The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 19.6.2

19.6.2

Hee tould mee much of the Customes of this Countrie, of their seruitude, of their want of lawes, of the encrease of this empire, wherin hee had serued 3 Princes in grace and fauour (of which tymes hee showed mee a booke or Annall of all memorable Actions, which hee had daylie Committed to record and had nowe composed them into a historye, the Copy wherof hee offered mee, if I could procure it translated), concerning the kings reuenew and the manner of raysing it, besides Confiscations, guifts, and Cuttings vpon great men: that the Gouerment of euery Prouince did yearly pay a rent, as for his Gouerment of Patan only hee gaue the king 11 leeckes of rupies (the rupe starling is 2 shillings 2 pence): all other profitts were his, wherin hee had regall authoritye to take what hee list, which was esteemed at 5,000 horse, the pay of euerie one at 200 rupies by yeare, wherof hee keept 1,500 and was alowed the surplase as dead pay; besides this the king gaue him of Pension 1,000 rupies a day and some smaller gouerments ; yet hee assured mee ther were diuers that had double his entertaynment, and aboue 20 equall. Hee praysed the good Prophet Jesus and his lawes, and was full of very delightfull and fruictfull discourse. This visitt was past some few dayes, and I thought that his curtesye had beene at an end, but this day he had borowed of the king his house and Garden of Pleasure Hauaz Gemall, a mile out of towne, to feast mee in ;