Purchas his pilgrimes. part 1 In fiue bookes. The first, contayning the voyages and peregrinations made by ancient kings, patriarkes, apostles, philosophers, and others, to and thorow the remoter parts of the knowne world: enquiries also of languages and religions, especially of the moderne diuersified professions of Christianitie. The second, a description of all the circum-nauigations of the globe. The third, nauigations and voyages of English-men, alongst the coasts of Africa ... The fourth, English voyages beyond the East Indies, to the ilands of Iapan, China, Cauchinchina, the Philippinæ with others ... The fifth, nauigations, voyages, traffiques, discoueries, of the English nation in the easterne parts of the world ... The first part.

§. II. His Iourney to the Mogoll at Agra, and entertayment at Court.

NOw finding William Finch in good health, newly recouered, I left all things touching the Trade of Merchandizing in his power: giuing him my remembrance and order, what he should doe in my absence. So I began to take vp Souldiers to conduct mee,* 1.1 being denyed of Mocrebchan, besides Shot and Bow-men that I hired. For my bet∣ter [ 10] safety, I went to one of Chanchanna his Captaines, to let mee haue fortie or fiftie Horsemen to conduct me to Chanchanna, being then Vice-Roy of Decan, Resident in Bramport, who did to his power all that I demanded, giuing me valiant Horsemen Pattans, a people very much feared in these parts: for if I had not done it, I had beene ouer-throwne.* 1.2 For the Portugals of Dama•• had wrought with an ancient friend of theirs a Raga, who was absolute Lord of a Prouince, (betweene Daman, Guzerat and Decan) called Cruly, to be readie with two hundred Horsemen to stay my passage: but I went so strong and well prouided, that they durst not incounter with vs: so likewise that time I escaped.

Then at Dayta, another Prouince or Princedome,* 1.3 my Coachman being drunke with certaine [ 20] of his Kindred, discouered the Treason that hee was to worke against mee, which was, that hee was hiered to murther me: he being ouer-heard by some of my Souldiers, who at that present came and told me, and how it should be done in the morning following, when we begin our tra∣uell: (for wee vse to trauell two houres before day) vpon which notice,* 1.4 I called the Coachman vnto me, examining him, and his friends before the Captaine of the Horsemen I had with mee: who could not deny; but hee would neuer confesse who hired him, although hee was very much beaten, cursing his fortune that he could not effect it: for he was to doe it the next morning, so I sent him Prisoner vnto the Gouernour of Suratt.

But afterward by my Broker or Truchman,* 1.5 I vnderstood that both hee and the Coachman were hired by Mocrebchan, but by the Fathers perswasion, the one to poyson me, and the other [ 30] to murther me: but the Truchman receiued nothing till he had done the deed, which hee neuer meant to doe, for in that kind hee was alwayes true vnto mee: thus God preserued me. This was fiue dayes after my departure from Suratt, and my departure from Suratt was the first of Februa∣ry 1608. So following on my trauels for Bramport, some two dayes beyond Dayta, the Pattans left me, but to be conducted by another Pattan Captaine, Gouernour of that Lordship, by whom I was most kindly entertained. His name was Sherchan, beeing sometime a Prisoner vnto the Portugall, and hauing the Portugall Language perfect, was glad to doe mee any seruice: for that I was of the Nation, that was enemie vnto the Portugall. Himselfe in person, with fortie Horse∣men, went two dayes ioureney with mee, till hee had freed mee from the dangerous places: at which time he met with a troupe of Out-lawes, and tooke some foure aliue, and slew and hurt [ 40] eight, the rest escaped. This man very kindly writ his Letter for me, to haue his house at Bram∣port, which was a great curtesie, otherwise I could not tell where to lodge my selfe, the Towne being so full of Souldiers: for then began the Warres with the Decans.

The eighteenth of the said Moneth, thankes be to God, I came in safetie to Bramport, and the next day I went to the Court to visit Chanchanna,* 1.6 being then Lord Generall and Vice-Roy of Decan, giuing him a Present; who kindly tooke it: and after three houres conference with him, he made me a great Feast, and being risen from the Table, inuested me with two Clokes, one of fine Woollen, and another of Cloth of Gold: giuing mee his most kind Letter of fauour to the King, which auayled much. That done he imbraced me, and so we departed. The Language that we spoke was Turkish, which he spake very well.

[ 50] I remayned in Bramport vnto the second of March;* 1.7 till then I could not end my businesses of Monies that I brought by exchange, staying likewise for a Carrauan, hauing taken new Soul∣diers, I followed my Voyage or iourney to Agra: where after much labour, toyle, and many dangers, I arriued in safety the sixteenth of Aprill, 1609. Being in the Citie, and seeking out for an house in a very secret manner, notice was giuen the King that I was come, but not to bee found: He presently charged both Horsemen and Footmen in many troupes, not to leaue before I was found, commanding his Knight Marshall to accompany mee wieh great state to the Court, as an Embassador of a King ought to be: which he did with a great traine, making such extraordi∣nary haste, that I admired much: for I could scarce obtayne time to apparell my selfe in my best attyre. In fine, I was brought before the King, I came with a slight present,* 1.8 hauing nothing but [ 60] cloth, and that not esteemed: (for what I had for the King, Mocreb-chan tooke from me, wher∣with I acquainted his Maiestie.) After salutation done, with a most kinde and smiling counte∣nance, he bade me most heartily welcome, vpon which speech I did my obeysance and dutie a∣gaine. Hauing his Maiesties Letter in my hand, he called me to come neere vnto him, stretching downe his hand from the Seate Royall, where he sate in great Maiestie something high for to be

seene of the people: receiuing very kindly the Letter of me, viewing the Letter a prettie while, both the Seale, and the manner of the making of it vp, he called for an old Iesuite that was there present to reade it. In the meane space, while the Iesuite was reading it, hee spake vnto mee in the kindest manner that could bee, demanding of mee the contents of the Letter, which I told him: vpon which notice, presently granting and promising me by God, that all what the King had there written, he would grant and allow withall his heart, and more if his Maiestie would require it. The Iesuite likewise told him the effect of the Letter, but discommending the stile, saying,* 1.9 it was basely penned, writing Vestra without Maiestad: my answere was vnto the King, and if it shall please your Maiestie, these people are our enemies: how can this Letter be ill written, when my King demandeth fauour of your Maiestie? he said, it was true. [ 10]

* 1.10Perceiuing I had the Turkish Tongue; which himselfe well vnderstood, hee commanded me to follow him vnto his Chamber of Presence, being then risen from that place of open Audience, desiring to haue further conference with me: in which place I stayed some two houres, till the King came forth from his women. Then calling mee vnto him, the first thing that hee spake, was that he vnderstood that Mocrebchan had not dealt well with mee, bidding mee bee of good cheere, for he would remedie all. It should seeme, that Mocrebchans enemies had acquainted the King with all his proceedings:* 1.11 for indeed the King hath Spies vpon euery Nobleman. I answe∣red most humbly, that I was certaine, all matters would goe well on my side, so long as his Ma∣iestie protected me. Vpon which speech he presently sent away a Post for Suratt, with his com∣mand to Mocrebchan, writing vnto him very earnestly in our behalfes: coniuring him to bee [ 20] none of his friend, if hee did not deale well with the English, in that kind, as their desire was.

This being dispatched and sent, by the same Messenger, I sent my Letter to William Finch, wi∣shing him to goe with this command to Mocrebchan: at the receit of which hee wondred that I came safe to Agra, and was not murthered, or poysoned by the way, of which speech William Finch aduertised me afterward.

It grew late, and hauing had some small conference with the King at that time, he comman∣ded that I should daily be brought into his presence, and gaue a Captaine named Houshaber chan charge, that I should lodge at his house, till a house were found conuenient for me: and when I needed any thing of the King, that he should bee my Solicitor. According to command, I resor∣ted to the Court, where I had daily conference with the King. Both night and day, his delight [ 30] was very much to talke with mee, both of the Affaires of England and other Countries, as also many demands of the West Indies, whereof hee had notice long before, being in doubt if there were any such place, till he had spoken with me, who had beene in the Countrey.

Many dayes and weekes being past, and I now in great fauour with the King, to the griefe of all mine enemies,* 1.12 espying my time, I demanded for his Commandement or Commission with Ca∣pitulations for the establishing of our Factory to be in mine owne power. His answere was, whe∣ther I would remayne with him in his Court, I replyed, till shipping came: then my desire was to goe home, with the answere of his Maiesties Letter. Hee replyed againe, that his meaning was a longer time, for he meant to send an Embassador to the King of England, at the comming of the next shipping: and that I should stay with him vntill some other bee sent from my King, [ 40] to remayne in my place, saying this: Thy staying would be highly for the benefit of thy Nation, and that he would giue me good maintenance, and my being heere in his presence, would bee the cause to right all wrongs that should be offered vnto my Nation: and further, what I should see beneficiall for them, vpon my petition made, hee would grant: swearing By his Fathers Soule, that if I would remayne with him, he would grant me Articles for our Factorie to my hearts de∣sire, and would neuer goe from his word. I replyed againe, that I would consider of it. Thus daily inticing me to stay with him, alleaging as is aboue written, and that I should doe seruice, both to my naturall King and him, and likewise he would allow me by the yeare, three thousand and two hundred pounds sterling for my first,* 1.13 and so yeerely, hee promised mee to augment my Liuing, till I came to a thousand Horse. So my first should be foure hundred Horse. For the No∣bilitie [ 50] of India haue their Titles by the number of their Horses, that is to say, from fortie to twelue thousand, which pay belongeth to Princes, and his Sonnes. I trusting vpon his promise, and seeing it was beneficiall both to my Nation and my selfe, beeing dispossessed of that benefit which I should haue reaped, if I had gone to Bantam, and that after halfe a doozen yeeres, your Worships would send another man of sort in my place, in the meane time, I should feather my Neast, and doe you seruice: and further perceiuing great iniuries offered vs, by reason the King is so farre from the Ports, for all which causes aboue specified, I did not thinke it amisse to yeeld vnto his request. Then, because my name was something hard for his pronuntiation, hee called me by the name of English Chan, that is to say, English Lord, but in Persia, it is the Title for a Duke, and this went currant throughout the Countrey. [ 60]

Now your Worships shall vnderstand, that I being now in the highest of my fauours, the Ie∣suites and Portugals slept not, but by all meanes sought my ouerthrow: and to say the truth, the principall Mahumetans neere the King,* 1.14 enuyed much that a Christian should bee so nigh vnto him. The Iesuite Peniero being with Mocrebchan, and the Iesuites here, I thinke did little regard

their Masses and Church matters, for studying how to ouerthrow my Affaires: aduice being gone to Goa by the Iesuites here, I meane in Agra, and to Padre Peneiro at Surat or Cambaya, hee wor∣king with Mocrebchan to be the Portugals assistance,* 1.15 and the Vice-Roy sending him a great Pre∣sent, together with many Toyes vnto the King with his Letter. These presents and many more promises, wrought so much with Mocrebchan, that he writeth his Petition vnto the King, sen∣ding it together with the present, aduertising the King, that the suffring of the English in his land, would be the cause of the losse of his owne Countries, neere the Sea-Coasts, as Suratt, Cambaya, and such like: and that in any case he entertaine me not, for that his ancient friends the Portu∣galls murmured highly at it: and that the fame is spread amongst the Portugalls,* 1.16 that I was Ge∣nerall [ 10] of ten thousand Horsemen, readie to giue the assault vpon Di••, when our shipping came.

The Vice-Royes Letter likewise was in this kind: the Kings answere was; that he had but one English••man in his Court, and him they needed not to feare,* 1.17 for hee hath not pretended any such matter: for I would haue giuen him Liuing neere the Sea parts, but he refused it, taking it neere me heere. This was the Kings answere, vpon which answere, the Portugalls were like madde Dogges, labouring to worke my passage out of the World. So I told the King, what dangers I had passed, and the present danger wherein I was, my Boy Stephen Grauener,* 1.18 instantly departing this World, my man Nicholas Vfflet extreame sicke, and this was all my English Company, my selfe beginning to fall downe too. The King presently called the Iesuites, and told them that if I dyed by any extraordinary casualtie, that they should all rue for it. This past, the King was [ 20] very earnest with me to take a white Mayden out of his Palace, who would giue her all things necessary with slaues, and he would promise mee shee should turne Christian: and by this meanes my meates and drinkes should be looked vnto by them, and I should liue without feare. In regard she was a Moore, I refused, but if so bee there could bee a Christian found, I would accept it: At which my speech, I little thought a Christians Daughter could bee found. So the King called to memorie one Mubarique Sha his Daughter, who was a Christian Armenian,* 1.19 and o•• the Race of the most ancient Christians, who was a Captaine, and in great fauour with Ekber Padasha, this Kings Father. This Captaine dyed suddenly, and without will, worth a Masse of Money, and all robbed by his Brothers and Kindred, and Debts that cannot be recouered: leauing the Child but only a few Iewels. I seeing shee was of so honest a Descent, hauing passed my word to the [ 30] King, could not withstand my fortunes. Wherefore I tooke her, and for want of a Minister,* 1.20 be∣fore Christian Witnesses, I marryed her: the Priest was my man Nicholas, which I thought had beene lawfull, till I met with a Preacher that came with Sir Henry Middleton, and hee shewing me the error, I was new marryed againe: so euer after I liued content and without feare, she be∣ing willing to goe where I went, and liue as I liued. After these matters ended, newes came hi∣ther, that the Ascention was to come by the men of her Pinnasse, that was cast away neere Su∣ratt, vpon which newes, I presently went to the King and told him, crauing his Licence, toge∣ther with his Commission, for the setling of our Trade: which the King was willing to doe, li∣miting me a time to returne, and be with him againe.

But the Kings chiefe Vizir Abdal Hassan, a man enuious to all Christians, told the King, that my going would be the occasion of warre: and thus harme might happen vnto a great man who [ 40] was sent for Goa, to buy toyes for the King. Vpon which speach, the Kings pleasure was I should stay, and send away his Commission to my chiefe Factor at Surat, and presently gaue or∣der, that it should be most effectually written. In fine, vnder his great Seale with Golden Let∣ters, his Commission was written, so firmely for our good, and so free as heart can wish. This I obtained presently, and sent it to William Finch. Before it came there, newes came that the Ascen∣tion was cast away, and her men saued, but not suffered to come into the Citie of Surat, Of that likewise I told the King, who seemed to be very much discontented with that great Captaine Mocreb chan, my enemy: and gaue me another commandement for their good vsage, and meanes to be wrought to saue the goods, if it were possible. These two commandements came almost together, to the great ioy of William Finch and the rest, admiring much at these things. And now [ 50] continuing these great fauours with the King, being continually in his sight, for the one halfe of foure and twentie houres seruing him day and night, I wanted not the greater part of his No∣bles that were Mahumetans, to be mine enemies. For it went against their hearts, that a Chri∣stian should be so great & neere the King: and the more, because the King had promised to make his Brothers children Christians, which two yeares after my cōming he performed, commanding them to be made Christians. A while after came some of the Ascentions Company vnto me (whom I could haue wished of better behauiour, a thing pryed into by the King.) In all this time, I could not get my debts of Mocrebchan, till at length he was sent for vp to the King, to answe••e for many faults, and tyrannicall In-iustice, which he did to all people in those parts, many a man being vndone by him, who petitioned to the King for Iustice. Now, this Dogge to make his [ 60] peace, sent many bribes to the Kings sonnes, and No••le-men that were neere the King, who laboured in his behalfe. After newes came that Mocrebchan was approached neere, the King presently sent to attach all his goods, which were in that abundance, that the King was two moneths in viewing of them, euery day allotting a certaine quantitie to be brought before me:

and what he thought fitting for his owne turne he kept, and the rest deliuered againe to Mocreb∣chan. In the viewing of these goods, there came those Peeces and Costlet, and Head-peece, with other Presents that he tooke from me for the King of mine owne, not suffering mee to bring them my selfe: at the sight whereof, I was so bold to tell the King what was mine. Af∣ter the King had viewed these goods, a very great complaint was made by a Bania••, how that Mocrebchan had taken his Daughter, saying; she was for the King, which was his excuse, de∣flowring her himselfe: and afterwards gaue her to a Brammen, belonging to Mocrebchan. The man who gaue notice of this Child, protested her to passe all that euer he saw for beautie. The matter being examined, and the offence done by Mocrebchan, found to be true, hee was com∣mitted to prison, in the power of a great Noble-man: and commandement was giuen, that the [ 10] Brammene his priuy members should be cut off.

Before this happened to Mocrebchan, I went to visite him diuers times, who made me verie faire promises, that he would deale very kindly with mee, and be my friend, and that I should haue my right. Now being in this disgrace, his friends daily solliciting for him, at length got him cleere: with commandement, that he pay euery man his right, and that no more complaints be made of him if he loued his life. So Mocrebchan by the Kings command, paid euery one his due, excepting me, whom he would not pay, but deliuer me my Cloath, whereof I was desirous, and to make, if it were possible, by faire meanes, an end with him: but he put me off the more, delaying time till his departure, which was shortly after. For the King had restored him his old place againe, and he was to goe for Goa, about a faire ballace Ruby, and other rare things promi∣sed [ 20] the King.

Notes

• * 1.1

  He setteth for∣ward on his Iourney from Suratt ••oward Agra.
• * 1.2

  Another dan∣gerous Pio•• of the Portugals. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Prouince.
• * 1.3

  Dayt•• another Prouince.
• * 1.4

  They vse to trauell two houres before day.
• * 1.5

  The Iesuites bloudie plot discouered. Vir••us an vi∣rus, quis in Ie∣suita requirat? M. Hawkins departeth from Suratt. The first of Fe∣bruary 1608.
• * 1.6

  His arriuall at Bramport.
• * 1.7

  Hee stayeth in Bramport till the second of March.

  His arriuall at Agra the six∣teenth of A∣prill, 1609.
• * 1.8

  He c••me be∣fore the King.
• * 1.9

  Iesuiticall Charitie.
• * 1.10

  The Mogoll skilfull in the Turkish tongue.
• * 1.11

  Spyes vpon e∣uery Noble∣man.
• * 1.12

  M. Will. Haw∣kins had bin in the West Indi••s.
• * 1.13

  The Kings sti∣pendary wages and honorable Pensions to his Nobles.
• * 1.14

  Iesuiticall Christianitie.
• * 1.15

  The practice of the Portu∣gals against ou•• Trade.
• * 1.16

  Lying, a great stratag••me.
• * 1.17

  The Kings an∣swere.
• * 1.18

  Nicholas Vfflet.
• * 1.19

  Mubarique Sha an Armenian Chr••stian. Ekbery Padasha.
• * 1.20

  Hee taketh a Christian Gentlewoman to Wife. Shee came ouer with him for England, but he dying by the way, shee was after marryed to M. Towerson. The Pinn••sse of the Ascenti∣on cast away neere Sura••t. The Kings Commission in the fauour of the Engl••sh vnder his great Seale with gol∣den Letters. The Ascention cast away. The greater part of the Kings Nobles are Mah••me∣tans.

  Some of the Ascentions Cō∣pany and M. Alexander Sharp•• their Generall came to Agra.