The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 14.3
The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 14.3
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14.3.1
March 14. — In the Morning I sent a Messenger to Asaph Chan, least he or the Prince mought mistake mee by the Kings mistakings that I had complayned against them ; which as I did not, so it was not yet in my purpose ; only I was willing to lett them see I did not so depend on Asaph Chan, by whose mouth I vsed to doe my busines, but that if he continued his manner of neuer deliuering what I sayd, but what he pleasd, I could fynd another way. My message was to cleare any such doubt if it remaynd, or if not, to entreat him that he would soften the Prince in my demandes concerning Suratt. He answered neyther the Prince nor he had any reason to suspect my purpose was to Complayne of them : that the error was euident enough : for his part he had euer had the loue of the English and would endeauour to continew yt. March 15. — The king sent me a tame sheepe new shorne with his owne hand, so fatt that it had not leane to eate halfe. At Euening I went to the Norose and demanded of Asaph Chan a place. Hee bad me Choose; so I went within the rayle, and stood on the right hand of the kynge upon the rising of the Throne; the Prince and young Ranna on the other syde. So that I sawe what was to be seene, Presents, Elephants, horses, and many whoores.
14.3.2
March 16-22. — I prepared my demandes perfect and in the Persian Toong. My course was by way of articles, to make prouision for our securitye and Peace and to preuent all such abuses as the former yeare had giuen me experience of; that I might doe all at once and not trouble the king with new motions and Complaynts. I proiected to haue diuers Coppies signed togither and to send two to euery factory, one to be proclaymed and after sett up in some Publique place, the other for the merchants for dayly vse. March 23. — The king Condemned a Mogull on suspition of felony, and beeing loth to execute him, both in regard of his person, the goodliest man I euer saw in Indya, and that the euidence were not cleere, hee sent him to mee by the Officers in Irons for a Slaue, or to dispose of him at my pleasure. This is esteemed a high fauour, for which I returnd thancks: that in England we had no slaues, neyther was it lawfull to make the Image of God fellow to a Beast: but that I would vse him as a seruant, and if his good behauiour merited yt, would giue him libertye. This his Maiestie tooke in very good part. 1616, March 26. — I went to the Gusell Channe; and deliuering the king a present of picturs I offered vp my Articles to his Maiesties Consideration. Asaph Chan tooke & opened them, and finding them somwhat long he found fault, to which I answered they were no longer then the many late abuses required, which I thinck made him doubt they Conteyned Complaynts;
14.3.3
so, showing them the king, they were referrd to him, with promise if they stood with his honor they should be sealed, and I should expect my answer from Asaph Chan. He stept to the Prince and togither reading one or two, finding they were not accusations, he came to mee and promised mee all fauour; only hee stuck at the length. But here fell a Crosse. I keeping the Place which I first tooke, alone and out of ranck which the kings subjects obserue, a place dessigned mee by the king, the place giuen to Sir Robert Sheirly, and indeed aboue all his subjectes, Asaph Chan sent mee a message to goe downe and stand by the doore among the kings seruants. I answered : if the king Commanded, I knew what I had to doe, but to stirr for any other I would not. He sent againe that it was not the Custome for any to stand alone : that I should goe backe in the ranck of noble men. I replyed : I was a stranger and ignorant of their Customes, but I was not ignorant that I was a kings Ambassador, and not of the qualety of seruants; that his maiestie had placed mee and saw mee now : if I did amisse hee was fittest to find faulte : if it were his pleasure I should goe home, I was ready, but one foote back I would not : and that I expected from him rather additions of grace then discurtesies. Then hee sent an Officer to Fright mee, but I went so much higher and nearer the king;
14.3.4
and standing awhile without molestation, alone and euery bodyes eyes cast vpon mee, I saw a place wherin stood only the Prince and young Ranna by the king, to which I went, resoluinge, if I must rancke, I would rancke with the best. This angred Asaph Chan woorse, who euer sought to woorke me to the humilitye of my predecessors, and to an absolute dependance and obedience on his will. So that, stepping to the Prince, he desiered him to Complayne of mee, as of a great insolency to approach him, which hee did willingly. The king asked why I went from my first place. Asaph Chan replyed that hee had sent to mee to take ranck with the noble men, and made mee moue. The king answered : then hee hath done well ; what had any man to doe to displace him ? Was it not in my sight ? What harme does hee ? Hee comes to see me ; and with such reprehension Commanding them to lett me vse my discretion. Soe I stood in Peace, but with Asaph Chans displeasure. The Coppie of my Demands follow-