The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 44: Goodes from the Southwardes.

44

Spices of all kindes give great proffit. China Dishes and all sortes of fine ware, as Chestes, Cabbenetts, bedsteades &c. to as good proffit as in England.
Taffaties imbrodered with gould, silke in flowers, vearie well requested and rated.
From theis partes for presentes in toyes you maie be better furnished then from Europe.
Cochenel will neuer sell a certenty. Few knowe it. For a pownd or two some may give a good price; but it is no comoditie of vse. Those of Sinda only buy it. The Persians bring a little and retaile it at 35 ruppies the great seere.
Ammell hath sould: the red, if verie fine, ordinarily for twice the waight in gould. The Portugales haue theis two yeres from Goa brought some, of which francisco Swart 18 l.; the red sould at 45 s. the ounce, blewe, white and greene att 18 s. The King being in the feild, all the workmen, both of the Court and the great men, are retourned to Agra, where I must sende it. It may yeld you, the red (against the Norouse) nere the waight of gould, the rest 1/3 the waight in gould.