From Ikkerì, Novemb. 22, 1623

I write to you from Ikkerì, the Royal City and Seat of Venk-tapà Naieka, whither I am come and where I am present. I shall give you an account of the Audience which our Ambassador hath had of this King, who, in my judgment, should rather be call'd a Regulus, or Royolet, although the Portugals and Indians give him the honor of a Royal Title; being he hath in effect neither State, Court, nor appearance, befitting a true King. I shall describe to you every particular that is not unworthy your Curiosity, and adjoyn some other of my Relations and Descriptions of the Idolatrous Gentiles, their vain Superstitions and Ceremonies about their Idols, Temples and Pagods. What I shall now set down mine own Eyes have witness'd to; and I shall not fear being too tedious in describing things, perhaps over minutely, in these Letters, since I know you are delighted therewith and out of your great erudition can make reflections upon the Rites used in these parts of the World, which in many things are not unlike the ancient Ægyptian Idolatry. For I am perswaded to believe, not without the authority of ancient Authors, that the worship of Isis and Osiris was common to Ægypt and this Region, as in Philostratus I find Apollonius affirming that in India he saw the Statues not onely of the Ægyptian, but also of the Grecian, gods, as of Apollo, Bacchus and Minerva.