The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 23.3.7

23.3.7

— The king remooued to his tents with his weomen and all the Court about 3 mile. I went to attend him. Comming to the Pallace, I found him at the Jarruco wyndow and went vp on the scaffold vnder him, which Place, not hauing seene before, I was glad of the occasion. On two tresselles stood two Eunuches with long Poles headed with feathers fanning him. He gaue many fauours and receiued many Presentes. What hee bestowed hee lett downe by a silke stringe rouled on a turning instrument; what was giuen him, a venerable fatt deformed ould Matron, wrinckled and hung with gimbelles like an Image, Pulld vp at a hole with such a Nother Clue. At one syde in a wyndow were his two Principall wifes, whose Curiositye made them breake litle holes in a grate of reede that hung before yt to gaze on mee. I saw first their fingers, and after laying their faces close nowe one eye, Now another; sometyme I could discerne the full proportion. They were indifferently white, black hayre smoothed vp; but if I had had no other light, ther diamondes and Pearles had sufficed to show them. When I lookd vp they retyred, and were so merry that I supposed they laughd at mee. Suddenly the king rose, and wee retyred to the Durbar and satt on the Carpettes attending his Comming out. Not long after hee Came and sate about halfe an hower, vntill his ladyes at their doore were ascended their elephantes, which were about 50, all most richly furnished.