‘The travels of Sig. Pietro della Valle, a noble Roman, into East-India and Arabia Deserta. In which, the several countries, together with the customs, manners, traffique, and rites both religious and civil, of those Oriental princes and nations, are faithfully described: In familiar letters to his friend Signior Mario Schipano. Whereunto is added a relation of Sir Thomas Roe’s voyage into the East-Indies’ [‎125] (146/508)

Into the EAST-INDIES. 125
their King of Spainjo much a greater Lord then the King of Ftfr-
tnagljihzyxxte not the term Highnefs^hut AfajeJlj 0 z£teT xhe manner
of Europe,") The Ambaffador added that in token of this Amity;,,
the Vice-Roy fent him that Prefent, not a^ any great matter 3
but as a fmall acknowledgment 5 Yhat their King had fent him
a confiderabk Prefent from Spain 5 which his Highnefs knew
w as loft at Sea 5 That yet by the Ships which were coming this
year he (hould receive another 3 as he might fee in the Vice-
Roy's Letter which he prefented to him. And hereupon the
Ambailador arifing from his Seat 5 went to prefent the fame to him
almoft kneeling upon one knee 5 and he without moving a whit 5
took it and gave it to FitnU Sinay y who gave it to another,
probably, the principal Secretary, without reading or opening
it. The Ambaffador had brought a Letter to him likewife
written in the Ring of Spain s Name, but did not prefent it now 5
becaufe the Tortngals fay^hat the firft time of going to Audience,
they are onely to make a Vifit, and not to treat of bufinels;
Then they drew forth the Prefent before the King 5 which was
fome pieces of cloth^within one of thofe wooden gilt boxes which
are us'd in India 5 a Lance of the Moorifh (hape, to wit, long
and fmooth like a Pike, the point of Iron gilt, and the foot em-
bellifh'd with Silver, a gallant Target, and the Horfe above-
mention'd cover'd with a filken Horle-cloth 5 which Horfe was
brought into the Court where the King fate. Aftey he had re-
ceiv'd and view'd the Prefent, and taken thelron of the Lancc
in his hand 5 which the Ambaffador faid wasof Portugal they
caus'd the reft of us to fit down near the outer wall bf the Porch
on the left fide, upon a rough Carpet ftrip'd with white and
blew, ( of that fort which the Turks and Perjtans call Kidim J
(pread upon the pavement of the Porch. The Ambaffador, al
though he fate, yet never put on his Hat before the King, (for fo
the Nobles are wont to do before the Vice-Roy, namely,
to fit, but not to be cover'd ) nor did the King fpeakto him to
cover himfelf, but let him continue uncover'd , wherein, to
my thinkings he committed an error 3 for going as he did
in t^e name of the State, which amongft them is as much as to go
in th^King of Spain s Name 5 why Ihould he not be cover'd be
fore fo fmall a Prince? And the error (eem'd the greater,becau(e
he was the firft that went AmbalTador to Venkctapa Naiek* in the
name of the State 5 and confequently, hath mide an ill prefident
to fuch as (hall come after him. And in introducing fuch prejudi
cial cuftoms, a publick Minifter (hould have his eyes well open :
but the truth is, the Portugals of India underftand little, are lit
tle Courtiers, and lefs Polititians, how exquifite foevcr they be
accounted here, as this Sig: Gio: Fernandez is efteem'd one of
the moft accomplifti'd , and, I believe, not undefervedly. At
night, I could not forbear to advertife (bme of his Country-men
hereof in a handfome way, it not feeming fit for me, a ftranger
and the younger man, to offer to give him a Leflbn# However,
he