[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Travellers (1500–1858)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel) › [The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy) › [The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster) › 13 # The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 13: To THE Earl of Southampton. (Addl. MS. 6115, f. 88.) The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 13 - **Language:** English ### To THE Earl of Southampton. (Addl. MS. 6115, f. 88.) ### [13.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.13.1) Adsmere, 14 Feb., 1615 \[-16\]. My Lord, Since my arriuall in this Country, I haue had but one Month of health and that mingled with many relapses, and am now your poor seruant scarce a Crowes dinner I thought all India a China shop, and that I should furnish all my Frendes with rarietyes; but this is not that part. Here are almost no Ciuill arts, but such as straggling Christians haue lately taught; only good Carpetts and fine lawne, all Comodityes of bulke, wherby I can make noe proffitt but publiquely; Muske, Amber, Cyuitt, diamondes, as deare as in England; no Pearle but taken for the King, who is invalewable in Jewelles. But I not alone Cossened in this hope, but in the Kings liberallitye. He alowes me nothing but a house of Mudd, which I was enforced to build halfe. .... Yet though I liue in such a house, perhaps many wayes in more state, and with many more seruants then any Ambassador in Europe, such is the Custome here, to be Carryed in a bedd all richly furnished on mens backes vp and downe; though it needs not, for here are the finest horses that I euer sawe, of Gennett size and infinite store, besides guardes and footmen, of which only I keepe 24. But this my expected liberallitye fayling makes all tedious and loathsome; for though the King hath often sent to me, yet this bounty is only expressed in whyld hogges. You expect no Ceremony, and I haue learnd none here, but I am euer, and will dye soe, Your Lordshipes most affectionate seruant, Tho. Roe. ### [13.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.13.2) Giue me leaue to present my humble seruice to my lady, my Lady Penelope, my little lady Mistress, for whom I wilbe prouided with Presentes. February 19. — I went to repay the visitt of Hoja Nazon, who entertayned me with very good respect, very good woordes, and very good meate. February 21. — Having now long attended with Patience and found no effect in the Princes promises for a Command for Suratt, nor any answere resolute that I should haue none, Asaph Chan consenting that the Conditions demanded should be relinguished, I went to visitt the Prince at his sitting out; not knoweing whether this Jugling might bee without his knowledge (for I receiued his pleasure by others), or if it were his owne, yet I would once more proue him, and dispute my owne cause, that if I were enforced to Complayne I might be fully blamlesse of any disrespect toward him. When I came nere, whether by the Princes command to proue if I would yeild, or by ignorance of his seruants of the liberty I had obteyned and vsed before, one of them stayed mee, and made signes that I should make the reuerence of the Country Called Teselim. I rejected him with some mislike, and went on vntill I came to the assent of the inmost rayle right before the Prince, whom I saluted after my owne manner, and offering to goe vp, I was stoppd and showed a bye entrance, at which the meaner sorte Comes in. The Prince seeing all this, and not correcting yt, I turnd about to depart; ### [13.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.13.3) wherat hee Called, and the way was open for mee to take and Choose my place. When I was entered I bad my interpreter tell the Prince I came thither in honor of him and to visitt him, expecting that I should haue beene welcome, but the vsage of his seruantes made me doubt yt : that if my Comminge discontented him, I could with more ease keepe my house. He answered I was very welcome ; wherat I made a reuerance, and one of his Principalles, not content with that, came and pulled me to make Teselim, whom I thrust from mee with open scorne ; wherat the Prince smiled, and commanded to lett me vse my libertye. Then I presented him with a few toyes after the Custome, and demanded the firmaen long promised mee. He answered it was signed, and calld to know whye yt was deteyned. Soe presently it was sent for, and answered I had refused to firme the Conditions required by the Prince and sent with yt, wherat the Prince said it was there ready: If I would seale the one I should haue the other. I replyed : I would not; and gaue my reasons. Then hee fell off from that to Complaynts of the vnrulines of the English at Suratt, of their drincking and quarreling in the streets, and draweing swoordes in the Custome house. I answered : I knew not, nor could excuse it : only I knew the abuses offered them might prouoke some beyond reason and Patience : but that I hoped the rest was not true. Then hee calld for a lettre to showe mee witnessing yt. I demanded whose it was. He sayd the Gouernors. ### [13.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.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 ; ### [13.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.13.5) and on this Condition I promised to writt. He demanded when, for he would send the lettre post to prevent more disorders and Complaynts. I answered : to morow.. And so this discourse ended. The Prince converting him selfe to some others, I called to him to know his resolute answer for the firmaen for that was my Principall errand, which if hee refused mee, I knewe my wayes. He replyed : for the busines of the Portugall he was satisfied : that he would send it to Asaph Chan, and what hee liked should Content him ; and desiered me to require on the Morrowe an answer from him, and withall called for yt and deliuered it to a gentellman to carry it presently with that Command, that if he liked it, it should be deliuered to mee. This night the king sent mee a mighty Elke kylld in hunting, reasonable ranck meate. February 22. — I sent according to my promise a lettre for Suratt, the Coppy wherof is registred. February 23-26. — I sent dayly to Asaph Chan ; but he was sicke and I could haue no answere. February 27. — The King and Prince went a hunting Journy 12 Course off, that his house might be fitted against the Norose which began the first Newe moone in March. ### [13.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.13.6) Marche 1.— I rodde to see a house of pleasure of the Kings, giuen him by Asaph Chan, two miles from Adsmere, but betweene two mighty rockes so defended from the sunn that it scarce any way sees it ; the foundation Cutt out of them and some roomes, the rest of freestone ; a handsome little garden with fine fountaynes ; two great tanckes, one 30 stepes aboue a nother ; the way to it inaccessable, but for one or two in front, and that very steepe and stony; a place of much melancholy delight and securitye, only beeing accompanyed with wild Peacockes, turtles, foule, and Munkyes, that inhabitt the rocks hanging euery way ouer yt. March 2. — I receued answere from Asaph Chan resolute that hee had sent to the Prince, and could not obteyne no order for the deliuery of the firmaen without I would signe the Articles. The Jesuite had much Poysoned Asaph Chan, in whom was the fault, and I resolued to startle him. March 4. — I wrote a lettre to the Prince as round and peremptory as was the refusall made mee, and sent it after where he was in progresse. The Coppy is registred. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.13](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.13) · Pramāṇa