Volume 1
The works of Sir Thomas Browne / edited by Simon Wilkin.
- Thomas Browne
- Date:
- 1890-1893
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: The works of Sir Thomas Browne / edited by Simon Wilkin. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.
530/608 page 518
![spoyled the neighbouring births in that bedd to a yard's distance, reudring tlie place hard, and smooth like a walke with theire frequent treddings : but of this una litu7'a potest. I find many of my lord Bacon's experiments concerning phytologie in his 6 and 7 centuries, very crude. If you may commend any of these heads to Dr. Short for his enlargments, it must proue a fauor vrliich cannot more obleidge, yours most obseruant, Milk Streete, Sept. 20, 55. Will. How. [Interesting extract from a vei-y long letter addressed to Dr. £rovme M. Escaliot.] Surat, Jan. 26, 1663-4. On Tuesday, the fifth of January, about ten in the morning, a sudden alarme was brought to our house from the towne with news that Seua-Gee Eaya, or principal governor, (for such assume not the name of kings to them selues, but yet endeuor to bee as absolute each in his prouince as his sword can make him,) was coming downe with an army of an vncertaine number upon Surat, to pillage the citty, which news strook no small consternation into the minds of a weake and effeminate people, in 8oe much that on all hands there was nothing to be scene but people flying for their lives, and lamenting the loss of their estates, tlie richer sort, whose stocke of money was large enough to purchase that favor at the hands of the gouernor of the I'astle, made that their sanctuary, and abandoned their dwellings to a merciless foe, M ich they might well enoughe haue defended with the rest of the towne had thay had the heartes of men. The same day a post comes in, and tells them that the army was come within tenne course or English miles, and made all hast forward, wich put the cowardly and vnfaithful govenor of the towne to send a seruant to Sevagee to treat of some conditions of ransome. But Sevagee retaines the messenger and marches forwards with all speed, and that night lodged his camp about 5 miles English from the city, and the governor perceueing well that this messenger returned not againe, and that Sevagee did not intend to treat at that distance, he craues admission into the castle and obtaineth it, and soe deserted his towne. The city of Surat is the only port on this side India, wich be- longs to the Mogol, and stands upon a river commodious enough to admitt vessells of 1000 tun, seven milles up, at wich distance from the sea, there stands a reasonable strong castle well manned, and haueing great store of good guns mounted for the securing of the riuer at a conuenient distance, on the north east and south sides of this castle is the citty of Surrat built of a large extent and very popelus. Eich in marchandise, aa being](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b22650337_0001_0532.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
