The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 19.6.6

19.6.6

So he sent for one Presently and questioned him if hee would venture the Iourney, who seeming willing hee presented to mee, and said hee would prouide some toyes of the Cuntrye for his Maiestie and send him in my Company. By the manner this seemed to me to be earnest. While wee thus spent tyme our Supper came, two Clothes beeing spread as in the morning, and before me and my Chaplayne and one Merchant were sett diuers dishes of salletts and meate rost, fryed, boyld, and diuers rises. He desiered to bee excused : that it was their manner to eate among themselues : his Countrymen would take it ill if hee eate not with them. So hee and his guests, I and my Company solaced our selues with a good refreshing. The meate was not amisse, but the attendance and order much better, his seruants beeing very diligent and respectfull. Hee gaue me for a present, as is the manner when one is envited, 5 Cases of sugar Candy dressed with muscke, and one lofe of most fine sugar white as snow, about 50 li. weight desiering mee to accept of 100 of such against my goeing. Which, sayd he, you refuse of mee, thincking I am poore, but it costs me nothing : it is made in my Gouerment and Comes gratis to mee. I answered hee had too far already obliged me : that I would not refuse his Curtesye when I was ready to depart. Hee replyed hee might be then vnfurnished, and therfore desired I would nowe speake, that hee might not loose his offer and labour too.