An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon in the East Indies eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 438 pages of information about An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon in the East Indies.

An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon in the East Indies eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 438 pages of information about An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon in the East Indies.

[Sparing in his Dyet.] He is temperate both in his Diet and his Lust.  Of the former, I am informed by those that have attended on his Person in his Palace, that though he hath all sorts of Varieties the Land affords brought to his Table, yet his chief fare is Herbs, and ripe pleasant Fruits:  and this but once a day.  Whatsoever is brought for him to eat or drink is covered with a white cloath, and whoever brings it, hath a Mufler tyed about his mouth, lest he should breath upon the Kings Food. [After what manner he Eats.] The Kings manner of eating is thus.  He sits upon a Stool before a small Table covered with a white cloath, all alone.  He eats on a green Plantane-Leaf laid in a Gold Bason.  There are twenty or thirty Dishes prepared for him, which are brought into his Dining-Room.  And which of these Dishes the King pleases to call for, a Nobleman appointed for that service, takes a Portion of and reaches in a Ladle to the Kings Bason.  This person also waits with a mufler about his mouth.

[Chast himself, and requires his Attendants to be so.] And as he is abstemious in his eating, so in the use of women.  If he useth them ’tis unknown and with great secrecy.  He hath not had the Company of his Queen this twenty years, to wit, since he went from Candy, where he left her.  He allowes not in his Court Whoredom or Adultery; and many times when he hears of the misdemeanors of some of his Nobles in regard of women, He not only Executes them, but severely punisheth the women, if known:  and he hath so many Spyes, that there is but little done, which he knows not of.  And often he gives Command to expel all the women out of the City, not one to remain.  But by little and little when they think his wrath is appeas’d, they do creep in again.  But no women of any Quality dare presume, and if they would, they cannot, the Watches having charge given them not to let them pass.  Some have been taken concealed under mans Apparel, and what became of them all may judg, for they never went home again.  Rebellion does not more displease this King, then for his Nobles to have to do with women.  Therefore when any are admitted to his Court to wait upon him, they are not permitted to enjoy the Company of their Wives, no more then any other women.  Neither hath he suffered any for near this twenty years to have their Wives in the City, except Slaves or inferior servants.

[He committed incest, but such as was allowable.] Indeed he was once guilty of an Act, that seemed to argue him a man of most unbridled Lust.  For he had a Daughter that was with Child by himself:  but in Childbed both dyed.  But this manner of Incest is allowable in Kings, if it be only to beget a right Royal Issue, which can only be gotten that way.  But in all other ’tis held abominable, and severely punished.  And here they have a common and usual Proverb, None can reproach the King nor the Beggar.  The one being so high, that none dare; the other so low that nothing can shame or reproach them.

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An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon in the East Indies from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.