TERRY, Edward. Leigh near Penshurst, Kent 1590 — Great Greenford, Ealing (London) 8.10.1660. Rev. British Traveller in India. Probably of a well-to-do family. After school in Rochester studied from 1608 at Oxford (Christ Church): B.A. 1611, M.A. and ordination 1614. In 1616 he sailed to India as ship’s chaplain and when the English ambassador Sir Thomas Roe asked for a new chaplain after the death of John Hall, Terry took the offer. He joined Roe in February 1617 and they went to Jahangir’s camp in Mandu, then with the court to the area of Ahmedabad. In 1619 Terry returned with Roe to England, settled down at Christ Church again and wrote his journal, which he presented in 1622 to Prince Charles. From 1629 until his death Rector of Great Greenford in Middlesex, where he was very popular. Married, a son followed him as a priest.
Terry wrote an interesting description of the Mughal court, but in fact told only little what is not in Roe. He was describing what he saw as lawless tyranny and wanted to educate his readers in religion. But his experience was restricted to Malwa and Gujarat.
Publications: A Voyage to East India wherein some things are taken notice of, in our passage thither, but many more in our abode there, within that rich and most spacious empire of the Great Mogul: mixt with some Parallel Observations and Inferences upon the Story, to profit as well as delight the Reader. 571 p. L. 1655, new ed 1777; abridgement publ. in Purchas’ Pilgrimes 2, 1625, 1464f., and appended to the English transl. of P. Della Valle’s Travels. 1665; also in W. Foster, Early Travels in India. O.U.P. 1921.
– Character of His most Sacred Majesty King Charles the IId. 1660; two printed sermons. 1646 & 1649.
Sources: S.W[heeler], D.N.B. 56, 1898, 86; Foster pp. 288-332; Oaten 1909, 165-167; Prasad 1980, 267-310; Wikipedia with portrait (from the 1655 edition, the same also in Foster and Prasad).
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