Of What They Had Not

For what the Protection of Absolute Monarchy is, what kind of Fathers of 

their Countries it makes Princes to be, and to what a degree of Happiness and Security 

it carries Civil Society, where this sort of Government is grown to perfection, 

he that will look into the late Relation of Ceylon may easily see. 

– John Locke, Two Treatises on Government, II.vii.92

 

❦

 
OF WHAT THEY HAD NOT

Robert Knox on the Kingdom of Kandy

 

Offices or titles by inheritance.

Passable roads. Bridges over rivers.

Streets in their towns and villages.

Liberty to move about the country

Or to make a choice of occupation.

Of markets and manufactures, but few.

 

Home-pride, chimneys,

Walls whitewashed or tiled

(Save they be the King, or I);

Curtains, cushions,

Cupboards, shelves or chairs;

Sundials, hourglasses, clocks.

 

Forts or castles built by man,

Fishing-nets or chicken-feed,

Doctors, chirurgeons,

Elaborate obsequies for the dead,

Shoes or stockings; nor even

Candles, less they be the King.

 

Lions. Wolves. Horses, asses or sheep. 

Dung in use for fertiliser. Iron ploughs.  

Schools, secular books, or paper;  

Of sports few, nor delight in play.  

Much of feasting, drink or drunkenness.  

Mention of sodomy.

 

Chastity, fidelity in marriage,

Wooing for a wife,

Sanctions against adultery,

Jealousy of their women.

Professional whores

Or midwives.

 

Loving or private conference with kindred,

Account or conscience of lying,

Moral instruction unto children,

Great malice toward one another,

Zeal in worship, or much matter

Of esteem for their gods.

 

Laws, save the whim of the King.

Justice in any wise.

 

©Richard Simon, 27 Jul 2023