The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 13.4

13.4

I answered then I would giue no Creditt to yt, for that he was a veryer drunckard then any English in Suratt, and for his vntruth he had often belyed the King and the Prince himselfe, as I would proue to his face when he came to answere. The Prince demanded why hee should write yt if yt were not true. I answered : to excuse, by accusing others, his owne villanous insolencyes : that if he had beene woorthy to haue Gouerned a Province, he should haue taken those who were so disorderly and haue punished them, and done Iustice to the honest and sober : but that hee made a pretence, for the fault of a drunckard, to abuse the Innocent It was replyed that it was for my sake it was forborne. I answered : I renounced giuing protection to such as were vnwoorthy of yt : I came to defend my Countrymen that were ciuill and honest in their rightfull causes, and was as desirous to punish outrages as to maynteyne sobryety : and for any priuat frendshipp or respect, to mee the Gouernor had vsed none, nor I was other to him then a professed enemy. Wheratt the Prince asked if I would writte to Suratt to restraine the abuses and drunckennes of our People, and if no warning of myne could preuayle, if I would not be displeased, that punishment might be inflicted on those taken in the offence. This motion sauored so much reason I could not refuse it ; only I putt in this Caution, that, as I consented to punish the notorious offender, so the honest and sober might haue protection and Iustice ;