The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 23.4.2

23.4.2

His Noblemen hee suffered to walke a foote, which I did to the gate and left him. His wiues on their Eliphantes were carried like Parrakitoes halfe a Mile behynd him. When hee came before the doore wher [h]is eldest sonne is prisoner, he stayed the Coach and called for him. He came and made reuerence, with a swoord and buckler in his hand ; his beard grown to his middle, a signe of disfauour. The king Commanded him to ascend one of the spare Eliphantes and so rode next to him, to the extream applause and ioy of all men, who now are filld with new hopes. The king gaue him a thousand rupias to Cast to the People. His Iaylor, Asaph Chan, and all the Monsters yet a foote. I tooke horse to avoyd Presse and other inconuenience, and crossed out of the leskar before him, and attended vntill hee came near his Tentes. Hee passed all the way betweene a guard of Eliphantes, hauing euery one a turred on his back ; on the fower corners fower banners of yellow taffety ; right before, a sling mounted that carried a bullett as bigg as a great Tennis ball ; the gunner behind yt ; in Number about 300. Other Eliphantes of honor that went before and after, about 600 ; all which were couered with veluett or cloth of gould, and had 2 or 3 guilded banners carried. In the way rann diuers footemen with sckinnes of water that made a continuall shower before him; no horse nor man suffered to approach the Coach by two furlonges, except those that walked a foote by;