately suffered , since my banishment from England . I governed my Family with a most absolute command , and received a willing obedience aswell from my Wife , as all our Servants , and during the stay of our English Ships , I gained very mu●h by entertaining my Country-men with necessaries . I kept so punctual a correspondence with the Banian Merchants , that I could command any thing ; and by their means found the way of Trading , by which I considerably enriched my self so that at the departure of the English Fleet , I haveing cast up an account of my Estate , found that I had gained above 2000 Rupees , ( which being the Country money , and worth about 2 s. a piece , amounted to 200 l. ) also I had a good parcel of Diamonds , besides those I had cheated the Banian of at my first arrival ; several other Commodities I had by me , which ( with my Housholdstuff which was considerable ) did in all amount to a great value . The Fleet being departed , the chief of our Trading ceased , and now it was vacation time ▪ and I ( hating idleness , and somewhat weary of my Wives company ) being desirous of Novelty , set out to view the Country : to which end taking money with me , and all other necessaries , I hired an Indian Coach , which is a kind of a Chariot with two wheels , and will hold about four persons ; this Coach was drawn with two Oxen , who will travel about thirty miles a day : my charge was not much for about eighteen pence a day paid my Coach-man , and kept his Cattel . Thus did I ramble about the Country , visiting other of my acquaintance , where I had a full enjoyment of every thing the Country afforded : for we had notonly the Country drink called Toddee which is made of the juyce of several Trees , and Punch which is made of Rack-lime , or lime-wa●er , Sugar , Spice● and sometimes the addition of Ambergreese , but we likewi●e drank great quantities of Persian Wine , which is much like Claret , and brought from that Country in Bottles . These were our drinks wherof we drank plentifully , and oftentimes to excess ; our meat was chiefly Rice , with Beans , and Turkeys Beef and Mutton , and sometimes Veal and Lamb ; this was my ordinary diet , but the Banians eat no flesh accounting it criminal , it being contrary to their Religion to kill any thing ; the chiefest exercise we had was playing at Nine-pins , a game I was well acquainted with in England and therefore could well enough deal with the Natives , though they were expert there in . Though I pleased my self in these things yet there was still wanti●g the only thing which had alwayes made my life pleasant to me , and that was the company of Women ▪ for without their pleasing society in a full enjoyment I reckoned I had nothing , and therfore upon eve●y turn found them out ; but I must now be contented with the Natives , who although they are not so fair as the women of our European Countries , yet they may pass well enough , for their complexions are commonly of a tawny biew but they are richly adorned with pearl and other Jewels speak of those who were Mercenary . There is no Town but hath two or th●ee of these Brothel houses , which were allowed of ; neither was it any disgrace to be seen ●herein the handsomest women are here : the Matron of the house is furnished with several , who she purchases sometimes of their own Parents , who sell them , not accounting it an injury to d●spose them to this purpose . These old Bawds are as cuning as those of our Country , for they will sell a Maiden-headtwo or three times over for which they will some times have twenty or thirty Rupees , according to the goodness of the Comodity , and good will of the purchaser , who shall enjoy his bargain for 2 or 3 days or nights together either at their lodgings , or at home at their own houses ; neither do their wives dare to contradict their Husbands therein , for they will oftentimes bring home one of these Lasses , and lodge them in a Cot in the same Room with their Wives , and lye with them as often as they please , and when they have done with them send them home again .

I try●d several of these Bona Roba ●s , who pleased me very well for what they wanted in beauty they supplyed in respect and willingness to comply with and plea●e me in all my desires ; and though many times they have the Pox , by reason of their heat & activity yet they value it not for they are so well acquainted and furnished with remedies : that they soon cure themselves , and the men who accompany them : my ramble being finished I returned home , and though my Wife knew I had been at several of the●e Brothels yet I was joyfully received and welcomed by her . We keeping a publick house , had all sorts of guests , and now being at leisure I di●coursed with several of the Brammanes who are their Priests , who informed me not only of the Civil but Ecclesiastical Government of the Nation for though I supposed them Heathens , yet I found that they followed a rule in their livings to which they strictly ty'd themselves : They in general gave me this account , that they are governed by a K●ngly Monarch , who is called the Great Mogul he is absolute in his Dominions , and all his subjects are his slaves ; all the Land and Houses throughout his Dominions are his own , and the Inhabitants or occupiers are only his Tenants , and pay a valua●le rent for what they enjoy , which is ●nually collected by Officers to that purpose appointed and paid into his Exchequer this he bestows at his own pleasure , or spends in making War with his Enemies , who are chiefly the Tartars , and sometimes the Persians ; they have frequently civil Wars amongst themselves upon the death of their Prince , if he leaves more Sons then one behind him ; for he who lastruled , & was Father of this present Mogul , made his way to the Empire by the death of 11 of his Brethren he himself being the youngest when he dyed , which is not long since ; 3 of his Sons survived him , who all immediately raised great Armies either to gain the Empire , or lose their lives in general .

The 2 youngest having assembled all their well-willers and friends , with considerable Armies approached one another , a River now only parting them

The eldest of the two dispatched a Messenger to his Brother , t● tell him that he was very well satisfied in his taking Arms and since he was in such readiness if he plea●ed he would joyn forces with him , and assault their elder Brother , who being vanquisht they would divide the Government . The youngest ●rother willingly assenting to these propositions , came over to him , but no sooner was he in his power , but he caused both his eyes to be put out , ( thereby disenabling him from the Gove●nment ) and soon gaining the Captains of his Brothers Army to his party , he joyned Forces , & causing his blind Brother to be carried with him , advanced to meet and oppose his elder Brother , in short time they met , & fought each other with various success , but in fine he conquered his Brother ▪ & depriving him of life , as the other of sight he now remains sole Monarch of this large Empire .

The old Mogul died infinitely rich , for he left eight Tancks of coyned Mony , each Tanck esteemed to hold ten millions of Rupees ; and indeed it is no great marvel , for he hath some of his Subjects , especially the Banian Merchants , that are very rich all whose treasure he will command at his own will there is one Banian whose name is Vergore , who was the chiefest Merchant of his Tribe , and hath most of the Stocks of his fellows in his hand , to him the Great Mogul sent for money to which message he sent this answer , That he would presently furnish his Highness with a Hundred Carts loaden with ready money . The Mogul hearing this , ordered him ●o keep it till he sent again , or had further occasion The English have great priviledges , for they pay less Duties and Customes than the Natives , for the Banian Merchants will sometimes hire an English man to go to Sea with them in their Juncks , which are great Barks not to do any service in the voyage , but only to own the goods , that they may save several Taxes and Duties thatelse must be paid , as Anchorage and Moorage I one time was asked by a Banian of my acquaintance whether I would go to Sea with him , and he would give me a considerable recompence , he told me that I should only wear my hat eat my victuals and when we came to our port own the Goods ; being desirous of seeing fashions I consented ▪ and our Junck being loaden we set sail and departed : but never was I acompanied with such Sailers , for the Junck ( which is much like a close Lighter ) was deeply loaden with ●alli●oes it carried above 1000 Tun ; the wind being fair , all the tackling was nailed down and fastned , so that when we had been four dayes at Sea , the wind contrary to custome changed , but though it began to be tempestuous yet all our men being then at dinner there was none would leave their eating to handle the sails or alter the tackling , dinner being ended , I perswaded them with much adoe to go to workbut it was some hours ere they had loosned their tackling so as to lower their sails , and by that time we were driven out of knowledge ; the winds there are usually so constant , that they never make provisions to handle their sails , and alter them , but commonly as they fix them at their fetting out , so they continue till they come to their Port , where instead of an Anchor they carry a very great stone , fastned by an iron ring to their Cable , which they let down while they stay , but take up when they go away ; and then they alter their sails , fitting them to the wind to bring them back ; they continue in that manner to the end of the Voyage . But now it falling out otherwise , great was their trouble , not knowinghow to behave themselves : and although there was forty men on board , and they all well enough acquainted with Navigation in those parts , yet I that was but of one years standing was their be●t instructor , or else we had been lost and perished ; most of our sails being now taken down , and the wind ceasing we by the next day came into our knowledge , but met with another misfortune , which was like to prove worse then the former , ●or we discovered a Junck though nothing near so big as ours , yet better man'd and was indeed a Malabar Man of War , and our professed Enemy , who are used to infest those Seas with their Pyracies ; our Seamen being sensible of the desperateness of ou● condition ▪ were greatly dismayed but I ( who was formerly used to be dead hearted enough ) did now become Valerous , and encouraged them by words and Actions , for considering the badness of my condition being likely not only to ●ose what Estate I had lately gathered , but at least wise my liberty , and it may be my life , ( for many of these Malabars do kill & feed on their Prisoners ) these considerations I say possessed me with so much courage , that I was resolved to try my utmost power to defend my self from my Enemies ; we were by chance accompanied by ten Moors called Rashpoots , who being always brought up in Wars , never go unarmed ; these persons being more couragious then the rest , by my example , put themselves into a posture of defence , and the other Seamen had Swords and other weapons put into their hands , to keep the Enemy from boarding us : we had eight great Guns in our Junck , which were carried more for ornament then use , for they knew not how to discharge them against an Enemy to advantage ( they being a well as their tackling and sails , fixed to one place ) only served to be shot off in triumph , and make a noise , but would not be well levelled to carry a Bullet to do execution . I seeing this inconvenience , took such order therein that the Guns were placed so as to dammage our Enemy , who now approaching us , came close up towards us , but he found a hotter entertainment then he expected , for we killed several of his men with our ●irst broad side ; the only weapons our Enemies had were great stones which they threw at us in abundance ; but we having again charged our great Guns , and all the small ones we had aboard , gave them such a peal as was the funeral knel to many of them ; by this time they were discouraged , and our men seeing the good success we had came all in sight and every one taking a great stone , which had been thrown to us by the Enemy , gave them such an onset with the stones as now made them to think of giving over their enterprize , which we compelled them to do , so soon as we had given them another broad-side , and once more discharged all our small guns ▪ thi● gave them so generall a blow that they Vered about and let us to prosecute our Voyage . Our Enemies being gone , I called all our men together to see what damage we had sustained , and upon enquiry found that we had n●t lost a man : but about half a dozen broken heads and faces was all the harm we had received .

I was generally applauded for my courage , and the chief owner of the Goods not only rendred me infinite thanks , but promised me a great reward , which was Justly paid me at the end of our Voyage : I told them that I much wondred at the manner of o●r Enemies fight but I received this answer , that they seldome used any other Weapons t●en stones , which they carried in great plenty , trusting to them and their great numbers , for the Bark that set upon us had above a hundred men in her , and would have certainly taken us , had I not made so good a fight with our Guns which was a thing unusual for them to meet with not suspecting that we could make any use of them , otherwise then to shoot upright as was usual , but they found the contrary to their cost : for I suppose we had the good fortune to kill ●everal of them which so disheartned them , that they left us as I told you : and thus we meeting with no more ob●truction , in two moneths time finished our Voyage , and returned home , where I received 500 Rupees as a recompence for my good service .

I was joyfully received at home by my Wife and acquired a very good esteem of all by t●is my valerous exploit , and had many advantageous offers to go again on the same account ; but I valuing my pleasure more then profit , which was hazardous declined the propo●itions , and now rested my self at home only making some excursions to visit the best of my friends who failed not to welcome me , the honestest Women to whom I made my self welcome sometimes . I travelled to the adjacent Towns where I visited the pleasant Gardens , and other times I went further to the Cities which being well built with brick , had pleasant Platformes or Terrets on the top ; many of the Cities were Walled and fortifyed with Castles for their defence : I seldome went without a couple of attendants which are called Puisn's who were my daily servants ▪ these were a sort of Banians who served me for four shillings a month a peice , and out of that found themselves diet , unless they travelled far from home , and then I allowed each of them all out three half pence a peice per day to buy them victuals and drink , which was only Cutkeree Butters Toddee with which they were very well satisfied , neither indeed doth the Consul give much more to his serviters , for his chief Puisn hath but twelve shillings per month ; and out of that he keeps a horse and a servant to attend him . They are very dilligent and faithf●l in what they are intrusted with , but so soon as they perceive a new Moon they tell their master of it that they may pay them their wages .

Having now satisfied my curiosity in these travels , and being returned home I began to consider with my self my fore passed life : then it was I did run over those several accidents that had formerly befallen me .

A● first how I committed Rogueries , when but a boy and ran away from my Mother ( of whom I had never since so much as heard or enquired ) I had some reflections thereupon and what my Mother might Judge was become of me : then did I call to mind the Rogueries I committed , when among the Gypsies and Beggars , and how with them I first tryed and tasted the pleasure of a Female Companion , from that my apprentiship and the several adventures I had , and pleasant nights lodgings I enjoyed not only with the Maid but the Mistress : how after the Maid whom I had gotten with child was delivered , I dispatcht her and child to Virginia , and soon after by mine and my Mistresses extravagancies sent my Master first to Prison , and so out of the world my Mistress her self not long surviving him : being then a freeman I married , but was justly enough fitted for my disloyalty by my wives incontinency which with my own prodigality soon consumed me , enforcing me to leave England for Ireland , which being my first great remove , I seriously reflected on , not knowing where I should end my days , I being now far distant from the place of my Nativity but I bethinking my self that my only livelyhood depended there in my vital strength , not that I was exposed to carry burdens or labour in the day time , but in the night in Venerial combats , where I received equal pleasure : and indeed I having run through the whole course of my life , found that by the favourable a●d goood opinion of women ( which was not undeserved ) I had not only preserved my self , but many times raised my self a sufficient fortune : as I had lately done by Marrying with my Moerish Wife , in which present condition I concluded my self much better then when I was in Ireland tyed to my old woman , who only paid me and gave me mony according to the service I did her , and was then again old and peevish , and above all things very jealous ; whereas now I was my own pay-master , and though my bed-fellow was not fair , yet she was young and pleasant and so far from jealousie , that she her self sometimes would procure me a you●g girl , the fairest in the country to lye with me , and she also lying by me , and taking much pleasure therein .

Then did I proceed in the thoughts of my former life , and considered the many dangers I under went all the time I followed my Padding employment ▪ and though I then u●ually wore money enough in my Pocket , and sometimes met with some female adventures , as the Farmers Daughter , the Poetick Widdow , and my Female Robbers and others in whose converse I took much pleasure , yet I ●as in all these pleasures still accompanied with fear of being snapt , as indeed I was at last and likely to be trus't up : but that my penitence wrought so upon my friends as to procure my sentence of death , to be altred into that of banishment : which had through many miseries and cross adventures brought me hither , where I received the full enjoyment of all things : this consideration took me up much t●me , and possessed me with some virtuous thoughts , believing that I had not been preserved and reserved from so many hazards but for some good end , and now I had a fair opportunity of declining Vice , and living vertuously , I not being likely to be expo●ed to any such Rogui●h shifts or courses as formerly , these thoughts of Vertue made way for those of Religion , and now it was that I seriously considered of that Word in genes al , and being ( ●hough little practised in ) yet well enough acquainted with t●e Chr●stian Religion , I wondred at the a●surdity of t●e Religion of other Nations , especially of the Cou●t●y wherein I now lived , and having been curious in enquiry of the grounds thereof , I had received a good-account , though little satisfaction ; but since it is a Novelty , and may well enough ●uit with the following discourse which will consist of several and variety of Knaveries and Cheatings , whereof I suppose this of this Countries Religion m●y very well bear a part : I shall give you a sho●t account thereof in this following Chapter .