..in which they receive distinguish visitors who bring fish and admire the ship. The ladies arrive and the power of music to enhance the relationship is revealed…
“In the morning there was brought a boarde, such aboundance of Fish and soe cheape as wee could desire; we waied, and sett saile for the roade. The king sent at least three score greate Boates or Gallies verie well manned, to bringe us into the Harbor. I doubted what the cause of theire coming might be, And was sending of the skiff to commaund them not to come neere the shippe, but the kinge being the headmost weaved with his handkercher, and willed the rest to attend, and himself cominge a boarde, tould me that hee had commaunded them to Toa our ship in about a pointe, some what dangerous, by reason of the force of the Tide, which was such, that having a stiff gale of winde, yet wee could not stemm it, And cominge into the Eddy, wee should haue bene sett uppon the Rockes. Soe wee sent hawsers a boarde them and they fell to worke. In the meane while the king did break his fast with me, being at an Ancker. I would haue requited the people for their paines, but the kinge would not suffer them to take anie thinge. We anckered before the towne in 5 fathom, so neere the shoare, that we might talke to the people in theire Howses.”
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“There came continually such a worlde of people a boarde, both menn and women, as that wee were not able to goe vppon the Deckes. Rounde about the shipp was furnished with boates full of people, admiringe much the heade and sterne of our Shipp.” (pp. 147 – 149)
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“The king came a boarde again, and brought 4 cheef women with him. They were attired in Gownes of silke, clapt the one skirt over the other, and soe guirt to them, barelegged, onelie a paier of half Buskins bound with silke Ribband about theire instep: Theire hayer verie black, and verie long, tied vpp in a knott vpon the Crowne in a comelie manner: Theire heade noe way shaven as the menns were. They were well faced, handed, and footed, cleare skynde, and white, but wanting culler, which they amended by arte. Of stature lowe, but verie fatt, verie curteous in behavior, not ignorant of the respect to be given vnto persons according to theire fashion.” (pp. 149 – 150)
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“The kinges women seemed to be somewhat bashfull, but hee willed them to be frolick. They sunge diverse songes and plaied vppon certen Instruments (whereof one did much resemble the Lute) being bellied like it, but longer in the neck, and fretted like ours, but had onelie 4 gutt stringes. Theire fingringe with the left hand like ours, verie nimblie, but the right hand striketh with an Ivorie boane, as wee vse to plaie on a Cittern with a quill.
They delighted them selves verie much with theire musique, keeping time with theire hands, playing and singing by booke, prickt on lyne and space, resemblinge much ours heere.” (p.150)
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