that he was not from England but from Flanders, and entirely disposed to serve his majesty.  “I have heard of England,” said the king, “but never of Flanders; pray what land is that?” He farther enquired who was their king, and what was the state and government of the country?  The captain made a large report on this topic, saying that they had no king, but were governed by an aristocracy.  He likewise requested that the king would give orders to his subjects not to call him an Englishman, as that gave him much displeasure, which the king promised should be done.  The king then asked if there were no English in the ships?  To which the captain answered, that there were some, but they had been bred up in Flanders.  The king then said, he understood there were some men in the ships that differed from the others in apparel, language, and manners, and desired to know who these were?  To this the baas answered, that they were English, and that his chief pilot was one of them.  The king then said that he must see these men.  “As for your merchandize,” added he, “I have war with the king of Johor, and if you will assist me against him with your ships, your recompence shall be a full lading of pepper.”  To this our captain agreed.  The 28th of July, the Sabandars,[38] the secretary, the merchants of Mecca, who were Turks and Arabians, together with Don Alfonso Vincente and some others of the Portuguese, came on board with our baas, and all returned passing drunk.

[Footnote 38:  The Shah bandar, signifies in Persian, the King of the Port; being the title of the principal officer of the customs.—­Astl.  I. 257. a.]

The 20th of August the king began to change his countenance to our captain, demanding why the English pilot had not been to wait upon him; for hitherto Mr Tomkins and I had not been permitted to go on shore; adding, that when the Dutch had got their pepper, he supposed they would ran away without performing the service they had promised.  Upon this I was immediately sent for, and came ashore on the 21st.  I waited on the king early next morning, and he treated me very kindly.  I staid with him four boars, or more, banqueting And drinking.  After an hour, he ordered the sabandar to stand up, and me likewise; upon which the sabander took off my hat, and put a roll of white linen about my head.  He then put about my middle a long white linen cloth, embroidered with gold, which went twice about me, the ends hanging down half my leg.  After this, taking the roll from my head, and laying it before the king, he put a white garment on me, and above that a red one.  Then, replacing the roll on my head, I sat down before the king, who drank to me in aquavitae, [arrak, or brandy,] and made me eat of many strange meats.  All his service was in gold, except some of the dishes, which were fine porcelain.  These were all set upon the floor, without table, napkins, or other linen.  He asked me many questions about England, about the queen, and her bashas, or nobles; and enquired how she could carry on war against so great a monarch as the king of Spain, for he believed that all Europe was under his government.  I satisfied him as well as I could on all these points, and he seemed very much pleased.