The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 26.3.2

26.3.2

December 15. — Master Fettiplace arriued at the Leskar from Agra, beeing out of busines and leauing Master Shallbanck with the goodes, who determined to lock up the house and to remooue to Fettipoore for the vehement rage of the Plauge, Now their next neighbowre. December 17. — Master Fettiplace departed to Adsmere to remayne with the goodes. December 18. — I visited the king, who having beene at his sports, and his quarry of foule and fish lyeing before him, hee desired mee to take my Choyse, and so distributed the remayner to his Nobilitye. I found him sitting on his throwne, and a begger at his feet, a poore silly ould man, all ashd, ragged, and Patched, with a young roague attending him. With these kinde of professed Poore holy men the Country aboundes, and are held in great reuerance; but for woorks of chastisment of their bodyes and voluntary sufferings they exceed the bragges of all heritiques or Idolatres. This miserable wretch, clothd in raggs, crownd with feathers, couered with ashes, his Maiestie talked with about an hower, with such familiarity and show of kindnes that it must needes argue an humilitye not found easely among kinges. The begger sate, which his sonne dares not doe. Hee gaue the king a Present, a Cake, ashed, burnt on the Coales, made by himselfe of Course grayne, which the king accepted most willingly, and brake one bitt and eate yt, which a daynty mouth could scarce haue done.