The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 15.3
The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 15.3
- Language
- English
15.3.1
April 18. — Aganor the Cutwall of Agra inuited him selfe to breakfaste. He is one of our best frendes, very rich, and defendes our Nation from all Injuryes in Agra. I sent to Socorola, the Princes secretary, to sollicite the firmaen, Hee answered he had drawn yt according to my desire in euery clause, only it could not be sealed vntill the debts demanded by vs weere agreed vnto by Zulpheckcarcon, who was then gone with Sultan Caronne to Hafaz Geamal; but that two dayes after, if I would send any to meete Zulpheckcarcon or his Buxy, the debts should bee accorded and all dispatched. April 19. — Mirza, my Neighbour and brother-in-law to the king, came to visitt mee and stayd dynner, but would not eate. He beggd euery thing, but I pleasd him with a feather, 3 or 4 Paper picturs, and an ould pare of spurrs. April 20. — I sent according to appoyntment to meete Zulpheckcarcon at Sacarollaes, but neyther hee nor any from him would appeare. Soe he desiered those deputed by mee to come agayne on the Morow and he would take order they should not loose more labour. April 21. — They returned and Zulpheckcarcons steward mett them at the secretaryes, who tooke great paynes to accord the accountes, and with all indifferency and Iustice assisted them in theyr demandes ; but no conclusion could be made, the steward almost absolutly denying euery particular, and for some few confessed would not consent to the price demanded.
15.3.2
So that concerning the debts it was resolued to write to Suratt to examine witnesses & to make proofe, and vpon certifficat wee should here be payd. But this Course seemed to mee tedious and delatorye ; so that I resolued of another way, receiuing at present a firman for the goodes deteyned in the Custome house, and wheras Zulpheckcarcon had devulged that a firmaen was granted for our banishment it was playnly declared a lye, and Command giuen to entertayne and vse the English with all fauour, authorising not only their residence but transport and free trade at their pleasures. Concerning other particular Injuries complayned off long before, for which I was offered a firmaen very effectuall, but for a Clause concerning the Portugalles I had refused it ; it was now new drawen, that article left out, and offered mee, beeing more lardge and ample in many poyntes for our redresse ; which I alsoe thanckfullie accepted, resoluing to take what I could, and after to seeke remedy for the rest ; but with that was sent the 3 Articles signed by me long before, requiring a fourth that for all armes, as swoordes, pieces, and such, [they ?] should remayne in the Custome house and be sould there, with some other friuolous motions, which I rejecting absolutly, It was deliuered without yt, and the former articles alsoe forgotten to be remanded.
15.3.3
For my demand of Justice against the parsonall wrongs offered to our Nation, I was answered that Zulpheckcarcon did recriminat and Complaine as much against theyr extreame drunckennes, ryott, quarreling and drawing their swoordes in the Alfandica against the kings officers, and that therfore I was to sett one against other and seeke to mend both in tyme to Come: or, if I would not, that then the Prince would expect that Iustice were likwise done vpon such as had offended. I knew to my shame this accusation true and so demurrd of my resolution to prosecute against his person, beeing a fauoritt of the Princes, vntill I had satisfaction in my other demandes; It being free for mee to renew it at my best advantage. Now I had many sutes a foote and durst not venture to haue all my desiers at once or none.
15.3.4
April 23. — I sent to Sacarolla this proposition: to giue me another firmaen, directed to Abram Chan, to examine our account at Suratt, wher, if any proofe could be made, the wittnesses were; and for as much as should be made manifest, to giue warrant to be deducted out of the Custome; for first to send downe to examine wittnesses, to expect answer, and after to attend payment, when in the meane tyme we were forced to cleare the Custome, or suffer our goodes to lye & take lesse, I thought vnreasonable. He answered he had labored for vs, and had drawen him to Confesse most part, to the summe of 14 or 15,000 Mamoodies; so that he was resolued he had all the rest, and therfore would putt him to sweare to euery particular by the Princes head, which was as much as could be done in the case of any Subject, and when he had answered wee should receiue a firmaen for all togither. Further he sayd that 700 and odd ryalls of 8 specifyed in our bill to rest in the Custome house was sent to the Prince in specie, for which we should haue warrant. April 25. — Seeing this could not be effected with expedition I sent downe the two firmaens receiued to Suratt, with advise how I would proceede in the busines, giuing warning to arme themselues with what proofe could be made against that which Zulpheckcarcon should here forsweare.