The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 14.3.2

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;