The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 31.2.2

31.2.2

Then against Cloth of Gold, Silke, Stuffes, Linnen, Spices, and all sorts of goods, but I must beleeue, for they were in fardles. Lastly, against Meale, Butter, Corne, which is said to be giuen to the Banians, and all the rest of the Stuffe; but I saw it carefully carryed in, and none distributed. Onely the siluer is reserued for the poore, and serues the ensuing yeare, the King vsing in the night to call for some before him, and with his owne hands in great familiaritie and humilitie to distribute that money. The scale he sate in by one side, he gazed on me, and turned me his stones and wealth, and smiled, but spake nothing, for my Enterpreter could not be admitted in. After he was weighed, he ascended his Throne, and had Basons of Nuts, Almonds, Fruits, Spices of all sort, made in thinne siluer, which he cast about, and his great men scrambled prostrate vppon their bellies; which seeing I did not, hee reached one Bason almost full, and powred into my Cloke. His Noblemen were so bold as to put in their hands, so thicke that they had left me none if I had not put a remayner vp. I heard he threw Gold till I came in, but found it siluer so thinne, that all I had at first, being thousands of seuerall pieces, had not weighed sixtie Rupias. I saued about twentie Rupias weight, yet a good dishfull, which I keep to shew the ostentation; for by my proportion he could not that day cast away aboue one hundred pound sterling. At night he drinketh with all his Nobilitie in rich Plate.