The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c28.56

v1.c28.56

7. Such was the life of the Jesuits at the court of Venkata II while he ruled at Chandragiri. After his conquest of Vellore in the beginning of 1604, and during his short stay at that place, Fr. Ricio went there to pay him his respects ²; and shortly after Fr. Alberto Laerzio, the Superior of the Vice-Province of Malabar, who had visited him at Chandragiri in the preceding year, ³ also went to Vellore to do homage to him. Venkata, on hearing of his coming, gave orders to prepare and adorn a house next to the palace for him and his companion. "As soon as they arrived", says a Jesuit letter, "several nobles paid a visit to them, and congratulated them on their arrival on behalf of the king. Then Ramana, the son of the King's sister, a very good friend of ours, also sent to the Fathers some nobles of his household, through whom he presented to the Fathers some good dishes of his own table, as he had previously done to Fathers Nicolao Levanto and Francesco Ricio. Father Provincial answered that he and his companions would like to cook their food themselves at home; then the prince sent them a large number of wethers and hens, besides butter, rice, and other uncooked eatables; moreover, a while after, he again sent them a wild boar brought by his brother from a hunting expedition; finally he came himself, and gave the Fathers many proofs of his sincere friendship and esteem ".