Storia do Mogor 37: CHAPTER XIII · HOW THE KING OF PERSIA MADE OVER TO THE AMBASSADOR A LETTER FOR THE KING OF ENGLAND

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THE firm words of the ambassador were the cause of their giving him his leave to depart after a brief delay. With this intent, eight days after the above-mentioned conversation, he was sent for to court on behalf of the king, when we were given another feast like the one which I have described, and in the same place. At the end of the banquet, 'Azamat-ud-daulah took the ambassador by the hand and led him in front of the royal seat at a distance of two or three paces, and with his face towards the king. The ambassador was on the left side of 'Azamat-ud-daulah. The latter put his hand into his pocket and drew forth a bag of gold brocade, in which was a letter. Lifting this bag with both hands, he placed it on his head, making a profound reverence to the king, bowing his head most deeply. Then he handed the said bag to the ambassador, saying that his king sent that letter to the King of England. He was directed to make obeisance as he had seen the other do. During this short speech 'Azamat-ud-daulah held half of the bag in his hand, while the other half was in that of the ambassador. As soon as the brief speech was ended, the ambassador drew the bag from the hands of 'Azamat-ud-daulah, and quickly turned his back, and without any sort of bow, held it out contemptuously to the interpreter. This man at once hastened up to receive the letter with both hands; for the motion made by the ambassador showed that if he did not hurry near, the ambassador would throw the bag at him. Then, without any civility, or any sort of bow, he left 'Azamat-ud-daulah standing where he was and went out, his head high, while the king sat with cast-down eyes as if he saw nothing of what was passing. All those present remained in silent wonder at such boldness. I was quite close to the ambassador, and came out, notwithstanding, with some amount of dread, anticipating that the king would send out some order to have us killed. But we were not interfered with. On arriving home, we took measures to prepare ourselves without delay for continuing our journey. In fact, we did so at the end of nine days, and the ambassador not being provided with sufficient funds for our expenses, he applied to the head of the English factory at Isfahan, who was called Mestre Jhon (Mr. Young), a very short man, but most generous and very liberal, as I made note of from the feasts and offerings which several times he had given to the said ambassador.