The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 14.2

The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 14.2

Language: English

14.2.1

March 12. — I went to visitt the King and was brought right before him, expecting a present, which I deliuered to his extraordinary content. So he appoynted I should bee directed within the rayle, to stand by him, but I, beeing not suffered to step vp vpon the rising on which the throne stood, could see little, the rayle beeing high and doubled with Carpettes. But I had leysure to veiw the inward roome and the bewty therof, which I confesse was rich, but of so diuers peices and so vnsuteable that it was rather patched then glorious, as if it seemed to striue to show all, like a ladie that with her plate sett on a Cupboord her imbrodered slippers. This eueninge was the sonne of Ranna, his New tributory, brought before him, with much ceremony, kneeling 3 tymes and knocking his head on the ground. He was sent by his father with a Present and was brought within the little rayle, the King embracing him by the head. His guift was an Indian voyder full of siluer, vpon yt a Carued siluer dish full of gould. Soe he was ledd toward the Prince. Some Eliphants were showed, and some whoores did sing and dance. Sic transit Gloria Mundi. March 13. — At night I went to the Gussel chan, wher is best oportunitye to doe busines, and tooke with mee the Italyan, determining to walke no longer in darknes but to proue the king, beeing in all other wayes delayed and refused.

14.2.2

I was sent for in with my ould Brokar but my enterpreter was kept out, Asaph Chan mistrusting I would vtter more then he was willing to heare. When I came to the king, he appoynted me a place to stand Iust before him, and sent to aske me many questions aboute the king of England and of the present I gaue the day before; to some of which I answered, but at last I sayd my enterpreter was keept out: I could speake no Portugall, and soe wanted means to satisfie his Maiestie. Whereat (much against Asaph Chans desire) he was admitted. I bad him tell the king I desired to speake to him. He answered: willingly. Wherat Asaph Chans sonne-in-law pulld him by force away and that faction hedgd the king so that I could scarce see him nor the other approach him. So I commanded the Italian to speake alowd that I Craued audience of the king, wherat the king Called me and they made me way. Asaph Chan stood on one side of my interpreter and I on the other; I to enforme him in myne owne cause, he to awe him with wincking and logging. I bad him say that I had now beene here two monthes, wherof more then one was passed in sicknes, the other in Complements, and nothing effected toward the end for which my Master had employed mee, which was to Conclude a firme and Constant loue and Peace betweene their Majesties and to establish a fayre and secure trade and residence for my Countrymen. He answered that was already granted.

14.2.3

I replyed it was true, but it depended yet on so slight a thredd, on so weake Conditions: that beeing of such importance it required an agreement cleare in all poynts, and a more formall and Authentique confirmation then it had by ordinarie firmaens, which were temporarye Commandes and respected accordingly. He Asked mee what presents wee would bring him. I answered the leauge was yet new and very weake: that many Curiosityes were to be found in our Country of rare price and estimation, which the king would send and the Merchannts seeke out in all parts of the world, if they were once made secure of a quiett trade and protection on honorable Conditions, having beene heeretofore many wayes wronged. He asked what kynd of Curiosityes those were I mentioned, whether I ment lewells and rich stones. I answered no: that we did not thinck them fitt presents to send back, which were brought first from these parts, wherof hee was Cheefe lord : that wee esteemed them Common here and of much more price with vs : but that we sought to fynd such things for his Maiestie as were rare here and vnseene, as excellent artifices in Paynting, caruing, Cutting, enamelling, figures in brasse, copper, or stone, rich embroderyes, stuffs of gould and siluer. He sayd it was very well : but that hee desiered an English horse. I answered it was impossible by sea, and by land the Turke would not suffer passadge. He replyed that hee thought it not impossible by sea.

14.2.4

I tould him the dangers of stormes and varietye of weather would proue yt. He answered : if six were putt into a shipp one might liue, and though it Came leane he would fatt yt. I replyed I was Confident it Could not bee in soe long a voyadge, but that for his Maiesties satisfaction I would write to aduise of his request. So he asked what was it then I demanded. I sayd : that hee would bee pleased to signe certaine reasonable Conditions which I had Conceiued for the Confirmation of the leauge and for the securitye of our Nation and their quiett trade, for that they had beene often wronged and Could not Continue on such termes : which I forbeare to Complayne off, hoping by faire means to procure amendment. At this woord Asaph Chan offered to pull my interpreter, but I held him, suffering him only to wincke and make vnprofitable signes. The King hereatt grew suddenly into Choler, pressing to know who had wronged vs, with such show of fury that I was loath to follow yt ; and speaking in broken Spanish to my interpreter to answere that with what was past, I would not trouble his Maiestie but would seeke Justice of his sonne the Prince, of whose fauour I doubted not, the King, not attending my interpreter but hearing his sonnes name, conceiued I had accused him, saying miofilio, miofilio, and Called for him ; who came in great feare, humbling himselfe. Asaph Chan trembled, and all of them were amazd.

14.2.5

The King chidd the Prince roundly, and hee excused himselfe; but I, perceiuinge the Kings error, made him (by means of a Persian Prince offering himselfe to enterprett, because my Italian spoke better Turkish then Persian; the Prince both) vnderstand the mistaking, and so appeased him, saying I did no way accuse the Prince, but would in causes past in his Gouerment appeale to him for Justice; which the King Commanded he should doe effectually. The Prince for his Justification tould the king he had offered me difinnaen and that I had refused yt Demanding the reason, I answered: I humbly thancked him, but hee knew it Conteyned a condition which I could not accept off, and that farther I did desire to propound our owne demandes, wherin I would Conteyne all the desires of my Master at once, that I might not daylye trouble them with Complaynts; and wherin I would reciprocally bynd my souerayne to mutuall offices of frendship, and his subjects to any such Conditions as his Maiestie would reasonably propound, wherof I would make an offer; which beeing drawne tripertite, his Maiestie I hoped would signe the one, the Prince the other, and in my Masters behalfe I would firme the third. The king pressed to know the Conditions I refused in the Princes firmaen, which I recited; and soe wee fell into earnest dispute, and some heate. Mocrebchan enterposing sayd hee was the Portugalles aduocate, speaking slightly of vs, that the king should neuer signe any article against them.

14.2.6

I answered: I propound none against them, but in our owne Iust defence, and I did not take him for such a frend to them. The Iesuite and all the Portugalles side fell in, in soe much that I explayned myselfe fully concerning them; and as I offered a Conditionall Peace, so I sett their frendship at a mean rate and their hatered or force at lesse. The king answered my demandes were Iust, resolution noble, and bad me propound. Asaph Chan, that stood Mute all this discourse, and desiered to end it, least it breake out againe (for wee wear very warme), enterposed that if wee talked all night it would come to this issue : that I should drawe my demandes in writting and present them, and if they were found reasonable the king would firme them ; to which the king replyed yes, and I desiered his Sonne would doe the like, who answered hee would. Soe the king rose. But I calling to him he turnd about, and I bad my enterpreter say that I came the day before to see his Maiestie and his greatnes and the Ceremonyes of this feast : that I was placed behynd him, I confesed with honor, but I could not see abroad, and that therfore I desired his Maiestie to lycence me to stand vp by his Throne ; wherat hee Commanded Asaph Chan to lett me choose my owne place.