ABSTRACT
The cause of my coming hither [to India] is for foure respects. First, to see the blessed face of your Maiesty [the Great Mogul, Jehangir], whose wonderfull fame hath resounded ouer all Europe & the Mahometan Countries. … Secondly to see your Maiesties Elephants, which kind of beasts I have not seen in any other country. Thirdly, to see your famous river Ganges, which is the Captaine of all the Riuer of the World. The fourth is this, to intreat your Maiesty that you should vouchsafe to grant mee your gracious Passe that I may trauell into the Country of Tartaria to the Citty of Samarkand, to visit the blessed Sepulcher of the Lord of the Corners (this is a title that is giuen to Tamburlaine in this Country in that Persian language …) whose fame by reason of his warres and victories is published ouer the whole world: perhaps he is not altogether so famous in his own country of Tartaria as in England.
