which when he saw they pleased him highly, sending for the master and
merchants factor to court. He at their own rate bargained with them for
their whole lading, nor would he suffer them to depart till he had
feasted them royally.

Now the fashion of the Moors is not to sit at the table as the custom is
among us, but to have a rich carpet spread upon the ground, and when the
meal or banquet is served in, as well the king himself as the rest sit
round about cross-legg'd as taylors commonly used to do upon their
shop-boards, and in that manner our English are set at the king's
banquet, but the meal was no sooner served in but swarms of rats and
mice seized upon the dishes, and snatched away the meat even from the
king and queen's trenchers: at which the factor being annoyed asked one
of the nobility (by an interpreter) if they preserved those vermin for
sport, or if they were noysome, and troublesome unto them: who answered
him again, that they were the greatest vexation unto them that could be
possible, and by reason of their multitudes they could not be destroyed,
but the king would willingly give half the revenue of his crown if he
could but only clear the court of them, for not only his table but his
very bed-chamber swarmed with them, insomuch that he durst not lay him
down to rest without a watch about him, to keep them off his pillow: To
whom the factor replyed, that they had a strange beast aboard which he
made no doubt would rid them of those vermine: which being told the king
he rose from his place and imbracing the factor told him if he could
shew him such a creature he would ballast his vessel with silver and
lade her with gold and pearl. Who apprehending the occasion made very
coy of the business, telling him it was a creature of great value and
not common. Besides they could not spare her from the ship, in regard
when they were asleep yet she was still waking in the night, not only to
preserve their merchandise but there dyet from the like spoyl. The more