Page 45 - Early English Adventurers in the Middle East_Neat

IIOW LANCASTER INITIATED EASTERN TRADE 45

arms the representatives of a power which had successfully
combated a nation in intimate alliance with the Portuguese,
whose might had wrested from the Malays the principal
seat of their power and whose heavy hand had been for
generations oppressively felt throughout the length and
breadth of the Straits and the islands of the Eastern seas
wherever members of the Malay race were settled.
Whatever his motives, his reception of Lancaster was
princely.
When the English commander landed on the third day
after his arrival the King sent to the landing-place “ great
elephants with many drums, trumpets and streamers with
much people ” to escort him to Court. The biggest of the
elephants was about thirteen or fourteen feet high and
“ had a small castle like a coach upon its back covered with
crimson velvet. In the middle thereof was a great bason
of gold and a piece of silk exceedingly richly wrought to
cover it.” This contrivance was thoughtfully furnished to
provide a suitable depository for Elizabeth’s letter. There
the precious missive was accordingly put with due ceremony*
Lancaster himself took his place in stately isolation upon
another of the huge animals with running footmen on each
side. In this imposing way he and his personal escort of
thirty men made their way through streets packed with an
eager wondering crowd to the palace.
On the arrival of the party at the palace the King ten­
dered the Englishmen a welcome which was almost effu­
sively courteous. Probably he had foreknowledge of the
presents which were on the way to him from the royal
Elizabeth. Nothing, at all events, was allowed to delay the
important ceremony of their presentation. The King had
no reason to complain of either the attractiveness or the