ABSTRACT
William Methold was in India during the second and third decade of the seventeenth century. The accounts which he wrote of his observations came into the hands of Samuel Purchas, and were embodied by him in his Pilgrimage. Methold's remarks are, within their limited sphere, invaluable. During their stay at Cuttack the party were lucky enough to see the nabob march away with an army of 30,000 men to join the main body of the Mogul forces in operations against the kingdom of Golconda. As a source of information on the political or social condition of the country, however, neither Methold nor Bruton can compare with Albert de Mandeslo. Murray truly says that he was one of the most active and intelligent travellers who have ever visited India. At Ahmedabad Mandeslo had an interview with the Mohammedan governor, and was by him initiated into the mystery of the secret of Oriental government.
