These presents were not now delivered, but only a list of them in writing.  His own equipage was rich, having nine led horses, their trappings all studded with gold and silver.  His turban was encircled by a chain of pearls, rubies, and turquoises, having three pipes of gold, in which were three plumes of feathers.  Having thus caused accurate observation to be made of his reception, and compared it with my own, I find it in nothing more gracious than my own, and in many things inferior, except only in being met without the town, which, owing to my sickness, was not demanded; neither did the king receive the letter of Shah Abbas with so much respect as that of the king, my master, whom he called the king of England, his brother, naming the Persian barely his brother, without addition.  This observation was made by the jesuit, who understood the language.

Sec.5. Continuation of Occurrences at Court, till leaving Agimere, in November, 1616.

The 20th of October I received the prince’s letter to send to Sarat, with orders for the governor of that city to sit along with the judge of the custom-house, to take care that no wrong was done to the English.  The clause about sending up the presents sealed and unsearched to me, was so obscure and unintelligible, that it was susceptible of various constructions, which I believed was done designedly, that they might come into the hands of the prince, so as to become his own.  I sent it back therefore to his secretary to be altered; and getting it returned still more intricate than at first, I went to the prince on the 21st, and desired to have that clause of his letter explained, at which he stuck a little, and I perceived he was as hollow as I had imagined.  He plainly asked, How then he should have his presents, or see such curiosities as came up? and proposed to accompany me to where they were.  I answered, that I could not do this till I had delivered my master’s message and presents to the king, after which I should wait upon his highness with his presents, and that every rarity that came to me should be sent after him.  He pressed me to pass my word for the performance of this, which I did, and then I had the letter for Surat made out to my content.

At this interview the prince observed a white feather in my hat, and asked if I would give it to him.  I answered, that I could not presume to offer any thing I had worn; but if he were pleased to command it, that or any thing else in my power was at his service.  He then asked if I had any more; to which I answered, that I had three or four others of different colours.  He desired to have them all, as he was to shew his horses and servants to the king within two days, and wanted some, being rare in these parts.  I therefore promised to bring all I had next day, when his highness might take what pleased him.